𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ Steve Rogers

Never Been Free ~ 36

As late afternoon settles in and envelops the safehouse, the team exercises prudent discretion, granting Evangeline the solitude she seeks following the altercation with Bucky and the new device. She remains sequestered in her room, steadfast in her resolve to remain there, while Steve stands sentinel outside the cabin, maintaining vigilance.

Eventually, Bucky ventures outside to join Steve, who is engrossed in the task of chopping logs for the evening fire to ensure the safehouse remains cozy. From her vantage point by the window, Evangeline observes the scene unfolding outside with a clear view of the porch, her gaze penetrating the curtain as she witnesses the two men engaged in a tense dialogue.

"Need any help?" Bucky offers, positioned on the porch's final step, while Rogers swiftly moves to fetch another log, poised to split it with his axe.

"With what?" Steve replies curtly, his attention more focused on the task at hand than on Barnes.

Bucky discreetly sighs at Steve's reception and gazes past him, continuing, "Well, you've been out here for hours... I just figured you might want some help with whatever it is you're doing." He gestures toward the sizable pile of wood occupying the yard.

"Uh, nope. I'm good, Buck." Once more, Steve's response is succinct, his gaze still averted as he picks up the axe, preparing to split another log.

A brief silence envelops them as Barnes observes Steve's deft swing, cleanly halving the log. He sighs once more before speaking, "Look, I'm sorry about how things went down earlier with Eva..."

With a final, deliberate pause, Steve sets down the axe, meeting Bucky's gaze with a raised eyebrow. "I don't think I'm the one you should be apologizing to." Bucky begins to reply, but Steve cuts him off with a shake of his head.

"I don't know exactly what's going on between you two, and frankly, I don't want to know, Bucky... But there are better ways to ensure Eva remains our ally in this." Steve's tone is clipped, catching Bucky off guard.

"What? Of course Eva is an ally—" Bucky's brows furrow in confusion.

"So why do you keep acting like she isn't?" Steve's retort is swift, his gaze unwavering. Barnes hesitates, uncertain how to respond. "Bucky, I get it. I know what she did to you wasn't right, but you both are going to have to find a way to move past this," Steve insists.

Bucky's jaw clenches, and he looks away with a resounding sigh. "It's a lot more complicated than that, Steve," he replies, his tone heavy with emotion.

Steve meets his gaze squarely, putting down the axe with a thud. "Because you and Eva obviously have history?" he remarks, a hint of sarcasm lacing his words. "Trust me, everyone knows, since the way you stormed into the compound the other day." His tone carries a bitter edge, and Bucky can only stare back, somewhat dumbfounded by his friend's reaction.

"Why does it bother you, that we do?" Bucky's voice lowers, carrying a weight of uncertainty that hangs in the air like a heavy fog.

"It doesn't," Steve huffs, his movements sharp and deliberate as he turns to pick up another stump. The muscles in his arms tense, betraying the underlying tension.

"The way you're acting says different..." Bucky's tone challenges, still subdued.

"I really don't know what you're talking about," Rogers retorts, his attention elsewhere, but the twitch in his jaw betrays his unease.

"I'm talking about where Eva is concerned, you—" Bucky's words are abruptly halted as Steve's frustration boils over, his grip on the stump tightening until it splinters in a sudden fit of agitation over the conversation about Evangeline. Both sides of the stump fall to the ground with a resounding thud, leaving Bucky wide-eyed.