Lower Manhattan, NYC - Tuesday Night

[imafuturist]

Tony	It had taken a week to both track down Barnes--his Barnes--and pass a message along that wasn't destroyed the moment the man realized someone was accessing his tech. In the end it was via Romanoff that Tony was informed that Barnes would be in New York for a short window to 'debrief'. Tony sighed, looking out at the city from the ledge of the designated meeting point of half built apartment complex. He could see the shape of Stark Tower from here, could pretend to be able to see where the Mansion was...
Barnes	"Done playing house on your island?" Barnes asked, enjoying how it made Stark jump maybe more than he strictly should.
Tony	Tony grimaced, not letting that barb sink in at the moment. It hadn't exactly been a secret where he'd gone to ground. Well. Other than to the people who wanted to arrest or kill him. "We can't all go on a cross-country road trip of blowing up HYDRA bases."
Barnes	Barnes shrugged, leaning against a still exposed beam of metal, arms crossed over his chest. "The longer I'm here, the colder Crossbone's trail gets." Okay, that wasn't strictly true. Natasha was still working on it.
Tony	Well fine then, it was best to just put it out there. "Red Skull has Steve's body."
Barnes	Okay. Someone needed to go blow up every HYDRA base in North America. "How do you know that?"
Tony	"We don't for sure," Tony replied, looking out at the city rather than at him. "But if it's true..."
Barnes	"If it's true, you tell me where and stay out of my way," Barnes said with a smile that was all teeth and not a hint of anything resembling happiness.
Tony	Yeah no. "And wait for them to move again?" Tony asked, straightening up to his full height. No, it still wasn't as tall as Barnes, but like hell would he let himself be intimidated. Yeah, even though he was a little hopelessly outmatched here. "They're prepared for us. You think your little trail of destruction hasn't been noticed?"
Barnes	"I'm counting on them to notice it," he snapped.
Tony	Tony could feel the pinprick of stress behind his eyes, making him rub at the bridge of his nose. "They're toying with us. It's--it's shell games to keep us divided."
Barnes	"It's HYDRA, that's what they do." Did he honestly think Barnes hadn't picked up on that one? Because he'd spent enough time under the Red Skull's thumb to know what his games were. "It's not going to be some easy victory, Stark."
Tony	"I didn't think it would be," Tony muttered.
Barnes	"Yeah, you did." Heroes. So idealistic. "Thinking like that is what put Steve in the ground."
Tony	Tony closed his eyes, taking a breath. "I'll contact you once I find out more with Red Skull. See if Romanoff can get anything on it too." She'd been undercover with HYDRA before the Skrulls invaded after all. If she hadn't burned enough bridges helping out Barnes, that is...
Barnes	"Ask her yourself."
Tony	"I could. Seeing as how she's the only one who doesn't destroy her phone the moment I establish contact," Tony replied, letting out some of that annoyance.
Barnes	Sorry not sorry. You didn't survive the world he was in by being trusting, you know. Barnes just shrugged. "Sorry I don't want to be your texting buddy."
Tony	Oh, the migraine he was getting out of this. "I so love our little talks," Tony said with a sigh.
Barnes	That the first ghost of a smile Barnes had cracked in Stark's presence. "You want help, talk to Fury. I hear he still has people loyal to him scattered around."
Tony	That would actually be a big help, actually. "Thanks."
Barnes	"Don't thank me," Barnes replied, lip curling just a little in annoyance. "I have to put up with him for this, so do you."