Iron Wolf

Chapter 10~ Meanwhile...

Steve's POV

It had been a while since a certain redhead had passed me by since she and Tony had moved back to California. And while she hadn't graced my eyes, she was always on my mind. Her flame-like hair, her galaxies for eyes, her milky skin, her curves, her attitude, her sarcasm... everything about her pulled me in. And that scared me. She was so young. Did my feelings make me a predator? I hoped they didn't. I was doing everything in my power to make them go away, but nothing was working. Everything reminded me of her. And people were starting to notice.

"Are you ok, Rogers?" Director Fury asked, watching me pummel the punching bag.

"Everything's fine, Sir," I lied. Everything was not fine, but how do you tell someone that Captain America has romantic and sexual feelings about a 16-year-old-girl? You didn't; at least not if you wanted to stay out of trouble.

"Are you sure? Because it seems like something's on your mind," He pushed, but I didn't falter. No one could know about my feelings for Melody.

"I'm sure. I'm just trying to stay in shape, you know?"

"Carry on then," Fury said, taking his leave. To be honest, I had no idea if he suspected anything or not. And even if he didn't, did anyone else? I had been out of it since I laid eyes on Melody Stark, and I couldn't help but wonder if anyone else had noticed or if they would put it together. Which was why I started avoiding everyone as much as possible. Especially Natasha. I had a feeling she would figure me out within seconds of seeing me like this.

But I couldn't stop feeling this way. Melody had somehow managed to worm her way into every thought I had. Her knowing smile, the warmth in her eyes, the way she could analyze entire scenarios in only a few seconds... I knew I had it bad. But what could I do? I couldn't get her out of my head. And it was driving me crazy.

Something else that drove me crazy was not knowing if she felt the same. And seeing as I couldn't just ask her I knew I'd never get my answer. I couldn't as because she had moved so far away, but also because if I did ask and she didn't reciprocate my feelings, things would go very badly for me. And if she did share the same feelings, that would be just as bad, seeing as we couldn't really do anything for at least two years. And by that time, she may have found someone else. God, the thought killed me. Melody wrapped up in bed with someone else. Someone else catering to her every whim. Someone else taking care of her every need. Someone else pleasuring her. The very idea ticked me off to no end. I wanted to do those things for her; to be that person for her. And I couldn't.

I didn't even know if Tony would approve of something like that. Neither he or his father seemed to care much for me, but it was a different time. Once Melody turned 18, she would be allowed to make those kinds of decisions for herself. She could choose me if she wanted. And I hoped so hard that she would want to. Because I didn't know if I'd be able to handle it if she chose anyone else. In the short time I'd known her, I'd become very territorial and protective of her. I knew it wasn't ok, that she wasn't a possession. But I couldn't help it. Something inside me, some primal urge, had awoken the first time I'd laid eyes on Melody Stark. And it was only getting worse as time went on. Now that she had moved away? The urges had at least doubled in appearance and speed. All I wanted any more was the fiery redhead who happened to still be a minor. And that infuriated me. Why couldn't I have been found and woken up in two years? When I could pursue that gorgeous girl without worrying about anything legal? Sure, there still would be a huge age gap, but at least by then, she would be an adult. A legal adult whom I could try and woo. Not that I'd had much luck wooing ladies back in the forties. But this wasn't the forties, and Melody wasn't like any of those other girls. And I had a feeling, even if I was still that scrawny kid today, she'd still give me the time of day. I don't know why I had that feeling, no one else had ever given me that feeling, but I knew Melody was different. She didn't see the physical, or if she did, it didn't seem to matter. It was just another way she was different from both Howard and Tony. She didn't care about appearance; hers or anyone else's. And that was something I admired about her. She didn't see status. In the few months we had all lived together, she treated everyone the same. It didn't matter that she was the heir to billions of dollars from her father and the heir of an entire kingdom from her mother, and it didn't matter that we lied with a literal God or an assassin with a horrible childhood. It didn't matter that we all were worth so much less than she was. She still treated everyone with kindness and her own special brand of love. Maybe that was how I knew she would still give me the light of day if I were still the scrawny kid from Brooklyn. Because Melody wouldn't have seen that. She would have seen my determination to do the right thing; the very thing that I still had today.

Maybe I did have a chance after the next two years pass. Maybe I could be the one to be wrapped up in bed with her. Maybe I could cater to her every whim. Maybe I could take care of her every need. Maybe I could be the one to pleasure her. Maybe, just maybe, I could be the one for her. Because I knew she was the one for me.