Chapter 33
[Emily's POV]
I tapped my foot impatiently and folded my arms across my chest. This was ridiculous. I was currently decked out in modest red, cap-sleeve floor-length gown that took me five hours to find at the local mall with my heels I wore at the 'Midnight Madness' party. I french-braided my hair (more like I got Natasha to french-braid my hair) so it was pulled back with curls draping all around. I would have felt great, except there was one tiny problem.
It was eight o'clock, like Wanda specified and I was standing outside of the restaurant, in the cold and damp night.
Alone.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed my purse, yanked out my phone, and immediately dialed Wanda. It rang a couple of times before going straight to voicemail. All the anger and annoyance I felt bubbled up and came out of me like a mini volcano.
"Wanda Elizabeth Maximoff!" I screeched, and some passersby gave me a frightened look. "What is the big deal? First, you ask me to come out with you to this fancy restaurant, I spend five hours in search for a 'fancy-enough' dress to match your taste, I had Natasha do my hair and makeup, which that in itself is a feat, might I add, and I'm here at the restaurant, yet you are nowhere nearby. So, if this is some sort of practical joke, let me assure you I am not in the..."
"Emily?" a voice asked. I flipped around, my shoulders still heaving from anger, but I froze when I saw who was standing across from me.
He had shaved, which made him look at least two years younger than he was. He had a ironed out black dress shirt with a gray tweed vest and a stunning red tie. He had black slacks and shining black dress shoes to match. He was slightly soaked, probably from walking.
"B-Bucky?" I stammered, unable to process what was happening. Quietly, to the phone I added, "You are not off the hook just yet, Wanda." I ended my call and turned back to Bucky. He was looking at me in amazement and I blushed when I realized what he was thinking. "I know, red's really not my color..."
"Red is definitely your color," Bucky stated, then his eyes widened and I laughed. "I can't believe I just said that out loud."
"Trust me, I really needed to hear that right now," I chuckled, my cheeks probably the same shade as my dress. "What are you doing here?"
"Steve invited me," Bucky said, gesturing to the restaurant. "We wanted to have a celebration."
"Wanda invited me," I admitted to Bucky, gesturing to the empty parking lot. "Except she didn't even bother to show up." My phone binged, and so did Bucky's, and we both looked at each other suspiciously before I looked at my new message.
Wanda:
Hey Emily! Sorry, but I'm feeling a little under the weather. Won't be able to make it tonight. Go out and have a great time!
I turned to look at Bucky, and I saw him shaking his head sadly. "Steve bail on you too?"
"Said he had commitments," Bucky explained, putting his phone back into his pocket. "Sharon and Natasha roped him in into some top secret mission that we're not even allowed to know." I huffed and wrapped my arms around my torso, shivering slightly from the cold. "Gosh! I am so insensitive. Hey, let's go inside. You're freezing." I nodded and allowed myself to be guided by Bucky inside the fancy restaurant. Once we were inside, I was astonished to see that the whole place was jammed out, except for one lone table in the middle of it all.
A waiter walked up to the two of us holding large menus. "Hello Mr. Winter and Ms. Lace." I sent a confused and startled look to Bucky, and he sent one right back. "You are Mr. James Winter and Ms. Emily Lace, correct?" Slowly, the two of us nodded. "Splendid! Your brother, Mr. Steven Winter, and your sister, Ms. Wanda Lace, made these reservations for you two earlier today."
Realization dawned on me and my shaky hand reached out to grab Bucky's, who's hand did the exact same.
We had been duped.
:/:\:
[Bucky's POV]
Without seeming too creepy, I followed the waiter, pulling Emily alongside me as we headed towards our table.
I couldn't believe it. Steve and Wanda had really set us up. Even though I specifically told them I didn't feel I was ready to date Emily with the Winter Soldier still within me.
"These are your menus," the waiter continued. "Do not worry about payment. Your father, Mr. Tony Lace, sent us a large sum in order to cover it." Emily shot me a look of pure confusion and I coughed deep in my throat, getting the waiter's attention.
"Thank you," I said politely, nodding my head to the man. "If you don't mind, me and my..." I choked slightly on my words. "Girlfriend would like to order now." Emily blushed profusely and the waiter nodded before ducking away to disturb some other patron. Coughing and rubbing the back of my neck quickly, I pulled out the chair for Emily and she blushed even more (if that was even possible) before sitting down daintily. I pushed her chair in smoothly before walking over and sitting in my own.
"They tricked us into going on a date," Emily said as soon as I turned to face her. I grimaced, then nodded. I could tell she really wanted to throw her hands up in the air, but for the sake of the fancy restaurant, didn't. "I mean, seriously, don't those people have people to save or something?"
"They want to see us happy," I admitted, already sinking into defeat. I shook my head and let out a little laugh. "What does it even matter? They gave us a night alone to spend time together, whether that be on a date or just as friends." Emily nodded, a wide smile breaking out onto her face. "Now, can we order the most expensive thing on this list? I really want Tony to hate us."
"Let's," she agreed, and the two of us were silent as we scanned the menus. Every time there was a word we couldn't pronounce, we would take turns trying to come up with the most ridiculous way of saying it.
"That was so bad," Emily snorted, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. "How did you even make that noise?" I shrugged and gave her a little bow, which made her snort even more. "You are so mean to me."
"But you love me," I teased right back, and suddenly we both grew quiet.
Come on, Barnes, a little voice inside my head taunted. Get up the courage and tell her the truth...
"Listen, there's something I need to tell you," both me and Emily began. We stopped, looked each other in the eye, and started laughing. Not just polite laugh. Rolling around on the ground, unable to breathe kind-of laughing. All the other patrons looked at us incredulously, and I could tell Emily was trying to stop, but every time she would catch my eye, she would break out into laughter again. Finally, after a few long minutes, we were able to settle down enough to order our meals.
"You first," I said, gesturing towards Emily. She nodded and bit her lower lip, quiet for a few seconds.
"Ok, here goes," she muttered under her breath. She took a deep breath and added louder, "Bucky Barnes, the first time I met you was when I came to that little coffee shop, NYCA, and saw you sitting all alone. To this day, I still marvel at how handsome and strong you are." She patted the top of her head lightly. "You've been with me through thick and thin, almost through enough junk that Lizzy would be jealous. What I'm trying to say, Bucky, is I like you. A lot."
A giant pressure that I didn't realize was weighing on me suddenly came free and I took a shaky breath.
"Well, you basically summed that up for me," I managed to say, and Emily looked at me incredulously. "I kid, I kid. Ok, my turn, I guess. I'm going to be straight-out honest with you, Emily. You're beautiful. I've seriously never met a girl like you. You have this way with words that calms me down when I'm stressed. I know I piss you off way too often, and I haven't been there as much as I should have recently, but I felt like I was protecting you." I rubbed my wrists awkwardly and smirked to myself as I realized I picked up that trait from Emily. "When I went under and the Winter Soldier came out and tried to kill you, I thought that I could never truly love you because I didn't want to hurt you. Well, I was an idiot for thinking that."
I stood up and walked over to Emily, offering my hand out to her. "Emily Salgado, I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you. Now, can I have this dance?"
:/:\:
[Emily's POV]
I was going to cry.
I could already predict it.
He loved me. He basically said so himself. I looked at him and tried my best not to have my voice shake as I answered, "Of course, you dummy." I reached out with a shaky hand and he grabbed it, helping me to my feet. He pulled me over to the dance floor, which took up the back of the restaurant. Multiple couples were already on the floor, swaying softly to the beat.
"I warn you, I am a major klutz," I told him, and he laughed.
"Follow my lead," he said, guiding my arms up around his neck. He placed his hands firmly on my hips and I couldn't continue my silly grin as we slow danced to the beat of the music.
"I can't express how relieved I am to know how you feel," I whispered softly to him, and he looked down at me in surprise. I fiddled with my hands behind his neck as I added, "It's hard for me when it comes to guys. Ever since my father disappeared, I've never really...gone...on a date?" I finished with a weak smile and Bucky paused.
"This is your first date?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in suspicion. When I nodded meekly, he leaned over and gently kissed my forehead. "Well, now that I don't have to worry about whether or not you like me, I can guarantee you that I will create the perfect, official first date ever."
"Aren't you sweet?" I teased, and suddenly we both realized how close we were. Our noses were just barely touching and we were both sharing the same air. One of my hands came down from his neck and was resting lightly on his shoulder, while my other hand was pressed tightly against the back of his neck. His hands on my waist tightened and we slowly leaned in...
A gunshot rang out throughout the restaurant and the next thing I knew, Bucky and I were on the ground.
:/:\:
[Bucky's POV]
To say I was pissed off would be the understatement of the year. I was angry beyond description and imagine. I couldn't have some shred of happiness in my life?
I narrowed my eyes as I watched a man next the entrance of the restaurant hold up a gun to the man who had been our waiter. He was wearing a black ski mask, along with a black bulletproof vest and jeans with sturdy black boots. Steel-toes, I realized, clenching my fists. Reason be screwed. He messed up my date.
I stood up, and Emily followed suit. Ignoring the protests of the frantic people around us, we strode down the aisle until the man realized we were walking. He flipped around and aimed the gun at Emily's chest, cocking it.
"One more step and your pretty little girlfriend here dies," the man snarled, and I felt Emily tense up beside me.
"You interrupted our date," Emily hissed, and for some reason the tips of her hair were starting to whiten a little. "You are so dead."
"Yeah, that's what they all..." he began to say, until Emily and I broke out into a run. In an unspoken agreement, I slid to the ground and Emily leapt up, gaining extra height with her wings. The man's gun fired off, but it ripped through the fabric on Emily's dress, not even scratching her. Using my disguised metal arm, I slammed it into the ground and spun around, aiming a well placed kick to the back of his knees. Emily's fist connected with his face and the man fell to a lump on the ground, spewing curses at us.
"Next time, pick a different restaurant," I growled at him, standing to my feet. I looked at Emily and the white in her hair had disappeared. Murmurs throughout the restaurant started to get louder and louder, and soon everyone was on their feet, clapping and cheering for their 'rescuers', as some of patrons started calling us. The waiter ran up to us and shook our hands rapidly.
"Mr. Winter and Ms. Lace, any time you wish to dine here, it is on the house!" the man exclaimed, and we each said thank you before she grabbed my hand. We both walked out of the restaurant and headed back towards the compound, neither of us saying a single word.
A/N: HA! YOU THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO KISS, BUT THEY DIDN'T! I am so mean, I love it ;p
Thank you everyone who reviewed and even just stopped by to see it. Over 18,000 views, 71 favorites, and 89 followers! Thank you all so much. It means a lot to me that people like my story.
Here's a little challenge: answer some of these questions through reviews! I am really curious:
1) Favorite character so far
2) Favorite moment so far
3) Favorite line
4) Favorite family ship (as in, if these two people had to be related, make these two people related)
5) If you had to face-claim (pick a celebrity to play) Emily and Charolotte Salgado, who would you pick?
And, only to be fair, I'll give you my answers: I'm really liking how I've written Wanda so far. She gets very little character development in my opinion in the movies. Favorite moment so far has got to be when Emily gets sick or the time when Charolotte attacks Emily. Favorite line: "I'm sorry, but he was unable to attend. He asked me to come in his stead." ~Loki (Ch24). And if I had to face-claim Emily and Charolotte Salgado, I would pick Emma Watson as Emily (with more lighter hair) and Rachel Bay Jones as Charolotte Salgado.
TADA! So now, onto reviews:
MidnightForest037: I totally get you. Yeah, they do ;). I think it's actually supposed to be the next chapter or the one after that, so hopefully soon (haha)
Guest: I have no clue what Steve would spend fifty bucks on. Every time I think of something, it always comes back to a toaster X'D.