THE INBETWEEN ~ STEVE ROGERS [5]

San Francisco

San Francisco was cool and foggy in the summer, but that didn't stop me from getting hot and tired as I walked around the hill side streets. Sweat was running down my back like it was a slip n slide and my socks were damp in my Docs. A kid whizzed past me on a bike, a rush of cool air in my face a blessing. I adjusted my backpack and glanced over my shoulder. There weren't many people out, most had migrated indoors or to pools for the afternoon, which worked very well in my favour.

I spotted the brown fence up ahead and recognised it from the picture Shuri had sent to my phone.

"Hey kid, have you got the loop going at the front gate?" I said into my earpiece, slowing down before I came into range of the camera hiding in the tree near the fence.

"One second," she replied. I imagined she was concentrating at at least 3 things at once, poor girl. "Loop is on. You're good to go."

"Thanks," I said, giving a woman walking her scrawny little white dog what i hoped was a dazzling smile. I was, of course, in disguise, a brown wig pulled under a baseball cap and my scars and tattoos covered by a lightweight jumper. I hoped I looked like a young woman out for a casual walk, and it seemed to walk, the other lady giving me a small smile. Her dog, however, one of those yappy white things that I personally think are the spawn of Satan, growled at me and snapped at my ankles as I passed her.

It was almost like it knew I was about to commit breaking and entering as soon as they went round the corner.

They did ger round the corner, if rather slowly, and after completing a sweep of the neighbouring houses, I took a run up to the tree with the camera, and using it as a springboard, vaulting up and over the fence, landing with only a small thud in the backyard.

"I'm in," I murmured into my earpiece.

"I don't understand why you're here. The man is obviously safe, he's in house arrest," Shuri complained. I detected a slight annoyance in her tone.

"I'm just checking in. I do feel bad we kind of, abandoned them you know," I said, pressing up against a window to see if anyone was inside.

"You got crushed by a falling building," Shuri pointed out.

"Okay, fair point," I shrugged. "I just wanna make sure, okay? He seemed like a nice guy."

Just then, something heavy and hard struck the back of my neck and I was pushed against the window.

"Who's the nice guy now, huh? Punk?" Scott's voice sounded as ridiculous as ever and I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck and turning around. He was in sweatpants and a shirt, looking like was getting ready for a trip to Walmart.

"Did you just hit me with a Hello Kitty baseball bat?" I gestured to the pink metal bat in his hands.

"Hell yeah I did. And I'll hit you again if you don't get off my property right now," he said, thrusting the bat towards me again.

"Scott, its me," I said, lifting the brim of my cap so he could see my face. He peered underneath, confusion in his screwed up face before he lit up with recognition.

"Keight?" He hissed, lowering the bat. "Why are you in my backyard? How are you in my backyard?"

I winced at tender skin at the back of my neck and pulled my cap and wig off.

"Make me a cup of coffee and we can catch up."

***

Scott placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of me and I smelled it, hot and strong.

"Wow so, you recovered, obviously. From the airport thing," Scott said awkwardly, leaning against the kitchen bench. I smiled.

"Uh, yeah I did. Got a few new scars to show for it too."

"We uh," he stopped as if searching for the right words. "We really thought you were gone. In the prison. I mean you looked-"

"Dead? Yeah I looked like that for a while after I woke up too. Thankfully now I am back to my alive self," I joked, sipping my coffee.

"How long were you out for?" Scott asked.

"A while."

"What was it like? Do you, remember anything? I've always wanted to know if you remember anything after being in a coma?" His eyes were bright, such a unique colour, like sunlight through a glass of whiskey.

I paused.

"No, no uh not really." Another lie. Damnit. "Sorry it's not that exciting."

"Aww no, its okay," Scott laughed and drank his coffee. I noticed the red ankle monitor tied around his leg blinking from the corner of my eye. "You probably don't want to remember anyway."

I was about to say something when I heard a pitter-patter of small feet behind me.

"Dad?"

Scoot jumped, spilling coffee down his shirt.

"Cassie, honey I thought you were doing homework upstairs?" He said frantically.

"I was, but I finished my homework." The little girl stared at me, long brown hair falling over her face.. "I saw you on the news."

"I should get going," I downed the rest of my coffee and put it on the bench. "Thanks for the coffee."

"No, wait," Scott wiped his shirt and put his cup down. He motioned for Cassie to come to him and she did, her eyes following me the whole way.

"Cassie, this is Keight. She's an Avenger," he whispered, holding her hand. She looked up at me.

"You don't have a mask on anymore," she noted. I grinned.

"That's right. I was tired of wearing it."

"I like you better without it," she said simply, with a soft smile. I glanced up at Scott.

"She's never wrong you know," Scott said sweetly, ruffling her hair. Something in my chest panged, like a kind of longing I didn't recognise, but I shook it off.

"I don't doubt it," I said, looking at my watch. I had probably spent too much time here as it was. "I'll be bad in touch sometime. Just to check in, you know."

"You can break into my backyard anytime you want. It gets pretty lonely here when I don't have Cassie. I could do with the company," Scott grinned.

"Who knows, maybe I'll teach you some moves."

"Toxin moves huh? I'd be keen," Scott said. I smiled and squared my shoulders.

"Actually, it's Firebird now."

"Firebird sounds more like you. Don't you think Dad?" Cassie said with a twinkle in her eye. Scott laughed.

She really did look like her dad.

Authors Note

Hello! Its beena while, I'm still here. Just working at a slower pace with everything that is going on. Super excited for what is to come! New chapter in a few days hopefully! 

How have yall been? New Zealand is doing so well but idk about other places. I hope yall are safe and healthy.

dont forget to vote and comment, I love seeing comments!

Stay safe, Stay groovy

~JJ