Adeline took it upon herself to push the candidates.

If one of them was to be the next super soldier, then regular training wouldn't be enough. They ran further and harder than the others, they would spend hours on combat skills. She wanted them all to be ready, so that whoever was chosen, would be able to not just keep up with her, but be able to help her take Schmitt down.

She would be lying if she didn't say most of the effort she put into the Super Solider Program was fuelled by a never ending pit of rage and desire for revenge.

She would also be lying if she didn't take note that the effort she put into her one-on-one sessions with Just-Steve were of a completely selfish desire to spend time with one person who wasn't openly hateful towards her.

That was not counting Peggy; who was like a business partner, and someone she felt trusting of, and yet somehow wary of at the same time. She supposed it was the shock of finally having another female around her. Also not counting Howard; who managed to make her both irritated and amused at the same time. She often only saw him every other Tuesday, which he had apparently decided was their Friendship Day, and he would provide her with food whilst she sat in his lab. The odd sort of exasperated affection she had for the man surprised her. She didn't know she was capable of such sentiment.

She was still not sure about her feelings towards Abraham at the moment.

He had betrayed her, he knew that.

But they had a history, and sometimes, when she woke in a sweat, unable to sleep a second more – phantom pains shooting across her body, corpses dancing behind her eyes – she would think to him. And miss him. He was a father to her, and yet…

He had done something unforgivable.

Adeline fought the urge to yawn as she waited around for Steve. He would be coming back from a long run with the rest of the candidates. She wondered idly if he would have managed to retrieve the flag. He was certainly smart enough. Peggy had told her that she thought she herself would be the only person to ever retrieve the flag, and that if anyone else managed to, she'd eat her hat.

The sound of feet, and faintly wheezing lungs alerted her to Steve's approach. She could always hear him coming. He had clumsy feet and his asthma was always present. In truth, her main alert to when she had pushed the man too far was the loud beat of his heart and the sound of too much strain on his lungs. Luckily, her advanced hearing helped her with that.

He had gotten stronger though, and had started using his head a little more. He was all big heart in a little body, and it meant he sometimes tended to make bad decisions in a fight. She smiled fondly.

Fondly?

As if she had been struck, the smile dropped off her face, instantly replaced with her carefully constructed neutral face.

Those were not thoughts she should be having.

"Commander Wolfe?"

And that was another thing she had to get used to. An honorary title, but a title nonetheless.

Steve was looking at her warily. She almost smiled at him, and gestured to the little pile of things in front of her.

"I've got some things to try today." Then she realized something, "You are back early."

He nodded, a proud look taking over the worried frown. "I got the flag." He said shortly, but it was obvious how pleased he was.

"You see? Your brains make you a dangerous opponent. I would be nervous to face you when you are fighting ready."

Steve flushed delightedly. "Stop teasing."

She couldn't help the half-smile that pulled at her cheek muscles. "I don't tease."

"No… you don't." Steve admitted, and bent to pick up the objects. He eyed the tiny ankle weights with disgust. "Am I gonna be runnin'?" he asked, distaste all over his expressive face.

She shook her head, "Put them around your wrists and ankles. We are to be training weighted today." Steve groaned but did them up.

She could see from his stance that they weren't too heavy. Yet.

"Okay. Swing." She said mildly, waiting for his attack.

Instead of swinging with his fist as he always used to when she said that, he lashed out with his leg. She was only slightly surprised, and took the blow easily. It was lighter than usual, due to the weight on his ankle, meaning he had to work harder to lift it.

As she bounced back on the balls of her feet, he punched out. Deliberately moving at the pace of an average human, she blocked the punch, and threw one to his stomach in return.

He let out a huff of air, and groaned as he recoiled back, but as he had been taught, he raised his guard, blocking her throw at his face.

They traded blows for another ten minutes, before Adeline took note of the change in his breathing, despite his best efforts to keep it steady. She could hear the strain on his lungs, and his heart beating overtime.

"Perhaps we should break?" she suggested.

He shook his head, face hard. "No. I need to be good by next week. That's when they choose." He said shortly, voice wheezy. He raised his fists. "I'm fine."

She pursed her lips but said nothing. He was stubborn, and would push himself even harder if she said anything. She wordlessly corrected his drooping stance, and went back to hand-to-hand with him.

Then his breathing morphed into something she hadn't heard before. His face contorted as sudden violent coughs wracked his frame, and he struggled for air. She started towards him, but he held up a hand, trying to speak between whistling breaths and heavy coughs. His face started to go pale, and then he had fallen to his knees.

Adeline felt panic bloom in her chest, making it tight – but not as tight as she imagined Steve's to be.

Steve's vision was starting to go blurry at the edges as he tried to take in air rapidly – but his chest was painfully tight, and he couldn't stop the bone-aching coughs.

He clawed at his throat, one hand trying to keep himself upright, but then his tired arm gave out and he slid onto his back, gazing glassy eyed at the ceiling.

Then hot hands were moving over him, sitting him up, and then two small, heavy, hot points of pressure started slow circles under his collar bone and next to his breast bone.

Then another two pressures pushed beneath his shoulder blades, between his scapula and spine, rotating, the pressure almost painful.

Deliberate slow breathing started up near his left ear – in through the nose, out through the mouth.

The tightness of his chest was easing some from the external pressure, and he tried to follow the breath beside him, closing his eyes.

After what felt like ages, he became aware that instead of the hard pressure, two hands were slowly rubbing across his back and chest, soothing him. The tightness of his chest was still vaguely present, but it was nowhere near danger level. The deliberate breathing had stopped, and he opened his eyes.

He looked to his left, and the hands stilled.

Adeline was watching him carefully, face blank in that familiar mask, but her eyes were the softest he'd ever seen them. The grey didn't seem so harsh, instead, they looked alive, turbulent like a sky about to storm.

Her full lips were parted and he could feel her silent breath against his neck they were so close.

From the light streaming into the gym, he knew the sun was going down. The gold light deepened the hollows of her cheeks, sharpened her jaw, carved out every little feature – and yet somehow softened her.

Steve realised with a sudden jolt – like falling into cold water – that she was attractive. Beautiful even.

Her eyes darted to his lips, and he swallowed, feeling a different kind of tightness in his chest. Hardly daring to breath – though he had to keep the rhythm she had set – he reached up, and placed his hand over hers. She was hot to the touch. Like someone had slapped her, she flinched, almost pulling away, but he tightened his grip.

She froze again.

"HEY! ADS! YOU IN HERE?"

The yell from outside the gym made them jump apart, Adeline literally vaulting herself away in an abrupt panic. Steve stood unsteadily as Adeline crossed to the locked door, opening it and revealing Stark.

Steve scowled as the brazen man took Adeline in his arms, hugging her tightly, and pecking her on both cheeks.

"Oh! Rogers! You're here too!" Stark waved merrily, before turning back to Adeline, who had backed up a bit. "I'm here to ask you to dinner. Would you come?"

Adeline nodded, though Steve couldn't see her expression. "Of course. I'll meet you at your car. Just let me freshen up first." She said carefully.

Steve scowled deeper. An unfamiliar feeling bubbled up inside him, as Adeline bid him goodnight.