thehometree | Glimmer, glitter, shine...

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Glimmer, glitter, shine...

One by one, new adventurers now arrive in the Tree. As one gain wings and rises to the second floor, another light brings in the next person. Soon, a steady stream of people from all kinds of worlds, times and realities come to join the others. Whether confused, angry, excited or scared, your arrival is welcomed with nothing but joy as the fireflies and glow worms descend to greet their new friends.

The Tree offers no explanation and no reason, but the truth is undeniable.

As you will soon realize, it isn't easy to be tiny.

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He nods, mentally taking notes. This'd be more on his list of things to tell Steve - he's meeting someone from a world which can manipulate the elements. The possibilities are endless: no one in a polar expedition would freeze if they had a firebender. And there'd be less drought with waterbenders around. 'Just one, or more of 'em?'

There's another telltale pause as she finds a way to answer his questions. The more people talk to Korra, the more they probably realize just how many issues she's trying to avoid at the moment.

"Just one," she says, looking just a little shifty as she finally replies to him. "It depends on who your parents are."

'That sounds pretty swell,' he remarks, giving her a bright smile, and not calling the avoidance. Her feet have shifted her weight too often in the past and there's a subtle tension in her fingers. He doubts it's his size and presence, but he's made himself a little smaller and more contained just in case, his feet firmly on the ground. Whatever's after you, it can't come here.,

'We don't have anything like that. Just technology. What kinda sports do you have?'

Her expression lights up now, as it usually does when sports comes up in the conversation. Though she stopped playing in the tournaments ages ago, she still misses it some days. Not that she could play like she used to, in the shape she's in now.

"There's a few other games, but pro-bending's the most well known, especially in the United Republic," Korra says, looking a lot more relaxed. "Three to each team--one firebender, one earthbender, and one waterbender."

A-ha, he got her to smile. This he'll keep in mind for later, as well as the fact that the team doesn't have airbenders.

'We've got plenty, my favourite's baseball. You got a team you follow?'

Though the smile doesn't disappear entirely, it does dim into something a little sadder and more wistful.

"Yeah. If there's one team I've gotta pick, it's always going to be the Fire Ferrets." Korra pauses, leaning against the table. "They're disbanded now, anyway."

So - probably not playing anymore. 'The Dodgers for me,' he says. 'They're our team, from Brooklyn. Lookin' forward to catching another game with my pal soon as I can.'

It's a lie, but practiced so much that he barely misses a beat. Steve's the only one who'll be catching any games from now on.

"Your friend?" Korra prompts, once Bucky mentions him.

It seems a little strange, maybe, to be talking about something as common as sports (two different ones, even) when they've all been essentially kidnapped and sprouted wings on their backs. But it's calming, as well, and gives her something normal to latch onto.

Normal's the best thing to ask for when all kinds of crap happens, and he just so specialises in turning the conversation that way. Of course there's moments of unnecessary frivolity but in the War a few hours of rest and a good game, and some hot chow would do a lot more for a soldier's morale than a speech or a cage of duty.

'Yeah, my best friend.' He very nearly glows, affection radiating off him.

That kind of affection is hard to miss, and for a second, there's a sharp ache of longing for everyone Korra's left behind. Her parents, Naga, Katara, Tenzin and the rest of his family. Her friends. All the letters they sent over the years.

You've been disconnected. It's sure beginning to feel that way, now that Toph's pointed it out.

Swallowing past the lump of emotion that's formed in her throat, she says softly, "You should tell me about him."

Edited 2015-03-25 05:33 (UTC)

It's a nerve if he ever saw one, and he hates that he recognises that shape of tired that's resting on her shoulders. She's been fighting something. Carefully he reaches out and squeezes her hand gently.

'I will, you hold me to it. Hey, you wanna walk around for a while? There's plenty of space to fly through that window.'

Korra stares at his hand, surprised. If she'd sensed any sort of oddity in his words, she probably would have pulled her hand away immediately. As it is, she flexes her hand under his, like she's getting used to the feeling. He's been kind to her so far, she reminds herself.

The smile, when it comes is still tense, but genuinely filled with amusement. "I crashed into you just a little while ago, and you're still trying to get me to fly again?"

He does withdraw - he himself isn't keen on casual physical contact with strangers - anything longer would taste too much like pity.

'Everybody starts somewhere,' he replies, with a jaunty smile. 'Sides, we can have a little friendly competition. How about a race?'

They've got different types of wings, and sue him, he's curious to see how efficient each one is.

A race. Of all the things to ask for, though Korra admits it isn't entirely weird. They just got new wings. Who wouldn't want to mess around and test them?

Some of her old playfulness stirs up in her, and she grins. "You're on. Just don't be offended if I leave you in the dust, alright?"

Some of his old playfulness sparks too, just as he snorts in annoyance. Kids these days. But he got Korra to smile, and he thinks that's definitely something he wants more of in his life, or in general too. She has the kind that lights up whoever's near it, warm and steady like a lighthouse.

'Oh, is that how it is? You'll eat your words, sweetheart, just watch.'

He winks at her, and promptly darts off, spreading his wings and whooping as he flies.

"Hey!" If Bucky ever tries pointing out how she'd squawked with indignation, she'll deny it.

Korra huffs in annoyance before she dashes off after him, propelling herself into the air with a leap. "It doesn't count as a win if you cheated!"

He just whoops again, trying out some acrobatics. The adrenaline's rushing through his blood and he can't imagine ever feeling this safe in the air: those old planes rattled and they were always being fired at from anti-aircraft guns.

'Cheating? Me?' he calls back, stifling laughter. 'With this mug? Tell me it ain't true.'

She gives herself a push, forcing her wings to work harder so she can catch up with him. Though it's just a silly race, a challenge is still a challenge.

Korra gives him an unimpressed look as she flits past him. "You might be able to fool other people with that innocent face, but not me."

She's got spunk; his favourite kind of dame. She'd fit right in amongst the Barnes sisters - on second thought, never, ever introduce Korra to his sisters. He's harangued enough already.

'And here I was workin' hard for it,' he grumbles, good-natured, as he cruises next to her. 'Give me some credit.'

"Nah," Korra replies, unable to resist giving him another good-natured jab. "It's kind of fun seeing you get all put out."

Now that she's feeling more comfortable in the air, she tests out her wings by turning this way and that. And then finally, she flies in a wide circle around Bucky with a grin.

"You know, this is kind of fun once you get used to it."

He makes a comical face at her, deliberately, but it soon softens to a bright, boyish grin. He's thinking about Steve, and for a few seconds it doesn't hurt as much.

'You're havin' a gas, huh,' he replies, hovering in place so she can circle him with her aerobatics. 'Any reason you got different wings from mine?'

Attention caught, Korra stops her air circling to study his wings. They're definitely different, though she's seen this second type of wings on many other people, too.

"Dunno. I got these when I touched the yellow stone down there. Maybe it's random?"

He tilts his head questioningly at her. 'I have a blue stone,' he ventures. 'Just had to take it, I guess.' It's too early to tell if there's any pattern: Anna has the same type of wings he does, red and black. Elegant, that seem somewhat out of place. The transparent ones glitter in the sunlight, steady. They don't seem to be any less effective.

She drifts closer to him now, some of her previous playfulness fading away to curiosity. Korra had wondered what would happen if you touched the blue stone; it seems she has her answer.

"Yellow stone gives you glittery wings, blue stone gives you the kind you have?" She ventures a guess.

He circles her playfully first, and when he comes to a stop he pulls his own stone out of his pocket to show her. 'Seems like it.'

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