Conquest // Bucky Barnes // APOCALYPSE Book 1

.. XVI .. I Wasn't Really Asking

~ ~ ~ November 3, 1943 ~ ~ ~

"How many of you are ready to help me sock old Adolf on the jaw?" Steve stands tall and confident, alone on stage in front of a crowd of soldiers. After months of performing all over the United States and even filming a couple of movies, they finally decided to send us overseas to perform for the troops. Unfortunately, they don't seem nearly as enthusiastic as the crowds back home. "Okay, uh, I need a volunteer."

"I already volunteered. How do you think I got here?" Steve stiffens up, realizing this isn't going to go well.

"Bring back the girls!" Someone yells.

"Yeah, bring back your sparkly friend!" I snap my head up at that comment, still standing just off stage, watching Steve attempt to get them under control.

"I think they only know the one song, but... I'll... see what I can do." Steve gives up, trying to lighten up the situation by giving the crowd what they want.

"You do that, sweetheart!

"Nice boots, Tinker Bell!"

"Come on guys, we're all on the same team here."

"Hey, Captain, sign this!" I turn my head away when I notice one of the men stand up and begin to pull down his pants to moon Steve. They finally begin to cheer at that. Jeez, can they just give him a break?

After getting a few tomatoes pelted at him, Steve finally walks off stage and the dancers take his place. 

Brandt's assistant comes up to us. "Don't worry, pal. They'll warm up to you. Don't worry." He gives Steve a pat on the back as he guides him back down the stairs, away from the stage.

Later in the day, Mother Nature decides to rain down some water on us as Steve and I hide on the stairs by the stage. He draws in his notebook as I just lean back, shut my eyes, and listen to the sounds of the rain. It's not long before a recent concern rolls back to the front of my mind once more. I pop my head up and look at Steve as he continues to sketch a monkey on a unicycle wearing his costume.

"Steve," he hums a short response to confirm that I got his attention. "have you heard from Bucky recently? I haven't gotten a letter in weeks."

I notice him begin to consider the question but he is cut short when footsteps approach. "Hello, Steve. Josephine," We both turn around at the mention of our names and lift our heads to see none other than Peggy Carter.

"Hi," Steve says, surprised to see her here. I smile back and nod my head as a greeting.

"Hi." She greets him once again.

"What are you doing here?" He questions.

"Officially, I'm not here at all." She sits down behind us, but I still remain out of the conversation, letting them catch up.

"That was quite a performance." She refers to the grand fiasco that occurred not even a few hours ago.

"Yeah, I had to improvise a little bit. The crowds I'm used to are usually more... twelve."

"I understand you're 'America's New Hope.'"

"Bond sales rise ten percent in every state we visit." Steve barely looks back at Peggy as they talk. He just looks down at his feet, ashamed that he can't be fighting on the front lines.

"Is that Senator Brandt I hear?"

"At least he's got us doing this. Phillips would have had us stuck in a lab."

"And these are your only two options?" That's what's so special about Peggy. She never sees any door as closed. She believes that if you fight hard enough, you can achieve anything. She's a true optimist. "A lab rat or a dancing monkey?" She refers to the drawing open in his notebook. "You were meant for more than this, you know."