Who: Bucky Barnes and Dick Grayson What: Making friends over music When: 1/22, before Bucky lost his arm Where: The Huntington Beach bus station Rating/Warnings: PG Status: Complete!
The weather was good for busking, and it was his off day; Bucky hefted his ancient keyboard and went down to the Huntington Beach bus station. He liked busking; he had the right permit to do it, and it was a time he could just lose himself in the music and play. He mixed it up usually, but today, he felt classical. So “Moonlight Sonata” it was to begin, and then segueing into some Rachmaninoff. Maybe “Flight of the Bumblebee” if he felt adventurous.
He really needed to see about getting some transportation of his own sometime soon, Dick mused as he climbed off the bus. It wasn’t like he minded public transportation - it was kind of cool, actually, the kinds of people he got to meet - but he didn’t really like the feeling of being stuck on someone else’s schedule whenever he needed to get somewhere. Kinda limiting, yanno?
On the other hand, it looked like this station came with a live show. Dick tilted his head, grinning a little at the strains of a piano concerto. Very nice. Hitching his bag further up his shoulder, Dick made his way through the crowd towards the source of the music.
Bucky usually made some good money doing this, and today was no exception; he counted at least $20 so far, and he’d only been here maybe a half an hour. It wasn’t absolutely necessary money, but it was a nice perk. In addition to the compliments, the people who stayed to watch, and even the girls who flirted. Though Jeannie would have something to say about the last bit!
He finished the Beethoven, figuring he’d challenge himself and starting a difficult partita he’d learned in the orchestra. Bach was hard on his piano fingers, and he had to focus to keep playing correctly.
Dick slipped up through the crowd until he could see the pianist, grinning a little as the music changed. He found a nearby sign post that seemed comfortable enough to lean on and settled in to listen. He wasn’t unfamiliar with classical music, though the Cirque tended to compose most of it’s own - he just knew too many musicians to have avoided it. Plus, yanno, it was classical. No one could really escape it completely. Hello, Bugs Bunny, anyone?
It was always pretty cool, too, watching someone who really knew what they were doing. And this guy definitely fell into that category.
Bucky looked up when he sensed movement, a (good-looking) guy moving front and center. Usually it was women who stopped to listen, either because they were musical, or because they wanted to flirt. Still, either was fine with him coming from a guy.
He finished the Bach with only minor mistakes - a miracle! - and smiled at the small crowd, especially the people he could see dropping dollar bills. “Thank you. Any requests?”
“I’ve got a fondness for Chopin,” Dick volunteered, grinning up at the pianist as he added a five to the collection of bills. “The preludes, particularly, but anything would be nice - Chopin or otherwise. You know your way around a piano better ‘n I do, that’s for sure.”
He settled back against his post, pose casual as he tucked his hands half into his front pockets and his expression open and friendly. Easy.
“Sure, I can handle that.” Bucky smiled at the guy before launching into one of the preludes. He didn’t know them all, but he knew the most famous. And, well, he liked pleasing people. It was a beautiful piece - killing two birds with one stone was easy.
Dick closed his eyes and let the music wash over him, his smile softening as he relaxed into it. Yeah, okay, maybe the bus wasn’t so bad, if it led to this. He shifted a little, opening his eyes again so he could watch, fingers tapping along with the melody a little against his leg.
Bucky enjoyed the piece, and apparently, so did the crowd. They gave more money, and some even applauded a little before going on their way. He didn’t do this just for the accolades, but it was kind of nice to feel like a career in music hadn’t been an entire waste of his time.
When he finished, a lot of the crowd seemed to disperse, but not the dark haired guy in front. “Not many people this day and age like Chopin,” Bucky said, smiling. “They prefer the better known ones. You’ve got good taste.”
Dick grinned.
“Well, thanks,” he replied. “I can’t take all the credit, though - I had a bunch of friends growing up who were musicians. Pretty much anything and everything I know about classical music can be blamed on them. Including the knowledge that you’re really good. That partita looked pretty difficult, but it sure didn’t sound it.”
In Dick’s experience, the hard stuff only sounded simple when it was played by a pro.
“My parents were musicians. It’s where I got the impulse to play for a living.” Bucky smiled. “I do this for fun, but I play as accompanist for a youth orchestra and also at a club. Anyplace I can play for money, I figure. Name’s James, by the way, but everyone calls me Bucky.” He stuck out a hand, figuring he’d be nice.
“Dick,” the acrobat replied, accepting the handshake cheerfully. “Nice to meet you, Bucky. I know all about parents influencing your career decisions. Thankfully, it seems like both of us got fun ones.”
“Oh? What do you do? And how lucky were you to have supportive parents?” Bucky smiled. “I’m actually adopted, but Mom and Dad never made me remember it too much.” It didn’t bother him to talk about; he’d never met his birth parents, and had no particular inclination to. He’d won the foster lottery, that was for sure.
"I'm an aerialist," Dick answered, only a few steps away from beaming at the memory of being up in the air. It didn't matter that he wasn't actively performing these days, not to him. Flying was imbedded in his DNA. Maybe even literally. "Acrobat, if you prefer. My parents are, too, so it's not like it was exactly difficult for any of us. Dad liked to tease me when I did floor work instead, though - he says I waddle when my wings are clipped."
Dick rolled his eyes, still grinning broadly at the memory. He knew his dad was really proud of his flexibility and the teasing was just his way of having a little fun.
"Do your parents come see you play often?" he asked. "Doesn't seem like it'd be difficult, with all the places you play. Or - no, that's an East Coast accent you have, isn’t it? New York or Boston. Do your folks still live out there, or did they come West, too?"
“Wow, that’s great! How fun.” Bucky smiled. “And no, my folks live in Frisco now, so it isn’t actually too far for them to come down. They’ve seen the youth orchestra a few times, though I don’t think they’d like my other job - the club gets a little raunchy after dark!” It was basically a high end strip club, though they didn’t call it that.
“Aaah.” Dick huffed a laugh. Yeah, as fun as ‘a little raunchy’ could be, it definitely wasn’t something you wanted mom and dad around for. Talk about awkward. “Yeah, with that kind of thing, I think that would be kinda uncomfortable for everyone if they visited you there. What about out here, though?”
He gestured around them at the bustling street, his smile softening.
“I know I don’t exactly know you well enough to judge, but - you look comfortable. Like you’re having fun. Seems to me that an orchestra might be a little more uptight, even if it’s a youth one. I mean, the one at home always looks so stern when they’re performing, so I’m kind of assuming here. Correct me if I’m wrong.”
“You know, you’ve got a good point.” Bucky turned the idea over in his mind. “Clearly I do a decent job of brightening people’s days out here.” He chuckled at Dick. “Thanks for the tip; they might kind of like this. They know all I want to do is help make people happy.”
“Do what you love and people will love you for it, right?” Dick nodded back towards the bus station he’d come from. “You definitely made my day better; I was just complaining to myself about public transportation until I heard you.”
“Well, it sucks.” Bucky laughed. “I don’t blame you! My car is like my one luxury. That and the keyboard.” He looked up at the clock on the outside of the station. “Hey, I need to get going, but maybe we can go for coffee sometime? Or I’d love for you to come in to the orchestra hall. Or the club.” Hey, if the guy liked women, it was a good place to be.
“Sure, coffee sounds good,” Dick agreed. “Or the club, if you prefer - I don’t think I’d fit in so well at an orchestra hall. I definitely don’t have any clothes that nice.”
Pulling his bag around so he could get at it, he dug out a pen and a piece of paper, scribbling his phone number onto it along with his name. He offered it to Bucky.
“Call me or text me whenever you’d like to meet. Or just to chat, if you want. Can’t go wrong with good conversation.”
“Aw, that’s the first guy’s number I’ve gotten in months.” Bucky laughed. “Kidding, kidding. It’ll be nice to hang out with someone who likes good music. It was nice to meet you.” He started to pack up his stuff.
“Can’t resist a pair of pretty eyes,” Dick joked right back, grinning. He resettled his bag and held out his hand for Bucky to shake. “Good to meet you, too, man. Travel safe, yeah?”
“Likewise. See you soon, I guess.” Bucky shook it firmly, smiling as he headed back toward the parking lot.