Positive Regard

Chapter Two

"There are other jobs, Steve." Bucky repeated for what had to be the millionth time.
"He's right." I agreed. "I get being patriotic, but don't you think that's stretching it?"
Steve sighed, probably well past annoyed with us.
"You could be a banker." Bucky suggested.
"Or a doctor."
"Or a lawyer."
"Or a politician."
"Or—"
"Stop." Steve said. "I get it, okay? You guys don't want me to do it. But you can't stop me."
I looked at Bucky. "You can't let him do this. Stop it."
"Look, buddy. When the government lies to us, it's fine, but when we lie to the government, it's illegal."
"I know." Steve said, sounding very much like he was tired of the conversation. "And I don't care."
"I'll cry if you do." I threatened.
"I know. And I'm sorry. But I'm doing it."
"If anything happens to you, I'll kick your scrawny little ass."
Bucky whistled. "Damn, baby. You're scarier than the Nazi's."
I laughed. "Yeah, I don't think so."
"You are. Why else do you think I bend to your will?"
"Because you love me?"
"That too. But mainly 'cause you're scary." He grinned and put his arm around. "C'mon, let's go out."
"I'm good here." Steve said.
"I'll pay."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."

Steve did join the military, and it was fine until he went and screwed up. The next time I saw him, he was tall. And muscular.
"Steven Rogers." I said, sounding and looking very much surprised. "What on earth happened to you?"
"Growth spurt." He smiled.
"What did you do?"
"Joined the army."
"No. No, no. The army doesn't do... that. What did you do?"
"It doesn't matter." He smiled. "Don't worry about it—the important thing is that I can fight without lying now."
"No, Steven. That doesn't make this right. What the hell did you do?"
"I told you. It doesn't matter."
"On the bright side, you might be able to win an alley fight now."
Sure it was selfish, but I liked it better when he couldn't. I knew international defense was important and that millions of innocent people were dying, but I didn't want Steve to be involved in it. He was supposed to stay here and do something that wouldn't give him an asthma attack. But he didn't have asthma any more, so I guess that was a good thing.
"So... I'm gonna be leaving in, like, two days."
"What?"
"Yeah. Wanna go out for lunch?"
"Lunch?" I asked, feeling like an idiot repeating him. I didn't want to eat. My little Steve was about to be going to fight Nazis.
"Yeah. That meal between breakfast and dinner. C'mon, let's go."
We went to lunch, and then he insisted on going down the street from Granny's to an abandoned house that he, Bucky, my brother and I used to go in all the time when we were kids. Bucky had always made him "be careful," so I guess he was thinking he'd missed out.
I made him wait to go at night, hoping that he'd forget about it. I didn't like it at all. It creeped me out. But I told him I wanted to see the stars, so he waited.
Unfortunately, he remembered, so we went.
"Well?" I asked as we laid on the roof, looking at the sky after exploring. "Are you satisfied?"
"Eh. It was all right."
"Are you shitting me, Steve? You made me come out here to say 'eh'?"
"Well, I mean, I was expecting more. You know?"
I laughed. "Whatever. If the roof caves in on us, it's your fault."
"It held all four of us. I think it can handle this."
"Years ago!"
He laughed and got up. "Come on, Rosie. Time to get you home."
"Get me home? I'm older than you--"
"By less than a year."
"Yeah yeah yeah."
He left, as promised, in two days. Bucky's parents invited me to dinner, but I declined. When I got home, though, I realized that if it weren't for them, I would be completely alone. Granny had died two months ago, and Bucky and Steve were overseas doing God knows what. At least our military was better managed than Hitler's. I guess that made the odds a bit better. Without Bucky's family, though, nobody would know whether I was dead or alive or dying. So I invited them over for dinner the next day.
"What are you gonna do with all your free time, now?" Mrs. Barnes asked as we ate.
"I'm not sure." I shrugged. "Probably get a job, I guess. I don't wanna sit here and do nothing."
"Get a job?" She asked.
"Very progressive." Mr. Barnes gave me a thumbs up.
I laughed. "Not really. I'm a Republican. I'm just bored. It's been one day since Steve left and I don't know what to do with myself already."
"Taking care of grown men is exhausting, isn't it?" Mrs. Barnes smiled.
"Most definitely." I agreed.
"So," Mr. Barnes asked. "When Bucky gets back, are you getting married?"
"Honey." Mrs. Barnes hit him with her napkin. "You can't ask people that."
"Why not? Your son never tells us anything."
"Oh, no. He gets that from you."
"So, Rose? Are you?"
I smiled. "That's our plan."
"Are you gonna have kids?" He pressed.
"Yes sir, that's our plan. Four."
"Good. That's good. Name one after me, would you?" He winked.
I smiled. "Yes sir."