[She watches him as he takes her in. She's on edge, alert, but she disguises it as casual interest. But, she doesn't know what sort of state he's in, how likely this is to turn into a fight, so she's ready to move at a breath. She'll fight if it comes down to it, but she doesn't want to. And not just because she already knows how the math works out there, and it's not in her favor.
His words hurt, but she doesn't say that, doesn't give it away. She's not Steve, who can wear his vulnerabilities on his sleeve, who can look at him all earnestness and try to turn the tides with friendship. (They'd never been friends.) She plays her cards close to her chest as best as she can, but the fact that she's here, that she called him James, that she doesn't flinch when he tells her that she's kill-on-sight; there's vulnerability in that, too.]
Is that what you want?
[She doesn't back down. Her approach might be different from Steve's, but she's similarly stubborn. Especially when it comes to one James Buchanan Barnes. She hadn't known that was his name, hadn't drawn the lines between Bucky and The Winter Soldier until Steve had done it for her. But she's here now, watching him. She's aware of his hand on the hilt of his knife, but she's out of immediate reach, he'd have to throw it or close the distance. Either option will give her precious seconds.
But instead, she takes a couple steps closer. She's playing with fire and she knows it, but when you're trying to find a connection, distance is the enemy. No matter the risk.]
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His words hurt, but she doesn't say that, doesn't give it away. She's not Steve, who can wear his vulnerabilities on his sleeve, who can look at him all earnestness and try to turn the tides with friendship. (They'd never been friends.) She plays her cards close to her chest as best as she can, but the fact that she's here, that she called him James, that she doesn't flinch when he tells her that she's kill-on-sight; there's vulnerability in that, too.]
Is that what you want?
[She doesn't back down. Her approach might be different from Steve's, but she's similarly stubborn. Especially when it comes to one James Buchanan Barnes. She hadn't known that was his name, hadn't drawn the lines between Bucky and The Winter Soldier until Steve had done it for her. But she's here now, watching him. She's aware of his hand on the hilt of his knife, but she's out of immediate reach, he'd have to throw it or close the distance. Either option will give her precious seconds.
But instead, she takes a couple steps closer. She's playing with fire and she knows it, but when you're trying to find a connection, distance is the enemy. No matter the risk.]