#timeforgcd

@timeforgcd​​   /   starter call .

to be rendered powerless does not destroy your humanity. the only people who lose their humanity are those who believe they have the right to render another human being powerless. they are the weak. to not break in the face of adversity, that is incredible strength.   © 

     “You want to ask, so ask.”  Her tone was casual, almost bordering on carefree, which was probably more of a tell than she’d want to admit - at least to someone that knew her.  She still wasn’t used to that.  To having people that knew her, or -- wanted to, anyway.   But no one had the big picture.  No one saw it all, knew it all.  Fury came close, but even he only had pieces.  Big ones, sure, but there were gaps.  Cracks.  Hell, even with Barton there were --  cracks.  Her gaze followed him.   Her whole life she’d spent hiding who she was, what she did, what she was feeling, what she wanted.  He’d finally had to come face to face with the reality of just how much he didn’t know.  He’d seen, for himself, some of the red that stained her hands.   And he was still here.  Well.  For now, she reminded herself.  Just in case he wasn’t, in a day.  Or an hour.  He’d earned the right to ask.  Whatever it was, whatever that Big Question was that was searing off the tip of his tongue, but couldn’t manage to bring himself to ask.  “It’s now or never.”  An amused flicker of a smile.  One time offer, between the lines.  

             ❝ i know you have always just wanted to get back home  , steve  , ❞ he states with a slight shrug  , hands in his pockets as they both stare out into the community before them from the place on the covered porch  .  they’ve built homes here in between the other buildings to make room for more expansion  .  the walls are sturdy and they have food  .  OH HOW BLESSED THEY ARE  .  ❝ but i’m eternally grateful for everything you’ve helped accomplish here  .  you’ve be extremely instrumental in helping this community thrive .  i’ll never be able to thank you enough  .  ❞

Matt’s back was turned towards him as he listened to Steve, the now familiar, steady pumping of his strong heart not missing a beat. It was a habit to listen to hearts, seek validity through truth, justify his thoughts. Truth and justice, his eternal existential dilemma. He wasn’t good with truth. He didn’t need to listen to Steve’s heart to know if he was lying, but that would never stop him anyway. While it wasn’t in his character, it also simply wouldn’t have made sense. What would he truly gain from lying to some blind civilian? Of course he had his back. Out of anyone else, Matt would have wondered if it was obligatory or pity. Part of him wondered anyway, but from what he’d seen so far, that wasn’t Steve, which led Matt to the real questions he meant to ask himself: was he selfish to keep him in the dark on his secret? Was he selfish to keep half of his true identity hidden from a man whose life had been exploited beyond any chance at a normal life? Perhaps he preferred Matt as the civilian, the blind attorney. Perhaps Matt’s fallacy was a breath of fresh air. Perhaps ruining that would break his heart. In Matt’s experience, those who knew only got hurt, but none of them were quite so...durable, as Steve. Ultimately, did he owe the simple truth to him? Matt pulled two mugs from the cupboard and filled them both with fresh coffee. He could sense his eyes on his back and was careful to not visibly sigh amidst his musing. “Yeah, Steve, I know.”

@timeforgcd