[ After leaving New York, Steve Rogers the Winter Soldier became a ghost all over again. He contemplated returning to Europe, get lost in the countryside or somewhere in the mountains, but whenever he’d look into leaving he’d remember the coordinates that Jimmy had given him. They tethered him to North America for the time being, and instead he got lost in the Canadian wilderness. Which hadn’t been terrible, and considering the weather at times, it gave him a valid reason for wearing gloves and long sleeves to hide the prosthetic arm. His mind wasn’t stable enough to pursue a job just yet, but he made due just fine for two weeks.
After all, he has survived much worse. Living in places without heat, and at times even without walls, hadn’t been much of a challenge.
The day he’s supposed to meet up with Jimmy, he arrives much earlier than expected. He doesn’t expect a trap, but he still checks the perimeter nonetheless to ensure no one beat him there that could be a risk. Once he’s comfortable with what he finds, he sets the white orchids he had brought with him by the stairs before retreating to the shadows of the house. Despite the obvious abandonment, he doesn’t explore it because it feels too personal, like he’s intruding, so he waits patiently. The small notebook that has become like a bible to him, because it contains things that he has jotted down with memories or things that could be important, keeps him busy as he reads though it and ends up drawing the view from the window that’s closest to him, until he sees Jimmy walking up. It makes Steve stop, watching him for a moment as he feels his heart speed up in his chest, before he stands up and buries the notebook in the hidden pocket of the old coat he’s wearing. Maybe he should say hi, but for a moment he doesn’t know what to say, until Jimmy beats him to the punch.
Stepping out from the shadows, Steve buries his hands in the pockets of his coat. Partly because he isn’t sure what to say - should he admit he got here very early? - but mainly because he had taken off his gloves and the metallic hand is very visible without them. Although he looks sleep deprived, he still looks better rested than the first time they had seen each other that other night. ]
...a few hours.
[ He pauses for a brief moment, but it doesn’t last long. ]
[ And he'd apologise for how vague he was, but it doesn't matter nearly as much.
Logan catches the scent of flowers in the air, so he walks towards it. It has him passing Rogers where he stands, but it isn't acknowledged beyond a reach of his hand and a small pat to the man's shoulder in silent acknowledgement. That this is the shoulder attached to the metal hand isn't coincidence, either.
Time apart at least means Logan's been given time to clear his head, and what anger and irritation he felt at their first meeting has been replaced with a more calm fatigue. There's no aggression in his movements, no more defensive postures or threatening claws, and as he bends to pick up the orchids at the foot of the stairs, he smiles just slightly as he looks at them.
Maybe Rogers can see it. The sun's not hanging low enough to prevent the light from spilling in through the windows, and Logan's features are clear enough.
In any case, he puts the flowers back down, then slips his hand into the pocket of his jacket. ]
C'mon. [ Jerking his head in the direction of the stairs, Logan starts up the steps. ] We're going to my room.
[ Steve can definitely see the change in his demeanor, and it helps to make the slight tension in his shoulders relax. Because, while Steve has been curious about this meeting, he'd be lying if he said he hadn't stressed over it. Not only from the perspective of whether or not he should show up, but the unknown made him feel anxious.
Now, seeing him, it helps to feel a little more at ease.
When Jimmy pats his shoulder, Steve blinks once in surprise because he hadn't really been expecting it. Jimmy would be able to feel the way the socket of the prosthetic wraps around his shoulder and what's left of his upper arm, but Steve doesn't really think much about it. The arm has been such a part of him that, in a lot of ways, it feels as if he has always had it. The thought that maybe Jimmy had known him before HYDRA had given him the prosthetic doesn't quite hit him yet.
When he notices the smile, Steve finds himself staring for a moment although he does his best to not make it too obvious. It's hard, especially when his lips twitch very slightly into a small smile of his own.
With a slight nod, he begins to follow Jimmy up the stairs. ]
You lived here?
BECAUSE YOU DUMPED THIS ASSHOLE ON ME AND YOU HAVE TO SUFFER FOR IT
Yeah. [ The wood under them is old enough to creak under any weight if it's not placed in the right areas, but Logan's been here enough that he knows exactly where to step to keep the house quiet. They make it from the landing to the top, and he walks towards his old room. ] This house-- hell, all this land belonged to the Howletts.
I'm sure you looked me up. [ He doesn't even pretend like Rogers wouldn't. ] Before I was Wolverine, I was Logan. Before that, I was James Howlett.
[ He opens the door to his bedroom. There's a huge bed in there, and even a fireplace for when little Jimmy had multiple bouts with fever and a million other sicknesses. Logan crinkles his nose a bit at the dust, but goes to that fireplace without much hesitation. ]
You can sit if you want. [ Pause. ] Sorry about the dust.
[ And from atop the mantle, he picks up a biscuit tin. Screwing it open, his back to Rogers, he pulls out an incredibly old photograph and hands it the other man's way with a single command: ] Be careful.
[ Because the picture's old, and the material it was printed on a little flimsy in its age, and on it is Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers-- in military uniform, not Captain America uniform-- and Logan himself, looking exactly the same as he does now (save for the longer, wavy hair). They're standing by a booth at one of those speakeasies, and Steve is smiling while Logan looks away from the camera. Bucky looks surprised, like he can't believe the picture was taken, and one hand is positioned to show he'd been poking at Logan's arm up until that snap. ]
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Steve Rogersthe Winter Soldier became a ghost all over again. He contemplated returning to Europe, get lost in the countryside or somewhere in the mountains, but whenever he’d look into leaving he’d remember the coordinates that Jimmy had given him. They tethered him to North America for the time being, and instead he got lost in the Canadian wilderness. Which hadn’t been terrible, and considering the weather at times, it gave him a valid reason for wearing gloves and long sleeves to hide the prosthetic arm. His mind wasn’t stable enough to pursue a job just yet, but he made due just fine for two weeks.After all, he has survived much worse. Living in places without heat, and at times even without walls, hadn’t been much of a challenge.
The day he’s supposed to meet up with Jimmy, he arrives much earlier than expected. He doesn’t expect a trap, but he still checks the perimeter nonetheless to ensure no one beat him there that could be a risk. Once he’s comfortable with what he finds, he sets the white orchids he had brought with him by the stairs before retreating to the shadows of the house. Despite the obvious abandonment, he doesn’t explore it because it feels too personal, like he’s intruding, so he waits patiently. The small notebook that has become like a bible to him, because it contains things that he has jotted down with memories or things that could be important, keeps him busy as he reads though it and ends up drawing the view from the window that’s closest to him, until he sees Jimmy walking up. It makes Steve stop, watching him for a moment as he feels his heart speed up in his chest, before he stands up and buries the notebook in the hidden pocket of the old coat he’s wearing. Maybe he should say hi, but for a moment he doesn’t know what to say, until Jimmy beats him to the punch.
Stepping out from the shadows, Steve buries his hands in the pockets of his coat. Partly because he isn’t sure what to say - should he admit he got here very early? - but mainly because he had taken off his gloves and the metallic hand is very visible without them. Although he looks sleep deprived, he still looks better rested than the first time they had seen each other that other night. ]
...a few hours.
[ He pauses for a brief moment, but it doesn’t last long. ]
Thank you for coming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI1lRp2HTYA
[ And he'd apologise for how vague he was, but it doesn't matter nearly as much.
Logan catches the scent of flowers in the air, so he walks towards it. It has him passing Rogers where he stands, but it isn't acknowledged beyond a reach of his hand and a small pat to the man's shoulder in silent acknowledgement. That this is the shoulder attached to the metal hand isn't coincidence, either.
Time apart at least means Logan's been given time to clear his head, and what anger and irritation he felt at their first meeting has been replaced with a more calm fatigue. There's no aggression in his movements, no more defensive postures or threatening claws, and as he bends to pick up the orchids at the foot of the stairs, he smiles just slightly as he looks at them.
Maybe Rogers can see it. The sun's not hanging low enough to prevent the light from spilling in through the windows, and Logan's features are clear enough.
In any case, he puts the flowers back down, then slips his hand into the pocket of his jacket. ]
C'mon. [ Jerking his head in the direction of the stairs, Logan starts up the steps. ] We're going to my room.
why do you do this to me /cries
Now, seeing him, it helps to feel a little more at ease.
When Jimmy pats his shoulder, Steve blinks once in surprise because he hadn't really been expecting it. Jimmy would be able to feel the way the socket of the prosthetic wraps around his shoulder and what's left of his upper arm, but Steve doesn't really think much about it. The arm has been such a part of him that, in a lot of ways, it feels as if he has always had it. The thought that maybe Jimmy had known him before HYDRA had given him the prosthetic doesn't quite hit him yet.
When he notices the smile, Steve finds himself staring for a moment although he does his best to not make it too obvious. It's hard, especially when his lips twitch very slightly into a small smile of his own.
With a slight nod, he begins to follow Jimmy up the stairs. ]
You lived here?
BECAUSE YOU DUMPED THIS ASSHOLE ON ME AND YOU HAVE TO SUFFER FOR IT
I'm sure you looked me up. [ He doesn't even pretend like Rogers wouldn't. ] Before I was Wolverine, I was Logan. Before that, I was James Howlett.
[ He opens the door to his bedroom. There's a huge bed in there, and even a fireplace for when little Jimmy had multiple bouts with fever and a million other sicknesses. Logan crinkles his nose a bit at the dust, but goes to that fireplace without much hesitation. ]
You can sit if you want. [ Pause. ] Sorry about the dust.
[ And from atop the mantle, he picks up a biscuit tin. Screwing it open, his back to Rogers, he pulls out an incredibly old photograph and hands it the other man's way with a single command: ] Be careful.
[ Because the picture's old, and the material it was printed on a little flimsy in its age, and on it is Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers-- in military uniform, not Captain America uniform-- and Logan himself, looking exactly the same as he does now (save for the longer, wavy hair). They're standing by a booth at one of those speakeasies, and Steve is smiling while Logan looks away from the camera. Bucky looks surprised, like he can't believe the picture was taken, and one hand is positioned to show he'd been poking at Logan's arm up until that snap. ]