6496/So Tell Me About this Landmine...

So Tell Me About this Landmine...
Date of Scene:	14 February 2019
Location:	New York City
Synopsis:	Steve checks in on Bucky after the incident with the claymore and picks his brain about less dangerous(?) things.
Cast of Characters:	Winter Soldier, Captain America

---

Winter Soldier has posed:
Steve can't leave Buck alone for a moment. For he gets the news, a few days into his mission, that someone damn near killed Barnes with a mine in a public park, of all places. Lili came through without a scratch but Bucky was badly hurt.

Being a survivor of Zola and the Soviets, it takes more than an encounter with a Claymore to put him down. So when Steve does find him, he's limping around the Triskelion's grounds, letting Lili sniff at all the landscaping. Like you do when you're a service pupper.

Captain America has posed:
Knowing that his oldest friend survived is all that allowed Steve to keep his head in the game and in the mission. It's a simple take-down of a known SHIELD enemy, a black-ops agent on par with Batroc, and if the Captain hustled the team along double-time to get it done, either no one's the wiser or no one complained -- both of which were acceptable options to the super-solider.

The sound of a well-tuned motorcycle announces Steve's arrival. While he does not bring the bike up onto the manicured lawn or the paths of the grounds, he does swing it up to the nearest parking lot to where Barnes is walking along with Lili. Ditching the helmet to the seat reveals his mussed blond hair and he's immediately striding over in his thick leather jacket and combat boots. To anyone who doesn't know him, that's one hell of an intense expression on his face and others might retreat -- Bucky will recognize it as extreme worry kept barely under tap.

"Stupid punk." Those are the first relieved words out of Steve's mouth as he stomps over and hugs his friend on his relatively-uninjured side.

Winter Soldier has posed:
Lili looks up from her inspection of newly planted bulbs and wags her tail, ears perking. It's that guy! She woofs at Steve in welcome.

Buck doesn't woof or wag his tail. He just grins wearily at Steve, and hugs him with his good arm. "Hey," he says, tone mild, "I was just out walkin' the dog here when some maniac decided to get creative. A Claymore in Central Park, Steve? How sloppy is that?" It offends him on a professional level, it seems.

Captain America has posed:
Steve sighs and mutters something under his breath in Gaelic that is very, very unkind about whomever planted the landmine. He holds out a hand for Lili to sniff as he replies, frowning ferociously,

"Doesn't speak much to their sense of humanity. Mother walking their kid in a stroller could have come by." By the grit of the Captain's jaw, whomever this person is has it coming in the worst way. He's not offended on a professional level: he's offended on a near-personal level. "What else can you tell me about it all?" He looks to his friend levelly, all business.

Winter Soldier has posed:
She licks his hand, then bunts her head under it. Pet me. Buck's grin curls up at one corner. "I should wash your mouth out with soap," he says.

But then it fades. "I don't know much. Got hit by the mine - I shielded Lili. I was pretty much down - it was this guy operating out of a big dark van on one of the park roads. HE'd've finished me off with a rifle if it weren't for a Green Lantern. She shielded me....then flew me away to here." He shakes his head. "I dunno if it's a matter of having a bounty out on me or if he was a HYDRA op or this was personal revenge."

Captain America has posed:
Steve nods to hear everything echoed as to what he read in the official SHIELD documentation of the incident. He's obliging to Lili, slowly rubbing small circles on the dome of her skull and then making his way behind a dish-like ear.

"Not a lot to go off of," he agrees solemnly, his voice still a touch tight. As if still concerned for their own safety, he glances away to scan their surroundings. Long-ingrained habits die hard. "I bet I can get more information if I talk to the Green Lantern in question. She might've seen something while you were down. If there's any technology involved, I'll see what the techs can do around here about back-tracing it. There's always a source."

Winter Soldier has posed:
Buck nods at that. Expression lapsing into that grim thoughtfulness, the pale eyes opaque. Lili unashamedly leans against Steve's leg. You are next-best human. "I dunno her name," he admits. "There was another lady I ran into just before it all went down....I can't remember her name at the moment. This is..." He rubs the back of his neck with a cool hand. "I guess we'll have to rely on SHIELD's help."

Captain America has posed:
"They'll help," says Steve, steadfast in his belief as he glances back to his friend. By his tone, there's a subtle 'or else' involved wherein anyone attempting to counter the Captain's bulldog tenacity in bringing this fiasco to a resolution in his favor. "We can't have the public endangered further, much less you and Lili." He tucks his chin and focuses on petting the German Shepherd for a second.

"'m glad you're still around," he then mutters, giving Bucky a squinted little half-smile. "Who'd be able to give me crap about my life in general?"

Winter Soldier has posed:
Winter Soldier laughs at that, softly. "Right? Everyone else has bought into this whole hero thing. I'm the only guy left who's seen you unshaven and unwashed in a frozen foxhole in Belgium....and who remembers how you used to either ruin or lose all my handkerchiefs. You still owe me like...four boxes."

Captain America has posed:
"That makes Christmas easy," Steve quips. "You want 'em embroidered, like your mother appreciated, or just plain white?" He gives Lili a final scritching under the chin and pauses to murmur to her that she is a very good dog. His next sigh ghosts in the passing winter breeze. It's chilly enough to warrant shoving his hands in his motorcycle jacket pockets.

"Is she done sniffing? Let's go inside and talk over coffee. I've got a question for you." Surely that'll be enough to hook the Soldier and convince him to follow Steve along and out of the cold.

Winter Soldier has posed:
"She's never done sniffing," Buck replies, tone immensely fond. "But she's done her business and we've gotten some exercise, so...coffee's good." And he turns for the nearest entrance. Even Lili the fluffy looks pleased at the prospect of heading back indoors.

Captain America has posed:
Steve leads the way back inside of the Triskelion through one of the side entrances. A swipe of his badge grants them both entry and no one gives either gentleman a side-look of true interest once they're meandering down the hallway -- either that, or it's a modicum of respect for the Captain and Solider's relative privacy.

Into one of the many breakrooms they go and Steve holds the door open for both friend and dog to enter before he closes it. He's quick to shed his motorcycle jacket, revealing a baggy sweatshirt beneath it in layering against the cold. The coffee machine, once cued up to make two cups, burbles away merrily. Steve leans beside it, hip-shot on the counter, and sucks at his teeth as he looks consideringly at Bucky.

"So..." he starts and falters, having to actually look away from his friend. No doubt this is intriguing now. He blows a sigh and shifts to tap-tap the toe of his boot against the floor. "How'd you know if a dame really likes you or is just yanking you around by the tie?" he asks, finally glancing up at his friend again.

Winter Soldier has posed:
Buck's playing with Lili - she puts her paw on his knee, he puts his hand on her paw. She puts her paw on his hand. They go through this for round after round, each of them grinning at each other. Buck's only half-listening....but the question makes him glance up at Steve. Lili, ever alert to cues, also looks to Steve, her grin fading as well. "Uh," he says.

Then it's a couple beats of thought....and he doesn't even start ragging Steve or asking him who it might be. "Well," he says. "She looks for excuses to be around you. She'll touch you, if she can. Not big things, just...little stuff. Hand on the arm, things like that. Share things with you. Why, you getting mixed signals from someone?"

Captain America has posed:
"Dunno if it's mixed signals or something else," the Captain mutters, looking at his boots again. His wheat-gold brows meet and furrow. "Maybe I'm just...dragging my feet and I need to do something back. I can't tell if she means it. Now that I think about it, she's done the touching thing -- arms...chest," and he gestures at himself offhandedly. "Always says hi when she sees me. Hell, she asked me to make her brownies one time, but I thought she was joking about it."

He winces, mouth pulled to one side as those blues rise to Bucky again. "Maybe I've mucked it up, but it's...she's impulsive, Buck, and sometimes doesn't think for a second about what comes out of her mouth. Sometimes, I just want to stopper up that mouth because she...she gets under my skin." He rubs at his arm through his sleeve and gives the coffee-maker an expectant look. Almost done. "In the worst way," he adds, ears going red.

Winter Soldier has posed:
No smirking. No smirking. Steve's being Captain Earnest....and he might be actually interested in a girl. "Make her brownies. You can always claim you misunderstood. It's not that difficult - you and I have taken HYDRA bases, you can make baked goods. You probably haven't mucked it up. YOu're good at not offending women, you're so obviously a good guy. Just kind of slow. Is she irritating, or just talkative?"

Captain America has posed:
Steve glances up sharply for only a second before his expression seems to relax again. "Deliberate," he amends in a correction delivered between friends. "Not slow." He pauses when he hears the coffee-maker finally burble its last belch of brew to collect up two mugs. He's not meaning to keep his friend on tenterhooks, merely gathering his thoughts as he pours and then walks over to the table. Bucky's mug is pushed to him without spillage and Steve sits down with his own. Neither mug has either cream or sugar.

"Talkative," the man finally decides. "I can't tell what's important and what's fluff. She...I mean..." Now his cheeks are slowly turning colors. "I dunno what to do. I asked for help with a suit jacket and she opened her door wearing this lacy short...nightie." He gives his friend a helpless look. "What was I supposed to do? I stood there and stared and then asked her if she wanted to still help with the jacket -- oh god, and then there was the dance lesson." He sets aside the mug, untouched, to scrub at his face with his hands, as if it would work away the blush.

Winter Soldier has posed:
Buck is weakening. Even his attempt to hide it via dosing his coffee with the usual insane amount of sugar....it's failing. That familiar puckish little grin is there, lips trembling. "Slow," he insists, with a look up, eyes dancing. Yeah, he has to mess with Steve.

Then he slouches back in his chair, tipping it back a bit. "That's a definite signal, even in this age," he says, judiciously. "Tell her she looks like a million dollars. And was she trying to teach you to dance? That's an excellent sign."

Captain America has posed:
Steve emerges from behind his hands and folds his arms tightly at the repetition of the word. He glowers now, successfully needled.

"I was trying to teach her to dance." A hand emerges and he gestures as he offers the explanation. "She interrupted me trying to remember how to do it. The old East Coast two-step. She got hooked, wanted me to teach her." He's not about to tell Bucky that he was filmed doing his practice and basically cornered the woman into parley to delete the footage from her phone in return for a lesson. "I know enough...and she shows up looking like one of those poster-girls from Cuba. Not...not how you're supposed to show up for a dance lesson. A skirt. Flats. Not...heels and a dress that shows off your gams," he mutters, disappearing behind his hand as he spreads it across his nose to rub at his eyes.

"And I'm //deliberate//," he shoots flatly back once more.

Winter Soldier has posed:
"Oh, Steve," says Bucky, in that infinitely pitying tone. "How can you have any doubt? That....she's gotta be interested in you, if that's how she showed up. I know you know. I still remember how, and I taught you. How'd the lesson go?" Then, mutely, he mouths, "....sssslow."

Captain America has posed:
A very self-righteous finger points across the table at Bucky. "If you call me 'slow' one more time, James Buchanan Barnes, I'm going to have words for you and soap be damned," he says tightly. He then takes up his mug of coffee if maybe to keep from further gesticulating towards the other man.

"Lesson went fine. She's...she back-leads something awful." His nose wrinkles as if he wants to smile, but won't let himself. "Seemed like she enjoyed herself. Dunno if we'll do more lessons in the future. Figured...figured I'd see if she asks again." He shrugs.

Winter Soldier has posed:
"No, Steven," Oh, god, it's another lecture from Uncle Bucky. How many of these did he get, sitting at the counter at that drugstore soda fountain, waiting for Buck to finish cleaning things up and shut it all down? "Don't wait. Ask her. Assuming you enjoyed yourself," he adds. "Do you like her? Do you like being around her? Because if you don't...well, then don't. I realized I hadn't asked. You don't have to let her buffalo you if you don't want to go out with her."

Captain America has posed:
By the near eye-roll and subtle shake of head, the Captain figured that another Uncle Bucky lecture was incoming -- a glutton for punishment, he must be.

"...I like her well enough." Steve pulls his mouth to one side again. "Just...dunno about the ramifications. We're Avengers. 'm not trying to make myself out more than I am, but I'm not a low-profile member. Wouldn't it be like...dating a coworker? Disagreements could boil over." He lifts his brows towards his friend, knowing he has a point.

Winter Soldier has posed:
That he takes more seriously, as Lili lays her head on his knee. He pets her gently. "That's....something else, yeah," he agrees. "It could be. It's not as clearcut as it used to be, when we were young. Then....maybe not. I don't know that I'd go on."

Captain America has posed:
By the way that Steve sighs, his friend has confirmed his worries. He takes a huge mouthful of his coffee and inhales through his teeth briskly after swallowing. Hmm, that coffee hadn't cooled a degree since he poured it. Goodbye, taste buds, at least for an hour or two.

"...could try it, to see what happens? Something good could come of it. Could...court her. Maybe another dance lesson. I might know for sure if I asked, not her, y'know?" He's still hesitant -- nay, deliberate about it all, even after fessing up to his oldest friend.

Winter Soldier has posed:
Buck's only trying his in discreet sips. "Sure," he says, more mildly. Lecture over. "She sounds interested. And if you like her....well, if you think it won't screw up things at work." Buck shrugs, as Lili sniffs the air inquiringly. Something about the scent of coffee.

That flip-flop back and forth - the ghost of the old ladykiller, and then the man with the haunted eyes looking at Steve across the table. He's smiling, at least.

Captain America has posed:
"I'll think about it." And that signifies Steve's decision to continue dragging his heels. He considers his friend in return, his gaze wandering to where he knows bandages hide beneath clothing if they aren't readily seen and meets the man's gaze again.

"You healing up properly? Need any painkillers?" he asks quietly. "We're gonna find this guy, Buck, and he's gonna explain to me why he tried what he did." The Captain's jaw sets again.

Winter Soldier has posed:
"I'm healing well," No bitter aside about how Zola did that much right, at least. But his expression is sealing over...and the old James is gone. "I'm okay on the pain front. They're good at calibrating it to me." Since that metabolism wipes out the good drugs as well as the poisons. "I bet I know why he did what he did. Because he wanted to wipe the Soldier off the face of the earth."

Captain America has posed:
"That's not gonna count as a good answer in my book." Steve's voice has gone low and cold. "Because you're not the Soldier. You're Bucky Barnes. And I'm going to make sure that whomever attempted your life sees that crystal-clear." Apparently, that's a promise he intends to keep as well.

Sighing, the Captain loosens his grip on his coffee mug. No shattering ceramic and hot brew everywhere. "Where do you feel safest right now?" It's one hell of a question to ask, but he does anyways, looking levelly at Bucky again.

Winter Soldier has posed:
Winter Soldier raps the table with his metal knuckles. "If this guy's a lone madman, he won't be able to get through their defenses. Even if he's a HYDRA op....he'd have a harder time getting in here. I haven't been back to your place in a while. I don't dare, quite frankly."

Captain America has posed:
Steve nods. "Glad we're in agreement. I'll be on-site often dealing with him as is. He's not going to get past the agents here, not with security." //And not with me//, is the unspoken addendum. "Don't worry about staying at my apartment, not until things calm down and we figure it all out. I can get whatever you need out of there without a problem. Just let me know. Shoot me a text."

He pauses. "...yeah, it's a text, not a Tweet. I hate getting those mixed up," the Captain mutters, sipping at his coffee. Then, in his usual bid to be kind, he attempts to turn the conversation into what it's like to have Lili around, and the two men find peaceable chitchat even with the looming shadow of an unknown killer to hunt.