[oom] a shadow in pursuit

[nerves_of_ice]

It's been well over a month since the auction, a couple of weeks since the procedure, and Bucky thinks they're all beginning to settle into what he thinks of as 'after.'

Sharon's at the lab with Shuri this morning. He's supposed to swing by there later or tomorrow, depending on how far she's gotten with the latest prototype - he'll wait to hear. In the meantime, he's concentrating on chopping up the latest fallen tree.

It's good work. Clean work, in more ways than one.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

"He hasn't seen me," Bucky reassures Steve. "I'm staying out of sight."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Well, that's a relief, anyway." Steve exhales. "So, what the plan? Extraction?"

[from_the_outside]

"No," Sharon tells him. "He's agreed to keep my presence here quiet, at least for the moment."

Which is good, because she's pretty sure T'Challa is perfectly comfortable with creating another diplomatic incident if it means keeping her and Bucky safe. "But he asked if I was in contact with you and for me to pass a message along. The Task Force is willing to open negotiations with the goal of finding a way for the scattered Avengers to return."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky stays silent, listening, letting Sharon and Steve discuss this. It's not about him - not yet, and if he has anything to do with it, it won't be.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve lets out a long, audible breath. "Wow.

"What terms are they offering?"

[from_the_outside]

"Nothing, yet. I'm meeting with him and T'Challa again tonight after dinner to talk more."

She taps her finger on the table, mouth twisting. "I'll tell him I passed the message along. I'm sure he wants a line of communication to you, but I can play go-between if you'd rather he not have direct access."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I would like that," Steve says. "I don't want to speak to him directly until I have something solid to offer our friends.

"Thank you."

[from_the_outside]

"Sure."

She pauses, then continues. "I don't know if anything's going to come of this, Steve. And I know you didn't have the best introduction to Ross."

The memory of that meeting makes her grimace. "But he's a good person. He'll help if he can. That much I know for sure."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

That makes Steve huff wryly. "I believe you have good intentions," he says, "and our best interests at heart. I'll reserve judgement on Ross."

[from_the_outside]

"Fair enough."

She folds her hands on the table so she'll stop tapping her fingers. "Anything in particular you want me to pass on to him tonight?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Our friends who have families waiting for them are my priority," Steve says. "Find a way to get them home."

[from_the_outside]

"Sam Wilson," she notes, and frowns quizzically at Bucky. She has no idea if Natasha has any family left, outside of the Avengers.

"He can't be the only one, right?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Barton," he murmurs, very quietly - loud enough for Steve to hear, but not loud enough to carry beyond that. "Lang. Both of them."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Exactly," says Steve. "If you can find a way to get them back to their kids -- well, we'll negotiate for the rest of us."

[from_the_outside]

"Okay, good," she says. "I can work with that, and so can he. Reuniting families is always a good look, I'm sure he'll go for that."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Thank you," Steve says again. "Let me know how it goes, 'kay? We should keep this short."

[from_the_outside]

"Sounds good," she says.

"Talk soon. Say hi to Nat and Sam for me, huh?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Same goes," Bucky puts in. "Well, for Natasha anyway. Wilson if he wants."

"Take care, Rogers. Watch your back out there."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I will. You, too. I miss you guys."

He hangs up before he can get any sappier.

[from_the_outside]

She leaves the phone where it is on the table after the call drops, and looks at Bucky.

"It's a start," she says. "A good one."

[nerves_of_ice]

He's staring at the phone and doesn't speak at first, but then shakes himself out of his own thoughts and looks up at her.

"It is," he agrees.

[from_the_outside]

She frowns a little, eyebrows flickering together.

"What?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He blinks at her, confused.

"What d'you mean, what?"

[from_the_outside]

"You just seemed lost in thought," she says.

"Missing Steve?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"You'd think I'd be used to that by now," he says, more than a little wry. "I just worry about him sometimes."