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Voice — Text

"It's Clint; you just missed me. You know how this ends."

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[americassed]

No, sorry. It was a joke. Don't mind me.

Nothing happened. I really just want to check on you.

[brandingproblem]

Weird shit happens. If there was a ghost me or another mannequin me or something I'd want a heads up about it.

Meet up somewhere?

[americassed]

Sure. Where are you right now? I'll just meet you there.

[brandingproblem]

Sure you can help me carry supplies with your big super muscles. [insert address of some corner store here]

→ action

[americassed]

[ Said corner store isn't too far. ] I'm on way.

[ Only takes Steve ten minutes to get there through his bike. And ever since chaos erupted, he's always had his (newfound) shield with him. Like right now. All of his stitches have fully healed at this point, too. ]

Someone ordered some big super muscles? [ Smiles, puts down his shield nearby, and starts carrying a box. ]

[brandingproblem]

...Steve.

[Clint looks on, amused, as one of the shop clerks just stares.]

Unless you work here, I don't think they're gonna pay you for any services. Bound to think you're about to loot the place. [Clint lifts a bag of bought and paid for goodies.] I was making a joke. C'mon, let's get out of here before the cashier pulls a gun or something.

[americassed]

[ Oh. Well, that explains the unimpressed-slightly-on-edge stare he just got from the shop clerk. Immediately, Steve puts the box down and raises both his hands defensively.

To the shop owner with a small apologetic smile: ] It was just a joke.

[ Then, to Clint: ] Can't say I've never had my fair share of guns pointed at me recently.

[ He's already leaving, though. ] Let's go.

[brandingproblem]

You're adorable. And we both suck at reading jokes through text. [Clint bumps shoulders with Steve.]

So. Is that the real deal, or did you paint a trash lid?

[americassed]

[ The edges of Steve's lips curl up into a wider, amused smile. His cheeks also color a little because, wow, that was embarrassing. ]

We really do suck. [ Though he'll argue that Clint's way better than him when it comes to jokes.

Lifting his shield, though, he nods. ] But yeah, this is the real deal. Hard to believe at first when we found it in a diffusion zone a couple of weeks back.

[brandingproblem]

Weird that it just kinda fell out of the sky, but hey, same as the rest of us, right? At least it's good news.

[americassed]

We actually found it in an empty mansion just sitting in its living room.

[ Of all the places for it to be. At least, it's not on the chocolate river floating with the bloated corpses. ]

Speaking of good news, we could really use some right now. How have you been faring? Stock up on supplies?

[brandingproblem]

I mean...should've been killed, wasn't, so that's something. Couple times, if I'm honest. Being alive's usually good news, so. Sorry if you felt anything...weird or alarming, lately.

[americassed]

[ It’s true, being alive is good news. He won’t discount that. At this point, they really have to count small wins whenever they come across them.

While walking, he gives Clint a brief once-over, gentle blue eyes roaming over his friend. ]

It’s okay. Was just worried during those times but I know you can handle them. [ He knows about Clint’s feelings about being rescued all the time so while he was Very Concerned, he wanted to give his friend space. ]

Still pretty weird how we can do that. Feel each other, I mean. [ Clears his throat. ] Have you had strange dreams lately?

[brandingproblem]

[Clint glances aside at Steve, then shrugs his shoulders.] If we're talking about it, you know I can't speak for Frank.

[americassed]

Wouldn't want you to.

[ That specific dream was A Lot. But it's also not the only dream he's had where Clint's in it. But that's too intimate and personal and he won't talk about it, even if thinking about it does color his cheeks a little. ]

I guess dreams are just that: dreams. [ Nothing more, nothing less. They're disturbing, sure, but. Sometimes they can be too invasive. ]

Can get pretty weird.

[brandingproblem]

...You been having some other dreams, then? [He doesn't need any connection to know there's more to it. He's got eyes, after all.]

[americassed]

[ He clears his throat, the blush on his cheeks only reddening. ]

Kind of. Nothing important.

[ He'll attempt to pivot. ] Probably because of my connection to you of some sort. There are far weirder things in this place. [ Nailed it. A+ ]

[brandingproblem]

And did you want to talk about those, orrrr dreams?

[americassed]

[ There's a moment of silence on Steve's end as he ruminates on what the answer to that question should be. On the one hand, he does want to talk about it, no matter how much he has decided he won't. On the other, it feels like something that's too intimate, too personal, for them both.

But the thing is, Clint's someone he can trust. A good friend. He doesn't think it's fair for him to keep his mouth shut about this when it's a dream his friend's also in. ]

Remember when we got too close and personal under the mistletoe? [ He's oversimplifying it. Many things happened then. ]

Well, [ He swallows. ] I've been having dreams of- [ Inhales. Exhales. ] Let's just say of intimate moments between you and me ever since that incident.

[ See? That wasn't so bad. ]

[brandingproblem]

[Clint's eyebrows hit his hairline.] Yeah, and remember when I suggested that would probably happen and you could tell me or not tell me about it if it came up?

[But that's...dismissive, and he shouldn't do that. It's more than that. He huffs a sigh out his nose.] Look, neither of us can undo what happened. I can't take away whatever guilt you've got about it. You know I don't blame you, but that's not enough for you to stop blaming yourself.

[americassed]

[ Yeah, he's probably feeling a lot more guilty than he's actually letting on and everything's manifesting in his dreams whether he likes it or not. Add to that is his empathy bond with Clint and it's a recipe for waking up hot and bothered.

He breathes out a sigh, blue eyes glancing at his friend. The corners of his lips curl up a little. ]

I don't think I'd ever stop blaming myself, but- [ He frowns a bit, his small smile turning a bit lopsided. ] In my dreams, we both want it. At least, in them, it's different.

[brandingproblem]

...Feel like it changes things, when you sleep with someone you're bonded to. Just haven't quite figured out how, yet.

[Frank very adamantly did not want to talk about it. Promised he would sometime, but Clint's willing to give that a wide berth at this point.]

Gets...interesting. When you're feeling things from someone else.

[americassed]

Interesting's one way to put it. [ Awkward, another. ]

Well, we didn't get that far, but I guess that's why my dreams conclude it. Always taking it there. [ Like an unfinished business of sorts. ]

For our sakes, I hope we can figure out how this works.

[brandingproblem]

You got some experience in that? How many--uh. [Hm. You know what. Maybe 'how many people were involved' is an awkward question.] Was there anyone else? There? Feeling things out from anyone else?

[americassed]

[ Shit. Well. There goes his cheeks. Bright as a ripe tomato. His forehead creases as he swallows. Tries very fucking hard not to look at Clint. ]

In my dreams with you, it's just the two of us.

[ However, he knows he's also been having dreams about Bucky that are equally steamy, and something tells Steve it's more than just him dating his fellow centenarian. It's also because he's bonded with him, too.

But that's even more personal. ] We do a lot of things, though.