driftfleet | 001 ✪ video/audio

Who: Jim Barnes
Broadcast: Fleetwide video + audio
Action: Iskaulit.
When: August 20th.

[ The video flicks on to a spacious room, spans it from left to right, then top to bottom. There's a door off to the right side, and the camera follows it to the adjoining room, similarly large. Again, left to right, top to bottom. Both rooms are spic and span, empty, with wooden floors. And then it switches to audio. The voice is brusque, but amiable, with a moderate Brooklyn drawl. ]

Nice place for a gym. There could be a dojo next door, so it's all in one place. I've got a few sandbags to hang up, and some mats we could use. There's a notice outside for schedules — I know a lot of you folks have been offering training. The room's big enough, and there's plenty more like it on this ship.

Anybody else interested?

[ Anyone wandering the Iskaulit or looking for Bucky after the broadcast will find him humming as he puts up the sandbags. He's dressed very simply in the ship's jumpsuit, with no left sleeve. The left arm whirs in tune as he works. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I know you're not afraid.

[ She's brave. She always has been, and she's let him see that. He stands up, rubs the back of his neck self-consciously. ]

I'd — [ his mouth twists, unhappily ] don't make this. Something you have to do to survive. You could use me, but you don't need me. You were fine before me and you'll be fine well after. I just — [ he exhales, and stares at his feet ] you have a choice, all right? I would like for you to make the one that doesn't leave you all by yourself, but that's not my call. All I can do is [ care about you ] give you the option.

[ She said there's always a war, and he will always be in its trenches. Teams trust each other to fulfill a function. Friends trust each other with their hearts. But if she needs him, like Steve once did, he would walk into Hell, and that is a power to be handled carefully. And even then, he needs desperately to find his role relative to her. To be something she wants him to be. ]

[That little gesture is all the real warning she has that the conversation is about to take a turn for the direct, for the serious, to tell her that he's about to do something earnest and sincere and completely unasked for. Surprisingly, she doesn't mind nearly as much as she had the last time. Maybe that's because she's had a few weeks to get her head straight, and to finally take a clearer look at things.]

I'm always fine. Doesn't mean it's easy. [She doesn't move away, and that's something; doesn't stop looking at him, and that's something else.]

There's a difference between survival and living, Captain. You know that better than most people. [What has he been doing, since the war?] I'm tired of just surviving.

[They're both looking for where they fit, with each other, with this world. Maybe together, they can figure it out. Maybe they can both give living a shot.]

[ She doesn't move away, and she doesn't evade. Each is a precious jewel, and he jealousy hoards both. ]

I'm tired of it too, [ he says, softly. ] but if you'll be patient, I can learn. I've still got a lot of catching up to do.

[ And one day, maybe for a few minutes, he can keep pace with her. It's a nice thought. ]

I'm not going anywhere.

[She isn't running anymore. It's not necessarily a promise; she has no control over what Atroma does. She could vanish tomorrow. So could he. But that uncertainty is part of life, and that's what she's trying to hold onto. Living. Sometimes, that means taking a risk. She's taken worse risks than taking a chance on him.]

Neither am I.

[ Not a promise either. Who knows what life brings, and anything other than the one, important promise feels like tempting fate. ]

Speaking of learning. You think you might want to [ he waves to the boxing ring ] spar, sometime?

[She looks at the ring; looks at him, and her amusement is clear.]

You want to go a few rounds with me?

[Not necessarily a bad idea. Not unwelcome, either. Just not what she was expecting.]

What? Don't think I can keep up with the legendary Black Widow?

[ There's nothing brittle or nostalgic in his tone, just a private amusement. ]

Maybe. Good thing I'm only Natasha here.

[A small reminder, a small challenge, a small hint of arrogance. She's regained at least something of her confidence, the last few weeks.]

[ Cheerily, ] You're absolutely right. I can't. [ KANYESHRUG ] Ain't gonna stop me from trying.

We'll get you some gold star stickers, anyway. A for effort, you know.

[No denying even she might be looking forward to him trying. It's just a different kind of dancing, after all.]

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