[It was pretty simple instructions given by Fitz, but when Skye suddenly found herself alone in the room with the object that had been brought into the lab—
Skye couldn’t help herself. She overheard the theories being thrown around between him and Simmons and she just wanted to get a closer look. Besides, they had been poking and prodding at it for hours, so how dangerous could it really be? Making sure no one was around, Skye got up from her desk and went over to where it lay on one of the tables. First, she pokes it with a pen and when nothing happens, she picks it up.
All she does is blink and suddenly she’s no longer in the lab or holding the object.]
Uh oh…
[Oh, she messed up. Looking around absolutely nothing looks familiar and it’s cold. It wasn’t this cold out when she had gone out earlier in the day. Reaching into the back pocket of her jeans, Skye pulls out her phone and unlocks it. No signal. Lifting her phone up into the air, Skye starts moving around to try and find a signal for her phone. She’s walking for a while with no luck and she’s really starting to get cold.
That’s when she comes across something she’s only ever read about in all of the SHIELD info she was forced to study. The SSR. Well, okay, it was a truck with the SSR logo on it. Which could only mean—
Jemma was right. This was some sort of teleportation device. Holy shit. Was she literally in the middle of World War 2? Sneaking in was not going to be easy, but, if anyone had possible explanations for what the hell happened it had to be them. Right? She hides out near the entrance she followed the truck to before it disappeared. As much as she’d love to just waltz in, she has to have some semblance of a plan.
That’s when she overhears some agents speaking about heading down to the nearby pub, that a few of the Howling Commandos were down there already. It took her a second but then the realization hits her. Okay. Change of plan. Not breaking into the highly secured SSR bunker. Not when she might be able to get in more easily
It takes her a little while, but eventually, she makes it to the pub and hopes that she isn’t too late and missed them. Dressed in an emerald green dress she had stolen, Skye’s hair wasn’t done up nearly as nice as the other women she spotted around, but you know what? TIME TRAVEL WASN’T IN THE SHIELD 101 HANDBOOK, OKAY?! She’s completely out of her element here and sure she’s watched old movies, but being here? Completely different and completely overwhelming.
Cell phone tucked away in a clutch she had also stolen, the dress was long enough that she hadn’t worried too much about stealing a pair of era-appropriate heels and instead was still wearing her heeled boots. Looking around the room, she could feel some eyes on her as she moved around trying to find anyone that actually looks familiar. Laughing it off when a guy came up behind her asking for a dance, Skye quickly brushed past him. This place was oozing with testosterone.
Just when she thought she was too late, Skye spots someone she’s only ever seen in pictures and comes to a stop a few feet away. This was real, wasn’t it? She’s really traveled back in time and just a few feet in front of her was Bucky Barnes. Taking a deep breath, Skye walks up to him and at least tries to remain calm.]
Is this seat taken?
[She does a decent job of looking like she’s not absolutely shitting her pants right now at least.]
[ In the noise and smoke of the pub, the Howling Commandos are distracted. Dum Dum Dugan was telling a story, and when Dum Dum was on a roll, man, he took up the space: hands gesticulating, waving his pint enthusiastically enough to spill some of it on innocent bystanders, retelling the tale of their latest heroics back on the continent.
Which, of course, led to Jim rolling his eyes and Bucky hiding a smirk behind his drink. He's keeping half an eye on the clock on the wall behind them, because Steve had promised he'd tear himself away from the tactical maps and come join them for a drink. But the more the time ticked ever-onwards, he had a pretty good idea his pal was going to find some excuse to never actually join them, so Bucky might need to head back to HQ and retrieve him before it got too late. (Once upon a time, he'd have grabbed his friend by the scruff of his neck, but now that they were the same height and Steve was considerably broader, that had gotten harder.)
Normally he'd have more of an eye on the nearby ladies, too, but he wasn't paying too much attention tonight — which is how he's caught off-guard when a bombshell in green walks right up to him, braving this loud corner of male camaraderie. He blinks, looks a little startled; beside him, Jacques is already laughing, offering, "Ma cherie, if Barnes here is too addled to let you sit beside him, you may have my seat instead."
Bucky shoves him. ]
Oh, hey. Nah, it's free. Although god knows if you actually want to sit so close to these chumps—
[ More chatter around him from his fellow soldiers, someone elbowing him in the side, and Bucky grins. He rises politely to his feet, tugs the chair out for her. ]
[Skye barely keeps her expression of ease from turning into shock when she realizes who he’s seated with. For a second she doesn’t even think about how much she’s messed up by coming here.
Stepping back as Bucky stands, she thinks to herself that he’s taller than she pictured him being. Smiling with ease as he pulls the chair next to him out, Skye tucks her skirt a little as she takes a seat.
How do the women walk around in these dresses? They’re so heavy.]
Thank you.
[Adjusting her hair when she catches sight of a woman walking past looking much more out together than her, Skye then looks to Bucky when she realizes he was asking her a question.]
I am, yes. How did you guess?
[Just making jokes through the panic.]
What are you fellas drinking?
[Because she’s still freezing and a drink would definitely help her warm up, maybe help take the edge off.]
Us? Cheap shitty rum, to be honest. Uh, sorry. [ For the potty mouth— although considering she's strolled into a soldiers' bar packed full of foul-mouthed G.I.s and Tommies, it's pretty much par for the course. And then, noticing a moment later how Jacques is still making eyes at her, as if he's about to swoop in on this conversation, Bucky decides to seize the opportunity. Still standing, he leans his weight against the back of the new arrival's chair, partially just to lean companionably closer into her space, ostensibly to get close enough that she can hear him. (It's his left hand propped against the chairback; still human, still flesh and blood. There's those sleep-deprived crags under his eyes and a few still-healing nicks on his knuckles from the day-to-day, but the worst hasn't happened yet.) ]
Can I get you anything?
[ His other hand pats the pockets of his jacket in a sudden worry, double-checking— okay, yes, he's still got some spare pence on him. Money's a weird thing these days. They don't use any of it when they're out in the field, so shore leaves turns into a haze of celebration and extravagance, blowing their pay on booze and partying and drowning out the memories of what they had left, and what they were soon going back to. ]
[Skye’s more surprised when he apologizes for cursing than the fact that he was actually cursing. God, this was so bizarre. Seeing them all here, in person, and not just in photos. She doesn’t even care that one of them is staring at her so openly, if she wasn’t so worried that she might give away something, she’d be doing the same.
Looking from the hand on the back of her chair, Skye follows his arm up to his face and realizes just how close he is to her. Swallowing back the panic at the idea that any minute she’d be caught lying, Skye grips her clutch a little more tightly before she manages to smile an easy, believable, smile at Bucky.]
I’ve got it.
[Thanks the money that was in the clutch she had stolen. Honestly, she’s not sure what the currency was like here.]
How about a round of less shitty rum on me?
[Because, just maybe, if she butters them up and got them a little more tipsy, this might go a lot easier. Or, you know, she’ll get arrested. God. What that fuck was she doing?!]
[ "Oh, yes please," rumbles Dum Dum Dugan a few seats down, brightening. Bucky's glance back at the woman is sheepish, his hand falling away from where he'd been scrambling for his wallet. ]
Pretty sure we're supposed to be the one footing the bill.
[ Maybe a touch of fragile masculinity— it is, after all, the '40s. But after another insistence from her, he relents and agrees. It's not like they actually have that much to spend, so if a well-dressed and moneyed brunette wants to look on the Howling Commandos as a charity case, they might as well take it. He accompanies her up to the bar to help carry all the drinks back to their table, though. While they wait, he props his arms against the counter. ]
Sorry in advance about them. You've chosen a, uh, colourful bar to wind up in tonight, ma'am. I'm Bucky, by the way.
[ Women offering to throw down drinks with the soldiers was an unusual sight, but he was already enjoying her accent. It was nice, talking to a pretty American girl rather than yet another half-shattered American soldier. It reminded him of home. ]
It's the least I can do, for all that you guys do.
[And she won't take no for an answer, obviously. Skye needs to be on their good side, even though she has absolutely no idea how she's even going to get inside the SSR. She's sure security isn't nearly as difficult to deal with as it is in her time, but still, there are those pesky little guns...
Surprised when Bucky follows her, Skye looks back at the table where the rest of the guys are sitting, a few of them caught staring at her. Jacques just winks though. Laughing, Skye stops herself from rolling her eyes as she looks over to Bucky.]
I kn--
[God that was close, Skye quickly correct herself.]
I'm Mary, and don't worry about it. I actually like how colorful this place is. Reminds me of home.
[When the bartender comes up to her, Skye does a quick head count to make sure she's ordering the right amount of rum. She notices the quick glance the bartender gives Bucky as she pulls money from her clutch. Like he's judging him for letting her foot the bill. This time she does roll her eyes before turning her attention back to Bucky.]
Brooklyn, born and raised. [ I'm just a kid from Brooklyn; he hears that echo in Steve's voice now, all the time. It used to be that his friend always trailed helplessly around behind him like a lost puppy, but nowadays it feels like he's walking around in Steve's footsteps instead. Funny, how these things go. ]
How about you?
[ He's half-distracted but still riveting his attention on her, watchful, half-smiling — c'mon, Buck, be a gent, remember how to charm them — as he carefully helps gather up all the shot glasses as the bartender pours out the drinks. It'll be something like both him and Mary carrying around four each. ]
[Totally doesn't already know that fact about him. Not at all. Skye smiles with ease as she gathers up the other drinks after placing her clutch under her armpit.]
Hell's Kitchen.
[Skye's careful with where she steps. The dress is pretty long, but at least she doesn't have to deal with heels.]
Where are all of the ladies at? Or is this some kind of 'men's only' pub that I missed the memo on?
[ She's being careful with her steps, but Bucky almost trips over his in stunned surprise, not expecting that answer out of her mouth. Hell's Kitchen is a mess. Hell's Kitchen is where he and Steve have always gotten beaten up the worst, and almost not even survived to drag their asses over the bridge and back to Brooklyn, licking their wounds. He tries not to let on, but he's skittish on those rare occasions when he happens to be in that neighbourhood, always watching his back and walking light on his toes. He tried not to be there often.
She doesn't look Irish — too dusky for it, something exotic to her features — but 'Mary' sounds Irish. Hell, maybe those gangs are where all her money came from. He marshals his composure back into place; tells himself not to ask about it. ]
It's not technically men's only, but they're gonna look at you a little sideways for being here. It's mostly popular with soldiers on leave. Bit too cheap and rough-and-tumble for their dates, so they try to take them to one of the restaurants down the street instead if they're out for the night. If you're from the Kitchen, though, you can probably hold your own.
[Skye, of course, doesn't know just how different Hell's Kitchen was back in the day. So she looks confused by his reaction.
It's not hard to imagine why the women might not want to come here. Between how rowdy some of the guys are being here, and the overwhelming stench of cigars...
Still, she's been in worse places before. Placing the drinks down on the table once they're back, the guys grab them quickly.]
Oh, well--
[She can hold her own, sure, but not because she grew up in Hell's Kitchen specifically. She can gather from his reaction and response that it must've been a shitty place to live during his time. Their time? God, she's having a hard time wrapping her head around all of that.]
I mean, yeah, I can hold my own.
[One of the guys mutters something and the others start laughing. It's probably for the best that she didn't hear them. Picking up her own drink she takes a sip and her nose scrunches up. Still not the best she's ever hard.]
Told you it was shitty, [ he says with a flash of a grin. It was the best they could manage on rationed liquor supply lines, though. He missed whiskey— they hadn't been able to get a hold of it the whole time they were overseas, apart from that one time Falsworth and Pinky smuggled in some proper Scotch for the gang.
Now that they've taken their seats again, he's rearranged their positions to scoot his and Mary's chairs a little further off to the side, stealing a bit more privacy away from the other soldiers. (Jacques, finally getting the hint, gives Bucky a thumbs up and then turns back to the others.) ]
[Skye tucks some stray hairs behind her ear, she hadn't done the best job on her hair but she was in a rush. Her expression falls a little when he asks what she's doing here. Shit, she hadn't really thought over her story yet. She takes the time to think of something by taking a long swig of her drink.]
I came to visit family, but then everything started happening and--
Not exactly easy to get back.
[Well, the latter part was true. Did people in this day and age travel to go see family?]
What about you?
[It's an automatic response, but as soon as the words leave her lips she realizes how silly of a question that is and starts laughing.]
[ Bucky shoots her a dubious look, incredulous, before he chuckles too. He waves a dismissive hand, joking: ]
Oh, y'know, bit of this and a bit of that. Sightseeing mostly.
[ The man is relatively quick to tease and to laugh, even after his experiences in the HYDRA prison camp. Even after everything. So he keeps his voice light as he adds: ]
Food's terrible everywhere these days, but I gotta say, it's better in France than here. Great lamb.
Really? Well, do they also offer better service than they do here?
[It's a dig at the bartender of course, Skye even nods in the guy's direction as her smile widens. He's funny, and it's almost surprising to realize that he is. Then again, she's only seen a few clips of him in old war videos, and a handful of pictures in history books.]
How long have you been over here?
[Her smile fades a little, knowing just how serious it is out there. It's almost easy to forget, with how loud the laughter is in here. For whatever reason Skye always imagined their downtime was spent by drinking and being depressed. One of her assumptions was correct, at least?]
[ It's a strange thing to come face-to-face with: the soldiers always party hard whenever they're on leave, as if to prove to themselves that they're still alive, savouring every last bit of freedom and enjoyment while they have it, making up for all the rest of the time. I will drink life to the lees, he thinks.
Bucky takes another swig of his drink while he does the mental math on Mary's question. Time blurred strangely over here, a mixture of hurry-up-and-wait, the weeks dragging interminably before they suddenly sped up into a blur. His time in the HYDRA camp was especially hard to keep track of long it had been. But: ]
Deployed to Europe in June 1943, so it's been... about a year and a half, I guess? Jesus. Can't believe it's been that long.
[ A beat, a slight flicker in his smile as it fades a little. ]
And who knows how long this'll wind up being. I'm sorry you're stuck out here, too.
[Smiling sadly, Skye knows exactly how long this will go on for. And it kills her that she can't share that information with him, can't bring him any comfort.]
Maybe if we're lucky, this will be over soon.
[Except it won't be. Not for him. He's going to go through something arguably worse. At least on a personal level.]
In the mean time, we might as well enjoy the night.
[ And he wavers on that line, which sounded like a near-invitation. Bucky's mouth is often writing checks which he isn't ready to cash. But here is a woman who isn't staring at Steve instead of him; here is a woman who is exactly the type he would've picked up before the war without missing a beat, without hesitation. So. Maybe forget about everything else outside this bar, this street. Maybe go for that distraction. ]
This might be forward, but in the spirit of enjoying the night: hey, you wanna go dancing? Not here, [ he waves a hand at the smoky pub around them, which is mostly packed with men and soldiers in conversation, no real dancefloor to speak of, ]
But there's a dancehall down the street that the guys like. Or we could go— somewhere else.
[ Wartime flings were flourishingly common, and he's thinking it might be his turn. So hey, Skye. Here's your opportunity to smuggle him away and maybe get some help with your predicament instead. ]
[Skye is ready to take back her offer when he falls silent for a minute, but then he ups her offer. Asking someone to go dancing was being forward? Times were definitely different. For a minute she almost forgets what her goal was, to gain any help she could get in order to get back home.]
Somewhere else like...?
[Was he offering to take her back to wherever he was staying? Okay, so some things haven't changed. She seems interested at least. The idea of getting him somewhere alone? So she can confess to how she actually got here? It could either go over well, or he could end up calling her nuts.]
[ If one of the Howling Commandos had elbowed their way back into this conversation right at this exact point, he was dumping mud in their boots. But thank god, there's a burst of conversation and laughter from the guys which means she's the only one to hear his invitation: his expression carefully light, a faint questioning smile on his face, hand still cradling the last of his tequila. ]
I got a roommate while we're in town, but I don't think he's coming home tonight.
[ More evenings than not, Steve wound up crashing in one of the cots back at the SSR rather than the cheap shared bachelor room the army had temporarily set them up with. Usually Bucky was annoyed about it, and was always trying to get his friend to lighten up and stop working so hard, but tonight he'd be glad for it. ]
But if not— that's totally fine, don't worry about it. We can drink. Dance.
[Well, this was her chance to explain what was going on. Looking around one last time as if expecting to find another way to handle all of this, Skye comes up short. Tucking a stair piece of hair behind her ear, she watches as he quickly gives her another option.]
Yeah, I'd like that.
[The fact that she even has a chance with him made this even worse. She's about to disappoint him with the real reason she's agreeing to go with him. There wasn't much left in her glass so she downs the rest before grabbing her clutch and getting to her feet. She can feel some of the guys turn to look now, and she clears her throat when she hears a few of them mumbling about her leaving with Bucky. She tries not to pay too close attention to what they're saying though.
[ Bucky shoots a glowering Look™ at the rest of the men which clearly indicates shut the fuck up, and despite the mumbles and knowing grins, they grudgingly obey. Dugan at least raises his glass in a cheerful toast to the pair as they head off, and Bucky moves through the packed bar with his hand splayed against the small of Mary's back. As soon as they step out into the crisp wintry cold, he takes a deep breath of the brisk air, relieved. The fresh air is nice, too, after the close and smoky confines of the bar. ]
Yeah, told you they were going to be a pain in the ass. They're good men, though.
[ And he glances at her: the emerald dress, the clutch, her bare shoulders and arms. ]
Shit, you're gonna be freezing. You want my jacket?
[ Without waiting for a reply, he's already starting to shrug out of it and hold it out to her. ]
[She gestures vaguely, unsure of the right word to use so she just stops trying. It's kind of hard to focus when she's not only trying to think of what to say to Bucky, but also with the fact that he's got his hand on her back like that.
The air is cold enough that she's got her arms wrapped around herself as soon as they step outside, although the alcohol is definitely starting to kick in a little to keep her a bit more warm. Skye wants to refuse when he offers her his jacket, but he's already holding it out so she takes it without argument. Slipping her arms through the too big sleeves,]
Thanks.
[She smiles up at him briefly, heart hammering in her chest. Just how far was his place from here? Enough time for her to, hopefully, come up with something? God, she hopes so. She's silent the rest of the walk.]
[ After all of that mouthiness in the bar, now she's surprisingly quiet, and Bucky winds up filling the silence with some aimless chatter about nothing much in particular: the weather, the nearby dance halls, his buddy Steve who works too much.
They're sauntering down the street, getting closer to where he and his best friend have been staying. It's a lodging house as close to SHIELD headquarters as they could get; run by a cozy older English woman who behaves like a firm but warmhearted mother to all of the lodgers under her roof, and they help out with occasional errands and handywork around the townhouse in return. The war has loosened things up, so she hasn't imposed any rules against overnight guests, thank god, although they should probably still scurry in quickly to avoid an awkward conversation.
But when they get to the front door, then Bucky hesitates with his key in the lock. Glances over at Mary, to where she's been silent and thoughtful. ]
Hey, if you're having regrets, don't worry about it. We can have a nightcap, or you can head home. Just nice to talk to a pretty girl without choking on pipe fumes.
[Skye half listens as Bucky talks, although she does perk up a little when he mentions Steve. God, what the hell has she gotten herself into?! Standing behind him as he puts his keys in the lock, Skye looks slightly started when he seems to call her out on her shift in mood.
Damn. She really needs to work on that.]
What? No. Absolutely no regrets.
[Smiling when he calls her pretty, Skye's expression doesn't shift when she thinks about how she can't just head home. It's not that easy, and it's a reminder that she has absolutely no place to go. If he kicks her out after telling him the truth, then she'll just--
Have to figure something else out.
Playing with the cuffs of his coat that swallow her hands up, Skye still has that smile on her face as she waits for him to unlock the door. She still has no solid plan of how to break this to him, maybe if she has another drink it'll be easier...]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[It was pretty simple instructions given by Fitz, but when Skye suddenly found herself alone in the room with the object that had been brought into the lab—
Skye couldn’t help herself. She overheard the theories being thrown around between him and Simmons and she just wanted to get a closer look. Besides, they had been poking and prodding at it for hours, so how dangerous could it really be? Making sure no one was around, Skye got up from her desk and went over to where it lay on one of the tables. First, she pokes it with a pen and when nothing happens, she picks it up.
All she does is blink and suddenly she’s no longer in the lab or holding the object.]
Uh oh…
[Oh, she messed up. Looking around absolutely nothing looks familiar and it’s cold. It wasn’t this cold out when she had gone out earlier in the day. Reaching into the back pocket of her jeans, Skye pulls out her phone and unlocks it. No signal. Lifting her phone up into the air, Skye starts moving around to try and find a signal for her phone. She’s walking for a while with no luck and she’s really starting to get cold.
That’s when she comes across something she’s only ever read about in all of the SHIELD info she was forced to study. The SSR. Well, okay, it was a truck with the SSR logo on it. Which could only mean—
Jemma was right. This was some sort of teleportation device. Holy shit. Was she literally in the middle of World War 2? Sneaking in was not going to be easy, but, if anyone had possible explanations for what the hell happened it had to be them. Right? She hides out near the entrance she followed the truck to before it disappeared. As much as she’d love to just waltz in, she has to have some semblance of a plan.
That’s when she overhears some agents speaking about heading down to the nearby pub, that a few of the Howling Commandos were down there already. It took her a second but then the realization hits her. Okay. Change of plan. Not breaking into the highly secured SSR bunker. Not when she might be able to get in more easily
It takes her a little while, but eventually, she makes it to the pub and hopes that she isn’t too late and missed them. Dressed in an emerald green dress she had stolen, Skye’s hair wasn’t done up nearly as nice as the other women she spotted around, but you know what? TIME TRAVEL WASN’T IN THE SHIELD 101 HANDBOOK, OKAY?! She’s completely out of her element here and sure she’s watched old movies, but being here? Completely different and completely overwhelming.
Cell phone tucked away in a clutch she had also stolen, the dress was long enough that she hadn’t worried too much about stealing a pair of era-appropriate heels and instead was still wearing her heeled boots. Looking around the room, she could feel some eyes on her as she moved around trying to find anyone that actually looks familiar. Laughing it off when a guy came up behind her asking for a dance, Skye quickly brushed past him. This place was oozing with testosterone.
Just when she thought she was too late, Skye spots someone she’s only ever seen in pictures and comes to a stop a few feet away. This was real, wasn’t it? She’s really traveled back in time and just a few feet in front of her was Bucky Barnes. Taking a deep breath, Skye walks up to him and at least tries to remain calm.]
Is this seat taken?
[She does a decent job of looking like she’s not absolutely shitting her pants right now at least.]
no subject
Which, of course, led to Jim rolling his eyes and Bucky hiding a smirk behind his drink. He's keeping half an eye on the clock on the wall behind them, because Steve had promised he'd tear himself away from the tactical maps and come join them for a drink. But the more the time ticked ever-onwards, he had a pretty good idea his pal was going to find some excuse to never actually join them, so Bucky might need to head back to HQ and retrieve him before it got too late. (Once upon a time, he'd have grabbed his friend by the scruff of his neck, but now that they were the same height and Steve was considerably broader, that had gotten harder.)
Normally he'd have more of an eye on the nearby ladies, too, but he wasn't paying too much attention tonight — which is how he's caught off-guard when a bombshell in green walks right up to him, braving this loud corner of male camaraderie. He blinks, looks a little startled; beside him, Jacques is already laughing, offering, "Ma cherie, if Barnes here is too addled to let you sit beside him, you may have my seat instead."
Bucky shoves him. ]
Oh, hey. Nah, it's free. Although god knows if you actually want to sit so close to these chumps—
[ More chatter around him from his fellow soldiers, someone elbowing him in the side, and Bucky grins. He rises politely to his feet, tugs the chair out for her. ]
All yours, ma'am. You're American too?
no subject
Stepping back as Bucky stands, she thinks to herself that he’s taller than she pictured him being. Smiling with ease as he pulls the chair next to him out, Skye tucks her skirt a little as she takes a seat.
How do the women walk around in these dresses? They’re so heavy.]
Thank you.
[Adjusting her hair when she catches sight of a woman walking past looking much more out together than her, Skye then looks to Bucky when she realizes he was asking her a question.]
I am, yes. How did you guess?
[Just making jokes through the panic.]
What are you fellas drinking?
[Because she’s still freezing and a drink would definitely help her warm up, maybe help take the edge off.]
no subject
Can I get you anything?
[ His other hand pats the pockets of his jacket in a sudden worry, double-checking— okay, yes, he's still got some spare pence on him. Money's a weird thing these days. They don't use any of it when they're out in the field, so shore leaves turns into a haze of celebration and extravagance, blowing their pay on booze and partying and drowning out the memories of what they had left, and what they were soon going back to. ]
no subject
Looking from the hand on the back of her chair, Skye follows his arm up to his face and realizes just how close he is to her. Swallowing back the panic at the idea that any minute she’d be caught lying, Skye grips her clutch a little more tightly before she manages to smile an easy, believable, smile at Bucky.]
I’ve got it.
[Thanks the money that was in the clutch she had stolen. Honestly, she’s not sure what the currency was like here.]
How about a round of less shitty rum on me?
[Because, just maybe, if she butters them up and got them a little more tipsy, this might go a lot easier. Or, you know, she’ll get arrested. God. What that fuck was she doing?!]
no subject
Pretty sure we're supposed to be the one footing the bill.
[ Maybe a touch of fragile masculinity— it is, after all, the '40s. But after another insistence from her, he relents and agrees. It's not like they actually have that much to spend, so if a well-dressed and moneyed brunette wants to look on the Howling Commandos as a charity case, they might as well take it. He accompanies her up to the bar to help carry all the drinks back to their table, though. While they wait, he props his arms against the counter. ]
Sorry in advance about them. You've chosen a, uh, colourful bar to wind up in tonight, ma'am. I'm Bucky, by the way.
[ Women offering to throw down drinks with the soldiers was an unusual sight, but he was already enjoying her accent. It was nice, talking to a pretty American girl rather than yet another half-shattered American soldier. It reminded him of home. ]
no subject
[And she won't take no for an answer, obviously. Skye needs to be on their good side, even though she has absolutely no idea how she's even going to get inside the SSR. She's sure security isn't nearly as difficult to deal with as it is in her time, but still, there are those pesky little guns...
Surprised when Bucky follows her, Skye looks back at the table where the rest of the guys are sitting, a few of them caught staring at her. Jacques just winks though. Laughing, Skye stops herself from rolling her eyes as she looks over to Bucky.]
I kn--
[God that was close, Skye quickly correct herself.]
I'm Mary, and don't worry about it. I actually like how colorful this place is. Reminds me of home.
[When the bartender comes up to her, Skye does a quick head count to make sure she's ordering the right amount of rum. She notices the quick glance the bartender gives Bucky as she pulls money from her clutch. Like he's judging him for letting her foot the bill. This time she does roll her eyes before turning her attention back to Bucky.]
So, where are you from, Bucky?
no subject
How about you?
[ He's half-distracted but still riveting his attention on her, watchful, half-smiling — c'mon, Buck, be a gent, remember how to charm them — as he carefully helps gather up all the shot glasses as the bartender pours out the drinks. It'll be something like both him and Mary carrying around four each. ]
no subject
[Totally doesn't already know that fact about him. Not at all. Skye smiles with ease as she gathers up the other drinks after placing her clutch under her armpit.]
Hell's Kitchen.
[Skye's careful with where she steps. The dress is pretty long, but at least she doesn't have to deal with heels.]
Where are all of the ladies at? Or is this some kind of 'men's only' pub that I missed the memo on?
no subject
[ She's being careful with her steps, but Bucky almost trips over his in stunned surprise, not expecting that answer out of her mouth. Hell's Kitchen is a mess. Hell's Kitchen is where he and Steve have always gotten beaten up the worst, and almost not even survived to drag their asses over the bridge and back to Brooklyn, licking their wounds. He tries not to let on, but he's skittish on those rare occasions when he happens to be in that neighbourhood, always watching his back and walking light on his toes. He tried not to be there often.
She doesn't look Irish — too dusky for it, something exotic to her features — but 'Mary' sounds Irish. Hell, maybe those gangs are where all her money came from. He marshals his composure back into place; tells himself not to ask about it. ]
It's not technically men's only, but they're gonna look at you a little sideways for being here. It's mostly popular with soldiers on leave. Bit too cheap and rough-and-tumble for their dates, so they try to take them to one of the restaurants down the street instead if they're out for the night. If you're from the Kitchen, though, you can probably hold your own.
no subject
It's not hard to imagine why the women might not want to come here. Between how rowdy some of the guys are being here, and the overwhelming stench of cigars...
Still, she's been in worse places before. Placing the drinks down on the table once they're back, the guys grab them quickly.]
Oh, well--
[She can hold her own, sure, but not because she grew up in Hell's Kitchen specifically. She can gather from his reaction and response that it must've been a shitty place to live during his time. Their time? God, she's having a hard time wrapping her head around all of that.]
I mean, yeah, I can hold my own.
[One of the guys mutters something and the others start laughing. It's probably for the best that she didn't hear them. Picking up her own drink she takes a sip and her nose scrunches up. Still not the best she's ever hard.]
no subject
Now that they've taken their seats again, he's rearranged their positions to scoot his and Mary's chairs a little further off to the side, stealing a bit more privacy away from the other soldiers. (Jacques, finally getting the hint, gives Bucky a thumbs up and then turns back to the others.) ]
So, what brings a gal like you over to Europe?
no subject
I came to visit family, but then everything started happening and--
Not exactly easy to get back.
[Well, the latter part was true. Did people in this day and age travel to go see family?]
What about you?
[It's an automatic response, but as soon as the words leave her lips she realizes how silly of a question that is and starts laughing.]
no subject
Oh, y'know, bit of this and a bit of that. Sightseeing mostly.
[ The man is relatively quick to tease and to laugh, even after his experiences in the HYDRA prison camp. Even after everything. So he keeps his voice light as he adds: ]
Food's terrible everywhere these days, but I gotta say, it's better in France than here. Great lamb.
no subject
[It's a dig at the bartender of course, Skye even nods in the guy's direction as her smile widens. He's funny, and it's almost surprising to realize that he is. Then again, she's only seen a few clips of him in old war videos, and a handful of pictures in history books.]
How long have you been over here?
[Her smile fades a little, knowing just how serious it is out there. It's almost easy to forget, with how loud the laughter is in here. For whatever reason Skye always imagined their downtime was spent by drinking and being depressed. One of her assumptions was correct, at least?]
no subject
Bucky takes another swig of his drink while he does the mental math on Mary's question. Time blurred strangely over here, a mixture of hurry-up-and-wait, the weeks dragging interminably before they suddenly sped up into a blur. His time in the HYDRA camp was especially hard to keep track of long it had been. But: ]
Deployed to Europe in June 1943, so it's been... about a year and a half, I guess? Jesus. Can't believe it's been that long.
[ A beat, a slight flicker in his smile as it fades a little. ]
And who knows how long this'll wind up being. I'm sorry you're stuck out here, too.
no subject
Maybe if we're lucky, this will be over soon.
[Except it won't be. Not for him. He's going to go through something arguably worse. At least on a personal level.]
In the mean time, we might as well enjoy the night.
no subject
This might be forward, but in the spirit of enjoying the night: hey, you wanna go dancing? Not here, [ he waves a hand at the smoky pub around them, which is mostly packed with men and soldiers in conversation, no real dancefloor to speak of, ]
But there's a dancehall down the street that the guys like. Or we could go— somewhere else.
[ Wartime flings were flourishingly common, and he's thinking it might be his turn. So hey, Skye. Here's your opportunity to smuggle him away and maybe get some help with your predicament instead. ]
no subject
Somewhere else like...?
[Was he offering to take her back to wherever he was staying? Okay, so some things haven't changed. She seems interested at least. The idea of getting him somewhere alone? So she can confess to how she actually got here? It could either go over well, or he could end up calling her nuts.]
no subject
[ If one of the Howling Commandos had elbowed their way back into this conversation right at this exact point, he was dumping mud in their boots. But thank god, there's a burst of conversation and laughter from the guys which means she's the only one to hear his invitation: his expression carefully light, a faint questioning smile on his face, hand still cradling the last of his tequila. ]
I got a roommate while we're in town, but I don't think he's coming home tonight.
[ More evenings than not, Steve wound up crashing in one of the cots back at the SSR rather than the cheap shared bachelor room the army had temporarily set them up with. Usually Bucky was annoyed about it, and was always trying to get his friend to lighten up and stop working so hard, but tonight he'd be glad for it. ]
But if not— that's totally fine, don't worry about it. We can drink. Dance.
no subject
[Well, this was her chance to explain what was going on. Looking around one last time as if expecting to find another way to handle all of this, Skye comes up short. Tucking a stair piece of hair behind her ear, she watches as he quickly gives her another option.]
Yeah, I'd like that.
[The fact that she even has a chance with him made this even worse. She's about to disappoint him with the real reason she's agreeing to go with him. There wasn't much left in her glass so she downs the rest before grabbing her clutch and getting to her feet. She can feel some of the guys turn to look now, and she clears her throat when she hears a few of them mumbling about her leaving with Bucky. She tries not to pay too close attention to what they're saying though.
no subject
Yeah, told you they were going to be a pain in the ass. They're good men, though.
[ And he glances at her: the emerald dress, the clutch, her bare shoulders and arms. ]
Shit, you're gonna be freezing. You want my jacket?
[ Without waiting for a reply, he's already starting to shrug out of it and hold it out to her. ]
no subject
[Skye says, maybe a little too quickly.]
I mean, they seem like it. Under all of that...
[She gestures vaguely, unsure of the right word to use so she just stops trying. It's kind of hard to focus when she's not only trying to think of what to say to Bucky, but also with the fact that he's got his hand on her back like that.
The air is cold enough that she's got her arms wrapped around herself as soon as they step outside, although the alcohol is definitely starting to kick in a little to keep her a bit more warm. Skye wants to refuse when he offers her his jacket, but he's already holding it out so she takes it without argument. Slipping her arms through the too big sleeves,]
Thanks.
[She smiles up at him briefly, heart hammering in her chest. Just how far was his place from here? Enough time for her to, hopefully, come up with something? God, she hopes so. She's silent the rest of the walk.]
no subject
They're sauntering down the street, getting closer to where he and his best friend have been staying. It's a lodging house as close to SHIELD headquarters as they could get; run by a cozy older English woman who behaves like a firm but warmhearted mother to all of the lodgers under her roof, and they help out with occasional errands and handywork around the townhouse in return. The war has loosened things up, so she hasn't imposed any rules against overnight guests, thank god, although they should probably still scurry in quickly to avoid an awkward conversation.
But when they get to the front door, then Bucky hesitates with his key in the lock. Glances over at Mary, to where she's been silent and thoughtful. ]
Hey, if you're having regrets, don't worry about it. We can have a nightcap, or you can head home. Just nice to talk to a pretty girl without choking on pipe fumes.
no subject
Damn. She really needs to work on that.]
What? No. Absolutely no regrets.
[Smiling when he calls her pretty, Skye's expression doesn't shift when she thinks about how she can't just head home. It's not that easy, and it's a reminder that she has absolutely no place to go. If he kicks her out after telling him the truth, then she'll just--
Have to figure something else out.
Playing with the cuffs of his coat that swallow her hands up, Skye still has that smile on her face as she waits for him to unlock the door. She still has no solid plan of how to break this to him, maybe if she has another drink it'll be easier...]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
wrap ♥