Escaped

“You have everything?” Bucky asked you when you shouldered your bag. “Not forgetting anything?”

“You mean do I have all four boxes worth of my belongings, yeah,” you laughed, running a hand through your hair. “I have a lot of paying you back to do,” you told him. You rubbed your new arm under one of the hoodies Bucky let you keep. Pepper had given it the option to be disguised as a regular arm, which is what you did more often than not. Made conversations a lot less complicated.

“Hey, let’s get a move on,” Sam said. “I feel like Fury’s about to start sending some angry texts for us to get our asses to the quinjet at HQ.”

You smiled. “Alright. Let’s get going, then. All my stuff fit in your car?”

“(Y/N), you have four small boxes. They fit. Now, let’s go. I really don’t want to hear Fury yelling at us.”

The three of you piled into Sam’s car, Bucky sitting in the back by his own choice. It seemed to be some deal Sam and Bucky worked out a while back.

“I can’t believe your apartment is pre-furnished,” Sam said as he drove you to SHIELD’s headquarters. “I had to buy all my furniture myself.”

“I know, it’s almost like Fury knows I have literally no money. On the bright side, he managed to change my status from “missing” and “assumed dead” to “living” so I guess that’s something.”

Sam laughed. “That is something. You sure you’ll be alright down there?”

“I mean, it’ll be new, but I’ll adjust.”

“Well, if you need anything, I still keep up with some people down there.”

You smiled. “Thanks, Sam. You’re too great.”

You quickly rose through SHIELD’s ranks, overseeing most of the departments. The increased station came with increased pay, so you didn’t complain much. Though, you were always busy with something or other, constantly moving around headquarters. You barely had time to grab a drink of water most days.

“I have a meeting with Fury at one, and a video conference with Hill at three,” you told your assistant as you walked through SHIELD’s hallways. “Set a reminder on my calendar. Thank you, Drew,” you said, taking your coffee from the intern who immediately scurried off to finish coffee deliveries. “We have new recruits who need to go directly into tactical training. Make sure Agent Carter is present for the training, she knows the curriculum best. Whe-”

“Ms. (L/N), there are two men waiting for you in your office,” the secretary said when you walked through the doors on your floor.

You groaned and pinched your temples. “I don’t really have time for unscheduled meetings. But thank you, Chelsea,” you said. “Any other messages?”

“Jonathan said he’ll be stopping by to take you out to lunch. He said today was Mediterranean.”

“Thank you, Chelsea.” You dismissed your assistant to his desk for the time being and stepped into your office. You froze. “Sam? Bucky? Oh, my god, what are you two doing here?” you asked, hugging them both simultaneously.

“Well, we were on an operation in Virginia and decided to drop in,” Sam said, reaching across your desk and grabbing a mint from the bowl you kept on it. “Wow, you’ve really made a place for yourself here. So, how high up are you?”

“Just below Hill,” you said with a smile.

“Whoa!”

You took your seat at your desk and shuffled a few papers around before searching your cluttered desk for a pen. “So, what was the mission?”

“Old HYDRA base,” Bucky said. “Some agents were setting up camp there and trying to-”

“Knock knock,” a dark-haired man said, poking his head in your office with a wide smile. “You almost ready to go for lunch, (Y/N/N)?”

“Uh, almost,” you said. “And like it or not, I’m paying this time.”

“That’s not what we agreed on.”

“Well, tough. You’ve been buying my lunches for weeks. And Mediterranean is expensive.” You saw the confused look on Sam and Bucky’s faces. “Oh, how rude of me. Sam, Bucky, this is Jonathan. Jonathan, this is-”

“Captain America,” he said with a smile. “It’s an honor to meet you.” He shook Sam’s hand then turned to Bucky. “And you’re the Winter Soldier.or should I call you White Wolf? It’s great to meet you, too.”

You smiled. “Well, just let me finish up here and then I’ll be ready to go, okay?”

“‘Kay.” Jonathan kissed your cheek and stepped out of your office, talking, well, flirting, with your receptionist while he waited.

“So, who’s that? Your boyfriend?” Bucky asked, trying not to sound jealous.

You laughed. “Oh, god, no. No, Jonny’s my great-nephew. My brother, the one I didn’t get along with, had two kids after I disappeared. The younger one was a girl. He named him after me, the old sap. Her son is Jonathan, named after my brother.” You sighed, scribbling your signature on a paper. “Fury keeps me busy. Barely have time to feed my cat, let alone date. I’m starting to think it’s intentional,” you laughed. “So, what can I do for you boys?”

“Come out for drinks with us tonight,” Sam said. “While we’re in town. We miss you, (Y/N/N).”

You smiled and scanned your eyes over calendar. “Well, I’m free tonight. Good thing, too. I have a gala tomorrow night that I cannot miss.”

“Awesome,” Sam said. “6 o’clock, we’re picking you up from here.”

“Got it. Don’t be late,” you laughed. “Now, I have a lunch date with my nephew, so I have to get going.” You slid away from your desk and gathered your stuff before heading to the lobby. The guys stayed in your office for another minute. Bucky watched you walk out, joking with Jonathan.

“What’s wrong?” Sam asked with a sigh.

“I miss her, man. I miss her so much.”

Sam groaned, rubbing his face. “Talk to her, Bucky. When she gets back from lunch and we’re done meeting with Fury. Talk to her. You’re gonna drive me crazy.”

“Barnes, you’re an idiot,” Fury said. “I have interfered in (L/N)’s personal life for months. Hiring her nephew, keeping her schedule packed, getting her a cat… I can only keep this going for so long. She’s going to end up dating sooner or later if you don’t get your shit together and fucking ask her out.”

Bucky sighed. “I guess you’re right.” He rubbed his flesh hand over his metal arm.

“Of course I’m right. Although, if I’m being honest, it was Carol’s idea.”

“What? Danvers set this up?” Sam laughed. “Oh, that’s rich. No wonder it was so well-planned.”

“So, are you going to man up and talk to that poor girl?”

“Yeah. yeah, I will. Tonight. I’ll tell her tonight.”