[AU] How much - how little - is within our power

[from_the_outside]

 "No," says Sharon, for what feels like the thousandth time. "That's not acceptable."

The rest of the flight had been uneventful, and once they landed she'd been grimly unsurprised to see that Stark had sent Happy Hogan, his erstwhile chauffeur, to guide them to the apartment they've been assigned. Stark himself had apparently gone somewhere to get out of his armor, somewhat mollified by having gotten them here and under his thumb.

Except Sharon won't stop kicking up a fuss.

Hogan stares at her as she inspects each corner of the apartment. "I can't cut these rooms off from the central security protocols," he says, slowly, like he thinks she's just misheard him.

"Well, you can," she tells him. "Or I can force a cascade in a couple load-bearing subroutines that will shut the whole damn thing down. It's your choice."

Comments

[from_the_outside]

"Which is frankly ridiculous," she says, amused, "considering what a pain in the neck I'm sure I am."

(She's not sorry. Being a pain in the neck is how she got where she is in life.)

[nerves_of_ice]

“You’re stubborn,” he agrees. “And sometimes infuriating. And I like that about you.”

He’s absolutely serious.

[from_the_outside]

"Therein lies the secret of my unique charm," she says, amused.

She knows, okay. She should recuse herself. She's emotionally compromised. And even if she's not the kind of person to choose love over duty, she knows that's too much of a risk for her superiors to take.

But it's hard to worry too much about it right now, floating in the afterglow and wrapped in his arms.

[nerves_of_ice]

“One of them.” He runs his hand absently along her upper arm.

[from_the_outside]

"I also have great taste in movies," she agrees.

And maybe bad taste in men, but that's debatable. She breathes in the warm scent of his skin, luxuriating in the feel of his body against and beneath hers. "Feeling tired yet?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He makes a noncommittal sound. “Are you? You were before,” he remembers.”

[from_the_outside]

"Mm."

It's agreement, mostly. "It's been a long day."

She shifts against his side and sets her chin on the forearm she has on his chest so she can look up at his face. "But I don't mind staying up with you if you're not."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles down at her and leans in for a quick kiss. “It’s okay,” he promises. “I should try to rest anyway.”

[from_the_outside]

"Okay."

She kisses him again, soft and sweet and lingering, and when it breaks, she murmurs, "Stay with me tonight?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He threads his fingers through her hair, playing with it, as he thinks how to explain without worrying her.

“I’m a restless sleeper,” he says, softly. “I want to, but I don’t want to keep you awake.”

[from_the_outside]

"That feels nice," she says, tipping her head towards the hand in her hair as she watches him with serious dark eyes.

He wasn't restless in any way that she noticed in Polygyros. "If you're sure."

It's soft. He might just be looking for a graceful way out of staying the whole night – but no, he doesn't lie to her. She believes that. "But you might need to convince me in the morning that this wasn't a dream."

[nerves_of_ice]

He tightens his hand in her hair and kisses her again.

“I’ll stay if you want.” Softly said.

[from_the_outside]

The kiss draws a quiet sound up and out of her chest. "I do," she tells him, when it breaks, "but if you won't sleep because you're worried about waking me up, I'd rather just say I'll see you in the morning."

[nerves_of_ice]

He’s pretty sure he can sleep lightly enough to not dream. He’s going to try, anyway.

“I’ll stay,” he murmurs.

[from_the_outside]

Her eyes light and she smiles at him, sweet and simple and warm.

"Okay," she whispers, and kisses him again.

[nerves_of_ice]

At the sight of her smile, the way her gaze brightens, he knows he’s doing the right thing. He kisses her back, and draws her deeper into his arms.

[from_the_outside]

She makes a small contented sound and relaxes into him, now more than half draped over his body, her head tucked into the curve of his neck, her left hand idly smoothing long slow circles over his stomach and side.

"Get some sleep," she tells him, soft. "If you can. You need it, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’ll try,” he says, and kisses her hair. “Go to sleep, baby.”

[from_the_outside]

She smiles – at the kiss, at the sweet endearment, at his promise – and closes her eyes.

And because she is tired, even after sleeping through the movie, it isn't long at all before her muscles grow heavy and slack and her breathing turns deep and even as she drifts off to sleep.