We were Full of Fire that Day || LWAU
This was the first day in weeks that the soldier was sleeping in a cot. After everything, the war still continued, time moved forward, and Steve had been replaced. He couldn't stand it. He wanted out, wanted nothing to do with his old costume and that's how he'd ended up in the Commandos. Nick didn't questions it, and he didn't let Bucky sit still for too long after he was back in full health. This was the first breather he'd gotten.
Not that he was complaining. Fury was right to keep him busy. He could sleep in the trenches, in a foxhole, inches away from the front lines; he couldn't sleep in a cot, the sound of the front barely audible over the sound of the soldiers snoring around him.
Bucky rolled over, pulling his blankets up over his shoulders as he rolled onto his side. His cot groaned slightly under his weight brining a wince to his face as he looked around him to see if he'd woken anyone up. Dum Dum let out a particularly loud snore, but there was no other movement beside his own.
The soldier shut his eyes as tightly as he could, taking in deep breathes as he tried to clear his mind. He didn't want to spend another night reliving Steve's death and his near death, waking up feeling like you're drowning was never appealing, and the tingling in his cybernetic fingers that followed after was always unnerving.
"Get your asses out of bed, boys," Fury's voiced broke through the snores in the tent, sending all the Howlers scrambling to get out of bed each standing at various degrees of attention and sleepiness. "We've got a new mission. Be ready by 0300. We're heading to Russia.
"Barnes," Fury pointed at him and motioned for him to follow.
Bucky dressed quickly and followed the sergeant towards the command tent.
"You sleep?"
"No."
"Are you good?"
"Yes."
"You think you can--?"
"Yes," Bucky cut Fury off, a slight scowl on his face. "I'm not a child, Sergeant. Don't treat me like one. And please tell me there's another reason you called me in here, or I'm going to go grab myself some food before we have to leave."
The concern left Fury's face but lingered in his eyes. Bucky hated the way the Howlers always ended up babying him. He'd spent the last four years fighting along side the Invaders, going toe-to-toe with HYDRA's baddest, just because he'd lost his best friend didn't mean he couldn't handle himself.
"I need you to act as advance scout. You're the best the army's got to offer. You think you can handle that?"
"Of course."
___
One plane ride later, the Howling Commandos were in Russia--waiting to meet with their contact.
This wasn't the first time Bucky had worked with Russians before, and before the war ended, it probably wouldn't be his last. The team waiting in cover, each doing their best to keep quiet will they messed around in true Howler fashion. Bucky kept to himself, cigarette between his teeth as he check his gun to ensure it wouldn't jam in the cold. At their first sign of moment, the team grew still. Nick was the only one who knew what their contact looked like, so he was the one that took a peek over the snowbank they'd set up behind.
"Медведи и волки," Nick spoke, just loudly enough for this new arrival to hear.
They all waited for the correct response--guns ready for an enemy that might've stumbled across them.