Bound By Purpose

The Affections of a Stark

"Aren't you coming?" I ask as I open up the car door.

"This isn't any of my business. If you want to come back and tell me after everything you can." He speaks with a seriousness for the first time since we've reunited.  I nod and give him a sweet smile. Stark's are capable of kind gestures.

We're in a smaller cemetery. It's sunny and there's a light breeze that wrinkles the leaves creating a peaceful sound effect that makes me want to just close my eyes and take it all in. But there's Steve standing looking down at a grave. It could be anyone's and as I approach I see that it's Fury's. Obviously he's alive and well.   Steve steps to the side so I can see Sam has come with him. Nick approaches as I come to Steve's side slipping my arm into the crook of his elbow.

"So you two have experiences this sort of thing before?" Nick arrives and shakes Steve's hand. I feel like I'd shared that experience a million times over. Steve looks down at me to give the answer.

"You get used to it when it's yourself... Not so much when it's people you care about." Steve squeezes my hand reassuringly. 

Nick isn't quite sure what to say so instead he get's on with the business he came with. "We've been data-mining Hydra's files. Seems like a lot of rats didn't go down with the ship. I'm headed to Europe tonight, wanted to ask if the three of you would come." I slip my arm out of Steve's grasp and think. I'd wanted to take some time off, but I'd done that before and it nearly killed me... No. I think, that was different, I had lost everything then.

"There's something I need to do first." This comes from Steve.

"Wilson?"

"I'm more of a soldier than a spy." Nick steps towards me.

"Evelyn? You know how much I've valued your work." 

"I know you have, but I think the time's right for a leave of absence. SHIELD is gone, that's been my home, I need time to find out where my new place in this world is. But like I told you before, I will be around if you need me." 

  "Alright then. Anybody asks for me, tell them they can find me right here." He gestures ti his grave quickly and then walks off back towards the street.

"You should be honored, that's about as close as he gets to saying thank you." We all turn to see Natasha feet from us.

"Not going with him?" Steve asks

"No." She says with a flirting smile.

"Not staying here?" Steve asks closing the space between them. If it weren't for the circumstances I'd say there was something going on between the two of them. I'm not complaining though, they'd be cute together.

"I blew all my covers, I gotta go figure out a new one."

"That might take a while." They're locked in a gaze.

"I'm counting on it." I turn towards Sam and mouth, are these two..."  I haven't finished my thought before Sam has shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. Okay good, I'm not the only one who's lost here. "That thing you asked for, I called in a few favors from Kiev." My attention is drawn back to them as she pulls out a file. Looking over Steve's shoulder I see the familiar title "дело No 17". The rest of their conversation is blur as I think back to the cave... It's the file Clint and I found all those years ago. "Be careful, Steve. You might not want to pull on that thread." Once again I'm pulled back towards the present as Nat kisses Steve on the cheek and turns to go.

Steve turns to me. I know what he's about to ask. "Steve I... I need a break." He lets out a breath as if I'd hurt him. "I've chased him for decades, because I didn't know if he could be brought back." I lay my hands over his own. "I know now that he is capable of coming back, I think we should just give him time." I know he didn't see what I saw on that beach or how he came back to me when he saved my life, but I did and I know that I'll find him, or he'll find me. I position myself so I can look up at his lowered head, when Steve looks into my eyes he relaxes.

"I know you need you break. I trust that you saw him the way he used to be, but this is just something I have to do." Even though I wish he'd just come back to New York with me and help me rebuild a life I could never stand in the way of what will put him at peace. Even if he doesn't find the answers, doing something about it will be enough to keep him sane. I could tell him the truth about what James and I shared on the Potomac, but I can't help but feel those words and those glances were for Bucky and I only. We shared a bond that even brothers couldn't share. So I nod instead. 

I reach up to his cheek and rub my thumb back and forth. "I know you do." I step back and reach out a hand, first to Steve and then to Sam. "What I told Nick about always being there for him... It applies to the two of you as well in an even stronger manner." For the first time in a long while I'm able to leave someone that I love with a smile and without a hug. For the first time in a long while this isn't a permanent goodbye, but instead a see you soon.

I don't turn back until I reach Tony at his car, and when I do the two boys have already left. I'm sure Sam went with him, the man had been nothing but honorable in the short time I'd known him. I turn back now, towards my future, towards Tony. "Thank you for this Tony. You've given me this opportunity to have a break, a much needed one." He just smiles and in a rare Stark move embraces me. 

"Let's go then." He says popping around the front of the car and lowering himself inside. I don't hesitate, dropping myself into the comfortable passenger seat as he starts the car and hits the gas pedal. Tony didn't ask any prying questions, didn't change his mind on me, and didn't beg for an explanation. When I look over to thank him for this I see a little boy, Howard's son, a boy who had not yet been broken. I catch my words and turn back out the window at the all the new possibilities passing by.