Beneath the Stars
The battlefield was a constant. But in the rare moments of reprieve, life still found a way to exist beyond war.
The Howling Commandos had set up camp in a quiet valley, the sky above vast and endless, the stars gleaming like distant memories. Celeste sat on a wooden crate, staring at the fire flickering in the center of camp, lost in thought. The weight of the file still sat in her mind, though she hadn’t opened it again. Not yet.
Bucky found her there, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket. "You keep brooding like that, and people will think you’re trying to out-angst Steve."
She huffed a small laugh, shaking her head. "I’d never win that battle."
He sat beside her, his presence steady, grounding. "You never talk about what’s on your mind. Not really."
Celeste sighed, rolling a small ember between her fingers, watching it glow. "What if I don’t like the person I used to be? What if I was something… bad?"
Bucky leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Then we deal with it. Together."
There was something about the way he said it, the certainty in his voice, that made her believe him. A comfortable silence stretched between them before he nudged her shoulder.
"Come on. I have something to show you."
She followed him through the camp, past the barracks and the mess tents, until they reached a clearing where an old gramophone sat waiting. Bucky fiddled with the needle, and a soft melody filled the space between them.
She raised an eyebrow. "Did you steal that?"
"Borrowed," he corrected with a smirk, extending a hand. "Dance with me."
She hesitated, but his patience never wavered. Finally, she placed her hand in his, letting him guide her. He was warm, steady, his movements easy despite the war that raged outside these fleeting moments. They swayed in the starlight, no grand steps, no practiced formality—just two people stealing a moment of peace.
For the first time in a long time, Celeste felt like she belonged somewhere.
She met his eyes, a quiet promise lingering between them. Neither of them said it, but it was there, undeniable.
Then the call came—the mission was set. Their stolen moment ended, swept away by the tide of war.