After hours of watching Steve struggle to do things as simple of a push up, all the soldiers were finally given a break. I set aside my clipboard and pulled him aside for a chat. I grabbed his dirt covered white shirt, and pulled him behind some crates.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded. "No, what I wanna know is what idiot let you come here?"
"Wow," Steve scoffed. "Nice to see you too."
"Did you lie on your enlistment form again?"
"No-"
"Tell me the truth!"
"I am!" He yelled.
"Dr. Erskine, he gave me a chance. This is my opportunity-"
"Do you have any idea what this program is, Steve? They're picking people to experiment on! Do you really think you'll survive that?"
"Anna...."
"No," I cut him off. "I get wanting to fight, okay. But this? This is suicide."
I pulled myself together and stomped away from him. My brother, and one of my best friends are halfway across the world, and my one remaining piece of family puts himself on the chopping block. Damn right I'm pissed.
⍟
I did my best to avoid Steve for the next week. He was being stupid and stubborn. It was just as hard watching basic training kick his ass.
"Pick up the pace, ladies!" One of the generals pushes the line of running soldiers, Steve barely keeping up in the back. I sat and watched from the car with Agent Carter as the men finally caught up to us.
The general gathers their attention and points to the flag pole. "That flag means that you're only at the halfway point. First man to bring it to me, gets to ride back with Agent Carter and Agent King."
They all scramble to try and get the flag, all of them but Steve who is still trying to catch his breath. All of them attempt to climb the pole, but they're looking at it the wrong way.
"Nobody's got that flag in seventeen years!" He gives them another minute before yelling at them to get back in line. "Fall in! Let's go, get back into formation!"
They all jog back to the path, except for Steve who casually walks up to the pole. "Rogers! I said fall in!" The general barks at him.
Steve doesn't even look at him. He just bends down and unscrews the bolts holding the pole in place. The pole swings down and crashes in the dirt. All the others have gone silent, and Steve just unhooks the flag before walking over to us and handing it to the general.
Steve hops in the back and gives me a small smile. I turn back around and refuse to even acknowledge him.
⍟
I jotted down small notes while the group of soldiers did pushups. I glanced over at Steve whose arms were shaking just trying to keep his own body weight up. I sighed and looked away.
I noticed Dr. Erskine off to the side, studying each of the soldiers. I moved over so I was standing next to him.
"Agent King." He greeted me.
"Dr. Erskine." I replied. "You have an interesting choice in soldiers."
"You're referring to Steven, I presume?" He says casually.
"Most people wouldn't give him a second look." I commented.
"I wasn't looking at his exterior strengths." He said before walking over to Colonel Phillips.
"Faster ladies! Come on!" Agent Carter barked at the soldiers. "My grandmother has more life in her, god rest her soul!"
"Let's go! Up!"
I keep my eyes focused on Steve. He doesn't seem to care about the physical pain that he's getting doing this. He never complained, not even once. Not even now when he's about to pass out from the jumping jacks.
"Grenade!" Colonel Philips yells from the side, and he tosses one right in the middle of them. Even I could tell it was fake.
All of them cower away and run from it, whilst Steve, jumps forward and launches himself on top of it, using his body to contain the explosion.
"Get back!" He yells from the dirt. At this moment I can't really be mad at him. I understood what Dr. Erskine was talking about. Steve has the heart to be a great soldier. I knew that, I was just afraid the next grenade he jumped on was gonna be real.
When nothing happens, he slowly sits up in the dirt. "Is this a test?" He asks out of breath.
I turn my head back to Phillips who just shrugs. "He's still skinny." He mutters.
⍟
The day was over and the sun had disappeared from view. I found myself walking to Steve's tent. When I first entered, his eyes only flicked over to me for a second.
"I thought you weren't talking to me." He said staring at the ground. I sighed and sat down next to him on the cot.
"Look... I'm sorry. I was a bitch before. Of course I think you're strong enough for this, I was just scared of losing you."
"Is this an apology?" He asked with a small smirk.
"Just shut up and accept it, Rogers." I grumbled, shoving his shoulder.
"You're forgiven." He laughed.
I took cue to hug him then. It was a lot of energy to stay mad at him. I just hope I didn't have to actually lose him.
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What do you guys think of Anna and Steve's relationship so far?
I trying to aim for this monday as my next update, fingers crossed!
