[Ohio AU] the heart of winter

[nerves_of_ice]

Coulson had been called away on something for Fury before they'd gotten more than halfway to wherever his locker is and the set of trading cards stored within it. Without anything else to do, Bucky makes his way back to the quarters he's been given. It's either that or explore the rest of the helicarrier on his own, and that seems like something that can wait safely enough.

He swings by the mess on the way back. As he'd suspected, it's not placed too far distant from what serves as a commissary on this boat. He requisitions a couple of notebooks, a couple of pencils and pens and takes it all with him.

Might as well start with a report on the other Soldiers, he decides. That's likely to be more important in the immediate future than anything else.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

Her smile softens, and she lifts her other arm to settle her hand on his chest (it hurts too much to reach up and put it around his neck). "If you keep holding onto me like this, it's going to make passing on the intel a little awkward."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Should I apologize?" he asks, honestly uncertain. It seems like she's teasing him, but she might not be, judging from the gentleness in her smile.

"Or how about I invite you to sit down instead. Make yourself comfortable."

[from_the_outside]

She shakes her head, sending waves of her hair tugging over her shoulders. "Don't apologize."

Why would he, when this is exactly where she's wanted to be since before they left the house this morning? Sharon watches him for a moment, then pushes up in the circle of his arm, tipping her face up to brush a kiss over his lips.

[nerves_of_ice]

His breath catches in his throat and his arm around her waist tightens as he leans into her and kisses her back.

[from_the_outside]

They have to talk about Siberia, and make plans, and she's got plenty to ask him about, but it can all wait for a long, lingering moment as she makes a small sound and slides her hand up to cradle his cheek, savoring this kiss.

[nerves_of_ice]

He tilts his head into her hand, craving her touch and deepening their kiss in the same moment before it breaks.

"Sharon." A single breath, a whisper that trembles, and he kisses her again.

[from_the_outside]

She smiles against his lips as she falls into his kiss again, willing and warm, kissing him back for another long moment where her heart skips and quickens. "If we keep this up, we're gonna end up doing mission planning in bed," she murmurs. "Not that I'm against that, but I figured I should probably point it out."

[nerves_of_ice]

He holds her to him and leans his forehead against hers for a moment. "Mission planning first. You wouldn't want to be distracted."

Bucky makes himself let go and takes a prudent step back to draw out the desk chair for her.

[from_the_outside]

She scrunches up her nose at him, breathless and amused. "Spoilsport."

But she does take the chair and sits, leaning forward to lace her fingers together on the desk. "First things first. Several of the lab techs told us the Siberia facility has largely been shut down. If there are personnel still there, it's a skeleton crew."

She takes a breath, lets it out. "And as far as they knew, the other soldiers... they're still in cryo."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I've been called worse." He moves to lean against the wall across from her.

Bucky stays silent for several seconds, considering that. "Looks like Karpov really did mean to shut the program down with the sale."

[from_the_outside]

She nods. "Seems that way. And if the intel is accurate... and I think it is, since we got it out of multiple informants... we should be able to manage with just a small strike team. You, me, Tony... maybe one or two more."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods back, in agreement with her observation. "Will your Director want to be part of it?"

That could cause more problems than it solves, but he doesn't know the man well enough yet to say.

[from_the_outside]

"Not as one of the boots on the ground," she tells him. "But he damn sure wants to be involved in planning... especially when it comes to what we should do with the other soldiers."

[nerves_of_ice]

His expression shutters and he lets it, even as he nods. What Fury ends up wanting to do there will tell him a lot that he’s going to need to know.

He trusts Sharon. She’s more than earned his trust. He’s not going to stop doing that now.

“Okay.” A breath. “Coulson maybe. And Natasha. Him because he keeps his head and handles things well in the field. Her because of her background and skill set. Unless there are specific others you’d recommend.”

[from_the_outside]

Those soldiers are a hell of a liability. She's grateful he doesn't ask her what she thinks should be done about them, because she's not sure she'd have an answer for him. They're people who deserve to live, but would it even be possible to rehabilitate them? Would they just be another target, another threat?

She's got no idea, but she'd better figure it out, and soon. Nick will want her opinion.

She nods to the rest of his assessment. "Coulson would be good. And Nat." There's a moment, and she adds: "I might suggest Hawkeye, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I don’t know who that is, but that’s some name.” Bucky cocks his head to the side a little as he studies her.

“Sniper?”

[from_the_outside]

"Something like that. He's the one who helped Nat when she defected." Sharon studies him, where he's leaning against the wall, and decides to deal with this elephant before it takes up the whole room.

"I didn't realize how close the two of you had been."

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn't pretend not to know what she's talking about.

"Natasha, you mean. Natalia Alianovna." A slow breath, in and out. "Yes. She's the one I mentioned before."

[from_the_outside]

Despite the seriousness of the topic, she smiles a little, amused. "Yeah. I picked up on that."

Not that it would take a secret agent to have figured it out. "You two were together?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods. "For a while. It didn't end well. As you heard."

It's hard to sort out what he feels about Natasha now, in light of the revelation that she'd looked for him, but one thing he knows for certain.

"It's good she got out. I'm -- "

He has to fight the conditioning to say it since it's his own opinion, but it's true, and it's important, and important for her to know, which gives him the impetus he needs to crack the restriction. "-- glad. Glad that she has a better life now."

[from_the_outside]

Her expression softens, another small smile pressing into her lips. "I bet you are."

Just like she's sure Nat's glad he's out, and safe... or as safe as he can be. She wets her lips with the tip of her tongue and asks: "Do you want me to back off, now that you two have a chance to reconnect?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He straightens against the wall in shock, coming off of it and freezing at near-attention as he stares at her.

"What?"

[from_the_outside]

She doesn't flinch, just gives him a faintly exasperated look. "Come on, you heard me."

Is it really that much of a surprise? She finds it hard to believe the thought hasn't crossed his mind at all. "Bucky, you've only known me a couple of days. If you wanted to spend time with her like you used to, I'd get it. You know I would."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I know you would, but--" The words die in his throat.

Bucky swallows, once and then again, trying to make his voice work.

[from_the_outside]

She knows he has a hard time articulating things, wanting things. This may well be an impossible question for him.

But it's something they both — all three of them, really — deserve to know. "Maybe you should think about it."