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

A.E.S.

Ellie did not pass out.

She was proud.

He stood and she was surprised by his height and his strong build. The creases on his face were more pronounced in person than on television, as were the grey hairs on his head and in his goatee. She thought his glasses were ridiculous, but that seemed to be his thing. One of his things.

She extended her hand before he offered his, feeling that she needed to gain his respect as well as his interest. From just behind her she heard Steve say, "Tony, I'd like to introduce you to Ellie Morris. Ellie, this is Tony Stark."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ellie. Why don't you go by Elizabeth, or Jane?"

Of course he knew her full name.

"Why don't you go by Anthony?"

"Ha! You got me. Because my mother thought Tony would be easier for me to spell as a child, and it stuck."

"My mother loved Elizabeth on paper, but not saying it one hundred times a day, and she knew I was no plain Jane."

"Steve, I believe you have a winner."

"I'm well aware."

For the next two hours Tony explained the testing. 

A team of medical doctors and psychologists would use technology found only in that facility to map different parts of her brain and how they functioned. She would have electrodes attached to her head and body, and she would have an IV for various substances that would enhance the process. There would be CAT scans and MRIs and PET scans, but no invasive tests. She would be unconscious for much of the day, but they were able to sedate people safely and wake them with no lingering side effects.

He listened to her own description of what she could do and asked why she was so hesitant to think that she might have abilities beyond a good education and a great gut instinct.

"I know that the people this place was built for have powers, either natural or enhanced, and I'm thankful that they exist. But I'm not a superhero. I don't want to be. I agreed to come here so that maybe what you discover about my brain can help other people. I just don't need to be your kind of special."

"Fair enough," he said, but with a speculative look on his face. "I have some work I need to do, and a small human who insists on a lengthy video chat every day, as does her mother. Shall we meet back here at six? I've got dinner coming in from somewhere fantastic, and we can talk about how you need to prepare for tomorrow." He stood, nodding at them in turn. "Ellie, thank you for agreeing to come. Steve, see you later, my friend."

With that he was off down the hallway and Steve and Ellie were alone. He came to sit beside her, resting his arm on the back of the sofa and running his fingers through her ponytail.

"How are you?"

"Nervous. Excited. Eager to get started. Thank you for staying while we talked. It was reassuring. You were right; I like him. A bit much for me, but fascinating. You two are intriguing as friends, so different. And yet you care for each other - respect each other – profoundly."

"That right there. That's what you do. You don't read tabloids or watch junk television that speculates on our friendship, you've only just met him, and you've never seen us interact before today. And you know the deepest and most important facets of our bond. It's uncanny."

"I don't know what to tell you." Her voice was rising. "I call it like I see it, and I usually see it clearly." She quieted down as she said, "I'm kind of wiped out. I'd like to go lie down for a while."

She slept well on the bed in her room, and woke a few hours later feeling refreshed. She was nearly dressed when she heard a quiet knock. Pulling a sweater over her head as she opened the door. Today, instead of blushing or turning around at the sight of her bare midriff and bra, Steve stepped in, shut the door, and said, "You're a temptress, young lady."

"And are you tempted?"

"You have no idea. But Tony awaits."

Dinner was exquisite sushi, pared with a bottle of excellent white wine. As Ellie took her second sip, Tony jumped up from his seat and took her glass. "I'm a fool! We need you alcohol free, my dear. I'll get you a glass of water."

Steve shook his head and Ellie said, "There is a whole lot of head shaking between you boys. You're going to need whiplash collars soon. Oh, no you're not, because you both get fixed up pretty quick. Well, you get my point."

Tony came back from the kitchen looking serious. "Ok, here's how it's going to go in the morning. Ellie, I need you showered and ready at five o'clock. No makeup, perfume, lotion. Just you. You're going to need to take off those earrings – fantastic job with those, Cap – and the ring as well. No metal hair clips either."

"I can't take the ring off."

"Can't, or won't?"

"Can't. Never have. It'll take snips or a saw, and I'll walk right out the door and all the way home if you even suggest it."

"Ok, so here's what we'll do. We'll leave it on. K?

"K."

"Can I see it? On your hand, of course."

"Sure. Probably not something you'd notice, but it was my Gran's and there it stays."

"I respect that completely. It's lovely. If it never comes off what do you do if you wear another ring on that hand? Does it have to match? I've never had jewelry that didn't come off, only hardware."

"I don't know. I've never worn another ring on that hand." She wondered if this was some Avengers level psychological test that she couldn't figure out. Tony seemed comfortable and honest as he held her hand in his, so maybe not. "I guess matching gold would be nice?"

Tony looked at Steve and gave the slightest nod.

Steve stood and said, stiffly, "I have some paperwork to catch up on. Ellie, I'll be in my room. Why don't you stop by when you're done?"