The ride back to camp was just as quiet as the rest of our time spent in the car together. However, this time our minds weren't occupied with 'what if's' or hurried glances. As a matter of fact, my mind wasn't occupied at all, a blank slate as I watched the world fly by with a peaceful smile. I don't think our hands had left each other's for even a moment since leaving his house, mine resting gently atop his where it had remained fixed on my knee for the duration of the journey. When I had myself convinced of my distaste for being stuck in a car with Howard, it had dragged. Yet now, when I wanted to be nowhere else, it flew by, with us arriving back at camp in record time despite his excessively slow speed. It was just about 7:30am when we pulled through the gates of Camp Lehigh, both of us cursing our timing as the curious eyes of both the recruits and their drill sergeants on their morning exercises acknowledged our arrival, accompanied by quiet whispers and raised eyebrows. I dropped my head into my hands with a sighed laugh.
"Well I suppose there's no chance of worming our way out of this one," Howard commented with a smile that conveyed far too much pleasure for my liking.
"I don't know, I can be a pretty convincing liar when I need to be..." My response caused him to frown, not amused by the thought of me denying what had happened between us. I rolled my eyes, waving away his concerns with a wink and a quick squeeze of his hand. "I'm not going to deny or confirm anything."
"How diplomatic of you," He laughed, the car steering away from the training soldiers to offer us some sort of privacy before we rolled to a stop. I licked my lips nervously, nipping at the skin with my teeth as the engine died and we fell into silence. I could practically feel his eyes burning into my skin as he waited for me to speak, or move, or do anything at all. Finally, he released a sigh, wringing his hands on the steering wheel before glancing at me.
"I understand that kissing me can be extremely overwhelming, but you're gonna have to speak eventually." I let my eyes flutter closed as I sighed out a laugh, opening them to find and reclaim his hand before twisting in my seat.
"You know, I promised myself that I would never allow myself to fall for your charming ways." I explained quietly, playing with his fingers to distract myself. "Clearly I'm weaker than I thought." He frowned at my words, moving his free hand to hook a finger under my chin, forcing me to raise my eyes to meet his. He shook his head with a sincere smile.
"I don't think that makes you weak Evelyn, I think that makes you brave." His words held a commanding surety, succeeding, as usual, in convincing me that he was right and I was wrong.
"Or perhaps I'm just a complete idiot and this will all come back to bite me in the ass." I shrugged nonchalantly before allowing a smirk to creep onto my face.
"Yeah you're probably right." He agreed easily, removing his hand from my chin and sliding out of the car before I had a chance to respond. My mouth gawped as I choked out a laugh, quickly following his lead and hopping out of the passenger seat, slamming the door behind me. I marched towards him brandishing a finger in his direction as he raised his hands in defeat, taking a few cautious steps back, his signature devilish grin on his lips.
"I'd be careful what I say if I were you, Howard Stark," I warned, narrowing my eyes as the wall of the closest building halted his retreat, allowing me to close the space between us. "I'm sure I could make your death look like an accident." His eyes widened slightly at my threat before he chuckled, reaching out and grabbing my hand which was currently jabbing a finger into his chest, using his new grip to tug me towards him. I stumbled forward, his actions taking me by surprise as I crashed into his chest, leaving only inches between our faces.
"I'm not scared of you, Evelyn Moore," He leaned forward, whispering into my ear, his warm breath tickling at the hair which hung there. I gasped slightly at the sudden contact, my wrist still firmly encircled by his hand. Two could play at that game. I took advantage of our closeness, decreasing the space yet again and allowing my lips to momentarily brush his cheek. I bit back a devious smirk as I felt him shudder against me.
"A smart man would be terrified." I whispered, my words laced with poisonous warning as I slowly moved my face in line with his, our noses brushing slightly as his lips parted in hungry desire. I quickly tore my wrist from his hand, lightly shoving him away as I stepped back. He stumbled slightly under the gentle force of my push, his back hitting the wall behind him as mild shock plastered his features. A delighted laugh escaped my mouth as I spun on my heel, offering a stunned Howard a satisfied wink and a brief wave over my shoulder as I strode confidently away from him.
"You're a cruel women Evelyn!" He called after me once he had regained his senses. I shrugged him off with a frown as he attempted to throw an arm over my shoulder, nudging my elbow gently into his ribs as we were spotted by none other than Colonel Phillips and Peggy Carter.
"Agent Moore, how nice of you to finally join us." The Colonel announced with a slightly irked tone, yet I didn't miss the way his eyes flicked between Howard and I as the corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly upwards. My eyes widened slightly as I fought to ignore the quiet yet amused chuckle from beside me. "If I could speak to you in private for a moment?"
I faltered in my step, not that anyone noticed apart from me, my moment of panic expertly masked. I didn't trust my mouth to speak, and so settled with offering him a tight nod as I followed him away from the curious eyes of Peggy and Howard. A million possible responses began playing over in my head as I worried he would call me out for fraternising with a co-worker. My overly anxious mind began scolding me for my actions, telling me how stupid I was and how he was about to fire me on the spot. Of course, my brain was being ridiculous and that absolutely wasn't the reason for this private talk. The real reason however, wasn't that much more favourable.
"I'm assigning you as the head of your own SSR task-force," The Colonel explained, not hesitating to get to the point. "You'll oversee a group of five male, and three female agents heading a covert intelligence operation."
I was stunned into silence, unable to do much more than nod in understanding as he spoke, my excitement and complete surprise clouding my brain. My sudden dumbstruck expression didn't appear to faze him as he continued to speak.
"You'll be working closely alongside both the 107th and British 56th infantries, with whom you'll be stationed in Italy. You'll be shipping out from the New York Harbour at eleven hundred hours, so you have free time now to pack your things." His last comment broke through the daze that had overcome me.
"That's in 3 hours?" I queried, the news of such a sudden departure coming as a surprise.
"I apologise for the last-minute warning, but the decision was made early this morning." He explained and I nodded in understanding. Now that the initial shock had passed, I could finally comprehend the news I had been given. I'd be heading my own team, in charge of eight other agents as we embarked on a special covert intelligence mission. As well as being utterly terrified of the prospect, I was flattered, and extremely proud of myself for working as hard as I had and allowing myself to reach this point. I grinned, pride radiating from me.
"Thank you, Colonel Phillips, I promise I won't let you down." He nodded in agreement, one of his rare smiles gracing his lips.
"I know you won't. Now, go pack your bags, the car will be meeting you here at the gates exactly two hours from now," He explained, taking a step away from me before pausing and glancing thoughtfully back over his shoulder. "And maybe you and Stark could try to be a bit less obvious next time." My eyes widened at his blunt comment and I nodded quickly, choking out a terrified laugh once he was out of hearing range.
I didn't move for a few moments, still attempting to process the news before I could even think about moving. I was flattered, absolutely honoured to have been chosen for something like this. The pride I felt in myself in that moment was incredible, everything I'd ever worked for. However, there was a seed of doubt. It sat heavily in my stomach and twisted my insides in a way I'd never experienced before. As much as I hated to say it I knew exactly what that feeling was.
I'd never been good at saying goodbye, and I'd had to say it a lot recently. I said goodbye to my friends and colleagues when I'd finished my last day at the SOE; I'd say goodbye to my sister and my parents when I'd boarded the ship headed for America. I said goodbye to my brother for what I hadn't realised would be the last time before he sailed away from me with a salute. And now I had to do it again. I had to say goodbye to Howard. I had to admit, the Colonel's timing was impeccably bad considering the night I'd just had. I glanced back over my shoulder to see Howard and Peggy laughing together. I'd have to say goodbye to her too. Although I'm sure I'd be seeing her in no time. At least I hoped I would be. Peggy and I had said our goodbyes far too many times for my liking, so I would prefer to avoid another.
I sucked in a breath, closing my eyes and steeling myself for what was to come. My feet felt heavy as I crossed the space between us, offering both of them a smile as I stopped before them.
"Peg…" I began, but was quickly hushed.
"I already know," She smiled at me, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder before sending me a nod. "I'll leave you two alone." With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Howard and I alone once again.
"What was that all about?" He enquired, a brow raised in curiosity. When I didn't answer immediately he continued. "Eve, is everything okay?"
I turned my gaze to him, watching his face as he eyed me curiously. His expression betrayed a worry that he couldn't mask, a anxiety that sat heavily in the creases around his eyes, weighing him down. I suppose it would be better to rip the band aid off than drag this out.
"I'm leaving." My words were simple and blunt, accompanied by a sad smile.
"What do you mean you're leaving? Where are you going?" He frowned, slipping his hand into mine and tracing small circles with his thumb.
"England first, and then Italy. Apparently I'm heading my very own special operations task force. It's quite the honour."
"Wow, Eve that's amazing!" his lips quickly pulled up into a grin, his anxious frown a thing of the past. I offered a small nod in response, my eyes cast down at the ground.
"It's a surprise i'm still terrible at saying goodbye… you'd think I'd be great at it by this point." To my surprise, he simply laughed, using his grip on my hand to pull me towards him and wrap me in a tight hug. I stepped back, breathing a laugh at he shook his head.
"You really think this is goodbye Eve?" I shrugged, still feeling slightly dejected despite his chipper attitude. "You can't get rid of me that easily. You'll be seeing me soon don't you worry."
His certainty almost immediately put me at ease, his thumbs still tracing delicate circles over the backs of my hands as he watched me closely. I breathed out a soft laugh, glancing up at him through my lashes.
"You'd better not forget about me whilst I'm gone… or the Germans will be the least of your worries."
He tipped his head back with a hearty laugh, closing his hands around mine and pulling me towards him. I welcomed the hug, letting myself sink into him as his arms locked me against him. I had to savour this moment, as who knows when I would get to see him again. It could be weeks, months… I couldn't allow myself to imagine longer than that, our of fear I might decline the offer entirely. I felt him press a light kiss onto the top of my head, coaxing a smile as he released me from his grasp.
"Evelyn Moore… you're unforgettable." My lips pulled up into a playful smirk as I offered him a nonchalant shrug.
"So I've heard."
I knew it wouldn't be goodbye. If there was one thing I knew for certain about Howard Stark, it was that come hell or high waters, he wouldn't relent until he had what he wanted. Somehow that had become me. In such a short time without either of us realising, and certainly without either of us planning it, something had blossomed. Whether that thing thrived or died out was yet to be seen, though we could only wait with quiet hope.
Three hours had passed by in a blur whilst I'd busied myself packing my bags. It was a strange feeling leaving camp Lehigh. Though i'd only been here a few months, it had felt like a lifetime. I recalled back to my first day arriving here, the messy flirtation of the soldiers and the regimented routines I'd fallen prey to. I loved it. It was strange to call a place like this home, and it wasn't, but it was as good as considering the circumstances. I felt a curious sense of pride when I thought about the men we had trained, that we had shaped into the soldiers they now were. A pang of regret hit me as I realised what was next for them, and for me. A few of the men I had trained had been assigned to the 107th, and so would be joining me on the journey to England, then Italy. Obviously, one of those men was Hodge. Typical really. Though he wasn't nearly as arrogant and irritating as he had been when we'd first met. It's funny how mutual respect can change a person. I'd seen it very clearly in Hodge, and the way he now acted towards myself and other women on the camp. He was still a ladies man and a brute, that would never change, but at least he was a fraction more considerate now.
I finished my packing, placing the last few items into my bag and closing it shut before taking a breath. I allowed myself a quick glance around the room I had spent my nights in for the past few months, relishing in the memories it had created. Such as the time Peggy had helped me choose my outfit for Howard and I's 'not' date. Or the time I had begun sleepwalking and tripped over the vanity, jolting Peg awake and practically startling her out of her skin. I'd always been good at saying goodbye to a place, leaving it behind with only the memories to carry with me. A soft smile crept onto my lips as I nodded to myself, affirming that I was ready to leave. Turning on my heel, I swept out of the door.
My bags had been loaded up in the car for me by a few very helpful soldiers before they climbed into their own truck. It seemed I was being given some special treatment, travelling in my own car. This is something I could get used to. I'd just finished thanking the men when a cough from behind me requested my attention.
"Ma'am," I turned to meet Hodge, who currently offered me the perfect salute. My lips pulled into a smirk at his formality.
"At ease soldier," I chuckled, shooting him a warm smile, which he reciprocated along with a curt nod.
"Ma'am, I just wanted to thank you for what you've done for us while we've been here," I was slightly taken aback by the sincerity of his statement, non-the-less enjoying the praise. "Also, I wanted to let you know that a lot of us guys are thrilled that you'll be coming along with us to Italy... I get the feeling we could really use someone like you alongside us in what's to come."
My pleasure was tainted slightly by the thought of what was to come, something I had managed to avoid thinking about until now. Though, I wouldn't let that thought sully this rare moment.
"You're very Welcome Hodge, I was just doing my job. And as for Italy, I think I might be glad to have you boys there too, we're going to need to stick together if we want to make it through this."
He nodded solemnly, glancing over his shoulder quickly as his name was called. He shot me one more salute, an action I mirrored, before he turned on his heel and climbed aboard the truck alongside his fellow comrades. Typically, he didn't forget to shoot me a quick wink before their truck began to pull away, slipping through the camp gates and beginning on its way. A small sigh escaped me as I watched them go. I couldn't let myself be distracted by the thoughts of what would surely happen to them once we got to Italy. There was no way we would win this war if we went in expecting to lose, and plus, I had more faith in our boys than that. My attention was quickly diverted once again as a hand came to rest on my arm. I turned to meet Howard's slightly anxious yet still grinning face.
"Now where's my goodbye, huh Moore?"
"I thought this wasn't goodbye...?" I chuckled, raiding a brow as I referenced his earlier words. He rolled his eyes at my nit-pickiness, turning me to face him before brushing his fingers over my ear.
"Then how about farewell." He spoke quietly, a soft sincerity to his tone that had my breath hitching in my throat. I had kissed him before I'd even realised it, allowing just a soft touch between our lips before I pulled away. Any more than that and I think I would have dragged my bags from the car and refused to leave. I watched him carefully as he digested the action, his lips slightly parted as his eyes fluttered open. I think perhaps this was the first time a woman had kissed him with something other than lust, and that it had surprised him about as much as it surprised me. I took a few small steps back, a gentle smile in his direction as I headed for my car.
It took him a few moments to regain his senses, digging in his pockets before calling out to me,
"Eve!" I turned back from the car, the open door ready for me to climb in. "Catch."
I cocked my head slightly as he threw something towards me, thankful of my quick reflexes as I caught the object easily. I felt the cold metal against my skin as I turned it over in my hands. I smiled as I recognised the flask Howard and I had been sipping from only a few hours prior to now.
"I get the feeling you're gonna need it more than me," He smirked with a small shrug. Yes, I too get that feeling...
"Farewell Howard Stark." I stashed the flask in my pocket as I shot my most dazzling smile over my shoulder, blowing him a quick kiss before I slid into the car and closed the door behind me. I sunk into my seat, releasing a breath I hadn't realised I was holding, and settling in for my next adventure.