[oom] all those times we looked up at the sky

[from_the_outside]

Karli's on the move; she'll strike soon. Bucky and Sam have been in long, tense conversations with each other and with Torres, and she herself has been keeping an obsessive eye on the tracker blip that is Batroc.

It's a lot. The air in the apartment is tense. But she still has to laugh at the sight that greets her when she walks into the living room: Bucky crouched down, his phone out as he takes a photo of Alpine, who is lounging in lazy grandeur, soaking up a puddle of sunshine.

"That'll be a good one," she approves. "Baby, I've been wondering – what happened to your nice camera? You didn't leave it in Wakanda, did you?"

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

He attempts to look up without moving his head, suspicious of the fond mischief in her smile, then gives up and leans into her touch.

"I'm glad."

[from_the_outside]

The look she gives him is all innocence as he rolls his eyes up, trying to see, before she smiles again and runs her hand down along the line of his neck.

"Me, too," she says, softly. "You make me so happy."

[nerves_of_ice]

"My angel," he murmurs, watching her. "You're everything to me."

[from_the_outside]

How Steve could leave him behind, she honestly has no idea at all. The very thought of it makes her want to cling to him so tightly it would be impossible to let go.

"Everything," she echoes, curving her hand to his cheek. "You're everything to me, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

He leans a little into her touch, then dips his head and presses a kiss to her shoulder.

"Sure I'm not too heavy? Are you warm enough?"

[from_the_outside]

"You're not too heavy," she reiterates, smiling, "and I'm plenty warm. But if you're worried about it, we can always roll over."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I just want you to be comfortable," he says, softly, watching her with an expression that's just as soft as his voice.

[from_the_outside]

She wraps both arms around his neck and draws him in for a gentle kiss.

"I'm comfortable," she promises. "I like how this feels. You make me feel safe."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles at that, liking the idea, and kisses her again.

[from_the_outside]

Really, there's nowhere safer she could be than tucked into his arms, with him between her and the rest of the world. She kisses him back, then chuckles as a light scratching sound comes at the door, accompanied by a plaintive miaow.

"Someone thinks we're taking too long," she murmurs.

[nerves_of_ice]

"It's a good thing he didn't try to interrupt us earlier," Bucky drawls. "I wouldn't have listened."

[from_the_outside]

"Are you going to listen now?" she asks, amused.

Probably. That cat has Bucky wrapped right around his paw.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gives a sideways glance to the door. "It's okay, buddy," he calls, then looks at Sharon.

"... unless you object?"

It's a little rueful.

[from_the_outside]

"I suppose I can share you with the cat," she says, magnanimously, and releases him from her arms.

[nerves_of_ice]

He leans down for another quick kiss before he pulls back from her and rolls to his feet. Completely unselfconscious, Bucky goes to the door and pulls it open for Alpine.

"Did you wonder where we were, buddy?" he asks, as the cat looks up at him, apparently trying to decide whether or not to enter. "Come on if you're coming."

He doesn't wait for Alpine to decide, but goes back to the bed where Sharon's waiting.

[from_the_outside]

She shifts to make room for him, nestling her head on the pillow, and laughs as Alpine leaps lightly to the foot of the bed to join them.

"Sorry, buddy," she tells the little cat. "Sometimes we need a little privacy."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky stretches out beside Sharon, and looks amused as Alpine sniffs at his ankle, then at hers, before trying to curl up on top of them both.

"That can't possibly be comfortable," he observes. "No matter how boneless he thinks he is."

[from_the_outside]

"He seems comfortable," she says, skeptical, as Alpine becomes a puddle of warm white fur that drapes itself over their ankles, promptly tucking his nose into his tail and falling asleep.

"Pretty sure cats are a liquid."

[nerves_of_ice]

"That'd explain a lot." Alpine starts purring with each sleepy breath, and Bucky laughs.

"He's gonna get mad when we get up." He considers that for a second. "If we get up."

[from_the_outside]

"That seems like a big 'if'," Sharon says. She's almost as relaxed as Alpine, warm and comfortable.

"Unless we get hungry, I don't see any reason to move at all."

[nerves_of_ice]

"There's that," he agrees, and brushes a hand lightly over her hair. "Sorry about dinner."

[from_the_outside]

"I'll overlook it this one time," she says, magnanimous, and lets her eyes close as he runs his hand over her hair. "But you're on notice, Sergeant."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yes, ma'am," he murmurs, and kisses her cheek, then tries to coax her to rest her head on his shoulder.

[from_the_outside]

She goes willingly, exhaling long and slow as she relaxes against him, almost as boneless as the cat snoring on their ankles.

"You don't want to get up, do you?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'm happy right here," he says, softly. It's truer than she may know; his heart's so full he can barely speak.