MCA | Apartment #-4 | Friday

[shapethecentury]

It was March 10th in 2017.

Which meant that James Buchanan Barnes – Bucky to his friends (or really, to everyone) – was either 24 years old, or a full hundred. Depended on your point of view, he supposed.

In any case, well, fancy that.

And he wasn't doing much of anything about it. He'd been back home for another extended bit of time. It seemed like times were changing and he wasn't sure what to make of it. Probably didn't help that he had one foot in 2017. Sometimes he wondered if moving back permanently wouldn't have been the right thing to do. And then immediately after, he remembered his paycheck, and what it meant to his folks, and his sisters, and even Steve.

Anyway, he wasn't concerning himself with that right now. He'd just opened a celebratory beer, and had settled down to read the birthday notes his nearest and dearest had sent him home with when he'd departed New York last, making him solemnly swear – cross his heart and all that – that he'd only open them on the day.

And so he did.

(ooc: i liiiiiive! open for sp.)

Comments

[imafuturist]

Because Tony was good at remembering thing he considered important, there was someone knocking at the door. Sorry to inflict this on you, Barnes.

[shapethecentury]

Sure he was sorry. Sure he was.

Bucky set his letters and notes (and beer, sigh) aside, and got up, and made his way to the door.

"Stark. Hey."

[imafuturist]

Tony offered up what might have been his last bottle of the good scotch like it was his entry pass.

"Barnes. Hey," he replied with a grin. "Happy birthday."

[shapethecentury]

"Thanks," Bucky said, reaching for the bottle, then giving way because it would've been rude to do one but not the other. "Didn't think you'd... Well, didn't think you'd know, to be honest. Steve tell you?"

[imafuturist]

"I have a thing when it comes to remembering things about my friends," Tony replied, stepping in without any visible hesitation. He dug into his pocket for a much smaller gift, a cellphone wrapped in a red bow.

Also, like he'd be unaware of Bucky Barnes trivia.

[shapethecentury]

Bucky'd just have to wait until the Smithsonian exhibit to find out there was trivia about him to be learned.

Good thing he had no reason to be thinking about the future. He caught sight of the bow first, then the phone, and quirked a lopsided smile.

"Looks expensive, Stark."

[imafuturist]

At least his version wouldn't be wearing tights?

"Homemade," Tony assured him. Which, all things considered, did not negate Bucky's original statement.

[shapethecentury]

Yeah. Bucky snorted and shook his head. "So, definitely expensive."

[imafuturist]

"It's sturdier than anything you'll find on the market," Tony promised. "And gets reception in other dimensions."

Which was a plus.

[shapethecentury]

Bucky looked from the phone back up at Tony, his smile still a little crooked.

"Yeah? What about the forties?"

[imafuturist]

"Might be a stretch, but we'll call it a test run," Tony replied with a sly grin. "Try not to let anyone get access to the wonders of the future."

Mostly Howard.

[shapethecentury]

Aw, but causing paradoxes and/or changing the course of history was so much fun!

But Bucky didn't argue about that, or anything else. Took the phone, and even smiled more evenly. "Thanks, Tony."

[imafuturist]

Damn it, Bucky!

Which meant Tony had to beam back at him, perking up like Bucky had made his day. "I admit, I was at a loss on what to get a man for his hundredth birthday."

[heroic_jawline]

Of course Steve knew what day it was! Which was why he was currently outside Bucky's door with a birthday cake holding a truly obnoxious amount of candles and a bag full of gifts. "Bucky? You home?" he called.

[shapethecentury]

The yelling instead of knocking, combined with what today was, had Bucky mentally preparing himself for what he'd see when he'd open the door.

He still found himself rolling his eyes and laughing when he saw the cake. "Jesus, Stevie, you're gonna burn the place down if you light those."

[heroic_jawline]

"Not my fault my best friend's having a centennial," Steve said. "We can call the fire department and warn 'em first?"

[shapethecentury]

Bucky made a face at the C word.

Okay, it was kind of an amused face at the same time, but still.

He moved back, opening the door further. "You are still getting all the blame."

[heroic_jawline]

"Don't I always get all the blame?" Steve asked, grinning at him. "Because I remember always getting all the blame."

[shapethecentury]

Bucky shrugged. Then smirked.

"Well, maybe sometimes." But in Bucky's defense, Steve did tend to start almost all of the fights. "Come on in, pal. Make yourself at home."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve grinned. "Thanks," he said, stepping into the apartment. "I got you a few things, too."

Because having disposable cash was a treat he still hadn't gotten over.

[shapethecentury]

"You didn't need to," Bucky said, although that didn't really mask the fact that he was pleased all the same.

He closed the door before heading into the living room. His apartment looked a little more lived in than it had this time last year, but still pretty sparse. Sure, he could've spent more money on himself but when he could send the lion's share of it back home, why bother?

[heroic_jawline]

To Steve, it felt homey. "You need more of my scribblings on the wall," he declared with a grin, holding out the first gift.

Which was a whole chunk of Steve Rogers original sketches of their neighborhood. "I'm sure your Steve has given you tons, too, but..."

[shapethecentury]

And here was Bucky, smiling like an idiot once he had the skeches in his hand and realized what he was looking at.

"I don't think there can ever be too many," he said. "'Sides, almost all of 'em are back home, anyway."

[heroic_jawline]

"Could've brought 'em," Steve said, running his fingers through his bangs and blushing slightly, "but I'm glad I could help you out some."

He shoved another gift at him to cover his embarrassment. "Here. Old man."

Because Bucky clearly needed three huge jars of denture cream.

[shapethecentury]

"What the h--"

He took them.

Then he laughed.

"Jesus, Steve. You're older than I am!"