Prologue: Captain America: Love on The Battlefield

Chapter 2: 1A

INT. MARVELS PAVILION, RECRUITMENT CENTER

Getting off track of time, Steve and Victoria found themselves at the recruitment centre. Steve stared at a mirrored booth in front of the recruitment pavilion: "YOU DUTY: TYR IT ON FOR SIZE!"

A burly man stands in front of the mirror, grinning ear to ear at how big and heroic he looks in uniform. Now Steve steps up; in the mirror, he now wears A G.I. uniform. His disappointed eyes barely see over the collar.

Victoria smiled sadly and approaches as the blonde stepped down. "I don't think you will stop here." She whispered, making Steve look up at her and shrugged.

"Worth a try?" he wondered, and Victoria vocally laughed slightly.

Just then, Bucky clamps a hand on his shoulder from behind, startling both for not noticing the flashy dressed soldier approach. "You're kind of missing the point of a "double date."" he smirked. "But I understand why you ditched..." Bucky trailed, eyeing Victoria. "Ma'am." He greeted.

Victoria respectfully smiled back. "Sergeant. You must be Steve's best friend," she stepped forward and shook Bucky's hand. "Bucky?"

"James Barnes, but yes, Bucky for short, ma'am."

"Victoria." She corrected and let go of his hand. Steve stood awkwardly between them. "It was good to finally meet you, but it looks like it's time for me to leave."

Steve snaps his head up at her and the girl was already watching him. "Already?"

"Yeah, unfortunately so." She smiled apologetically. "But like we promised, we will eventually meet up again." She added and the corners of Steve's lips curled up before the black-haired girl leaned down and kissed his cheek. "Good night, Steve."

Steve tensed, panicky and embarrassed. "R-right, er... g-good night, Tori. Have a safe trip back..." he fidgeted, which made Victoria grin even wider before patting his shoulder and walk pass him. Her and Bucky exchanged looks, bowed their heads in farewell, and the woman walked off.

Bucky stubbly watched after her, and Steve just stole a few glances, still embarrassed. "What a woman..." Bucky murmured.

"She is 5 years older..." Steve added, somewhat proud to know, and Bucky turned to him speechlessly.

"My man!" he chuckled, hugging his short friend proudly. "Come on, we're gonna get a chocolate soda."

Steve clenched his jaw, peeking bac at the recruitment centre behind him. "You go ahead."

Nearby we see the old man Victoria talked to, Dr. Erskine: A tired-looking man in his mid-50s, listening in on the argument. Bucky eyes the recruitment signs.

"You're really gonna do this now?"

Steve slightly shrugged, hands in his trouser pockets. "It's a fair. I'm gonna try my luck."

"As who? "Steve from Ohio"? They'll catch you. Or worse, they'll actually take you." Bucky warned.

Steve looks at Bucky with a grim smile of disappointment. "You don't think I can do it." The blonde said.

"This isn't some back alley, Steve. It's a war. Why are you so keen to fight? There're lots of other important jobs." Bucky tried to reason.

"You want me to sit in a factory? Collect scrap metal in my little red wagon while the men are laying down their lives? I can do as well as them and I got no right to do any less. That's the thing you don't get, Bucky. It's not about me."

"Right. 'Cause you've got nothing to prove." Bucky recalled and in their silence, a tense beat passes between them.

"Hey Sarge, we gettin' sodas?" the brunette date called from a distance.