[WWII AU] the streets of london

[nerves_of_ice]

Becky's last letter had suggested she'd be sending a longer one soon, and between that, the previous promise of a knitting circle, and the time of year, Bucky's pretty sure that a care package will be coming their way with the next one.

Given that, it's not too hard to convince Steve that it might be nice to pick up a couple of small things to send back in appreciation when they can. And with that in mind, to suggest that maybe the Agents Carter might enjoy doing a little shopping themselves, and that it'd be only polite for the two of them to help carry packages and make sure they didn't get overcrowded on the streets, or anything like that.

He's pretty darn sure that Steve sees right through him, but his best friend agrees to it, if Bucky can talk Sharon and Peggy into the idea.

He's smiling to himself as he makes his way toward their respective quarters.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

Sharon looks up at them with a grin as they come near, and Aunt Peggy's expression is just as warm, though more conservative. "All finished? Find something nice?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sure did. Green, cosy, and soft. Just the ticket." He looks back and forth between them.

"All set? Or is there anything else you want to look for while we're here?"

[from_the_outside]

"No," Sharon tells him. "We're all set. Just having fun browsing."

"And, unfortunately, I think we need to be getting back," Aunt Peggy says, glancing at a nearby clock. "But this was... really quite a nice outing. Thank you for the invitation, Captain. Sergeant."

[nerves_of_ice]

He's proud that Steve doesn't need more than a swift glance at him to take point. "You're welcome, Agent Carter. Agents," Steve adds.

"Very welcome," Bucky agrees, and offers Sharon his arm.

[from_the_outside]

She takes his arm and waits for Steve and Aunt Peggy to lead the way out of the store before she crooks a grin up at him. "Nice going, Barnes," she murmurs. "I call this a win."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I think so too." He squeezes her hand against his side, just for a second, and smiles down at her.

[from_the_outside]

"Do you have duties when we get back?" she asks. "What's your plan for the evening?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I need to take a quick stop by Stark's lab for some one-off thing," he says, "and then a turn through weapons storage after dinner, but I should be clear by twenty hundred hours."

He smiles at his thoughts. "I need to finish my letter to the girls. Want to help? Or do you have another assignment?"

[from_the_outside]

"I'd love to," she says, smiling at the look on his face. Whatever he's thinking about, it seems satisfying. "I owe them a note, myself."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yes, you do, and unless you want me to be the only one weighing in on Becky's questions..." He leaves it hanging there.

[from_the_outside]

"Oh, believe me, I'm as curious as Becky to see how you'll answer those questions," she teases. "I wouldn't put my oar in for the world."

A brazen lie, but it's true that she wants to see what he has to say first.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky laughs. "Sure. Uh-huh. Okay." He glances over at her, visibly amused. "What if you don't like the answers?"

[from_the_outside]

"I guess we'll see," she says, pert. "But that would be a surprise."

[nerves_of_ice]

He shifts a little to shield her from an overeager passerby who's bulling their way down the sidewalk, without having to think about it.

"I'll keep that in mind."

[from_the_outside]

She smiles at that, and at the way he blocks the other pedestrian. "Then I'll come by your quarters a little after twenty-hundred hours, okay?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sounds perfect." Bucky smiles down at her.

[from_the_outside]

It's impossible not to be charmed by that smile. She smiles back and savors the rest of the stroll back to the base, chatting lightly with him and with Steve and Aunt Peggy as they walk. He presents her gallantly with her shopping bag once they're back down to the base level, and she takes it with her to her quarters after they've all gone their separate ways.

The next time she heads to the pub, she'll be able to dress for it.

[nerves_of_ice]

He takes the other shopping bag back to his quarters and secures it there before heading over to Stark's lab. Turns out that what Stark wants is to ask more and more detailed questions about Zola's lab, which Bucky gets through with clenched teeth and a good deal of stubborn determination. He grabs a quick sandwich from the mess and skips dinner in favor of spending more time on weapons detail, after that. It's a relief, frankly.

[from_the_outside]

She has dinner with Jim Morita and Falsworth, then excuses herself back to her quarters. It's looking more and more likely that she'll be sent on a recon mission soon, so she takes some time to polish up Yvette and her backstory until twenty-hundred hours rolls around.

Once it does, she changes out of her uniform and into the more comfortable slacks, then makes her way toward Bucky's quarters, greeting people as she passes.

[nerves_of_ice]

He leaves the door propped open when he gets back to his quarters. It'll make it easier for Sharon, and for anyone else who might want to drop by as well.

Bucky makes sure all the gifts are carefully hidden away, then lays out Becky's last letter and gets out pen and paper to start considering what to say.

[from_the_outside]

She leans on the doorjamb and considers him for a moment, smiling at the vision he makes, then raps on the other side of the doorframe lightly. "Knock knock."

[nerves_of_ice]

He pushes back from the little table that serves as a desk and smiles in real delight. "Aren't you just pretty as a picture."

[from_the_outside]

"I was just thinking you make a pretty nice picture yourself."

She nods to the table and the letter he's working on. "Mind if I come in?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Come right on," he tells her. "Look, I even scrounged up another chair." He pulls it forward from where it's half-hidden on the other side of the table.

"Better leave the door open, though. Steve said he might swing by later with a page of his own."

[from_the_outside]

"Fine by me."

For now, anyway. She takes the chair and sits down, then looks over at what he's working on. "So, what do you have so far?"