"Are we walking to Paris?"
James rolled his eyes, "Obviously not. We're taking a boat in New Jersey."
"… So, we're walking to New Jersey instead?"
"No Captain." James's tone was sarcastic, "We're taking a coach. Thankfully, the train managed to get us most of the way there."
"Ah… okay."
"It's good." Natasha stated, "Because it gives us time to prepare for the interview."
Steven froze, "Interview?"
"Nobody gets close to Agent Carter, without going through SHIELD first."
"What?!" Steven could feel himself starting to panic, "You didn't tell me that I had to prove that I was Captain America?! I can't lie to someone like that!"
"You don't know that it's a lie." Nat defended, "It could be true. You have amnesia, right?"
"If I have amnesia, then I can't remember any details to answer the questions anyway!"
"Which is way we have James." Nat gestured at the other man, "He'll be able to help."
"How?"
"Because Stevie and I were best friends, apparently." James shrugged, "You're not the only one suffering from amnesia problems."
Before James could storm away, in his usual fashion, Steven reached out and grabbed his wrist, frowning at how… metallic it was.
"Do you think I am him? Honestly?"
James stared at him for a moment, before shrugging and yanking his wrist away. "We'll see."
….
"Steve Rogers was born on July 4, 1918, to Sarah and Joseph Rogers in New York City. Before Rogers was born, his father was confirmed to have been killed in action in World War I."
"Wait, wait, wait." Steven frowned, "The fourth of July? He was born on the fourth of July?"
"YOU were born on the fourth of July. You can't keep making out like you're two different people." Natasha scanned him up and down, "Shoulders back and stand up straight. You're a soldier, remember?"
Steven quickly obeyed, feeling a little silly.
…
The lessons continued as they continued to travel.
"Elbow in and sit up straight."
"And don't slurp your soup."
"I wasn't!"
"That's good! Be authoritative, even if you know you were wrong!"
"Hey!"
…..
"So, this is Howard Stark. He made your shield and was a key part in the creation of the 'super soldier'."
"Tony Stark's father?"
"Yes, but you need to know more about Howard than Tony, remember?"
Steven nodded.
"Right." Natasha brought up another photo, "This is Doctor Abraham Erskine, who was the scientist who created the original Super Soldier Serum."
Steven reached out to take the photo from Natasha's hand, eyes focusing on the kindly smile on the man's face.
"There are already so many big men fighting this war…." He found himself whispering, "… Maybe what we need now is the little guy."
He didn't notice Nat and James giving him an odd look.
…
They reached the ship less than two days later, and by that time, Steven was sure he was ready for whatever this SHIELD throws at him.
Hopefully.
On the ship, as he tried to get used to the slightly shaky sensation, he nearly bumped into James in the corridor.
"Here." James shoved a blue uniform into his arms, "You'll need to wear one of the these when we get there."
"… How did you get a military uniform?"
"Just take it!" James snapped, before storming away.
Steven headed back into his cabin, examining the uniform for a moment, before putting it on and admiring himself in the mirror.
Huh.
Maybe he could pull this off.
…
Natasha whistled at the sight of him, smirking at how James danced up slightly. "Looking good Captain!" She announced, getting to her feet, "You can probably answer all the questions they throw at you, you definitely look the part… now, can you fight?"
"I- "
"Let's find out." Natasha turned to James, "Come on then."
"No."
Natasha hissed something in Russian, making James spring to his feet.
"Can I at least get changed?" Steven sighed, "I don't want this suit to get ruined."
"No, I'm liking the view." Nat teased, "You can practice dancing instead if you want?"
"… With you?"
"Nope." She popped her lips on the P, "James could use the practice as well."
This time, it was James's turn to mutter something vicious in Russian, before turning back to Steven and giving him an appreciative look up and down, which Steven couldn't help but preen slightly at.
He didn't expect an actual verbal compliment from the man, but this was as good as.
Neither of them noticed Natasha staring at them contemplatively.
…
Night fell, a storm sending the ship rocking from side to side.
James twitched in his sleep, gloved hand clutching onto his bag, unaware of the jealous glares he was getting from Steven, who was wrapped up a blanket next to Natasha.
"How can he sleep through this?"
Natasha shrugged, "He learnt to get sleep when and where he could… storm or no storm."
The ship tilted sharply to one side, a music box sliding out of James's jacket pocket, coming to a stop near Steven, who carefully picked it up.
"Pretty isn't it?" Natasha whispered, "We believe it once belonged to the Captain. A gift from Agent Carter herself."
"A jewellery box?"
"No…" Natasha pointed at a small hole in the side of the box, "… A music box. If we had the key, then it would make our case stronger... unfortunately, it disappeared along with the Captain."
Steven fought the urge to grasp at the necklace hidden beneath his clothes, moving over and putting the music box back in the jacket pocket.
His key couldn't be for the music box.
It just couldn't be.
…..
"He's on the ship heading for Paris, Sir. What are your orders?"
"He drank the water at dinner?"
"Yes Sir."
"Then all we need to do is wait."
…
Steven felt small.
"Stevie!"
He looked over, to see a taller man staring at him, waving him over.
"Come on Stevie! You gone deaf punk!"
"Jerk!" Steven found himself calling back, running after the blurred figure.
That voice sounded so familiar.
But where had he heard it before?
…
Steven's eyes were closed, smiling in his sleep and sitting up in bed. He got up and headed over to the cabin door, opening it up and leaving the room.
He didn't seem to notice how the ship pitched violently in the storm.
…..
Back in the cabin, James stirred sleepily.
…
Steven sleepwalked to the upper deck.
In his dream, the strangely familiar man led him up a rocky embankment, the calm sea below them as they got higher and higher.
In the real world, he'd climbed over the railing of the deck, looking into the black ocean.
In his mind, he saw the man jumping into the ocean, re-surfacing and beckoning for Steven to follow him.
….
James woke with a groan, instincts telling him that there was something wrong. Blearily, he looked away, frowning when he saw no sign of Steven anywhere.
"Steven? Steven?!"
He scrambled to his feet, racing for the door, hoping that the other man had simply gone to the bathroom.
He knew that wasn't the case though.
….
Holding onto the guideline, Steven hung over the edge.
"Come on punk!" The man from his dreams called out, "Jump in!"
He wasn't to know that he was mere inches from certain death, as James staggered onto the deck, flinching as the cold sea soaked him to the bone.
"STEVEN!" He saw Steven on the railings, "STEVEN! STOP!"
He raced forwards, hoping to catch him in time.
"STEVE!"
…
Steve frowned as the man's skin turned red, a horrific smile appearing on his face as the figure grew and grew and grew.
"End of the line, Captain!"
Hands grabbed him, making him cry out in alarm.
…
He managed to grab Steven just as the other man went to jump, wrapping his arms around the others' waist to pull him away, only to find himself struggling as Steven tried to get free.
"Steve! Steve! Steve, wake up! Wake up!"
Steven jolted awake, a terrified expression on his face, shaking and trembling.
"Red Skull…" He whispered, "… Red Skull, he- "
"Red Skull?" James felt a shiver run down his spine, "Did you say Red Skull?"
Steven didn't answer, still shaking. Sensing that he probably wasn't going to get anymore from him, James sighed and pulled him closer, "It was just a nightmare… it's all right, you're safe now."
….
"I'm sorry Sir…. But all reports state that the Captain survived the night."
The man in the chair sighed, "It seems as though, if you want something done correctly… you have to do it yourself."