[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

Comments

[miss_american_pie]

* * * * *

About fifteen minutes before their agreed-upon meeting time, Yelena Alexeyevna swans into the park, a vision in vibrantly yellow plaid and bright green jeans. It hadn't taken her long to get here after all, but she realizes as she makes her way across the green grass and along colorful flower arrangements that she's still not as early as him. "Yasha," she says, smiling big as she comes up to him.

"Привет."

[nerves_of_ice]

He’d gotten there half an hour early to case the place thoroughly and make sure no one from the Task Force followed him. It means that when she comes up to him, he’s relaxed enough to smile at her, bright and warm, before he reaches to pull her into a hug.

“ Младшая сестра.“

[miss_american_pie]

She beams and presses her face into his chest, her arms going around his middle. "Большой брат," she returns. Her heart is full and her face hurts from smiling.

"You look good."

[nerves_of_ice]

“So do you.” He keeps his arms around her, letting her hold on to him as long as she wants.

“Did you have a good trip in?”

[miss_american_pie]

"Yeah."

She squeezes him once more, then lets go and steps back. "I like those Quinjets. They are very fast."

Yelena watches him with bright, pleased eyes. "You have some time? A while?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“As long as you want today,” he tells her. “And I’ll be in Berlin for a while, too. So, yes.”

Bucky tips his head to the nearby café. “Do you like ice cream?”

[miss_american_pie]

Probably the look on her face is answer enough. She hardly knows what to do with this sudden influx of riches.

"Come," she tells him, tucking her arm into his and turning them toward the café. "How was your first day?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Could have been worse.” He looks as amused as he sounds, and leads her over to one of the empty tables. The menu consists of a book with photographs of complex ice cream sundae creations in all kinds of flavors.

“Although right now they’ve got me doing paperwork. A lot of it.”

[miss_american_pie]

"Paperwork?" she scoffs. "What a waste."

She studies the menu after she's taken a seat, her mouth watering. It all reminds her of the long-ago past, of birthday parties with box cake and ice cream with three flavors in one gallon box.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Well, it is just the first day. I’m figuring things should get more interesting soon.”

He leans back in his chair, watching her with a small smile. “How are things with the others?”

[miss_american_pie]

"Good," she reports, after a moment's thought. "Yes. Good, I think. Melina and I work with the Widows. Alexei, too. Many of them do not know either him or her, but they know nothing but the Red Room and each other, really."

[nerves_of_ice]

“It’s good that they’re not alone,” he murmurs. “Are Melina and Alexei treating you well?”

[miss_american_pie]

She makes a face and shrugs. "They try, you know?"

Which is more than she's had for years. "But the last time they saw me, I was very small. So there is much to learn about one another."

[nerves_of_ice]

“True.” Across the patio, a waitress tips her head to them, signaling that she’ll be with them soon. Bucky nods back to her.

“I’m supposed to give you a hug for Natasha too, just so you know.”

[miss_american_pie]

Yelena smiles, small but warm. "We talk," she tells him. "It's good."

Very good. Better than she could have imagined, only a few weeks ago.

Not that she could imagine anything a few weeks ago. "Fury, and Maria Hill, too. I like them."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’m glad. They treating you okay too?” he asks. “If not, I could always shoot him again.”

He keeps it light, teasing.

[miss_american_pie]

She kicks him lightly under the table, laughing. "Yes," she tells him. "Hill taught me to fly the Quinjet. And Melina has kept Fury from recruiting me too aggressively."

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles and holds up both hands, feigning surrender. “Okay, okay,” he teases. “I can see you don’t need my help.”

[miss_american_pie]

"No," she tells him, smiling warm and fond. "I always need your help. Always."

Will she ever not need him? She hopes not. Not now that she has him back again.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Then you have it,” he promises, every word certain, and grins. “Always.”

[miss_american_pie]

She smiles, sweet and a little shy, a press of her lips as the waitress starts coming their way. "Okay."

He's being sincere, she thinks. He feels bad for not finding her before. So does Natasha. So she can take them both at face value now.

[nerves_of_ice]

His smile warms as the waitress reaches them and raises her eyebrows. "Hallo, was möchten Sie?"

"Moment, bitte," Bucky tells her, and looks at Alyona. "Decided what you want yet?"

[miss_american_pie]

She orders a sundae that sounds like a chaotic combination of whipped cream and sauces and flavors and toppings. There's so much of the world to try and experience, and she's determined to experiment with it all.

Her order finished, she looks at Yasha, expectant.

[nerves_of_ice]

His, in contrast, is simple vanilla, but topped with a mix of fresh berries in syrup along with whipped cream. As the waitress departs, he gives Alyona a quick smile.

"You can't get anything quite like this in New York," he admits. "Not that I've seen yet, anyway."

[miss_american_pie]

"Don't be silly," she scolds. "Even I know there are a million ice cream places in New York."

Maybe not exactly like this one, but how different could they be?