Chapter 1
Reader POV -
Walking out of my college dorm I make my way to the bus station headed towards town. Ever since coming out to my family a few weeks ago, I was officially cut off from any financial funds so now I need to look for a job in order to pay for my living expenses as well as college.
Making my way into the bus, I quickly scan the seats looking for an empty seat. I find one next to this older lady and sit down nodding at her politely. Looking up I see a few men staring... rolling my eyes I look down at my phone to the map of town where the bars are. A few minutes pass and I reach my destination, getting off the bus, I notice a group of men following me off the bus, being wary but not thinking too much out of it, I briskly walk down the street, looking over my shoulder. I notice that they are still behind me, keeping pace. I hurry my pace up and walk into the first bar I see, "SHIELD Headquarters" it read in the front of the building.
Walking in, I go straight to the bar noticing the bar is pretty slow with not a lot of people inside, I see a redhead and a brunette sitting in a corner booth both nursing a beer look up from the files they we're reading... a good and bad thing. Less people means easier to escape, but less people also means its harder to hide. Being pulled out of my thoughts I see a blonde bartender making his way from the back "What can I get for you today ma'am?" He said making his way to me carrying a case of beer.
"Um" I started but was interrupted by the men that were following me
"Hey there sweet cheeks" One of them says leaning against the bar in front of me "Gave us a bit of a chase there, but since we're here, let me buy you a drink"
'No thank you" I said leaning away from him, only to bump into his friend behind me
"Hiya there" He said from behind me.
"I'm not interested" I say to them looking back and forth in between them
"Oh c'mon sweetie, don't be like that" the one in front of me says.
"No." I stated again more forcefully.
Before the two guys continue trying to get me to drink with them, the bartender interrupts them "Gentlemen, I believe the lady said no." He says from behind the bar putting the beer away.
"Well she is just playing hard to get, let me get a beer for me and my friend and this little lady here" the guy behind me says
"She doesn't want to drink with you, now get out of the bar before we toss you out" the bartender says nodding to the bouncer by the door with a metal arm.
"Oh yeah? I'd like to see you try taking on the both of us" The guy in front of me says
"Ma'am, would you like us to get these men out of here for you?" The blonde bartender says to me
"Uhm.. yes please" I say looking up at him
I see him nod over to the bouncer and instantly the bouncer makes his way over to us, reaching over to the man in front of me "Alright boys, time for you to leave" he says grabbing the man. The man in front of me tries to shrug out of his grasp only causing the bouncer to hold on even tighter. The man behind me reacts and goes to punch the bouncer causing the bouncer to grab his wrist mid punch and twist it behind his back, making the man wince in pain. I watch as the bouncer drags the two thrashing men towards the door tossing them out "Don't even think about coming back here, if you do, you'll regret it" the bouncer says to them, closing the door behind him
"You alright ma'am?" the bartender says next to me
"um, yes, yes I am alright now, thank you" I say as he places a beer in front of me.
"Now, what can I get for you? Somehow I doubt you came in here like that just for a drink?" He says
I take a sip of beer before speaking "Well, I was looking for a job, but I did run in here out of fear from those two guys" I say placing the beer down on the counter
"Well then, maybe I can help you out... I'm not too sure if we are hiring, but let me get an application form from the back" He says walking away, heading towards what I assume is an office in the back.
I continue to sip my beer looking around the bar taking in its aesthetics when my eye catches the two women sitting in the corner booth, both looking at me. 'They're pretty' I cant help but thinking as we make eye contact. The redhead winks and the brunette smirks causing me to blush and look back down. Thankfully before I can make any more of a fool of myself, the blonde bartender comes back with a stack of papers in his hand, "here you go ma'am, if you'd like to fill this out for me real quick, I'll run it by my bosses" he says handing me the paperwork and a pen.
I quickly jot down my information and availability while finishing my beer. I flag over the blonde bartender and hand the paperwork back to him "Well, Ms. y/n... would you like another beer?" he says glancing at the paper with my information on it.
"No thank you, Mr?" I say trailing off
"Steven, Steven Rogers" he says reaching over with his hand out stretched "But you can call me Steve"
"Well Steve, thank you, but I best continue on with my search for a job, how much do I owe for the beer" I say shaking his hand
"On the house, I'll call you as soon as I hear back from my bosses" He says, looking at the corner booth with a smirk... 'Wonder what he's looking at' I think
"Are you sure? I can pay" I say trailing off, not much a fan of taking handouts
"It's no problem, you be safe okay ma'am? Not many people will be willing to help out" he says to me as I make my way to the door
"Thank you, have a good day" I saw to Steve and the bouncer that helped me as I open the door.
As I step out of the building I notice the sun starting to set, not realizing how long I'd had actually been inside, sighing I look at my watch and make my way to the bus station, 'Better get back before dark' I think to myself, Its a Friday night so the bar hoppers will start coming out and I do not want a repeat of earlier with those men.
I hop on the bus lost in my thoughts wondering how I am going to pay for everything. Once the bus reaches my stop, I hop off and make my way to my dorm room, ready to spend the night in bed eating a disgusting amount of ice cream, watching sad rom-coms.
- END OF CHAPTER -