𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝚋𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚢 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚜

roots go deep

Never Felt So Alone - Labrinth

June 22, 1943

"Pick up the pace, Rogers!" Jolly yelled from across the shop, infuriating her even more. The morning was busy and they were severely understaffed, with only Cara, Jolly, and Amy, the new trainee. She sucked.

Cara moved from table to table at the speed of light, trying to get everyone served before she got off at noon. She was supposed to meet Darla and go to an outdoor market near Pier 13. It was currently 11:48. The minutes were going by way too slow.

"Amy go do your job!" Jolly yelled at the girl who was picking at her nail polish while people were waiting to order. The sun barely peeked through the windows. It was strangely cloudy.

"Croissant and black coffee to go, please." Cara turned around to find Howard, who looked very stressed. He had become a regular, either needing a quiet place to work or someone to talk to.

"Good morning to you too. In a rush?" He just nodded frantically. Cara packed it swiftly before checking him out, practically running out after tipping her. Everything was making her frustrated. Amy. Jolly. Everything.

11:53. The bell over the door chimed. Cara turned around to find Darla dolled up in a yellow sundress. "Only a few minutes, Dar!" Darla just nodded before sitting at the counter seats.

11:56. "Do you want anything before we head out?" Darla politely declined before Cara finished up her last orders. As soon as the clock struck 12:00, she was out of there. She took off her apron and smoothed out her frilly white sundress. They walked arm in arm to the outdoor market, finding some cute clothes for the upcoming fall.

"What do you think of this?" Cara held up a cotton orange sherbet sundress. Darla nodded, making Cara check out. As soon as she grabbed her bag, they heard a bloodcurdling scream from across the road. Both girls jumped, runnihng to find the source of the mayhem. They found a little boy held by a grown man with a gun to his head. Darla immediately gasped. A very tall blonde man stood in front of them, trying to calm him down. He was barefoot.

"Let's get out of here, Dar." Cara went to grab her arm but Darla stood still as soon as she heard the blonde man speak.

"Steve?" The man whipped his head around at the speed of light, surprised to find the two girls standing there.

"Get out of here! I'll meet you back at the apartment in an hour!" Darla just shook her head as Cara stood absolutely dumbfounded.

"Come on, Darla!" Cara dragged the girl back to the safe roads as the supposed Steve ran after the man with the gun. She didn't say anything all the way back to the apartment. The minutes ticked by slowly as Darla aggressively made brownies. Whenever she was upset or stressed, the girl baked like no other.

"If it is him, he looks good. He looks healthy and like he actually stands a chance in combat, Dar." Darla just sucked in a breath.

"Why didn't he say anything? I keep getting these vague two line letters and I'm so worried." Her eyes got watery and Cara wrapped an arm around her. "What is going on?" Cara knew she wasn't mad at him as much as she was worried. He was late.

The front door creaked open to find Steve standing at at least 6'0, easily over 200 pounds. Darla just gulped. When he walked farther in, a cute soldier with brown hair and red lipstick followed.

"Who is she?" Cara nodded at the girl with the major bitch face.

"This is Peggy Carter, she's an officer on the mission I'm working on. Why don't we sit down?"

As Steve explained everything to the girls, Darla just stared at the floor, too scared to look Peggy in the eye. The officer was shooting daggers at Darla. Cara shot daggers at her.

"Why didn't you tell me anything? I was so worried." Darla played with her bracelet, looking him in the eye. She had taken off her apron earlier, showing off her cute sundress. Steve kneeled in front of her.

"Trust me, I didn't even know the plan until maybe two hours ago, when this happened." Steve gestured to himself with his hands. He grabbed her hands. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way. I love you so much, Angel." Darla smiled at him, making him smile. She leaned forward to give him a hug, him gladly returning it. He practically engulfed her body. Peggy rolled her eyes.

"Why is she here with you?" Cara asked as soon as their moment was over.

"She's here to make sure I don't say any confidential information about the mission." As soon as Steve looked back at Peggy, she smiled sweetly. She infuriated Cara to no end. "Can I talk to you for a second, Peggy?" she nodded before they walked by the door to discuss something. After a few moments, Steve walked back.

"I have permission to stay here one night before I have to leave tomorrow at noon." Darla smiled wide. Steve looked at her with eyes full of adoration, smiling slightly.

"I'll be here promptly at 12:00 with a car." Peggy nodded before walking out of the door. When Cara looked back, Steve was leaning down to kiss Darla while she stood on her tippy toes, her arms around his neck. Cara fake gagged dramatically, making him scoff.

"Gross. I'll stay at Winter's later tonight." Cara winked at Darla, making her go bright red. Cara walked into the kitchen to bring cookies of out the oven.

"Oh my brownies!" Darla jumped to put her apron back on and continue making her food.

"I missed your baking so much." Steve leaned over from behind to kiss her cheek before sitting at the kitchen table. It looked halariously small compared to him. Cara just fake puked. "Cara don't even you and Bucky are just like this when he's home!" Steve rolled his eyes playfully.

"Whatever. It's cute when we do it." Cara just stuck her nose up and sipped on her water.

"I can promise you, it is disgusting." Cara just scoffed before flipping him off.

"Rude much?" Steve stuck his tongue out at her.

"You know, new Steve, your not making a very good first impression." Steve just cackled loudly before rolling his eyes.

"God you two are such kids!" Darla giggled watching the two. Cara walked up, snagging a brownie from the platter that just came out of the oven, but Darla smacked her hand away.

"Ow!" Cara looked at Darla, who was unfazed.

"Steve gets first pick, he just got 150 pounds of muscle put on his body." Darla stuck the plate in front of him. He had a smug grin on his face.

"I'm the new favorite bambi." Steve smiled cheesily before stuffing two brownies in his mouth at once. "Thanks, Angel." Darla just messed with his hair while he ate.

"Give it a week!" Cara went to steal a cookie from before. Cara didn't actually care about the cute couple being all lovey, she just missed her Bucky. He still had a few months before he comes back for a week before getting relocated. Watching Darla braid his hair while they laughed about something made her sad. She missed doing that with Bucky.

Only eight more weeks.