Edelweiss || Bucky x Reader

Chapter Twenty One

"There... there... and there." I finish, pointing out the last factory on the massive map laid out on the table.

"That's all of them?" Peggy asks.

"Yeah." I sigh, reviewing the placements of the miniature buildings. "That's all of them."

Steve pops his head in.

"Y/N, they're ready for you when you're done in here." He nods to Peggy. "Agent."

A soft blush dusts her cheeks. "Captain."

I raise my eyebrows in utter disbelief, to which he shakes his head, as if to say "You're in no place to judge"

I roll my eyes and walk out with him, arms wrapped defensively around my stomach.

We walk in tense silence for several minutes before I've finally had enough.

"Look Steve, whatever you think happened-"

"Oh, I'm not thinking anything."

"Steve."

"No, you know what, Y/N?" He comes to a full stop. "We are at war. I'm not going to babysit you while you... while you..."

"While I what, Steve?" I demand.

"While you sleep with my best friend!"

I stare at him silently, arms crossed. He immediately regrets his accusation. But it's too late, isn't it? He's made it clear what he thinks of me.

"There's a whole lot of things I could say to you right now, none of them pretty." I say, low and deadly.

"Y/N..."

"No, I'll walk the rest by myself, thanks." I say coldly, turning on my heel and walking off, leaving him to mull over his words.

...

"She is coming, isn't she?" A weirdly familiar voice says just as I walk through the blast-proof door.

"Hey, I'm here." I say. "Sorry for the wait."

"That's quite alright." The man turns to face me, taking my hand and kissing it. "Howard Stark."

"I gathered that much." I say with a forced laugh. "Y/N Rogers."

"Well Ms. Y/N, I've been informed that you're not overly fond of skirts." He gives me a once-over before looking back to the display he's laid out. "Though I bet you look great in them."

I raise my eyebrows, caught off guard by his boldness.

"Don't take him too seriously, Y/N." Peggy says, walking up behind me. "Howard, leave the poor girl alone."

"I'm just messing around." He winks at me. "Aren't I doll face?"

"Didn't you have something for me?" I say with a smile, eager to change the subject.

"Right, that." He dramatically unveils what's been laid out on the table. "Your very own uniform, boots, belt, and all, tailored to your exact measurements and made with Stark bullet-stopping technology." A grin sneaks its way onto his lips. "Oh, and these." He holds up his fist and slackens his grip, letting the silver chain drop in front of my face.

"Are these my dog tags?" I ask excitedly, taking them from him.

"It's my understanding that you're a soldier." He shrugs. "Soldier's gotta have dog tags."