Disclaimer: I do not own any of this. I only take credit for Lucy. Some of the dialogue you recognize comes from the writers; I do not take credit for it.
Steve's shoulders relaxed immediately at the sight of his old friend and the corner of his mouth quirked at her entrance. Her shoulder length chocolate curls were pulled away from her heart shaped face in the their signature rolled style. Her crisp lab coat was draped elegantly over her petite frame allowing for her deep blue dress to peak through, accentuating her bright eyes. Lucy was apparently as startled to see him, as he was to see her. Her full red lips were open in a surprised "O" and Steve blinked quickly trying to withhold a blush and looking anywhere but her mouth. "Lucy? Wha-what are y…" he stuttered anxiously before he was interrupted by the entrance of another person
"Thank you." Doctor Erskine spoke to the military guard as he walked through the door a moment later. "So…" he remarked taking notice of the tension and confusion that enveloped the room, "you want to go over seas. Kill some Nazis." He asked meaningfully at Steve.
"Excuse me?" Steve inquired, perplexed turning his attention to the stranger.
'Close your mouth! It's just Steve for Pete's sake' reprimanded Lucy to herself. She observed his apprehensive posture and serious expression. 'I should be listening to their conversation,' she thought half-heartedly. 'He's unchanged since the last time I saw him' she noticed quickly running her gaze critically over his form. His hair was still the beautiful golden blonde honey color she remembered and his eyes were shinning, even in the horrible lighting of the examination room.
"Five exams in five different…" started Erskine.
'Five! Oh Steve, what have you been up to since I've left?' her brow furrowed as she pondered this new development and scrutinized her friend's shifting expression.
"But you didn't answer my question: Do you want to kill Nazis?" asked the scientist seriously and back on topic. The room was suddenly was still everybody waiting on the answer.
"Is this a test?" Steve questioned, his eyes flickering toward Lucy looking for an answer. She smiled sheepishly and shrugged her shoulders in reply.
"Yes," answered Erskine bluntly analyzing the young man in front of him.
Steve paused, "I don't want to kill anyone." he replied honestly and with conviction. "I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from."
Lucy grinned proudly at his honorable response. Steve caught her eye and quickly looked away before his face could become flushed and tried to calm his quickening heart.
"I can offer you a chance." Dr. Erskine continued satisfied with the answer.
"I'll take it." Responded Steve immediately.
"Good." Erskine smiled at Steve and Lucy from under his glasses. "So where is the little guy from? Actually?" he probed looking for an honest answer.
Steve opened his mouth when Lucy jumped in, "Brooklyn" she supplied winking at Steve. Then turning to face the doctor, "We grew up together."
Doctor Erskine surveyed curiously back and forth between the young adults then shook his head with a smile and stamped the paper with a flourish. "Congratulations soldier" he stated handing Steve back his folder and turning to Lucy. "Miss Barnes I believe that will be all for tonight. Go and enjoy the festivities" he nodded toward Steve and looked pointedly at her with a twinkle in his eye.
Lucy felt her cheeks flush a brilliant crimson color and thanked her mentor before turning back to Steve who was still engrossed with his folder.
"Hey soldier," she purred jokingly, "what do you say we get out of here?"
Steve's head snapped up and his face flushed under her attention. He rolled his eyes and embraced her elfin frame.
"Did you get taller?" he greeted her jokingly holding her at arms length and looking her up and down.
Even with her in heels they were still relatively the same height. With the shoes she was just an inch or so taller than he was. "Hey just because I'm the only person in New York that's shorter than you normally doesn't give you license to poke fun of me mister." She rebutted scrunching her nose while poking him and causing him to laugh at her actions.
"What are you doing here Lu? I haven't seen you in months!" he admonished while they looped arms and wandered out of the exam room, "I thought you were still working with Stark in his lab?"
She laughed elated at their reunion, "Come on. I got let off early, lets go get a milkshake and I'll explain everything. My treat." She insisted whilst ushering him out of the door.
Later that evening they sat in a booth enjoying a chocolate milkshakes and catching up on each other's lives. Even though their ages only differed by a few years, Steve always felt protective of his best friend's younger sister. As they sat in the diner Steve started to rediscover little quirks he had not seen before in Lucy. The way she threw her head back and laughed, enjoying herself without holding back, her passion for the top-secret research project with Doctor Erskine, and technology work with Howard Stark. More than once he caught himself staring at her lips, and her hair, and especially her eyes. They were like ever-changing windows reflecting her mood back toward the viewer. But the quality that Steve most enjoyed about his friend was that she had finally found her calling in life. She was living the way that people in stories wanted to live, successful and happy. Then the moment became bittersweet as he reflected back on his accomplishments.
At closing they were kicked out of the diner and when the night had started to become morning, Steve walked Lucy to her door.
"I'll see you later soldier," she whispered pecking his cheek, "after all I am partly in charge of the top secret reason you were chosen."
He blushed and stepped back taking in the dazzling image of her bathed in moonlight smiling at him. He stood upright and saluted her, "Until next time ma'am" he joked before giving her a short bow and walking away into the night.
"Hey Steve?"
"Yes Lucy?" He replied pausing and turning around to face her, his face partly shaded in the dappled moonlight.
"I just want you to know I'm proud of you," she stated smiling gently at her friend.
She then turned away from the night and mumbled lightheartedly to herself while shutting her door to the evening chill, "James is going to kill me" then shaking her head and retiring for the night.
Steve looked back to see her closing the door and muttered to himself as he turned away to go home, "Bucky is going to kill me."