[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]

“Just don’t tell that cameraman,” Gabe says, hunching his shoulders at the thought. Bucky leans over and claps him on the shoulder.

“Be brave, soldier,” he teases.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon laughs. "That's not what you want the folks back home to see?" she teases, and Gabe groans and tips back more of his beer.

[nerves_of_ice]

Jim shakes his head. “They’d never believe it anyway,” he reassures Gabe, topping up his glass from one of the pitchers Dugan had brought back and leaning over to do the same for Sharon.

“Cap, he’s not coming with us on this next mission, is he?”

[from_the_outside]

Steve shakes his head. "Not this time," he tells them, and a sigh of relief goes around the table that makes Sharon chuckle again.

"So modest," she teases them. "Those films have had a huge impact, you know that?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Really?” Dugan sounds surprised, while Falsworth looks carefully at her to see if she’s having them on.

[from_the_outside]

"Really," she promises. "They're huge morale boosters."

Obviously she can't tell them how extensive the popularity of the Howling Commandos gets, but she can inform them of what she knows the effect of those films is right now. "People buy more war bonds, they get out and volunteer. There are little kids pretending to be you at home, playing at Howling Commandos instead of cowboys."

She looks around the table at them, eyes bright. "It probably feels silly to be filmed, but I promise you, it makes a difference."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I think all we ever wanted to do was make a difference,” Steve says, glancing around the table to see nods from the others before he looks back at Sharon, blue eyes earnest. “So thank you. For telling us.”

Bucky smiles at him, and the look in his eyes is fondly reminiscing for a moment.

[from_the_outside]

"I know the feeling," she tells him, with a small smile. "So I'm glad to let you all know."

She lets it rest for a beat, then grins. "But I can see why you don't want a film crew following you around all the time."

[nerves_of_ice]

Steve groans at that, and Bucky nudges his shoulder. “Hey, we’re with you, Cap. And at least your uniform makes sense now,” he teases.

[from_the_outside]

"It's a good uniform," Sharon agrees, and Steve lifts his hands, his ears faintly pink from having the attention of the entire table.

"Okay, okay, uncle," he laughs. "Don't you all have better things to do with your time than tease me? Where's Brad with those V-disks?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Good question,” Bucky agrees, and starts to push his chair back. “I’ll go—“

“Oh no you don’t,” Jim says, quickly, and stands. “I’ll do it. You stay right here.”

[from_the_outside]

She can't help laughing as Dum Dum puts a broad, friendly hand on Bucky's shoulder to keep him in his seat. "What's the rush, Sarge?" he asks, jovial.

"I'm sure Brad can handle picking out the music on his own."

[nerves_of_ice]

“You guys act like I’ve got some nefarious plan or something,” Bucky observes, with an innocent grin.

[from_the_outside]

"Not nefarious," Falsworth says, dry. "Think of it as leveling the playing field."

Gabe turns to her, smiling. "I hope you feel like dancing tonight, Agent Carter."

Sharon chuckles and lifts her glass. "Who could say no to that?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Glad to hear it," Bucky says, and leans back in his chair with a bright, still-innocent smile. "Put my name on your dance card too, will you?"

[from_the_outside]

She gives him an amused glance back. "Of course," she tells him. "There are more than enough dances to go around."

[nerves_of_ice]

Steve looks just as amused as Sharon does, Bucky notices, and has to resist the urge to elbow his best friend in the ribs. Instead, he takes a swallow of his beer and watches as Jim and Brad have a fairly animated conversation. In the end, Brad starts setting up the Victrola while Jim makes his way back to the table.

"All set," Jim reports. "Or about to be. Come on, Agent Carter, let's show them how it's done, what d'ya say?"

[from_the_outside]

Sharon takes a final swallow of her beer and takes Jim's hand, letting him help her up. "Gentlemen," she tells the others. "See you out there."

The first song on the disc is a toe-tapping lindy number, and Jim swings her into the dance with a grin, twirling them around the floor until Sharon's hair is spinning out over her shoulders and her cheeks are flushed with laughter and effort.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Pretty as a picture, isn't she?" Dugan observes. Gabe lets out an admiring sigh and gets to his feet to go cut in on Jim. "She sure is."

Steve leans over to Bucky. "Do you think the guys are going to be able to keep their heads on the mission with her around?" He keeps it a bare whisper, but the flicker of concern is real.

"Don't worry," Bucky murmurs, just as quietly. "They're just having fun. It'll be different in the field, Cap."

[from_the_outside]

Before she knows it, the first song is ending and Jim is handing her off to Gabe, who spins her back into the next dance with a flashing grin. At some point, a few other couples come onto the dance floor, but she doesn't really pay any attention to them, too busy trying to keep up with the steps and the lively music.

After Gabe, Dugan squires her around, massive and cheerful, telling her stories about his time in the circus until her sides hurt from laughing.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Ah, jolie," Dernier says, and beats Falsworth to the floor next. Dugan swings by the bar on his way back to the table and brings another round of drinks, which he raises to Dernier to signal him he should bring Sharon back, too.

[from_the_outside]

Dernier spins her through the next dance, then slips her hand into the crook of his arm and leads her back over to the table once it's done. Her cheeks are pink and she's a little breathless, but she shucks the uniform jacket and takes the seat he pulls back out for her once more.

"Thanks," she teases Dugan. "I needed to catch my breath."

[nerves_of_ice]

Solicitously, Bucky sets her drink in front of her as she settles into her seat. "When you're ready," he smiles, "I'll take you back out there."

[from_the_outside]

She lifts her beer and takes a sip, then gives him an arch glance. "One or two songs should do the trick, Sergeant," she tells him.

"And I'll be ready to go again."

[nerves_of_ice]

He raises his own glass to her as Falsworth says, with a charming smile, "If you're up for it, Agent Carter, we'll dance the whole night away, never doubt it."

Steve chuckles. "Don't worry, I'll hold down the table for you light-footed types."