CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE:
❝︎Discreet❞︎

TONY STARK WAS NOT HAPPY WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT ELOISE HAD SNUCK AWAY WITH LILIYA, WANDA, AND NATASHA. He walked away from Steve, walking aggressively towards her and coming to a stop right in front of her. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking at his fiancé expectantly. Eloise just looked at him innocently, looking at him as if silently asking him not to be mad at her. He clenched his jaw, trying not to cave into those  eyes that she was giving him. After a moment, a sigh fell from his lips, closing his eyes as he finally gave up on trying to be mad at her.

     "What were you thinking?" Tony asked her. "I came home and you weren't there and then I got here and you weren't there either, I didn't know what to think. I immediately thought of the worst thing possible."

     Eloise grabbed his hands. "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry."

     "Why did you even go? Rogers is not happy that Liliya went along with this without consulting him. He would've helped."

      "I wanted it to be subtle." Eloise answered him. "Look, I had to get my parents work back before HYDRA up and moved it. Honestly, I'm surprised that it was still in the same facility." Tony's eyes lingered on the blood that still covered her clothes, and for a minute he thought she was injured, but when Eloise just shook her head he knew that wasn't the case. "Uh. . .right, so, listen, I may or may not have ripped a guy's throat out. . . with my teeth."

     Tony blinked, his mouth slightly agape. He closed it, pursing his lips for a moment. "Well, that's good to know that's a defense tactic." Tony nodded his head. "I wish you would've told me before doing something stupid you know. I could've been of help. Anyone in this facility would've gladly helped you out."

     "I know that." Eloise nodded her head. "Like I said, I wanted to be discreet and I wanted this to be quick."

     "You call ripping a guy's throat out discreet?" Tony asked, cocking an eyebrow at her.

     Eloise stared at him for a moment. "You know, you're taking the whole 'ripping a guy's throat out' thing very well."

     "Well if you're trying to scare me off, you're going to have to try so much harder than that." Tony told her. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'm just relieved to know that you're alright."

     "I would've told you, but I thought you would've talked me out of it so I didn't. I should've had the decency to at least leave you a note. I'm sorry." 

     "It's alright." Tony placed his hands on her shoulders. "But maybe you should go and tell Rogers that this was your idea so he doesn't try to take Liliya's head off."

     Eloise chuckled. "Well, if you didn't take my head off, I'm sure that Steve will be understanding, but for Liliya's sake, I'll go talk to him. She'll be the one to take his head off. She is the assassin in the relationship."

     Tony nodded. "Well then maybe you should go and try to save him instead."

     "Alright." Eloise nodded. "I'll come right back to you, I promise."

     "Counting on it." He pressed a kiss to her lips and she smiled as she kissed him back.

Eloise pulled away and walked away from Tony, a gentle smile lingering on her lips. She appreciated him for being so understanding. Tony knew how important her parents work was to her. He knew that their work was the only thing left of them that she had and he didn't want to take that away from her. He wanted Eloise to be happy and he knew she would only be upset if she knew her parents work was in someone else's hands. All he wanted was to be able to help her. He couldn't bare to lose her again, and Eloise knew that. She felt guilty for leaving him the way she had, but she wasn't thinking. She just wanted the case back, and thankfully she got it with no casualties.

     Eloise made her way down the hall, smiling slightly when she saw Steve and Liliya talking to each other. Liliya had her arms crossed and an eyebrow cocked. Steve had his eyes closed as if he had regretted whatever it was that he just said. Eloise walked into the room, knocking on the door causing the couple to turn and look at her. "Sorry to barge in. I just wanted to talk to Steve."

     "He's all yours." Liliya muttered, walking away.

     Eloise watched her leave with raised eyebrows and turned to look at Steve. "What did you say to her?"

     "Something I regret. I have to apologize to her. I didn't mean it the way it came out. Even after being alive for a hundred years, I still don't know how to talk to women." A sigh fell from Steve's lips. "It makes me wish my sister were here to help me."

Eloise smiled at the mention of Evelyn Rogers. While Peggy Carter, Evelyn's wife, was still alive, she was very old and Evelyn had died a few years back. When Steve had come to her, telling her that Bucky was alive, Evelyn had smiled happily. That was the last time seeing her. Steve had got to see his twin's happy smile one last time, getting the chance to tell her how much he loved her one last time and getting the chance to hear her say it back. It still ached him, thinking about her. While Peggy suffered with dementia, Evelyn's head was straight on her shoulders and she had remembered everything. They got to talk about the good times, laughing with each other, and of course Evelyn always held it over his head how mad she was at him for leaving her so suddenly, but it was only jokes. Evelyn loved her brother more than she loved anyone, including her wife. Steve and Evelyn were two peas in a pod, and now it was just Steve left.

     "She's here." Eloise assured her. "In spirit. Besides, I'm sure that Angel of yours is watching over her."

     Steve smiled at the thought. "They were best friends back in the day."

     Eloise wished she knew how to comfort him, but she also knew that Steve was content because Evelyn got to live a full life, and she got to live it with the woman that she loved. "Don't go too hard on Liliya. I told her not to tell you. I roped her in first. I just wanted to get my parents work back, I should've known that you would've gladly helped. You and Tony both. I'm sorry for that."

     "I'm not mad." Steve told her. "I understand why you did it."

     "Liliya can overreact sometimes."

     "It's always for good reason." Steve told her.

     Eloise smiled. "You really love her, don't you?"

     Steve smiled back. "I do."

     "Then follow after her and tell her that I explained everything to you and apologize. . . even if you have nothing to apologize for. She'll apologize too."

     "Even if she has nothing to apologize for." Steve finished and Eloise nodded. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you, El." Eloise nodded and Steve walked out to go find his girlfriend.