[WWII AU] a long-awaited mission

[nerves_of_ice]

He'd wondered what was up when Steve had asked him to join the strategy meeting with him and Colonel Phillips that morning, just after breakfast. His best friend had tried to keep it casual, given that the guys were around, but Bucky can still read him as easy as any book.

It had taken less than three minutes for him to realize, and a solid five hours for them to plan the details of the mission. They'd worked through lunch, and by the time he leaves officers' country, Bucky's nearly vibrating with excitement.

Zola. After all this time, they've finally got a lead on the son-of-a-bitch. And it's a good one. First Zola, then Schmidt, and then--

He doesn't let himself think about that yet. He can't. Bucky reminds himself to stay focused as he moves quickly along the hallways, heading for the weapons room.

They'll all be getting the official orders at the afternoon's training session, but he can't sit still. Not now. Might as well check over his gear and make sure everything's as tuned up as it can possibly be.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

"I want that, too."

Her voice is soft, like as if by whispering she could keep from bursting this bubble. "I want to stay with you. I don't care when we are."

There's plenty of work she could do to help start SHIELD, and though she'd miss her parents, her friends, the truth is she's always been closer to Aunt Peggy than to anyone else.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Here, and now, with you. That's what matters." Bucky tips his head forward to rest against hers, then takes her mouth in a gentle, lingering kiss.

[from_the_outside]

She makes a soft sound and melts into his kiss, slipping her fingers into his hair. When the kiss breaks, she stays with her forehead against his, breathing him in.

"I know this has been horrible to hear," she murmurs. "But, god, it's such a relief to finally tell you."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I just bet." He runs a hand up and down her back, steady and soothing. "Secrets are hard to keep."

[from_the_outside]

"I'm used to secrets."

She strokes her fingers through his hair. He's warm and real and alive, alive, and she never wants to let him go. "But it turns out it's not very fun, knowing the future."

Sharon meets his eyes, searching. "How are you feeling?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Guess all those science fiction writers were wrong." He holds still so that she can pet him, while a slight shiver runs through him at the feel of her touch.

"I'm a little rattled, I'm not gonna lie, but I'm okay. After all, knowing means I've got a chance to do something about it. And that's pretty important."

More now than ever.

[from_the_outside]

"It is."

She shakes her head, very slightly, feeling helpless. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

[nerves_of_ice]

His slight smile is rueful. "Forgive me?" he asks. "If I end up breaking your heart after all."

[from_the_outside]

He's done it, just by saying that. She can feel her heart cracking in two. "Forget it," she says, though her voice is rough. "You promised."

[nerves_of_ice]

"So I did," he murmurs. "Guess I'll just have to live up to my word."

Bucky draws her closer and kisses her again. "Stay with me, angel. For as long as you can."

[from_the_outside]

"Okay." Whispered before she kisses him again. "I will, darling. As long as I can. And you'd better stay, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

"As long as I can," he promises, softly. "As long as I can."

[from_the_outside]

She can't imagine how that could ever be long enough, but only nods and leans in to kiss him again, her fingers firming in his hair, curving against his head.

[nerves_of_ice]

He makes a low sound deep in his chest and kisses her back, pulling her still closer against him.

[from_the_outside]

She shifts and pulls herself into his lap, wanting to be as close as she can physically get. It seems impossible that only a few days from now he might be gone, but that's always the way. How many friends and fellow agents has she laughed with one night and mourned the next?

[nerves_of_ice]

He feels his heart begin to race as he kisses her, and kisses her, and kisses her. Bucky runs his hands over her shoulders and down her arms, along the curves of her sides and her hips and back to her waist, and kisses her again.

He's already beaten the odds, more than once. He'll just have to do it again.

[from_the_outside]

She's drowning in him, every nerve alight, her heart galloping in her chest. She can feel him breathing, his heart racing, him warm and solid and alive, alive, alive, and it's almost overwhelming. "Darling," she murmurs again, wanting to pour as much of what she's feeling into him while she can as possible. "My sweetheart."

[nerves_of_ice]

"My angel." He runs one hand back up to cup the nape of her neck and wraps his other arm around her waist as he starts trailing kisses down the side of her throat.

[from_the_outside]

She tips her head to the side to offer him room, shivering as his warm mouth moves over her skin. "You mean so much to me," she murmurs. "I hope you know that."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I do." He breathes warmth over her skin, lingering over her pulse with a delicate kiss. "Do you know how much you mean to me?"

[from_the_outside]

"Tell me."

She's greedy for it, for everything she can manage to take and give in return. She shivers again as he presses his mouth to her pulse point and grips her fingers lightly into his hair.

[nerves_of_ice]

"I would, but I don't think I have the right words." He trails soft, light kisses down to the curve where her neck meets her shoulder and lingers there too, teasing with lips and tongue. "Is it enough to know I adore you? That I don't want to be without you?"

[from_the_outside]

"None of it's ever enough."

She makes a small sound and shakes hard as he teases at the sensitive spot at the crook of her neck. "I can't get enough of you."

[nerves_of_ice]

He kisses her there again, then drops more kisses along her skin - to her collarbone, to the hollow of her throat, down to press a lingering kiss to her heart.

"Me, either," he whispers. "I love you, Sharon Carter."

[from_the_outside]

"I love you back."

She feels raw and torn open, everything sore and aching, and she never wants it to stop. Slipping her trembling fingers beneath his chin, she coaxes him to look up at her, to meet her eyes. "I love you back, Bucky Barnes."