[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]

"Not as fun as the sports cars the Avengers have," she says, amused, "but comfortable."

She turns out of the driveway and onto the road that winds down through the trees, dappled light sliding over the car as it purrs along the mountain road.

[nerves_of_ice]

"That's different." He watches the area around them with interest, having not come this way before. His and Steve's runs had been up the mountain, not down toward town.

[from_the_outside]

She rolls the windows down to let the fresh air roll in as they follow the curving road down along the mountain slope, through trees which finally begin to thin. The little town is nestled at the base of the slope, along a flat valley floor. A small town center gives way to houses and apartments, and an orchard climbs the gentle slope.

"There are a few small farms," Sharon tells him, driving into the town center, where small shops line the street. "And a whole lot of artisans: pottery and candles and textiles, that kind of thing."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It's nice," he says, looking around them. "It looks nice, anyway. Lots of tourists, or pretty local?"

[from_the_outside]

"Local, mostly. But there's a craft fair in the fall, and a bunch of tourists come then, for that and for the leaves."

She drives carefully along the main street, then pulls into a spot in front of a small market store. "There are bigger grocery stores a little further away, but this one usually has everything we need."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gives her a quick grin, then ducks out of the car and comes around to open the door for her.

[from_the_outside]

She laughs and waits patiently, then gets out when he opens the door, sliding the car keys back into the pocket of her jeans.

"Come on," she says, and holds out her hand to him with a smile. "Let's see what they've got."

[nerves_of_ice]

He takes her hand, twining his fingers with hers, and smiles down at her as they start toward the market.

"You know your mom's going to get calls from anyone who knows you that's gossipy, right?"

[from_the_outside]

"She'll love it," Sharon teases. "It'll give her something to do with her day."

She doesn't care who sees them here. No one in this town has any idea what she does, or who he is; none of them are going to go tattling to Ross about her lack of professionalism.

The little market is cool on the inside. At this time of the day, there aren't many other shoppers. Sharon picks up a basket and offers it to Bucky to hold. "Fresh produce and the refrigerated section is this way."

[nerves_of_ice]

He loops the handles over his left arm and keeps it close to his side, automatically checking to make sure there’s no sign of metal visible between his shirt sleeve and his black leather glove.

“I’m probably not anywhere near as skilled as your dad but I can manage a few things on the grill or in a pan. Don’t expect anything fancy, though.”

[from_the_outside]

"Lowering expectations, check," she says, amused. "I think between us we can manage some burgers and salads. Maybe even chicken, if we're feeling optimistic."

She strolls with him over to the fresh produce, where local fruits and vegetables lay nestled next to imported citrus and out of season varieties, and starts adding items to the basket. "Anything look especially good to you?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He lingers over the fruit, where fresh strawberries and early-season raspberries and cling peaches are displayed with a small sign indicating their local farm, then looks at Sharon. “Do you like strawberries?”

[from_the_outside]

"I love strawberries," she reports, from where she's considering a selection of cheeses. She grabs some soft goat cheese and a ball of fresh mozzarella and a hunk of aged cheddar, then deposits them in the basket. "And peaches, if any of them look good."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods and selects a basket of strawberries, then studies the peaches carefully before choosing a few of them based on color and ripeness.

He’s paying so much attention to the choices that he lets his awareness of what’s around him relax, just for a moment or two.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon's expression softens as she watches him consider the fruit, as she remembers how hard he'd tried to convince her that Zemo had proven he couldn't ever be a person again.

Her smile is soft and a little crooked as she turns back to her own selections – a vine of hot house tomatoes and a few fragrant bunches of herbs – before she adds them to the basket, along with his fruit. "There are some rolls and sandwich bread in the freezer," she tells him, "but there's a bakery down the street where we can get some fresh bread."

[nerves_of_ice]

“That’s one thing I got used to living in Europe,” he observes. “Little specific shops for things like bread.”

[from_the_outside]

"I like that about it, too," she tells him, and wanders over to the dairy section to consider the milk and cream before selecting a half-gallon of one and a pint of the other.

"It's convenient to have everything in one place, but it's nice to have the different shops, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

He holds out the basket to take her burden from her as he nods. “I agree. With both.”

After a considered pause for him to make sure the words won’t stick in his throat, he adds, “I liked Europe.”

[from_the_outside]

Real happiness and warm pride sparks in her eyes as he says those words, knowing how hard he's worked to be able to even have that sentiment, let alone verbalize it. "Where you were sounded kind of nice," she agrees.

"I wish we could have spent a little time together in Berlin."

[nerves_of_ice]

She doesn’t mean his apartment, he knows; she’d seen it, and he’d seen her face as she looked around. But the city itself, some of the other areas - Bucky nods.

“Maybe we still can. Eventually.”

[from_the_outside]

"I'd like that a lot."

He almost never talks about what might be; he's shunted aside some of her own thoughts about it with a noncommittal noise or a 'maybe.' The block has changed everything, she thinks. He's starting to think about the future, when he never allowed himself to wonder about it before. "Besides," she adds, coming back to his side and taking his hand once more as she looks up at him. "You owe me a date."

[nerves_of_ice]

He squeezes her fingers and smiles down at her. “So I do,” he murmurs. “And a dance or two.”

[from_the_outside]

"That, I think, we can manage on our own," she tells him, smiling back before leading him over towards the check out lanes.

"Did we forget anything?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“You’re asking me?” he counters, dryly. Bucky looks down at the basket.

“I don’t think so,” he decides. “Unless we want more eggs than this.”

[from_the_outside]

"Yep," she tells him. "I'm asking you. Consider it practice."

She glances at the eggs, then shakes her head. "The carton in the fridge is still okay," she tells him. "I think we'll have plenty. And we can always come back for more."