So Secretive...
After Nat had healed, she and Steve went off to find the mummy man they had run into the other night. He was apparently in London, working at some bookshop. Tony had figured it out by using voice recognition, finding out his name (Marc Spector), and just tracking known whereabouts. They walked into the bookshop and saw him working at the counter, smiling and checking out anyone ready to go. He noticed them quickly and waved at them, saying in a kind, practiced voice-
“Welcome! Please let me know if you need anything at all!” Before returning to an older man who was purchasing something out of their view. This kind of disguise wouldn’t have shocked them, a kind register at a bookshop, happy to help anyone who walks in, but what did shock them was the accent and name change. Name changes were normal, but his face would never be seen since he has the mask on most of the time. And an American accent wouldn’t be something outstanding in the UK. There are plenty of tourists around or regular Americans that just live there. Maybe Tony got the wrong guy?
The old man left with a small bag and the two of them walked up to the counter.
“Have a great day, sir!” The man’s peppy attitude almost reminded them of Spider-man. “Hello, and how can I help you two today?” With how kind and patient this man seemed, it was hard to believe that he was the one who broke two of her ribs on that night.
“Hi, we were wondering about someone named Marc Spector?” Steve questioned. Even in a hushed tone, his voice still sounded loud and proud. Nat would have facepalmed right then and there with how open he was about it but stopped as the man’s demeanor quickly changed.
“W-What..? I-I, er… Um… I’m s-sorry, did you say, Marc Spector? W-Well, er, n-now cause, um, that wouldn’t be right, right?” The man, his nametag read Steven, was already a stuttering and sweaty mess.
“That’s exactly what he said.” Nat was quick to reply, not allowing Steve to possibly mess this up any further. “Why wouldn’t that be correct, exactly?”
“Ah! Uh, er, w-well, um…” Steven fumbled over his words before you could practically see a lightbulb shine above his head. “He’s my… friend! And there’s no way that he could possibly be who you’re looking for because he’s… Wait a bloody minute… Oh, my days are you-!” Steven slapped his hands over his mouth as he stared wide-eyed at Steve. Wow, their names are really similar. He quieted his voice as he spoke again. “You’re Steve Rogers, aren’t you?”
Steve sighed before nodding. The man only smiled more, opening and closing his mouth to say something but not knowing what.
“Oh my… I-I’m so sorry sir, b-but it’s such an honor to meet you!” Steven finally said, finding his words and moving his hands around nervously. “May I shake your hand? I know you’re probably here on official business and you might not want to be all caught up in fans and what not but I- Oh, wait, I’m rambling again, aren’t I? I’m so sorry, that happens so much more often than I would like. Oh, what was I saying again?” Steve opened his mouth to answer but was cut short as Steven remembered. “Oh, right! Marc!” He smiled brightly before quickly falling into a frown. “M-Marc… W-We’re uh… f-friends. But, er… People might mistake us for…. Twins! Yes, we look… very much alike… You know?... He’s not in any trouble… is he?”
The two looked at each other for a minute before answering.
“No, we’d just like to ask him some questions,” Nat answered with a sickly sweet smile.
“Oh well I’m glad-” Steven stopped as he locked eyes with the flat, metal end of one of the end tables before slowly looking back at them and continuing. “B-But he’s… not here. Uh, he doesn’t really talk to me about any of the stuff he does so I honestly have no clue what he does in his free time. Though I do wish he was more open with me.” He said the last part through a forced grin, clearly saying it to someone but they were unaware who.
Nat looked over at the end table (for a second she thought the reflection stared right back at her…) then back at “Steven”. “... Do you mind if we look around? Maybe in the back?”
Both Steve’s looked at her confused before Nat smiled ever-so sweetly at him. “Ehm… S-Sure? I don’t see why not.” Steven laughed a bit before pulling some keys out from his pocket and walking to the backdoor. He fiddled around with the keys and quickly shoved one into the door. “Though there’s not much back there except extra copies and books that are quite rare. Ah, I know I enjoy reading this one book about Egyptian mythology and how they prepare the body for the duat. T-The duat is known as the Egyptian underworld where souls were judged and either went to the fields of reeds or spent the rest of eternity frozen in the sands of time.” Steven continued to talk about Egyptian mythology while Nat and Steve looked around. Eventually, Steven understood he wasn’t being listened to anymore and quickly went to just mumble to himself. Something about talking when he got home? They couldn’t hear him.
“Say, Steven, right?” Steve asked, causing Steven to perk up and smile shyly.
“Y-Yes? I-Is everything… alright?” Steven tilted his head like a curious dog. There’s no way he could be the one they’re after; he’s too innocent.
“Yeah, we were just wondering if there were any other rooms around here? Maybe a rec room or-” Steve was cut short as Nat let out an “Ugh!” They both looked over and saw that she had some weird, blue syrup all over her hand.
“What the hell is this shit??” She shook her hand around and tried wiping it on closed boxes, careful to not get them on any books since that would come straight out of her pocket.
“Oh, don’t worry, Nat. That’s probably just some old prank or slushie one of my coworkers left during their shift.” Steven laughed, not noticing his slip-up. Nat stared at him with cold eyes before speaking.
“... How do you know my name?” Steven went still and silent, then he started to mumble out I’s and Um’s before staring off for a minute. Steve took a step over to him but flinched as he smiled confidently at them. His hands weren’t tugging on his sleeves and his shoulders seemed to broaden.
“Terribly sorry mate but I just realized I have to use the loo!” His voice sounded a bit deeper as he laughed to himself. “What a silly goose, I am! I will be right back!”
Steve and Nat darted towards him as he calmly walked out the door then ran out the entrance and on the street. Steve was close to catching up with him when he heard the man talking to himself in different accents.
“That was a horrible impression of me, Jake! Silly goose?? Who in their right mind says that??” That one was the British accent.
“It’s not like I’m an expert on bein’ an Englishman! !Todo lo que sé es cómo conseguirte una cita!” That one was more of a Brooklyn accent with a mix of Spanish. Who was this guy?
Steve yanked on the man’s collar and let him fall on the ground. He slowed down and jogged over to him, only to be kicked in the stomach by that mummy man they saw the other night. Wasn’t everything under the cloak white before? Not black?
“I’m gettin’ real tired of savin’ our ass.” The suit he wore unraveled and revealed someone angry and lost of all that kindness the Steven man had. He ran again and neither of them bothered to catch up. He was too quick for Nat, and Steve was somehow still recovering from that kick.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Nat questioned, leveling her breathing and helping Steve up. “You’re usually all good to go by now.”
“Yeah…” Steve grunted and held a hand over his stomach. He wasn’t expecting that much force from him. “Wanna go after him?”
“Nah, let’s let Stark handle this.” Nat sighed and started to walk over to an open Vanguard and hopped in with Steve. “He’s the one who wanted to go after him, so he can deal with it.”
“I don’t think that’s how it’s supposed to work.” The doors shut slowly after the last person sat down and it began moving.
“I honestly don’t give a shit right now.”