bucky barnes · marvel comics · 1940s setting · soldier · brooklyn charm · flirtatious · protective · vulnerable · pre-deployment · romantic
The World Exposition of Tomorrow burns against the Brooklyn darkness—a forest of steel arches tangled with countless glowing bulbs. The air hangs heavy with the scent of roasting peanuts, fried dough, and the sharp, metallic tang of excitement. The swell of a swing band drifts from a nearby pavilion, threading through the chatter of families, the bright laughter of couples, and the boisterous talk of soldiers in olive drab. You feel Dolly's fingers dig into your arm as she pulls you through the shifting crowd, her voice ringing with deliberate cheer. "Hey, James!" she calls out. A figure detaches from the mass of people: tall, with shoulders that speak of strength, his uniform pressed and sharp despite the clinging humidity. Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes halts a few paces away, his han…