𝗀 𝗁 𝗈 𝗌 𝗍 | | 𝗌 𝗍 𝖾 𝗏 𝖾 𝗋 𝗈 𝗀 𝖾 𝗋 𝗌

𝖾 𝗂 𝗀 𝗁 𝗍

       

⍟ 𝟣𝟫𝟦𝟥, 𝗏𝖺𝗋𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌  ⍟

MARTA HAD BECOME WHAT SHE feared most of all. Demoted. While Peggy, Howard, and even Thomas did important work for the SSR, she became a secretary, taking notes and serving important people. In the past year, she had traveled the United States and Europe with the SSR, but hadn't done anything important.

        Steve, on the other hand, had become a showgirl. He was forced to put on shows to sell war bonds in an awful uniform, and Marta knew he hated it. But, he wanted to be in the war, and this was his way to do it.

        The two didn't seen each other much during that long year, as Marta was glued to paper and pencils all day, taking down notes and such. She had written her mother, who offered the little sympathy she could. Winnifred Barnes never really understood Marta, so when Marta was upset about something, she mainly turned to her father. But he was gone, so that just left Bucky.

        Marta had been writing to Bucky every so often, but he was busy fighting, so he hadn't written back. He did once, but it was brief, and didn't give Marta much comfort. Rebecca wrote a lot, and Marta always smiled when she read her younger sister's words. But Rebecca was far away, and Marta was alone. With practically no one to turn to, Marta pretended to care about the unimportant work she was doing.

        Her only saving grace was Peggy. The two had quickly become very close, and Peggy felt awful for Marta's situation, but there was nothing she could do. Thomas, on the other hand, was upbeat and cheery, annoyingly so. He had been doing great work helping Howard Stark, and he had been sending and recieving beautiful letters from his girlfriend back home.

        All in all, everyone was doing all right, expect for Steve and Marta. Quite typical of the two kids from Brooklyn.

⍟

IT WAS A DREARY DAY, filled with rain and mud. Marta had flown to Italy with Peggy, Howard and Thomas late the night the night before. She had met up with Steve in the morning, before her and Peggy had work to do. Marta's work was plainly wrtiting down everything Peggy said. Steve and Marta played a game of chess, but neither of them were too invested in the game.

        Steve had just finished up a show, but Marta had been unable to watch it. After doing most of her work for the afternoon, she had settled down under one of the tents outside to finalize some notes for Colonel Phillips.

        After Steve's show, he had found Marta outside, and had joined her. He started drawing, as he did a lot when the two were kids. Marta still had a few of his drawings made for her tucked safely with her things. The two sat contentedly side by side, making conversation.

        Steve showed Marta part of his drawing, who approved, and then they both sat in the quiet for a few minutes, until Steve began speaking.

        "This is nothing like what we wanted, Mar. I wanted to be a soldier, and spend time with you," Steve said, realizing what he said. "I mean, not spend time with you, exactly, more like... Have conversations with you, like we're doing now? No, no, not like this, like—

        Marta cut Steve off, placing a hand over his. "Steve, relax. I know what you're trying to say," Steve's cheeks flushed slightly, and Marta's did too, so she removed her hand. "You were supposed to be a solider, and I was supposed to be flying. This is the longest I haven't been near a fighter jet since I joined up." She said, putting her pencil down.