[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.

Comments

[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."

[nerves_of_ice]

He’s lounging a little on the bed, absently testing the flexibility of the body armor, but when she comes out all his attention focuses on her in an instant.

Slowly, he comes to his feet, unable to look away from her. She’s incredible, breathtakingly beautiful, and he takes slow steps toward her, helplessly drawn.

“Angel,” he murmurs. “Yes.”

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah?" she teases, and turns slowly to show off the low, open back, her leg appearing and vanishing in the slit of the skirt. Glancing over her shoulder, she bites her lip, her eyes full of laughter.

"You like this one?"

[nerves_of_ice]

His breath comes in hard and stays caught at the picture she makes.

“Like’s not enough,” he tells her, his voice deep and a little rough.

[from_the_outside]

"No?"

She reaches up to tie her hair in a loose knot at the nape of her neck and comes a little closer. "What is?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Adore.” He reaches out, skimming his hands over her waist, afraid to snag the material.

“You bring me to my knees, Sharon.”

[from_the_outside]

She sets her hands on his shoulders, enjoying the way his palms and fingers feel through the silky fabric of her dress.

"You say the nicest things," she murmurs, watching him with large dark eyes. "See? I told you this would be easy."

[nerves_of_ice]

“So you did.” Bucky steps closer and leans down to kiss her - deep and passionate and wanting.

[from_the_outside]

She presses her lips to his with a small sound, running her fingers up into his hair. "Come on," she murmurs, teasing.

"Show me how much you adore... this dress."

[nerves_of_ice]

Mischief flashes in his eyes. “Okay.”

Bucky kisses her shoulder through the thin strap of fabric and runs his hands lightly over her hips, back to her waist, then over her sides, careful not to touch anywhere not covered by cloth.

[from_the_outside]

She laughs, breathless, at his teasing, and stretches under his touch as his hands track up over her ribs, one warm, one cool. No lines of cloth beneath the fabric interrupt the smooth shape of the material over her body; she likes teasing him as much as he likes teasing her.

[nerves_of_ice]

She's sleek and warm and glorious, and he lets himself sink into her. Bucky traces along the strap of the dress with kisses, working his way downward, as he caresses her body through the silky dress.

[from_the_outside]

She smiles and presses her mouth into his hair, shivering beneath his caresses.

"Maybe I should finish packing," she murmurs. "Before we get too distracted."

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles, presses a kiss to her skin over her heart, and straightens. "You're probably right."

Bucky brushes his fingers over her cheek, and steps back. "I'll finish putting my kit together."

[from_the_outside]

She watches him with her eyes warm and her heart feeling so full and contented she doesn't know how it isn't bursting. "Last one to finish is a rotten egg," she teases, and heads back to the bathroom, undoing the halter strap of her dress as she goes.

There's a flash of bare shoulders and back before she closes the door, and the sound of Sharon chuckling to herself. Someone has to think she's funny, and it may as well be herself.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky laughs at her mischief, clear and bright, and retreats to the living room to finish going over his gear.

The armor's well designed to allow him to stash the surveillance equipment without endangering it, which he's certain is by intent. Weapons will probably have to come from the Task Force, but for the most part he has what he needs there already cached here. He adds two cards and cash in case of necessary bribes or other emergencies in a secure pocket.

The few other things that'd be normal to pack for an overnight stay he shoves in a slim black knapsack that he preserves for single-mission use alone, and calls it good.

[from_the_outside]

When she comes back out of the bathroom, she's wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top, the two dresses carefully hung over one arm. She hangs the black and gold back in her closet and takes out a garment bag for the white gown. Once that's zipped up, she folds it carefully and tucks on top of her other things in the luggage – it'll have to get steamed before she wears it, anyway.

That finished, she zips up the luggage and hauls it off the bed, then rolls it over to sit by her bureau before she climbs up onto the mattress and collapses with a sigh. "Done."

[nerves_of_ice]

He walks in on hearing her call out, back in his civilian clothing, the armor draped over the back of the chair that he'd left his pack on and the case stowed away neatly in a closet. "All set?" Bucky comes to sit down on the side of the bed by her and pats her shoulder soothingly.

[from_the_outside]

"All set."

She turns over onto her back and smiles up at him. "You?"