(no subject)

[prodigaljaybird]

"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.

Comments

[widowskiss.livejournal.com]

Natalia is no princess. She's slept in ditches, in trenches and bunkers, slept in overcrowded, inhumane conditions and survived it all, but that doesn't mean she's eager to stay anywhere called a crash room.

"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.

[prodigaljaybird]

Jason shrugs. "Sure." She can stay in Bucky's room at least, assuming they left any furniture to sleep on. His mouth twists a little thinking about that, not disgust, but trepidation. Much as he loves Bucky, he doesn't think he wants to hear him doing it...Jason's nighttime hours with Lux might be stretching a little longer soon.

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?"

[widowskiss.livejournal.com]

She's not startled enough by his abruptness to show it, but it's a near thing. "Thank you," she replies evenly, "but I expect we'll be retiring soon." Natalia glances up at James. He needs to sleep, and while neither of them is likely to find it tonight by one distraction or another, it will do him good just to rest. "It's very late."

[onlyapassenger]

"We should get to bed," Bucky agrees, though it's really just directed at Jason. If he carries on like this, they might need to have a chat about what is and isn't an appropriate question to be asking his girlfriend, but as it is, it's probably in everyone's best interest if they just part ways for what's left of the night. Padding over towards the table, Bucky extends his hand to Natalia to help her up, though it's not like she needs it, and then shoots Jason a glance that's far from impressed.

"Don't worry, we won't be breaking any more furniture."

[prodigaljaybird]

Jason honestly doesn't know what to do with that. The parts of him not seriously creeped out by the thought of Bucky having sex are grateful that there's at least someone around to loosen him up. Jason might have only ever been with two women, but if enthusiasm and practice can make him knowledgeable on the subject, Jason's a goddamn expert in the joy of sex.

"You think the Compound has headphones?" he grins, backing towards his room.

[onlyapassenger]

"I'll look into it," Bucky replies, rolling his eyes, though he won't be doing any such thing. He almost points out what that what he and Natalia used to do for a living demanded silence and that that was a transferable skill, but he bites back the quip.