[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

[nerves_of_ice]

"Mostly I just like to dance," Bucky says, "although the lindy's always fun."

His quick smile is filled with mischief. "I've recently developed a fondness for the rumba, though. And the foxtrot."

[from_the_outside]

She has to laugh at his teasing. "Have you?"

Tipping her chin up, she smiles back at him. "How coincidentally fortunate for me."

[nerves_of_ice]

"For me too," Bucky tells her. "You dance like a dream, angel."

[from_the_outside]

"It's easy with a good leader."

Angel. The more he says it, the less ridiculous it sounds. She feels a pleasant warmth blossom in her stomach. "Even easier with music, though."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Music helps," he agrees. "But I wouldn't trade that dance just now for anything."

[from_the_outside]

She looks up at him at that, and smiles. "Me neither," she murmurs.

[nerves_of_ice]

He puts his hand over hers on his arm and draws her a little closer as they step into the trees.

"You're a pretty amazing lady, Agent Carter."

[from_the_outside]

She lifts her free hand and sets it over his, warm and light, just like she'd done before.

"You're pretty incredible yourself, Sergeant Barnes."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles down at her at that, enjoying the feel of her hand on his and the way she's tucked securely by his side.

[from_the_outside]

Maybe she's stupid to fall for his charm and flirtation, but none of this seems like what he'd pull with a dozen other women. She thinks about the way he looked as he lifted her up and spun her beneath the trees, and can't help smiling.

"And sweet," she adds, smiling. "Very sweet."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sweet?" he asks, a little surprised. "How so?"

[from_the_outside]

Her smile quirks. "Just generally."

It's not a quality most of the men she knows in her own time have.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Okay," he decides. She's smiling, so it's probably a good thing. Probably. "If you say so."

Bucky smiles back at her. "I'm really glad I ran into you tonight."

[from_the_outside]

"So am I."

It's impossible that she's walking here, arm in arm with Bucky Barnes, and that he's saying all these things and meaning them, but is it really any more impossible than time travel is in the first place? "Best part of my day."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Mine too,” he assures her.

The trees grow a little thicker up ahead, but he knows that past that they’ll open up quickly as they descend the little hill. He glances over at her.

“Where am I taking you?”

[from_the_outside]

Her eyebrows lift at that question, which he asks so innocently.

"Is that the 1940's version of 'your place or mine'?" she teases.

[nerves_of_ice]

“What?” It hits him, then, and he laughs in amused surprise even as he protests, “No, I just meant - I didn’t know if you wanted to go back to your quarters, or to the pub, or to see your aunt or something.”

He draws them to a stop and looks down at her in the dappled shadow of the trees, his gaze earnest. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”

[from_the_outside]

Looks like her teasing hit harder than she meant it to. "It's okay," she says, trying to assure him. "I'm not insulted. Seriously."

She looks back up at him, studying the sincerity in his expression. "You've been a complete gentleman. I shouldn't tease you."

[nerves_of_ice]

The quick flash of his smile is bright in the dim light. “I like it when you tease me,” he tells her. “It’s fun. I just didn’t want you to think badly of me.”

He hesitates, then raises his hand to brush her hair back from her face, slow and deliberate, ready to stop if she protests in any way at all. “But I’m not a complete gentleman.”

[from_the_outside]

"I don't," she promises. "I don't think badly of you at all. I like you."

But then he lifts his hand and her breath catches in her chest like a fish on a hook. "No?" she murmurs, tipping her head into his touch and watching him with warm dark eyes. "Well, that's not so bad. I'm not much of a lady."

[nerves_of_ice]

She tilts her head into his hand and he feels his heartbeat accelerate. Bucky touches her again, this time slowly drawing his fingers through the waves of her hair.

“You seem like quite the lovely lady to me,” he murmurs.

[from_the_outside]

"Novelty," she whispers, but she's not sure even she believes it anymore. His fingers run through her hair and a frisson of warmth shudders down into her stomach. Carefully, she sets her hands against his chest, palms flat and fingers light on the material of his uniform.

[nerves_of_ice]

She can feel the race of his heart, he’s sure of it. His eyes are dark and intent as he searches her face.

“Will you let me kiss you?”

[from_the_outside]

"Oh, god."

It comes out groaned, like a reflex, like she's been hit in the stomach. Her fingers tighten against fabric. "If you don't, I'm going to explode."

[nerves_of_ice]

He laughs at that, soft and quick, as he slides his fingers into her hair and curves them around the back of her neck, tilting her head up. “We can’t have that,” he murmurs, and sets his other hand at her waist as he leans down.

He kisses her sweetly, slow and lingering, taking his time about it as he enjoys the feel of her mouth against his.