[oom] I'll see you in the morning time

[nerves_of_ice]

The low hum of the television on the twenty-four hour sports channel continues all through the night, casting its shadows and dim electronic light over the bed, the blankets, and the two of them curled up together there.

For once, there are no nightmares.

It's only once the sun starts making its way above the horizon and the sky outside begins to fade from black to blue that Bucky stirs - and as he realizes where he is and who's with him, a sunshine-bright smile lights his face.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

"It doesn't feel that way."

The last thing she feels right now is strong. Exhausted, yes. Fragile, definitely.

But his hand in his hair and on her shoulder feels good and she just focuses on that instead of anything else.

[nerves_of_ice]

“I know, baby.”

He keeps petting her, slow and steady.

[from_the_outside]

"That feels nice," she murmurs.

After another few minutes, she adds, "Sorry for..."

She waves a hand in a vague gesture that means something like sorry for the emotional rollercoaster/bringing down the mood/the nasty surprise. She'd finally gotten some sleep, but she feels tired all over again.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Hey. No.” He cups his hand under her chin and turns her head up so she can look at him.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. Nothing.”

[from_the_outside]

It's a very kind lie. She has a lot of things to be sorry for, but he probably means the emotional whiplash they both just went through, and even though she's not sure she believes it for herself, she remembers saying similar things to him and believing them.

So he believes it, which means she can believe it. "Okay."

She's watching him with her eyes solemn and dark, even as she tugs at one corner of her mouth. "That's good, because this probably won't be the last time it happens."

[nerves_of_ice]

He bends forward, leaning down to her, and kisses her. Against her lips, he murmurs, “Then we’ll deal with it, when it does.”

[from_the_outside]

He says we and she just melts.

(It's been just her for so long.)

She kisses him carefully back, then shifts again to press her face into his stomach and wrap her arms around his middle.

"Okay," she says again, muffled.

[nerves_of_ice]

He goes back to drawing his hand through her hair and along her back in long strokes, giving her all the time she needs.

[from_the_outside]

She holds onto him for longer than she'd initially expected needing, but maybe that's not really a surprise. Finally, once the muscles in her back and shoulders have relaxed a little, she pulls back again and puts her head on his knee so she can look up at his face.

"I'm really glad you came back for me."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I was never going to leave you there,” he says, quietly. “Not once I knew.”

[from_the_outside]

"I know."

It's wry as she studies him. "It's why Fury told you I was dead to begin with."

He knew, too. And he wouldn't chance his mission going under because of a few inconvenient emotions.

[nerves_of_ice]

His expression hardens into stone, but the cold anger isn’t directed at her.

”That was a mistake.”

[from_the_outside]

She reaches for his hand, twining their fingers together and pressing the back of his to her chest, right over her heart. "Yeah."

There have been a lot of mistakes over the last six years, many of them hers, but that one...

Yeah. It was the wrong call.

[nerves_of_ice]

He squeezes her fingers and doesn’t let go, keeping his hand right where she’s placed it.

“We’re here,” he says, after a moment. “That’s what matters now.”

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah," she says again, and smiles a little. "Because of you."

His hand in hers is grounding; his knee under her head is solid and reassuring. "You did so good."

[nerves_of_ice]

He looks down at her and smiles. “I’m just glad it didn’t have to come to any of my backup plans.”

[from_the_outside]

That surprises a laugh out of her.

"Why?" she asks, amused. "What were some of your backup plans?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Kidnapping,” he says. “For one.”

[from_the_outside]

"Kidnapping?"

She's laughing again, her hand relaxing a little in his. "You were going to kidnap me?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that,” Bucky tells her, blandly.

[from_the_outside]

The look she gives him is equal parts amusement and dismay.

"I'm glad it didn't," she says, trying not to think too hard about how he might have executed that particular plan.

[nerves_of_ice]

“I am too,” he says, very sincerely. “I’m pretty sure you would have been furious with me.”

[from_the_outside]

"You are absolutely correct," she tells him. "Please don't kidnap me."

Not that he's likely to need to now. Hopefully.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky smiles at her.

“Okay, baby.”

[from_the_outside]

She laughs again, a huff of amused breath, and lets go of his hand so she can finally push herself up to sitting and kiss him sweetly.

"You really don't need to," she tells him, when she pulls away again. "I'd go anywhere with you."