Bullets railed overhead and around the two soldiers as they sprinted down the hallway. They had been separated from their team by an unexpectedly capable Hydra base, and while they had no doubt that they would be able to recover enough to destroy the base as they usually did, they needed a moment to recover (and grab more weapons).

With a simple nudge and a nod of his head, the blonde directed the pair over to an empty office. The second that both were inside he slammed the door shut, shoving a chair underneath the handle. The soldiers listened with bated breath as the group of people that had been shooting at them thundered past. Breathing a sigh of relief, the bigger man turned around, and had just opened his mouth to speak as more noises of pursuit came from outside. 

“Do not leave this hallway unattended. We will find the Captain and his sidekick soon enough.” someone shouted in German. Sure enough, multiple sets of footsteps came from the hallway, and none of them left.

Steve sighed, turning away from the door once more. The rest of the Howling Commandos were fine, the last they saw- they could handle the rest of the base by themselves. For the moment, their best option was to stay put rather than risk being seen again and attacked when they had no ammo left themselves.  “Looks like we’ll be trapped here a while.” he said, shrugging. 

Bucky shrugged, looked half peeved at hiding away, and half relieved he was no longer out there and weaponless. “Looks like it.” He paused, before a mutinous look came over his face. “But I ain’t your damn sidekick.” 

Steve chuckled, sliding down the wall to sit. He was joined a moment later by Bucky, sitting close enough that their arms brushed. Two two were silent, the lack of conversation comforting and warm rather than stifling. Of course, it was only a moment later that Bucky- for all his skill as a sniper, he was never that patient- spoke up.

“So… we’re stuck in here. Alone. For who knows how long.” Steve didn’t miss the look Bucky shot him, the obvious hinting in his voice, and the blonde worked to conceal a smirk. He had the same idea, of course, but he wasn’t going to let Bucky in on that piece of information.

“Yes, yes we are, Bucky.” he replied, shrugging lightly with a straight face. There was a loaded pause, Bucky obviously waiting for him to say something else. “Sorry buddy, I know it’ll be boring, but there’s not exactly a lot that I can do about it.”

The huff Bucky gave almost made Steve break character. “Okay, but I sorta had somethin’ in mind for what we could do while we’re just sittin’ here.” the brunet prompted, now turned completely towards Steve and glaring in annoyance.

“Like what?” Steve asked in an innocent tone he had perfected long ago, raising an eyebrow. “Cards? Sorry, musta left my deck in my other suit.”

Bucky scowled at him, but couldn’t help the laughter that still danced in his eyes. This was a side of Steve no one else got to see- the insufferable smartass. “You know exactly what I mean, punk.” he shot back, poking him in the chest.

Raising another eyebrow, Steve shook his head in mock disappointment. “James Buchanan Barnes, what would your mother say? Thinkin’ of that in the middle of a mission!” Steve couldn’t help the smile that now spread across his face, especially at the disbelief on Bucky’s face.

“Oh, don’t even give me that. You were the one who jumped me last week behind Hydra’s outpost in Sicily last week!” he protested, crossing his arms. 

“I didn’t see you complainin’ about it.” Steve replied, settling back comfortably against the wall, not making any move to lean in closer to Bucky (no matter how much he wanted to).

Snorting, Bucky shot back, “’Course not. ‘d be dumb to.” He shifted so that he was in front of Steve, staring at him. “But I’m gettin’ tired of your lip, Stevie, and I have a much better use for ‘em.” The grin twitching at his lips belied his harsh words, and finally Steve couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Reaching forward and gripping the collar of Bucky’s uniform, Steve said, “Well what’re you waitin’ for then?”