January 12th, 2017
You know I'm not a man who has ever been
Insecure about the world I've been living in
I don't break easy, I have my pride
But if you need to be satisfied
January 12th, 2017
While the Avengers attend the gala commemorating the Battle of New York, Darcy and Jane are settling into their new lab digs on Mauna Kea. She’s pretty cool with living on a dormant volcano in Hawaii. And the telescope? If you’d have asked her ten years ago if she’d flip her shit over a telescope, she’d have pointed out that it’s not nice to ask random strangers on the street questions. But also, no, she would not have cared about a telescope.
So she’s possibly molesting the telescope with Jane, but also glued to her phone because Bucky is keeping her in the loop.
Darcy had gotten a slew of messages and pictures tonight as the Avengers got ready. At this point it’s part fundraiser part NYC rally.
Bucky had sent pictures of Wanda helping Pietro with his cuff links. Tony and Steve sharing a drink in the lounge, both dressed to the nines but not wearing their shoes yet. Steve and Natasha holding hands in the limo. Wanda holding out Dorito dust covered fingers far away from her blush pink dress. And lastly, a selfie of Bucky in his tux.
Thor had sent Jane a video of him singing a victory ballad with Sam (in the bathroom? Maybe for acoustics?), and also a lovely video of the inside of his pocket.
Now she’s watching the coverage online. The red carpet had been graced by many of the celebrities that call New York City home, but had gone nuts when Steve and Natasha stepped out of the limo.
The questions are NYC-themed, and interviewers know from past experience that most others will be ignored. So Steve says his favorite food truck is Alberto’s on Seventh. That he loves the new art installation in Central Park. Nat praises the Mets, making Steve wince, and talks about how much she and Steve enjoyed a concert in Madison Square Garden.
Clint talks up his favorite local coffee roaster. Wanda is all about a new Eastern European restaurant. Pepper and Tony name drop the shop where he bought her Valentine’s chocolates. Pietro flirts with all of the reporters relentlessly, never once answering an actual question, but totally flustering Roger Wilkes from Society! to the point that the man matches his raspberry pink bow tie.
Bucky talks about the spirit of the city. How it’s stubborn, loyal, never gonna back down, do it it’s own way. How much he loves it, how glad he is that New York didn’t change, because it feels like home.
“You didn’t bring a date?” An intrepid reporter asks, tipping his mic towards Bucky.
“I’m puttin’ in the leg work.” Bucky answers, tipping his head at something beyond the camera, maybe the crowd yelling his name.
“Still?”
Bucky’s eyes return to the reporter. “Still?”
“It’s just it’s pretty public now. You don’t feel like she’s leaving you out to dry with everyone watching?”
“One,” Bucky says as Wanda and Clint stop next to him, “It’s a woman’s prerogative when and where and why she does something, and it ain’t up to me or anyone else to get turned around by it. Ya think she’s not worth the effort, seems to me she was right in puttin’ ya through the paces to weed ya out.”
“Did you get him started?” Clint asks, resting his chin on Wanda’s shoulder. His hair is already messed up. Natasha says he can stay all prettied up on assignments, but apparently that’s an Agent Barton skill Clint doesn’t bother to carry over to his personal time.
“Two,” Bucky continues, ignoring Clint, “What do I have to hide? That I’ve met a woman who’s worth it? That I have feelings for her? I’ve been through hell, had to fight to stand here bein’ my own man. I know who I am, I know what I want, and I know what’s important. Some perception of pride? As she would say, fuck that noise.”
“I’m pretty sure Pepper told us not to curse.” Clint’s bow tie is already undone, and he’s fidgeting with the button at his collar.
“’m from Brooklyn. Fuck is a necessary verb.” Bucky grins at the camera, like he knows the viewers all agree with him. “So, yeah, still. Now. Next month. Next year. I’ll show up at these events alone ‘cause I’m just fine with saving her a place until I’ve said I love her enough, proved it to her enough, that she’s standing here next to me without a single doubt in her mind.”
“So. Did I tell you guys about the coffee yet?” Clint asks, smiling as he tosses his cuff links from hand to hand.