𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐃 - - - ⁍ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐒𝐒.
BARNES IS CHOMPING AT THE BIT, pulling on the reins and stamping his feet. the terms and conditions that steve lay before him, the unknown present at the forefront, rattles his new hire. cocky smile still plays on his lip but underneath, the boss is disappointed. he had hoped bucky would be a yes man. but if the man is bold enough, challenging enough, maybe he’ll prove to be a better asset than a yes man.
face breaks into a wide grin. chuckle rumbles past smooth lips as he shakes his head. pizza and coke, of both varieties, sounds amazing. especially the new york kind. “sure, i’ll buy. but it’ll be a reward for a job well done.” if you pass, is what steve doesn’t say.
fingers loop around a keyring. take a flashy car would not be steve’s first choice but he’s not going to comment. this is barnes’ show. the blonde will see how this plays out and what tricks the new hire can pull.
keys shove in jean pocket, fingers pulling out his phone. steve sends a quick text, letting his men know they were on the move and that they needed to be read. if they took a flashy car, a high speed chase would be in order. hell, maybe even a drive buy. how well would barnes work under pressure? how well did he work when his plan did not go accordingly? only time would tell.
they enter a lift, taking it down to the garage. it’s a square of concrete with echoing walls. spotlights circle around everyone of his cars and bikes. the blonde nods his head. “take your pick, barnes.”
𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐘 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋, to spear a hook through a slice of pizza and dangle it before some unsuspecting fool. just to facilitate your bidding ? DEPRAVITY knows no bounds here ...
IT WORKS. lightning eyes spark with eager delight when the offer is made. hell, james even feels a sudden rush of PRIDE when he sees what he thinks to be a genuine smile on steve’s face. if steve is letting barnes see even a glimpse of his sense of humor, surely it must mean the mafioso is starting to feel a little more comfortable around him, right ? he complements steve’s cheshire grin with another one of his own, suddenly buoyant in his steps.
❛ yeah ? let’s get this show on the road then ! ❜
the garage is a magnificent sight to behold ! james is like a kid in a candy store, instantly salivating, eyes as wide as saucers. ❛ damn -- ❜ he says lowly, an impressed whistle cutting through the air. he approaches a nearby mclaren - shimmering a deep shade of CRIMSON - and chuckles as he bends over to stick his head through the open window. ❛ well - fuck me, ❜ he breathes while examining the sleek leather seats, expensive features and polished design. ❛ you ever actually take these out for a spin ? or are they just trophies ? ❜ steve did not strike him as the flashy type, but the TRUE crime would be keeping these beauties locked up tight, never to see the light of day or the gleam of night.
through the window, something else catches the man’s attention and the playful charade is broken with genuine amazement. he pushes away from the fancy car and over towards a nearby motorbike, the air exhaling quickly from his lungs. black with dark gold embellishments, james finally believes in love at first sight. he bites his lip and carefully runs his hand over the handlebar - touching the agusta like one might handle a lover. james shakes his head in a daze. ❛ well ain’t you a stunner ? ❜ he allows himself one guilty, unprofessional moment before blinking back to reality with a heavy sigh. ❛ one day, baby ... ❜ an intimate promise made between him and the bike.
❛ alright - enough fuckin’ around. ❜ with a sheepish smile, he turns himself back around to face steve. ❛ i just wanted to see the merchandise, rogers. i’m not an idiot. i know we can’t take any of these ... as much as i would love to. ❜ he tips his head to the side and looks around. ❛ where do you keep the cars with the big trunks ? ❜ a joke, sort of. ❛ y ’ know - the more inconspicuous cars ? something you never see a cop pullin’ over. like a punch buggy. ❜ another joke. he is pretty sure long - legs mcgee over there wouldn’t even be able to fit himself inside one.
