[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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[nerves_of_ice]

“I can bring her here if you don’t mind,” he murmurs. “Although I should explain to her first. She doesn’t know who you are to me yet. I didn’t - I wasn’t going to compromise you.”

[from_the_outside]

"Bring her here once she knows," Sharon offers. "If she wants to come."

She smiles at him. "I'll pick up some vodka. And anything else you can think of that she might like."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I will.” The storm of emotion at how easily she welcomes him, welcomes Alyona, it threatens to drown him.

“Vodka definitely. Otherwise I’m not sure. She hasn’t been out long, so she’ll still be figuring out what she likes.” Flickering memories of sneaking candy to a much younger girl try to edge in, but he pushes them back, knowing that it’s not that simple.

[from_the_outside]

"Then I'll just make sure we have some good things," she promises. "I'm glad she'll be able to come see you, baby."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I am, too,” he says, very softly. “And that she wants to.”

[from_the_outside]

She curves her hand at his cheek once more, then smiles as his phone buzzes.

"I bet that's Riley," she says, leaning back to sip her coffee.

Indeed, when he checks his phone, a message waits there, along with an address:

Good morning! Rendezvous 0830?

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky eyes the address and puts it into the map app to check the location.

“Is he always cheerful?”

[from_the_outside]

“Always,” Sharon says, laughing. “It’s like working with a puppy. But he’s good at the job, too. Behind that charming smile is a pretty sharp mind.”

[nerves_of_ice]

“Oh, no question,” Bucky agrees. “Saw a few indications of that already.”

The location seems innocuous enough and an easy distance from the Task Force building. He texts back a quick ok - see you then and looks up at Sharon. “I should get ready soon.”

[from_the_outside]

“Okay, baby,” she says, peaceably, and sips at her coffee. “Feel free to use the shower or have some breakfast. My place is yours.”

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gives her a long look. “Don’t you want breakfast?”

[from_the_outside]

“I haven’t been up that long yet, baby,” she points out. “I’ll have something a little later.”

And she doesn’t have an appointment to get ready for and make.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Okay,” he murmurs, and leans in to kiss her again before reclaiming his coffee and finishing it off. “I’ll be just a couple of minutes.”

He heads for the bathroom, claiming his pack on the way.

[from_the_outside]

She smiles against his lips and watches as he moves through her apartment, her heart so full it feels like it’ll burst any second.

For her part, she reaches to turn on the tv for some news, then sits back with her coffee, thinking ahead to what she’ll need to get for Yelena’s visit.

[nerves_of_ice]

He hadn’t spent a lot of time packing or anything like that, but he hadn’t needed to. He keeps a change of clothes designed for blending with a crowd in his pack.

When he comes back after a quick shower, he’s wearing jeans, a rust-colored light wool shirt, a long-sleeved dark green jacket, and a dark blue baseball cap.

[from_the_outside]

She watches him from the couch, her empty coffee mug on the little table nearby. “Heading to meet Riley soon?”

[nerves_of_ice]

“I should,” he says, a little reluctantly. “It’d be a bad idea to be late for my first day, right?”

[from_the_outside]

“Probably,” she agrees, amused, and gets up to pad over to him, her hands light on his hips.

“How about some toast and eggs before you head out?”

[nerves_of_ice]

He runs his hands through her hair and smiles at her. “If it’ll get you to eat something too, then definitely.”

[from_the_outside]

“Yes, dear,” she says, amused, and leans up to kiss him lightly before heading into the kitchen and moving toward the fridge to get the eggs. “Would you make me another cup of coffee, please?”

[nerves_of_ice]

“Yes, ma’am,” he teases, and goes to do so - just the way she likes it.

[from_the_outside]

She’s not the best cook, but even she can scramble eggs and toast bread. She slices up some apricots as the bread toasts and adds them to the plates, then portions out eggs — for both of them, so he won’t worry about her not eating — then brings the loaded plates to the table.

[nerves_of_ice]

He meets her there with their coffee and a quick grin. “Looks great.”

[from_the_outside]

She takes her coffee with a smile and takes a seat. “This is about the extent of my culinary expertise,” she teases.

The failed pie, she’d put in the trash this morning. Wanda had texted back asking about what kind of butter she’d used, but she’s not sure how to find the right kind here.

[nerves_of_ice]

“It’s wonderful,” he insists, joining her, “and so are you.”