Winter's Veil || BUCKY X FEM!OC

*CHAPTER 12*

Stark's lab still had copious amounts of junk piled high on every surface possible, on the far side there were office chairs stuffed in the corner as if he planned on sitting down but decided that standing was easier. He stepped up to one of the huge screens hung on the walls that at first glance seemed like a glass pane, but upon hearing his voice, it lit up to show diagrams and graphs with readings that  appeared to be of me.

What the fuck.

I took a tentative step back towards the door, clinging to the closest wall as he reorganised the data, waving his hand lazily to sort them on the screen. He spun around unexpectedly until his tired but somehow energetic brown eyes spotted me squeezed between the door and wall.

"Come on bubbles, or I'll get Barnes to hold you down," He quipped before walking over to two chairs placed beside each other. I shuddered at the thought of that guy wrapping his cold hands around my shoulders, his expression unflinching and dead.

"Okay, two things. One, Powerpuff girls, really?" I whined, I didn't understand why he had to be so irritatingly immature. "Two, why do you even need my blood?" My heartbeat quickened the more I looked at Stark adjusting the needle. Even so, I meandered over to him tentatively, perching on the edge of the seat uncomfortably with my back as straight as the needle. He shuffled closer to me.

"You probably know I made a serum that basically cancels out your powers. The problem is that it should've lasted 12 hours, but barely had a hold on you for half an hour. With your blood, I could analyse the key parts to your abilities, so that I can upgrade the serum so in the future if you decide to have another outburst you can't control-" My face contorted into one of confusion and anger. I knew about Stark well enough to know he wouldn't just use it when I couldn't control myself. "-AND to get a better understanding of how your powers work," He finished, sighing as he looked at me. He was expecting me to refuse this idea. He was right.

My jaw tightened, rage pulsing in my head. My body felt like it was getting warmer as my veins pulsed, not noticing how hot the bracelet getting warm against my wrist. I squinted back at him, "You're Tony Stark. When have you ever kept your word?" I spat back at him. A look of hurt briefly crossed his features.

"Look, I know you living with the avengers wasn't your plan, ever, but we're a team and you need to trust me." He reasoned. I thought about what he said for a few seconds. Maybe I needed to be the one to trust first.

Nah, screw that.

"Trust? You have a bracelet on me already that nullifies my powers!" My voice rose, furious at the fact he expected me to blindly trust him.

His head dropped down as he pinched his nose and let out a long sigh, this 'conversation' was just as frustrating for him. "How about this, you can get that wristband off the second I finish getting the serum developed."

My hands clenched around the armrests, the nape of my neck felt damp as I processed his words. I would have to trust him first if I wanted life around here to be more comfortable, but I didn't want to make the mistake of relying on someone ever again. My spine shivered just at the thought of all the humility and shame I'd endured. I had vowed from then on to never trust anyone.

"Evie," He pleaded, his face contorted into one of mild desperation, which would've been looked over, but this was Tony Stark. "I swear I'll give you all my money, and I'm like the richest guy ever; you know how much Nat would kill to go on a shopping trip with one of my cards." He reminded me of a dog rolling over and exposing his belly, if the dog was a chihuahua with a goatee.

So dramatic

I squeezed my eyes shut, I guess I'd have to swallow my pride for once.

"Fine," I whispered.