Secrets | Steve Rogers

7

The partners in crime, now literally, have stolen a car together. A rather nice blue Chevy truck.

About halfway into their road trip, Lauren decides to break the silence.

"Where did Captain America learn how to steal a car?" She asks.

This is the first time either of them have spoken since the escalator

"Nazi Germany. And we're borrowing. Take your feet off the dash," Steve responds.

She obliges.

"Steve. Can I ask you something?"

"Of course,"

"Was that your first kiss since 1945?" She asks with a smirk.

"Really?" He asks as he glances over to her, to puts his eyes back on the road.

"I'm just wondering how much practice you've had."

"You don't need practice."

"Everybody needs practice."

" No, that was not my first kiss since 1945."

Lauren's smile slowly fades.

" I'm 95, not dead."

She clears her throat.

"Nobody special, though?" She asks.

" But, believe it or not, it's kind of hard to find someone with shared life experience."

"Well, that's all right. You just make something up."

"What, like you?"

"I don't know. The truth is a matter of circumstance. It's not all things to all people, all the time. Neither am I."

"That's a tough way to live."

"It's a good way not to die, though."

"You know, it's kind of hard to trust someone, when you don't know who that someone really is."

Lauren pauses for a moment.

" You know who I am, Steve?"

" How many times have you lied to me since we first met?"

She's taken back a bit.

" Not that many times."

" But you have lied."

" It comes with the territory."

" What territory."

" Oh, I don't know. My job and not to mention my training."

" You've never talked about your training."

She pauses again. She looks out the window and sighs.

" Pull over."

Steve obliges. He puts the car in park and lifts the emergency brake. Lauren takes off her seatbelt and moves in her seat to face Steve.

" Promise me you won't freak out," She says.

" I promise," He says.

She sighs once more, and leans closer. Naturally, Steve leans in as well. She looks him in the eyes and slowly moves her hands up to his head. She puts her thumbs on his forehead and wraps the rest of her fingers around his head. She closes her eyes and he closes his. 

Lauren shares memories with him. Memories she's tried to keep burried.

He sees how she once had a happy family.

He sees how she was taken away from that family.

He sees how she was brainwashed.

He sees how she was trained to fight.

He sees how she was trained to lie.

He sees how she was used as a pawn, unable to make her own choices.

He sees how she was drugged, unable to use her powers.

He sees how she broke free.

He sees how it left a mark on her soul.

A single tear drips down her cheek as she relives those memories. She pulls back her hands and opens her eyes. Steve opens his, and looks at her in a different light.

" Lo... I had no idea," He says.

He grabs Lauren's hand, a gesture that doesn't go unnoticed. Lauren sniffs and wipes her tear away.

" Now drive."

Steve nods, not wanting to press any further. He releases the emergency brake and starts the car.

" Put your seatbelt on."

His words make her smile.

" Yes, sir."