Chapter three
China Dishes are NOT Weapons!
xxxx

Max massaged her exhausted hand, fingers digging into her left palm as she sat in an empty booth, taking what was probably her fifth break during her twelve hour shift. Thankfully she'd be closing in a few hours, it was only 12am and she doubted Earl would want to spend another two hours cashing in checks, so she was sure he was going to be closing the diner down early today.

So, Max sat in the booth massaging her hand as she waited for the rest of the diners to finish their meals. This included Mr. Captain America himself, who was sitting at the counter with a half empty cup of coffee (that Max figures she should really be refilling right about now, but she was sore and lazy and he's already had six cups!) leafing through some papers looking as if he were desperately searching for something.

Max tried to pretend she didn't notice how he kept stealing glances in her direction. She figured he probably wanted a refill, or to order anotheritem from the menu (he'd been sitting there for three hours and every thirty minutes it was like he needed to be refueled once again!) but after one last sneaky glance, Max let out a huge sigh and stood up from the booth to go grab the coffee pot from behind the counter to refill his mug.

She refilled his cup with hot coffee, startling Steve. He was surprised that she approached him, because honestly with how often he stopped by the diner, that pretty little waitress seemed to snub him for reasons Steve couldn't understand, and if he was being quite honest, she was pretty intimidating. Not that that had stopped him from stealing glances at her. Her plump lips looked hypnotizing pressed into that tight frown, her discomfort clear as she massaged her palms.

She must of felt his gaze on her back, because she let out a heavy sigh and disappeared behind the counter into the kitchen, returning with a coffee pot to pour into his empty mug. Steve cleared his throat, silently thanking God that his voice didn't come out as quickly as his heart was beating. "That's alright," He spoke once she finished pouring his last cup. Hell, he had enough coffee for the day, and honestly it didn't help him out the least bit.

Max quirked an eyebrow at him with her expression that made him feel like she was questioning his whole existence. She placed the mug on the tabletop next to him so he could simply refill the fuel whenever he wanted. Much to Steves surprise, Max plopped into the stool next to him, propping her foot on the stools bar so she could rest her elbow on her knee, and then proceeded to roughly knead her palm.

"Whatcha been lookin at for the past three hours?" Max asked off hand-idly, popping her mint gum and kneading her fingers deeper into her palm. Steves jaw hung slack for only a few seconds before he quickly recollected himself from the shock. He'd assumed the waitress had deemed him a nuisance, considering her sarcastic responses to his innocent questions about the menu, or how she shut him down with a witty remark whenever he tried to be kind. He mostly assumed it was because how freaked out he had been when she found out he was a 'fed.. which he certainly was not. At least he didn't think he was.

Steve discreetly tucked his scattered papers into a neat pile, even though Max didn't seem the least bit interested in nosing around through whatever it was he was reading. Steve was no good with women, but he could tell Max was just trying to make conversation- something she had never done with him during the past five months that he pops in and out of the diner. Plus, he was sure explaining to the pretty brunette civilian waitress with a pair of the plumpest ruby lips he's seen in his lifetime (and that's saying a lot) that he was currently searching through reports and sightings Tony had faxed him on the whereabouts of his friend (formally known as the Wintersoldier, who's killed more then enough innocent people to be considered a maniac) would not be his ideal first conversation with the dame he was currently doting on.

Steve cleared his throat once again as he organized his papers. Max responded before he could, still kneading her fingers into her palm without sparing him a second glance.

"Classified?" She asked in a bored tone. "Good, because I didn't care that much. Unless you've got something on me in there."

Steve was surprised by the chuckle that rumbled in the back of his throat by her comment. 'If you were in one of these documents, i would have already dragged you back to the tower for questioning,' He mused to himself silently. However, talking about work was the last thing he wanted to do with the beautiful dame in front of him. Steve pushed the papers aside for the first time in hours ("Weeks!" If you asked Tony Stark) and turned his attention to Max, who was concentrating more on her massage then himself.

"Rough night?" Steve changed the subject to a topic more safer, herself.

Max decided not to mention that she could be asking him the same question, since he was the one who had been sitting there for what felt like to her her whole shift, drinking coffee and tearing himself up about whatever it was he had read in those documents.

Instead, she gave him a lopsided smile, "It's still going on. Since a few certain diners think that this place is a luxurious Starbucks."

Had it been a few months ago, Steve would of been lost on what a 'Starbucks' was, but after spending the past month hanging out with Tony on and off, Steve was more caught up on 21st century lingo then he really thought he'd ought to be.

Another boyish grin formed across his face at her offhand comment. He was beginning to realize that while the woman spoke with a rough, strong, I'll-Tear-Your-Throat-With-My-Claws-If-You-Say-The-Wrong-Thing tone, she hadn't been trying to insult him. In fact, he was beginning to find her sarcastic quips rather entertaining.

Steve's eyes dipped down to her fingers that were kneading into her aching palm, and then glanced back up to meet her eyes. He swallowed thickly at the sudden sigh that escaped from her nose, and suddenly he felt more hot and bothered then he should. "I, uh..- I was just about to head out anyways." He took a long gulp from his hot coffee which caused Max to laugh.

"Didn't look like it," She smirked. Steve chuckled along with her and shuffled his papers together, before hesitantly slowly his movements. His adams apple bobbed as he gulped, watching her face as she gently shut her eyes from the pleasure of kneading a specific knot in her hand, and Steve slowly lowered his papers, enchanted by the lovely face she was making. Max opened her eyes and blinked a few times as he sat back down next to her, and she looked at him expectantly.

"The work, uh, must be hard on your hands." He added lamely once he realized he had been caught staring, and needed to come up with some excuse. Max cocked her head towards him and lifted an eyebrow, the smirk her lips twisted into promising him she had something mischievous in mind. Steve tried not to focus too hard on how Max suddenly scooted the tiniest bit closer to him, and he swallowed heavily again.

"Nah," Max said with nonchalance, switching hands so she could now massage her neglected palm. She faced towards Steve a little bit more from next to him in the stool, and her red coated lips stretched into a smile. "Just been masturbating too much."

Steve felt his face heat. Despite popular belief, Steve Rogers wasn't as much of an 'Apple-Pie-American-Guy' sweetheart that Tony had been spreading rumors about him about. However, talking so boldly about pleasuring herself with those same fingers that were kneading into her delicious milky skin only caused flashes of ideas to fill Steve's mind, and he almost had to remind himself that the brunette was sitting right next to him, and not dipping her hand down between her legs like he was currently imagining.

Before Steve could comment, Max continued, making the situation in his pants only worst. "I mean, I have a few toys but those require batteries, and batteries require money. Plus, nothing gets me off like a little good ol' skin to skin contact."

For someone who's reportedly saved the world on a few occasions, Captain America sure was easy to rile up. Max's grin grew wider as she watched him fidget, although the Captain did seem to be holding himself together better then she thought he would. She wanted to watch him squirm just a little bit more- because really, what was more fun then making a super soldier uncomfortable, and speechless?

Lucky for Steve, one of the few last customers in the diner flagged Max down before she could tease him anymore, and she sent him a flirty smile along with a four wiggly finger wave, and went off to go finish her job.

Steve swallowed thickly one last time before digging into his pocket and leaving the waitress a tip. He had to get of there fast, there was no way he could get anymore work done now that Max had him all hot and bothered. Hopefully by the time he reaches his apartment, he'd cool down a bit so he could finish searching for Bucky. He wanted to curse himself for getting distracted, if only for a few minutes, but he didn't regret chatting it up with the strange waitress.

There was something about her that disturbed him, she was too bold and too 21st century for him, but when Steve remembered the way she smiled teasingly and caused an unexpected laugh to come from him, Steve decided that maybe she wasn't so bad.

"Sorry, we're closed."

Captain America had left an hour ago without a goodbye, taking away all of Max's fun but leaving a $20 tip. The last customers in the diner were heading out, and Earl and Oleg both took their leave just five minutes ago, leaving locking up the diner to Max.

Max was clearing tables, silently seething that Caroline got to sleep in her new vagina bed while Max was stuck with closing duty, when suddenly the bell and rang signalling someone entering the diner. She called out to them that it was closed without looking over her shoulder, but after a few seconds of silence (meaning they didn't leave like she had asked) Max turned her head to see what their deal was.

A scruffy looking man had entered, and he was looking around the diner as if he were searching for something. The hat and large coat that he wore gave Max the impression he wanted to be incognito, and Max highly doubted he was a celebrity. The point is, the man clearly gave the impression of sketchy. She froze and lifted a brown eyebrow, staring him down from next to the booth.

"Did you hear me, pal? We're closed."

"I remember.. this diner." His eyes seemed glazed over as he stared at the walls, examining the small dining area. "It looks.. different. Not how I remember it.. but, this is it. I've been here."

Max pressed her lips together in a frown. Great, another weirdo. He was probably homeless. She slowly continued to gather the dirty dishes. If Max was intimidated, she didn't show it. However, when she picked up the heavy china plate, she silently wondered to herself how pissed Hans would be if she cracked his expensive China against the intruders head.

"Yeah, well, this place has been the same since the 50's. I think it's safe to say, this diner clearly needs an update."

"No.." Bucky squinted his eyes, as if trying desperately hard to remember something, but it slipped passed his mind once again. "I don't... I don't know."

Riight.. he was making no sense. Max turned to face him, "Listen buddy, like I said, diners closed. Why don't you come back in the morning?"When I'mnotworking, and won't have to deal with you?

The stranger was staring at the walls once again, and suddenly he was clutching his head desperately, as if there were a loud ringing noise that were about to burst his eardrums. Bucky saw flashes, of the diner, a glamourous looking dame on his arm, and a beautiful waitress. Damn, if only he could remember her name.

Another wave hit, and he remembered returning to his small apartment, a tiny, scrawny blond listening attentively as he retold details of his rich date, and how she dumped him after he stood up for the beautiful waitress, but he didn't care because he got to try a cheeseburger for the first time, and the kiss on the cheek the waitress prized him with was more then enough reward.

During his struggle to remember such a simple memory, Bucky didn't realize he was shouting like a crazy man in pain, and clutching desperately to his head.

And suddenly, everything went black.

Max held onto the broken China plate as she watched the stranger crumble to the floor. Shit! He was totally freaking her out, and she panicked. Now she had to deal with an unconscious man in the diner, who probably wasn't even going to rob her, but instead actually needed genuine help.

She sighed, knowing what she had to do. Tucking her arms under his armpits, Max proceeded to drag the unconscious (and hopefully not dead) man onto the subway.