Steve Rogers One Shots

The Greatest Man

♫ Uh-oh, running out of breath, but I
Oh, I, I got stamina ♫

Your POV

There was this man running through the park. He was so fast that he could have run away from his life. And perhaps that's what he was trying to do. You saw him every day on your way to work. You liked to take a moment to appreciate the fiery colours and the glowing ball of orange fire that came peeking over the pale blue morning sky.

When he ran past you, the runner sent dust flying everywhere. You followed him with your eyes before you left, ready to serve coffees and pastries to unhappy, hurried customers.You knew exactly who he was. Only one man had the stamina to run that fast. Captain America.

Captain America was loved by all. The media saw him as an allegory of freedom and strength. Women thought he was a perfect gentleman, a heart of gold with an ass that won't quit. Kids adulated him. He was their role model, an unpretentious superhero.

Everyone expected something from the Greatest Soldier in History. No one thought that it might be too much for the twenty-something. You pitied him. He saw terrible things, lost everyone he ever cared for, yet he was still doing his best.

♫ Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes
Well, oh, I got stamina ♫

And then he was gone. No one disturbed your early-morning sky gazing, and you found yourself missing him. You thought about him a lot. One day, the headline on the front page jumped out at you. Captain America was a criminal, searching for his brainwashed best friend who was presumed dead since the 1940s.

It took less than a day for Steve Rogers to go from the Greatest Soldier in History to Enemy of the State. You were angry with all those people who suddenly turned their back on the one who saved them so many times without asking anything in return.

♫ And uh-oh, I see another mountain to climb
But I, I, I got stamina ♫

The fuss eventually died down. Steve Rogers abandoned his Captain America persona. Good for him, you thought, let the man live his life. You didn't trust the awful things you read in the papers. You knew the media twisted everything into sensational headlines.

Regardless of the truth, you were proud of Steve Rogers. You may not know the man personally, but you knew he deserved a break.

So when you saw him running again, somehow even faster than before, it made your heart plummet to the pit of your stomach. You bent your head low as he ran past you, lost in his own world, refusing to look around him. Then he started to run at nightfall too, you thought he couldn't catch a break and it nearly broke your heart. You stopped at your usual spot and watched the moon slowly rise. Silent tears ran down your cheeks, until you had to hold a hand over your mouth to muffle your cries.

"Ma'am." The warm, yet worried sound of his voice made you tense. You knew it was him. Who else could call you ma'am? "Is everything alright?"

♫ Uh-oh, I need another lover, be mine
Cause I, I, I got stamina ♫

Steve POV

Steve was free to be himself. It was one thing to be a good, honourable man, but it was another to be forced to behave that way and that way only. Captain America set the bar terrifyingly high for Steve Rogers.

Steve was in his late twenties, but his mind was tired. He was tired of the world, of the people, of the technology. He didn't especially regret the 40s, but the 21st century was drastically different and he just couldn't get his head around it. He enrolled in an art school in New York, but soon dropped out. The spark was gone, drawing felt like a chore.

He found a place with Bucky. Together they decided to take charge of their own recovery. They found support at the V.A. where Sam used to volunteer. Things were not perfect, but they were alright and in that moment, alright was perfect.

When Bucky urged him to find a gal, Steve laughed. It was a dry laugh. Sharon chose work over him, something he completely understood. He thought about the girl from the park, and wondered if she was still crossing it every morning.

He used to run faster when he passed her, trying to impress her. She didn't seem to notice him, she just stood in front of the pond and looked at the sky. One morning, he was tired of waiting for Bucky alone at home, so he decided to go for a run. His heart rate skyrocketed when he saw her at her usual spot, gazing at the sky.

It became a routine, he'd go to the park every morning to run past her. And when it wasn't enough, he started to run every night too. She was crossing the park to go home, but didn't pay attention to him. Or so he thought. One evening he saw her crying, a hand covering her mouth. He stopped running so abruptly that he almost tripped over his own feet. He approached her slowly and said,

"Ma'am, are you alright?"

♫ Don't give up, I won't give up
Don't give up, no no no
I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive ♫

Your POV

You wiped your nose with the back of your hand and straightened your shoulders. "Yes, I'm fine." You said feebly and let out an embarrassed chuckle.

He was the reason why you were crying and you didn't even know each other. Your breathing hitched when you took a deep breath. He didn't say anything else, but he didn't walk away either. You wrapped your arms around yourself and looked up at the now dark sky. The lights of the city outshone the stars.

"It's beautiful," He finally broke the silence and took a step to stand beside you. You didn't turn your head to look at him, but shot him a curious side glance. He was looking at the pond. "The way the moon reflects off the water. It's peaceful."

"That's a nice way of looking at it." You said and took the handkerchief that he pulled from his pocket. You thanked him and chuckled at the sight of the small tissue.

"Must be the artist within me." He laughed quietly and you deciphered a hint of nervousness.

"You draw?" You asked with an excited smile.

"Not so much these days," He shook his head and looked at you with a kind smile. "But I might start again soon. Think I found the right subject."

"The pond? I'm surprised," You said, playing with the handkerchief. "You always run so fast, I'm surprised you even noticed it."

"So you think I should slow down?" He gave you a playful grin that made you chuckle.

"It's up to you, but you may be missing more than the pond." You mirrored his smirk, shrugging one shoulder.

"That's exactly what I was thinking."

"Great minds think alike." You extended your hand out to meet his and told him your name.

"Steve," He replied with a firm handshake.

He released your hand and stood in front of you. You had a hard time looking at him in the eye, he was so handsome and his eyes sparkled in the moonlight. You bit your bottom lip and looked down at your hands.

"So, should I give this back to you... or...?" You waved the handkerchief and Steve started to laugh. "I'm sorry, no one ever gave me a hankie before." You joined his laughter.

"It may seem a bit presumptuous to ask since we just met, but... would you join me for dinner?" Even in the darkness you could see that his neck and ears were a bit red. "I'll let you keep it."

"Oh, in that case, yes!" You beamed with a grin as you looped your arm through his and walked towards the exit of the park. "You're wasting no time." You teased him when you saw the way he looked at you.

"I'm done running." He replied, his tender smile warmed your heart.