Flying Angel (Bucky Barnes x reader)

Chapter 16 - Shop, shield?

Y/N's POV

I wake up to the sun shining through my slightly sheer curtains and the smell of breakfast wandering through the house. I WISH! I wake up to the horrible sound of the telephone ringing. While I go to pick it up, I glance at the clock. It's 10:18 am, in less than an hour I should be ready for Howard to go shopping with me and Ana up. This is not good. 

I lift the telephone and balance it in my left hand and put the handset between my head and neck. "Hello?" I walk towards the wardrobe to pick a presentable outfit for today but the cord is too short. GREAT! "Am I right? Is this Corporal Y/N Y/L/N? This is Roger Dooley, Chief of the Strategic Scientific Reserve's office in New York City. I called to offer you work as a spy for us. The war may be over, but there still are people who want our downfall. Although I doubt you are needed as a pilot, we have enough men to do the job." Men, always men. They are simply better, right? WRONG. We should be equals, but I doubt that will ever happen. It's been like this for thousands of years.

 I decided to brushy hair while he was speaking. I don't think I'll be able to do it nicely today, I simply don't have the time. "Chief, I hope you know that I am severely wounded. I am more than happy to accept your job offer after I am fully healed, but I may take me a month or two. I'm awfully sorry." I put in my earrings and try to apply my make-up with the help of the little mirror on the bedside table. "Oh, I know but that's not a problem. You're a national hero, we can wait a little. You're friend, Carter, already accepted the job. I'll have to ask you to come in today, maybe around 4 pm. Just so I can make sure you are qualified. We are located at the telephone company, just tell Rose that you came to see me."

I am qualified, I'm applying my make-up while getting a job while trying to stop a heart attack because I'm getting a job. I'll be able to rent an apartment in some months. I won't have to live with Howard. "Of course, Chief. I'll be there" "See you then Y/L/N." "Good bye" I put down the headset and almost rub my face. I stop myself and apply my signature burgundy lipstick. Time to choose clothes. I walk over to the walk in closet and pick a dark green skirt with a matching blazer that has yellow buttons. I chose to wear a simple white blouse under it and yellow pumps.

It's already 11:46, I won't have time to do my hair so I put it into a neat bun. I run to the bathroom to brush my teeth, destroy my lipstick and reapply it. I run down the stairs towards one of the living rooms. I think Howard has three or four if we don't count the rooms dedicated to playing poker or things like that. Ana is already waiting for me, I wave and run to the kitchen to grab an apple. I go back and Mr. Jarvis is already waiting for us in a car, ready to drive us to our destination. I still don't know where we are going, I only know that will be fancy and probably not only one shop.

Ana and I sit on the backseat because we are going to pick Howard up along the way. I miss Bucky, I got used to him being with me all the time in the hospital, now I can't even go a day without him. He promised me he would take me dancing the minute this cast comes off, but that's a long time. Howard gets into the car somewhere in Manhattan, I'm still unfamiliar with New York. 

Howard accompanies us on the famous Fifth Avenue. I'm shocked that all these stores are open only a month after the end of the war. Ana hardly bought anything, she was always complaining about how stupidly they were tailored. That the waist was too high, the shoulders were too broad... But with her help I learned that I wear a size smaller than I thought. I guess that's what happens if you work at a tailor in Hungary.

I mostly bought work clothes, dress-suits and a lot of women's trousers. Even these fashionable jump suits, I thought only factory-workers wore those but they are so comfortable. I also bought nice blouses with a bit of decor and dresses, lots of them. Howard also forced me to try on some evening gowns. I must say, the man knows what's fashionable. I guess I have to thank that to his many lovers. Speaking of evening gowns, I bought one for Peggy too. It's only fair since I ruined hers, that was my only date with Bucky. 

Should I ask him on a date? Would that be too bold? I don't think he knows my telephone number, he doesn't even have the chance to ask me. Maybe he does have my telephone number, but am I his first priority? I mean he has a family that he hasn't seen in years. He saw me everyday, for years. These are my thoughts during the drive away from the stores.

Mr. Jarvis drives me to the New York Bell Company Office. On the way there, Howard tells me that even if I don't get a job, he's planning to start another company called S.H.I.E.L.D, short for Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement Logistics Division and I'll have a job there as Director or Deputy Director. I'm sure he wants it to be S.H.I.E.L.D. because of cap's shield. It's supposed to be better than the SSR. I don't know if it will work out.