DECEPTION • STEVE ROGERS

hold myself together

𖣂 CHAPTER FOUR 𖣂
"hold myself together"

The sunlight seeped through the trees and through the window of the cabin bedroom, dimly lighting the space as the two began to awake from their sleep.

Steve woke up, finding that during the night, his arm had stretched over the bed, resting on Cassie's stomach. Thinking that she was still asleep, he slowly moved it away from her as quietly as he could.

"Hey, your arm was keeping me warm, dude."

Steve blushed, his beard hiding his red cheeks, embarrassed that he had been caught.

Playing it cool, he changed the conversation.

"We gotta get up anyway. Stores opening soon. We need to buy some groceries for when the snow hits, and get you some clothes or something."

Now that they had found an entire wardrobe full of clothes, neither of them were too bothered about buying much else apart from what was necessary. But they needed to stock up on food before they got trapped here with the storm.

"You seem very prepared." Cassie said, sliding out of bed.

"I'm just used to situations like these, that's all."

She had a questioning look on her face.

"Have you been hiding all your life?"

"What?"

"Like this. Town to town, hiding in abandoned cabins and sleeping wherever you can. Have you been doing it forever? You're calmer than anyone I've met before."

Steve shrugged.

"I've never been used to living in the same place, if that's what you mean."

They grabbed what they needed to leave, Cassie found a pair of shorts that fit her from the closet, and they each found hoodies to wear for an extra layer, and left the cabin in the direction of the store.

He couldn't wrap his head around Cassie at all. He so desperately wanted to know why she was hiding. But it was so hypocritical of him to think this, considering he hadn't shared a single thing about himself.

"Fucking hate people." Cassie mumbled as they ventured their way up the high street of the small town. Three people had already bumped into her, none of which uttered any apology.

"We'll be out of here soon enough." Steve replied.

"Why do you look so suspicious?" Cassie frowned at him. "The hood up and the cap pulled one your eyes is overkill."

She reached up, pulling his hood down.

"I guess you're right. It looks a bit odd if we both have our hoods up."

They walked further down the street towards the grocery store. There was a small market that sold clothes down this direction, a thrift store, and an off brand Trader Joes, along with the diner Steve ate at yesterday.

But as they came closer to their destination, Cassie came to a sudden halt, like a deer in headlights.

"Dude." She whispered, "I know him."

Her face had panic written all over it.

"Dude, we need to run." She said, "He can't see me. I'm done for."

Steve swallowed, watching as Cassie eyed up the alleyway next to them. If she made a run for it down the alley, it would attract far too much attention. They could get away with it, but it wasn't worth the risk.