Chapter 8
New York, 2011.
Lee was making breakfast when he got the call, omelette abandoned on the counter. His cell phone rang, and he tapped the little green dot on the touch screen, and it wouldn't answer. He tried again, grumbling about stupid technology, until he swiped the dot and the call connected.
“He's awake, HQ. Be here in one hour.” The call disconnected, and Lee rushed into action.
His apartment door was hurriedly locked and he rushed to his car, throwing himself in and speeding out of the driveway.
The drive to SHIELD's headquarters was nerve-wracking, his entire body felt alight with energy, like he drank an entire gallon of coffee. He got there with fifteen minutes to spare, and was let in through the gate, armed guards nodding at him in greeting. He parked, and powerwalked as quickly as he could, until he entered the building.
The elevator was silent, other agents in the elevator waiting for their floor, and Lee was getting even more anxious as the floors rose in number. Finally, the seventh floor came, and he left the tiny elevator, headed to his supervisor's office. He stopped at the secretary's desk, and nodded to her, and she buzzed him in.
Nick Fury turned around in his office chair, and so did a built figure with blond hair and blue eyes, standing at Fury's desk. Lee froze. Time seemed to stop for him.
Steve.
Steve.
“Steve.”
“Lee,” Steve whispered, a mixture of emotion all over his face. Steve took one step forward, then all but ran the few steps to Lee, and embraced him in a crushing bear hug. Lee still stood there, unbelieving, until it hit him that it's fucking Steve, it's really him, and Lee nearly collapsed under the onslaught of emotions that came over him. He wrapped his arms around Steve's waist, tight, and buried his head into his neck.
“ Steve,” he whispered, and breathed him in, his smell of light cologne and gunpowder still the same after all these years. Seventy fucking years.
Lee finally pulled away to get a good look at him. He hadn't changed. He wore a tight fitting shirt, and simple khaki pants, but he was still the same Steve. Who threw him off a goddamn plane, STEVE. Lee pushed him away, a little harsh, and Steve looked confused, hurt?
“You fucking bastard,” he spat. “You threw me off a plane!” Steve didn't look confused anymore, only sheepish.
“Listen, I--”
“No, don't you dare. You stubborn, you, you fucking, goddammit.” Lee shook his head, the rage falling off him, and then he just looked tired. Weary. Seventy fucking years. “You left me.”
Steve put his hand on his shoulder, and squeezed. “I know. I'm sorry.” Fury cleared his throat, and the moment was broken.
“Agent Leigh. Now that the reunion has been dealt with, we have business to take care of.” Lee stood up straight, and walked to the front of the desk.
“Sir.” Steve joined him.
“Since you are the closest contact of Rogers, you will be assigned as his handler for now, until he…. adjusts, to modern life. Make sure he stays out of trouble, and keep him ready.” Lee nodded, and took the manila envelope handed to him, with his instructions written inside, just paperwork for the records. “I already briefed him on SHIELD's official job description, and unofficial job description. He can stay with you for now, unless you have any objections?” Lee shook his head, and Fury turned to Steve. “Captain, it would be best for you to stay with Agent Leigh, and get used to all of this. I know it might be hard adjusting, but your friend here has done so just fine. Expect to hear from me soon about any assignment offers. Dismissed.” Steve nodded and they both left the office, and headed back to the elevator. Lee lead the way, out of the building, to his own car, a black compact car with tinted windows. Steve got in the passenger seat, and off they went.
“So,” started Steve. “What did I miss?”
“You're kidding,” snapped Lee.
“Lee, I-”
“You have no idea how fucking happy I am to see you, but also so fucking furious at you right now. I don't know whether to scream at you or hug you, and I'm very close to just screaming in general. What did you miss? Everything! Every fucking thing! UGH!” Lee took a deep breath, nearly started furiously ranting again, then stopped himself. They sat in silence, Steve watching the view outside the window, Lee fuming quietly to himself.
Steve finally broke the silence. “You know,” he said. “At least the trees didn't change.” Lee didn't say anything, but felt himself calm down, slowly, in little steps. The anger dissipated, and with it left a strange mix of sadness and happiness. He left, but he's back. It's Steve. Lee couldn't keep a grudge over this man, not then, not now.
“Actually,” he quipped. “They're now making these tree hybrids that are two different species of tree. Like orange-apple trees, and the like.” Steve turned to Lee, and gave him a small smile.
“Well, how about that,” he said. “An or...orapple tree. An apporange? Appange? Orpple?” Lee chuckled at him, and the mood lifted in the car, and Lee turned down his street, pulling into the driveway of his apartment complex.
Steve got out of the car, and stared at all of it. The buildings were different than he was used to, and the cars that were parked in neat rows in front were definitely different, but the air of the place was the same. Children played in the park across the street, and neighbors walked their dogs. Lee watched Steve take it all in.
“Come on, Stevie,” he finally said. “Let's go inside, get you settled.” Steve turned at the familiar nickname, and followed Lee down a corridor of doors, until they reached Lee's. They stepped inside, and Steve took in Lee's apartment. Quaint, simple, but modern.
His apartment was a two bedroom space with a set of spiral stairs leading to a loft. The bottom floor held a living room with a soft looking old couch and a simple TV set, as well as a record player with a stack of records piled next to it. To the left, a hallway lead to two bedrooms and a bathroom at the end. A counter separated the kitchen from the living room, and the small kitchen was lined with light gray tile and simple kitchen appliances. To the right of the kitchen was a small dining room, where a table sat with two chairs. Steve looked up at the second floor area, the loft, and he could see the tops of shelving with books scattered about. There were plants everywhere, from what looked like herbs on the windowsill in the kitchen, to flowers resting daintily on a side table in the living room. Various plants and flowers were placed in pots around the rooms, and it gave the entire living space a sense of life and freshness.
“So,” Lee said. “This is my place. The loft is my study area, you're welcome to explore after you get settled. My room is the door on the left, and the guest room you can use as yours at the right. Bathroom's next to your room, and that's really it aside from the laundry area two corridors down the way. I'll make some lunch while you unpack your bag.” Lee set the file he got from Fury on the counter, and strode into the kitchen. He grabbed the omelette and trashed it, and washed the plate off in the sink. Opening the fridge, he grabbed some lunch meat and condiments, and gathered up some veggies for sandwiches. Steve walked down the hallway, and turned to the right, entering the guest room. A queen sized bed lay in the corner of the room, and a simple dresser and nightstand occupied the rest of the space. A closet was nestled on the remaining empty wall, and Steve set his bag down in front of the closet door.
He could hear Lee rummaging about in the kitchen, so he sat down on the bed and just looked around the room. A lamp sat on the nightstand next to an electronic clock, which read 11:16 am.
Lee popped his head in the bedroom. “Lunchtime, Stevie,” he chirped, and left the hallway.
°°°
Steve sat on the bench of the neighborhood park, people watching. He’d told Lee he needed some fresh air, and that he wouldn’t be gone for very long, but he really just needed to get out. He needed a moment to himself, to process that he’s here, alive, and he just couldn’t wrap his head around any of it, not at the moment. He watched the kids play on the playground, some swinging on creaky swings, others sliding down slides and running around, playing tag. He watched as a couple walked down the sidewalk, hand in hand, and briefly thought about Peggy, and what happened to her. Thinking about Peggy brought a wave of guilt, and loss, so he tried to push it aside. He wasn’t ready to deal with that yet, but he mentally made himself a reminder to ask Lee what had happened to her and the Commandos.
The Commandos…. Bucky. It ached to think about him. He would have been fascinated with the modern world, and it would have been nice to process this with Bucky at his side.
He sat there, brooding, until someone quietly sat down next to him on the bench. He looked up, and Lee didn’t say anything, he just observed the world around him. Steve took the time to study his face, see what changed in him. Seventy years had worn him down, but he still looked youthful as ever. He had kept his hair short, wavy hair still the same as before. He didn’t have a mustache anymore, but rather kept himself clean-shaven, same caramel skin as before. There was a tiredness to his eyes, though, and his shoulders looked heavier, as if the weight of the world is leaning too heavily for his taste. He was still Lee, though, and that was all that mattered. Steve didn’t have Bucky anymore, but he had Lee, and that was all he could ask for.
“Things have changed, Steve,” Lee finally broke the silence, “but in ways I don’t think we ever considered back then. I used to watch everyone, watch our teammates, watch the world around me. It’s changed so quickly, there’s so much to see now. I honestly don’t know where to start, what to show you.”
Steve thought a moment, and found an idea. “Why not show me what’s happened to all the old stuff? Like my old apartment and the old corner diner I met you near, and the old movie theater.”
“That’s a great idea, actually! If you want we could actually see a movie tonight. Maybe a lighthearted one to get you acquainted with some things.” Steve smiled, and turned to Lee.
“That sounds great. I also have some questions… about what you’ve been doing all this time. We won the war, but what happened after?” Lee’s cheerful expression wavered a tiny bit, and he let it fall, back to the serious expression it held before.
“It’s… complicated. I’ll help you regain some knowledge, history-wise, but what I did after the war is.... Classified. I want to tell you, but I’m not allowed for the most part. Plus, we can’t talk about any of that here.” Steve nodded, understanding. “But modern things I can tell you about, like technology and stuff. Oh! That’s another thing!” Steve looked at him expectantly.
“Yes?”
Lee grinned from ear to ear. “You need a cell phone.”