[ WWII AU ] a ghost story

[from_the_outside]

It's been almost two years since she's been home, and little by little, the grief has gotten easier to live with.

It hasn't gone away. But she's able to focus on her job, watch movies, chat with friends, sleep most nights. She still dreams about him, but the dreams are tinged with wistful longing and only sometimes does she wake up with tears on her cheeks. She can't have his picture out in this apartment, Kate's apartment, but it's safe in the mountain house, along with his last letter to her, and she has a scan on her phone to look at when the long day is over and she's in bed, the stars from the lamp he'd given her filling her dark room.

Steve has helped, more than she could ever explain, and she hopes she's helped him in return. Aside from a few deeply classified missions here and there, they haven't worked together all that much, but she still sees him almost every day. In the halls, she's undercover as his mild-mannered neighbor, Kate, but in her secure apartment they can talk over anything, everything.

And it works. Every day is a little easier. They lean on each other when they need to, and they spend hours remembering and reminiscing about Bucky, talking shop, chatting about how Steve's fitting into the future. It's nice. She still misses Bucky, an ache that never really goes away, but they can both breathe through it, work through it, live through it.

She's on her way up from the basement laundry machines when she hears a familiar step in the hall, and has to smile to herself – first her own, then Kate's sweeter, more open one. "Hey, neighbor."

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[nerves_of_ice]

The corner of his mouth quirks just a little, rueful. "To the end of the line."

He can see Steve's beaten face under his fist if he closes his eyes. He can see the bruise at Sharon's temple, the tears in her eyes, the way she'd hung from the ropes he'd tied her with. He should keep resisting, keep pushing, insist that he leave. He's just not sure how, since he's not sure enough now that it'd be to their benefit--

(it'll hurt so much more)

--rather than for his.

Maybe in a day or two they'll change their minds, once they realize the full extent of the problem he represents. For now--

"Okay." Soft, but clear. "If you're sure. If you're both sure."

[from_the_outside]

Steve makes a sound and embraces his friend, and Sharon breathes, as evenly as she can, and lowers her forehead to his knee.

"Good," she murmurs. "Because we're sure."

[nerves_of_ice]

He lets himself lean into Steve's embrace, and hesitates only a second before he brushes his right hand very lightly over Sharon's hair.

Testing himself; testing them; maybe both things. It doesn't matter, he thinks.

[from_the_outside]

His hand is light as a breath over her hair, but she can feel it. And maybe he's not touching her the way he used to, but he isn't touching her to harm, to hurt, to subdue. Not anymore.

Her shoulders shift down with her breath, before she looks up at him, and smiles, a little. "Welcome home," she says, soft. "We missed you."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'm sorry," he whispers, still leaning into the curve of his best friend's arm as his gaze meets hers. What he says is meant for them both. "That it took me so long."

[from_the_outside]

"You're here," Steve says, steadfast. "That's what matters."

Sharon nods. Gently, she tips her head into his touch.

[nerves_of_ice]

"I guess I am." Very carefully, he pets Sharon's hair again, and looks from her to Steve.

"I don't know. What to ask." How to ask, anything, not to put too fine a point on it.

[from_the_outside]

"Maybe we don't need anymore questions for a while," Steve tells him. "We can tell you what's happened with us for the last few years, in a bit."

"I can go down to the village," Sharon murmurs. "Get some more food."

And give them a few moments to themselves.

[nerves_of_ice]

His glance swings back to Sharon with the precision of a rifle sight. "Is it safe?"

The question's absolutely serious.

[from_the_outside]

"Yes," she promises. "It's safe."

For her, anyway.

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods, and makes no further protest.

It's not his decision to make.

[from_the_outside]

"Okay."

The last thing she wants to do is move away from him, but Steve's here. She levers herself up to her feet and studies them both. "I'll be back soon."

[nerves_of_ice]

"We'll be here," Steve assures her. Bucky glances at his face on hearing the resolute firmness in his tone. "Both of us."

[from_the_outside]

"Good."

She gives them a last, lingering glance, then heads to the kitchen and the place where she'd put her phone and keys.

They'll be here. She believes that.