One Night In Brooklyn | Bucky Barnes 1940's

11.13 PM

One drink turned into two, and Bucky spent the next hour telling her stories about what it was like overseas. How he had grown a strong dislike for German food, how one time they had nothing to eat but pickles and eggs for an entire week. How he and Steve had jumped on a hay carrier into town without permission and ended up having to walk all the way back to camp (which took them all night).

Eloise listened intently at his stories, laughing whenever he got riled up or over-passionate in re-telling a specific part.

"I'll tell you one thing though, what I miss the most about being home is having a proper meal. Straight from the oven, hot, cooked with love. Nothing beats it." He leaned his head back into the headrest of the chair, gazing up at the dark sky.

Eloise watched him closely, strangely mesmerized by his ability to keep talking. Slightly jealous of his confidence, and figuring there would be no better time to look at him un-interrupted, she also rested her head onto the headrest of the chair.

"But, I do have to admit. When you're out there at camp, middle of the night. You'll never come across a clearer sky. The stars are amazing." He turned his head over to her, finding her gaze already locked on him. "But this view is nothing to complain about" He smiled.

Eloise rolled her eyes "I expect you use that line on all the girls?" She mimicked his dreamy eyed expression with a playful voice.

"No. Just the ones that roll me cigarettes and beat me at throwing balls at clowns" He laughed.

"I wasn't aware that was such a regular occurrence for you" she scoffed.

"Are you always so...hard headed?" He sat up, searching her face.

"What does that mean?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Well....Are you always so hard headed? Do you always fight with every ounce in your being when given a compliment? It's like you refuse to accept the fact that someone could enjoy...you" He shrugged, his tone was more serious than playful. But it wasn't mean, like she had expected the delivery to be. It was simply filled with a degree of concern that made her intensely uncomfortable.

Eloise looked at him for a while, reached for another cigarette and this time, waited for him to light it for her. Bucky leaned carefully over her legs which she had somewhat stretched out between the two of them, placing his hand carefully against her calf. He liked the way her nylons felt against his palm.

"The world is a cruel and nasty place. You gotta be crueler if you want a chance. Compliments are for little girls and puppies" She blew out the smoke.

"You were a little girl once though, weren't you?" He leaned his head onto the chair, watching her fidget uncomfortably.

Eloise took a deep breath before looking up at him.

"Why did you become a soldier?" She drilled her green eyes right into his, finally catching the flicker in his gaze. He's very uncomfortable with this question, she noted to herself. Happy that she had seemed to have gained a slight edge against him.

"Why do you want to know?" He smirked.

Eloise shrugged, taking another draw of her cigarette.

"Well, when you give me a good reason for wanting to know, I'll give you an answer" He crossed his arms.

Eloise searched his face intently before holding out her hand.

"Deal" She said.

Bucky's gaze jumped between her hand and her face, but finally he gave in and reached out as well, grabbing her hand and shaking it slowly.

"Deal" he smiled.