[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

[nerves_of_ice]

“You can.” He glances over at her at that. “I like who you are, Sharon. All of you.”

[from_the_outside]

She reaches across the gearshift for his hand and twines their fingers loosely together, her smile small and crooked. "That means a lot to me, baby," she murmurs.

"I'm glad you like me. And I like who you are, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

He squeezes her hand for a second before letting go so she can drive.

“I don’t know about that,” he says, lightly. “But I try.”

[from_the_outside]

"You should," she murmurs. "I don't want you to ever doubt how I feel about you."

[nerves_of_ice]

"No - I didn't mean that," he says, hastily. "I don't doubt that. Or you."

He shrugs. "But I'm not - I don't think I'm worth it, is all."

[from_the_outside]

"I know you don't," she tells him, gently, as she guides the car back beneath the canopy of the trees. "But I do. And hopefully someday you'll believe it, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

A small wry smile curves his lips, and he shakes his head very slightly, but all he says is, "Maybe."

[from_the_outside]

"That's the spirit," she says, teasing lightly.

A little further, and she turns into the driveway, the tires crunching as she pulls up to the house before she turns off the car. "Home again."

[nerves_of_ice]

As before, Bucky gets out and comes around to open her door for her. "I'll put things away if you want to put something together for lunch," he offers.

[from_the_outside]

"Deal," she agrees, and comes around to open the trunk and pick up the bag of bread and one of groceries. "So, what'd you think of the town?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"It's nice," Bucky says, as he collects the rest of the bags and the bakery boxes. "Strikes me as the kind of place where everybody knows everyone else."

[from_the_outside]

"It's a pretty small town," she agrees, as she unlocks the door and lets them in. "So you're right."

She deposits the bags on the kitchen island, then digs out one of the baguettes, some of the tomatoes, and a bunch of fresh basil before going to rinse the tomatoes and herbs in the sink.

[nerves_of_ice]

"So, not a good place for anyone trying to hide, or stay unnoticed." Amusement's playing at the corners of his mouth as he starts to unpack the groceries.

"It's just as well you didn't take me or Steve up on our offer to run into town for things before."

[from_the_outside]

"You'd probably have been okay," she says, amused. "Steve would stick out like a sore thumb. It's a small town, but not so small that they don't know Captain America."

She slices up a few of the tomatoes and the ball of mozzarella, then layers the slices with basil leaves on a plate. "But, yes. Better not to draw any attention."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yeah." He finishes putting the perishables into the fridge and starts poking through cabinets to see if there's a place to stash the cake that isn't on the island.

"It was nice today, though. To be there with you."

[from_the_outside]

"I liked being there with you, too, baby."

She drizzles a little olive oil and balsamic over the makeshift caprese salad, then sprinkles some salt and cracks some pepper over it before moving to slice one of the baguettes. "I'm really happy you thought of coming down here."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky stares at the marble-and-glass cake stand he's just discovered, then shrugs, takes it down from the cabinet, and transfers the cake from its box to pride of place at the end of the island.

"We'd talked about it before," he points out.

[from_the_outside]

"Still."

She washes two of the peaches, then cuts and pits them, slicing them to put on another plate, which she sets on the island with the first. "Come on, let's have some lunch."

[nerves_of_ice]

He gets plates and silverware and brings them to her, then two glasses of water as well. "Do you want coffee?" he asks, then looks down at the salad she's put together.

"That looks amazing."

[from_the_outside]

"Not right now," she decides, and grins at him. "Even I can slice up tomatoes and cheese."

She's not much of a cook, but she does all right with fresh ingredients that don't need much preparation. And it feels so nice to be in her own space right now that she feels like making the effort to do something nicer than usual.

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles back and leans in to give her a quick kiss. "Don't sell yourself short," he insists.

[from_the_outside]

She smiles against his lips and shakes her head, then starts serving out some of the salad onto a plate for him, adding a few slices of the fresh baguette.

"It's okay," she teases. "I have many other skills in place of any cooking ability."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Hm. That’s true, you do have a lot of skills.” He takes the seat at the end of the island, so that he’ll be at right angles to her rather than across from her, and gives her an innocent smile.

[from_the_outside]

She hands him his plate, then takes one for herself, breathing in the fragrant scent of torn basil.

"Why don't we go do some sight-seeing tomorrow?" she suggests. "Skyline Drive goes through the whole park, and it's got some incredible views and lots of hiking paths."

[nerves_of_ice]

"That's what your dad mentioned before," he remembers. "Sounds nice."

Bucky takes a sip of water and glances up at her. "Even if we didn't do anything else, just being here with you is wonderful."