[AU] these are not the parts and poems of the body only, but of the soul

[from_the_outside]

They've all entered a kind of tense détente after the ill-advised dinner party. Tony throws himself into work, Sharon and Pepper mostly avoid each other, and Steve, Vision, and Nat continue with oversight duties.

And the thing is... Tony's working it out. 

Not a removal, exactly, but he's getting close, he'd told them, to at least blocking the commands. It's not perfect and it's not a permanent solution, but it's a step in the right direction. It's also a step in the direction of Tony needing to test the words on Bucky himself, and so Sharon and Steve are on extra high alert, keeping an eye out for any indication that Bucky's retreating into himself again. Sharon's mostly moved into the room they share in Steve's apartment for that very reason, though she still isn't wholly comfortable with being in Steve's space all the time.

He's away today, working with Sam and Rhodey on a veteran's outreach program, so it's Sharon who walks with Bucky through the halls of the compound towards Tony's rooms. "It's you and Vision with Tony today," she tells him, and glances across the distance they're careful to maintain when not alone behind closed doors.

"How are you feeling about everything?"

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

"I just found out," he confides, lowering his voice a little and leaning the slightest bit forward as if he's sharing a secret, "that my companion didn't eat breakfast this morning. I'm hoping to coax her with some of that delicious-looking bread of yours. Anything you'd recommend?"

[from_the_outside]

"Oh, yes," says the woman, who looks like she'd like to snatch him up and put him in her pocket for a granddaughter. It's all Sharon can do not to roll her eyes at his ridiculousness. "Do you have a sweet tooth, dear?"

"The usual amount of one," Sharon admits, and the woman beams at her, then selects a few soft, golden, oblong rolls. "Pain au lait chocolat," she says, slipping several into a white paper bag and offering them out. "Wonderful with coffee."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Perfect." Bucky beams a delighted smile at her as he takes the bag and trades her the right amount of cash for it, without haggling - not for this.

"And I bet, out of all the places that are selling coffee here, that you've got a favorite, right?"

[from_the_outside]

"As it happens, I do," the woman says, delighted to be asked. She leans over the counter and points to a stall a few yards away.

"Over there. They're new in town, but they roast their own coffee and it's divine. Get the café au lait if you like your coffee light; their milk is fresh from the dairy a few miles away."

[nerves_of_ice]

He looks where she's pointing, then back to her with a quick grin. "Thanks. I'm new in town too. But if you're here every week, hopefully I'll see you again."

[from_the_outside]

"I certainly hope you do," the woman says, her eyes sparkling, and waves as Sharon leads him towards the stall in question.

"Aunt Peggy was right about you," Sharon says, grinning hugely, her eyes laughing. "You big flirt."

[nerves_of_ice]

"That's just being friendly," Bucky tells her, smiling back at her amusement. "Nothing wrong with that."

[from_the_outside]

"Uh-huh," she says, and grins more. "So, coffee?"

She can hardly think of anything more pleasant than eating rolls and sipping coffee and wandering around this little market on this beautiful day with him.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Coffee," he agrees, cheerfully. "Come on."

They join the line behind a couple of other people. Bucky makes sure Sharon goes ahead of him, to place her order first.

[from_the_outside]

When someone gives you a recommendation, you take it. "Café au lait," she requests, when it's their turn, and tips her head back towards the stall they'd come from.

"You've got a fan in the baker. She sent us over here."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Alicia?" The bearded guy who's taking her order looks toward the baker's stall, then grins at Sharon. "Pretty sweet of her. Thanks for letting me know. Large au lait," he calls over to his colleague, then looks back to her.

"Anything else?"

[from_the_outside]

Sharon glances back at Bucky. "Feeling like trying something new?" she asks.

"Or go for the regular?"

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky shrugs. "Why not?"

He glances at the coffee seller. "Usually I drink it black. What would you suggest?"

[from_the_outside]

"Huh."

The barista considers him with interest. "You feel like something hot or iced?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I've had enough of ice recently," he drawls, "so let's say hot."

[from_the_outside]

"If you normally go for black drip," the barista says, "how about an Americano? It's espresso and hot water, so you get all the complexities of the espresso in a nice smooth beverage."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sounds good," Bucky says, amiably. "Let's do it."

[from_the_outside]

"Large Americano," the cashier calls, and smiles at Sharon as she hands out her card.

"Thanks for the business, folks. You from around here, or just visiting?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Visiting family," Bucky says, easily. "But it's nice here. Might stick around for a while. I can work from pretty much anywhere. Alicia said you were new in town?"

[from_the_outside]

"Just opened our doors last year," the young man says.

"But it's been a dream come true opening the place up. We've got a great spot near the middle of town, right across from the grocery store if you ever want to come by during the week."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'll remember that," Bucky tells him, with a quick grin. "Congrats on the dream."

He shifts to the side to collect Sharon's coffee and pass it to her, then his own.

[from_the_outside]

"Thanks," Sharon tells the barista, and sips at her coffee, then dives into the bag of rolls Bucky's still holding.

"Okay, let's give these a try. They smell amazing."

[nerves_of_ice]

He tucks the bag into the crook of his left arm so she can easily get another when she wants, shifts his coffee to his right hand, and takes a sip.

"Pretty good," he observes. "Just like I remember."

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah?"

She bites into the roll and makes a groan of pleasure as the soft bread tears away beneath her teeth, giving way to a core of sweet, bitter chocolate. "Baby, these are so good, you should try one."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Uh-huh." He switches his coffee to his left hand and digs into the bag for a roll with his right.

"From Italy. In 1943."