Little Star // a Steve Rogers, Captain America, Avengers story

Assembly

Nearly three years earlier...

The high school parking lot was full on that crisp Thursday morning in late September. Someone had chosen to park their large black motorcycle on the front walk; it wouldn't be long until Principal Webber took care of that violation.

Pulling into her assigned parking space at the rear of the building, Ellie wondered what was going on. No assembly or bake sale ever drew a crowd like this, especially now. She made her way in through the back door and, although the hallway here was only half-lit and empty, she could almost feel the energy and excitement in the building. Everyone must be at the front of the school, in the auditorium.

Then she remembered. He was coming this morning. That was his bike. He must already be here. She wondered if he would be as handsome in person as on the television, and if she'd have the chance to ask him a question of her own. 

Distracted by her thoughts, she didn't notice the large figure in the hallway until she ran into something cold and hard. A shield.

A voice, smooth and resonant, said, "Excuse me ma'am, I didn't see you there. Are you alright?"

As he turned around Ellie found herself facing well defined pectoral muscles and a slightly worn white star. Looking up to his face, she realized that he was at least a foot taller than she, and twice as wide. She was speechless, but only for a moment.

"I'm pretty sure I'm the one who didn't see you, um, sir. I'm sorry."

"You're not a student, are you?"

"No, sir, I'm the school counselor."

"Well, I'm not your superior officer and you're not a student, so please, no need to call me sir, ma'am."

Ellie laughed out loud. "Then please don't call me ma'am. You're not my student and I'm definitely not older than you!"

He gave a short laugh that didn't reach his eyes. "That's a sure thing. Now, could you show me to the rear entrance of the auditorium? I seem to have gotten turned around."

Ellie suspected he knew that it was right behind him and only asked the way to put her more at ease. She pointed to the door in silence and then, in a purely self-indulgent act, she laid her hand on his bicep as she wished him a good assembly. Beneath her fingers the arm was like rock. He gave her a smile that seemed slightly sad, and thanked her.

Walking to the front of the building, Ellie considered that perhaps he hadn't seemed sad, but wistful. As though he was missing someone. She remembered that his best friend had been lost for decades, and then found, transformed into a ruthless killer. No sooner had that friend been healed and the two were back where they belonged, working together, than he was lost in the Snap. Maybe she could, carefully, ask him a question about it. It might help her work with  students who had also lost best friends that day.

The din was overwhelming in the auditorium. Just over 400 students, more parents than she'd ever seen at an assembly, and every single faculty and staff member on the payroll were there. Ellie's friend Alex, the Spanish teacher, was saving her a seat about halfway up on the aisle.

"Can you believe this?" Alex asked, "It was hardly ever this full even before the... you know." Ellie found it interesting that some people couldn't bring themselves to use the actual word. "This guy always comes off as a bit of a stick in the mud to me, but I guess when you consider when he grew up... it must've been one hell of a shock, coming to in the 21st century. But he's brave as shit, that's for sure. Especially to come face a mob of screaming teens."

Ellie laughed, then just as quickly her face grew serious. "Professionally speaking, it's a minor miracle that he can function at all. I would guess that there's a lot missing from his life, and he might not even realize it. I'm as glad as the next person that he's around, but I find myself feeling sorry for him."