[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

[nerves_of_ice]

“In the shared kitchen downstairs,” he confirms.

[from_the_outside]

She's groggy and rumpled and she's got morning breath but she leans forward to kiss him gently anyway. "You're so sweet," she says, when she pulls away again and takes a larger swallow of her coffee.

"Didn't run into any trouble, I hope."

[nerves_of_ice]

“No trouble,” he confirms, reaching to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “I met Vision, though.”

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah?"

She takes another sip and sets the coffee in her lap, idly tipping her head into his touch. "How was that?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Interesting,” he decides, running his fingers through her hair. “I like him.”

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah?" she says, again, and smiles at the feel of his fingers in her hair.

"I don't know much about him. What was he like?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Straightforward. Honest. Kind.” Something wry quirks the corner of his mouth. “He tried to explain some things about Tony, and he’s got a pretty unique perspective.”

[from_the_outside]

"I bet."

She frowns a little, quizzical. "Wasn't he Tony's AI or something?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods. “He’s a person created from three sources - Tony’s AI JARVIS, Ultron, and the stone that’s on his forehead.”

[from_the_outside]

"Sounds complicated."

She sips again at her coffee, watching him and blinking sleep out of her eyes. "I'm glad you liked him."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I am, too. I didn’t think anyone would be down there this early.”

[from_the_outside]

"I guess Vision probably doesn't need to sleep."

She rubs the heel of a hand into her eyes and looks at him. "Did you sleep okay? I didn't wake up at all."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Well enough.” He leans in for a light kiss. “I’m glad you didn’t wake up.”

[from_the_outside]

She hums a little into the kiss and smiles at him when it breaks.

"I'm glad last night didn't turn out to be a dream."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Me, too.” He kisses her again, then gets to his feet. “I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re on your feet. I think the cold packs are ready,” he adds. “I put them in the freezer before I went downstairs.”

[from_the_outside]

"Okay."

She watches him get up, eyes bright despite her sleepiness. "See you in a few."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles at her and leaves the room, pulling the door most of the way shut behind him.

Bucky returns to the kitchen and pours himself another cup of coffee, then takes a seat at the kitchen table and stares into space, thinking.

[from_the_outside]

She dresses quickly, brushing her hair back into a loose ponytail and finishing her coffee before she comes out into the kitchen. She sets the empty mug down and comes behind Bucky to put her arms loosely around his neck, leaning down to press a kiss into his hair.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"You'd be overpaying," he assures her, leaning back into her embrace. "Just trying to figure out the day, mostly."

[from_the_outside]

"Mm."

She breathes in for a moment, then lifts her head so she can run the fingers of one hand through his hair .

"How's that going for you?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not so well," he says, dryly. "Seems like mostly what there is to do is wait."

She combs her fingers through his hair and a slight shiver runs through him.

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah."

She runs her fingers through his hair again, slow and deliberate, working out the few snarls she comes across. "I should call Ross today."

[nerves_of_ice]

"He can't know." It's barely a murmur, just a soft thread of sound. "About us. About this."

[from_the_outside]

Her hand pauses for a brief second before she continues stroking it slowly through his hair. "I know."

It's almost a whisper, and she sighs a little. "Probably no one here should know, either."

[nerves_of_ice]

Every muscle in his body tightens, although he doesn't move.

"If that's what you think," he says, after a moment.