practice for [teleios] .

[relicta]

5,890 years and 2 months

This isn't the way I counted it. [ her ledger is substantial, but the numbers before her eyes are making her head spin. she swallows, tries to compose herself, and looks again. but the numbers don't change, those zeros are next to her name. ]

Comments

[deadandred]

Could be worse. We could be in Russia. [All joking aside, though that wasn't a very good joke, he clears his throat.]

Uh. Sorry I tried to kill you.

[relicta]

[ that actually gets a laugh, though it's a mirthless choking sort of one. ] Russia is the devil we know... [ but he's right, there's nothing left for them there. it's surreal, to see him again. but nothing registers in her expression that would give that away. like she's merely talking to an old friend.

it isn't inaccurate. ]

I'm sure they've accounted for it in your tally. [ yes, she knows that isn't what he meant. ]

[deadandred]

After two years, I think I know this place pretty well too. [Yeah, he knows. At least she isn't freezing up like Sam did, the first time he saw him. Then again, he didn't pull her out of the sky, either.]

They've accounted for a lot of stuff. Steve tried to talk 'em out of it.

[relicta]

[ two years. she neatly files it away, again without reacting. she can freeze up and panic and react when she's alone. now she slips into that automatic role of putting those around her at ease. ]

He would. [ it's said with a note of fond exasperation. he better not try to pull that stuff on her. ] Let me guess, he didn't contest his own count.

[deadandred]

[He doesn't mind it, so much. Sure, he doesn't trust Teleios at all, but it's slightly better than home. At least he's got a place to stay and people who care about him, here. Even some things that he would never see again, back at home.]

I doubt it. [He sounds about as exasperated as she does, to be honest. It's probably a little weird, coming from a guy who likely tried to kill her not more than a few days ago, but Bucky has long since grown used to weird. For the moment, he sounds like exactly what he is: Steve Rogers' exasperated little brother/best friend.] I didn't think to ask at the time, I wasn't in much of a state to.

[relicta]

[ no, he really wasn't. she realizes she never actually addressed his apology, and it's weird. like yeah that was super recent for her, but the man before her is the one who steve loved, he's a whole person. it's disconcerting in ways she doesn't know how to reconcile. ]

You seem good now. [ it's soft and kind of lame. she isn't sure what else to say. ]

[deadandred]

[Well, almost. He still has a few pieces missing, mostly good memories; but he's certainly better than he was. There's a shrug.]

I'm okay. Not good, not really, but better.

[relicta]

[ it makes her feel indignant all at once, but it blows over quick and she can only shrug one shoulder back at him. ]

Better is better. [ sometimes it really can be that simple, even if she knows that no -- no it can't. ]

[deadandred]

Yeah. Having Steve around helps. [A beat.] And other things. You'll see.

[relicta]

I guess I will.

[deadandred]

Well, I mean, if you do come. There's a lot of stuff from home.

[relicta]

Oh, I'm coming. [ it's more forceful than she's been this entire conversation, but after speaking to steve she doesn't want to leave him here any longer. she should have been here with him from the start. it's probably sad that bucky is the only one of the people she knows she's not questioning the motives of. but he did apologize for trying to kill her so that's a thing. ]

Count on it, Barnes.

[deadandred]

[That's probably the first smile she's gotten from him today, there, and he nods.]

Okay then, Romanoff. Guess we'll see you soon. Stevie might even show you our old place.

[relicta]

[ it feels like progress so she'll take it. ]

He said he would. [ so there ! no she really doesn't know. ]

[deadandred]

Well good, then I don't have to be the only tour guide. [It is progress, of a sort. He doesn't smile much these days, except around people he feels mostly safe with.]

[relicta]

I have a feeling I'll have no less than four of those. [ but she's smiling now too. bring it on barnes. ]