[Leipzig AU] a means to a necessary end

[nerves_of_ice]

It's a long flight from Berlin to Novosibirsk and the secret location far beyond it, even in a Quinjet. They spend the time planning and coordinating. Bucky describes the structure and security of the facility itself as best he remembers. Tony calls up plans and blueprints from god knows where and throws them into the middle of the plane for all to see. They're not the same as what Bucky remembers, they figure out fairly quickly, but they're better than nothing.

Tony also takes over the back of the plane and snaps at anyone who comes close, doing something that involves shifting screens and models of buildings and wave patterns and a human skull, and the eventually the low humming grind of a machine. Soon after, he stalks back up to the front of the plane and shoves a set of custom-fabricated earplugs at Bucky, who stares at them and then at Tony.

"Noise-cancelling all the way to total sound blackout. Tap the end of the earpiece to deafen yourself," Tony informs him. "Last thing we need's for you to be his puppet." Bucky starts to stammer a thanks, but Tony growls something under his breath and stalks back to the back of the plane again to work on something else. Steve catches Bucky's eye and shakes his head, and Bucky decides to leave well enough alone.

Sam advises everyone to rest in shifts; Bucky knows he's not wrong, but neither he nor Steve can do it, and after a while Sam stops trying to convince them. Natasha sits with him for a while, her eyes dark with concern. They don't say much, but there's no need to.

A Snowcat is parked outside the door of the facility when they land. Bucky's jaw sets in hard lines at the sight of it, and he trades a look with Steve.

They're already here.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

He lets her guide him, for as much or little as she wants, and returns her kiss with his own, sweet and lingering.

"I'm here," he answers. "I'm not going anywhere."

[from_the_outside]

"Baby," she murmurs, and kisses him again, willing herself to try and feel normal, to focus just on his kiss and the taste of his mouth and the feel of his arms around her.

[nerves_of_ice]

He's careful not to hold her too hard, careful not to cause any bruise to twinge, but he returns each kiss as he slides his hands up her back, drawing her against him.

"I'm here," he repeats, when it breaks, and kisses her again.

[from_the_outside]

She kisses him again, and once more, lingering and a little desperate, searching for a way to feel all right again, knowing it's here, in his arms.

Sharon pulls back, shivering – for so much better reasons than she had been before – and runs her fingers up into his hair. "Want me to wash your hair for you?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles at that, at her, and leans down to give her another quick kiss.

"Sure, if you want."

[from_the_outside]

"It'll feel nice," she promises, and lets go of him to reach for the tiny bottle of hotel-branded shampoo. She deposits a small amount into her palm, the rubs her hands together to lather it up before gently running her hands through his hair, short fingernails working over his scalp.

[nerves_of_ice]

"I know it will. It already does." He runs his hands back down to her hips and rests them there, looking down at her as she tangles her fingers in his hair, occasionally blinking the water away from his eyes.

[from_the_outside]

She scrubs her fingers through his hair and over his scalp in firm, circular motions, then gently turns them both until he's standing beneath the spray. She coaxes him to tip his head back and rinse the lather out, then smiles as she puts her hands on his shoulders.

"There."

[nerves_of_ice]

His slight smile warms.

"Thank you."

[from_the_outside]

"Thank you," she tells him, and leans to kiss him.

"I almost feel normal again."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Glad to hear it." He kisses her back once, then again, before pulling back to search her face.

"Ready to get out?"

Through careful self-control, he gives no sign of worry or concern. She doesn't seem to have associated the shower stall with feelings of being in the cryo tank, but he wants her safely out of it before that might happen.

[from_the_outside]

She nods and gives him a last kiss, then steps back to let him turn the water off and pushes the shower curtain back so she can step out and reach for a couple of towels.

One she shakes out and offers to him; the other she uses to tousle her hair before wrapping it around her torso.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Hold on," he says. Bucky dries off quickly, hangs the towel over one of the racks, and goes out into the room to search the closet.

He comes back with a very fluffy robe, which he shakes out and holds open for her.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon smiles and takes off the towel, setting it to hang dry, and comes to turn in front of him and put first one arm and then the other into the sleeves of the robe.

It's soft and cozy as she ties the belt around her waist, and she runs a palm over the material, enjoying the fluffy softness of it.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Warm enough?" he murmurs. Bucky runs a hand over her shoulder, flipping her damp hair back, and lets out an amused sound. "Like petting a cat."

[from_the_outside]

"Warm enough," she promises, and comes to press herself – and the soft robe – against him, her arms around his neck.

"It didn't feel like I'd ever get warm again for a while. But now I am."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Probably took you longer than it does me because of the fast healing thing," he murmurs, his eyes dark. His breath catches as she moves closer against him.

[from_the_outside]

"I don't have a furnace for a metabolism," she points out, and lifts one hand to rest it against the curve of his face, her thumb light on his cheekbone as she studies him.

"I'm okay, baby. Promise."

[nerves_of_ice]

"When I saw you in there - with the others - for a second I thought--"

He breaks off there, shaking his head, and puts his arms around her to pull her closer.

[from_the_outside]

She wraps her arms tightly around him and pushes herself close, tucking her face into the corner of his neck.

"I'm sorry," she whispers. "I'm so sorry. I know it must have been horrible. All of it."

[nerves_of_ice]

He makes an inarticulate sound and bends to scoop her up to carry her as he'd done earlier, one arm around her back and the other beneath her legs.

"I was terrified for you."

[from_the_outside]

"I know," she says, and kisses his neck and hair and shoulder, everywhere she can reach. "I'm so sorry, baby."

Her arms tighten around his neck, unwilling to let go. "When it opened, and I woke up and saw you... I thought you were a dream."

[nerves_of_ice]

He carries her over to the bed and sits down on it, cradling her across his lap, holding her tight.

"Were you dreaming before?"

[from_the_outside]

"If I was, I don't remember it. But I don't think so."

She relaxes her hold on him enough to pull back and look into his face. "But everything before felt sort of like a dream. After he drugged me."

[nerves_of_ice]

"We'll find out where he got it," he promises, low and tight. "Natasha's going to interrogate him herself, I think."

He studies her expression carefully. "Do you want to tell me about it?" He's honestly not sure if that will help her or not, but if it's what she needs-- he doesn't want her to think he's unwilling to hear it.