"No… you can't do it. Leave it alone Alfred. You just have to leave it alone." He walked with his head high, trying his best to not make eye contact. He held firm, making sure he was unblinking.

He wanted it. He wanted to so bad…

No. He couldn't. He couldn't do it… he had told himself, not this time. And as much as he knew he wanted to, he wasn't allowed. His boss told him. Not this time. He had done enough he said, too much.

He could just take a peek. He could. Just a little peek inside to see who was doing it. Yes… he would just take a peek, maybe speak with one of the M.P.'s inside… he was in uniform today, he would just adjust his pocket under his jacket so that the name ALFRED F JONES didn't show.

Yes- he took a sharp turn, cutting through an alley behind a small diner. Shifting his weight he made sure his leather bomber was covering the jacket pocket. He was about to pull his hat out from his pocket when he heard the sounds of a scuffle coming from a bit down the way.

He rushed forward, not paying any attention when his jacket stopped covering his name. He spotted the source of the noise, and was offended to see a larger man- who was of the same, or perhaps even of larger stature than he- beating the stuffing out of a smaller civilian. He leapt forward and shoved the man aside, pushing him back away from the tiny fellow.

"What do you think you're doing?" Alfred said, looking back at the man.

"I could ask you the same thing." The man said, straightening up and turning around to face him. He froze when he saw his uniform. "Soldier."

"I suggest you head on out like a good boy." Alfred stared sternly, crossing his arms and glaring at the bigger man. He seemed to hesitate a bit before Alfred glared even more harshly. "Get!"

He turned tail then, and Alfred nodded in satisfaction. Then he turned to the smaller kid- as it seemed he was about seventeen or eighteen- who was wiping blood from his mouth and nose. "Are you alright?" He asked, holding out his hand to him. The teenager looked at him for a split second and then took the hand and let his tiny frame be pulled up.

"I've been better…" he said with a chuckle. "Thank you… you didn't need to do that." The civilian seemed to regard his uniform for the first time. "Mr. Jones."

"Just Alfred, please. It wasn't a problem…mr?" Alfred shook the smaller man's hand in a warm gesture. Alfred couldn't help but be amazed how this boy had been trying to fight the other- when his hand was clearly enveloped by his own gloved one.

"Rogers. Steve Rogers."

Alfred smiled, taking in the relatively generic name. He didn't know why, but he felt that it would be a name he would hear again.

"Well Mr. Rogers, how about a drink?" He said. "On me of course."

"Ah- thanks, but I need to meet my friend soon. He's leaving for his own orders soon." Steve said quietly. Alfred's eyes sparkled with a smile again.

"Well I wish ya both good luck." He said, patting Steve's back. "I hope we meet again soon." He started to walk away. "And stay outta trouble!"

"Can't make any promises!" He called back with a chuckled. And with that, Steve Rogers watched as the mysterious Alfred F Jones walked away.

I regret absolutely nothing