[AU] a piercing comfort it affords

[from_the_outside]

For such a busy morning, the afternoon and evening prove remarkably quiet. Sharon's tired to her core, but she finds it just as difficult to rest as Bucky does, when she tries to cajole him into a nap. He only shakes his head at her, acquiescing to rest on the couch without actually sleeping.

She doesn't ask why. She's listening for the sound of Iron Man's repulsers just like he is.

But nothing comes, even after she's called Ross to update him and learn that the JTTF translators and analysts had come to the same conclusion she and Bucky had: that Zemo planned to impersonate him and set a bomb to spark a manhunt for the Winter Soldier.

Ross sounds grim as he tells her they'll need to find some more permanent solution to the power outage problem, then hangs up after he's extracted a promise from her to check in as soon as she learns anything.

Dinner is a quiet affair. Jet lag has her by the throat, but she can't sleep until she hears back from Steve and knows for certain that Tony won't be crashing down on them again.

If he does, she needs to be ready.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

“Will do. Watch your back.”

He glances at Sharon.

[from_the_outside]

"You guys watch yours," Steve says, and Sharon nods even though he can't see her.

"We will," she tells him. "Talk soon."

"Talk soon," Steve says, and ends the call.

[nerves_of_ice]

Silence falls. Bucky breathes in, breathes out, and glances at Sharon.

[from_the_outside]

Before she can say anything – or think of anything to say – her phone buzzes with a message from Nat.

Rhodey has a lock on Tony. Looks like he's halfway across the Atlantic right now.

She breathes out and shows the message to Bucky. "Looks like he meant it this time," she says. "Seems like we're safe from another surprise."

For now, any way.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Good.” He looks away from the message, back at her.

“You’ve got to be exhausted.”

[from_the_outside]

She is, but she'll be damned if she lets it show. "No more than you," she points out.

"How are you feeling?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’m fine. I’ve dealt with worse,” he informs her.

[from_the_outside]

"You keep saying that like this isn't still a lot to deal with," she says, folding her arms.

"You're tired and stressed out. I'm tired and stressed out. That hardly seems 'fine.'"

[nerves_of_ice]

He shrugs, not denying it.

“Like I said. I’ve dealt with worse.”

[from_the_outside]

"Great," she says. She's tired and on edge and it's not his fault but – "that's really helpful for now."

It's not his fault. And he's just trying to make it easier on everyone. She digs the heels of her hands into her eyes, trying to rub out her exasperation, then goes back to the glass she'd left before and tucks it away into the cabinet. "At least we've got a little more breathing room."

[nerves_of_ice]

He comes up behind her and sets his hands lightly on her shoulders.

“We do.”

[from_the_outside]

Her shoulders under his hands are hard as rock, but she huffs out a breath and turns, slowly, so he won't back away. "I wish I knew how to make it better," she tells him, as her hands go to his hips.

"I know what helps me when I feel like this. I don't know what helps you. But something must, right?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“What helps you?” He squeezes her shoulders gently, relaxes and repeating, almost a massage.

[from_the_outside]

"Hitting things," she says. "Venting. Getting a good night's sleep."

She gives him a faintly wry half-smile. "Maybe you can finally get that last one, at least."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Anything’s possible.” He lowers his head to rest his forehead against hers.

[from_the_outside]

She closes her eyes and blows out a breath as his forehead comes to rest against hers, then loops her arms around his waist, linked hands settling in the small of his back.

"Sorry," she says, quietly. "I shouldn't snap. But I'm worried about you."

Opening her eyes again, she meets his gaze, so close now to hers. "Do you think you'll be able to sleep?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I know. I’m sorry.”

He shrugs at her question. “I’ll try.”

[from_the_outside]

"It's okay. I worry professionally."

But she can hardly pretend there's much professional in her behavior toward him anymore.

Maybe she should recuse herself... but she can't think of a single other agent that would be willing to give him even the smallest benefit of the doubt. "Would it be easier if I slept in a different room tonight?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He pulls back enough to search her face.

"Do you want to?"

[from_the_outside]

"If it'll help you sleep better, yes."

They've only spent two nights together. It's much more unusual for her to stay with him than for her to sleep in a separate room.

But – "Otherwise, no."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It won't." Very, very softly. "At least, I don't think it will. So you don't have to ... worry about that. But if I have -- when I have -- anyway, I'll try not to wake you up."

[from_the_outside]

"I won't mind if you do," she tells him.

"I'd rather wake up than leave you alone in the dark."

[nerves_of_ice]

One corner of his mouth quirks up at that, and he touches her cheek for an instant before he lets his hand drop.

"Come on. Let's get you settled. And me too, I guess."

[from_the_outside]

"Okay."

She gently squeezes her arms around him before letting go so he can step back. "Let's give it a whirl."

[nerves_of_ice]

His pack and her bag are still in the hall. It doesn't take long to pick them up - he takes both, refusing to let Sharon carry her own - and switch out the lights and so on before following Sharon upstairs, past the guest rooms, down to her space.

He waits for her to open the door and walk in first, then follows.