[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]

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."

[from_the_outside]

Her mouth twitches. "The original hipster," she says, amused, and turns her attention to enjoying her roll and coffee.

"What else should we check out?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He groans at that. "Not even close," Bucky insists. "Just a soldier boy."

He tears off a bite of his own roll, appreciating the taste, and looks around.

"How about there?" he says, after a moment, with a nod to a large fruit and vegetable stall halfway down the row.

[from_the_outside]

"Oh, right," Sharon laughs, and nods as she looks in the direction he indicates.

"Okay. Looks like some nice stuff. We could pick some up for Steve's apartment."

[nerves_of_ice]

He slants an innocent look at her. "We could even let you practice haggling."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon shakes her head with another laugh.

"And risk the wrath of my old etiquette teachers?" she asks, mock-horrified. "I'll be happy watching you do it, thanks."

[nerves_of_ice]

He raises his eyebrows at her as they start slowly toward the stall. "Bargaining's bad etiquette? Why?"

[from_the_outside]

"You don't want to seem cheap," she tells him, shaking her head and finishing her roll. She washes it down with a large swallow of the coffee.

"And talking about money is gauche, darling."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Well, I mean, it depends on the environment," Bucky says, practically. "Like, I wouldn't try it on Fifth Avenue or anything."

He takes the last bite of his own roll, offers her another from the bag, then rolls up the top and carries it loosely in his hand as he takes a sip of coffee.

"But I've been places where people'd think you were rude if you didn't."

[from_the_outside]

"Oh, I know exactly how WASP-y and narrow-minded it is," she says, amused, and lifts her hand to pass on the rolls for now, wanting to save the rest for later.

"Somehow I feel like Fifth Avenue's not really your kind of place, anyway."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not especially," he says, as they reach the end of the stall.

"Not especially what?" asks the farmer. "Something wrong with my produce?" Bucky grins, quick and bright. "Not especially fond of upscale Manhattan," he says. "Here's better. And your produce looks great."

[from_the_outside]

"It should," says the farmer. "Grown right here in the valley. Our spring harvests are just starting to come in."

He gestures to the bins in front of him, full of artichokes and asparagus, fiddleheads and radishes, stalks of fragrant red and white rhubarb.

"Do you have an orchard, too?" Sharon asks, looking at the half-barrels of plump, glossy cherries. The farmer grins at her. "A small one," he says. "You should try our cider in the fall."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Maybe we will," Bucky allows. Gently, showing care for the vegetables, he turns over one bundle of asparagus, then another, examining them before moving on to the radishes.

"Prices seem pretty good." He gives the farmer a cheerful look. "Any give on them if we take a few things?"