"What did you want to be when you grew up?"

The pattering of rain filled the tent as the water droplets hit the waxed canvas. It was cold but Bucky's hold was warm. Basil was still flushed from the kissing session they had just finished, taking advantage of the heavy rain that night to press closer and and slip hands under uniform shirts. The sound of the thunder above and the water on the tents hiding any noises from the rest of the howling commandos. Basil pitied Monty and Dum Dum, who were out on watch that night. He was safe and warm in their messy beds, held close in Bucky's arms. Dog tags resting on his bare chest as he traced mindlessly over the still healing tattoo on the skin of Bucky's right arm. The blue eyed man pressed into his side, face resting in the junction between Basil's neck and shoulder.

At Basils soft mummer, he hummed and sighed. In the dark, his hold was warm and comforting. "When I was five, I wanted to be a soldier like my dad". Basil giggled, it was another curse of his dark humour.

"How is that working out for you? The being held captive, the experiments and the narzis?"

"Well, I am not five anymore", Bucky chuckled sleepily into Basil's skin. He could feel the blue eyed man smile and it sent a thrill of warmth in his gut as the arms around his chest tightened. Their bodies keeping each other warm despite the continuing pattering of rain above them. The sound sleep lulling and soft. "But when I was ten, I thought that being a hero was pretty cool".

Basil sighed. "If those comics of cap ever become big, then we might become heroes one day". A pause. He traced the bird in the middle of a sun. Dark and hopeful, the lines still raised enough for him to trace the design without looking. His new night vision letting him see the paleness of Bucky's skin against his own golden toned chest. "I don't really want to be a hero. I just wanted to help people, even if others have never been kind to me".

"Why?" Bucky raised his head and Basil turned his own to stare at him. Rolling over so that the two men were both lying facing each other in the dark, hidden in the dark with each other.

"Partly because I wanted to know how our bodies worked, how to fix things. But I guess it was for power. Power over choosing who I wanted to live and die. That sounds dark, doesn't it?"

Bucky shrugged, one hand reaching up to play with Basil's curls. The army haircut early allowing for the waves to form but they were just about long enough for them to be noticeable. He ran his fingers through the strands and the smaller man basked in the touch. It was soft, gentle. "It's not dark because you're not dark. You wouldn't let someone die if there was anything you could do to help them. It's simply not you Parrish".

"You are a good man Sarge". Bucky leaned closer to press a kiss on the fragile skin under Basil's eye.

"So are you Parrish. Now get some rest. We are to be parachuted to a mountain tomorrow, and most likely climbing it the day after".

"You were the one keeping me awake", Basil muttered.

"Oh? I thought you kissed me first". Bucky's tone was teasing.

"Yeah but you were the one who got my shirt off", Basil grinned back. Bucky chuckled softly and if Basil could save a sound and place it in a box, he would save that gentle laughter. Instead, he just leaned forwards and kissed the sound right out of the other man's mouth. They kissed slowly, lips still stinging from the harder passionate kissed they had shared not an hour before. When they separated, Basil sighed happily. Exhaustion finally winning out. When he slept, it was with Bucky's arms around him and his head pressed into the other's chest. Warm, soft, safe.

"How did you meet Bucky?"

Car horns honked in the busy DC street outside the small cafe, people going past and traffic jamming the roads. Steve had his back to it all, a cup of hot chocolate in front of him on the cafe table. The man had recently gotten back from a mission for SHIELD and he and Basil had met up for coffee in a little hole-in-the-wall place that didn't bat an eye at the two avengers at their table. Basil was stirring the sugar into his coffee with a spoon. A apple pastry on a plate next to the mug, a half eaten sandwich in front of Steve.

Steve smiled at the memory, chuckling at something only he could see. The blonde was dressed in a tshirt and hoodie, basic but warm shades of blue that brought out his eyes. "I was seven, he was eight. Two boys in the classes above mine through that it was funny to knock over my braces. I used to wear these braces on my legs to help me walk and keep steady". He gestured with his hands as he spoke. Caught up in the memory. "They kept hitting the braces with sticks, keeping out of my reach and laughing when I fell. I kept on getting back up, even when I scraped my knee and split my lip".

"I bet you were such a scrappy little thing", Basil smiled as he took a drink. Steve laughed.

"I was once compared to a chihuahua. But anyway, these boys were tormenting me after school one day. And suddenly this other boy, just a bit bigger than me, comes hurtling around the corner, arms waving and yelling a war cry. He just tackles the biggest kid, knocking him to the ground and whaling on him. All while yelling of course. It freaked the boys out so much that they ran away".

Basil was laughing so much at the mental image of a baby Bucky going apeshit on some bullies that he had to put his mug down. Steve sniggered and continued. "Then he helps me up, asks me my name and takes me home for dinner. That was the beginning of our friendship".

"That's hilarious", Basil giggled. "Was it Bucky who compared you to a chihuahua?"

"Of course", Steve grinned. He took a sip of his hot chocolate. "How's Queenie?"

"She's good. Keeps me on my toes and is an absolute menace sometimes", Basil took a bite of his pastry. "Are we still going jogging around the park on Sunday? What time did you want to meet up again?"

"Five?" Steve didn't need to ask if it was too early. War had trained them both to be early risers. The modern world didn't break the habit.

"Sounds good. Want to hear about the time Bucky told me off for telling a two fingered guy to jerk off with his other hand?" Steve snorted but continued to eat his sandwich as Basil told the story. Nostalgia and humour a flush on their faces as the busy world went on by outside.

unedited

the first memory is set between chapters 29 and 30 of Stasis. The second is in-between chapters 1 and 2 of part 2 in Ascertainment. Hope you enjoyed.