𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ Steve Rogers

Unfinished History ~ 27

Only minutes have elapsed since finalizing the plan to lure Ultron to the team. Thor has already departed, with Scott trailing after him, bombarding him with questions as they both exited. The remainder of the team stays behind.

"Okay, so who's going? We can't all be there; Ultron is impulsive, but he isn't foolish. He will know something is up if we all regroup elsewhere," Steve explains to Stark as he takes the seat Thor occupied moments ago. Tony is still standing, engrossed in sorting out a few details on his phone to set the plan in motion.

"We make it look like we've sent Eva to a safe house for her protection. Have only a select few go. We could have a vote?" Tony utters back, his gaze fixed on his cell, not looking to anyone.

"I doubt many of us would vote 'yes' on staying with Eva in a safe house..." Peter comments to the trio, now seated on the breakfast stool. His gaze falls on Evangeline, recalling her temperament. "I mean, no offense," he adds, holding his hands out in a placating gesture.

Evangeline remains on the couch, looking up at Peter, a frown forming at the unexpected slight. "Thought we were friends..." she grumbles in response.

"That's what you told me to say, remember?" Peter quips back, a clear smile on his lips. Eva rolls her eyes, but a smile forms on hers too as she shrugs.

Steve watches their banter with an amused expression but then speaks up, the serious façade returning. "Tony, are we calling everyone back?"

"Already on it," Stark responds, his cell already to his ear as he paces back and forth casually, his free hand in his trouser pocket.

"EVANGELINE!"

Another voice bellows out throughout the compound, the doors to the stairs flying open for the second time today. Eva's eyes go wide, her face flushes with genuine fear as she recognizes the voice. She jumps up instantly and bolts towards the kitchen area, to where Peter is. Steve too is now on his feet, knowing that voice, and Tony drops his phone due to the sudden disruption.

Bucky Barnes comes into the group's view, marching in as he pulls off his jacket from his arms, throwing it haphazardly towards the couch. Eva grabs Peter by the arms to hide behind him. All eyes are wide.

"Eva!" Bucky bellows, closing in, and Steve narrowly misses grabbing him.

"Bucky?" Steve questions, but Bucky ignores him, his fury directed entirely at Eva as he menacingly circles the kitchen island. Eva employs Peter as a makeshift shield, maneuvering him alongside her as they sidestep on opposite ends of the island.

"Did you really think I'd never find you again?" Bucky seethes, leaning over the counter momentarily before resuming his relentless pursuit of Eva, who skillfully evades him, with Peter in tow.

"Ah, well, I knew my days were numbered, James... Considering I'm now hanging out with your Avengers." Eva gasps, a nervous laugh escaping her.

"What the fuck is happening right now?" Tony observes, his expression deadpan. There's nothing left to surprise him about this mind manipulator who has consumed all their attention in the past two days.

"Guys! I don't know what this is, but I really don't want to be in the middle of it. LITERALLY!" Peter calls out from between their stand-off, attempting to shift himself away. However, Eva's grip is firm.

"Ultron? What the hell have you been playing at, Eva?" Bucky continues, ignoring both Tony and Peter, still circling the island.

"Okay, this is getting ridiculous..." Steve mutters to no one in particular as he decides to march over, pulling Bucky's arm back to get his attention. "You know each other?" It's clear Steve isn't pleased with this revelation, and Bucky shakes off his arm but nods nonetheless.

"Unfortunately, yes," he remarks, eventually stepping back from the scene of Eva and Peter. Tony has walked over to Evangeline, phone back in hand and pointed to her.

"The next person to come through that door, demanding your head. I'm letting them have it," Tony Stark promises and walks out of the main area, totally done with everything related to Evangeline.

She can only glare at Tony as he exits, her grip loosening from Peter's arms, allowing him to finally shift himself free, though he keeps close. Eva turns back around, realizing the attention on her, and sees all three pairs of eyes fixed on her. She laughs hesitantly, her hand reaching the back of her neck.

"Je vais vraiment avoir besoin d'un verre," she finally says, insisting that an alcoholic beverage is now in order.

Ignoring the brewing tension, Eva heads toward the kitchen counter, rummaging through the cabinets to locate a bottle of alcohol.

"The top left, Eva." Peter sighs, watching her struggle to find what she's after. She retrieves a bottle of whiskey and a couple of glasses, pouring herself a generous amount.

Bucky eyes Eva with a hardened expression, clearly harboring unresolved emotions. Steve, torn between the loyalty to his friend and the Avengers, looks on with a furrowed brow.

As Eva takes a sip, she meets the gaze of each Avenger in turn, a defiant glint in her eyes. The atmosphere in the room remains charged, unease settling over the group. The revelation of Eva's connection with Bucky adds a layer of complexity to an already tense situation.

"Anyone else wants a drink?" Eva offers, her tone a blend of nonchalance and defiance, as if daring them to challenge her. The room hangs in suspense, awaiting the next twist in this unexpected encounter.

Bucky rises to the challenge, earning hesitance from Eva as he snatches the bottle from her grasp. Both of them eye each other carefully. She doesn't protest and instead lets him have the bottle, taking a few steps back with her own drink in hand.

"What's that around your neck?" Bucky asks, pouring his drink and ignoring the perplexed looks from the other men in the room. Eva doesn't say a word and studies Barnes cautiously as he knocks back his first drink, her yet to take a sip of her own.

"It's to stop Ultron from getting back inside Eva's head," Steve decides to answer for her, understanding that Bucky isn't going to need to ask many questions when it comes to Eva like the rest of them. Barnes only frowns, pouring another.

"It also stops Eva from being able to use her mind control," Peter adds, also testing to see how much the soldier knows of Evangeline. Bucky huffs a laugh to this, looking back at Eva,

"So that's why you were using Peter as a human shield... Not able to tell me to go away anymore, huh?" Bucky jibes, sarcasm evident, and he sips his second drink.

She scowls, sipping her own and placing it down on the counter at their side, "Oh, I'm more than happy to take this off and control your ass out of here, James." She threatens, gaining some of her confidence back. She decides to test him, snatching back the bottle from him; reactively, he grabs her wrist, pulling her close.

"Don't fucking test me, Eva," he warns dangerously, earning both Peter and Steve to edge closer. He keeps the tight rein on Evangeline's wrist as she pretends that the tightened grip isn't causing severe discomfort. She doesn't even notice, Peter now beside her, arm out to de-escalate the situation.

"Ok, will you stop? The both of you," Steve reprimands, now near Bucky's side.

Evangeline notices his grip loosen, and she yanks her hand away, still taking the bottle as she does. She grabs her glass and walks away, heading back over to the seating area.

Satisfied that a fight isn't going to break out, Peter sighs, "I'm going to get changed," he declares, using any excuse to leave the room, not wanting to be involved in this much more. No one says a word as he exits, both Steve and Bucky's eyes on Eva as she gets comfortable with her drink.

"Well? Are either of you going to explain what the hell is going on?" Steve snaps, fed up with the ordeal between them both.

Bucky takes a moment to collect himself, running a hand through his hair. He glances at Steve before finally deciding to speak, "Eva and I have history."

"Clearly." It's Roger's turn for sarcasm. 

The room falls into a heavy silence, the weight of the past and the uncertainties of the present lingering. Steve takes a deep breath, realizing the complexities of their intertwined stories.