Like a marshmallow
Elise looked up at her adoptive father as she ran round the memorial pool, he was slowing down for her allowing her to keep pace with him. He wanted nothing more to speed up a bit, hoping she would get tired soon and have to rest.
Footsteps approached behind her, causing her to look around to check. Anxiety took over her as she saw the large muscular man running towards her Sam seeing his daughter’s stress, quickly swapped sides with her so he would be on the outside, keeping heraway from any approaching people.
"It's okay." He soothed her .
She took a deep breath, the pair of them were just out and about. Nothing to worry about, she was safe here. Nothing could harm her here. Not only that but she was with Sam, her new father, her new protector, her superhero
The man was now passing, "On your left." He stated as he ran past.
The duo continued running, Elise was beginning to tire, which was ridiculous if you thought about it, I mean she used to be one of Hydras little lab rats, she would run everyday. But, she had been relaxing a bit as she got used to her new forever home.
Not soon after passing them, the man overtook them again, "On your left."
Sam let out a groan, annoyance taking over his body, he wanted to speed up so badly. He wanted to take over that man, but with his new daughter with him he simply wasn't able.
"Hey El?" He asked, "you getting tired yet?" He looked down at the seven year old, who just looked up at him with a grin.
"Sure, I'll wait by that tree" she pointed to a tree.
"Okay, I'll be watching as I run round, scream if you need me."
She had a knowing grin on her face, "kick his ass."
She skipped away, humming to herself.
"Watch your language! You're seven years old!" He shook his head before starting off running, she watched tentatively as her guardian attempted to take on the unsuspecting mystery muscular man in a race.
The man jogged round the corner again, noticing that Sam had lost his small companion, he looked around for her to see her sat happily under a tree, braiding her hair. Seeing this he sped up, worry gone, taking over Sam again.
"On your left."
"Uh-huh, on my left. Got it." Sam nodded before starting to speed up again, he hated to admit it but he was trying to look cool infront of his new daughter, she had been around enhanced people all her life, basically superheroes just without the hero part. He wanted to show her that he was strong enough to protect her.
Despite speeding up, he still wasn't fast enough to keep up with the muscular man, he heard him behind him. "Don't say it! Don't you say it!" He groaned, speeding up to try and keep him from passing him.
"On your left!" Steve yelled as he passed, causing Sam to let out a groan and resulting in a laugh from the nearby girl.
"Come on!" Angrily, Sam tries to catch up to him, he needed to be fast. She was laughing at him, that was the opposite of what he was going for, though he supposed making her smile and making her feel safe were similar things.
After speeding up yet again, he had to stop to catch his breath, he couldn't do it anymore. Sighing he walked over to where Elise was sat.
"You find that funny?" He asked as he sat next to her on the ground, she nodded her head.
"Yeah, there was no way you were going to win that one" she smiled.
"Really?" He raised a brow at her, "well then, I guess there's no way of you having ice cream after dinner tonight."
She put on a pout, looking up at him with big eyes. He laughed at her. She was about to say something when the man came over.
"Need a medic?" He asked.
She tensed, she wasn't a fan of other men, it took long enough to feel somewhat comfortable around Sam, she shuffled slightly closer to him; her hand now gripping his sleeve.
Sam laughed at Steve's comment, he noticed her gripping his sleeve and looked down at her giving her a smile. It was better to not coddle her he found, let her come around in her own time, she'll talk and let go of him when she was ready, it was better not to push, he just had to show her it was okay.
"I need a new set of lungs" He quipped . "Dude, you just ran like 13 miles in 30 minutes."
"I guess I got a late start." The other runner joked.
"Oh, really? You should be ashamed of yourself. You should take another lap." He hesitates for a moment before saying sarcastically, "Did you just take it? I assumed you just took it."
"What unit you with?" The man suddenly asked.
"58, Pararescue. But now I'm working down at the VA." He lifts his hand to shake, "Sam Wilson."
The man gives Sam a hand to help him up "Steve Rogers." He smiled down at the young girl, who had got up when Sam did. "And you are?"
Sam nudged her slightly, "Elise" she murmured, pausing before adding something else, "Wilson."
Sam couldn't help but smile, she was his daughter, even if she wasn't ready to call him 'Dad' yet or if she was never ready to call him that. She was his daughter.
"Captain america" sam laughed quietly, "Yeah I kind of put that together. Must have freaked you out coming home after the whole defrosting thing."
"It takes some getting used to. It's good to meet you, Sam, Elise" As Steve turned to leave, Sam spoke up again.
"It's your bed, right?"
"What's that?" Steve asked, confused.
"Your bed, it's too soft. When I was over there I'd sleep on the ground and use rock for pillows, like a caveman. Now I'm home, lying in my bed, and it's like..." Sam began.
"Lying on a big marshmallow." Elise finished off for him, Sam looked down at her smiling, he was proud she managed to speak to someone.
Steve smiled at her, unsure of her situation, how would a kid know what that's like? But this was clearly unusual for her to speak, given sams reaction, not wanting to ruin this moment he spoke "Exactly like lying on a marshmallow. Feel like I'm gonna sink right to the floor." There was a pause before Steve asked "How long?"
"Two tours." Sam responded. There was an awkward silence between the three until Sam spoke up again,
"You must miss the good old days, huh?"
"Well, things aren't so bad. Food's a lot better, we used to boil everything. No polio is good. Internet, so helpful. I've been reading that a lot trying to catch up"
Sam begins to think "Marvin Gaye, 1972, "Trouble Man" soundtrack. Everything you've missed jammed into one album." Causing Elise to let out a small groan, he loved Marvin Gaye, every morning he had it playing whilst he made her breakfast, she had to admit it was fun to listen to music together but she was slightly bored of the same artist over and over again.
"I'll put it on the list." He got a notebook and pen out before writing it down.
"You should listen to the spice girls." Elise suddenly piped up, she had heard a song on the radio and had developed a slight obsession with the girl group.
Sam laughed, " I don't think he's going to want to listen to the spice girls."
Elise looked up at Steve who smiled at her, "I'll put it on the list aswell." Before writing it down, at that moment he got a text on his phone, "Alright, Sam, Elise. duty calls. Thanks for the run. If that's what you wanna call running."
Sam and Steve shake hands, before Steve gives the girl a high five, Sam laughed before saying "Oh, that's how it is?" in mock offence.
"Oh, that's how it is." Steve repeated.
Elise let out a small laugh and Sam chuckled "Okay. Any time you wanna stop by the VA, make me look awesome in front of the girl at the front desk, just let me know."
"I'll keep it in mind." Steve nods, a smile on his face.
"Okay." Sam smiles
Just then, a car pulls up by the curb. The window rolled down to reveal one of the most beautiful women that Elise had ever seen. With a giant smirk on her face she called out to the group, "Hey, guys.
Any one of you know where the Smithsonian is? I'm here to pick up a fossil."
"That's hilarious." Steve deadpans, walking over to the car.
Sam looked at the woman, an appreciative look on his face as he not-so-subtly checked her out. "How you doing?"
"Hey." Natasha replied back.
Upon seeing the look on sams face Elise nudged him, "stop being creepy" she muttered.
"Can't run everywhere." Steve smiled.
"No, you can't." The pair watched as the car pulls of the curb and speeds away.