Disclaimer: I do not own Capt. America (the comics, movies, characters etc.) or any of the characters; I only own my OC Art.
2. Pierce
Art came to a stop at the foot of the fifty-eight stone steps that climbed up to the Lincoln Memorial. She placed both hands on her hips and sucked in a deep breath, scanning the other side of the plaza for a familiar head of blond hair. A figure was dashing up along the far side of the reflecting pool, legs carrying them impossibly fast as they neared their destination. Art grinned and repeatedly tugged at the stomach of her shirt. It allowed for a refreshing flow of air that cooled her down, and caused the dog tags on her chest to clink and rattle. Steve stopped running as he set foot in the plaza, the two comrades walking forward to meet the other halfway.
"I finally beat you," Art said in a breathy voice. She grinned a bit wider when Steve rolled his eyes at her proclamation. The two had endeavored to go on morning runs together when they could, initially taking the same route as they got used to their new surroundings; then, once they knew the ins and outs of the area, they decided to make it a bit of a competition. Art would take one route around the National Mall, and Steve would take a different one. If they both made good time, they could run the opposite sides of the reflecting pool in synchronicity. The run always ended at the Lincoln Memorial, and Steve had consistently been 'winning.' But, finally, after months of living in D.C., Art had won.
"You didn't do the steps," Steve pointed out cheekily. That time, Art rolled her eyes and gestured to the proud memorial at the top of the offending stairs.
"But I made it to the memorial. We never specified what part of the memorial; you just like to reach the top."
"Well, hop on," Steve turned around and gestured to his back, "we'll reach the top together." Art smirked and placed both hands on his shoulders, feeling the muscle tense in preparation for the added weight. She jumped up and locked her arms around his neck and Steve firmly took hold of the crooks of her knees. They had climbed the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in such a manner before––more often than one might believe. Honestly, Art hated running up any sort of stairs. She always had, and the added stamina didn't change that, even though it was easier. And Steve knew that.
Art leaned forward to murmur, "But it's still my win." Steve only chuckled and started to jog up the steps. She was held remarkably steady as he bounded upwards, his movements seemingly effortless. Infuriatingly so to those who were unable to perform such a feat. Once the two crested the final step, they stopped and stared directly at the seated stone statue before them. Abraham Lincoln's visage stared out over them, face solemnly composed. "So that means…" Art slipped off Steve's back and patted him solidly in the middle of his back, "I get to pick the movie tonight."
"What'll it be?" Steve inquired, lowering himself into a seated position. He braced both arms against his knees and his gaze followed Art's movements as she sank to sit beside him. Sunlight glittered across the surface reflecting pool and the leaves of nearby trees rustled gently. Art took in the picturesque view before her, eyes focusing hazily on the tan obelisk in the distance. A hand rose to play with the dogtags around her neck while she flicked through the mental catalog of movie titles people were endlessly recommending to the two anachronistic soldiers. They had an entire notebook dedicated to films, television shows, and plays they needed to experience.
"Pirates of the Caribbean. Georgia recommended it––it's a trilogy about pirates, or something like that," Art decided on, sliding one oblong metal tag along its chain. Steve bobbed his head as though he had heard her, despite the fact his eyes were focused on the identification tags around her neck. A lull in conversation occurred, allowing the sounds of the surrounding area to flow in. The babble of tourist groups. A distant car. The rush of rustling branches. The faint tittering of birds.
"You've stopped wearing those regularly," Steve pointed out, referring to the dog tags. "I only see you wear them when you train or before you go on a mission."
Art's thumb slid over the face of one of the tags, and she could feel the ridges and curves that formed the letter 'J.' She knew everything on that dog tag. It read James B. Barnes, followed by a complicated set of numbers she had memorized––his army serial number and blood type. After that was the name Mrs. Winifred Barnes––his mother and next of kin––and then his address. The second dog tag was her own, but with the name Arthur G. Kensington stamped into its face. That was followed by information she remembered doctoring at the bar the night her life had changed. Both pieces of metal had been scuffed and worn down by time, but they were still legible. It still felt like Art had only just received her own set of tags mere days ago. She had been given a new set once she had awoken in the modern era; an honorary set, done in the formal used in the Second World War. But those sat in a drawer somewhere in the apartment. A faint smile appeared at the corners of her mouth as her thumb danced across Bucky's name a second time.
"I suppose… it's because Bucky was the one who got me through basic training. He practically kept me alive at the beginning, stopped the bigger fellas from beating my face in. God, there's no way I would have been able to express how thankful I was for that… But since he's gone… since we're here… having that tag with me makes me feel like he's still here. Like Bucky's still urging me forward, pushing me to discover what it is I can do with these new enhanced abilities of mine," Art explained. She turned a little smile in Steve's direction, only to find that he, too, was smiling.
"Bucky would be proud of you," Steve told her. Art smiled and tugged on Bucky's tag, thinking of his bright smile, twinkling eyes, and infectious laughter. An ache formed in her chest, recalling the moments the three of them had shared; how perfect it would have been to have him sitting there with them, admiring the beautiful day before them. "He was really fond of you; told me the day after you and I met that you were a real stand-up 'fella.'" Steve snickered and shook his head. "God, he was so surprised when he realized you were a woman."
"Don't have to tell me twice," Art deadpanned, and remembered the look of utter betrayal on Bucky's face when he had connected all the dots. The twin sister excuse was pretty shoddy, though, she had to admit. Then she recalled the heartfelt apology he had offered, and how her gender wasn't going to change the dynamic of their friendship. "He would be proud of us," she amended, dropping her head so it rested atop Steve's shoulder. Steve curled an arm around her waist, a hand settled firmly against her hip. From her periphery Art could see Steve smiling, albeit it was tinged with sadness. "His little trainee and his boy from Brooklyn… Do you… do you still think about what it would have been like if he hadn't fallen from that train? If we had all been allowed to live peacefully after the war?"
Steve nodded and let out a drawn-out exhale. It was hard not to think of that impossible alternative. Of how the three best friends could have returned to New York together; how they could have lived their lives in the era they were meant to live in. They could have gone to the pictures and frequented Art's favorite diner. Bucky could have found himself a nice gal and they all could've gone dancing. God, Bucky would have been happy to know Steve had finally learned to dance.
"Of course I do. Less so, now, though." Steve smiled down at Art and she lifted her head from his shoulder. "There's a lot of good things happening now that I get to focus on."
Art beamed and shifted to kneel in order to press a kiss to his cheek. She wound both of her arms around his neck and shoulders and gave a squeeze, rocking him back and forth as he started to laugh. "You're such a romantic."
"You're one to talk!" Steve laughed, pulling at her arms like he was trying to break a choke hold. Art giggled and held on tighter, suddenly more appreciative for her added strength. If she had ever attempted such a thing back in the forties, Steve would have been able to pull her arms away as though they were strings of spaghetti. Now, he actually had to work to pull her off. There was something about that that made her want to laugh and cling to him like a young child. See how long it would take for him to actually pull her off. It was playful. It was loving. It was everything that made both Art and Steve happy to have each other; it was what had been making the twenty-first century bearable.
OOOO
Artemesia Knoll and Richard Harlowe both strolled into the Triskelion, walking in perfect sync. Both held coffee in their right hands; Harlowe had driven her to work, so Art had repaid Harlowe's kindness with the delicious frappuccino with whipped cream and a smattering of cinnamon across its creamy surface. The two had been chatting idly as they passed through the second security checkpoint, flashing ID badges with casual ease. Art hadn't planned on working in any capacity that day. Her initial plans had been to get some coffee, go to the bookstore, and then have a movie night with Steve––Moulin Rouge! was on their roster for that evening.
"Why would the Secretary of Defence want to meet with me?" Art inquired as they walked towards the elevators. The lobby of the Triskelion was open and covered by a ceiling made of glass, expertly up-kept so not a streak or crack was present. Other members of S.H.I.E.L.D. and visiting diplomats and the like milled about. There was a small little café situated near the elevators, where it was easy to find any given agent on their lunch break. The coffee there was better than the stuff in the canteen.
The Triskelion was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s base of operations in Washington D.C. It was a large, gleaming building set on the bank of the Potomac River, creating dazzling views on bright, sunny days. On days when the weather wasn't so friendly, the river appeared grey and dismal. The headquarters had become something of a second home for Steve and Art, who were there on an increasingly frequent basis. It wasn't uncommon to see either of them leading a group of agents to a briefing or debriefing, or to have them bolting down the halls in an urgent rush to get begin a top-priority mission. More often than not, though, they could be seen calmly making their way to Nicholas Fury's office, ready to be handed a case file. Thankfully, though, the missions tended to be relatively spaced out, which allowed the two heroes a chance to rest between the exhausting outings.
"You're not serious, right?" Harlowe deadpanned. His lips closed around his straw as he drew forth another sip of frappachino. Both brows crunched together and Art didn't know whether it was related to their conversation or the temperature of his drink. "You're Lieutenant Liberty! Why wouldn't he want to meet you? He probably wants to personally thank you or give you a medal or something." He jabbed the button that called the elevator as Art laughed.
"A medal? No… No, if anything, I'm sure that he's going to enforce the court-martial I should've faced all those years ago. A general court-martial that would have resulted in dishonorable discharge with the best outcome."
"Phh, there would be a riot if anyone tried to court-martial you based on those old laws. I'm sure that Pierce just wants to meet you to meet you. Get to know who it is that's protecting the country––the world." Harlowe sucked down another sip of his beverage before he cleared his throat and addressed the "You aren't still hung up on the whole 'I'm not a hero' thing, are you?"
Art sighed and let her head loll backwards. Raising it again, she sighed and pushed hair out of her face. "Not as much as I used to be. You see, when Steve signed up to be Captain America, back in the day, he knew what he was getting into. He knew that he would be publically regarded, and highly so. I never made an agreement or signed any papers to be called Lieutenant Liberty… to be considered a hero. I just… awoke from my coma and discovered I was regarded as such. I'm still getting used to it, but… I'm less resistant than I once was."
"Well, you are a hero. You always have been. You're just in the public eye now. I'm sure your brother thought of you being more of a hero than even Captain America himself. I think you're a hero. You've saved my life more times than I'd care to say," Harlowe chuckled. Grinning, he playfully thwacked her arm. "You'll get used to it in time."
Art made the journey to Fury's office alone, downing the rest of her coffee in the elevator. She didn't necessarily feel nervous about meeting the Secretary of Defence. Maybe she would have if she had known what it was that he wanted to meet with her about. She knew that the court-martial example she had used earlier was bogus; she knew they wouldn't follow through with a years-old suggestion of punishment. So, when she knocked on the door, behind which Fury usually resided, Art didn't know what to expect. A 'come in' could be heard in the room just beyond. Art stepped into the office and was greeted by an unfamiliar face. The older man that approached her was wearing a sleek, shale grey suit, accentuated by a vivid blue tie. His grey blond hair was neatly styled and a set of thick framed glasses were perched on the bridge of his nose. He smiled widely and proffered a hand as they met halfway.
"Lieutenant, it is an absolute pleasure to meet you. I'm Alexander Pierce, the Secretary of Defence," Pierce introduced. Art returned his pleasant smile and accepted the offered handshake. His grip was firm and unrelenting, something that would be hard to escape if one felt the need to.
"The pleasure is all mine, Secretary Pierce," she responded. "I apologize for my civilian attire, I was not aware we were to be meeting until half an hour ago." Pierce chuckled and waved a hand through the air, dismissing her comment.
"There's no need to apologize. You deserve to not have to wear that uniform of yours every waking hour. Even the greatest heroes need the chance to unwind; and that's why I don't intend on taking up too much of your time." Pierce gestured for her to follow him and then seated himself in one of the plush arm-chairs in the mostly unused seating area just to the right of the door. Art had never seen anyone use the pieces of furniture and often assumed it was just there for decoration. She sat across from Pierce, utilizing just the edge of the stiff grey cushion. "I just wanted to meet you in person, Lieutenant Knoll. You are truly a remarkable person, I hope you understand that."
Art laughed gently in a humble reflex. "I… thank you for your compliment, Mr. Secretary. Though, I can assure you that everything I've done to be considered remarkable is the least that I can do." Pierce seemed to find her humble response worthy of a smile, as that was exactly what he did. Though, there was something about that smile that didn't seem quite… right. Like it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"You are invaluable, Lieutenant. You and Captain Rogers, both. Utterly invaluable. We couldn't have asked for two better heroes to be aiding us in protecting not only this country, but this world. You have endured much, and I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done." Pierce then smiled again, in the same manner as before. "And everything you will do." Something about the emphasis that he had put on 'will' was peculiar; Art passed it off as being unused to the way the Secretary of Defense spoke. He rose to his feet and gestured to a small table on the other side of the room. "Can I get you anything? Water?"
"No, thank you," Art turned down politely, running her palms over the tops of her knees. Pierce made his way across the room, back to Art as he selected a glass. A silence filled the room that could only be described as awkward. Art didn't know what conversation to start, or if it was appropriate to start one. Hence was why she reverted to the practiced silence that she had exercised in the military. The one that she utilized when she was being given orders, or standing at attention, waiting to be given the signal to speak. Unconsciously, Art sat straighter and held her chin just a fraction higher, as though she were sitting at attention.
"I can't imagine what you went through," Pierce said as he slowly went about pouring himself some water. Slowly, Art turned her head in his direction, her eyebrows crinkling together. The tone of his voice had shifted to one more solemn and low; it was almost as though he was recalling memories that made him think back to a less happy time. "What with losing your best friend… Schmidt kidnapping you… being tortured…" Art felt her muscles tighten and her posture became more rigid. "It's truly a miracle that you escaped HYDRA's clutches––and single handedly, too."
Art clenched her jaw as she recalled wrenching herself free of her bonds before hurling a metal tray straight at the Red Skull's face. A hand rose to rub at the scar at the junction of her neck and shoulder, right where the syringe of serum had been forcibly jabbed into her flesh. That had been the day that her entire life had changed––in some ways for the worse, in some ways for the better.
"Only because of the serum…" she murmured to herself, in response to Pierce's statement. A shake of the head brought her back to reality, to the warm sunlight bathed office instead of the cold prison of Schmidt's mountain base. Art cleared her throat and realized that Pierce had turned around, water in hand, and had been watching her. His face was distinctly void of emotion. "Sorry."
"No need to apologize, the subject is probably still raw for you. You must still be getting used to your increased physicality––all of the abilities the serum gifted you with." Art frowned at his use of the word 'gift.' Pierce smiled at her and pulled off his glasses, approaching the chair he had previously been sitting in. "I want you to know, Lieutenant, that if you ever need anything I'd be glad to help with what I can," he told her. "Any… queries, comments, concerns––don't be a stranger."
Art looked caught off guard, her brows raised, her lips parted, and her arms crossed. She cleared her throat and looked down at her boots, feeling a shiver ripple down her spine. The feeling in the room suddenly seemed to have shifted, starting when Pierce had suddenly brought up her kidnapping and subsequent torture. Looking back up, Art found that Pierce was stood just to her right and was looking at her intently. She forced a quick smile that fell after only living for a handful of seconds.
"A very kind offer, but I'm quite sure that my troubles wouldn't render the notice of someone in such a high position," Art said, picking her words carefully. "I'm sure that Director Fury wouldn't mind me bothering him. Well… won't mind much. If you'd excuse me, I should be leaving. I have some errands I need to run before the day ends." As she rose and turned to leave, she felt a hand wrap around her wrist.
Reflexively, she tensed and spun around, tugging her arm towards herself; she was ready to attack. It was a reflex she seemed to have picked up post-war, post-Loki. Maybe it had spawned from the paranoia that next time she was grabbed unexpectedly she would suddenly not be herself again. That Loki had her in his clutches once more, preparing to weaponize her. But it was only Pierce who held her wrist, who smiled at her in a way that made her stomach flip-flop uncomfortably. They were stood uncomfortably close, Art having physically pulled him forward half a foot when she attempted to retrieve her arm from his grasp. They stared at one another for a tense, quiet moment.
"I insist," Pierce intoned lowly.
"I insist as well." She twisted her hand from his grasp and made for the door, a determined set to her walk.
"Verhindern, dass meine Kriegerin."
The movement in her legs stopped and she phased out for a moment. Conscious thought stalled and, for a frightening moment, she didn't think. Art slipped into a daze and stared at the door. Her expression was blank, her eyes sharp and focused, yet glazed over. The words that had been spoken were hazy, pure background noise. Something she wasn't quite able to understand. Yet… whatever it was he'd said had stopped her dead in her tracks. With an inhale that started slowly and then ended sharply, Art was wrenched out of her daze. It felt as though she had been pulled out of a dream. She turned towards Pierce, looking unsettled as her lips twitched wordlessly. The haze had disappeared and left behind a feeling of confusion. Whatever it was they had just been talking about––she didn't remember it. She had been feeling uncomfortable and had been about to leave, but had the Secretary said anything? Said man was watching her with a gaze that almost felt… appraising. Art cleared her throat and wet her suddenly dry lips.
"Did… did you say something?"
"Only that my offer still stands, should something come up."
"O-of course. Thank you, Mr. Secretary."
"I look forward to working with you in the future," Pierce said, raising his glass in means of a toast. Art merely nodded and continued her exit, rubbing at the back of her scarred hand anxiously. She clutched that hand tightly as she made her way to the elevator, brows pinched together severely. The sudden 'brain fart' as Tony would describe it, was disconcerting. She had never had a memory blank like that before, so maybe it was just a one-time slip up. Yes, it must have just been a fluke, Art tried to convince herself. Just a memory slip. Nothing more.
Translations (According to Google Translate) (If you know this to be incorrect, do let me know):
Verhindern, dass meine Kriegerin––Stop, my warrior.
Afterword: It's been too long since I updated this. I was unsure what I wanted to do pre-movie, so I've been trying to figure out what would be adequate lead-up. Also, I've had school work that has occupied a lot of my time. But I finally managed to get this chapter cranked out and I'm excited to post it!
Review Replies!
grapejuice101: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!
Nik1804: Oh, there will be plenty of Bucky in this one; and I'm so excited to write him more, even if it's in his more heartbreaking incarnation. And we'll get some more memory throwbacks to Bucky when pre-Winter Soldier. I can't wait to advance Steve and Art's relationship, which is going to be a crucial part of this story. I hope you enjoyed the update! Thanks again!
RJ North: I'm glad you enjoyed the mission at the beginning of last chapter. I thought it would be a good way to introduce what it is Art does now that she's part of S.H.I.E.L.D. It also gives a nice bit of foreshadowing of how much action will be befalling her and Steve and Nat later on. It also demonstrates how Artie can work on her own, and isn't tied to Steve in order to be badass. And Art and Steve deserve to have those nice, happy moments together; they've been through so much. And I do have the whole progression of their relationship milestones planned out. While we might not get anything particularly intimate (that would require a rating change) in this one, it's (highly) possible we will see such a thing in the future ;) I hope that you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!
Madama Crimson: I'm glad you enjoyed the new portion of the story so far; I hope you enjoyed the new chapter, as well. Thanks again!
AvengerGleekShadowhunter: I really found no reason to pit Kate and Art against each other. She isn't outwardly flirting with Steve, and Steve isn't flirting with Kate, so she's just their friendly neighbor. I hope that you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!
Potterbooks215: Here's the new update! Sorry it took so long to get to!
KoreanMusicFan: As of yet, third base has not been reached, but they're getting there. I hope that you enjoyed the newest chapter; thanks again!
animagirl: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed the new update!
Nina fo life: CA: TWS is my favorite, so I'm super excited to finally be writing it. I have had so many plans for this part of the story since the moment I first saw it; it was what spurred me to start writing this story again, actually. I hope that you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!
Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
LMarie99: I'm glad! I hope that you're still enjoying the newest installment!
Shadowhuntingdauntlessdemigod: Harlowe and Yates are going to be appearing quite a bit in the build-up to the events of the movie… you'll wait to see if either of them are associated with the baddies. I have such plans for little StArt moments throughout this story, and I cannot wait till you get to read them. I hope you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!
AlwaysChillin98: Thank you; I'm very happy you have enjoyed the newest part of the story so far and hope that you enjoyed the newest update! Thanks again!
vampireadtic: I'm good at inspiring emotional rollercoasters––I've been told it's one of my talents :) Sorry for the wait regarding the update, but I hope you enjoyed the newest chapter! Thanks again!
The girl with no life: Harlowe is probably the agent that's closest to Artie––I mean, they get frappachinos together, and he's willing to divert his morning route to pick her up. I immediately knew once I created him that he looked like Gleeson, and I'm glad that you pictured him as such, too. I, too, am excited about this exceptionally brutal chapter in Artie and Steve's life; it's gonna be tough, but they're gonna make it through. They'll only be closer. I hope you enjoyed the newest chapter! Thanks again!
Jo: I hope you enjoyed the newest chapter; thanks again!
The Redshirt who Lived: Artie is starting to find herself in her new position as a hero; and that just means more badassery is to come! I hope you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!
Kimberley: I'm happy to have addicted you and to have you as a reader! I hope that you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!
KMB: We've got a very small handful of chapters before the movie events truly kick in, but I'm sure that you'll enjoy them, too! I hope that you enjoyed the new chapter just like you enjoyed the previous one! Thanks again!
anonymouscsifan: Luckily, most of the oncoming chapters are built to allow Steve and Artie more fluffy moments; they deserve to have some before the movie events kick in. I hope that you enjoyed the newest chapter! Thanks again!
Guest 1: I do promise to update more. I've got through the craziness of the beginning year and everything is finally settling down. Keep making those assumptions and suspicions about what could possibly connect to the last two stories; you may just find you're right. I hope that you enjoyed the new chapter! Thanks again!
Guest 2: I have such plans for the events of the movie, and I cannot wait to get to them. I hope you enjoyed the newest chapter! Thanks again!
Guest 3: I hope you stick around to read more! The next chapter is on its way! Thanks again!
And thank you to everyone who has added this story to their follows/favorites; it means a lot to me!
So that's it for right now; the next chapter will be up soon, and before you know it, we'll be into the swing of things and be in the movie events. I hope that you all enjoyed the newest chapter, and I'll see you all in the next one! Thanks again!
~Mary