Siberia | S. Rogers

sixteen

.16 | the man behind the shield 

Merida was used to getting ready rather quickly, though she knew if she didn't meet Steve in exactly half an hour in the rec room he wouldn't have minded. She just didn't want to be late, and her previous conditioning from Killian always had her keeping watch on the time.

The last time she had been late for anything Killian had made sure she didn't sit right for a week. 

She stared at herself in the mirror, her shoulder length locks damp from the shower, her body wrapped in a small towel she had found in the bathroom. It was the first shower she had in an actual shower in a very long time.

Being on the road for the circus didn't leave much for modern day hygiene - this was foreign to her, but she was able to figure everything out rather quickly. 

Her body was slender, her face slightly gaunt, but showing more signs of life than she had seen in a very long time. Her eyes were tired, fragile and they bore the signs of seeing and experiencing horrific things.

She dropped the towel to the floor and stared at her lithe and supple body, her ribs thankfully didn't show anymore after Fran had started sneaking in extra food for her over the past few months, but her shoulders were so bony, as were her arms and waist. 

She thought of Natasha and Fran, both strong, tall, lean and fierce. 

She wasn't envious of Natasha or Fran in a mean way, but she felt that diminishing part of her soul that felt the lack and shame from her current state. They were both so strong and statuesque women, and here Merida was..fragile, broken and so small.

Her eyes watered, but she stopped the flow of tears that threatened to fall before they could reach her cheeks. She quickly grabbed her towel from the floor, wrapped it around her body shamefully and then hurried to the closet where she had a bundle of clothes at her disposal. 

She chose a long sleeved length denim styled button down and paired it with a white pair of skinny ankle pants. She tucked in the denim button down and rolled the sleeves of the button down up to her forearms before slipping into a pair of comfortable shoes that didn't match at all, but Merida was never really one for style or fashion; she didn't have that luxury. 

She didn't bother with her hair since it was always quick to air dry. 

Merida made it to the rec room five minutes before the half hour mark, the elevator dinged and she stepped off before stopping abruptly at the large room. It was contemporary, flashy and sleek.

Straight back there was a large bar with under lighting that lit up in a yellow-gold glow, bottles lined the bar, but from her distance she couldn't make them out. The left and right areas of the room were wide open with small mini bars on each side. There was a pool table, and other common things that could be found in a rec room.