CHAPTER SEVEN — 
( How do I know that you two haven't been...fondue-ing? )

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        The following day, Evelyn dressed in her agent uniform and headed towards base to see Steve choose a new shield. Before doing so, Evelyn decided to visit Howard's lab to see him. As Evelyn descended the stairs, an explosion went off, causing her to hurry her footsteps, only to find Howard lying down on the ground, covered in smoke. He sat up and looked towards the blue glowing object that Steve snatched up at the Hydra base.

"Write that down," Howard told the other scientist who was working with him at the time.

Evelyn walked in front of Howard and placed her hands on her hips. He slowly looked up at her and smiled sheepishly. "Hi, Evie."

Evelyn rolled her eyes and held her hand out. "You are a complete moron sometimes, you know that?" she asked. He grabbed onto Evelyn's hand and she pulled him up to his feet.

"I've only been told that like a thousand times before," Howard laughed and went to hug Evelyn when she held her hand out to stop him. "What?"

"You're covered in dirt and smoke," Evelyn told him as she slowly lowered her hand. Howard smiled mischievously and hugged her anyway. Evelyn groaned as he squeezed tighter. "It's okay. I didn't need to breathe, anyway," she wheezed out.

He let go of Evelyn and muttered a quick apology. "Are you able to go get Rogers? He should be here now," Howard asked as he looked around the room.

"Sure thing," Evelyn nodded and headed back up the stairs.

Evelyn walked around the building, trying to find Steve, when she turned a corner, thinking he couldn't possibly be down there, but saw him in the middle of two bookshelves, kissing a blonde agent. Evelyn's chest tightened as she clenched her fists.

Evelyn placed her hands on her hips. "Captain!" He immediately pulled away from the agent. "Howard's ready to see you once you're finished here," Evelyn looked between Steve and the agent and then stormed off.

"Agent Parrish, wait," Steve said as he followed after her. "Evelyn, that's not what you thought it was."

Evelyn scoffed, "Like I haven't heard that one before," she rolled her eyes. "You're not the only man who has stood me up for another woman. You've always wanted to be a soldier, now you are just like the rest of them."

"Well, what about you and Stark?" Steve asked, causing Evelyn to stop and turn around to face Steve.

"Me and Howard?" she asked.

"Yeah, how do I know that you two haven't been...fondue-ing?"

Evelyn's frown deepened as she continued to stare him down. "You don't know a bloody thing about women," she turned around and stalked off.

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Evelyn stood at the table where Steve's new shields lay. She waited for Howard and Steve, watching as they both walked into the room, talking with each other.

"The moment you think you know what's going on in a woman's head is the moment your goose is well and truly cooked," Howard told Steve.

"Do you know what's going on in my head, Howie?" Evelyn asked, eyebrows raised.

The two boys turned to face her, but Evelyn couldn't be bothered looking at Steve again. Howard looked between Steve and her, then shrugged. "Probably." And Evelyn knew he was right. He could just about read her better than anyone else. That's what happens when you've gone through life with someone.

"But for me, I concentrate on work, which at the moment is making sure you two and your men don't get killed," Howard said. "Carbon polymer. Should withstand your average German bayonet. Although HYDRA's not going to attack you with a pocket knife." Howard showed Steve the material for his new uniform that Evelyn will more than likely design. If there was anything to do with clothes and designing, Evelyn was the best person for the job. "I hear you're kind of attached." Howard hit Steve's demented shield.

"It's handier than you might think," Steve told him, walking up to where Evelyn stood beside the shields.

"Evie and I took the liberty of coming up with some options." Howard showed Steve the different types of shields. "This one's fun. She's been fitted with electrical relays that allow you to—"

"What about this one?" Steve picked up the circular shield that was under the others.

"No, no, that's just a prototype," Howard tried to tell Steve. Howard liked the more advanced and complicated shields rather than the simple and plain ones.

"You're just jealous 'cause I designed it," Evelyn smirked.

"Yeah, but I made it." Evelyn stuck her tongue out at Howard and he returned it.

Steve turned to Evelyn. "What's it made of?" He asked.

"It's made of Vibranium. It's stronger than steel and a third of the weight. It's completely vibration absorbent."

Steve slotted it on his arm. "How come it's not standard issue?" He asked.

"That's the rarest metal on Earth. What you're holding there, that's all we've got," Howard told Steve.

"Are you finished yet, Howard? I'm sure Steve has some unfinished business to attend to," Evelyn crossed her arms across her chest.

Steve held his shield up on his arm and smiled. "What do you think?" He asked her.

Evelyn quickly grabbed her pistol off of her holster and shot at the shield three times, all of them hitting the bullseye. Steve looked up from behind his shield when he thought she was done. Evelyn shot one more, then put her gun back. She looked at the shield, not a dent in it, except for the slight marks where the bullets bounced off.

"Of course, it survived, I designed it," Evelyn smiled before walking past Steve and away from him.

Howard walked up besides Steve and the men watched as Evelyn walked off, in complete awe. "Man, I love her," Howard mumbled to himself.

Steve acted like he didn't hear it, but of course, he did with his enhanced hearing. "I had some ideas about the uniform." Steve gave Howard a piece of paper without looking away from Evelyn.

"Whatever you want, pal. I'll give it to Evie pronto."