Flicker ✦ STEVE ROGERS¹ [✓]

18 | DON'T TRUST ANYONE

STEVE SPENT MOST OF HIS DAY AT THE V.A. WITH SAM. He was a really cool guy, and Steve liked him a lot. It was nice to have someone to talk to who understood what it was like to be in the military. And he actually gave some really good advice.

After meeting with Sam, Steve also went down to see Peggy like Kato had suggested. When he found out that she was still alive after all this time, he was shocked at first. But after that Steve was just happy to have her back. Still, it was hard seeing her sometimes, since her dementia was getting worse. The days where they could talk about old times were becoming more and more scarce. Now, more often than not it was like the day she first discovered Steve was alive - shock and sadness. It was heartbreaking to witness.

It was nighttime by the time Steve got back to his apartment. As he walked up the stairs to his floor, he heard a woman's voice, and when he came up he saw his neighbor Kate. She was holding a basket of laundry as she pressed her phone between her shoulder and her ear.

"...So sweet," Kate was saying. "That is so nice."

Steve smiled and gave her a small wave as he walked by her, and she smiled back before ending her conversation.

"I got to go, though," Kate said. "Okay. Bye." She turned to Steve and dropped the phone in the basket. "My aunt, she's kind of an insomniac," she said with a soft laugh.

Steve chuckled. "Yeah." He thought back to his conversation with Natasha before taking a chance. "Hey, if you want... uh. If you want, you're welcome to use my machine." Steve shrugged his shoulders. "Might be cheaper than the one in the basement."

Kate raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? What's it cost?"

Steve smiled. "A cup of coffee?"

Kate smiled, then nodded politely. "Thank you, but I already have a load in downstairs, and you really don't want my scrubs in your machine. I just finished a rotation in the infectious disease ward, so..."

"Oh," Steve said, then added with a nod, "Well, I'll keep my distance."

Kate's grin widened. "Hopefully, not too far."

Steve chuckled again, smiling back as she turned to the stairs.

"Oh." Kate turned back around to face him. "And I think you left your stereo on."

That was strange. Steve never turned his stereo on before he left that morning. But he hid his concern and nodded at Kate. "Right. Thank you."

Steve turned to the door as Kate descended down the stairs. He could hear his stereo through the door. Something was wrong, and he figured that going through the front door wasn't the best idea. So he decided to go through the window. It was more discreet, and it was safer.

Steve left the apartment building and went around the side before scaling the fire escape to his window. Then, he slid it open and jumped inside. Old 40's jazz music was playing softly from his stereo. Wary of what he might encounter, Steve moved quietly, picking up his shield from where it lay against the bookcase. He crept through the kitchen and into the living room, his eyes taking a moment to adjust to the dim lighting.

Steve was wary when he went in. However, he relaxed when he saw the familiar shape of a man he knew far too well, sitting in the chair next to his lamp.

"I don't remember giving you a key," Steve said, leaning against the wall.

Fury gave him a look. "You really think I'd need one?" Leaning forward with a soft groan, he gripped his phone as his arm rested on the arm of the chair. "My wife kicked me out."

Steve frowned. "Didn't know you were married."

"A lot of things you don't about me," Fury replied.

"I know, Nick." Steve stepped out from beside the wall and flicked the light on. "That's the problem."