𝒲illiam walked on the streets of Brooklyn, keeping a small distance between his tiny, older brother and the tall man next to him. The sun was slowly rising in the distance, making the sky a portfolio of red and yellow. The air was slightly foggy and a couple of birds flew overhead.

He watched with distaste as the dark green military fabric fit Bucky quite well. "The 107th. Sergeant James Barnes, shipping to England ey?" Bucky glanced over his shoulder, letting William catch up to them. "Yeah, punk. Sounds like me," he said cheerfully, hooking the teenager under his arm.

William didn't mind, he was hurting, anyways. Not that it mattered, he was just afraid for the man. "Don't look so down now Willy, I will keep those Nazis in check. Besides, how could they hurt me? I'm James Buchanan Barnes, I'm like, unbeatable." he joked, trying to lift the somber mood that hung over the brothers like a storm cloud.

"I recall this one time I beat you on the run to home, you were unfit then, you're unfit now," William said annoyed, not missing the way Buck shook with silent laughter. "It's only because you knew your neighbour had left you some baked goods on your porch. You had a purpose."

William knew Bucky had let him win that day. But he would deny it.

On the train station, William watched bewildered how many women were crying over the young soldiers. Mothers were tucking roses into their sons' pockets, giving them the last piece of bread and bottle of milk.

"I told it to your brother before, I'll tell you the same. Don't do anything stupid until I come back, okay? Don't go saving objects that aren't yours to save." Will felt his cheeks redden in shame, Steve and Buck had teased him endlessly about it. "Yeah, yeah, and you come back alive."

"Oh trust me, punk, I will. I'll be back faster then you could say beret." Steve chuckled, making Will hit Bucky's arm in frustration.

"William has a point, stay safe out there, Sarge." they heard the last call to the train and William absolutely loathed that vehicle.

"I will, promise. See you two soon, I'll better catch my ride!"

And with that step on the train, William felt something in his heart tug.

Worry.

From the train window, Bucky waved at the two brothers standing.

As the vehicle filled with soldiers became smaller and smaller, William still stood with Steve, both of their minds far, far away. Steve was longing for that, he wanted to help, but he was rejected every single time. But he was Steve Rogers, he could do it all day.

William, however, was starting to count days. He was going to enlist one day. He hadn't given much thought to it, hoping war would be over soon, but it didn't seem to be getting over any time in the near future.

"Hey, Steve?" William asked, dragging the e. Steve glanced over, looking at sulking William quizzically. "I think you should stop." the younger sibling said, ignoring Steve's intense gaze as he looked around the waking streets.

"You know I can't." his voice was deep considering his light frame and short height. Steve pushed his light hair from his blue eyes as he kept glancing at William worriedly. "Of course, because you got nothing to prove, right?" he said dryly, pushing past Steve as he disappeared into the streets of Brooklyn.

Steve sighed, pulling out the crumpled paper hidden in his pocket. He pursed his dry lips, reading over his enlistment form. He knew William would be alone at their empty apartment, good thing he had had a talk with Mrs. Davis awhile ago. She was a lonely old woman with motherly instincts and sharp tongue. Exactly what William needed should Steve get into the army. Which, he was going to, he just knew he would.

William was just wandering around, wearing an unusual frown that simply didn't seem to fit with his cheeky demeanor.

Ha hated war. He hated Hitler, he hated Nazis, he hated the God damn red beret that made him look like a fool and he hated Steve for wanting to play the game of War.

All in all, he really was having a bad day until he nearly walked into a mailman, apparently, stumbling against the blue cycle made the brooding kid look up, and he was glad he did.

For he realized he had walked by a library. No, of course, William didn't care about books, sure he knew how to write and read but he just couldn't find pleasure in reading books. They were dull, besides, he had a lot better things to do with his time like reading poetry.

But the person reading those books was who caught his attention. William noticed Rosalind Carter sitting with her extravagant dress and pile of books beside her, the moment he saw her, the frown had disappeared and the coldness had melted from his blue eyes.

The freckles on his cheeks seemed to be pulling a smile on his tanned face as he immediately pushed his way into the library.

"Rosa!" a lady shot a glare towards William as the doors closed behind him, making the boy smile apologetically and give a nod towards the lady. She raised her head higher, whipped around and disappeared behind rows of books after giving one more, terrifying glared to William.

"Oh, William! You're fine!" the girl breathed out, letting the book slip shut. Will nodded, clearing his throat as he took off his hat. "Of course, of course, I am, why shouldn't I? I'm healthy as a horse." they both settled down after Rosa had confessed her worry, making Will look beet red.

He was flattered and ashamed.

"So, books? I never guessed you'd be the one visiting the town's library? Isn't there like, a library twice the size of that in your home?" the boy asked, just wishing to hear more of her alluring voice. She chuckled, making Williams' heart skip a beat. "Believe it or not, but I do enjoy visiting this place once in a while. I am no soldier like my siblings, I enjoy reading more. And the books at home are all getting dull, I needed... Something refreshing. Something new. My sister suggested it to me before he had to leave again. "The Moving Finger" by an amazing writer Agatha Christie. She's amazing, truly she is. And that book, William, I think I've never read anything that has such an interesting story!"

William wasn't even listening properly, he was simply watching the spark that made her eyes shine. She was fascinating. "Books, you say? Why do you read them, for the interesting plots?" his question was dumb, but he had to keep the conversation alive.

"That's the thing about books, they let you travel without moving your feet. And I happen to love traveling. These are just anxious times right now, no time for traveling. I really want to go to Ireland one day. Isn't it where your parents were from?" she asked, looking intrigued.

William inched closer, placing his hat on top of the book Rosa had been reading. "Uhm, yeah, my parents were from Ireland," he said, feeling uncomfortable. He didn't like the topic of parents very much. "But Rosa, it will come to an end soon. You will have the whole world in front of you once our boys show those nazis some discipline and honor," he said, giving a friendly smile to the fair-haired girl.

"You know Will, I'm glad you're still here. But tell me, what are your plans, once you're eighteen and... And it isn't over yet?" the boy looked away from her, it was frightening him. The war, the men he had seen come back weren't the same they used to.

And that made him think of Bucky. Would he be still the same, smiling Bucky once he'd come back to Brooklyn?

"I--"

"Rosalind, what is the meaning of this?!" both teens stumbled up, eyes wide as they looked the tall, skinny woman who rushed over. William glanced at the smug looking librarian, narrowing his blue eyes. "Ma'am, my apologies, your daughter and I were just-" the woman turned to him, pushing Rosa behind her back as if William would not realize she was there when she wasn't in his line of sight.

"You were just what?! Nothing! You are a... A rat! If I see you meddling with my daughter, I will call the authorities! The likes of you have no shame, no honour. Keep away from my daughter, you hear me, rat?" the woman said venomously, having no mercy as he looked into Williams wet, blue eyes. "Mother, stop!" Rosa had nothing against the tall woman.

As they turned to leave, out of desperation William grabbed the woman's wrist, making her turn on her heels and slap the boy across his tanned cheek. William didn't even realize what happened until he felt the stinging. "Don't touch me, God help us, I don't want any sickness form you, mongrel."

As the two reached the doors, William couldn't keep his mouth shut. "I will be worthy of your daughter one day, Mrs. Carter. I can promise you that."

The woman spat at him, scowling as she dragged Rosa with her. She gave William one last apologetic look and disappeared in the hurrying crowd with her mother, letting the door shut quietly behind them.

The clearing of throat made William snap his head towards the mute librarian, she was glaring at him. William smirked, taking a seat on the chair as he made sure to take up as much room as possible. The woman ticked her jaw, turned around and marched away in anger.

As soon as the lady was out of his sigh, William dashed out of the library, he didn't like it very much.

"Hey, Wills!" He glanced up, watching towards the poshly clothed Tucker Hemmings, William took a double take, since when did Tucker have money for expensive things? "Mornin' Tuck, what's got you here so early?"

Tucker and William had gone to the same school, had sat behind the same desk and bothered the same teachers.

And one was for sure, Tucker had five siblings and there wasn't really much to spare in their gigantic family. So, the fact that Tucker Hemmings was wearing top-notch suit was making William suspicious.

The red-head scratched the back of his head, looking troubled as he glanced inside the post office. A woman's shrilling voice reached the two boys, making William widen his eyes. "maybe you've heard of my older brother, Robert? Mentioned him once or twice. Ma got word he was supposed to come back this mornin'. Rob had gotten injured pretty badly, they didn't say... But if they sent him home it had to be pretty bad ey? But Rob was never on the train. And I... I think Ma knows that, too. They don't send corpses back to us."

Sympathy flashed in Williams' eyes, making his heart heavy as he watched Tucker's hazel eyes fill with sadness. The boy glanced back inside, watching the plump woman yelling at the clueless man.

"He might've just slept in, don't you think?" the fair-haired boy asked cheerily, but his voice still betrayed him. "No, Will. If a soldier is sent home after fighting for so long, do you think sleep could keep them back? I just wish someone would have told us... Told us what was going on with Rob." Tucker snapped his head towards the office as he heard the sound of china breaking. William stayed quiet. What was there to say?

"I'll take her home, see you around, mate." "Of course, take care." Worry grew in Williams' heart. War was a reality, it was there. Not psychically, but it still kept breaking families. William just hoped it wouldn't break his, or what was left of it.

( gif gredits to the Great oakenshield_)