Shadows and Light

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve's sleep is troubled tonight.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

"There's something in the trees."

Bucky's at Steve's side, right where he always is when the Howling Commandos are in formation. He keeps his voice to a murmur so his words won't carry.

"I don't like it, Cap."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve examines the trees ahead of them for anything amiss. While the forests of Germany are dense and often dark, he can't see anything that might give cause for alarm.

"Where did you see it?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Up ahead, on the left."

He glances over at his friend.

"I'll break off, go up on the ridge; get a look at it from the height."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve nods, not saying Be careful out loud though it's written all over his face.

He raises his hand, stopping the other Commandos.

[nerves_of_ice]

He fades back into the shadows between the trees, headed for the ridge.

In moments, it's as if he was never there.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve frowns at Bucky's footprints as they seem to fade before his eyes.

[nerves_of_ice]

The wind picks up, ice-tipped and edged with the scent of a coming storm.


Soon, the first snowflakes begin to fall.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve shivers deeply.

He's never liked the cold.


Worse, he's lost sight of Bucky and there's not even a shivering tree branch to show where he's gone.

[nerves_of_ice]

CRACK!

The rifle fire rips through the air like a knife.

No one else reacts. No one else is there; the Commandos have all vanished into the snow.

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK--

Suddenly the gunshots stop, replaced by a harsh, agonized scream.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Bucky," Steve whispers and runs in the direction Bucky went, praying what he just heard meant Bucky took out whoever was following them and not--not--

[nerves_of_ice]

"Could use a hand."

He staggers from the trees, his rifle slung over his back and his left arm pressed tight across his middle.

Bucky's trying to smile, even as he stumbles and reaches out.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve reaches out to catch him. "Bucky--"

Not like this. Not like this.

[nerves_of_ice]

His fingers just brush the tips of Steve's as he falls, barely out of reach.

Leaves explode from the ground where he lands, hiding any sight of him.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"What?"

Steve falls to his knees and starts digging in the dirt and fallen leaves, gasping, "Bucky, Bucky," as if that will help him find Bucky faster.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Lose something?"

There's laughter in his voice, coming from behind Steve.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve whirls.

There's Bucky at the end of the alley, tall and handsome in his uniform--and Steve is tiny again, lungs constricting with every breath and an ache in his knuckles and his face.

"Thought I lost you." He manages to muster up a smile. "Shoulda known you'd turn up like a bad penny."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Always do, don't I?"

He comes forward, kicking a trashcan lid out of the way as he slings his right arm around Steve's shoulders.

"Come on. You're a mess; we've got to get you cleaned up before tonight."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"What's tonight?" He stops, despite Bucky's arm around his shoulders. "Not another blind date, Buck."

[nerves_of_ice]

He grins, a little sheepishly.

"You'll like this one. She's a real nice gal. Smart, too."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve shakes his head. "They're all nice gals, 'til they see me."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Okay, so some of them haven't been -- but this dame's different, I know it," Bucky insists. "Like I said, she's smart. She'll be able to see the real you."

A beat, as he considers something.

"Pretty, too. Red hair."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve glances at Bucky. "Sounds more like your type."

[nerves_of_ice]

He shrugs.

"Listen, if you really don't want to go, I can cancel. We can see a movie or something instead."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I'd rather see a movie," Steve says, because no amount of nice girls is ever better than spending time with his friend.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Okay. I'll go call them; why don't we meet at the theater?"