CHAPTER ONE: meeting Steve Rogers

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MALCOLM LAWRENCE RAN SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH STEVE ROGERS, SMILING BRIGHTLY WHEN THE TWO PASSED SAM WILSON. "On your left." Steve called out to Sam.

Steve had repeated the same three words every time he passed Sam.
Malcolm was going to same speed as the super-solider. Until, the third time they passed Sam, Steve passing Malcolm.

"Show off." Malcom muttered when Steve had passed them. Malcom was still farther then Sam.

"Don't say it! Don't you say it!" Sam yelled.

"On your left." Steve replied.

"Come on!" Sam yelled in complaint, before trying to speed up but groaning and stopping.

Steve and Malcolm continued to run, them meeting Sam at a tree.

"Need a medic?" Steve asked, making Sam and Malcolm laugh.

"I need a new set of lungs." Sam replied. "Dude, you just ran, like thirteen miles in thirty minutes."

"I guess I got a late start."

Sam laughed. "Really? You should be ashamed of yourself. You should take another lap." Then turned to Malcolm. "And how did you manage to match him?"

Malcolm shrugged. "Basically a werewolf, remember?"

"Oh," Sam said, looking at Steve, sarcastically. "did you just take it? I assume you just took it."

"What unit you with?" Steve asked.

"Fifty-eighth Pararescue. But now I'm working down at the VA. Sam Wilson." Sam said, lifting up his hand.

"Steve Rogers." Steve grabbed a hold of his out stretched hand, lifting him up off the ground before turning to Malcolm, a hand out.

"I kind of put that together."

"Malcolm Lawrence." He introduces himself.

"Must have freaked you out," Sam continued. "coming home, after the whole defrosting thing."

"It takes some getting used to. It's good to meet you, Sam, Malcom." Steve said, walking off.

"It's your bed, right?" Sam asked, and Malcolm
looked at him slightly confused.

"What's that?" Steve asked, turning around.

"Your bed, it's too soft. When I was over there, I'd sleep on the ground, use rocks for pillows, like a caveman. Now, I'm home, lying in my bed, and it's like..."

Malcolm didn't think he should be part of this conversation. Or that he could. He didn't know what to say.

"Lying on a marshmallow." Steve finished. "Feel like I'm gonna sink right to the floor. How long?"

"Two tours. You must miss the good old days, huh?" Sam asked.

"Well, things aren't so bad. Food's a lot better. We used to boil everything."  Malcolm laughed at that, Steve continued to speak. "No polio is good. Internet, so helpful. I've been reading that a lot, trying to catch up."

"Ever need anything or help, I offer my help." Malcolm smiled.

"Marvin Gaye, nineteen-seventie-two, trouble man soundtrack." Sam said. "Everything you missed jammed into one album."

Steve pulled out a small notebook, nodding. "I'll write it on the list."

Malcolm turned, glancing behind him. Then back forward. "A bucket list? Or, I guess a to-do list."

Steve nodded, his phone ringing. "All right, Sam, Malcolm, duty calls. Thanks for the run." Steve shook Sam's hand. "If that's what you call running."

"Oh, that's how it is?"

"Oh, that's how it is."

"Okay." Sam laughed.

Then Steve turned to Malcolm, hand out. "I was impressed. Thanks for the run."

Steve went to walk off, Sam giving a shocked face at the obvious hit aimed towards him. Malcolm smiled, shrugging his shoulders.

"Any time you want to stop by the VA, make me look awesome in front of the girl at the front desk, just let me know." Sam spoke, stopping Steve as he turned around.

"I'll keep it in mind."

A car pulled up, rolling down the window. Natasha Romanoff sat in the front. "Either one of you know where the Smithsonian is? I'm here to pick up a fossil."

"That's hilarious." Steve spoke, walking up to the car. He for into the passenger's seat.

"How you doing?" Sam asked.

"Hey. Can't run everywhere." Steve replied.

"No, you can't."

Steve rolled up the window, the two driving off. Sam turned to Malcom. "Since when are you so silent?"

"He's Captain America." Malcolm replied. "What the fuck was a supposed to say?"

Sam laughed, shaking his head.

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"So," Sam smiled at Malcolm. "What was it that you said? Like, three months ago?"

"Shut up." Malcolm told his best friend. Who smiled a teasing and mocking smile.

"Oh, I remember-"

Malcolm glared up at him with red eyes, buy it didn't intimidate his friend as it would have with others. "You know, this is why I should have never become your best friend. You're an asshole."

Sam laughed again, smiling while Malcolm muttered threats about ripping his throat out.

"You always say that, but never do it." Sam said, at his friend who continued to glare then rolled his eyes as he decided to take out his phone, pulling open an app. Then ignored Sam. "Oh, you're gonna ignore me?"

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