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[widows_kiss]

"You've reached Natasha. You know what to do."

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[private text] backdated to 7/8/14

[assembles]

[Steve has needed a couple of days to let everything sink in. As expected, Bucky hadn't reacted well to learning about his future, and while Steve himself didn't have to struggle with any revelations, it still hadn't been an easy conversation.

So he's been quiet in the days after his birthday, but it really has nothing to do with that. He worked so hard to avoid putting Bucky through the pain of knowing the truth, and yet in the end he hadn't been able to keep it from him forever. Now he's got to wait until Bucky will let him help pick up the pieces.

But there's someone else who could get caught up in this too, and eventually Steve gathers up the composure to contact Natasha. As easy as it would be to just knock on her door, he decides to send a text instead.]

Hey, how've you been holding up?

[He'll ease into it.]

[widows_kiss]

[ Steve easing into anything via text is suspicious in itself, because usually if he needs something, he just comes across the hall to knock on her door. When he does text, it tends to be short and to the point, something she usually appreciates about him.

This, though...

She stares at the text for a moment, brow furrowed in a frown as she considers it before finally typing back a reply. ]

Well enough. What's up?

[assembles]

[Steve also happens to not be in his room right now. He's wanted to give Bucky some space to process everything, and that can be kind of difficult when they live next door to each other. So he's up on the roof for the moment, as he can pretend he's got some solitude up there.

Natasha doesn't give him much of an option to engage in any idle chitchat, but she would probably also prefer it if he cuts to the chase.

So he does.]

Long story short, I had to tell Bucky. About his future.

[widows_kiss]

[ Her reply takes a moment to come because she may or may not spend that time cursing at her phone with a sharp fluency in her mother tongue and resisting the urge to throw it across the room in a fit of pique.

Not that it would do any good, other than making her feel a little better for a split second.

She's assuming that this has to do with the mask. And damn, she'd been hoping that Bucky's might have been left behind, forgotten in the clearing as hers had been.

Finally though she does reply, simple text giving away none of her reaction. ]

I'm guessing he didn't take it well.

[assembles]

Could anyone take something like that well?

[Steve doubts it. He'd tried to be straightforward, but also gentle with his phrasing. As much as he could be, considering the topic had been brainwashing and murder.]

I'm giving him some time to process and cool off. He may come around to ask you some questions, though.

[So... fair warning.]

[widows_kiss]

[ ....Great. ]

He knows I know about him, then?

[ Looks like it was time for her to start putting together her own version of a cover. ]

What DID you tell him? Is there anything I should leave out?

[assembles]

Don't worry, I kept it vague. I basically just mentioned that you and Sam were with me when he came after me, and that you both had some part in fighting him off.

[Steve realizes that Natasha has some amount of history with the Winter Soldier. At the very least, the story she told him, and perhaps more than that. At this point, he realizes that Natasha doesn't always tell him everything, but he's doing what he can to respect that.

Even if it means that he hasn't told Bucky everything there is to tell, it's not his place in this case.]

[widows_kiss]

[ Simple enough to play off of then. She was thankful for that at least. Even though she was guessing Bucky wasn't enjoying the knowledge at all. ]

I can work with that.

Do you think I should find him? Or let him decide if he wants to come to me?

[ Some things she could predict rather easily, but this was life-changing. And Steve knew Bucky better than she did. ]

[assembles]

Let him come to you. He's going to need some time to process everything.

[But now that Bucky's been given some information, he won't rest until he's learned all that he can. Steve can be sure of that.

Natasha will be careful with what she tells him, no doubt. She's handled Bucky just fine ever since they all got here, so Steve isn't worried on that count.]

Sorry for dragging you into all this.

[widows_kiss]

[ His apology drags a reluctant smile out of her as she sighs and laughs and texts a reply. ]

You can make it up to me with a drink afterwards.

[assembles]

Deal.

Really, though. Thank you for putting up with all of this.

[Steve can't really think of a better person to be his support through this entire mess.]

[widows_kiss]

[ There he goes, being all earnest again. ]

Just be thankful you weren't here for me to throw my phone at.

[ She doesn't know what to do with excessive expressions of gratitude. ]

[assembles]

I think after everything I've put you through, you're allowed to throw your phone at me at least once.

[Really. He can take it.]

[widows_kiss]

I'm saving this text as proof, Rogers, for the day I inevitably take you up on that.

[assembles]

Come on, Natasha, you know I'm a man of my word.

[widows_kiss]

Yes, but Coulson will scold me for days.

[assembles]

He doesn't have to know.

[widows_kiss]

It's Coulson. He'll know.

[assembles]

Good point.

That's just a risk you'll have to take, then.

[widows_kiss]

I suppose it still might be worth it. The hardships of being on this team and all that.

[assembles]

I know it's such a struggle for you.

[widows_kiss]

Occasionally it has its benefits.

[assembles]

Such as?

[widows_kiss]

Getting the lot of you in the gym and shirtless all at once.

Oh and the whole end of the world thing, but that's a given at this point.

[assembles]

You and I are two for two now with that saving the world thing.

Also, good luck ever getting Stark out of his lab.