The Promise

Only Friends

Weeks go past without news. I haven't had a chance to ask Peggy because she had been transferred after the program fell apart. I ask Phillips daily without a response which means it must be bad news. It's been a while since I've seen Steve, either. He constantly travels from city to city in the hopes of becoming anything more than a performer. I'm driving pretty far for his next show today and I even got word that Peggy might be there. I'm excited to say the least.

I arrive quite late and the show is already over. I try to spot either Peggy or Steve, but without luck. I sit under a tent along with Phillips. He's signing letters. I don't even want to ask him for what group. All of the sudden Steve and Peggy come rushing in together. Steve demands for the casualty list. I look at Peggy confused as Steve and Phillips hash it out.

"The audience of Steve's show today, it's what's left of the 107th." I feel my knees wanting to give up. My breath stops for a moment. I can't quite cry, but I can't quite move either.

"B-A-R-N-E-S." Steve recites.

"I can spell. I've signed more of these condolence letters today than I care to count. But the name does sound familiar. I'm sorry."

My face flushes red and a run out of the tent into the rain which mixes with the tears in my eyes. I'm hunched over, screaming. Steve comes up behind me and hugs me.

"Y/N. We're gonna get him back. Him and the rest."

"What's Colonel's plan?" I say through sobs. He looks at me seriously. "Steve, you can't go alone. You need an army." He walks away from me in a hurry which I follow.

"Peggy and Stark are gonna help me. They're gonna drop me close to the base. I can do it."

"Steve."

"Are you in or are you out because I need to get out of here before Phillips notices I'm gone." He says to me sternly. It's a side of Steve I've never seen before. He wouldn't dare speak up in Brooklyn at all, especially to me. But I guess we aren't in Brooklyn anymore, and he's not the shy boy he once was.

"I'm in. Your next show is in 30 minutes. You need to be on that plane in 10 before Phillips realizes." We gather Stark and Peggy and retreat onto a plane.

"Howard." You nod at him. We take off into the air. Stark gets us out of there practically undetected. I sit beside Steve quietly as Peggy explains the plan to everyone.

"Agent Carter. Wanna stop for some late night fondue?" Peggy doesn't respond but looks at Steve instead.

"Do you guys... fondue?" Peggy avoids the question and goes back to explaining. The plane is hit with some serious gunfire. Steve gets up to jump and I stop him.

"Steve. If it gets too bad down there, get out. I can't lose you both."

"Y/N. I'm coming back with him. I'm not gonna let him break his promise to you." He smirks. "Yeah. He told me on the way over here. Can't let him off the hook that easily." He jumps. My cheeks flush red. Peggy smirks at me.

"Just friends huh?"

"Shut it Peggy." I say back.

"Why didn't you just tell him you don't like Howard?"

"Because she does." Howard chimes in. You give him a glare telling him to bud out.

"Well it's simple. He didn't promise me. It doesn't do any good unless I'm sure he comes back."

"He'll come back, Peggy. I can see it in his eyes. He's never looked at a girl the way he looks at you. He'll come back."

"Your friend will come back too I bet."

"That's different. He's only my friend."

"Y/N. For the last time, if you call him your friend one more time I swear." Howard yells from the cockpit. "I've only seen this guy once and I can tell you love him. Peggy can tell you love him. Stevie or whatever can tell you love him. Why can't you?" I look at him stunned a bit.

"I don't love him. He's my friend. That's all. I just wanna make sure he's ok."

"What about Steve? I know your friends with Steve too so why let him go? You and I both know if the roles were switched and Bucky just jumped out of this plane, you'd be right behind him. And don't make excuses. You love him. Just admit it."

"Howard. I don't though. He's my best friend. And yes I love him, but as a friend. Nothing more."

"but-"

"Howard. Leave it." My voice cuts the air harshly.