A/N I like Pre-serum Steve so I wrote an OC fanfiction that gives Pre-Serum Steve some much needed love! My OC looks like Zoey Deutch in my head so there you go. Not much Steve and Oliva on this Chapter but more moments will come!
I don't own any of the characters! I only own my OCs.
CHAPTER 7
Steve came back soaking wet and feeling like a failure. He hadn't managed to save the serum and the Hydra agent responsible for Dr. Erskine's death had opted out. Now Steve sat on a stretcher while a nurse was busy taking too many blood samples. That's when Olivia Stark came barging into the room.
"Oh! Thank heavens you're alright!" she exclaimed as she went to stand in front of him. He looked at her tear-stained face and felt even worse.
"I couldn't get the guy." Steve muttered feeling the weight of his failure.
"It's not your fault. It was your first time seeing action in this super soldier body." Olivia tried to make him feel better she was just glad no one else had gotten hurt. If she had lost Steve or Howard along with Dr. Erskine she wouldn't be able to function.
"I failed." He answered flatly.
"You'll get more chances to prove your worth. I promise." Olivia had determination shining in her eyes. She believed in him.
"Do we really need this much blood?" Steve asked annoyed by the nurse´s constant pricking of his arm.
"The key to reproducing the serum is in your blood." Olivia explained. Then she turned to the nurse and signaled for her to stop and leave.
"Mr. Stark said we needed- "
Olivia interrupted the nurse with an exasperated expression. She hated not being taken as seriously as her brother. "Yeah well I don't care what Mr. Stark said. I'm the one who is going to be working on the serum and I say that it´s enough blood."
The nurse left the small makeshift infirmary quickly intimidated by Oliva's tone of voice. Right after the door closed behind her Olivia sighed. "Even if it'll probably take years without Dr. Erskine."
Steve bowed his head "He deserved better than this."
"If he only had to have one super soldier I'm positive he would've been glad it's you." Oliva took hold of his hand in a comforting way.
"How can you be so sure?" Steve asked trying not to blush from the contact and trying to comprehend how she could always see him as great when he didn't feel like it.
"Because he spoke about you. I had no idea you were the candidate but every time we spoke he only had high praises to sing about his pick." Olivia smiled softly. "Now come on! I have to help Howard."
They both descended the stairs to find some army officers and Howard Stark surrounding a giant submarine.
"I am one of the two greatest minds in America and I have no idea what this technology is. It´s years ahead of our stuff." Howard commented while wiping grease off of his hands. He extended his clean hand towards his sister. Olivia left Steve's side and joined her brother. Howard helped her lay down on the cart and pushed her underneath the submarine for her to inspect it.
Howard was right the technology used on the submarine was advanced and complex. She got out from underneath the machine and wiped her hands with a rag Howard passed her. She noticed Steve shaking hands with Senator Brandt.
"What's going on over there?" She asked her brother.
"Wonderboy got a promotion but Coronel Phillips said you, me and Agent Carter are leaving for London. You'll work on the serum there while I develop weapons for our soldiers." Her brother squeezed her shoulder. She hadn't spoken to him about Steve but he knew his twin. The smile she wore when she first saw him and the tears she shed during his transformation were real. He didn't need her to tell him to know she was falling for Wonderboy.
Olivia walked towards Steve hesitantly. "Senator Brandt said I'm going to be helping the war effort." Steve smiled
"Well let's hope that's true." Olivia muttered.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Steve's brows furrowed
"I just don't trust that guy." She whispered not wanting to be overheard.
"Yeah? Well Phillips wanted me locked up in a lab like a rat." Steve hissed.
"Don't get upset I'm just telling you what I think." Olivia's voice began to rise. She didn't appreciate his tone.
"I didn't ask for your opinion." Steve crossed his arms across his chest. He wasn't angry or annoyed he was frustrated. He wanted to help and he was put against a rock and a hard place so he chose the option that didn't keep him locked underground. He needed her support. He needed her to believe in him like he´d grown used to.
They glared at each other for what felt like hours but were actually a few seconds. "Livy, we have to go. I'm going to prep the plane." Howard said sensing the tension and walked away.
"Goodbye, Steve." Olivia said dryly following after her brother. Steve's heart squeezed watching her walk away angry. Who knew when they would see each other again? He couldn't leave this like this. It wasn't even her fault.
"Olivia!" he shouted stopping her in her tracks
She turned a scowl still in place. "I'm sorry I reacted that way. I'm doing the best I can." Steve apologized
Olivia wanted to hold on to her anger. She didn't want to be one of those women who melted when a blue eyed guy apologized. She sighed defeated. She couldn't help it with him.
"I'm sorry too." She whispered and stepped closer to him. Steve gulped at their proximity and tried to remain still. Olivia loved that he was still the same Steve underneath all the super soldier enhancements. He was still the same sweet, shy guy she spent a whole night at the fair with.
"I hope I see you again someday." He whispered.
"I'm counting on it." She whispered back.
Olivia hesitated a second before kissing his cheek and walking away.
'Who's strong and brave here to save the American way? Who loves to fight…' the Captain America song was heard coming from the radio at the SSR lab in the London base. Olivia sat at her work desk surrounded by papers, blood samples, test tubes, tools and other useless trinkets she kept around. On the table next to her was Howard working on a long range pistol for the soldiers.
"Can we change the station?" Howard asked already tired of Captain America's jingle. He´d heard it every day since they arrived.
"No! It helps me concentrate." Olivia said while her cheeks heated up with a blush.
"The giant poster in front of you isn't enough?" Howard asked with a teasing grin.
He remembered the morning he came into the lab to see the Captain America poster hung in front of his sister's workbench. He teased her so much that day that she took it down. The guilt made Howard feel terrible all through the night. She missed Steve and if the poster helped her cope who was he to be a jerk about it? Howard snuck into the lab that same night and hung the poster back up. They didn't speak about it again.
"I like the song." She insisted.
"You're worse than the soldiers with their pinup girl posters." Howard chuckled.
"Shut up!" Olivia giggled throwing a crumbled paper his way. Howard retaliated by throwing paper clips towards her.
They were laughing and fighting like children till Steve's voice came on through the radio talking about bonds.
Olivia sighed and went to turn off the radio. "He must be miserable."
"Maybe he enjoys being a show man" Howard offered trying to ease his twin.
"He wanted to do his part and fight for his country not dance around. He can't be happy."
Howard walked over and hugged her. "He's away from you so I'm positive he's miserable." Howard smiled cheekily
Olivia blushed and shoved Howard. "Shut up you're distracting me." She said and went back to her work station
Howard laughed and went back to work on the weapons.
"Are the weapons ready for testing, Mr. Stark?" Coronel Phillips hollered as he walked into the lab.
Howard winced at the sound of the Coronel´s voice. He´d gone out to a bar last night with a few ladies and had drank too much. He tried to smiled smugly but it just looked painful. "They are more than ready to be tested Phillips. And might I say the tests will be successful." Not even in pain could Howard Stark lose his ego and self-confidence.
Coronel Phillips didn't smile at Howard's antics and studied the young inventor.
"When do we leave?" Howard asked.
"Actually." Olivia interrupted. "I was wondering if I could be the one to go." She asked
"No!" Howard exclaimed and winced again this time at the sound of his own voice.
"Why do you want to go Miss Stark?" Coronel Phillips wondered suspiciously
"I just want to get out of this base for a bit. I know the designs just as much as Howard and I'm less annoying. I want to go, sir." She said respectfully knowing that was the best way to win over the Coronel.
"I'm not sending my baby sister to an active war zone!" Howard hissed
"First of all we're twins! Secondly I'm not a baby and you know I've trained. I can handle myself just as well as you can. Plus, you´re hungover." The last part she whispered just so her brother could hear. Olivia was determined to do her part. She was stuck on her investigation of the serum and she needed to get out of the lab or her head would explode. She hadn't been able to crack Erskine's formula and his notes were encrypted so it was safe to say she was getting frustrated. She also didn´t want her brother endangering himself in his state.
"It's dangerous, Livy." Howard whispered looking deeply into her eyes.
"I'll be fine, Howie." She promised.
Howard sighed and paced a bit. He rubbed his forehead to ease the tension from his hangover. Finally, he nodded. "Alright."
"Great. The convoy leaves at 0800 hours. Be there." Coronel Phillips announced and left.
"You better be careful!" Howard demanded pointing at her.
Olivia smiled sweetly, walked towards him and hugged him. Howard sighed and hugged her back.
"There is a big glass of water, 2 pills and a cold pillow waiting for you in your barrack. Go sleep for a while." Olivia whispered to not upset his headache.
"I will but I'm going to be there to see you off." Howard promised and left the lab.
Olivia was ready and set. She was waiting by the entrance of the compound for the rest of the team.
"Olivia?!" A familiar voice asked surprised.
"Bucky!" Olivia exclaimed
"What are you doing here?" He asked with his heart-melting smile.
"I'm supervising the weapons test." Olivia said while placing her hand on her hips and standing tall. She was wearing the common soldiers' uniform looking prepared.
Bucky's eyes widened impressed. After a few seconds a light bulb lit up in his brain. "You're one of the Starks? You're the O. Stark!?"
"The one and only." Olivia laughed.
Bucky put an arm around her and laughed out loud. "Well I'll be! Stevie is one lucky punk."
Olivia blushed at Bucky's comment.
"Hands off, soldier." They heard Howard say from behind them. Howard stepped between them separating them.
"Bucky this is my brother Howard Stark. Howie this is Bucky, he's Steve's best friend." Olivia introduced the two men.
Howard shook Bucky's hand and then looked him in the eye. Both men seemed to be sizing each other up. "Keep her safe." Howard ordered.
Bucky nodded as confirmation. Howard then walked over to his sister and kissed her on the forehead. "I feel better. You don't have to go in my place." Howard offered.
"You're wearing sunglasses to shield your eyes from light how is your head going to feel surrounded by loud explosions?" Olivia challenged knowing full well that her brother was still hungover but worried about her safety.
"Alright but come back quick."
"Nah! Bucky and I might stop at Lucerne for some fondue on our way back." Olivia teased
"I like that idea!" Bucky joined in.
"Bring me back some!" Howard said and pushed her towards the convoy.
The men helped her up and she waved goodbye to her brother while sitting next to Bucky.
Hanging out in the convoy with Bucky and the Howling Commandos was more fun than she thought. She hadn't had the time to really get to know Bucky but she was enjoying her time with him. He was really funny and way too charming. 'No wonder Lizzie liked him.' She thought. The best part was most of their conversations ended up including Steve and learning about him through Bucky's point of view was amazing.
The ride was fun but the active war zone was terrifying. They gave her a helmet, a gun and she was being protected by Bucky and 3 other soldiers as they tested the weapons. Even with all that and the adrenaline coursing through her body she was still scared. Suddenly blue flashes of light began killing members of their army. The men looked like they disintegrated when the beam hit them.
"What the hell?" Bucky yelled looking shocked
"It's Hydra's weapons!" Olivia clarified. It looked very advanced like the submarine.
A tank appeared and pointed towards them. "Get down!" Bucky yelled and covered Olivia with his body.
The mount that covered them exploded and sent them flying. Olivia's ears were ringing and her body was exploding in pain. She looked beside her and saw Bucky sprawled on the ground unconscious. "Bucky." She tried to yell but he barely moved.
Olivia saw Hydra soldiers approach and begin gathering the bodies. One of them kicked Bucky in the ribs making him cry out. "Don't touch him!" Olivia hissed.
The soldier turned to her when he heard her shout and smiled cruelly. He kicked Bucky a couple more times making him groan and cry out. After he thought Bucky had enough he began walking towards her. She tried to crawl away but her body protested in pain.
The last thing she heard before the butt of the soldier's gun knocked her out was Bucky threatening to kill the Hydra soldier if he touched her.