S T U N N E D | The First Avenger

6 | Awkward Encounters

I was still trying to warm up to the idea of Steve being chosen for experimentation. Maybe it was my lack of faith in the universe. That I couldn't just leave it up to chance that he'll still be breathing after today.

The universe can go screw itself. Steve HAS to make it out of this. Nothing would ever be the same if I lost him. I mean, if we lost him. Bucky and William all had equal parts of my heart. I didn't favor any of them or anything.

Although part of me wished I was out on the front lines right now. I started to miss Bucky and Will, more and more everyday. I'm tired of running training drills with a bunch of half wits. I wanna be out there, fighting.

Who knows, maybe there's some lesson on patience or something I gotta learn first, but I doubt it. My life is just one long pain in the ass.

Steve sat between Peggy and myself in the back of the car. The atmosphere was silent and awkward. I wasn't sure why, but I did sense some kind of tension between Steve and Peggy.

"I got beat up in that alley." Steve pointed out the window to Peggy. "And that parking lot." He said after we drove further ahead. "And behind that dinner."

"Did you have something against running away?" Peggy asked curiously.

I smiled to myself. She didn't quite understand him, not really. It wasn't about not running, it was about the cowardice of not staying, not standing his ground. It would've been smart of him to at least have run a few times, but I knew well enough that wasn't gonna happen.

"You start running, they'll never let you stop. You stand up, push back. Can't say no forever, right?" Steve said.

"I know a little of what that's like. To have every door shut in your face." She replied.

"I guess, I just don't know why you would want to join the army. You're a beautiful dame. Beautifu... oh, a woman." He stuttered. "I mean... An agent, not a Dame! You are beautiful."

Something didn't feel right. He was nervous, too nervous. The kind of nervous that could only be explained by one thing. He liked her. Should I be happy? Why does this bother me? I don't understand these feelings at all.

"You have no idea how to talk to a woman, do you?" She inquired.

"They're not exactly lining up to dance with a guy that might step on them." He said sadly.

"You must've danced?"

He did. With me. Nothing special, we were friends. Friends could dance with friends. But he didn't mention that to her.

"Well, asking a woman to dance always seems so terrifying. And the past few years just... didn't seem to matter that much. Figured I'd wait."

"For what?"

"The right partner."

I felt another pang in my chest. I was hurt. I couldn't figure out why, but their conversation made me more than uncomfortable.

The driver slowed down and pulled the car to the curb. I quickly get out, not wanted to be next to these two any longer.

"This way." Peggy directed the two of us into the antique shop.

"What are we doing here?" Steve questioned. I could've explained it to him, but was forbidden to speak until we reached the safe point.

The bell on the shop door tingled, and I cautiously closed the door behind us.

A sweet looking old lady walks from behind a curtain and smiles at us. "Wonderful weather this morning, isn't it?"

"Yes." Peggy replied. "I always carry an umbrella."