𝗀 𝗁 𝗈 𝗌 𝗍 | | 𝗌 𝗍 𝖾 𝗏 𝖾 𝗋 𝗈 𝗀 𝖾 𝗋 𝗌

𝖿 𝗂 𝗏 𝖾

⍟ 𝟣𝟫𝟦𝟣, 𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗅𝗒𝗇, 𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗒𝗈𝗋𝗄 ⍟

STEVE AND MARTA WERE TOGETHER in the back of a car driving to a secret SSR base in Brooklyn, with Peggy and Thomas in the car ahead of them. They had left that morning, and would be meeting Dr. Erskine, Colonel Phillips, and others. The project was a huge deal, and Marta was nervous for Steve. She also had the curiousity in the back of her head about who the second test subject would be.

Steve was dressed in a soldier's uniform, while Marta, Peggy and Thomas wore more sophisticated clothing, as they were officers of the armed forces. Marta was back to wearing a skirt, which she hated, but dealt with.

The ride to Brooklyn from New Jersey wasn't far, so Marta had mostly been working on a letter to Rebecca, as she had promised to write her. She hated letting her little sister be disappointed. It had been quiet for a little bit, the conversation picking up as the car started to drive down the streets Marta and Steve grew up on.

"We know this neighborhood, Mar. I got beat up in that ally. And that parking lot. And both of us behind that diner." Steve pointed at each other the locations as they passed, which Marta knew all too well.

"You really have something against running away. I guess we both do, in different ways." Marta smiled, adjusting her uniform tie.

Steve paused for a moment, before he spoke. "You start running, they'll never let you stop. You stand up, you push back. They can't say no forever, right?" Marta smiled. She loved those words.

"My dad told you that." She said, he smile dropping slightly at the thought of her late father.

Steve glanced at Marta. "Best advice anyone's ever given me." He watched as her face lit up, and then faded away.

"You know that I know what it's like, Steve. Neither of us have had it easy." Marta said. Steve didn't even know the half of what Marta had to do to get into the Aeronautical Division. It was almost as hard as losing her father.

Steve nodded. "I never understood why you wanted to fly planes for the military." He said, looking out the window as he spoke. Marta thought nothing of the comment.

The woman shrugged. "I just want to do something. Something important. Help save the world, be of use. That's the only way I'm gonna get out of the life I'm trapped in. And  I'm halfway there. Just being here is enough for now." 

There was quiet in the car for a bit, until Marta thought of something. "Did you dance while I was away?" She didn't know why she cared at all, but she did.

Steve shook his head sadly. "Asking a woman to dance always seemed so terrifying. And the past few years, it just didn't seem to matter that much. I figured I'd wait." He said, and Marta frowned.

"For what?" The blue eyed girl asked, playing with her fingers out of habit.

Steve turned to look at Marta. "The right partner." Both smiled, and turned away, looking out the window as the cars rolled to a stop. Steve had been waiting for Marta to return. She was the right partner.

Marta and Steve got out of their car, finding Peggy and Thomas out of theirs. Thomas and Steve took their hats out, prepared to put them on, as Peggy beckoned the trio. "This way." She led the way to the front of an antique shop.

"What are we doing here?" Steve asked from behind Peggy, while Thomas and Marta walked side by side.

"Follow me." Peggy simply said, walking into the store. Marta gestured for the men to put their hats on, and they did. The bell rang as Peggy opened the door, ringing again when Thomas shut it.

An elderly lady emerged from the back room, looking at Peggy. "Wonderful weather this morning, isn't it?" She asked. Marta studied the words, nudging Thomas.

"Here's a teachable moment. What's up with that sentence?" Marta whispered.

Thomas knew the answer right away. "It's code."

Marta smiled, just as Peggy opened her mouth to answer. "Yes, but I always carry an umbrella." The woman walked over to a table, pressing a button on the underside of it, gesturing for the group to enter the back of the shop.

When they got there, Marta immediately knew the purpose of the wall of bookshelves. She turned to Thomas again. "Here's another one. Bookshelves. Why are they there?" Thomas hesitated, trying to formulate a logical response.

Before he could, the bookshelves swung open, revealing a long hallway with double doors at the end, various SSR workers spread throughout. "Damn it, that was so simple." Thomas cursed, following Peggy down the hallway.

Marta nodded. "You need to know these things. It'll take time." She said, looking around as she walked.

"I know, I'm sorry." Thomas apologized, hand on his head.

"It's okay. That's why I'm here." Marta reassured him, about to say something else, but stopped when two MPs opened the double doors for the four of them, revealing a large labratory with scientists scattered about. There were two large human shaped structures in the center of the room, surrounded by control pannels.

The lab became silent as the group entered, and Steve searched for reassurance in Marta's blue eyes. Marta searched for answers in Peggy's. Peggy began to walk down the stairs into the heart of the lab as the scientists got back to work, making final preparations. When they got to Dr. Erskine, he shook Steve's hand.

"Good morning," The doctor greeted. There was a flash from a camera, and Marta saw that the press was there. "Please, not now." Erskine begged.

Marta caught sight of Steve staring at the caskett-like structure. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "You have this, Steve. I'll be right here when it's over." She whispered.

"Are you ready?" Dr. Erskine asked, watching Marta, and preparing to break the news. Steve nodded his head. "Good. Take off your shirt, your tie and your hat. You too, Lieutenant Barnes." Marta's eyes widened immediately, shock and confusion plastered on her face.

"Excuse me?" Marta gaped, glancing at Thomas, who had no idea, Peggy, who looked slightly guilty, and Steve, who was slowly getting ready, while watching the exchange.

"You are the second test subject. Was it not obvious?" Dr. Erskine asked, asjusting his glasses. Marta felt her eyes nearly fall out of her head. She couldn't believe the words coming out of the doctor's mouth.

⍟