In Your Eyes // Steve Rogers

Possible Recruit

SPOILERS FOR ANT-MAN

Glued to my side was normally our dog, Max, but since he was with Steve for the day, three laptops replaced our dog.

On one, I ran a facial recognition to search for Bucky. On another, I commenced a gamma radiation scan across the world for other infinity stones, which was a far reach, but one can never be overly prepared. On my last laptop, I manually filed through news of remarkable people for possible recruiting purposes.

"Sapphire, do you copy?" a woman, presumably in the control room, asked through my earpiece.

"What do you have for me?" I asked, sitting up.

"Strange readings coming from above the roof. Falcon is on his way. Thought you'd want to help."

"Copy," I said.

I ducked out from under the quinjet's shade. Flying low to catch me was Sam Wilson. I held my hands in the air. Hanging on to my wrists, I dangled under him as he flew to the roof, where I let go a few feet from the ground.

Sam waited for his wings to fold in before he spoke. "What exactly are we looking for?"

Seemingly out of nowhere, a grown man appeared.

"Hi," he waved, "I'm Scott."

My furrowed brow brought him to an understanding that the mask was muffling his voice. He hit the side of his neck, sliding the mask from his face.

"I know you," I gasped.

"Smiles?" muttered Sam.

"I've seen your face before," I said.

"Oh. Oh! Wow, I'm honored--"

"Are you the man that magically escaped from the Police Station?"

Scott's mouth opened and closed a few times, internally debating his next words. He then raised his brow. "Would I get in trouble if I said yes?"

"You're getting in trouble in the first place. What were you doing trying to sneak on base?" asked Sam.

Scott sighed, then met my eyes, as most people did, since I tended to not put on the intimidation act like the others.

"I am that Scott," he said. "How did you hear about it?"

"We're the Avengers," said Sam mysteriously, "We hear everything."

"Look, I'm a big fan," began Scott.

"Appreciated," said Sam flatly.

My eyes roamed over Scott's outfit, which was clearly designed to protect him from harm, and generate his power.

"Like it?" asked Scott.

"What are you supposed to be?" I asked, an amused smile on my lips.

"The Ant-Man."

"Ant-Man?" asked Sam, clearly humored.

"Iron Man was taken."

I smiled. "And what are you doing here, Scott?"

"I need something from the facility, just for a few days, then it'll be returned," assured Scott hurriedly.

"What for?" asked Sam.

"To save the world. I'm sure you understand," said Scott, his tone turning impatient.

Sharing a warning glance with me, Sam said, "We do..."

"What is it you need?" I tried, "Maybe we can work out an agreement."

"There's not enough time," said Scott, sliding his helmet over his face once more.

Sam and I took it as a sign of an upcoming battle. Sapphire started to surround my hands; Sam stood ready to reveal his wings.

"Scott, there's no need for violence," I warned.

"And I feel the same way, believe me, I'm huge fans of your work," he said again.

"Then stand down," said Sam.

"I can't do that."

Engaging, Sam reached for Scott's shoulder. His hand glided across empty air, as Scott had shrunk.

"I'm sorry about this!" yelled a tiny voice from somewhere we couldn't place.

Knocked back by a force unseen to both of our eyes, Sam released his wings and flew into the air.

"Watch it, Smiles!"

Sam's warning was too late. Scott hit my stomach with enough force to cause me to trip over my feet and fall on my bottom.

I felt a tickling across my bare shoulder. A miniature version of Scott was running on my collarbone. I puffed out air, pushing him from my shoulder.

Panicked, Scott returned to normal size, where I caught him in a portal and slammed him on the concrete. I raised my shoe to crack his helmet, but Scott shrunk, using the suit's strength to push against my foot, sending me flying through the air. I caught myself in a portal, dropping from the exit portal on my feet.

Appearing seemingly out of nowhere, Scott stared at my hands in shock, his head moving wildly with admiration.

"Okay, sorry, that's really cool to see in person. Wow, like, how does that work--"

I opened a portal stealthily in the air for Sam. He flew through, exited behind Scott, and swept him into the sky.

Minutes later of Sam firing guns randomly into the air, twirling in circles, and making me sick, he yelled, "He's in my pack!"

Pack smoking, clearly about to give out, I caught Sam in a portal. He hit the roof on his back, crushing the pack.

But Scott survived. The little bugger flew closely past my eyes on an ant, waving at me.

"I am making it my sworn duty to make sure Cap never finds out about that," panted Sam.

"Yeah," I said, glaring into the air, "Yeah, I'm gonna have to agree."

"Ant-Man, though. What a lame superhero name," grumbled Sam.

"I don't know about that. I wonder if he can control ants? That'd have me beat. I'm not a bug person."

"He beat us up by shrinking."

"No, he had enhanced strength, too."

"But we're Avengers."

"It means we can still get our asses kicked. That's a good thing, Sam. Just look at it as though there's room for improvement."

"Just keep an eye on him," said Sam. "I guess we should keep an eye out for missing items from the warehouse."

"I'll look, but I don't think there's much to worry about with him. He seems like a well-intentioned guy," I assured. I raised my eyebrow. "He might come in handy one day."

"He's a criminal."

"Former. He could be helpful some day. You know, once we beat him into hero shape."

Sam shrugged his shoulders. "He has potential."

"I can't make any official calls without asking Cap, though," I said. I frowned, "But in doing so, we'd have to tell him we got our butts kicked."

"It's a sign we should hold off on it."

"You're right," I said cheerfully, "Who's Scott? Ant-Man? Never heard of him."