Talk in the snow (backdated to the last very snowy day in NY)

[xp_friedlander]

 Sharon has a request for Kane as they shovel snow. 

The snow was thick on the ground around the mansion. It had been falling steadily for several days, covering the paths and drives. Kane had volunteered to help shovel out the smaller paths that the small plows couldn't reach. With his abilities, he moved faster than a snow blower, quickly heaping snow off to the side. 

 

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were missing a Canadian winter?" Sharon commented from nearby, a shovel of her own with snow still clinging to it resting on her shoulder. "So desperate to seek out the snow."  

 

"Just trying to be helpful. Plus, I'm from Toronto, not from above the Arctic Circle, so my winters usually look something like this." He said with a grin, ice beading on his beard.

 

"It's still not the same though... I miss the winters in South Dakota sometimes." Sharon paused for a moment, her gaze very far away. "The wind was so that you needed three layers of socks and two pairs of gloves, but the sight of the plains covered in snow is one of my favorites."  

 

"Blech. You rural types. I'll take a snow covered city any time. I get sick if I do get enough minerals in my fresh air."  

 

"So a real city boy."  Sharon shook her head with a smile. "You don't know what you're missing. I just finished my part... need a hand with yours?" She pulled the shovel down from her shoulder.

 

"Are we dick measuring right now? Because I've been out in the cold for a while so I'm at a disadvantage." 

 

The snow crunched as Sharon firmly pushed her shovel into the snow. "Don't have one, so that is a little hard. I did notice you're going a little slow."  She commented as she tossed the first shovel full of snow to the side. "Besides, I need some intel and I think you might have it."  

 

"I wasn't but, you know, you do you." Kane said, concentrating on his lane. "What do you need?" 

 

"Remember Qunbula, the exploding man, who seemed to be after me and my former squad mates? It looks like he has gone to ground and Salina and I haven't been able to find a trace." Sharon explained as quickly moved a few more shovels of snow aside. "We wondered if he'd gotten caught up in the normal justice system."  

 

"Oh, that asshole. I'll put out some feelers on him." 

 

"Thanks for doing that. Any idea where he'd be held if they got their hands on him?" Sharon leaned on her shovel for a moment, then moved towards a small heap of snow.  

 

"Depends. Vault is most likely, but there's a lot of weird overlap right now with different agencies. I'll run him through the system and see if there's a hit." Kane said, still clearing snow rapidly. "Unless he's someone the system wants to bury, I should be able to get something." 

 

"He was part of and trained by the Iraqi version of the Super Soldier program. He has at least Special Forces training and he can blow up whatever he wants, Kane." Sharon stated dryly. "If I were any agency holding him, I'd bury him deep enough he'd never see daylight again." 

 

"If that's the case, there's not a lot I can do for you. If he's classified under Homeland or SHIELD, it's not going to show up on an inter-agency probe and my office deals with domestic criminals or terrorism." He shrugged, continuing to work. "Maybe you should talk to Clint or Ev?"  

 

"Thought of that, but things between me and SHIELD are tetchy. I'd not go to them if I really didn't have to." Sharon frowned, the memories of how she'd come to the mansion still biting.  

 

"Look, if I have to push SHIELD, it means pushing Brand. So that means being in her debt again. I got to be honest, Sharon, last time that happened, I got my mind exploded." 

 

"Sounds like it was a big FUBAR." Sharon winced sympathetically. "Makes sense you're not jumping to get back into action with them. What happened, if I can ask?" 

 

"Thor pretty much killed me when I caught his hammer. And then the telepaths had to piece my mind back together. Oh, and I was nearly charged with a triple homicide and only avoided it by a woman I hated quashing the charges so everyone was sure I was banging her for years." Kane shrugged. "Oh, and then there was the time I knocked Captain America out." 

 

After a long moment of silence, Sharon let out a long breath. "One big FUBAR. I see why you don't want to end up owing them again... Kane, I'd be grateful if you can see what you can find out. If nothing turns up, I'll talk to Barton or Thomas myself if SHIELD can offer me anything." 

 

"I'll put some more feelers out but I'm not promising anything. There's a lot of politics right now, especially with their own super-hero team in the picture." 

 

"I'll take whatever you can give me. Hell, if you get nothing, it'll say something." Sharon leaned on the shovel for a moment. "But I meant what I said. Thanks for trying."  

 

"It's what I do. I'll catch up in a couple of days."

 

Sharon nodded and heaved the shovel on her shoulder. "I guess you can finish up here, Kane. I'll go and find another path to clear. See you later."