[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]

"Yeah?"

She glances over at him, almost smiling. "You think I could be penpals with your sister?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Before you ask, I realize the kind of teasing I'm letting myself in for," he says, dryly, "but I don't see why you couldn't."

[from_the_outside]

"You don't think she'd find it a little strange?"

But lots of people got to know each other by writing letters in this time, didn't they? Her smile is slight but she nods. "But yeah, maybe."

She keeps her voice down so no one will accidentally overhear. "It's pretty weird to be in a world where I really only know one other person, and she doesn't even know me."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky shrugs. "I've already written to her about your aunt, and Steve has, too, so not as strange as you think."

He give her a sideways look as they walk. "I just bet," he murmurs. "And really different."

[from_the_outside]

"Pretty different, yeah."

It's only been a few days. She doesn't think it's fully hit her yet, or that it will for a few days more.

Not until it's really clear that getting home might be a pipe dream. "I feel like I have to watch every word so I don't accidentally blow up the timeline."

[nerves_of_ice]

"How would that even work, anyway?" His lips curve up in a truly amused smile.

"I mean, I know Howard got pretty worked up over it, but what could talking about some things really do?"

[from_the_outside]

"I am the wrong person to ask, for sure," she tells him, amused right back.

"All I know is that I don't want to say the wrong thing and accidentally wind up never getting born. Or changing history in my time."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I can see that,” he agrees. “I won’t push. No matter how curious I get.”

[from_the_outside]

"I appreciate that."

She gives him a faintly rueful smile. "I know it's probably tough. I'd be wildly curious, if I were you."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Oh, I am,” he laughs, “but it just adds to your mystery, I guess.”

[from_the_outside]

"Saves me from having to cultivate an air of mystery," she teases. "That's so much work."

[nerves_of_ice]

He turns his head to look at her, amused. “Angel, you’ve already got one.”

[from_the_outside]

"I guess that's what happens when you fall out of thin air," she observes, and looks ahead to where a few other soldiers are gathered. "Is that the post office?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“That’s it. Mail call’s tomorrow morning,” he explains. “The latest delivery is one of the things arriving in the supply run Gabe’s working today. Usually reminds people to get their own letters out.”

Bucky gives a friendly nod to the soldiers waiting in front of them as they join the line.

[from_the_outside]

The soldier nods back, then does a swift double take to stare at Sharon, who shakes her head. "Eyes front, soldier," she tells him, then looks at Bucky.

"There are other women at this camp, right?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles. "In case it hasn't hit you yet, our women's uniforms don't include slacks. Unless you're air corps or British land army, I think."

His smile is bright and cheerful. "And there aren't that many WACs around here. Some, but not that many."

[from_the_outside]

"I don't see why that should make that much of a difference," she points out.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Really?" This time his amusement is more visible. "Okay."

Bucky lets that hang in the air for a second, then adds, low enough for only her to hear, "Also, you're gorgeous, angel. That makes a difference, too."

[from_the_outside]

"I'm used to it being the other way around," Sharon tells him, her lips twitching, then gives him an amused glance at his murmured opinion.

"Well, that's always nice to hear."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'll have to keep reminding you, then," he observes. "And it's definitely not the other way around here."

He steps forward in the line as the few soldiers ahead of them start to clear out, straightening the papers in his hand.

[from_the_outside]

"I'll have to keep that in mind."

Not that she'll stop wearing slacks, if she can get away with it. They're a million times more comfortable than the skirts.

[nerves_of_ice]

He gives her a quick sideways grin, then steps forward again to the head of the line. "Hi, Specialist Wilkins," he says, and the redheaded, freckled young man who's acting as post office attendant grins back at him. "Hey Sarge - er, hi, Sergeant Barnes," he corrects, noticing Sharon. "Just dropping off today?"

"No, I need more V-Mail pages," Bucky says. "So does Captain Rogers, if he hasn't come by already - I can take his, if you like. And Agent Carter, here, needs some too."

[from_the_outside]

"Sure thing," says Wilkins, holding out his hand for Bucky's letter first. "I'll get those right away."

"I need some too, huh?" Sharon murmurs, as the freckled young man turns away, whistling as he selects several of the small sheets.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky shrugs. "It'll make it easier for you to write if you have them. If you decide you want to."

[from_the_outside]

It's pretty optimistic of him to think she'll eventually end up writing to anyone, but it's sweet and thoughtful and it's not like there's any harm in it. She can just give the pages to him or one of the other Howling Commandos so they don't go unused.

Wilkins reappears with three packets of V-mail sheets, offering them to Bucky with a grin. "Here you go, Sarge...ant Barnes. Anything else I can help you with today?"