Everly || Steve Rogers

3. Saved By The Buck

'War continues to ravage Europe. But help is on the way! Every able-bodied young man is lining up to serve his country.'

Everly turned to look at Steve, who was focused on the film playing out in front of him. There was a sadness in his eyes, one that spread even to her. She knew how badly he wanted to enlist in this war, and she hated being happy each time he was turned down. With Bucky having been drafted, she couldn't bare to think about Steve being thrown into the fighting as well.

A young boy tossing metal aside came on screen, 'Even little Timmy is doing his part. Collecting scrap metal. Nice work Timmy!' The narrator added in an overly enthusiastic tone.

"Who cares?" Came the voice of a man sitting a row in front of Everly and Steve. She rolled her eyes and sighed in annoyance. Steve shifted a bit in his seat, practically staring a hole through his head. The man also caught the attention of a woman sitting beside Everly. Her face was red and her eyes puffy, filling with tears.

"Play the movie already!" He added as a tank moved across the screen.

"Hey you wanna show some respect?" Steve said in a hushed tone. The man was silent for a moment. Though it's doubtful that Steve was responsible.

'Meanwhile overseas, our brave boys are showing the axis powers that the price of freedom is never too high.'

A few soldiers walked across the screen carrying a stretcher on which laid an injured man. Though she tried to push it from her mind, Everly couldn't help but picture Bucky being hauled away on a stretcher in the same manner. Her heart broke a little at the thought. She looked down at her lap, a lump forming in her throat. She quickly returned her gaze to the film.

"Let's go! Get on with it! Man just start the cartoon!" The rude man spoke up again. Everly felt the anger finally boil up inside of her and she opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off by Steve.

"Hey wanna shut up?" He asked, his voice laced with annoyance. He leaned in toward the man to ensure that he had been heard. The pair sat back into their seats again as the rude man stood from his, slowly turning to face them. Everly's heart skipped a beat and her eyes widened. She felt herself sinking farther into her seat as the man glared down at them.

"Hey, Steve, I think we should probably go," she whispered in his ear as she grabbed onto his arm, starting to pull him away.

"You should listen to your girlfriend, short stack."

Everly froze and cringed, knowing that now there was no way Steve would let it go. He lurched forward, shoving the stranger from over the seat. The man nearly fell onto the person beside him, only making him angrier.

"Take it outside!" Somebody yelled.

"Great idea." Everly answered, pushing Steve out the door. The second they stepped out into the fresh air, Steve was ripped into the alley where a punch to the face sent him tumbling into a pair of tin trash cans. Everly quickly followed, arriving just on time to witness the exchange. Her heart pounded in her chest and she knew that she had to step in.

"Okay, hold on a second!" She put a hand on the man's shoulder, turning him to face her, only to receive a punch of her own. She fell to the damp ground and her cheek erupted in a throbbing pain. Slowly, she worked to her hands and knees. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Steve scrambling to his feet just to be forced to the ground by yet another punch. He was quick to stand again, snatching the lid of one of the trash cans in the process. He held it before him like a shield, but it was almost instantly ripped from his grasp and tossed aside as if it were nothing.

Everly crawled over to the lid and held it tight in her hands, taking a deep breath before bashing it over the head of the stranger. He flinched as the flimsy metal bent around his head, leaving a large indent in the lid. The breath was knocked from her lungs when he grabbed her by the front of her shirt and shoved her against the brick wall. He leaned in closer until his hot breath tickled her neck.