Mister Rogers ⍟ || Steve Rogers

20

I stirred against cool sheets and awfully flat pillows. When I awakened, sunlight poured through the open blinds. The clock on the nightstand beside me read 8:28 am.

A soft click turned my attention to the door of the room I was in. Steve entered, carrying two large gym bags, one of which was my own. He looked surprised to see me awake.

"Oh, good morning, Addy. I was just about to wake you," he said in a low voice.

I rubbed my eyes tiredly, "Whose bed am I in?"

"Uh, that would be my own," he said quietly. "I'm sorry, you fell asleep with Helen, so I figured I'd bring you here and-"

"It's alright. I don't mind," I assured.

His gaze flickered to his vibrating phone in his hand for a moment before returning to me. "Maria says she has news she wants us to rendezvous about." 

I sat up fully, tucking my knees beneath me. I was still in my dress from yesterday. With a quiet yawn, I asked, "Is there any chance I could change first?"

"Yes," said Steve, setting one of the gym bags he held onto the bed. I peered inside to see the athletic attire I always kept at the Tower for our occasional gym dates. Throwing him an appreciative smile, I quickly rummaged through the bag.

Steve stepped out and pulled the door closed behind him. Standing on one foot, I slipped into a navy yoga set, the strappy tank snug against me, and pants flaring softly at the hem.

Charging my hands by my sides, I hovered above the floor, floating to the door of the room. Steve, whom I had not expected to see waiting outside the room for me, raised his eyebrows at me. 

Lowering myself to the ground, I clarified, "I'm a little afraid to walk, so I figured I would just fly-"

"No, you should save your energy," Steve disagreed. "Allow me."

He leaned down beside me, one hand at my back, the other gently holding mine. He told me to take a step. I hobbled forward, and we were off, Steve leading the way to the rendezvous point.

"For the record, I'm sorry I walked off without coming back to you last night," apologized Steve.

"Oh, don't worry about it," I insisted, "Barton and Helen kept me in good company."

"The lovebirds have arrived," Tony sang as Steve helped me take the last few steps up the stairs. 

"Enough, Stark," said Steve bluntly, clearly not in the mood for any of Tony's wit. He set me down in an open seat at the computer desk, taking the seat beside me for himself.

"How are you feeling, AJ?" asked Barton.

"I'm good, thank you," I smiled at him softly. "Maria, the floor is yours."

"He's all over the globe," she started. "Robotics labs, weapons facilities, jet propulsion labs: reports of a metal man, or men, coming in and emptying the place."

"Fatalities?" asked Steve.

"Only when engaged. Mostly guys left in a fugue state going on about old memories, worst fears, and 'something too fast to see.'"

"The twins," I concluded. There was little about them in the files I had gone through, but enough to know they were dangerous.

"It makes sense he'd go to them. They have someone in common," said Barton.

Maria shook her head. Glancing up from her tablet, she presented it for all of us to see. A deceased man was pictured on the screen. "Ultron killed Strucker," she announced.