(In this 'verse where Red Hood&Winter Soldier are taking over Gotham's crime.)
...
When Steve Rogers arrives in Gotham, everyone knows.
It is only surprising, Jimmy thinks, that it took him so long. They’ve been in Gotham for seven months, and were together on the road, burning down Hydra, for five months before that. It’s been a year and a half – he thinks – since the asset left Captain America on the riverbank. He’s been Jimmy for a year and a half.
Jason asks, “What are you going to do?”
Jimmy says, “I don’t know.”
.
Bruce Wayne, of course, makes a grand spectacle of meeting Captain America, even though Captain America is dressed as Steve Rogers and isn’t carrying the shield. Wayne takes Steve on a tour of Gotham’s most-hoity toity place; Jimmy knows that Steve must be hating it.
But all the pictures show Steve’s wide, gorgeous smile – his USO smile. Bucky Barnes hated that smile. Jimmy has no opinion either way.
But --
“He’s here for you,” Jason says. He looks solemn. A little sad. “Are you gonna let him see you?”
Jimmy finally nods. If nothing else, it might lay Bucky Barnes to rest.
.
Steve graciously declined Wayne’s offer of his mansion to stay in while he was in Gotham; Jimmy knows that they were both secretly relieved. (Of course, if Natalia is supplying Steve with intel, he probably already knows that Wayne is Batman.)
If Steve could’ve gotten away with it, he’d gone to some rat-trap motel but his face is famous all over the world. So instead he chose the fifth-ritziest hotel in town and quietly slammed anyone who tried to convince him to go somewhere better.
It doesn’t matter where he stays; Jimmy can get in no problem.
It helps, of course, that Steve wants him to.
.
Jimmy knows what Jason fears. But he watches Steve watch him and he knows that the fear is unnecessary.
“Bucky,” Steve says.
Shaking his head, Jimmy says, “Bucky Barnes is dead. I’m Jimmy.”
Steve nods. “Jimmy, then,” he says. “I hope – I just.” He chews at his lip, scratching the back of his head. “I had all these things I was gonna say. I miss you. I hope you’re happy. I’m so glad you’re alive but I hate how.”
There are tears in his eyes. He says again, “I miss you.”
Bucky Barnes would pull him in close and hold him. Kiss his face. Take him to bed and never let go.
“I cannot be the man you remember,” Jimmy tells him as gently as he can. “But – ”
Steve’s face crumples but he nods again.
And Jimmy – Jimmy steps forward to place the real hand on his shoulder and squeeze, just a little. “Let me finish, punk,” he says softly. “I’m never gonna be that man again. But I can still be your friend.”
“I’d, I’d like that,” Steve says through the tears.
Jimmy pulls him in close with a muttered, “C’mere.”
.
They spend all night talking – about the movies they’ve caught up on, about the best ways to blow Hydra to hell and back, about Steve’s new team and Jason.
“Can I meet him?” Steve asks.
Jimmy says, “I’ll ask him when I head back.” He knows that Jason wants to meet Captain America – it’d fulfill one of his childhood dreams. But to meet Steve Rogers…
They don’t talk about what Jimmy and Jason are doing in Gotham. Steve just says, “Be careful.”
Jimmy nods. He then recites a phone number and says, “Call me around lunchtime; I’ll let you know if Jason wants to get together.”
“Alright, Jimmy,” Steve says. “It… it was so good to meet you.”
Jimmy smiles at him. “You, too, Steve.”
.
“How’d it go?” Jason asks without looking up from his tablet.
“Steve’s a good friend,” Jimmy says, sliding the tablet out of Jason’s hand. “And that’s all he’ll be.” Jason lets out a small sigh of relief and Jimmy tilts his chin up with the not-hand. “He’d like to meet you.”
Jason surges up, kissing him fiercely, and it’s a long time before he pulls back far enough to say, “Meet Captain America? Fuck yeah.”
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timeasmymeasure
1/2: DCU animated/Marvel movies, Red Hood/Winter Soldier, PG
Date: 2014-09-18 04:00 am (UTC)...
When Steve Rogers arrives in Gotham, everyone knows.
It is only surprising, Jimmy thinks, that it took him so long. They’ve been in Gotham for seven months, and were together on the road, burning down Hydra, for five months before that. It’s been a year and a half – he thinks – since the asset left Captain America on the riverbank. He’s been Jimmy for a year and a half.
Jason asks, “What are you going to do?”
Jimmy says, “I don’t know.”
.
Bruce Wayne, of course, makes a grand spectacle of meeting Captain America, even though Captain America is dressed as Steve Rogers and isn’t carrying the shield. Wayne takes Steve on a tour of Gotham’s most-hoity toity place; Jimmy knows that Steve must be hating it.
But all the pictures show Steve’s wide, gorgeous smile – his USO smile. Bucky Barnes hated that smile. Jimmy has no opinion either way.
But --
“He’s here for you,” Jason says. He looks solemn. A little sad. “Are you gonna let him see you?”
Jimmy finally nods. If nothing else, it might lay Bucky Barnes to rest.
.
Steve graciously declined Wayne’s offer of his mansion to stay in while he was in Gotham; Jimmy knows that they were both secretly relieved. (Of course, if Natalia is supplying Steve with intel, he probably already knows that Wayne is Batman.)
If Steve could’ve gotten away with it, he’d gone to some rat-trap motel but his face is famous all over the world. So instead he chose the fifth-ritziest hotel in town and quietly slammed anyone who tried to convince him to go somewhere better.
It doesn’t matter where he stays; Jimmy can get in no problem.
It helps, of course, that Steve wants him to.
.
Jimmy knows what Jason fears. But he watches Steve watch him and he knows that the fear is unnecessary.
“Bucky,” Steve says.
Shaking his head, Jimmy says, “Bucky Barnes is dead. I’m Jimmy.”
Steve nods. “Jimmy, then,” he says. “I hope – I just.” He chews at his lip, scratching the back of his head. “I had all these things I was gonna say. I miss you. I hope you’re happy. I’m so glad you’re alive but I hate how.”
There are tears in his eyes. He says again, “I miss you.”
Bucky Barnes would pull him in close and hold him. Kiss his face. Take him to bed and never let go.
“I cannot be the man you remember,” Jimmy tells him as gently as he can. “But – ”
Steve’s face crumples but he nods again.
And Jimmy – Jimmy steps forward to place the real hand on his shoulder and squeeze, just a little. “Let me finish, punk,” he says softly. “I’m never gonna be that man again. But I can still be your friend.”
“I’d, I’d like that,” Steve says through the tears.
Jimmy pulls him in close with a muttered, “C’mere.”
.
They spend all night talking – about the movies they’ve caught up on, about the best ways to blow Hydra to hell and back, about Steve’s new team and Jason.
“Can I meet him?” Steve asks.
Jimmy says, “I’ll ask him when I head back.” He knows that Jason wants to meet Captain America – it’d fulfill one of his childhood dreams. But to meet Steve Rogers…
They don’t talk about what Jimmy and Jason are doing in Gotham. Steve just says, “Be careful.”
Jimmy nods. He then recites a phone number and says, “Call me around lunchtime; I’ll let you know if Jason wants to get together.”
“Alright, Jimmy,” Steve says. “It… it was so good to meet you.”
Jimmy smiles at him. “You, too, Steve.”
.
“How’d it go?” Jason asks without looking up from his tablet.
“Steve’s a good friend,” Jimmy says, sliding the tablet out of Jason’s hand. “And that’s all he’ll be.” Jason lets out a small sigh of relief and Jimmy tilts his chin up with the not-hand. “He’d like to meet you.”
Jason surges up, kissing him fiercely, and it’s a long time before he pulls back far enough to say, “Meet Captain America? Fuck yeah.”
.