musebox for Ashfae&#39;s minions

He sucks in a breath of his own, pain stabbing across his face as his hand tightens convulsively on hers.

"Fuck." he hisses, turning from her to slam his fist into the ground.

It isn't Haleth's fault he reminds himself, trembling in fury. She made the logical decision - as angry as he had been, he KNOWS it was the correct decision. It's why he made no attempt to track her down after his anger cooled.

But this! To know what they might have had... ah, but it hurts.

From:

takesnoshit

It hurts her also, and for once it shows. She does not flinch from his curse or his moment of violence, but her eyes are closed and her head bowed. When his grip tightens on hers, she holds all the harder.

She has been as angry and grieved with herself even as he now is. But there is nothing she can say.

Edited Date: 2019-08-07 10:22 am (UTC)

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[Steve swallows, and it's his turn for a tight chest. The phrase has a different meaning for him now, after the helicarrier--not just the you don't have to do it alone it was originally, or even the definition he gave it when he told the Winter Soldier to finish his mission. It's what brought Bucky back, what made him remember, or begin to remember. What got through.

He'll never forget the anguished, tortured expression on Bucky's face in that moment. Never.

But the sweeter, promise-filled look Steve is getting now helps.

Steve leans in again and kisses him, still slow and a little uncertain, not because he isn't sure but because it's impossible now not to be aware of what a big step this is, and how irrevocable.

...and only a few seconds after their mouths meet, just as he's relaxing into it again, the music changes. It's not heavy metal this time; it's "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas, who Steve has never heard of, but it only takes a few measures for him to groan and bury his face in Bucky's shoulder.]

Remind me never to ask Shuri for help ever again.

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[He sees the look on Steve's face change and he pauses, holding his breath as he recalls the last time either of them had uttered that phrase. Oh. Oh. He looks down for a moment, closing his eyes and about to apologize again -- for different reasons this time -- when Steve kisses him again, soft and sweet, slower than before.

He shifts his hand to rest on the side of Steve's neck as he returns the kiss -- which quickly gets interrupted by -- weird sounding music and panting?

...and a woman singing about a hump.

What.

He can't help but laugh.]

I gotta figure out how to get some of this off here.

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He has to take a few long moments to master his temper - Haleth is not Celegorm, who would scuffle with him until he feels less upset - and he has no wish to last out at her.

"Fuck." He says again heavily eventually, and sighs.

"I... damnit. I don't know what to say, Haleth."

From:

takesnoshit

"What can be said?" For once she sounds bitter, even grim. "My judgement proved to be in every way wrong. She is proof that you would have more than justified any faith I placed in you, but I gave you none, nor myself. Perhaps it was naught but cowardice on my part, for all that I convinced myself it was prudence." She laughs, but the sound is dark. "I wonder that you will even speak to me after such insult. Surely none in all the world has earned your ire so much as I."

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Fast. Top priority. Hang on--

[He reaches over (not disengaging himself from Bucky) and grabs the ipod, presses the track skip button a few times until he finds something they know. "Only Forever", Bing Crosby. Yeah, that'll do nicely. That song was everywhere in 1940, you couldn't get away from it. Back then he'd found it more painful than anything else, but it fits this moment. A lot better than the last number, that's for sure.]

Right.

[He leans back into their hold, places a hand back on Bucky's face and kisses him again, this time with conviction, and when he breaks it off it's deliberate, so he can look right in his face.]

Now, before something else happens: yes, you and me, to the end of the line. Yes I've known for a while, yes I'd love to have a place here with you, yes everything. And above all, yes, we're going to program this damn thing so it only plays the things we want.

Edited Date: 2019-08-08 12:56 pm (UTC)

From:

Definitely. There's a lot about the 21st century I kinda like, but the music definitely ain't what it used to be.

[He hooks his arm around Steve's neck to hold onto him while the other changes the music again. He and Shuri are definitely going to have to have a conversation about what actual music is, and it's a tossup as to whether she liked said music they kept having to skip or if she'd just been trolling them. Probably the latter.

All thoughts pause when Steve kisses him again, though, and he returns it just as intently, holding his breath when Steve starts answering all the unspoken questions. He can't help the smile that stretches across his face, can't help the hint of actual goddamned giddiness it makes him feel.]

Guess I might have to be taking her up on her offer of a new arm.

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[This time Steve has a chance to beam back, some of that giddiness flowing over to him. They'll talk about all the serious things more too--he'd like to--but for the moment he's happy to just be grateful. And thrilled, and amazed, and all the good things.]

You don't have to, not for me. Though I guess it would make dancing easier. Not that we're doing much of that.

[Have they done any, or has it just been an extended, musical sort of hug? Though he did warn Buck that he's never learned to dance.]

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"Not entirely." He sounds tired as he turns back to her. "You had every reason to expect the worse - that she is evidence that sometimes the worse doesn't have to come to pass is no reason to throw out the existing evidence. Besides. You told me at the beginning that you were barren - she's clearly from a world where you are not, so who knows what else is different."

He shakes his head. "My parents fought until they drove each other apart, despite being desperately in love. I won't make that mistake."

From:

takesnoshit

She smiles a little, sad but fond. "Still the same, logical Caranthir." She loves that about him as much as he loves how practical she is, and had no expectation of it changing, nor any wish for it. His innate honesty will not let him overlook reason, even if that reason is turned against him. It is one of the first things they found they had in common, and one of the first things that attracted her to him.

She looks down at their hands, still fiercely joined together, neither of them having slacked their grip so much as a whit. She has not wished to hope, much less to assume, but..."What would you have, then?" she asks softly. "At this point where we have found ourselves, how would you progress? You have said I am forgiven; I had not even looked for that much generosity, nor given it to myself."

Haleth looks up at him, searching, not her usual direct calmness but something almost vulnerable. "I asked you earlier and you said it did not matter, but tell me now: do you still wish for what you wished then, despite all that has changed?"

Edited Date: 2019-08-09 11:13 am (UTC)

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He tightens his grip and sighs.

"I am... stubborn." He says slowly. "And reluctant to give up my dreams. If you wish to try, Haleth, I am willing."

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[Having a functional left arm would certainly make life a lot easier in some ways, even if it was painful physically. He has a pretty high pain tolerance, at least. The usefulness would outweigh the pain.]

Would make the dancing easier, but also construction. Cooking. Lotta other stuff.

[He smiles and leans in, pressing a kiss to the corner of Steve's mouth.]

From:

takesnoshit

If either of them tightens their grip further they will cut off their circulation. This does not deter Haleth.

With her free hand she reaches out and touches his face lightly, the barest hint of a caress. "I too am stubborn," she says, "but can admit when I have been wrong. Even before Canien's coming, I knew how I missed you. I have told myself again and again we were better remaining apart, in our different lives. But we are not. Or I am not."

There is a wistfulness in her eyes now, an open longing. "I have tried to make the Haladin my only priority, and they must remain the first--but I would make space for you as well, if you will allow it."

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He looks at her with painful, naked hope.

"Truly? You would allow that?"

From:

takesnoshit

"I would." She still looks uncertain, as Haleth almost never is--not unsure of her words, but of his answer, despite the expression he wears. There has been so much hurt between them. "If you would let me. If you can forgive all the harm I did you."

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If I move in, will you cook for me?

[Could he stop Bucky from cooking for him is a better question, and they both know it, and Steve's grinning about that when Bucky kisses the side of his mouth. And then it's so easy to just turn his head again and do it properly, again.]

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[He smirks at the question, pinching Steve just under his rib cage.]

If you're lucky maybe.

[Bucky's eyes close when Steve turns his head and kisses him again, moving his arm to slide up against the other man's back to keep him close.]

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Slowly, he lifts their joined hands to kiss her knuckles, allowing her time to tell him to cease.

"I would. I forgave you long ago, although I might struggle to forget, and will need to ask your forgiveness for the same on my part."

From:

takesnoshit

"I forgave your words before they were ever spoken." She moves closer, getting to her knees in front of him and placing a hand on his face, her eyes locked on where their joined fingers still rest against his mouth. "And you will forget long before I forgive myself for hurting you as I did. I will face all the anger you have without fear, so long as we are together for it."

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Slowly, very slowly, watching her the whole time, he turns their hands, and this time, he kisses her palms, softly - and entirely inappropriate for someone just being friendly.

"I would like that." He says softly. "Can we begin something new, then?"

From:

takesnoshit

"I would like that," she says in a near-whisper. Her palms tremble a little when his lips touch them. "A new beginning."

Haleth takes a breath, then cradles his face in both hands. Slowly, giving him the same time he granted her to protest, should he wish it, she leans forward and kisses him.

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I'm already lucky.

[He only barely manages the words before their mouths find each other again, proving his point. The arm he's got around Bucky's waist pulls him in closer, harder. Even if the music changes to something dreadful again, he's not letting go this time.]

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[A couple hours later finds him at the stove, stirring the stew that he'd planned for a bit later, but his stomach is already growling, like it thinks he's run a marathon. Music is still playing quietly as he works, moving to the fridge and pulling out the fixings for sandwiches to go along with the soup.

He glances to where Steve is sitting at the table and he smiles a little.]

Wanna cut up some tomatoes for the sandwiches?

[He could do it, but it would be messy. Most vegetables aren't quite as mushy as tomatoes and since he only has one hand at the moment, it's easier to ask for help than to try it himself.]

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