"It's not okay Nat!" Buffy yells as she sits beside Natasha in the redhead's car, the Russian assassin having so sweetly offered to drive her to cafe Buffy would be meeting Peter at.
Natasha merely chuckles in amusement and shakes her head, she had to admit she loved messing with Buffy and Steve, it was probably the only fun thing going on at SHIELD.

"I'm just giving you both a nudge."

Buffy rolls her eyes, what was she even talking about? There was nothing between her and Steve...nothing. "We don't need a nudge. Nat, we're not apes you can't lock us in a room together and expect us to breed!"
"Well, I can hope."
At the assassin's words Buffy scoffs in disbelief and huffs, leaning back in her seat she turns and merely glances out of the window, she was so sick of everyone being so obsessed with the idea of her and Steve.

Natasha watches her friend for a moment before sighing as she turns down the road "Buffy, come on...admit it you like the guy. You guys live together, eat together, hell you share a bed together most of the time! I can read body language and girl you leave signal after signal and he doesn't understand modern signals. You don't understand old fashioned ones."
Buffy huffs and shakes her head as much as she didn't want to admit it, it was maybe a little bit true, she liked Steve, but that was the issue. Not only did she know she drove him nuts so there was no way he felt that way towards her...but she also knew Steve was the kind of guy she could fall for. But after Angel, Riley, Spike and all the other relationships she had that had failed...she couldn't risk it all over again. Plus what if it ruined their friendship?

Sighing she turns to Nat and smiles sadly "I'm better off alone Nat. Men I love have a tendency to die."

"You should be proud of yourself, Peggy." Steve tells his first love as he sits at her bedside looking at the sweet photos of her and her children on the side table, as hard as it was giving up what could have been a wonderful life with her, he was so happy that she moved on and had a beautiful life.
Peggy turns and glances over at the photos Steve was looking at, smiling she turns back to the still young man "I have lived a life. My only regret is that you didn't get to live yours." Watching him for a moment she frowns "Have you told her yet? How you feel?"
Steve shakes his head in amusement "You're too smart."

Peggy chuckles softly her voice slightly softer and weaker in her old age "Don't wait forever, Steve. You and I both know how things can change." The soldier offers her a kind smile before nodding, however as the smile drops Peggy couldn't help but frown, there was something else bothering him, she could tell "What is it?"
Steve sighs at her question before thinking back to the events of the last 24 hours, the mission, the meeting with Fury, Project Insight "For as long as I can remember, I just wanted to do what was right. I guess I'm not quite sure what that is anymore. And I thought I could throw myself back in and follow orders. Serve. It's just not the same."

Peggy watches him for a moment before she couldn't hold in her laugh anymore "You're always so dramatic. Look, you saved the world. We rather mucked it up."
"You didn't." He promises her before offering her a small smile "Knowing that you helped found SHIELD is half the reason I stay."
Peggy smiles knowing exactly what that other half was, a certain Stark girl. Reaching forward she grabs his hand squeezing it tightly offering him the only words of support she could for someone in his situation "The world has changed, and none of us can go back. All we can do is our best. And sometimes the best that we can do is to start over."

"Not that I'm not happy to see you, but...what are you doing in DC?" Buffy couldn't help but ask curiously as she sits opposite Pepper Potts in the small cafe in the center of DC.
Pepper smiles as she sips her wine before turning to face the young woman who had grown so much from the young girl she had met over 6 years ago "Just dropping off some papers to our office here."

Buffy arches a brow and places down her own glass before watching Pepper closely, as much as she loved Pepper and as smart as she way...Pepper was a terrible liar "He wanted you to check up on me?"

Pepper opens her mouth to argue but when she spots the look on Buffy's face she groans "Guilty." Sighing she runs a hand through her hair before trying to make the 25-year-old understand, Tony was always going to be over-protective of her, given everything that had happened, her death, the resurrection, being tortured...he would never not have a protective eye on her.

Buffy takes another sip of her wine before placing the glass down on the table "I just need my own life, Pep."
"I get it, trust me, sweetie. Being anything to Tony Stark...it can be a bit much."
At Pepper's words Buffy frowns, there was something in her tone that made the hairs on the back of Buffy's neck stand right back up, she knew Pepper wasn't pleased that dad was building suits again but maybe there was more going on then she realized.

"Is everything okay?" The blonde asks curiously, trying not to push but her dad and Pepper weirdly enough were the most successful relationship she had ever seen and she loved Pepper like family; she didn't want to even imagine a world where Pepper wouldn't be there "With you and dad?"

Pepper looks down at her wine her fingers circling the cool glass before she looks up at the girl who was practically her Step-Daughter "He's back in the garage again. Some Ultron project he's working on with Bruce." The redhead inhales tightly before forcing a smile on her face and turning back to the blonde not wanting her to worry "We're fine. We fight but I still love his idiot face."
Buffy snorts, "No matter how much we try not too."

Pepper laughs at that before raising her glass clicking hers with Buffy's "Cheers to that."
Buffy chuckles however before she could take a drink her eyes widen as Pepper speaks ruining the sweet moment "So can you wait to kiss Steve for another week. Preferably Monday. But I have bets on Tuesday too."

Buffy's eyes widen and she stares at Pepper in complete shock, how the hell was she in on this damn pole too?! As she spots the waiter walking by Buffy turns to him "Many more bottles please."
As Pepper laughs Buffy groans in annoyance and downs her drink, praying the waiter came back quick, if they were going to talk about Steve she wouldn't be doing that sober.

After spotting a familiar face at the session for veterans with PTSD Steve waits in the hall waiting for his new running partner to exit the meeting room.
As Sam exits the room into the hall the veteran chuckles as he spots the super-soldier lurking in the hall "Look who it is, the running man."
Steve smiles and moves to stand opposite Sam watching him organize the brochures for the other sessions before he finally speaks "Caught the last few minutes. It's pretty intense."

"Yeah, brother, we all got the same problems. Guilt, regret." With that Sam finally turns to face the super soldier who quickly spots the look on his face. The same look he himself saw every day in the mirror since he woke up "You lose someone?"
"My wingman, Riley." Sam admits after a hesitant inhale "Flying a night mission. Standard PJ rescue op. Nothing we hadn't done 1,000 times before. Until an RPG knocked Riley's dumb ass out of the sky. Nothing I could do." Sam sighs struggling with the memory of that horrid day, taking a breath he finally summons up the courage to continue, not really knowing why he was so comfortable opening up to the Captain "It's like I was up there just to watch."

Steve watches him for a long moment and couldn't help but think of his own Partner the one he had lost, there wasn't anything you could say to make losing someone like that better, there just wasn't "I'm sorry."

"After that, I had a really hard time finding a reason for being over there, you know?"
Steve couldn't help but nod in agreement, he was struggling with that himself right now "But you're happy now, back in the world?" he couldn't help but ask.
Slowly a small smirk crosses Sam's face "The number of people giving me orders is down to about zero. So, hell yeah. Are you thinking about getting out?"

"No..." Steve starts but he couldn't help but admit he was a little unsure, this world was just so different than his own "...To be honest, I don't know what I would do with myself if I did."
Sam arches a brow before shrugging "Ultimate fighting?" As Steve laughs Sam smirks brightly proud of himself "Just a great idea off the top of my head. Seriously, you could do whatever you want to do...plus literally your Stark friend is the richest woman on the planet, I'm sure you could find something she would fund. Come on what makes you happy?"

Steve snorts at the mention of Buffy's wealth, honestly, he never noticed, she didn't really go on crazy spending sprees and unlike her father, she didn't constantly mention how wealthy she actually was. However that question about what makes him happy, he may not know a lot about how he felt in this world but he knew one thing that made him happy "I have one thing."

Buffy sighs in relief as she closes the front door behind her, slipping off her heels she grabs her fluffy slippers and sighs in relief, she needed to wear her platforms for now on to work cause screw wearing stilettoes ever again. Pulling off her jacket the blonde then pulls her hair out of her ponytail and waves it free before heading into the living room "Hey Steve, I'm starving wanna order a—what in the what." She breaths coming to a shocked halt as she spots the table all set up with flowers in the middle of the table as well as candles filling the room. Exhaling softly the blonde turns around and her eyes widen as she spots Steve stood nervously opposite from her "What...huh...when...what?" She stutters out unable to even get a full sentence out.

Steve smiles at her shocked look before he walks over to her, he had to do this, he was ready to do this, there would be no interruptions this time. He was sure of it. He had made sure Stark would be in New York so wouldn't be flying in and interrupting this...again.
"Surprised?"
Buffy laughs softly and nods, this was probably the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for her "You really are an old softie." She whispers "Do you guys really pull chairs out for us ladies too?" She teases using her humor to hide the fact that she was a little nervous right now.

Steve smiles before walking over to the blonde and frowns as he spots her in her fluffy slippers, Buffy rolls her eyes "They are amazing and do not say otherwise."
"You're amazing."

At his words, Buffy's eyes widen and she couldn't help but gulp slightly, this was actually happening, she could feel herself internally freaking out right now, like full-on jumping on a ceiling freaking out. But on the outside she was frozen solid.
Steve inhales tightly before exhaling "Buffy, for weeks...okay months, I've been trying to talk to you about us..."
"Us?" She whispers staring up at him with wide eyes "What about us?"

"Buffy, I'm not smooth you know that probably more than anyone, and I've tried to be and it's not working. And every time I try and tell you how I feel Natasha interrupts or Tony or Xander or...I care about you...and this..." He says gesturing to the beautiful table and amazing-smelling dinner that she so wanted to eat "Will you have dinner with me? As not just roommates?"

Buffy exhales the breath she had been holding in, as she stares up at his very handsome face all of the ways this could end badly began running through her head, all the issues that would get between them. All the drama it would cause. All the fear she had about letting someone in again...but for the first time in a long time...she realized she wanted to be happy and maybe it would be okay to be happy again "Yes."
Steve smiles brightly at her before looking down at her beautiful face cupping her face in his hand he couldn't help but smile probably brighter than he had since he had woken up, as she smiles back at him they begin moving closer however before he could finally kiss her the record player suddenly switches on playing an old 1940's record.

Both Buffy and Steve leap apart the blonde grabbing her scythe and Steve grabbing his shield. The two glance at each other in panic, they weren't alone here.
As they begin moving towards the record player Steve couldn't help but groan slightly, he had made sure there would be no interruptions, and if it was her father he was going to throw him out a damn window.

"Nick?" Buffy breaths drawing Steve's attention, he turns and his eyes widen as both of them spot Fury sat in the corner on one of Buffy's nice leather chairs by the record player.
"Did you give him a key?" Buffy asks "I gave a lot out but he wasn't on the list."
Steve shakes his head before frowning, just how many people had keys to their apartment "How many keys did you give out?"
Buffy winces before gulping "Uh, um...ah Hell Nick broke into our apartment, yell later."

Fury winces as he sits up on the chair he was crouched in; holding in another wince he turns to the two and snorts slightly as he spots the very romantic set up in the dining room "Sorry to interrupt whatever is going to give Stark reason to refreeze you..." Buffy rolls her eyes however she halts at Fury's next words "My wife kicked me out."
Steve frowns in confusion as well but to be fair he had known Fury years but he really didn't know anything about him other then he was a good shot with a gun "I didn't know you were married."

"A lot of things you don't know about me."
Steve sighs and places down the shield before moving to switch on the light "I know Nick, that's the problem."

As he does Buffy's eyes widen as she finally spots the blood covering Fury's face, moving over to him she quickly moves to check his wounds while he shakes her off and quickly switches the light back off before grabbing his phone.
Buffy frowns as she grabs the first aid kit out from the side table before her eyes widen as she spots the message Fury had just written out for them to see EARS EVERYWHERE.

Buffy gulps slightly and turns to Steve who had the same panicked look on his face, something was very wrong here, they were in a lot of danger, they could both feel it.
Buffy sighs and grabs the rubbing alcohol out of the box before trying to fix up Fury the best she could, however, his injuries weren't a simple quick fix, he had fractures and god knows how many broken bones in his arm. Someone had really done a number on him.
Fury tries not to wince as the blonde bandages him up, inhaling tightly he glances between the two heroes "I'm sorry to have to do this, but I had no place else to crash."

With that he finally reveals his new message and it was one that horrified both Buffy and Steve SHIELD COMPROMISED

Buffy stands and moves to check the windows before clutching onto the scythe tightly if SHIELD was really compromised they were all screwed. Turning away from the window the blonde Slayer focuses on Fury "You talk to anyone else about your issues with the Mrs?"
Fury shakes his head before with a grunt of agonizing pain he finally pulls himself up to stand waiting for Buffy to walk back over to them so he could show them both the next message JUST THE THREE OF US
"Just...my friends."
"Is that what we are?" Steve asks his jaw clenched, he didn't like this, everything they knew about who they were fighting for was now all apparently a lie, how were they supposed to trust anyone even Fury.

Fury sighs as he glances in between the two of them before focusing on Buffy, he had known her for 7 years, known her since she was still a kid she could tell if he was lying...or at least he hoped she could "That's up to the two of you."

Buffy sighs sadly and opens her mouth to speak only for her eyes to widen in horror as a bullet flies in through the wall going through Fury's spine "Nick!" She screams as she runs over catching him and quickly lowering him to the ground.
Buffy's eyes widen in panic "No, no, no." She hisses as she presses her hands to his bloody chest trying to stop the bleeding but it was too much "Where is that damn vest you always wear!" She hisses at him before allowing Steve to help her move him out of view of the windows.

As she continues to try and stop the bleeding Fury grabs her now blood-soaked hand and places a flash drive in her palm "Not the time for another secret intel grab."
Fury sighs as he begins choking on his own blood, holding in his cries of pain he turns and looks between the two blondes "Don't trust anyone."
Buffy and Steve frown in confusion before Buffy's focus was quickly brought back to Fury's wounds "The shooter!" She yells as she turns to Steve "Go!"

Steve hesitates for a moment before his eyes widen as he spots the shooter in the distance through the window "Buffy..."
"Go!"

Steve runs as fast as he can through the apartment building he had followed the shooter to, as he spots the leather-clad man leap onto the next building, Steve grunts in annoyance and raising his SHIELD he uses it to block his face from the glass as he runs at the window at the end of the hall and dives straight for the rooftop where the shooter was still trying to evade him.

Rolling across the hard concrete rooftop Steve quickly pulls himself back to his feet and launches the shield at the shooter, however to his shock the shooter spins around and just in time catches the shield with what looked like a metal arm.
The shooter glares at him before launching the shield right back at the captain who catches it only to go skidding backward as he does.
Wincing slightly Steve who was still in utter shock looks back up only to spot the shooter long gone and all he could think was who the hell was this man?