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WHO: Bucky Barnes

sidecars and Toro Raymond

sentielemental
WHERE: De Chima prison
WHEN: Early July
WHAT: Toro comes to visit his buddy in prison
WARNINGS: N/A

[ It's probably the first time since being incarcerated that Bucky has felt, well, upbeat. His situation may not have changed, but he has his best bud back, and that's worth a lot.

He's all goofy grins when he enters the visitor's room and spies Toro waiting at a table for him. With only a few more day left in his sentence they can go raise Hell outside the prison walls. Well, until his 10pm curfew. ]

Well, well, well, look who's back...

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[Toro moves to stand and Bucky probably notices that Toro looks a little older. Not a lot. Still all youth in the face. But then he's two inches taller than Bucky, now. And he doesn't carry himself the same way anymore. He's not the awkward, eager, enthusiasm anymore. He's calmer, more confident in just being himself.

But the way he moves to grab Bucky's shoulders and stare him down with that smile on his face is still all Toro.]

If this is what happens when I leave you alone, you punk, I can never be gone.

Oh please, don't flatter yourself!

[ It's hard to sound truly annoyed when you can't stop smiling, but Bucky still does his best. ]

We can only hug for four seconds, so let's make it a good one. [ He wraps his arms around his friend's shoulders, and boy is it kind of an awkward angle now. But he holds onto Toro tightly as he counts out loud "One Mississippi, two Mississippi..." until their time is up. ] God, since when'd you grow up? How'd you—They don't feed us good enough to hit a growth spurt!

[ He's totally not jealous. ~~Yes, he is totally jealous.~~ ]

We always make it count. [Toro enjoys that hug for as long as the brevity of it gives them and then steps back, clapping Bucky on the shoulder again. He sits back down again, waiting for Bucky to do the same before starting.] No they weren't feeding us that good at all, but...well that was a while ago. For me.

[But a lot's happened for him that he's not sure he can or even wants to explain.]

I'm just happy to see you're still as full of it as when I left.

Oh. Guess that would explain it.

[ Did that mean Bucky disappeared on Toro already from when he's from? It'll surely come up eventually now that they have time to talk about it. Or... not talk about it. Whichever one of those things happens. ]

Full of vigor and experience and truth, yeah 'course. Always!

[Not talking about emotional topics is how they got through World War II and both of them coming back from the dead. It works. Better to focus on the now instead of the potential future he hopes Bucky will never have to face.]

Full of something, sure. [Toro is just grinning too much because it's been a long time since he got to since with Bucky like this in any capacity.] So are they gonna let you out of here anytime soon?

The twentieth, so not much longer. But I'm not really off the hook after that either. I'll have a parole officer that I've gotta report to for awhile. And a curfew, can you believe that?

[ It's like the one thing Bucky doesn't really agree with. ]

Ten pm, like I'm some grade school boy!

[Toro snorts, tapping his fingers against the table with a shake of his head.] Only you Buck. I'm surprised they didn't put a bell on you.

[Then his expression softens, the look in his eyes more concerned.] Do you want to tell me what happened?

Yeah, well, don't give 'em any ideas around here...

[ He put it off as long as he could. But the entire reason Toro is here is to talk about how he ended up in prison. Not just jail—prison. ]

Not... really. But I need to, so... [ Rubbing at his head with restless energy like a colony of ants took up residence in that curly hair, Bucky tries finding the words for this. ] So somehow, because you know this place is just hotbed of crises, I thought that uh... the Soviets had recruited me for the War'n not General Phillips. In fact I remember distinctly the guy left me to rot in jail while some suits from Russia decided to take a chance on me instead.

Anyway, this entire series of events that somehow changed my entire life ended up making me, uh, assassinate most of the nominees for Ambassador of De Chima and Maurtia Falls.

[ Yup. ]

[Toro's eyes go a bit wide and the name Russia is more than enough to make his fist clench, but he stops that by pressing them down into the hard surface of the table. He takes a deep breath and then looks down before looking back up.]

The Russians. Criminy Buck, why is it always the Russians?

[The ironic statement he'd made just days ago feels a lot harsher now.]

It's always the Russians! [ Yes, see? You understand, Toro! ] I tried to kill six of 'em. The last one some of the imPorts tracked me down and took me to the police. After that I... somehow came back to my senses and confessed. So now I'm here.

This was sort of something I wanted to, you know, avoid with the Russians. But... Here we are.

[Toro knows exactly what the Russians are capable of. He knows just as well as Bucky what they can twist people into thinking, believing, doing. It's not something he wanted for this Bucky, he'd had the chance to make a clean break from that future. Instead they found a way to get to him anyway.

It's a good thing Toro's powers have evolved or he may have started a fight right here in the visitor's lounge.]

It's good that you managed to shake it. Was that...it? Did they try anything else?

Yeah, that was it. It wasn't really the Russians, even. It was some kid from our world. Magic and all that nonsense gettin' mixed up and changin' things.

[ You know, the usual bullshit. ]

Magic from our world? [That's a surprise.] Did you know them? Did they...know about what happened?

[Or will--could--happen. Toro wants to make sure it never does, but he's not so arrogant to think it's up to him.]

About me, you mean. [ All that Winter Soldier business. ] Yeah... I never really chatted much with the guy—Honestly, I had more talks with his boyfriend.

Still, what a pain in the ass. All of this because some kid can't keep his powers to himself. Why isn't he in prison?

He's not? [Considering he was the cause of all of this, it is surprising that Bucky's the one facing punishment. That would have been like blaming Bucky for what happened with the Winter Soldier.

...Oh wait. The US Government did exactly that.]

It doesn't matter what happened with him. The fact you're getting out is what counts. Hopefully your attorney will figure out how to get the curfew thing overturned. What kind of superhero has a curfew?

[ Spider-Man waits in the visitor's room, trying not to squirm too much under the eyes of the guards. Given his long and exceptionally fraught relationship with the law, it's not his preferred place to be even under the best of circumstances. Which these are not.

Will Bucky even want to see him? From his perspective, they barely know each other. From Spider-Man's... they also barely know each other. But on some metaphysically confused level, this is the Bucky he introduced to pizza and the Bucky -- both of them -- he's fought back to back with, and to that man (slash men), he owes a visit. ]

[ Bucky totally laughs. Sorry, pal, but he hadn't expected to see you all up in your blue and red onesy waiting for him. This just tickles him pink.

With a grin he can't wipe off his face, he comes and sits opposite him. ]

I almost thought it was a joke when I saw you signed in to see me.

What, a guy can't stop by to check on the alternate counterpart of his old teammate?

[ He freezes mid-shrug. ]

Uh... I did mention that part already, right?

No, but considering how much the world is out to get me these days, I'm fresh out of surprised faces. Not that you wouldn't be a swell former teammate! You're very swell! "Cool" even.

You know, you'd be even cooler in my book if you fattened up my commissary balance.

[ He's totally batting his eyes at you. Look at this poor little nineteen year old kiddy Bucky. How can you say no to that face? GIVE HIM MONEY, FOOL! ]

[ Spider-Man crosses his arms and leans back in his seat. ]

You wouldn't need a commissary balance if you'd taken parole like you were offered.

[ Another shrug, just a twitch of his shoulders this time. ]

Iron Man told me. You know you're not responsible for what the other you did just because it was your life he stepped into, right?

[ Oh good, word has spread. Bucky parrots his actions, leaning back in his chair with his arms folded over his chest. ]

Did he, huh? You guys gossip worse than a knitting circle. Does this sort of thing happen to guys so much you just don't even take it seriously anymore, or...?

[ Don't get huffy with him, young man, or he will get huffy right back. ]

[ Spidey holds up his hands. ]

Whoa there! Peace. I never said I wouldn't be feeling the same way, or want to do the same.

Also, no idea what a knitting circle is, other than some kind of old people thing.

[Deliberate baiting: the Spider-Man approach to conflict resolution. Really, it's a wonder his rogues gallery hasn't converted in droves. ]

[ How do you not know what a knitting circle is?? Bucky is so sighing here. ]

Okay, sure, old people. But it's women that knit. And when you get a bunch of women together, they gossip—Look, that's not even the point'a this! I'm in here 'cause someone's gotta take responsibility for it. Seems like I'm gonna be doin' it for a chunk of my life anyway, so...

[ Hey, he might as well get started on accruing good karma to outweigh the bad that's going to hit him. ]

I thought guys knitted back in the war. You know, to keep busy during the "wait" part of "hurry up and."

[ A pause. Spider-Man crosses his arms again, somehow managing to look serious despite his clownish attire. ]

I respect that. I really do. And I'm the last guy on Earth to tell you you're taking your responsibilities too seriously. But you went through something too, you know? And you don't have to face it on your own.

I'm getting the distinct impression that someone's spilled the beans about some of the stuff your future self's been through.

My job didn't have the "wait" part like most soldiers.

[ There's a reason the military had him on amphetamine constantly. How else was he supposed to keep up with Steve? ]

Well, I dunno if I'd say spilled, but I could only stand having people from the future givin' me these looks. So I asked. [ Bucky shrugs. ] Sorta wish I hadn't, I gotta say...

It's not all bad, you know.

[ Mostly pretty bad, from what Spidey has gathered. And he got taken by the Porter before the trial and its fallout. ]

You've got friends, a team, the respect of all the spandexed set -- and Steve's around too.

[ That's surprising. His eyebrows rise up his forehead. ]

Is he?

[ From what he saw of the future with Spider-Man, Steve was gone and some loser had taken his place. ]

[ You can't see it, Bucky, but Peter is giving you the weirdest look right now. ]

Wait, no one's told you that yet? Literally no one? He's one of the founding Avengers, Bucky.

Well, I mean I knew he was part of the Avengers. Look I don't really talk to many from our world beside Stark, and that's cause he's my boss. Some doll named Kate told me some stuff about me, but she hasn't been around here in a long time.

Wait, Tony Stark's your boss? Yeesh, my sympathies.

[ Obviously some kind of history there. ]

Kate Bishop, you mean? Hawkeye? Yeah, she's good people. I didn't know she knew you back home--her Avengers didn't hang out with our Avengers much.

We were on the same team for a while--did I ever mention that? Sometimes you lose track of who you told what, when. [ Especially when the who keeps getting ported jn and out without their memories. Damnit, Bucky. ]

Eh, he lets me break his stuff and pays me for it. I can't complain...

[ Hell, he pretty much created his own job title. Who can say if Stark just doesn't care or Bucky's puppy dog I-am-going-to-get-brainwashed-soon quivering lip did the trick, but he isn't going to dig too deep. ]

Did we... get along? Was I different?

[ He's gonna drop the Tony thing for now because man, that can of worms. ]

You were, uh... quieter? You'd only just gotten your memories back, so I think you were a little confused by... well, everything, but us especially. I'd die for anyone on that team, but Avengers 101 we really weren't.

Ha! Yeah, well, if I'm on the team, makes sense. How long do we work together? Who else is on the team? Anyone else here?

Nah, no one else here.

I mean, there are and have been plenty of Avengers here--just not from our team, not for a long while now.

[ Technically, since Carol, Logan, Luke and Jess only showed up in the City, none of them were ever here-here. ]

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SINCE YOU SAID IT WAS OKAY

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