[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]

She grimaces, but nods. "I'm happy to talk to anyone who'd like to hear my observations and recommendations," she tells him. "Will you keep your ear to the ground?"

[marvel_npc]

"I will," Rhodes says, and smiles, a little. "That's part of why I'm here, after all."

[from_the_outside]

"I guess that's true."

She's lost her appetite a bit, but she takes the last bite of her pie anyway. "Thanks for the heads up, Colonel."

[marvel_npc]

"You're welcome, Agent." His smile warms. "Thanks for the pie."

[from_the_outside]

"I'm glad you guys got back in time for it," she tells him, her glance tracking over to where Sam is regaling Steve and Bucky with some story or other.

"Maybe things will get more complicated soon, but today I'm happy to take the win."

[marvel_npc]

"Can't go wrong with that." Rhodes nods very slightly in the direction of Wanda and Vision, who are listening to Sam's story with interest.

"Glad to see you were getting along with her, too."

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah." Her glance tracks over to Wanda before she looks back at the colonel.

"To be honest, I think she's a little nervous around me, considering her background. But, like you said, my purview here has a pretty narrow focus. Hopefully now she'll see she's not part of it."

[marvel_npc]

"Hopefully." He gives her a curious look. "You're pretty high up in the Task Force, aren't you?"

[from_the_outside]

She shrugs, but doesn't deny it. "I work directly with the Deputy Commander, and I'm one of the more senior agents there. But I'm not a policy maker. And at the end of the day, Deputy Commander Ross calls the shots."

[marvel_npc]

"Well, I know Captain Rogers's been glad about how you've handled everything." His gaze drifts down the table. "Sergeant Barnes means a lot to him."

[from_the_outside]

"I know," she says, because she can't say to me, too. "I'm just happy I could help."

She may be nearing the limit on how much she can help, but as long as she can ease even a little of everything Bucky's going through, she'll call it a win.

[marvel_npc]

He nods. "And just so you know, I'm sorry for Tony having given you a hard time there for a while."

[from_the_outside]

"Oh, I'm sure he'll keep giving me a hard time," she says, dry.

She's grateful to Tony, of course, but she hasn't forgotten -- and neither has he, she's sure -- how they got here in the first place. Only the fact that his block worked saved him this morning from her wrath at his using the words again, even as a test. Bucky had been so worried and stressed about it. "We didn't really get off on the right foot."

[marvel_npc]

“I know. I’m sorry about that.” He sounds as resigned as he feels.

“He’s my friend, but I know he can be difficult sometimes.”

[from_the_outside]

"You're not your friend's keeper, Colonel," she points out. "But I appreciate the sentiment. Besides, I can be pretty difficult sometimes, too."

[marvel_npc]

“We all can. And I know I’m not. That doesn’t matter.”

He looks a little wry. “People don’t always get me and Tony.”

[from_the_outside]

"Well, you're pretty different," she says, which is about as diplomatic as she can get.

"But it seems like you're really close. It's great that you can work together now."

[marvel_npc]

“We are. We’ve been working together for years, as I’m sure you know.” Rhodes shakes his head. “We don’t always agree, but we understand each other. That’s what matters.”

[from_the_outside]

"The basis of any successful working relationship," she says, amused. "But, you know, I have to say he's really put his money and effort where his mouth is. I don't know if he and I will ever get along personally, but I've appreciated his willingness to work with Sergeant Barnes."

[marvel_npc]

“I wish I’d been here to talk him down from what he was thinking,” Rhodes tells her, and deep regret’s clear in his tone. “I know Pepper feels the same.”

He shakes his head. “The man you’re seeing now, the one who gives his all, that’s Tony at his heart.”

[from_the_outside]

"I figured it had to be," she admits. "It's hard to imagine Steve being friends with the other guy."

She gives him a rueful smile. "I know it must have been hard not to be here. But please know the Task Force deeply appreciated your assistance on location in Siberia and in Berlin."

[marvel_npc]

“I was happy to give it,” Rhodes assures her. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help. Either the Task Force or you.”

[from_the_outside]

"I'm sure I'll take you up on that offer, Colonel," she says. "Especially as we start considering next steps. I think your... unique perspective might be very helpful."

[marvel_npc]

“Any time,” he promises. “Any time at all.”

[from_the_outside]

She smiles and gives him a small nod, then looks back across the table, eying the scraped-clean plates with amusement.

"Looks like this was a hit," she says, to the table at large. "So, who's going to volunteer to do the dishes?"