Shields vs. Flames (Captain America & Human Torch FF)

S01 Chapter 9: It's Not Too Late

Read the A/N after reading the chapter!

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(Maddy)

Johnny entwines his fingers with mine and I'm not really sure if I should tighten it. He stares at me with his dazzling blue eyes and gives me a smile that mentally makes me swoon.

I feel stinging in my cheeks and look down to hide my face because I might be blushing tomato red right now.

"So, when will I hear your sweet 'yes'?" he asks.

Still looking down, I bite my lip. "I–I just–I'm just not sure yet of what to answer."

"I know that from the very first time we met in the elevator, I'm not your type of man. But, let's say that I wasn't that guy back then. Will you say 'yes'?"

I sigh and look at him. "I really think that—"

"Hey, Johnny!" a woman's voicefrom the elevator cuts me off and catches our attention. We let go of our hands.

It was Sue's. She walks towards us with a huge grin on her face. She has her blonde hair up in a fancy bun and she's wearing glasses. The red turtleneck shirt, black slacks and ankle boots look good on her. And, as always, she looks very beautiful.

I stand up from the couch and hold out my hand with a smile.

"Nice to see you again, Mrs. Richards," I greet.

She shakes my hand. "Nice to see you too. And please, call me Sue."

"Okay, Sue."

We let go of our hands and I entwine my fingers together. She smiles at me even more and I smile bashfully. Then she looks at Johnny.

"So, Maddy," she says. "Has my brother womanized you or is this for real?"

I laugh. "No. And I'm pretty sure he won't because he knows what im capable of."

"Actually," says Johnny as he holds me in my arms, "She was crying when she came here and I felt bad for her."

Sue scowls. "Why? What happened?"

I shake my head. "It's nothing. I just needed a shoulder to cry on."

She gives Johnny a proud smile as she crosses her arms. "So, I guess you and Johnny are now...?"

"Uh, more than friends," says Johnny. He looks at me. "But I'm still waiting for her sweet yes."

I feel stinging in my cheeks as he says that. Now, I think I'm flushing tomato red.

I just can't say 'no' to him in front of his sister. And I can't say 'yes' yet because I'm not really sure if he's just messing with me.

And still, Steve's the one I love more.

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(Steve)

Sometimes, I wonder why I'm still alive. Even if it's because of the Super Soldier serum, I don't know what's my purpose in life anymore; all of the people I knew very well are dead; Bucky is dead; Peggy is dead; most of them died in the war, others died of age. And that made a hole in my heart.

The Avengers came and they covered that hole, but not big enough to make it disappear.

When Maddy came, the hole disappeared and she just gave meaning to me once again.

But I'm just one hell of a huge jerk because of what I did to her. I have hurt her feelings. I said those stupid and inexplicably painful things to her. Now she's wondered off and I have no idea where she is.

I already checked her room and the rooftop but there was no sign of her. I just stop looking for her because I think it's best to get her chest loose so she could breathe easily and cool down. I know she's just walking around and trying to breathe. She'll be safe. Besides, she has super strength.

My elbows are on my knees as I bury my face in my hands and run them through my hair, pulling them to make me relax as I sit down on the couch.

I'm just really a huge dimwitted jerk.

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" I yell at myself.

I lean on the backrest and drop my hands. I take a deep breath and try to relax.

"Steve, are you alright?" Bruce, who just came out of the elevator, makes me flinch.

I sigh and stare at the ceiling. "I'm a stupid person, Bruce."

He walks forward to me. "Why would you say that?"

I put my elbows back on my knees again and bury my face in my hands, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. "If only you heard those painful stuff I said to her."

"To whom? Maddy?"

I nod, still hiding my face.

"What did you say?"

I lean on the backrest and stare at the ceiling again. "I made her feel like the worst person in the world." I sigh. "I overheard Storm last night asking her to be his girlfriend and I got so jealous, I was suffocating. Then, earlier at the kitchen, she was teasing me because of my pajamas and I just lost it. I exploded. I thought she forgave him in a bed because I heard them last night talking about a 'Cindy' which I just found out is a stuffed dog."

"Steve, why in the world would you think about that?" his voice full is of grief.

I sigh again. "I'm a very very huge stupid asshole. If only you saw her face."

"You know she's not that kind of girl. And I know how much you love her. Why would you hurt her that way?"

My chest tightens and I feel a lump on my throat. "I just wanna tell her I'm so sorry. And if I wasn't just so stupid at the past, I would've already told her I have loved her ever since."

"Well, I think you're too late." I give him a light glare and scowl. "You told me that Johnny asked her to be his girlfriend and because of what you told her, she must really got very hurt and ran to him for a shoulder to cry on. Now, she might've said yes."

I scrunch my hair. "That's what I'm afraid of. If she's not gonna end up with me, I just hope it's not with a guy like Storm."

"But Steve, why would she run to him for comfort if he's still that kind of guy? Maddy's not stupid, you know that."

He's damn right. I know Maddy's not stupid to run to him for comfort if she knows Storm won't give a damn a thing about this. But she did possibly ran to him.

Bruce stands up. "If you'll excuse me, I'll just go and eat breakfast."

I nod and he trails off to the elevator.

I lean forward again and rest my elbows on my knees. Then, I clasp my face with my hands.

"And Steve," Bruce adds. "It's not too late to tell her the truth."

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A/N: You guys have probably seen the few chapter changes, have you? I have put 'S01' in every chapter titles meaning that this is Season 1.

Ever since I continued writing this, I was thinking that maybe I would do this like a TV series-like book.

So, guys, are you cool with that idea?

And also, I wanna know if you're on Team Steve or Team Johnny. Just please, PLEASE comment your answers!

~Ronica ♥