stands_for_hope: (lois: watching)
Clark Kent ([personal profile] stands_for_hope) wrote2014-06-02 11:50 am
Entry tags:

The Metropolis Dork Squad, Captain America, and the Falcon in... Angst, Death, and Taxes

[continued from here]

The day had arrived. The trap had been set.

They'd gone to Lois's apartment the day before and made their intentions clear, hoping that with a short period of time, the HYDRA forces wouldn't be able to pull together anything that was too hard to handle.

Jim's paycheck had come in, so he'd treated a rather delicious dinner for the three of them, which had been followed up with some surveillance work, a couple of flights over the various buildings to scout for good positions (both to look for snipers and to drop Lois), and a watching of The Incredibles since there weren't any good games on.

Lois hadn't quite gotten Jim into a french braid with flowers, but she had managed to twist up a few smaller braids and tuck the remainder into a pony tail to keep the worst of it out of his face. If Lois was happy about it as much for it's utility as to give Jim a firm, physical reminder of the people who cared about him... well, she wasn't about to say it out loud.

Clark was with them until roughly half an hour before and informed them just before he left that Captain America was on the ground, apparently sketching one of the ruined and as yet unrepaired buildings on a bench nearby with large 'easel case' while the Falcon was half a mile away on a rooftop. Thankfully, while a good portion of the surrounding area had been destroyed during the attack on Metropolis, this neighborhood was semi-functional (if largely empty during the weekend) so he wasn't entirely out of place.

That just left Lois, her HYDRA pin tucked in place at her collar, and Jim in the empty office room, doing their best to psych themselves into believing this would work.

...and Clark going to investigate the singular figure hiding out on one of the higher rooftops nearby.
kolodnoykovki: (Denying the devil of silence)

[personal profile] kolodnoykovki 2014-06-16 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
That answer was simple, anyway. "He's as subtle as your flappy red cape."

He was relaxing, bit by bit. There was something about Clark that made that easy. The trust, the friendship, the acceptance - some combination of all of them. He was finally starting to feel like his keel was where it should be.
kolodnoykovki: (Now we have reached the end)

[personal profile] kolodnoykovki 2014-06-16 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
"Says the guy who isn't surprised by his closet every day. I keep expecting to find buttoned shirts, suspenders, and jackets with patched elbows." Vintage. "...So you like your friends like you like your clothes - vintage?"
kolodnoykovki: (Could have been forever)

[personal profile] kolodnoykovki 2014-06-16 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
It felt good to hear. Felt good to think. He took a breath, let his head touch Clark's shoulder for just a moment-- "Thanks."
kolodnoykovki: (You took my heart)

[personal profile] kolodnoykovki 2014-06-16 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
He nodded slowly, more to himself than anyone else. "I'm... as all right as I'm gonna be," he said finally. "Let's head back."
kolodnoykovki: (Nothing could take my mind off)

[personal profile] kolodnoykovki 2014-06-16 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
Jim stood with him and secured his left arm around Clark, secure. "Ready," he said, feeling so much more secure about this than he had about a motorcycle not that long before. Amazing how that worked.
kolodnoykovki: (I've been losing myself in anger)

[personal profile] kolodnoykovki 2014-06-16 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
"Well," Jim said, glancing to Clark. "I'm sure the neighbors love that."

Something had slipped back in place, a shield of his own without a target painted on it, but that was how he was going to survive. He took a breath, hand on the door, and said quietly, "This is gonna be a goddamned circus."

But then he stepped inside with more certainty than he'd had the first time.
kolodnoykovki: (Cause I still remember)

[personal profile] kolodnoykovki 2014-06-16 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
What Jim did was reach out and draw Lois into a gentle, sisterly hug. "Thank you," he said. "Might not be the happiest ever with him, but I think I can do without that exact Captain America memento. Besides, with how he heals, he'd probably just grow more. Defeats the point."

But then, letting her go, he stepped further in and gave Sam a nod. "Sounds like I need to thank you, too, for speaking up for me while I was coolin' down. But you."

At last, Jim turned to face Steve. An inch shorter than him now, but he held himself almost casually. But the room was full of fighters. They could probably see that his joints were intentionally loose, ready for action if he had to move. Ready for whatever would come. "I might've misunderstood," he said, "but I know you did, too. You didn't let me fall off the train. The whole railing went, and you couldn't reach. And the shot that kicked out the side of the train wasn't your fault. It bounced off your shield - which I picked up and was holding like an idiot because you were always the one using it, not me. The blame goes on the goon that was shooting the blue shit. Not you. Not even me. So climb off that horse before you get it more firmly lodged up your ass."
justakidfrombrklyn: (drawing)

[personal profile] justakidfrombrklyn 2014-06-16 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
Steve breathed in deep before he spoke, his eyes going from Sam, to Lois, and finally to Clark. His head dipped down just a little, a thank you as loud as if he'd shouted it, before he steeled himself and turned his gaze back to Jim. It's hard to say whether he accepted that (some part of him never would) but it was clear he understood that Jim didn't blame him. Whether that changed the guilt that had taken up resident in his gut since that day was something that only time would tell.

"I... Jim..." a bit of shuffling, his shoulders coming up before he resolutely dropped them, "I didn't mean to shut you out. I just... didn't want you to see how I was feeling. I thought- I figured you'd misunderstand, and if you didn't, it'd just make you feel worse about it. But I wasn't kidding. Whatever you need-" and his voice wavered a bit there, enough that he pulled back, the tactics shifting behind his eyes visible enough.

"Jim, there are two people who're still here that mean the world to me. And it feels like, it feels... like there's not a damn thing I can do to help either of them. But that's not on you. I was trying... not to put that on you."
Edited 2014-06-16 04:57 (UTC)
kolodnoykovki: (And the game's been played)

[personal profile] kolodnoykovki 2014-06-16 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
"What I need," Jim said, "is for you to go for about two months. Maybe a little more. You can call about once every two weeks. Not during work. And next time you go tough little soldier at me, I'm knocking your damned head off your shoulders." He paused. "Again."

Then, taking half a step back, he glanced away and took a slow, steadying breath. And more quietly, he said, "But you did do one smart thing today and that's not chasing me. I could'a killed you without blinking, and even if I'm mad at you, I don't want you dead."
justakidfrombrklyn: (unsure)

[personal profile] justakidfrombrklyn 2014-06-16 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
He started to square his shoulders before he thought better of it and let them slump a little.

"Done. But..." and a ghost of something more like the Steve from earlier seemed to return, "I don't have to like it. You left a pretty big hole," he swallowed the wrong consonant "Jim. After the train." He raised a hand before Lois could go after him. "I'm doing it. I'd do anything for you. But you're missed, and I'm not going to pretend different."
kolodnoykovki: (No mercy no more)

[personal profile] kolodnoykovki 2014-06-16 05:26 am (UTC)(link)
"I know you miss... me. Him," Jim said, finding the chest of drawers to sit on. It felt better to sit. Made him feel less like he needed to react. "But that's part of the problem. That's part of why I need you to be at arm's length. Because you miss somebody I'm not sure I am. So you get to know me as I am now. And so I get used to... you. I know you won't like it, but it's better than us ending up fighting or screaming or worse."
justakidfrombrklyn: (puppyface)

[personal profile] justakidfrombrklyn 2014-06-16 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
Steve's face... it crumpled all at once before smoothing out and reforming, not going blank but... something almost like a smile.

"Jim," and his voice was soft, more sure, "people change. Normal people and people like us. I don't miss Bucky Barnes at nineteen. I don't miss... I don't miss the guy who fell off the train. They're a part of me. They can't leave."

He ran a hand through his hair.

"I miss you. I miss... whoever you are right now and whoever you'll be in two months. I miss all the things we haven't done yet. You said 'til the end of the line' and I said it too and I meant it, warts and all. I'm not arguing," and he held up a hand to ward off the thought, "and I'm not fighting. But that's how it is."

He spread his hands, looked down, didn't know how else to say it plainer.
kolodnoykovki: (Then the pain will go away)

[personal profile] kolodnoykovki 2014-06-16 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
He shook his head, slow and heavy. "You're missing somebody you've barely met, then," he said, "and I don't get that. I don't understand it. But I'm no shrink. It's your head. As long as you do what I said and give me time, then fine. Just don't act like I slammed the door in your face, because I fucking well didn't. Never seen anybody able to huff off with a straight face like you."
justakidfrombrklyn: (sad)

[personal profile] justakidfrombrklyn 2014-06-16 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
Steve nodded, looking every year of his age for a moment before he took his own hand to scrubbing his face.

"I'll try," he said with a shrug, "but sometimes it feels like I'm more Captain America than Steve Rogers these days."

He turned then, his footsteps slow and measured.

"I'm... gonna wash up."

And he disappeared into the bathroom as Sam let out a long, slow breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding.

Clark winced and didn't say anything while Lois sat down next to Sam and patted his arm.
kolodnoykovki: (Losing myself to madness)

[personal profile] kolodnoykovki 2014-06-16 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
"And I..." Jim thought about scrubbing a hand over his face. He even looked at his hands before deciding against it, shaking his head. "I'm starting to get mad again so I'm going to go. Tell... Tell whoever, I forgot his name, that I'll catch dessert some other time."

And he stood, heading for the door. He wasn't going to speak for Clark or Lois. He was going to walk. Being alone was a good idea again - for a little while, at least.
kolodnoykovki: (I wished they'd turn into real)

[personal profile] kolodnoykovki 2014-06-16 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
But he shook his head. "I think," he said, "that I should... be alone for a little while. I'll get back soon enough. I mean." He nodded toward his left shoulder. "Bring on a mugger or something."

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