James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes (comradebarnes) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-09-08 00:19:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, bucky barnes (winter soldier), logan howlett (wolverine) |
Who: Bucky and Logan
What: Meeting and comparing notes
Where: Outside a smoke shop in Santa Ana
When: 9/7
Warnings/Rating: PG for Logan
Status: Complete
Bucky wanted to get some more smokes before heading to the orchestra practice. He’d been reduced to smoking crappy off brands - only thing he’d been able to get his hands on during the long weekend - but now it was back to the good shit. In fact, he’d gotten a brand new part time job, so he was thinking he might treat himself. He was headed to the smoke shop just off the interstate, curious to see what he could find. He’d liked Gauloises when he’d tried them, or maybe he’d spring for a cigar.
There was a custom Harley parked in front of the smoke shop, and Logan was leaning against the wall, holding an expensive cigar, and looking really, really pleased with himself. He popped the middle claw to remove the tip, then lit it.
Bucky drove up and parked his ancient Ford, catching a glimpse of the guy standing outside. He raised an eyebrow, appreciating the smell, but he also saw what the guy had done to cut the tip off. He might have stared just a little.
“What are you lookin’ at, Bub?” Logan looked over at him, then his eyes narrowed. He recognized that smell, and he didn’t know how to feel about that smell.
“I ... sorry.” Bucky blushed. “Just ... thought I saw something, I guess. Though I did also stop because that cigar smells great.” Maybe it wasn’t a claw. Maybe he’d seen something weird. Who the hell knew.
“It’s pretty good. Not as good as Cubans, but not much is an’ I save mine for the really good occasions.” He grinned, and decided to just go with it. For now. It was bad form to stab someone who probably didn’t even remember him yet.
“I might have a lead on a new job, so I figured I’d treat myself. Been smoking Pyramids cause I was so damn broke.” Bucky laughed. “Usually I go with Lucky Strikes, but the occasional cigar is nice.”
“Reason enough to celebrate,” Logan agreed. He looked the man over and then reached into his pocket. He offered Bucky a cigarette. It was sort of like offering a truce, even if the other man didn’t know it yet. The muscles in his arms twitched.
“Thanks.” Bucky took it, relaxing a little. This guy wasn’t going to hurt him at this point. He didn’t think. He lit the smoke and took a long drag. “God, that’s good. Is that imported? Or hand rolled?” He couldn’t quite place it.
“Imported,” Logan replied, taking a moment to savor it. He didn’t get to smoke as often as he liked to, anymore. It didn’t really affect Eli but he liked to be considerate to Vel.
“It’s really nice.” Bucky sighed. “Believe it or not, I run marathons, but I’ve cut way down on the smokes; I don’t have to give up entirely, I figure.”
“If you’re not slowly killing yourself,” Logan said dryly. “You’re not living.”
“I like the way you think.” Bucky smiled a little. “Ex-girlfriend would go so far as hiding my smokes, and that’s just kind of juvenile.”
“That would be why she’s the Ex,” Logan replied, thinking about if she’d been his.
“One of the reasons.” Bucky shook his head. “Kind of a shame, she was gorgeous, but oh well.”
He grinned at Bucky. Cigarettes were important, but not that important. “Beauty ain’t everythin’.”
“She also just wasn’t very intelligent, and that’s a deal breaker. I don’t want to talk bad about a lady, but I need someone I can talk to.” Bucky chuckled. “You have a lady friend?” His effort to stop nattering on about himself.
Logan snorted. Dumb women didn’t last that long around him either. He liked them smart and a little exotic, and Vel had fit the bill right off. “Yep. With legs longer than my bike, an’ brains to match.”
“Nice.” Bucky smiled. “Sounds perfect. I’m glad. It’s going to be hard not to flirt with the ladies at my new job - I just got hired as a musician at a new burlesque club opening up in Huntington Beach, and it’d be a little unprofessional to hit on the coworkers.”
“Yeah, usually is. What’re you gonna do if they flirt with you?” He raised his eyebrows. “Huntington Beach? I’m a friend of the owner.”
“The Japanese lady? Miss Yuriko?” Bucky raised an eyebrow. “Small world. I’m Bucky Barnes. She’s already a great boss - she’s nice, but she’s going to handle her business, I can tell.” He smiled a little. “And if any of the ladies hit on me, well, then it’s them who’s being unprofessional.”
“Yuriko is definitely not a woman you wanna underestimate,” Logan said, amused.
“Oh, I bet you know stories.” He didn’t ask for them, he was just saying so. “But yeah, for what it’s worth, she refused to hire a guy who wouldn’t stop staring at her chest, even though he was arguably better than me. She said, in that precise voice of hers, ‘I will hire the gentleman who is able to look me in my eyes.’”
“Thats sounds like Yuriko. She’s got steel all down her spine.” Logan was more than happy to hear that. He knew as well as anyone how easy it was to become that person in the dreams. Sometimes you needed an outlet.
“I like ladies like that. But I would never ask my boss out, and also, she said she’s engaged.” Bucky chuckled. “Good for her. I hope her fiance is as tough as her.” He finished the smoke, stepping on the end. “Thank you for that, it was damn good. Any recommendations on a good cigar or cigarillo I should try, or just ‘go Cuban’?”
Logan grunted a recommendation, thinking about things. He couldn’t remember if Deathstrike had ever run across any of the people out of Cap’s side of the hero community. He supposed it didn’t matter here.
“OK. They have them in there?” Bucky nodded his head toward the smoke shop. “I never did catch your name, by the way.” If he didn’t want to give it, that was fine, but it was best to ask.
“Logan.” He nodded his head towards the shop. “They’ve got it, but they’re getting low on it so you better get it while it lasts.”
“I’ll do that.” Bucky got the impression he was getting the brush-off. “Good to meet you. Will you come in to Miss Yuriko’s club anytime?”
“You can damn well bet,” Logan replied, his grin almost feral. “Especially if it ends up as classy as she hopes for.”
“I don’t think it would dare not to be, for fear of offending her.” Bucky smiled. He liked the woman already. “Come see me if you do come in; I’m sure I can get you and your lady friend a good table.” He hadn’t said wife or girlfriend, so best to be vague.
“Thanks, bub. Vel’ll appreciate that too.” She might be straight but he knew she didn’t mind looking. That or she didn’t mind him looking. Whatever.
Bucky didn’t ask or judge either way. “You know Miss Yuriko; she probably would, if I can’t. But seriously, if you haven’t been, you should come look at it, it’s shaping up really nice.” He offered a hand to shake. “Thanks for the recommendation, by the way. I’ll go in and give it a shot.”
Logan looked at Bucky’s hand, thought about it, then shook it.