The Simple Days

MAXWELL BARNES WAS NEVER ONE TO KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT. However, that was something very hard to do when it came to Steve Rodgers. He had known the awkward man for years and somehow, he always had a knack for landing himself in trouble. That may or may not have been one of the reasons that he found himself thinking of the scrawny man constantly.

Longing stares and subtle flirting when nobody was around was the best he could do. Max never understood his feelings or why he felt them but they were always there, tugging on his heartstrings on a never ending loop. He would pass the time sleeping with multiple women and many questioned why he never settled down. They concluded it was because he wanted to live his young life to the fullest and save himself the heartache from missing his wife or girlfriend while he was at war.

They couldn't be more wrong, the only people he would miss were Bucky and Steve, both for totally different reasons.

"You lied about being from Jersey? Who in the hell lies about being from Jersey?" Maxwell shook his head as he ate a chunk of his pizza obnoxiously, a small puddle of grease falling onto the plate below it.

"Jersey isn't that bad." Steve replied solemnly, swinging his feet back and forth as the pair waited outside for Bucky to finish getting ready.

"Sure it isn't." Max scoffed, placing the crust of his pizza on the plate and tossing it in the nearby trash. "...and what did I tell you about picking fights? Me and Buck aren't always going to be here to have your back."

"Is there something you aren't telling me, Maxy?" The Rodgers man wore a smile but it faded as he seen his friends expression.

"I didn't want you to find out like this but uh, I ship off next week, Stevey." Max frowned. "... and I don't know if i'm coming back."

Steve stared blankly at the ground with no response. What could he possibly say that would change things? What could he do? While he was stuck at home, the two people closest to him would be off fighting in the war. One that he wanted to be a part of.

"You'll come back, I need you to." The Rodgers man got up from the stone steps and outstretched his arms, pulling Maxwell into a hug. He smiled slightly, closing his eyes and letting the moment sink in. At any second, Bucky would come out and things would have to go back to normal but this, this was their moment.

"You boys ready for the first night of the rest of our lives?" The other Barnes brother called out happily, making the two men quickly step away from each other. "What's going on here? Is there a pow wow I missed?"

"The thing I really hope you miss is my knuckles getting you right in that stomach of yours." Max ran towards his brother, throwing him over his shoulder.

The three all began to laugh and dance around the less crowded streets of New York enjoying the last day they would all have together in peace.

  AMELIA YANGS SOLE PURPOSE IN LIFE WAS to train. When she was a baby, her parents left her on the doorstep of a rich family, hoping they'd take her in and give her the life that they could not. They were mistaken though because she ended up dreading waking up whenever the scientists who were doing testing on her seen fit.

Unless there was some type of emergency, she was let out only once a month so she wouldn't age too badly. Unfortunately they hadn't perfected a way to do so yet. So, it was fight or freeze, and Amelia much preferred to fight.

"How is our favorite girl doing today, Ames?" Howard Stark asked as her eyes fluttered open. Him, and about three others were standing around her, smiles on their faces.

"Oh, I don't know, Stark. How should I be doing? The Yang women narrowed her eyes at him slightly, sitting up from the cold counter. He sighed, waving his hand and shooing away the other people around him.

"You know, I would at least appreciate some respect in front of the minions." Howard's voice seemed stern but his grin could be felt all the way in a different country. The two of them had practically grown up together in some ways so they knew each other quite well.

"Oh, you give me respect?" Amelia scoffed. "I'd like to see the day when people show someone like me respect."

"I happen to respect all beautiful women, little lady." The Stark man bumped shoulders with his old friend and she laughed, trying her best to not give into Howard's charms, because boy, was she a sucker for them.

"Is there a reason i'm awake right now?" The Yang woman crossed her legs and sighed, it was always something.

Yet, she could never be the face of America.

"Just a show and some training for now, seems like something big is happening, doll." Howard stood up, extending his hand for Amelia to take.

"I feel like the always a bridesmaid never a bride saying pertains to me. In a different way than just marriage." Amelia stood up, taking the Stark mans hand. "Nobody is ever going to take me seriously."

"They will, Ames. I'll make sure of it." Howard seemed more serious than he had ever been, giving her a reassuring smile. "Sooner or later."

Amelia hoped to god that was true.

  MAX, BUCKY, and STEVE WALKED SIDE BY SIDE. It was a usual thing for them, the three guys against the world. This time, the world was quite literally dragging them apart. Max would be in one place, Bucky in another, and Steve would be in New York alone. Or at least, that's what they believed would be happening.

"Strange flying device caught on camera above New York City." Maxwell rolled his eyes. "They don't give up, do they? Trying to make things up for no reason."

"Maybe it's not made up." Bucky snatched the paper from his brother's hand and looked closely at the picture. "Hey, it looks like a woman."

"Of course you'd think that." Max shook his head. "There are better things in this world than your one track mind."

"My mind is just fine, yours is the one that's all broken." The Barnes man responded with a grin.

"Why I oughta—"

"Alright, boys. I'm pretty sure that's enough out of the both of you." Steve placed his hands on both of their chests. His arms were so skinny both of the brother's could have easily just went around but, they liked to let him be happy he was able to stop their bickering.

"Come on, Bucky!" The two women they were with yelled. Maxwell was ignoring them all night and Steve was too timid to hit on them, meaning his brother got them all to himself.

The trio followed the two girls to the stage that was set up and a man yelling, "Ladies and gentleman, Mr. Howard Stark!"

He quickly came out, a girl following behind him. She clearly didn't fit in with his other groupies, her hair was neater, outfit less revealing, and she seemed completely out of place at this event.

"Ladies and gentleman, what if I told you that in just a few short years, your automobile won't even have to touch the ground at all?" Howard continued on with his speech but Max was just interested in the story of the woman with sad eyes. She stayed close to the Stark man, it seemed like she had never ventured outside before and quite honestly, Maxwell felt the odd need to protect her.

Max snapped out of the small trance he was in when he felt Steve tap his shoulder. The Rodgers man pointed to the recruiting sign nearby and while Maxwell never wanted Steve to be in the military, he understood his passion. The Barnes man nodded slightly, following Steve out of the crowd.

That was probably the biggest mistake of his life.

AUTHORS CORNER—
I'm feeling extra motivated for this story at the moment so hopefully i'll be able to update a lot but I also have so many books and none are finished lmao.

Who do we like better so far? Max or Ames?

P.S i'm sorry this isn't my best! I'm currently not home!

Thanks for reading!

Graphic below made by retrobabe-