Farewells

  AMELIA WAS MOST CERTAINLY NOT PREPARED FOR CROWDS OF PEOPLE. She exited the stage, trying to look as calm as possible but on the inside she was freaking out. Her heart was racing and her palms were sweating from fear. The largest group she had ever been around was about twenty scientists, all employees of Howards Stark himself.

"You alright back here?" A voice sounded off, making the Yang woman jump.

"Not when i'm being scared half to death!" Ames held her hand close to her chest, glaring at the man who was head to toe in a uniform she hated. She could do anything the army could do and dress way better doing it.

"My apologies." Bucky took her hand kissing the back of it softly. "Mrs...?"

"It's Ms." Amelia felt a wave of electricity run through her as she pulled her hand away. "Ms. Yang."

"I guess today is my lucky day, you are a ms and I happen to be looking for one of those." The Barnes man grinned.

"That's just swell, another charmer that intends to hit on me and not follow through with anything." Ames rolled her eyes. "Give me a break."

"No ma'am, anything that I intend to do gets done." Bucky stood up straighter. "I guess you could say I always follow through."

Amelia practically choked as she cleared her throat, moving her hair behind her shoulders.

"Is there a reason you are back here? Mr...?—"

"Barnes." The man spoke, extending his hand. "Bucky Barnes. I seen you run off the stage like a chicken with their head cut off and figured a pretty lady like you needed help."

"You just don't quit, do you?" Ames raised an amused brow, ignoring the gesture and folding her arms over her chest.

"I don't go down easy." Bucky laughed. "You know, Ms. Yang, there's a nice place to go dancing not far from here—"

"She can't." Howard Stark stepped down from the steps connected from the stage, smiling widely.

"Let off the leash? Me? Never." Amelia mumbled to herself, rolling her eyes harshly.

"I was talking to the lady." The Barnes man said, narrowing his eyes.

"...the lady has plans tonight, with me." Howard smiled. "Maybe dancing can happen another night."

Bucky stepped forward, seemingly angered by the mere sight of the Stark man speaking for the girl he just met. Amelia placed her hand on his chest, quickly shaking her head no. She realized she shouldn't be out in public too long, and going dancing was more social time than she needed.

"I'll join you in a minute, Howard. Can I just have a moment alone with him, please?" Ames looked back towards the man with a stern look.

"You know best." The Stark man held his hands in the air, walking off in the direction of the car they had arrived in.

"Howard's an old friend." Amelia removed her hand from Bucky's chest awkwardly. "I've known him for years."

"Does he always speak for you?" The Barnes man questioned. Something about it bothered him, way more than it would normally bother anyone.

"Everyone speaks for me. Look at me, i'm not exactly top dog anywhere." Ames scoffed. "But I bet people don't speak for men like you."

"Damn right." Bucky chuckled slightly. "I speak for myself, and I mean it when I say you've thrown me for a loop."

"How so?" Amelia bit the inside of her lip, swinging slowly from heel to toe.

"I think you're the first woman who's ever got me whipped so quickly." The Barnes man shook his head, a smile on his face. "I think that's your cue."

The man pointed towards the alley where Howard stood with a few women, tapping on his watch.

"Well, um, I guess it is." Amelia nodded her head. "Goodbye Mr. Barnes."

The Yang girl spun on her heel, looking back one last time before heading to the small group of people she had to meet up with.

  MAXWELL HAD BEEN WAITING OUTSIDE FOR WHAT FELT LIKE HOURS. He turned down going out with Bucky and his girls to make sure Steve was okay after being turned away again but, what he didn't expect was that he wouldn't be turned down. In fact, he would be doing a lot more than any of them ever anticipated.

"Max, I did it." Steve ran out quickly, a big and goofy smile on his face. "I really did it!"

The Barnes man got up to his feet, a confused expression on his face.

"What do you mean? How is it even possible?" He laughed, quickly opening his arms in which the Rodgers man ran into, both of them hugging as tight as they ever did before.

"I-..I don't know it just happened." Steve responded in disbelief that this was actually happening. The two of them pulled away from each others arms slightly, both of them coming face to face by accident.

"I'm proud of you, Stevey." Max smiled as an odd moment of silence fell between the two friends.

"I couldn't have done anything without you helping me." The boys stared into each others eyes a few more seconds, seconds that felt like an eternity until both cleared their throats and backed away from each other.

"Well, I guess it's time to go home." Maxwell ruffled Steve's hair. "For one of the last times ever."

"Don't do that." The Rodgers man sighed as they began to walk down the dimly lit street.

"Do what?" The Barnes man questioned with a raised brow.

"I know what you are thinking, you think we are both going to die out there, never see each other again but, I know you're wrong. I can feel it." Steve sighed. "We are fighters."

"I know we are." Max nodded his head slowly. "But if we do die out there... it's worth mentioning that I care about you."

Maxwell placed his hands in his pockets, he had never been the emotional type and he hated that tonight he was turning into one of those people who cry for no reason.

"I care about you too, Maxy." Steve rubbed the back of his neck. "A lot."

"We've got a lot to talk about after winning this war, don't we?" The Barnes man chuckled as he kicked a rock down the almost empty sidewalk.

"I'd say so." The Rodgers man kept his eyes pointed on the ground, knowing this night was the last that he'd ever be normal with Maxwell again.

Because after this, normal wouldn't even exist anymore.

AUTHORS NOTE —
This was a short one but it was kind of a continuation of the last chapter. Bucky, Max, and Steve will all be in their own separate stations in the next chapter.

Which pairing is better so far? Ames and Bucky, Ames and Howard, or Steve and Max?

Hope you enjoyed!