[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

[from_the_outside]

With only two of them, it doesn't take long at all for Bucky to wash the dishes and for Sharon to dry them and put them away, and she's just starting to wonder if maybe she should call Steve when –

Her ringtone cuts clear through the quiet, and she sets the last glass down on the counter instead of putting it away so she can go pick it up. One glance at the number on caller ID, and she thumbs speakerphone so Bucky can hear, too.

"Hello?"

"Hey, guys," comes Steve's voice, warm and steady. "Figured I'd check in and let you know how things went over here."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Hey.” Tension coils through him like a whip, visible in each line of his body, but somehow he manages to keep his tone quiet and calm.

“Everything okay with you and Tony?”

[from_the_outside]

"Well, I'm not very happy with him and neither is the rest of the team," Steve tells them, "and he knows it. To be honest I think he knows he went too far, himself."

Steve pauses, then adds: "Let me and Tony worry about me and Tony, Buck. Things are a little tense now, but he's still talking to me and that's always a good sign. He's not going to let all this split us up – or the Avengers – and neither am I."

"So we shouldn't be expecting a visit?" Sharon asks, watching tension thread through Bucky until he's nearly vibrating with it.

"No," Steve says, firmly. "I guess he had his lawyers look over that contract you brought back, Sharon, and it was more than clear. He decided to head over to Berlin to check in with Rhodey instead."

"And argue directly with Ross, I'd guess," she says, dry. "Much luck to him. If he thinks I'm bad, he hasn't seen anything yet."

[nerves_of_ice]

His jaw sets hard at Steve’s gentle admonishment, but he doesn’t address it. Not directly.

“When am I due back?”

He doesn’t look at Sharon as he asks it.

[from_the_outside]

"I'm leaving that up to Sharon for the moment," Steve says. "To be honest, I don't know if it's the best thing for you two to come back right away. We've obviously got to figure out better security for that apartment, but Tony built the security for the compound. If he really wanted to get back in, he probably could."

"The Task Force isn't very enthusiastic about the possibility of Iron Man poking at the Winter Soldier until something snaps," Sharon says, just as dry as earlier. "I brought equipment of my own to set up, and Nat offered to help. Maybe you could come down here again for a day or so, Steve, while I go back to the compound to help her set things up."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’m not that fragile.” It’s dangerously level. It’s on the tip of his tongue to protest that he doesn’t need a babysitter, either, but before that slips out he realizes it’s a matter of keeping the Task Force at bay and swallows it back.

[from_the_outside]

"No, you're not," Sharon agrees. "I'm a lot more concerned about Tony snapping than you."

This is hell on him, she knows. As much as she hates the hand she's been dealt, at least she has some choices, some ability to take action. What does he have, except to put all his faith in her and Steve and wait to see what happens?

"Me, too," Steve agrees. "Don't let that 'Iron Man' thing fool you; Tony's tough, but in a lot of ways he is fragile. He's strung way too tight right now, so I'm trying to give him a little slack. So – "

Sharon can picture him gesturing loosely. " – Europe."

"In the meantime," Sharon say, looking at Bucky, "You and I can work on security measures. I have the equipment in the Quinjet; we can go through it in the morning and figure out a plan."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Fine.” There’s not really another option. Not a good one, anyway. No matter how he’s beginning to feel about it.

“Steve. Anything I can do?”

[from_the_outside]

She doesn't like the hesitation before Steve speaks.

"If you're willing," he says, "you could talk to Broussard. Sam spoke with him and he thinks the doc is a pretty good one. We could do it here or maybe even down in Virginia, if you think that would be better."

Sharon doesn't say anything, only glances at Bucky. He doesn't want to, she knows, but she still thinks it would help. Broussard would see him, not the Winter Soldier, she's sure. And then Ross would, too.

Another pause. "I know sitting around and waiting is the hardest part, pal," Steve says. "Is there anything you think we should be doing that we're missing?"

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky eyes the phone. “If I think of anything I’ll let you know. As for Broussard…”

Resignation shades his tone. “Okay. Maybe there. Sharon’s family’s place has seen enough of this mess as it is.”

[from_the_outside]

"Maybe Sam could set it up," Sharon suggests.

"I still think it would be a good idea for Nat to talk to Zemo, if she's willing. Maybe she could go in the next day or two, before we come back."

[nerves_of_ice]

“He’ll never know what hit him.” There’s no mistaking his confident, absolute certainty.

“One thing, before I forget. Whose idea was it for Vision to watch our exit?”

[from_the_outside]

"He did?" Surprise is clear in Steve's voice. "His own idea, I guess. He probably just wanted to say goodbye. I think he still feels a little bad about meddling."

"From one meddler to another, I'm glad he did," Sharon says, shooting a wry glance at Bucky.

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn’t smile, but something about his expression relaxes a little.

“Tell him I said thanks, will you?”

[from_the_outside]

"Sure thing, pal," Steve says, sounding pleased.

"Let me know if you guys need anything, okay? I'll be in touch. And either way I'll see you both again soon."

[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."