Steve functioned best when he had someone else to think about. So often it was others trying to baby and protect him, but in his heart, Steve was a protector, and something of a nagging mother-hen (as Bucky occasionally called him, with varying degrees of seriousness). If he could think about what was best for Marie, he wouldn't be focused on his own grief and self-imposed guilt.
He turned to catch Bucky's eye imploringly. With the ease of long practice and familiarity, Bucky knew right away what Steve wanted. He gave a small nod in understanding and agreement. "Okay. We'll get back to the apartment. You, pal, are gonna go to bed. Then I'll walk Marie home. We'll all be safe as houses."
The look he shot Marie tried to convey don't argue, we'll talk later. Like Steve, he was used to silently communicating with quick looks and small facial expressions. Marie wasn't as familiar with either of them as they were with each other, so it would take longer for her to catch the subtleties, but this seemed pretty straightforward.
"Come on, up you get," Bucky said, hauling Steve up with an arm around his waist.
"Not a baby," Steve muttered mutinously, choosing to completely ignore the fact that he'd been crying over his mother not five minutes earlier.
"Course yer not." Bucky's words were the usual brisk ones, tempered with a quiet, gentle tone. Glancing over, he reached out a hand for Marie to join them.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2017-03-03 07:20 am (UTC)He turned to catch Bucky's eye imploringly. With the ease of long practice and familiarity, Bucky knew right away what Steve wanted. He gave a small nod in understanding and agreement. "Okay. We'll get back to the apartment. You, pal, are gonna go to bed. Then I'll walk Marie home. We'll all be safe as houses."
The look he shot Marie tried to convey don't argue, we'll talk later. Like Steve, he was used to silently communicating with quick looks and small facial expressions. Marie wasn't as familiar with either of them as they were with each other, so it would take longer for her to catch the subtleties, but this seemed pretty straightforward.
"Come on, up you get," Bucky said, hauling Steve up with an arm around his waist.
"Not a baby," Steve muttered mutinously, choosing to completely ignore the fact that he'd been crying over his mother not five minutes earlier.
"Course yer not." Bucky's words were the usual brisk ones, tempered with a quiet, gentle tone. Glancing over, he reached out a hand for Marie to join them.