At the door of Stark Tower

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He doesn't really have a phone anymore, at least not one that isn't a burner on the end of it's life, and that phone never had the number he needed in it, so he didn't call ahead. Instead, he's just there, heading for the front desk to see if perhaps, just maybe, he has a friend here. Or at least an ally.

"Steve Rogers for Tony Stark, please?"

Comments

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Yeah, all right," Tony replies. "C'mon, lemme show you the guest suite."

He puts his own bottle away, and steps out from behind the bar, taking the file with a firm grip as he does.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve comes to his feet without so much as a sway before tugging his bag up on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Tony," he says again, because he wants to make it clear how much he appreciates this.

[actuallyhasaheart]

"You're welcome," Tony replies, smiling a little to show he means it. "This way."

The guest suite is just that: a suite. A big bedroom, with an appropriately-sized bed, a walk-in closet, and bathroom with separate shower and whirlpool tub, heated tiles, mood lighting, the works.

"If you need anything, just ask JARVIS."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He nods to Tony and starts looking around the room for books, maybe a record player. Something soothing. The bed... he walks over and tests it, accidentally kicking a small remote that apparently adjusts the firmness.

At 0% softness, he thinks he might actually pass out. Before doing that, he heads for the bathroom to wash off, keeping the shower short before changing into his underclothes. Normally he kept showers to the morning, but this was someone's guest room and he didn't want to get it dirty.

Eventually, he's laying out on the bed, the covers tucked off to one side, and he looks at the ceiling.

"JARVIS?"

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Yes Captain Rogers, how can I help?"

Comes the voice from nowhere.

Tony meanwhile has gone to get another drink, and scan that file, before sharing it with Bruce.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"What makes you happy, JARVIS?"

It's a stupid question, even he knows it's a stupid question, but he asks it anyway.

[actuallyhasaheart]

"A properly functioning system, and Mister Stark being healthy, relatively sane, and more-or-less in one piece, sir. Generally speaking," the AI replies. "I also quite like the Internet, and though I doubt I would characterise my feelings regarding it as 'happiness', I've often observed that happiness can be found in enjoyment."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He closes his eyes at that.

It was bad. It was damn bad when the AI could answer a question he couldn't answer himself. But that isn't the truth.

A happy, healthy, more or less in one piece Bucky is pretty much what happiness looks like to him, after all. It's the only time he can remember BEING happy.

Not satisfied or gratified or content, but happy.

[actuallyhasaheart]

"...is there anything else I can help you with?" JARVIS asks, after a long pause.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Sorry to bother you, JARVIS. I'm good. Thanks for the help."

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Of course, sir. I'm happy to help. And if I may be so bold, may I suggest you order in some food?" It's a suggestion he's had to make to Mr. Stark more than once.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Will I be inconveniencing anyone if I do that?" he asks, because it's kind of late.

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Not in the slightest, sir. Shall I pull up a list of menus from twenty-four-hour restaurants for you?"

(Tony, meanwhile, is hard at work breaking down the cybernetic arm plans over leftover pizza and more scotch.)

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Sure," he says after a minute, "though if you know a good place for a couple of burgers, I can save you the trouble."

[actuallyhasaheart]

"I certainly do. Do you have a preference for toppings, or shall I just trust my own judgement on this matter?" He does have access to Steve's file, after all.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"As long as it's got a patty and a bun, I'll probably be just fine," he says, closing his eyes.

There's a few moments before he speaks again.

"Is Tony working on things or did he go to bed?"

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Working, sir." There's a delicate, nuanced shade of disapproval in JARVIS' voice. "He seems to have discovered a number of blueprints in the Winter Soldier file, and I expect he'll be quite distracted for a while."

JARVIS is, of course, right. There's the matter of getting them scanned, translating them, picking them apart and figuring out how they work... Reverse engineering and recreation are on the list too, but not for a while. Maybe even two whole days.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"What's he trying to do? If you're allowed to tell me. Don't get yourself in trouble with Tony on my account."

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Translation and reverse engineering, at this point, sir," JARVIS replies. "I have placed your dinner order; it should be arriving in approximately fifteen minutes."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Where's it coming from, if you don't mind me asking?"

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Allow me to show you." JARVIS doesn't wait, just pulls up a holoscreen, that first shows a map detailing the proximity of the place to the tower, followed by an exterior shot, and then a menu that will take him to the restaurant's website, their Yelp reviews, and a few other similar options.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He's a little overwhelmed, but he knows it's not JARVIS's fault. It gets a laugh out of him.

"Don't think I've ever been there, so this should be interesting."

[actuallyhasaheart]

"It's relatively new sir, only about four years old, but I'm told their burgers are, to quote, 'fucking amazing', endquote."

His imitation of Tony's tone is, of course, perfect.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

That gets another laugh out of him.

"You're a card, JARVIS. I'm sure it'll be great."

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Thank you sir. I'll let you know when it arrives. In the meantime, believe it or not, there is actually a library here, if you'd like something to take your mind off of matters."

It's not much of one, given that Tony prefers to read on his tablet, or have things read to him while he works, but there are others who don't share his taste for all things cutting-edge.