𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓷𝓲𝓪𝓬 ❖ 𝓫. 𝓫𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼

C H A P T E R (27) - D A N C E

After making the short trip over the hill, they had returned and were met with Colonel Phillips and Peggy who smiled warmly at what they thought was a return from the dead.

Steve and Bucky stopped in front of Cassie, causing her to stop abruptly and curse them under her breath, earning a glare from her brother.

"Let's give it up for Captain America!" Bucky yelled, causing cheers to erupt from the crowd.

Cassie smiled at Steve's happiness that was displayed across his face, but her attention was drawn away when Bucky's hands grabbed her hips and pulled her closer, his lips dangerously close to her ear.

"I'm not forgetting about you, don't worry."

"Huh? There's nothing to thank me for-"

"Cassie." He interrupted, bringing his face back, "You saved my life."

"No, Steve saved your life. I just tagged along." She shrugged.

"Wow. You really don't like praise do you?"

"Not necessarily. I did the right thing, not the thing that would give me-"

Cassie's sentence was interrupted when Peggy latched onto her arm, catching her attention. Bucky's hands retreated back to his side as he watched the pair converse.

"You're alive!" She exclaimed, her British accent that Cassie loved so much shining through.

"I hope so, otherwise heaven is filled with some very questionable people."

Peggy pulled her blood red lips into a grin as she then turned to Bucky, noticing how his eyes were glued on Cassie.

"You must be Sergeant James Barnes." She spoke, holding her hand out which he shook kindly.

"I would be careful calling him that." Cassie joked, earning a nudge from Bucky and a confused face from Peggy, which only made her laugh more.

"Let's go on a walk." Peggy said as she linked arms with her, leaving her no time to object.

When they were out of hearing distance from the crowd, Peggy stopped walking and turned her body to face Cassie with a grin painted on her face.

"So..."

"So?"

"You and Barnes?"

Cassie opened her mouth to say something, but didn't know exactly what to say. That hadn't officially declared what their relationship was, so who was she to assume?

"If you're going to deny it, don't even try. I see the way he looks at you."

"What do you mean?" Cassie questioned, rubbing her arm awkwardly.

"His eyes are glued to you, and he makes sure no one looks at you the same way."

When Cassie didn't respond, Peggy continued.

"You're his."

**

"I don't know how I feel about this."

Cassie was looking at herself in the mirror, admiring the dress Peggy had let her borrow. It was a black, tight-fitted piece of silk. The dog tag Bucky had given to her was on display because of the neckline, causing her to fiddle with it in her fingers.

"You look amazing, Cassie." Peggy assured, showing up in the mirror beside her with an arm around her back. "If he couldn't take his eyes off of you before, they're going to pop out of his head this time."

Cassie let out a small laugh before taking a deep breath and letting Peggy lead her to the bar where Steve and Bucky already were. As soon as they entered, it felt like all eyes were glued to the pair of them.

"If it helps," Peggy whispered in her ear, "They're all looking at you."

"No that does not help!" Cassie whisper-yelled in response.

Peggy laughed before latching onto her arm and pulling her along to where Bucky and Steve stood in their uniforms.

"Cassie Rogers wearing a dress for the second time in eighteen years." Bucky began, eyeing the clothing she wore, "You can seriously pull it off though."

"Shut up." She joked with a nudge to his side, leaning against the counter whilst Peggy and Steve conversed beside them.

"You can't accept praise or compliments? What can you accept?" Bucky joked.

"An invitation to dance?"

"Smooth." He laughed, holding out his hand which she took.

Cassie saw as Peggy smirked and gave her a wink as Bucky led her away, causing her to sarcastically roll her eyes.

Bucky stopped where a few other people where dancing and listened to the slow melody playing before placing his arms around Cassie's  waist. She placed her hands at the back of his neck, watching how he smiled at her touch. After a few minutes had passed of their slow swaying, Cassie placed her head against his chest, feeling as it slowly raised up and down, unknowing of Steve and Peggy watching them.

"It's like they're the only people in the room." Steve commented.

"Because they are." Peggy smiled in response, taking in Steve's confused face. "Love does that."

Steve visibly shuddered at the mention of love between his best friend and sister, but didn't plan on objecting to it. He was okay with it, to a certain extent. He was the one to notice it was there before either of them had.

Bucky had his chin resting on Cassie's head, nuzzling into her hair. He watched as a few men he didn't recognise eyed her up and down, and couldn't help how his grip around her tightened. She obviously noticed, but didn't say anything as she just let herself take in his warmth. But when the guys kept staring at her, he couldn't hold back his words.

"If one more guy looks at you I'm going to-"

"Hey, don't look at them. Look at me." She pulled her head back and watched as his eyes reluctantly met hers, "There you go. Better?"

He slowly nodded his head and kept his eyes glued on her, ignoring any of the starers he wanted to kill.

"But-"

"I thought you hated that word." She grinned before drawing his attention from the men. "Listen, just ignore them. Please?"

Bucky softened at her voice and sighed, resting his chin on her head once more. He placed a kiss into her hair before pulling away and grabbing onto her hand, leading her outside. She didn't question his actions due to her full trust in him - she trusted him with her life.

"I hope they aren't doing what I think they're doing." Steve mumbled to Peggy who still stood at his side.

Bucky stopped once they had reached the fresh, crispy air and took in a deep breath before Cassie bumped shoulders with him to catch his attention.

"What are we doing out here?" She asked with a laugh.

He brought his hand up to her face, but let his fingers linger on the dog tag that rested on her collarbone. He traced over the letters before placing it further down and behind the neckline of her dress, out of sight. He then brought his finger under her chin and turned her head up to the sky whilst stood behind her.

"It's a clear night - all the stars are more visible than usual. I thought you might like-"

He was interrupted by Cassie pulling him in by his collar and placing a hard kiss to his lips, her hands remaining on the back of his neck as she pulled away.

"It's beautiful."