Heart of a Captain

by Bonnie Celt

During the Battle of New York, the Avengers meet Evelyn, who braves the battle to get people on the streets to safety. Friendship arises from the chance meetings, but maybe a little more than friendship is on the mind of a particular Captain. The only problem is that Evelyn has been hurt before and guards her heart a little too well.

36. Chapter 36

Chapter Thirty-Six

Steve and Evie re-entered Fury's office hand-in-hand.

"Director Fury," Evie began. "I thank you for the offer to join SHIELD and the Avenger's but I'm afraid I must decline. I'm not cut out for the life of an agent."

"Are you sure, Miss Barton?" Fury asked. "You might better at it than you think."

"I'm sure, sir."

"Very well," Fury conceded. If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me."

"Yes, sir."

"Well, I think that wraps up this debrief," Fury said. "I will look forward to all your filed reports." With a nod, he dismissed the Avengers.

Back at the Tower, the Avengers were gathered in the common floor living room, waiting for their Chinese take-out to arrive. The elevator dinged, and Evie, who had been changing clothes, stepped out. She strode over to the chair Steve was occupying and fell over the arm and into his lap, her legs dangling over one arm and her head resting on the other.

"What's all this?" Steve asked, looking her up and down. The red dress she had worn in the office was gone. She now wore a green, yellow, and white plaid shirt and blue jeans. The shirt was western cut, and shoulders were solid white with yellow roses embroidered on the front and back of the pointed, western yokes. Her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, and the tail was tucked in to show off a hand- tooled leather belt, the buckle of which looked hand-made too. Her feet were clad in brown leather cowboy boots. Her look was completed by her hair being down in two French braids.

"What's all what? Evie grinned up at him.

"The outfit, Short Stuff," Tony clarified.

"Oh, he said he wanted me to be me, so, here I am." Evie answered.

"How's that?" Clint asked.

"Seriously? I'm from Texas and I was raised on a working ranch," Evie laughed. "I'm cowgirl, pure and simple." She looked up at Steve with a grin. "Hope you don't mind."

Steve grinned and chuckled. "It's different, but no, I don't mind," he said. "Why is this the first time you've worn these clothes?"

"Had to order them, for one," Evie answered. "Two, I didn't have too much western stuff 'cuz Aunt Beatrice didn't like it and said that New Yorkers didn't really appreciate westerns stuff either."

"Well, she was wrong," Steve said. "This Brooklyn kids thinks you look swell in it." Evie blushed just as JARVIS announced the arrival of the take-out.

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Just a little bit of fluff. Hope ya'll enjoy. 3