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Chapter 19:
The Rule Book and the Pigs
Things felt better now that Toni had settle things with Steve, though things were still weird with Peggy. She wasn't her mean self at the moment; sure, she still told her what to do, but she was kind of nice about it and that stuck Toni as odd. She wasn't sure if this was a trick or whether Peggy was turning a page. Was she calling a cease fire? She hoped so, because she did not have energy to fight anymore. She had other thing to do like stealing a core from her annoying father. However, that was turning out to be a bigger challenge than she expected. She should've expected that since her father could always outsmart her.
Shaking her head, she made her way back to her tent. They were on the move again with the SSR targeting Schmidt's hydra bases. Right now, Steve was out with the Howling Commandos taking down base number two, and it was the second time that she found herself going crazy. She wasn't sure why she was worried or why she was so invested. This was the past and what was going to happen would happen. There was no changing that. People were going to die and there was nothing that she could do to change it. It was useless to worry.
Toni exhaled slowly as she made her way through a thin crowd of soldiers. It was rather quiet, and she didn't know what to make of the silence. Her mind wasn't helping. Each time Barnes went out, she expected him die. Damn it, she cursed in her head. Why did she get so attached? Why did she break that rule out of all rules? If she hadn't, she wouldn't have gotten attached to Barnes or Steve? URGH! She would've been her worry free self, and she would be able to get on her with her damn life.
She liked her rules, because they made things less sticky. Life wasn't complicated when she followed her damn rules, and her damn emotions wouldn't be affecting her so much. She wouldn't be a laughing stock. You're a fool, she told herself. Maybe, she should've taken Loki's offer, even if it was the most obvious trap in the universe. She wouldn't be suck in this mess, though she would probably be in a bigger mess.
She took another deep breath, thinking. However, it wasn't even a second later that someone was yelling after her.
"Fire Rocket!"
Her eye twitched at the nickname. God, she hated that nickname. How the hell was she a fire rocket? Why add the word fire? Yes, an explosion of sorts was needed, but if a rocket was on fire, that was a very bad thing. Maybe, that was what he was trying to say about her. Shaking her head, she kept walking as she really had no interest in talking to him; however, he didn't get the picture.
"Fire Rocket," he called again as he jumped in front of her. His face was all bruised and there was a clear limp in his step, which was probably why he was still in camp and not out in the field.
She really really hated that name, more so than Sark. You know how Salty feels now, she told herself. "What?" she asked, her eye still twitching. She was clearly annoyed.
"You seem to be in better a mood than before," he stated with a smile.
Did he really consider this a better mood? He must be crazy, though she had to admit that she less snappy than before. "Don't make me beat you," she threatened. It was a buff really; as the last two times she dealt with him, she was saved by Barnes who wasn't in camp at the moment. That also annoyed her as she was not a damsel in distress.
"I wanted to see how you're doing," he stated with a smile. It came out as a cheesy pickup line.
"Still not getting into my pants, Private," Toni stated, as she folded her arms across her chest. She gave him the famous you-are-an-idiot glance, which Future Rogers hated. "You got to at least buy me dinner first, but I ain't a cheap date."
He laughed, taking a step toward her. "There's a bet to who can get you into bed first," he stated.
Her eye started to twitch again, as she took a step back, trying to put some distance between them. "Just me? I can't be the only one you men want," she stated.
"Sure, they're lot of pretty dames," he stated. "But none are as special as you." He took another step toward her. "A bet just for you." His smile turned creepy if it wasn't already, and it sent chills down her back. "You know you want it."
"Excuse me?" Toni asked, getting pissed. Why was she the only woman they betted on? There were plenty of women these men could go after. Why the hell did he think she wanted it? She didn't want it… Okay, she did like it and there was times that she wanted. Heck, she hadn't had sex in a while, but that did not mean she would sleep or even consider sleeping with any of these men.
"Cursing like a man. Walking like a man." He paused as he glanced her over from head to toe. "Wearing pants like a man. You must want it like we men do." He took another step toward her.
Her anger was about to burst and this man was going to get beat by a woman. He better enjoy that.
"Let me-" He started as he leaned in as if to kiss her.
Before he could finish his sentence, Toni snapped and slugged him in the face. Not expecting that, the private fell back. "Do I punch like a man too?" she retorted, as she tried not to wink in pain. His face was boney and it hurt. "Is that why you want me? Because you're really a woman and someone needs to wear the pants."
"Why you, bitch," he cursed as he got to his feet. "I'll teach you to-"
"You'll teach her what, Private?"
Toni jumped at the voice, surprised at the interruption. "Peggy," she uttered.
Peggy, in her skirt and heels, stepped toward Toni and the private; she stood almost in between them. "What were you going to teach her?" She asked. Her tone was very demanding. "I'm waiting, Private."
The Private glanced at Peggy before focusing on Toni and giving her a look. "Something private, Agent. It's none of your concern," he stated through his teeth.
"You better watch your tone," Peggy demanded.
Toni tried her best to keep in her snort. Peggy had on her angry babysitting voice, and though she disliked it as a child, it was funny now. It was nice to hear her yell at someone else for a chance.
Private glared at Peggy for a few seconds before turning away. As he walked away, Peggy added, "You should put something on that eye." Toni let out a chuckle. "Are you okay, Sark?" she asked once the man was gone.
"I'm great." She put on the biggest smile that she could muster, but Peggy was still giving her a look. "I might've broken my hand on his fugly face, but I'm good. I swear." She flexed her hand to see how bad it was. The skin on her hand was cracked and it was bleeding slightly, but she was able to flex it. "Now, it matches my face," she stated as she brought it to her discolored face which was returning to its normal color.
"This isn't something to joke about," Peggy retorted as she grabbed Toni's uninjured hand and pulled her along toward their tent. "He could've done something to you."
Toni's eye twitched tired of being lectured, but she guessed that Sassy Pants was right. That man was going to hurt her. "You can let me go," she stated as she yanked her arm away. "I can walk myself."
Peggy took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," she stated. "Sometimes my minds wander."
That stuck Toni as odd. She didn't expect that from Peggy, but she didn't say anything. She just followed her back to their tent. It wasn't until they arrived that Toni spoke, "So was there a reason why you walked me back?" Not waiting for a response, she crossed to her messy cot and sat down.
"I just wanted to make sure no one else would bother you," Peggy answered as she crossed to her cot. She sat as well, but she kept her glance away from Toni.
Toni had felt that something was off with Sassy, but now, she knew something was off. Carter wasn't like this. She didn't talk like this to Toni. "I would've punched them all in the face." She flexed her arm.
She glanced toward Toni again before looking away quickly. "You were almost assaulted. It's no laughing matter, Sark."
"It depends on how you look at it. The way I look at things everything is."
"Unfortunately."
Toni let that slide as there was something going on in Peggy's head and she wanted to know what it was. "So Agent, what's going on in that head?" She asked, using a direct attack. She glanced at Carter one last time before she laid down. She twitched when she realized where she put her journal; it was digging into her back, but she did not move to get it. She wasn't sure if Peggy knew about it, but she did not want to draw attention to the fact that she kept one.
"What makes you think that?" Peggy asked.
"We don't have a good enough relationship for you to walk me back to the tent and stay," Toni answered as she closed her eyes. Her body was heavy on her; she hadn't gotten much sleep since she was rescued. Her nightmares had been worse than ever, and she didn't know how to handle them. Usually, she had sleeping pills or alcohol, but she had no access to them now.
Toni heard Peggy shift on her cot and judging from the sound, Peggy had laid down. "Can't we girls look out for each other?"
Fighting to stay awake, Toni let out a howling laugh. Peggy's tone was cute as if she was a shy child asking for ice cream or something. "We girls can do a lot of thing." She let out another laugh. "Just tell me what you want to talk about?"
"AreyoudatingSteve?" she asked quickly.
She popped up, shocked that Sassy even asked. "Did you just ask if Steve and I are dating?" she asked, coughing. That got her heart beat up.
"It isn't my concern," she stated hastily as she waved it off. Peggy rolled away to hide her face.
Okay, that was cute. Peggy was jealous! "You're jealous!"
"Just forget it," Peggy snapped and sat up.
"Easy. Steve and I are friends," Toni responded as she put her hands up in defense. Her mind flashed to a few of the future Rogers and her conversions; there were times that she thought he was going to snap on her. To get him that angry wasn't easy, but yet, it was normal for her. "Trust me, Steve and I are not compatible at all. We would so kill each other." She let out a chuckle. "His head would explode. He would not be able to handle all of this." She popped out her chest and motioned to her body.
Peggy left out a chuckling sigh. "I know I do."
"Hey!" Toni smiled as she saw Peggy smile again. "So you want Steve."
Her face turned bright red. "N-No…You know… Urgh." She paused for a few seconds. "…Yes, I like Steve."
There was no real reason for Toni to ask as she already knew Sassy's feelings for Steve, and she knew Steve was love sick for Peggy. Their puppy love made her pukey, but it was kind of cute. Steve was adorable when he was in love. "I can play Cupid!" She jumped to her feet.
Peggy's face was priceless at those words. "I don't need you to play cupid."
"How will you and Steve get together if you don't have my help?" She questioned as she made her eyes as big as she could. "You can't fight my puppy dog eyes." She put on her best I-am-innocent look.
Peggy let out a laugh. "Well, I guess it couldn't hurt." She smiled. "But only on one condition."
"Yea, what's that?" Toni asked, eye brow raised. Peggy was up to something and it couldn't be good. She folded her arms across her chest and eyed Peggy. Maybe, her glare could get it out of her.
She put on a smile as she sat up. "I get to play cupid for you."
Toni stared for a few seconds, trying to read her face. "Besides the fact that we're so playing into the woman stereotype, I don't need a cupid. Why would I need a cupid?" In reality, her playing cupid may not be the best idea when they were in a war time; however, there wasn't anything else she could do besides fixing her device. She couldn't offer help without altering the future.
Peggy let out a chuckle. "We so just did that. Interesting."
Toni glanced over to her. "Yea, we did." It was weird to hear her laugh.
"But you can't say that you aren't attracted to Sergeant Barnes. I've seen the way you look at him."
Her eye twitched again. She did not look at him. "If I wanted Barnes, I could have him without anyone playing cupid," she stated, sitting down.
"You are touchy." She put on a smile. "Maybe, I'm right."
"And you think I'm a hand full," she stated as she laid down. "I don't need a cupid, but if you want to return the favor, you can get me one of those hydra cores."
"Why don't you ask Stark? He would have access to them."
Toni glanced over at Peggy, who was staring at her. "I asked him, but he's worried that I'm too injured or I'll get hurt." She snorted. "I so want to take a wrench to him."
"You really don't like him, do you?"
"What gave it away?" she playfully asked as she mindlessly stared up. "Anyhow, what made you think Steve and I were something?"
Peggy eyed her before copying Toni's pose. "It's something going around the camp." She didn't explain.
"I'm a star! The talk of the camp it seems." Toni puffed. "So everyone thinks that Steve and I are fonduing?" She laughed. "I told Steve everyone would think that. He didn't believe me."
"He doesn't understand a great deal of things."
"Ain't that the truth?" Toni felt herself start to drift again. Trying to stay awake, she shake her head slightly. "And look we're getting along. That's a first."
"You're being bearable for once," she responded.
"For once?" Toni responded, fighting to keep her eyes open. "I'm always bearable." Peggy snorted. "HEY, I am!" Sassy said something else, but the engineer couldn't make it out. Sleep had overcame her and she became dead to the world.
*O*O*
Waves crashed violently against the shore, demolishing everything in its path. The wind was violently whipping across the shore, throwing everything that it could pick up. Lightening lit up the area as it stretched across the sky. A loud roar of thunder deafen the shore as it shook the ground. Rain nailed the shore as it came down heavy, soaking everything within seconds and this included Toni, who was tied down near the shore line. She was being pelted by water and with each strike, she felt herself unable to breathe. Her heart was racing all too fast, and she was afraid that she would have a heart attack.
Even with her arms chained behind her, she tried to protect herself from the blasting wind and sand by getting as low as she could. However, she was struck by the powerful ocean waves, which forced its way into her mouth and down her throat. She coughed as the salt water burned her throat and lungs. She pushed herself up, trying to get some air, but the wind caught her and slapped her around. She shook herself as she tried to gain control over the fear that was growing inside of her. The ocean waves were getting stronger and the water level was growing. If it kept up this pace, she would be under water in minutes. To make matters worse, the storm was moving closer to her and the ground shock hard with each passing second. Lightening stuck only a few feet from her.
"Breath, Stark," she told herself as the water level rose a few inches. As she was on her knees, the water was on above her legs. "You will be fine!" she tried to tell herself, but she couldn't believe that. She couldn't believe anything at that moment as the water just kept raising and there was no escape. Her arms were tied low that there was no way she could stand.
"Y-you will be fine." She told herself as she struggled with her restrains, trying to break them. However, no matter what she did, her restrains would not break. There was no give. "You can do it," she told herself as she tried to not freak out. "Y-You need to relax," she repeated, but her heart was going way too fast.
"Toni!"
She couldn't breathe. She tried to take a breath, but her lungs weren't working. The water was raising and the waves were pelting her hard, knocking her down. She was going to die.
"Toni!"
Her mind snapped as she heard someone call her name. Was someone coming to save her? Then was why he yelling her and not freeing if he was trying to save her? That didn't make any sense. So when she felt someone grab her, she swung at him, without remembering that her hands were tied. To her surprised, her punch landed.
"Toni, you're safe. Wake up!" someone yelled, keeping a hold on her. "Toni!"
Forcing her eyes open, she was startled to see Barnes, who was looking at her with a deep concern. "What the hell?" she yelled as she pushed him off. "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to play it off. Nightmares weren't anything really as they were something that she could deal with. Besides, another rule of hers was not to show weakness. Having nightmares were a sign of weakness.
"I ran into Agent Carter," he replied, rubbing the part of his face where she hit him. "You have a mean right hook. I don't think that I have ever been hit that hard." He put on a smile.
Toni glared at him. "I can punch you again if you like!" She pushed the thin cover off and popped up into a sitting position. "Why are you here?" She asked, staring at the deep red mark on his face. She felt bad for hitting him, but she didn't think she had hit him that hard. "What did Sassy Pants tell you?" Was this her playing cupid? If so, she was going to get her back. She did not need a cupid and she did not want Barnes. If she did, she could get him herself.
He took a seat next to her, ignoring her glare. "Nothing much." He glanced down at her hands, which were curled up in her lap. "Another nightmare. What was this one about?" She didn't answer. "You can tell me. You don't need to hold them it. It doesn't make you weak."
Of course it made her weak. Nightmares were for people who had fears and fears made you weak. Nightmares where for people who didn't know how to control their emotions.
"Toni, you're going to go crazy if you don't talk about it. I know you can't sleep and that you hadn't been able to sleep for a while."
Toni didn't like that he knew that. He shouldn't know that. Barnes turned to her and brushed her hair out of her face. She didn't like that he thought that was acceptable.
"Talk to me."
No, she protested in her mind as she turned from him.
"You're stubborn." She glared at him. "Don't give me that look. You are. What's haunting you?" He reached his hand to her, but she swapped it away.
"Who says something is haunting me?" Toni asked as she hopped to her feet.
Barnes leaned toward her. "You're not as impenetrable as you like to portray. Let it out."
"I'm just fine." She reached for her army issued coat and put it on. Taking a deep breath, she headed toward the tent's entrance. She paused for a second and added, "And I'm sorry for hitting you."
Barnes jumped to his feet and followed Toni out. "You don't ever need to apologize to me."
Toni glanced back toward Barnes, who was a few feet behind. He was giving her his stupid smile as if she needed it, which she didn't. "So I can clock you again?" she asked, still wearing her glare.
He laughed, catching up. "I would rather you not, though you won't be able to land another hit. You got lucky."
"Lucky?" She asked. "I'll show you lucky!" She showed him her fist, knowing full well what he was doing and she cursed him for it. She didn't need him to comfort her. "So what did Peggy tell you?" she asked, after a few seconds. "And don't give me that it was nothing. She told you what happened, didn't she?"
"She did," he stated, still eyeing her from the corner of his eyes. "She knew you needed to talk and you wouldn't talk to her." He placed his hand on her shoulder, stopping her. She didn't fight him, but it was clear that she had no interest in talking. "You've been through a lot. You need to let it out."
She stared at him for a few seconds. "Okay, I get it. I know," she said. "If I want to talk, I'll let you know, but don't count on it."
"You're one hard headed dame, aren't you?" he teased as he let go of her.
She knocked on her head. "Yup," she smiled as she changed direction, heading toward Salty's tent. If her father didn't want to give her the core, then she would make him. Salty would surely agree with her.
Barnes took a deep breath. "You frustrate me sometimes."
Toni turned to him with a huge smile. As they were on the edge of camp and there was no one around, she felt comfortable enough to hardcore flirt. She wanted to prove to Peggy that she could get Barnes whenever she wanted. "Why don't you tell me how much?" She asked seducingly as she tipped toe up and whispered into his ear.
He pulled her in slightly as he shuffled backward closer to the trees. "You just like to flirt," he declared, frustrated. His hot breath was on her neck. "You do this on purpose."
She smiled into his neck. "Just admit you like it," she teased as she placed her hands on his chest.
"You're trying to distract me."
Laughing, she asked, "Is it working?" She pushed off slightly, unable to push away completely as he had wrapped his arms around her.
"Do you need to ask?"
So now what? She asked herself as she had proved herself right, though she wasn't sure why she was doing this. Was it to show Peggy or herself? Then there was another question, did Barnes really care or did he just see her as something to conquer? "I can distract everyone with my wilds," she stated as she mockingly flipped her hair and pushed out of his arms. Did his eye just twitch? She asked herself as she glazed up at his face.
"You're cocky," he stated.
She inched closer to him again all so slowly, almost dance like. "Did you just figure that out?"
"No, the second I saw you."
She let out a chuckling sigh. "And you still wanted to play chase?"
"I have no interest in playing chase, though it seems that you enjoy it." She snorted, but before she could open her mouth, he added, "You're falling into my trap. There's no chase." He took a step toward her.
"You think I'm falling for your trap?" she asked, playing angry. "Maybe, you're falling into my trap!" She stated as she spun her back on him. Her hair slightly slapped her face.
He let out a laugh. "So if both traps lead to the same spot, why do you care whose trap worked?"
Before Toni knew what happened, she felt his presence behind her. She felt his breath on her neck again and it sent chills up her spin. I'm screwed. See! This is why I have rules! She yelled at herself. Why did she start this damn flirting game? Damn you, Peggy. She was so going to get her back for this. "You haven't won," she stated as she rotated on a dime and playfully pushed him back.
"I don't lose." He reached for her again. His fingertips dance along her forearm, trying to entice her back.
Toni wouldn't admit that she enjoyed this, because she wasn't supposed to. She shouldn't be enjoying this. "You're-"
"What's going on back here?" Steve asked as he stepped into view. He was eyeing Barnes strangely. It was the same look that he had given Barnes before in the bar.
Barnes' hand dropped to his side. "Steve," he greeted.
Toni, silently thanking Steve, crossed to him and patted him on the shoulder. "I was on my way to see Colonel Salty."
"You know I still don't have a nickname," Barnes whined, eyeing Toni's hand on Steve's shoulder. "I feel left out."
"Well, Steve and I haven't come up with anything yet," she teased. She squeezed his shoulder.
"You asking Steve for a nickname for me?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at Steve.
"She won't even tell me mine," Steve stated as he tried to laugh it off.
Toni smiled evilly as she linked arms with Steve, ignoring the twitch in Barnes' eye. She wasn't doing this to make him jealous, not that she would use Steve for that because he would never be attracted to her. "You wouldn't want to know yours, Cap. C'mon. Walk me to Salty," she ordered as she pulled on his arm. "We can talk about your love life." She almost died of laugher at the sight of both of their faces. "You need some help!"
"Y-you think that's i-important right now?" Steve stuttered, reminding Toni of her Shrimp.
"You think I'll give up playing your wing man?" She cheered. "Not a chance."
"Some things never change," Steve sighed, allowing her to put him away.
Toni glanced at Barnes for a second before turning away. "Nope." He was giving her a look, but she just smiled at him.
*O*O*
Once Barnes was out of sight, Toni pulled her arm from Steve and stretched them in front of her. Her body was still swore, but the pain wasn't anything that she couldn't handle. "What?" she asked as she noticed him eyeing her. "Okay, what?" She didn't like how he could read her.
"Nothing," he stated as he walked closely to her.
She eyed him. Whenever he said nothing, there was something. His nothing rarely meant nothing. "Did Sassy tell you about my nightmares?" she asked. That woman told Barnes, so maybe she told Steve. Maybe, Toni should change Peggy's nickname to loud mouth.
Steve reached out to grab Toni's elbow, but he dropped him hands when he was inches from her. "You're still having nightmares, Toni?" His voice was soft, comforting, and it pulled her in.
"She didn't tell you?" Toni asked shocked. She wasn't expecting that. If she told Barnes, why wouldn't she tell Steve? She was really playing cupid, which Toni told her not to do. DAMN YOU, SASSY! Why was she pushing her toward Barnes to hard? "Just forget it then." She put on a large smile as she picked up her speed.
However, Steve kept up with her easily. "Toni," he called as he stared at her face. Her facial bruise was healing, turning into a brownish color. "You know you can talk to me, right?" He let out a sigh when she didn't respond. "Remember, those nights in the apartment, when we did talked?"
Toni thought back to the many nights in the apartment, back to the time when Steve was a shrimp. She was an idiot, talking to him about things. Opening up to him. Breaking her damn rules, and now look where she was, she was attached. "Yea, but during those times, we weren't at war, Rogers," she stated.
"I know." He looked hurt by her use of his last name. "Did you tell Bucky about your nightmares?" he asked.
She eyed him for a second before taking glancing around. She caught a few eyes on them, which was just another signal that Peggy was right about that rumor. "I don't talk to Barnes about my emotions," she responded with a chuckle.
"Then what did I interrupted?" He kept his eyes straight, avoiding at her.
Toni glanced at him with an eye brow raised. If she didn't know better, she would think he was jealous, but why in the hell would he be jealous? He had a thing for Peggy, didn't he? And if he didn't, she was surely not his type. Shaking her head, she had to be wrong. Maybe, he was just being protective, knowing Barnes. "Nothing. He was just bugging me about a nickname."
"It looked like…" He let himself drifted. "Never mind."
She leaned closer to him. "You're cute sometimes." She smiled.
"..." A very red Steve couldn't find his words. All he could do was look forward and walk.
She let out a laugh. "So for Barnes nickname, I could only think of Bucky."
Steve let out a laugh. "I already call him that. You can't steal my nickname for him."
Toni puffed. "Well, I want to give him that nickname for a different reason. Buck is a name for a male rabbit, and it can't be a true nickname without a y." Arriving outside of Phillips' tent, they stopped a few feet from it.
"Why a rabbit?" he asked, eyeing her.
"Well… you know… Rabbits are..." She drifted off with a red face. It was awkward to mention sex to Steve even if it related to a rabbit. "They… breed like crazy. You k-" Steve broke out into a roaring laugh. "Hey! It makes sense!" She stated, trying to talk over his laugher. "You know how he is with the ladies."
Shaking his head, he shook a deep breath. "I know, but that's hilarious."
She gave him a face. "You should ask him for pointers for Agent Carter"
Steve stopped laughing and stared at her. "There isn't anything going on with Peggy."
"She wouldn't have shot at you for nothing!" She gave him a knowing smile. "C'mon, I can help you!" She held her hands together and gave him the biggest smile ever. "You can't turn this smile down!"
Steve was about to respond when Phillips pushed back the flap on the tent and stepped out. "He might not be able to, but I can, Sark."
"Well that's because you hadn't face it fully, Salty!" She turned to the Colonel and gave him a smile.
"Nope, still not working." She gave him an even bigger smile. "Nope. Now stop that. You're giving me the creeps."
"You're no fun, Salty," she stated with a frown.
"Now, leave Rogers alone. He needs to prepare for the next hydra base, and you need to get your ass in here," He stated as he crossed back to the tent. "And I mean now," he ordered as he entered his tent.
"A minute," Toni begged as she stepped toward Steve. "Just one thing, Cap." She took a deep breath. "If I want to talk, you'll be the first. Don't you forget that," she stated. She didn't like that he was the person she would turn to, but he was and there was no denying that, though she totally would if someone asked.
Steve's face lit up in the cute Steve way. "I-"
"Sark, I don't have all day!" Salty yelled from inside of his tent.
"Well, I got I got to go!" She waved before bolting to into the tent.
*O*O*
"Salty," she greeted as she took a seat cross from him. She went to kick her feet on his desk, but his glare stopped her. "So you're probably wondering why I requested to speak to you."
"Which is?" he asked as he was looking through some paperwork.
"I need one of those cores!" She stated as she leaned forward. Her elbows were on his desk and she was giving him her puppy dog face.
He narrowed his eyes at her before shaking his head. "You're way too comfortable," he stated. "Where did I go wrong? Maybe, I should lock you up with your father. Maybe, he can get you to behave."
"No!" Toni knew he was joking, but she took some offense to that. "I need a core. Please," she begged, puffing out her bottom lip.
"Ask your father." His eye was twitching.
"I did but he won't give it to me."
Salty glanced at her. "Probably for a good reason. Just look at you. You would blow up the whole camp."
"Hey, I take offense to that!" She paused as she narrowed her eyes. "I'm good with explosives. And if I don't get it, you'll be stuck with charming old me!"
Phillips glared back. "That would be a nightmare." She was glaring at him with such an intensity. "Okay, Okay, relax. You're sensitive."
"I'm not sensitive!" She yelled with her arms folded across her chest. She was SO not sensitive, and she would SO hit the asshole who called her that. Salty was the exception to that rule though, as hitting him would land her in a cell. However, maybe she could glue him to a chair… That might still land her in a cell.
He snorted. "I'll talk to Stark for you."
Toni sat up and leaned forward again. "I would hug you but I might get germs!" She had a smile, knowing that she would be getting that core, because Howard could not say no to the Colonel.
"Yea, I wouldn't want your germs."
"I don't have germs! I pay those doctors too much for that." She winked.
Phillips' eye twitched. She leaned back in her chair and gazed out of the tent. "I swear you revert me back fourthly years when I speak to you."
"That meant I've done my job!" She cheered as she jumped to her feet. "Thanks, Salty!" She turned to leave, but before she could move a step, he called her back.
"How are you?" He looked uncomfortable, asking her. "I see your injures are healing nicely and you got your annoying personally back." He leaned back in his chair and eyed her.
"I'm not annoying. I'm magnificent."
He snorted. "We must have different dictionaries. But in all honest, how are you?"
Toni glanced at him, not buying anything he was selling. Why did it matter how she was feeling? "Do you normally ask your soldiers how they are?" she asked, eyeing him. She learned forward on his desk.
"Only the ones from the future, who aren't really soldiers and had been tortured recently," he responded. "I don't need you freaking out or changing the future by doing something stupid. If I have to play therapist, I will."
Her eye twitched. Out of the many things she needed, a therapist wasn't one, because she didn't freak out. Sure, she had small, very small, extremely small attacks (not panic attacks-she refused to call them that), but she did not need a therapist. That would mean she needed to talk to someone and she didn't. "I'm fine, Salty."
"You seem to be leaning on Sergeant Barnes and Captain Rogers a lot," he stated. "I don't need to tell you why that's a bad idea." His arms were folded across his chest and narrowed his eyes at her.
She returned his look with one of her own. "No, you don't, but you don't need to worry. There's nothing going on with Barnes and Me." Toni would make sure of that. Salty was correct: she didn't need that relationship. "And Rogers and I are just friends. In fact, I'm trying to play match maker with him and Agent Carter."
His eye twitched at that. "I don't need a love sick Super Soldier, and I doubt Carter's happy with that."
"We're getting along better, so there!" she yelled as she stuck her tongue at him.
"I see that, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I don't need you rubbing off on Carter."
"You would be so lucky!" She said as she crossed to the tent's entrance. "Imagine what she could be like if she did!"
"That would be the death of me." He let out a sigh as Toni exited.
*O*O*
Howard still had not handed over the hydra core, but he told her that he would as soon as got back from wherever he went. He left to do something though he wouldn't tell her what, but he did say he would be back soon. It was annoying, but if Toni waited this long, she could wait a little bit longer.
At the moment, Toni was sitting at a base of a tree on the edge of the camp. In her hands was a stretch book, which she was using to stretch possible ideas for getting back to her time. She had a few ideas, but she had no idea if any of these ideas would work. All she knew was that she would destroy her stupid device as soon as she got home. She was going to take a few tons of c4 to it.
Taking a deep breath, she dropped her pencil in the book and closed it. She stared mindlessly for a few seconds before getting to her feet and turning to camp, which was empty again. Most of the camp was out fighting Hydra, while she was bored out of her mind. Even Sassy and Salty were gone. They weren't in the field like Rogers and the Commandos; instead, they were in a meeting with some big heads. Phillips didn't want to leave Toni alone in the camp, but he also didn't want to bring her with him. He didn't want her to meet them, not that Toni wanted to. She wasn't big on authority, and knowing how herself, she would probably say something stupid or rude or smart ass. However, Phillips didn't want to leave her here alone, hearing what happened with the Private. Toni wasn't sure how he heard, as she didn't tell anyone about it, but she could guess that it was Peggy, which annoyed her. She could handle that ass on her own, and besides, she doubted he would try anything else after the punch to the face.
Toni made her way to the weapons tent, where Salty had stationed her. As she was considered a soldier, she had a task like everyone else, even if she was from the future. It annoyed her though as she had no interesting in working in the weapons tent, but that would probably be the best spot for her, even if Phillips did this to her on purpose. He loved to mess with her, though he would deny it.
It didn't take long to arrive at the tent, and it only took a few seconds for the two soldier stationed there to notice her. At the sight of her, one got up and handled her a clip board for the inventory, which infuriated her as they always expected her to do it, before he left. It was like they couldn't count or something, granted she could calculate the number of rounds faster than they could. "You guys so need to go back to elementary school," she stated as she took a seat in front of the many boxes.
"You could always work with Mr. Stark and invent weapon instead of managing them," the remaining soldier stated as he unpacked the new weapons. "You don't need to lower yourself to our standards." He gave her a look.
Her eye twitched. "I don't make weapons." She never really got along with any of the soldiers she worked alongside with as she couldn't keep her mouth shut, but it was difficult with these idiots. Future Rogers and even past Barnes had told her that her I-don't-care-about-others personality would make people dislike her, but she couldn't bring herself to stop.
*O*O*
I so need to sleep, Toni thought as she pushed herself up from her seat. She had drifted during her shift and almost passed out, which would've been a bad thing. One: she didn't trust the guy she was working with, and two, she didn't need to have a nightmare in public where everyone could see. She was already the talk of the camp and she didn't need anything else added to the rumor mill, which was worse than the present day tabloids. These damn soldiers sure liked to gossip and Toni could've sworn that they were all teenage girls.
Shaking her head, she looked around, trying to keep herself awake. She wasn't looking for anything, but she caught sight of something moving along the tents. Its movement reminded her of her stalker, but it couldn't be. He couldn't be here in camp in the middle of nowhere. How could he be? How could he have found her? What did he want? She shook her head as she tried to clear her mind. He couldn't be here. She had to be going crazy. It had to be the lack of sleep... Unless, Salty was lying about this stalker not being one of his and he had him watching her while he was gone. But that didn't make any sense. But maybe, it did. See, this is what happens when you don't get sleep, she thought.
Toni closed her eyes and forced herself to look away. She was seeing things; there was no one watching her. There couldn't be. Taking a deep breath, she put the clipboard down and nodded to her replacement, who had arrived. Not a second later, she took off. She didn't want to be there anymore and she wanted to get out of sight. Even if her stalker wasn't here, she couldn't help but feel eyes on her, and it sent chills up her spine. She felt like a coward, who couldn't do anything and that irritated.
She continually scanned the area looking for the eyes she felt, but she only saw flashes of movements and it made her heart race. Closing her eyes, she tried to clear her head, and after a few deep breaths, she continued on her way. "You're being-" she started to tell herself, but before she could finish, she bumped into something and fell back on her ass. Before she could speak, she was helped to her feet.
"I'm sorry, Miss. I wasn't watching where I was going? Are you okay?"
Her eye twitched at the word miss. She wasn't sure why she was peeved at being called a miss, but it angered her. "I'm fine," she stated as she wiped herself off. She looked up at the large man with a huge mustache. He was a good few feet taller than she.
"Such a grumpy lady," another man stated. "Didn't get enough sleep, did you?"
Toni turned to him, realizing that she met him before, but what was his name? She knew it started with a g. "How'd you guess?" she asked, as she looked away, still scanning the area. "Yea, I so can't sleep." She puffed. When he laughed, his name came back to her. "Gabe, right?" she asked.
He grabbed her hand to kiss it, but she yanked it away before he could. "At your service." He put on a smile and redraw his hand.
The larger man took off hat and bowed to her. "The name's Timothy Dugan, but call me Dum Dum." He waved his hat for a second before putting it back on his head. "It's a pleasure."
That name was familiar to her. They were with the Howling Commandos, which meant that Barnes and Rogers were back. That also meant that she wouldn't be bored anymore, though Salty would rather she be bored. "And you're okay with people calling you Dum Dum?" She asked eyeing him. She would not be okay if someone called her that. She might have to kill someone over that.
He shrugged it off. "I don't mind it. I rather like the nickname. Funny, dunna think?" His whole body shook as he laughed. "And I would beat the man who used it to insult me."
Toni could've spouted something about what if a woman insulted him, but she decided against that, which she was rather proud of herself for not starting anything. "If you say so." She paused.
"I do," he replied letting out another laugh. "What about you? Do you have a nickname?"
"None that I'll say in public," she winked, "but the name is Toni…Sark." She stumbled over the last name. She had a few bedroom nicknames, but they did not need to know them.
Gabe turned to Dum Dum and said, "She's the one Barnes won't shut up about."
"I can see why," he responded.
Her eye twitched. They were talking about her in front of her as if she wasn't there, and worse, Barnes was talking to people about her. Why was he talking about her? Maybe, he needed a good slap. "I'm right here!" She stated as she stomped her feet. She puffed as she looked away. "And I'm awesome," she added.
They both laughed. "You're something different," Gabe stated. "Why are all the good ones taken? The Captain has Agent Carter."
Toni's eye twitched again. "Barniez Boy doesn't have me," she stated annoyed. "He can't tame this." And Sassy does not have Steve yet. She wasn't sure why that was so important to her, but she kept thinking it.
"Again, you're something else." He paused. "Barniez Boy?" Gabe asked. "I might start using that."
"He probably wouldn't like that," Toni said. Sure, it was a nickname, but she wasn't sure if he would like it, not that she was trying to make him happy. She didn't care if he was. "So what are you guys up to?" she asked, glancing around.
"We're taking a break. We're going to play some poker," Gabe answered.
"I'm pretty good at poker." Toni boasted. "Maybe-" She jumped when she noticed a shadow change.
"Are you okay?" Dugan asked. "What got you so scared?" He followed her glance into the tents, trying to figure out what she was looking at that scared her so much.
"Not scared." Toni couldn't take her eyes off the spot and she knew she wasn't fooling anyone.
"Why don't you come with us?" Dugan stated as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Toni glared, but she didn't shrug him off. "Come show us how good you're at poker."
Toni glanced back at the shadows. "You won't know that hit you."
*O*O*
The Howling Commandos were an interesting group to say the least, and that was putting it mildly. She thought the Avengers were a crazy group, but these people were something else, and she had to say she was okay with that. "Four of a kind," she stated as she laid down her hand.
Jim Morita let out a chuckling sigh. "We're getting our butts kicked. Who taught you how to play?" He glanced at her before staring at his cards. After a sigh, he placed the cards on the table.
Toni smiled. "Wouldn't you like to know!" she laughed as she eyed the cards in everyone's hands. Pokers had been one of few fun things she had picked up from the boarding school that her father sent her. It had been how she had interacted with the other students, even if she didn't make any friends playing it.
"I would, so I can beat the person who taught you. At this rate, you'll be taken all of me money," Montgomery Falsworth stated as he placed his cards down on the table.
Jacques Dernier glanced at her before putting down his own cards. "Bien plus qu'un joli visage."
Her smile got even bigger. "Vous n'avez encore rien vu," she stated as she leaned forward in her chair.
Gabe turned to her. "Vous parlez français. Vous êtes impressionnants femme," he said. "See I told you French helps you get women." He elbowed Morita.
"Vous êtes instruit, contrairement au reste de ces hommes." Dernier stated, with a smile.
"Hey! Hey, so not nice," Toni stated. "And that's my job."
"I feel left out," Dugan stated as he folded. "Maybe, I should learn French."
Gabe laughed. "You might not like what you hear," he teased as he played with his cards. He hadn't folded yet, and he was playing with his hand as if he was proud of it.
Falsworth laughed. "I think she would make a fine additional to the team."
"I feel special," Toni responded. "So Jones, let's see your hand." She turned the attention back to the game. Her competiveness was coming alive in her and she wanted to win this round.
"O', I got the last name," he stated as he played hurt. "Why-"
"You have to earn that from her." A man stated.
"Only for people I like." Toni jumped and turned to Steve, who was giving her a long look. "Whatcha doing, Cap?" she asked, forgetting about the poker game. She felt herself light up at the sight of him, and she had no idea why. He probably was going to lecture her about something. He did look upset.
Before Steve could answer, Dugan asked, "Come to watch her beat us, Rogers?" He turned to Gabe, who had yet to show his cards and was the only one who hadn't folded. "Unless Gabe has something up his sleeves."
"You wish you had my hand," Gabe teased as he waved his cards slightly.
"Let's see them," Toni stated as she turned back to Gabel and the game. "Maybe, if you win, I might call you by your first name." She winked at him.
"I might win then," Gabe stated.
Dugan laughed.
"I think we found a new game," Falsworth stated as he leaned forward.
Toni let out a chuckle. "That's a game you'll all lose," she stated. "C'mon, Jones. Let's see that hand. Can you beat my four of a kind?" She put on her evil smile. Yes, he might beat her, but the chances were low. She remembered all the cards that were played and she knew what was left.
"I'll leave you all be then," Steve stated. He was standing very stiff.
"You don't want to see me win, Steve?" Toni asked. "It might knock these fellas off down a few pegs." There was something up with him, and it annoyed her slightly. She couldn't deal with his moods; it was like he was a woman on her period.
"It's you who needs to be knock down," Gabe stated. He waved his cards. "Such an ego on you."
"I have to get ready for the next base," Steve said. He glanced at Toni before he turned to leave. His tone was hard.
Toni stared at his back for a few seconds before realizing that she wanted to chase after him. She had no idea of where that came from, being that he was being distance. She glanced at Gabe for a second before saying. "I quit. Vous gagnez," she said as she stood up quickly. Taking a deep breath, she chased after him before Gabe could respond.
*O*O*
Toni was infuriated because she kept breaking her goddamn rules. She did not chase after people to talk about their feelings. That was too much drama for her, so why in the hell was she chasing after him? She had already talked it out with Rogers, so why did she have to do it again? She thought that they dealt with this, or maybe it was something else… Did something happen to Barnes? Was that why he was being distance? NO! Her mind screamed. She wouldn't be able to deal with that. You have no one else to blame besides yourself, she yelled at herself. She shouldn't have allowed herself to get close. She shook her head, because she couldn't go there. If she did, she would go crazy. She also didn't like chasing after Rogers, who walked way too fast. She couldn't keep up with him when he did his angry walk.
Shaking her head in annoyance, she spotted him a few yards away. "Steve," she yelled.
Steve stopped and turned away. "Toni."
After she got him, she crunched down and rested her hands on her knees as she took a few deep breaths. "You walk away too fast," she stated after a minute.
"You could've finished your game," he responded.
"You left in such a hurry. I wanted to make sure you're okay," she stated. Out of breath.
Steve smiled lightly. "I didn't want to bother you guys."
There was something up with him and it wasn't because he didn't want to bother her. It was something else; it had to be. He didn't sweat the small things. "You offer to listen if I needed to talk, though I don't need to talk, but yet, you won't talk to me. You can talk to me." She paused. "If this is about Peggy, you can say it. I know I can get her to say yes to you." Why was she trying so hard? She was sure he didn't need her help.
He glanced at her. "Thanks, but I'm fine with everything. I don't need help with Agent Carter." He turned away quickly.
Once again, she was staring at his back and it so frustrated her. Why did he have to be like this? And people thought she was stubborn. "Fine, Steve," she stated, looking away from him.
"You sound mad."
"I'm not mad."
Steve sighed. "I can tell when you're mad."
She narrowed her eyes. "You can only think you can. I'm not mad." Okay, she was annoyed, but she wasn't going to tell him that. If he didn't want to talk to her, he didn't have to; she wasn't going to force him like she wanted to.
"Just-"
"There you two are," Phillips stated as he stepped toward them. He was eyeing Toni as if she was in trouble.
"Hey, Salty! What's up?" Toni asked as she hopped to him. She didn't know what it was, but she was happy to see the Colonel, who was a thrill to tease.
"You and that ridiculous nickname." Phillips stared at her for a few seconds, before he turned to Rogers. "I have something to discuss with the both of you. Come with me," he stated as he waved for them to follow.
Toni wasn't sure what he wanted to talk about with her and Rogers. If he wanted to talk about her device, he wouldn't need Rogers, and if it was about destroying the bases, they wouldn't need her. She hadn't been invited to those meetings, though it wasn't like she needed to be there. She didn't want to be there.
"Yes, Sir," Steve answered as he followed after the Colonel without a second thought.
The rebel in Toni stood there for a few seconds. She hated this following orders without question. She liked to question; she was a scientist. She didn't take anything at face value, which was another rule she lived by.
Phillips stopped and turned back. "You coming, Sark?" he asked.
And again, she hated that last name. "Yea. Yea," she stated as she waved them off.
Steve glanced back. "No time to be childish," he stated.
Her eye twitched. He was really sounding like the future Rogers. "Coming, Rogers," she responded, ignoring the twitch in his eyes at the sound of his last name.
*O*O*
"No, there's no way in hell in that she's going," Steve protested loudly.
Listening to Rogers go off like that, just pissed Toni the hell, but she remained quiet for now. Though he infuriated her with his chauvinist ass, she wanted to listen to what Phillips had to say.
"Steve, calm down," Barnes stated. He was standing on the other side of a table, staring between Toni and Steve. "I think Toni is going to kill you if you don't."
Toni glared at Barnes. She wasn't going to kill Steve, just maim him enough to remember that he shouldn't ever doubt her.
Steve glanced at Toni from the corner of his eye before he turned to Phillips, who was standing next to Barnes. "She doesn't need to go out. We can handle this on our own."
"You have to be reasonable, Steve," Peggy stated, who was also in the tent. "We need someone to hack Hydra's system and we only have two people who can currently do that: Mr. Stark and Corporal Sark."
"And we can't send out Mr. Stark," Phillips stated as he turned to Toni. His eyes said it all. He needed her to do it.
Toni blew out slowly, not sure what she should do. She could change the future by going out on this mission, but at the same time, she couldn't risk her father's death. Her father had been very involved with the SSR, but she was sure that he didn't go out into the field. He didn't get his hand dirty. "I can go. Nothing to lose."
Steve turned to her. "What do you mean you have nothing to lose?"
He was staring at her with such an intense look that she thought she was going to explode. He needs to relax, she thought to herself. "You have more to lose if Stark goes out," she stated as her eyes flicked to her father, who was sitting away from the table. "If I die, no big deal," she stated, regretting it a few seconds later.
"No big deal?" Steve asked, pissed. "You have a-"
"Steve, relax," Barnes said, eyeing Toni. Even if he was trying to calm Steve down, Barnes was giving her the look.
People needed to stop looking at her as if she was going to kill herself. Yes, once and awhile she had those negative thoughts, but she would never kill herself. "It isn't like that," she muttered. "And I'm going."
"You don't need to go," Steve countered. "Someone else can go. You don't need to go on the front line. Stay here."
That was it; he was Rogers again to her and she was going to find some way to beat the living shit out of him. "It is because I'm a woman?" she snapped.
He looked at her stun; it took a second to respond. "That isn't it. You just don't need to go out."
That was exactly it; he didn't think a woman could do it, but she knew it was a common belief in this time. At least, Salty believed in her. "You can't tell me what to do, Rogers."
"I'm a Captain."
"So? Like that changes anything. I don't give two shits what your rank is," Toni snapped as she turned to him.
"Sark," Phillips stated with a warning tone.
Toni stepped back and glanced at Phillips between turning back to Rogers. "I'm going." He was turning into his future self and it infuriated her. He was treating her exact the same way. When did he get the right to tell her what to do? She could handle herself.
"You aren't fully healed yet. Why don't you let someone else go?" Rogers countered.
"She's a soldier just like you, Rogers. If she agrees, she'll go," Phillips stated.
Rogers turned from Toni and stepped around the table to the Colonel. "We can't let her go out. Schmidt seems to have an interest in her. It's too risky to send her out. Did you forget?"
Peggy stepped to the table toward the Captain. "No one has forgetting anything."
Toni eyed Peggy as she inched her way toward Rogers. Why in the hell was she trying to comfort him? He was being a total dick. He didn't need that. "Skully got lucky before," she muttered. Besides, she knew they were going to be caught, but she couldn't tell them that.
"And we'll have the upper hand this time," Barnes added. He stepped away from Phillips and made his way toward Toni. "Besides, Toni has a mean right hook," he smiled as he put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed.
"I can show you again!" Toni yelled as she stepped out of his grip and waved her fist at him.
Phillips let out a sigh. "Between Rogers and Carter and you and Barnes, I feel left out."
There it was again; her eye was twitching. Why did everyone think there was something between her and Barnes? There was nothing and there would be nothing between them. "O', Salty. You just like to mess with me."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Stark will go over with you with what you need."
Howard stood up and crossed to the table. "That's if you can handle being in a room with me."
Toni's patience had gone out the window, well if there was a window. "You just like to poke," she stated.
Rogers took a step forward Toni. "I don't like this," he stated. "She doesn't need to go. Stark can teach someone else."
Phillips took a deep breath. "We have already decided. She's going."
Toni was about to snap, which she didn't need to do in front of everyone. Shaking her head, she left and didn't turn back when she heard her name. How did she miss this? How could she not notice that he was the same ass as before?
*O*O*
Toni took a few deep breaths as she tried to calm herself. She was useless when she was like this, and she usually did very stupid things like going out into the woods alone. She may have been imagining things, but her stalker was back and he was after her again. She should tell someone, but if she did that, she wouldn't be able to find out what he wanted or who he was; plus, she wouldn't have another second to herself as Barnes and Rogers would never leave her side. Or she would be stuck in some lab with her father as if she was something that needed to be protected. She didn't need to be protected; she could protect herself.
Shaking her head, she slowly made her back to her tent, but the shadows were jumping. You're going crazy, she told herself. She kept flinching every time she saw movement, which could be attributed to a few things and not her stalker. Stop this. She couldn't let this get to her, or she would lose it. She needed to get her shit together.
"Toni!"
She jumped almost two feet into the air. "Holy shit fuck," she cursed as she turned to the person who called her name. Barnes, who stood a few feet away, looked like a lost puppy that needed a home and the look he was giving her felt like he was asking her for a home. "Barnes, this is not how you get a nickname."
"Apparently, you got one for me, well according to the Commandos." He smiled.
"So they told you." She wasn't expecting that, though she didn't know what she was expecting. She took a deep breath, trying to relax.
He waited for her to say something, but when she didn't, he spoke, "Tell me what's going on in that head of yours."
"I hear you talk about me to them." Her mind was a dangerous place, and he did not need in.
His smile was so damn big and it was hard for Toni to resist. "I can't get you off my mind."
"You're a flirt."
"So are you."
Toni let out a sighing chuckle. "Been flirting all of my life, and I'm not going to stop."
Barnes crossed to her, stepping into her personal space. He seemed to like doing that. "Tell me what's going on," he stated. "Why are you jumpy?"
"I'm not jumpy. Rogers is just exasperating." She would rather talk about her anger than her fear with Barnes.
"So he's Rogers again," he teased as he took a step closer. "I have a chance now." He winked at her.
She took a step back as she narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about, Barniez Boy?"
"I don't know if I like that," Barnes muttered. "Give me something else."
"You can't pick your nickname!"
"Not for me?" he asked with a smile. His teeth were showing this time. "I'm not like Phillips… or Steve. I would like to think I'm different."
Toni wasn't in the mood to deal with his flirting. "What is it, Barnes?" she asked, not having the energy to fight.
"I'm sorry." He said with his hands in his pocket.
She glanced at him. "For what?"
"For making you jumpy. I did follow you back in New York."
She gawked at him, not sure what to make of it. He couldn't be her stalker as there were a few times that she felt eyes on her and he was with her. "It isn't you," she stated.
"Then tell me what's going on."
Barnes wasn't the type of guy she envisioned herself talking to. He was a flirt, someone to have fun with, but there was something that drew her in. It was something that she was fighting. "Do you think I should stay too?"
He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. "I want you safe, but there's no stopping you and I'm not going to try. I tried last time, remember? It didn't work." He stared silently into her eyes for a second before he added, "I know you can take care of yourself."
"Thanks." That meant a lot to her.
"But that isn't what's bothering you," he stated, giving her a weak smile.
Toni spun out of his hands. "You have some dimples on you." She didn't want to talk right now.
He reached for her and pulled her in. "I have been told that," he stated as he held her. "You can tell me." He paused. "Do you think someone's following you again?" He asked, not letting go.
She tried to push him away, but he held her tight. What was people with hugging her? Did they not know she hated hugs? "I'm fine. Just angry. Don't make me hurt you."
"That might be fun."
Toni let out a small laugh. Barnes knew how to make her laugh even if he was an unbearable flirt. "You're something else." She pushed him off and this time, he let go. "I'm going to go now."
"Don't worry too much."
"I don't worry," she stated as she stepped away.
"Still," he paused. "You are safe. I won't let anything happen to you. Remember that."
There he went again, pulling at her heart strings. He knew how to get to her; he would be dangerous if she let him too close, which was a problem. He was already too close. Damn it all, she cursed in her head. "I can take care of myself, Bucky, but thank you!" She laughed when she noticed him freeze. He was really cute when he was quiet. "See ya later!" She waved goodbye as she darted off.
The end for now.
For those who wonder what was said in French:
Bien plus qu'un joli visage : More than just a pretty face
Vous n'avez encore rien vu : You have seen nothing yet
Vous parlez français. Vous êtes impressionnants femme : You speak French. You're awesome woman
Vous êtes instruit, contrairement au reste de ces hommes : You're educated unlike the rest of these men.
Vous gagnez : You Win
Pardon me for my French. I am not good at languages. Only took Spanish and I didn't do so well.
I would like to thank Ayahne, who helped me correct the Google translations.
Anyhow, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter and poor Toni, she is all confused. She doesn't know what's she feeling.
And with the nicknames for Barnes, I was thinking Toni might give him to depending on how close she gets to him.
Well until next time.