[WWII AU] a brand new day

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky wakes in the predawn darkness, long before reveille would normally be called. He spends a few minutes reviewing the mission in his head before he rolls from his cot; there's no room to think about anything else. He meets Steve and the rest of the Howling Commandos at five-fifteen. As planned, they're on the move before the hour has passed.

It's a long day, a hard day, but in the end a successful day, for the most part. The hidden facility carved into the hillside is no more when they leave, HYDRA's agents defeated, their stockpiles destroyed. But there's still no sign of Schmidt, nor of Zola, and that remains incredibly frustrating.

Still, there's reason to celebrate today's win, and the squad's more or less exuberant on their return, some fourteen or so hours later. Steve disappears into the command tent to debrief with Colonel Phillips; Bucky'll catch up with him afterward, as usual. He spends a few minutes trading quips with the others before disappearing to weapons storage to see to his own rifle - also as usual. Something about taking care of it helps him feel like he's cleaning the blood off his own hands.

After that, he finds he's too restless to settle yet, and figures it's not the best idea for him to be around others until he sorts himself out. Bucky wanders along the edge of camp in the dark, then veers from the path and off into the field where he'd spent some time watching the stars only a couple of days ago.

It should be peaceful there, more or less.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

She smiles at the mental image. "That must have been fun."

For a guy who loves science fiction and the possible to come of age at the same time as film technology was just beginning to take off, it must have been a real treat. "I've always liked going to the theater, too. The tech is different, but I bet it feels about the same way when the lights go down and the film starts."

[nerves_of_ice]

“It was. You’ll find out soon,” he promises. “And then you can tell me if it feels the same.”

[from_the_outside]

"Right," she agrees. "Our trip into town."

Impossibly, it seems like she has an actual date with Bucky Barnes. She shakes her head at herself. "Do you have any idea when your next leave day is?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I need to check," Bucky tells her. "Usually we try to rotate R&R through the squad after a mission when we can, but it depends on when the next one's set for. If we've got a string of them coming up fast, depending on what we learned from the stuff we captured today, then it'll be a while. If not... maybe later this week."

[from_the_outside]

"That makes sense." She slants a half-smile at him. "But hopefully it won't be too long."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles back, slow and warm. "Hopefully."

Bucky leads her along the side of the field, where the grass is less thick and easier to walk through. "Did you get to go into town to pick up those clothes? Or did you have them sent to camp?"

[from_the_outside]

"I went in with Aunt Peggy. Just for a little while, before she had to come back to meet with the Colonel. It's a nice little spot."

She hits a hidden root and trips a little, balancing herself by leaning on his arm. "Whoops."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Here, I've got you--" He moves with easy grace, stepping closer to steady her as she braces herself against his arm, reaching out to place his other hand under her other elbow and hold her secure.

"Everything okay? You didn't twist your ankle, did you?"

His concern is real as he looks down at her, searching for any sign of pain or distress.

[from_the_outside]

All of a sudden, he's much closer; closer than they were last night while dancing, even. She looks up from turning her foot to check her ankle and feels something slam through her when her eyes meet his, less than a foot away. "Fine," she says, after a caught moment.

"Just wasn't looking where I was going."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It's darker here by the trees," he murmurs. "Harder to see."

He can see just fine, however, what with the way the faint silver starlight plays over her hair and skin, illuminating her. He knows he should step back once she gets her bearings again, but - he waits another moment, just to be sure.

[from_the_outside]

She manages to stop her glance from drifting all the way to his mouth, but it's more difficult than it should be. It's just that he's so close, and his arms are warm under her hands, and 'Moonlight Serenade' has been stuck in her head all day.

"So much for being light on my feet."

[nerves_of_ice]

His smile flashes, quick and amused. "It's not you, it's the terrain."

[from_the_outside]

"It's treacherous," she agrees, looking up at him. "That root came out of nowhere."

Her ankle's fine. She could step away any time now. She just doesn't want to.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sneaky of it," he murmurs.

Bucky stays still, letting her hold on to him until she gets her balance back, keeping his other hand courteously at her elbow, and watches her as she watches him. Her eyes look dark in the dim light, he notices.

[from_the_outside]

One of them really needs to step away. Her glance drifts downwards once more before she tugs it back up.

If this were the future, if he were some guy she was making an effort to see, if she felt this kind of pull towards him, she'd make some excuse and step closer.

But she's reasonably sure it's frowned upon in the here and now to kiss a man who's practically a stranger. No matter how attractive he might be. "My ankle's all right," she murmurs. "If you want to keep walking."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles and moves back to her side.

"I do," he admits, honestly. "I'm enjoying your company, Agent Carter."

[from_the_outside]

"I'm glad to hear it."

She sets her hand back into the crook of his elbow and glances back at him. "It'd be pretty weird if you didn't and stuck around anyway."

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles. "Guess that's true. But you've got nothing to worry about there."

[from_the_outside]

"Then I guess I won't worry."

She still thinks that when the novelty wears off, most of the attention will, too, and she's not naïve enough to think that Bucky Barnes, notorious flirt, is serious in any of his attentions. And it wouldn't be a good idea even if she weren't from another time and place.

But it's nice, for now. "So." She looks over at him. "Three sisters?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Four,” he corrects. “Becky, Maggie, Cora, and Katie.”

Bucky gives her a quick grin. “And then there’s me. I’m the oldest.”

[from_the_outside]

"Four younger sisters."

She tries to picture that, and chuckles. "They must have given you hell growing up."

[nerves_of_ice]

His grin just broadens. “Still do,” he drawls. “Especially Becky. She’s pretty fierce.”

[from_the_outside]

"Good for them."

It's possible some or even all of his sisters are still alive in her future. She's never tried to look them up. She has no idea if Aunt Peggy did, or if Steve Rogers has. "Becky sounds like my kind of girl."

[nerves_of_ice]

This time he laughs. "I'd love to see that."

[from_the_outside]

"Oh, yeah?"

Mischief sparkles in her eyes as she glances at him. "You think she and I would get along?"