Author's Note: This is what happens when you wait for your favourite fanfiction to be updated. You get inspired by it and start writing your own as you leave all your other responsibilities (and stories) behind! Though this story is inspired by 'Malfunctioning Time' by Kiragirl17, I would like to point that this is completely my own idea and this has no semblance to that except that fact we have taken liberty with the same characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yes, this is based in 1940s but it's not a time travel story.

And when I say, I took liberty with the characters, boy do I mean it!

So, without further adieu, I give you 'The White Cliffs of Dover'!

Soundtrack: Begin the Beguine by Frank Sinatra

-o-

Brooklyn, United States 1943

"Bucky, put that thing away before you break something!"

"Steve, but I am bored and don't worry, it's just a ball." James replied, rolling his eyes as he continued to throw the worn out ball against the wall and catch it with one hand as it bounced back, "What can possibly go wrong?"

And really, one shouldn't ask stupid questions like that. The ball bounced back off from an angle and caught the ratty old shelf instead. All its items toppled off one by one from the edge as it succumbed to the domino effect. Finally, like a dramatic climax, it happened in slow motion, the final book hit the angel figurine as it toppled the crackling radio. The old radio met its rather unfortunate (but long time coming) end and stopped the crooning of Frank Sinatra short.

"Buckyyy!"

-o-

"What are we doing here again, Bucky?" Steve huffed, as he kicked through the junk around him.

"Looking for a radio, you knucklehead."

"Don't call me that" Steve folded his arms defensively as he stood straighter, back straighter.

"Yeah? Well, don't ask stupid questions then." Bucky rolled his eyes and then turned to his friend who looked put off.

"Well, it's not stupid as I don't see a radio anywhere." Steve replied hotly.

"Well, of course it won't just be sitting on a throne majestically for us to magically find."Bucky replied and then added with a charming grin. "And remember we found one here last time so…"

"Last time was years ago, Buck and with the war…it's even hard to find scrap metal to sell!"

"Ease up, big boy, we will find something"

-o-

"Well that was a dud" Bucky exclaimed loudly as he fell back on the hard bed. It groaned and rattled under the weight but remained standing.

"Yes, Bucky it was"

"I can feel you judging me, Steve" Barnes rolled over to look at his friend. "Stop judging me. I guess we will have to get the broken one fixed after all. I think they fix'em up for cheap down by the Sal's, you think?"

"Bucky, you know we have no money to get it fixed." Steve was perched on the window, hunching to look down at the streets. Somehow, those made him look even smaller.

"I don't know, between listening to the broad upstairs complaining to her poor bastard of a husband and listening to Peggy Lee, I think I can pick the better dame*." And then seeing the unimpressed look on his friend's face, Bucky added. "I could ask for extra hours or maybe they will finally let me be a soda jerker*."

"Think Mr. Patterson will do that?" Steve sounded hopeful. Mr. Patterson, Bucky's employer at the diner and told him that Bucky needed to work for few more weeks before he could be given the responsibility to man the soda fountain when Bucky had previously asked to be given that job instead of just bussing tables which hardly got him much. And it had been just over a month that Bucky had been working at Big P's Family Diner so maybe it was a possibility. "Maybe I could see if they will want to give a little more for the comic strip this time at the papers."

"Yeah, you do that, and I will see Mr. Patterson about it early tomorrow and I think there is a shop downtown where we can get the radio fixes, I will get a price on it, too." Bucky stated and then added as an afterthought "Hey, maybe you should consider drawing for a girly magazine*."

Bucky shuffled under his pillow before pulling out a worn magazine copy and threw it across the room towards Steve. Steve barely managed to catch it before he lost his balance and stumbled forward.

"For reference." Bucky winked showing off his pearly teeth in a boyish grin.

"Dagnamit*! Bucky!" Steve cursed, as he flipped the magazine randomly in the centre without thought only to shut it close it immediately with a huff and reddening cheeks.

Bucky burst out laughing, almost falling off the small bed.

"Oh Steve! Your face! Your cheeks look as rosy as a dame's!"

Steve tried to ignore him, cheeks still aflame. He looked down at his laps, but of course his lap was covered by Bucky's girly magazine. On the cover, was a beautiful dame and he would have said beautiful even if she wasn't wearing so little clothing. Her eyes were lined with kohl and her eyebrows arched delicately, and puckered red lips greeted him coquettishly.

"Don't glare at Betty Grable" Bucky yelled across, after finally curbing his laughter.

"I am not glaring at her." Steve retorted as he tossed the magazine back.

"Hey! A little care! This is probably going to be a family heirloom to give to my grandchildren" Bucky shouted back as he smoothened the cover and blew over imaginary film of dust in a very dramatic manner

"You are bonkers," Steve exclaimed, laughing and Bucky smirked back.

"What? I like brunettes." Bucky said as he started flicking through the magazine only to turn sideways and catch Steve's eye and they both burst out laughing.

-o-

Glossary:

✪Dame: a pretty girl or a woman…sort of like today's equivalent of "chick"

✪Soda jerker: someone who makes ice-cream sodas, sundaes in a diner or a drugstore.

✪girly magazine: A pornographic magazine but back then I am imagining more pin up models and not as explicit as today's magazine. However, there is nudity.

✪Dagnamit: Dammit

-o-

End Notes:

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