Chapter 6
"What is it about us humans that makes us so self-destructive? Why do we feel the need to ruin the happiness of someone else, the beauty of the world? What is it?"
Steve tilted his head slightly, looking at the young woman next to him. She stared out at the rain pounding on the window, watching it trail down the glass. Her teal eyes contained measures of sadness and loneliness, balanced by an awe and wonder at the beauty of the water falling from the sky. She knew where it came from, and why it fell, but that didn't take away from the mystery given by a heavy rainfall.
"I don't know," Steve answered, blue eyes trained on his companion. A sigh left the woman's lips, but they turned up in a smile as she turned to look at him. That smile lit up her entire face, taking his breath away; it was like the sun had taken residence just beneath her skin, and its light and warmth radiated from her.
"Neither do I," she replied, laughing. "Maybe it's a question better left to the philosophers. At any rate, this is no way to spend a rainy day, staring out the window and asking unanswerable questions." Grinning, the woman offered her hand to Steve. "Come, young grasshopper," she quipped, leading the man out of the building.
Outside, the rain fell fast enough that it bounced off the pavement as it hit the ground. Steve looked at his companion as she stepped out into the downpour, instantly getting drenched, and spun around in a circle, arms extended.
"Lily?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow. The woman laughed and dragged him into the pouring rain with her.
"It's just water, Steve. It's not going to hurt you," she said teasingly, rolling her eyes.
"I know that," Steve replied.
"Then get out here and dance with me, soldier. That's what this rain is here for." So saying, Lily captured the Captain's hands in hers and spun them around. A song bubbled out of Lily's lips as they spun, and soon they were twirling to and fro in a passable jitterbug. The rain kept coming, but neither Steve nor Lily seemed to care much at all, for their dance was all they had in mind.
Bystanders along the street and inside the various buildings stopped to watch the pair spinning around in the downpour, singing and laughing. Lily's eyes twinkled with mirth and happiness, and a grin that Steve hadn't grinned since before he was frozen had made its way onto his face. Neither of them had had this much fun in a very long time.
And so, ignoring the stares of strangers, they danced.
…
"Mmm," I hummed, stretching out. The living room was dark, and I cast my eyes around in the dimness. A sigh from next to me drew my attention, and I turned to see Steve sprawled across the half of the couch that I wasn't on. His eyes twitched under his eyelids, but a smile curved his lips. Such a smile was hard to come by when he was awake, saddened as he was about not being in his own time.
Smiling slightly in response, I rose, trying not to disturb the Captain and the good dream I could tell he was having. Moonlight filtered in through the floor to ceiling window that was the back wall. It had been a long time since I'd been here, but I kept this apartment anyway. First, it was a prime piece of real estate that I just so happened to own, so why not keep it? And second, though I was unofficially not a SHEILD agent anymore, it was just that- unofficial. If Fury were to call me back, I would have to come.
In the stillness of the night, a memory floated to the forefront of my mind. A rainy day here in New York, teaching Steve to dance. The touch of the rain, my hand's in Steve's, our eyes locked as we spun and laughed.
A smile curved my lips and I made my way outside and onto the balcony. The cool night air swirled around me as I leaned against the railing and looked out across the city. Though many were asleep, many others were not, and the stars in the sky were not visible for all the light produced by the city.
"Lily?" a tired voice asked from the entrance to the apartment, and I turned. Steve stood in the doorway, rubbing sleep from his eyes. His golden hair fell into those blue eyes as soon as he moved his hand, and a smile played about my lips.
"Good morning, Cap," I said, beckoning him over. His bare feed padded quietly across the ground, and he joined me in gazing at the city. We were silent, listening to the honking of car horns, the distant sounds of people, the noise of construction.
"I wish it would rain," I murmured, watching a cloud scurry across the moon. Steve nodded, obviously deep in thought. A cool breeze rustled through, mussing his already messy hair and playing with mine. A shiver crept up my spine, and I shifted closer to the Captain, though he didn't seem to notice.
Arms touching, we looked out at our world together.
A/N: Alright, I've finally been blessed with inspiration again! :D And, as this is the last week of school and summer vacation is about to start, I'll have more time to work on this. I hope you like it! Love y'all!