[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]

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."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’d like to see anything you want to show me,” he says, softly. It turns out it’s easier to couch his own wants and desires in the context of another’s, and it lets him express some of his own.

Progress - a little, at least. The only way he knows is to keep at it, in different small ways.

“Will people ask questions?”

[from_the_outside]

"They might," she acknowledges. "Some people might recognize me and want to catch up. We can use the James Rushman identity, like with my parents, if they get curious."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods. She should probably know more about Rushman’s background, just in case, Bucky thinks.

“Shipping,” he starts. “And transport. That’s his line of work.”

[from_the_outside]

"Shipping and transport," she repeats. "Okay. Any personal details I should know about him? Or is it mostly your background, just tweaked?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Some of them are different now.” He glances over at her. “I’ve been updating it, some. So yes, mostly mine but not all.”

A beat.

“I didn’t know it was my background at the time. Any of it. I’m still not sure if it was coincidence or not.”

[from_the_outside]

"Probably not," she says, wryly. "Maybe they thought it would help the cover be more natural, even if you couldn't remember."

She takes a breath and meets his eyes. "Any updates I should know about?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Well, it worked,” he says, dry as dust. “Anyway, Rushman’s based out of New York with overseas interests. I guess that’s how we met.”

He shrugs, very slightly. “No living family - save for his wife, back then, and some distant uncles or the like. Obviously that’s different.”

[from_the_outside]

"I'd hope so," she says, dry. "No one who's met me would think I'd settle for being the other woman."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gives her a flat look.

“You’re right about that. Neither kept mistress or arm candy’s your style,” he returns, deadpan.

[from_the_outside]

"Not unless it's for a cover," she points out, pert. "And then I have to say I'm great arm candy. I can play an airheaded sugar baby like you wouldn't believe."

[nerves_of_ice]

“And yet,” he drawls, and leans over to tug at a lock of her hair.

“Not this time. James isn’t an arm candy kind of guy.”

[from_the_outside]

She lets her head follow his light tug and chuckles. "Glad to hear it," she says. "No reason to make nosy neighbors call my parents to tell them I'm a homewrecker."

Again.

(To be fair, that had been a misunderstanding.)

[nerves_of_ice]

"That'd be awkward," he agrees. "Just how nosy are your neighbors?"

[from_the_outside]

"The usual amount," she tells him, glancing away to check over the flight path. "None of them are malicious. Some of them remember me from when I was a kid. They might want to say hi, catch up, hear a little about you. Maybe call my mom to see if there's any news."

She shakes her head and quirks a half-smile at him. "Nothing bad."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Okay," he murmurs. "I'll try not to embarrass you."

[from_the_outside]

"Hey." She reaches over to curl her fingers around his, giving his hand a small shake. "You couldn't possibly, baby."

She waits until he looks at her, then smiles reassuringly at him before letting it quirk into amusement. "My parents, on the other hand, they embarrass me on a regular basis. I think they have some kind of running tally."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles back, clearly amused. "Who's winning?"

[from_the_outside]

"Them," she replies, promptly. "It's not even a competition. I am punching way above my weight class."

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles, just a little. "You all seem fond of each other, though." He hesitates for a second, then adds, "I like your parents."

[from_the_outside]

"They liked you, too," she promises him. She squeezes his fingers once more, then lets go. "My mom keeps asking about you when she texts me."

[nerves_of_ice]

"She does?" He gives her a startled, slightly wary look. "What does she want to know?"

[from_the_outside]

"Are we going out, is it serious, am I going to bring you back around for them to see you again," she relays, and shakes her head.

"Mom stuff."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Uh-huh." He doesn't ask what she replies.

"She's definitely good at asking questions," he says, instead.

[from_the_outside]

"I didn't get all my charm and interrogative skill from Aunt Peggy," she says, amused.