Part O N E~

I walked into the compound, my heels producing clicking noises on the tile. I didn't fail to notice the several head turns from the soldiers walking past, looking at the new girl in the maroon long sleeve sweater with long black pants. Along with some nasty looks from the girls. I hoped I looked like I meant business.

I managed to make it to the door of the nurse's side of the compound, right before I tripped. I braced myself for landing, but it never happened. I opened my eyes, to find a pair of soft blue eyes staring into my own green and blue ones. The soldiers' arm was wrapped around my waist, keeping me from hitting the floor.

I couldn't look away from this handsome solider, for whatever reason. He slid me upright once again, and looked at me. "Saved you." He smiled at me, making me blush. "What's your name, doll?" I could feel my blush intensify as he said that. I managed to stand up straight, looking back into his eyes. " Lily Winters."

He winked. "Sweet name for a sweet dame." I rolled my eyes, still smiling. "See you around, Solider...?" He grinned. "James. But you can call me Bucky."

He snapped his hat off and bowed to me, walking off. I turned and faced the door to the nurses compound, my face still decorated with blush. I pulled open the door, immediately overtaken by a nurse, who I assumed was the head. "Hi! Here for a nurse position?" She asked, trying to keep her voice upbeat, but clear exhaustion was laced into her voice .

I nodded, and she immediately took me to a room with nurses' uniforms. "Go on, we'll need help soon!" I looked at her, confusion on my face. "Aren't you going to check if I'm really a nurse?" She laughed. "No. We are desperate for any help right now!" I shrugged, laughing as well, and stepped into the dressing area with my uniform.

The uniform consisted of a white short skirt and long white blouse. The blouse was embroidered with the letters W.S.N., along with a default name tag. I struggled into the uniform, short skirts really not being my 'thing'. I sighed as I wrote my name in neat silvery blue cursive on the name tag, pinning it to my left side. Lily Winters.

I left the room, smiling as I caught my reflection. I looked...pretty damn good. As I headed out into the main area, where soldiers were for healing and recovering. The head nurse waved me over.

"You can head back home today. The men are going to war, and they won't be back till tomorrow. And you know they'll be wounded, so it's better to rest up. You might have to pull an all-nighter tomorrow." I nodded and went home.

Hanging up the uniform in my closet, I slipped into bed after having my dinner, my dreams interlaced with thoughts of Bucky.

-the next day-

After struggling into the uniform, I ran toward the compound, which was overflowing with soldiers and the wounded. As I reached the nurse's section, I was immediately scooped up, pushed into the bustle and noise.

Wounded soldiers were being pushed in on gurneys, the most menial a small gunshot scrape, the most severe a third degree burn down the side of a soldiers entire arm. I forced myself not to look, glancing toward the more menial side, where I nearly cried out.

Bucky lay on a gurney, struggling to stay conscious with three bullet wounds in his side. Two nurses were fussing over the IV in his arm, while he struggled, sweat running down his pale face.

I sprinted over, flicking my wrist in the traditional gesture of get the hell away. Once he saw my face, he managed to relax, but clutched my wrist desperately. "Lily. Lily, that's you right?" I nodded and slipped the IV into his arm properly, his energy finally slipping and letting him lie still. His baby blue eyes here fixed on mine the whole time I changed his bandages, cleaning the wound and letting it set as I fixed him up right to the dashing man I met on the first day.

Finally, I was able to complete the re-bandaging of his shallow wound, and set him on a fresh IV. I stepped back, I sigh breaking through my lips. I watched Bucky, who was watching me right back through half-closed eyes. I brushed some soft brown hair off his head and whispered to him softly. "You'll come back, soldier. I'll be with you till the end of the line."

His eyes widened a bit more, holding my gaze. I held my ground, finding my cheeks smattered with a faint pink blush. He grasped my hand gently, interlacing my soft fingers with his. He started to talk, making me lean closer instantly. I heard a soft whisper from him. "I-I'll be with you t-till the end of the line." He managed it, then pinned a soft peck on my cheek before slipping into unconsciousness from the anesthesia the nurse's gave him earlier.

I turned away, my eyes threatening to well up with tears as I threw myself into more work. I couldn't help but keep throwing glances at Bucky in between stitching up minor wounds and delivering anesthesia. Later in the afternoon, I was slipping up to place a fresh IV in his arm. I quickly changed it out, and fixed my soft stare on his face.

His eyes were closed, long brown lashes guarding the deep blue below. His jawline was sharp enough to honestly cut myself, but I decided to not try it, since I wasn't a creep (Sthuti👀) The gentle slope of his cheeks inward led to the chapped fullness of his rosé lips. I traced one of my fingers along the gently tanned skin of his cheek, already so connected to this man despite meeting him one day ago. This short cropped brown hair was kept close to his scalp, but it was still decently long enough to frame his face.

I was so focused on his features that I didn't notice him waking up. I snapped out of it as he gently ensnared my wrist in his hand, keeping it in its position. Bucky gently pressed the back of my hand to his lips, making my face completely flush red. How was he so...seductive? If this was how he normally acted, I was basically and actually screwed. Just then, a nurse swept by, her hands full of flyers for a military ball in two weeks.

I glanced at Bucky, his gaze on me. I could tell we were both thinking the same thing. I managed to shut him down with a silent message. Not until you get better. I could almost hear the unsaid sigh past those words, as I headed out for the day.

-One week later since I'm lazy, Bucky's completely healed.-

I managed to reach the compound a bit early today, not willing to admit it was mostly for Bucky's sake, as he seemed to be a lot better now. Early as in 4 pm, since most of the soldiers were healed. I walked over to the military lounge, where they at least tried to put out coffee everyday. I usually avoided it with a passion after 3 pm, as it got just a touch shady. You know, girls who need a little extra money and guys who mistake other girls as one of them.

But today, during my caffeine withdrawal, i decided to brace the uneasiness and strode in. Sure enough, it was filled with girls in bead-covered nurses' uniforms, peering at the guys. I slipped over the coffee machine, actually managed to pour myself a cup, and was halfway toward the door when a hand grabbed my upper arm. I turned, finding an obviously drunk man holding my arm. He said some...things...that were enough to fill me with rage. He started pulling me toward a shadowy corner, and my instincts kicked in.

I flipped him off covertly, turning and landing a well-placed kick on the side of his head, slamming the flat part of my heel against his temple. I turned and dumped my coffee exactly on his crotch, making him howl in pain. I pulled the thin wire from the lining it was built into and flipped over into his shoulders(get off me boi this isn't Coachella), pulling the wire tight against the high collar that protected his neck.

Due to that, he only felt a stinging and pushing pain, but it was still enough to hurt. He reached up and threw me across the room, where I managed to land on a table. Drawing a shock disc out of my sleeve, I gave it one quick toss to attach to the soldiers neck,which disabled him and rendered him useless. I got up, hair out of it's usually high ponytail, and tried to regain my balance on my heels. Oh shit. I just did that in heels.

I set my uniform correct, as the vest and blouse were slightly messed up. Pulling my hair back up with one hand, I slid a pocket knife out of its sheath under my skirt, where it was strapped along my thigh. I walked over to the man, who stared at me with mad-as-rabbits eyes. I calmly placed the knife along his neck, watching fear dilate in his eyes. I leaned in to his ear, my words coated in a deadly sweet poison. 'Next time, you better ask before doing that. Even if I was one of these girls.'

I twirled the knife and slid it back into the sheath with grace, finally turning toward the entrance to leave. And that was when I realized. Bucky. He was standing in the doorway, looking at me with an astonished expression on his face, half parts surprised and half part affectionate. I only had time to open my mouth, noticing him in the full military uniform, before he pulled me out. Without a word, he led me to his quarters in the compound, which was a pretty decent room. One twin bed, a desk with a chair, a closet, and a fireplace and small table before it for meals.

It felt undeniably cozy,making me feel at home instantly. I turned around to face Bucky, who was closing the door. I looked at him. "Bucky, did you see-" I started, getting my words cut off by his lips. I didn't fight back, I only melted into it. My fingers found his collar and I dug my hands into it, pulling my body closer. He placed his hands against my back, holding me steady. I kept backing up, keeping Bucky with me, until we slammed into the wall, lips still connected as he pinned me.

We finally broke apart for air after a minute, sighing. Bucky smirked. 'Can't tell you how long I've been waiting to do that.' I fidgeted with the hem of my skirt. 'M-me too.' I stammered out. He let me over to the small table, where he sat across from me. He pulled one of my hands towards him, holding it gently. Bucky began, 'I won't lie to you. That was some damn good fighting.' I turned red and fidgeted, losing focus on what he was saying, focusing instead on his thumb drawing circles on the back of my hand.

He smiled. 'One thing I really want to know; how'd you learn to fight like that? I know they don't keep girls in fit fighting shape up in Brooklyn." (You're from Brooklyn don't fight me) I coughed a little bit. "Um...self taught." I could tell he didn't believe me, but he simply nodded. "Well, I have a proposition for you. I think you'd like this much more than being a nurse."

I raised my eyebrows. I was more than a little bit curious as Bucky stood up. "If you're interested, I could show you the basics of it..." I nodded, and stood up as well. Bucky walked over and slipped his hand into mine calmly, leaving me a blushing mess. He walked side by side with me, ignoring the glances from the other girls and men at our intertwined hands.

~L