(no subject)
Title V for Victory
Author cat_13145
Rating PG
Characters Bucky and Toro, Spitfire, Union Jack
Pairings: One-sided (possibly) Bucky/Toro, Union Jack/Destroyer
Challenge Inspired by the challenge topic: V is for Victory,
Summary: V for Victory in a war they have yet to fight in
Note The opinions of the fictional and the non-fictional characters used in this story are belong to those characters NOT the author.
“Just ask her to dance.”
“Who?”
“The red head by the bar. You’ve been staring at her all evening.”
“No, I haven’t.” Toro could feel the heat rising to his face, even as he protested. Had he been staring? He couldn’t be sure.
“Yes you have. Just ask her to dance.” Bucky shifted. He’d caught a bullet on the ankle, a flesh wound, but it was enough to keep him off his feet.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not interested in her.”
“Yeah. Right. Jacqueline tell Toro he’s being unpatriotic.”
“How?” He demanded. Jacqueline was approaching with a British agent, called Cat, her hips swinging, and he couldn’t help noticing that Bucky’s hormones were noticing her nicely.
“It’s a victory hop isn’t?”
“Swing for Victory.” Jacqueline, Spitfire had joined them. “And why is Toro being unpatriotic?”
“He isn’t dancing.”
“Neither are you.” Cat retorted, sinking into a chair and easing off her shoes (red leather, high heels, with French silk stockings underneath and Bucky couldn’t take his eyes off them). “Who teaches you yanks to dance? Swear this guy has broken my toes. To’ would you be a complete doll and get some ice from the bar?”
Relieved that he was being let off so lightly, Toro quickly got up.
“Could you get me a Rum and Coca Cola while you’re there?” Spitfire asked, regarding the red head with interest.
“Sure.” Toro said, not thinking that Spitfire hadn’t been drinking all night, and when she did drink, it was almost always Gin and Tonic.
He wandered over to the bar, and placed his orders. The red headed woman standing there smiled at him, and to be polite, he smiled back, before turning his attention to the bar tender.
Out of the corner of his eye, a flash of purple caught his eye, and he turned to see the scarlet woman smiling at him, much friendlier than she had before.
“Thought you were never going to ask.”
“err.” He glanced desperately back to the table, where Bucky was giving him a thumbs up. Next to him, sat Spitfire, raising a G and T. her dress was magenta.
“For me?” the woman reached out and took the Rum and Coca Cola. She smiled at him. “So sweet cheeks. You going to ask me to dance? Only a bob, and all for the war effort.”
He could feel himself heating up. He had to get out of here.
He didn’t hear the glass break. Didn’t remember bursting into flames. Just knew he had to get out of there.
***
“Hello.” He looked up to see Union Jack, Brian looking down at him. “You alright?”
“Other than having completely humiliated myself in front of everyone.” He looked into the lake. They’d have to have figured it out. That he hadn’t been interested in the red head, hadn’t even noticed her. He’d just been so fixed on Bucky, who’d thought he was looking over his shoulder and got the wrong idea.
Brian was smiling at him. “You’re alright. They just think you’re shy. Like Steve.” He sat down beside him, gazing into the water. “Am I correct in thinking the red head wasn’t the one who had your attention?”
He groaned. “Bucky.” He muttered, waiting for Jack to tell him that he’s sick. Perverted. A freak.
Like he needs any more reason for someone to call him that.
Jack however simply nodded. “You told him that?”
Toro snorted. “Bucky’s an army brat. He’d be disgusted.”
“I won’t bet on that.” Jack relaxed himself slightly. “He’s a good boy. Might even be flattered.”
Toro looked at the man like he’d gone mad. Then he remembered. Rumours and snide remarks he’d heard around the bases and comments Bucky and some of the others had made about Union Jack, and Destroyer.
“You’re like me aren’t you?”
Brian nodded. “Spent nearly five years in love with my best friend. Finally became more thanks to an errant polo pony.”
He paused, looking out across the water. “It’s tough. But we have to be strong. There’s movement over here, before the war, it looked like we might change it. So we have to be patient. One day, we’ll lick this. You’ll see.”
Slowly he raised two fingers to form a V. After a pause, Toro returned the gesture.
He felt a lot better. Once this was war was over, he’d help. He’d persuade Bucky to settle down with him and dam what anyone else said.
One day, they’d win this war.
Fini