Resilient

Chapter 28

As the four of them walked back towards the street Steve looked at Evelyn noticing she was struggling to keep up. "Did you use all your leg strength to beat Buck?"

Evelyn laughed and shoved him, "he's quicker than I thought and my legs are slowly becoming jello."

Bucky smiled at her, "Come here."

Evelyn gave him a suspicious look as he turned his back towards her and crouched down slightly. "Buck - I don't need you to carry me." She said crossing her arms.

"Think of it as part of your prize. You won so you don't have to walk," Bucky said not moving.

Smiling Evelyn put her hands on his shoulders and jumped up. He wrapped his arms under her knees as she shifted so they were both comfortable.

"So what are you guys going to get for lunch?" Evelyn asked the three men.

"Definitely not a reuben," Sam said with a disgusted face.

"Hey now - reubens are amazing. Rye bread, corned beef, thousand island dressing, and sauerkraut," Evelyn said dreamingly.

"That's so gross - remind me not to kiss you anytime soon Rock," Sam said laughing.

"Not offering Apollo," Evelyn said, sticking her tongue out at him, "What about you Steve?"

"French dip - it's my go to," he answered smiling at her.

"What about you Sarge?" Evelyn asked, leaning to look down at him.

"A club," Bucky answered focusing on walking and not on Evelyn's warmth around him.

"See no one else wants a gross reuben," Sam said quickly moving out of her hitting range. Bucky gently shoved Sam earning a giggle from Evelyn on his shoulder.

"I never thought I'd see the day when Bucky would be so wrapped around a woman's finger," Sam said laughing.

"Jealous?" Evelyn said, turning towards Sam laughing.

"No, I think me and Steve have the better view to be honest," Sam said winking at her and she noticed Steve's cheeks went pink.

"Oh you little shit," Evelyn said, jumping down from Bucky's back and running after Sam. "Get back here!"

Bucky laughed as she chased after Sam and saw him run off of the sidewalk to dodge her in trees. Finally Sam bobbed when he should have weaved and Bucky heard the smack as Evelyn tackled Sam to the ground.

"Evelyn! Be careful!" Steve yelled at her as she was laughing at Sam who was letting a list of cuss words out.

"E! You tackled me into a pile of dog shit," Sam said trying to whip the poop off of his shorts.

Evelyn was laying on her back uncontrollably laughing when Steve and Bucky came up to them and started laughing too. "I. Can't. Breathe." She let out.

"It's not funny!" Sam said glaring but he started to laugh with her.

"I'm so sorry Sam. I didn't mean to," Evelyn said still laughing

"You kinda deserved it," Bucky said shrugging

"It was a great view though!" Sam said getting most of it off his shorts, "come on even Steve was looking."

"Nope - keep me out of this," Steve said, putting his arms up.

Evelyn sat up while her laughing finally subsided. "Sorry Buck - would you mind carrying me again? I definitely can't walk now."

Bucky offered her his hand to help her up, "I don't know - maybe Steve should carry you so I can get a good view."

Evelyn smiled and smacked him. "Y'all are a bunch of pervs. How do Nat and Wanda deal with you?"

The three men laughed but stopped when they heard a car horn honk and looked over to see a black car pull up next to them. "Hey Evie! Want a ride?" Natasha asked

"Hey Nat!" Evelyn yelled. "I would love one but Steve and Bucky owe me lunch"

"We can do a rain check Evelyn," Steve said smiling at her, "go ahead and rest your legs."

"If you insist," Evelyn laughed, "enjoy your victory lunch Sam!" She added as she hopped into the car and it sped off.

"So you going to ask the woman on a date already?" Sam asked Bucky taking him off guard.

"What?" Bucky asked looking at Sam as they started walking towards the deli.

"Some guy is going to realize how amazing she is and it's not going to be one of your friends who are waiting on you to realize that you have feelings for the girl," Sam said, earning a nod from Steve.

"I already told him Sam - he's just not getting it," Steve said, shaking his head.

"I get it - she's amazing," Bucky said looking at his friends. "I am going to ask her out. Just not with you two around taking her attention."

"Good," Sam said, patting him on his shoulder, "but I will say that if you hurt her I will help her ruin your life."

"Noted," Bucky said smiling at the ground. He had no intention of doing anything to ever hurt Evelyn. She was what he'd always imagine his future would hold.