video: 12

[yourbestguysgun]

[ He's holding up a sugar dispenser, that's all the video feed consists of, Bucky's hand as he turns it around, watching the yellow grains turn over and over. ] Sand. [ Captain obvious, but he seems to figure there's something off about it. ] That's the third thing today that's had sand in it an' it's early hours yet.

[ And it is, he's in the diner pretty early, probably pleased that he doesn't take anything in his coffee. Hopefully it didn't have sand in it, but it looks so far, so good. Bucky needs that.

Because this is at least distracting, so what the hell. ] Anyone got any ideas?

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[yourbestguysgun]

[ Pushing up from his seat and grinning. ] C'mon then, you're wastin' valuable daylight.

[punchedhitler]

[He would like, ideally, to reach and hold Bucky's hand but he can't. Instead he moves just behind him]

I talked to Tony, by the way. About Howard.

[yourbestguysgun]

Is he okay? [ Is that genuine concern? ] Tony, I mean.

[punchedhitler]

He's fine.

[Emphasis is Tony's]

He said not to let Howard know.

[yourbestguysgun]

'Kay.

[ He thinks keeping something like that under wraps is a bad idea, but it's not his place. ]

[punchedhitler]

[So does Steve, actually]

I don't know how long they can keep it up.

[yourbestguysgun]

Let the Stark's deal with their own problems, ain't anythin' to do with us.

[punchedhitler]

I know you don't like it but they're both my friends.

[yourbestguysgun]

Family's different, Steve. You can't wade in there.

[punchedhitler]

[Steve is quiet because he knows Bucky is right]

I'm not going to say anything.

[yourbestguysgun]

Good.

[ He offers him a smile, because if anything, Steve's got a big enough heart to want to help both them. ]

[punchedhitler]

[Quiet]

But if this blows up...

[yourbestguysgun]

Then you get to step in, okay? Leave 'em to it, they need to sort it out themselves, but if it gets bad you can do something.

[punchedhitler]

[He hates this part, the waiting, the watching, the possibility of his friends doing something ridiculously stupid]

I offered to take Tony for a drink. I think people keep saying no cause I can't.

[yourbestguysgun]

[ Bucky almost laughs at that, shakes his head. ]

S'why I had to make Ames my drinking partner. Can't get off your face if y'know a guy can't.

[ And then --. ] Look, I may not get on with the guy, but I don't hate him. Y'want me to try?

[punchedhitler]

Sorry.

[A short nod]

He'll say no if you don't do it on the sly.

[yourbestguysgun]

Okay. I'll work on it, and you can stop tyin' yourself up in knots.

[punchedhitler]

Yeah?

[A sheepish pause]

I think you know me too well.

[yourbestguysgun]

Don't sweat it, I got your back.

[punchedhitler]

[Steve strolls but he's gotta stop at home to get his drawing stuff...also to change out of his sweaty clothes]

[yourbestguysgun]

[ He's pretty serious about this stalking thing, Steve. Besides, Crepe probably misses him. ]

[punchedhitler]

[When they get up there, Steve heads into his room, even tho Crepe is doing the underfoot dance of joy]

Have you seen my artpad?

[It had gotten lost in a shuffle of Steve cleaning like a madman.]

[yourbestguysgun]

[ Rifling through everything he can find, calling out. ] No, where did y'see it last?

[punchedhitler]

The couch when Peggy came over.

[Steve comes out of his room; his shirt is mostly done up]

[yourbestguysgun]

[ Searching down the back of it. ] Uh --. Crepe might've ate it.