Everything was overwhelming for Steve since he had not long gotten out of the ice and into the modern age. So much had happened since the 1940s that it was an intelligence overload that it was all becoming a little too much for Steve to digest fully. Fury had done the super soldier a favour and gave him details of a SHIELD sanctioned gym that did not have the latest gadgets, It just had the gym basics just like back in the day. At least it was something familiar to him in the modern age of Google, I Phones and the internet.
In the gym the smells were of old leather, wood and chalk. It brought a sense of home from years ago. There was a punching bag that was slightly covered in dust and it hung beside the boxing ring in the middle of the gym. He would use the ring as a warmup first and then hit the bags to complete his work out.
But in the middle of the boxing ring was a young woman with long ash blonde and was dressed in SHIELD sanctioned nursing gear. Putting down his gym bag, Steve decided he was going to introduce himself so not to scare her. She was a woman alone in a gym after all "Hello?", he called out awkwardly. Steve got no response. Taking a closer look, it appeared the young woman had what was called Beats headphones on over her ears. They were cordless ones that played music wireless from a phone. That sort of technology he marvelled at. Picturing it now, Bucky would have had his glued on his head. He had an instinct that these two would get along quite well.
It would be scary for a young woman who was alone in a gym to have a strange man tap her on the shoulder. So, Steve went around to the other side of the ring to be in her line of sight. But she looked up startled, dropping her book and muttering "Shit it I lost my page".
Her dirty blond hair was messy from her work out, hanging over her face. Her braid was barely being able to be held together because it was so unruly. She looked up and Steve was instantly mesmerized by her eyes because one was a light blue and a light green. The young woman stood up and instantly became in defence mode with the stranger in front of her.
"Woah. Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you there" His hands up in defence, a half-smile on his face.
Holding out his hand, Steve introduced himself, knowing full well the young woman knew who he was. She does not move to take his hand "I am Steve Rogers, you must be Gabriella Barton, Clint's daughter"
Gabby was cautious of the man even though she knew who Steve was, he was still a stranger to her. As cliché as it was, stranger danger. Gabby had no trust him in him "It's Gabby. My name is Gabby. Did Fury give you my file? I bet he knew I was here in the gym. Him and my Dad are the only ones who know I use it".
Steve shakes his head knowing Fury knew exactly what he was doing by sending him to this gym "I have no doubt he did. But I did not know that you would be here. And yes, there is a file on you but not a big one. Besides, we are all more than what our files say any way. Aren't we?".
The little woman was still as anything in the middle of the ring. Like as if she were cat that was sitting there on table. Poised with grace, standing and on alert with no forward motion. Ready to jump at any second. Steve tried to help Gabby feel more at ease. Maybe a little sparring session would ease the tension "Well since you are here, did you want to train together? Show me what you got in the ring?"
This was strange for Gabby to be talking to an outsider. They always scared her and made her feel uneasy. She shuffles on her feet, her eyes focused on them solely and getting out of the boxing ring without making eye contact with him, even with as handsome Steve was "I can't. I have…" she pauses for a second, 'to go" Gabby stops herself from saying too much "You need to warm up after being frozen for so long".
He chuckles, the little lady has a cheeky sense of humour "Touche".
"Nice to meet you though" and Gabby darts off quickly completely forgetting about her book that she had left behind in the rush to get away.
Steve sighs, a little desponded and looks over to her book, feeling a little deflated as Gabby rushed out of the gym "Nice to meet you too" Steve mumbles to himself as he climbs into the ring and picks up Gabby's book.
He turns it over to read the title of the book. Wuthering Heights. Interesting. The book was worse for wear. The thing looked to have been read 100 times over. The pages were dog eared to mark favourite quotes.
A person could barely even call it a book. But it obviously meant something to her, so he put it with his things that were with his backpack. Making a mental note to track her down at SHIELD to give her book back.
Gabby was home in her town two story town house apartment. She loved it. It was mostly furnished with dark wood timber, reminding her of home on the farm.
It was snowing in New York now, being start of December and all. She could not believe it was almost Christmas in a few short weeks. Her whole apartment was decorated to celebrate Christmas. Her Christmas tree was a ten foot one. Clint had to use a step ladder to help decorate it. It had so many presents under it already. Gabby always had loved Christmas and liked to spoil others more so than herself.
She turned on her heat pump to warm up the place quickly to get rid of the showy chill. Ever since Gabby's time in HYDRA, where all she knew was the cold. She preferred the warmth over the cold any day of the week.
Biting her thumbnail was a habit anytime Gabby was feeling anxious because she was not used to having anyone come into her place of peace and quiet at night. No one used the old SHIELD gym for anything. Gabby knew it was not coincidence the first avenger Captain America, Steve Rogers had come into the gym. Gabby had a feeling that it had something to do with her Dad and Nick Fury. She could not help but be wary of everyone at first. Her natural flight or fight instincts always kicked in when she did.
She threw on her oversized New York university jumper and pulled on her warm mid shin length Ugg boots. Then walking to her fridge, Gabby pulled out a chocolate milk and a packet of Oreos. She settled into her large lounge convertible sofa. It was one of her favourite things in the house to just settle in and relax. She pulled a blanket over her legs, then pulling out her phone to call her Dad.
Clint always answered the phone as soon as he could for his daughter. He always said she was his little miracle "Hey kiddo what is going on. Keeping warm in that New York winter snow?"
"I have the heat pump going good now" Gabby took a sip of her chocolate milk "But nothing much is going on apart from meeting Captain America, Steve Rogers in the gym tonight. Was it the doing by you or was it the planning by Uncle Nick".
"I told you my niece would catch on quick"
"Love you Aunty Tash" Gabby smiled into the phone, still biting her thumb nail "Can I trust him Dad?".
"He just came out of 60 years in the ice. Steve is a man out of his time from the 1940s and alone in a modern world that scares the hell out of him. He may be a bit strange and behind the times, but he is harmless, and you can trust him. I think you could both use each other as a friend"
"Are you sure?" she asked, her eyes showing concern.
"I am sure as the day that I brought you home to be a daughter to your mom and I. He is a good guy, sweetie. Steve is someone you could use in your corner when I am not around. It would make your old man feel more at ease knowing Steve Rogers was your friend".
Gabby pulled the blanket up to her chest. It was a well-worn blanket with little owls that was grey on one side and pink the other. It was the first gift from her mom and it always felt like a hug from her "You always know what to say Dad to make me feel better".
"I will always be here for you kiddo. Now you had better get to that gym before the Captain leaves. I bet he looked like a lost puppy when you left. I love you sweetie"
She smiled into the phone "I love you as well. Please be safe".
"Always am"
Ending the call on her phone, she sat there for a moment feeling a little anxious about taking the small risk of making a new friend. But it was a risk that somehow felt right. Gabby got a bag and placed the chocolate milk and Oreos in it. Her dad had said to trust Steve Rogers, so Gabby was going to take the chance and make a new friend.
Steve was punching the bag as hard as he could. Gabby's book sitting safely in his backpack. Thinking about the mysterious lady. She was real pretty with dirty and untamed blonde hair that had been barely held together with her hair band. Her eyes, one green and one blue that Steve could tell had a sense of suffering behind them. Suffering of a whole lifetime that no one should endure. He held the boxing bag, steadying it. Steve thought he almost might have had a friend there. It sucked being alone in a strange world.
He stepped around the bag to get a drink of water and have a small break, but he was stopped in his tracks. The woman popped into existence in front of him in her lounge wear and beanie "Well that is not in your SHIELD file".
She took a cautious step forward, still wary of trusting the super soldier "They don't know about it. My dad and I would like to keep it that way if you don't mind please".
With a kind smile on his face "Your secret is safe with me. I promise won't tell a soul".
Gabby took her book from Steve. For a long time the book was her only friend until her dad rescued her. Then it was Clint, Natasha, Nick Fury and her Mom, Laura "My dad says I can trust you. That you would be a good friend to have in my corner"
"I will be" Steve told her, having a little more hope because it looked like he had a friend.
"You would be my first one then outside my family" Gabby replied, walking to sit down by beside Steve and handing him an Oreo cookie "I have chocolate milk too if you would like some".
This felt incredibly heart-warming to Steve because for the first time since coming out of the ice, it felt like he was in the right place and time "That would be nice, thank you Gabby".
They were sitting down together one the edge of the boxing ring sharing the delicious snacks. The chocolate milk was made from real milk and chocolate syrup because it tasted delicious, nothing like the mass-produced stuff "Did you make this chocolate milk yourself? Because it is absolutely delicious".
Gabby smiled, looking at the time on her smart watch, it was getting late, but she didn't mind "Yes, non-homogenised milk but not as quite as good as the milk from home on the farm but it is the closest I can get to it. I love making people happy with food and drink. You will love my cooking".
This was what making Steve feel like it wasn't going to be so bad being alive and all his friends since passed gone "I can't wait. Back in the 1940s we boiled everything".
The milk and cookies were soon gone. It was well past mid night and Gabby really needed to get back home to sleep "I am really enjoying this, but I should head home soon. I have work early".
"Would you like a ride home? Even though you could pop over there in a second" he chuckled. Wanting to prolong their time together.
Gabby laughs with him, accepting his offer. It was the first time he heard her laugh. And it was a sound he would never want to forget. Steve stood up from their seat, offering his hand to help her up. He walked over to his bag, reaching in to get her book.
Turning around, he held out the precious book to her "I thought you would want this back".
A look of relief came across her face, and Gabby sighed. Briefly touching Steve's hands "This book saved my life when I was in HYDRA. Thank you for keeping it safe".
He picked up his back pack from the corner of the ring. Then, ss a gentleman, Steve held out his arm for Gabby to take "My pleasure, now I should get you home to where it is nice and warm. I don't want you catching a cold in this weather".
This was strange for her. Meeting a person and not wanting to run away for the hills. Steve did not judge her nor blink an eye when she appeared before him. Looking at Steve's kind eyes, she took the Captain's arm. Taking on the advice her father gave her and becoming friends with Steve Rogers "Thank you".