collecting pictures from the flood that wrecked our home

[disassembles]

Who: Pepper Potts & Bucky Barnes
Where: Outside the mansion, the coffee shop, and the training room.
When: Backdated to February 14th
Rating: PG? References to PTSD.
Summary: Is this date important? It's Coffee & Fisticuffs Day, right?
The Story:

There are quite a few people who go running at various hours of the morning, taking the well-worn paths around the mansion, into the maze, or the shallow edge of the forest. James is more willing to accept, lately, that he doesn't know -- or need to know -- every person and every path they take. He only follows a few people, keeping enough of a distance to note their habits without drawing attention to himself. It's something that kept him busy for a while when he'd just arrived, when he had needed to be useful and settled for being prepared. Now, he has a habit of his own. He doesn't particularly need to think about, he just lets himself shift to autopilot for a while.

People used to be easy to understand from a distance.

He ends up on Pepper's jogging path, passing the place she found him months before. It's easy enough to catch up with her from there, but he takes a wide arc around her right side and gives her plenty of room, makes sure she sees him before he falls into step beside her. Steve is the only one who's invited him to join up any morning that he wants to, but he doesn't think that Pepper will mind, either. He wants to see her. It's normal to do things because he wants to, because he -- misses someone.

"On your right," He isn't out of breath; he hasn't so much as broken a sweat. If she were a target, he might have put some effort into pretending, but she isn't a target. The comment is meant entirely to be irritating, the way friends sometimes are. "Got a minute?"

Comments

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For a moment, she almost thinks Steve must have caught up to her, again; he has a habit of passing her on morning runs that's endearing and irritating in turn. But the voice isn't his, and when she looks over she's surprised to see Bucky moving into step beside her. While it's true that there are enough people who go jogging that she isn't often alone, his isn't a face she sees during this part of her routine.

But he's right; she doesn't mind him being there at all.

"Does this mean I have to worry about two of you making me look bad now?" Because unlike the supersoldiers, Pepper's breathing and sweating like any normal person would when they pushed themselves on a run. She favors him with a grin, then a nod as he asks if she's free. "Of course. What's going on?"

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He grins at her before jogging a little ahead so he can run backwards, still keeping pace. That would be a yes, even if he doesn't say it aloud.

"I was sorta..." He clears his throat. "Well I was wondering if you were still interested in self-defense training. The teacher's kind of a showoff, doesn't talk enough, crazy ex-soviet assassin - real piece of work, honestly, but I think you can handle him."

It's clear from the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes that he's joking, but there's a touch of hopefulness there, too. The words might be a little rushed because he's out of breath, or because he's nervous about what she'll say. He's thought about this more than he wants to let on.

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"...Wow; I don't know if I should congratulate you on being worse than Steve or not." Although she rolls her eyes, Pepper still smiles as they run along--Bucky seemingly without effort, and backwards at that. In truth she's silently thrilled that he's comfortable enough around her now to show this smartassed affection. It's far removed from the man she'd found on this very trail just a few months ago.

And so is the question he asks, the humor meant to conceal the nervousness. She's honestly a little surprised, but in no way is that a bad thing. This is so much more like the person he had been: not so confident, but still cheerful, even charming.

She'd have an easy time saying yes she thinks, even if they didn't already have a history as friends.

"Of course. Although the not talking thing might be strange. I'm used to people who love the sound of their own voices." Bucky in his own way, but Tony especially. Her smile widens, hoping her answer will help reassure him. "When did you want to get started?"

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That gets an even brighter grin out of him before his expression turns a little more subdued, but still entirely too hopeful.

"The sound of my voice isn't anything to write home about, but I'll try, if you think you're gonna miss it." He bounces over a rock in his path without so much as glancing down. If it happens to be in time with her response, it's definitely a coincidence. "Whenever you're ready. We should work out a few things first -- maybe over coffee?"

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She’s never thought of Bucky as particularly childlike, yet seeing the way his smile widens, how delighted he gets at her answers, Pepper can’t keep the image out of her mind. He seems so much like a child being promised his wish might come true, bright-eyed and full of hope. It makes her smile to see, although she won’t be doing any rock hopping, thanks.

“I don’t know. I think you have a nice voice.” Among other features, but she doesn’t want to push far enough to make Bucky uncomfortable. Not when he so clearly wants her acceptance, and has put some effort into asking.

“Coffee?” So much so that until he asks, Pepper had thought he meant to find out her answers about the training alone. But wouldn’t that be the easier thing for him to push for? It’s more within his comfort zone, something belonging to the person he’d become rather than the one he’d been. Their standing coffee dates fall squarely into the latter, and she’s honestly surprised he’s bringing them up.

Surprised, but in no way saying no.

“Of course. I’d love to.” And even if their conversation doesn’t stray from how he might train her, Pepper still will. But now she finds herself the hopeful one, because she’s missed those mornings when they got together just to talk, poke fun at each other and figure out what had been going on in their friend’s lives. “Maybe after my run? I don’t have too much longer. If you get bored, you can probably lap me once or twice.”