In Your Eyes // Steve Rogers

3

Subsequent to a mission with the S.T.R.I.K.E team, it was customary for the head of the team, myself, to deliver a mission report to Director Fury. In the event a member of the team was injured, said person was required to see the Director as well. Rumlow offered to take the duty of providing the report. I declined.

As I crept past the nurses, who told me multiple times I was not ready to be discharged, I shamed myself for not accepting his offer. My nurse had taken my clothes, including my bra, to be washed. I was left to sneak out in jeans and a baggy shirt I stole from the sleeping Agent in the room beside mine. I tried to hide the bounce of my breasts by crossing my arms. I couldn't hide the redness in my pale cheeks.

My head moved between the elevator doors and the bumbling nurses dancing around the hospital floor. I waited for my potential escape, or the potential dragging back into the recovery room. I heard the doors slide open. Watching the nurses, I dove in and jabbed the buttons ridiculously until the doors closed. My arms dropped. An exhale slouched my shoulders, relieved to be free.

"I guess this would be a bad time to say hello?" asked a familiar voice hesitantly.

Startled, I tumbled back, slamming my head into the wall. My hands slapped over the throbbing spot on my head. Steve's widened eyes and quick inhale caused my hands to cover my chest again. At the end of my panic, we were back to back, drowning in varying degrees of embarrassment.

"Where are you headed?" asked Steve.

"To see Director Fury," I said, "What about you?"

"I was heading to see you, actually," he said sheepishly.

"Oh," I said. I failed to hide the surprise in my tone.

"I'm sorry, if I overstepped my boundaries. I thought you could use some company, I guess, I didn't mean anything by it, other than--"

"No, no, that's sweet of you. Thank you," I interrupted.

Steve turned his head. "It was my pleasure. I'm happy to help anytime you need it."

"Ditto," I said, turning my body to face his. I ensured my chest was covered. I didn't have to worry much, as his eyes didn't dare to leave my own.

"Listen, Clara, I would like to ask if you--"

"Agents," greeted Fury. The doors had slid open. Steve and I sprung apart. "Blake, follow me."

I tried to postpone his order, desperate to hear what Steve wanted to say, but Fury made it clear he wasn't going to wait for me. He continued to walk. I was forced to slowly back out of the elevator, rambling apology after apology to Steve as I did so. Luckily, the doors of the elevator closing allowed my mouth to do the same. I pouted, wondering what he could have said, if the chance had come.

"Blake!" shouted Fury, his voice distant.

I sprinted after his voice. Into the parking garage I followed, then I climbed into the company issued S.U.V. he had waiting for me. He drove, I watched the road pass by. We remained silent. I waited for him to speak.

"Project Insight," he said, at last. "I assume you've heard of it."

"It's why the new helicarrier's are being built, isn't it?" I asked.

Fury nodded once. "Agent Romanoff was given a separate mission. She was to extract data of Project Insight from the Lemurian Star."

"And how is it that I fit into this?" I asked.

"A rendezvous between the two of us and Maria Hill is to happen in a few hours. We need to talk about Project Insight," he said.

I failed to see my significance in the meeting. "Why me?"