from_the_outside | [AU] How much - how little

"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."

Current Location: Upstate New York

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

nerves_of_ice

"Forgive me, if you can," he murmurs. "For... being... like this."

From:

from_the_outside

"Yes."

Instantly. Not that she thinks there's anything to forgive, not on his part, but if he needs to hear it she'll say it as often as required. She leans in and presses her mouth to his forehead. "Of course I do. Of course."

From:

nerves_of_ice

His eyes flutter closed at the touch, and he holds her a little more tightly.

From:

from_the_outside

"Sweetheart," she says, softly, and puts her arms around his neck, tucking her head against his.

Sitting here, in the quiet kitchen, it's hard to believe anything could go wrong as long as he's holding her warm and close.

From:

nerves_of_ice

Several moments pass before he murmurs, “I better get you another cup of coffee and we start planning the day, or I’m going to have a hard time not taking you back to bed.”

From:

from_the_outside

Sharon shivers a little and huffs a laugh into his hair.

"That's not a lot of motivation for me to have more coffee and plan the day," she tells him, amused.

She might be sore, but that's never stopped her before.

From:

nerves_of_ice

"How about this," he says, his tone shading more than a little wry. "What are the odds that someone's going to come knocking on that door in the next little while?"

From:

from_the_outside

She groans and pulls away.

"Pretty good," she admits, even though she'd rather not. Nat had said she'd swing by this morning to check on them, and she'd bet her last dollar that Steve will make this his first stop.

"All right, you win, Barnes. Coffee it is."

From:

nerves_of_ice

He hugs her, then stands up and puts her on her feet before crossing to refill their mugs.

"So do we call Ross this morning?"

From:

from_the_outside

"Probably," she says, sliding into a chair at the table and watching him get the coffee.

"It's going to be a tough conversation and I'd rather it weren't in the middle of the night for him again."

From:

nerves_of_ice

"Is there anything we need to talk with Steve or Tony about beforehand?"

He adds cream, sugar, and cinnamon to hers, then passes it to her before refilling his own.

From:

from_the_outside

"Steve, definitely. Tony..."

She considers as she sips at her coffee. The taste of cinnamon is warm on her tongue. "Maybe."

Her hands cradle the mug. "I might have to put Steve on the phone with him. And I'll have to debrief him on everything I can."

And then she'll have to see if he recalls her or if she can find a way to stay.

It's not a question she's comfortable with. She knows her duty. She should have no problem doing it.

From:

nerves_of_ice

He nods, once, slowly. "See what Steve thinks about that, I guess, but I'd figure it'd help if Tony was involved too."

He turns around and leans back against the counter, coffee in hand.

"But you're the only one who can predict Ross."

From:

from_the_outside

"It might," she admits, but her expression is troubled.

"Or it might screw things up. I'm pretty sure Tony thinks I'm only involved as a member of the JTTF. If he realizes my boss had no idea what I was doing..."

She trails off and studies her coffee for a long moment before she lifts it for another sip.

From:

nerves_of_ice

He runs through that like lightning and instantly changes his mind.

"You're right. Ross first, with Steve, and keep Tony as far away as possible."

From:

from_the_outside

She nods. "I think so, too."

Sharon turns the mug between her palms, rotating it slowly on the tabletop. "And I'll have to work out the story with Steve beforehand, about why I got involved – as a favor to him, maybe."

From:

nerves_of_ice

"Okay," he says, slowly. "Let's walk through it, maybe, and figure out answers in advance. Because one of the big questions you already know: why didn't you turn me in?"

He smiles, a very little bit, and it's small and weary and unspeakably rueful. "I know what you've told me. That's not what I'm asking. What can we tell Ross?"

From:

from_the_outside

Her answering smile is wry. "How far back do we really need to go?"

She leans an elbow on the table and puts her chin on her palm. "Maybe we start in Leipzig, say Zemo came to rendezvous with me because he knew I was JTTF and wanted information on how the interrogations work, but that I came after him and you as a favor for Steve and Aunt Peggy."

From:

nerves_of_ice

“Sounds reasonable. If you end up having to go further back you can claim you were trying to talk me in based on the family connection,” he offers. “You might take some heat for not going through channels but nothing too serious, especially if you tell them it was working. Steve would back you up. I would too, for what it's worth.”

He grimaces at the thought. "It won't be worth much. If anything. You need to accept that."

Edited Date: 2021-07-06 10:59 am (UTC)

From:

from_the_outside

"What, that it'll be an uphill battle for the Task Force to think of you as a person, let alone one whose opinions might carry some water?"

She's frustrated, but it isn't at him. "I know. I told you back in Franche-Comté what Ross would want to do with you. I doubt he's changed his mind."

But she won't let it happen.

From:

nerves_of_ice

"Uh-huh," he says. "And I told you what would happen after that. You have to know it's true, especially with the controls in play."

Something strikes him and he adds, "Maybe not your boss. Maybe not him. But someone like Pierce wouldn't hesitate. Anyway--"

Bucky makes himself meet her eyes and hold her frustrated gaze with his level one. "-- you have to be ready for it. I'm sorry."

From:

from_the_outside

She's going to hate this, she just knows it. "Which leads us to the next question:

"Why should the Task Force let you stay with the Avengers instead of me bringing you in?"

This is the one she'll have to argue from the Task Force point of view, not her own.

From:

nerves_of_ice

He sighs. She's not going to like this. Steve won't either, he knows. Hell, even Tony might not like it, if it means he doesn't get to control things... which is why it just might work.

"Jurisdiction," Bucky tells her, very quietly.

From:

from_the_outside

She watches him carefully.

"Explain, please."

From:

nerves_of_ice

"The Task Force isn't the only group who's going to want to tear me apart. Or whatever," he reminds her, just as quietly as before. "United States federal and state police - several states, including New York, plus D.C. local forces. The US Army, especially as it looks like I was listed MIA, which means I'm still theirs in a way. Whoever's prosecuting HYDRA these days." He's not sure anyone is, really, but maybe someone's sorting it out.

"And that's only in the US. Add up something similar for all the other places the Winter Soldier operated, and, well." There's nothing of humor in the way his lips twitch as he tries to smile, and he gives it up as a bad job.

"The Avengers have the strength it takes to keep the Winter Soldier secure under guard, and they're independent enough that the infighting can happen without any of the other groups losing advantage."