A/N-  Freudian Slip- an unintentional error regarded as revealing subconscious feelings.

1945

"This time we're not gonna just blow up the facility, we've got a real mission. Steve, your team is gonna distract Hydra and blow up this place in an hour while Bucky and I will come from behind and look for information. Give us an hour and if we're not back until then, just blow it up anyway. We'll pay attention to the time. Got it?" The Howling Commandos nod at my plan. "Alright. In five minutes, we arrive. Be ready!"

I still remember Howard's haunting words, reminding me that I shouldn't dare to forget that I'm not allowed to tell anyone about the Manhattan Project, so I had to tell them that Hydra may have a secrete project with some new bombs. I just don't want him to feel even more guilty about this.

"Being bossy makes you pretty hot." Bucky whispers into my ear as everyone goes back to their seats and the blood rushes into my ear, making me probably look like a tomato.

"Ssht, I just let you join me because you'd follow me anyway, no matter if I allow it or not. Apart from that, you're the best sniper." I lie, nudging him playfully and earning a knowing glance from him. Rolling with my eyes, I admit the truth. "And because you're really attractive in your uniform."

"Much better." He smirks cockily and nods with satisfaction. What a conceited jerk, but at least he's my jerk. Bucky has been somehow all excited about the mission, probably because we would work alone and without Steve for once.

"Don't forget the time, okay? I don't wanna blow up my best friends." Steve reminds us as he sits down next to me in the troop carrier.

"Alright, mom." I promise him playfully. "Don't let Hydra take you down. And don't be reckless again, punk."

Steve smirks and we arrive near the facility with a safe distance, but still close enough to see it. The automobiles are hidden under shrubberies and snow and we all sneak off to our enemy's location, the cold lashes on my face. The snow in the forest hides the noise we would have usually made and our attention is focused on possible dangers, the guns are loaded and my hands are ready to react if it's necessary. Steve is as the Captain in front, followed directly by Bucky and me and behind us is the rest of the Howling Commandos.

At a certain distance, Steve gestures me silently to separate and walk with Bucky to the other side of the building and I nod, putting on my hood where my ponytail and my face are slightly hidden. Bucky and I sneak behind the trees, using them to remain undiscovered as we hear how Steve's team starts attacking the south building. A huge fight arises and I glance at my partner.

"Now." I command and we leave our hiding place to arrive at the north building, quickly crossing the free and visible space between the forest and the facility. Nobody notices us as we walk along the wall, being out of sniper's views.

Two Hydra guards are standing in front of the entrance of the building while the rest of them help to fight against Steve's team which will ease our job for sure. I knock out the left one and Bucky shoots down the right one without wasting any more time, the surprise effect has given us advantages.

"Maybe we should've asked them where the plans are before, you know, knocking them out. It would've saved a lot more time." I suggest, staring with regret at the unconscious and dead soldiers. Bucky stays silent for a moment, processing my idea.

"... Let's do it the next time." He avoids our stupid mistake and enters the facility, I follow him. It's similar to the other locations, the cold darkness of the corridor hardly offers us light which is why I let a small voltage arise in my hand. We're quiet, hearing German accents at the end of the corridor that let us know that we're not alone and get closer as the voices become louder.

Bucky immediately attacks the first one, using his gun as a weapon to hit him to the ground while I use my fists to punch the other one against the wall, two of them are unconscious. The third one grabs me from behind, his arms is placed around my neck as he starts strangling me. The air gets thinner and the pressure around my throat gives me a headache as I struggle to breathe.

"Eve!" Bucky shouts worriedly and wants to help me but I grab my attacker by his arm around me and electrify him. The soldier cries with pain and lets go of me, finally falling down. Pinning him to the ground, I glare at him, breathing heavily.

"Where are the plans?!" I demand to know and he clenches his teeth, feeling threatened by the electricity in my hand and refusing to tell us anything.

"Cut off one head, two more shall take its place." He hisses with a thick German accent and takes out a pill, attempting suicide. "Hail Hydra."

"Then it's good that I have two hands to cut them both off." I hit his face with my elbow before he can take the pill. Standing up, I look at the unconscious face of the German soldier who has now a black eye.

"Are you okay??" Bucky takes a look at me, his eyes analyze my throat which barely hurts and his hands cup my face, his thumbs running gently over my cheeks. I smile dreamily at his concern and nod.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." I assure him and he lets out a sigh of relief, planting a long kiss on my forehead. He's so close that his scent overcomes my senses and my eyes shut for a second as my hands rest on his chest, indulging in it for a short moment. The ear-piercing sound of the alarm system interrupts us and we share a knowing glance.

"We need to hurry." He urges and I nod, starting to run with him down the corridor. I notice the heavy and fast steps from a distance and motion Bucky to enter the next room to avoid wasting time with the Hydra force. Closing the door behind us, we land in an empty lab and listen to the removing sound of the troop outside. "Can you- "

I interrupt him by covering his mouth with my hand, feeling the cold on his skin. With a gesture, I motion him to be quiet, just in case if they hear us. His cheeks silently move, forming a big smile and I frown in the weak light at him. Bucky lifts his hand, placing it on mine and pressing it softly. Then he gives me a kiss on my hand and makes me smile with a blush, my heart races like hell.

The guards are gone and a silence arises, I open the door, checking on the corridor. It's empty and I turn back, closing the door again. Bucky's grin still remains when I remove my hand, mischief is written on his face.

"We have to focus on the mission, Bucky." I remind him, holding back a chuckle and trying to stay quiet.

"So it'd be totally wrong to not be opposed to making out?" He raises a brow in the air and I slap him playfully, biting on my lower lip to prevent a smirk. "Stop doing that, you know that this is like the biggest distraction ever."

"Yep, I do." I smirk knowingly and pat his shoulder. "You're gonna guard the door now while I look around and check on the other room." I point at the door that leads me to another room.

"Why do I have to guard the door?"

"Because I'm the one who actually understands german." I whisper shout at him, already looking through the lab and walking around. Except for chemicals that I can't really name, here's nothing useful at all, not even a notebook or any other plans. I continue my search and try it with the other room, shooting Bucky one last look before entering.

The other room is weirdly empty, there isn't any furniture or windows, it's just a big empty room with this door to walk in. I frown, looking for any hidden buttons or anything but there's literally nothing, only these dull walls of metal. Suddenly a hollow noise is behind me and I turn around, seeing that the heavy door has closed itself. Immediately running towards it, I try to open the door but without success.

"What the hell..." I mutter and use my strength but it's like magnetized to the frame. Bucky is on the other side of the door, trying to open it as well while shouting something that I don't understand. "I don't understand you! Bucky!"

I can see through the glass that he seems to be furious, running with his hands through his hair and clenching his teeth. I produce electricity and shoot it against the door but it doesn't even move, not even a bit. It is like a trap in a cage and I feel helpless and weak again, something that I haven't felt for a long while.

"Come on!" I groan frustrated while trying to open the door by running against it and attacking it with my power. Bucky's gun doesn't work either, even the glass is barely damaged. What kind of stupid mechanism is this? I try for the last time to kick the door open, but just my ankle ends up being hurt. "Open!!"

Bucky glances helplessly at me, not knowing what to do and I sigh, placing my hand on the glass as he presses his against mine. There must be a reason why the door is so safe that not even sound comes through, also the glass is  thick and incredibly hard. Bucky's eyes suddenly widen in fear and his mouth forms my name, trying to warn me.

I frown and turn around, noticing how gas leaves the ceiling. Trying not to panic, I attempt to open the door again but it's not effected at all again, neither by my kicks nor by the electricity. No, no, no, I beg and feel how the air gets thinner, making my lungs ask for more. I start shaking as my chest feels panicky tight and rip off my hood, using it as a mask, even though it's not gonna help forever.

Just seconds pass and the gas is already everywhere, the pain in my throat is unbearable and my eyes start tearing up. Hydra wants to kill me like the Jews. My sight of Bucky becomes foggy and blurry, I can barely see him anymore but I'm sure that he's freaking out right now. Sinking to the ground, I start coughing and gasping for air, but my chest burns with pain and feels like exploding.

My view is nebulous and I feel dazed, I'm not even able to think and my mind is like a mess, just a painful ache is left behind. The cough scratches my throat and the gas stabs my lungs, they're on a never ending fire. I can't even sit anymore and lie on the cold ground, my eyes burn with tears and my view slowly blackens as my strength leaves me.

"Eve!" Bucky's voice is the last thing that I notice before I drown into the darkness.

***

My eyes flutter when I slowly wake up, facing the bright light of the hospital ward and feeling how the oxygen mask helps me to breathe. The weakness makes it hard for me to move anything, even looking around requires suddenly too much strength. I recognize the SSR symbol which calms me down and notice how Bucky sleeps on the chair right next to me, his head lies on my bed.

"B..." I try to speak but the pain just holds me back. My throat is dry and it feels like I haven't drunken water for weeks. Instead of trying to speak again, I just shake him up while inhaling the air.

"Hmm..." He mutters half asleep but immediately wakes fully up and reacts when he sees that I'm awake. Holding my hand, he glances relieved at me. "Oh, my God, Eve, are you okay, does it still hurt? You scared the crap outta me."

I just nod and swallow after clearing my throat, gaining the strength. "Just... my throat. Feeling weak... Can I get water?"

"Of course." He takes a glass of water and removes the mask to help me to drink. The cold liquid basically saves my life and refreshes my throat in a satisfying way. "To spare you the questions that just cause pain, Steve walked in and wanted to check on us, his shield could break the door. I carried you out and stayed with you the whole time, there won't be any remaining damages."

"That's great..." My voice is quiet like a whisper and I form a smile. "Thank you."

"I was so damn scared about you." Bucky blurts out with a shaky voice, pressing my hand lightly. "You can't just walk straight into danger like that, don't do this again, okay? Promise me. You can't just die before me. You still need to become Mrs Barnes."

"Wait, what? Did you just... " My voice trails off and the question stays unfinished. He just now realizes what he has indirectly done and his eyes widen in shock, being completely speechless by himself.

"I... I- uhm..." Bucky stutters and lets quickly go of my hand as if it was hot coal, standing up and suddenly rushing out of the room. I still stare at the door and his words echo through my mind, repeating it over and over again.

Did he just propose to me?