definingfuture | IC inbox for duplicity

[ Tony gives Bucky a warm smile when he denies the suggestion. It's fond, even if he can't say he's familiar with the man, because the way he looks down and says he wanted a second chance means everything. ]

Well, I'm glad to hear it. It would be a pretty bad first meeting if one of us died right away.

[ He laughs, a little tired, maybe, but with a comfort that comes with the acceptance of his place. He's always going to be threatened by someone because of who he is, and Tony just as easily dismisses the idea as he brought it up. What's more important is where that hesitation came from. It's the same awkward, uncomfortable sound he makes when he wants to say something and can't. One thing Tony knows well: guilt. ]

You know what I think?

[ Tony reaches over to put a hand on Bucky's arm. ]

You already have the chance to start over. You're doing it right now. Maybe we can't go back and change what we've done and the regrets are always going to be there, but we learn from them. If I know Tony Stark, he feels the same way. Iron Man was my way of starting over. I think he'd appreciate knowing that you were trying to do the same thing.

It's all right. Trust me.

[ He looks up at the touch, brow wrinkling, eyes going a little soft. He can handle words all day, can distance himself from them, but when it comes to fingers curling around his shoulder, locking on his wrist, touching?

It obliterates his defenses easier than he likes to admit.

Maybe this Tony is right. He'd like to believe that, he would, and he swallows down a surge of something that threatens to fill his throat. Dryly murmurs instead: ]

That or he'd throw a cheeseburger in my face and blow my arm off.

[ Feels like a toss-up, but he only knows what he's heard. ]

You're James Barnes.

[ He knows what thoughts can fill up the mind when things get bad. He's been there, done those awful things whether he remembered them or not, whether he really wanted to or not, and he would just as soon banish that doubt away from those around him than have them suffer. ]

You aren't what anyone else tried to make you. You still have your life. As long as you're still breathing, then you can change it. There's a future ahead.

[ And as optimistic and ignorant as that sounds, Tony's smile is steady, fixed on Bucky. ]

He'll understand. I believe he'll eventually come around, because he'll know what it can be like. Doing things... you don't want to do. I can't say he won't be angry, but I believe in him. And I believe in you.

And Steve. [ Tony squeezes Bucky's arm lightly. ] It sounds like you both need a little of that.

[ You're James Barnes, and it takes deliberate willpower to bite his tongue rather than speak up on instinct to insist, it's Bucky. Wouldn't wanna cut off some words of wisdom spoken from the heart, though, so he satisfies himself with a twitching jaw and dipping eyes, that duck down to the mug on Tony's coffee table.

They flicker back up at the squeeze of his arm, brows knit softly together, an expression on his face some mix of appreciative and restrained.

It's a good sentiment.
He hopes it's all true. Hopes this Stark is right about the way of things, though this man seems about a hundred times more kind than the man he met.

Circumstances being what they were... maybe a little benefit of the doubt ought to come with it.

He forces out a tight smile, as best he can. ]

Thanks. I- um... [ He passes his palms (palm, really) over his pants, breathes out slow. ] I'm not so good at touching moments. But. Thanks.

[ Which might just be preempting his cue to leave, because the mug's gone cold and his chest's gone tight, and he accomplished more or less what he set out to by coming here.

It's a start, anyway. ]

[ The tension remains, which Tony can tell isn't going to stop any time soon, but Bucky just needs some time. He'll let him sleep on it, give him some space, and eventually it'll work out. If his calculations are right, this conversation has actually gone well. ]

I make your nervous.

[ He can't hide his amusement. ]

That's all right. You'll get used to it. I'm glad you came by, you know? I was starting to wonder if you guys ever made friends with each other.

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