"Can I have a kiss Sarge?"

"Ask tomorrow".

Always the same reply. Months passed and the howling commandos meet up with regiments, then left to go on solo missions then met up with different regiments for supplies and orders. They travelled to multiple different allies camps across Europe. From French to English to American again. In the four months they had been on this mission, Basil had lost count of how many camps they had joined then separated from. But he knew how many hydra bases they had destroyed. The number was five. Five hydra bases had been taken down across Europe. Some just by the squad themselves, some with the force of a whole troop behind them. No matter, each battle they had entered they had come out on top.

The squad had grown. They had formed an almost brotherhood between them, the sort of brotherhood that you gained when frequently trusting each other with their lives. They had gotten to know each other too. Basil learnt that Dum Dum had a wife at home in America, no children but he doted on his nieces and nephews. Happy Sam was the second youngest in a large family, with two older brothers a one older sister, and one younger sister. Apparently his family owned a diner. Pinky was from a middle class southern British family near Brighton. He had been apart of one of the English airborne divisions known as 'the Red Devils' before he was captured then joined this team. Monty was from Birmingham and was part of a parachute brigade. He was from a upper middle class family and had attended boarding school like Basil in his youth. (They both enjoyed comparing their experiences of the schools).

Gabe Jones was from Georgia and had studied both French and German at university before joining the army. He wanted to be a civil rights activist and would get into long conversations about history with Frenchy in French. Jim was a Japanese- American soldier who was from California. He had joined the army to escape the prospect of being sent with the rest of his family to the Japanese detainment camps. While lastly Frenchy had been a member of the French resistance before joining the army after being rescued from hydra. He didn't know much English but Gabe was always willing to translate. He had a sharp witty sense of humour.

Basil also learnt that Steve was an only child who had grown up with long list of health problems, which Basil eagerly quizzed him about and the treatments he had gone through as a child. If it was want other person then they might have grown tired or annoyed by his questioned but Steve always answered as best he could. He found it interesting in turn when Basil explained to him the latest medical theories on the subjects. (Well, the latest to him. It took several weeks for them to get post out and back). They would get into long discussions about medical science, then moving on to art. Steve occasionally showing them a few of the drawings in his sketchbook. Basil was delighted to see himself caught in lead on the page. Steve was an skilful artist.

He learnt about Bucky too. (And if he wasn't already smitten for the man before, he would be by now. Basil was pretty sure he was falling, being pulled under and that had never happened before. To make things worse he hadn't even kissed the man yet!!). He had three younger sisters. Becca was the oldest at eighteen, with the twins, Winnie and Maggie at twelve. His father had served in the 107th in ww1 before retiring. Bucky once mentioned that his dad now worked at a car shop while his mother worked at a laundry mat. The way he spoke about his family, which wasn't often, it was always clear to see how much he cared for them. The subject of family always brought up a memory with Steve. Basil had known that the two of them were old friends but apparently they had been buddies since the age of four. (He couldn't ever recall something as constant as that).

Other things he learnt about Bucky could fill the pages of a book. (It did. If he scrawled them in his notebook alongside his medical notes then it was for him to know and for no one else to find out). The way he slept still, not moving until morning. That he looked after his sniper rifle as if it was an extension of his arm. Often he would be with Happy Sam and Jim customising their weapons with any gear they could pick up. His hands skilled with mechanics in the same way that Basil wielded medical tools. He like to keep his uniform folded in his bag, had a shaving set with a small mirror because he didn't like the way the scruff aged him, and was a gentleman whenever with women, charming but respectful to a fault. It all made Basil want to swoon like those women form the movies.

"And you Parrish?" Bucky's voice broke Basil out of his thoughts. He looked up to see the whole squad looking at him expectingly, their faces lit by the flicker of their campfire. Basil sat up, pulling his plate of rations closer and stirring the spoon. Steve had his sketchbook on his lap and several of the men had their guns dismantled and were cleaning them out. Some, like Basil were still eating.

"What?" He asked. "I was zoning out".

Bucky's eyes were sparkling with the stars in the light as he chuckled fondly. "Were you not listening Parrish? We were talking about our previous squads. What about you?"

"Ah", Basil winced. "Well I was in a few different squads before being bumped to the 107th. Let's just say that I wasn't well liked but they didn't want to get rid of a medic".

"Aww come on kid", Gabe called. "Don't leave out the gory details, tell us what you did to get such a reputation". There was a round of supportive cheers.

Basil chuckled slightly, unsure exactly what to say. "I was in the 33rd ground infantry first but then I got on the wrong side of my commanding officer and he moved me to the 75th. But the Sargent there tried to put me in my place physically and when that didn't work they shoved me to the 49th. Then the Sargent there decided to pass me off to the Americans in the 107th". He shrugged. "I guess that I was too much to handle".

Monty let out a low whistle. "Wow Basil. That's a good blacklist".

"Yeah!" Sam grinned. "What was it that angered them so much?"

Basil looked around at the men, wondering if he should tell them. He trusted all of them with his life, but did he trust them with this? Would he just be moved on again like before? He didn't want to be killed, but he was sick of not being himself. He supposed that he could give them a few details. Basil took a deep breath and sighed. "I was kicked out of my first squad because I refused to give my commanding officer a blowjob. Then I was kicked out of the second for talking back too much and refusing to let the other men in my squad attack me in the showers. Then I was shoved to the 107th because commander in the 49th had heard about me and decided that he didn't want the paperwork".

There was a slight stunned silence at his words. Basil took a bite of his meal but he couldn't taste it as he waited for anyone to say something. Chewing and swallowing were only to keep his body occupied as he waited for the silence to break. After what seemed like a age, but was probably only a few minutes, Steve sighed. "Fucking hell Parrish". He leaned back in his seat. "That's some reputation". The spell broke and a few men chuckled.

"Should have known that some of it was because you're a defiant, mouthy shit", Dum dum remarked. Basil relaxed slightly and smiled proudly.

"Why did your commanding officer want you to give him a blow job?" Bucky asked. He was watching Basil with his blue eyes, one hand gripping the handle of his gun so tight that his knuckles were white.

Basil tried to play it cool. He shrugged. "Some stupid rumour had gotten spread around and the man thought that it was true. He liked my pretty face". He batted his eyelashes and smiled. "Of course I said no".

"That was an abuse of power", Steve scowled. "It shouldn't happen".

Basil shrugged again, shoulders lighter. "But it did. I'm not sad over it. It's what happens".

"But it shouldn't happen", Gabe voiced. "One of my friends was put in the same position because a white guy through he could get a black person down and get away with it. We didn't let him thought". Sam laughed and the two men high fived.

"Good on you!"

Basil laughed. "It was the same sort of thing. The man thought because I was some mixed brat, he could get away with it. The only reason I wasn't discharged was because my family name carried a little bit of weight". The squad laughed.

"Well we're glad you're here Parrish", Monty reached over to slap him on the shoulder.

"Yeah kid. You do far better with us", Dum dum nodded. Their voices rose and Basil found himself grinning widely. He felt at home here. These men were his brothers in arms and he felt more accepted here than he had ever felt before.

Over the fire, he caught Bucky's eyes. The man was watching him with a unreadable expression. Basil felt his grin falter before he forced it back with twice the power and directed it at him. The man blinked before smiling slightly back. Basil stuck his tongue out and Bucky pulled and offended expression. He pulled a ridiculous face back, barring his teeth and scrunching his brow. Basil laughed and turned back to Monty. The fellow Brit dragging him into a conversation about the best pub in London. He got so caught up in it that he didn't notice when Bucky's smile fell and the anger returned to his eyes. At some point during the night Bucky left. Steve following after.

Unedited

An: Bucky might be gaining feelings??
Also, the vid above, Brooklyn boys go hard.