Author's Note:
So I had a good chunk of the story planned out when this little chapter popped into my brain. No triggers unless you're sensitive to slurs against the Irish. As always please review and let me know what you think.
Astrid entered the small dusty shop. Tucked away in the corner of a not so busy street. Astrid had to go out of her way to get here. A little bell over the door signaled her arrival. Though it sounded lifeless.
The first thing she noticed was how dark it was. Lights either dimmed or nonexistent. Just made her nervous. There was something off about this place. She glanced down the shelves. Artwork and antiques of various kinds piled high. Seemingly organized in some random fashion. Bucky was right. This place could use a serious overhaul. She took a finger and wiped it over a shelf. Leaving a trail in the dust. Seemed like this place hasn't been cleaned since…well possibly ever. That couldn't be good for Steve. He was sensitive to so many things and this place was a disease factory.
Speaking of Steve… where was he? Astrid looked around but she couldn't seem to find anyone. She knew that she got the address right. Double-checking to make sure. He definitely worked here and the store was most certainly open. But there didn't seem to be anyone around.
Weaving her way through the clutter of stuff she made her way to the back. Picking up the sounds of voices. Everything seemed to be muffled in here. The voices got louder as she made her way to the counter. Almost sounded like heckling. Astrid's bad feelings only grew.
When she finally got to the counter she heard the fighting coming from the back. Behind even more shelves. Filled to the brim with the most random stuff. Some of which Astrid didn't even recognize. This store was a lot bigger than the outside led her to believe. The counter served as an anchor point. Everything stemming from that. A big man with a beer gut and thinning hair manned the counter. Rubbing a dirty cloth over the surface.
"How can I help you Miss?" he gave Astrid a toothy smile. Clearly missing a few of his teeth. Just as Astrid was about to ask about Steve she heard some more shouting in the back. Someone yelling stupid mick. Can't even breathe right.
"What is going on back there?" Astrid asked trying to peer around.
"Aye. My assistant is helping out some other customers."
Astrid raised an eyebrow. "Your customers normally shout slurs at your employee?"
The man shrugged seemingly not caring. "He's Irish. Doesn't really matter. They are only a little better than the Jews." He was walking a real fine line. Astrid clenched her fist. Fighting against punching him in the face. "Only keep him around since it's a pain to find other workers." He fished out a cigarette out of his pocket. Taking a deep drag. "You know you Germans are doing a good thing. I mean Hitler." He let out a whistle. "He has some really good points. We should probably do something with our Jews."
Oh, that was it. She was going to get Steve out of here. Even if she had to drag him out of here. Bypassing the counter, ignoring the owner, she made her way straight to the voices in back. She felt her body chill as she found Steve on the floor. Clutching his chest.
"What the bloody hell is going on here?!" Astrid asked. All attention turned to her. Steve looked up at her eyes wide. Slightly shaking his head. She could feel the emotions pour out of him. Both worry and immense relief. Astrid kneeled down next to him. Finding his pulse. Counting the beats under his skin. His heart was going crazy. Definitely giving him trouble at the moment.
'Chest pains?' Astrid asked in her mind. Steve looked up at her and gave her a slight nod. It was pretty bad then if he couldn't even talk. He grimaced, clenching his teeth together.
"We were only teaching this mick a lesson," one of the jeering men stated. Astrid shot them a glance. There were only two of them but it only took one to do any damage. "I mean seriously. Doctors should have killed him when he was a baby. Save society the trouble of having to take care of him."
Something in Astrid snapped. She looked up at the two of them. Murder in her eyes.
"I suggest that you boys leave this instant," she all but snarled the words.
"Or what?" the other man asked shoving his friend playfully. His friend at least had the sense to look scared. He knew Astrid wasn't playing around.
"If you don't leave in the next five seconds, I'm going to carve out your eyeballs and stab needles into your ears. Let's see how useful you are to society when you are both blind and deaf."
"Your bluffing." The more oblivious stated. The other one was already trying to head for the door.
Astrid finished around her back. Pulling out the syringe she was looking for. As well as a scalpel. "Am I really?" The two of them took off faster than Astrid could blink. Shouting but Astrid paid them no heed. Her attention turning to Steve. She put the scalpel back in her bag and grabbed the vial she needed. Having started carrying around some of Steve's meds on her. Filling the syringe up with a slightly blue liquid.
'This is not going to feel good,' Astrid sent to Steve. 'But it is going to help.' Steve nodded. Astrid quickly took the arm which wasn't clutching his chest and rolled up his sleeve. Injecting the medicine directly into his body. He let out a groan. Astrid going back to checking his pulse. Now entering a more steady rhythm.
"You are a miracle worker," he mumbled hand dropping from his chest. "What was that?"
She gave him a small smile. "My own concoction. I've actually got a lot of things I would like you to try. See if they could help."
"I meant with the bullies." He waved his hand in the direction they took off in. "You do know they are going to be even more trouble when they come in next."
Astrid's mouth dropped open. Eyebrows shooting to the top of her head. "This isn't the first time you've seen them?"
"They come in every week for a few hours." He shrugged. "Mostly just heckling. I've gotten used to it by now." He had gotten used to it. Astrid took a deep breath. Resisting the urge to chase after those two men and torture them until they begged for death. Instead, she helped Steve up. He was still a little wobbly on his feet. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I was in the area treating a patient and decided to stop in. Wanted to see if you were free for lunch. Though now I have other plans." She took his hand and started leaving the store. Walking past the counter. Heading directly to the door.
"Hey!" the owner shouted not bothering to do anything. "Where do you two think you are going?!"
Astrid whirled around and glared at him. Putting herself between him and Steve. "I suggest that you shape up and clean this place up." Astrid spat. "Otherwise you might find this place on fire. Potentially with you in it." She turned back around and all but dragged Steve out of there.
"Unbelievable," she stated once she got out. "He's lucky that he still has all of his fingers." She continued walking. Holding onto Steve until he pulled her to a stop.
"Astrid," he said slight annoyance in his voice. "You've made it really hard for me to go back tomorrow."
She looked down at him. Confusion etched onto her face. Astrid pulled them so that they were standing in an alley. Off of the main sidewalk. "What do you mean? Going back tomorrow? You are never entering that building again."
Steve looked at her as if she lost her mind. "I work there. I have to go back. Otherwise, I'll get fired if I'm not already." He sounded immensely dejected and Astrid had no idea why.
"Steve. That man is a bigot at best. I have no idea why you are working for him in the first place. Honestly I-"
"He was the only person who would hire me." It was like the world had gone quiet. "It wasn't great but he did pay me. Without it…" His breath seemed to stutter. "Without it, I won't be able to pay for my meds."
Astrid felt her heartbreak at that moment. How long had he had to work there? Withstanding those terrible conditions just so he could keep on living. She lowered her forehead so that it was touching his.
'Steve I'm a doctor. I can just grab your medicine anytime I want from our supply room. No one would say anything.' She huffed. 'Besides I can probably make something in the lab that's far more effective than what you're currently taking.'
A look came across Steve's face. As if he was only realizing this. 'You would do that for me?'
"I would drag all the night stars out of the sky if you asked me to. Of course, I would do it for you.'
He gave her a small smile. 'I'll take you up on that. But as for a job I need one Astrid. To be able to stand on my own.' He took ahold of her hand. She understood where he was coming from. If he just relied on her or Bucky then he would feel like he was something that had to be taken care of. While Astrid wouldn't have minded if he spent his time just working on his art she knew that wouldn't make him happy. Not at the current moment anyway.
'I can't let you go back there. If I didn't show up when I did.' Her mind went quiet for a moment. 'Your heart was beating too fast Steve. If I hadn't shown up when I did they could have killed you. And that place. I felt ill walking in there. And that's not even talking about your old boss.'
He placed a hand against her cheek and she leaned into it. 'I don't have a choice, Astrid. I've tried finding other work but no one will take me.'
She bit her lip. Turning off the connection. There must be something that she could do for him. But without any medical training jobs at the hospital were out of the question. Astrid honestly wished he would just peruse his passions. Find a job that wasn't slowly killing him while also giving him time to draw. She stood there wracking her brain. Trying to come up with something when it hit her like a ton of bricks.
"Steve," she stated a large smile forming on her face. "I think I have the solution."
She took his hand and started walking. Slowly so that Steve could keep up. Luckily it wasn't too far away. Though she took a turn down a couple of streets Steve wasn't expecting her to. Down streets where they didn't find people who looked like them. Astrid and Steve catching several curious glances. A few people calling out her name and she shouted greetings back.
"You really do know a lot of people," Steve noted as they walked into the store Astrid was leading him to. In contrast to the dingy disaster, Steve was working in this place was nice and clean. Brightly lit and well organized. "Though what are we doing in a pharmacy?"
Astrid ignored him for the moment and walked up to the pharmacist. A tall thin older black man with wide eyes and a smile as large as his heart.
"What can I do for you, Astrid?" He glanced at Steve behind her. "Who's the fella?"
"Steve. My partner," Astrid replied.
Steve walked up and held out his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Sir."
He took Steve's hand in a firm grip. "Good to meet you, Steve. I've been wanting to meet the man who captured Astrid's heart. You are one lucky son of a gun."
Steve shot him a smile. "I count my blessings every day that I'm with her." A faint blush appeared on Astrid's cheeks. Steve would always be able to get to her.
The man chuckled. "You are a good man Steve. You might actually deserve her. But where are my manners? I'm Leonard but most people call me Leo." He held out his arms. "And this little place is my establishment. Now, what can I get you?"
Astrid clapped Steve on his shoulder. "I think Steve here could be your new assistant." Both of the men turned to look at her. "Steve is honestly one of the hardest working people I know. And since your son started his job down at the docks you could use an extra set of hands."
"You don't need to convince me, Astrid. If you've going steady with him I know he's a good man." Leo turned to look at Steve. "Astrid's right. I could use an extra set of hands. The pay is fair and there's plenty of downtime. I'll even give you half off on your meds. Astrid has told me you're not in the best of health."
Steve glanced between Astrid and Leo. As if he couldn't believe what was happening. Taking a few moments to form an answer.
"I would be honored to work here," Steve replied. She could feel the gratitude bubbling forth from him. Both towards her and towards Leo. Astrid knew the two of them would get along.
"Now that the two of you are here, you must stay for lunch," Leo told them. "My wife would kill me if I let the two of you go now."
"We would love to join you," Steve replied. "And maybe you can inform me how you met Astrid."
Leo chuckled. Moving towards the front door. Flipping the sign on the front door to closed before opening the door in the back. Beckoning them inside. His apartment was right above his shop. "It's amazing really. It all started when Astrid saved my son's life." As he continued the story Steve squeezed Astrid's hand. Letting his feelings flow freely to her. Just the amount of love. He tapped the side of his head and Astrid connected their minds.
'You are incredible,' Steve told her. 'How did I get so lucky to be with you?'
'Just by being who you are Steve,' Astrid replied.
He gave her a smirk before turning back to Leo. Who was listing every person Astrid had helped while unlocking his door.
"Seemed like you've saved everyone in the neighborhood," Steve commented.
"Just about," Leo answered. "Everyone here knows that Astrid is the go-to Doc. One of the few who treats us fairly."
"Is that Astrid?" a voice shouted from the inside. The door was pulled open and a beautiful black woman with greying hair answered. She looked like she could have stepped out of one of the fashion magazines. She embraced Astrid in a hug. "How's my favorite doctor doing?"
"Doing well Madeline," Astrid responded as Madeline swayed her back and forth. "You've been taking your medicine?"
Madeline slapped her on the shoulder. "Don't bring business into this. Not until you introduce me to this handsome young man." After Astrid introduced Steve the two of them were ushered inside. Welcomed inside with open arms. This was a perfect place for Steve. A chance to build a future he thought he might not have. And Astrid was happy to be a part of it.
