[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]

"Yes." Anything else would be a lie, and he'd know it. "But not enough to make you have to pretend to be someone else the whole time they're here."

She reaches up to curve her hand at his cheek. "There will be other visits."

[nerves_of_ice]

He leans into the touch of her hand, his gaze steady on hers. "It won't bother me," he promises her. "To be James, I mean. But if it'd upset you too much, if you wouldn't enjoy seeing them because you were worrying the whole time, I'll stop suggesting it. But it won't bother me. And I'd ... I'd like to give this to you. If you'd want it. Only if."

[from_the_outside]

She presses a small smile at him. "Let me think about it," she requests, gently.

It would be nice to see her parents, to watch her dad out by the grill with a beer, to talk with her mom and hear all the news... but she doesn't want Bucky to have to pretend the whole time, and she doesn't want them to get to know James only to find out down the line that he was a figment of their collective imagination. "Okay?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Okay." Bucky leans in to give her a quick, gentle kiss, then smiles, a little.

"For now, I'll get these dishes done."

[from_the_outside]

She chuckles and moves back to his side, drying each dish as he hands it to her and moving around the kitchen to put them away. "This is a lot easier without broken ribs," she observes, as she leans up to put the plates in a cabinet.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Another good reason to avoid breaking your ribs in the future," he drawls, as he drains the water and wipes out the sink.

[from_the_outside]

"I really don't need a better reason than because you'd worry about it," she points out.

Every now and again her side feels a little sore, but they've healed just fine.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Good. Don't forget it." He turns to lean back against the counter, watching her.

[from_the_outside]

"Yes, dear," she says, amused. She puts away the silverware, then turns back to him, smiling. "Thanks for helping clean up."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Thanks for making lunch," he counters, laughter sparkling in his glance now.

"We're polite, aren't we?"

[from_the_outside]

"I just want you to know I appreciate you." She comes over and sets her hands at his sides as she looks up into his face.

"Want to go sit outside or in the other room for a bit?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Outside would be nice," he murmurs. "If you'd be comfortable enough."

[from_the_outside]

"Sure."

She leans up to kiss him, lightly. "Maybe I'll bring a blanket or two."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I put the quilt on your bed," he offers. "Want me to go get it?"

[from_the_outside]

"Sure," she tells him, smiling. "I could grab a book or something for you, if there was anything that you were interested in."

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles and starts for the stairs. "Surprise me. I bet you can find something."

[from_the_outside]

"Challenge accepted."

She heads through the great room and into a study beyond to muse over her father's bookshelves before selecting a well-loved copy of Watership Down. Holding the book against her hip, she comes back into the main room to wait for him.

[nerves_of_ice]

He gathers up the quilt, folding it over his arm, and takes a moment or two to decide if more blankets might be needed. It's warm enough, he decides, and sunny, so the one might be sufficient for now - and then sighs at himself and takes a second blanket from the hallway closet and brings it along just to have it at hand, in case.

"Ready?" he asks, on reaching the great room.

[from_the_outside]

"Mhm."

She leads the way out the door and around the corner of the house, past the fire pit and grilling area to the back, where a small, grassy yard slopes down toward a cut in the trees that offers a view of the valley and the mountains beyond. "Here," she says, holding out her free hand for the quilt. "We can spread that out here in the sun."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Pretty spot." Bucky sets down the second blanket and gives her part of the quilt, helping to spread it over the grass. "You sure you'll be comfortable enough?"

[from_the_outside]

"Definitely."

She takes a seat on the quilt and pats the spot next to her, smiling up at him invitingly, the book in her lap. "Come sit with me."

[nerves_of_ice]

He does so without hesitation, and reaches to draw her into his arms. "Settle down with me?"

[from_the_outside]

She makes a soft, contented sound, and curls into his arms, resting her head against him, relaxed in a way she almost never is in Steve's apartment.

[nerves_of_ice]

He presses a kiss to her hair and just holds on to her, breathing slow and steady and deep.

The book will wait. The world will wait. All that matters in this moment is the two of them, here, together.

[from_the_outside]

She's not sure when she drifts off to sleep, or how long she naps, but the sun has moved a good deal closer to the treeline by the time she blinks gritty eyes open. Her head is pillowed in his lap, and she notes with sleepy amusement that he seems to have pulled the extra blanket up and over her, perhaps concerned that she might catch a chill on this sunny spring day.

Sharon shifts and rolls to peer blearily up at him, blinking until the cover of the book sharpens into focus. "Do you like it so far?" she asks, her voice muzzy with sleep.