WtL Mailbox

[jumpthegun]

1201 Sugar Plum Grove

Comments

[jumpthegun]

You didn't approve of the serum?

[advanced]

I don't mind the serum, I know it gave Steve what he wanted.

[A way to finally stand up and fight without immediately being knocked down.]

But I kinda have a problem with my best friend getting experimental stuff pumped into them that could've killed them. Just to be bigger. Just to go to war.

[jumpthegun]

[That's fair. John isn't entirely sure what to say to that, though. Even if he hadn't seen the Captain America movie, he knows the feeling of wanting to push yourself, being willing to take risks to be able to serve your country in a time of war.

He offers a crooked smile and small shrug, deflecting from the heavier topic.]

Guess I shouldn't mention all the times Sherlock's experimented on me here, yeah?

[advanced]

[He really hopes that John is joking, even if it's a joke in really bad taste. He doesn't have much of a sense of humour when it comes to people experimenting on one another, especially potentially without consent.]

...what kind of experiments?

[Because perhaps he needs to have a word with Holmes about this. A definitely non-violent but stern word.]

[jumpthegun]

[Okay, minor miscalculation based on that tone and look.]

Joking. I'm joking, Bucky.

[John holds up a hand. He doesn't think Sherlock has been experimenting on him... recently. If he has, it's not something significant enough for John to remember.]

Sorry. Um... have you talked to Renart much, yet? We were trying to sort out ways with Zephyr to stop this happening. You getting locked up, I mean.

[advanced]

[That's some bad taste in jokes, but he'll let it go, it's not like he's in any kind of position to take the moral high ground at the moment, not with what he did to John only a few days ago.]

Yeah, I saw her, but you guys shouldn't have done that.

[He appreciates it, he knows they're trying to help, but still.]

You don't need to get in their bad books too.

[jumpthegun]

You're assuming I'm not already there? Had an argument with their mum about it, actually.

[advanced]

[He actually groans aloud.]

You had an argument with the Ma of our god-thing jailer? Do you like being beat up?

[jumpthegun]

I've been accused of being a masochist on occasion.

[He can take her!]

[advanced]

Well, quit it.

[Honestly, it's enough to give him a headache.]

This is why I asked Stephen to watch out for you, you need a goddamn minder sometimes.

[jumpthegun]

[That gives John pause, then makes him frown.]

I don't need a minder, Bucky. And I don't need Stephen looking after me like I'm a kid.

[Honestly!]

[advanced]

You need someone looking out for you.

[Utterly unabashed.]

You're too dumb for self preservation.

[jumpthegun]

I did manage to survive three years in a warzone. I think that says something about my self-preservation abilities. [Never you mind how he left that warzone.]

[advanced]

I think it says something for your skills, your fellow soldiers, and your CO.

[He's not buying that John has any self preservation.]

Steve survived in war too, and he was even dumber than you are.

[jumpthegun]

Steve had the serum. He could afford to be a bit reckless. [He's not pouting, just staring manfully to the side while hunching his shoulders.]

[advanced]

He was that reckless before he had the serum.

[It's fond and disapproving at the same time.]

Pretty sure it's genetic, the braver you are the stupider you are.

[jumpthegun]

[Well... John can't wholly disagree with that.]

Would you feel better if I went and wished myself impervious to all physical harm?

[He's rolling his eyes and it's not a serious suggestion.]

[advanced]

[There's a moment's hesitation, because he would kind of like that, it would keep John safe from him as well as everyone else. But he knows it's not a serious suggestion, so he shrugs.]

I just wish you'd stop and think sometimes.

[jumpthegun]

Sometimes there isn't time for that.

[And sometimes it's just easier not to think and run on instinct.]

[advanced]

There's always time to think in a fight. If you don't do it, then you're opening yourself up to worse injury.

[Instinct only goes so far.]

[jumpthegun]

[John clicks his tongue. He doesn't have a good argument in return, so he'll just change the subject.]

Did you really come here to lecture me about this, Buck?

[advanced]

No, you know why I came here.

[To apologise, which he already did.]

But it needs to be said, if you'd thought when I-- you could've stopped me before I ever hurt you.

[jumpthegun]

[John glances away again before meeting Bucky's gaze.]

You're right. I could have. I'll try to remember it if it comes up again, but I'm really hoping it won't.

[advanced]

That's not good enough, John.

[He doesn't have the right to lecture John here, he is so far from being allowed the moral high ground in this situation that it's almost funny, but he's angry enough to lecture anyway.]

Soldiers are supposed to be able to think under pressure, what the hell was all of that for if you don't even remember why we did it?

[Not that he remembers doing it, it was after John's time, but the point stands.]

[jumpthegun]

I'm not usually going up against my best mate in a fight.

[It's snapped out in turn before John takes a breath and centers himself.]

I wasn't there for whatever happened, Bucky. I'm sorry it's not my first instinct. Maybe if I remembered being trained to it, too, that'd help, but I don't.