survival of the fittest

[advanced]

who: Bucky and anyone!
what: Bucky is a big old thief, tracks down his name twin, and also goes monster fighting with Clark
when: Anytime between March 8th and March 12th
where: Around Quarantine
warnings: Probably violence

[i: Around Quarantine; open to anyone]

[Bucky has chosen to eschew the communal housing gifted to him, as well as all the benefits that affords. Like food, shelter, and access to a shower. The last two aren't such a big deal, but he needs a lot of food to keep him going, the bastardised serum in his veins makes him burn through calories at a ridiculous rate.

Which is why he's ghosting through Quarantine on the look out for empty housing or possible a not very well attended street food stall, in order to snatch a hand out and take something. He can be found shoplifting in the street; or, if you'd prefer, breaking into your character's housing in search of food.]

[ii: Down a back alley somewhere; closed to Bucky Barnes]

[Ever since he saw that name on the network, his own name, Bucky has been in overdrive trying to figure out what's going on. It takes him a day or so to track down who owns the username, and then another day to just follow them around and try and figure out who they are. It's only when he catches the imposter out alone, whatever he might be doing, that he reveals himself by trying to drag the other man down an alleyway in an explosion of movement and bad decisions.]

[iii: Monster hunting; closed to Clark Kent]

[The perimeter is of interest to Bucky, partially because it means an escape from this town and partially because he knows that Stark is going to be making upgrades to it. It's why he's scouting around it today.

He's too focused on the possible security measures, trying to find surveillance equipment or defence mechanisms, that he has completely failed to notice the large monster shaped like a monstrous caterpillar creeping up behind him on silent feet.]

Comments

[starspangled]

[it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. steve isn't exactly out enjoying his day, or looking for anything in particular. he's mostly just trying to get a little more familiar with his surroundings, trying to sort out his thoughts on everything that's happened and everything that still needs to be done.

needless to say, he's been up for awhile, long enough that the food stalls are starting to smell pretty good to him. steve stops in front of one, but his attention is turned to one several feet away.

the guy's quick, a literal 'blink and you'd miss it' moment where he grabs something and keeps moving. it's not enough to warrant a chase and a tackle to the ground, but it isn't right to take something without paying either. so steve starts following him, closing the distance with each stop.]

[advanced]

[He hadn't believed it the first time he spotted Steve here in the city, but then all the other Avengers started showing up on the network and it made a lot more sense. Of course they were here, this place needed heroes, where else would they be? It's why he's really done his best to keep low to the ground, he doesn't want to be found.

It's hunger that does him in.

He doesn't even notice that Steve is there in the market, eyes on his target and the stall-owner to make sure that he can snatch what he wants without incident. It's a good fifty yards on from the initial grab when he realises that someone is following him. He whirls on his heel planning on confronting whoever it is, and comes face to face with the last person he wants to see.

Steve. Target. Mission. Friend. It's all jumbled up still and he feels his entire body tense up completely, frozen on the spot.]

[starspangled]

[something about the man seems familiar, even as steve follows him. it's the line of his shoulders, his movements. even with that little distance between them, steve almost loses him in the crowd. he would've bet that he was aware of him much sooner.

any and all confrontation is forgotten when he turns around. steve stops too, the surprise of seeing bucky here sinking slowly beneath his skin.]

Bucky?

[steve glances quickly to the food in his hand and his expression turns into something pained.]

You're hungry.

[advanced]

[Bucky follows that gaze to the food in his hand and immediately drops it as if it's scalding him. He needs his hands free in case this becomes a fight. He doesn't want it to become a fight, but just seeing Steve at all has thrown him into tension overdrive.

He takes a single step backwards, testing if Steve is going to follow or not.

Running might not do much good. He doesn't know the streets that well yet, there are too many obstacles in the shape of festival-goers, and Steve is equally as fast if not slightly faster these days.

He doesn't speak, just continues to stare.]

[starspangled]

You don't have to do that.

[maybe knowing that bucky is the thief shouldn't make a difference, but it does. steve's willing to go back, to settle it on bucky's behalf.]

You remember me, don't you? [steve takes a single step forward to match bucky's step back. for all his steady voice, he can feel his heart pounding in his chest. funny how meeting himself from another dimension didn't rattle him as much as bucky coming from an earlier timeline.] D.C.? The Potomac? Just give me a sign, Buck. Please.

[advanced]

I remember the Potomac.

[His voice is low and a little raspy from not using it often. His eyes never leave Steve's face, focused and intense.]

I don't remember you. [That might have just a touch more bite to it than it needed to.] I read about you.

[starspangled]

Then why did you pull me from the river?

[the sharpening of steve's tone suggests that he's calling bullshit. bucky might not have been free of hydra for very long, but there's something there. that said, he doesn't know if it's wise to be having this same conversation right now. tony would know more about that than he does. but it's not exactly a conversation that steve can have with him.

steve takes a breath, the line of his shoulders softening.]

Whether you remember me or read about me, if you were on that helicarrier, you know you don't have to run.

[advanced]

I don't know.

[It's a little more vehement again. Conversely to Steve softening, Bucky is only getting more and more tense as each passing moment goes by. And that is at least partially the truth now, he doesn't really know why Steve has blended between mission and something only half remembered.]

I know that I'm not who you think I am.

[starspangled]

Do you?

[because steve knows what he's done and what's been done to him. he can't rule out the possibility that being here will change things. maybe he won't remember the things that steve knows he remembered. even steve doesn't know how patchwork bucky's memories might be. they didn't exactly get a chance to sit down and talk about it.]

I know you've changed, but that doesn't change anything for me.

[advanced]

You don't know what you're talking about.

[Of course it changes things, only a naive idiot would say that it doesn't. He's not the man he saw at the museum, smiling and clapping Captain America on the shoulder, he doesn't even know how much of that man still exists inside him.]

You need to stay away from me.

[starspangled]

If you're worried about me, don't. I can handle myself.

[even bucky on his worst days, steve's the most evenly matched for him.]

But if it's for you, I can help. All I'm asking for is a chance. And in return, you won't have to steal anything.

[advanced]

[Is he worried?

It's true that the idea of Steve being around him itches under his skin in a way that nobody else does, perhaps part of that is worry? He's not sure, and he certainly isn't addressing it right then.]

A chance to do what?

[starspangled]

A chance to get to know you. As you are. A chance for you to get to know me.

[one corner of his mouth lifts in an awkward smile.]

I've been told that I'm a real peach.

[maybe not in those exact words.]

[advanced]

[You're a punk. He can almost hear himself making the retort in soft, fond tones with an arm slung around smaller shoulders and a grin at his lips.

The silence that follows that offer is absolute. He should say no, it makes far more sense to say no, and yet for some reason he feels torn. Eventually he shakes his head just slightly.]

I need to think about it.

[Which is a nice way of saying 'no'.]

[starspangled]

You might think better on a full stomach.

[steve nods to the dropped food, but never takes his eyes from bucky's face. he'll take care of paying for it.]

Next time is your treat. I don't care what it is, as long as it's not stolen.

[because he knows what that 'no' really means, but leaving a little bit of debt on his conscious might get him at least one more meeting.]

[advanced]

[Next time, like they're really just old friends meeting to catch up. His gaze flicks down to the food, but he's not about to risk the manoeuvre of bending down to get it, it's too vulnerable a position.

So he just takes another step back.]

Don't follow me.

[It's half order, half threat, before he takes off running.]

[starspangled]

[steve sighs, watching him until he's out of sight.

he won't follow. but if he guesses bucky's route correctly, he might know a couple of shortcuts that will give him a glimpse or two again. it's not desperate at all.]