𝐆𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒 ▸ bucky barnes [1]

10.

NOVEMBER 5, 1943
4:00 PM
LONDON, ENGLAND

—

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WHAT FELT LIKE YEARS, Valerie's sleep was dreamless.

She woke up slowly, bathed in the gentle light filtering through the window of her hotel room. Only... this didn't look like morning light. It was warm, and tinted with an orange glow. She furrowed her brow. What time is it? How did I get here? The last thing she remembered was being at the bar, watching Bucky walk away to go talk to his friends, and then... nothing.

She groaned, flopping her head back onto her pillow. She must've gotten drunk – way too drunk. She could only hope she hadn't completely embarrassed herself. She was startled by the side of her door opening, revealing a familiar figure in the doorway.

"Rise and shine, doll," Bucky smiled, closing the door behind him as he approached her. He was carrying a steaming coffee mug, and when Valerie sat up, he presented it to her.

She hesitantly took it. "What time is it?"

     "Four o'clock on the dot," Bucky laughed. "You were asleep all day."

     "Four o'clock?" Valerie repeated disbelievingly. She looked around. "How did I even get here?"

Bucky smiled. "I walked you home. You were drunk as a skunk."

Valerie felt her ears turn red. "Oh. Um... how bad was it?"

"Pretty bad. But I've seen worse," Bucky winked. "But drink up. There's something we've gotta talk to you about."

Valerie furrowed her brow. "We?"

As if on cue, the door opened again, this time revealing none other than Steve. He was still dressed in his military uniform, and his expression was serious. "Morning, Valerie," he nodded at her. "Or should I say, 'Good afternoon'?"

Valerie shook her head. "What's going on, Bucky?"

Bucky pulled up a chair to sit down across from Valerie, and Steve followed suit. "Valerie," Steve started. "Remember how you asked me about Hydra last night?"

Finally, something she did remember. Valerie nodded.

Steve sighed. "Well, I'm gonna tell you all about them now. And I'm gonna ask a big favor of you."

***

"You want me," Valerie repeated in disbelief. "To join you. And Bucky, and Dum Dum, and whoever else. To take down Hydra bases." She paused. "The people that imprisoned and tortured me."

Steve hesitated. "Yes."

Valerie ran a hand through her hair. "But why me? I'm... I mean, I'm a woman."