1 | SURVIVE • BUCKY BARNES [COMPLETED]

XXIV.

With nearly nothing but the clothes on their backs and the few pieces of artillery they could salvage, the soldiers of the 107th regiment walked home. They were dirty, perpetually dirty with dust and soot covering nearly every surface of themselves, but Gideon didn't mind in that moment. All that mattered to her was that when she turned her head either way, Bucky and Steve were at her side.

When they arrived, Steve and Gideon surrendered themselves for punishment. What they did went against every protocol, every command, and every order. Hell, Gideon didn't even tell Colonel Phillips she was going, knowing his response would be rather disapproving. But to their surprise, neither were reprimanded.

Captain America was praised for the mission, and Gideon thought it took them long enough to do it. After the tours of being a showgirl, the man was finally able to do and succeed in what he was born to do; be a soldier.

Later that night, they all found themselves in a bar in the midst of London, clean and showered, and Gideon couldn't be happier. She wore a blue number, one that Peggy nearly forced her into as long as she agreed to sport the red dress the doctor picked.

Gideon smiled to herself at the gaping mouth of Steve and much of the crowd within the bar when the agent walked in.

Across the bar, she spotted Bucky and approached him in her black heels. "Hey soldier," she touched his shoulder with a warm smile, "Long time, no see."

"My God, you look amazing," he uttered once he spun around; his eyes from then on never left her.

"You don't look so bad yourself," the woman found herself saying as she felt the blood rush to her face and her heart rate rise. In fact, the man looked rather more than exceptionally well in his clean uniform, and Gideon couldn't stop staring. She couldn't believe she was lucky enough to have him. His strong arms connected to broad shoulders embraced her, and she pressed her lips to his.

Months had passed between the last time they kissed, and they both knew it. The sexual tension between them built, and they both tried to release as much of it as possible within the kiss. It was interrupted though by a cough, and they pulled apart. Gideon looked up rather embarrassed and Bucky was more annoyed, but all in all, they were greeted with Steve's amused expression.

"Sorry to interrupt," the captain smiled as he joined them in their own private spot of the bar.

"Uh huh," Bucky replied disbelievingly and jokingly as the three settled at an open table.

The cozy, warm atmosphere reminded her of the café back in Brooklyn, and it immediately brought on the comforting feelings of it as they shared drinks despite the grueling mission ahead of them. But that was for later thought. Now, they were just enjoying the moment.

And once they finished their drinks, Steve parted to join another table of soldiers, and Bucky leaned across theirs to ask, "Would you honor me with a dance?"

"I would love to," she nodded, "although I'm afraid I might be a bit rusty."

"Nah, you're a natural," he assured and took her hand. They moved from the table to a more open space and began to sway to the music. A couple of stepped-on-toes later though, Bucky changed his response to, "a natural dancer who just needs a little practice."

"Told you," she laughed before falling into his arms as the music slowed.

They danced until their feet ached and in between the steps they stole kisses. But it wasn't until the last one did Gideon pull away, "Let's get out of here."

"And go where," he smiled curiously.

"Well, I have this hotel room just around the corner, and I'm afraid that all of this dancing has made me tired," she explained slowly, tracing the lines and patterns of his suit with a light touch.