▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐎𝐧𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐬 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐒𝐈𝐗 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐃 passed since everything happened with the Murder House. Liliya's life had changed for the better. She trained every day with Natasha, even becoming her friend. She and Steve had grown much closer, her feelings for him growing stronger and stronger as each day passed. For the first time in her life, Liliya felt like the weight had finally fell from her shoulder's. She was happy here. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been happy. She had made friends with many of the others and for the first time since Katrina she understood what true friendship felt like.

Six months ago, Liliya was a cold blooded killer, not caring who she hurt and the damage she left behind, but being with the Avengers had made her cold heart thaw and now she found herself caring for all of them. She always believed that emotions were a weakness, that it was easier to shut herself down and be closed off because that's what kept her safe. Now, she realized that it was one of the biggest strengths a person could have. She realized that if it came down to it, she would give her life for most of these people and she would be content.

Today was the day that she would finally get to train the other agents. She was finally ready to prove herself worthy of being here. She fixed her attire, letting her hair fall in its natural curls on either shoulder and she held her chin up high. A knock came on her door and the blonde turned, quickly making her way to the door and pulling it open to reveal Steve. Instantly, a smile pulled on her face.

     She gave a small nod. "Steve."

     Steve nodded back. "Liliya. Are you ready for this?" They began making their way down the hall, entering the elevator and making it to the first floor.

     "I am." Liliya confirmed. "I do have to warn you, my methods might be a little more harsher than yours."

     Steve chuckled. "I wouldn't expect anything less." They exited the elevator, making their way outside. "Besides, I think they need a little more hard core training. You're the perfect person for that." The agents were standing there, patiently waiting Steve's arrival. The two of them took a stand in front of the group with Steve addressing them. "Today, you will not be trained by me. Liliya will be your new trainer, she and I will be taking turns training you. I expect the same respect for her that you give me, and if you choose not to do that then you will face the consequences. Do not underestimate her. Liliya."

     Liliya took a step forwards. She took a moment to analyze them, watching the way they stood, noticing the slight perspiration on their foreheads from the summer heat. "I was going to throw you guys in and hope for the best, but I think today I'll start it off easy. I want 100 pushups first, and when you are through with that 50 laps around the entire compound." When she did not continued, the agents started.

     Steve had an amused smile on his face. "That's what you call easy?" He shook his head. "I'd hate to see what your definition of laid back is."

     "Well for me, laid back is training for two hours instead of four." Liliya answered. "I don't really know how to relax and truly enjoy myself, I've never had the opportunity. I always have to be doing something. Constantly on the move. I am not one to sit down and watch a movie without wanting to do something in the process. It's how I grew up."

     Steve nodded in understanding. "Well, when you get finished here, come find me." Liliya nodded, watching as Steve left, leaving her alone to train the other agents.

Training lasted most of the day, to say the agents were exhausted when she was through with them was an understatement. The sun had begun to set and she made her way to her room, stripping herself of her clothes and quickly washing her body to get rid of the grime and sweat from training. When she was finished, she grabbed a pair of sweatpants Natasha had given her and threw on a sweater. Just as she was about to sit down, she remembered Steve had told her to come find him.

She left her room, going in search of Steve. After looking around the compound and unable to find him, a small frown fell on her face before she went to his room. She gently knocked on the door and on the other side she heard shuffling before the door opened and Steve was standing there.

     He motioned her inside and she listened, taking a few steps into his room as he closed the door behind her. "How'd training go?"

     Liliya chuckled. "Well, I think I successfully made them never want to run ever again." She turned her head, looking into the small living room area of the room and nodding towards the couch where a blanket laid, a bowl of popcorn and two drinks sitting on the table along with two DVD's. "What's this?"

     "I was thinking about what you said earlier, how you never truly relaxed. Well, I thought, maybe, if you wanted, we could just sit down and watch a movie together? You don't have to of course, but I just thought it might be nice―︎"

     Liliya cut him off, turning to look at him as a soft smile fell on her face. "I'd love to."

     Steve stuttered in surprise. "Y-You would?"

     Liliya nodded. "Yeah, I would."

     He scratched the back of his neck, his face growing flustered. "Alright. Uh, well, I wasn't sure which one you would like more so I picked out two options and was going to let you decide what we watched."

     Liliya walked over to the table, picking up the two movies. "The Princess Bride and Star Wars?" She looks at Steve. "These are two vastly different movies." She looks at the Star Wars disk again only to widen her eyes, "Episode four?! What happened to the other three?"

     "According to Sam, he claims you have to watch the originals first and then the first three."

     Liliya furrowed her brows. "Why not watch them in order?"

     Steve opens his mouth before closing it. "You know, I didn't ask."

     Liliya rose a brow before holding out the DVD. "Well, I guess we have to start this one."

     "Star Wars it is."

Steve puts in the movie and they take a seat on the couch. Instantly, Steve notices her taught shoulders and the way she's sitting up right, back straight, feet flat on the floor. A soft chuckle falls from his lips. Gently, he grabs her shoulders, pressing her back into the couch and motioning for her to take her shoes off and place her legs on the couch. She curled up on the couch, finding the position weird but oddly comfortable.

She's not sure when it happened, all she remembers is focusing on the movie before suddenly she was tucked into Steve's side, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Her entire body was loose, not an ounce of stress to be seen. They watched the movie in a comfortable silence, eating the popcorn and sipping their drinks. When the credits rolled, a frown formed on her face.

     "That's it?" Liliya asked.

     "There's another one after this." Steve said, turning his head to look at her.

     Liliya looked up at him. "Well, we have to watch it soon. I need to know what happens."

     A smile pulled on his lips as he nodded. "We will. I promise."

She was comfortable, and she didn't want to move, but she knew she had to. Hesitantly, she sat up, stretching her body before a yawn escaped her lips. She rubbed her eyes, feeling how drowsy she was. She watched as Steve stood, walking over and taking out the movie. Liliya put her shoes on before standing up as well. She made her way to the door to leave, but found herself pausing.

     She turned to look at Steve, watching as he began to clean up. "Hey, thank you for tonight. I think I really needed this."

      Steve paused what he was doing, slowly making his way over to her. "Well, I enjoyed it."

     Liliya nodded. "Yeah, so did I." She pressed her lips together, her blue eyes meeting his. Her voice came out soft as she asked, "Same time tomorrow."

     A small smile pulled on the corner of his lips. "I'd like that."

     Liliya nodded before turning and opening the door. Her heart slammed against her ribcage, her body begging to be near him once again. Before she could stop herself, she found herself turning to look at him. "Steve," she quickly said.

     Steve, who had turned to finish cleaning, quickly turned back to face her. "Yeah?"

     "I―︎" She stuttered. What was she doing? She couldn't just outright admit her feelings like this. Besides, what if he didn't even like her back? She swallowed, her nerves―︎which she didn't even knew she had―︎getting the best of her. "Um, g-goodnight."

     A flash of disappointment crossed his face before he quickly replaced it with a soft smile. "Goodnight, Liliya."

     Instantly, she turned and left.

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