[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]

The misguided corporal isn't the only soldier she shoots down; there's a pack of three who all cluster around her table, talking about how they saw her the other night at the pub and asking if she's interested in dancing with a few guys hoping to show her a good time.

"I'm hoping to have breakfast," Sharon tells them, clear and calm. "That's all."

A few land on the more lascivious side of things; Sharon only watches them levelly and saws steadily at the sausage on her plate until they get the message and slink away again.

The genuinely friendly ones, or the ones who just ask if there's space at the table, she doesn't necessarily send away... but she keeps a seat open, just like she promised.

[nerves_of_ice]

Howard leaves first, muttering plans under his breath, and Bucky glances at Steve, who shakes his head at him. "You sure it's going okay?" Steve asks. "Sounds like it got pretty heated this morning."

"It's going fine. This'll help," Bucky promises. "We're all on the same side. It's just a question of how to get it done."

"Okay. If you're sure." Steve looks down at the notes in front of him. Bucky notices he's been drawing in the margins again. "Bring Agent Carter - Sharon Carter, I mean - with you after lunch," Steve says, staring at the paper. "Peggy had a few ideas. Colonel Phillips'll be there too."

"I will," Bucky says, and sets off toward the mess.

[from_the_outside]

"Agent Carter?"

She glances up to see Gabe Jones standing nearby, looking hopeful as he holds a tray. "Not sitting alone, are you?"

"As much as possible, Private," Sharon tells him, but smiles and gestures to an open seat. "Join me. I'm actually expecting Sergeant Barnes in a moment."

"You are?" Gabe looks faintly distressed, but takes the offered seat. "Don't mind if I keep you company until he arrives, do you?"

"Not at all," Sharon assures him. "I heard the mission went well, yesterday."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It did," Gabe tells her. "I wouldn't say we've got HYDRA completely on the run, not yet, but we sure gave them a bad day."

He glances toward the front of the tent as it opens and Bucky comes in. Bucky gives him a hand signal, nods to Sharon, and heads for the line.

Gabe nods and turns back to her. "He said stay here, he'll join us soon."

[from_the_outside]

"A bad day for HYDRA is a good day for us," Sharon agrees. "Glad to hear things went okay."

She notes the hand signal, then looks back at Gabe with curiosity. "Handy signals you boys have."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Uh-huh," Gabe agrees. "They're pretty, uh, handy. Especially across distance when you're trying not to step on a stick or into an ambush or something."

Bucky approaches carrying a tray with two cups of coffee and a bowl of oatmeal. He takes the seat Sharon'd successfully saved for him and passes her one of the cups. "Martin saw me signal Gabe," he explains, with a nod to Gabe. "Sent a refill with his compliments."

[from_the_outside]

"God bless Martin," Sharon says, reaching for the cup with a pleased expression. She sips at the coffee – Martin had even included a little honey, thoughtful of him – and glances back at Bucky.

"Everything all set with Stark?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"All set," he confirms. "He's promised to talk through the plan for whatever tests he wants to do at the start of things from now on."

Gabe blinks. "How'd you get him to agree to that?"

Bucky shrugs. "Wasn't me, not really. I think he realized yelling at Steve wasn't going to get him anywhere."

[from_the_outside]

"Glad to hear he made the smart choice," Sharon says.

There's zero doubt in her mind that Stark won't try to push his luck, but it's good for now.

[nerves_of_ice]

"I might have told him you said you'd keep helping if he did," Bucky adds. "Just so you know."

[from_the_outside]

"And I will," she tells him, with a slight shrug. "So, everybody wins."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Everybody wins," Bucky agrees, a little dry. He takes a large swallow of coffee. "So he wants us back in the lab right after breakfast."

Bucky glances over at Gabe. "What've you got on your duty roster today?"

[from_the_outside]

She sips her coffee and tunes out as Gabe tells Bucky about his tasks for the day – he's reporting to Diaz to assist with a new shipment of supply that's due to come in around lunchtime – thinking about Howard Stark and Tony Stark, about Nick Fury and Dr. Selvig.

Are any of these experiments showing up in a way Selvig can trace? Should she go back to her original idea of an anchor – a photo or letter that could be delivered to Nick in the future to let him know where she is?

If the resonance is fading, how long before it's gone completely? And once it is, will she still be able to get back?

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sounds good," Bucky says, when Gabe finishes. "I'm in with Cap this afternoon, planning."

Gabe perks up. "Do we know the next target yet?" Bucky shakes his head. "No, but we should know something soon, I'm betting. Agent Carter? Are you available after lunch?"

[from_the_outside]

"Hm?"

She blinks back to herself and looks over at him, replaying the last bit of the conversation to try and catch back up. "After lunch? Yes."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky nods. "Cap wants you in on the planning session," he explains. "With Colonel Phillips and the senior Agent Carter."

[from_the_outside]

"Then I'm happy to oblige."

She takes a last sip of her coffee and sets the empty cup down on her tray. Maybe Aunt Peggy and the Colonel have come up with something they can use her for; she can hope.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky starts to clear her empty tray with his, only to have Gabe beat him to it. "I'll take care of this for you, Agent Carter," he says, almost shyly.

Somehow, Bucky manages to keep his lips from twitching in a smile.

[from_the_outside]

"Thank you, Private," Sharon says, a little surprised but pleased. "Maybe I'll run into you again later."

"I hope so," Gabe tells her, then nods to Bucky. "Sarge," he says, then starts making his way toward the bus area and the exit.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky smiles. "Gabe's a nice guy," he observes, and tips back the rest of his coffee. "Are you ready for round two?"

[from_the_outside]

"He's a sweetheart," Sharon agrees, then nods at him.

"Ready. You?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Close enough. Let me just clear this," he says, lifting his own tray.

It doesn't take more than a moment before he's back at the table, ready to escort her.

[from_the_outside]

She ignores any glances or murmured comments as they head out of the mess tent and turn their steps back toward the lab, her thoughts occupied.

"I'm glad Captain Rogers could help out with Stark," she says, after a few moments. "I don't think Aunt Peggy would be so willing."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky glances over at her, startled. "What do you mean?"

[from_the_outside]

"To give Stark any leeway, I mean," she points out, and quirks a smile at him.

"Can you imagine him going to her and telling her what he wanted for his experiment?"