tushanshu | 06 § video (backdated to Feb 10)

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06 § video (backdated to Feb 10)

Well someone here has completely dropped the ball. I know there are at least a few people around who are rich and Earth-savvy enough to get everyone presents for the month. Maybe celebrate the break from so much cold or the coming of good fortune or something like that. We could use a celebration right about now.

At the very least, I'll try to do my part. [Tony gives the network a winning smile and holds up a small, strange-looking flower playfully. It almost makes the next part sound more like a joke than any real offer.] I've got a few too many of these, so if anyone would like to take them off my hands, I'll be happy to give you a discount.

And if you're available, Miss Frost, I'd love to spend some quality time with you. If your schedule will allow it, of course.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm personally missing my chocolate.

[He even winks at the feed before disconnecting.]

[Private messages to Arthur Curry, Shockwave, and Kyle Rayner]

[...Or just to switch directions.]

Afternoon. I've got a proposal for you. Give me five minutes when you've got them.

[End Messages]

[Private message to Annabeth]

So. I've been saving up my pennies--so to speak. I wonder if I could buy some of your thoughts?

[End Message]

[Private message to Bucky Barnes (616)]

I. [Cap. Forgive him.] I need you to do me a favor.

[end transmission]

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[His firm tone catches Bucky's attention, the way a commanding voice usually does (side effect of being an Army brat, when a commander uses that voice, you listen). And he guesses that's fair, that Tony at least isn't asking him to forgive the woman who lashed out at him in the most painful way she could.

So grudgingly, he nods.] I do trust you. I'll do whatever you need me to, whether I like it or not.

[Tony notices the way Bucky becomes more alert and attentive, and part of him feels guilty for causing that reaction, even when he knows it's just part of his training. He likes Bucky, and the last thing he really wants to do is change their friendship.]

Well, don't force yourself to choke it down. I just want you to keep an open mind.

The last thing we need is to lose more secrets. But if we avoid everyone, then we'll never see the enemy coming. We can't afford to take that chance.

[For what it's worth, Bucky doesn't seem bothered by it. Things were the same with Steve - sometimes they were friends, brothers, and sometimes he had to give orders as Captain America. He never held that against him, Steve was doing his job, just like Tony is doing his best to do his job here.]

...I will. I get it. If I have to deal with her personally I will, but at the same time she's probably not gonna take too kindly to me if it comes to that.

[Part of Tony believes that. He wants to think that he's just doing his job and at the end of the day there won't be any hard feelings for that. But another part of him knows that isn't true, and that part dreads the loss that comes with taking on any authority.

It's not where he wants to stand with his friends.]

I know. She's going to have to get over that too. We're all going to have to make some compromises here, and she's no exception.

[He sighs. This isn't exactly how he wanted to sound.]

I just want to make sure she's not trying to do anything on her own.

[Bucky leans back in his chair and breathes out a sigh, glancing up at the ceiling momentarily.] Yeah. Time to keep in mind what's important.

[He glances back at the screen.] Because she'd mess it up or get in over her head?

Exactly.

[Tony knows that he's putting a lot on Bucky's shoulders. And he also knows Bucky is tough, he can handle pressure. It still doesn't make him feel very good about it.]

Because she might get in over our heads. I think everyone here for the most part wants to help. But we're dealing with an enemy that's done nothing but try to catch us off guard this whole time. If we don't keep track of each other, he might actually manage to do that.

[It doesn't make him feel any worse about things. Bucky is used to having a lot on his shoulders, and he's never cracked under the pressure before. This is no different.]

He's probably got no problem keeping track of all of us, so we have to at least be on the same page, right?

[Tony feels bad for him. Soldier or not, Bucky is still his friend. If he's honest (and he generally is somewhat honest), he's using him. It's hard not to feel guilty.]

That's the idea. We're just evening the playing field. And if you can't talk to her, just do what you need to. It's better than not knowing.

Got it. I'll do what I can, we can't let it have the leg up or we're all good as dead. [Manipulation is just sadly the name of the game sometimes. If he's honest, if it does come down to talking to Sharon to get information out of her, he's not afraid to use Steve's name to get it.]

And... thanks for trusting me with this. I won't let you down.

[Ouch.

Well, that's a dagger to the heart. He doesn't even know that Bucky is thinking about Steve. (He could probably surmise that much because it's Bucky, but at the moment Tony doesn't think about it.) It's just the way he's so honest with him. Thanking him for trust that ultimately amounts to Tony covering his bases.]

I do trust you, you know.

[That comes out soft. Maybe too quiet to be heard, he's not sure.]

We work together, right? Couldn't do this without you, Bucky.

[Bucky shoots him a slightly cocky little smile, giving him a two-fingered salute. It's nice to know that Tony trusts him, though he's assuming (wrongly) that that's why he's taken this to Bucky. Things are always a little more simple for him.]

Yeah. I got your back, don't worry.

[The reassurance makes Tony smile. He knows that part of Bucky's cooperation is from misunderstanding, but he does feel better having him at his back. It's trust that he hasn't been able to maintain, and it makes Tony actually want to try.]

I'm not worried. [Which is a lie, but not as harmful a lie as he's had to give in the past.]

You don't have to take any crazy risks either. Just let me know if you hear about anything that sounds fishy.

[Tony's level of thoughts and planning is over Bucky's head; he trusts him, Tony's proven in the time Bucky has known him that he can be trusted, and so he doesn't bother to dig further into motivations. He's got no reason to.]

I can do that. [He doesn't say anything about the crazy risks comment, because if any of those need to be taken, he's going to take them anyway.] And maybe if you get time one'a these days you can show me more about getting into private conversations on these things. So I can take some of that off you too.

[Part of Tony already knows that Bucky is going to take risks with or without his consent. It's the same part of him that knew he was putting Bucky on the line just by contacting him. The part that wonders what Steve would say if he knew what Tony was doing.

Too late now.]

I'll think about it. You sure you really want to learn about computers?

Yeah I do. It seems like everybody knows more about encrypting on these things than I do, y'know? Kind of working at a disadvantage, considering we had nothing like this when I'm from.

I'm sure you're not the only one who isn't a master at computers. And it's not really fair to use me as a comparison.

[He pauses, thinking it over.]

Okay. I might show you a few things. It'll take time. You up for that?

It sure feels like I am. [BUCKY BARNES IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE BAD AT THINGS.]

Hey, it'll take less time than you think, I can guarantee that. I mean, how many fellas topside can fly an Atlantean ship cross-country?

You really think you're the only guy in the city that can't keep up with me in terms of technology? Please, don't make me try to knock sense into you. We both know how embarrassing that would be.

[As for the second point, Tony grins.]

Show off.

Not the only guy. And I ain't comparing myself to you, just... you know. Practically everybody else on this stupid turtle. [Relatively speaking his locks and hacking skills are weaksauce.]

Ain't showin' off if it's true.

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06 § video (backdated to Feb 10)

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