sixwordstories | (no subject)

Welcome back.

You'd think by now nothing would surprise me.

You would think. But apparently we keep getting thrown new ridiculous things to handle.

Dreams, I've missed you so much.

[ It's really hard for her not to try and treat him like a little brother and hug the life from him, but she's going to stand a few feet back and try.

...and she's going to try even harder not to cry. Hence the clenched fists at her sides. ]

Please don't go away like that again.

To be fair, I was dying.

[Not a memory he likes to dwell on. ]

I'm alright now, Amelia.

You can say that again.

[ ...okay he's got her there, but still. She puts on her best "big sister" face despite her red, glossy eyes. ]

You better be, or I'm going to be very angry.

[ And then he gets a little smile. ]

I'm so happy you're home.

Rogers.

Now how'd I know I was gonna find you here?

You're not gonna ask about...well.

You know

[she grins, uncharacteristically]

It's you, of course I'd be here.

About how you're taller than me now?

[ She quirks an eyebrow at him. ]

You're still you, aren't you? And you're healthy? [ A beat for that to sink in and a small shrug. ] Yes? Then the rest doesn't matter unless you want to talk about it.

[ Just because you're taller now doesn't mean you're getting out of her "big sister-ing" you, Steve. ]

Still, it's good to see you.

[He hasn't seen many friendly faces lately. The last time he saw Natasha, she was definitely not happy.]

I feel like I've been away forever.

Edited 2017-07-31 21:50 (UTC)

[He hands over the small sketchbook he keeps on hand at all times.]

All the proof you need's in there.

[Yes, she wasn't friendly...but she has had a change of heart.]

It seems that way, yeah. Sam and Bucky still with you?

[ She takes the sketchbook gingerly, paging through it carefully. Her eyes well up as she sees all the familiar faces done in Steve's unique style. Yes, this is definitely still the man she remembers from before, no matter how much taller or broader he's become.

Rubbing her eyes with the back of one hand, she hands the sketchbook back to him, and then throws her arms around him in a tight hug once he's tucked it away again. He'll have to excuse her not saying anything - she's trying too hard not to cry to speak right now. ]

[No doubt the hug would have practically strangled him when he was smaller. As is, he tries to be gentle when he returns the gesture.]

I'm coming home.

Just me.

[That smile evaporated so fast it was like it hadn't ever been there in the first place.]

Buck's...he's safe. Sam and I split up after. I needed to get away.

[ Dreams, he's so much stronger than he used to be. But everything about him is still Steve like she remembers, and that's enough for her.

When she finally pulls back from the hug, she's smiling brightly despite her red eyes and flushed cheeks. ]

I can hardly wait.

[Nat immediately regrets saying that, as she sees his face fall]

Understood. I've been traveling. But, I always seem to come back to New York.

Edited 2017-07-31 22:10 (UTC)

Just be careful, Nat. Last thing we need is you getting arrested.

[Because she helped him. Not that he wouldn't break her out like he had the others.]

And you know, before you get upset at the mere thought...I just don't want your profile to be even more messed up when they inevitably add 'resisting arrest' and 'breakout' to your record.

...Again. We have a bad habit of doing that, don't we?

[she nods, as he says this] Yeah, who knows, I could be accused of collusion with Putin. [she smirks, hey, she was in the KGB!]

I do have a friend in the city and I can stay under the radar. It would be harder without SHIELD technology, but I think I can pull through.

Yeah, but true patriots resist. Right, Captain?

Good to hear you're doing alright there, Capt.

I really try not to think about the state of the government right now.

[Sigh. For someone with America in their hero title, he sure seems displeased with his country's leaders.]

You're right. Giving in has never been my strong suit.

Lang. Keeping your head down, I hope?

[Breaking folks out of The Raft wasn't exactly easy. He'd rather not have to try and do it a second time.]

Yeah, on top of what's happening with SHIELD...HYDRA.

Neither has mine, you know that. Just know I'll be with you, whatever you decide to do.

[ The Raft was far worse than any jail cell he was in, and Scott doesn't want to revisit it again. But he's out, and out is all that matters to him. But now he's got to keep on the down low.

Taking a deep breath, he points a finger down towards the ground. ] Keeping low to the ground is something I'm a master at. Just no... [ He makes a shifty motion with his hands. ] ... jobs on the side.

Not to sound too much like Fury, but it's about damn time. [A corner of her mouth quirks upwards.] I know. I know. Language.

[Steve trusts Scott more than most. He's already proven himself as far as Rogers is concerned.]

I'm trying to get back to a place I used to visit....a long, long time ago. Had a home there an everything. But that was...

[He gestures to himself.]

That was before Captain America. Who knows how much it's changed by now?

You don't know the half of it, Hill.

[He chuckles despite the flush that flits across his face. They're never ever going to let that go.]

Last time I was in a place like this, a stiff breeze could have done me in.

Was this a little place in shoebox apartment in Brooklyn? Somehow I got a feeling you might not like what you're going to find.

[ Scott sounds confused. Yes, Scott sounds very confused. He even looks confused. ]

But maybe time was kind. That's unless you're talking about something delicious like pizza.

Why?

Because when I left this place I was a lot smaller.

Also, I was dying from some kind of plasma burst. This place is strange even by my new Avenger standards.

No, no. I had that bubble burst a couple of years ago.

It's a weird place, like here. Lots of different folks.

Thank you, Natasha.

Are you...is the Nexus...

[He struggles for a moment. He's seen how the passage of time for others affects those he knew when he was smaller. For all he knows, this Amelia is no more real or alive than his dreams of Peggy are, now.]

Are you still there?

Oh.

Don't worry, everything is still shit.

[ She doesn't understand his worry, and so she does the only thing she can to assure him: She slowly lets down her hair, takes a ginger hold of one of his hands, and presses her hairpin into it. This is such a huge part of her, and they both know it. ]

I'm as real as I ever was. I hurt in the same ways, bleed in the same ways, and do the same stupid things I always did.

[ Gently, she curls his fingers around the hairpin and closes her free hand over his, looking up at him with an earnestness she's never shown anyone before. He can feel the weight of it in his hand, can't he? Feel the way she trembles ever so slightly from being apart from the one multiversal constant in her life? ]

Time has passed, but I'm still here. Just as I'll always be here whenever you need me. You were there for me when I needed you most, and now I'll be here for you in the same way.

You say that now. Give it an hour.

No problem, Steve. Keep in touch.

How much time has passed?

Almost five months.

[ A beat as she thinks she might understand why he's asking. ]

...how long has it been for you?

Edited 2017-08-01 17:55 (UTC)

Seventy-six years. I wasn't aware of most of them, though.

Looks fine to me.

Why? Are you up to trouble?

[Looking around.]

Seems alright to me. Different, but alright.

Dreams. That's... [ It's more than she can fully comprehend. Her lips draw into a thin line and she gives the hand of his she's still holding a small, hopefully reassuring squeeze. ]

I'm so sorry, Steve.

Naw you'll see.

Papere I am always up t'trouble but it ain't me you gotta worry 'bout

Weird places with different people. Com'on it couldn't be bad like sharing a cell with a guy with HATE and LOVE tattooed on his knuckles.

It isn't.

(no subject)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

He's Steve! Even the most stern Ex-KGB agents will smile!

no subject

no subject

no subject

I have to rewatch CAW...excuse the rusty condition she's in

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

If you want to do an AU thing...LMK

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject