[Virginia AU] take my waking slow

[nerves_of_ice]

The nightmares are present, but at least they don’t jerk him out of sleep in any way that disturbs Sharon. When he does finally wake sometime shortly before dawn, he kisses her shoulder and her hair before sliding silently from the bed.

Bucky pulls his shorts back on, then pads into the kitchen and searches out the coffee. He sets it to brewing as quietly as he can and picks up his phone to send Alyona a text while he watches the sky lighten.

surprise - am in Berlin
hope all is going well

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[miss_american_pie]

Somewhere over Luxembourg, Yelena Alexeyevna's phone buzzes as she works her way through the obstacle course Maria Hill has set up in the gym. She flips around a bar and lands, then brushes her hands off and looks at her screen.

Her eyebrows track up toward her hairline.

Berlin? how long?

[nerves_of_ice]

He hadn’t really expected her to be awake, but can’t say he’s entirely surprised.

not sure
a few days, a few weeks
will let you know

[miss_american_pie]

Days, weeks? She frowns at her screen, types out a response.

ok to call?

[nerves_of_ice]

He glances over at the door to the bedroom, which he’d pulled closed before so as not to wake Sharon, and decides he won’t disturb her as long as he keeps his voice low.

all clear

[miss_american_pie]

A second later, her phone is at her ear, the call ringing through.

When he picks up, she bypasses a typical greeting in favor of a demand for information. "Berlin? Why?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles, soft and low. “Hello to you too, Alyona.” The warmth and fondness he feels is clear in his voice.

“Because this is where the Joint Terrorism Task Force is based.”

[miss_american_pie]

A chill runs through her, incongruous when there's so much warmth in his voice. He sounds relaxed, but... "Did they come for you after all?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Not this time. The Secretary of State did. Steve and I put our heads together and figured out a reason for me to be here for a while.” Now he sounds rueful. “It’s been an interesting few days.”

[miss_american_pie]

"The Secretary of State?"

It's on the tip of her tongue -- do you want me to kill him? -- before she thinks maybe he wouldn't appreciate the offer.

It would solve the problem, though. She gives the air in front of her a suspicious glance. "What reason?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Yeah. He’s a real bastard. Try to stay out of his way,” Bucky cautions her, before he sighs.

“Well, for one thing, turns out I’m an Avenger now. And before you ask, no, I didn’t know about that until it was a done deal. So now I’m the Avengers liaison to the Task Force.”

[miss_american_pie]

There's a long beat of silence, then a stream of excited Russian, mostly focused on how amazing that piece of news is.

She doesn't appear to need to breathe.

[nerves_of_ice]

By the time she slows down, he’s laughing, soft and clear and deeply amused.

“So I take it you’re okay with that news?” he teases.

[miss_american_pie]

"You're an Avenger," she says, deeply pleased. "That is so cool. What's it like?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“It’s pretty neat,” he admits, still amused. “I’m still getting used to it, mind you. But it’s good. I think it’s going to be really good.”

He shakes his head, even though she can’t see him. “Steve pulled a fast one on me there—-“

Maybe Sharon too; he’s not sure.

“—-but he knows me pretty well. I guess he figured I wouldn’t run for the hills or anything when he hit me with the news. And I talked to the others, just to be sure. So it’s good.”

[miss_american_pie]

"Well, we're not far from Berlin."

Not really, anyway. "If you have time, I could come see you, maybe?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“It’d be wonderful to see you,” he murmurs. “If you have time.”

[miss_american_pie]

"I will make time," she says, firmly. "Just let me know. I can be there in only a few hours, whenever you want."

Now that she's learned how to fly the Quinjets, she can go anywhere.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Let me make sure Ross isn’t going to explode when I report in at nine today, and then come on,” he says. “Deputy Commander Ross, I mean. I might have showed up before telling him about the liaison plan. I’ll text you.”

[miss_american_pie]

"He should be lucky to have you," she points out. No one else comes even close to the things Yasha can do, his skills and abilities.

"Okay. I will make sure I'm free." She grins, thinking about it. "It's good. I missed you."

[nerves_of_ice]

Her faith in him warms his heart. Bucky grins at the phone. “Maybe, but he thinks I’m a pain in the ass. That’s okay. I’m planning to play nice.”

More quietly, he adds, “I missed you too.”

[miss_american_pie]

Yelena scoffs at the idea of playing nice, but smiles at his soft voice. "If you have to," she allows, a little grudging.

"Where should I meet you? Or will you text?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’ll text,” he tells her. “I’m not sure where I’ll be staying yet.” Sharon might not want him in her space, after all, especially since they’re only now officially seeing each other - they’ll have to figure out how to navigate that. “But I’ll figure something out by this afternoon.”

[miss_american_pie]

"Okay," she says, agreeable. It's exciting, to think she can go see Yasha. She has a few new clothes now that Mama helped her pick out and Maria Hill helped her get, and the Widows are doing well. This is a good time to visit, like an adult, like a real person. "Then I'll see you soon."

[nerves_of_ice]

“You will. Very soon.” His smile comes through in his voice. “Take care, okay?”

[miss_american_pie]

"Okay. You too."

She considers saying I love you, figures she can say it in person soon enough. Yasha, here, close enough to see and touch and hug! She can't wait. "See you later."