[oom] a shadow in pursuit

[nerves_of_ice]

It's been well over a month since the auction, a couple of weeks since the procedure, and Bucky thinks they're all beginning to settle into what he thinks of as 'after.'

Sharon's at the lab with Shuri this morning. He's supposed to swing by there later or tomorrow, depending on how far she's gotten with the latest prototype - he'll wait to hear. In the meantime, he's concentrating on chopping up the latest fallen tree.

It's good work. Clean work, in more ways than one.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

He's very still, thinking it through. "Do you think he means it? Or is he trying to find them so he can throw them in the Raft?"

[from_the_outside]

"He means it," she says, certain, and puts the coffee back down again undrunk.

"Whether he could keep Secretary Ross from trying it is another question entirely."

[nerves_of_ice]

"There's that," he says, watching as she sets her coffee aside. "But I bet Steve would at least talk to him. From a secure system."

He reaches out to cover one of her hands with his. "Now I'm really glad I didn't hurt him."

[from_the_outside]

Her smile is small and warm and rueful, and she turns her hand under his to squeeze his fingers. "I'm glad, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I know he helped T'Challa and Shuri when everything happened before."

Bucky shrugs, a very slight movement. "They think well of him."

[from_the_outside]

"He's a good person," she agrees. "He was a good boss."

[nerves_of_ice]

He squeezes her fingers. "I'm glad." Very softly, he adds, "You deserve the chance to get your life back."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon purses her lips and looks down at his hand in hers, runs her thumb lightly over his knuckles.

"I knew what I was doing," she says, low. "I knew what it would mean. Just like I know any deal Ross might offer me won't have any room in it for you."

[nerves_of_ice]

"No," he confirms quietly. "It won't. Same goes for whatever he might offer Steve. And as long as T'Challa's willing to allow me to stay hidden here, that's okay."

[from_the_outside]

He'll argue if she tells him she has no intention of taking any deal that gets her home and leaves him out in the cold.

(Neither will Steve. She's as sure of that as she is of gravity.)

"Mm," is all she says, noncommittal, and changes tack. "T'Challa asked me to come back after dinner tonight to talk things over with them again."

[nerves_of_ice]

"What does he think of all this?"

[from_the_outside]

"Well, he's not excited about it, I can tell you that much."

She brings her other hand up to hold his between her two palms. "He definitely doesn't want Ross to know you're here. And he made it clear I'm under his protection. So that's all good."

[nerves_of_ice]

"That's why I brought him down from behind," he tells her, dryly. "To preserve the option for as long as possible. Don't worry, I'll stay out of sight. Make it as easy for T'Challa as I can."

[from_the_outside]

"He's pretty curious about the White Wolf, but I have every faith in T'Challa's ability to answer absolutely zero questions," she says, wry, and squeezes his hand.

"You know what, I was bringing down food for lunch and I forgot it when we went back inside. Sorry."

[nerves_of_ice]

He shakes his head at her. "Don't worry about that. Are you hungry? I'm sure I've got something."

He doesn't say anything about the White Wolf. Either it'll work or it won't, and the only thing he can do is stay out of sight for as long as possible.

"Or if you want to go back up to your room, so Ross doesn't wonder why you're spending time down here...."

[from_the_outside]

"No," she says, certain. "I want to stay with you."

She takes a deep breath and smiles a little more strongly, though it's still wry. "Anyway, T'Challa will keep Ross busy. He won't have time to look for me until after dinner, I'm positive of it."

[nerves_of_ice]

He tugs at her hand, trying to coax her from the table to sit with him in the chair instead.

“Okay.”

[from_the_outside]

She lets herself be tugged down into his lap and leans her forehead against his temple. "I mean it," she says, quiet, after a moment.

"I want to stay with you."

Whatever Ross might offer.

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn’t make the mistake of pretending she still means this moment only.

“I want you to be able to go home.” His arm tightens around her waist, but the look in his eyes is steady and clear. “You deserve that.”

[from_the_outside]

"So do you."

She believes that as much as she's ever believed anything.

[nerves_of_ice]

“That’ll take longer,” he murmurs.

[from_the_outside]

"Good thing we've got plenty to do until then," she says, quiet but firm.

[nerves_of_ice]

He shakes his head.

“If you get a chance to negotiate a deal for yourself, take it,” he insists. “You’ll know where to find me.”

[from_the_outside]

"You bet I will."

Because she'll be right there with him, she doesn't say. She puts her arms around his neck and closes her eyes, curling into him.

[nerves_of_ice]

He holds her close and lowers his face to her hair, just breathing for a moment or two.