( audio 16 )

[yourbestguysgun]

[ He doesn’t really want to make a big deal of it, there’s no point, and he already feels kind of awkward about it. So Bucky’s network post is short, to the point, because he’s too tired to make it anything else. ]

Hey, so uh -- I’m not dead. Just figured people should know that. In case they were curious. [ Sarcasm, thy name is Bucky. ] Howard, I need to talk to you. In private, okay?

[ End feed. ]

Comments

Private to Bucky;

[charring]

That was a really rough day. I'm sure I'll be okay, though.

[ private ]

[yourbestguysgun]

Yeah? What happened? Did you get hurt?

Re: [ private ]

[charring]

You died. Ed died. Ran into a 'friend' of Ed's. I'm unharmed. It just sucked, yesterday.

[yourbestguysgun]

[ Worry creeping into his voice. ] Need me to kill anyone for you?

[charring]

Not yet. I know nothing about the guy except that he's the one that turned Ed. And that my warning flares don't do much to him.

[yourbestguysgun]

You threw fire at him? [ Concerned, very, very concerned. ] Why? He do something t'you?

[charring]

Got too close and was way too creepy. [Conveniently leaving out the gross bit about Jerry kissing her.] I don't think he likes me with Ed. He wanted to know how a girl like me changes a monster like Ed.

[yourbestguysgun]

Not the only one who thinks so. [ But Bucky doesn't sound angry about it. He died, he's allowed to change his mind. ] If he gives you grief, you come t'me.

[charring]

Loads of people aren't too keen on it. You guys should form a club. [She hesitates, nose wrinkling slightly.] I actually don't think that's a good idea. He's kind of terrifying.

[yourbestguysgun]

I'm a big guy, I can take - [ No, no he can't. ] Look, jus' warn me if there's something going down, okay? I wanna look out for you.

[charring]

I'll tell everyone I know.

[yourbestguysgun]

Good girl. I'm only a phone call away.

[charring]

I know. Love you, Bucky. And I'm very happy to see you again. We need to go get dinner sometime. Provided I can convince Ed it's actually okay for me to be out after Sunset.

[yourbestguysgun]

He controllin'?

[charring]

He's afraid.

[yourbestguysgun]

That somethin'll happen?

[charring]

Of losing me, so, yes. Sounds a lot like you and he have at least that in common.

[yourbestguysgun]

[ p a u s e. ] I still think he's a jerk.

[charring]

Yeah, I do, too on occasion. But I like him. And he died for me the other day. Willingly. It's kind of hard to think he's a jerk without actually feeling happy I have him.

[yourbestguysgun]

[ She can probably hear the smile in his voice. ] Okay then, can't argue with that.

[charring]

[That's what she was going for, Bucky. She counts it as a win and has a smile of her own.]

Good. Because it's important to me that you two get along. That way, if something big happens, I have both of you looking out for me. Two of my favorite guys.

[yourbestguysgun]

Hey now, y'never said I had to like him.

[charring]

You don't. Just get along with him. Be civil.

[yourbestguysgun]

Civil. I can do that.

[charring]

Thank you.