Falling To Earth | b. barnes

~O N E~

"I have to go to the house for a while." Pepper states, walking in to see Tony chowing down of cereal.

"Whay's dat?" He splutters through a mouthful. Pepper rolls her eyes before replying,

"Well, I need a few days off, and there's only a few hundred reporters outside our place waiting to know exactly what has happened to the Avengers."

He swallows, then sighs and nods "Right." 

"Okay, I'm leaving tonight, but you are not allowed to get fast food everyday! Get everyone together to make something." Pepper offers.

"That would have been fun once." Tony smiles sadly.

"Just try please? And get somebody to water my plants." She adds. I don't trust you to remember or do it right."

Tony laughs, slapping back on his façade of happiness. "I don't think any of us are good at that sort of thing."

"Well figure it out so I can ask them on the way down." Pepper states.

After a few seconds, he answers, "Okay, um, try Barnes."

"That was not what I expected." "But that's what he needs."

Pepper nods, strolling out.

She closes the door behind her, and Tony pulls out his phone. Scrolling through his contacts, he finds who he wants to talk to. He hits call and balances the device between his ear and shoulder as he grabs another bite of cereal.

They pick up on the fourth ring. Before they can speak, Tony talks,

"I'm gonna need to cash in that debt, sweetie."

. . . 

"Friday, where is James at the moment?" Pepper inquires after leaving Tony.

"James Rhodes can be found in his room. James Barnes is in the living room with Steve Rogers." The feminine AI answers. "I could use Steve's support." The woman mutters, stepping in an elevator to go two floors down.

When the compartment dings and the doors slide open, the room is silent. Bucky is reading while Steve quietly draws. "James." She addresses him.

The men look up, Bucky wincing. "Just Bucky." He croaks. "Right." She smiles.

Bucky closes his copy of The Hobbit while Steve maintains a confused and curious expression. Pepper notices the pair waiting for her to speak and clears her throat. 

"I'm heading to Miami for a few days, and I was wondering if- uh- if you could water my plants?" She looks down, embarrassed.

"No." Bucky frowns.

"I'll just kill them. Ask someone else."

Pepper shoots a furtive glance at Steve, and realization dawns on the blond man's face. "I think you should do it, Buck. You might like it."

"What? Dumping water on a plant?" Bucky shoots back.

"Well, that is all you have to do, really. I can't see any harm being done." Steve reasons.

"All I can do is harm." Bucky spits out. "And now you have a chance to give life." Steve replies gently. The room goes silent. Then, Bucky opens his book again.

After a few seconds, Pepper pipes up, "So, do you want me to ask somebody else?" "No, I'll do it." James huffs. "Thanks a ton." She finishes, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she turns around.