There’s an awkward beat of hesitation, then, so many of the prospective recruits (soldiers and mercenaries and assassins and former SHIELD agents) shooting each other trepidatious looks, waiting for someone else to be the first one to pull the trigger.
“I’ve already signed,” Walker offers, and Bucky just outright chokes on a laugh.
“As if that helps,” he mutters, and he knows if Sam were here, he’d be kicking him under the table, reminding him to behave. Play nice. Get the intel.
But the scruffy-haired blond man’s words seem to have sparked something and dislodged the first rolling boulder, because Starr chips in, “Sure. Fine. I’m in hiding; it’s not like I’m doing anything else, anyway.”
Alexei says “Yes, I am in,” quick off the draw.
Which just leaves— Barnes and Belova and Dreykov still undecided. Antonia, unnervingly quiet beside the other two Russians she came with, only has eyes for Yelena, and is watching her carefully. She’ll obediently follow her lead, too, and do as the other woman does.
And for the first time all evening, Bucky finally lets himself more openly look at Yelena and outright catch her gaze; for a moment as if there isn’t anyone else in this crowded dining room, the entire world narrowing down to just her, her expression, her decision. There’s a crinkle at the corners of his eyes, a knowing look, a sardonic tilt of his head. He can’t let her vanish, now that their paths have happenstantially crossed again.
“What d’you think?” he asks her. (Challenging. Inviting.) “Could be fun.”
no subject
“I’ve already signed,” Walker offers, and Bucky just outright chokes on a laugh.
“As if that helps,” he mutters, and he knows if Sam were here, he’d be kicking him under the table, reminding him to behave. Play nice. Get the intel.
But the scruffy-haired blond man’s words seem to have sparked something and dislodged the first rolling boulder, because Starr chips in, “Sure. Fine. I’m in hiding; it’s not like I’m doing anything else, anyway.”
Alexei says “Yes, I am in,” quick off the draw.
Which just leaves— Barnes and Belova and Dreykov still undecided. Antonia, unnervingly quiet beside the other two Russians she came with, only has eyes for Yelena, and is watching her carefully. She’ll obediently follow her lead, too, and do as the other woman does.
And for the first time all evening, Bucky finally lets himself more openly look at Yelena and outright catch her gaze; for a moment as if there isn’t anyone else in this crowded dining room, the entire world narrowing down to just her, her expression, her decision. There’s a crinkle at the corners of his eyes, a knowing look, a sardonic tilt of his head. He can’t let her vanish, now that their paths have happenstantially crossed again.
“What d’you think?” he asks her. (Challenging. Inviting.) “Could be fun.”