Monster

Nineteen

Steve was upset. Not like I expected, though. He wasn't raving and storming or throwing things. That was the kind of anger I was accustomed to from large men. Instead, he was just pacing the kitchen silently as I sat at the table holding a cup of coffee. He didn't say anything, but his jaw was clenched, and it was obvious he wasn't happy about Hydra blowing my car into pieces.

"They know," he finally said. I nodded and took a sip.

"Believe it or not, I figured that out," I replied.

"I think you should go stay with Stark." I shot him a glare.

"I'm not going to stay with Stark. I'm staying right here."

"They blew up your car, Jo. You think they're going to stop there?"

"Of course not. But they did it for a reason. You just have to calm down long enough to think logically."

"I am thinking logically."

"Strategically then. Right now, your response is just to get me someplace safe. But I'm not just some random civilian caught in the crossfire. The guy may not have known I would be there, but it was a deliberate move. He knew I wasn't in the car. He wanted me to know it was him and why. It was my fault anyway. I should have known they'd have someone watching Sam."

"It doesn't matter if you went or not. They would have sent someone after you eventually. They were sending a message. Killing you would have set Bucky off. He's too dangerous to them if you're dead. But they want you to know that they know what you're doing. It was a warning. They're going to come back for him."

"Stark has this place wired from top to bottom. He told me Jarvis even scans for interference. So if someone sets foot in my house, Stark will know. If I get scared of a spider in my bathtub, he knows. Don't underestimate him. He's brilliant. An asshole, for sure. But brilliant." He sighed and leaned against the counter. He crossed his arms over his chest and shut his eyes.

"Bucky's not going to come back if he knows they've got a tail on you." I set the mug down on the table and watched the steam swirl away from the top.

"He's not going to come back if I'm with Stark either. So we have to do what we can."

"I don't want you to put your life at risk."

"As I said, I'm not doing this for you. And I get to choose what I do with my life. I'm not actually a fairy princess, alright?" I huffed in irritation. "I know that's what I was supposed to be. But you must not have given my files a thorough read if you actually believed it. You shouldn't have given me the job if that's the case. Unless you gave it to me because I just happened to be in the same building at the same time."

"That's part of the reason," he said with a smile. I let out a frustrated laugh.

"Well, I'm not going to give up so easily. Just don't treat me like a delicate little flower, and we'll get along just fine. I played the part for you, but I'm still a soldier. And I was damn good."

"I know you were. I just don't want you to get hurt because I got you caught up in something you didn't sign up for."

"I did, though. I knew what I was getting into. And—maybe Sam was right. He said some people thrive on this kind of life. He said we miss it sometimes. Maybe I'm like that too. I don't know if I'm cut out for boring and normal. Because—I know it sounds crazy—but when I was helping people today—evacuating—making sure no one was hurt?" I sighed. "I felt alive again. So I don't know. Maybe I'm just saying that I want to help you take down Hydra in any way I can. I just need you to treat me as your equal and not collateral damage. We can be friends." He looked back up with the face of a reprimanded puppy. But he nodded curtly.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I just don't want you to get hurt, and I was wrong to underestimate you. I just want you to know what you're getting yourself into. They're not going to stop. But I have your back."

"I appreciate it." I stood up and headed into the hallway.