[OOM] some enchanted evening

[nerves_of_ice]

He's been thinking about it for a while. Long enough to come up with a few ideas, long enough to find what he needs, but not long enough to stop being nervous about it.

It's late afternoon, almost evening. The kids are gone for the day, the goats are fed and watered, and there's nothing else to do but wait.

Sharon should be coming down from the Citadel soon. Probably. In the meantime, Bucky does his best not to pace a hole in the hut's floor, and tells himself to stop being an idiot.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

"We've got it in the bag," Sharon bluffs, but she forgets to sip at her beer until Madson closes it out, giving the Nats the win.

Her delighted cheer echoes across the lake.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky laughs. "Congratulations. Good game."

[from_the_outside]

"That was a good game," she agrees, grinning as she lifts her bottle of beer to clink against his.

"It almost felt like really being there."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It really did," he murmurs, before taking a swallow from his drink. "I'm glad."

[from_the_outside]

She's slightly wistful as she watches Citi Park flicker and fade away, running her fingertips lightly over her delicate new necklace before she takes another sip of the beer.

"What a good date you are," she tells him, and smiles as she shifts next to him on the purple throw. It's full dark now, and the tiny glimmering lights sparkle around them like the stars he said he wanted to give her.

[nerves_of_ice]

"I try." Bucky reaches to put a supportive arm behind her back. "Comfortable enough?"

[from_the_outside]

"Mhm."

She curls her legs up and leans on him, setting her head comfortably into the crook of his shoulder. "You?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Uh-huh." He finishes his beer and sets it aside, then starts toying with a lock of her hair. "More than."

[from_the_outside]

"Good."

She smiles again to feel his fingers in her hair. "This is really nice."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'm glad you think so," he murmurs. "I thought you'd like it."

[from_the_outside]

"You know me pretty well."

Better than anyone has, she thinks, since Aunt Peggy.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Getting there, maybe." He tucks the lock of hair behind her ear and runs his fingers lightly over her cheek.

[from_the_outside]

"You didn't have to do all this," she says, softly.

"But it's sweet that you did."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I know I didn't. I just..." He shrugs, very slightly. "Thought it was important."

[from_the_outside]

She makes a soft sound and sets her bottle in her lap, thinking of the last time they were in this space together.

"Well, you did good, Barnes," she murmurs, after a quiet moment.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky grins at her.

"Just wait until I take you on a real date."

[from_the_outside]

"I'm pretty sure this is a real date," she tells him, amused.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Well, yes. But I meant in New York. Someday."

There's nothing wrong with dreaming.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon grins and lifts one hand from her bottle so she can rest it on his knee, leaning comfortably against his side. "Fair enough," she says.

"Someday we'll get to have a real date in New York City. Hopefully more than one, so we can check everything off the list."

[nerves_of_ice]

He draws her a little closer and kisses her hair.

“Sounds good to me.”

[from_the_outside]

"Me, too."

What will life look like then, she wonders. What will it take to get both of them back to the States, free to walk around Brooklyn and do what they want? Where will she be living? What will they be doing?

Is it even possible to get back some of what they've lost?

[nerves_of_ice]

The night is quiet around them save for the soft lapping of the water at the shore, the distant calls of unknown birds, and the breeze that rustles the tree branches far overhead. Bucky stares absently at the lights, seeing another world entirely.

It'd be good for Sharon to be able to go home. Steve, too - and Natasha and Sam. With Zemo in custody and the true threat exposed, it should be manageable. Eventually. For them, anyway.

He hasn't asked about Ross's progress for a while, figuring Sharon would tell him if there were any news. Maybe he'll ask tomorrow. He doesn't want to disturb the peace tonight.

[from_the_outside]

"Can you even imagine going back to a normal life?" she murmurs, after a long few moments of companionable silence.

"Paying rent, running errands, all that? It seems so weird to think about."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not that weird," he murmurs, his warm breath stirring her hair. "It's what I was working on in Bucharest."

He shifts a little to look down at her with a small rueful smile. "I mean, as much as I could, anyway. The fugitive part was always there, of course."

As was the Winter Soldier.

[from_the_outside]

"Were you," she murmurs, and her smile crooked and as wry as his.

Bucharest. Where he'd been staying and where she sent the strike team to find him. She thinks of the photos she saw of the small, shabby apartment there and feels terrible all over again. "It'll be easier without the 'fugitive' part down the line, at least."