#queue of iron

            Tony waves a hand, dismissing the question. “You never know when you might need a fallback cover or something. I don’t know, you’re the spy, not me.” He shrugs, glancing in her direction. “And you were just doing your job, I’m not holding it against you or anything.” Not that it hadn’t taken some getting used to, not to mention learning how to trust her after that. Tony likes to think they’ve made progress in the trust area, but trust is one of the few things in which he is decidedly not an expert. 

                    But he’s been making an effort, so when Jarvis tells him Pepper has entered the building he puts aside the soldering iron and closes the holographic blueprints. He’s smiling as he takes the elevator up to meet her -- a real smile, not one of his dozens of variations he wears like a mask for the press or shareholders or anyone else who looks a little too close. 

“I’m just saying that...it won’t always be like this. We could eventually build a new Avengers team, if anyone even wants that anymore.” (Tony’s not sure if he wants that anymore.) “Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking.” It wouldn’t be the first time.

“Okay, got it. Don’t push the potentially deadly super soldier, I can do that. I have to say though, this isn’t really a great place for you to be right now, Barnes.”

                    “Did you know SHIELD has been keeping its many, many eyes on you? I’m telling you because I’ve been...instructed to, and also because it seems like the kind of thing you’d want to know.”

                    “I’m assuming there’s a reason you’re here bothering me instead of -- I don’t know -- back on Asgard where you belong.”

                    “What the hell are you doing here?” Excuse him if he skips the pleasantries. “This isn’t exactly the safest place for you right now, Barnes.”

                    “You know, if you want someone to spar with you should really ask Steve. Or Natasha, or your brother. I have an armored suit that flies for a reason..”