Disclaimer: I do not own the world of MCU or its characters!
"So, what was it like to live in the 40s? Did you go dancing a lot? Drive ins? What made you want to join the army? How did you pick your Howling Commandos?"
Steve laughed from his spot behind her, following her onto the seventh level platform. "You sure do ask a lot of questions?"
Sophia stopped on the stairs above him, turning to him with her bottom lip stuck between her teeth. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Steve replied, continuing his jog up the stairs. Sophia had asked him if he wanted to join her on her morning run and he saw no reason not to. He was surprised, to say the least, when her jog led him up the staircases rather than outside. He went out into the hallway, Sophia jogging behind him. She was fast and not easily winded either. She kept a steady pace and though a sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead, she didn't seem tired.
Especially considering she could ask a lot of those questions while running.
"I don't really know how to answer that question," Steve answered as they ran the hallway. "Living in the 40s, I'd guess is no different from living today. You work hard, earn a living. . . . Lots less electronics and cars, though," he added, holding open the door to the stair well for her. "Bucky would take me out with him when he went on a date with a girl because, more often than not, she had a friend who needed a date too but we didn't do much dancing. I was too short for most of 'em. Drive ins were the same deal. I wanted to serve my country. Thought I had a duty and a right to. I choose my friends, people who I knew would have my back, who I could count on."
"I've seen a few documentaries," Sophia responded. "You all were amazing."
"Thank you. . . . So what's your story?"
Sophia didn't respond right away; she just kept running. They reached the tenth floor before she answered, "It's not a very happy story."
"Neither was mine," Steve replied.
Again, she didn't speak at first and he watched her dreadlocks (he finally knew what they were called!) bounce around in her ponytail. "My, er, my mom died when I was born, my father was never around."
"I'm sorry."
Sophia shrugged one shoulder. "You get used to it. SHIELD took me in. I think my mom was an Agent and so they have taken care of me since I was a baby."
He found that odd; Fury didn't seem like the fatherly type, but he didn't say anything about that. "You've been here ever since."
"Yep." Sophia shot him a grin over her shoulder. "Me, myself and my books."
When they reached the twelfth floor ("Dormitory level," Sophia told him), she stuttered to a halt, placing her hands on her knees. He watched as she glanced at him and then pretended to take deep, winded breaths. "Good run?"
"You done already?" Steve asked with a grin. "We've only got two more levels till the roof."
Sophia stood up straight, looking up in that direction. "I've, er, I've never been out – up there before."
"No time like the present, right?" Steve started for the roof, listening for Sophia's footsteps behind him.
Sophia hesitated at the threshold, Steve holding open the door for her. The rays of the sun stopped just at the tip of her sneakers. He was watching her, curious, his head tilted to the side, the sun making his blond hair just a bit brighter. "You comin'?"
She had never been outside. Was that weird? Who was she kidding; of course it was weird. She never had reason to go outdoors, nor did she really have access to. So, any time she wanted to watch the sun set or rise, she went to the simulation room. With that room, she had traveled to many different cities without ever leaving the facility.
But that was boring, wasn't it?
Taking a deep breath, Sophia crossed the threshold and outdoors.
The first thing that registered was that it was chilly. A chilly morning, like she always read in her books. A slight breeze brushed across her shoulders as she walked farther outside, towards the ledge. The sun was just rising, painting the sky red and orange and gold, the colors glinting off the buildings of the SHIELD facility and the trees.
"You okay?"
Sophia turned to look at Steve, realizing how strange she must have seemed, awestruck. She gave him a smile. "I just – this wasn't what I expected."
"What did you expect?"
She shook her head. "Nothing like this. . . . It's beautiful."
Steve smiled back. "You should come up here more often."
"I'm definitely going to."
Sophia watched as the sun rose higher in the sky. She was going to be a late today, she already knew, but, once more she couldn't find it in her to care, not with this beautiful scene in front of her. It made her feel better, somehow, finally seeing the sunrise for the first time, as if she had been renewed. She meant it when she said she was going to try and come outside more often now, screw 'clearance'. It was the roof. It wasn't like she was going to escape this way.
Turning to Steve, she grinned. "Thanks."
"For what?"
"For forcing me up here."
He shrugged, still smiling. "That's what friends are supposed to do right? Force each other to try new things?"
Sophia stared at him, felt her eyes go wide. "Is that what we are? Friends?"
"I'd say so."
A friend.
Sophia had made an honest to goodness friend, and Steve had only known her for two days! She finally had someone who wasn't being forced to spend time with her because of duty or the job. That was a nice change. She still had a lot she hadn't told him (a lot), but they could work their way up to that, right?
Right.
Walking past him, Sophia tugged on her ponytail, making sure it was still tight. "Race you back downstairs?"
Steve smirked. "Second wind?"
"Second wind." With that, she shot through the door, hearing his indignant cry of 'Cheater!' as she jumped five steps to the landing, laughing.
A/N: Hello everyone! I want to first say, sorry for how short this chapter is. I wanted a bit of a filler so here you go. I'll be adding another chapter as well, just to make up for the shortness. Thanks to everyone who has already added this story to their favorites or are following it: , Farmgirl98, dhnysports88, 007Girl, Slyshy21, annesullivan121, katiamontoya, krose99b, and Lucifer's711! I really appreciate the response! I'd love your feedback! Thank you!
