1940

The icy winter wind nipped at the exposed skin of your face and you found yourself subconsciously tugging the harsh fabric of your woolen scarf up over your nose. You crinkled your eyes and pushed on through the increasingly heavy snow fall as you rushed across the street to the safety of the neighbouring footpaths veranda, careful not to slip on the roads icy surface.

The cover bought little to no shelter from the cold nor the wind or snow and you found your feet automatically turning into the doorway of the bar just down the road.

The warm lighting, the happy voices, the large crowd all drew you in. It wasn't dark yet. You had time to stop for a drink before you headed home. Not that you had to get home for anything either.

You opened the door and were greeted by the soft chiming of the doorbell above your head and a wall of heat so sudden and intense that it almost knocked you back outside. The door swung shut, causing a rush of freezing air to slip inside and curl up the underside of your skirt. 

A free stool at the bar invited you over to it and you removed your coat, draping it over the seat before smoothing your skirt and sitting on it.
"What can I get for you ma'am?" The old bartender asked with a welcoming smile as he came over to you, wiping at the inside of a spit shined glass.
"Just a whiskey please." You smiled, imagining the burning liquid trickling down your throat and warming you up.
"Comin' right up." He beamed.

You turned to take in your surroundings as you waited. Tables upon tables full of groups of people - mostly men - laughing hysterically after having a few too many drinks. You found all of them quite repulsive actually the way that they could just drink themselves numb like this. Reeking of alcohol and greasy skin. The sound of a glass scraping across wood gestured for you to turn back around and sure enough there sat a fresh glass of light brown liquor.

Just as you were lifting the glass to your lips out of the corner of your eye you caught sight of the man sitting next to you gawking in your direction. You took a sip before placing your glass back down and turning to him.
"Can I help you with something?" You asked, with a quirked eyebrow.
"I sure do like a lady who can drink." He grinned, voice dangerously low and rumbling.
"Excuse me?" You frowned in disbelief.
"You heard me." He smirked, his hand finding its way under your skirt and up your thigh with a grip that was a little too tight, a little too shaky for your liking.
The glassy look in his eyes and the stale smell on his breath was the tattle tale sign that he was far from sober.
"I beg your pardon? Do you mind?" You exclaimed and tried to slap his hand away.

But it was to no avail. He only snarled and using his foot hooked around your stool, pulled it closer. You gasped and put your hands on his chest trying to push him away. You wanted no part in this.

"Come on darling. A pretty girl like you can't say no to a piece of this." He murdered in your ear.
You pulled back and made a horrified sound.

Your hand was already coming up to slap this man across the face when a firm hand was placed on his shoulder and yanked him backwards out of his chair.
"Hey!" A deep, warning voice growled.
You looked up in shock only to find yourself lost in the bluest eyes you had ever come across.
"I'm sorry ma'am is this man bothering you?" The man asked you politely.

You didn't answer, half because you were too scared of the other man and half because you were too mesmerised by those eyes.
"Stay out of this boy! You've got no part in this. Find your own entertainment for the night." The other man snarled.

The blue eyed man looked between you and the other man and must've been able to tell from the fear in your eyes that his help would be much appreciated.

He gripped the other mans collar and hauled him up so that they were eye to eye, noses almost touching.
"Listen hear you seed. You leave her alone. She's got better things to do with her time than be cursed with a presence like yours." He said with a voice and a gaze that was so intimidating that even you felt scared.
"Oh yeah? And what're you gonna do about it?" The other man sneered.
"I don't think you want to find out." He shot back, with a cocky smirk.

The 'seed' shoved at the blue eyed mans chest only to be retaliated at with a quick punch to the face sending him keeling back into the bar. Without hesitation he clumsily lunged forward, blood now trickling from his nose but the other man simply dodged out of the way, wrapped an arm around his neck, dragged him out the door and literally kicked him up the ass causing the man to fall in a splayed heap on the now snow laden footpath.

You found yourself on your feet in an instant, following them to watch the whole spectacle. There was a communal gasp and a few cheers from within the pub before everyone turned back to their beers.
"Stay out." The man said sternly.
He turned around with a huff and ran his hands down his shirt as if to smooth it out.
"I'm sorry about him m'lady." He smiled, stepping towards you.
"Thank you."  You gasped and smiled at his manners.

M'lady. No one seemed to say that now days.

Now that he was standing right in front of you in all his glory it was clear that it wasn't just his eyes that were beautiful. He was well built, tall and slim with olive, clean shaven skin and chiseled features. His jawline and cheekbones had a structure like no other, his lips were plump and his short, well groomed, chocolate hair now had a single strand flopping down over his forehead in a loose curl. The way his braces curved over his torso and chest gave away the secret of his muscles without even needing for him to take his shirt off.

"Are you okay?" He asked, rolling up the plaid sleeves of his shirt and looking down at you in concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine I think." You said, clearing your throat and tugging at the bottom of your blouse. "Just a little shaken up."
"Sorry. All men seem to think that women come out for a drink only to look for trouble." He huffed softly.
"What do you think?" You asked tentatively, biting your lip and looking up at him through your eye lashes.
"I think that a lady should be able to come out and do whatever she wants and not be bothered by anyone strictly because she is a lady." He shrugged.

Your heart fluttered and a grin spread across your face.
"What's your name?" He asked after a second.
"(Y/N)." You reply.
"Well (Y/N), I see you still have an almost full glass waiting for you over there. Mind if I joined you for a drink?" He smirked.
"Be my guest." You smiled and headed back to your seat to where he followed you and took the one beside you.

Once he ordered himself a glass of scotch he turned to face you.
"I'm sorry, I never caught your name." You frowned at him.
"James Barnes. But you can call me Bucky." He said and extended a hand for you to shake.

You took it gratefully. The dim lighting of the tavern as he leaned over the bar highlighting all of his best features perfectly.
"It's nice to meet you Bucky." You smiled. "And since you saved me back there I think it's only right for me to pay for your drink."
"No, please. The presence of a gorgeous lady like yourself is repayment enough. Let me do the honours." He shook his head.
You rolled your eyes. "If you insist."
He grinned wildly and winked at you.

"So (Y/N) what brings you out here on this frosty evening?" Bucky asked.
"It's been a long day. I'm looking for a job. Decided I could do with a drink on the way home." You shrugged. "What about yourself?"
"Got a night off from training, wanted to make the most of it." He said in a casual tone.

You didn't need to ask what kind of training. Bucky appeared to be a fit, healthy, young man, this was the 1940's. No doubt he was a soldier in training.
"Fair enough." You nodded, taking a sip of your drink.
Leaving a deep red imprint from your lipstick on the lip of the glass.

The two of you spent the next few hours talking freely. Without even noticing it the bar began emptying around you and the sky turned dark.

It wasn't until you noticed the time on the clock that you sprung up from your stool.
"Oh my god!" You exclaimed. "It's 1am, I should be heading home.

Hurriedly you pulled on your coat and tightened your scarf around your neck again before you felt a hand on your arm.
"Wait." Bucky said in an almost too desperate, almost too pleading voice. "Let me walk you home."
"You don't need to do that." You smiled warmly.
"I can't leave you to walk home alone in the snow and the dark in downtown Brooklyn. You might get hurt or lost." He insisted.
"I've already bothered you enough." You shook your head and looked out the big glass window. "And look it's not even snowing anymore." You said pointing to the thin air under a nearby street light.
"This is the part where your supposed to accept." Bucky chuckled.
"Oh I see." You laughed and extended your arm to him to entwine his own with.

As he led you outside and down the street the harsh cold of the night came rushing back to you. Although it was no longer snowing it was just as cold. You dug your hands into your coat pockets. Seemingly noticing your body shivering Bucky uncurled his arm from yours and wrapped his hand around your waist, pulling you closer into him to share body heat. He rubbed his hands together vigorously and breathed on them as best as he could with his arm still tucked around you.

After walking quietly all the way up to your doorstep you turned to face him.
"Thank you Bucky. For everything." You smiled honestly, bringing your hand up and entwining it with his.

You couldn't help but admire his hands. Even his hands were beautiful. Slightly rough and calloused, but a touch so gentle and protective that even this simple gesture sent shivers running up your spine.

"It was my pleasure ma'am." He replied modestly.
"Will I see you again?" You asked hopefully.
Suddenly his gaze was cast downwards and he scuffed his boot at the snow.
"We'll see, m'lady." He mumbled before looking back up at you with a half hearted smile and seemingly sad eyes.

Your heart sank. He seemed like such a nice guy. Someone you could definitely get to know. But the look on his face gave you the idea that he thought otherwise. Had you said something? Done something? You were so confused. He seemed so open just a minute ago.

"Oh." The word escaped your lips before you could stop it and even you could hear the disappointment in your own voice.
He looked at you almost like a wounded dog, begging for forgiveness

All you could bring yourself to do was smile weakly and reach up and place a light kiss on his cheek. But just as you went to pull away his hands were cupping your cheeks forbidding you from doing so and you found that your lips were connected to his in a long, lingering kiss. You melted into it, breathing in the mild scent of scotch and what smelt like burnt wood. It tasted so good.

Finally he pulled away. You didn't want him to but you did need air yourself. You looked up at him slightly shocked, his hands still on your face, cold to the touch from the chill outside, completely aware of the close proximity of your bodies against each other.
"Goodbye (Y/N)." He said in a grave, husky voice.

Before you could stop him he had pulled away from you and was walking back down the steps. He turned for a second at the last step and smiled and nodded in acknowledgement but you couldn't bring yourself to move or say anything. Just like that he was gone. Disappeared into the darkness.

Part 2 to come!