Drift Fleet IC Contact

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Watch this space.

Comments

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[The dual meaning isn't lost on Natasha, and realistically she would like to hear Barnes' take on the planet too, to share her misgivings and her discomfort with the whole situation with someone who she feels like she can show that vulnerability...

But that's not her priority now. Natasha's never had a hard time setting aside her own feelings to focus on someone else's. It's always easier to deal with someone else's.

She nudges his arm gently with her shoulder, a physical greeting. Then she shrugs.]

I met him. He seems nice. [They both know what he meant.] How are you handling it?

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[ Some of the tension eases from his shoulders once she's there, and he nudges her back gently in response. He walks toward the vacant house he'd searched. At the very least, it will be a quiet and out of the way place to talk. ]

Well enough.

[ It's not Jim, but there's bound to be some common ground somewhere. That Bucky had seen some shit and wasn't comfortable with the fleet. The feeling had been mutual. Weapons make some things better, at least. ]

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At least it's not the first time for either of you.

[In some ways that wouldn't make it any easier, but at least it meant there was less need for explanation.]

Quicker getting on the same page.

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[ He does little more than offer a hum in response. He opens the door to the house, stepping aside for Natasha to enter before closing it and dead-bolting the locks behind her.

Not that it's a necessity, merely the illusion of safety. ]

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[Natasha trusts him, and figures that since he brought them here, Barnes has already checked the house. It doesn't stop her from doing a quick, cursory check of the room, though, and pulling the blinds. Old habits.

She trusts him enough not to check the rest of the house.]

Any idea how he's settling in?

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Dealing, but from the sounds of it, he didn't come from a great place.

[ Bucky crosses his arms and leans against the counter. ]

Weapons were about the only thing I could offer. He wasn't pleased with the situation.

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I got that impression too.

[Some things seem to be constant that way. Maybe it's pessimism, but the different versions of Barnes all seem to be in the fight, and they all seem to end up with trust issues.

Natasha takes position across from Bucky, sitting on the dining room table. Rude.]

I know I'd feel better with a knife under my pillow.

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[ It's a sentiment they both understand. A weapon at the ready, even in sleep. He still keeps a loaded gun under the mattress, which isn't much of a graduation from a knife under the pillow, but it has to count for something. ]

I made a misstep, but I don't know where.

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[She cocks her head.]

What makes you think that?

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[ He has an inkling where, but he still doesn't see why it mattered. ]

May have told him to call me Winter.

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It'd help avoid confusion. [Natasha allows the answer slowly, teasing out his meaning.] You know, I haven't thought about what I'd call him.

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That's what I thought. He was opposed. [ Of course, he didn't really ask why. He can take some sort of guess, though it has nothing to do with that. He shakes his head, following the mood. ]

So long as it's not in bed, you can call him whatever's comfortable. [ T r y i n g? ]

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One of you is more than enough to deal with in bed, thank you. Not all of us have enhanced stamina.

[Teasing. And reassuring. She doesn't have any designs on snagging another Barnes.

Not that she had intentions the first time.]

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You say that you don't, but you're really not convincing.

[ He doesn't really believe she'd run off with the other version of him, because that's not Natasha. ]

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Well, I won't say it's not fun to try.

[Natasha's smile is honest as she says it. She enjoys this thing with Barnes. This Barnes.]

You're still James. He's... whoever he is.

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He can be whoever he wants to. I get the feeling he didn't have that, before.

[ Neither did he until the fleet, but that seems to be the common thread between the different universes containing one James Buchanan Barnes. ]

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Seems to be a reoccurring motif. [It's sort of morbid to think about. Makes her wonder what she'd be like in that world.

She'd rather not know.] Like the more some things change, the more some don't.

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I've noticed it's specific events that are different, though he may be the outlier.

[ It doesn't matter which world she's in, Natasha Romanoff is a force to be reckoned with. ]

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[Oh, she is. But she's fairly sure she doesn't have happy lives out there.

And if she did, she might not recognize herself.]

In this case, it seems like a little more than just an event that's off. Reminds me of something Kate said.

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What did Kate say?

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She mentioned seeing other universes, that in one of them she was a harpy. Feathers and all.

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A harpy, huh? That's definitely something.

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You're telling me. This... this at least I can buy, even if I don't like it.

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Agreed. Have you talked to them? [ Of course she has. ]

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[Of course she has.]

I set up a meeting. Thought I'd try to help them settle in. Get the lay of the land. They knew me.