In a Heartbeat || Cindy Moon [1] [ON HOLD]

six: well, there was no turning back at this point

I told nobody about my occurrence with Steve Rogers. It was hard, but I kept my mouth shut. Not even Betty had a clue that something was up, besides the fact that I had basically disappeared from hers and everyone around me's lives. I was invisible but in plain sight. When I was wanted or needed, which grew and rarer and rarer with me being gone, hiding and alone, less reliable, I disappeared. I felt bad, really, but at the same time, I didn't know what else to do.

It had been two days since Steve had unexpectedly visited my home, and I was paranoid as ever. Instead of walking home normally, which I did to avoid everyone, I took the subway, which brought me home much quicker. I approached and trotted down the steps, quicker than other strangers doing the same thing, and entered the bustling subway station underneath the city. I inhaled a shaky breath, telling myself that I was okay and I should be fine, even around all these people.

What could happen? There's nothing to break.

As I stood, waiting for the train that took me about three blocks away from my house, I silently pondered whether it was worth the risk to listen to music. Somehow, I hadn't managed to break my phone, or my headphones, or my backpack. Well, that's a lie, I accidentally tore the zipper off the other day and resorted to an old, faded pink backpack in the back of my closet. Probably not a good idea -

My thoughts were interrupted as a tall man stepped right up next to me, and I almost flinched. I glanced over, studying the man out of the corner of my eye. He wore a baseball cap and aviator sunglasses, but the height, the build, and the bomber jacket looked familiar...

"Mr. Rogers?!" I exclaimed, jumping back. Steve was quick to reach out and gently grasp my forearm, leaning close and hushing his voice.

"Quiet," he muttered. I nodded quickly.

"Now, before you really start freaking out again I'm going to ask you to please, try not to make a scene." He murmured quickly.

I swallowed before speaking. "Okay." My heart was pounding.

"Thank you." Served sighed, looking just barely over the rim of his sunglasses, holding eye contact. I could barely see his blue eyes. He let go of my arm. "Now. May I please speak with you? Maybe in a more civil manner, I suppose showing up at your door unexpectedly would freak anyone out, and really, I'm sorry for that."

"It's...fine." I spoke slowly, not really knowing what to say. I wanted to say no, I wanted to get the hell away from Steve Rogers, of all people. But I knew I was safe with him. After all, he was Captain America. But I was genuinely creeped out, confused, and kind of terrified. But I was also curious, and I knew I didn't really have any other option if I truly wanted to get a hold of and control myself. I desperately needed help, and I knew that for a fact.

"Yeah. Sure. We can, uh, speak." I stammered.

Steve chuckled softly. "Fantastic." It sounded almost sarcastic, and I wanted to laugh, but I stayed stone faced as Steve and I began to approach the incoming train.

We hopped on and sat next to each other, silent for the entire duration of the not-so-brief ride. It was a good ten minutes of silence, I would say. When the train came to a stop we left in silence, too, and I realized we were one of the only ones to get off at this station, and when we got off of the train, the station was almost empty. I waited until we got to the top of the stairs to ask him where we were headed.

"Um, where are we going, exactly?" I asked, squinting as the sun beat down onto the concrete, almost reflecting off of the cement.

"You'll see," Steve responded.