[Virginia AU] we rose up from the falling waters

[nerves_of_ice]

A little over a week goes by, and as it does Bucky falls into a pattern, slow but sure. He wakes with Sharon in the mornings, shares coffee and something that suffices for breakfast, then works a little on searches and checking contacts and sources from other time zones and locations. Mid-morning finds him at the Task Force offices with Riley and his team. Early afternoon finds him meeting with Ross, if there's any reason to; mid-afternoon he checks in with Steve, with Tony, or with Natasha before he goes back to tracing rumors and hints.

Today's different, though. Today is Sharon's first day back at work after her suspension, and Bucky's determined not to do a single damn thing that might possibly make it difficult for her.

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[from_the_outside]

"Just an opinion," she promises, and heads to the kitchen to pull something to snack on out of the fridge. "Did Tony say anything else? Or did he really just drop by to give you some fancy armor and toys?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Also to let me know about his vacation plans," Bucky drawls. "Apparently he's planning to be in Fukuoka for a few days."

He lets that sit for a second before he adds, "Across the strait from Busan. You know. Just in case."

[from_the_outside]

"I hear it's nice there," Sharon says, looking amused as she comes back into the living room, munching on an apricot.

"That's pretty fortuitous timing."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Isn’t it, though,” he says, dryly. “Anyway, if we need more backup, I can call him in.”

[from_the_outside]

"He's pretty good backup," Sharon agrees. "But I'm hoping we'll be able to complete this op without Iron Man's trademark, uh... explosions."

She heads past the couch and into her bedroom, where she drags a rolling bag out from a closet and sets it open on the bed before turning to her dresser. "How's that equipment he gave you?" she calls back to the other room. "And the armor?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“You and me both,” he calls back, then gets up to follow her. Bucky watches her preparations with interest.

“Haven’t tried the armor yet, but the equipment’s good. Very good. It’ll interface with the Task Force stuff, don’t worry.”

[from_the_outside]

"You should try it on," she suggests, as she packs the usual necessaries, then heads into the adjoining bathroom for her toiletries and makeup bag.

"Make sure it fits okay."

[nerves_of_ice]

“It should,” he says, but wanders obediently out to the front room. Bucky checks the angle to make sure no one can see in through the window, then opens the case and strips off his shirt.

[from_the_outside]

She hears the rustle of him getting undressed in the other room, and manfully refrains from going to tease him; she really does need to pack. Sharon digs out a pair of fancy but surprisingly comfortable heels from her closet and listens to him moving around.

"How is it?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn’t answer her at first. He can’t.

It’s not the quality of the material, which is good as expected if not better. It’s not the fit, which is also pretty great.

It’s that now that he’s wearing it, he recognizes the pattern it’s based on. Tony must have taken the specs from the Smithsonian exhibit, he realizes, almost numb with stunned surprise.

[from_the_outside]

"Baby?"

He's silent in the other room, and she abandons her packing to come to the door and peer out. He's dressed in the armor, which seems to made out of some similar material to Steve's uniform, or Natasha's, and there's a look on his face she can't quite parse.

She casts a glance over the armor, and smiles, slight. "Looks good," she murmurs, then frowns, slightly. The blue coat and brown pants and tall boots are all ringing a vague bell in her head. "Why does it look kind of familiar?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Because it is,” he murmurs. The cut’s updated, of course, and the brown’s much darker than he remembers it being, but other than that—-

“He based it on my old squad uniform.”

[from_the_outside]

She comes into the room and steps close to him, close enough to set her hands on his chest. The material gives under her palms almost like cloth. "I like it," she murmurs, and smiles up at him.

"You look handsome in blue."

[nerves_of_ice]

There’s something complicated about his expression, he suspects, if it in any way reflects the crash of emotion inside.

“It’s nice. He didn’t have to do that,” he murmurs. “But it’s nice that he did.”

[from_the_outside]

"I guess he wanted to do something nice for you."

She reaches one hand up to touch the edge of her thumb to that blown-open, stunned expression he has. "I'm glad you like it, sweetheart."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I do,” he murmurs. “I really do.”

And now he’ll have to find a way to tell Tony that without making it awkward. Somehow, he keeps from wincing at the thought.

Bucky smiles at Sharon, and tips his head into her touch, just a little.

[from_the_outside]

She smiles back at him and leans up to kiss him gently.

"Wanna come help me pick out an outfit of my own?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Sure, but I still say I’m no fashion expert.”

It doesn’t stop him from kissing her back, or from following her to the other room.

[from_the_outside]

"You don't need to be."

Her bag is mostly packed already; she just needs the dress she'll wear to the casino and she'll be done. Reaching into the closet, she pulls out two long evening dresses: one light and pleated and patterned in black and gold, hanging from a thin gold circlet that acts as a halter top, the other sleek and white in a silky material.

She holds first one, then the other against herself, then looks up at him. "What do you think?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Hm.” He steps closer and brushes his finger along the material of the white dress, then gives her a winning smile. “Any chance you could model?”

[from_the_outside]

"I could be convinced," she says, amused, and puts a hand on his chest to push him back toward the mattress, then turns to go into the bathroom, coy.

When she comes out, she's wearing the black and gold dress, which fits loosely over her torso, then falls in tiny pleats to her toes. She turns in a slow spin, then looks at him. "Option number one."

[nerves_of_ice]

“You look gorgeous, baby,” he says. She does, regal and elegant. “Can you move well in it?”

[from_the_outside]

"Okay," she tells him. "I wouldn't want to fight in it if I didn't have to."

She grins at him. "But I can dance in it just fine."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Maybe we should give that a try sometime,” he murmurs, watching her with appreciation.

[from_the_outside]

She gives him one last spin and winks, then disappears into the bathroom once more. This time, when she comes out, she's wearing the sleek, silky white dress, which clings to her everywhere the black dress had been loose.

"Option number two."