Disclaimer: I own nothing, nor can I predict the future of the MCU.
Author's note: Sorry this took so long! I am still yet to regain the fanfic notebook, so I'm typing from memory here. Just to give fair warning, this chapter goes from lighthearted humor to heart-wrenching pain faster than my brother and I go from bickering to laughing together like a pair of idiots. Or faster than Legolas' time in the Hunger games('cause he would win in the first fifteen seconds). Take your pick. Anyway, buckle in for the roller coaster ride, because here goes!
Chapter Three
After the TARDIS landed safely, Steve realized he was covered- completely, as in head to toe- in soot. Well, technically, he had been in too much shock to take notice on his own. Peggy had pointed it out to him.
Peggy clucked her tongue playfully. "Why, this is no way for Captain America to present himself."
The Doctor suddenly whipped around in surprise, as if he'd just now noticed Steve was on board. He lifted his eyes heavenward and twirled his finger in the air for a moment, as if deep in thought. Then, he snapped back to normal(well, as normal as this guy had gotten so far).
"Ah! Captain Rogers! I hadn't realized you had tagged along. Peggy, dear, can you show him to his room to get cleaned up, then?"
"Steve doesn't have a room."
The Doctor pressed a button on the central control console. "He does now."
"Where did you put it?"
"Down the hall, take a right, up the spiral staircase, through the library/swimming pool, take another right, up the ladder, down the twisty slide, down the fireman's pole, it's on your left."
"What? Excuse me, sir?" Steve said, confused.
"Doctor..." Peggy said threateningly.
"Fine! Down the hall, take a left, up the ladder, it's on your right."
"Doctor!"
"FINE! Punch this code into the panel of buttons next to the door over there." The Doctor handed Steve a slip of paper. "Open the door, walk through it. Happy now?"
"Yes. As close as it's ever gotten, in fact," Peggy grinned.
Although hesitant to leave Peggy, Steve did as the Doctor said and opened the door. He discovered a large apartment that looked like a combination of his childhood apartment(minus the stains in the carpet), his current one, and the one he'd had in Avengers Tower. It was spacious, but not to the point it felt empty, which was nice. Not knowing where else to look for clothing, Steve opened the closet. Inside, he found perfect replicas of every uniform he'd ever donned. On the other side of the enormous closet(Steve had owned a lot of uniforms in the past) was more casual, slightly less spangly clothing.
After a shower and a change of clothes, Steve almost felt like a new man.
Almost.
There were scars from Steve's past that, as far as he knew, wound remain until the end of his days. For now, he tried his best to shut those out of his mind.
Steve decided to take a look around this... TARDIS contraption. He found that the door at the end of each hall had the same panel of buttons, so he could return to his room or the control room at any time.
After exploring for a half hour or so, Steve came across a new room that caught his attention. The room was bigger than his entire new apartment. The walls were lined with pictures. The pictures were mostly of people, and a few other creatures Steve had never seen before. Several pictures had a strange, almost 3D effect to them. They were crowded to close together Steve couldn't tell what the original wall color had been. Enraptured, Steve lingered in the room for- well, nobody really knows how long. His transfixed state was broken by a voice from behind.
"You're not the only man out of time."
Steve quickly whipped around in alarm. The Doctor was standing there, a sad look behind his eyes.
"What is this?" Steve asked.
"Funny you should find this place. I thought only I knew where it was."
"I didn't mean to intrude."
"Oh, no. The TARDIS itself probably let you in." The Doctor sighed. "Always been an old romantic, the TARDIS. She probably took us straight to you just to reunite you and Peggy."
Steve was puzzled by this, but he could sense the guilt coming off the Doctor in waves in this room and remained silent, nodding his head.
"These are them," the Doctor said, gesturing to the pictures on the wall. "All my friends, loved ones, and allies I've outlived. Too many then, and too many more to come. You and I, I guess we're just destined to be alone, aren't we?"
Steve was dumbfounded that the Doctor- this man he'd met only hours ago- was confiding in him.
"I guess so."
See what I mean? Anyway, did you notice in the beginning how much trouble the Doctor went through just to say, "on your left" to Steve? What did you think? Please leave a review! I love to hear your feedback! Thanks for reading!