1943

"War continues to ravage Europe, but help is on the way!"

Y/n watched as Steve attentively watched the PSA flickering on the screen in front of them. His eyes were filled with drive and passion, the same look he'd carry on his face since he was a kid.

"Who cares! Play the movie already!" A man in the audience scowled.

"Steve just ignore him." Y/n whispered. "He doesn't get it."

"That's what's bothering me." Steve says annoyed.

The two had gone out to watch a movie together. It was meant to be an ordinary night to unwind, but Y/n knew that if Steve were to provoke this guy, he would get his ass handed to him.

"C'mon get on with it! We wanna watch the movie!" He continued

Steve gripped the edge of his seat. The man was getting on his last nerve, and he wasn't planning on letting it go that easily.

"I'm telling you, ignore it." Y/n protested.

"It's insulting. Doesn't he understand that there are men putting their lives on the line?"

After a few more seconds of baring the man's disrespect, Steve had given up resisting.

"Hey you wanna show some respect." He said to him quietly. Y/n glanced at the man nervously. To her relief, he probably hadn't heard him.

A couple of people in the audience were gazing at the screen despairingly. Y/n noticed a woman dabbing the tears in her eyes with her hand, to which Y/n kindly offered her a handkerchief.

"Let's go! Get on with it!!" The man hollered. His voice echoed through the theater, causing many upset people to stare at him.

"Hey just start the cartoon!" The man said, which finally set Steve off.

"Hey wanna shut up?" Steve spat.

"Steve!" Y/n nudged him.

The man slowly stood up and looked down at the two of them. Y/n swallowed the lump in her throat, worried of what he might do.

"This your girl? Because I'd like to have a little chat with her outside." He sneered.

Before either of them could act, the man grabbed Y/n by the hair and dragged her to the back alley. Steve sprung from his seat and hurried after them.

Y/n twisted and fidgeted in his grasp, causing him to pin her against the brick wall of the building. "That's a nice dress you got there. I wonder what you would look like without it." He snickered.

Y/n glanced to the right and noticed that he had stuck a wooden plank by the door to barricade it. She could hear Steve's hopeless pounds against the door, trying to reach her.

"Fuck off." She grumbled. The man's grin had disappeared and was replaced with anger.

"Now that's no way for a lady like you to be speaking to me." He growled. Y/n felt her breath cut short when he began slowly sliding his hand up her thigh.

She wanted to punch him. She wanted to prove that she could handle this pig and beat him right there in the alley like she did that one night in the bar, but she couldn't this time. For some reason, she couldn't snap out of it. She was stuck, nowhere to run or hide as the man violated her. All she could manage was a weak, "Get... off."

"Whaddya gonna do about it? Cry?" He teased.

"Let her go." Someone said in a low voice.

Y/n tilted her head to see Steve standing in a fighting position, ready to take on the guy.

The man turned to face him, keeping one hand on my chest. "Get lost pipsqueak." He said.

Steve stayed put. "I'm gonna say it one more time. Let.. her... go."

The man shoved Y/n down onto the pavement and strutted towards Steve. She watched from the ground helplessly, unable to move.

"Was it the fear? Why was I so useless?" She thought to herself.

He backed Steve into the corner, and before he knew it, took a big swing at him right in his jaw, sending him crashing into a garbage can.
He hastily stood back up, but got another punch in return. He grabbed the lid to the garbage can, using it as a shield. The man snatched it from his hands and tossed it aside. No matter how many punches he took, he got right back up.

"Steve..." Y/n whispered quietly.

"You just don't know when to give up, do ya?" The man rolled up his sleeves.

Steve chuckled. "I can do this all day." He was clearly out of breath, but that didn't stop him. He pulled his arm back and aimed a punch at the man, until he caught Steve's arm and hit him once more, knocking him back into the ground.

As the man turned his attention back to Y/n, she heard a familiar voice.

"Hey! Pick on someone your own size."

Y/n craned her head. It was Bucky. He grabbed the man and pushed him aside. The man aimed to punch him, to which Bucky easily dodged and hit him instead. He finished him off with a kick to his behind.

Y/n smiled in relief.

"Sometimes I think you like getting punched." Bucky smirked helping Steve up. He then turned to help Y/n.

"I had him on the ropes." Steve sighed. "He was gonna do something to Y/n if I hadn't jumped in."

"Which brings me to my next point. Y/n... did he hurt you?" He asked her tenderly.

She gave him a small smile. "I'm fine don't worry. Just pissed that I couldn't do anything to defend myself or Steve."

"Hey don't think like that. What matters is that you guys are okay." Bucky placed his hands on her shoulders reassuringly.

She nodded and turned to Steve. "Thank you Steve, you too Buck. I should go freshen up." She sighed.

She decided to not mention to Bucky that he looked good in his army uniform. Maybe it was best to keep that to herself.

"You going out tonight?" Steve says as he brushed the gravel off his clothes.

"Yeah, Lana and I are going somewhere. She said it was a surprise." She grinned.

Y/n waved goodbye, leaving her two best friends alone together in the alley.

Bucky glances to the ground and to see an army enlistment form in front of Steve's feet.

"How many times is this?" He read the form, his eyes widening at the written address.

"Oh so you're from Paramus now? You know it's illegal to lie on the enlistment form, and seriously, Jersey?" He shook his head.

Steve didn't answer him. Instead, he noticed that Bucky was in a complete uniform, looking as though he was about to step right into the war. "You get your orders?"

"The 107th, Sergeant James Barnes. Shipping out to England first thing tomorrow." Bucky smirks.

Steve sighed. "I should be going.." They were left in an awkward silence, before Bucky put his arm around him and lead him out the alley.

"C'mon man. It's my last night! Gotta get you cleaned up." He beamed.

"Why, where are we going?" Steve said, disappointment still audible in his voice.

Bucky smiles. "The future." He hands Steve a newspaper, a big headline on the front page reading World Exposition or Tomorrow. Stark Expo.

"Are you planning on telling Y/n? She'll be crushed to hear that you're leaving." Steve mentions.

Bucky's smile faded slightly. "Yeah, I'm not sure how I'm gonna tell her. Maybe you should for me."

Steve stopped him. "No way. You know that
Y/n would rather hear it from you than me. Imagine her face when she hears that she never got to say goodbye to you."

He sighs. "You're right Steve. I'll figure it out."

Later that evening

"Lana I don't understand. Why are we going all the way downtown?" Y/n questions looking out the window of the train.

"Because, it has what Brooklyn doesn't." She grinned.

"And that is..?" Y/n pushed.

"Where we're going! Now be patient." Lana nudged her.

Not long later, the train reached their stop. They walked to Lana's secret destination, which Y/n noticed that many people were also going to.

"Here we are!" Lana presented.

Y/n eyes widened, a small "woah" escaping her lips.

The Stark Expo was massive. Thousands of people were all bustling around at all the attractions, music boomed over speakers that Y/n never imagined could be so loud. Some kind of train whizzed right above them, like a rollercoaster.

"And that's not all. Howard Stark is said to be here!!" Lana jumped up and down, unable to contain her excitement.

"The Howard Stark?! Oh my god." Y/n laughed.

The two explored every inch of the expo, their smiles never leaving their faces. All kinds of crazy inventions and gadgets were being displayed. They were especially fascinated by a station that claimed that someday, phones may be able to be carried around in your pocket.

"Ladies and gentlemen... Mr. Howard Stark!" They heard over the speakers.

"Y/n it's starting! Let's go." They both giggled as they headed for the crowd of people standing in front of a giant stage.

The crowd erupted in applause as the famed millionaire stepped onto the stage, in front of a fancy red car.

"Bucky would love this." Y/n thought to herself. "He's always loved science."

"Ladies and gentlemen! What if I told you that in just a few short years, your automobile won't even have to touch the ground, at all." Stark announced, causing everyone to awe in curiosity.

"Wow Lana, imagine that..." Y/n gaped.

"I know." She said, just as astounded. "He's incredible."

The wheels of the car were taken off one by one by the female dancers.

"With Stark Gravitic Reversion Technology, you'll be able to do just that." He winked. He pushed a few buttons on a stand next to him, and began pulling up a lever. The crowd watched astonishingly as the car slowly began to hover off the ground. It went higher and higher each second, now about ten inches from the stage.

"Wow." Y/n gaped.

Suddenly, the car began to spark and crashed to the ground, causing excited laughter from the crowd. Stark scratched his head. "I did say a few years didn't I?" He chuckled nervously.

The two walked away as he finished the show.

"Maybe someday there will be flying cars." Lana sighed in admiration.

"I'm sure he'll invent all kinds of crazy things that'll change our world." Y/n said while twirling around her necklace.

They stopped in front of a large sign that read "We want you!" on it.

"I think that's an army enlistment station." Said Lana.

Y/n didn't answer, she was busy staring at Steve who was walking towards the stand.

"Y/n? Are you there?" Lana waved a hand in front of her. She followed her gaze and smirked. "Oh, guess he didn't get placed last time?"

Y/n shook her head. "That's all he wants. Ever since he heard about America joining the war, he's been applying every time he gets the chance."

Lana put her hand on Y/n's shoulder. "I'll go get us some popcorn. You go talk to him, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks Lana." Y/n gave a small smile and started walked towards him.

Before he could notice her, Bucky walked over to him. Y/n decided to stay back and stand behind a large post. They were having a deep conversation, and she didn't want to interfere. She could however, hear what there were saying.

"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. This isn't about me." She could hear Steve saying.

Bucky shook his head. "Right. 'Cause you got nothing to prove."

Steve clenched his jaw, clearly frustrated that he couldn't reason with him.

"Hey Sarge!" Y/n heard a girl yelling from a distance. "Are we going dancing?" She and another girl, probably her friend, were giggling excitedly to each other.

Bucky smiled at them. "Yes we are!" He replies cheerfully.

He turned back to Steve with a serious look. "Whatever happens, don't let anything happen to Y/n while I'm gone. I'll be waiting to see you guys after I get back."

Y/n leaned in closer. What did he mean by "get back"?

"I will, but you have to tell her you're going first. She'll be heartbroken to hear that you left without saying goodbye."

Y/n didn't even have to continue listening to understand what they meant. She collapsed onto the ground, bursting into tears.

"He was leaving." She thought. "Bucky was going to war, and he might not come back."

She cupped her hand to her mouth to muffle her sobs as she thought about her best friend. Why hadn't he told her, there was so much she still wanted to do with him before he left. She knew that he was leaving, but did he have to already?

She watched as he walked away from Steve, rejoining the girls who were waiting for him.

Not wanting for Steve to see her like this, she wiped her tears hastily and took a deep breath.

"Hey, Steve!" She waved at him, praying that he wouldn't notice her puffy eyes.

"Y/n.. he said softly. "I was just going to-"

"Enlist? Again?" Y/n chuckled softly. "I know Steve, you don't need to lie to me."

He dug his hands in his pockets. "I need this
Y/n, and if it means that I have to enlist a hundred times, I will, until they finally let me."

She sighed. "But will they?"

He shrugged. "Look, I know you don't want me to, and I appreciate the concern, but I can handle myself. Don't try and stop me, please."

"I won't." She said simply.

"What?"

"As long as you let me go with you." She stated.

Steve stared at her blankly. "Y/n... you can't be serious."

"I'm very serious. I'm going with you."

"I don't mean to be rude, but would they let... you?"

"What do you mean me?" She looked at him confusedly.

"Well, you're a... woman." He murmured, looking at the ground.

"Doesn't matter. I'll make them let me." She said confidently.

She stared him down, until he reluctantly nodded. "Fine, c'mon."

She grinned and followed him to the stand. They stood in line, and Steve was led into a consultation room. She approached the desk when it was her turn. The man at the desk gave her a smirk.

"You here for somebody?" He asked.

"I'm here to enlist." She stated.

The man looked her up and down and laughed. "Alright sweetheart, take a seat over there."

Y/n narrowed her eyes and did as told. She already knew what this meant, but she'd just have to keep trying.

"A woman in the battlefield? Please, when pigs fly maybe." She heard a group of guys whispering not so subtly to each other.

She caught their stare and glared at them.

"You got a problem little lady?" One of them mocked.

She rolled her eyes and started walking away. There was no point in making a big deal out of it, as was trying to enlist as a woman.

"Wait, excuse me!" She heard someone calling after her.

She turned on her heel and instantly recognized the man. It was Dr. Erskine, the man she met at the bar that night.

"Oh, hello Doctor." She gave him a small smile.

"Miss Y/l/n, you wanted to enlist did you?" He questioned.

"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure that's not an option for me." She frowned.

He looked to the side, as if pondering a thought. "Come with me. I may have an offer."

Y/n's face lit up and she followed him. He took her to a consultation room, where Steve was sitting patiently.

She sat down next to him, rubbing her hands on her knees anxiously.

The doctor took a seat in front of them, holding a brown folder. "So, you two want to go overseas. Kill some Nazis?" He spoke.

"Excuse me?" Steve asked confused.

"Doctor Abraham Erskine." He held out his hand for them to shake. "I represent the Strategic Science Reserve."

"Steve Rogers." He shook his hand.

"And we have already met of course Miss Y/n." He smiled her way.

"Where are you from?" Steve questioned, noticing his accent.

"Queens, before that Germany." He said.

He stared down at Steve's file. "Where are you from Mr. Rogers? Is it New Haven? Or Paramus? Five exams, in five different cities."

"That might be the wrong file." Steve said quickly. Y/n had to look down to hide her laughter.

"No it's not the exams I'm interested in, it's the five tries." The doctor said frankly.

Steve looked at Y/n, confused of what he meant. Doctor Erskine seemed to notice, but ignored it.

"You didn't answer my question, do you both want to kill Nazis."

They glanced at each other, decided how to answer him.

"Is this a test?" Steve questioned.

"Well, yes." Doctor Erskine nodded, adjusting his glasses.

Steve shook his head. "I don't want to kill anyone."

"We just hate bullies." Y/n cut in.

"Well, there are already so many big men fighting in this war. Maybe what we need now is a little guy, and another strong woman."

Y/n and Steve grinned at each other excitedly. They were given a chance, and they planned on taking it with all they've got. Y/n thought about how she was going to be inspiring women all over America. That she, a woman, was going to fight alongside all those men in the war and save the country.

Doctor Erskine turned his attention back to them after examining Steve's files. "I can offer you both a chance. Only a chance."

"We'll take it." Y/n said.

"Good. So where are you both actually from." The Doctor said, mostly directed to Steve.

"Brooklyn." They said simultaneously.

The front desk handed him two folders, to which he gave to Y/n and Steve. Y/n's heart jumped when she read it. 1A, she had made it. Her and Steve were off to war.

She pulled Steve into a hug once the Doctor had left. "We did it Steve. We're in."

"Are you sure you wanna do this?" He asked worriedly. Y/n raised an eyebrow. "I'm going Steve, we're doing this together."

"Plus..." she added. "We have to protect Bucky." Her voice came out as a whisper.

Steve furrowed his eyebrows. "He told you?"

"No, I overheard when I came over here to talk to you."

He sighed. "You should go talk to him, he leaves early tomorrow morning. I don't think he had it in him to tell you."

She bit her lip anxiously. "You're right. I'll talk to you later okay?"

She gave him one last hug before going to rejoin Lana. She figured Bucky was still out dancing, so she waited a while before going to confront him.

Three hours later

Y/n stepped off the train and said goodbye to Lana, thanking her for the amazing night.

As she walked down the sidewalk, she felt something drip on her head. She looked up at the night sky and frowned when she saw the grey clouds converging above her.

"Damn rain." She muttered.

As she hurried down the block, the rain became heavier and heavier by the minute. At this point, she didn't care. Her hair and her dress was soaked. Her shoes were dampened from the puddles, but she had only one care in the world, and that was seeing Bucky once more.

Her running turned into a hasty sprint as the rain came pouring down. Her ankles burned up to her legs, but she ignored it. Water dripped down her face and into her eyes while her feet carried her away to him.

After what felt like only ten minutes of running, she found herself standing in front of Bucky's front door. She had no idea what time it was. He and his family could be asleep, and she could end up waking them all.

She held her hand a few inches away from his door, before making a decision and knocking lightly. A couple seconds later, she heard the lock click, and the door opened.

Bucky opened the door, wearing just a white
T-shirt and beige trousers. "Y/n? You're soaking wet, come in." He lead her in and handed her a soft towel. She wrapped the towel around herself snuggly, and sat on his couch, shivering from the chill.

"What are you doing here so late?" He questioned gently, sitting next to her.

Y/n ignored his question. She just sat there silently, holding in the tears that built up in her eyes. After a few minutes, she finally spoke.

"Why didn't you tell me." She said quietly.

Bucky stared at the ground solemnly, he knew what she meant. "I didn't know how to. I was scared something like this would happen."

She met his eyes. "Buck, you're leaving tomorrow. We could've gone to the Stark Expo together."

"It's hard enough to see you like this Y/n. I couldn't bare the thought of leaving you, so much that I was scared to talk to you."

She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. She didn't want him to leave, not yet. It was war after all, who knows how long he'll be out there.

"Promise me you'll be careful." She said quietly, tears streaming down her cheeks. Bucky took her face in his hands, wiping her tears gently with his thumbs. "I promise, don't worry."

Y/n pulled him into her arms and cried softly into his shoulder. She didn't want to let go. The empty feeling in her stomach wouldn't go away, all she could think about was the things that could go wrong. What if he never returned?

"When I get back, I'll take you and Steve to the Coney Island again. Maybe somewhere better." He beamed.

She chuckled softly. "Maybe by then I'll be able to ride the Cyclone."

"I'm not sure about Steve though." He smiled.

They fell into a comfortable silence, Y/n's head resting on his lap as she lay on the couch. She realized then that she had a secret of her own. If she wanted to know his, it was only fair she told him hers.

"Buck I need to tell you something, and it's important." She said.

"He looked down into her eyes. "What is it?"

She took a deep breath, preparing herself for his reaction. "I'm being drafted soon too."

His eyes widened and filled with worry. "Wait.. what? Y/n how?.... why?"

She sat up and took his hand. "I want to be there, with you. I also want to protect the country and end this war. Remember that man at the bar? He's offering me a spot and I can't-"

"Can't what?" He cut her off. "Can't stay behind where it's safe? Y/n if I were to lose you..."

"But you won't. I'll be careful. I'm being trained soon anyways so you don't have to worry."

His usual bright azure eyes were now covered in concern and sadness. She almost regretted telling him, but he had to know the truth.

"I'll be fine, as long as you promise that you'll stay safe too." Y/n said, holding onto his hand tightly.

He closed his eyes and sighed. "Promise." He pulled her in, giving her one last hug.

This was all she wanted. To stay, forever, in his warm embrace.