The Sketchbook
"Anna, there's something I have to tell you."
The final rays of sunshine and the warm glow of a desk lamp illuminated his face as he toiled away. Steve poured over the sketch he was working on, adjusting each contour line and then gently hashing the strokes on each image. The drawing was for the most part black and white, ensuring that the shading would be exact. He had already colored the eyes: light green and gold gazed up to him from his page. They were a perfect match to her eyes. He laid down his pencil and gently wiped away the dust and extra shavings. If any of the other Avengers saw him being so intimate with a painting, Steve was sure they'd admit him. How could they know how special this picture was, or how important it was to get it just right, and soon? His thoughts were interrupted by someone knocking at the front of his door. Sighing as he rose, he made his way over to meet the unexpected visitor. He was surprised to open the door to none other than her, green eyes looking up to him shyly.
"Hi Steve," she greeted. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."
"No," he looked back into his apartment, his gaze falling on the desk. He couldn't let her see it yet, he wasn't finished, but when he looked back to her sparkling smile, he couldn't help it. "Would you like to come in and have a drink? I've got some cokes in the fridge." She nodded and followed the Captain inside.
"Make yourself at home, I'll go get the soda." As he walked towards the kitchen, he quickly flipped the parchment paper over his sketch and set a larger book over the entire drawing.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "It's kind of a mess." He retreated into the kitchen breathing a sigh of relief. Hopefully she wouldn't lift the book. Craning his neck under the upper cabinets of his island he could see Anna slowly drifting about the living room. He turned away and opened the refrigerator, pulling out two ice cold cokes in glass bottles. He preferred the glass bottles over the cans; it vaguely reminded him of the first coke cola he had ever tasted. Fiddling with the bottle opener, he heard her call to him.
"Steve, did you paint these pictures?" He looked over the Island to see her pointing at a newly finished portrait of Tony in his Iron Man suit, face plate up and starring into Pepper's eyes.
"Yeah, I've been dabbling in acrylics, but I prefer graphite and ink," a bottle opened with the trademarked hiss.
"You are very gifted. It looks so real," she mused; he could see her approaching his other sketches and paintings. "Steve, you are a very talented artist. You've really captured all of these superheroes" Thankful that cabinets were blocking her view of him, he blushed a deep red.
"Thank you. I'm hoping to give them to their subjects, but I still have some things to finish." Finally having opened both bottles, Steve left the kitchen, where he found Anna at his desk looking at the preliminary sketches of the drawing that he had hidden from her. Quietly she held one of the sketches up in the light; it was her-she was certain-and next to her was Vincent and Icarus. She set the paper down and pulled another one into the light, this one sported her standing alone. Steve cleared his throat.
"Now that is a special one," he began as he handed her the soda. "She is particularly special, but very difficult to capture on paper. So I've been practicing, to get everything right." Anna set the sketch back on the desk and looked away.
"She's nothing special, Steve. She's just some girl caught up in a destiny that she probably will never understand. She is definitely not like the other heroes." Steve smiled and leaned on the back of the couch next to her.
"You know she may not seem like one now, but that's the beauty of the drawing. She isn't like the other heroes, but there's something about her-something that tells me she is meant to be a hero. I'd like to capture that part of her somehow-the person she was before becoming the Oracle. So I disagree with you Anna," he turned and faced her head on. "I think she is very special, and I want to add her picture to my collection." Anna lifted her eyes to meet Steve's gaze; she smiled faintly, and was definitely on the verge of shaking madly from nerves. She broke the intense stare and began to fumble with her side bag.
"Speaking of pictures," she said trying to open the latch of her bag. "I've thought a lot about what you said…when we were in Times Square….and well, I have something for you." She pulled out a box covered in parchment paper and tied with a hemp string. Steve set the coke bottle on the nearby side table to receive the package. Gingerly he removed the strings and unwrapped the paper to reveal a red leather bound book. He turned over to the front of the book and read the title: The Adventures of Steven Rogers: The Timeless Hero. His hand grazed the cover and opened the book to find blank pages before him. He looked up to Anna.
"It seems to me like a lot of people have tried to write your story for you by using your identity as Captain America. I thought maybe, as you're trying to figure out where you are going from here, you could add your stories and your own identity to the future of Captain America," she explained handing him two new graphite pencils and a fine ink pen. Holding the presents in his hands, he couldn't help but bashfully turn away.
"Is everything all right?" she asked, worried that she had unknowingly upset him. He turned back to her; Anna's heart stopped for a moment. The look on his face was incomprehensible. It seemed to be a mixture of disbelief, embarrassment, and happiness. You would think he never was given presents before, Anna thought, he doesn't know what to do. Steve lifted the book to his gaze and read the cover again. He then set the book and utensils down and quickly engulfed the woman in a warm embrace. Anna was quite taken aback by the quick movement and for a moment froze awkwardly in his arms, but his embrace wouldn't allow her to remain passive. She melted into his arms, returning the hug with all her might. She should have felt insignificant, engulfed by his enormous frame, like a rag dog being squeezed by an exuberant toddler. But, this was Steve, and for those few moments, she felt safe. He was a perfect fit.
"Thank you," he murmured to her, pulling away slightly. It was quite obvious that neither wanted to release so soon, and so their arms remained entwined as they were.
"You're welcome," she replied, blushing and looking to the side in order to gain composure. Shyly she looked back to meet his stormy blue eyes. If she was nervous or afraid, she didn't feel it. He wasn't a stranger to her and his motives were far from compromising her. Whatever happened, she felt she could trust him, a concept that she had no prior knowledge or experience of. So enamored was she looking into his eyes that she did not notice, his hand rising to cup her cheek. She felt his hand gently trace the outline of her face. The sound of knocking dissolved the thick air between the two. Steve's arms dropped, and he reverted to his nervous form of stammering.
"I…"he began, gesturing for her to wait "the door-I'll just go and…make yourself comfortable." As Steve hurried off to the door, Anna let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, and she felt herself nearly collapse from anticipation. Annoyed that she was letting herself fall all over because of a simple gesture, she leaned against the back of the couch and ruefully sipped her soda, pushing any of those thoughts out of her mind. The door opened revealing the deadly assassin herself. Anna nearly choked on her soda. Oh this must look great, she thought.
"Natasha?" Steve asked. She merely looked at him and nodded. It took a moment, but realization hit Steve like a freight train.
"When?"
"As soon as possible."
"Thank you." Natasha looked over the Captain's shoulder to see Anna confusedly watching the interlude. The Black Widow did not often show emotion, it wasn't part of the role she was meant to play. Yet, she graced the captain with a rare expression of sympathy.
"I am sorry for interrupting. Let me know when you are ready," she told him and departed as suddenly as she arrived. Steve shut the door, hands resting on the frame, his back turned toward his guest. Anna gingerly approached Steve, still unsure of the content of the interlude.
"Are you okay?" She stopped by the end of the sofa. Steve sighed; he had to tell her. He couldn't leave without her knowing why.
"Anna, there's something I have to tell you." Anna set the cola down on the counter.
"That doesn't often prelude something good," she responded, turning to face him.
"I promised you that I would try to live in the present," he began. "And I will, but there is something I must do first." Anna nodded to show she was listening.
"And it might take a while, I just didn't want to leave without you knowing…" Steve was cut off by the sharp sound of a wailing siren.
"What does this mean?"
"Trouble," Steve replied grabbing Anna's hand.
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Steve and Anna arrived in the common room with the rest of the Avengers, Loki, Vincent and Icarus.
"Tony," Steve called out. "What's the situation?"
"It looks like our old, other-dimensionally challenged friends have resurfaced," Stark pulled out a screen to show a thick shell of smoke covering a building.
"We're sure it's Evictus?"
"If it isn't, then I'd like to know who else decided to smoke out the metropolitan library."
"Metropolitan library?" Anna interrupted. "Cornelius said he would be there doing research. He could be trapped there."
"Cornelius and controlled smoke barriers," Bruce observed. "It sounds like Evictus."
"Cap," Clint called. "What's the plan?" The Avengers turned to Steve.
"We assemble," Steve walked to the screen. "Tony get suited up; I need you to scope out the perimeter and see if any of those smoke creatures have made an appearance."
"The old man helped me outfit a trap for these creatures. If they're hanging around, then I'll keep them contained."
"Do we have one of these things on the tower."
"Of course," the billionaire scoffed.
"Bruce," Steve turned to the scientist. "Go with Tony and help him set up the trap, and then go on standby. We don't need the Hulk just yet, but that could change." The science brothers nodded in unison and left the room.
"Clint, Natasha, you are both coming with me. After Tony does his recon, we're going to find a way in. Jarvis," the super-soldier addressed the ceiling. "Any chance you can pull up the specs on the Library?"
"Of course Captain Rogers," the AI replied.
"We could also use any security footage and current thermal readings if that's possible."
"Done," the AI showcased the data on the screen.
"Anna, Vincent, Icarus. I need you three to stay here and keep us updated on what's going on inside." The Three exploded in protest.
"What?"
"Cap, I'm going with you."
"We can't just stay here." Steve fixed them one of his best commanding stares.
"Until we know for sure what Evictus is after, you three are safest here in the Tower. Furthermore, I need people who understand the security footage to report to me directly."
"Captain," Thor interjected. "What is it that you require of me?"
"I need you to stay here," Steve ordered. "If Evictus is setting a trap, then I'd rather have someone back here. Also, your brother is stuck here and we don't need any mischief right now." Steve sent a glare in Loki's direction. The god merely responded with an innocent look that clearly said, 'who me?'
"Let's move out," Steve commanded the rest of the team. As the Captain headed for the elevator to retrieve his suit, Anna followed him.
"Steve," She ran after him into his apartment. "Steve, what if this is a trap?" she asked him through his closed bedroom door. Captain America exited the bedroom with shield in hand.
"That is why you are staying here."
"Steve, the last time you guys faced Evictus, he took you out."
"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Anna," Steve muttered grabbing his fire arms.
"What I mean is that you need to be better prepared," She stepped in front of him, holding out two flat rubber soles. Steve starred at her.
"Don't look at me like that," she scoffed. "Evictus conducts his currents through the ground. These will protect you from possible electrocution. As for his lightning bolts, I'm afraid you're on your own." Steve took the inserts and quickly placed them in his boots.
"And remember, just in case Tony's snare doesn't work, the smoke creatures dissipate when they come in contact with water," she handed him a small, black pistol.
"Where did you get this?"
"It's a water gun. I know. It sounds juvenile, but it holds enough to douse one. Also, don't use a fire extinguisher on them. It won't work unless you aim directly at their core, which they keep defended at all times," she recited the instructions to him as they entered the elevator. The doors opened to the lobby where Hawkeye and the Black Widow awaited him.
"And Steve," she grabbed his arm. "Please, come back." He fitted his cowl onto his head and looked her in the eye.
"I will be back," he replied placing her hand on his shoulder. "Promise me you won't do anything reckless?"
"I'll try not to." The two starred at each other for a moment longer, as though waiting for the other to say or do something.
"Captain," Hawkeye called to the soldier. "We've got to go now." Captain America gave one look to the Oracle.
"Stay safe," he told her and then left.
