Jason Todd (
prodigaljaybird) wrote2011-06-09 09:51 pm
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"Fuck."
It's an odd thing to be upset about, coming home in the wee hours of the morning to find a light in the hut already on.
It's not like Bucky doesn't know he sneaks out most nights. And it's not like Jason doesn't know he knows, but still, he tries to do the things that will make Bucky respect him, still subconsciously afraid that he'll fuck it up somehow, that Bucky will decide what Bruce did and cut him loose, and Jason doesn't want to fucking go, not again. So he does dorky things like his homework, like going to some classes he'd really rather cut, like pretending he's not living in sin or whatever half the time with his girlfriend.
But if the light's on, the jig is up, and shit, what if Bucky actually wants to talk about it this time, what if this is it, and Jason slows to a halt on the front porch, heart hot and rising up in his throat.
Maybe he should lie. Pretend there's some bullshit emergency that called him away, but Bucky'd know. He should just go in. Be brave, at least, if he can't be good.
"Uh," he says, too loud in his nervousness when he shoves through the door, "hey, I just - "
Jason stops dead. Bucky's nowhere in sight, but in the lamplight Jason can see broken bits of furniture through his open door, and at the table, a woman Jason's never seen before.
That she's stunning doesn't give Jason even a moment's pause. Whatever gorgeous body she might possess is secondary to the fact that it's wrapped in nothing more than one of Bucky's shirts, that she's sitting at their table, drinking out of Bucky's cup, and there's every evidence of a fight.
Jason's a faster draw with his right hand than his left, but that doesn't stop the batarang from popping between his fingers in half the blink of an eye.
It's an odd thing to be upset about, coming home in the wee hours of the morning to find a light in the hut already on.
It's not like Bucky doesn't know he sneaks out most nights. And it's not like Jason doesn't know he knows, but still, he tries to do the things that will make Bucky respect him, still subconsciously afraid that he'll fuck it up somehow, that Bucky will decide what Bruce did and cut him loose, and Jason doesn't want to fucking go, not again. So he does dorky things like his homework, like going to some classes he'd really rather cut, like pretending he's not living in sin or whatever half the time with his girlfriend.
But if the light's on, the jig is up, and shit, what if Bucky actually wants to talk about it this time, what if this is it, and Jason slows to a halt on the front porch, heart hot and rising up in his throat.
Maybe he should lie. Pretend there's some bullshit emergency that called him away, but Bucky'd know. He should just go in. Be brave, at least, if he can't be good.
"Uh," he says, too loud in his nervousness when he shoves through the door, "hey, I just - "
Jason stops dead. Bucky's nowhere in sight, but in the lamplight Jason can see broken bits of furniture through his open door, and at the table, a woman Jason's never seen before.
That she's stunning doesn't give Jason even a moment's pause. Whatever gorgeous body she might possess is secondary to the fact that it's wrapped in nothing more than one of Bucky's shirts, that she's sitting at their table, drinking out of Bucky's cup, and there's every evidence of a fight.
Jason's a faster draw with his right hand than his left, but that doesn't stop the batarang from popping between his fingers in half the blink of an eye.
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"Hello," she says, unmoving, not even to take a sip of her water. That she could take this child does not also mean she wants to provoke him. "You must be Jason."
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"Drop it," says Bucky in a tone that brooks no argument, his expression hard. That his girlfriend is in no real danger is besides the point; threats against her will never be greeted with understanding, regardless of their source, justified or not. "Now."
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He drops his arm, trusting Bucky if absolutely nothing else about this situation, and what the fuck, Bucky's showering in the middle of the night? He doesn't do that. "The fuck?" Jason blurts, instantly miserable. Whatever the hell is going on, it seems like the safest bet.
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And Bucky in need of a shower, and the furniture torn to bits, and, "Oh," Jason exhales, and he doesn't even know what the fuck to think. When he had parents, he never walked in on them doing it, but this must be how it feels. And, impressive temper aside, Bucky's so damned reserved, so quiet, he never thought...
"Did you guys break the furniture doing it?"
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"Fighting," she corrects. "I'm afraid there was a small case of mistaken identity during my arrival." Her legs are crossed chastely, but her ankles bob, a slight swing to them that suggests Natalia is enjoying herself. "Miles, James? Really?"
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Turning back to the boy, she notes that he's still lingering in the door and silently chides herself. This is his home, after all, and if her instincts are correct, he truly needs it. "I apologize for my sudden intrusion," she says. "Given the choice, I would have made my entrance in an entirely different manner."
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"Do you live here now?" Eyes lifting to Bucky, Jason still can't figure out what he's feeling. It's panic, he knows that much, but whether or not it's warranted is anyone's guess. "Does she live here?"
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"Kid, she showed up a couple hours ago, we'll save figuring out the living arrangements for later," says Bucky, on firmer ground, now, despite Jason's obvious panic. "This is your house, we've gone over this already."
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She could speak, but she remains silent. Better for them to work this particular issue out between them. Thrilled as she is at their reunion, Natalia doesn't need to dictate James' path to remain secure in his affection for her. That will be there regardless.
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"We could build more rooms," he says, "or whatever," and now his brain has jumped track, to Lux living here, too, one big happy family. It buoys him up, Jason rejecting every reason that the idea might be improbable. "I don't care."
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"We'll figure it out later," says Bucky again. To Tasha, he adds, "It probably makes sense for you to stay here 'til we do, though. It's either here or the crash room in the Compound."
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"If it wouldn't be an intrusion," she says, watching Jason, "I'd prefer to stay here until everything is sorted." The situation is strange enough - she's not even had time to explore the island yet, let alone scout for future residences.
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He looks back at her, this Natalia, and wonders if she's even wearing something under that giant shirt. She probably didn't arrive naked, but, "Do you need pants?"
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"Don't worry, we won't be breaking any more furniture."
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"You think the Compound has headphones?" he grins, backing towards his room.
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