Leipzig AU: the choices we make

[nerves_of_ice]

It's a month after Thessaloniki when he slips the unmarked, unstamped postcard in the mail at Sharon Carter's apartment.

(It had taken him the entire month to decide to reach out. He'd spent most of the time burying himself in his self-imposed work and not allowing himself to think about anything other than the mission. Eventually, he'd realized that it wasn't working, and that there was only one way to find out what he now needs to know, even if he can't admit even to himself exactly why he does.)

Of course there's always the chance she'll think it's just an advertisement and ignore it. If she does, he'll try again with something a little more obvious before deciding she's not interested in reconnecting. Still, he thinks she's clever enough to catch it, and to decode the message, which isn't that subtle when it comes down to it: time, place, location.

It takes far less than a minute to pick the lock on the mailbox security panel - two seconds, maybe three, and he's able to pull it open, drop the card on top of her mail, and secure it once more.

Bucky makes his way from her apartment back down the Berlin street quickly and quietly, cap pulled down to hide his face, and disappears into the crowd.

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[from_the_outside]

Sharon hums around him, curling one hand at his hip to coax him to move, if he wants, while the other slides between his legs to stroke the sensitive spot between them as she experiments with shallow and deep, her tongue firm or light against him.

Each shift and moan directs her as she searches for the things he likes best, the ones that will make him feel as good as he's made her feel already.

[nerves_of_ice]

He's not going to be able to last anywhere near as long as he wants, not with how he's been holding himself back already, not with how long it's been, not with how she's driving him insane. Bucky tangles his right hand in her hair, drawing his fingers through it and cradling the back of her head as she moves with him, trying to let her know how close he is to the edge.

[from_the_outside]

She can feels the faint tremor running through him, is fascinated by the play of his muscles clutching beneath his skin. That shaking touch of his fingers to her head is a message, she knows, and it's one she elects to ignore: he'd already set her on fire, burned her utterly to the ground.

It's only fair she return the favor, so she moves faster, hollowing her cheeks as she draws him in, as she traces light circles with her fingertip, ruthless in her plan to drag him straight over the edge.

[nerves_of_ice]

It happens quickly, as pleasure like white fire lances up his spine and his body locks, a hoarse cry escaping him as he shudders in the throes of ecstasy beneath her touch. Lost in her, Bucky gives himself up to her, nothing held back.

[from_the_outside]

She stays with him until the shivers have subsided, then kisses the inside of his thigh and pulls herself back up along his side, settling once more with her forehead against his temple, letting her fingers trace over his chest.

Sharon breathes out and smiles, pleased, as she drapes an arm over him.

[nerves_of_ice]

He turns his head and kisses her, slow and sweet, then tucks her more closely against him, holding on.

[from_the_outside]

"Bucky," she murmurs, and winds one leg with his, pressing herself comfortably against his side, letting these feelings storm through her, warm and as undeniable as they are impossible.

Already she hates the thought of morning, of him slipping away again to who knows where, of two weeks without him –

But there are still hours left until morning.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sharon," he answers, soft and low. Bucky threads one hand into her hair and rests the other at her waist.

"Are you warm enough?"

[from_the_outside]

"Plenty," she promises, relaxed and lazy in his arms. He throws heat like a furnace and she curls into him, savoring it and him in equal measure.

"Are you comfortable?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yes." He smiles at her. "Really comfortable."

[from_the_outside]

"Good," she says, and presses forward to kiss him long and lingering, her hand over his heart.

"Just so you know," she murmurs, when the kiss breaks, "I don't generally invite people back on the first date."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'm glad you made an exception." He runs his fingers through her hair, then over the back of her neck, at the base of her head.

[from_the_outside]

"Well, I finally found someone worth making an exception for."

For this, and almost every rule she's ever made for herself, apparently.

[nerves_of_ice]

"I don't know about that," he murmurs. "But I'm glad anyway."

[from_the_outside]

"That's okay," she says, and tightens her arm around him, minute.

"I know it. That's a good enough start."

[nerves_of_ice]

He leans up to kiss her again, very gently.

"You're too good to me."

[from_the_outside]

"Not a chance."

She runs her thumb over his collarbone and kisses him back, soft and sweet. "I never thought in a million years you'd feel the same way I was feeling."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gives her a look that to his credit is only a little wary.

"Why wouldn't I?"

[from_the_outside]

She shrugs and lets her eyes drift closed to better savor the feeling of him against her.

Not that she's questioning it just now, when she's so pleased and sated and he's right here in her bed and in her arms. "I'm just happy it happened that way."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I am, too." He hasn't been this happy in a long, long time. Longer than he can easily remember.

He runs his hand along her back in slow, gentle strokes, down and up again.

[from_the_outside]

She hums contentment and opens her eyes to look at him. "Baby," she murmurs, feeling the word out in her mouth, enjoying the weight and taste of it, how easy it feels to say.

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles, slow and warm. "Hi."

[from_the_outside]

Her own smile is lazy and sweet in return. "Hi."

She traces her fingertips along his chest. "So are you just going to be blowing my mind on a regular basis? Because you've turned out to be full of surprises."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'm not that surprising," he protests.

[from_the_outside]

The look she gives him speaks volumes, mostly of the you're kidding me, right? variety.

"Pretty surprising," she says, amused.