[616] ground zero for trouble

[daughterofliberty]

"Remember, Nick," she calls, buckling the utility belt of her suit. "I've got years of vacation time saved up. You owe me. After this, I'm taking five whole days in Virginia with Steve, and no one is going to bother us. Right?"

Fury scoffs, and she turns a gimlet eye on him. "Right?"

"Right," he says, holding up his hands in surrender. "Hell, Carter, it's not like the rest of the Avengers and SHIELD aren't around to pick up the slack. Go! You crazy kids have fun. Send a postcard. Let your hair down a little. You've been tense as a wire ever since – "

"I wonder why," she snaps, and he shakes his head. 

"Just saying," he says, as Tony Stark sniggers behind him. Sharon waves them both off, an unruly smile tugging at her mouth.

"I'll check in once I've made contact," she says. "Steve should be waiting for me at the rendezvous."

"Good luck, Agent Carter," Tony says, and she tosses him a crisp half-salute, then heads through the hatch towards the hangar that holds her vehicle: not the Quinjet, not for a mission this small, but the cherry-red convertible that hovers as she enters and taps out the activation code. "Come on, baby," she tells it. "Let's go for a ride."

But when she reaches the rendezvous at Avengers Tower and strides through the door, Steve's nowhere to be seen. 

And, honestly? Neither is the Avengers Tower.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

"I know the feeling," he murmurs, gently, reaching to touch her hair for a second as beside him Natasha puts her arms around Alyona for a quick hug. He remembers what it felt like the first time to see Natasha again in person, standing there in the Wakandan sunshine; remembers what it was like to see Yelena walk in to the impossible place that they all three know, alive and free. "I've missed you too."

Both of them. He leaves it unsaid, and knows that Natasha will recognize the truth threaded through the words. As Yelena pulls back, Bucky finds a smile, and it's real and warm.

"Okay. I've got a few things for you that I think you'll like."

[marvel_npc]

By the time Bucky comes back with Nat and Yelena, Steve's deep in planning with the others, gathered around a projection map of the neighborhood around Selby's bar that Shuri's somehow called up and sent through for them. He makes room without needing to think about it as his best friend comes up on his left side, and goes right back to the discussion.

They've got a while to wait before nightfall. They'll need every minute.