punched_hitler | ☆ 6 ☆ (VIDEO)

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☆ 6 ☆ (VIDEO)

So I know it's only been two days, but anyone who's made it through two days of Basic so far - trust me. It could be worse. [He cocks a wry grin. Bucky's not the worst drill sergeant Steve's seen, and besides:] You could have asthma.

[Yeah, he's pretty sure he almost died at least ten times during Basic. And he got the much abbreviated version.

Anyway.]

If anyone's got any questions, or just wants to get in some extra practice with a different face, let me know. But, [he raises one finger,] I'm not your Drill Sergeant, and I'm not about to contradict anything he says just because you want to hear he's wrong - because he's not. [So just keep that in mind. Steve might be helping Bucky, but Bucky's in charge here.]

[PRIVATE TO MINDY MACREADY]
Hey. Just because I'm not your temporary warden anymore doesn't mean we need to ignore each other, right? Remember, I'm right down the hall if you need anything - whether it's a couch or a punching bag. [Literally or figuratively.

Still, he doesn't want to push. She doesn't seem like she'd respond well to that. He can only offer, she's got to take him up on it. So.] Otherwise... I'm sure I'll see you in the gym.

[PRIVATE TO VEX]
[He's seen Vex on the network, but they've never spoken. Now, though, it looks like that's going to have to change.] I guess I should introduce myself - I'm Captain Rogers. Or you can call me Steve. I admit, I don't know much about you - but I'd like to think I'm a pretty good listener.

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Oh - well, no. We're not. Not all the time, anyway.

[They're kind of attached at the hip, sometimes, but they're still different people. They still have different opinions.

Of course, it's the second part of that, that definitely gives him pause. It makes him think about the thousand and one fights Bucky bailed him out of in Brooklyn, and how Bucky had started very few of them. Has that much really changed?

Okay, so Steve doesn't go picking fights with anything that breathes, walks, or talks like a bully in quite the same way as before. He doesn't need to. A lot of the time, he doesn't even need to throw a punch to get his point across, these days. But he's not even sure that's what this is about.

It's just that, when Lydia points out that Bucky seems more prone to violence... it really makes him stop and think. So it takes a few seconds for him to answer.]

I don't know about more prone, exactly. I think... I mean, you've got to realize - he's in the middle of a war, Lydia. I'm not, not anymore. Things are a lot different, during war.

Can I ask why you're asking?

[He's not angry at her, but he is concerned about Bucky, if Lydia even feels the need to ask something like that.]

Yeah. I understand where he's coming from.

[Even if Bucky doesn't seem to believe her on that. But she offers Steve a small smile.]

Don't worry. I'm not trying to ask you private things about your best friend. I wouldn't do that. This isn't about Bucky.

[She hesitates.]

Allison. She's-- she was raised and trained like a soldier. And sometimes I feel like she got a little lost in what her family taught her. With everything else that has happened.

I was mostly wondering how you'd approach Bucky about something like that. If you felt like he was going too far.

[He's not absolutely sure about that - but he's not sure she doesn't understand, either. It's hard to say. At the very least, she believes she understands, he can tell that much.

Although then she sort of steers the conversation in a totally different direction.] Oh. Huh. [He lets out a breath - and it's clear he's considering her question seriously. Both trying to figure out how he'd literally take it up with Bucky, but also how Lydia and Allison's situation is different. Because it is, even if the underlying thread is still the same.

Besides. Honestly, Lydia... this isn't as far as Bucky will go. But by that point... reasoning won't quite work. So let's focus on here and now, because he sure as hell hopes Allison might listen to reason.

Or at least listen to her friend.] I'd start by being honest. I mean, just saying it at all is something, isn't it? Allison seems - I mean, she cares about you. She cares about all her friends. If you're worried about her, I'd like to think she'd listen to you.

Although if she's stubborn like Bucky... I guess I'd say you just need to keep at it. No matter what happens. [That's his strategy, back home. He's hoping to God it will work. So by now he might actually start to sound like he's got some experience with what he's saying.] You need to keep telling her until she's willing to listen. Even when it's not easy for you.

But - that's just what I'd do, you know? [And he feels woefully unprepared to really give her advice that may or may not work for her situation, but she did ask what he'd do. And that's it.] Are you really that worried about her?

[She quietly pays attention to him. She hasn't spoken to Steve much, but his very open honesty reminds her of Scott so much. The same way Stiles and Bucky seem similar in some ways, Steve and Scott seem similar as well.]

I'm starting to get really worried. The past few months back home weren't easy and since getting to the barge, she's learned a lot of things that might have had enough impact on her to cause a shift.

It's not that I think Allison will snap and do terrible things. I don't. She's a good person. Whatever she ends up doing, she will do thinking it's what needs to be done. That she's doing it to protect me, the pack, or someone else she cares about.

But... despite her best intentions, sometimes I think she's not seeing things clearly.

[Lydia sighs softly. When her best friend starts jumping to the conclusion that she either needs to risk her life or kill someone without a second thought, she worries.]

The last two talks we had didn't go so well. But I will keep trying to get her to understand.

[The funny thing is... the more Lydia talks, the more Allison starts to sound like Bucky. Because Bucky would do - has done - absolutely anything to keep Steve safe. And he'll do anything else he thinks is necessary, believing it's the right thing - but he's not a bad person, and he never, ever will be.

No matter what he turns into - what HYDRA turns him into.

But this is still different. And this is here and now. He nods, looking sympathetic - he can just imagine how well actually talking about it with Bucky would go, and he does know Allison well enough to imagine she didn't take it much better.]

I know it's pretty discouraging. But you're right - she's a good person. I can see that, and you know it far better than I do. I don't know if it's the right thing to do, but... like I said. If it were me, I wouldn't give up. Sometimes a person just has to hear something enough, said in enough different ways, to start thinking about what it means. But you're not gonna be able to change her mind for her, either.

[He pauses, but he figures he should put this out there:] If you think she'd listen to someone who's a little more removed from the situation... Just ask. But it's your business and I promise I won't stick my nose in -

Unless she does try to do something stupid. [He tries to cock a smile, make it a little bit of a tease, but it's true. He'd do his best to keep her from hurting herself - or someone who didn't deserve it.]

I don't give up easily. I'll never give up on Allison, so that's not really a problem. [She's at her most sincere when she says this. Because the entire reason why she's here is to bring Allison back. The reason she died back home in the first place was to protect her. She was trying to save her. And she did. She saved all of them with her silver arrowheads.

So no.

Giving up on her best friend, no matter how bad it gets isn't an option. Giving up on Stiles and Scott who have done nothing but support her and take her in isn't an option either, but that's an entirely different matter.]

I was just wondering if there was a better way to approach her with this. An easier way to make her understand that there are better ways and that she's not responsible for me or the others.

[Lydia smiles softly at his offer. Just like Scott would offer, she should have expected this, too.]

I think between Scott, Isaac, Stiles and I, we should be able to get through to her. But I will definitely ask if it gets out of hand.

Hopefully we can stop her from reaching the something stupid status.

That's good to hear - and she's lucky to have a friend like you. Like all of you. [Because from what he can tell, these Beacon Hills kids are all a pretty tight-knit group, and that was before he'd heard the term "pack" thrown around. He knows what that means - maybe a little better than he should, but there was that flood, so he really does understand.

And he's not lying when he says Allison's lucky. She is. But she's also stubborn, and that, he is familiar with.

That is pretty much Bucky to a "T", and he isn't sure he has a good answer for that one.] I don't know that you'll ever be able to convince her otherwise. But think about it this way - if she didn't feel responsible, would she still be the same Allison?

I think the trick is to... let her be responsible, but figure out a way to make sure she's a little less reckless while she does it.

[At that, he's got to smile a little helplessly.] I'm still working on that one, myself. But if I get any bright ideas, I promise I'll let you know.

[And he nods.] I think with all of you on your side, you've got a pretty good chance of keeping her out of serious trouble. But you just have to ask, if you do need a hand.

With anything, all right? [Because there has been some crazy shit going down and he doesn't know all of it, but he doesn't like what he does know.]

I'm sorry, I wish I had a better answer for you. She's... she sounds a lot like Bucky, actually. And I don't think he'll ever really figure out that I can bail myself out of my own fights.

[Lydia considers that, she knows there is definitely truth to what he's asking her to think about. No, she'd not be the same Allison. She wouldn't be the hunter ready to take action and protect the pack. She might even lose some of that and it'd be too late when they actually need it. And Lydia doesn't want that, she does want her to be less reckless though.]

Maybe we can help each other come up with ways to keep our best friends out of trouble. [And she extends that to Scott, with Stiles. Not that she won't help with Stiles as well, of course she is. But she knows that there will be times when the boys just really need each other.]

Your answers already helped me a lot. Thank you. And I'm available if you need anything, too. If you need help or to talk. [Because considering the time difference between him and his best friend, she can only guess there are things Bucky doesn't really understand about Steve's future.]

[It's definitely a challenge - letting someone who's naturally protective be themselves without, ideally, actually putting themselves in danger every second of every day. Sometimes it's impossible. But as their friend... you have to try, and Steve understands that.

So he smiles lopsidedly, nodding.] Two heads are better than one, right? [Maybe between the two of them, they can come up with a method that works. Or is at least less likely to fail.

Though he looks both happy to help and grateful, all at the same, time, when she offers.] Thank you. I appreciate that too, Lydia.

[He'll try not to take her up on it, because of course he's not the smartest and he likes to deal with things on his own, too. But it's really, really nice having the offer. And you never know.]

Definitely better than one. [She smiles as she nods her agreement. She figures at least Scott will help them with whatever necessary, but he's way more involved than Steve is and she understands the importance of outside perspective.

Her smile turns into a smirk at his thank you.] Just do take me up on it when you need it, okay?

[Because she knows how selfless people like Steve (and Scott) can be. She knows how hard it is for them to ask for help because they feel like it's their job to save and protect everyone else. And considering how much they can do for everyone else, she knows how important it is to keep them okay.]

[He looks a little sheepish, but his grateful smile does stay put, even if she's going to give him that look. Yeah, it's one he knows pretty well.] I - can promise to try. How's that?

I'll accept that. For now. [She knows the two of them aren't close, but if she realizes something is up with him in the future, she just might poke at him now that she gave him that disclaimer.]

[His grin is still sheepish - but it softens after a minute.] It's good to have people like you on board, Lydia.

You say that now. [She's teasing, so she adds a smile that is completely sincere.]

You too, Steve.

I don't think I'm ever changing my mind on that one.

Thanks.

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☆ 6 ☆ (VIDEO)

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