In Your Eyes // Steve Rogers

The Power Inside

When Steve and I awoke the next morning, tangled in each other's bodies, we both chuckled. It was a change in pace from our usual distanced sleeping positions. I pried open my eyes to look up at his smiling face. He hadn't opened his eyes either, despite being awake. 

"Today's the day," I whispered, rolling myself on top of him. I kissed his chin then rested my head underneath it. I listened to his heartbeat. 

We didn't have the option to stay in bed for a long time. It was still overwhelmingly dark outside, but there was a sign of light in the distance. It would be a short time before dawn and the entire Compound would be seeping with the sunlight. It was a short time before it was go time. 

Steve and I mutually decided it was time to get ready. He showered, I fixed my hair into a half up-half down ponytail, then I showered, and he got dressed. We brushed our teeth together, then we started to dig through my clothes to find a look that was casual enough to pass for 2012 fashion. We decided on a pair of black jeans and a dark blue pull over sweatshirt with white sneakers. I rolled my sleeves up. 

We found our team in the kitchen by the time the sun was starting to shine into the windows of the Compound. Chorus' of shared 'good mornings' floated through the kitchen, but for the most part, everyone was quiet while eating their breakfast. 

"Everything's downstairs, if you guys want to get a head start," I offered, when I noticed most were finished eating and had started small conversations between each other. 

One by one, people left to ready themselves. 

Steve and I, being the last ones to arrive to the kitchen, were the lasts downstairs. Everyone was sliding into their Quantum Realm suits carefully. Steve and I joined, after I helped him zip into his old Captain America suit. 

"You know, I like this suit," I whispered to him as I clipped his belt on. "Something about it. I can't quite put my finger on it."

"I'm partial to the Stealth suit," he admitted. 

I nodded. "That's fair, too."

I glanced back to the table and saw it was empty. Everyone had their weapons, everyone was situated in their Quantum Realm suits, we had our teams, our missions, and all that remained was to go through the Tunnel. 

Tony asked if everyone was prepared. When no one opposed, he shuffled everyone up to the platform and spaced us equal distance apart from each other. He took his place beside me when he finished. He and Steve shared a nod, Steve looked down and gave me a smile, and then he addressed our team. 

"Five years ago, we lost-- all of us. We lost friends, we lost family, we lost a part o f ourselves. Today, we have a chance to take it all back. You know your teams, you know your missions. Get the Stones, get them back. One round trip each, no mistakes, no do-overs. Most of us are going somewhere we know. That doesn't mean you should know what to expect. Be careful. Look out for each other. This is the fight of our lives. And we're gonna win. Whatever it takes," he said softly, and with poise. He extended his closed fist into the center. One by one, each member of our team extended their fist to the center, we all shared nervous smiles, and Steve sighed. "Good luck."

"He's pretty good at that," mumbled Rocket, surprised.

"Right?" breathed Scott dreamily. 

"All right, stroke those keys, Jolly Green!" declared Tony, pointing excitedly to Bruce. 

Bruce left the platform to hit the apt button arrangement to send us through the Quantum Tunnel. The teams synced their Watches to the right time and place. When Bruce returned to his spot on the platform, he synced his own Watch with Tony's, and then he informed us there was ten seconds before it was go.