Steve doesn't fully understand what Viatorus is talking about, but he thinks he might be able to connect the dots. The world of the waking to the world of dreams seems to be the most likely. All of the people who had been drug into the nightmare had been gone physically as well as mentally.
"You want to do that with your dream walking." It sort of makes sense. His body wouldn't be left behind and unprotected, for one. But he remembers the wounds Amelia had when she got back. That he heard many of them ended up with. It's not necessarily safer, just a different kind of dangerous.
"I understand." Steve's voice is soothing now. As quiet as he can make it. This is important to Viatorus, but there's something more here that he's afraid of. He can't do his work if he's barely functioning. If he won't eat or sleep. Steve moves slowly until he's in Viatorus' peripheral vision and folds his arms over his chest.
It's the fear, Steve reasons, that is the real enemy here. And that's a tricky thing. Not something easily overcome. He knows how much his skin crawls still and his heart rate skyrockets when he has to work in cold water. How afraid he is of being pulled under. Of falling and feeling himself freeze. Fear is not something you overcome and leave behind. It's something you manage so it doesn't manage you.
"I'll be here then. I'll keep a lookout while you work." His voice carries a confidence to it. He can stand guard for Viatorus. Allow the other to focus on his work.
Waiting for any sign that Viatorus is uncomfortable and only then filling the silence as best he can. Steve talks about Wakanda. About the people, he's met. The food and culture he's learned about. Their holidays, gods, beliefs. He talks about Thor and Asguard and everything the son of Odin has told him of his home. He talks about his pokemon, and about Adia's helping to train and raise them. About his attempts to find a house in the Nexus--a bigger place for a bigger man and his pokemon.
Steve stands there for hours and talks whenever he has to. He's done this before, for Bucky. He can do this for Viatorus. He can be there for his friend. how much it helps is anyone's guess.
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"You want to do that with your dream walking." It sort of makes sense. His body wouldn't be left behind and unprotected, for one. But he remembers the wounds Amelia had when she got back. That he heard many of them ended up with. It's not necessarily safer, just a different kind of dangerous.
"I understand." Steve's voice is soothing now. As quiet as he can make it. This is important to Viatorus, but there's something more here that he's afraid of. He can't do his work if he's barely functioning. If he won't eat or sleep. Steve moves slowly until he's in Viatorus' peripheral vision and folds his arms over his chest.
It's the fear, Steve reasons, that is the real enemy here. And that's a tricky thing. Not something easily overcome. He knows how much his skin crawls still and his heart rate skyrockets when he has to work in cold water. How afraid he is of being pulled under. Of falling and feeling himself freeze. Fear is not something you overcome and leave behind. It's something you manage so it doesn't manage you.
"I'll be here then. I'll keep a lookout while you work." His voice carries a confidence to it. He can stand guard for Viatorus. Allow the other to focus on his work.
Waiting for any sign that Viatorus is uncomfortable and only then filling the silence as best he can. Steve talks about Wakanda. About the people, he's met. The food and culture he's learned about. Their holidays, gods, beliefs. He talks about Thor and Asguard and everything the son of Odin has told him of his home. He talks about his pokemon, and about Adia's helping to train and raise them. About his attempts to find a house in the Nexus--a bigger place for a bigger man and his pokemon.
Steve stands there for hours and talks whenever he has to. He's done this before, for Bucky. He can do this for Viatorus. He can be there for his friend. how much it helps is anyone's guess.