[Virginia AU] as sunshine flows into trees

[nerves_of_ice]

In the wake of his success creating the block, Pepper manages to coax Tony into coming back down to the city for what Tony says'll be 'a few days, maybe a week.' Bucky wonders how successful she'll be at keeping him there, given that part of the reason he'd moved fully into the compound to begin with was evidently the strain between them, but decides it's not really his business.

In Tony's absence, Steve doesn't think it's a good idea for him to be too far out of reach, just in case something comes up that needs the Avengers. Bucky finds this out when he broaches the idea of going back to Virginia for a day or two, if they can figure out a plausible excuse. He encourages Bucky to go with Sharon anyway, though, and to have fun.

Bucky's not sure if they can get away with it, but there's no question that it'll be easier without Pepper and Tony around to ask awkward questions. Still, he tries not to get his hopes up too high when he comes to find Sharon in the office after Steve heads down for a training session with the team.

He raps on the door with his right hand, and waits for her to answer.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

Unsurprisingly, Ross is pleased by the success of the block. He hasn't started to make real noises about bringing her back and off assignment, but there's no doubting the relief in his voice when they discuss next steps.

She can't help feeling that something's about to give, though. Whether it's Ross's patience or her own stress from staying in Steve's apartment, she has the distinct sensation of a rope bridge that's slowly fraying at the ends. Not that Steve has complained, of course, but she's reasonably sure he, too, is starting to feel the strain of this arrangement. It's one thing to have a guest for a few days and another entirely to suddenly have two new roommates, only one of which he'd wanted.

She's musing over a blank document on her laptop when the knock comes. Getting up she goes to the door, then smiles as she opens it and sees who has come to see her. "Hi," she says, and opens the door wide enough for him to come in, if he wants. "What's up?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Nothing urgent," he says, glancing past her toward her computer before looking back at her. "Are you busy?"

[from_the_outside]

"No," she says, turning to follow his glance. "Just trying to get ahead of some stuff while we're in a lull."

She closes the door to the office and offers him her hand with a smile. "Just come to say hi?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Well, partly," he says, taking her hand and lacing his fingers with hers. "And partly I was wondering if you'd thought any more about what we talked about the other day."

[from_the_outside]

She looks thoughtfully up at him. "Which part, baby?"

They'd talked about so many things. He could mean almost any of them.

[nerves_of_ice]

"About Virginia," he says, simply.

[from_the_outside]

She smiles, pleased and a little surprised. "A little," she says. "But I didn't want to make any plans without you. Are you still interested in going?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yes. If you think we can," he amends, quickly. She'd phrased the question carefully enough that he can make the 'yes' firm and definitive, though, which he does.

[from_the_outside]

"I do," she promises him, her smile growing. "I'd really like that. And we've got some time, while Tony's away. How about we plan to go for a few days?"

She steps closer and looks up at him. "A little time away, just you and me?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yes," he says again, more softly, and brushes a lock of her hair back from her face. "To both."

[from_the_outside]

Quiet happiness lights her eyes, and she leans up to kiss him gently. "Then we'll make it happen," she murmurs. "We can take the Quinjet. Today, if that works."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Whenever you're ready. It won't take me long to pack." He still keeps his backpack ready to run at a moment's notice, although he also tries to keep it out of sight so that neither she nor Steve will worry.

[from_the_outside]

"If you don't mind tossing my stuff into a bag, we can be out of here in the next half hour," she says. "I just need to finish up here and pack up the computer."

[nerves_of_ice]

"... I'll try not to forget anything important," he says, dryly, but leans in to give her a quick kiss before he retreats to gather her things and his own.

[from_the_outside]

About fifteen minutes later, she comes out of the office, laptop stowed in its bag, and goes to find him in the room they've been sharing.

"How's it going in here?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I think I’ve got everything,” he says, looking up from his phone and the quick series of texts with Steve, who’s evidently on observation mode with the team at the moment.

Heading out while everyone’s busy. Back in a few days.

Have fun! Call later?

Copy that, Cap.

He nods toward her bag and tote, neatly lined up on the end of the bed. “Want to check it over?”

[from_the_outside]

She shakes her head and goes to pick the bags up. "I'm sure you got everything I need," she tells him. "And if not, I have plenty of things in the house already. Ready to go?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He slides the phone into his pocket and reaches to take the bags from her. “Yes,” he says, simply. “I’ll get those.”

[from_the_outside]

She chuckles and hands the bags over. "Yes, dear," she tells him, and leads the way out of the apartment, staying a scrupulously professional distance from him once they're out in the halls and making their way toward the Quinjet.

[nerves_of_ice]

He walks easily at her side, her things in his left hand and his backpack over his right shoulder.

Their Quinjet’s flight-ready, just as the Avengers’ own jet is. There are some advantages to being based somewhere that’s familiar with this kind of thing, Bucky thinks. He shows their gear in the jump hold and circles outside to make sure nothing’s obstructing the VTOL systems, then comes back in and closes the ramp before dropping into the copilot’s seat by Sharon.

“All clear,” he reports.

[from_the_outside]

"Copy that."

She runs through the pre-flight check and warms up the engines, then does a sweep of air traffic along their flight path. "Everything looks good," she tells him, and eases the Quinjet up into the air. It swoops around in a graceful curve and climbs swiftly to a cruising altitude as she points their nose south, toward the green Virginia mountains.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Think Fury’ll just let you keep it? It’s not like he’s missing it,” he observes, watching the sky open up around them.

[from_the_outside]

"Fury likes it when people owe him things," she tells him, a little wry, "so, probably yes. Although I guess I could always buy it off him."

She glances a half-smile over at him. "Though the registration and insurance process might be kind of a nightmare."

[nerves_of_ice]

He makes a face at the thought of the paperwork - and of all the things they likely owe Fury by now - and gives her a small, quick smile in return.

“You’re probably right.”

[from_the_outside]

She checks over the controls and turns to him, smiling more brightly. "I thought maybe I could take you down into the town nearby tomorrow," she tells him. "There should be a fresh market, and there are some nice shops. And there are a few spots up on the mountain I think you'd like."