Chapter Twelve
It was hot and wet and, admittedly, a damn good kiss and he raced off before I could blink. I stared after him, stunned, my gaze slowly shifting over to Tony's. He was stiff as a board, mouth agape, and his already wide doe eyes impossibly large. He then shook his head, muttering a disbelieving, "What the fuck just happened?"
Speechless, I made my way mechanically back to him and caught his arm once more, "Bro, I don't even know. But if you breathe a word of this, I swear to fuck-"
His mouth opened once, twice, and he snorted, "And have you roast me alive in my suit with your laser vision? No thanks. Am I the only one who's a little turned on, though? Cuz-"
"Tony, I will kill you with my bare hands if you say another word."
"Like, do you even remember what we were talking about? Before that kiss, cuz-"
"Anthony. Fucking. Stark."
"It's Edward, actually," he smirked, pointing in my direction, "Aurelie Elizabeth. Ha! Told you I'd find out!"
"Find out what?"
"What GG's middle name is," Tony answered the captain as he strode out, his furrowed brow smoothing out and his frown lifting, "we have the same first and middle initial, so we're obviously a match made in heaven. When we get hitched, we'll have the exact same initials. But apparently my middle name is highly inappropriate, if you were to ask her."
Rolling my eyes, I fought off the shock I still found myself in and offered Steve a warm smile, "Ignore him."
"I try to," he chuckled, hugging me tightly, "thank you for taking Bucky in. It really means a lot. I'm sure it does to him, too."
"It does," I agreed, "and I'm glad. You're right about him, Steve. I was telling Tony before-"
Steve's brows raised in question and the Iron Man and I shared a glance. Finally, Tony mustered up a simple, "Before she tripped on air. I swear, you'd think as small and low to the ground as she is, she'd be a little more graceful but-" He made a face, offering me a sidelong wink that Cap couldn't see.
Steve exhaled loudly, though he thought better than to chide the billionaire. It wouldn't do any good; it never did.
"Ross is on his way," he announced instead, folding his massive arms across his chest, "he's not going to tolerate us putting this off much longer. Tony and I were discussing it before you came by. If we brought Bucky here, it would have to be his decision."
"But if we're not letting Ross use the words, it doesn't matter, does it?" Tony retorted easily, lifting a shoulder when Cap pinned him with a challenging glance, "does it? If he can give us the coordinates for the other soldiers, that's a great first step. It shows he's not hiding anything. That he's willing to work with us. I'm not going to read the words."
"And what if he brings an interpreter?" Steve inquired hotly, "what if-"
"Well, the book's not on the premises, so," Tony shrugged, unconcerned, "unless he plans to beat it out of me…"
"You'd be arrested if you didn't, though, wouldn't you?" I inquired with a frown, "as part of the Accords?"
"I think it poses more of a risk than he'd want to deal with," Tony replied with an adamant shake of the head, speaking over Steve as he began to disagree, "why would he want to do that?! Triggering the Winter Soldier? The guy that almost handed you your ass on multiple occasions?"
"I don't know, Tony!" Steve exclaimed, "what other reason would he have?! If you could control a soldier like that? What if he wants to use him?"
"We wouldn't let him!" Tony shouted, a gobsmacked expression on his face, "why would we ever let him do that, Steve?"
"Because the Accords don't let us fight back."
"Guys!" I nearly screamed, stepping between them, beyond fed up, "knock it off! I know you don't agree on this, but we can't let this ruin what we have, alright? We're a team. A family. And it's already divided us enough. Tony, you know there's a chance Ross would order you to say the words. And if you don't, there'll be repercussions. No matter who you are. That's what the Accords are for. And what if Ross tried to force me to do it?" I inquired quietly, chewing anxiously on my lip at the sudden thought, "we don't need the book, do we, if we have a living, breathing mind-controller? He could order me to use my Jedi mind tricks on Bucky and- I mean, I've done it on so many people already, but-"
But it was all small stuff. Stopping them from shooting me or others; making them forget they had seen me; forcing them to ignore something or turn away or-
"Well that's not fucking happening," Tony glowered, dipping his chin and leveling me with a severe stare, "you're not HYDRA, GG. You'd never make someone do what they did to Barnes. And we won't either."
"Well, I'm glad we're in agreement about that, at least," Steve offered me a sympathetic glance, "don't lump yourself with them. You have a gift, Aurelie, and you use it when you need it."
"All I'm saying is we can't do that to Bucky," I announced firmly, "after last night-"
"You said nothing happened last night."
Tony was immediately on high alert, alarm coloring his face as he stared down at me. He turned to face me fully, his fight with Steve forgotten.
"He told me about something he'd done," I answered, "a nightmare. He relives everything, Tony. I'm guessing this is a nightly thing." As with Steve, I kept my mouth shut about the extent of the nightmare; about hitting the ground hard, having to fight the super soldier off of me while he fought his demons. "HYDRA turned him into a monster. And even if that's not what he is now, it doesn't mean he doesn't remember it. And regret it. If you say those words, if you even threaten to say those words- we cannot do this to him."
Tony was silent, his frown deepening, a calculating look on his face. Finally, he looked up, glancing between Steve and I, "We have to talk to Ross. Barnes will tell Rogers where they are. Maybe even you, GG. That's what we gotta bank on."
"Are you willing to risk going to jail for this?" Steve queried dubiously.
"If it comes to it," Tony glanced away thoughtfully, ultimately shrugging and smirking, "I don't think the public would like it very much. I am the most famous out of all of us, after all. The backlash would be astronomical. First official Sokovian Accords act is arresting the Tony Stark? I don't think so."
"That's a big risk, Tony," Steve's stoic expression melted into a smile, "thank you."
"Don't get all mushy on me, Rogers," he replied gruffly, but he offered him a fleeting, half grin, "GG, I don't think you should be here. I don't want Ross trailing you."
"I don't want Pietro trailing me," I grumbled, peering at the building apprehensively, "I was gonna see if I could borrow some of his clothes but-"
"What happened with Pietro?"
"It's a strange story that I'd really rather not get into," I sighed heavily, tugging absently at my ponytail, "but he's prob'ly the closest size."
"I'm affronted," Tony pouted, "that you don't think he's small enough to fit in my clothes."
"I never said that."
"You were thinkin' it," he retorted easily, but his eyes turned to Steve. My gaze was quick to follow and I breathed a sigh of relief, "Steve?"
"Lemme pack a bag," he nodded, "c'mon. Tony, let me know when Ross gets here."
"Ya know," I trailed after him, catching the kiss Tony blew at me with a laugh, "I still don't know which Ross we're talking about. Mustache Ross, I assume?"
Steve snorted, "That'd be the one. The other one, Everett, doesn't seem so bad. Friendlier, and more willing to work with us, anyway."
Cap's room was much like I expected; neat, tidy, simply decorated. He grabbed a couple of bag from his closet and tossed them on the bed, making his way for the dresser and rifling through the drawers. I plopped down on his bed, stretching out and earning a good-natured eye roll from the tall blond.
"I'm assuming Pietro made his move."
"Yeah."
It came out far more dejected than I intended and Steve paused, peering at me over his shoulder, "No one's saying you have to like the guy. Maybe he's not for you. I-"
Humming, I offered him a prodding glance.
"Sharon's a great girl," he replied, "but… I don't know if there's ever gonna be anyone for me other than-" His voice caught in his throat and I frowned, jumping to my feet and crossing the room quickly. I hugged him tightly, apologizing, "Christ, Steve; I'm so sorry. The funeral felt like it was forever ago."
He sighed against my hair and I felt him shrug, "There's nothing I can do. But forget her and move on, but I just... can't."
"Sharon will just have to understand."
"And so will Pietro," Steve replied immediately, pulling away and holding me at arm's length, "if you wanted him, all you'd have to do is say the word. And since you haven't in months-"
"He's a great guy," I mirrored his words, unthinking, "I just- well, at least you have a reason."
"You do," Steve smirked, turning away and continuing with his packing, "you just haven't found it yet."
"That's convincing," I snorted before rifling through the bag, "I'm sure that'll be a good enough reason for him."
"It'll have to be," he replied simply, shrugging, "alright, that should be good. Are you set on food?"
"May Parker is actually picking some stuff up for me," I reached for one of the two, overstuffed bags, but the super soldier hoisted both of them over his shoulder before I could, "I'm gonna pick it up from her when I get back. She doesn't know about Bucky, exactly-," his head snapped my way and I replied hastily, "she hasn't seen him. And she thinks it's just some guy I'm, uh, dating. I told her to give us some privacy."
I texted Nat as we made our way out of the compound, but that didn't mean I missed the knowing smirk crossed the captain's lips. My eyes narrowed, pinning him with an irritable glare, "Hey, it's gonna keep her off his back."
"From what you've told me, she's probably going to hound you about it, though."
"Oh, that's a guarantee," I laughed, reaching the Audi I had pulled up in, "she probably planned our whole wedding while she was shopping. Flowers, dress, everything."
"Well Tony will probably have to walk you down the aisle," Cap tossed the bags into the passenger seat, "since I'll be Buck's best man."
"Ha ha," I rounded the car, though I offered him a warm smile, "thanks for the clothes, Steve. Keep me posted about Ross. If Bucky has to move-"
"I'll give you as much of a head start as I can," he affirmed, pinning me with a serious glance over the roof of the car, "he's lucky to have you, Aurelie. Really. We all are."
"Aw, you're makin' me blush, Cap," I teased, playfully waving him off, "that's my job, you know."
"And you're so good at it," he replied, though he didn't sound at all annoyed by it, "let me know when you get home, alright?"
"Will do," I slid into the car, grateful as my phone lit up, the sound of a TIE Fighter alerting me to the text.
He's still ripping Vision a new one. I can hear him from the hall. Also, I'm pissed you didn't come see me. Girls' night soon?
Waving at Steve, I answered her quickly, directing FRIDAY to take me to the nearest UnderArmour.
/
Huffing, I lugged the two heaviest bags Steve ever could have packed down the hall toward my apartment. One I had draped over my shoulder and the other I tugged along behind me, wishing the Captain would have come with me, at least to be my valet.
Shoving my glasses into my hair, I peered into the Parker residence, before looking into my own. Bucky was relaxing on the couch, a book in his lap, but he stiffened ever so slightly and kicked his feet off of the coffee table. He stood and made his way to the door and I allowed the glasses to settle back onto my face.
He definitely knew. Somehow. It hadn't been a fluke - or series of flukes. He knew when I looked at him, even if I wasn't looking through him. If I used my powers to see him, he knew.
It must have been the years and years in a state of high alert.
Right?
As I stopped in front of my door, I tossed another glance over at May's place. When she didn't come running, I rifled through my purse for my keys.
The door swung open and Bucky stared, concerned, over my head. When he, too, was sure my neighbor wouldn't be busting down her door, he looked down at me, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. The corners of his blue eyes crinkled and he reached around me, catching the strap of the bag and easing it over my head, "You don't have any bell boys here?"
"I needed to work out today anyway," I replied loftily, waving him away as he reached for the other bag, dragging it like a corpse behind me. Kicking the door shut, I slumped against it, "Must be nice to have super strength. My arm's killing me."
"It has its uses," he replied, eyeing the bags, brows high on his forehead, "you didn't buy all this right?"
"Uh, only a few things," I replied, clearing my throat at the thought of the underwear I had picked out at the store tucked away in the bags and offering him a smile, "the rest are from Steve. You guys are around the same height."
"He's got twice the muscle," Bucky retorted, but his smile was soft and appreciative.
"That man wears shirts two sizes too small," I huffed a laugh, kicking the bag toward the hall, "you'll be fine."
Bucky slipped around me, gathering the second bag easily in his arms, offering me an almost teasing smirk as I grumbled, "Super soldiers. Wanna just throw those in my room? I don't really have anywhere else for them at the moment."
He nodded, slipping down the hall and into my room. I watched him go - I'm sure he didn't, but if he worried about Steve's massive size compared to his own, he needn't. The view leaving was just as appealing as it was approaching.
Spinning on a heel, I made my way back to the door, slipping out and knocking on May's. It only took her a moment, but she waved me into her apartment, "How was your meeting?"
Pietro's kiss slammed full force to the front of my mind and I stuttered, willing the apprehension away, "Interesting. Thanks again for picking these up. I'll Venmo you if that's alright?"
"Can you send it to Peter?" she inquired, folding her arms over her chest as I refused to let her gather any of the bags. I'm sure she just wanted an excuse to enter my apartment and hopefully catch a glimpse of the elusive James. "I'm not any good with that Vemno or PayPad stuff."
"Venmo," I laughed, "and . But sure, just let me know what I owe you. I really appreciate it; the meeting was upstate and it's been a long-ass day."
"I'm sure James missed you."
"I suppose," I replied lightly, smiling gratefully, "thanks again, though."
She caught the door for me and made to open my own, but it swung open on its own. Well, Bucky lurked beyond, I assumed, out of sight of May, who craned her neck but fell disappointedly back on her heels when I shut the door quickly.
"Jesus, Aurelie."
Bucky tugged as many of the bags from my limbs as he could - if there was one thing I was good at, it was lining both arms with as many grocery bags as humanly possible and making it to my apartment in one trip. It might've made my fingers turn purple, but it was worth not having to make the taxi linger any longer at the curb and make three trips up and down the elevator.
"It's fine," I laughed, "I am what they call a professional."
"Professional what?" he scoffed, depositing the bags onto the island and shoving the gallon of milk into the fridge, "pain in the ass?"
"Yes, actually," I laughed loudly, rifling through the bags and unpacking the groceries, "I've been called that on multiple occasions, by multiple people."
"I'm not surprised," he replied dryly, though the grin he sent me belied his words as he mimicked my actions, "how'd things go at the compound?"
"Well," I inhaled slowly, clearing away the bags mindlessly, "Tony wants you to come down there, if Ross pushes the issue. You know the location to the other soldiers, right?"
His jaw clenched once, twice, and I turned away before he noticed the intensity with which I watched the motion. "Since the program was shut down, they were put into an artificial sleep," he muttered gruffly, his hardened, blue eyes shifting to mine, "all eleven of them. I was their best, so I was kept awake, but… yeah, they'd still be there. I'd rather not go back, but, if it clears my name-"
"He thinks it will," I lifted a shoulder, touching his arm. I could feel the cool vibranium through the fabric and his gaze fell to my hand. His eyes flitted upward and caught my gaze intently. "He's going to suggest it, as an alternative to saying the words. If he accepts the offer, I think we're golden."
"And if he refuses?"
"Then Steve's gonna give me as much of a head's up as he can and I'm going to get you out of here."
I hadn't told Steve that, of course, but Bucky had been on his own long enough. And who better to have on your side than someone who could see a threat coming literally from miles away?
"Aurelie," he breathed, hesitantly resting his hand, his real, flesh and blood hand, over my own. His warm fingers curled around my own, his thumb brushing along my knuckles. "You really don't have to do that."
"You know, people keep telling me what I don't have to do like I haven't already decided that's what I want to do," I tipped my head to one side, blinking innocently up at him before offering him a devilish grin, "I'm a girl who knows her own mind. Don't ever doubt that."
His lips pursed as though he were fighting a grin and his brows lifting and his hands raising in surrender, "I won't, trust me." He stared at me for a moment longer, his bright blue eyes piercing, before clearing his throat and reaching for the Jell-O he had requested, "So, do I get my own shelf or what?"
"I can clear you some space," I replied, bumping him out of the way with a hip. He only moved to humor me; super soldiers were brick walls and didn't move unless they wanted to. I had tried that same maneuver with Steve and it resulted in a bruised hip for weeks. "Why'd you want so much Jell-O anyway?"
"We always ate Jell-O," he defended, rubbing the back of his neck and offering me a sheepish glance, "and I thought, maybe-"
"Maybe?"
"Maybe you could make somethin' for me," he blinked, looking decidedly too innocent for his reputation, "since you offered."
"Whatever you want, Bucky," I assured him, causing a hint of red to creep up at his collar, "though you prob'ly should've told me before May did the shopping."
"I know what's in it so I put it on the list; I just don't know how to make it," he replied with a sheepish smile that had a grin of my own growing in response, "Steve's mom; she always made this Jell-O salad. It was the best thing I ever had. I asked her for the recipe once, so my ma could make it, but she never made it quite as good."
"Well, seeing as I've never made it, mine won't either, but I'll make it tonight," I stood on the tips of my toes, clearing a shelf for Bucky's snacks, "as long as you let me make Jell-O shots with some of that."
"Jell-O… shots?"
"Oh, my dear, dear Bucky," I tossed him a dangerous grin, "if you like Jell-O, you'll love Jell-O shots."
"I guess I could give up a box or two," he replied, his tone painted with a feigned disappointment.
Pumping my fist in victory and earning a laugh from the soldier, I queried, "So what'd you do all day?"
"Oh you know," he shrugged, shooting me a sidelong glance, "lots of snooping. Went through your closet, all your drawers, cabinets. Good news is your place isn't bugged."
Gaping, I stared up at him in surprise, "Did you really go through my drawers?"
He smirked and I rolled my eyes, pulling a face at him, "So, no bugs. I check it occasionally, you know." I tapped the frames over my eyes. "Just in case."
"Maybe you didn't think about it," he lifted a vibranium shoulder, leaning down and resting his elbows on the counter, "just wanted to make sure it was safe here."
"I wouldn't bring you here if it wasn't," I assured him, leaning against the sink and watching as his gaze drifted up to meet mine.
"Safe for you."
Oh.
Tugging my lower lip into my mouth, I attempted to form some sort of response, but my throat didn't seem to want to work. His gaze was unblinking, intense, and we stared at each other for a moment before he pushed away from the island. Moving toward the couch, he leaned over it and retrieved a very well-worn book.
He turned it over in his hands, a smile forming on his lips as he raised it, "I haven't read this in decades. It was always my favorite."
"I don't know how anyone could hate the Hobbit," I mused, subtly clearing my throat and making my way to his side, "I think I've read it at least ten times."
"I heard they turned into a movie?"
"Three," I replied, taking the book from him and opening it to his dog-eared page. I would've been irritated with him if I hadn't already done that myself. "Total overkill. They're nowhere near as good as the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Those are absolute perfection and I will fight anyone who tries to tell me otherwise."
"Do you have them?" Bucky queried, his tone piqued with interest.
"I do," I nodded slowly, seriously, earning a concerned frown from the soldier, "but listen. Here's the thing. If we watch them, it's going to be the extended ones. I refuse to watch the theatrical cuts - there's four extra hours so it's gonna be, like, twelve hours total. And believe me when I say it's so worth it. And since you've never seen them, I'll do my best not to quote them or sing along to the music. But I basically know them verbatim."
He couldn't fight his surprised grin, blue eyes wide as a laugh escaping him, "Wow. I'm impressed. All twelve hours?"
"All twelve hours," I confirmed, shifting my wrist and checking my watch, "okay, it's three now. We can make lunch, I'll put together the Jell-O salad, and get pizza for dinner and just straight marathon LotR."
"LotR? You're very passionate about this," Bucky mused seriously, scratching at his jaw as though fighting the grin that continued to grow across his face.
"I'm sorry, do you have something better to do?" I huffed, darting to the fridge and retrieving the sandwich fixings and the ingredients for the Jell-O salad. I pulled up a few recipes on my phone, opting for one labeled "vintage," though I didn't bother showing Bucky that.
"Honestly, can't say that I do," he replied dryly, following me into the kitchen and retrieving the bread from the cupboard, "here, you get it set up since you're so excited and I'll make lunch."
"I want to put this together first," I offered him a grin, consulting the phone and putting Bucky's favorite dessert together. Part of me was anxious to see how it would turn out, if he would like it, if it would compare to Steve's mother's.
His vibranium arm darted into my path, snatching up a bit of the shredded pineapple and stuffing it into his mouth. A groan escaped him and I stiffened slightly, peering up at him from beneath my lashes. He wasn't looking at me, though, his eyes shut, head tilted back with a slight grin on his face, reliving some memory of his time before… everything.
I swallowed thickly and returned to my prep, attempting to assure myself I did not wanting to hear that noise again, "Hopefully it's good."
Bucky let out a huffing laugh and turned toward me, his tone brimming with confidence, "It will be. Thank you, Aurelie."
Shooting him a soft smile, I flipped my hair and assured him, "No, thank you for the confidence boost. Okay! Should be good; lemme just put it in the fridge."
But the super soldier grabbed the bowl gently from my hands and tipped his chin toward the living room, "I've got it this, you set up the movie."
"You know, let's do that," I beamed at him, making for the XBox and setting it up. I felt his eyes on me and tossed a glance over my shoulder. He had a fond grin on his face and he commented, "You're really hyping this up."
"If you don't like it," I informed him seriously, "I'm gonna have to kick you out. And then you'll have to stay with Tony, which I honestly probably wouldn't recommend."
"I loved those books just as much as the Hobbit, so I'm sure I will," he meticulously built five sandwiches - four, I hoped, were for him, "I just didn't realize people got this… this over movies these days."
"Clearly you've never gone to a packed theater opening night for the newest Jurassic Park or Harry Potter movie," I plopped onto the couch, pulling my legs up onto the cushion and crossing them.
"Clearly," he retorted dryly, making his way to the living room. He offered me a plate, two massive sandwiches sitting atop each other and a handful of chips curling around them.
Grinning, I repeatedly glanced between him and the sandwiches until he sighed and took the second one. He glanced between the armchair and the couch, finally deciding to settle down two cushions over from me. Kicking his feet up onto the coffee table, he offered me a smile and said, "Let's do this."
/
Please let me know what you think! I love hearing from you all! I had to put the Lord of the Rings in there; when Bucky mentioned the Hobbit I swooned, it's my favorite thing!
19irene96: It was the perfect cliffhanger lol!
Morgainne9897: Thank you for sticking around! I'm glad you're enjoying it! I'm sorry it took so long to get back to regular updates
BrownEyes: yaaa
Mariana Lestrange: Thank you so much! Hopefull you liked this chapter too!
