[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

[from_the_outside]

His certainty is a sweet balm, and she doesn't know if she deserves even that, but she wants it anyway. She wants it to be true, for him to be right, that she hadn't wholly lost herself in Madripoor the way she thought she had.

"You reminded me of myself," she murmurs. "You brought me back to me. You remind me every day. I'm so grateful for that, Bucky."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sharon Carter," he tells her. Bucky leans in to give her a kiss. "My angel."

[from_the_outside]

"Yours," she agrees, and kisses him again, slow and thorough. "As long as you'll have me."

And past that, probably. If the last six years hadn't changed how she felt, she thinks probably nothing can.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Forever, then," he confirms, kissing her back and lingering over the feel of her mouth, the weight of her body in his arms. "I'll keep you forever."

[from_the_outside]

She smiles, sweet and warm, and kisses him again. "Okay," she murmurs, as easily as if he'd given her an option for dinner. "Forever, then."

For a moment, it unfolds in her mind, everything they'd ever dreamed about, and more. A little place in Brooklyn. Waking up to him every morning. Maybe, one day, a golden-haired baby with his eyes and her nose.

Things she hasn't let herself think about, and still doesn't. They pass in a flash of warmth and leave her here, in his arms, in this moment alone.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yes," he whispers, and kisses her once again, cherishing her. She's here, with him; neither of them are alone anymore.

[from_the_outside]

She makes a soft sound against his mouth and kisses him back, then pulls away with a deep breath.

"But we have to deal with Karli, first."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky sighs, very nearly echoing her, and forces himself to turn his thoughts to the problem.

"No word from Torres yet; no signs of activity among the Flag Smashers channels he's been monitoring. Anything from the tracker?"

[from_the_outside]

"He's on the move," she tells him, "but I'm not sure where yet."

She sits back in his lap, her arms loose about his neck. "Maybe we should be thinking about drawing them out."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky eyes her carefully.

"Drawing them out how?"

[from_the_outside]

She meets his gaze steadily.

"I could call her. Arrange a meeting."

[nerves_of_ice]

He forces himself not to reject the idea out of hand, but gives it careful consideration instead.

"With who? Where?"

[from_the_outside]

"With me."

She takes a careful breath. "You and Sam could surprise her. She wouldn't have any idea you'd be working with me."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gives her a steady look.

"But you wouldn't actually be intending to be there yourself, right?" he suggests.

[from_the_outside]

She frowns at him.

"Of course I'll be there."

[nerves_of_ice]

The steady look shifts into a deep scowl.

"No."

[from_the_outside]

She frowns harder at him.

"What do you mean, no?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I mean I don't see why you have to be there," he counters. "Set it up, yeah, that could work. But pinning a target on your back like that? No."

[from_the_outside]

"For one thing, she'd know something was up if I weren't there," she points out. "And you're crazy if you think I'm letting you and Sam do any of this without me."

[nerves_of_ice]

"She's going to suspect something's up anyway," he retorts, scowling harder. "Since you'd be here."

"I'm not saying you have to stay out of this, I'm saying there's no need for you to be in the literal line of fire."

[from_the_outside]

"Then I'll stay out of the line of fire," she says, peaceably. "But I'm coming. Whatever ends up happening."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'll talk to Sam." It's all he's willing to concede, and he sure as hell doesn't want her reaching out to Karli now. Maybe Torres will come up with something soon.

[from_the_outside]

She nods, her expression softening even as his scowl settles into the lines of his face.

"Okay," she murmurs, and smooths her thumb over the worry lines in his forehead. "Let me know what he says."

[nerves_of_ice]

She doesn't push it, and he's deeply, deeply relieved by that. Bucky draws a slow breath, allowing himself to just be quiet for a moment, feeling her touch.

[from_the_outside]

She draws her thumb over the curve of his eyebrow, then down over his temple.

"She's not going to take me away from you," she says, finally. "I won't let her."