#and Helen's not just here to be an idle Leon stand-in

[soliloquy-dawn]

Last Line(s) Tag

Ok, I know this is a whole ass chunk rather than a line, but I love the Atonement AU world so much I want to share more and more as it grows and germinates inside my head (like a fungus).

Thanks to @whirlpool-blogs, @irregularcollapse, @nicijones, @amiserableseriesofevents and @c-goldthorn for the tag!

A small shift in posture brought Helen into his view. Spread comfortably in the canvas chair, she had a look of benign politeness on her face, but her gaze was vacant and glazed. Her foot twitched under the table, tapping against his calf.  Imperceptibly, Bucky spread his thighs, and made their knees knock together.  The tip of her shoe rested against the fabric of his slacks. She exhaled softly, then took to fanning herself with a napkin. A shy smile lifted the corners of her lips.  When they were children, young enough that their five-year age gap did not yet turn into insurmountable grounds for miscommunication, they had constructed their own secret language, built from mundane gestures and sounds. In the presence of adults, they conversed through eye rolls and double nods, elaborate grimaces, as well as grunts and coughs muffled by their shirtsleeves. They would carry out monologues and heated debates by simply uttering ‘Could you pass me the salt?’ or ‘Would you like a splash of milk with that?’. A less common inflection of an otherwise mundane word, a sniffle, or a loud mouth pop, had a previously agreed upon meaning. They even dared to goof around at the dinner table. Their elderly relatives—a venerable but austere lot, who back when John Sr. was alive visited for dinners and luncheons at least once a week—were none the wiser. Even Mama did not chastise them for their antics.  As they both grew older, Helen had lost interest in maintaining their own vernacular, but Bucky had never forgotten its hidden meaning.  Now, he reached over to take the pitcher from Aniela’s hand. “Let me take care of that.” Topping up Helen’s glass, he leaned closer and scratched the tip of his nose. In their language, it was simple question. Are you alright? Helen’s knee jerked under the table, hitting an underside beam. Then, with a minute tilt of her head to the left and a quiet mouth pop, she responded with: No. 

Tagging @avonne-writes @air-exec and @alienoresimagines if you want to join (or do it again!).