[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 can’t resist; as he runs his thumb along her lip, am she opens her mouth to bite lightly at it. “Told you,” she murmurs, her hands falling to his shoulders.

“Not much of a lady.”

[nerves_of_ice]

“You are to me,” he tells her, even as a sharp shiver runs through him.

[from_the_outside]

She smiles at that, then lifts his hand to press a kiss to his palm, the mirror of what he’d done earlier.

“Like I said,” she murmurs. “Sweet.”

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles back, then closes his fingers over the kiss as if to catch it and brings his hand to his chest before he lets go and turns his attention to wiping his mouth free of her lipstick.

[from_the_outside]

“That’s better,” she tells him, after he’s scrubbed his mouth clean, and smiles up at him.

“Don’t want to get you in trouble.”

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’m not afraid of a little trouble,” he teases. Bucky folds his handkerchief and puts it back in his pocket.

“But I definitely don’t want to get you in any trouble, either, so it’s just as well.”

[from_the_outside]

She presses her lips together, then smiles again.

“Too bad, though,” she points out. “We’re all cleaned up, so I guess that means no more kisses tonight.”

[nerves_of_ice]

“Hm.” He looks thoughtful. While he considers that, he takes a small step closer and brushes his fingers through her hair, carefully and deliberately trying to set its waves back in order so she doesn’t look mussed.

Once done, Bucky rests his hands on her shoulders and smiles down at her. “Maybe not tonight, but I’ll hope you’ll let me walk out with you again.”

[from_the_outside]

“Believe me when I say I don’t want this to be a one time thing,” she murmurs, and lets her hands rest at his hips.

“I’d like that.”

[nerves_of_ice]

His smile brightens like sunshine. “I’d like that, too,” he assures her. “But for now, I’d better get you back.”

[from_the_outside]

“Third times the charm,” she tells him, amused.

It’s not what she wants — what she wants is to kiss him until she’s dizzy with it, to feel how his skin feels beneath her fingers —

But it’s 1944. And she’s already pushed enough for one night. “All right, Sergeant. Let’s go.”

[nerves_of_ice]

He cups his hands gently on either side of her face and gives her a quick, butterfly-light kiss before he steps back and offers her his arm again, his manner perfectly polite but with laughter in his eyes.

[from_the_outside]

She laughs and slips her hand back into the crook of his arm, then leans her head briefly against his shoulder, allowing herself a breath of a moment of vulnerability before she straightens once more.

“I think just back to my quarters,” she tells him. “To answer your question.”

A beat. “From fifteen minutes ago.”

[nerves_of_ice]

“Then back to your quarters it is,” he murmurs. The way she’d rested her head against his shoulder for a moment sends a twinge of soft feeling through him.

He wants to make her smile, make her laugh, make her forget all her troubles if he can.

“I’ll see you safe home, Agent.”

He means it in more than one way, whether or not she realizes it.

[from_the_outside]

“Thank you, Sergeant.”

She’s never been someone who needs a man with her to feel safe, but walking with him she has to admit: she does feel safe. Less so physically than in other ways, maybe.

It seems like he understands her, and she hasn’t had that for a long time.

[nerves_of_ice]

It’s really not all that far to the edge of the trees, but he takes it slow, wanting her not to have any uncertainty with her footing - and not in any particular rush to end this night, either.

Bucky escorts her solicitously down the slope and to level ground, then turns in the direction of her tent.

[from_the_outside]

It's nice to stroll slowly along the path with him in companionable quiet, the memory of his kisses still warm on her lips. The camp is calm and still; she can hear distant music and laughter from the pub, but she has no desire to go.

Not tonight, not after everything that just happened.

They're nearing her tent when a brisk-walking figure turns the corner; spotting them, it shifts direction to intercept, revealing itself as Aunt Peggy a moment later. She gives Bucky a narrow-eyed, studying glance, then looks to Sharon. "Well," she says. "And where are you two coming from?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Agent Carter," Bucky says, politely, as they both stop in front of her.

"I was escorting Agent Carter back from the field where she originally arrived."

In a rather roundabout manner, to be sure, but there's really no reason she needs to know that.

[from_the_outside]

"Really," says Aunt Peggy. "Isn't that field on the other side of camp?"

She looks at Sharon, and her gaze softens, slightly. "Are those the new garments? You look lovely."

"Thank you, Aunt Peggy," Sharon says, pleased. "And thank you for arranging them."

[nerves_of_ice]

Well, he should have known Peggy Carter would be aware of every detail - especially when it comes to something or someone she cares about.

"Yes, ma'am," he says, simply, and leaves it there. She'd asked him to keep an eye out for Sharon, after all.

[from_the_outside]

"Hm." Peggy studies him for a moment, sharp. "A nice night for a stroll, isn't it?"

"It's a beautiful night," Sharon agrees.

Aunt Peggy glances back at Bucky. "I hear the mission today was a success, Sergeant. Well done."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Another one down, one step closer," he confirms. "Thank you, Agent."

Bucky slants a sideways look at Sharon. "I'll leave you with your aunt, Agent Carter. Have a nice night."

He's got no excuse to stick around, not as close as they are to the agents' quarters.

[from_the_outside]

"Good night, Sergeant," Sharon tells him, lifting her hand from his arm and stepping away. "Thanks for the escort."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Any time," he promises her, truly meaning it, and turns to Peggy Carter.

"Ma'am," he says, politely, waiting to be dismissed.

[from_the_outside]

Peggy nods to him, short and sharp, in dismissal. "Good night, Sergeant," she tells him. "Go get some rest."