milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Shuri's made a few changes to the last version she'd had him test, and has sent him back out with instructions to try smaller things with the new arm this time, as she is looking for fine nuance and haptic feedback results.

As a result, Bucky's decided to settle in the bar at the ends of the worlds for a bit with a good cup of coffee and see what he can figure out to test next.

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"Better believe it. Some things never change."

He taps gently on the bartop. "Coffee refill for me and whatever Steve wants, my tab, please."

“Coffee too, please.”

He leans his elbow on the bar, and his chin on his hand. “Aside from this development, how’re things?”

"Not bad," he allows. "Haven't heard from Ross lately, but Barton and Lang were a clearer case."

He'd love for Steve and Natasha and hell, even Wilson, to be able to go home safe. For Sharon to be able to do the same.

"You?"

Steve picks up his cup and has a sip. “About the same. Going where we’re needed, trying to keep the team’s morale up.

“I don’t imagine Ross is having an easy time, negotiating for us.”

"Should be easier than it is," he mutters, but it's more resignation than anything. He glances over at Steve. "How are the others holding up?"

“They’re strong,” Steve says, “but we all miss something. Family. Home. Sweethearts.”

He has another sip. “Helping people and righting wrongs only goes so far to fill those needs.”

He nods, and does his best to smash the guilt back down into the depths of his soul where it lives. He should be there. He should--

"Any word from Tony?"

“Nope.”

A fella that proud… he’s not surprised.

“I think it would take the end of the world for him to turn to me.”

Bucky sighs, harsh and low. "Hopefully not quite that. But - fuck, Steve, I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do."

“Buck, don’t.” He puts his hand on Bucky’s shoulder. “I’ll always choose you. You know that.”

"I know." And so had Zemo, which is part of why they're all in this mess. "I know. I just - he's your friend, too."

Steve sips his coffee, his eyes pensive.

“Some people are meant to come into our lives and leave them again.” He gives Bucky the slightest of smiles.

"And then they can come back," he argues. "We're living proof of that."

“But not everyone does,” Steve argues right back. “That’s okay. It has to be.”

If Steve's willing to accept it, maybe he has to as well, although it grates at him.

"If it has to be," he says, finally. "But we don't know that it does. Not yet. Not this time."

Steve site back on his stool. He'd forgotten they were talking about Tony.

"Stark will decide that for him and me."

He eyes Steve carefully, trying to gauge just how stubborn his best friend's feeling about this.

"I know you gave him a way to contact you," he says, finally. "Have you thought about reaching out? From somewhere safe so he can't track you," he adds, hastily. "Just in case."

"I've thought about it. I don't think it's safe anywhere."

Pretty stubborn, evidently.

"Okay." Bucky's small smile is rueful. "I'll follow your lead, Rogers."

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