"How long did you have to sell war bonds before you actually started fighting bad guys?" Elda slurped her milkshake. The captain has chosen a small burger place in the older part of New York. It was a cute little hole in the wall off the beaten path and as is common in mom and pop shops the service was warm and friendly.
The Captain shrugged, "About six or seven months. I was good at it but I really hated it. I felt like a dancing monkey and I looked ridiculous in those tight pants and mask."
"I'm sure you back up dancers didn't mind." She grinned across the table at him, "How often did you get hit on? Were women that forward back then?"
"Yes ma'am." His ears turned red and he ducked his head, "I actually got caught kissing a secretary in one of the war rooms."
"Really?" Elda's interest was peaked, "That wasn't in your file."
"Neither was one of the corporals showing me his back side." His face glowed red.
She definitely wasn't expecting that. "What?" She choked around her fries, "Was he being cute or did you ask him to turn his head and cough?"
His blush seemed to spread up to his hairline, "No. Nothing like that. He was stationed at one of the camps near the front lines and he asked me to autograph... it."
Elda burst into laughter, drawing the attention of the waitresses and several patrons, "You're joking!" When she had finally regained her breathe she leaned in "Did you sign it?" She inquired conspiritoraly.
"No!" He half shouted, obviously scandalized.
Elda laughed again. "I would have tattooed it on his right cheek." Making the sweet Captain blush was so fun and too easy to resist. "Is that when you decided to go all superhero?"
He nodded, "A good friend told me that I was meant for more than being a lab rat or dancing monkey." His eyes seemed to sadden and he almost seemed forced to smile, "I knew then that I had been selected because I had the heart and mindset to help those who couldn't help them selves."
Elda's heart felt like it was too small for its cage. "Was that friend Agent Carter?" He opened his mouth, "She is mentioned quite often in your file and I can read between the lines." A tear threatened to escape her lashes, "I know what it's like to lose someone special." She cleared her throat and shrugged off the sadness. "What was the best part of being the human version of superman?"
His eyes crinkled at the corners, "The food." She tilted her head in questioning surprise. "I was served steak and pie about twice a week. That was huge because of the rationing."
"Steak and pie are still luxuries for most people." Elda waved for the bill. "At least
half the planet survives on rice or beans. They couldn't afford a steak dinner if they saved every penny for a year" she laughed without mirth, "And we complain about burgers getting smaller at McDonald's."
"Is that what you do?" The Captain took the bill from the waitress and dug in his wallet for a couple of twenties. "You feed starving people?"
"Why would you say that?"
"Your file didn't disclose a lot about what kind of missions except you deal with a lot of children and you've set up several orphanages around the world." He stared earnestly into her eyes, "In all honesty, that doesn't seem like a S.H.I.E.L.D. priority, why do you get to do that instead of fighting spies and building weapons?"
Elda pressed her lips together, she didn't like talking about her work, she knew that she got too passionate about it. "I would like to go back, I'm tired. It's been a long couple of days and hospital beds aren't very comfortable." She stood up and pulled on her jacket that she had had in her car. "I'll bring the car around."
"Ma'am I didn't mean to..."
"Listen Captain Rogers," she half shouted, ignoring the stares, "We aren't buddies, we aren't lovers, and we aren't confidants. I am only here because I got injured and Fury wants to keep an eye on me. If I had my way you would have to figure out how to operate your tv on your own." Her eyes flashed, "Do not try to chum up to me."
The drive back to The Captain's apartment (she would probably not live there long enough to ever call it hers) was quiet. Captain Rogers stared out the side window, and Elda was lost in thoughts about how surprising alike his and her beliefs and thoughts were. He was a good man; polite, sincere, tactful, and big-hearted. Nothing like the vain, pumped up, show off she was expecting. She shouldn't have yelled at him, but if something says confidential he shouldn't be asking questions.
The living room light was on, Elda could see it from the street, she knew she had turned it off before they left. She flew into her parking spot and ran up the stairs, grateful that the local anesthesia was still potent in her leg, the Captain following close behind her. Just outside the door to his apartment she stopped and pulled a gun out from under her armpit and pointed it at the door. She lifted a finger to her lip to keep the Captain quiet.
Turning the knob and ramming against the door at the same time, Elda entered the room. The gun was aimed with perfect accuracy at Nic Fury.
"Director!" She stepped back almost running into Captain Rogers. "What are you doing here sir?"
His face was solemn, "Elda, perhaps you should sit down."
The world seemed to pause mid turn, he never called her by her given name, especially the shortened version. "If it's all the same to you sir I'd rather stand." Realizing that she still had him at gunpoint, she holstered her weapon and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Agent Wentworth, two days ago Tony Stark demonstrated his Jericho weapon in a confidential location." The room started to tilt and Elda grabbed Captain Rogers' elbow, "His convoy was attacked" Her knees began to shake and her vision tunneled. Fury was saying something but she couldn't focus on his words.
"Agent Wentworth!" Fury grabbed her shoulders and shook her, " Look at me!" She tried to bring him into focus, "We didn't find Mr. Stark's body." Her mouth opened and closed several times but she couldn't find the words to ask her questions. "Griselda, we need you to come to base one as an analyst. Your the only person who knows how to find your father."