[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

[marvel_npc]

"Reasonably sure."

Vision gives him a polite glance. "Would you like me to pinch you?"

[nerves_of_ice]

Without missing a beat: “Sure, go for it.”

[marvel_npc]

Vision reaches over to the man's flesh-and-bone arm and pinches his shoulder, hard.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Okay, definitely felt that,” Bucky reports. “So probably not a dream. Thanks.”

More than a hint of laughter’s lurking in his eyes.

[marvel_npc]

"I am happy to assist," Vision says, as dryly as he ever had as JARVIS, but he looks amused.

"What will you do today, with your newfound freedom?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I don’t know yet,” Bucky tells him. “Guess I’ll see what Agent Carter thinks, first.”

[marvel_npc]

Vision nods.

"Well," he says, hoping to be encouraging, "if you will no longer need Avenger chaperones, with a little luck you will soon no longer require Task Force oversight, either."

He thinks Agent Carter is genuinely fond of Bucky, but he has to imagine they'll both be relieved when that day comes.

[nerves_of_ice]

“We’ll see what the deputy commander says, I guess,” he says, quietly.

It’s not like the issue of the Winter Soldier has gone away, but if they believe that he’s not going to go on a murderous rampage of his own free will…

[marvel_npc]

"Of course."

They're nearing the suite of rooms where Agent Carter has set up her office and where Bucky himself had resided for those first days here. "I will work with Tony to package his findings and results for report to the deputy commander."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Thanks,” Bucky tells him, sincerely. “That’ll help. Everything you’ve done has helped, more than I can say.”

[marvel_npc]

"I am very pleased to hear it."

He draws to a halt outside the door to the suite and knocks to let Agent Carter know they've arrived, then steps back.

[nerves_of_ice]

On the off chance, since she’s expecting him, Bucky checks the door and finds it unlocked.

He opens it and announces himself quietly in case she’s on the phone. “Agent Carter, it’s me.”

Bucky nods his thanks to Vision. “See you later,” he murmurs.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon looks up at the knock from where she's seated on the couch, typing out an email to Ross, and when the door opens, she's already on her feet and on her way over.

"Thanks, Vision," she says, and the Avenger politely inclines his head to her and glides away to whatever his next task might be.

She closes the door behind Bucky and locks it, then turns to him. "That was quicker than usual," she says. "Everything okay?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Was it?” he asks, honestly surprised. “It felt a lot longer.”

He glances around, automatically checking to make sure they’re alone, then reaches for her hand.

“Yes. Everything’s okay. Better than okay.” He finds he’s starting to smile, and can’t stop. “It’s great.”

[from_the_outside]

"It is?"

He's never this happy after a session with Tony. She curls her fingers around his and has to smile at his smile even through her confusion. "Why is it great?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“He figured out the block,” Bucky tells her. “It worked. It works.”

His smile’s as bright as sunlight, and there’s quiet, desperate relief in the depth of his gaze.

[from_the_outside]

"He what?" She knew he'd been close, but not that he'd been close enough to try implementing it. "He tried it? You – you tested it?"

They must have, for Bucky to be this certain, and the chill of realizing Tony Stark must have tried the words again wrestles for dominance with the confused beginnings of delight trying to bloom in her chest. "You're sure?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods, still smiling, and takes a step closer.

“Vision helped monitor and double-checked the data,” he tells her. “Both while Tony was putting it in, and after - and during the test, too. Full test. No question. It’s not perfect - it felt like a dam with something behind it, Tony says he’s going to keep working on it — but it worked. It works.”

[from_the_outside]

"Oh my god, baby – "

He looks so happy and relieved that she can't even be mad Tony or Vision hadn't thought to let her know what Tony was planning. Taking the few quick steps, she lets go of his hand and puts her arms around his neck, hugging him close. "Baby, that's amazing, it's incredible! My god, I can't believe it."

[nerves_of_ice]

He puts both arms around her and lifts her up as he hugs her, spinning around with her in a circle.

“It’s been so long,” he murmurs. “But now… no one can make me, they can’t—“

[from_the_outside]

"No," she promises. "They can't."

Not perfect, he'd said, and she's sure there's more to do. The block was only the first step, a stopgap to give them time to figure out how to remove the command program entirely, but if it's working –

She finds that she's laughing as he spins her around, her cheek pressed against his, and when he sets her down she pulls back enough to cradle his face in her hands, studying him with bright eyes. "How do you feel? Okay?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Pretty okay," he promises, staying still while she holds him and looks and him, her eyes bright and shining. "It felt weird while it was happening. All prickly inside my skull. But I feel fine now."

Carefully, he brings up his own right hand and brushes her hair back from her face, tucking a lock of it behind her ear. His fingers are trembling.

"It worked," he whispers. "I'll never hurt you again, baby. Never."

[from_the_outside]

Those words and the way his hand trembles as he touches her break her heart into about a million pieces, each one aching for him and everything he's been through.

"You won't," she says, with fierce belief, and lifts her hand to catch his, turning her head so she can press kiss after kiss to his fingers. "Nobody can make you do anything like that, ever again."

[nerves_of_ice]

A shudder ripples over him, and he slips his left arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

"Never again," he repeats, softly, then looks down at her. "You're safe with me now."

[from_the_outside]

"I've always been safe with you," she says, with fierce loyalty and perfect belief. She runs her fingers through his hair and leans up to kiss him, deep and sweet.