( THE FUTURE WITH ME )

GORDON WAS GONE SO SOON THAT EDITH WAS SURE SHE HAD WHIPLASH. In the time it had taken him to get the okay to go to basic training, Steve and her (and sometimes Bucky, though he had also enlisted) had been on three more of their little get togethers. Gordon had tagged along for one of them simply to get to know Steve more and the four of them had been laughing basically the whole night. Edith was so glad that they seemed to get along. It may have been one of those days that they had to speak louder because Steve wasn't having a good day, but they still enjoyed it immensely. 

And when Gordon got the orders to go to basic, Edith almost made him miss the transport because she wouldn't let go of him. As much as she was proud of him for fighting for his country, the thought of losing him to the war like she had lost Dad was heartbreaking. 

He jabbed his fingers into her side, making her let go with a shriek, before he was ruffling her messy hair. "I'll be back before you know it." He leaned down to plant a kiss on her cheek, squeezing her shoulder before stepping a way to pick up his army issued duffle. 

"Yeah, but then you're gonna get orders to go fight overseas and that means I'll be obligated to miss you," Edith sassed, but she could hear her voice getting tighter as her eyes started to burn. Gordon gave her a sad smile, taking a deep breath. 

"Steve will keep you great company, you'll barely know I'm gone," Gordon told her, Edith laughing wetly as her vision blurred. Gordon whispered, "Oh, Edith." She was wrapped up into his warm arms again, being squeezed tightly before three kisses were pressed against her hair and forehead. They hugged like that for a minute or two before Gordon kissed Edith's forehead again and moved away, telling her one last goodbye. 

When the door shut, that's when the tears started. Edith's knees collapsed under her and she buried her face in her hands as the tears started to flood down her face. She didn't know how long she sat there, how long the dread of the fact that her brother was going to go to war curled around her spine and gripped it tight. All she knew was that by the time the phone started to ring, she was feeling dehydrated. 

Getting up, wiping the tears from her cheeks, she wobbled over to the phone and answered with a lump still stuck in her throat. It was quiet on the other side of the phone for a second, before Steve was speaking up over the phone, "Edith, darling, are you okay?" 

Edith felt her heartbeat escalate at the term of endearment, but she felt the dread tighten around her spine. She couldn't quite believe that her brother was training to go to war, to shoot guns and kill people. "This probably sounds stupid, but Gordon's going to basic today, and he just left." 

The apartment suddenly felt extremely empty. Edith heard the pipes groan as another round of tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She sank to her knees, the cord that connected the receiver to the phone pulled taunt, the world suddenly feeling too big but somehow suffocating.

"It's okay, Edith," Steve's voice seemed to cut through whatever was going on with the girl, her grief or her panic or whatever it was, his voice an anchor to the real world. "Hey, he'll be back. It's not the end. Bucky is getting ready to go to basic soon. That's why I was calling. Do you wanna go see a picture with me?" 

Edith paused, let his question sink in, before asking, "What? You mean like a date?" She waited for a second, listening to the sound of Steve's slightly labored breath (it was a particularly smokey day), before she got a small affirmation from him. Which made her look down at herself and the robe that she was wearing. "You'll have to give me a moment to get ready. I was planning on staying in today." 

"Well, we don't-" Steve started, but was interrupted by Edith laughing. 

"I want to, Steve. Spending some time with you would do some good. I'll call you when I'm ready." 

It took her a little bit to get ready, putting on one of her nicer dresses before making sure here hair and make up are done. While the curls set, she calls Steve, who tells her that he's going to walk to grab her so they can make their way to the theatre. Edith smiles, before she's making sure she has a coat and enough money to cover her entrance to the picture show. With that settled, Edith pulled on her coat and made her way down the stairs, making sure to lock the apartment door behind her. 

True to his word, Steve was walking down her street by the time she was on the sidewalk. He was taking it a little slower today, which was totally fine. It was obvious that his asthma was acting up by the way he was breathing. At least there was new bruises on his face that told her that he had gotten into another fight before coming to see her. 

As soon as he was close enough, Edith hooked their hands together and they started to leisurely walk their way to the theatre. Edith filled the silence, Steve talking when he could spare the breath. She talked about her theories for the future, about how Howard Stark was going to have them all in flying cars by the time they were in the 21st century and that travelling great distances would became so easy you could do it in the drop of a hat. She talked about how the buildings were definitely going to be taller, but the architecture would change and become more sleek and stylish instead of blocky bricks. Edith guessed that more glass was probably going to be used.

And Steve... God, Steve looked so excited about the future that she was explaining. A future where the medical field would advance and heal people of rare diseases and people with missing limbs will have a chance to have better prosthetics. Also, there'll be better food. Edith was so excited to see this world come to life around her that she didn't think that there was going to be anything different. 

When asked about his day, Steve told about how he tried to enlist again, but had failed to get approved. The fact that he was an asthmatic probably didn't help, especially if he was huffing and puffing the way he was. Edith was almost tempted to stop to get some of those fancy cigarettes they had to help with his asthma. Instead, she reminded Steve that it was illegal to lie on the enlistment form, knowing he would hate that he was hovering about the asthma. It wasn't even that bad, it just seemed that the air quality wasn't agreeing with him. 

They made it to the theatre, buying their tickets, before making their way to the screen room, finding two seats in the middle row. Edith settled quickly, getting ready to watch the picture show, her hand finding Steve's without her really thinking about it. Steve didn't protest at all. In fact, he gripped her hand tighter. 

Of course, before the film started, they had the advertisement to get men to enlist in the Army. Steve squeezed her hand to give her comfort, Edith shooting him a smile in thanks. She thought about laying her head on his small shoulder but decided against it. When the recruitment video was over, Edith felt herself relax not even aware that she had tensed in the first place. 

They watched the film in a comfortable silence, Edith on the edge of her seat when some of the action scene started. Steve smiled over at her because of her reaction, making her smile at him and just bask in how lucky she was that he had decided that she was worth his time. Even if a lot of women overlooked him because of his small stature, he could have stayed in his own bubble and not let her hold his hand and get to know him better. Steve Rogers was quite possibly one of the best people that Edith had ever met. 

Edith clenched Steve's hand when a particular violent scene played out on the screen, the girl finally giving in and dipping her head to hide her face from what was being shown. Steve moved his hand from her's to wrap his arm around her shoulders and pull her closer to his body, pushing his face in her hair. Tingles shot up Edith's spine, elephants rampaged in her stomach, she'd pretty sure her heart is beating faster than an automobile, and her head was going to explode. having Steve this close just felt right. 

The rest of the picture was spent cuddled together, Edith making a noise of disappointment every time Steve tried to move away. She did let him move to get comfortable, but if said movement was more than a couple inches away from her body, she made a whining noise that had Steve chuckling cutely before cuddling back into her. Edith felt warm and protected and safe and maybe that was strange for only knowing him for how long she does but it's the truth and she can't change that. 

When the film finally ended, Edith blinked in disappointment as the lights came back on. Though, Steve and her didn't move until they were the last ones sitting, which they both grudgingly pulled away from each other and exited the room. Steve didn't get too far away from Edith, however, and kept his hand firmly intertwined with her's. 

When they got out of the building and underneath the awning that had the film titles on it, as well as the stars and starlets of each one, they both stopped when they saw that it was pouring rain. Edith bit her lip, turning to Steve and looking down at their intertwined hands. She couldn't help but think that the way they fit was meant to be. As she swung them back and forth between them, she flickered her eyes to the face and had a realization, "You're not going to stop trying to enlist until they take you, right?" 

Steve took a deep breath, Edith having a distance thought that his lungs sounded better, watching as he looked around at the basically deserted street, only the people carrying umbrellas safe. When he looked back at her, she saw determination in the line of his small shoulders and knew what he was going to say. "You know how I feel about this, Edith. I have the right to fight for my country and for freedom. I don't deserve to do any less than any other man, no matter my size." 

Edith nodded in agreement, looking back at their hands again. She blew out a breath, squeezing Steve's fingers with her own, "As long as..." she trailed, temporary losing her nerve before she looked up at Steve and saw the bravery that sparked in his eyes from talking about his will to fight the good fight. "As long as you promise that once you're done, Soldier, you spend the future with me."

Steve seemed dumbstruck from the request, his mouth falling open and close like a fish. It took him a couple tries to start speaking, a noise coming out of his mouth but nothing else as he slowly turned that shade of blushing red that Edith was so fond of. His mouth snapped shut, Edith could hear him gulp, before he was nodding vigorously at her. 

Edith couldn't help it. She got on her toes and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

____________

fast burn? i don't know her. how about they're burning so hot like when johnny storm went supernova in the first fantastic four movie (the chris evans one ofc ofc). 

honestly, i love these two cuties soooooooo much. like. so much. i don't want any pain to befall either of them. the RED SKULL, LOKI, HYDRA, ULTRON, ZEMO, and THANOS can FUCK OFF!!!

also. i should probably fuck off too. i have the ending planned out for this and oooohhooooo, i already know i am going to cry writing it. and the only person who knows about it is amara and oooohhooooo. 

anyway. one more chapter before i start writing into the first avenger! weeeeeee