unclesam | IC Inbox for duplicitynet

[ Sam watches, face carefully impassive. The shield has been a point of contention between himself and Bucky, and he wonders how that's gonna shape up in this place. Especially with Steve also present. Sam doesn't expect them to recognize him as Cap, but hasn't examined his feelings about that just yet. ]

He retired.

[ It's not a no - but it means this was a choice, and it wasn't a battlefield tragedy. It implies something softer and more peaceful. ]

You can ask, y'know. Anything you'd like.

[His fingers tighten briefly in the straps, the leather creaking slightly in the moment before he realizes what he's doing. But despite his reaction, there isn't any hostility in his expression as he looks up. If Steve was finally ready to give up the shield, there really isn't anybody better he could think of to take it.

Which is why he lets it drop, grabbing ahold of the metal edge instead. Why, with a half smile, he holds it back out towards Sam. To the man it belongs to. Who earned that right.]

So we're partners, huh?

[Quite why he wouldn't have retired alongside Steve, he doesn't know. But if Sam's wielding the shield now, he's not entirely against the idea of staying in the fight just a little bit longer.]

Tell me you don't wear spandex.

Yeah. As of very recently before I got here. Took us a minute.

[ It's awfully familiar, this scene. Reminds him of a different Bucky, a different time, a different context. Funny, how this mirrors that moment, and yet is so different. He returns the half smile, takes the shield on his arm for a moment, feels the weight of it that's become so familiar to him by now. Looks down at it, and then sets it on the bed. Instead, he reaches for the Wakandan case, uses his thumb to unlock it, and opens the lid to reveal the suit inside. ]

World ain't ready for me in spandex.

[ He throws Bucky a look at that, a little cocky, a little teasing. Bucky's well aware of Sam's thighs and ass by now, and what spandex would do stretched over them and Sam's chest - but really, the joke's not necessarily meant to be that kind of cheeky right now. ]

This is nicer, though.

[ White, blue and red weave with light built in tac gear, expertly crafted, and a slim silver wingpack that has the very particular gleam of vibranium to it. ]

You wanna know more about all this or nah?

Edited 2022-09-11 19:39 (UTC)

[The draw of seeing what's inside is too much to ignore. And so, Bucky moves to join Sam by the case, finding a certain level of comfort in the familiar line of warmth at his side. But he doesn't take the time to process that. To figure out just why that is. Not with the splash of color that's been unveiled in front of them.

He doesn't ask permission before reaching out to brush his fingers across the white star emblazoned across the chest. Though he does give Sam a curious look at the all too familiar shine of metal. At the aura that he can't quite understand, no matter how many times that Shuri had tried to explain it to him. Something that hints at the hidden power of the material inside.]

Vibranium.

[A muttered comment, before he's snatching his hand back. Taking in the offer that Sam's made and instead giving a shrug in return. There's something else he wants to ask first.]

You gonna show me how it looks, Cap?

[ There's a small sound, just a miniscule hitching of Sam's breath. Enough to give his surprise away to a super soldier's hearing, though. He glances at Bucky, for a moment unable to mask the surprise clearly visible in his eyes. He didn't expect to hear that from this Bucky. Cap. And it eases a worry he'd nurtured without realizing, a fight he'd been braced for and wasn't sure he could handle having a second time all over again.

So he breathes out, slow and deep. The set of his shoulders relaxes, and then he ducks his face down a little, bashful smile playing on his lips. ]

Oh, that's how it's gonna be, huh.

[ Lightly nudges Bucky's elbow with his. Flashes him a quick smile that holds gratitude.

And sure, why not do some late night dress up. If Bucky wants to see Captain America suited up, Sam's happy to oblige. Suits up. Keeps the wings tucked in for starters though, so Bucky can get a look at the suit by itself first, and places the shield where it belongs - over the wingpack on his back, so Bucky can have a look at the entire getup assembled. ]

[Despite the fact that they've both seen each other naked already, Bucky still turns to give Sam some semblance of privacy as he gets ready. It gives him a chance to go back to snooping around the room. To look at the meagre supplies that Sam's amassed during his time here. One line on their throat...

But then he picks up on the sound of the shield being lifted again, and Bucky turns to face Sam once more.

And freezes solidly, for a good few seconds.

Eventually, forcing himself to move again, Bucky takes a closer look. Lets his gaze travel from Sam's face, down to his feet, and back up again. When he steps closer, his eyes flick briefly to Sam's own, his expression a mix between awe and melancholy. The suit is a reminder of the space between them. But that doesn't detract from the fact that Sam's earned the title he's inherited.]

Suits you.

[The costume, sure. But the name, even more so.]

[ Same soft, bashful quirk of Sam's lips, but he keeps his eyes on Bucky. Lets himself be inspected head to toe like this, let's himself be seen. Feels more naked than he did when the two of them and Peggy stripped each other and couldn't stop touching. Perhaps it's because Sam feels comfortable in his own skin. Existing in his skin and the suit is different, because he knows what that means on so many levels, both in the good and the bad. And being under the scrutiny of someone to whom this means a lot on so many different levels... ]

There's also...

[ Bucky knows Sam's old wings. The grey carbonfiber prototype ones that Sam needed to have his arms in to maneuver, that Bucky snapped off with terrifying ease. He also knows the slightly upgraded Stark Tech model that Sam had when, from Bucky's perspective, they saw each other last. The thick, heavy wingpacks with thrusters on both.

It's an insane difference to the new vibranium wings now unfurling from the slim silver case on his back. Bigger than his old wings, yet somehow looking more delicate all the same, and curving slightly to automatically accommodate the given space in the room. ]

You kept the wings.

[The words are warm, despite the slight tease to them. Sam's skill with the Falcon wings are second to none. So it makes sense that he keeps them now. That a part of his past follows him in to his future. That he takes "Captain America" and turns him in to his own. Claims the role to use as he sees fit. And with a set of wings like that, well...

The claim is definitely going to stick.]

Tomorrow. You're gonna have to show me what you can do.

[With the wings. The shield. The suit. If he's going to watch Sam's six here, he needs to know what he's got to work with. They need to figure out a way to fit together until the day Bucky's finally able to catch back up.]

[ He'll tell him, one day. About Walker. About the Falcon wings being ripped out. About how he couldn't even fathom keeping and fixing them after that, not when it felt like a violation he's not sure he can put into words. About how if not for Bucky, Sam's not sure he'd have gotten a new set of wings at all. It's not a conversation for right now, though.

For now, Sam smiles up at Bucky, faced framed beautifully by the white cowl, warm eyes semi-hidden behind the red tint of the goggles. ]

I'd love to. You can come pick me up after work, and I'll give you a show.

[ For now, he pulls the goggles back off his face, gives Bucky a searching look for a moment, then gestures at the space around him. He can feel tiredness tugging on him, and has to stifle a yawn, but he's not about to ask Bucky to leave to either spend the night outside or brave a room mate who's a stranger to him. ]

Stay. Ain't nobody else here but us anyway. You can be creepy and watch me sleep, and just... hang around, y'know.

[ Perhaps get some rest, even if Sam suspects sleep might not be in the cards. ]

Edited 2022-09-11 21:27 (UTC)

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