[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]

"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.

[nerves_of_ice]

"I do," he tells her, even as he closes the book with his finger as a placeholder and smiles down at her.

"Hi there, Sleeping Beauty."

[from_the_outside]

She half-groans, half-laughs, and rolls to rub her face into his stomach, muttering something that gets muffled by his shirt.

[nerves_of_ice]

"What was that?" He runs one hand along her back and into her hair, drawing his fingers through the sunlit gold.

[from_the_outside]

She makes a soft, contented sound as his fingers run up her back and into her hair and shifts to free her face from his shirt. "Sorry I fell asleep on you," she murmurs. "Sort of."

He's very comfortable, and she gets the impression he doesn't mind.

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'm not." He pulls his fingers through her hair again, slow and deliberate, then rests his hand at the curve of her waist.

"You needed the break."

[from_the_outside]

"Mm."

He's not wrong, and right now she can't think of a reason to argue with him about it. She did need a break. So did he. That's why they're here to begin with. "How long was I out?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He glances at the book as if it'll tell him, then back at her.

"Not more than an hour, I think."

[from_the_outside]

She makes a soft acknowledging sound and reaches up to rub at her eyes. "How are Hazel and Fiver doing?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Pretty good so far, I think. They've crossed the river with their friends and are on the way to their mystery destination," Bucky tells her.

[from_the_outside]

"Good for them."

She reaches back and stretches, then sits up, pushing the extra blanket off her legs as she does. "I don't want to interrupt you, if you're on a roll."

[nerves_of_ice]

He shakes his head. "You're not interrupting me. What were you thinking?"

[from_the_outside]

"Nothing in particular."

She reaches out to tuck back a lock of windblown hair behind his ear and smiles at him. "I might go put some coffee on. How about I bring a cup out to you?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Coffee sounds nice," he admits. "Want help?"

[from_the_outside]

"I've got it."

She leans in on her knees to kiss his cheek, then runs her hand over his hair and gets up. "Back in a few."