edited on 3/10/2018

2.

"I'm Steve." Captain America told me even though it was blatantly clear that I knew who he was. I lifted my head up, curls in complete disarray as I stared at the outstretched hand he was waving in my face.

Well, not waving. Steve didn't do that. He was very direct. So it merely was hanging there for me to take or disregard altogether.

I happened to really like Cap. He was a national treasure in a sense. It was pretty overwhelming just sitting across from him but for him to want to openly touch me - someone who looked like I did right now brought it to an entirely new level of weirdness for me.

Sam, I could deal with. He was normal to me. Steve, not so much.

I didn't let him stay in this position of wanting to shake my hand for much longer, instead grasping it carefully. He squeezed my hand firmly as I cracked a smile.

"So how did you two get together?" I questioned. I could have left it alone but this was entirely too much not to at least get that one question answered.

"I was on a run." Sam answered.

"Like when you met me?" I questioned, eyebrow twitching a little.

Sam laughed, nodding. "It wasn't raining at the time and he kept passing me."

I didn't really know what to say to that. "Right, I'm Bee. Woman not so much in distress as very confused about life in general."

"Aren't we all, Miss Bee?" He beamed.

Oh, he was charming alright.

I looked down at what was covering the paper then looked back up, between the two soldiers. "Should I leave you two whatever all this mumbo jumbo is?"

Steve waved it off. "No, it's fine. It's not a crisis. Planning something for a friend of ours."

I leaned into my hand that I had left propped up on the table. "What like a party? You people have time for that kind of thing?"

"On a good day." He continued while Sam continued to stand there smiling as if this was amusing to him. "I have a meeting though, so I'll take my leave now. It was nice to meet you Bee." He said over his shoulder as he turned and headed towards the door.

"You too." I called quietly, before turning to Sam.

He grabbed the chair that he was sitting in last night and turned it around to sit on it backwards with his arms flung over the back of it. "So..."

"Interesting..." I trailed off, not knowing what else I could say after that tiny interaction with one of the Avengers.

"He's a friend."

I didn't think that was all there was to it but I didn't think that I needed to know the rest right now. "Right. So I should probably get out of your hair too. What time is it?"

"1:45 in the afternoon. I washed your clothes." He mumbled.

I had forgotten that I had pretty much left them in the bathroom after my shower. I wasn't sure where exactly I should put them. "Thanks. Sorry about that by the way."

"Not a problem. Mine needed a wash too."

I bent my head, hiding my face at the idea that he had washed our clothes together. I don't know why that affected me so much. It was true that I hadn't shared space with another man in quite some time. But, it was a silly thought after the things we had discussed last night.

I sighed, as I lifted my head again - shaking away my ridiculous thoughts and directing my attention to the man who had helped me in more ways than anyone who I knew personally.

"Thanks for looking after me. I know you probably had better things to do but it was a good thing to do. I don't see that often."

"If you need anything you can call or find me." It seemed that he had prepared for this, or maybe he was always prepared to give out his number to people who he helped. I honestly couldn't be sure but I did take the card he had reached in his pocket to get. I read the few words that were typed out on it.

Definitely something he already had prepared.

Sam Wilson

VA Group Leader, Former Soldier, Friend

xxx-xxx-xxxx

His number was on it. Both of them. He had a line at the VA and one that he had scribbled under it for his cell. The address to where he worked was also on the card. I suppose that's where I would find him if I needed to.

"Any questions for me? I didn't really share much beyond the whole grief and emotional turmoil the last time we were in this room." I didn't want to just leave. It felt like a cop out. I felt like he deserved more than that. Someone like Sam deserved a lot of things for doing what he did for me.

This would be the first thing that I would do.

I hadn't planned out anything else, but I figured I'd find a way to repay him.

I couldn't exactly give him money. I was barely making it as is on my own now but there were other ways to show your appreciation for someone.

Sam thought for a moment before coming up with something he must have really wanted to ask. "What's your full name?"

"You don't believe that I'm called Bee, Wilson?" I laughed.

"You have to admit, it's not a normal name."

"Mom wasn't in the habit of giving normal names okay?" I paused. "Bee T. Joseph, from Spokane."

"T?" He echoed.

"Just T, I told you..." I started before he intercepted.

"Mama wasn't in the habit of giving normal names. I'm starting to work out what it must have been like for you." I smiled. This was the first time in days that I felt something close to happiness at talking about my mother. I would have to thank him for giving me that. It was a gift, and in some weird way I felt like he was too.

"I don't know if you'd get it completely but it's a start. Anymore questions?"

He shook his head. "I think I'll wait until our next meeting to find out more."

"How do you know you'll see me again?"

His face blanked into a neutral expression as if it was obvious to him that we would. He couldn't be that positive of something after a chance encounter.

"It just feels like we'll cross paths one way or another."

I could take that for now. I had to meet my great grandparents to talk about some things before I went in for my night shift at the call center.

"Well until then, I suppose." I wasn't going to pretend like I didn't want to spend more than a few more moments with Sam Wilson. However, I couldn't drag this out anymore.

Sam got to his feet as I began to slip out of the chair myself. He turned behind him and held out a stack of clothes. "You can keep those."

"I don't mind changing." I mumbled.

"It's all good." He was smiling again. He led me to the door and before I was completely out of view I gave him a wave, because waving I did.

He returned it before ducking back inside.

He wasn't wrong.

I did see him a second time.

Two and half weeks later, flying over my head in a suit that had something that looked like wings.

I, Bee T. Joseph was completely done with all these superheroes in not so great disguises.

To make it better, I had practically shouted,

"The fuck, Wilson?!"

Sam had the audacity to stop mid-air while swooping after someone and wink at me before going on his way.

I made sure to send him about ten texts in all caps.

None of which were answered until the week afterwards.

I try to keep the two lives separate. Steve likes to come whenever he wants. I follow. - Sam

When are you free next?

Tomorrow after 4pm. What's up, Bee? - Sam

I guess you'll see me again. You know where the Honey Eyed Treat Shack is?

Who doesn't? - Sam

ALRIGHT. YOU.

Ha. I'll see you at 4:15. Take care. - Sam