First off, let me be honest…. This chapter is definitely not my favorite. I had such a difficult time trying to come up with something for this scene. And to top it off, I've been away for too long! My life has finally quieted down and I'm hopefully getting back into writing. I felt so bad that I felt I needed to give you guys something so you know I haven't just given up on this. As always, I welcome all your thoughts and comments.
ALSO, I want all of your lovely opinions, but I was thinking of getting Emma into some other stories? I do love her and I do love superheroes! So I thought it would be fun to start some other adventures with her. What do you think?
Despite my best efforts to sleep, I was able to dose off for only 2 hours after my workout with Steve. It was fine though, I felt pretty awake. It could have just been the vibe from the music that was coming out of the iPod. I went through my daily routine as per usual; shower, makeup, and eventually opted for a black, comfy long-sleeved shirt that hung off one shoulder. I ran my hand through the dark mahogany curls and smiled at the girl in the mirror; today felt like a good day.
I slipped on my heels and nearly tripped as I bounced towards the door with a song in my head. I closed my eyes as I danced a little, opening the door and spinning out of the room, only to hit something solid. I gasped, and started laughing as I looked at Steve's surprised face. "I am so sorry!" I giggled.
"Good morning," he replied, smiling down at me. "I, uh, was going to see if you were up. And maybe get breakfast?"
"Of course!" I exclaimed, "I would absolutely love to!" Steve's blue orbs were shining. It was the most wonderful thing and it made my heart flutter. It was refreshing. I smiled, he smiled. Amazing. "Well, that food isn't going to eat itself," I nodded my head and we went off.
I couldn't stop grinning as I supported my head with one hand while the other held the handle of a coffee mug. Steve and I had been at this table for about an hour, talking, laughing, absorbing each other's energies. It was as if something had fallen into place, like the missing chapter in a book had magically reattached itself and explained how everything worked. After what had happened last night, we flowed. It seemed impossible. Nothing that had to deal with people ever came this easy to me, I always had to try hard to make a friend but with this man, it…it was just so… natural. Well, at least after throwing a few punches at him.
Steve's gaze was slyly intriguing as I met his blue orbs. I felt like I was wrapped in a warm blanket. "I was thinking of checking up on the lab. Would you like to join me?" he asked.
I smiled and nodded, "Absolutely." He grinned back at me. I watched him stand up and stretch his arms into the air. As he did, I couldn't help it as my eyes wandered down his figure. Wonder boy was in his red, white and blue uniform, and let me tell you, that was something to behold; it hugged him in all the right ways. His head began to turn back to me and I immediately looked down at the coffee cup in front of me, picking it up. I got up out of my chair and turned to smile at him. "Shall we?" I hoped my face wasn't as red as it felt hot.
Our pace was slower than normal as we trailed off to see the evil scientists. A little quiet too. Over breakfast Steven had told me about his life. It made me sad but I didn't say anything. I felt so bad for him for losing his parents at a young age, losing his best friend on a crazy Nazi mission, and for never getting the chance to make it back home. He told me about Peggy and to be honest, I didn't exactly like hearing about his 'ex' but I get it. She did sound like an amazing person. He would have been happy with her. I started thinking about how much I wished he would find that again, especially with me. No, Emma, don't do that to yourself. "Emma?" I shook my head as his sweet voice spoke.
"I'm fine, really. I'm just thinking," I replied.
"Okay. What were you thinking about?" he cooed.
"Nothing! Really! It's really nothing," I exclaimed. I sighed, relieved to see the lab several feet in front of us, "Besides, we should be paying attention to those two." Steve chuckled as I pushed forward. If anything would take my mind off of Steve, it would be Thing 1 and Thing 2.
Tony's voice was the first thing I heard as the metallic doors whooshed open, "Well, I promise a stress free environment. No tension. No surprises."
"OW!" shrieked Banner. His bewildered look probably matched my own. Tony had just jabbed Bruce. What the hell was he thinking?
Before I could get words out of my mouth Steve's voice boomed "HEY!"
"Nothing?" Tony seemed to completely ignore the new presence in the room.
"Are you nuts?!" I scolded.
"Jury's out," Stark shot back like it was no big deal. Spinning back to an annoyed Bruce, "You really have got a lid on it, haven't you? What's your secret? Mellow jazz? Bongo drums? Huge bag of weed?" I snorted at his last words, momentarily forgiving him. Steve definitely did not.
"Is everything a joke to you?"
"Funny things are."
"Threatening the safety of everyone on this ship isn't funny. No offense, Doc."
Banner chimed in, "No, it's, it's alright… I wouldn't have come aboard if I couldn't handle pointy things."
Tony bounced back to the timid man, continuing his all ever so nonchalant argument, "You're tiptoeing, big man. You need to strut."
Steve was having none of Tony's childlike lessons. "And you need to focus on the problems, Stark." I didn't know what to do. I placed my hands on my hips and glimpsed at Bruce, a little worried this fight might actually escalade into something I didn't want to deal with. But Bruce simply gave me droll eyes.
The scientist continued to Steve as he wandered towards a computer, "You think I'm not? Why do you think Fury called us in?" oh boy, Tony… "Why now? Why not before? What isn't he telling us? I can't do the equation unless I have all the variables."
"You think Fury is hiding something?" Steve questioned.
"He's a spy, Captain. He's THE spy. His secrets have secrets." He suddenly plopped a handful of, what is that? Blueberries? Into his mouth. He aimed a finger at Bruce suddenly, "It's bugging him too, isn't it?"
Bruce looked like a deer caught in the headlights at the quick confrontation. "Uhhhhhhmmmmm… I just want to finish my work here and –"
"Doctor?" Steve curiously questioned. I glanced up at him seeing a light of uneasiness in his usually warm eyes. I looked back to the scientist who was playing with a pen in his hands. I knew Tony didn't trust anything that was happening since he got on this ship. He shared that file on me and bluntly told me that he was breaking into the system. However, Bruce never said peep on the subject.
The dark haired man sighed with noticeable frustration. "A warm light for all mankind. Loki's jab at Fury about the cube…" I crossed my arms and shifted my weight uncomfortably at the memory of Loki's figure.
Steve answered, "I heard it."
"Well, I think that was meant for you," as he gestured towards Tony. Tony had a smug look plastered on his face. He outstretched his arm to offer some blueberries to his fellow who gladly took a couple. "Even if Barton didn't tell Loki about the tower, it was all over the news."
"The Stark Tower? That big ugly building in New York?"
"It's powered by an Arc reactor, a self-sustaining energy source. That building will run itself for, what? A year?" he turned to Tony.
Rather proudly, Tony replied, "It's just a prototype." He swerved his head towards us and bragged, "I'm kind of the only name in clean energy right now is what he's getting at." I rolled my eyes.
"So…why didn't SHIELD bring him in on the Tesseract project? What are they doing in the energy business in the first place?"
"I should probably look into that. Once my decryption program finishes breaking into all of SHIELD's files."
I simply nodded but unfortunately the man next to me seemed taken a back. "I'm sorry, did you say-"
"Jarvis has been running ever since I hit the bridge. In a few hours, I'll know every dirty secret SHIELD has ever tried to hide. Blueberry?" he offered to us.
"Really? It's taken you this long and you still haven't hacked the system?" I coaxed as I grabbed a piece of fruit.
"Oh come on! These things take time."
Steve peered down at me disapprovingly, but directed it back at Tony, "Yet, you're confused about why they didn't want you around."
"An intelligence organization that fears intelligence? Historically, not awesome." I had to agree with the scientist, but the Captain continued this quarrel.
"I think Loki is trying to wind us up. This is a man who means to start a war and if we don't stay focus, he'll succeed. We have orders. We should follow them."
"Following really isn't about my style," Tony's words were muffled as he stuffed his mouth with fruit.
"And you're all about style, aren't you?"
"Of the people in this room which one is; A) wearing a spangling outfit, and B) not of use?"
Steve looked ready to toss Tony through the window and down into the hangar. "Guys…" I warned.
This time Bruce spoke up, "Steve, tell me none of this smells a little funky to you?"
"Just find the cube," Steve growled and swiftly turned and walked out.
"Steve!" I called after him. I didn't immediately bolt after him like I had the other day. My nervousness left me wondering what we really were doing here. I peered back to the two men in the room hoping one of them would give me an answer.
Tony merely shrugged. "Hey, just because he doesn't want to play with the big kids doesn't mean you can't." He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
I clicked my tongue and shot him a smile. "I'm sure I'll be back. And hey, this time I expect you to have actually hacked this place instead of just saying you will." My heels pivoted and I passed through the door in hopes I could figure out which way the man in blue went. Clearly, my mind had remained on Steve, despite my hopes to forget him. Maybe I should start thinking about getting some more blueberries...