The obliviates | An MCU fanfic

7: The ties that bind

Another end to a day of training. My body hurts, but I can tell it's less than it used to. The vibe is good, we're actually starting to become friends. I watch everyone leave the training ground having laughs with each other. I hear someone walk up to me from behind.
"Are you okay Kelvin", Steve asks me with his classic warm voice.
"I'm great actually", I respond.
Steve pauses before continuing. "That's good to hear. We haven't been talking lately and I was wondering if something was off."
Something is off. My crush on him. Actually, it's very much on, it's not something you can control exactly. But I'm keeping my distance. This is another case of me liking a guy that is just romantically unavailable. I'll have to live through the hurt so I can open my heart to someone else. I can't bear the thought of seeing Steve leave though.
"I've been busy. It's just...", I change the topic. "Do you think something's off with Markus?"
"Hmm", Steve watches the group as Markus makes the girls laugh. "What are you thinking. You know him better than I do."
"Sergio made a comment after returning here. I think the Ascended were holding back. Or scheming something at least", I say without losing eyecontact on Markus.
"Well we are up against someone who calls himself Warlock", Steve notes. "Self righteous prick."
I look at Steve and raise my eyebrow. He simply shrugs.
"What are you planning", he asks.
"I'm gonna follow him when he leaves", I say turning my head back.
"I can join you if you want. A good opportunity to make sure you're not suspicious either", Steve jokes. How can I say no to his charms. But if I want to get over him, I'll have to stand my ground.
"Yeah sure", I am the literal worst.

We're outside the headquarters waiting for Markus to head out. I'm distracting myself with mobile games while Steve just stares into the abyss like an old man.
"I can't get used to it", he opens. "The lights, the speed, the focus. I don't know how you can keep up."
I look at him with a frowned expression. "You don't have a driver's license?"
He turns to me, now that I made eye contact with him. "Technology, the internet, media in general. All it used to be was one paper a week with all you needed to know."
"It was also full of misinformation", I inform him.
"So is your device", he smirks.
"At least the facts are available to you if you know how to look", I come back.
"Is that how you're gonna approach Markus", he changes back to our mini-mission.
I move my body in his direction, opening up more. "Are you gonna school me on how to read people, cause last time I checked you were led on by Hydra", I say slightly annoyed.
"Did the internet tell you that", he responds after a soft sigh. "Did it also tell you Hydra was already in charge before I joined. Did it also tell you we stopped them?"
"It did", I say after a moment of silence.
"Oh", Steve seems stunned. We sit there for a moment of silence. I know I'm being hard on him, and he's clearly trying...
"Look", I break the quiet, "I didn't mean to investigate everything about you to impress you or anything. I was interested in this stuff before I even met you, I never thought I ever would."
"You probably know more about me than I do."
"Don't start quizzing me, I'm not that hardcore", I put my feet on the bench and lean on my knees.
Steve laughs, we haven't had these in a bit. He leans forward and crosses his arms and lays them on his thighs. He stares in front of him, then at me. "So what do you do?"
I'm only able to open my mouth, confused about what to say here.
He makes a face in a way of saying he'll try again. "Do you have a job, do you go to school?"
"Right", I change my gaze to the sky. "Well, I used to work part-time at a takeout place, but I had to quit to come here with all of you."
Steve looks disappointed, almost hurt even.
"I'm still going to school though. I'm studying graphic design and I've been keeping up with our assignments from back here. It's tough missing the classes, but I've got some experience so I'll pull through."
His face brightens up a little. "So you're an artsy kid?"
"I wouldn't say that..."
"I bet you're one of those snobs who say black and white aren't colors", he laughs through his words.
"They're not", I defend myself. "They're shades!" I realise we've slowly faced each other again as our laughing slowly fades. Steve gulps and retains a serious expression.
"I'm sorry", he speaks in a soft, genuine voice, "I'm sorry you gave up your life for this."
I'm stunned by this. He really doesn't need to be sorry for anything. I chose to persue this.
"If Captain America asks you for assistance, you just don't say no", I shift to a softer tone as well. We have a nice moment together as the sun begins setting. The wind is cool, but not cold and the temperature is just fine. I've missed moments like this. I'm not going to let anything ruin it...
Crap, Markus!

Markus is on his way out the headquarters, when he encounters Sergio and Akina. Both of them look pretty serious and he asks them what's wrong.
"How good is your memory", Sergio asks.
"I'm not too bad", Markus grins. "Why are you asking?"
Akina steps closer to him. "Do you remember the first thing you said to me?"
"I'm a little foggy on it, probably told you that you have nice eyes", he replies.
Akina bites her lip. Sergio looks focused.
"Where'd we meet", a voice says from the hallway.
Markus starts looking distressed. Evine steps into the doorframe and leans against it.
"Where did we first meet Markus?"
"We met when we came looking for you, I just followed along", he vaguely says.
Evine walks towards him. "We met in the afterlife Markus. You were in a coma. A coma I guided you out of. The other weren't there but I'm pretty sure it's not something anyone would forget", she stops right at his face, war written all over her face.
"What are you implying", Markus almost stutters.
"I got my concerns when I started to inventorise the Ascended members present at the auction. Black Ice, the shapeshifter among them, was notably absent. I'm willing to predict we're speaking to her", Sergio summarises with his hand balled against his chin.
"Hmpf", the impersonator mutters as they slowly fade back into their blue skin.
"I knew it couldn't be him", Akina says ensaddened.
"It's whatever, it's not like I was trying to take you out anyway", Black Ice says in a sassy but cold way.
"Then what was it", Evine asks her.
"She's buying time, they have our location now", Sergio deduces.
"Bingo, oh how I've missed you Datamind", Black Ice giggles. "You poor souls better ready up, cause they should be here any minute."