[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

[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?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yes." He lets his hand stay on her shoulder and runs his thumb back and forth over her collarbone.

"You should get some sleep. You're going to need your rest for tomorrow," he murmurs.

[from_the_outside]

"You're not wrong," she murmurs, and lifts her hand to cover his. "It's going to be a busy day tomorrow. But if everything goes well, all I'll need to do for the actual op is stand around and look pretty."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gives her a skeptical look at that. "Not that you're not a star at looking pretty," he drawls, "but what with all the planning and leadership and the like, somehow I doubt that."

He lets that sit for a moment. "Besides, I've seen you on mission before, remember?"

[from_the_outside]

"Maybe a little more than that," she allows, smiling. "And honestly it probably won't go that smoothly. You'll need to find a position that will let you trail Klaue or get into the casino quickly, I think."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Give me the casino coordinates and I'll review satellite maps before we get there." He could find a position once there, but it's always better to be prepared.

[from_the_outside]

She rolls to the side and collects her phone, then sends him a message after a quick search. "Here," she says, and pushes herself to sit up. "It's on a busy market street."

[nerves_of_ice]

"That'll help." He saves the location and does a quick visual scan through the first set of search results.

[from_the_outside]

"You shouldn't have any trouble blending in."

If she feels a pang at the thought of the last times they were able to go to an open-air market, she hides it well. "We'll get there well before the scheduled meet time."

She leans to look over his shoulder and points at the screen. "That's the entrance, there. There's a woman set up in the market who lets people in. I'll give you everything I know about her before we head to the location."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods, studying the image carefully before he glances up at her. "Contact or ally?"

[from_the_outside]

"Contact."

Sharon looks a little amused, but she says it firmly. "From the last time I was in Busan."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods again. "Good to know." A smile flickers, just for an instant. "Makes it easier to operate somewhere you've been before, right?"