[WWII AU] the streets of london

[nerves_of_ice]

Becky's last letter had suggested she'd be sending a longer one soon, and between that, the previous promise of a knitting circle, and the time of year, Bucky's pretty sure that a care package will be coming their way with the next one.

Given that, it's not too hard to convince Steve that it might be nice to pick up a couple of small things to send back in appreciation when they can. And with that in mind, to suggest that maybe the Agents Carter might enjoy doing a little shopping themselves, and that it'd be only polite for the two of them to help carry packages and make sure they didn't get overcrowded on the streets, or anything like that.

He's pretty darn sure that Steve sees right through him, but his best friend agrees to it, if Bucky can talk Sharon and Peggy into the idea.

He's smiling to himself as he makes his way toward their respective quarters.

Comments

[marvel_npc]

Steve smiles over at his best friend as a knock comes at the door and Sharon returns, brandishing an empty shoebox. "This should work," she says, pleased, and offer it to Steve, who nods.

"I think you're right."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Perfect," Bucky agrees. "Sharon, thanks for helping out with this. Both the finding and the packaging."

[from_the_outside]

"Happy to help out," she says, perching on the edge of the bed. Steve opens the shoebox and starts carefully setting the vanity set into the tissue paper inside. "Besides, Steve's clearly done me a solid with those drawings."

[nerves_of_ice]

He grins at that. “Makes two of us.”

Bucky taps the portrait. “I figure to send them this one and keep the other.”

[from_the_outside]

"I think that's perfect."

Steve closes the box lid and looks pleased with himself. "That's going to work great. All it needs is a little paper or a ribbon."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'll see what I can scrounge up," he offers. "I'm going to be doing that for the girls' presents anyway."

[from_the_outside]

"If it won't be any trouble." Steve stands, lifting the box. "Thanks again. I'll let you go ahead and finish that letter."

"I guess you'll need to edit it a little," Sharon tells Bucky, laughing. "Have a good night, Steve."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Maybe a little," he agrees, untroubled. "Night, Steve. See you first thing tomorrow after dealing with Howard."

[from_the_outside]

"Night, all."

Steve lifts a hand to them and heads out of Bucky's quarters, while Sharon crosses one leg over the other and leans back on her hands. "That was really nice of him," she says.

[nerves_of_ice]

"It really was." Quiet, yet fond. "He said he'd do another, too, if I wanted to send both of these."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon gets up and goes to softly close the door, then comes to stand behind him, setting her hands lightly on his shoulders so she can lean down to drop a kiss into his hair. "I'm sure he would."

[nerves_of_ice]

He tips his head back to smile up at her. "He will. But I think I'm keeping the one of the two of us here anyway."

[from_the_outside]

She slips a hand off his shoulder, leaning against him, and touches the drawing lightly. "Good," she murmurs. "I really like that one."

[nerves_of_ice]

“So do I.” He’s looking at her as she looks at the sketch. “He’s got a gift.”

[from_the_outside]

"He really does."

She smiles over at him, then leans down to kiss his mouth, gently. "Want to finish your letter?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“We should. And you still have one to write, too, don’t you?” His answering smile is warm and filled with laughter.

He doesn’t let himself reach for. He’s not sure he’d let go.

[from_the_outside]

"I sure do. And I'm sure I'll need assistance with it," she says, solemnly, before she kisses him again.

[nerves_of_ice]

He makes a small sound against her mouth and turns in his chair so that he can put an arm around her waist and draw her down to sit on his lap.

[from_the_outside]

She lets him coax her down to his lap, then puts her arms around his neck and kisses him once more. "I had a really nice time today," she murmurs. "Did you?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'm glad. And yes, I did." He holds her close in the curve of his arm and leans up into her kiss before he picks up his pen and teasingly bats at her shoulder with it.

"Letters," he says, mock-stern. "Come on, Agent."

[from_the_outside]

She mock-sighs and laughs, then releases one arm from around his neck. "Yes, sir, Sergeant," she teases. "Where were we?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He reads over the letter to check. "I'm supposed to tell her about care package stuff, I think. Plus whatever else we want to say to avoid that 'or else'."

Bucky glances up at her. "So... anything else we should tell her about you?"

[from_the_outside]

"I think probably what she wants to know most is the thing you're having the most fun not telling her," she teases. "Which is 'are we involved'?"

Not that she can blame him. She has no siblings, but it definitely seems like teasing them is one of the benefits of having them.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Who, me?" he laughs. Bucky taps the pen against the page in thought, then pulls it close so Sharon can read along as he writes.

"Steve came by while I was writing before - you've got a page from him in this packet, and a drawing he made so you can see what Sharon looks like, better than I could describe her."

He pauses for a second and presses a light kiss to her upper arm, then keeps writing. "As for that 'anything else' you asked about... okay, fine, yes, we're seeing each other. She's pretty special. But I'll let her tell you about all that in her letter."

[from_the_outside]

"Kicking the can down the road, huh, Barnes?"

But her teasing is light and fond and lacks any kind of heat. She presses a kiss to his soft hair and smiles at him. "I hope they'll approve."