[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]

"That's very sweet."

It is. Sweet, and thoughtful, and the 1940's are so stupid about this she wants to roll her eyes. "But I really don't care about my reputation. Not that part of it, anyway."

But it does make her wonder, a little uneasily, if he'd still call her angel and want to dance with her and take her out if he knew that innocence was long gone, well before she met him. He might be more modern than most, but she's not sure he's that easygoing.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky looks surprised. "Okay. Um."

He gives her a careful, slightly uncertain look. "I mean, it's not anyone's business," he says, after a moment. "It just - it'd keep people from asking questions, or making assumptions. That's all."

His slight smile is ruefully amused. "Is that not an issue in the future, either?"

[from_the_outside]

She frowns at him. "What's not an issue?" she asks, her brows puckering together.

"Reputations? Or assumptions? Because I've never known people to not make assumptions."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Reputations," he clarifies, or tries. "I'm guessing not? Or at least not the same way?"

[from_the_outside]

"If you're wondering if there's still a double standard about what men can get away with that women can't, then yes," she says, dry. "But it's really not a big deal. Most people don't care."

[nerves_of_ice]

He winces at her astute observation, then smiles, quick and bright, as she explains. "So Mrs. Grundy gets lost between now and the future. Good."

He hesitates for a second, but only that, before he reaches again to brush her hair back once more, letting himself run his fingers through it.

"If you're wondering," he murmurs, "I don't care. I just - I only brought it up because I wanted you to know the, the social stuff, in case you didn't. I guess I should have left it to Peggy to talk about that kind of thing."

[from_the_outside]

"Mrs. Grundy?" she says, confused.

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles. "Really lost, I see. Okay, um - she's the, well, she's not real, not exactly. She's just like - it's a term for the nosy neighbor kind of person who knows what's going on with everyone? The kind who likes to pretend they're above gossip when that's really all they do, that and judge people."

Bucky shrugs. "I don't know why it's called that."

[from_the_outside]

Understanding breaks across her face like sun through the clouds, and she nods. "Okay, got it."

Still, she studies him for a moment. "But, yeah. I guess it might matter to you, so you may as well know. I don't have any virtue or whatever you want to call it left to preserve."

Sharon watches him without any sign of trepidation, just the firm determination of someone used to staring down the barrel of a gun. "I get it if that changes your mind."

[nerves_of_ice]

"If it -- no. No," he says, firm and sure. "It doesn't. And I'd be a real heel if it did."

He reaches to take her hands in his. "You matter. That's all."

[from_the_outside]

"Okay."

Her voice is a murmur, but her eyes are warm and soft as she looks at him, as her fingers squeeze his. "Good."

[nerves_of_ice]

He squeezes back, then lifts her hands in his and kisses her fingers.

"You matter," he says again, softly. "Believe me, you do."

[from_the_outside]

Her smile presses, sweet and fond, and she lifts one hand to curve it at his cheek.

"You matter to me, too," she tells him, quietly. "A lot."

[nerves_of_ice]

His smile flashes, quick and bright, as he leans into the touch of her hand.

[from_the_outside]

She runs the pad of her thumb lightly over his cheekbone. "What a sweetheart you are," she murmurs, and leans up to kiss him, very softly.

[nerves_of_ice]

He kisses her back, gentle and lingering, then smiles down at her when it breaks.

"Come on. Let me walk you back."

[from_the_outside]

She blows out a soft sigh, then nods and reaches for his hand before she remembers and redirects to his elbow instead.

"Thank you, Sergeant," she tells him, soft and teasing.

[nerves_of_ice]

"My pleasure, Agent," he murmurs, drawing her close to his side. "Any time."

[from_the_outside]

She rests her head against his shoulder for a second... then lets herself linger there a moment longer.

"I'm looking forward to our date," she murmurs.

[nerves_of_ice]

"So am I," Bucky tells her. "Day after tomorrow. I can't wait."

[from_the_outside]

"Me neither."

She smiles over at him. "We're going to have a lot of fun."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Count on it." He leans over to give her a quick kiss, then starts leading her back from the field along the edge of camp.

[from_the_outside]

The camp's quiet at this time of night, and no one interrupts them as they make their way around the edge toward her quarters. Which is probably for the best; she's not sure she was able to see all the smudges of her lipstick on his skin, and if they run into Aunt Peggy again, she knows her aunt would be able to zoom in on any irregularity with eagle-eyed precision.

[nerves_of_ice]

All too soon, they're standing in front of her quarters. Bucky puts his free hand over hers on his arm and gives her fingers a light squeeze.

"Have a good night, Agent Carter," he says, properly, mischief dancing in his eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow at the assessment, if not before."

[from_the_outside]

"Very good, Sergeant," she says, politely. "Thank you for escorting me back. Have a lovely rest of your night."

She squeezes his arm and slips her hand away, then ducks into her quarters without a second glance back.