some assembly required (semi-hiatus)

        “Wisdom comes with age,” he says flatly, his tone cool. “But this isn’t about wisdom, I simply was an uncaring man then. Though, having the wrath of the Invaders coming down on me isn’t exactly an appealing thought, either. Your disappearance would be noticed quickly.” His red eyes return to the young man, his face expressionless as the other continues to speak.

        The kid is trying to use reason on him when he’s already decided he isn’t going to kill the lad. It benefitted no one. They both had their reasons for fighting in this war, but when Bucky reveals his reason, Raphael’s expression softens slightly. He didn’t intend to wear his emotion more clearly but some things couldn’t be helped. A small hum vibrates from the back of his throat as he considers his next words carefully. “You’re right, it would be pointless and cruel.” A heavy pause fills the air as he looks to his blood-soaked hand and wipes it on his black coat.

       After a few more moments, he speaks again. < ❝ I can see why you were so eager to rejoin the fight. I’m… sorry. ❞> He was never great at finding the words to say in situations like these. Not that he had been in this exact situation before. Another long pause spoke more than his words ever could. < ❝ I do not require a drink, but I think it best that neither of us return to the camp covered in blood. It would draw unnecessary questions.❞> He gestures off toward the old manor toward the end of the road. An utterly uninviting abode, run ragged by the years. < ❝ It would be best to continue this conversation out of sight, anyway. ❞>

      Bucky keeps his eyes locked on Raphael, scrutinizing every expression. It’s a risk, being open with people. And he’s learned already that there’s a big difference between having a common enemy and being friends.

      Even Raphael softened expression and sympathy are regarded with suspicion. Bucky isn’t the most trusting kid. He doesn’t want to hear sorry, but he doesn’t want to continue the conversation further to say that. So he switches back to his pretense of carefree, callous youth, shrugging nonchalantly.

“You think about it. That’s all you can do.” Another soft kiss to their cheek—she needs to reassure Hank that there’s no rush, no compulsion, and she needs to reassure herself, too. “You think about it until one day you wake up and there’s a yes or a no, plain as day in your mind. I don’t want you doubting anything about it, the way I don’t doubt anything about it.”

The corner of her mouth twitches. “Also, a longer delay on a yes has the possibility of our baby getting to be in the wedding, which will mean a thousand cute pictures.” A shorter delay, inversely, means she might have to find a wedding dress to wear while she’s pregnant, considering no matter how they do this, she wants to carry their child—though maybe that’s not so bad.

“Whatever you’re comfortable with is what we’ll do, Hank.”

      Hank closes their eyes, giving a small nod. “Thank you.”

      They smile, imagining a baby or toddler in a wedding. That would be very cute. But a wedding is very different from a marriage and they don’t want to fantasize too much about one day when the decision is going to affect the rest of their life and much of Loki’s.

character added! Janet van Dyne aka The Wasp

@assemblyneeded liked for a starter.

It… was hard to be around people out of time like Bucky. Especially these first meetings. Mike, of course, had met him before. Once during WW2, but both of them had looked different then, Booster in disguise and Bucky was just a kid then. 

So here Mike was, in all his glittering glory, pretending like he didn’t bear this massive guilt on his shoulders, tank tossed into space. “You know, you could say thanks.”

      Bucky glares at the newcomer, trying to recall if he knows him or if this is his way of introducing himself.

“Yes,” she insists as she sits next to him, squeezing his hands a little. “Which I know is going to be like each time you go on a mission.” Leaning against him she sighs. “I don’t like seeing you hurt.”

character added! Xerxes Xylander X aka Smog