kittylulu

[kittylulu]

-Chapter 2-

Saturday came quickly. Steve and Bucky wore their nicest shirts and slacks. Aunt Rachel would actually be proud of how nice they look. Bucky wore dark grey and white, the dark grey bringing the blue of his eyes out more clearly. Steve wore black and white.

“Stevie, let’s go! The girls are going to think we stood them”.

Steve was finishing a sketch of the alley cat that sat on our fire escape. “Just a sec Buck. I just want to… yes that looks about right.” Steve put his pencils back in the cigar box he stored them in. It was his father’s. Very few items he still had from his mother and father. Bucky’s mom had made sure he kept a few things when he moved in with Barnes' family. Steve had just started to draw when his father passed so he kept the box with the most valuable thing he had.

“Come on man, maybe you can sketch Eloise. I’m sure she’d love that.”

“Yeah, if I can get the words out the ask…”

The cold night didn’t keep the Bellflower Room quiet. A live band playing a slow tune as the men met up with the ladies. The Murphy sisters were a pair to see. Both ladies had the most gorgeous red hair and green eyes. Not twins but close in age. Janet was a little taller and leaner, but the younger of the two. Eloise, the same age as Bucky, was a little shorter but good built. Bucky was a good friend and let Eloise spend the evening with Steve. Bucky was definitely taller than the average man. He had grown to 5’11”. His tags had to be updated when the Corporal officer noticed Bucky’s pants were above his ankle again. If Bucky was honest, Eloise was more his type. Someone who could rest their head on his chest as they slowed danced to the record after the kids had gone to bed. A girl who would make grilled cheese sandwiches because they couldn’t sleep well. Eloise was that kind of girl.

Bucky and Steve had known the Murphy girls since primary school. While Bucky was intimidating in size, he wasn’t aggressive most days,you could find Eloise and Buck sitting under a tree on the play yard with well worn out books. The girls’ family owned the book store down the corner. The two of them would devour books like their life depended on it. She had brought Bucky ‘The Hobbit’ after she had read it. The pair were intellectually matched.

Janet and Bucky got along but as she was a grade younger just like Steve, their interaction at school was limited. Their relationship was more teasing. She was the kid sister. But, boy had she grown up. Tall and slender like their father. Her hair was curly and reminded him of a lion's mane. Now that she was older and more put together, she pinned it with a beautiful pin. The jem in her pin matched the color of her bright green eyes. She was gorgeous, Bucky couldn’t deny that fact.

“James, are we going to dance or are we going sit here all night?”

Steve and Eloise had started debating about something and Bucky was sucked in. The two people that made his heart jump a beat. The butterflies in his stomach started when those two got heated about something they loved.

“Sorry Janey,” as he pulled the slender sister to her feet, “ you know how these two get. Have fun punk.” As he pulled her close hand in hand and wrapped her close with a small sway. The pair made it to the crowded dance floor. Bodies were close and the smell of bourbon and smoke and a hint of something floral hit Bucky’s senses. As much as Janet was not on the top of Bucky’s mind, he was a man. The heat of Jane’s body close to his, the smell of lavender in her hair and the warm breath on his neck as they swayed to the calm song the band played, made Bucky think more feral thoughts about the kid sister he always saw Janet as.

“James… Bucky…,” Janet whispered in his ear lips close to his earlobe.

“Huh,” Bucky’s mind was a million miles away. This happened far more times than Bucky wanted.

“What’s that mind of yours thinking now. I can see the wheels turning.,” she sniffed near his neck, “ hmm I might even smell smoke.”

“Ha, sorry. Just enjoying the night. Why haven’t we done this more often? This feels good,” as he dipped her, pulling her close check to check.

“Not sure, but the feeling is mutual,” she cooed as she snuggled into his neck.

They danced a few more songs until the band livened up a bit. The pair had checked on Steve and Eloise from the dance floor. The two were still wildly in conversation. Janet smiled at Bucky. “ I could go for some air,” while tugging on his suit jacket.

Bucky could really go for a cigarette at this point and a beer. Knowing that Steve and Eloise were still content, he knew they wouldn’t notice or mind their disappearance. Janet grabbed Bucky’s hand and led them to the side door where people left for a few minutes of Brooklyn air. It was late November and the air was crisp. The snow that had fallen the other day was already gone. Janet kept Bucky close as she moved through the throng of people thinking the same thing. Both saying “hi” to acquaintances as they walked on. Bucky was under this fiery vixen’s spell. Never before did he think of her like this but the tension they made started to drive him wild. Finally Janet stopped around the corner, stragglers only passing by. She leaned against the cool brick building and sighed.Bucky pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Pulling the first taste and taking in the scene, letting the cig dangle on his lips. Janet took it from his lips and took a drag, exhaling a little smoke ring. She giggled as she gave the cigarette back.

“ Oh so little Janet Murphy has tricks up her sleeves,” Bucky chuckled.

“Oh the tricks and treats Private Barnes,” her voice lowered as she cooed into his chest.

Bucky couldn’t take the teasing anymore. He snuffed out his cigarette and hid it on the brick wall. Carefully but with some roughness, Bucky grabbed her face and planted a rough kiss. She fell under the spell. Janet returned the kiss with the same energy. A small moan squeaked out of her as she ran her fingers through his nicely coiffed hair.

[kittylulu]

-Chapter 1-

Bucky quickly put out his cigarette as he got close to home. Quickly waving out his coat and clothes to try to get rid of the scent, he stashed his cig in his usual hiding spot at the corner of the brick building. It was freezing out but he did this on his way home from work almost every day. Snow started falling slowly as he walked up the steps to his second floor apartment. It wasn’t much. Small room with a stove and a big window. Bucky heard muffled voices as he was about to unlock the door. Steve must've gotten home early today. Bucky put his coat on the hook , hoping it didn’t smell too strongly.

“Jamie!”

Only two people in the world call him Jamie and one has passed. Bucky’s sister had come over to visit.

“Becca, what are you doing here? Don’t you have to be back at school by 6?” Rebecca Barnes was five years younger than Bucky and Steve. When Bucky had signed up for the army, Becca had been put into finishing school until she was able to move out on her own. “ I’ll be fine Jamie. I just wanted to come and tell you both the good news. I have a job! I’ll be working for the telephone company. It’s secretary work. I’ll hope to be moving on my own as soon as I find housing.”

“ Becca! That’s great,” as Bucky grabbed his little sister and swung her around the small kitchenette.

“ Stevie is all worried still. Word is going around that troops are being sent over from around here.” There was a war going on in Europe again. We were not involved this round but it was only a matter of time. The Barnes were an army family. Their father was in the army and his grandfather before him. Bucky wasn’t sure if he was ready to take his turn. Sure, he could shoot a gun and punch well. He was more scared to leave Steve and Becca on their own. If he did go off to war, he would send his pay to them. Becca could marry off well, as he hoped either way. He would find a way to support Steve.

“Well for tonight let’s celebrate that new job little one!” Bucky snapped as he crawled under the bed in the other room. He hid the good bottle of brandy in a box for special occasions. “ Tonight is a special occasion,”. His eyebrow raised as Steve still acted nervous. Bucky put on his sister’s favorite record on the player. The Andrew Sister began to harmonize. Becca giggled as she grabbed Steve and started dancing with him. Becca moved to her brother as he poured two glasses of the brandy, just enough for a shot. “ Sorry sis but I’m not getting you in trouble Madame Ida. This is for Stevie. Come on, man.”

“ Bucky,” Steve sighed reluctantly.

“Tithadshi!” “ Sláinte!” The boys tossed back the shot. It wasn’t the best brandy but it was Bucky’s father’s favorite.

Steve winced after but smiled. “ Becca, you’ll do great.”

“ Thanks Stevie.” She gave him a quick peck on the check.” I better get going. Bucky, Aunt Rachel expects you at lunch on Sunday.” She gave her older brother a bear hug before putting on her coat and scarf. “ Maise should be here soon. Henry wanted to make sure his kid sisters got back to school.”

“ Are you sure? Tell him I owe him a game of pool next time.”

“Jamie, you cheat every time…” Becca coughed as she walked out the door.

“ Never stopped good ole Hank from trying”.

“ Bye Boys! Oh Stevie, Aunt Rachel said she expects you too. Love you both!”

“ She’s too young to be working. There is no need for a girl working when she doesn’t need to,” Steve and Bucky had settled into the bedroom . The boys had shared the apartment for a year now. It was almost home like. Steve had tacked his sketches all over the plain colored wall of the bedroom. Next to the window, an easel with a half done canvas. Sure these cost a pretty penny, but both men worked hard for their earnings. Bucky had been on the docks since he was 17 years old.Steve worked at the local W.P.A office. Desk work since his asthma has caused a few scary nights over the last year.

“Stevie, she’s just as old as I was when I started. Let her help in the way she wants. She’s a Barnes. We’re stubborn, “ Bucky nudged Steve with a laugh.

“ Oh that’s what you call it,” Steve scoffed.

“ That’s what we call. What’s your excuse? I heard you had another scuffle with John Brown. You can’t keep pissing people off with your lectures.”

“ I did fine.”

“Is that how Becca came over?”

“ What gave you that idea?”

“ Steve! Whatever, I can only save your ass so many times. Listen I got us plans for Saturday. The Murphy sisters, the Bellflower room, 8 o’clock.”