[AU] even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course

[from_the_outside]

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.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

This time his smile is sweet.

"I know."

[marvel_npc]

Something in her expression warms minutely at that smile. "Good," she says, and lifts her phone.

"Sit tight."

[from_the_outside]

She's just finished her email to Ross when her phone vibrates, and she frowns at the name on the caller ID before she picks up the call.

"Nat? Is everything okay?"

[marvel_npc]

"Everything's okay," she promises, watching James sip coffee on her couch. "I hear you've had quite the day so far."

[from_the_outside]

"I would tell you all about it, but I think it might require more martinis."

She puts the phone on speaker and quickly signs off her email, then hits send and closes the laptop. "What's up?"

[marvel_npc]

"I'll pour them whenever you want. Just say the word."

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?"

[from_the_outside]

Sharon's mouth makes an o before she actually says it. "Oh," she says, finally, a little blank.

"Sure. Yes. I can come over."

[marvel_npc]

"I'll have coffee ready. See you soon."

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."

[from_the_outside]

By the time she knocks on Natasha's door, she's almost as tense as she was in the last few moments of her talk with Pepper Potts.

(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.

[marvel_npc]

"Come on in," Nat says, pulling the door open. "Coffee's on the counter. James reminded me about the cinnamon, so that's there too."

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?"

[from_the_outside]

"God, would I ever," she mutters. "But I'm on the clock now."

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?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not much to tell," he starts, and catches the sharp look Natasha shoots at him. "I mean -- I told Natasha about what you and Steve said about Tony's new project, and your idea for her to run oversight. We got to talking about him, and what he might want, and why."

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."

[from_the_outside]

She stares at him.

"Your plan is to bring Tony here under false pretenses and then surprise him with a confrontation?"

[marvel_npc]

"That part's news to me," Natasha points out. "James, do I need to explain why that's not a good idea?"

"Tell me another way we get him here and not her, and then fine," Bucky shoots back.

[from_the_outside]

"By her I assume you mean Ms. Potts," Sharon says, and shakes her head.

"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."

[marvel_npc]

"She might. Depending on how much she's doing for Stark Industries right now," Nat says, thoughtful. "She must have had to juggle a lot of things to get here, based on what I remember from keeping her calendar when I was undercover."

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."

[from_the_outside]

"Or I could," Sharon says, wry. "I'm sure she's got round two locked and loaded. Okay. So we'll either just get Tony, or we'll get Tony and Pepper and we'll... deal with Pepper somehow."

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."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I think I have to," he says, quietly. "For a few reasons."

[from_the_outside]

She watches him for a long moment, taking in every line of his features, the weariness in his eyes, the faint edge of bitterness.

("if you'd been willing to compromise, or even communicate – ")

"Okay," she says, quietly, and looks at Nat. "I say make the call."

[marvel_npc]

She nods, and looks at James, who looks steadily back at them both. He'd say to do it even if it would tear him apart, she knows, and she thinks Sharon knows that now too.

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?"

[marvel_npc]

"FRIDAY, isolate that reaction and run it back to me," he says, and lifts his mug for a sip only to realize he'd picked up one that's full of pens instead of one that's full off coffee. He puts it back down again and goes searching for the right one – it's under a pile of papers – as he answers.

"Little busy. Why, what's up?"

[marvel_npc]

"Mm. Yes," she says, watching both James and Sharon as she talks. "I've heard you have a new project."

She doesn't wait for him to answer. "I have someone here who'd probably be able to help with that. He's willing to talk with you."

[marvel_npc]

Tony freezes, sudden full-body paralysis setting in. He shoots a hunted glance at the conference room, where Pepper – Pepper, he can't believe she's really here, competent and calm as ever – is walking around in her bare feet talking on an earpiece, her suit jacket slung over a chair back, and grabs for his own phone, thumbing off the speaker and pressing it to his ear. He scratches at his temple with his free index finger and paces to the window, voice lowering.

"He, uh – he is?"

[marvel_npc]

"He is," Natasha confirms. "It was his idea."

Tony's in a lot of pain, she knows. The guilt's likely eating him alive. She's seen it happen before - they all have.

She understands better than most what it feels like to live with the knowledge that you made the choice to hurt someone who didn't deserve it. She gives him time to take that in, waiting patiently for his response.

[marvel_npc]

"It was, huh?"

Tony glances at the conference room again, mind whirring. The last thing he wants is to be in a room with Barnes again. He hasn't faced him at all since – and the thought of looking him in the eye makes him want to pull out every hair on his head, slowly, instead.

But he gave up his right to his own comfort when he said the words, didn't he? He needs to fix it. And he can't fix it without information he doesn't have and can't get otherwise. "I – yeah, okay. Should I – is it just – I can come."