Lucy sighed examining her reflection in the mirror. After the explosion she'd gotten soot all over herself and needed a bath. After she washed, Peggy came over and brought with her an expensive silvery blue dress.
"I can't wear this!" Lucy pleaded with her friend, "It's too much. We need to return it."
"Well that's too bad isn't it?" Peggy retorted, "You are going to put on this dress, and I'm going to help you with your hair, and we are going to that pub tonight. That is final."
Lucy grumbled in her seat as Peggy did her makeup. "Sometimes I can't believe you're actually younger than me." she said to the agent. "You act like the older sister I never had." She pouted, "A bossy older sister who's trying to set me up on a date."
"Don't act like you don't love it." Peggy argued, twisting Lucy's hair into intricate curls and pinning them up, "There all finished." She spun Lucy to face the full-length mirror, "Steve won't know what hit him." She nodded approvingly at her work.
As the two women stood side by side in the mirror one thing was abundantly clear, Lucy's beauty was different from Peggy's. Where Peggy was more demanding with her looks and personality, Lucy was subtler, more graceful. Peggy was fire, forceful and immediate, a striking loveliness that caused destruction if not handled carefully. Lucy was water, soothing and reactive, but powerful if roused. The two worked well together. But where Peggy was confident in her mind and her looks, Lucy needed to learn that her insecurities were unfounded.
-permafrost-
"So lets get this straight." Dum Dum clarified.
Steve and his recruits where sitting at the table in the bar. They were sharing a beer as he told them of his proposition.
"We barely got out of there alive, and you want us to go back?" Gabe Jones scoffed.
Steve shrugged, "Pretty much."
"Sounds rather," Falsworth deliberated cracking a grin, "fun actually."
After a belch Jim Morita replied, "I'm in."
Gabe and Jacques Dernier conversed in speedy French, confusing the others. Seeing their perplexed looks Jones explained, "We're in."
"Hell I'll always fight." Dum Dum raised his tankard, "But you gotta do one thing for me."
"What's that?" Steve questioned, amused.
Finishing the rest of his drink and slamming it down on the table Dum Dum replied, "Open a tab."
Steve stood up, gathered all their cups and walked over to the bartender. "Another round." He requested.
"Well that was easy." Dum Dum grinned. The other men chucked in response and cheered for their renewed drinks.
"Where're they putting all this stuff?" the baffled bartender shook his head as he got them their alcohol.
-permafrost-
Bucky was sitting in the back room it was quieter there, more personal. Not that the bar wasn't a friendly place. In fact it was rather homey. Soldiers were everywhere, sitting, laughing, and having a pint to relax. There were even a few dames here. The slightly hazy atmosphere cast a cozy glow over every person in the establishment. In a place like this, one could forget they were at war.
In the front of the building, there sat the social drinkers. The men and women who sat there spent their time one-upping each other about times past. The tales became more ridiculous with each drink and with each anecdotist, the lies became easier to spot. They were always a merry crew. These individuals never stayed long, money was tight and liquor was never cheap.
In the middle of the tavern, were the drunken singers. These menfolk stayed for hours ordering round after round; drinking away thoughts of how long the bill would be. When they were inebriated enough, they sang along to the pianist. Drinking songs from every corner of the world made it to this bar. No two nights were every the same. Bucky sat near these men, closer to the sidelines; observing their merrymaking and chortling at their antics.
Lastly, located in the very back was a part of the bar few people ever went to. This was where the radio stood. Faint strains of jazz floated through the warm air. There was something indefinably beautiful about music, especially sweet soulful melodic jazz. This was where couples spent their time slow dancing. Sadly, it was almost perpetually empty now; war wasn't really the time to dance.
After speaking with the men about becoming a part of his strike team, Steve stood and walked over to sit next to Bucky.
"See," came Bucky's self-satisfied voice, "told you. They're all idiots." He finished taking a sip of his drink.
"What about you?" Steve questioned sitting down, "You ready to follow Captain America into the jaws of death?"
"Hell no." Bucky scoffed, "That little guy from Brooklyn. That was too, dumb, to run away from a fight? I'm following him."
Steve smiled at Bucky's sentiments.
"Hey," Bucky joked drawing Steve's attention back to him, "you keeping your outfit, right?"
"You know what?" Steve turned to look at the poster behind him. It depicted Captain America in full costume, saluting the viewer. Across the bottom a hastily plastered "Tour Cancelled, until further notice" sign had been put up. "It's kinda growing on me."
-permafrost-
As Peggy and Lucy stepped into the bar, the men around them hushed at their entrance. Lucy swallowed nervously as they made their way to the back of the establishment. "They're not here, Peg. I say we call it a night and head back."
"Don't you dare!" Peggy whisper shouted. "I did not go through all this trouble to see you run out of here with your tail between your legs." Then softly she reassured her friend, "We're just going to see you brother and your friend. People you've known for years. If anything I'm the one who should be nervous."
"Yeah but you're Peggy Carter." Lucy hissed back at her, "And besides I've never worn anything like this." She ran her hands down the sides of the dress. The silky smooth material flowed like water around her hips. It might have been made entirely of silk, she thought it best not to ask, knowing the price would probably upset her more. Her hair was curled and partly twisted up. It was getting long; perhaps she needed to cut it soon. But she rather liked it long.
As they turned the corner, James and Steve finally came into view.
"Captain." Peggy called with a smile, then moving aside to reveal Lucy.
Steve's breath caught in his throat. His heart felt like it had abruptly failed, then suddenly replaced with one that beat twice as fast. A faint fluttering filled his stomach spreading to the rest of his limbs and his mind was left utterly blank.
"Cici!" Bucky grinned hugging his sister.
"Hey James." She embraced him back, trying not to look over at Steve. "I don't think I ever properly introduced you two. Peggy, this is my older brother, Sergeant James Barnes. James, this is Agent Margaret Carter."
"Peggy, please." She said grasping Bucky's hand.
"Its wonderful to meet you Peggy, you can call me Bucky. Most people do, except for little Cici here." He nodded.
"Hmm… I might follow her lead." Peggy smiled. "Come, James, I want to meet the rest of Captain America's top squad." Bucky nodded and they turned to leave when Peggy remembered something, "Oh Captain." She called to Steve who finally broke out of his trance. "Tomorrow 0900, Howard has some equipment for you to try."
"Sounds good." Steve replied not looking at her.
"Excellent." Peggy and Bucky shared a mischievous glance and quickly moved just out of sight of the back room, joining the singing men.
"Hey soldier." Lucy greeted trying to calm herself by studying his freshly pressed uniform, still trying to avoid his gaze. "Why are you hiding back here by your lonesome?"
"I've been waiting for someone." Steve smiled shyly at her, "a girl."
"Oh really?" Lucy finally looked into his face. His eyes were so beautiful. Always changing with his mood, at this moment they were joyful. Like peacefully burning embers that released enough heat to warm but not to scald. And that made her happy. A smiled grew along her lips.
That was it. That smile, it was the grain of sand on a scale that finally tipped over in his heart, crashing to the ground with a resounding bang. "I've been meaning to tell her she's the most gorgeous dame I've ever met. And to ask her for a dance." Steve continued gaining confidence. "But I don't know if she'll say yes."
"Only a foolish girl would say no to Captain America." Lucy rolled her eyes.
"I'm not asking as Captain America, Lu." Steve took her hands earnestly, "I'm asking as Steve Rogers, the skinny guy who was shorter than you when you wore heels. The one you saved from an alley all those years ago."
"No…" Lucy replied.
Steve looked up at her. It felt like all the blood in his body froze at the same moment leaving him cold, empty, and lifeless.
"No, to Captain America." Lucy continued stroking his hair, making a point. "I really must not be as clever as I think I am if I would say no to Captain America." She smiled moving her arms to circle his neck. "But I'll let you in on a secret. There's this soldier I know, I rather prefer him. Actually, I'm been keen on him for quite a long time. I'm not sure if you two have met, Steve Rogers? Actually I've been meaning to ask him for a dance. What do you think he'd say?"
The fire was back, full force, in Steve's eyes. Now instead of embers they were brilliant flames, dancing with delight, "He'd be a fool to say no." was the reply as he moved her nearer to the radio. The music currently spilling from the speakers was Kate Smith's rendition of Dream a Little Dream of Me. The soft jazz ballad set the mood nicely for their first dance.
Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper 'I love you'
Steve lightly placed his hands on her hips, pulling her into his body. The rest of the world started to drift away as they moved to the song. The gentle lyrics enveloped them in a cloud, blocking out the noise from the rest of the bar. Lucy tightened her arms around his waist leaning her head on his chest. In turn, Steve's head came to rest on her's.
Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
Feeling her form wrapped around his caused a caged animal to break free and rear its head in triumph. All of Lucy's nervous energy faded away, replaced with a sentimental serenity she could only find with Steve.
"Your hair is longer." Steve remarked casually running his fingers through the soft ends.
Lucy hummed contentedly, "I'll need to cut it soon."
"Don't." Steve requested as he twisted the silky curls, "I like it long."
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
"So you think that couple will actually get their dance? Lucy questioned, as they swayed slowly back and forth to the soothing melody, "Lucy and Steve, I mean."
"Why don't we ask them?" came Steve's voice from over her head.
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
She lifted her face to look at his.
Their eyes met, pupils widening. With the lingering touch, their breathing hitched and heartbeats started to sync up. Steve drew her even closer. As their bodies melted together, all semblance of dancing stopped.
Gently caressing her cheek he asked, "May I kiss you?"
Smiling, Lucy nodded her permission.
And in that moment nothing else mattered. There was no awful singing happening in the room next to them. There was no worry about the things that were to come tomorrow. There was no war. There was no Hydra.
To them, there was no one else in the world, but each other.