09.01 - telepathtic broadcast

[lefthandfree]

[Well, Bucky’s reached his limit. As if the calm in T’Challa’s palace wasn’t already nerve-wracking enough, he’s now on a veritable life-long vacation by comparison, and there’s no training facility in the damn base. Shadow boxing only gets you so far. He doesn’t like drawing publicity, but he’s running out of options, and he knows better than to ask the obvious suspects, especially since variety is good and bolsters adaptation on the fly.]

«Don’t suppose there are any fighters around?»

«Name's Barnes. James Barnes. I’m looking for consistent sparring partners. One hour sessions minimum. No weapons, just straight hand-to-hand and close quarters. Willing to taper strikes and throws as needed, but it’s straight sparring and not a lesson.»

«If you're interested, let me know.»

Comments

[abide]

« If you wanted to be thrown around, you could've just asked. » [ It's a tease, of course, but it should be evident that he believes Bucky's serious., which means he is too. ]

[lefthandfree]

«Yeah, sure, pal. Someone’s gotta throttle that attitude of yours.» [Teasing back. God, why is this shit so easy now that they’re not on Earth? It’s bad.]

«Don’t want you to go easy though.» [’Cause of the arm. Well, lack of one.]

[abide]

« Didn't say anything about that. » [ He feels like laughing again, but this many times in less than a week? He doesn't know what to think of it just yet. So, he sort of keeps it to himself. ] « I'll go easy when you say easy. Did you wanna do this now or later? »

[lefthandfree]

[He knows Steve won’t ever say it, but he’d think about it and worry. Bucky just felt it’d be easier for them both if he nipped it in the bud first thing.]

«Whenever is best for you.» [Because he never wants to make Steve feel obligated. But,] «Feelin’ a bit stifled today.»

[abide]

« I've always got time for you. » [ Because there's nothing he wouldn't do for him, and if he hasn't realized that by now... well, Steve is just even more determined to make that stick. ] « I can meet you there in ten. Need me to bring anything? »

[lefthandfree]

«Towels might be good.» [So that they don’t drip sweat everywhere and make the facility start to smell like a weight room.] «There aren’t mats. Not sure how we can get any. Doubt the fabricator can make anything on that scale.»

[abide]

« I'll see what I can find. Anyway, that just means being careful. » [ A pause, and there's no way he can avoid giving him hell for that comment. ] « Unless the floor's too hard for you. »

[lefthandfree]

«You know it fuckin’ ain’t.» [And he laughs, even though he remembers how hard he fell and still lived. It’s not the best time to joke about it though. Steve isn’t ready for it.] «It’s gonna be your face on the floor anyway, kiddo.»

[abide]

« Guess we'll find out. I hope you're ready. » [ He's 100% serious about this. Can you tell? ]

[lefthandfree]

[Of course. Bucky wouldn’t have it any other way. He sends his amusement over the link.] «Always.»