...

[playingoursong]

So glad to know I was your, what, third choice?

I guess I'm supposed to be grateful that you picked me, and not the flying tin can or lump of coal.

Yeah, I wasn't really paying attention.

Comments

[playingoursong]

[He flashes Steve a winning smile.]

Something about a sun? I don't know.

[like_a_gerbil]

[Shaking his head, he laughs softly at that smile.]

Mundanes are kinda like that. Still haven't figured out some of the stuff mine does.

'M surprised you didn't decide that being the third is lucky.

... Though that might depend on what yours is planning.

[playingoursong]

Nothing, as far as I know. Everyone else is getting shipped off. Not me, though.

[like_a_gerbil]

I thought I was the one that wasn't supposed to ship out. Would've figured you'd convince your mundane to send you someplace.

[playingoursong]

Steve, my choices are dragons, having my soul ripped out and replaced by an animal, and stepping into Wonderland. I think I'll pass.

[like_a_gerbil]

The dragons... [Steve can't quite hide the faraway look he usually gets when he's itching for his sketchbook.] ... they could be interesting. Not too sure about the rest.

I would've thought there'd be more choices than that. My mundane looks at those places sometimes and versions of you don't seem that common.

[playingoursong]

See? No taste, around here.

[He grins.]

My mundane's stretched kinda thin right now. I'll take it as a blessing.

[like_a_gerbil]

C'mon, Buck. You think I wouldn't want a chance to see a dragon? It'd be like something out of those books I read as a kid.

Mine's got the same problem or I'd probably be shipped off to that space station she keeps looking at. [He pauses and grins wryly.] But at least I'd be taller there.

[playingoursong]

Yeah, you'd be right there, wouldn't you. Getting snapped up for dinner.

[like_a_gerbil]

[Steve smiles, giving Bucky an innocent look.] I'm too small to even get a dragon's interest. You're more dinner size.

[playingoursong]

And that's exactly why I'm pleased to be left behind.

[like_a_gerbil]

Where's your sense of adventure? Figured you'd want to go someplace like that. See new places... slay the dragon... charm the damsels in distress.

[playingoursong]

Your mundane must be pretty nice, Steve. Mine inflicts some pretty terrible things on her 'active duty' folks.

[like_a_gerbil]

I made an agreement with mine. I won't leave if she doesn't try to 'break me.' Turns out she's kinda likes me.

[And everyone swore that Steve had bad luck with women...]

So no horror games. No games where I have to... [He pauses, considering how exactly his mundane's friends had wanted to 'break him,' glancing away before Bucky can notice the grief.] Means I'm pretty much staying in the memes and muse boxes.

[playingoursong]

Hey, if she likes you, you should do your best to keep her.

[It's a gentle tease, behind the grin.]

We can trade stories just fine here.

[like_a_gerbil]

What about yours? If you were the third choice does that mean that you're not... [Though, Steve can't see why Bucky's mundane wouldn't want him around. Or why he wouldn't be a favorite.]

You sure you wanna hear some of those? I think Howard is still trying to deal with what I told him.

[playingoursong]

You told something to Stark that he couldn't handle? I'm... okay, I'm a little proud of you, right now.

[He shrugs.]

Mun likes me all right. I guess we click better than the others.

[like_a_gerbil]

[Steve can't help looking a little smug.] Yeah, he was actually speechless for awhile. I still dunno what he thought about half of what I told him.

Glad you click. You're not around these places enough. I was beginning to think I wouldn't see you again.

[playingoursong]

Mun says I have something coming up, soon. I might get more popular, then.

Whatever that means. I think it makes her nervous.

[like_a_gerbil]

I - uh - have an idea what that means. It makes my mundane and me nervous too. She thinks it's too soon for it to happen.

I - I want certain things to happen, but others... Not sure I'm ready for those.

[playingoursong]

Well, at least one of us does.

[like_a_gerbil]

Bucky, you should have another chance. Whatever happened between when I...

[Yeah, he really doesn't want to think about how he failed his best friend.]

Between that mission ... and you coming back... At least you'll be coming back. You'll get the chance you should've had.

[playingoursong]

[Bucky shakes his head.]

I might not be the same guy.

[like_a_gerbil]

Deep down, you'll always be the same guy, Buck. No matter what you did, you won't change.

[playingoursong]

You sound pretty sure of that.