As predicted, Steve was concerned when she told him Tony was working on something he refused to tell her about. It's not a conversation they could have while Ross was here, but as soon as she could let him know, she did.
Whatever it is, she doesn't want to worry Bucky about it until they have some idea of what Tony's up to. Even she doesn't think he'd be so stupid as to try to activate Bucky again, but it's Tony Stark. He's not exactly known for making good decisions.
That's why she and Steve had opted to go see him in person, and why Steve's knocking on Tony's door, trying not to look concerned. "It'll be okay," he tells Sharon while they wait.
She's not so sure, but hoping so is better than the alternative.
Whatever it is, she doesn't want to worry Bucky about it until they have some idea of what Tony's up to. Even she doesn't think he'd be so stupid as to try to activate Bucky again, but it's Tony Stark. He's not exactly known for making good decisions.
That's why she and Steve had opted to go see him in person, and why Steve's knocking on Tony's door, trying not to look concerned. "It'll be okay," he tells Sharon while they wait.
She's not so sure, but hoping so is better than the alternative.
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Date: 2021-10-04 02:59 am (UTC)He doesn't want to do it, not really. But he hates himself for the deep-down reason why, and he also doesn't want for them all to keep living like this. It balances out.
Bucky takes a deep breath, and looks up at Natasha. "I need to talk to him, don't I." It doesn't really sound like a question. "Think he'd come here, if you called him?"
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:06 am (UTC)She watches him closely. "Although it might kind of be stepping on Sharon's toes."
Ultimately it's his decision, and if he wants her to bring Tony here, she will. But she knows the balancing act her friend has been trying to pull off over the last few days and weeks, and she also knows what it'll look like to her and her boss. "Should I call?"
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:09 am (UTC)"Call Sharon first. Ask her to come. We'll see what she says." The corner of his mouth quirks upward. "I'm getting a phone soon, I promise."
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:15 am (UTC)She pauses before calling and looks back at him, something complex in her carefully wry expression and dark eyes. "Though I would call him for you either way," she says. "You know that, right?"
Still, she's glad to not have to be going behind her friend's back on it.
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:18 am (UTC)"I know."
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:19 am (UTC)"Sit tight."
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:20 am (UTC)"Nat? Is everything okay?"
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-10-04 03:25 am (UTC)She puts the phone on speaker and quickly signs off her email, then hits send and closes the laptop. "What's up?"
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:31 am (UTC)Nat taps her index finger against her thigh, thinking how to phrase it, then says, "James was telling me about Tony's new project. And the idea you and Steve had. And the long and the short of it is -- he thinks he might need to talk to Tony. Think you can come over here and let's figure out if that's a good idea or not?"
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:33 am (UTC)"Sure. Yes. I can come over."
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:36 am (UTC)She disconnects the call and looks at James. "One of these days you might ask her how she feels about surprises," she suggests, gently. "Just a thought."
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:44 am (UTC)(He wants to talk to Tony. She doesn't know how or why he came to that conclusion; what Nat said or did that might have prompted it. But it's the first time he's suggested being anywhere near Tony, and that means she has a responsibility to see it through for him.)
"It's me," she says, though she's sure Natasha already knows.
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:49 am (UTC)There's a little sympathy in her expression as she takes in how tense her friend is. Under her breath, she adds, "Sure you wouldn't rather have that martini?"
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:51 am (UTC)She comes in and heads to the counter to make herself a cup of coffee, glancing from Natasha to Bucky and back again. "So," she says, leaning against the counter and taking a sip. "Fill me in?"
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:56 am (UTC)He shrugs. "There's one way to find out for sure. And he sure as hell isn't going to expect to see me, you know? How he reacts will tell me a lot."
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Date: 2021-10-04 03:59 am (UTC)"Your plan is to bring Tony here under false pretenses and then surprise him with a confrontation?"
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Date: 2021-10-04 04:01 am (UTC)"Tell me another way we get him here and not her, and then fine," Bucky shoots back.
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Date: 2021-10-04 04:03 am (UTC)"I don't know. If this morning is any indication, she's not likely to let Tony see you – or me, frankly – alone." She glances at Nat.
"Any thoughts? You know her better than we do."
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Date: 2021-10-04 04:07 am (UTC)She shrugs. "If I ask him to come over to talk about his new project, and she's busy, she might let it go. If not, I can see if I can talk her into letting me run interference to get the meeting to happen at all."
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Date: 2021-10-04 04:10 am (UTC)She studies Bucky closely. "Are you sure you're ready to see him? If you have specific questions, I can interview him again. It doesn't have to be like this."
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Date: 2021-10-04 04:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-10-04 04:17 am (UTC)"Okay," she says, quietly, and looks at Nat. "I say make the call."
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Date: 2021-10-04 12:53 pm (UTC)It'll be up to them to make sure it won't, if at all possible. She lifts the phone to her ear and waits through the sound of ringing to the click-and-hiss that means Tony's answered and shifted the call to speaker, whether so Pepper can hear or just because he's working on something and it's easier impossible to say.
"Hi," she says. "Got a minute?"
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Date: 2021-10-04 01:03 pm (UTC)"Little busy. Why, what's up?"
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