Edge of Night

01

Irina and Bucky were on their way to the theater to meet Steve for a movie. Steve had insisted on going early, as he liked watching the footage of soldiers during the war.

The loud voice of a man caught their attention. "You just don't know when to give up, do you?"

"I can do this all day," another man said.

Irina frowned. "Oh no. Don't tell me it's already started."

Bucky glanced at her and shrugged. "Knowing him, I think it has."

"Let's see what he's up to this time."

Bucky nodded and the two walked up to investigate what was going on.

Irina went to hit the man attacking Steve, and got hit in her nose. She let out a hiss and lunged at the man, pushing him against the wall.

Bucky glanced at Irina and pushed him away from the fuming brunette and punched the attacker, then kicked him before yelling, "Hey! Pick on someone your own size! Didn't your mother ever tell you not to hit a girl? Rina, you all right?"

Irina nodded. "Nothing's broken. Bastard!"

Bucky nodded before turning back to Steve. "Sometimes Rina and I think you like getting punched." He picked up Steve's enlistment form from the ground. "How many times is this?" He read from the enlistment form. "Oh, you're from Paramus now? You know it's illegal to lie on the enlistment form. And seriously, Jersey?"

Steve ignored Bucky's words and asked, "You get your orders?"

Bucky glanced at Irina sadly before replying, "The 107th. Sergeant James Barnes. Shipping out for England first thing tomorrow. "

"I should be going."

Irina frowned. "But we discussed going out tonight! Don't bail on us now, Steve."

Bucky smiled at her and turned back to Steve once again. "Come on, man. My last night! Gotta get you cleaned up."

"Why? Where are we going?" Steve wondered.

Irina smiled as she said, "The future."

Bucky handed Steve a newspaper. Steve opened the paper to see an ad for World Exposition Of Tomorrow, 1943.

---

Irina made her way back to her apartment and set down her bag. She pulled off her blouse and threw it on her bed.

She slipped off her skirt and put on a dress she figured appropriate for a science exposition.

A short while later, a knock sounded on her door.

She opened it to reveal Bucky and smiled before teasing, "I thought you'd never show."

Bucky laughed and returned her smile. "I told you I'd be here, doll."

"I'm teasing, Buck."

Bucky offered his arm and she linked hers through his before he said, "You look beautiful, Rina."

Irina glanced down and lifted the skirt of her dress. "What, this old thing?"

"Old? Pretty sure that's new."

She glanced up and replied, "It's a love-hate relationship that you know me so well."

Bucky pecked her cheek teasingly. ""Here's looking at you, kid."" He smiled softly at the girl he'd quickly fallen for, yet she seemed to be blind to his advances and how he felt about her. "All right, let's get to that exposition."

The two made their way to the exposition as they laughed and talked, enjoying each other's company. Periodically, Irina glanced behind her. Since her escape from Russia, she was terrified that she'd be taken back to that God-awful place. She'd managed to stay hidden for half a year, and she intended to keep it that way.