No-One But You (The Mystic Consultant) - Part 1
Chapter 42: By The Way (Part 2)
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"SO, is it all an act?"
Bucky was curious. He went into his own apartment, just like he said. He dropped off the mail and then he looked around through the fridge for a while.
Nothing really grabbed his interest. He did pull a beverage out of the cold box, while he gave what Tony said some additional thought. Steve's bambi-eyed lover was being WAY too nice...
It sparked a curiosity within Bucky, so he took the drink selection and he headed up to the roof. Tony was up there, all on his lonesome, so the question was immediately asked.
Was it all an act? Tony wondered what the statement meant. He glanced up at Steve's best bud, while Bucky slowly took a seat beside him.
"Is what an act?"
"This redemption thing we've got planned, with Ezekiel?"
Bucky had to wonder. He knew things about Tony that were supposed to be confidential. It was very classified. "Top Secret" S.H.I.E.L.D. intel, and it all had to do with Tony's history with Ezekiel's father.
That history took place long before Steve Rogers came into the picture, so...
Bucky's beverage selection was a six pack of beer. It clearly wasn't Tony's style, but he offered it up anyway. The smaller brunette took one of the bottles. Tony held the cold beer in his hand, then he started inspecting the label.
"I just ... It seems like it would be harder on you. If that makes sense?"
Maybe? Bucky wasn't sure if he was reading the situation correctly. He wondered why Tony troubled himself with Ezekiel at all, after all the abuse and torment that Obadiah Stane put him through.
Tony slowly swallowed down what he heard. He was surprised by Bucky's choice of conversation. He wondered what he even knew...
Bucky remembered how out of it Tony had been, and that was why he was wondering if it was just an act. He wasn't sure if Steve even knew about Tony's previous excursions.
Was it hard on him? Bucky wanted to know. He pried open one of the bottles, and he patiently waited for Tony to respond. He didn't have to, but whatever.
"Stephen told me recently that every living being in the cosmos has something called a parallel extension."
...
Bucky sipped his beer after that one. Tony responded with some crazy talk. He kept looking at Steve's bambi-eyed lover, and he tried to process what he said.
"What does that have to do with Ezekiel?"
"It has everything to do with Ezekiel. You just aren't following."
Ok. Bucky heard the sharp remark, and he gave his beer a bit more of his time. Tony wasn't talking rocket science or something. Bucky Barnes shrugged before he returned the response. Tony almost turned in his direction to explain some more, but he didn't.
"Is he supposed to be some sort of an, extension?"
"I believe so. A parallel extension can also act as a cancellation. My interest in Ezekiel is geared more toward self preservation."
It wasn't "hard" for Tony to keep tabs on Ezekiel Stane. On some level, Tony felt like he knew him best. They both survived some terrible abuse, in a sense, but Tony's was much more physical.
Well, not really. Tony cleared his throat as he thought it over. It felt like Bucky moved in closer. He didn't move an inch, but it just felt that way. The conversations that he had with Wade Wilson were rolling around through his mind in that moment, so Tony became even quieter.
Bucky kept looking at Tony. He was still pondering the cancellation thing. He didn't understand that part of the response. He was about to ask him about it, but he didn't get that far.
He started thinking that Tony was very warm. He seemed warm up there on that freezing cold roof. Bucky was also beginning to see what Steve saw in him, but the notion felt very wrong.
They both heard that blonde enter the apartment. It sounded like Steve wasn't alone, so Bucky swallowed down another ounce of his beer. Tony backed up a bit, and he took his first drink.
Steve and Natasha eventually joined them on the roof, but the delicate scene didn't go unnoticed. Tony's attention went to asking about what they missed.
"We reached a deal, and you're getting called in tomorrow."
Steve directed his answer toward Bucky. It was all hands on deck first thing in the morning, and the blonde didn't plan on taking no for an answer.
Chapter: END
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