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[starspangled]

[voice] [text] [video] [action]

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video;

[dislocked]

[ it's dark, quiet -- it's very late at night, and bucky can't sleep. so he leaves a message, wonders if steve is still awake. ]

What was he like? The Bucky you knew.

video;

[starspangled]

[When Steve sleeps, it's with one ear open. He's given more than a few people his room number, with instructions that they can come by day or night. But right now he's not even making a pretense of it, no matter how late it is.

He figured this question was coming sooner or later.]

Well, for one thing, he was usually snoring by now.

video;

[dislocked]

[ Wait, what? He frowns, sitting up as he looks into the video feed. ]

Y -- we used to sleep together?

video;

[starspangled]

[there's the reaction he was looking forward to. Steve smiles at him.]

Yeah, lots of times. You used to make excuses about giving your brothers more room, but I was on to you all along.

You were worried about me.

video;

[dislocked]

[ wow steve rogers why are you such a troll.

Bucky takes a moment to digest that thoughtfully, leaning back against his pillows. He sighs, soft and quiet. ]

Were you sick?

video;

[starspangled]

I was.

[It's easier to talk about now, easier to admit. Back then he didn't want Bucky to know just how sick he was.]

I was sick more than I was healthy. I probably would've died half a dozen times if you hadn't taken care of me.

video;

[dislocked]

[ Bucky regards him for a few more moments; he had the vague impression of Steve being much smaller than he was, and he definitely hadn't been as strong. ]

How did you get big?

video;

[starspangled]

[Oh. This will be fun.]

I volunteered for a program. They were testing this serum and decided I was a good candidate.

video;

[dislocked]

[ And is that a flash of the old Bucky? Yes, yes, it is. ]

You what?

video;

[starspangled]

[Yep, there it is.]

It was the only way I could get into the Army.

video;

[dislocked]

[ Bucky's jaw sets, remarkably similar to Steve when he gets serious, and there might or might not be a tic in it. ]

You could've died.

video;

[starspangled]

Bucky.

[Steve's voice is gentle. He knows the truth of it, even if Bucky never would let him bring it up.]

I would've died anyway. And you would've died.

video;

[dislocked]

They tried to replicate that serum.

[ Bucky says finally, after a few seconds' pause. ] HYDRA. I have it in my veins. Small world.

video;

[starspangled]

I know. It's why you survived the fall from the train.

[The fall that never would've happened without Steve.]

There's a lot of 'what if?' scenarios. None of them good.

text;

[technologist]

[ Ok but how does one text Steve Rogers. ]

Hi.
Do you have a second

[ Very anxiously and without proper grammar, apparently. ]

text;

[starspangled]

Fitz, right? Sure, what's up?

[technologist]

[ Captain America remembered his name (◕‿◕✿) ]

Yeah.
I was just wondering if I could ask you something. About the Avengers.

[starspangled]

[Fitzrogers. It's happening.]

What do you want to know?

[technologist]

[ ok let's do it right here right now ]

Bruce Banner. How does that work? With him being on the team, I mean.

[starspangled]

You know, you're the second person who's asked me about that.

[technologist]

[ um. ]

Really? That's a strange coincidence.

[starspangled]

Yeah, it sure is. I'm guessing you want to know about his powers.

[technologist]

About how he controls them, mostly.
I know he can't, really, but he's still a member of the team. He can still help, yeah? Like in New York.

[starspangled]

In New York, and before New York. Doctor Banner's a brilliant man and the Hulk, he's good at smashing things. People aren't just their powers.

[technologist]

[ Gosh you're great. ]

I agree.

[ And after an obvious delay, because this might be pushing his luck: ]

How well did they explain the serum to you before they tested it?