(no subject)

[nerves_of_ice]

The only reason he'd gone out to the market in the first place was to buy plums.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Bucky's been allowing himself the freedom to pursue small things for no reason other than wanting to. Watching the small green plant that Ysalwen had given him ("elfroot," she'd called it) growing in its pot on the windowsill, reading the news just for the pleasure of it rather than for operational security reasons, the taste of fresh fruit on his tongue - all little things, little pleasures, things that are small enough not to disturb his sense of what's acceptable and fair.

All of it blew apart the moment he saw the way the vendor was watching him, even before he saw the headlines and his picture beneath them all.

Now he's got to move, and fast. He's got to run, hide, get out and vanish before it's too late --

--but when he slams through the door to his apartment building with every intent of erasing all signs of his presence and doing just that, he finds himself in Milliways instead.

After one long frozen moment, Bucky steps the rest of the way inside and lets the door close behind him. He might as well take the time here to plan his escape.

It's damn near certain he won't have time on the other side of the door. Not any more.

(Open indefinitely.)