[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]

Sharon hums, amused and delighted against his mouth, then nudges her forehead against his when the kiss breaks, biting at her bottom lip. "Better get that pan," she reminds him, a little breathless.

"Otherwise it's going to sit there for a while."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Right.” He leans in for another kiss, catching her cutely-bitten lip.

“Right,” he says again, after a second. “Pan. Yes.”

[from_the_outside]

She pulls him in for another kiss, her arm around his neck and her other hand cradling his face, leaning back until she feels the edge of the counter into the small of her back, then sets both hands on his chest and pushes him gently away, laughing.

"Pan, you menace," she says. "And that's the last thing we have to do."

[nerves_of_ice]

He lets himself be pushed, mischief in his glance, and gives her a warm smile. Bucky ducks in to steal one last quick kiss before he steps back and grins.

“Pan,” he says. “Go. Quick.”

[from_the_outside]

"As if you're not a million times faster than me," she laughs, but makes her escape while she can, delighted by his good mood and playfulness.

Somehow she doubts they'll end up actually watching anything, but she dutifully puts The Great British Bake-Off back on and waits for him, toeing off her shoes so she can curl her legs up beneath herself on the couch.

[nerves_of_ice]

He disposed of the remains of the failed pie and scrubs the pan until it’s shining, then puts it away and checks the state of the oven. The cleaning cycle seems to have worked, which is a relief.

Bucky pads back into the living room and grins at the picture Sharon presents, curled up on the couch.

“Hi, baby.”

[from_the_outside]

Sharon leans her elbow on the back of the couch and sets her cheek on her hand to smile back at him. "Hi."

She pats the seat next to her. "C'mon. I saved a spot for you."

[nerves_of_ice]

He settles in beside her and puts his arm along her shoulders. “Comfortable?”

[from_the_outside]

"Mhm."

She curls against him and tucks her head against his shoulder, then turns her face to press a kiss to his neck. "You?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I am now.” A faint shiver runs through him at the feel of her kiss, and he tucks her a little closer against his side.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon huffs a breath of laughter into the curve of his neck and kisses him again, then sets her head against his shoulder. "I just put the baking show back on," she murmurs. "But I don't really care what we watch."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I don’t either,” he admits. “It’s just nice to be here with you.”

[from_the_outside]

She lifts a hand to twine her fingers loosely with his where it hangs over her shoulder and makes a small, softly contented sound.

No need to worry about everything she talked with Colonel Rhodes about just now. Not today. "I think so, too," she murmurs. "It's been a really nice day."

[nerves_of_ice]

“It really has. It feels like a dream,” he says, softly.

[from_the_outside]

"I bet."

She rolls her head against his shoulder to look up at him. "Everything still feels okay? Your head doesn't hurt?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"It feels okay," he reports. "No pain. Not even the weird tingling of before." Bucky considers and adds, "Maybe a little more tired than usual, but nothing bad."

[from_the_outside]

"Tired, huh?"

No doubt. It's been quite a day, and she's sure the procedure and test took more out of him than he'd want to admit. "You could lie down and rest your eyes for a bit."

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn't reject the idea out of hand. Bucky considers it for a moment, then asks, "What would you do?"

[from_the_outside]

"Watch the show, if you stay in here. Or come with you, if you go lie down."

She pats her lap, inviting. "You could just curl up on the couch with me and close your eyes."

[nerves_of_ice]

There's something almost wistful in his glance as he watches her pat her leg. Bucky can almost see himself stretched out on the couch, his head on her lap, her fingers in his hair, and wants it more than he can find words to say.

"You wouldn't mind?" he tries, instead.

[from_the_outside]

"Not even a little," she promises. "I'd be happy to."

Sharon leans up to kiss his cheek, then shifts toward the other end of the couch, giving him plenty of room to stretch out and pats her lap again. "Come on. I promise I'm a really good pillow."

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn't resist further. Bucky lies down on the couch, his head in her lap, and smiles up at her.

"Hi."

[from_the_outside]

She smiles down at him and lifts her hand to stroke his hair back from his forehead, her free hand resting on his chest. "Hi," she murmurs back, and keeps running her fingers lightly through his hair.

"Close your eyes, baby."

[nerves_of_ice]

His lashes are long against his cheek when he complies, lying still, a small, contented smile curving his lips.

[from_the_outside]

She studies his face, how relaxed and happy he looks, his lashes long and soft. He looks much younger, some of his many cares and worries lifted for a few moments from his shoulders.

Sharon lifts her hand away just long enough to turn the subtitles on and turn the volume down to a soporific murmur, then returns to gently smoothing his hair, her fingers gentle through the long strands of it. "Rest," she tells him, her voice quiet. "We've got nowhere to be."