[ Brooklyn ] a new beginning

[from_the_outside]

Going down to DC has been a much easier prospect ever since she bought the condo and had it furnished (and adapted) to her specifications. It gives them a place to settle that isn't the hotel; a place that's theirs, that feels like home. There are cat toys and a tree for Alpine and dog toys for the little gray bully who'd moved directly into their hearts and home, and it's lighter and airier than the Brooklyn apartment but feels just as much like home.

Because he's there. That's the secret ingredient.

She wakes up slow, light diffused through the white linen shades she'd had installed in their bedroom, and rolls over to find Bucky's side of the bed still warm but rumpled and empty.

A deep breath in, and she rubs at her eyes, stretching over the bed to eye the door and the sounds beyond it. "Baby?" she calls. Her voice is gritty with sleep, and she takes a second to clear it. "Are you heading out for a run?

Comments

[from_the_outside]

She sets her phone down and takes a long, slow sip of her coffee, turning all her focus toward his question.

"Val's a pretty tough nut to crack. Even for someone with extensive resources."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Figured." The water shuts off. Bucky wanders back out with a towel wrapped around his waist and goes to the closet.

"I just keep remembering what Yelena said. I don't like the idea that she's trying to run people in the shadows."

[from_the_outside]

"Neither do I." And that's coming from someone who spent years running people in the shadows, from the island of darkness that is Madripoor.

She studies him over her coffee. "I have a few connections close to her. I could start having them pay closer attention."

[nerves_of_ice]

He chooses a blue shirt and jeans and gets dressed with efficient movements. "I hate to ask you to do that." Bucky reclaims his coffee and comes to sit on the bed by her.

"I feel like I should be doing more."

[from_the_outside]

She shifts to give him room, half-turning in bed to look over at him, curious.

He hasn't done much in the way she thinks he means since Sam and Karli and everything that happened after Walker got the shield... but Yelena showing up at Christmas, and what had happened with Clint, had rocked him. "Like what?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"That's the thing. I'm not sure yet." He's stalling, a little, and he knows it and knows that she's sharp enough to pick up on it.

"It's kind of hard to put into words." He leans over to give her a quick kiss. "For now - want me to make breakfast?"

[from_the_outside]

Her thoughtful look gets interrupted by his kiss, and she pushes him back, laughing.

"Yes, I do. I'll be out in a couple of minutes, okay?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sounds good." Bucky grins at her and gets to his feet. He chuckles at Backup, napping in his dog bed, and walks out to the kitchen.

The sound of him rummaging in the cabinets and the fridge draws Alpine's attention and it's not long before he has a curious cat on his shoulders. "French toast, Al. You don't like that. We've tried."

[from_the_outside]

The considering expression drifts back over her face as she watches him walk away, but she shakes it off after a moment and pushes the sheets back to get out of bed.

A few moments later, she's tying her hair up into a ponytail as she comes into the kitchen, dressed in jeans and a striped top. "He might like the eggs," she laughs. "And he'd definitely like the milk. It wouldn't like him, though."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Never stops him from trying." Alpine stretches out his neck, sniffing, and Bucky turns his head to nudge the little cat in the shoulder. "Behave, buddy. You can do it, I know you can."

[from_the_outside]

"Some of us are less sure," Sharon says, amused, and comes to retrieve the little white cat from Bucky's shoulders, cuddling him close.

"By the way, baby, I was thinking it might be nice to run down to Richmond and check in with my parents while we're down here. What do you think?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I think that sounds like a great idea." And one that might give him another opportunity he's been waiting on the right moment for.

"Why don't we make a weekend of it at your mountain house, and see if they want to come down there?"

[from_the_outside]

"I think they'd love that," she agrees. Just the thought coils a little ball of warmth in her stomach.

"We should definitely do it. I'll give my mom a call later and see if they're free."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It's a plan." He slides the French toast onto plates and sets the skillet off the heat before picking them up.

"Table or counter?"

[from_the_outside]

"Table," she decides, and leans down to set Alpine on the floor before going to get silverware and a pair of napkins.

"May as well pretend we're civilized people for a little while longer."

[nerves_of_ice]

He laughs. "If you say so."

Bucky takes the plates over to the table and catches Alpine before the cat can jump up to investigate. "Come on, buddy. I'll get you a snack of your own, how about that?"

[from_the_outside]

"He is gonna get so spoiled," she comments, but there's no heat to it as she brings their coffees over, too, setting Bucky's by his plate before she takes her seat.

"And if we're bringing him and Backup, we'll have to warn my parents first so they can put anything breakable away."

[nerves_of_ice]

He winces, even as he sets out a few treats in Alpine's dish on the counter and leaves the little cat to it.

"Sorry about that."

[from_the_outside]

"It'll be fine," she promises. "My parents like pets. And Backup can run around outside as much as he wants, he'll love that."

[nerves_of_ice]

"We can take him for a trail hike," he suggests. Bucky joins her at the table and reaches for his coffee. "While Al takes a nap."

[from_the_outside]

"So, at any point of any day," she laughs, and picks up a fork to dig into her breakfast.

"Good. I have a feeling we're going to want to get out of the city for a while after the next day or so."

[nerves_of_ice]

He lowers his coffee and looks at her over the top of it.

"We are? Why's that?"

[from_the_outside]

She frowns at him, skeptical.

"Didn't you say you wanted to find a way to get eyes on Val? Don't you think you'll be ready for a break after having to deal with her after a couple of days?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He gives her a rueful look. "Well, yes. Sorry, I thought you might be talking about something else that needs dealing with."

[from_the_outside]

"Nothing more annoying than her." Sharon cuts off another corner of toast and lifts it to her mouth, still thinking.

"Have you heard from Yelena at all lately?"