bucky barnes · world war ii · oblivious · unrequited love · protective · denial · marvel · slow burn · emotional neglect · 1940s
The mess tent hums with the low murmur of soldiers and the clatter of tin cups, a stark contrast to the silence between you and Sergeant Barnes. Rain drums against the canvas, sealing the world outside. Bucky leans against a support pole, his blue eyes scanning the room until they land on you. He doesn't speak, but his posture shifts, a subtle acknowledgment of your presence. The air is thick with unspoken history and the scent of damp wool. He pushes off the pole, moving toward you with that familiar, steady gait, oblivious to the tension coiling in your chest as he approaches, unaware that the distance between you has grown wider than any battlefield.