[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

[from_the_outside]

"Deal," says the farmer, grinning. He takes the cash and gives Bucky back his change, then starts bagging up their produce, whistling between his teeth.

Sharon sips at her coffee and watches with warm, bright eyes. Bucky's enjoying himself, she can tell; enjoying chatting with the vendors and perusing their wares, enjoying the light haggling and the satisfaction of a good deal fairly made.

"You know, there are a couple nice outdoor markets near the house in Virginia," she tells him. The mental image of walking around the little town there and the various markets and fairs it puts on makes her smile. "Maybe we could check it out sometime."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'd like that," Bucky tells her, something soft and almost wistful in his glance for an instant. "I'd like that a lot, if you would."

[from_the_outside]

"I'd love it."

Her own expression is almost as wistful as his. "I've really enjoyed having you down there. And there's so much you haven't even seen yet."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Maybe now that the block's in place," he starts, carefully trying to suppress his hopes. "Maybe we could go back for a few days, without the need for ... you know. As close an eye."

The farmer comes back with their purchase and hands it over. "Here you go. Enjoy."

"Thanks, we will," Bucky says, with a quick smile.

[from_the_outside]

If Sharon's brilliant smile is any indication, it was the right thing to say.

"That sounds perfect," she says, happily, and: "Thank you," to the farmer. Sharon holds her tote bag open to Bucky. "Here, I can carry all that."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gives her a stern look, and deposits the paper bag with the rest of the rolls in her tote. "You can carry that," he says, firmly. "I've got this."

He shifts the bags to his left hand, finishes the last of his coffee and tucks the empty cup in the nearest trash bin, then holds out his irght hand to her.

[from_the_outside]

"Yes, dear," she says, amused, and reaches to lace her fingers with his as they stroll back into the market. She tips the last of her own coffee into her mouth and disposes of the cup, then curls the fingers of her right hand around her tote bag straps.

"Anything else catching your eye?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"We could keep browsing, or..." He whistles a quick, cheerful tune and gives her a mischievous glance.

"Want to try baking a pie?"

[from_the_outside]

Sharon laughs and swings their hands.

"We can give it a shot," she says, optimistically. "No promises on how it might turn out."

[nerves_of_ice]

He squeezes her fingers and uses their linked hands to spin her into a dance twirl, right there in the middle of the street, then tugs her along with him.

"It won't take all the fruit," he reminds her. "So we'll have some good stuff either way."

[from_the_outside]

She laughs, delighted with his good mood and teasing, her hair flying as he spins her.

"Good point," she says, and falls into step next to him. "Then I guess we'd better be getting back."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Maybe we can go the long way round," he suggests. "By that dairy Alicia mentioned. Pick up some fresh cream."

Bucky smiles at her. "For your coffee. And the cherries, too."

[from_the_outside]

"Ooh," she says, smiling. "Fresh whipped cream; now that I can definitely make."

She tugs lightly at his hand, beaming at him. He's so happy, and it's infectious. From where she's standing, it's hard to think the future could be anything but bright. "We could swing by the bookstore, first. See if there's anything that might be nice to add to your collection?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Or yours," he says, smiling back at her. "Okay. Let's."

It's a gorgeous day, sunny and warm but not too hot, and he's happy to go anywhere with her.

[from_the_outside]

"Besides, we told that guy we'd be back," she points out, as they stroll out towards the edge of the market side street.

It really is a nice little town, and she enjoys looking around as they walk. They're not the only ones with spring fever, it seems; plenty of townsfolk are out and about, running errands and enjoying the sunshine. The bookstore is across the street from where they parked, and it's as cool and quiet inside as she remembered.

"Hey, man," says the cashier, looking up at the sound of the bell that rings when they come in. "How's Lord of the Rings treating you?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Pretty good so far," Bucky tells him, a little surprised to have been remembered. "I just finished with The Two Towers."

He'd started over with The Hobbit and taken his time reacquainting himself with the old and the new, between everything else that's been going on.

[from_the_outside]

"Sweet," says the cashier. "Let me know if I can help with anything."

"We will," Sharon tells him. "Thanks."

He lifts a hand and goes back to his own book, and Sharon tugs Bucky's hand, smiling up at him. "Let's look around."

[nerves_of_ice]

He lets her draw him along deeper into the cozy store, between shelves crowded with options.

"Are you looking for anything in particular?"

[from_the_outside]

"No," she admits, freely. "But it seemed like you enjoyed looking around last time. And there's something fun about poking around a little bookstore like this."

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles at that, very softly. "You're too good to me, baby."

[from_the_outside]

"No such thing," she says, with certainty, and squeezes his fingers. "Go look around. I'm going to check out those paperbacks over there."

[nerves_of_ice]

He's not entirely sure what he wants to look at, but he responds to Sharon's gentle prodding and drifts off among the stacks. Bucky wanders aimlessly at first, but slows as he reaches a display of books by classic and modern photojournalists.

[from_the_outside]

She's watching him more than looking for books for herself, cheerfully making mental notes of the things he pauses at or seems interested in.

Her smile quirks, a little wistful, at his choice. He's taken some beautiful and interesting photos with his new camera, but it's still not safe for him to take any of her.

Someday, she promises herself. When it can't be used against either of them.

[nerves_of_ice]

He flips through a few with care, examining them, then puts them back and drifts further down the stacks. Bucky turns up his nose at a grouping of true crime books, ignores the mystery section, and lingers over a series of essays and regional history books for several minutes before he puts the one he'd gotten lost in down on the shelf and turns to look for Sharon.

[from_the_outside]

At his soft footsteps, Sharon puts down the paperback she'd been flipping through and smiles at him.

"Anything catch your eye?"