[for Steve] a little less conversation

[onlyapassenger]

Follows this.

Bucky is silent, but fuming as he stalks away from the site of Thor's future home, his body language so tense it's a wonder he's even standing straight instead of crumpling under the weight of his own bad mood. That he wouldn't have left the scene without Steve's wordless request is abundantly clear, and Bucky makes no attempt to hide his distaste for the decision. His mouth is twisted in a frown and his eyes are hard as he pointedly stares ahead, not daring to look over at his friend lest he explode before they're well out earshot from their earlier company.

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[onlyapassenger]

"Let's hear it," Bucky echoes, coughing out a quiet, bone dry laugh as he stops on the spot. His hands rest lightly over his hips, and he stares up at Steve with a casualness that belies how much he'd like to sink his fist into the nearest tree. Anger sits hot on the surface of his skin, and staying still, now, even for effect, takes more effort than he cares to expend.

And so he doesn't do so for very long.

"What in the goddamn hell is your problem?"

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"I don't know, Buck, but it sure sounds like you've got an idea," I say. It would make sense that he's angrier at me than Tony- if he'd really wanted to hurt the other man, it would have taken more than me simply stepping between them to prevent it.

[onlyapassenger]

"You're just letting him walk all over you!"

It's only part of the problem, but with so much pent up anger just begging for release, Bucky can barely think straight, let alone craft a fully-formed argument. Though capable of keeping a cool head in a crisis, of being calm and efficient and deadly, he is still a man of passion, and he needs little reason for his anger beyond knowing they've just been shown up by a couple of eggheads that included Tony Stark's flippant twin.

"You," he says again, and for emphasis, he presses his index finger to Steve's chest, getting so close only to back off again, hands curling into fists at his sides.

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"What do you want me to do, beat him up to prove a point? What does that achieve?" Other than some potential satisfaction gained in the moment, but I know what would follow afterward.

"I can deal with Tony Stark, Bucky, I have some experience in that area, and even if I'd had time to react to the last jackass thing he said, you were primed to take him down a peg for me."

[onlyapassenger]

"That's because the only thing you were going to do is talk to the guy some more," says Bucky, making a pointed attempt to lower his volume, though the result leaves something to be desired, his voice coming out tight and poorly restrained.

"Steve, you do sarcasm about as well as you know how to have a good time. He probably thought you were being sincere."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"He has done well by the community here," I point out, "even if he's also been his usual reckless, dangerously thoughtless self at times, as well." I hesitate, mulling the exchange over again for the first time since walking away from it.

"...You're right about the sarcasm, though. Probably didnt- Hmn. Damn."

[onlyapassenger]

"Yeah," says Bucky, with a sharp nod. "Exactly."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

I shake my head a little.

"Be that as it may, I will deal with him. I know you don't like him- I can't say I'm a huge fan, either- but it's not just him you don't like," I say.

"Bucky, I cannot let him bait me into lashing out. Even when he's not trying to. Can you understand why?"

[onlyapassenger]

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asks with a scoff, his face twisting in genuine confusion, ignoring Steve's question entirely to focus, instead, on what Bucky views as an accusation. "Do you think I have a list of people I dislike, now?"

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"No, Buck, but I think if you did, Tony Stark would be on it twice," I tell him evenly.

"This man didn't put the Registration Act through. This man didn't get me arrested. This man didn't-" betray me. Turn against me after more than ten years of fighting side by side.

"-isn't that Tony Stark. He may be unfathomably smug and push every button you have- and most of mine, it's uncanny- but he's not the same guy. And I don't know about you, but all of that, all of it, is still raw for me. I know you've had more time, maybe you see this Stark more clearly than I do. In fact, I don't doubt that you do. But every time I see him, for a split second I still think it's the Iron Man I know, and if I haul off and hit him, Bucky, I might not stop."

[onlyapassenger]

There are times Bucky becomes acutely aware of the fact that he knows a different Steve Rogers than everybody else. Most people see the legend, the icon -- and whether they see him as a relic or a hero doesn't matter, at the end of the day, because all they're really seeing is the flag. The symbol, not the person. But Bucky...

Bucky sees both, and knows, in this moment, that there's probably no other soul on this island with whom Steve would be so candid. The content of the confession isn't, perhaps, surprising, not to anyone with passing familiarity in regards to the Civil War, but that he's said anything at all is worthy of note.

"He wouldn't," Bucky says, when the silence has stretched on for long enough. "Doesn't mean I'm a big fan of the guy back home, but you're right. I've had more time. I've had my tussle."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"It might be I never do. I'm not looking for revenge on Tony, but the Stark on this island doesn't make it easy to remember that. Though he is a very different man." I find a place to sit on a moss-covered boulder that's protruding from a thicket of jewel green ferns.

"Does he bother the hell out of me? Yes. Have I forgiven the Iron Man I knew for what happened? No. These facts together mean I have to be careful. I will not blame him, will not lash out at him over something he hasn't done. I'll just..." I run a hand over my face and heave a sigh.

"Wait until he makes the wrong quip-" Probably about Bucky, "-and fight him over his own merits."

[onlyapassenger]

"And what part of that wasn't the wrong quip?" Bucky asks, staying his ground, and folding his arms where he stands. "That's my point, Steve. The guy has given you plenty of his own merits to hate him. Hell, the only reason I held off was because I thought you deserved first dibs. If you don't want them, though..."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"No," I say, "to be hacked off? Sure. To dislike him, yes. But not to hate him. And in all honesty, Bucky, if you hadn't made a move I probably would have lost it on the guy just now. If I hadn't already been in motion myself, I doubt I'd've been able to get between you."

[onlyapassenger]

"Well," replies Bucky, barely trying to keep his smirk in check, "that'll teach me to be patient."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"Nothing else ever has," I point out.

[onlyapassenger]

Bucky barks out a laugh, lifting up a hand without uncrossing his arms to rub at his jaw, affecting an air of sheepishness he'd never actually feel in regards to the matter at hand.

"Touché."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

I smile a little, grateful for the momentary levity.

"The rate we're going, things will come to a head eventually. I'm doing my best to give him the benefit of the doubt and he's showing an active unwillingness to return the courtesy. He doesn't respect anyone, and I'm done with it."

[onlyapassenger]

"Then you might consider shying away from sarcasm in the future," Bucky replies voice light, for all that the suggestion is meant in earnest. "You're not going to beat him at his own game, Steve. Make him play yours."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"Since when are you a strategist?" I ask lightly, though I smile as I do.

[onlyapassenger]

Rolling his eyes, Bucky scoffs, then shakes his head. While his version of planning has often been described as reckless, if not downright foolhardy, he'd argue he's picked up a thing or two over the years all the same.

"Funny."