Eligible Bachelor ✔️

Chapter 9

"Thanks for letting me stay here Tony."

He smiled as she came into the kitchen for breakfast, "of course. It's closer to the compound. Did you get to talk to Steve?"

I groaned, "can we not talk about Steve please?" I saw him about to say something until Pepper came into the kitchen, giving him a dirty look.

"We're happy you're here."

I smiled as she kissed me on the cheek, "thanks Aunt Pepper." I heard her groan as she handed me a cup of coffee.

"Please. Just Pepper. Aunt Pepper makes me sound so old."

"Does your father know you're staying here?"

I laughed, looking at Tony, "you know he doesn't. You know he would freak out." I stood up, mimicking my father, "Stay away from Tony! Stay away from the Avengers! It was the Starks that got my sister killed." I rolled my eyes as I heard them both laugh, "yada yada. He also isn't fond of Bucky being at the compound."

Tony nodded, "I know. But that was when he was The Winter Soldier, he isn't anymore."

"I know. Bucky is my friend." I sighed, "my father certainly wouldn't be happy knowing I'm in love with Captain America." I looked up to see looks of pity, making me groan. After I finished my coffee I put my cup in the sink, picking up my bag. "I'm going to work out in the compound gym before work. See you guys later." I looked at Tony, "I assume you're going to be calling a team meeting at some point to introduce me as working at the compound?"

Tony nodded, "yeah. I'll let you know when. I think some are getting sent out for intel today. So I'll let you know."

I nodded, "sure. See you guys later."

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I was walking in the compound after training agents early when I saw my green eyes in the gym by herself. She was punching a bag with AirPods in. I watched her for a few minutes as I listened to her sing.

🎵God, I wish you had thought this through
Before I went and fell in love with you
When she's sleeping in the bed we made
Don't you dare forget about the way
You betrayed me🎵

I stood in the doorway, in her line of vision, making her jump. I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms. I saw her take her AirPods out, "I enjoy sneaking up on you." I laughed, but she didn't seem amused, "what are you doing here in the gym?"

She shrugged, "I'm staying with Tony. He said I could use it." She stood up, "I'm going to be working around the compound. I don't want to run into you and your girlfriend."

I groaned, noticing for the first time that her eyes were more blue than green today. She was angry and hurt; and I knew it was at me. "She isn't. It was just a date."

She shook her head, putting her stuff in her bag, "Nat said you were dating someone. It's fine. You don't owe me anything." She put her bag over her arm as she paused next to him at the door, "it didn't mean anything, right? Just got caught up in the moment."

I shook my head, grabbing her arm as she tried to leave, "you know that isn't true." Before I could continue, Maria Hill came up to us.

"We need you Steve."

I sighed, looking back at my green eyes, "we aren't done." I brought my hand to her cheek, feeling her lean into my touch before I had to walk away.

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We split up in the mission, me going with Natasha and Wanda while Bucky goes off with Sam. There ended up being far more Hydra agents than I thought there would be, equipped with alien technology. We soon realized it was all a set up and we were too outnumbered. One of the soldiers got me in the stomach where I now had a giant gash. I knew I was going to have to get back to Cho and the compound. I shouted to Natasha and Wanda, "get back to the jet." I got on the comms with Bucky and Sam, "guys, we need to get out of here."

Sam got on the comms, panicked, "I don't know where Bucky went. We got separated."

"Bucky? Where are you?" All I hear is static before I hear another voice.

'We have your precious pal, your Bucky. Don't worry, you'll see him again.'

"What? Who is this?" I heard static again and silence as I saw Sam and Natasha come up to me. I knew the voice, I had heard it so many times before.

"Did they take him?" Natasha tried not to sound as panicked as she felt as she looked at Steve.

I watched as the fear and anger washed over Natasha's face, "I'm sorry. We'll get him back, I promise." I felt Sam grab my arm, putting it over his shoulder as he helped me onto the jet. I sat looking at the team as I started to feel nauseous. I barely laid down when everything went black, passing out from blood loss.