- - -
Steve's POV
It's dark by the time I make it back to my new apartment, parking my motorcycle and climbing the stairs.
My neighbour, Kate, is standing in the hall, a basket of laundry under her arm.
"That's so sweet. That is so nice." She's talking into the phone, then looks up and sees me. "Hey. I gotta go, though. Okay, bye."
She hangs up the phone, turning to smile at me.
"My aunt, she's kind of an insomniac." She explains with a chuckle.
I eye her laundry, she's on her way down to the basement.
I think of Zoey, how she's moved onto a quiet life, without me.
Maybe it's time for me to move on as well.
"Hey, if you want- if you want, you're welcome to use my machine." I tell her, "Might be cheaper than the one in the basement."
"Oh, yeah?" She asks, "What's it cost?"
"A cup of coffee." I say, slightly hopefully, very awkwardly.
"Thank you, but I already have a load in downstairs, and you really don't want my scrubs in your machine." She says regrettably, a tinge of pink on her cheeks. "I've just finished orientation in the infectious diseases ward, so."
"Ah, well, I'll keep my distance." I joke.
"Well hopefully not too far." She says with a smile.
There were times when Zoey would say things like that, when she would blush at my words and make me blush at hers in turn.
I nod to Kate, turning to unlock my apartment.
"Oh, and I think you left your stereo on." She adds.
"Oh." My grin falters slightly, "Right, thank you."
She nods and goes down the stairs. I watch her go, before turning to my door, eyeing it suspiciously.
I look at the fire escape stairs, going onto the outdoor ladder and entering my apartment through the window.
I can here the stereo playing classical music, and I grab my shield for protection, looking to see Fury sitting on my couch in the dark.
"I don't remember giving you a key." I sigh, lowering my shield.
"You really think I'd need one?" Fury asks, goraning slighlty, as if in pain.
I narrow my eyes, turning on the light to look at him. I open my mouth to speak, but he holds up his hand to silence me.
He nods to the light switch, and I turn it off again as he types something on his phone.
I watch as he shows me the screen, the words EARS EVERYWHERE bright in front of me.
"I'm sorry to have do this, but I had no place else to crash." He says, typing again and showing me the screen.
SHIELD COMPROMISED
I remain silent as he types again, hesitating for a moment before showing me the screen.
THEY WENT AFTER ZOEY
My throat tightens and I struggle to swallow.
Zoey? But I just saw her a few hours ago.
"Is she alive?"
NOT CERTAIN.
I nod, trying not to think the worst.
YOU ARE READING
Childhood Hero: Return of the Redbird (Captain America Story)
Fanfiction[BOOK TWO IN THE CHILDHOOD HERO SERIES] - completed - Zoey Redbird has been through hell and back and still made it on top. After the battle of New York, she and Steve joined Natasha and Clint, becoming official agents of SHIELD. She's got her frie...