[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 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."

[from_the_outside]

"I think so, too."

She has a momentary image of herself napping with her head on his lap as he reads. It fills her for a second with breathless longing. They don't have to worry about who might see them here, and she doesn't have to worry about being in Steve's space all the time. They can just... be.

[nerves_of_ice]

Her breath catches for a second, and attuned as he is to every nuance of her reactions at the moment he can hardly fail to miss it. Bucky reaches out to brush his fingers lightly over her cheek.

"Everything okay?" he murmurs.

[from_the_outside]

She smiles at him, tipping her head into his touch. "Everything's great," she promises. "I'm just really happy to be here with you."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles back, slow and warm, and slips his fingers into her hair as he leans over to kiss her.

"I am, too."

[from_the_outside]

She kisses him back, light and sweet, and smiles at him again. "Eat up," she murmurs. "It's good."

[nerves_of_ice]

He flashes her a small, quick grin and picks up his fork.

"It is good," he says, after a moment's solid attention to the meal. "And really fresh."

[from_the_outside]

"It's best in the summer, with really ripe local tomatoes," she tells him. "Sometimes my dad will grill some corn and we'll just eat that and a big caprese for dinner."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sounds amazing," he says, and means it. "It's stuff like this people take for granted sometimes."

[from_the_outside]

She nods and forks up another mouthful of salad, then bites into the fresh bread. She's relaxed and happy and it shows in the way she holds herself, how comfortable she is sitting here with him.

"Just having this place is amazing," she muses. "I try to be grateful for it. And this is the most time I've been able to come here for a while."

[nerves_of_ice]

"At least there's that," he murmurs. "Glad I could give you a reason."

[from_the_outside]

"A really good reason," she promises, and finishes the last few bites of her lunch before selecting a few slices of peach. Her phone is over on the counter; she hasn't checked it since they got back. Her mom has probably been texting non-stop.

[nerves_of_ice]

He's not far behind, but lingers over the peaches, quietly savoring each bite. Bucharest and its markets seems long ago now, although he knows it's only been a few weeks.

[from_the_outside]

She gets up to put her emptied plate into the sink, then checks her phone, rolling her eyes at the series of notifications that pop up.

Gladys texted me to say it seemed like you were stocking up for a few days
how long are you planning to be there? maybe Daddy and I can come down to see you
please say hello to James for us both
taking some time off together?? things are going well???

The last is followed by a series of eye emojis, and Sharon sighs. "Mom and Dad say hi," she tells Bucky, and turns her screen off.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gives her a skeptical look.

“Somehow I suspect that’s not all she said,” he observes.

[from_the_outside]

"It's the essence of what she said," Sharon hedges.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Uh-huh.” He finishes the last peach and takes his plate and the serving plates to the sink. Bucky stops the drain and begins to run the hot water, then reaches for the dish soap.

“Are they on their way?” he asks, dryly.

[from_the_outside]

She half-groans, half-laughs, and digs out a clean dishtowel to dry the dishes once he's washed them.

"No," she tells him. "But she definitely made noises about wanting to come down to see us."

[nerves_of_ice]

He double-checks to make sure his glove is shoved in his back pocket and pushes up his sleeves, then starts washing with some care.

“Let’s pick a time,” he suggests. “Then you get to see them, and they get to see you. Otherwise I’m guessing she won’t stop asking about it.”

[from_the_outside]

She looks torn, waiting for him to finish with the first of the dishes. "I don't want you to have to be in cover here," she says, after a minute. "Or with them."