☆ 1 ☆ (VIDEO)

[punched_hitler]

[The video shows Steve, wearing his uniform because it seemed… well, the most reasonable thing to wear, for a “mission” like this.]

Just when I thought I’d gotten the hang of texting. [He smiles a little, as if more to himself than anything, then moves, reaching to unstrap the dark helmet from beneath his chin, pulling it off and setting it aside to reveal short blonde hair. He's in his cabin, which pretty much just looks like a generic 2014-era apartment.] We’ll do this over video. I guess it’s more personal, anyway. I’m Captain Rogers. I guess I'm here to help.

Because if you’re here, then it means you deserve that help. Everyone deserves a second chance - [He pauses, lips quirking a little in a wry sort of half-smile.] Well. Everyone here, anyway. That’s what I believe. [Because there are exceptions, but he’s not here to give in to exceptions. He’s here to prove the rule.]

Not everyone gets the luxury of signing up, though, so if you’re still confused about… all of this, then trust me. I know how you feel. [He might have signed up for this, but he’s definitely been on a couple of trips he didn’t sign up for.] You’ll get used to it. People can get used to just about anything – and I’d like to believe that’s a strength, rather than a weakness.

[A pause.] Oh – and if anyone needs a sparring partner at the gym… I guess I’d better stay sharp. Just let me know. [He doesn’t plan to stay here forever, after all.] I didn’t bring any extra punching bags with me. [A helpless smile? Then he's done.]

Comments

[voluntaryapnea]

Yeah, that's the truth. Especially the part about having someone to keep me out of trouble.

[His grin is wry and a bit sheepish now. Because Scott McCall's been bailing him out of trouble for years. Regularly.]

[punched_hitler]

Don't I know it. I'll let you in on a secret - if Bucky told you he's the one keeping me out of trouble, it's a lie. Try the other way around.

[Except no, it's not a lie, and the look of his face should say he's kidding.]

[voluntaryapnea]

Oh, I see. So Bucky's the troublemaker in the friendship?

[Yep, Stiles reads that pretty easily and grins.]

[punched_hitler]

Absolutely.

Besides, he was always pulling me out of fights way too soon.

[Yeah, okay, and saving his skin in the process, but it feels nice to joke about it, okay?]

[voluntaryapnea]

[He can't help but chuckle at that. At least Scott hasn't had to pull him out of too many fights in their thirteen year long friendship. He can pretty much count them all on one hand. And Scott, aside from a couple of rough times during his first few full moons, isn't really a fighter. Which is hilarious and full of irony considering he's an alpha werewolf.]

Don't you just hate when that happens?

[punched_hitler]

Oh, it's the worst. Always when I had 'em on the ropes, about to run. And he takes all the credit.

[And God, he missed hanging out with Bucky. Maybe this place won't be so bad, after all.] But I'm hoping there aren't too many scuffles around here. Though I'm guessing there are a few.

[voluntaryapnea]

And all the fun.

[He shakes his head, grinning.]

Yeah, once in awhile. My friend Dean that -- well he went back home recently -- he was teaching me some self-defense stuff. Apparently he got punched a lot.

[punched_hitler]

Definitely all the fun.

Yeah? I hope he taught you how to take a punch, then. Practice does make perfect.

[voluntaryapnea]

Yeah, he did. I mean I had some limited experience with that already, but it helped.

[punched_hitler]

Yeah, but I've definitely learned there's a difference between being punched and taking a punch.

[voluntaryapnea]

That's definitely true. [And he's discovered that much here, too.]

[punched_hitler]

Funny how best friends never seem to notice the difference.

As long as scuffles aren't common, though. I know a lot of the rules are strange, around here, but the less violence, the better. For us all.

[voluntaryapnea]

Yeah, I agree on the less violence part. [He's seen and committed enough violence -- however unwittingly it may have been -- to last a lifetime.]

Less violence gets my vote every time.

[punched_hitler]

Mine, too.

I guess that's what the wardens are for. Maybe the less violence there is, the better we're doing our job. [Although clearly there are exceptions. Like these floods he's been hearing about.] Overall, at least.