Monday Morning
The streets of New York were already alive with the Monday morning rush—horns blaring, footsteps hurried, the scent of fresh espresso mingling with crisp morning air. Evie adjusted the strap of her bag, forcing herself to focus on the simple act of walking. One foot in front of the other.
Her brain was still stuck on Saturday night.
The way Steve had looked at her. The way Bucky had touched her. The way she'd felt so completely caught in their gravity, like she could float right off the surface of the earth and never find her way back.
She shook her head. No. We are not spiraling about this at seven in the morning.
Reaching for her phone, she pulled up the same order she always placed at her usual coffee shop. The same one she grabbed every Monday before heading into the lab. Muscle memory. Routine.
Her phone buzzed.
Steve [7:12 AM]
Don't go to your coffee shop. Come to the Tower.
Evie blinked. Then, narrowing her eyes, she typed back.
Evie [7:13 AM]
Bossy. Why?
His response was instant.
Steve [7:13 AM]
Because I said so.
She scoffed, but before she could fire back, another message came in.
Steve [7:14 AM]
I have coffee.
That made her she could talk herself out of it, she changed course, cutting through the next crosswalk and heading straight for Stark Tower. By the time she reached the entrance, Steve was already waiting outside. He was leaning casually against the railing, the morning sun catching in his hair, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms like some kind of cruel and unusual punishment for her self-control.
In his hands were two cups of coffee.
Evie slowed her steps, raising an eyebrow as she approached. "Bit early for dramatic gestures, Rogers."
Steve just grinned, handing her one of the cups. "Didn't know if you wanted hot or iced."
Evie blinked. Her chest tightened. That wasn't just the sticky sweet gesture she saw on the surface. That was a callback to one of their first interactions. That was him remembering her indecisive nature and proving the moment had meant something to him.
She took the cup slowly, fingers brushing his. "You remember that?"
His smile softened. "Of course."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Steve's gaze flickered to her bandaged hand, his brow furrowing. "How's it feeling?"
It took her a second to realize what he meant. Your hand, duh. Evie flexed her fingers. "Good as new."
Steve didn't look convinced. Gently—so gently—he reached for her wrist, turning her hand over in his. His fingers skimmed the edge of the bandage, his grip warm, steady. The street noise faded. The breath caught in her throat.
Suddenly, Saturday night was right there again.
The moment they hadn't finished. The one that had been cut short. The one still lingering in the space between them now, threatening to make her knees buckle right here on the pavement. The one that had been cut short by one ill-timed fumble of a wine glass.
Steve exhaled softly, thumb brushing over her knuckles before finally releasing her hand. The absence of his touch left a warmth behind, a lingering sensation that she tried (and failed) to ignore.
"Good," he murmured, voice just a little too rough. "Didn't like seeing you bleed."
Evie swallowed. Her pulse was hammering against her ribs. Super Soldiers can't hear heartbeats, right? Shit. She needed to say something, anything, before she lost the last thread of her composure. For Fuck's Sake, Evie, get it together.
She forced a smirk, tilting her head. "So. Bucky got scared off?"
Steve huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Not exactly."
Evie raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate.
Steve took a sip of his coffee, fighting his sheepish grin. "We flipped a coin."
Evie's lips parted, half amused, half incredulous. "You—"
"We didn't want to overwhelm you."
"That is the dumbest excuse I've ever heard." Evie scoffed.
"Well, I won." Steve grinned. "Best two out of three."
Evie groaned, covering her face. "Oh my god."
Steve just shrugged. "He called for a rematch."
She shook her head, exhaling a laugh. "You two are impossible."
Steve's gaze softened. "Yeah," he murmured. "We know." He gestured toward the entrance. "C'mon. I'll walk you up."
Evie didn't argue, falling into step beside him as they moved through the lobby. Steve nudged his badge against the scanner, waiting for her to do the same before stepping through. The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped inside, leaning against the railing as he pressed the button for her floor. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The quiet was comfortable.
"So, what's on your agenda today, Cap?"
Steve shrugged. "Meetings. Training. A debrief with Sam." He tilted his head. "You?"
"Hmm, let's see," Evie sighed. "Running some tests. Finishing up some reports for a patent we're about to file. Working on a new light refraction tech that I've been daydreaming about for way too long."
Steve's lips twitched. "Sounds thrilling."
She rolled her eyes. "Hey, some of us actually like our jobs."
"I wasn't kidding," Steve protested. "And I like my job just fine."
The doors slid open, and they stepped out together, falling into step again as they moved through the halls toward the lab. She was always the first engineer to arrive, so she had the pleasure of a quiet lab first thing in the morning. Just seeing the glow of the hibernating monitors in the otherwise dark room made her brain begin to buzz, her fingers itch to tinker with all of the projects waiting for her.
As they reached her door, Steve hesitated. "Hey."
Evie turned, eyebrows lifting. "Yeah?"
His eyes flickered to her hand. "If it starts bothering you—"
"What? You gonna swoop in and fix me up again?" She tilted her head, her voice teasing.
Steve didn't miss a beat, answering as though it was obvious. "Yes."
Her breath caught.
His eyes softened, but his gaze didn't waver. "Just let me know."
And then, with one last lingering glance, he turned and walked away.
"Steve," She called, snapping out of her daze. He paused, looking down the hallway at her. "Thanks for the coffee." Raising the cup, she offered him what she hoped was a genuinely sweet smile.
He returned it. "Anytime."
Evie exhaled slowly, watching him disappear down the hall before shaking her head and pushing into the lab.
Okay. Focus.
The lab hummed with quiet efficiency, the soft whirring of machinery and the occasional clink of metal against glass filling the space. It was comforting—familiar. The kind of environment that pulled Evie in and refused to let her go.
And she didn't mind. Not one bit. This was where she thrived. Her mind sharpened the second she started working, slipping into a flow state as easily as breathing. The world outside the lab blurred into white noise. Her fingers moved instinctively, testing connections, adjusting wiring, refining the circuits she'd been building for weeks.
Despite the fact that her morning had started with the final boss of Monday morning distractions, aka Steve Rogers waiting with two coffees and that damned smile—Evie had barely thought about it once she sat down at her station.
This was what she loved.
The problem-solving, the thrill of creation, the challenge of making something work. The fact that she was playing a role in designing cutting-edge tech for the Avengers? That still hadn't worn off, no matter how many times she stepped into this lab. Especially now, when she was especially emotionally invested in the safety of two Avengers in particular, she felt that there was no higher calling for her life than her work.
By the time she lifted her head, blinking against the brightness of her screen, she realized that the hours had disappeared.
A loud, unexpected growl tore through the quiet.
Evie startled slightly, blinking down at her stomach like it had betrayed her. The sudden realization that she hadn't eaten anything besides the morning latte hit her, breaking through her hyper-focused state with an almost embarrassing intensity.
She sat back, rolling her shoulders and stretching her arms overhead, feeling the telltale stiffness that came from hunching over her workstation for too long.
Her phone was buried under a mess of scrawled notes and wires, and it took a minute to fish it out. She thumbed it open, barely sparing a glance at the time before instinctively tapping into her usual delivery app. Thai food, same order as always—spicy drunken noodles and crispy spring rolls. Quick. Easy. Greasy. Comforting.
A notification buzzed with the estimated arrival time.
Evie stood, rolling out her neck as she stretched her lower back. The thought of eating at her workbench didn't sit right. For all of her messy tendencies, the lab was the one place she held herself to the highest standard. Messy, brain-dump notes made even less legible by her caffeine on an empty stomach? Totally fine. Oily fingerprints from her takeout food? The line had to be drawn somewhere.
By the time the delivery guy arrived, she was already downstairs in the lobby, squinting against the mid-afternoon sun streaming through the massive windows. She grabbed the bag with a smile and a murmured thanks before walking back to the elevator and scanning her badge.
She hesitated as the doors opened.
The obvious choice was to go to one of the many break rooms, meeting rooms, even to turn around and go eat outside in the fresh spring air. But her feet didn't move, her thumb hovering over the button for her floor before slowly shifting.
A different idea settled in. Without overthinking it, she pressed the button for the training floor instead.
The training room was quieter than she expected.
Over and over, she heard the thud of fists hitting the heavy bag as it echoed off the walls. The only sound filling the space as Evie stood at the doorway, food in hand. Bucky was focused—right hand wrapped, shoulders tense, sweat dripping down his temple where little strands of dark hair were plastered to his skin. His jaw was clenched in concentration, his body moving with that easy, deadly precision he always carried.
She lingered for a second. Watching. Then, clearing her throat, knocked lightly against the doorframe as she walked further in. "Hey, Barnes."
His head snapped up. Evie didn't miss it—the way his eyes flickered when they landed on her, the way his stance shifted slightly, something unspoken easing in his shoulders.
She held up her takeout bag. "Didn't feel like getting soy sauce on my workstation." It was a lame excuse. They both knew it.
Bucky's lips twitched, wiping a hand over his face before nodding toward the benches along the wall. "Yeah? And here I was thinking you just missed me."
Evie rolled her eyes but fought a grin as she made her way over. Settling onto the bench, she crossed her legs before pulling out her food. "Don't flatter yourself."
Bucky huffed a quiet laugh, returning his attention to the bag, but there was something lighter in the way he moved now. Like she had brought something easy into the room, something that had been missing.
Evie popped open the container, the scent of warm food filling the air. She watched as Bucky shifted his stance, throwing a sharp, clean hook. "Don't you get bored of hitting that thing?"
Bucky shrugged, barely glancing over his shoulder. "Don't you get bored of building things?"
Evie grinned. "Touché."
Silence stretched between them—not awkward, but aware. Bucky's movements slowed, his punches measured now, like he was more focused on the conversation than the workout.
"How's the hand?" He asked suddenly, glancing over.
Evie flexed her fingers instinctively, staring down at the bandage still wrapped around her palm. "Barely hurts."
Bucky nodded, eyes lingering for a second longer. "Good."
And there it was again. That quiet, gentle thing that had wrapped around them over the weekend. The thing she had felt when he lifted her onto the counter, when he pressed a towel to her palm, when he had muttered 'just let me'.
For all the cockiness, the teasing, the sharp-witted remarks…there was a softness underneath Bucky Barnes that snuck up on her. She didn't hate it.
Evie picked up her chopsticks, taking a bite. Then, watching him carefully—"You eat yet?"
Bucky exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Not yet. Wasn't really thinking about it. You offering?"
She gave him a pointed look before gesturing to her food. "You should. I know you're on some weird super-soldier sustenance setting, but still. Lo mein is good for the soul."
Bucky chuckled, catching the spare set of chopsticks she tossed at him. "Good to know."
Evie raised an eyebrow as he picked up a spring roll. "Not too much though. I heard Tony's considering an Avengers swimsuit calendar for this summer to bring in some extra revenue for the team."
He rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he ate. He took the seat next to her—close, but not overbearing. Just comfortable. Easy. They ate in companionable silence, the occasional brush of chopsticks against takeout containers filling the space. It was nice. Uncomplicated.
"So what are you bringing to life today?"
She looked up at him, mouth full. "How much detail do you want?"
He chuckled. "Believe it or not, I used to be a science nerd. Hit me with it all."
Evie swallowed, ignoring the tug on her heart that he loved what she held so dear, then launched into an explanation—simplifying where she could, but not holding back. Bucky listened, nodding occasionally, his brows pulling together in focus. He didn't interrupt, didn't check out halfway through, didn't give her the blank look she sometimes got when she got too deep into her work. He just… listened.
When she finally finished, he let out a low whistle. "Damn. And here I was thinking I was productive today."
Evie smirked. "Yeah, well, some of us change the world one prototype at a time. Others just hit things."
Bucky scoffed. "Hey, hitting things is a science of its own."
She hummed, unconvinced. "Sure it is."
He nudged her knee with his. "You wanna try?"
Evie arched her brow. "What, punching a bag? No thanks. I'd like to keep the use of at least one of my hands."
"Suddenly that smart mouth is nowhere to be found?" Bucky shook his head, grinning. "Where's the confidence?"
She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "I have plenty of confidence, Barnes. I just don't see the point."
Bucky leaned back against the bench, stretching his arms out across the backrest. "Point is… you're always in that lab. Might be good for you to mix it up."
Evie tilted her head, considering him. "You trying to recruit me as a sparring partner? What, Sam doesn't do it for you anymore? I'll tell him you said so."
He shrugged. "Might be fun."
She exhaled, narrowing her eyes as tapping her chopsticks against the edge of her container. "Maybe next time."
Bucky smirked. "I'll hold you to that."
Monday Evening
The Tower lobby was mostly empty this late at night, save for the distant hum of security monitors and the soft whir of the elevators filling the space. Outside, the city was always the opposite. The dinner crowd was lively, even on a Monday night. Maybe sometime she'd make an effort to leave the office before seven, join the crowds. Friday, she mentally vowed. Friday, I'll take off early and spend the time being normal with Jade.
Evie exhaled, adjusting the strap of her bag over her shoulder as she strode toward the glass doors, her mind already halfway home and itching to peel off her jeans.
"Evie."
She glanced up at the sound of her name and turned towards the footsteps echoing against the polished marble. Her stomach dipped slightly when she saw them.
Steve and Bucky were moving toward her, their strides deliberate, not their casual, easy gait. It wasn't their presence that caught her off guard. It was what they were wearing.
Not full tactical gear, but definitely not civilian attire either. Fitted black jackets, reinforced boots, utility belts strapped in strategic places. Gear designed for movement, for function. For flight? Interesting.
Evie slowed, arching a brow. "To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you two again? At the same time, no less."
Steve huffed a soft laugh, shaking his head. "We wanted to catch you before we left."
"Left?" Evie blinked.
Bucky sighed, rolling his shoulders like he was already over it. "Upstate."
Her brows pulled together. "Since when do you two take road trips?"
Steve shot Bucky a pointed look before turning back to her. "We have to head up to the compound for a few days. Help with training."
Evie tilted her head. "You're trainers now?"
Steve smirked slightly. "Something like that. Nat and Rhodey take on the bulk of it, well, with Maria's oversight. But somehow, Nat got called into an intel mission for SHIELD and Rhodey was already scheduled for a Naval visit all week. So they need us to come step in as trainers for the week."
Bucky huffed. "More like glorified babysitters."
Steve gave him another sharp look before explaining, "Every few weeks, we go up for a bit to help train the agents anyways. The compound is where a lot of the team stays full-time."
Evie's brows lifted. "A lot of the team?"
Steve crossed his arms, nodding. "Nat, Wanda, Rhodey—most of them live up there. They come to the city for bigger briefings, but otherwise, they're stationed at the compound."
Evie blinked. "Then why are you two still here?"
Steve answered first. "We prefer New York."
Bucky glanced at him, then looked back at Evie. His voice was lower. "We have our reasons to stay."
Evie's stomach flipped but she kept her expression neutral, shifting her bag strap higher. "So you'll be gone all week?"
Steve sighed, nodding. "We'll be back Friday afternoon. In time for our plans."
Evie hesitated. "Actually…" Both men stilled. She shifted slightly on her feet. "My best friend is coming to town."
Steve's expression softened immediately. "Jade?"
Evie nodded. "I was hoping you guys would get to meet her."
Bucky cocked his head, arms still crossed. "You said the day we got to meet Jade would be the day you signed your own death wish."
Evie lifted a brow. "Maybe it's the radiation from the lab finally getting to me, but I'm feeling optimistic about my chances of survival. Yours, on the other hand..."
Steve chuckled. "Duly noted."
Bucky just nodded, clearly not one to be cheered up. "We wouldn't miss it."
Before Evie could respond, Steve's phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket, glancing at the screen before exhaling. Bucky already knew. "Wilson?"
Steve answered with a tight, "Yeah, we're coming," before hanging up and stuffing the phone back in his pocket.
Bucky exhaled through his nose. "Sam's just dying to get up there, huh?"
"He's waiting on us." Steve shot him a sharp glance. Bucky didn't look amused.
Evie offered a smile, tilting her head. "Wouldn't want to keep the babysitting detail waiting."
Bucky shot her an unimpressed look. "Hilarious."
Steve, already stepping back toward the elevator, shook his head with a half-hearted grin. "We'll see you Friday, Evie."
Bucky lingered for half a second longer, his blue eyes flickering over her, as if it was an effort to tear them away. Evie held his gaze, steady, willing him not to.
With one last nod, he turned and followed Steve. She watched them disappear into the elevator. The doors slid shut.
Suddenly, Friday felt a lot further away. Evie sighed, adjusting her bag before heading for the exit, her own footsteps echoing against the marble the only sound once again.
Quinjet Flight to Upstate New York
Sam was already waiting when they boarded. Arms crossed. Expression expectant.
He let them settle into their seats as he launched into a smooth takeoff, letting the hum of the Quinjet fill the space for exactly four seconds before starting in on them. "So."
Bucky exhaled loudly, dropping into a seat with an audible thud. "Jesus."
Steve buckled in, fingers pressing against his temples like he was already bracing for whatever was coming.
Sam glanced over his shoulder, grinning as he guided them higher into the atmosphere. "Y'all sure took your sweet time getting here."
Steve sighed. "We said we were coming."
"Oh, I heard you," Sam said. "I heard 'Wilson, we're coming.' Five minutes later? Still no sign of you two. Then I get another text saying, 'On our way.' That was ten minutes ago. From the same building, no less." He shook his head, amusement flickering across his face. "So… what's the holdup?"
Bucky didn't even look at him. "Traffic."
Sam snorted. "That's cute. Try again."
Steve exhaled, already tired. "We stopped to see Evie."
Sam's grin spread across his face. "Of course you did."
Rolling his eyes, Bucky looked out the window, as if he could will himself out of this conversation. Sam flicked a switch on the dash, shaking his head. "Man, I knew something was up. You two haven't been right since Saturday. That whole flight back? Not a word. Then you disappear all day Sunday, and now, here we are. Y'all are down bad."
Steve scrubbed a hand over his jaw. "Sam."
"No, no, no, don't 'Sam' me, Cap. You don't get to drop 'we stopped to see Evie' like that's a normal sentence. 'Cause I know y'all. And you don't just stop to say hi to Stark's miscellaneous employees."
Bucky finally turned, voice flat. "You're the one who said we should get out more."
"Man, I mean on a Friday night, grabbing a beer or a game. Not getting caught up in some kind of workplace romance with a college student." He gave them a teasing stern look.
"That's not what this is," Steve protested.
Sam smirked. "Yeah? It was just a casual exchange? That why you took so long?"
Steve shifted in his seat, fingers tapping against his thigh. "We just—wanted to let her know we'd be gone all week."
Sam's eyes gleamed. "We just wanted to let her know we'd be gone all week." He mimicked Steve's voice with an exaggerated seriousness, shaking his head. "Man, you two are done for."
Steve sighed. Sam cackled, looking way too pleased with himself.
Desperate to redirect, Steve cleared his throat. "She told us her friend Jade's coming to town."
"Jade?"
Steve nodded. "Yeah, her best friend. She wants us to meet her."
Sam grinned. "Ohh, this just keeps getting better. Meeting the best friend already? Damn. For two old guys, you're sure on an expedited timeline"
Bucky sighed, arms crossed. "Not already. She's coming to town to visit Evie anyways. Evie wants us to meet her. It's not a big deal."
Sam smirked. "Sure, it's not." He turned to Steve. "Girls don't do anything without intention, trust me. I've been stuck on one too many flights with Nat and Wanda to believe otherwise. If she wants you to meet Jade, you can be sure that Jade already knows all there is to know about you. She's probably the final vote as to which one of you gets to sleep with her. The impartial judge. Yeah, it all makes perfect sense."
Steve, officially done with this conversation, just stared ahead.
Bucky stared out the window, his fingers tapping restlessly against his bicep. "She doesn't need Jade's approval."
Sam snorted. "That's cute. You actually believe that?"
Steve gave him a look. "She likes us, Sam. She wouldn't have—" He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "—let things get this far if she didn't."
Sam's smirk deepened. "Oh, I'm sure she likes you. But you think that stops a woman from running a full background check and consultation with the council? No, no, my friends. You've already been vetted. And if Jade doesn't like what she sees? Well, then, it was nice knowing you."
Bucky rolled his eyes. "You're being dramatic."
"Am I?" Sam tilted his head, feigning deep thought. "Let's think. We've got one hyper-intelligent engineer who somehow keeps Stark in check, who also has two super soldiers wrapped around her little finger within weeks of meeting them. You really think she's just out here making spontaneous decisions? Casual introductions? Evie's playing chess. You two are the pawns."
Bucky frowned. "That doesn't even make sense. You don't use two pawns in—"
"Not the point," Sam cut in.
Rubbing his temples, Steve muttered, "Can we change the subject?"
Sam ignored him entirely, gesturing between them. "What I'm saying is, you two might think you're the ones in control here, but if Jade gives the thumbs down, you're toast. Poof. Gone. Evie's too pragmatic to keep both of you around if her best friend calls you bad investments."
Bucky scoffed, but something made Steve uneasy. It was convoluted, and it came from Sam of all people, but it made sense.
Sam exhaled dramatically, looking between them. "Look. I'm just saying—what happens when this goes sideways? What's the plan then?"
Steve's jaw tightened slightly. "Why would it go sideways?"
Sam raised his eyebrows. "You serious? You ever seen a work breakup? It's worse than a regular breakup. And this? This is two super soldiers and the only person keeping Stark's tech from blowing us up on missions."
Bucky frowned. "She wouldn't sabotage us."
"You sure? You break her heart, next thing you know—bam. Mid-mission, your comms go out. Your targeting system shuts down. My jetpack accidentally malfunctions—"
Steve pinched the bridge of his nose. "She's not going to sabotage us, Sam."
"I don't know, man. You're underestimating the power of a woman scorned." Sam hummed.
Bucky, despite himself, smirked slightly. "You speaking from experience, Wilson?"
"You might have years on me, but I've been in the players club longer than you would believe, Sarge."
Steve shook his head, but before he could argue further, the Quinjet lurched slightly as the control panel signaled they were high enough to engage autopilot.
Sam flicked it on and stretched, grinning. "Well, anyway. I, for one, cannot wait to see how this plays out."
Bucky side-eyed him. "It's not a show, Sam."
"Oh, it absolutely is. My lucky ass has a front row seat."
Tuesday Afternoon Stark Industries Lab, Midday
Evie was deep in a groove. Safety glasses on, gloved hands deep in wiring and circuitry, hair pinned back in a way that she hoped minimized the risk of it catching on fire from the sparks flying her way. As it often happened in the lab, time was a distant memory she had no concept of.
The door slid open with the king of all interruptions calling out to her as he stepped across the threshold.
"Dearest protege!"
Evie jumped, barely managing not to drop the circuit she was working on. She closed her eyes, inhaled sharply, and exhaled through her nose before turning around.
"Tony."
He grinned, leaning casually against the counter of her workstation. "Why do you say my name like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you're debating whether homicide is a viable option."
Evie exhaled, setting her tools down. "Because I'm trying to work. Don't you want to get your money's worth out of me?"
"It's my money to waste, kiddo, don't worry your offputtingly beautiful mind about it." Tony took this as his cue to waltz further into the lab, picking up random objects and examining them like he had any intention of using them. "You're due for a break, anyway. All work and no play makes for a dull, tragic genius. Not that I would know"
Evie folded her arms. "You're getting long-winded. What do you want?"
Tony gasped, placing a hand on his chest. "Can't a man visit his favorite engineer without being rushed out the door?"
Evie arched her brow.
Tony smirked. "Fine. Maybe I just wanted to check in—make sure my favorite super seniors aren't having you churn butter or stitch their names into handkerchiefs."
Evie huffed a laugh, shaking her head. "They're fine."
"You're fine," Tony echoed, tilting his head as he studied her. "Which is…suspicious."
Evie frowned. "Suspicious how?"
"Because I have eyes. And because I live in a tower with these men, which means I see everything. And I gotta say—Steve's been walking around like he cracked the Da Vinci Code, and Barnes? He's suddenly expressive. Which, in his case, means I've now counted five different facial expressions instead of one."
Evie fought the warmth creeping up her neck. "That's just…your imagination."
Tony scoffed. "Sure it is." He perched on the edge of a nearby table, folding his arms. "So. What's on the itinerary this weekend? A candlelit waltz? Whispering sweet nothings over war rations? Or—wait, let me guess—old-fashioned, chaperoned courting?"
"Actually, I do have plans," Evie said, her grin slow and knowing as she finally warmed up from work mode. "And they're very exciting, if I do say so myself."
Tony wiggled his fingers, urging her to continue.
"Jade's coming to town."
Tony stilled, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Well, well, well."
"What?" Evie pulled off her glasses and massaged her temples, not realizing she'd been wearing them long enough to make her ears sore.
"It's settled." Tony stood, rubbing his hands together. "We'll throw a party. One of my signature, it's been too long anyways. People might think I've lost my edge. Stop begging, I'll do it."
Evie sighed, running a hand through her hair as she closed her eyes. "Tony, what are you talking about?"
"A party, Evie." Tony made a sweeping gesture. "Music, drinks, bad decisions, all of New York's finest." He waggled his brows. "Also, me."
Evie rolled her eyes. "Um, no."
Tony pressed a hand to his chest. "Why do you hate joy?"
"I don't hate joy. I hate whatever hidden motive you have that's giving you that," She stuck a finger in his face. "Little mischievous twinkle in your eye. That can't mean anything good."
Tony grinned. "Oh, that's fair. Astute hypothesis, champ. But still—Jade's coming to town. You've got two of New York's most eligible geriatrics whipped and ready to kiss the ground you walk on. What better way to celebrate this impending disaster than with a party?"
"I'm not sure I like how you just phrased that."
Tony waved her off. "More importantly—why was I not made aware that your oh so lovely best friend was gracing us with her presence?"
Evie groaned, already seeing where this was going. "Tony."
"I mean, it's been, what? Years? Feels like only yesterday." He exhaled dramatically.
"You slept with her one time." Evie rolled her eyes.
"Correction." Tony held up a finger. "One night. No one said anything about one time."
Evie fake gagged. "I don't need to hear this."
"Are you sure? I've got a full recap in my diary, I could do a dramatic reading if you want."
"Tony."
"Fine, fine." He smirked. "I'll keep the reminiscing to a minimum. But if she wants to run it back for old times sake, it would be inhospitable for me to turn her down."
Evie gave him a flat look.
"So it's settled. I'm throwing the party. End of discussion." Tony grinned. "What is this anyways, a—"
Evie snatched it back before he could finish the sentence. "A variable frequency modulator."
Tony raised his eyebrows. "Ah, yes. That was my first guess."
"It stabilizes energy output to prevent overheating in small-scale arc reactors." She looked pointedly at his chest. "You should be thanking me for this, it could save your ass one day."
Tony clicked his tongue. "This is why I pay you the big bucks."
"I'm adding a rule to my employment contract that says you aren't allowed to touch my stuff."
Tony held up his hands in surrender, stepping back. "Hey, I just wanted to admire the work of Stark Industries' resident overachiever. My bad."
Evie rolled her eyes but didn't argue.
Tony checked his watch, then reached for his phone as he headed for the door. "Well, this has been fun. I'll leave you to your modulating frequencies and certainly not dating two super soldiers at once—which, for the record, I still don't buy."
He was already dialing as he walked out. "Pep, hey, listen—do me a favor and find someone to commission an ice sculpture. Something tasteful, but, you know… excessive. No, I won't explain. Just make it happen."
Wednesday Afternoon Stark Industries Lab
Evie adjusted the settings on the control panel, her eyes flicking between the code running on her screen and the device on the table in front of her. The small hexagonal prototype hummed softly, its surface shimmering as it tried—tried being the key word—to bend the light around it.
She held her breath.
The surface wavered. The edges blurred. And then—
A sharp pop, a flicker of static, and the light refracted in the wrong direction, sending a bright glare straight into her eyes.
"Fuck!" Evie flinched back, rubbing her temples as the prototype fizzled out with a pitiful beep. She exhaled sharply, shoulders slumping. Well, that was a new way to fail.
For weeks, she'd been testing different configurations for her light refraction project—an attempt to incorporate invisibility into the Avengers' suits using Stark's latest nanotech advancements. Theoretically, it should've worked. But theory, as she was learning, had no regard for actual functionality. The refraction wasn't bending properly, the stabilization matrix was unstable, and everything was giving her a headache. She'd continually picked it up and put it down, working on smaller projects to give her a sense of accomplishment before this one made her run her head through the wall. Even her little detour yesterday with the arc reactor improvements didn't make her feel better for not being able to get this one right.
Evie sighed, rubbing a hand down her face before slumping onto the floor beside her workstation. Think, Evie. There's got to be something you're missing.
Nope. She had nothing. Just an increasingly bad mood and a growing urge to throw the prototype out the window. Instead, she reached for her phone, unlocking it with a flick of her thumb. Her texts with Steve and Bucky were already open, their innocent good morning messages staring back at her.
Her lips twitched slightly. She shouldn't text them. She could just…be frustrated and sulk like a normal person.
Fuck that.
Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard before she typed:
Evie [5:43 PM: I'm in a horrible mood and in need of something to cheer me up. Any chance your trip ends early?
She stared at the message for a second before hitting send, already anticipating the kind of response she'd get. She barely had time to lock her phone before it buzzed again.
Steve [5:44 PM: What happened? Are you okay?
Evie blinked.
Bucky [5:44 PM: Did something happen? You need us?
Her lips parted slightly. Oh. This was not the response she expected. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, debating, before she huffed a quiet laugh and typed back.
Evie [5:45 PM: You two are way too serious. I just meant I was frustrated. No emergencies. Just in need of some quality entertainment.
Send.
Another buzz.
Bucky [5:45 PM: Who do I need to kill?
Evie snorted, shaking her head.
Steve [5:45 PM: Do you need a distraction?
Her lips curled slightly. That was more like it.
Her gaze flicked to the failed prototype still sitting on the table, the remnants of her bad mood still coiled in her stomach.
She tapped out a reply.
Evie [5:46 PM: Maybe. What kind of distraction are you offering?
Steve [5:46 PM: What do you need?
Evie's stomach flipped.
It wasn't flirty. It wasn't teasing. It was so much worse. Steve Rogers was direct. Always had been. Always would be. She knew all she had to do was name it, tell him what she needed, and he'd give it to her.
Bucky, on the other hand…
Bucky [5:47 PM: I got a couple ideas.
Evie definitely felt that one. She let her head fall back against the cabinet, exhaling through her nose. They were going to kill her.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she typed:
Evie [5:47 PM: Bold of you to assume I don't have ideas of my own.
Silence.
For a second, she thought maybe she'd finally caught them off guard.
Bucky [5:48 PM: Look at you, all talk.
Evie narrowed her eyes, grinning.
Evie [5:48 PM: Oh, I'm all talk?
Steve [5:48 PM: He's just mad he's not there to test that theory.
Her jaw dropped. Okay. Okay.
Steve Rogers, ladies and gentlemen.
Evie inhaled slowly, resisting the urge to giggle like a schoolgirl, but before she could formulate a worthy response, another message popped up.
Bucky [5:49 PM: I hate this stupid trip.
Evie snorted.
Evie [5:49 PM: Aww. You miss me, Barnes?
Bucky [5:50 PM: Maybe.
Her breath caught. No teasing. No sarcasm. Just—maybe.
She swallowed, staring at the message a beat too long before forcing herself to type back.
Evie [5:50 PM: …When are you guys back?
Steve [5:50 PM: Friday morning.
Bucky [5:51 PM: …Why?
Evie bit her lip, stretching her legs out in front of her before typing back.
Evie [5:51 PM: Because Tony's throwing a party Friday night.
Steve [5:52 PM: Of course he is.
Bucky [5:52 PM: Why am I not surprised?
Evie [5:52 PM: You shouldn't be. But you should be marking your calendars, because it's in both of your best interest to be there.
Steve [5:53 PM: Why is that?
Evie bit her lip, fingers hovering over the keys.
Evie [5:53 PM: Well. If you play your cards right, you might just find out what my ideas are.
Bucky [5:53 PM: Last time we played cards, things worked out pretty well for us.
Evie's stomach flipped.
Steve [5:53 PM: Should we be concerned?
Evie [5:54 PM: Only if you don't like surprises.
Steve [5:54 PM: Give us a hint.
Evie grinned, drumming her fingers against her knee.
Evie [5:55 PM: Three hints. That's all.
Bucky [5:55 PM: Generous.
Evie [5:55 PM: I know.
She tapped out the first one, biting her lip.
Evie [5:56 PM: 1. Red lace.
Bucky [5:56 PM: …Go on.
Steve [5:56 PM: Evie.
Evie smirked, stretching out the suspense before sending the next.
Evie [5:57 PM: 2. An unlocked coat closet.
Bucky [5:57 PM: …Jesus Christ.
Steve [5:57 PM: and three?
Evie grinned.
Evie [5:58 PM: 3. Three's company. (I love company.)
Bucky [5:59 PM: …
Steve [5:59 PM: You can't just say that and go back to your day..
Bucky [5:59 PM: Yeah. You better explain yourself.
Evie [6:00 PM: Use your imagination. Back to work for me. Xo!
And before they could reply, before they could demand clarification, she locked her phone, setting it down on the desk beside the bane of her existence. She'd successfully distracted herself from all work angst, replacing it with something else coiling hot in her stomach.
Thursday Evening Evie's Building
Evie stepped out of the shower, the steam curling around her as she secured a towel around her body. She let out an exhausted sigh, rolling her shoulders to ease the ache in her back. Eight hours hunched over a lab table, shifting between positions that had her bent at odd angles, and she had nothing to show for it. The prototype still wasn't working, and her patience was wearing thin.
She towel-dried her hair with one hand as she made her way to the kitchen, sighing again as she poured herself a generous glass of wine. If nothing else, I deserve this.
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced down at the screen. Incoming Call: Steve Rogers.
"Hello Cap," she cooed. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"We're both here," Steve replied tersely.
"Hey." Bucky's voice sounded a tiny bit further away.
Her stomach flipped despite herself. With a quick sip of wine, she answered. "Double trouble. What's up, boys?"
"Just checking in," Steve's voice was genuine. "You sounded stressed yesterday."
"Yeah, you okay?" Bucky added, his tone dry.
Evie scoffed. "I was until I spent all day ruining my posture trying to get this damn prototype to work."
"Any progress?" Steve actually sounded concerned. Bless him.
"Oh yeah," she deadpanned. "On my spinal injury. On the prototype? Not even a little. Next subject please, or I'll be pouring vodka in my wine."
Steve chuckled, the kind of sound that could make a girl forget her problems and maybe even her name. "So… we were talking."
Evie raised an eyebrow, setting her wine down. "Dangerous."
"About you," Bucky added.
She feigned offense. "Should I be worried?"
Steve hummed. "We just had some… thoughts."
"Guesses," Bucky corrected.
She leaned against the counter, intrigued. "Oh?"
Steve played along. "About those hints you left us."
"You're still thinking about that?" Evie smirked, twirling the stem of her glass between her fingers.
Steve sounded determined as he plowed ahead with the guesses. "Red lace…"
Bucky, confident, "It's lingerie."
Steve, skeptical, "You think she'd admit that?"
"Nah, but I know we're right."
Evie fought back a smile. "You have no proof."
Steve countered, "Then tell us we're wrong."
Silence.
"Yeah. That's what I thought." She heard Bucky's smug grin through the phone.
"The unlocked coat closet, I mean, that speaks for itself." Steve continued.
"And three's company? We have a hunch." Bucky added.
They were so busy going back and forth that they didn't notice Evie setting her wine down and waltzing to her bedroom, rifling through a drawer. They were still going on as she got back to the counter and picked up her phone. Opening the camera, she held up her other hand with the thin red lace of her favorite panties dangling off her finger, holding it up lazily in front of the couch—the very couch where things almost happened last weekend. She snapped a photo.
And sent it.
A pause.
"…What the fuck." That was Bucky.
"Evie," Steve's voice was almost a whine. A plea.
Evie took a slow sip of wine. "Yes?"
Bucky sounded like he was struggling for words. "You did not just do that."
"What?" Evie feigned innocence.
Steve exhaled, sharp and exasperated. "You know what."
Silence.
Bucky muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like a curse. Steve didn't speak, but Evie could hear the tension in his breath.
She grinned, tilting her head back against the couch. "I was just… clarifying your guess."
"Evie," Steve whined again, his voice even more desperate.
Bucky let out a dry laugh, but it sounded a little strained. "Fucking hell."
Evie bit her lip, fighting a grin. She took another sip. "Sweet dreams, boys."
Upstate Avengers Compound
Steve rubbed a hand down his face, exhaling slowly. Bucky just stared at his screen, jaw tight. Neither spoke.
Silence.
Painful, torturous silence.
Bucky sat frozen at the edge of the desk, his grip locked so tight on the back of the chair that the wood creaked under his fingers. Steve stood beside him, arms crossed, staring down at his phone like if he focused hard enough, he could will time to move faster.
Neither of them had spoken since Evie's text had wrecked their entire night twenty minutes ago.
Not since the photo.
Not since the red lace that was definitely not leaving their minds' eye any time soon.
Steve swallowed hard. "We have to leave."
Bucky's eyes didn't move from the floor. "Obviously."
A beat of silence. Then, at the exact same time, they turned and marched down the hallway toward Sam's room.
Sam had just gotten comfortable.
He was sprawled across his bed, in sweats, mid-sip of a beer, enjoying his one night of peace and solitude before he had to deal with dumbass recruits again tomorrow.
Then—footsteps.
Determined. Unrelenting. Doomed.
Sam sighed, not even looking up as his door flew open. Steve and Bucky stood there, looming, intense, looking like they had just survived something between a firefight and an emotional crisis.
Sam blinked. "No."
"You don't even know what we're—" Steve frowned.
"No. Whatever it is, no."
Bucky exhaled sharply. "We need to leave."
Sam tilted his head. "Oh, you mean before we finish our contracted responsibilities? The ones that are literally why we're here?"
Steve clenched his jaw. "It's just a little early."
Sam set his beer down. "Uh-huh. A whole day early. It's 11pm, why the hell would we leave now?"
Sam's eyes flicked between them. His smirk slowly returned.
"Ohhh, I see."
Bucky rolled his shoulders. "No, you don't."
Sam crossed his arms. "Lemme guess. Evie?"
Neither of them answered.
Sam chuckled. "Uh-huh. That's what I thought."
Steve exhaled, like maybe if he breathed through it, he could get Sam to just agree without a fight. "We're serious, Sam."
"Oh, I'm sure you are." Sam gestured vaguely to both of them. "I mean, look at you. You're both—" He paused, searching for the right words. Then, he just gestured again, looking fully disgusted. "This."
Bucky gritted his teeth. "We'll owe you."
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
Steve turned on the charm. That soft, earnest, pleading golden retriever energy that was supposed to work on everyone.
"Sam. You're our friend."
Sam stared at him. "And?"
Steve blinked.
Sam took another sip of his beer, unmoved.
Bucky exhaled angrily through his nose. "Come on, man. I'll spar with you for a week. No complaining."
Sam hummed, considering. "That is tempting."
"I'll even let you pick the music."
Sam's eyebrows lifted. For a second, it looked like he might cave. Then he shrugged. "Still no."
Steve took one single step forward.
Sam immediately lifted a hand. "Nope. Don't even try it."
Bucky glared. "You flew us out here, you can fly us back."
Sam shrugged. "I could. But I won't."
Steve's jaw tightened. "Sam."
Sam smirked. "Steve."
Bucky growled.
Sam grinned.
"Listen, fellas," he sighed, deeply entertained. "Y'all are actin' insane. And I am not enabling this."
"Sam," Steve tried again, softer, desperate.
Sam's grin widened. "Oh, now I get the soft voice." He just shook his head. "Y'all need to chill. Take a cold shower. Go for a jog. Do literally anything except make me get back in that Quinjet."
Bucky huffed. "I hate you."
Sam toasted his beer. "It's mutual."
He slammed his door in their faces.