"Hey, Y/N, help me get some drinks, will you?" Crosby asks the girl, sitting up from their table. There were about three or four British pilots on one end while the other end was occupied with a fair amount of the American bombing group. They were in the midst of discussing different tactics of how to bomb the Germans. Each side criticizing the other, even though they did the same job.
"Sure", she smiles following his lead and standing up. They head up to the bar and he leans over the table, waving over the bartender to get another round for his friends at the table.
"Could I get, uh, six whiskeys and a ginger beer?", he orders, tapping his fingers against the dark wooden countertop he was leaned up against.
"Coming up, mate", the bartender replies, turning around to make up the order of drinks that was just placed.
"So, how was the navigating on the last mission?", Y/N asks him as she never saw him after they landed. "I've been hearing the boys talk."
"Yeah, it was good", he says somewhat hesitantly, and Y/N already knew why.
"Except for the fact you threw up your guts?", she joked with a slight grimace. She could only imagine having air sickness when it was your main job to be flying.
He chuckles and nods, "Yeah, except for that."
"Well, you brought everyone home safely, so I call that a win."
He nods once more and turns to look over the bar as the bartender hands them a tray and two glasses.
"Thank you", Y/N says to the man and carries some of the extra whiskey cups that wouldn't fit on the tray to the table back to the group.
"This ought to wet your whistle, boys", Curt calls out placing the tray on the center of the table while Y/N hands out the two glasses in her hand.
"You are beautiful", Curt thanks Crosby, grabbing his drink immediately.
"That is a ginger beer", Crosby says, handing the glass of the non-alcoholic drink to Buck while Y/N takes her seat between him and Curt.
"Welcome back, Angel. What took you so long?", Curt asks her drunkenly, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"Oh, whatever could you do without me for five minutes?", she says dramatically, leaning into his arm as the rough material of his uniform brushes past the back of her neck.
He grins taking a sip of his whiskey and taps his fingers on her shoulder.
"I admire you Americans", the British captain across from her pipes up. "You're up there in broad daylight, seemingly oblivious to the downsides."
"I... I don't understand what your saying captain", a pilot says seemingly trying to get clarification.
"Never mind old boy. One for the higher ups", the captain replies looking over at Y/N. "Do you prefer higher ups, love?"
"It's a question of philosophies.", another British man adds for which causes the pilots around the table to lean in. "We bomb at night because it doesn't matter what we hit, so long as it's German. But bombing during the day is suicide. I could foresee in the future, American strategy adjusting due to the unfortunate losses you'll no doubt continue to suffer."
He sounds like a grade ten English teacher. Just yapping away with no care in the world. Do people ever learn when to stop talking? And why does he sound so sophisticated? I guess you could've known that just from looking at him. I mean, if he tightens his tie any tighter, he might lose circulation and turn purple.
"Maths", he finishes off which makes Bucky raise his eyebrows.
"Maths", Bucky repeats.
"I mean maybe if you bombed during the day, you'd hit your targets", Curt says using his available arm for exaggeration, moving it around in the air.
"And why the hell do you Brits add an 's' on the end of Math?", Bucky adds on, moving his head to the side in questioning as he takes a sip from his glass.
The captain scoffs, "Because there's more than one of them", he says confidently like it's a well-known fact.
"Because there's more than one of them", Curt says in a mocking manner.
"You all have a pretty dame over on your end", the captain changes the subject, looking at Y/N once again. "How would you like to come over and sit here with us beautiful? We've got lots of room", he tries to flirt. "I'm sure these... boys, don't know how to treat a woman like you, I mean if you find the chairs uncomfortable, you can just sit on my lap", he winks.
She rolls her eyes at the man's attempts to charm her, and Curt squeezes her shoulder.
"Well, I can see more than one of you too. I'm pretty sure I could knock all of you out", Bucky replies trying to get the attention off of her. You hear a couple of 'ooo's' from the soldiers. "Probably in one punch. In one punch."
"How about a song?", another British pilot says. "I heard you sing, Major. Pick one. What's your favourite?"
Bucky smiles and snaps his fingers. "Good idea."
"Hey, you wanna get major excited?", Curt adds in. "Baseball"
"Specifically, Yankees", Bucky says. "Oh, my buddy Buck here, he thinks they're a waste of time, don't you? Huh, huh", he taunts then laughing it off with grabbing his chin making them both smile.
"It's not just sports he doesn't follow", Curt says. "Hey Buck?" Buck turns to him. "I mean, you don't follow anyone, do you?"
Buck exhales and nods curtly, reaching over Y/N and hitting his thigh. "I follow you Curt", he replies.
"And you would still find a way to show off."
Y/N laughs slightly and nods, "This is true." This makes Buck turn to her with a 'don't encourage him look'. She just smiles back. "Oh, come on, Buck. You've got some great stories lined up behind you."
"For example, I... You-you remember Walla Walla?", Curt continues.
"Yeah", Buck replies.
Curt continues, "We had a visit from wing. Cleven here, slow-timing Hollenbeck's engines."
Buck smiles and looks around as he wasn't much of a guy to show off, but he enjoyed to attention he could get from his actions.
"Just so they remembered who he was, he buzzed the tower... all engines feathered. I..."
"No. Three, three engines", another pilot corrects. "He still had one."
"Yeah, I remember he called you "One Engine Cleven", someone else speaks up.
"Hey, hey- hey!", Curt interrupts. "I'm-I'm telling the story here, all right? It's my story. Its four engines", he says slightly impatiently.
Y/N is smiling at the back and forth and places her hand on Curt's thigh, rubbing her thumb along it, to calm him down from his drunken high.
"Next thing, I see this fort sailing 25 feet over the runway. Yeah", Curt clicks his tongue. "Silent as the grave."
"Beautiful", someone comments.
"Wanted to do that all my life", Bucky says.
The British men chuckle.
"I'll drink to that", Jack toasts.
"No Engine Cleven", is chorused throughout the group as they all raise their glasses.
"Would rather have been a fighter pilot, Major?", the captain asks.
"Buck is a fighter pilot", Bucky says obviously. "A fighter pilot who happens to drive a bus."
"And so are you Bucky", Bubbles compliments.
"So are you", Curt points to him.
"Bubbles", Bucky says grabbing his hand.
"So, let me get this straight", the British pilot from before joins the conversation once more. "You're Buck and he's Bucky?", he points at the two.
Everyone nods and agrees verbally.
"Is there a shortage of nicknames in the 100th?", the captain jokes only making his friends laugh.
Does he actually think that he's funny? Sounds like they don't get out much.
"No. Just a shortage of crews", Y/N replies, taking a drink from her glass of water at the table, crossing one of her legs over the other.
"Mmm. Pity", the captain hums.
"Pity?"
"Yeah. Pity, pity, pity, pity. Pity what?" Bucky asks.
"I said it's a pity. You'd have more if you flew your missions at night."
Curt exhales, the anger starting to rise within him as the British continuously jabbed at their crew.
"Why'd you have to go and say something like that?", Bucky asks once more.
"Well, perhaps I was getting bored of all the heavy petting going on at your end of the table."
"I don't know what that means. Do you know what that means?" Bucky asks around the table. "Cause I don't know what that means. What does that mean?"
"You also have the pretty dame on your end. I'm sure she's gotten bored with all you boys by now", he turns to address her. "Why don't you come by my place tonight. I'll give you a night to remember. I've got a couple tricks up my sleeve I'm sure you'd enjoy", he says seductively, grinning ear to ear as he feels like he's winning her over.
Is it possible to throw up from words? Cause she most certainly almost did. When was the last time he even saw a woman? More or less spoke to one. His mother maybe. Even then, he might need to take lessons.
"Hey, you keep her out of this", Bucky says calmly yet in a warning tone, pointing his finger at him.
"Let's make a bit of sport ourselves. How about it?", the captain leans closer over the table. "Any one of you will do."
"I think that's and excellent idea", Buck replies.
Curt laughs, "Oh here we go."
Bucky stands up to fight him which makes Buck stand up and push him back into his chair. Curt takes his arm off the girl it was wrapped around and grabs Buck's shoulder.
"Hey, hey, please", Curt pleads when the British captain stands up. "I want this guy. Please let me. I'll owe you one", he looks over at the captain. "I've got this, okay? Please. I got it."
Buck gives in, "Okay, but you owe me one."
"Ladies, let's go", Curt calls out. Everyone stands up at his invite and starts making their way to the door at the back of the pub that leads to the alley.
"Shall we?", the captain says politely.
"After you", Curt motions with his hand for the British man to go first.
"Good man."
"Won't be a second, gentlemen. Time to show them what we're made of", The captain says to his little clique.
"Hey Captain!", Y/N calls out to him to which he turns to face her.
"Ah, changed your mind yet, love?"
"No. I just wanted to let you know that I got a call from your mother", his grin immediately falling from his face making her smile innocently. "She said not to get your spiffy little boy pants dirty, or she'll get upset. You don't want to be put in time out in the corner again, do you?"
He scoffs. "Whore", he says, rolling his eyes in defeat before getting into position with Curt.
She raises her eyebrows, "Ouch", I say sarcastically. "Fragile masculinity I see."
Curt and the captain are now in fighting position, fists raised and moving around each other in a circle, taunting one another to see who will make the lunge first. It's an interesting sight to see really, two men circling around one another yet both think they'll win.
"Now, seeing as you like to do your fighting at night, Bryan", Curt lowers his fists while he stays in his stance. "Woah, hey", he chuckles as the captain takes a swing at Curt that he only needed to take a step to the side to dodge.
"Come on, come on", Bryans friends encourage.
He swings again, leaving an open spot for Curt. He hits him with ease causing the captain to fall to the ground instantly, clutching his stomach and groaning in pain. No one knew very much of what happened. It was mostly just a blur since it all ended so fast.
The 100th bombers crew all cheer for him the second he had hit the floor, congratulating Curt and laughing at the British.
"Must have felt that right?", Curt taunts and laughs loudly.
"All right, all right. Give him some room", Bryan's friend tries to reason.
"Guess who can hit their target at night!", Curt yells down at him. "And don't you ever, call my girl a whore again", he says seriously pointing at him while his friends rush down to help him. He's then picked up by another pilot, who places him on his shoulder while Curt throws his hands up in victory.
Y/N claps her hands in congratulations amused with his actions, running up behind him and following the group away from the pub. That was definitely one way to end a night of drinking.
Bucky eventually comes up beside her, falling into pace with her footsteps and looks down at her with a quizzical look. "My girl?", he questions to Curt's previous nickname.
She looks up at him, "Is someone jealous?", she teases, nudging his side with his elbow.
"No, it's not that, I just meant like...", he rambles.
She laughs. "We're just friends Egan, and he's really drunk", she grabs his hand, interlocking their finger together as she feels his own tightly holding onto her. "Plus, I've gotta keep you ladies in check. I'm somewhat of a ladies' man myself", she jokes, leaning her head against his broad shoulder while they walked away with their friends into the night.
"Right, right", he nods along a satisfied look on his face giving her hand the odd squeeze subconsciously, enjoying the closeness of the girl beside him.