┌──────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────┐

"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩."

└────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────┘

⍟ ⍟ ⍟

After everything finally seems to settle, Steve groans as he lifts whatever fell over them up.

Juniper coughs, feeling dirt and smoke coating her lungs... her leg feels wet.

Something got her.

"Are you okay?" Steve asks in between coughs.

Juniper looks around dazed as she leans against a chunk of concreate. Steve hurries over, brushing hair out of her face as her eyes begin to shut, soot and dirt lining her features, but not hiding her beauty.

He carefully scoops her up in his arms bridal style before stepping out of their hole when suddenly several planes appear overhead— and he takes off.

⍟

Brock and the rest of S.T.R.I.K.E. file down to the damage and he begins frantically searching everywhere for his wife.

A missile was extreme, but Brock was running on pure rage, furious and hurt that his wife left him to run away with Captain America. How could she— How dare she?! Was his love not enough? His gifts, their home, their marriage? Does NONE of it matter?! She was supposed to love him through it all, for worse or for better.

WE'RE MARRIED, GODDAMN IT! He screams to himself, on the inside. How could she throw away their love and their marriage for Captain America? Betray him, FIGHT him?

He steps down to where Steve and Juniper just were moments ago as he unravels in his mind... only to find footprints and a torn piece of fabric.

They're not knocked out... they got away.

He grabs the microphone piece in his ear, harshly swallowing his anger. "Call in the asset."

⍟

"The timetable has moved." Pierce says to the Winter Solider as he pours himself a glass of milk. "Our window is limited." He takes a sip, staring at the weapon across from him before coming around the island and taking a seat beside the soldier. "Two targets, Level Six and Level Eight. They already cost me Zola. I want confirmed death in 10 hours." Pierce's once consideration of sparing Agent Fox's life was long lost after what she cost him. But Sawyer Fox doesn't have to know that... as he was forced to go home this evening, unaware of the missile that was fired or any of the business Pierce was currently dealing with at the moment

⍟ ⍟ ⍟

"I hope you have a really good plan right about now." Juniper looks up at Steve as she becomes more consciously aware, having taken several minutes to process where she was and what was happening, before she decided to speak.

She lets out a small groan, her head pounding from a splitting headache as her eyes adjust to the dark.

They were officially out of options. The one person she could think of to turn to who's currently out of commission with S.H.I.E.L.D. she did not want to drag into this mess. Her mess.

"I do." Steve tells her, pushing forward.

"Where are we going then?" She asks. "Hmm? We can't trust anybody." She wishes she could contact Natasha or Sharon, but it would be entirely too risky, for them, and for her, too entangled with S.H.I.E.L.D. to do any party involved any good. "And put me down." She orders

Yep, she's awake.

"I know somewhere we can go." Steve sighs, gently moving her from his arms to a steady position. "Can you walk?"

She sighs irritably, ignoring his question. "Where?" She narrows her eyes at him. "I'm waiting."

"A safe place." Steve insists, looking in her in the eyes. "Do you trust me?"

The question takes her aback.

"Do you trust me?"

"I do." Steve answers honestly, without a moment of hesitation necessary. Any doubts he may or may not have formed before ceased to exist the moment they were in the hospital together after the attack at his apartment.

She nods curtly. "Then lead the way."

They need to get there while it was still dark.

⍟ ⍟ ⍟

Sam Wilson arrives back home after his early morning run, going to take a sip of orange juice out of the jug when a knock interrupts him.

He lifts the blind on the sliding glass door to reveal Steve Rogers and a woman he did not know, both sporting black soot on their faces.

Sam quickly slides the door open. "Hey, man." He looks concerned.

Juniper looks at the man curiously. He looked near her age, had some muscle, buzzed head, minimal facial hair. She was quickly making note of everything she noticed while wondering who he is.

"I'm sorry about this. We need a place to lay low." Steve tells him.

"Everywhere else we go earns us getting shot at." Juniper lets out a small chuckle, giving the stranger a tight-lipped smile.

"Well, you don't have to worry about that here." He steps to the side to let them in. Juniper enters first with Steve right behind her and Sam pokes his head out for a moment to look around before shutting the door and closing the blind back.

Juniper clears her throat. "Juniper Fox." She extends her hand out.

Sam turns around, shaking her hand. "Sam Wilson. Nice to meet you." She nods in return. "You, uh, work with Steve?" He glances to the hero he's befriended recently on his early morning runs.

Juniper glances up at Steve. "You could say that."

⍟ ⍟ ⍟

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Hey, heyyy... WELCOME BACKKK!! ;)

I have been specifically waiting to publish this chapter today finally introducing Sam into the book to honorrrr... CAP 4!!! AHHH!!

And what better day to announce this exciting news than now... that I may or may not have finally made a book for Sammmm... & his love interest will actually be introduced in this book series!! I've always wanted to have two Marvel oc's of  mine be apart of/ in the same book series AND NOW I FINALLY WILLL!! She has been teased this chapter ;)

Anywaysss... I hope y'all enjoyed this chapppp!! Some important moments in this chappp!! I did cut this chap in half bc I thought that was a rlly good way to end it & wanna save the next scene for a separate chap!! BUT IT IS STEVE & JUNIPER TALKING + LOREEE SO YOU DON'T WANNA MISS OUTTT!!

So happy Valentine's Day AND happy 2 years to this book!!! WTF?! IS THAT EVEN REAL?! I cannot fathom that this book turned 2 today... I was also SOOO excited that the anniversary fell on Cap 4 premiere, like how perfect is that?! I AM SEEING IT TOMORROW AND I CAN'T WAITTT!! Y'all pls go watch it & form your own thoughts!! This is actually the first Marvel project that I've actually been excited for in a long time... tbh, I AM SO EXCITEDDD!!

Please don't be afraid to comment your thoughts, questions, & reactions!! And lemme know what y'all think about Sam getting a book/love interest!! ;)

UNTIL NEXT TIME, HAPPY AGANT 14 DAY, MAUH!