Bucky Barnes (bleedtowin) wrote in districtmarvel, @ 2016-03-19 00:35:00 |
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Entry tags: | bucky barnes, loki laufeyson |
Who: Bucky Barnes, Loki Odinson
What: Brief narrative, then texts, leading into a thread.
When: After the Reaping.
Ratings/Warnings: TBD, probably low but with mentions of typical HG awful stuff.
Bucky had been there for the Reaping. It was the first he'd actually gone to since the year Steve volunteered. Once he wasn't a new Victor, they hadn't tried to make him, and he'd left the guilt to the people stepping up to mentor or to Steve to watch the solemn, scared faces wading up to die.
But this was different, obviously. They all knew it was a travesty, that Bucky wasn't going anywhere near the Arena, that the name Peggy would pull out would be Steve's and that Bucky wasn't allowed to volunteer to go instead. But he had to go through the motions and stand there with Steve and Hogarth and pretend to wait to hear his fate.
He pulled it off, stone-faced and knowing he wasn't putting on any show at all. Bucky didn't give a shit. There was no point in it anymore. None of them were happy or proud, and he wasn't really worried for his own sake. They didn't have to pretend to be. There wasn't anything left to hang over their heads that wasn't already there.
The crowds were restless but almost silent through the names read out of the near-empty bowl, the retreat off the stage afterward. Steve had no family left for last goodbyes, and Bucky wasn't going into the Arena. So it was Steve Rebecca was there to see, hugging him tight and fighting back tears. Bucky watched from afar and just reminded her awkwardly to look after Moo and Trouble and Barton's damn fish. She nodded as the Peacekeepers herded her out of the room. Then they were on the train.
Bucky squeezed Steve's arm, gave Peggy a smile she'd know was practiced instead of real, but was smart enough to not expect anything else right now. Then he drifted out of the car, leaving them some time to themselves.
He pulled up the list of Tributes again once he was alone. He and Steve had looked at them quickly, as soon as they were off stage, but now he lingered over the names. Just like he expected, pretty much, everyone he cared about but Tony - except instead of Thor it was Frigga.
Fucked for Loki either way.
A little more time passed than he realized - that happened, sometimes, still. But Bucky came back to the scenery still flying by outside the car, and no one in it but him. He hesitated, and then shrugged to himself. Someone had to talk to Loki, they'd all agreed. Maybe the guy would need someone now. And Bucky was just a name-only Mentor. He could get away for a while once they hit the Capitol and Steve started up his beauty treatments. He texted Loki.
➞ Hey.
➞ Saw the Tributes list.
➞ Sorry. About your mom.
➞ You busy?