"I'm sorry I don't have much to share." He never would, he thought; there would always be gaps. The things he did remember were hardly fit for pleasant conversation. Hopefully Billy didn't find it too off-putting.
He couldn't answer those words, and hoped Billy wouldn't find that off-putting either. But he had a feeling that his partner understood, at least in that particular sentiment. Instead he brushed his lips against Billy's forehead again, allowed Billy to continue his explorations. Hopefully it was enough.
"It is important that you're feeling more settled too." The agitation of earlier seems to have seeped out of Billy and the Soldier was glad that he could bring his companion some peace. Having Billy close didn't feel suffocating either.
"Ask me something else instead," he offered. "Something you don't know."
Something else. Billy considered with a thoughtful hum.
"What's your favourite place you've ever been?" he asked finally, thinking it was a safe enough question, not tied too much to his past but pushing just a little for Soldier to express preference which he knew could be difficult for him.
"Ever?" It was a harder question than Billy might have intended and the Soldier idly stroked his thumb against Billy's side as he thought. The breadth of the question made him really have to examine it instead of giving Billy an easy answer.
"I remember traveling through Europe," he finally answered. "I hiked a lot, or hitched a ride on a freight train where I could. There were some peaceful times there, good scenery and quiet. I could almost forget I was on the run sometimes. It was a nice feeling."
"That sounds nice," Billy agreed, trying to picture it, "I saw a few places in Europe when we were looking for Wanda. It's got a whole different vibe from New York." He could understand why Soldier would feel safe there.
"I don't know. I didn't really read much, on the run. Newspapers, sometimes." Books didn't travel well; they took up precious space when one had to carry his entire life in a single backpack. He kept barely anything in the way of possessions back then, just what he could carry to move fast.
"Would you like to read more?" Billy asked, trying to sound neutral, but very clearly excited about the possibility of being able to recommend or even just help Soldier find some good books. "Got lots of time to ourselves these days."
"Maybe." They'd have plenty of work to do when they got back, especially if they were building a cabin. Reading might become an activity for the colder months, or inclement weather days. "You know that having quiet downtime never lasts for us. But you could recommend me something."
It was true, both their own plans and those of the forces that brought them their would likely call their attention away again before long. "I don't know if you're as nerdy as me, but I really liked the Lord of the Rings. Or um...maybe something more classic? Shakespeare?"
"It doesn't have to be something classic." He probably would enjoy reading something Billy liked, if only to have a point of commonality. "Maybe we should see if there's anything here, too." Spaceport literature? Anything was possible.
"We can do that," he agreed. "Figure out what genre and themes you might like after you read a few. I'm guessing war and stuff maybe wouldn't be ideal. Maybe not Lord of the Rings actually?" Was that too...close to home? Or was the fantasy element enough to distance it?
"Wasn't that the same guy who wrote The Hobbit? I read that one, but I don't remember all of it." It had been a while, even taking the HYDRA thing out. "Something something there and back again, there's a dragon and a mountain and some elves?"
Yeah, he remembered a lot less than he thought. But maybe rediscovering something with Billy would be nice.
"Yes-!" Okay, maybe a little too excited. Billy flushed and laughed at his own enthusiasm. "Uh- yeah, exactly. That one might be a good place to start, it's nice. A whole little adventure. The Lord of the Rings is...a whole lot of War. And other nicer stuff, but a lot of war. I haven't re-read either of them in a long time either."
"We can start there, if you want to." It wouldn't hurt to read it again, the Soldier thought. Especially not with Billy's enthusiasm for the story. "Do you think the Agrii would obtain it if we asked? Or are you going to wiggle your magic fingers at me?"
"I don't ask them for a lot, but it doesn't seem like something they could mess up too badly," Billy mused, "But I can always wiggle my fingers," he teased with a playful brush over Solder's side as if to tickle him. "Whichever you prefer."
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He couldn't answer those words, and hoped Billy wouldn't find that off-putting either. But he had a feeling that his partner understood, at least in that particular sentiment. Instead he brushed his lips against Billy's forehead again, allowed Billy to continue his explorations. Hopefully it was enough.
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"We get the share the present. That's the important part, right?"
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"Ask me something else instead," he offered. "Something you don't know."
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"What's your favourite place you've ever been?" he asked finally, thinking it was a safe enough question, not tied too much to his past but pushing just a little for Soldier to express preference which he knew could be difficult for him.
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"I remember traveling through Europe," he finally answered. "I hiked a lot, or hitched a ride on a freight train where I could. There were some peaceful times there, good scenery and quiet. I could almost forget I was on the run sometimes. It was a nice feeling."
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"...favourite book?" he posed next.
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Yeah, he remembered a lot less than he thought. But maybe rediscovering something with Billy would be nice.
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