[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

[nerves_of_ice]

“You got it.” But he leans up to kiss her first before she moves too far away. “Bargaining’s fun.”

[from_the_outside]

"You just like to tease," she laughs, but kisses him back. "Okay. One hour."

[nerves_of_ice]

“That too,” he agrees, untroubled. “See you in a little while, darling.”

[from_the_outside]

She gives him a wink and slips from his room, heading to hers with a brisk step. Once there, she sits down at her desk and takes out a sheet of paper and a pen of her own, then taps the pen against the table, thinking, before she starts to write.

[nerves_of_ice]

It takes him a while to settle to it, but eventually he gets into the rhythm of the letter. He thanks them for the knitting circle, shares everyone else’s wishes, then his own - including a hat.

He writes about the people he’s met in various places, without giving away specific locations, telling them stories and trying to keep them cheerful about his ‘adventure’ overseas.

Another Christmas away, but hopefully it’ll be the last one. The war has to end soon. Everything’s pointing to it.

[from_the_outside]

There are so many things she can't tell the Barnes sisters, but she focuses on what she can, and on what she thinks they're most curious about. By the time the hour is up, she has a page in neat writing that she folds up and takes with her as she heads back to Bucky's quarters.

[nerves_of_ice]

He stacks his letter on top of the portrait of Sharon, on top of Steve’s letter.

Satisfied, Bucky props his door open and idly wanders back to the desk to sort through the couple of books that’d come in the last distribution round.

[from_the_outside]

She watches him for a moment before coming in, holding her letter up. "Hi. All done?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“All done,” he says. “Want to read it?”

[from_the_outside]

"Sure."

She comes over to lean against his desk and look down at him. "Then I can read you mine, if you want."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Oh, I definitely want.” He smiles, warm and bright, and passes his letter over as he pulls out the chair for her.

[from_the_outside]

She takes the offered seat and reads through his letter, smiling at his stories and the way he writes to his sisters. It's clear how much he loves and misses them, just as much as they love and miss him.

Sharon hands him his letter back, smiling. "It's great, baby."

[nerves_of_ice]

“So it passes muster?” he teases. “Good. I’m glad.”

More seriously, he adds, “I just don’t want them to worry too much. And of course a lot of the big stuff I can’t talk about anyway. So I tell them the things I like, so they can imagine it too.”

[from_the_outside]

"Of course it does."

Can she really let all these hearts be broken? What difference would it really make if one man got to live instead of die? How much could that possibly change? Even when his best friend is Captain America, would Bucky living be so world-shattering?

She tries for a smile and lifts her own page. "Want to hear what I have?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I can’t wait.” He settles on his own chair across from her and looks expectant, even as a flicker of concern runs through him at the strain behind her smile.

It has to be hard, so far from her own home and family without even a letter to send. He sets his mind to mulling over the problem, again, while he prepares to listen.

[from_the_outside]

She settles herself in the chair and unfolds her page. "Dear Becky, Maggie, Cora, and Katie," she reads. "Thank you for the laugh you gave me with all your questions. I have to admit that I'm just as curious about all of you, even though, as you guessed, I think I've heard more about you than you've heard about me. Your brother talks about you all the time and I feel like I know you all already."

She glances a smile at Bucky as she keeps reading. "So, to even the odds, I'll tell you a little about me. I grew up in Richmond, Virginia. My parents tried to make a lady out of me, but I was always climbing trees, getting into fights with boys, and getting into trouble. The person I'm closest to is my great-aunt. All my life, I've tried to be as much like her as possible. Of course, she was always having adventures and getting into scrapes, so emulating her makes for a pretty exciting life, sometimes."

[nerves_of_ice]

He’s enchanted within the first few words, and gives her full attention as she reads.

He can just imagine a younger Sharon running around, especially remembering the few pictures she’d shown him on that miracle camera of hers.

Trying to imagine Peggy Carter getting into scrapes is a little harder, but when he thinks about it, he can see it. Sort of.

[from_the_outside]

"For example," she continues, giving him a mischievous glance, "I never expected to be where I am right now. No one was more surprised than me to find myself here in the middle of the war."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky laughs aloud. “Maybe not no one,” he teases. “I was pretty surprised.”

[from_the_outside]

She wrinkles her nose at him in a grin and goes back to reading. "That's one reason why I'm so grateful to have met your brother," she continues.

"I know in his letter he told you we're seeing each other, but before that, he was my first friend here. He helped me adjust to life in the camp and has been a steadfast supporter, defender, and confidante ever since. He'll joke and say he doesn't know why I agreed to go out with him, but the answer is simple: because he's one of the best and kindest men I've ever known. And because he makes me laugh."

[nerves_of_ice]

By the time she finishes this section, Bucky’s staring at her wide-eyed, caught off guard and flushing a little.

“Sharon,” he whispers.

[from_the_outside]

The glance she gives him is warm and impossibly fond. "All of which I'm sure you four know better than anyone," she continues. "I can only imagine how much you miss him. I'm incredibly lucky to be able to spend time with him. And I promise to try and keep an eye on him for all of you. Not that I can do a better job of that than Steve already does."

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles a little at that - she’s right, Steve’s dedicated to them all, but there’s not a man who doesn’t know that it was Bucky’s capture that spurred Cap’s first rescue mission.

He reaches to catch her hand, twining his fingers with hers and bending his head to kiss them.

[from_the_outside]

She laces her fingers with his and takes a moment to shove away the swell of sadness that threatens to overwhelm her. Never before has she struggled so much to do her duty, or even thought about letting her personal feelings get in the way.

"We went shopping in London today and met a friendly cat who fell in love with Bucky instantly," she reads. "That's not an important story, I just thought you should know, because I would never deny you the mental image of him petting a big, lazy, orange cat with a purr like a motor. Clearly, his charm works on animals and people alike."

She licks her lip and keeps reading. "I hope all this will put your minds at rest about your brother and me. Now, I want to hear all about you girls. How are you liking Indiana? What do all of you like to do when you have some free time? Does that dog from next door still come by? What's your favorite thing to do in the winter? I used to love to go sledding and ice skating. Do you have snow yet? And, of course, I'd appreciate any embarrassing stories about your big brother."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Ice skating?” he murmurs. “Oh, I’d love to take you to New York for Christmas.”

Bucky smiles up at her. “You’re going to get a book’s worth of letters back, you know that, right?”