Again // The Winter Soldier

one.

For Carmen the day had been way to nerve wracking. From the moment she placed on her black pencil skirt and pink blouse till after her third lecture had the nerves not settled. Even when she showed up in Nick's office uninvited. She was with an old friend but not returning until now felt almost cowardly. She had built the agency and now she ran off and hid for two years.

Nick was excited though. That was nice. He had saved the big office for her and moved her in quickly. It didn't even take long to become apart of the routine given a bunch of paper work on new agents and certain missions. She even had three training classes a day. It was almost as if she had jumped back a few years but started new anyway.

By the end of the day she felt like her old bustling self. Scrambling with papers, rushing to get to her next place, and wondering when she could get coffee without paying attention to anybody. And maybe that's what caused her to collide with another body as she rounded the corner. A few papers drop and she scrambled to grab them.

"Sorry" she uttered before starting to continue her way to her office but an arm stopped her. As if reality had just hit her she turned to see who the intruder of her thoughts was. And nevertheless of all the people she felt would appear it was. And there he was standing tall and firm with a strong grip on her.

"Good God" all the papers dropped from her arms as she lost her tense demeanor. He looked good. Like really good.

"I can't believe it's actually you" he said crossing his arms. The two both dismissed the fallen papers and she chuckled pushing some hair behind her ear.

"I came back today. I completely forgot to ask where you were. The second I stepped in Fury had me over my head in paperwork. I even had to prepare three classes and hour before teaching them" Steve chuckled at the girl he missed so much. She was right about the time not being right. He needed two years to adjust and she needed them to recover.

"It's fine, uhm, is there anywhere we could talk?" he asked and she nodded. They both bent to collect the files that had fallen and then moved to her office. She couldn't stop glancing at him. He had shortened his hair and she liked the way it spiked up. It made his jaw look really good. And his new suit was bold. The red of the three untied colors had been removed and the star spread across his chest showed how muscular he really was.

"Woah" she chuckled as he spotted the huge office. It was like a mini apartment. Her old office wasn't even close to this big.

"I know, the whole building looks intimidating and then the Directors office is suddenly worse. Somebody walks up to The Triskelion here and they're scared. Then they reach my office and they're shitting their pants. I to this day can't remember when people started being afraid of me" Steve looked to her as she dropped the files on the desk.

"I guess authority comes with reason" she said and he nodded, sitting in the chair opposing her desk. She sat down and fixed the files.

"Uh, you look great" she muttered and he chuckled and smiled. She didn't look him in the eyes and he noticed the picture of her desk monitor. It was from a day on the ship. Sitwell was trying to document and Julia asked to be in a picture. So Carmen and Steve bent down on each side of her.

Steve smiled at his super suit and the little girl he hadn't seen in so long. She was probably super smart and mature. Kind like her mother and strong. They looked like a little family. That's all he ever wanted and Carmen refused to believe that.

"You do too, your the most gorgeous thing I've ever laid my eyes on" this time it was easier. There was no anger or hurt. He had become used to life and he just wanted her back. No prejudice.

"Oh please. I'm the same I was 90 years ago" she said and he shook his head and moved closer.

"I'm not kidding Carmen. You look good. And you seem happier" she wanted to say she owed it to him. If he didn't return she would still be where she was three years ago. Thinking life was a burden. But now she knew why she was gifted the chance of living forever . She needed the be there when he returned and those long 70 years were worth it.