"You seem distracted Cap, everything alright?" Rumlow asked Steve as they worked on a training exercise in the gym at the Triskelion.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Steve grunted, throwing another terrible punch that Rumlow was able to block, then punched Steve in the gut. Rogers wasn't even fazed by the hit, but he also didn't retaliate as he should have.
"Well fine isn't going to cut it in the real world. Focus." Rumlow brandished a knife, taking a swing at Steve, but Steve blocked him and twisted the knife from his hand easily, dropping it to the ground. Then he dropped to the ground and swept Brock legs, causing him to fall.
"I am focused," Steve growled again, standing and facing his opponent again.
"That's enough gentlemen. Captain, a word." Nick Fury strode into the room, black trenchcoat wafting behind him. He motioned for Steve to follow him to the corner of the gym.
"You have a mission, sir?" Steve questioned, using a towel to wipe his face, even though he hadn't broken a sweat.
"No, I do not." Fury started, glancing at Rumlow who was watching them from the bench. "Clean up, then meet me outside, we are going for a walk."
Fury turned and left the gym, and Rumlow motioned to him after he was out of sight. Steve just shrugged, yelling over the people training, "He doesn't tell me anything."
After showering and stowing his gym clothes in a locker, Steve met Fury outside, dressed in his STRIKE Stealth uniform. SHIELD was trying to downplay the whole Star Spangled Man concept with the darker, sleeker look. For Steve, it was just another reminder that they were trying to turn him into someone new.
As the two men began to walk, Fury eyed Steve curiously, "I've heard you met with Kayla Ellis Saturday."
Steve looked ahead, squinting in the sun, "Where'd you hear that? Do you have people spying on me Director?"
"Watching out for you Cap." Fury corrected, "Which seems to be justified since you directly disobeyed orders by meeting Miss Ellis."
"I was going for a run, she happened to be there and I was able to help her catch her dog. We caught up. It's the polite thing to do." Steve said curtly, not wanting to elaborate.
"So you are denying kissing her in front of the National Monument?"
Steve turned to Nicholas Fury, a scowl on his face, "No, I do not. That is nobody's business but ours anyway."
"Yes. It. Is. You were given strict orders by the President of the United States to stay away from his daughter and she was sent to Africa for half a year to be kept away from you. She holds the key to your destruction, and you think keeping contact with her will keep you safe? SHIELD has the formula she created under lock and key but I'm sure she still has a copy. I can't risk losing Captain America." Fury declared. He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know you two are intrigued by each other, and I know I can't stop you from seeing her. Just be careful. I can't help you if the White House turns against you."
Steve nodded, eyes still steely, "I don't mean to hurt her, and I won't let her get too close to hurt me."
"I hope you don't Captain." Fury started to leave, then turned to face Steve once again, "Good luck Rogers. You deserve something happy in your life."
With Nick Fury's blessing, Steve changed out of his stealth uniform and left it in his locker. He replaced it with a grey t-shirt, jeans, and his favorite brown leather jacket. He fixed his hair and walked out the doors of the Triskelion, making his way to the parking garage to collect his Harley and leave. It was only noon, but he was taking the rest of the day off, something that surprised Rumlow but not Fury.
When he asked if he could take the afternoon off, Nick Fury had slipped him a phone number, not saying anything. Steve didn't know who the number was for, but he knew there was only one way to find out.
Once he parked his motorcycle outside his D.C. apartment, he trotted up the stairs and pulled out his key to open the door. His neighbor Kate, who was a nurse, came out of her door. She pulled on her gray peacoat and nodded a greeting. "Hey. Someone stopped by your apartment earlier, they left you that note." She pointed towards an envelope sticking out from the door frame.
"Really? Anyone you know?" He questioned, looking between the blonde and the envelope. He hoped it had been from Kayla, but he was sure his neighbor would have recognized the First Daughter.
"Nope, never seen her before. Little brunette women with a small white dog." The girl shrugged. "It didn't seem too urgent. She just mentioned I tell you in case the letter fell I guess. But I have to head to work, I'll see you later." She smiled sweetly, turning to leave.
"See you later, Kate," Steve called after her, before plucking the envelope from his doorframe.
After opening the door and locking it behind him, Steve looked around cautiously, knowing anyone could have found him. Once he was sure he was alone, he opened the envelope, and a key fell out onto his table. He peeled open the letter that held a post-it note over the letter.
"I was instructed to leave you this key and address. If you come, make sure you are ready to stay, because there's no going back. If you have any questions or need directions, call me on my cell. Tiffany" Steve read aloud, noting the phone number was the same as the one Nick Fury had given him. He couldn't help but feel Tiffany had reached out to Fury, which resulted in him having her number. He peeled off the post-it and disregarded it, turning his attention to the cursive handwritten note before him,
Dear Captain Rogers,
I know how much trouble you could get in, both with SHIELD and with my father, but I want to see you. Before I met you, I was intrigued. Once I met you, I was infatuated. Once you kissed me, I was yours. You know I can't stop thinking about you, and I think you feel the same. I know you have no reason to trust me, and I know I'm not the type of woman you see yourself with. You certainly aren't the type of guy I saw myself with. You are honest, brave, selfless, and caring. And you are so damn handsome.
Give me a chance Steven Rogers. I want to know who you really are. I swear on my life I won't hurt you. If this thing we have doesn't go anywhere, we go our separate ways and never see each other again. But don't we owe it to ourselves to try?
Here is a key to my apartment. It's off the grid, and no one will know we are there together. If you want to see me, come. If you don't, I'll know why, and I don't blame you for choosing to stay away. But I hope you come.
Forever Yours,
Kayla Dawn Ellis
Steve set the letter down on his table and picked up the key. He looked at it for a moment, then considered Tiffany's words. If he goes, there's no turning back. They'd have to meet in secret and be very cautious, and Steve didn't like lying. He didn't like espionage. Meeting Kayla would mean courting a life he didn't enjoy. But he could get to know her. And Kayla was right, if the relationship went south, they wouldn't see each other, which was exactly what was happening now.
Steve had nothing to lose. But the honorable man put the key and letter back in the envelope and sat down to sketch his thoughts away.
"He's not coming. He's nooooot coming. He's not coming." Kayla murmured as she paced back and forth in her apartment. Zawadi laid with his face on the ground, Maddy curled up beside him. The little dog was coming around to her younger companion, even if he was a little too energetic for her taste.
"Kaylaaaa," Tiffany moaned, laying on upside down on the couch so her hair hung to the floor and her feet rested against the top. "You are driving me crazy. If the man wants to see you, he'll see you. You made it incredibly clear where he can find you. As if it was hard enough to begin with."
Kayla stopped and looked at her friend, "But you weren't there Tiff, you didn't see how he kissed me. I was sure he felt the way I did." Kayla bit the side of her finger, beginning her pacing again, staring at the floor. "What if the letter got lost? What if he never got it? What if he got lost, he's not from around here-"
"He's Captain America, he can find an apartment. It's nine at night, lets put in a movie, eats some ice cream. You don't even know if he's in town, what if he's on a mission for SHIELD? You are panicking over nothing. Ice cream. Movie. Tequilllaaaa." Tiffany cooed as she rolled off the couch and into their kitchen. She pulled a bottle of tequila out of the fridge and two shot glasses out of the cupboard. After pouring the shots she returned to the living room, passing one to her best friend. "You know, I don't remember the last time we hung out and worried about a guy. It's nice to have you home Kay."
Kaya's eyes met Tiff's and a small smile grew, "It's nice to be home too. Not the big white prison, but here, in our home."
Tiffany shrugged, pulling her short brown hair behind her ear, "I wouldn't call it a prison. I love when we stay there. The foods better."
"One shot. That's it. I don't do that anymore." Kayla murmured before tossing back the glass and letting the golden liquid slip down her throat. "I'm gonna go get ready for bed, get the movie and the ice cream ready, I'll be right back!"
Kayla went into her room, closing the door to her suite behind her. She went to her walk-in bathroom and took out her contacts and washed her face, wiping away the smokey eye and red lip she'd painted on, hoping Steve would come to her door. Maybe Tiffany was right, maybe he was away? Maybe he hadn't gotten her letter? Maybe he... maybe he wasn't interested. Perhaps he had kissed her and gotten those feelings out of his system and moved on. Perhaps she'd never hear from him again.
A single tear slid down her cheek, and she wiped it quickly, looking up at the ceiling to try to keep more from following.
Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Everything is going to be fine. He's not important. He's not important...
After putting on satin pajamas and pulling her hair into a messy bun, Kayla returned to the couch and was handed a bowl of Rocky Road. "Thanks friend." She said through a mouthful of ice cream. She grabbed the whipped cream Tiff had set on the table and filled her mouth with it.
"Wow" Tiffany gawked as her friend ate pure whipped cream from the can. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen. You know I love you, but girl, you have got to get your life back on track! You were doing so well after Africa and ever since you saw Steve you've spiraled. Like, after you got dumped by the tennis player spiraled. But with less alcohol." Tiffany pointed to the fridge, alluding to wanting more tequila.
"Sure. One more. Just one." Kayla obliged, starting the movie as Tiffany got up for more drinks.