"So Miss Erskine," The Sergeant began, pausing to look before they crossed the street, "How did you end up in an argument with Howard Stark? If you don't mind my asking." He quickly backtracked.
"He invited me to the exhibition." She answered. "And also to his after party."
"Why would a man as smart as Howard Stark invite a beautiful woman to a party, just to make her angry?"
She sighed. "He didn't start off by making me angry. He started off by asking for my opinion on his floating car."
"I loved the floating car!" He smiled. "That was the greatest thing I've ever seen."
She smiled at his smile. "It was rather impressive."
"Well, Ma'am, you don't seem impressed."
She nodded, glancing at the ground. "Howard Stark is a … close friend of my father. I saw the car when he was testing it out. The showgirls don't make it any more impressive."
"I'm sure the girls are for moral. We are at war, Miss Erskine."
"I'm aware of that, Sergeant." She snapped. "Might I ask what an Army Sergeant is doing alone at a club? I'm sure there are plenty of eligible women who would happily accompany you."
"I was on a double date with my best friend, Steve."
"The girls run away with him?"
He shook his head. "The girls ran away with the parade. We arrived at the club and Howard Stark invited them to join his party."
"And Steve?"
He sighed. "Steve is determined to get into this war. Says he has no right to do any less than the men dying over there."
"So he is …."
The arm she was holding tensed up. "Steve is, the best man out there… he just doesn't know when to give up."
"Must bother him, his best friend being a part of the war. Shipping out in the morning, Sergeant?"
"Please, Miss Erskine, call me Bucky." He held her hand against his arm as they crossed the street. "Yes, Ma'am I ship out at dawn."
"How does one get 'Bucky' out of James?" She smiled.
"It's short for Buchanan. James Buchanan Barnes." He explained.
The got to a street light and he stopped, causing her to stop beside him. "It has just occurred to me that we are wandering around the city. You haven't told me where you live, Miss Erskine.
"Call me, V." She glanced around, reading street signs.
"Alright, V. Do you know where we are?"
She nodded. Taking his hand, she led the way down an alley.
"You move rather quickly in those heels, Ma'am – V."
She smiled at him, heading down a dark street.
"Are you from New York?" He asked as she expertly navigated through the area.
"No. My father is from Germany. He came to New York after … after his partner betrayed their research."
"That must have been horrible."
"Yes. In the middle of a war, thinking you can only trust a handful of people and one of them betrays you. He was devastated. He left Germany with nothing more than his notes."
"And you."
"I came later."
"You're a pretty young girl, why would you be allowed to travel on your own?"
"Howard and I were arguing about the events of my extended vacation."
"My apologies, Miss."
She paused, hesitating enough to allow Bucky to get to her side. She reached out and took his arm. "There's a pub a couple of blocks up."
He settled his hand over hers, securing her grasp on him.
They got to the pub without any issue.
There was music coming through the doors, and Bucky pulled her to a stop once more.
She looked up at him, confused.
"Howard Stark stole my date." Bucky mentioned, gesturing towards the bar. "Care for a dance?"
She looked up at him, he was smiling at her. She smiled, listening to music coming from the building. "Yes, we can go dancing."