a/n: the names are just easter eggs - there's not a deeper implication, these are just curious neighbors.
1:07pm
Paul: who the hell is the guy who just showed up and picked up 400 lbs just like that?
Darlene: I think he's an avenger
Gideon: I don't remember him
Paul: and I overheard him say something about Wakanda sending him to deliver something
Gideon: there's no way he's from Wakanda
Paul: I swear I heard him say Wakanda
Darlene: what's up with his arm?
Gideon: I didn't notice
2:23pm
Darlene: he has a metal arm
Darlene: that's definitely a metal arm
2:41pm
Gideon: I think you're right about him being an avenger
Gideon: did you see him tear part of the siding off the boat? that's not normal
Paul: I still say I heard Wakanda, maybe it's their tech
Gideon: why the fuck would a white man be walking around with Wakandan tech attached to his body like that? they don't just give that away
Darlene: I'm telling you, he's got to be an avenger
Darlene: and he's strong without the metal arm, too
Gideon: did you hear his name?
Paul: I think he said Bucky
Darlene: Sarah told us not to worry about Sam back when he got broken out of jail and I saw people talking online about how everybody they framed went to Wakanda because nobody wanted to start shit there, so Wakanda might make sense
Paul: I don't remember him from before that but I couldn't keep them all straight
Paul: I'd believe that he was an avenger and they were hiding out in Wakanda
Gideon: how fucking random is that shit?
Paul: I just googled "bucky steve rogers" and it says he's an avenger the government pardoned after the blip
Paul: so yeah I bet they framed him too and had to walk it back
Gideon: did it say anything about Wakanda?
Paul: still reading
Paul: yes
Paul: they wanted him to get rid of the arm as a condition of the pardon because they said it was "too dangerous" for a super soldier assassin to have Wakandan tech like that
Gideon: sounds like people trying to cover their tracks
Darlene: yeah that's not the real story
Paul: arm part seems like it's real, though, Wakanda put out some statement about being confident that it was a misunderstanding because that condition would be an insult to the royal family
Paul: apparently Princess Shuri made the arm for him personally or something?
Paul: anyway the government backed down real fast
Paul: serves them right
Darlene: does it say anything else?
Paul: he knew Steve Rogers when they were kids
Darlene: he doesn't look anywhere near old enough for that
Darlene: super soldier might actually make sense
Gideon: okay, fine, a white super soldier from World War II who lived in Wakanda showed up to deliver their tech to Sam and is now having a beer while he helps fix the boat with a metal arm the princess of Wakanda personally made him
Paul: yeah, nothing weird there at all
Gideon: anyway, though, not really interested in the government's story
Gideon: they lie about all kinds of shit
Gideon: they called Sam a war criminal because he didn't want to put his name on some bullshit registry
Darlene: yeah I'll believe the avenger and Wakanda part but whatever shit they said he needed pardoning for is probably lies
Darlene: and if he was dangerous Sam wouldn't have him here around everyone
Paul: they're friends, I overheard Sam making fun of him
Paul: good enough for me
Paul: told you I heard Wakanda though
a/n: reviews/faves are super appreciated! thank you so much for reading.
- branwen