His Solitude
I sighed and walked into my kitchen, the cabin I now owned was much better than that apartment in the city and I liked the quiet.
"Rrruff!" I looked down by my hip and smiled down at my husky, Koshka. Her tail went a mile a minute and she spun in circles as I reached up and grabbed her dog food from the cupboard.
"Calm yourself." I chuckled and went to set her dish on the floor. Before I got halfway there she had her nose in it and was chomping it down eagerly. "And don't act like I don't feed you." I bumped her out of the way with my hip and grabbed my cereal and a bowl down. I liked my life here in Vermont; I got the occasional barb from my coworkers for always wearing love-sleeved shirts with my work gloves but all in all this was a simple life. For some reason though there was a hole that couldn't be filled, and not for lack of trying on my part. I got a job, a house, hell; I even bought a dog. And yet I still needed him. I just wasn't sure if I was ready for what being with Steve meant. I wanted to believe he still needed me, but he could still wake up one morning and not want me around anymore. Was I even still in love with him? I'm not sure I even remember what love feels like. All it is now is a distant memory of when I knew how to be happy.
I finished up my cereal and patted Koshka in the head. Sighing, I picked up my bowl and washed it in the sink. I walked over and opened the door for Koshka to go do her business before we went to work. The small construction company that I worked for alowed me to have her on site as long as she didn't become a nuisance and she loved the half-hour car ride to work. I went into my room and pulled on my work clothes. I grabbed my lunch for the fridge and grabbed my work gloves before heading outside.
"Ready to go, pup?" I laughed as she weaved around my legs, she knew exactly what was about to happen. "Ready to go to work?" She barked excitedly and hopped in the truck when I opened the door for her. I went to the other side and pulled myself up into the old Chevy. As soon as I started going down the driveway I rolled down the window and Koshka practically threw the top half of her body out of the window. "If you fall out I'm not coming back for you." I warned and she just turned to bark at me before turning her attention back the wind that was whipping at her fur.
"You should come get a drink with us, Jay!" My coworker exclaimed loudly before slapping me on the back and I lurched forward and acted a bit winded.
"Jeeze Tom, are you trying to kill me?" I laughed and stood up straight again. "I should really get Koshka home though; another time, maybe."
"You are not going to get out of this again. We've been asking you for a drink for months now; Koshka will be fine a bit longer in the truck." He said and grabbed my shoulder. I denied the urge to slam him into my truck and sighed. One night couldn't hurt, and I didn't want them getting suspicious of where I came from anyway. Originally I spun some story of my wife dying and Tom was the one who got me a job, a truck, and a place to live. His wife even got me Koshka so I 'wouldn't be lonely.' I did owe the man a drink, even if it meant an evening acting like I was drunk.
"Alright, Tom. I'll go this time." He patted my shoulder and pushed me towards my truck while laughing at something another coworker said.
"It's the bar on Main Street. You can't miss it."
"Alright, see you there." I called out and got into my truck.
The bar was already loud when I got there. I looked down at my work gloves and sighed, I had a pair of nicer leather ones in the glove box; I just didn't want to reflect questions about why I wore gloves all the time tonight. I rolled the windows up most of the way and pulled on my nicer gloves.
"Be good, Koshka." I told her and pet her fur lightly. She whined at me and I smiled back at her. "You'll be okay." I chuckled and shut the door. As I headed towards the bar one of my coworkers- Jim, I think- hollered at me and herded me towards the table. I laughed as I was shoved into a chair and given a bottle of beer.
After an hour or so I turned my attention to the football on the screen across from me. My attention drifted back and forth between this and the news until the former caught my attention.
"-It appears that Stark tower has taken damage from an outside force, this force has yet to be confirmed but authorities are working on meeting with-"
Stark tower. Isn't that where-
No. He is not still throwing his lot in with Stark. No way-
Who was I kidding. That idiot.
"Excuse me, it seems that something has come up." I said calmly to Tom while glancing at my cell phone. "I have to go back to New York, a friend of mine has gotten himself into trouble." Tom looked at me sympathetically.
"You go ahead and deal with that. My brother got into drug trouble a couple years back. I understand." I laughed mirthlessly.
"I wish it was that simple. I don't think that I'll be back though. At least not anytime soon." I sighed and stood up, I clapped him on the shoulder and leaned down. "Thanks for all you've done." Tom nodded sagely and set down his beer.
"I figured you were the drifter type."
"In a better world..." I sighed.
"That's what we all say." Tom laughed. I turned and walked out of the bar. As I walked out of the bar towards my car I found myself getting more and more livid. I crushed my cellphone and left it in the parking lot.
"Fucking Steve Rogers." I said and patted Koshka's head. "Time to go on a road trip."