Open To Anyone For Anything RP Post 2

[questionablewit]

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[stillcantdance]

[Steve would reply to agree, but he's still breathless from laughing. It's partly relief, he knows, a reaction to the fact that he's just kissed Bucky, and more importantly Bucky kissed him back. And the world hasn't ended, no one's burst in with guns blazing, Bucky hasn't stepped back and said no, he can't do this, for whatever reason (and whatever the reason Steve would have respected it, but God he's relieved that's not what's happened)...

All the things that might have gone wrong, all the various disasters that have happened to them both...yeah, a little hideous noise pretending to be music is welcome compared to the other possibilities, and he has to laugh at that.]

You sure? A lot of things have changed--

[But he can't even finish, can't even joke that the divine Ella Fitzgerald's style has changed that much, because he just sets himself off again. He follows Bucky to the table and leans on it, looking down at the gizmo that's set this off. Bucky has better luck when he changes the track, which goes back to something more from their time. Instrumental, lots of trumpets, proper big band stuff. Definitely meant for dancing to. Steve turns his head and grins at Buck, holding out a hand.]

Shall we try again?

[At dancing, the hand suggests. At kissing, he hopes. At anything, really. Everything.]

[endsinafight]

[It's probably the best day that Bucky's had in a long time. Having Steve here always makes him feel better, lighter, like maybe things will turn out okay eventually. Having him agree that that this could be his home, too, though, means more to him than just about anything. Brooklyn hasn't been his home for decades even if he misses it sometimes and probably always will. But he thinks Wakanda will be a nice, quiet place for them to figure out whatever it is that they're embarking on.

And building a bigger place to live will give Bucky plenty of things to do when Steve's away on missions.]

Not that much has changed.

[His words are heavy with double meaning despite the smile on his face, soft and full of warmth, something that not many have been privy to seeing from him. He holds Steve's gaze and reaches out, sliding his hand into the other man's easily.]

Which part do you want to try again? Just so we're clear.

[There might be a hint of teasing in his voice.]

[stillcantdance]

All of it?

[Part hopeful, part amused, entirely giddy with laughter and a strange, comfortable excitement. Their hands fit together effortlessly, and Steve doesn't hesitate to step forward again and put his other hand back on Bucky's waist, bringing himself closer to that smile.]

Except for the being interrupted by someone trying to gargle rocks. I'll pass on that part.

[endsinafight]

[Bucky grins at his response, stepping closer to Steve, as well, and this time winding his arm around his shoulder and letting his hand rest there on the back of his neck, fingers gently curling into soft, fine hair at the base of his skull.]

I don't know. I feel like if we listened to it enough, we could get used to it.

[He's trying very hard now not to smirk, because, no. He's pretty sure they couldn't. He searches Steve's eyes, the same familiar blue that he's found himself getting lost in so many times over the years.]

What uh -- what brought this on? [The words are curious. He wonders if this is something Steve's spent time thinking about over the years or if it's something that just crept up on him recently.]

[stillcantdance]

[Steve only lets go out of Bucky's hand out of the hope that it'll return to where it was before, and he smiles when it does, shivering a little at the curve of fingers at the top of his spine. His arms both go around Bucky's waist this time, like they're slow dancing again, even though the music is something much too upbeat for slow dancing. It doesn't matter at all. At the question, Steve just shrugs.]

I'd been wondering for a long time whether or not to say anything, and then you asked me to dance. Just kinda happened, after that. I wasn't planning it or anything--but I'm not sorry.

[Not at all sorry, given the snug grip he's got on Bucky now, or the way he's smiling.]

This a surprise for you, or something you knew about?

[Which part he means is open to interpretation.]

[endsinafight]

[It's not slow dancing music at all -- it's something that once upon a time he would have cut a serious rug to -- but he's far more focused on Steve than he is the music, so he doesn't really notice. He searches the other man's eyes, and considers his words, that he'd been wondering whether to say anything but hadn't really planned on it.]

You know you can always tell me anything. [Even if the feelings hadn't been reciprocated, Bucky wouldn't have judged him or made fun of him for them. And, realizing the irony of those words, he pauses, a faint chuckle escaping him.]

Yes, and no, I guess. I guess it's a surprise because I didn't realize that you thought about it. But I've known for awhile, how I felt.

[stillcantdance]

[The music is a nice background, something familiar that doesn't jar. It's not where his attention is.]

I wasn't keeping it secret, just...been a lot more concerned with you getting in better shape first. That mattered more. Most.

[Shuri fixing his head, making sure he's had a good bit of time to re-ground himself now that he's loose from Hydra...all that.]

How long've you known, then? That you feel...however it is you feel.

[He huffs a laugh, because it's a little silly how they're tiptoeing around this. But he kinda likes it that way. Taking time to talk about it, but while vaguely slow dancing so it's already clear they're both on the same page even if they haven't said what the page is yet.]

[endsinafight]

[His expression softens at that and he looks down for a moment, holding his breath.]

Thank you. [His voice is quiet. He's still not 100%, and he's accepted the fact that there's a good chance he never will be. But he's better than he was, by miles. He's pretty sure that he owes his life to Steve and Shuri both.

His lips tip upwards, hint of amusement in his eyes, because he kind of likes this, too.]

Awhile. [He hesitates, shrugs a little.] Before the war.

[stillcantdance]

[It doesn't have to be said that Bucky will never be 100%. They're both soldiers. They've seen the results of shellshock, ptsd, torture, lost limbs...all of it. And what Bucky went through was even worse than the normal horrors. Back to normal has never been the goal, not for Steve. Just making the new normal as good for Bucky as it can be. Which just now looks pretty good.]

That long?

[Yeah, that surprises him. They weren't much more than kids before the war.]

You know that you can tell me anything thing works both ways, right?

[It's teasing more than chiding, given his expression and the way he lifts a hand to splay on Bucky's back.]

[endsinafight]

[He can't help but smile at the chiding and he gives Steve another shrug.]

I know. I realized the irony of my statement as soon as I said it. But...it's not like things could have worked out back then.

[His voice is honest. One way or the other it would have ended horribly -- either with one or both of them in prison, or worse, and if not -- things still would have gone down pretty much the same, probably. It would have made everything that much more difficult for both of them when Steve had woken up in this century, and when Bucky had gotten free from HYDRA.]

[stillcantdance]

[Steve doesn't particularly like it, but he has to nod, because Bucky's right. There are a lot of reasons why this probably wouldn't have happened back then, or wouldn't have worked if they'd tried.

It's not that which bothers him so much as the idea that Bucky felt unable to talk about it, though. But the cards are on the table now, at least. No more secrets.

At least, that's what he hopes. Steve leans in closer, his head resting against Bucky's. The music's slowed down enough for that.]

Took me a bit longer, before I realized. Not 'til you came back.

[endsinafight]

[Speaking of irony -- the music changes to something soft, sweet. Vera Lynn, "It Had To Be You." And if that song doesn't sum up the way he feels about Steve -- the way he's always felt -- well. He's not sure there's another song that does.

He closes his eyes when Steve rests his head against his, though the admission makes him raise his eyebrows.]

Which time? In D.C. or Romania?

[stillcantdance]

[There's a lot of love songs in the mix. The irony occurred to Steve when he was making it, though he hopes it wouldn't be obvious. There *are* a lot of love songs, after all. It didn't have to mean anything. Though of course it did. Does.]

Between the two. While I was looking for you.

[He turns his head a little, so his mouth rests on Buck's hair.]

Couldn't stand not knowing where you were.

[endsinafight]

[When Bucky realizes how much of the music is comprised of love songs, it'll touch him, even if he goes with giving Steve the benefit of knowing that most of the songs in the world are love songs. He holds his breath at that answer, and his chest suddenly feels tight.]

I'm sorry, Steve.

[His voice is quieter than usual, laced with sincerity.]

[stillcantdance]

You needed time. I get that.

[If Bucky's chest feels tight, it may well be because Steve is holding him harder now. He can't help it. That was a tough two years.]

Just...don't disappear like that again. I couldn't take it.

[endsinafight]

[Bucky exhales slowly, more grateful than Steve realizes for his easy forgiveness. It had been the only time he'd ever voluntarily left Steve's side. He turns his head and presses a kiss to the other man's cheek.]

I won't. You're stuck with me now. End of the line, right?

[He draws back to look at Steve, eyes filled with promise.]

You and me.

...I'm sorry I'm a troll.

[stillcantdance]

[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.

Trolling level: expert lmao

[endsinafight]

[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.

I CAN'T HELP IT I'M SORRY the milkshake song is on there somewhere too.

[stillcantdance]

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.

Maybe Anaconda by Nicki Minaj? :P

[endsinafight]

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.

Definitely. And a lot of Wakandan music, of course.

[stillcantdance]

[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.]

Of course lol

[endsinafight]

[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.]

[stillcantdance]

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.]

[endsinafight]

[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.]

[stillcantdance]

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.]