A Morning at the Museum
Victoria, wearing her leather coat, was on her cellphone sitting on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum as he walked up to the massive building. Catching the last part of her call as he got close, he could tell that she was leaving a message for someone. When she looked up at him once he stopped next to her, a lovely smile crossed her face that made his own face brighten. She had braided her hair into two large plaits that went all the way down her back. The lightness of the color was shining in the mid-morning sun.
"Good morning," he said, sitting down next to her, letting the other people pass them by.
"Morning," she replied, leaning slightly into him, so that their arms were touching. With a devious grin, she asked, "Is that supposed to be a disguise?"
Steve looked over at her and smiled.
"It's worked so far," he said, knowing that the simple jacket and baseball cap were so absurdly normal that nobody so far had found him out. He could not do anything about his height, but living in such a large city, men of his stature were not as rare as they used to have been.
"Well, let's see if your record holds out then," Victoria said, reaching out to take his hand into hers.
Standing up, he then helped to pull her up before she put her cellphone into her back pants pocket. They looked to be the same pair that she had worn yesterday, and he figured that he was probably right in his original assessment. Judging by what he had seen of her apartment, he guessed that she was limited on the amount of clothes she had. He was going to heed Pepper's advice, but it was not something that they were going to let stand for too long. This was their soulmate and they would protect and take care of her, clothes included…once she would let them.
"So, you've been so busy for the past few years that you haven't had time to take a day for yourself and visit the museum?" she asked as they reached the main doors.
"Well, between Loki and the aliens, being hunted by SHIELD, taking down the HYDRA Helicarriers, and then Ultron…yes, I've been a bit busy. And all of that doesn't even include the normal SHIELD mission I went on between the times searching for Bucky," Steve said, letting her lead him over to the line for the admissions counter.
"I actually try to ignore the news, but I heard about two of those, but what you do mean searching for Bucky? Natasha mentioned that also," she asked with a look of curiosity on her face.
"When SHIELD and HYDRA fell, he was still under HYDRA's control. I had told him his name, along with a phrase we used to use as kids, and it was just enough to help start to bring back some of his memories. He didn't fully remember me, or trust me, since he had been sent to kill me. But...he did pull me out of a river, saving my life, before he ran and went into hiding. Bucky was out there on his own, trying to piece himself back together. For the next two years, we, Sam and I, were searching for clues as to his location, but he had been trained to not leave a trail. We couldn't find a trace of him. But, HYDRA unfortunately had better luck tracking him, and when he almost got recapture by them, he knew that he needed help to stay free, and he finally came back to me."
Victoria seemed to consider his condensed story for a few moments before speaking.
"So, when you were found frozen in the ice, he was still a prisoner. But when you finally found each other, he ran. So really, the two of you have not had each other since the war, until this past year or so," she said as the line slowly moved forward.
"That's about right. He's been working with Wanda who can help to sort his memories, and some other things not to be mentioned in public ever, but there is the guilt from what he was forced to do while working for HYDRA. There is a lot of information that we need to tell you, but it's better for it to be done while we are all together and in private. We have a lot of history," Steve said, as they took another step forward in the line.
"You two are history," Victoria said, bumping her body into his, smiling up at him at her own joke.
"You and Nat are definitely going to get along," he said, shaking his head. He purchased their entrance tickets and the cashier handed them a folded map of the museum, which he held as they moved to the side so others behind them could go. "So, anything in particular you would like to see?"
"Not really, but I'm sure that a lot of this may be new to you. I'm good with wherever you want to go," Victoria told him as they headed up the stairs to the next level. He held out the map, unfolding it and trying to get an idea as to where to start. Victoria looked at it over his shoulder, he saw her eyes darting quickly over it.
"It doesn't seem like they've made any changes since I was here earlier this year. Do you have a favorite artist?" she asked.
"Not really. I haven't been able to keep up with anyone that became famous since I was under the ice so…"
"Well then, let's just walk the entire place," Victoria said, taking his hand in her and wrapping her other arm around his bicep. He felt a little bad that Bucky was not here, but he was already enjoying his alone time with her. As they walked up the stairs, he barely noticed the other people around them, he felt like it was just the two of them.
For the next two hours, Victoria led him on a well guided tour throughout the museum, naming off the rooms, and not getting them lost or doubling their path back over where they had already been in any way. Had she memorized the museum from her previous visit or from looking at the map?
They had fun talking about the different styles, both of them agreeing that the minimalist movement could have been accomplished by elementary school kids. The sculptures both drew their attention as they looked at the fine details of the carvings in marble, amazed as how the smooth surface was accomplished. He found that she liked the landscapes more than the portraits, unless it had dancers in the painting. She seemed to focus on the ballet dancers the most, admiring the lines of the bodies as well as the flow of their outfits.
"You know, Nat was trained in classical ballet, as part of her spy cover, but as far as I know, she doesn't ever dance like that anymore," Steve told her after they had been looking a one solo dancer for a few minutes.
"I've tried to dance like that but I guess that I didn't have the proper muscles to do a lot of the stances. I know the positions' patterns, but actually doing them was a bit harder," Victoria said as they moved further down the gallery, still hand in hand. "We are about half way through and it is lunch time. Want to head up to the roof café and get something to eat?"
"Sounds like a plan," he said, letting her guide him through the halls to an enclosed staircase. He had thought that they would take the elevator, but he was fine with just following Victoria's lead.
As the door closed behind them, he saw that there were the only two people in the stairwell. They made their way up towards the first platform before Victoria spoke.
"Elevators are always so packed. So, how are you enjoying your first trip to a museum in quite a while?"
"Technically, I have been to a museum just not this museum," he answered.
"Really, which one?"
"I went to the Smithsonian's Captain America Exhibit around the same time as the Helicarrier event," he told her, as they slowly walked up.
"That sounds a bit narcissistic, especially for you, I would guess," Victoria joked, as they made it to a landing and she stopped, thinking about something. "I could definitely see Tony doing that though if he had his own exhibit."
"I was actually there to see the memorial that they had for Bucky. This was before I even knew that he was still alive. I was missing my friend," Steve replied, as he leaned on the railing as he remember going there that day. It was only days later when he discovered his soulmate was still alive. How fast their lives had changed at that time.
Victoria then stepped forward, her body close to his, her right hand still in his. Reaching up with her left hand, she placed it on his cheek, gently caressing her fingers over his smooth skin. He was so glad that he had shaved this morning as he leaned into her touch.
"Now, you have him back, and somehow, the two of you found me," she said, moving even closer, their bodies now almost touching. "You know, you really should thank Tony for dragging the two of you into the strip club Wednesday night. I don't think that I've mentioned it, but Friday was my last night working there since I had planned to leave town."
"When we walked in, the group was actually joking about finding our soulmate in there. Tony was a bit blunter with what he was he was actually hoping to accomplish," Steve reached up and matched her hand's position on his face with his own on hers. Victoria then tilted her head slightly into his touch.
"I'm sure I can guess what Tony assumed would happen by going into a strip club," she grinned, leaning forward while running her hand over his face, down his cheek to the back of his neck, pulling his head down towards her. "I'm so glad that you looked down my shirt."
With that embarrassing phrase, Steve was pulled close enough so that their lips finally touched. He found hers soft, with a slight flavor of berry from some lip balm that she had applied at some time. Being this close to her again, he was again struck by the scent of coconuts coming from her hair. It reminded him of a tropical island, warm and inviting.
Victoria then leaned in a bit more so that their bodies were now touching, her body resting against his, while his back was to the rail. He allowed his mouth to open, trying to explore hers, to which she accepted by her tongue gently touching the tip of his own. For the next minute, they just enjoyed this quiet moment together, the feel of her against him sending a warm feeling throughout his body, easing a tension he had not realized he had. Holding on to the back of her neck, matching her own grip, he felt her press her body even more against his. He then moved his left hand around her waist, but not wanting to let go of her hand at the same time, but Victoria moved her arm with his, as he enjoyed holding her in his grasp.
It was the sound of a door above them opening and then closing, echoing top to bottom in the concrete stairwell, which finally drew the two of them apart. By the time that the other couple rounded the turn, they were already headed up the next flight, a blushing, grinning expression on both of their faces. They continued heading up towards the exit, holding hands while rubbing their fingers against each others, as he wished that their wonderful first kiss had lasted a bit longer.
When the top door opened, they walked out to a great view of Central Park with the surrounding buildings encasing the massive green space. There were a lot of other people up here also enjoying the view, but they seemed to blend in with the larger crowd. Everyone seemed to be engaged with their own group, or cellphone, and ignoring the others around them. It was just like being alone in a crowd.
They headed over to where the café's line ended and they looked up at the small menu, easily deciding on their choices before even getting to the counter. They waited for their food along with all the other hungry people and when their number was called, they took their sandwiches and began to search for a secluded spot to sit and eat. When Victoria led him over to a small table for two where another couple was just packing up their trash and beginning to stand, he was surprised that she had noticed them getting ready to leave.
"That was some good timing," he said, putting their lunch on the table before pulling the chair out for her to sit. She gave him a soft, "thank you," as she sat down opposite of him. He noticed a slight shy look from her, as if she were not used to having someone do such a simple proper gesture for her.
"I was watching and waiting for a table. The chill in the air makes people not tend to chat the way they would if it were warmer outside," she said, opening up the wrapper of her sandwich. "Out of curiosity, the other night, it didn't seem like Bucky got my Degas joke. He's not into art the way you are?"
"Not really. I sketch a bit, or at least I used to back during the war, but I haven't done it as much as I used to. Like I said earlier, I've been a bit busy," he said, removing his own wrapper and taking a bite of his sandwich.
"I never had any original art that I've been able to create. But I do enjoy looking at the pieces they have here. Whenever I passed through a larger city, I would always stop and see what the local museums had to offer," she said, eating another bite of her own sandwich. He noticed that a bit of the cranberry sauce rested on her upper lip. He motioned to her so that she knew that it was there.
Victoria then gave him a sly smile and then, very provocatively, used her tongue to lick the dab away. Seeing her doing that make his heart skip a beat, in a good way. Victoria knew what she had done when she lifted her eyebrows in a quick movement with a smile on her lips.
"That's very cruel," Steve said, shaking his head slightly due to her gesture.
"If you think that's cruel, wait until I actually start to tease you," Victoria said, taking another bite. "That was just a bit of fun."
They chatted as they ate, Victoria asking him questions about him and Bucky growing up together. She found the fact that he used to get beat up all the time amusing since she couldn't picture him small like he used to be. Victoria said that she had gone on the internet and seen a picture of him before the serum, but it didn't register as to what it really meant since she was used to him now. He told her about how Bucky used to be a ladies man, always with a different girl on his arm and always trying to set him up.
"Bucky seems a bit more, I don't know…serious? He joked a bit yesterday, but it was almost like he was holding back," Victoria commented as they gathered their lunchtime trash.
"Yesterday was the closest that I have seen him behave similar to how he used to be, back before the war. Hearing him laughing yesterday is something that I've missed. I'm hoping that spending some time with you will help him to come to terms with what happened to him, and help to bring him back," Steve said, leaning forward on the table, resting on his elbows for support.
"I hope that you will notice a change in him, but you need to understand that there is a greater possibility that the friend, the soulmate, that you used to know, may never be exactly the same again. Do you think that you are exactly the same, personality wise, as you were before going into the ice?" Victoria asked him, matching his arm positions.
"I guess not," Steve admitted.
"So, the friend he is looking for is gone also. Just give it time and don't expect things to be exactly the way they were. Have fun being together now," Victoria said, leaning forward to give him a simple kiss on the lips. She pulled back with a smile on her face. "Ready to continue the tour?"
"Yes," he said, taking a hold of all of their trash in his hands as they stood and made their way to the staircase. He was a bit disappointed with a few other people saw them using it and followed them. He had been hoping for a repeat of earlier.
Exiting the staircase, they continued on their walking tour, hand in hand, admiring a lot of the same paintings, having a similar taste in artists, it seemed. As they wound their way through the twisting halls, moving up to another level, he knew that it was getting close to the time they had agreed to meet Bucky out front.
Bucky had told him earlier that morning that he had no idea where to take Victoria for their date, not having be on one in so long. The only advice that he could really give him was to take her somewhere so they could talk and just be together.
"You seem a bit distracted," Victoria said, as he realized he had been staring at a not-flattering portrait of a group of hunting hounds.
"Just thinking that our time is about up," Steve admitted, leading her away from the dogs.
"So, does that mean you don't want it to end or you're looking forward to it being over?" Victoria smiled at him, giving his hand a gentle teasing squeeze.
"Why would you even ask that?" he wondered aloud, grinning at her also.
"Everyone always worries about how their very first date will go," she told him as they turned into another hallway, this one filled with statues. He noticed that it was fairly empty of people, the only others being near the far end and walking away from them.
"Then consider this the best one that I've been on," Steve informed her, leading Victoria over towards the wall where large decorative pillars ran from floor to ceiling. Glancing around to make sure that nobody was watching, he leaned his back into the corner where the pillar met the wall, pulling Victoria against him, wrapping his arms around her waist, eliciting a smile from her.
"Really?" she said, resting her body against his, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"I've been looking forward to this date for about ninety years, don't forget," he said leaning down and giving her a firm kiss on the lips. They stayed like that for a few moments, just enjoying being there, before Victoria pulled back.
"So, then, no pressure, at all," she joked, leaning back in and giving him another kiss. Hearing a group of people entering the room, they then continued through the hall, making their way back to the front of the museum where he and Bucky had agreed to meet for his date.
"Just so you know, Bucky is worried about spending time with you today because he was not sure where to take you today when I left," Steve told her as they finally reached the main hall.
"That's good to know, but I'll be fine with wherever he finally chose," Victoria said, leaning slightly onto his shoulder. Glancing around the large room with lots of people wandering around, she said, "I'm actually surprised that your hat trick worked. Not one person noticed you. I was sure you would get noticed."
"Better than Clark Kent's glasses," he joked which got a lovely laugh from Victoria.
"Nice one," she said, kissing his cheek as they reached the front doors.
Walking outside into the chilly air after being inside for so long was only slightly shocking. Victoria was wearing her leather jacket, so her motorcycle was probably located somewhere nearby. Bucky probably knew exactly where it was thanks to his proficient use of tracking devices. Scanning the limited parking area in front of the museum, it was not hard to find Bucky sitting on his 'bike', patiently waiting for his turn with Victoria.
"There he is," he said pointing him out of her. She looked over to where he indicated, and Bucky just gave a simple nod of his head so they knew he saw them also.
"The two of you already worked out where to meet for dinner?" she asked as they started to walk down the steps towards him.
"Yes," he said, stopping a bit away from the parking area, "so I'll see you later."
Leaning over he gave her a kiss, the last time for the immediate future, but now he had something to look forward to later. Victoria also gave him a firm hug.
"See you later," she said, before turning to head towards Bucky. The next four hours were going to be a very long time.
