[ WWII AU ] what a night to go dreaming

[from_the_outside]

There's no doubt that things have shifted, a little, since the day they spent tangled up together in that sun-dappled cottage, tucked away in the trees behind the nearby town. The other Howling Commandos have, seemingly by silent agreement, stopped flirting so outrageously with her, though she's caught Jim and Gabe giving Bucky more than one fondly exasperated glance. She still dances with all of them, and enjoys their company, but they yield the floor to Bucky at the end of the night, and he's the one who, as she said she wanted, walks her back to her tent. 

And then there are their rendezvous' out in the field, where she still checks, each night, for a portal opening in the air. It never comes, but she spends hours there with him, walking and laughing and dancing under the starlight, stealing every moment they can together.

Aunt Peggy says nothing, but Sharon knows she can tell things have changed. There's a worried frown that lives between her brows, but she doesn't forbid her niece to see Steve's best friend, knowing it would only backfire.

Other things change not at all... like the morning tests Howard still makes them do. They're nearing the end of the sequence today, and she lets go of Bucky when Howard tells her to, careful not to linger. It's difficult to say what Stark thinks of his findings; he mutters to himself and snaps at his assistants, but all she can glean from it is that the resonance is still fading at a regular rate from her cells.

But none of them know why.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

She smiles at him, small, and nods before striding to her tent and ducking inside.

She'd left everything neatly put away, thinking to make it easier on whoever would be cleaning up after her. Only a few things sit out: the outfit Aunt Peggy had bought for her, and the little ceramic star lamp Bucky had bought for her, sitting next to a small bunch of dried wildflowers. Tucked beneath it is a folded note she won't need to give to him after all.

Sharon considers the small pile of things, then turns her focus toward getting out of her SHIELD uniform. Boots, holster, belt, sidearm, and phone get set neatly aside before she skins out of the suit and folds it. She dresses once more in the skirted uniform she'd been wearing earlier, then collects the small pile of things and pushes back out of the tent and into the warm late summer night.

[nerves_of_ice]

There’s absolutely no reason for him to wait outside Sharon’s tent with Peggy and Steve now that they’ve escorted her there. All of them know it. No one says anything about it, although Peggy gives him a long look.

“Is Colonel Phillips waiting to hear tonight?” he asks, finally.

“Morning report was soon enough as long as nothing blew up, he said,” Steve tells him. “Figured I could swing by to see if he’s still working, though.”

[from_the_outside]

The three of them are in a loose cluster nearby, and Sharon quickens her steps, arriving in time to hear Steve's comment. "It's late, but I wouldn't be surprised," Aunt Peggy is telling him, before she turns to Sharon, taking in the SSR uniform and the pile of things in Sharon's hands with a quick, close glance as her niece holds them out.

"Will you hold onto these for me again, Aunt Peggy?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Of course I will,” Peggy confirms. She holds out her hands to accept the bundle. “I’ll put these away and go with Captain Rogers to see if the colonel’s available, then check back in on you, shall I?”

Bucky has to admire how deftly she lets them know how much time they have.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon nods, relieved to not have to come up with an excuse of her own. "Yes," she says. The words are simple but her eyes are full of gratitude.

"Thank you, Aunt Peggy." She looks to Steve. "Cap."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Agent Carter,” Steve says. He looks at Bucky; Bucky nods to him. Steve turns to Peggy. “When you’re ready, Agent Carter.”

[from_the_outside]

Aunt Peggy nods and turns to walk by Steve's side, and Sharon watches them go until they're out of earshot before she looks at Bucky.

"Well," she says, wry. "We probably aren't going to find much privacy in the field tonight."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Not tonight, no.” Bucky edges a step closer. “We could walk around the side of camp?”

[from_the_outside]

What she really wants is to bring him into her tent and tie the flap closed, but she knows he's not willing to do anything that might negatively impact her reputation.

Which she may actually have to start considering, herself, since she's here for the foreseeable future. What's happening, back home? How could Selvig not have figured out how to bring her back yet?

So she nods and shifts a little closer to him. "Okay."

[nerves_of_ice]

He offers her his arm, perfectly proper, and draws her near as he leads her on the path that circles the camp, heading for the far side of it.

“Have you ever been to London?” he asks, after wracking his brain for something to say.

[from_the_outside]

"Yes," she tells him, with a small smile as she tucks her arm into his. "A few times."

Visiting Aunt Peggy, or visiting with Aunt Peggy, for the most part. She glances over at him. "Have you been there? To the SSR headquarters?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods. “It’s underground, mostly, but it’s nice,” he reassures her. “Plenty of room. Safe. Even a direct hit won’t hurt it.”

[from_the_outside]

"One more thing I never thought I'd see," she says, a little wry, and glances at him.

"How long are you usually back there for?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Depends,” he says. “Sometimes we’re deployed like this, when there are several missions planned in an area. Sometimes we deploy from there, and then we’re at base longer.”

[from_the_outside]

She nods and keeps her arm in his as they stroll towards the outskirts of camp. This late, there aren't many soldiers or staff wandering around, and she's grateful for it.

"I guess we'll see."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Mm-hm.” He glances over at her. “Howard’s lab there’s pretty big,” he murmurs. “He’s got a lot more equipment. It’ll be okay, Sharon.”

[from_the_outside]

"It will be," she agrees, just as quiet. She's spent so long keeping her hopes up, believing Nick and Selvig would come through, or that Howard would. But if Howard Stark can't find a way to bring her back, who could?

Maybe she should leave a message in a bottle for Tony to find – not that he'd have any idea who she is.

As they step past the camp boundaries, she leans her head against his shoulder, tired down to her bones after weeks of keeping her head up and her thoughts optimistic. "One way or another."

[nerves_of_ice]

“That’s right.” He slips his arm around her back, keeping her close to his side and supporting her as they walk. This side of camp’s more open than the other, but there are a few places that are a little more sheltered.

“You’re not alone, baby.”

[from_the_outside]

"It's been a month, Bucky."

She murmurs it as she puts her arm around his back and tucks herself up close to his side. "It was bad enough saying all my goodbyes today. How much more will it hurt if I'm here for another month? Or two?"

Her voice is quiet, but every word is clear as she speaks them to him, like a confession. "And every day there's less resonance to work with. Even if they're still looking, back home, they might not be able to find me soon."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I can’t imagine they wouldn’t still be looking,” he murmurs. “If I lost Steve like that, I’d never stop, you know?”

He tightens his arm around her, spreading his fingers along her side. “And don’t worry about the resonance. It’s been longer than a month for me, and I’ve still got it. You have time.”

But it’s the other thing that he doesn’t have an answer for, and he knows it, and suspects she does too.

[from_the_outside]

"I don't have anyone like you and Steve have each other," she murmurs. "Someone who'd never stop looking."

Fury's a good boss, but he's not sentimental. She has to consider the possibility that he's decided to just stop, that it's a waste of resources trying to find her "Maybe they decided to cut their losses. Or maybe something happened to the lab the night the cube sent me back here."

The damn thing might have exploded, or sent everyone else to various points in history.

[nerves_of_ice]

“You could drive yourself crazy wondering,” he murmurs. “We’ll keep trying from this end. That much we can do something about.”

He turns his head to press a gentle kiss to her hair; they’re alone, there’s nobody to see. “In the meantime… you’ve got us. You’ve got me.”

[from_the_outside]

She smiles, slight, and closes her eyes as his mouth presses against her hair. "Who could ask for anything more?"

Her arm tightens around him. "I can't pretend I'm sad not to have to leave you behind."

[nerves_of_ice]

He glances around, then slows to a stop and turns toward her, taking her in his arms. “I’m sorry it didn’t work, but I’m glad you’re here with me now.”

[from_the_outside]

Sharon puts her arms around his neck, following his glance around. There's no one here, and she lets herself melt against him, tired and sore and frustrated, feeling guilty for how happy she is to still have him in her arms. "I know," she murmurs, and tips her face up to him.

"Kiss me, soldier boy. Looks like you get me for a little while longer."