Sharon Carter is a super spy (exshieldagent) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-02-10 20:09:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, aramis, sharon carter |
Who: Sharon and Aramis (and Viv).
What: Finding a quiet moment during holidays.
When: Dec. 23.
Where: The home of Aramis and Porthos.
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete
Aramis had been expecting madness when his family had said they were coming out to Orange County this year. He hadn’t quite realized just how crazy it would be. For some reason, it never seemed this bad when it was held across the country at his parents’ home. Maybe it was because his parents had family holidays down to an art. Aramis had only ever helped - but he’d never hosted. And he had a lot of family, and a lot of friends he and Porthos considered family. Somehow they managed to keep the plates all spinning, but Aramis needed a moment or two or he was going to have a mental snap.
It wasn’t even Christmas yet. The thought made him shudder.
A bit after supper, when the house was full and people were mingling and winding down, he found a chance to slip outside. The snow was on the ground but it wasn’t too cold, all things considered, so with a light coat he didn’t mind standing out back. He didn’t bring his cigarettes, though, and that was sad, so he debated the merits of running back inside to grab them.
Sharon was lucky in that she could just go home when things got a bit crazy at Aramis and Porthos’s place. Then again, her parents were staying with her and Veronica (well, mostly Sharon, since Veronica was spending most of her time with Logan and/or with her dad, leaving Veronica’s bedroom for Sharon’s mom and dad) so it was hard for Sharon to find a moment’s peace. She was thankful to have work, to have nursing time with Viv (which she preferred to do in private, but would pretty much do anywhere) and errands. It gave her a few minutes to breathe when things got hectic.
That and kissing random strangers-who-weren’t-exactly-strangers…
She was sitting in one of the deck chairs, wrapped in a blanket, with the baby sleeping against her breast. It was a beautiful evening, and Sharon just couldn’t bring herself to go inside. Though the baby wasn’t nursing anymore, she was still pressed with her face against Sharon’s skin. They were keeping each other warm. Sharon broke into a smile when she saw Aramis emerge from the house.
“You look tired.” Her voice came from behind him. Had he known she was going to be there?
It wasn’t a common thing for Aramis not to be aware of his surroundings. His line of work and leading, essentially, a double life had groomed him to know what was happening around him. In his defense, his senses were in overdrive lately, and he’d been so focused on some quiet that he hadn’t stopped to even think someone might also have thought the same.
But he didn’t jump. Aramis wasn’t a flincher.
He turned and smiled, warm and sincere. “I feel worse than I look. If you can believe it.” Walking over, he took a seat next to her, reaching over to smooth a finger over Viv’s fuzzy hair. “For some reason I thought you’d left, but it seemed strange to me you wouldn’t come say goodbye.”
“I believe it,” Sharon said, playfully. She watched him move over, and then shifted just a fraction of an inch to the side to make room so he could sit. She shrugged one shoulder gently. “You always look amazing, so…” A grin crossed her features. “Aramis, you know me better than that. I can’t go without getting a goodbye hug from my best guys.” Aramis was a good hugger, but Porthos gave the best ones in the whole damn world.
“Oh, stop, you’ll make me blush.” But Aramis was grinning, clearly fine with the compliment. He smoothed out his mustache for extra effect, then laughed. “So you can see why I thought it was strange to think you’d left. But when you do decide to go, you’d better give my mother a hug as well. She likes you. The whole bunch likes you, obviously.”
Now it was Sharon’s turn to blush. She nodded softly. “I like them, too. Amazing how I sort of… inherited a whole family. There’s no way I’d leave without… well, I guess I’ll just have to say goodbye to everyone. It might take an hour, but I’ll do my best.” The baby was out cold now, not even attached anymore, so Sharon reached a hand over to cover herself up and settle Viv in her arms. She was going to miss nursing when that time came.
“...I have a question for you, actually, I… You remember how I signed up for that dating website? I’ve been thinking it’s probably time to go out on some dates, and… I met someone that I think I might like to go out with.” Sharon wanted to make sure that if she was to get serious with someone, it was a man that Aramis knew well enough to trust being around Viv.
“Better to suffer the hour than not. My family is remarkably good at holding grudges.” It was mostly teasing. Aramis himself had inherited that trait, and he’d found, since his last bout of dreams, that his suspicious nature and slightly colder traits were creeping into his life more and more. Which was the last thing he wanted to think about, but when Sharon brought up the subject of going on dates, his wariness kicked in.
Aramis trusted Sharon about as much as he could trust anyone. She had a good head on her shoulders, and took charge of her life. She wouldn’t go on a date with just anyone. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t thoroughly background check them. This mystery man was going to be around his daughter, after all. “I’m glad. Honestly. You deserve the happiness.”
Sharon would be surprised, and, honestly, a little disappointed if Aramis didn’t thoroughly vet any of her prospective boyfriends. Besides, a second set of eyes--especially one not clouded by emotion and hormones--was a good thing. He could see clearly where Sharon might not. It’d been a long time since she’d dated. Since well before Viv, and her last sort-of-boyfriend couldn’t handle things. Sharon was guarded, but hopeful.
“Thank you,” she blushed a little. “He’s in my Dream World, though we’ve never met in person. He’s a bit of a legend, really, and if he’s anything like he is in my Dreams, he’s one of the best men ever.”
“It sounds as if he’s got quite a resume, then.” Aramis raised his eyebrow. He knew what Sharon’s dream world was full of - superheroes and great men. That also meant a lot of bad to balance out all that good, so his suspicion didn’t entirely go away. “And, speaking from experience, having someone that shares your dreams is going to be the best perk. He’ll understand what you go through when you have ones that feel more like nightmares.”
“I feel like I’ve dreamed all of my dreams. My story just sort of… started anew, and then stopped.” Sharon explained. “Everything I’ve had in the last… I don’t know. Six months? At least six months… has been a repeat. But I want to be there for him when he dreams the bad stuff.” She admitted it with a blush on her face. Talking about Bucky was nice. It was probably obvious to Aramis--more than obvious--she was smitten.
“Now that is a feeling I understand, too.” Aramis smiled at her blush and shrugged. Porthos had a lot coming to him, if he followed the same road that Aramis did. He wasn’t the best at comforting people but he could try. “But just to be safe, I’m gonna look into this guy. It’s sort of my duty.”
Sharon gave a little chuckle. “I’d be a little disappointed if you didn’t.” She paused. “It’s not like I can do it myself, you know. I’ll be interested to hear if anything… out of the ordinary… comes up. You’ll have to keep me posted.”
“Sharon, you have no idea how good I am at finding out things about people.” Aramis winked, then stood up. “I should get back inside before they notice I’m missing in action. Don’t forget to say goodbye before you go!” Leaning over, he pressed a kiss to Viv’s head and one to Sharon’s cheek, then took a breath of courage before heading back inside.