Into the War || A Captain America Love Story

18

TORI

As soon as we pull up to the apartment complex, Steve is out of the car before Tony can even step off the gas pedal. He shuffles out, leaving the back door open behind him. Tony tells me to follow so that he doesn't hurt himself, but I'm already slamming the passenger side door along with Steve's and grabbing our bags. By the time I enter the building, I can hear the pitter-patter of quick footsteps sprinting up the metal staircase. I shake my head, following my huge dork up.

He might have been in the hospital recently, but Steve is still a super soldier. So when I'm heaving out pants as I reach the top of the stairs, he hasn't even broken a sweat. He fumbles with his keys as he jams it into the front door. I set a bag down, brushing a strand of now sweaty hair behind my ear and pick the duffel bag back up again. When I look back up Steve has disappeared and the door is ajar.

I lug the bags into the front area of the apartment and drop them onto the wood floor. As I take one step towards the main area, I see a glint of metal out of the corner of my eye. I turn around, take Steve's key out of the door, and set it on the small table. The green plant that had once been there is now withered up and dead. At least I can now think of one thing I can do.

Stepping around the corner, I peer into the living room. Steve is curled up on the couch with a pillow in his arms, a grin spreading across his lips. I smile, leaning over and ruffling his blond locks.

"Happy to be home?" I ask him.

"Yes," he replies.

I hear Tony enter our apartment, his hands in his pockets. He gives me a sincere glance. I nod in thanks.

"I think that it was a rhetorical question, Spangles," he smirks, stepping over and making eye contact with Steve. He sits in one of the armchairs, crossing his legs and giving us a serious look.

I just set my hand on the arm of the sofa, leaning on the side. I can just sense bad news. "What's wrong, Tony?" I ask him.

Tony just gives me a long sigh in response. "Well, a lot of stuff," he says deeply. "I'm afraid that we have to have a serious conversation. All three of us."

"Oh wait, three?" Steve asks, sitting up from the sofa and leaning forward in with his eyes on Tony. "I'm listening."

"Would you guys like the bad or the horrible news first?" Tony questions, wringing his hands in his lap.

I take a deep breath, not breaking eye contact.

Steve glances up at me. "Your decision, sweetheart. It's all going to come out, so I'm indifferent with the order in which they do."

"Okay," I nod. "Horrible news to begin. Might as well start off bad."

"'Kay," Tony says. He presses his thumb into his palm, a red mark coming from the nail.

"Calm down first."

"Right." He sets his hands on his legs, setting them a good distance from each other so that he can't hurt himself. "You guys are on the radar now," he says. "There was an article in the news that I read on the way up here when you two ditched me. It said that you two vigilantes are back in business. Guess that they saw you lot flying through the sky, mainly because of Steve causing a scene."

I scoff. "It was his first time. He needs more experience."

"That's what she said," Tony smirks, standing up from the chair and searching for something to mess with besides me. He snatches a pen up from off the kitchen island, clicking it as he reforms our conversation triangle. "Anyways, the bad news. You're probably going to have to move out of this place because it was on SHIELD's list of info about both of you. That list was abducted ages ago when SHIELD fell, meaning that this information could be or already has been taken by God knows who. I highly suggest somewhere in the suburbs. Live that apple pie life."