"I don't see what the problem is," Bucky said as they climbed down the steps. "You're about to be the last eligible man in New York. You know, there's three and a half million women here."

"Well I'd settle for just one," Steve muttered, his eyes trailing over to where Vienna was running towards them, waving her hand in the air.

"Then tell her," Bucky urged.

"Hey, boys!" Vienna called, stopping when she reached them, panting hard.

Her curly hair was down and fell in waves of warm honey down her shoulders, her brown eyes lit up with excitement. She seemed to radiate a glow of pure happiness and Steve couldn't stop staring.

She kept true to her word, and wasn't wearing a dress, instead opting for dark trousers and a striped slash neck top.

"Isn't the expo behind us?" she asked, falling in line with the two of them.

Bucky waved at two women who were whispering to each other.

"Hey, Bucky!" one of them called.

"Really?" Vienna asked, raising her eyebrow at her friend.

He grinned at her and shrugged. Vienna supposed her friend had gotten Steve a girl, too. She felt a slight twinge in her chest, but didn't think anything of it.

"What'd you tell her about me?" Steve asked Bucky.

"Only the good stuff," Bucky replied.

Vienna chuckled. "That's not how it works, Buckwheat," she said.

Bucky glared playfully at her. "We talked about this, Vi. Buckwheat is out of the question."

She smirked maliciously. "Sure. whatever you say."

The girls giggled and swooned over Bucky when the trio reached the foot of the statue where they stood.

"Steve, Vienna, this is Connie and Bonnie," Bucky said.

"Hi," they both said.

Steve and Vienna waved back somewhat awkwardly.

"So are we seeing that expo, or not?" Bucky asked, whisking them back up the stone steps towards the globe. "I heard Howard Stark was gonna make an appearance."

The girls giggled, both swooning over Bucky and not giving either of then a second glance.

They made their way inside the building just as the announcer stepped forward, not wanting to miss a second of it. The hall was filled with odd and intriguing inventions, with well-dressed people milling about, making Vienna slightly self-conscious about her clothing choice. It wasn't her fault she could barely pay rent, much less buy herself clothes.

"Welcome to the Modern Marvels Pavilion and the world of tomorrow."

Vienna may think this whole thing was bullshit, she still marvelled at all the new inventions around her.

"A greater world," the announcer went on. "A better world."

"Oh my God, it's starting!" one of the women, whichever one it was, said, grabbing Bucky's arm and running towards the upbeat sound of music.

Bucky managed to grab Steve's arm, who grabbed Vienna's and they were pulled towards the large crowd of people surround the small stage. The girls shoved their way forward, and all Steve and her could do was follow.

"Ladies and gentlemen," one of the five women standing in front of the red automobile announced. "Mr. Howard Stark!"

A man in a three piece suit and a top hat leaped out and kissed one of the girls as everyone clapped. Vienna simply raised an eyebrow, still yet to be impressed.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "what if I told you that in just a few short years, your automobile won't even have to touch the ground at all?"

Everyone gasped as the women pulled the wheels of the red car. Steve handed Vienna a sack of mints and she took one, giving him a smile. He barely returned it and she frowned in concern.

"With Stark Gravitic Reversion Technology you'll be able to do just that."

He turned a button and pulled a lever, making the car hover slightly. Vienna's eyebrows jumped up as her mouth dropped open.

"Holy cow," Bucky muttered besides her, just as bewildered.

Just then, the car sparked and dropped right back down, making everyone flinch.

"That was so cool," Vienna whispered to Steve.

Howard Stark grinned at the audience. "I did say a few years, didn't I?" He chucked as everyone clapped, even Vienna who had been dubious at first.

Vienna turned around to tell Steve something, but the words died on her lips when she saw where his gaze was fixed. It was an enlistment poster. Vienna's bright mood suddenly soured.

"You wanna try again?" she asked her friend.

"Maybe," he conceded. "I mean--"

Vienna grabbed his arm. "Then let's go."

They made their way out of the expo and Vienna felt a stab of guilt, thinking about how she never got to say goodbye to Bucky. She shook it off. If this worked out, they wouldn't need to say goodbye. They'd be fighting side by side.

The two made their way down the street, straight towards the recruitment building. They walked in and Steve paused at the poster of the soldiers. He stepped up to the platform, his chin reaching only to the chest.

"Come on," Vienna said, pushing him off.

She glanced over to see that she reached about as high as Steve did. She sighed, fighting the anxiety in her chest.

She didn't notice Bucky until he shoved Steve's shoulder and ruffled her hair.

"Come on," he told them. "You're kind of missing the point of a triple date. We're taking girls dancing."

Steve stepped away, as did Vienna.

"You go ahead. I'll catch up with you," Steve told Bucky, making him pause in his footsteps.

"You really gonna do this again?" he asked him.

Steve shrugged. "Well, it's a fair. I'm gonna try my luck."

"As who? Steve from Ohio?"

Vienna shuffled her feet from where she stood, watching the scene unfold.

"And you, Vi?" Bucky turned to her.

Vienna looked down at her feet. "Yeah. it's not like those girls will miss me if I'm gone, right?"

Bucky sighed. "They'll catch you. Or worse, they'll actually take you."

"Look, I know you don't think we can do this--"

"This isn't a back alley, Steve. Vi. It's war."

"We know it's a war," Steve snapped. "You don't have to tell me--"

"Well, why are you two so keen to fight?"

"What do you want me to do? Collect scrap metal in my little red wagon?"

"And I suppose me staying home would be fine," Vienna snapped. "Because of my hemophilia, right?"

"Yes! Why not?" Bucky asked.

"I'm not gonna sit in a factory, Bucky. Come on. There are men laying down their lives. I got no right to do any less than them. That's what you don't understand."

"And you?" Bucky turned to Vienna. "I suppose staying home isn't an option? War isn't a game!"

"We know that," Vienna stepped forward. "And that's why I want to join. I want to fight. It's my fight, too. And it doesn't matter that you worry, because it's what I want. And couldn't fight because of this stupid sickness," she said. "I'm tired of letting it control my life. I want to save people. I want to help in something that's bigger than me. Because I can't stand around doing nothing when I could be doing something. Even if it kills me in the process."

"This isn't about us," Steve finally said.

Bucky looked around, clenching his jaw. "Right. 'Cause you got nothing to prove."

Vienna paused, she looked up at Bucky. How did he not understand this? It wasn't fair that a few simple medical complications could stop someone from fighting alongside others for a cause they support.

"Hey Sarge!" one of the girls called. "Are we going dancing?"

Vienna felt like snapping at her to shut up. This was an argument. Their argument. And she had no right to interrupt it.

Bucky gave them one last look before turning around. "Yes we are!" he exclaimed.

Vienna guessed this was the end of that argument.

Bucky looked back at them. "Don't do anything stupid until I get back," he said.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Buckwheat," Vienna said.

"How can I?" Steve asked, smirking. "You're taking all the stupid with you."

Bucky heaved a sigh before coming forward and hugging Steve. "You're a punk."

"Jerk."

Then he pulled Vienna in a big hug. "You're a punk, too."

"You're a bitch." She smirked when he chuckled.

"Be careful," she told him.

She couldn't help worrying about one of her only two friends. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Don't win the war until we get there," Steve called after him, making Vienna laugh slightly.

Bucky saluted, and Vienna saluted back, smiling at him.

"You ready?" Steve asked Vienna.

She sighed. "Yep. Let's go win a war."

They walked down the hall to the doctors' office. They were sent to two different examination rooms, the doctor accompanying Vienna told her to sit down on the examination table.

She took a seat and was about to take off her jacket when a nurse walked in and whispered something in the doctor's ear.

Panic made Vienna's ears ring. Maybe they'd caught on her lies. She would never be able to enlist if that happened. She was already running solutions in her head when the doctor turned to her.

"Come with me," he said.

She stood up and followed after him, confused.

He pulled aside the curtain to one of the examination rooms, the one where Steve was siting.

"Wait here," he said before leaving.

"Is there a problem?" Vienna asked, only to be ignored.

"Great manners," she muttered, taking a seat next to Steve. "What's going on?"

He shook his head. "I have no idea."

She looked around the room, making sure they were alone. "Do you think they know?"

He shrugged helplessly. "I can only hope they didn't."

"At least we'll be in jail together," she joked.

Steve was putting on his shoes when a soldier pulled the curtain aside and stepped in. Vienna fixed her eyes on him, waiting for him to say something. He didn't say a thing, but another, balding man pulled the brown curtain aside and stepped inside. He observed the two through his rectangular glasses, none of them saying a word.

The soldier jumped to action and stepped out.

"Thank you," the man said as the soldier closed the curtain.

"So," the man said, opening up two files. "You two want to go overseas. Kill some Nazis."

He had a distinct German accent, which Vienna found a bit odd, but didn't question it.

"Um..." Vienna started, but Steve beat her to it.

"Excuse me?" he asked.

The man's head snapped up. "Doctor Abraham Erskine," he presented himself, shaking Steve's hand. "I represent the Strategic Scientific Reserve." Vienna stood up and stood besides Steve.

"Steve Rogers," Steve said, shaking his hand.

"Vienna Woods," Vienna said, shaking his hand.

Doctor Erskine set the files on the examination table.

"Where are you from?" Steve asked.

Vienna mentally facepalmed.

The doctor looked up. "Queens. 73rd Street and Utopia Parkway." He readjusted his glasses. "Before that Germany. This troubles you?"

Vienna shook her head. "I'm literally named after the capital of one of the enemy countries, so--"

"Ah yes. Vienna. Very beautiful city. Magnificent operas there, rich in art and culture," the doctor said, smiling at me. "Your parents had taste."

The corners of her lips turned upwards slightly.

"But my question is, where are you from, Mister Rogers? And you, Miss Woods? Hmm?" He looked over our files. "Is it New Haven? Or Manhattan? Or Paramus? Or Albany?"

Vienna blushed slightly.

"Five exams," he went on. "Five different cities. Each."

"That might not be the right file," Steve tried, but Vienna knew their little game was up.

"No, it's not the exams I'm interested in." Vienna looked up, confused. "It's the five tries." He closed the files. "But you didn't answer my question. Do you want to kill Nazis?"

Vienna thought about it for a moment. "It's our home we're defending," she said. "And I'll be damned if I won't be there to defend it. But I don't want to kill anyone. Sir."

"Sehr Gut," the doctor said. "And you, Mister Rogers?"

"Is this a test?" Steve asked.

"Yes," Doctor Erskine admitted.

Steve took a deep breath. "I don't want to kill anyone. I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from."

"Well, there are already so many big men fighting this war," the doctor said. "Maybe what we need now is some little people, huh?"

"Does that--" Vienna started.

"I can offer you two a chance," the doctor replied, yanking the curtain aside. "Only a chance."

"We'll take it," Steve and Vienna said as they rushed after him.

"Good."

"So where are the little guy and gal from...actually?"

Vienna sighed. "The Bronx," she replied.

"Brooklyn," Steve replied.

The doctor nodded and stamped both of their files before handing it to them. "Congratulation, soldiers."

Vienna hurriedly flipped her file open to see a 1A. She felt so proud in that moment that she could bounce off the walls. She grinned wildly at Steve.

"Steve," she whispered. "We made it!"
He smiled at her, still not quite believing it himself. "Yeah. We did."

"How about we get out of here," she said, putting on her corduroy jacket, "and pack our stuff?"

He smiled. "Whatever."

She laughed. "You totally thought I'd tell you to get a drink, admit it."

He laughed. "Yeah, maybe for a second."

She laughed as they left the building, her small body filling with joy. And together, they walked home, laughing and talking all the way there, before parting at Vienna's apartment building, which was much closer than Steve's.