Pushing Daisies [BUCKY BARNES]

5

It was pouring buckets when I ventured out the next day, and I considered calling a cab, but when the fish through my backpack turned up no money at all, I simply shrugged and pulled my jacket over my head.

The walk to the tower was cold and wet and I hated every minute of it. Not having the money to afford a car, though, I just had to deal with it.

The sigh that escaped my lips as I trudged through the rotating door was enough to make the lady at the front desk chuckle. "Rough day, honey?"

"You bet," I grumbled, scanning my card in, "and it's only 6:25." I made quick to the elevator, pressing the button to take me up but stopping and draining the water that I had collected into my rain-boots into the plant next to the elevator.

The all too unpleasant squelching noises that emanated from my boots made me want to gag, and the only thing I could think of was someone stepping on slugs. I shook the thought from my head as the lift ascended, dragging me to the last two floors I had to clean before I would probably have to start all over again.

The ding of the elevator doors at floor 83 had me walking into a wall again. Stumbling backwards, I was barely able to catch myself. Looking up, I tried to hold back a chuckle.

"Well if it isn't my friendly neighborhood Captain America. Nice to see you again Steve."

He looked startled for a second, almost as if he forgot who I was, then caught himself. "Wes! Hey! Nice to see you again!" He backed out of the lift, letting me follow him out onto the floor. "Why are you here so early?"

"Job starts early." I confessed, meandering around him to the supply closet, dragging my usual bucket and other necessities from the depths. "6:30 every morning till 5:30 every night."

He whistled under his breath. "That's a long time."

"Yeah well," I sighed, "maybe this way I can get out of my neighborhood. What are you up to today, Mr. Rogers?"

I could tell that he noticed my change in topic, but he chose to ignore it and that lifted a huge weight from my shoulders. I didn't want to have to lie to the savior of our country about where I lived and why. "Not much. Nothing, actually. Do you need any help here?"

I smiled up at him. "I mean, if you want to help that would be terrific, but I'm sure you have much more important things to do then help me clean."

"Nonsense," he chuckled, grabbing the bucket out of my hands, "where do we start?"

And so for the next three hours I scrubbed both floors 83 and 84 with Steve Rogers at my side, laughing to random things and introducing him to Juliannes music choices.

"Wait wait wait, so your friend bought her own coffee shop at 16? That's insane nowadays!"

I smiled at his appreciation of Juli. "Of course. That girl could save the galaxy if she set her mind to it. She's so independent, it's brilliant really."

He chuckled, "I'd love to meet her in person some day."

I sat back on my knees, looking straight at the super-soldier. "We can go today!"

He sat back as well, looking startled. "What?"

"Yeah!" I smiled, "I was told yesterday that I get an hour and a half for lunch, we could go there! Juli opens her shop around this time, she absolutely adores you."

I could see the wheels in his head spinning as he considered it. I knew it would be difficult for him to suddenly up and have lunch with the housecleaner he had made fast friends with. "Well... sure, I guess."