Chapter 61: Cheers

Chapter 61: Cheers

Natasha quickly regained her self control, wiping away her tears and coughing, before looking around as if for a distraction.

"This all looks pretty professional," She said, her intelligent eyes jumping from object to object. "I don't suppose you would give me a tour?"

"That depends, would you immediately pass it all on to Fury?" I asked, leaving back in my chair.

"...That depends on what you show me," She said with a shrug. "I would report anything dangerous."

"Yeah, alright," I said with a chuckle, standing up. "I'll give you the short tour."

I led her around the warehouse, showing off a few of its features. I made sure to call the UCM's simple production machines, giving the illusion that they made simple items without actually lying. I showed her the workshop area, a small space set aside for simple metal fabrication, as well as an area with a few conceptually crafted 3D printers for various sizes and materials.

My last stop was a wooden door that opened into my living area. A much larger space than my old apartment, it was a warm but modern design. The space was very open, with a large kitchen on one side and a fully equipped living room on the other. It lacked a real kitchen table, instead opting for a long island with comfortable bar stools along it. The living room had a crackling fireplace, making the room feel even cozier.

"Your house is connected to your workshop?" She asked as she looked around. "Does Fury know you moved?"

"I hope not considering him knowing where I live is why I moved in the first place," I explained. "You guys might be clean now, but we both know how little that matters for an intelligence agency. With the right leverage in the right place you can learn anything you want."

The Shield agent reluctantly nodded, turning around before her eyes focused on the window on the opposite side of the living room. It displayed a snowy tundra with an incredible view, as if the whole warehouse was perched on a massive mountain overlooking a pristine and unbroken snowy pine forest. It looked as if she was memorizing the image before I clapped twice and the shades descended, blocking the view.

"You don't think you'll be able to figure out where we are just by that view do you?" I asked, smirking as she looked at me annoyed, relenting after a moment.

"Sorry, can't help it," She said with a shrug. "Old habits die hard."

"I suppose that's true."

The tour ended not long after that, the two of us back at the landing pad, which was set

flush into the ground.

"So, not going to show me what's through the other doors?" Natasha asked, gesturing to a heavy armored door about ten feet wide and eight tall, a second much more normal looking door beside it.

"That leads to an area still under construction," I said, pointing to the heavy armored door. "The other just leads outside. You don't want to go out there, it's awfully cold and you're not dressed for those conditions."

For a moment Natasha looked like she was going to ask anyway, but she didn't, instead sticking out her hand.

"Well then I guess it's time I headed back," She said with a genuine smile. "Thank you Maker. I I still can't believe you fixed me but thank you."

"Happy to help Natasha," I said, returning her smile and taking her hand.

With a few words I traveled her back to DC, flying with her back to Shield. I took the wing pack back from her and returned to the warehouse. When I got back Ema was still working on the fall mural, specifically a tree with hundreds of different color leaves, most of them shades of orange and red.

"It's coming along nicely."

"Thank you, this tree is going to take at least the next few days to finish," She responded, using the controls on her hovering bench to slowly sink back to the floor. "Everything work out alright?"Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

"Yeah, she is all set," I said. "She seemed happy with the results, so I won't argue with her."

Ema nodded, cleaning up her paints and brushes before hopping off of her bench.

"So Jarvis called earlier, when you were giving your tour," She said. "Tony and Pepper are coming home from their vacation in a few days"

"How's everything going with you two?" I asked, turning slightly to them. "You find a apartment you like yet Bucky?"

"Yeah, it's not too far from here actually," He answered with a shrug. "It's a bit expensive for my tastes but it's nice."

"Let me know if you need help moving things or want anything done," I offered with a smile. "I'm the ultimate moving service, and after I custom made almost everything in my new place I have some cool things that really spice a place up. I managed to make my fireplace burn the same logs forever, with no smoke or oxygen loss. It's even adjustable like a gas stove, but with the real deal aesthetic."

"Thanks. I don't know about the custom stuff but I might take you up on the moving service." He said with a small smile before taking another sip of beer.

"What about you Steve? How are things with Peggy?"

"We are taking it slow," He answered with a shrug. "While the wholething was happening, we both kind of just slipped into old habits, older for her. When it all settled we both agreed to take a step back. She moved into her own apartment and I got one nearby. We have been on a couple of dates, and we spend a lot of time at work together. It's going well though."

"What he did not mention is the love sick puppy eyes they shoot each other whenever the other one isn't paying attention," Bucky said, his smile now big. "I give them three weeks before going slow isn't going fast enough."

I chuckled as Steve groaned, rubbing his face.

"How's work going? Are you three settling into your official positions?" I asked. "Ema and I stopped in today to fix up your fragility problem."

Steve and Bucky had both been officially put in charge of the enhanced squad, with Steve leading and Bucky as his second command. Peggy was given an intelligence position, far away from active field duty.

"You did? How did you manage that?" Steve asked before waving me off. "No never mind, I know you won't actually tell me here. How effective is it?"

"It's significant," I said with a shrug. "Fury has all the data I have on it. If you're interested in it for yourselves just let me know."

They both gave me non-committal shrugs, as they always did when I mentioned my method of permanent personal enhancement.

"I'm glad though, ever since Johnson broke his foot they have all been worried about it," Bucky said. "Bunch of pansies. It's not like it won't get better in less than ten minutes with your other gear."

"Sounds like you two are having fun."

"He is just being overly harsh," Steve said, nudging his best friend. "It's refreshing to work with a team who is both skilled and enhanced. Leading the Howling Commandos was great, but knowing that my team can follow me when I jump fifteen feet from a second story balcony is priceless."

"You're welcome," I said with a smirk. "And Peggy?"

"She complains about the work but she secretly loves it," Bucky said. "Well not so secretly really. You can tell this is what she lives for."

"She thought she put it behind her Buck," Steve said with a somber shake of his head. "After what she went through can you really blame her?"

"If it's too private, it's fine, but what happened?" I asked.

"Peggy was married," Steve explained, sounding a bit lost. Not angry or jealous, just lost. "Long enough to have a son, named Steve. They both died when their home burnt to the ground while Peggy was away on business."

"Fuck." I cursed under my breath, shaking my head as my mind flew back to arriving at the home I grew up in, the whole house a charred shell, knowing my parents had been inside. "That That's horrible."

"She threw herself into her work after that," Steve continued. "Really burnt herself out."

The three of us were quiet for a few minutes, before I finally spoke, gesturing to the bartender.

"C'mon, let's get some food, then we can head out to the range. I've got some new toys for us to try out."

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