[ 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

[marvel_npc]

"I wish there were more I could do," Steve admits, but they both know the situation's a bad one. It's not even likely to improve if the experiment fails and Sharon stays. He knows how much Bucky wants her to be able to get home.

All he can do is offer them a little more time, while they pretend it's enough. "I'll talk to Howard after lunch. Don't worry about any of that."

[nerves_of_ice]

"If you're sure," Bucky says, starting toward the exit. "I have a feeling Peggy's going to be right there with you, though."

[marvel_npc]

"I think you're right."

They exit the tent together and Steve nods to the private outside, who comes to attention once more. "We'll get all the information from him, Bucky. I promise, we'll make it as safe as possible."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I know you will." His absolute faith in Steve comes through in his voice, although he doesn't realize it. "And I'm ready to do whatever it takes."

[marvel_npc]

"I know you are."

Bucky will break his own heart to get Sharon back home, and he'll do it without question or hesitation, Steve knows. It's all so sad, but this is wartime. Broken hearts and sad farewells are all too common, these days.

He steers the conversation towards a few lighter topics as they near the mess tent, and is grateful to see a few of the men already inside. They take over from him, teasing him lightly for his quiet and talking animatedly among themselves about the little day-to-day dramas of the camp.

Steve eats mechanically, his smile slight when it comes, and lets the conversation mostly swirl around him until Gabe's expression brightens and he waves a hand. "Agent Carter!" he calls. "Over here!"

It's both agents Carter, Steve sees, as he looks toward the entrance. They both look calm and composed, but he can't miss the way Sharon's glance goes straight to Bucky and holds.

Steve stands as the women come over, his own eyes fixed on Peggy, quietly concerned. "Ma'am."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Captain Rogers," Peggy greets him. Bucky can't read her as well as Steve can, or as easily as he's learning to read Sharon, but he thinks there's a flicker of worry there to match Steve's own, along with what he suspects is closely-held sorrow.

"Will you join us?" he asks, the words meant for both of them even though he's having a hard time looking away from Sharon. "There's plenty of room."

[from_the_outside]

"For a little while," Aunt Peggy tells him, and ushers Sharon forward as she continues. "I came to collect Captain Rogers, but it can wait until after we've all eaten."

There's a seat by Bucky, and she sinks into it, letting her knee brush his beneath the table as she sets her tray down. Sharon glances over her shoulder at him, smiling the crooked smile that's the best she can manage today.

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles back at her, and lets his knee press against hers in silent reassurance. "Yes, ma'am," he tells Peggy. "As I said to Cap earlier, I'm ready to help with whatever he - and you - find out."

"What's this?" Dugan wants to know, and Bucky manages to grin at him. "Howard's got another project in mind," he explains. "Means you and Jim are on point for the drill this afternoon."

[from_the_outside]

"He's always got something, our Mr. Stark," Dugan says, shaking his head. "We'll do the best we can without you, I suppose."

It's a small kindness from Steve and Aunt Peggy, she knows, and she's grateful for it, but she still has almost no appetite. She focuses on sipping at her coffee instead, listening as the men chat. "I suppose you'll be involved, too, Agent Carter?" Gabe asks her, and she nods, keeping her expression light.

"Yes, I will," she tells him. "Keep your fingers crossed he doesn't blow us all up, okay?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I do that all the time," Gabe assures her. "I've heard the stories."

"Scientists," Bucky says, lightly. "What're you gonna do?" Everyone groans in a semblance of agreement.

[from_the_outside]

"Speaking of," Aunt Peggy says, and stands, casting a glance at Steve. She hasn't eaten much, either, Sharon notices.

"If you have a moment, Captain?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Of course," Steve replies, rising immediately to his feet. "I'll see the rest of you at drills later."

Bucky looks back at Sharon. "I thought I'd do a walkthrough of the test site," he offers.

[from_the_outside]

"Good idea, Sergeant," she says, beyond grateful that he's found some excuse. "I'll come with you, if you don't mind."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not at all," he says, courteously. "I appreciate the assistance."

"Best get to it, then," Dugan drawls. "And boys, we'd better get to the training field, lest the Sarge start worrying that we've forgotten the way."

[from_the_outside]

She lifts her hardly-touches tray and joins the men as they clear away their own and jostle towards the exit, and then they're all out in the sun and fresh air and the Howling Commandos are calling farewells as they head towards the field, Steve and Aunt Peggy already out of sight.

Sharon looks up at Bucky, her hand itching to take his. "Shall we?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"This way, Agent Carter," he murmurs, perfectly polite. He hasn't done anything that would let anyone in camp think anything improper of her, and he intends to keep that up, no matter how much he wants to ignore anyone around them right now.

At least it's not far to the field where she'd appeared from nothing. He could make the walk in his sleep by now.

[from_the_outside]

She doesn't relax as the camp fades away around them, replaced by trees and the path to the field, but something shifts in the way she holds herself between the moment they're still in view of the camp and the one when they step into the shade and are alone.

In the next second, she's lacing her fingers with his, her voice quiet. "I'm sorry," she murmurs.

[nerves_of_ice]

He wraps his other arm around her, drawing her close. "Don't be," he whispers back. "I understand, angel. I do."

[from_the_outside]

"I know you do," she promises. Her free arm goes tight around his middle and she presses herself against him. "But I'm sorry anyway. I don't want you to be hurt."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I don't want you to be hurt, either," he points out. Bucky lowers his face to the golden cloud of her hair and just breathes. "I know you miss your home. The rest of your family. And I know you need to get back to your team, too."

They'll be searching for her still, he's sure, probably going out of their minds with worry. How can he hope that their pain continue?

[from_the_outside]

She closes her eyes and nods. He's right, of course. And she'd be lying if, beneath the ache, she weren't feeling a buzz of excitement, of hope. She's tried to quash it as much as possible over the weeks that she's been here, but knowing that it might be within her grasp to get home has every nerve abuzz, her stomach tying itself in knots.

She wants to go home. But she doesn't want to lose him. "It'll be all right," she tells him, trying to believe it herself. "Whatever happens."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It will." He puts as much certainty as he can manage into his voice. Bucky squeezes her hand, then lets go and curves his fingers around the nape of her neck and tries to coax her to tilt her head and look up at him, even as he tightens his embrace with his other arm.

"It'll be all right, Sharon. It will. And I don't regret this, between us. Not even a little. I can't."

[from_the_outside]

She looks up at him, her now free hand going to his side. "I don't, either," she says, fiercely stubborn. "I've loved every second I got with you."

And she wants more, but she's always wanted more. So does everyone. How many people get even a fraction of what they've been given?

[nerves_of_ice]

"Every second," he whispers, and kisses her - gently, careful not to muss her lipstick. "Every single one. Each moment. Every dance."

He punctuates everything he says with light kisses, then looks down into her eyes.

"All of it. All of you."

[from_the_outside]

She nods, her heart in her throat, and reaches up to smooth the wave of his hair, her fingers light against his cheek.

There's still some time. They don't have to say goodbye yet. And this is a last-ditch experiment, the chances that it will work have to be slim in the extreme.

But she wants him to be certain, anyway. "All of you," she murmurs back, and lifts up to press her lips almost chastely to his. "You're everything I've ever wanted and more, sweetheart."