[open] out for all that i can get

[howtocarryit]

Who: Sam Wilson and you!
Where: All around. Seriously he's been cooped up.
When: 7/29
Rating: PG-13. Will adjust if necessary.
Summary: Sam is tooling around on his own now that his leg is healed. Expect a cane and sass.
The Story:

His recovery time was slow, but he didn't mind it so much. He played video games with Clint, watched movies with Steve and Natasha and talked to anyone who came close enough. It wasn't horrible. The amount of people stuffed into this house was actually a benefit to a guy stuck in a walking cast. He could walk now though. With the help of a cane, but he could walk. He healed up with ease. He confined himself to his room when he could just to stay out of the way in case things got too crazy. No one needed to worry about the guy who could barely walk on his own. He didn't want to become a liability to them.

If you find Sam he's most likely wandering around the grounds. Inside and outside. He's just trying to get used to walking fully on his leg again. He makes a visit to the kitchen for food and then goes for a jog outside. He's trying to get full mobility back and that's gonna take some work, but he'll push himself if he has to.

Comments

[howtocarryit]

"It's just mean now." Because what man doesn't let his mind wander just a bit when a woman tells you she's flexible like that. What man doesn't wander when Natasha Romanoff tells you that. He's only human. "Yeah. They're real. They're kind of a big deal. Real big on human interaction. They're important. They don't always suck either. I have to say I'm pretty damn good at them."

[widows_kiss]

"Are you now? That's good to know. I'll make note of that," she answers, her lips still curved into a smirk as she jogs beside him, casting a glance over him again at his statement. "Maybe I'll let you show me how it's done then, one of these nights. I'm always out for trying new things. You're sure they don't suck?"

[assembles]

This really isn't the sort of conversation that you have while casually jogging around, and so Steve's relieved when Sam takes the chance to stop. He also skids to a halt and circles back around to where Sam's catching his breath. Whereas he would normally have a teasing comment or two ready, right now Steve's a lot more serious. Sam tends to have some wisdom on hand with this kind of thing, given his work at the VA, so Steve's ready to hear him out.

He drags his hand over his mouth as he considers how to answer. "Yeah, I wouldn't say it went well." Honestly, Steve had expected a lot more anger than he'd received, given how he'd kept it from Bucky for so long. "He was upset that I tried to keep it all to myself, but mainly because he didn't think I should have dealt with it on my own." Leave it to Bucky to take something that should be about him, and make it all about Steve instead. He shakes his head slowly.

"After I told him, he kept to himself for a while. I tried to give him some space, and he's gotten a little better, but I know it's got to be haunting him every day." Usually, they choose not to talk about it, not to push the issue any further than they have already. They're only going to have so much time together when they both know who they are -- they may as well not sour that with what the future holds.

[henrydaniel]

There are a couple of other people here that are technically related to me. But they tried to kill me back home, and I don't think anything's really...changed.

[He's cleaning up his mess now, and thinking out loud.]

It's kind of weird that there's nothing to tell people where they are when they get here. I mean...I guess I got kind of lucky because my moms found me. But there should be something. Like maybe...a way to get an automatic first text message on our phones when we first show up.

[impalementarts]

[there's a quirk to his lips]

...I'll teach you.

[sorryitasedyou]

That's...

[Crappy? Worrisome? Terrifying? The future had always been an uncertain thing - came with the territory. Places like this, places that seemed to throw the rules out the window by pulling people from all over just made her more on edge.]

Oh, you better believe I'll be sharing a few choice words with him.

[And then some.]

Why can't the future be something awesome and happy for once, like surprise! Free ice cream day around the world, it's a thing that's gonna happen - congrats guys.

[She would say world peace, but that could get into questions about which world and make for a bigger headache than she wanted.]

[onsilksheets]

"That's incredible." Bela says, sounding a little awed. She couldn't imagine doing something like it herself but then her career didn't really lend itself to it. "I'm glad you were able to find a place for yourself after leaving the Air Force." There was obviously more to the story, though she wouldn't ask about it. Sam had to make that choice and Bela would respect it.

She busies herself with making a cup of tea before turning back to him, offering a smile. "Did you want a coffee or anything? Just thought I should ask while I'm in the zone for it."

[disassembles]

"No kidding," Bucky sighs, a little over-dramatically. If he really felt put-upon, he wouldn't spend most of his time trying to keep up with Steve's super-heroics, but he's sure Sam gets that too.

"That's how it is, buddy. Don't worry, I'll lend you my walker if you need a handicap." He flashes Sam his most cocksure grin before swallowing a bite of scrambled eggs. Steve isn't the only jerk, of the pair of them. Banter is only gonna go so far, though, and even if they're not quite at the elephant in the room, Bucky feels like he should at least say what he's been thinking.

"Listen... This is gonna sound ridiculous, but I'm glad you're lookin' out for Steve. You seem like a good guy."

[howtocarryit]

How to use a bow? I don't think that'd be easy.

[ He's used to firearms and things like that. Definitely not used to using something like that. ]

You sure?

[howtocarryit]

Tried to kill you? You're just a kid. What would their beef be with you?

[ People trying to kill kids are here? Sam is a million times more on high alert. The fact that he's wandering alone though now makes Sam worried for him as well. He'll have to keep his eye on Henry. Protecting him is gonna be pretty important. ]

They got a pamphlet I know that. I think it's outdated. [ He nods at the text idea. ] It couldn't hurt. Put some signs up? I think people show up in different places so we'd probably need a lot of them.

[howtocarryit]

Sam is too. He thought he wouldn't be able to find another place to call home after Riley died and Sam left. He felt lost and out of control. Which is actually fairly typical for a lot of soldiers. They don't know how to adjust to civilian life. He was just lucky that he could fit in there. "Yeah. It was a real life safer."

"Ah. Well I just ate. I'm okay. Was just stopping in to wash my plate and then I was gonna walk." This place was pretty big. Sometimes he worries he might miss an area. He's just trying to get the layout in his head. "I think I'm gonna leave you to your tea, Bela."

[howtocarryit]

Go easy on 'im. He's got his reasons for keeping it quiet from people. I think he just wanted to give the guy time to get more comfortable here. Probably didn't wanna make his life any harder knowing what was gonna happen back home.

[ It's not easy for Sam to defend this. Defending this is kind of like defending Bucky. He's come to terms with what happened on the helicarrier that day though. It wasn't the same Bucky Barnes that was here in Wonderland. He had to separate them if he was ever gonna function around the guy. ]

Taco Bell used to give out free tacos?

[ He smiles. ]

[howtocarryit]

"I had a busted ankle remember? I already got one of those." He also had a cane he had been using, but he does have it at this moment. He's been trying to get around without it since the cast came off. His ankle is a little weaker than he'd like it to be, but he's sure it'll get back once he starts to put more pressure on it. It'll be good to get back out there and actually be able to run. Truth be told Sam had really missed it. He missed being mobile though mostly. Being able to do things on his own. He wasn't huge on having people wait on him like that.

Sam's in the middle of chewing some bacon when Bucky speaks. He smiles and swallows. "You don't know me very well then." He laughs and puts his bacon back onto his plate. "Someone has to look out for the guy. Runs in head first. One day he's gonna knock that big ole head of his." Which is his way of telling Bucky your welcome.

[howtocarryit]

"I'm kind of an expert." He laughs. Sam is also really good at tooting his own horn. It's easier when Steve Rogers isn't around and lapping you like you're not even trying. It just makes Sam look like an elderly man despite the fact that Steve is well into his nineties. Jerk. "Dates with me are kinda awesome. If we had to pay for things here then I'd definitely be paying for everything, but we'll pretend I did. If you're lucky--I'll let you get a little handsy, Nat."

[howtocarryit]

If Bucky was as good a friend as Steve said then he wouldn't have been angry. Probably would have directed any anger at himself if he knew what he was forced to do in the future. Would have no doubt felt a lot of guilt over what happened out there. "He's a smart guy. You should have had to, man." He's just being honest. He can understand why Steve didn't want to do it, but in the long run it would have been better if he had just said it directly. Maybe waited a week or two, but not this long.

"Yeah. I imagine that hearing you become a weapon with no free will in the future would be upsetting." He'll have to try to talk to him about what happened. Sam is trained to handle this type of stuff, but this is a new situation that he's had to help a recovering soldier with. Usually it's something a little more common like adjusting or guilt. Though he knows a lot of guilt must be hitting Bucky right now. "He'll get through. Just make sure he knows you're there."

[henrydaniel]

My family is kinda complicated. A lot of stuff about magic and since my moms both have it, using me to get what they want from them.

Two of them are here. People who tried to hurt me, I mean.

[ He seriously has no problem with telling people who could keep him safe along with his moms that Zelena and Pan were here. He's maybe less wary of Zelena, though he hasn't talked ot her yet. ]

I never got a pamphlet...just suddenly had a phone that wasn't mine from home. Maybe there could just be like...informational kiosks. Like around the zoo and stuff.

[handing]

Always on, and sounding so very much like someone else she could name to boot. Pepper laughs at the remark, very aware that if he knows who she is, he probably also knows who she's with. It helps that he keeps going, making it clear how harmless the compliment is--and also that they apparently have a shared frustration.

"Does he do that to you too?" She turns towards the coffee pot, sparing Sam a glance over her shoulder before giving the brew her full attention. It takes little effort to summon a third cup from the cabinet, although she'll leave Sam to fix his share how he likes. "One day, I'm going to figure out how to make him feel guilty about it. Right now I'm pretty sure he just laughs." In a friendly way, sure. Steve's probably one of the few people in the world who can tease someone who doesn't have a chance of keeping up, and not make them feel bad.

Once the last drops of coffee have finally landed, Pepper fills up the three cups. All appear similar, designed to be portable, although one stands out for being red and gold. Three guesses who she's getting that one for. Meanwhile, she tops off one of the plainer ones first, offering it to Sam.

"They told me about SHIELD and HYDRA." There's only a few things he could be worried about letting slip, and accordingly some of the levity is lost as the talk turns to darker subjects. "They also told me my own situation turns out okay, which I'm glad for." Just in case he's concerned about keeping her personal future from her. Maybe he's a science-fiction fan, or maybe not. But Sam's right when it comes to the time gaps. They're tricky things, and Pepper has been careful not to press too much regarding events that haven't happened for her yet.

[widows_kiss]

"I don't rely on luck," she counters, her smirk deepening a moment as she gives him another sideways look, enjoying the playful flirting. "But now you've got my expectations up, Wilson. I guess we'll have to see if you're all talk or not."

[impalementarts]

Of course. Or a sniper rifle.

That's what I do. [Clint's voice is quiet] That's what my training consists of. Unless you also might want to learn how to ride a horse?

[sorryitasedyou]

[She softens, looking down at the dogs that had seemed to settle before looking back at him.]

I know... And I will. He has his reasons - everyone always does.

[It's why the world still needed lawyers, why she'd been in such a popular major in college. Everyone had a story to tell, a reason for every choice in life. At his mention of Taco Bell, she just laughs, her mood lightening slightly.]

Free taco day... I forgot about that. That was a great day.

[Her mind is already spinning wondering if she could incorporate a free taco day into Wonderland. Give everyone a pick-me-up because tacos make everything better.]

I should get the dogs inside, check on the scientist, and all that stuff. Thanks for stopping them and thanks for the info...

[Even if it stunk. She bends down to pick up the leashes, the dogs getting the message.]

I'll see you around neighbor. We should play video games together some time.

[onsilksheets]

"Oh, okay. That's fine. Probably a good idea to go for a walk instead of getting caffeinated- your body will thank you for it." She laughs a little. "But anyway, it was lovely to meet you and talk, even briefly. I hope you make a full recovery soon."

There was a good chance that they would run into each other in the mansion or outside of it at some point. Then they could pick up the conversation where it left off or even talk about something else.

[assembles]

Hindsight is always twenty-twenty. Natasha may not have pushed Steve on his choice to keep Bucky in the dark, but he gets the feeling Sam had always disapproved, even if he'd respected Steve's choice. Even now, Steve's not sure if it would have been better had he told Bucky about this earlier on, although he gets the feeling that some of his own teammates have realized he's got a secret, and it's hypocritical of him, given how he'd always judged Fury for the same thing.

But this had been so personal, and Steve hadn't known for sure that everyone would be able to understand and treat Bucky the same way after hearing about it.

Sam so easily decides that Bucky will be fine, and Steve can only hope that he's right. At that last remark, the corner of his mouth twitches upward. "Oh, believe me, he could never forget that." Sam himself knows firsthand how Steve will worry about someone to the point of it being smothering, though he's tried to hold back with Bucky, aware that he needs the space.

After a pause, Steve draws his hand over his mouth and then glances down to the grass. "Sam, I just... he could leave here at any second and come back from the future." He still hasn't figured out how he would handle something like that, even if it's a very real possibility.