[Leipzig AU] you shall possess the good of the earth and sun

[from_the_outside]

The surgery goes so well and so easily it's almost a non-event. The longest part is the few hours Bucky spends after the removal of the shattered metal joint sleeping in the lab as his shoulder heals at an exponentially faster rate than usual. By the time Sharon comes from her morning with Ross and T'Challa to pick him up from the lab, he's awake and alert, his shoulder neatly covered with a black pad that straps across his chest.

"Hi," she greets him, strolling into the medical recovery area of the lab with a smile, dressed casually and comfortably in the light clothes Nakia left for her. "You look great. How do you feel?"

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

“Yes.” Simply said, with a depth of feeling that goes all the way to his bones.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more at peace.”

[from_the_outside]

She curls her fingers around his and strokes her thumb over his knuckles. "Good."

If anyone deserves peace, it's him. "I'm really glad to hear that."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Maybe you’ll get a chance to get to know Wakanda without all the excitement,” he says, a little dryly. “I bet Nakia would jump at the chance to show you around.”

He can still hear T’Challa’s quiet plea to the other woman, can still see the way she smiled and he smiled in return. He’s so happy for them both, and the more Nakia can do from here, the better it’ll be.

[from_the_outside]

"I bet you're right."

Nakia's so happy to be home, and though Sharon's not sure yet what T'Challa had in mind for her to be able to stay and follow her calling at the same time, she knows Nakia's likely to take it. "I'll be so nice for her not to always feel torn in two all the time."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Mm-hm.” Very, very soft. Almost absently, he starts running his hand up and down her back.

[from_the_outside]

She makes a soft, contented sound and lets her eyes drift closed as she relaxes, feeling perfectly warm and safe and protected. All of this seems like an impossible dream, but he's right here with her, solid and real, and all she wants to do is savor it.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sleep if you want," he murmurs. "It's nice here."

[from_the_outside]

"Sounds boring for you," she points out, but she doesn't open her eyes. After everything from the last month, she's exhausted. She feels like she could easily sleep for a week.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not even a little," he assures her.

[from_the_outside]

"Oh yeah?"

She cracks an eye open and glances at him, teasing. "You don't mind being a glorified pillow?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles down at her, and it's warm and sweet and quietly content.

"Not even a little," he repeats, amused.

[from_the_outside]

"You sap," she says, deeply affectionate, and leans to kiss his neck, gentle and sweet.

"I really like you a lot, you know."

[nerves_of_ice]

"That's me," he agrees, easily.

"I had an inkling. Which is good, because I like you a lot, too."

[from_the_outside]

"Thank goodness you told me," she teases, nudging her head back into the crook of his shoulder and neck as she grins.

"You play it very cool."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Do I?" he murmurs, as he turns his face into her hair. "Too cool?"

[from_the_outside]

"I don't know about too cool," she muses, resting her palm on his chest and running her thumb back and forth across his shirt.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Hm." He breathes in her sun-warmed scent, slow and deep, and places a light kiss on the crown of her head.

"Well, you shouldn't have any doubts."

[from_the_outside]

"Duly noted," she tells him, drowsy and amused.

Yelena will be disappointed, but Sharon can live with that.

[nerves_of_ice]

He holds her a little closer as she relaxes against him, warm and alive and safe.

"Good," he murmurs.

[from_the_outside]

She holds onto the reminder her thought had given her, though her mind is starting to loosen its hold on complete consciousness.

"You should give Nat a call soon," she murmurs. "Yelena, too. They'd want to know about your arm."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I will," he says, softly. "Later. Steve may have told Natasha already, but you're right - they'd want to know. Probably."

[from_the_outside]

"They'd definitely want to know," she tells him. "But I agree with 'later.'"

There's time. For the first time since she met him, they have time to spare.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Definitely later. Otherwise Yelena might try to hitch a ride with Steve."

He sounds very wry about that.

"Besides, there's no need to move right now."

[from_the_outside]

The mental image of Steve and Yelena in the Quinjet together -- potentially with Tony Stark, too -- makes her laugh aloud.

"Suits me fine," she says, and shifts to relax a little more against him. "Are you comfortable, baby?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"See?" he asks, at her laughter. "Exactly."

He runs his hand up and down her back once more, then puts his arm further around her and rests his hand at her hip.

"I am. Are you?"