"I'm just a girl"

Eight years ago, March 1986

Pancho's was thriving. Albeit, the majority of the crowd was half-intoxicated men each and every one of them trainees in the air force. Stood at the end of the bar, scowling at the stench of testosterone in the room, Maria Rambeau raised her glass of beer distastefully to her lips. She wore the classic white tee with the air force's logo on the front, her tan trousers hanging baggily around her waist, held up only by a belt. While her dark eyes traced the room over the rim of her glass the blonde in front of her simply smirked as she ordered another drink.

Leaning over the bar to yell her order in the bartender's ear, Carol tightened her leather jacket tied around her waist. She wore the same outfit as Maria, both of them having come to Pancho's after a long day of training. Paying no heed to the stares baring into her backside, Carol turns to see Maria's scowl.

"Careful," the blonde jokes, accepting her drink, "your face will be stuck like that if the wind changes." Offering a pinched smile, Maria shakes her head, glaring at a group of men eyeing Carol.

"It would have no need to look like this if the place didn't reek of male privilege." Sighing, Carol turns around to lean against the bar.

"It's the '80s, Maria, what were you expecting?"

"A little respect." The woman states, taking Carol's drink from her and walking towards the toilets. As she barged through the group of men, she tipped the beer on them 'accidentally'. Turning as soon as it happened, feigning surprise and guilt at the rowdy men, Maria discards of the glasses on the table beside her. "I am so sorry." She says flatly.

"You bitch!" One of the men yelled in her face, making her eyebrow raise in surprise. The men had surrounded her in their fury caring little to none of who she was and only that she'd insulted them. Seeing no way out, Maria was convinced she'd have to fight her way out of the group. She withheld a flinch as one of them reeled his arm back, fist clenched, and while Maria was prepared for the fight... it never came.

The fist which was destined for her face, never fell as it became encased by slender fingers, perfectly manicured nails digging into the man's skin. He yelled out as his arm was pulled down harshly to reveal a blonde woman dressed smartly in a pale blue suit.

"Can I help you, boys?" Her blue eyes pierced into each member of the group, passing over Maria and landing on the man squirming under her grip. She wasn't exactly a tall person, she stood considerably lower than nearly everyone in the bar and yet, her presence was intimidating. Shoving the arm away from her, she brushes down her blouse, tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear and motions to the sticky and wet men. "Clean yourself up, gentlemen, you look horrendous." One particularly burly man steps forwards.

"Who do you think you are?" Swiftly, the blonde held up a badge, tapping her nails against the metal.

"Lieutenant Colonel Lillian Love. Known to you- students- as your superior." Craning her neck to look the man in the eye, she still managed to look as though she was towering over the man. "Now step aside please." As he did, she points to Maria. "Can you come with me, please, young lady."

As Lillian lead Maria out of the bar, Carol- who had watched the entire ordeal- hurried after them. Once outside, Lillian poked Maria harshly in the chest.

"What do you think you were doing?"

"They were being assholes," Maria scoffed, "it was perfectly harmless." Lillian shakes her head, glancing out the side of her eye at Carol.

"There are few enough women on the force as it is, don't make me have to terminate you from your training for misconduct among your peers. Male, female, asshole or not, we are soldiers and we have one purpose: to serve for our country. You have to show your willingness to cooperate with the men to be a woman on the force- understand?"

"But they won't cooperate with us!" Carol watched helplessly, unsure whether her comment was a good idea or not. Nevertheless, she held the Lieutenant Colonel's gaze. Standing straighter, Lillian turned her body to Carol.

"It's the '80s," she quoted the other blonde, having overheard part of their conversation, "what do you expect? Unless you're myself or Doctor Lawson, you don't get a say. Do you understand that, Miss...?"

"Danvers," Carol held her hand out, "Carol Danvers and yes I understand. It doesn't mean that I agree." Looking the woman up and down, Lillian clicked her tongue before placing a large pair of tinted glasses over her eyes.

"I may have asked you a question, Miss Danvers," looking up at the sky, Lillian shakes her head slightly before lowering her gaze to Carol, "it does not mean I wanted an answer." Ignoring the blonde's still-outstretched hand, Lillian brushes past Maria. "I'll pay your team a visit tomorrow, I think." Glancing over her shoulder as she slotted her keys into her car door, Lillian smirked, "We'll see how you cooperate then. Goodnight, ladies." Watching as she steps into her car and drives off, Carols narrows her eyes at the vehicle in the distance.

"Who did she say she was again?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Lillian Love."