Chapter 1
A little girl, dark head of hair, walks up to the little boy that lives next door, with soft hair like a rabbit's, light and shiny.
“Hi what's your name! My names Lisa, I'm four! How old are you? Do you go to school yet? Mami says I can't go to school until next year because I'm too young but I wanna go now! Have you ever read a book?” Lisa chattered along, skipping around and grabbing sticks and rocks with her tiny hands.
The little boy only shook his head, and stared.
“You don't talk much, do you?” Lisa stops and stares, and offers a hand full of pebbles.
“Charles! Dinner!” A man's voice calls from an apartment window, ringing and deep. The little boy turns and hurries to the complex door, looks back once.
“Bye,” he says softly, timid, and waves once. He runs inside. Lisa stares and screams “BYE!” back, and runs to the same door and opens it. She sees a small figure turn down the left hallway, and she runs to the intersection where all the hallways meet. By the time she gets to the intersection, he's gone, so she turns to the right and goes to her own apartment, where her mother is making dinner.
“Mami I met a boy and his name is Charles and he didn't talk to me but I was gonna give him these rocks but his papi called him for dinner!”
Lisa's mother smiles, and continues stirring the soup she was making at the stove. “Hola mija, that must be Charles Leigh, Raymond's boy. We can invite them to dinner another day, after we get everything unpacked. Okay?” Lisa nodded and sat down in the chair at the table, nose barely reaching the flat top.
°°°
“Charles Gregory Leigh, from Brooklyn, New York, five foot seven, one hundred and sixty five point three pounds, in full health. I'm going to be nice and chop off that point three pounds so that you meet the requirements for the physical, but you better be watching your weight in boot camp. Generals watch those weights like hawks and you'll be booted out the moment you hit one sixty six.” The doctor set his clipboard down and frowned. “But that's the least of your problems. You do know you have to be a boy to be in the troops, correct?”
Lee set his chin up straighter, cropped hair placed neatly to his forehead. “I know sir. I am a boy.”
The doctor chuckled and shook his head, thinking. After a brief pause, he says, "I'm not a snitch, I'm not a tattler that runs to my superiors when someone doesn't meet the requirements. I know your pal Chuckie brought you here because he knows that. I need you to do me a favor, and then I'll pass you and you'll be ready for boot camp.”
Lee looked up at him, waiting, pleading silently.
“Just tell me this: is it worth it? You know you'll be caught eventually. Is it really worth being a man, running straight to your death?” Lee could tell he meant it as gentle as he could, but he took a moment anyways to not sound defensive.
“I’m not worried about dying. I knew I would be dead as a man no matter where I went. If I'm not doing it for my country, then why do it at all?” The doctor pondered this for a moment, and reached for his clipboard. He scribbled a signature and ripped the white copy of the form from the cupboard, then handed Lee the yellow copy underneath.
“Just hang on to this for your records and be here next Monday at 6am sharp. Here's another paper detailing everything you can bring and anything else.” He hands him another yellow paper, and starts to pack up his leather doctor's bag.
“Wait,” the doctor turns back to lee at the doorway. “What's your name?”
The doctor smiles warmly, gentle. “Dr. Abraham Erskine.”
“Well, Dr. Erskine,” Lee smiles back, filled with relief. “Thank you.” The mop of dark hair flops out of the doorway, gone.
Dr. Erskine suppresses a sigh, and goes back to packing up his bag. He takes one last look at the physical evaluation form on the table, and pauses. Back to the bag, he grabs a pen, and adds a note.
“CHARLES LEIGH, ADD AS POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR SSR PROJECT SUPER SOLDIER.”
He signs the footnote, signature loopy and swift, and returns his pen to his bag. Leaving the office, he turns the form in to the secretary, to be sent to Colonel Phillips, in boot camp.
°°°
Lee opened the door, key jingling, and stepped inside. His tiny apartment, strewn with books and paper everywhere, was quiet and empty. He tossed his papers onto the counter next to a dirty plate, and took a deep breath, walking into his bedroom. He rummaged about, picking up dirty clothes and stray papers. He considered going ahead and packing, but decided to wait until Chuckie was home.
As if on cue, the sound of the front door opening and heavier footsteps approaching filled his ears. Lee walked into the tiny living room to meet Chuckie, yellow paper already in his hands. Chuckie reads the report, coming to the end with Erskine's signature. His face broke out into a glittering smile, cheeks beaming. Lee smiled back, and snapped his fingers.
Chuckie looked up from the paper, still smiling. “You fucking did it. I can't believe you did it.”
“Yeah, well,” Lee shrugs, grinning widely. Chuckie drops the paper back onto the table, and opens his arms. Lee practically runs to him, and wraps his arms around Chuckie's waist. Chuckie chuckles, and hugs him back just as hard. they stay like that for a moment, quiet, comfortable.
“Let's go celebrate, I'll buy you a glass of milk.” Chuckie smirks and ruffles Lee's head, curly locks flopping about.
Lee whacks him on the arm, pushing out of his embrace. “How about instead, you walk to the Recruitment office with me Monday. I want you to see me off, little brother.”
°°°
Lee and Chuckie walk into the corner diner, bell jingling at the door. They sit at the counter and order a cup, blowing warm breaths into their palms.
“Are you ready for this?” Lee takes a sip of coffee, takes a moment to answer.
“I think I am. The worst they could do is throw me in jail. It's now or never.” Chuckie nods, and inhales the steam coming from his own mug, and brings it closer to him for warmth.
They finish their drinks and head back outside. Walking past an alleyway, Lee pauses. Sounds of struggling bodies can be heard, and shouts of anger echo down the narrow passageway. Lee takes off, dodging past trash cans and rubbish piles on the ground, until he sees a small group of 4 men. Two of them are holding down another man--a boy, Lee notices-- while the last kicks him in the stomach repeatedly. The boy looks scrawny, and thin, like he missed a few meals. His blond hair fell into his eyes, which held such a deep look of determination and contempt that Lee knew he had to help him.
“HEY! Get off him!” Lee shouts, and takes the last man by surprise with a kick to the ass. The man stumbles forward, and turns to Lee.
“Aw, you looking to join in too little man?” The man sneers, and brings up his fists. Lee smirks, arrogant.
“Fucking creeps, I'd say fight someone your own size, but I guess it's funnier to get your ass kicked by someone smaller, isn't it?” With that, Lee surges forward, fists flying. They scuffle for a moment, and the man punches Lee in the stomach, tossing him to the ground. Lee catches his breath for a moment, and swings back up. He charges again, this time feigning to the right, with the man leaning away. He swerves at the last second and roundhouse-kicks the man on his side, full force, and he collapses. One of the other men grasping the boy let go and charge Lee. He dodges him and goes for the dirty, kicking him hard in the groin. He collapses as well, and Lee turns to the last one holding the boy, but finds him in a chokehold by the boy himself.
“I got him! I got him!” He yells. The choking man sputters, and finally taps out. He lets him go, and he scurries up from the ground and tries to drag his friends away out of the alley. Lee and the boy watch him go. Chuckie strolls up from where he was leaning against a dumpster.
“Nice of you to help, pansy.” Chuckie scoffs and rolls his eyes.
“As if you needed my help.” Lee rolls his eyes back and turns to the boy.
“Are you hurt? We can get you to a hospital if you need it.” The boy shakes his head and winces. There's a cut on his lip and a red mark on his neck, the beginnings of a bruise.
“I'm fine, I have a thing to get to anyways. I'm Steve, Steve Rogers.” He holds out a hand, and Lee shakes it firmly.
“People call me Lee. This is Chuckie, my brother.” Steve nods at him, and dusts himself off, his dark green pants a little dirty from the fight. “Wait, that's a uniform like mine! Are you going to bootcamp today?” Steve nods, beaming. “Me too! Well at least I'll have a new friend there! Come on, you can walk with us.” Steve nods again and they set off down the alley. At the end of the alley, another figure runs by, pauses, and runs back to the alley.
“STEVEN GRANT ROGERS.” Steve turns red at his name being yelled and looks sheepish as the taller man runs up to him and inspects his dirty uniform and the cut on his lip. “You fucking idiot, what did I tell you about getting into fights! They can wait until after bootcamp!” Steve shrugged and looked even more sheepish as his friend reprimanded him. “Well, aren't you going to introduce me to your new friends?” Bucky places his hands on his hips.
“Buck, this is Lee and Chuckie. Guys, this is my best friend Bucky.” Lee looked him over once, and tried not to get lost in his eyes. Fuck. He was gorgeous. Lee nodded once, and Chuckie said a quiet hello. “Lee helped me… uh…”
“We kicked their asses.” Lee chirped, and winked at Steve. Steve blushed, looked away, then nodded. “And now we're going bootcamp together!” Bucky grinned at Lee and clapped Steve on the shoulder, leading him out the alley, into the street. Lee and Chuckie followed close behind.
“Thank God you made a friend on the inside so I don't have to abandon my post to save your ass once you get yourself in trouble somehow. You know I'd do it too, and then I'd never hear the end of it!” Steve rolled his eyes, but gave Bucky a look of endearment. Lee smiled and trailed close behind, listening to Bucky's chattering, until they stopped at the office Lee went to last week for his physical. “Alright, guys. This is where we stop. You better behave, punk, or you know what I'll do.” Steve rolled his eyes again and huffed, wrapping his arms around Bucky's waist.
“Bye, jerk. See you at the front lines.” Bucky hugged him back, and tousled his hair, earning a shout of annoyance from Steve. Lee turned to Chuckie, feeling a little lost.
“You heard 'em, Lee. Stay out of trouble or else, kid.”
“Chuckie I'm the older brother, I should be calling you kid. Kid.” Chuckie laughed and ruffled his hair, same as Bucky, and sighed. He pulled Lee into an embrace, chin on Lee's head.
“I'll miss you, idiot.” Lee sighed too, and hugged him tighter. “You're my brother now, but I'll always remember my favorite sister. Just… be careful, okay?” He whispered, tone switching from playful to serious. Lee nodded, throat tight. They broke the embrace, and just kept eye contact, speaking silent words of encouragement and support. Lee finally turned to Steve, who was waiting a small distance away with Bucky, giving them privacy.
“I'm ready guys. Let's go, Steve.” With that, they walk into the office together, and Bucky and Chuckie give each other a look of resignation, and part ways.