Six (Captain America)

Six part 13: Chains

Steve was nervous. He wasn't sure why, but he was. Ithad been two weeks since Six had lit up the night sky for him and lethim know she was alive; it was now the first of the month, and he wasin Milan. He was at the hotel that Six had told him about. TheBoscolo. "I'd check in under the name Fiona Lanton. Ifanything happens and I can't contact you, look for me there on thefirst of the next month." Her words played back in his head.This had been her plan all along; she'd prepped him for it withouthim even realizing it.

He had checked into the hotel three days ago, and everycouple of hours he had called or personally gone to the front desk,asking for a Fiona Lanton. So far, she hadn't been there. He'd calledagain this morning, and been met with nothing except the guy whoworked the front desk Monday through Friday seemed to be really tiredof being asked about Fiona Lanton...

He exited his room and got on the elevator down to thelobby. Out through the open lift doors, he adjusted the collar of hispolo shirt and made sure his chinos weren't wrinkled. It was a nicehotel, and he had to look the part. That meant rich. Even though hehad a decent amount of money now, this wasn't the environment he wasused to. He had been a poor kid from Brooklyn.

He approached the desk. The concierge regarded himwarily.

"Excuse me, sir. Has a Fiona Lanton checked intoday?" Steve asked, clearing his throat. He was aware that he wasstarting to look like a weirdo trying to track down a woman namedFiona, but Six had told him to meet her here. She had to be here.

"Yes, she checked in this morning. What's your name,sir? I'll ring her room." The concierge eyed him, obviously tryingto figure out f he was a friend or a crazy stalker.

"My name is Steve. I'm... supposed to meet her here."He answered, letting out a deep sigh. She hadn't left him. She washere. He momentarily wondered why she hadn't found him... then herealized he'd checked in under the name Steve Anderson. He mentallyscolded himself. If he'd have at least used Barnes again she'd havecome to him.

The man nodded, dialing a phone and waiting for a fewmoments, listening to the ringing. He clicked the phone back down."She's not in, Steve."

Steve was crestfallen. "All right. I don't supposeyou can give me the phone number to her room? That way I can stopbothering you."

"You can call the front desk and we can patch youthrough." The concierge explained. "But she left something foryou."

Cap had been defeatedly turning to leave. He swung backaround. "She did?"

The hotel clerk nodded. "She left this envelope. Shesaid if a man named Steve showed up, to please give it to you." Hehanded over a small manila mailer. Steve took it and thanked him,then briskly walked around the corner. Once he was out of sight ofthe desk, he tore open the envelope. What was in there? Had sheleft him a "Dear John" letter? God he hoped not. More directions?Maybe. It turned out that the answer was, neither. He opened thepackage and a key card fell out. A room key card. To room 1204.

Steve picked it up and held it, disbelievingly. He'dthought she was dead and now he was going to get a second chance.Truth be told, he was pissed. She could have told him her plan. Hehad considered not showing up for about a second and a half. He'dtold Bucky as much; Bucky had told him to stop being a moron and gofind Six, that whatever issues there were had needed to be handled inperson. And Bucky had been right. He may be upset because he'd beenplayed, but he also had the feels for Six. Bad. There was no way inhell he could leave her.