...

[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

[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.

[like_a_gerbil]

I've known you since we were kids. I know you. Whatever happens won't change the things that are important.

[playingoursong]

Well, let's hope you're right, then.

And in the meantime, we can avoid dragons.

[like_a_gerbil]

I know I'm right. Nothing's ever going to convince me otherwise.

At least eventually I'll get a shield to help with the dragons.