[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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[marvel_npc]

“You’re right there,” Riley says, and grins at the barista as she hands him his usual without him even needing to order. “Thanks.”

He pats and tips his head to the door once more. “But he doesn’t want you anywhere near the Secretary’s reach, so.”

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky takes note of the ease with which the barista hands over the order; it’s clear Riley’s a regular and he’d bet a well liked one.

“Nobody wants that,” he drawls. “Including the Secretary, if he knew what was good for him.”

[marvel_npc]

“Guys like that don’t think past what’s going to look good in their next debrief with the President,” Riley says, sipping at his coffee as he directs them down the street toward HQ. “But our Ross, he’s not going to let the Secretary get his way.”

[nerves_of_ice]

“Guess we’ll see.” He keeps pace at Riley’s side, curious to see how things will go with security.

“Guys like that tend to have a lot of strings to pull.”

[marvel_npc]

Riley smiles at him. “We’ve got a few strings of our own, Sergeant,” he says, and points ahead to HQ as the building comes into view. “Here we are. I’ll bring you up to my team’s office, and then we’ll go see the Deputy Commander.”

[nerves_of_ice]

“What is your team, anyway? Usually, I mean?”

Bucky gives the building a once-over as they approach, and automatically turns his head so that the brim of his cap blocks his face from the camera.

[marvel_npc]

The guards give them a nod as they come in through the main doors. “Agent,” says one, then looks slightly askance at the Sergeant. “Sergeant Barnes.”

“Hey, Matt,” Riley says, easily. “Let the Deputy Commander know we’re here, will you? We’ll see him in ten.”

[nerves_of_ice]

Well, it’s not like he figured anyone was going to be happy about this. Bucky gives the guard a nod, reminds himself that he’s representing Steve and the team, and follows Riley in.

[marvel_npc]

“About the team,” Riley says, picking up the thread of the e conversation as he leads the Sergeant into HQ. “Agent Nilsson calls the shots, mostly. She’s slightly more senior than me. But then we’ve got a team of four analysts we work with regularly.”

[nerves_of_ice]

“Mm-hm. What kinds of assignments do you usually get? When you’re not trying to ride herd on the Winter Soldier and the Avengers?”

Dry, dry amusement flickers in his tone for an instant.

[marvel_npc]

Riley laughs, like he actually thinks the Sergeant’s joking. “We’re not even doing that now,” he points out. “But all kinds of things. Most recently, we were investigating a so-called spiritual leader in Brazil who was instigating violence and drugging his acolytes.”

[nerves_of_ice]

“Arms, cocaine, or both?” Bucky asks. “Presuming he was using the church as a cover for trafficking, that is. There’s a lot of that going on there.”

[marvel_npc]

“Both,” Riley says, and looks slightly grim for the first time. “It was a cover operation. ‘Recruiting’ for a local militia.”

He opens a glass door and holds it for the Sergeant. “Our office is through here.”

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky just nods, looking tired around the eyes, and steps through into the hallway. “Figures. Although I notice you said ‘was.’”

[marvel_npc]

Riley smiles, slight. “We’re pretty good at what we do, Sergeant,” he says, and leads the other man into a room with a bank of computers, one harried-looking analyst, and a few desks.

“Morning, Avis,” Riley greets her. “We’ll be out of your hair in a second.”

[nerves_of_ice]

Liaison, he reminds himself, and nods politely to Avis. “Ma’am.”

[marvel_npc]

Avis blinks slightly myopically at him. “Sergeant,” she says, after a second where Riley can see her trying to remember who this newcomer is. “Do either of you need anything? I’ve been collating this data -“

“I’m fine, Avis,” Riley says, and puts his empty cup in the trash. “You can help the Sergeant get settled in when we come back from our briefing.”

[nerves_of_ice]

That’s news to him, but he doesn’t let it show on his face. “I appreciate it,” he says, simply.

[marvel_npc]

Avis looks relieved to not have to interact with them yet, and turns back to her data analysis as Riley comes back towards the Sergeant.

“I’m not sure he’ll assign you here,” he says, apologetic, “but that’s my guess, since Agent Nilsson and I are still working with you.”

He smiles at the other man, encouraging. “Ready to go meet the Deputy Commander?”

[nerves_of_ice]

He wouldn’t put it past Ross, but he’s also well aware his skills won’t be best used as an analyst at a desk crunching data. Nor would it reflect well on the Avengers, which is more important to him. So it’ll likely take some discussion. “We’ll see,” he says, mildly. “Sure, let’s go. Don’t want to keep him waiting.”

[marvel_npc]

“Great.”

He lifts his hand in a cheerful wave to Avis, who looks like she wants to shrink inside a shell. “See you later, Avis. Sergeant, this way, please.”

[nerves_of_ice]

"You can call me Bucky, you know," he says, just as mildly, as he nods to Avis and follows Riley back out. "If you want."

[marvel_npc]

“Yeah?”

Riley looks - and indeed is - delighted. “Bucky. Okay. I’d say you could call me Nate - and you can, I like it just fine - but most people call me Riley.”

He leads the way through the corridors, greeting staff and employees as they go.

[nerves_of_ice]

He seems sincere about it, like he genuinely likes people and isn’t just doing it for show. It makes Bucky like him a little more.

“Which would you prefer? Nate or Riley?”

[marvel_npc]

“You know what? I don’t think anyone’s asked before.”

He gives it a moment’s thought, then grins. “Have to say, I prefer Riley. It’s what I’m used to.”

As if in response, a staff member calls out a hello to him. “Riley! Back already? You’re like a bad penny.”

Riley laughs, good-natured, and turns his attention back to the Ser - to Bucky.

Bucky Barnes. Wow. “Anyway, I’m glad to have you here, Bucky. Having a liaison with the Avengers is going to be great.”