A/N:Hello my loves! Glad you guys enjoyed the last chapter. I loved reading y'alls comments. This chapter is a little shorter, but you get to see a glimpse into Bucky's point of view. I hope you enjoy!
I got zero things done the rest of the day after the kiss that Bucky had laid on me. I couldn't think straight. It felt… right. His lips had been surprisingly soft, but under the surface of the kiss was passion. Barely restrained, unadulterated passion. I had only known Bucky for almost three weeks. What the hell was I thinking? Did his passion come from… my feelings? My desire to be swept up in some romance? Shit. Now, I was overanalyzing the whole thing. For the fourth time, today.
I tried to distract myself by playing with Cilantro. My darling kitty had a weird talent for a cat- fetching. Cilantro loved to play fetch. I threw a little plush lamb stuffed animal across my room hitting the closet door with a thud which was surprisingly therapeutic. Cilantro would proudly strut back over to me with the lamb in his mouth and plop it on the bed next to me. As I prepared to hurl the stuffed animal again, a loud and prompt knock on my door sounded through my room. Curious, seeing as I was not expecting anyone, I padded towards the door and gingerly turned the knob.
Peering out the door, I saw… no one. I stepped farther out to find a white box with a white bow propped up against the wall. I reached down, turning the box this way and that way trying to find a name or tag. Shaking it like a kid on Christmas morning, I brought it into my room closing the door behind me with a soft click.
Gently pulling the bow off and opening the lid, I was greeted by something wrapped in white tissue paper. It crinkled as I pulled it out of the box. Underneath the tissue paper was the cutest white dress.
The dress had a simple lace overlay, a high neck and cap sleeves. It was one of those dress that would hug and hit all the right places. It was clean, classic, and completely my style. I loved it. I pulled it out of the box swinging it around. It spun with me and a white card fell out onto the floor. I picked it up and opened it. In writing that almost looked like calligraphy with sharp points and contrasting swirls, it simply said, "Be dressed and ready at 4 a.m."
There was no signature. I was legitimately confused. I looked back at the dress and it clicked suddenly. White dress. Mysterious letter. Tony Fucking Stark was busting me out for my graduation.
"Well hot damn."
I hardly slept which was becoming a trend here at the Avenger's Facility. At 3 a.m. I decided to go ahead and start getting ready.
I pulled my hair up to show off the dress, which thankfully covered my neck, put in some pearl earrings, applied a little make up and donned nude wedge heels. I wanted to keep it simple and let my natural beauty speak for itself. If people disapproved, they could get to steppin. It had taken me a long ass time to try and love myself. I was not going to let anyone put me down for not being conventional or wearing a tight dress when I am not stick thin. The beautiful part about beauty is that it is diverse.
The dress was a little short, but for the first time in pretty much ever, my legs looked long! Tony did an excellent job! It was very flattering. Who knew?
At 4, I quietly poked my head out the door. Not seeing anyone, I stepped into the hall. A hand flew over my mouth and I was pulled back. I elbowed my assailant in the gut and I heard a muffled groan. The hands immediately released me. Apparently that muscle memory thing was legit. I spun around to see Tony doubled over a little. He glared and grabbed my wrist making significant eye contact, sending me his emotions. I knew immediately to stay quiet and follow him.
We ended up in an area of the facility that I didn't even know existed. An airplane hanger and landing strip. A rather impressive jet was parked in the open hanger.
"This way my dear!" Tony's voice rang pulling me up the narrow stairs into the plane that screamed excess. There were plush tan leather chairs, a couple of flat screen TVs, a bar area that was filled to the brim with drinks that were probably older than my grandpa.
"Welcome aboard ma'am, what would you like to drink?" came the overly cheery voice of the stewardess. I realized my mouth was hanging open slightly as I took in the inside.
"Bring us a bottle of the champagne! We are going to celebrate. Now love, we have to discuss how today is going to go down. But first I want you to meet my secret weapon!" Tony ended with excitement. His hands extended pointing at the entrance way that separated the staff from the passengers. I waited but no one came out.
Tony huffed stomping his foot and loudly said in exasperation," I want you to meet my secret weapon!" There was a shuffling behind the curtain and a young man awkwardly shuffled out saying, "Ta-Da!"
I stood there blinking, arms crossed with a confused smile, "Your secret weapon is a… teenage boy?"
Said boy started to shift his weight and run his hands through his hair nervously.
"My name is Peter Parker ma'am. Wait am I supposed to tell her my actual name? Should I just tell people my superhero name?" He rambled looking to Tony sheepishly.
Sensing he was nervous and excited, I outstretched my hand.
"I can't touch you- I mean Tony told me that you have weird skin-" I gave Tony a look, "I-I mean not weird skin, sorry uuhh you have nice skin- I mean not nice skin, but I can't touch you, not that I don't want to touch you- I mean-" he got redder and redder as he rambled. I started laughing really hard when he basically admitted he wanted to touch me.
"Well bless your heart! It's okay. I understand. Now, why don't we sit down and get this party started. Then you can explain what makes you so qualified to be my secret weapon, hmm?" I tried putting him at ease.
As I sipped on my champagne and journeyed on to our destination, I listen carefully to Tony's game plan. Basically, I was to act like any other average student receiving my diploma. However, the security measures weren't exactly average. Firstly, Tony had been in correspondence with the cleared head of security as a basic necessity. Tony warned me that even though this man checked out didn't mean that everyone he staffed did as well. Peter was going to be going undercover as another student graduating. Unbeknownst to the school, Tony had hacked the system and created Peter's cover. In order to not create suspicion, he would be seated several seats after me alphabetically.
Tony would be scanning radio frequency, channels of communication, security tapes, all of the techie stuff until right after I walked. Every student, after shaking hands with almost a dozen people, would walk off stage, past the group of students still waiting on their diploma and into a tunnel like hallway. This hallway led straight back into the main room and then students were to sit back down in their designated seat.
"You won't be sitting back down, though. I'll be waiting at the other side and we can slip through the back door which will already be secured. Peter, will follow making sure no one tales us. The nice thing about this hallway is that only students are allowed to pass through, and there is only one entrance and one exit. So literally all you have to do is, graduate and be observant. Whatcha think?"
"What if something happens like during the actual ceremony?" I inquired my knee bounced as I started to become a little nervous. Peter was giving me a big smile, clearly excited to just be on a mission. Tony had explained his unique characteristics which made him an asset. I will admit, the kid is precious.
"That's not Hydra's style. They have to be incognito in order to survive. Big acts of terrorism or saying shooting up a graduation would be way too risky. Honestly, big crowded events are pretty safe considering! If at any point you don't feel like you can do this, let me know love. I just want your big day to be a reality." It was clear to see in this moment why so many people put up with Tony Stark. Behind all the pomp and fluff of his lifestyle, was a sweetheart who cared fiercely for the people he let into his inner circle.
"If you really think it'll be safe Tony, I want to go through with it," I took a deep sip finishing off my glass of champagne, the bubbles soothing my fears.
Tony clapped his hands together and declared, "In that case I've got something special for you!"
The stewardess brought in two boxes, one big and one tiny. Opening the big box, I found my graduation gown and my cap. I squealed in excitement seeing my school's crest. Peter got a similar box and he laughed joking, "I've worked so hard for this! My first degree!"
Tony sat there with his fingers together under his chin waiting on me to open the next box. I hurriedly pulled of the tiny lid finding a simple, beautiful necklace. It was on a long silver chain, a teardrop pendant with my birthstone hanging from the end. My eyes actually teared up a bit; I had never been a big jewelry fan, but to think that someone would be so thoughtful really touched my heart.
"Something to go with your dress. It fits you like a glove, by the way."
I stood and threw my arms around his neck. He tensed a little at first thrown off by my sign of affection, but then wrapped his arms around me.
Puling away he said in a hushed voice, "Pepper helped me pick it out. I've been.. I've been trying to keep the lines of communication open with her. Things have been better since we talked."
"That's great Tony! Thank you so much for everything! Who knew you could be such a sweetheart?"
The stewardess then asked us to buckle our seatbelts as we were about to start our descent. I felt so full of emotions churning inside of me. A little bit of nerves, but mainly joy and excitement. But as I sat there waiting for the plane to land, my thoughts slowly shifted back to the blue eyed man that I so badly wanted to help.
My fists slammed repeatedly into the punching bag over and over, each one releasing pent up rage, tension, confusion. Sweat had started to drip into my line of sight, but at the moment I didn't care. All I could think about were those soft lips that tasted of sweet tea and those freckles that danced in intricate patterns across high porcelain cheek bones.
My mind was conflicted; decidedly split. I knew that I shouldn't be getting too close to her. Steve had reminded me that although August could help, she also didn't know certain things about my past yet. Certain things that she wouldn't be so forgiving about. Certain things that could ruin my chances at any kind of future with the sweet southern girl.
Grunting as I continued to beat the mess out of my imaginary foe, I thought about my stupidity the other night. If I didn't get a grip on myself, I could do a lot more than choke the poor girl. I never wanted to see that look of fear in her eyes again. The sheer desperation to get free from my hands. I had seen that look before. It made bile roll in my stomach and my head ache with pain, memories flashing. I only wanted to see light and happiness in those dark brown eyes of hers.
Anger wasn't so bad, either. When she had stood up, fists curled, mouth hurling an argument, I knew in that moment that I was going to kiss her. It was inevitable. Seeing August in that slip of a dress, color rising to her cheeks, eyes blazing, as she said she cared, it was a miracle that I didn't chuck her on the bed and have my way with her.
Pulling away from the punching bag, panting heavily, I decided to go check on her. This was something I did often. A bad habit that would probably creep her out. I found myself time and time again outside her door, peeking in with all of the stealth that I possessed making sure that she was safe.
Steve had caught me once. I tried to come up with a good excuse and pull off indifference at the same time, but he knew. He always knew. Steve didn't lecture me or say I was paranoid, he just said it was normal. Normal to check on someone I was so connected with, some one I cared about. The problem was and is that August McKay does not know that we are connected. Doesn't remember.
Wiping the sweat of my face with a towel, I made my way to her door. I listened, taking in any signs of distress. Hearing absolutely nothing, my eyebrow quirked. Ever so quietly, I opened the door. My eyes swept the room. My body was moving before my brain had time to process.
August McKay was gone. A note was laid out on her bed next to her sleeping cat. In thin cursive script it said, "Gone to graduate."
"Well fuck."