[oom] the rest of you, the best of you, honey, belongs to me

[from_the_outside]

It's been a little over a month since Bucky brought her to that training space and told her he was making good on his promise; a little longer since she's met Ayo for an hour a day to spar and train and meditate and learn. In that time, Shuri's updated her suit and Bucky's prototype arm, and Nakia's successfully launched the first of her outreach centers in the place where a young N'Jadaka had once had his whole world shattered.

Ayo prefers to train with her either early in the morning or late in the cool of the evening. Today was the latter, and steam is lifting off Sharon's shoulders as she walks back from the Citadel, her hair a sweat-damp mess in a ponytail, her muscles aching pleasantly. 

She's back on top. Between Bucky and Ayo, she's faster now than she ever has been; more adaptive, more thoughtful about her approach. She still can't beat Bucky one on one, but Ayo had tested her against Aneka, another Dora, recently, and she'd more than held her own. She's flexible and strong and her cardio hasn't been this good in years.

More than that, she's happy, the way Bucky wanted her to be. She has some direction, and that's all she really needed. What she'll do with it is the next step, but she's not quite there yet. For now, she strolls down the path toward the hut by the lake where she's been more or less living with him, the sunset light just now dying from the sky. She's so lost in her thoughts it takes her a second even to realize that there's a buzzing coming from the pocket of her tote bag.

And it's not like she was expecting a call, anyway. Who would it even be from?

Comments

[from_the_outside]

When she wakes up, it's full, bright morning and she's alone in her bed. She really must have been out not to wake up when Bucky left.

After getting dressed, she wanders through the Citadel until she finds Nakia, but her friend only shakes her head when asked about 'Green.' Nothing of that name has appeared in anything related to Wakanda or vibranium, and anyone Nakia can think of who might have had contacts in that life – Klaue, Killmonger – are all dead.

Sharon goes from Nakia back out to the path that leads to the lake, thinking. She'll see what Fury's planning, she decides, and then she and Bucky together can determine whether or not it's a good fit for her. If it's short – a few days, at most – and if she's careful, it might not be too big of a risk.

[nerves_of_ice]

He's finished stacking the wood by the hut, borrowed a cart and piled it with the rest for later delivery, and is deep in the middle of using a scythe to mow the hillside that'd been left to grow long to provide hay for the goats in winter.

It's just as well it's a hand scythe. It lets him relieve stress with each sweep.

[from_the_outside]

She smiles as she comes down the path and sees him working, the sunlight glinting off both the scythe and his vibranium arm. "Hey," she calls, dropping her tote by the hut and strolling over towards the meadow.

"You're getting pretty good at that."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It just takes practice." He knows it's meant to be more than just harvest, too, given what Shuri had said about giving him experience at using a blade for purposes other than killing. "It's weirdly soothing."

Bucky braces the end of the scythe against the ground and gives her a once over. "Did you sleep okay? You were pretty out of it when I left."

[from_the_outside]

"Pretty well, considering how much coffee I drank."

She slips her hands into her pockets and wanders closer. "I talked to Nakia for a second. She said the War Dogs hadn't heard anything about any 'Green.'"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Damn." Two strikes, he thinks. "Fury's not going to like hearing that."

[from_the_outside]

"No, probably not."

Not that he'd asked her for more intel than she could think of off the top of her head, but still, she hates disappointing him. "I figured, when we call him, we can try to get an idea of exactly what he's trying to do with all this."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods. "The more information you can get from him, the better."

Especially before making any offers, although he's careful not to say that.

"When do you want to call?"

[from_the_outside]

"Sometime soon."

Fury's a patient man, but he won't wait forever, and this trail is already cold as ice. "Whenever you're ready."

[nerves_of_ice]

"No time like the present." He hoists the scythe to his shoulder; the hay he's already cut needs to dry before he can rake and bale it anyway.

"Come on. Let's go back to the hut." The last thing they need is one of the kids showing up in the middle of this conversation.

[from_the_outside]

She falls into step beside him, heading back to the hut. Once there, she heads to put the water on for coffee, the routine so engrained after the months of living here that she barely notices doing it, then takes her phone and sets it on the table.

[nerves_of_ice]

He leaves the scythe outside and makes sure the door is latched before he joins her. On noticing she's put the water on, he goes to pull down two mugs and the press.

"Coffee first, then call?" he suggests.

[from_the_outside]

"Sounds great."

She takes out the coffee and hands it to him, then goes to retrieve the milk and sugar for her mug. "What else do you think we should ask him?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He concentrates on measuring out the coffee into the press, with great deliberation.

"If you're going to offer to help, I think it'd be a good idea to know about what kind of backup and support he'd be providing."

[from_the_outside]

"That would definitely be good to know," she agrees. "Along with where exactly this mission would be taking place, how long it would be, and what the goal is."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yes. To all of those." Bucky sighs, sets the coffee press down and the coffee aside, and turns to face her.

"I'll back your play, Sharon. However you want to make it." It's quiet and steady.

[from_the_outside]

"I know you will."

She watches him from across the little space, her expression open and understanding. "I also know you don't like the idea much."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I think what I really don't like is that I ..." His words trail off for a second, but he makes himself draw a slow breath and continue.

"That it's more than likely I won't be able to be there with you."

There. It's out, hanging in the air between them, and he waits to see how she reacts to that.

[from_the_outside]

"Maybe not," she agrees, but her voice is soft. "But we'll still try to find a way."

There might not be one, and in the they may both need to come to terms with that. "Plan A, you come with me. Plan B... maybe you're at a secure location nearby. Plan C, maybe I'm in contact with you here."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods. They'll have to see. Himself aside - and even as he thinks it he can see Shuri's expression - himself aside, he owes too much to everyone who's done so much for him to put them at risk.

Any of them. Sharon included.

"Anyway, I just... needed to say that," he murmurs. "But I'm not going to stand in the way of what you need. Or want."

Or both.

[from_the_outside]

"I know you won't."

She comes over to him, setting her hands lightly on his chest. "You never have, you've always had my back. Just remember I need and want you, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

The corner of his mouth quirks up in a half-smile as he sets his hands at her waist. "You have me."

[from_the_outside]

"You have me back," she promises, and smiles up at that quirk of his lips, then leans up to kiss him as the water starts bubbling.

[nerves_of_ice]

He kisses her back, slow and sweet, then pulls back and goes to rescue the water before it can boil over.

Bucky pours it into the press and eyes it critically.

[from_the_outside]

She takes a seat at the table and watches as he makes the coffee, leaning her chin on her hand, her eyes bright. If nothing else comes of this phone call, she'll have this, and him, and that's more than enough, no matter what, she reminds herself.

"Maybe I should give you another trim," she says, eying his hair critically. "You're looking a little shaggy, there, White Wolf."