Unexpected

Spider and Flies

"I can't believe we're doing this." I laughed as I took Steve's hand from across the table. Gosh! Just look at how big his hands were in comparison to mine! It looked like he could snap my wrist if he wanted to, crush my hand into cornmeal!

"Me neither." He answered, chuckling a bit as he looked over to where Rumlow sat. He was going to referee. What was up with the special ops team and arm wrestling all of a sudden? They all wanted to test their strength against the super soldier, and then I somehow got sucked into it too because why not pit both of the 'superhumans' against each other in a battle of brawn?

Half the table was chanting 'Cap, Cap, Cap!" while the other half were shouting 'Ca-Ta-Lyst! Ca-Ta-Lyst!". Other agents, members from other tables, had joined in to spectate. Brock Rumlow had to shout in order to be heard over the crowd. "Okay, okay everybody! Now, you two, I want a clean fight, got it?"

I gave Steve a joking, hurt look, "Steve! You wouldn't cheat would you? Not you, the golden boy?"

The crowd seemed to think my joke was funny. Steve chuckled looking down before meeting my eyes again, "No problems on my end; just don't be a sore loser when I win."

"Oh!" the crowd around us called.

"Such sass, Captain!"

"Okay, you two!" Rumlow was laughing hard. He pulled himself back together again, trying to gain control of the room. "Copper."

I nodded and slipped my free hand to my waistband where I spun the dial on my device and pressed the button. I breathed in deeply, focusing on absorbing the energy as a few silvery electric sparks flew up my fingers up to halfway up my arms until they disappeared. I could feel the eyes of the other agents on my hand. They were all so fascinated by my ability. I tried to block out their stares and focused instead on Steve. I grinned at him as I felt the strength and energy coursing into me, like the electricity had entered my bloodstream, making me feel bold.

"Scared Potter?"

Steve bobbed his head forward, his eyebrows furrowing to meet in the middle, "What?"

I rolled my head back with a sigh, huffing a laugh, "Oh dear... still so much to learn!"

Rogers still looked confused, but I looked over at Rumlow instead, signaling him with a nod that I was ready. He hushed our little crowd down again before saying, "On the count of three. One..."

I gave Steve's hand a little squeeze, friendly with just a hint of competition.

"Two..." He grinned back.

"Three! Go!"

Suddenly it felt like a car had rammed itself into my arm. Dang Steve was strong! I knew that already, obviously I did having fought with him during New York, sparred with him, and after seeing him beat Agent Osari in their arm wrestling match less than ten minutes ago, but gosh! I struggled to hold my own, straining my muscles in my arm as I tried to push his hand back. The cheering grew into a clamor. Already I had outlasted the other agents who had gone up against Rogers, but I could feel my hand sliding back, centimeter by centimeter towards the tabletop. I gritted my teeth, nudging his hand back just a hair before Steve started winning again.

"Come on Copper! Don't give up yet!"

"Cap, Cap, Cap, Cap!"

"Let's see what that serum can do!"

"Ca-Ta-Lyst! Ca-Ta-Lyst!"

I don't think I could ever have been labeled as competitive. Honestly, for as long as I can remember I'd always analyzed my situations trying to figure out if I had a chance of winning. If I didn't I'd give up or not try anymore or I'd think of a new approach. Old over-thinker's habit I guess. 'Winning' rarely motivated me, so I wouldn't mind losing to Cap, I wouldn't be the first or the last. Though I was curious. I'd done tests of strength before to see how much I could push my energy absorption's strength. I'd picked up cars and flung tables around like they were mere Frisbees, but this was interesting. It was fun. I knew that for Steve and I, this was just a game after giving into the peer pressure of our fellow agents, so I kept playing, putting all I had into it. Except, was I putting my all into it?