~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When T'Challa said to get Steve a shield, June had thought more along the lines of the original Captain America shield.
That, however, was not the case. T'Challa's sister came out with two identical shields, black, and grey with silver highlights that looked like discount Black Panther claws.
June stood to the side, as most of the people in the room flocked to Steve or Vision. She was left staring out of the window, gazing somewhat stupidly at the ships that'd landed just inside the jungle. A line of warriors from Wakanda were the only people who remained in the city. Among them stood Bruce in the Hulkbuster armor, used to defeat his alter-ego, Rhodey in his armor, and Sam in his. Bucky was out there somewhere too, with his new metal arm and a machine gun that made her a little jealous.
June jumped as a hand laid gently on her shoulder. "It's just me." She turned her head to find Steve adjusting his new shields on the outside of his wrists.
"Sorry, a bit jumpy I guess."
"We all are." Steve cleared his throat, clearly intending to send something, but June beat him to it.
She reached over her back, grabbed the shield from her back and unhooked it. Holding it in her hands for a brief moment before reaching forward and handing it to Steve, she spoke. "I think you should have this. They need Captain America."
He looked down at the circular flag on metal she held before shaking his head and pushing it back into her arms. "I stopped being Captain America two years ago." He paused again. "The shield isn't Captain America, the person is. I can still be a patriot without the shield. Besides, it's yours anyway, you're Miss America, and that is your shield."
June smiled gingerly, almost cradling the shield, hesitating. She wasn't known that well in the superhero realm, Steve was. Anyone who didn't know him personally would think this was his shield, not her's. Hell, hardly anybody knew she had a shield, to begin with.
If the people were going to rally behind anyone, it would be Steve. And that's what the people needed.
"It's not about me, this is about what the people need, and they need a soldier to rally behind."
"They can still follow us, follow me, with or without the shield. This is your's."
June swallowed and slung the shield back over her should and onto her back. Steve smiled and nodded. "That's my girl."
"Were you going to say something?"
Steve opened his mouth. Then closed it, and opened it again, like a fish out of water. Clearly, whatever he was going to say was important, Steve was hardly ever struggled to find words. June braced herself, but his words never came, they were interrupted by Nat.
"You ready?" Both June and Steve straightened visibly. Steve squared his shoulders and his chin straightened. June's spine went into a vertical line as though pulled by a string. Nat looked between the both of them, raising an eyebrow. "Did I interrupt you two?"
Steve and June shook their heads at the same time.
"Of course not."
"Nope."
Nat's eyebrow lifted higher and she hummed under her breath. "Right. T'Challa's ready, we need to go." Steve nodded and walked toward the king. Natasha turned to her. "Be careful, please. I know you're not on the front lines, but if they plan an ambush-"
"I'll kick their asses. Go and save the world, Nat." The blonde shared a sad smile, and unexpectedly, wrapped her arms around June. She blinked a couple of times, before doing the same.
June felt unexpected tears cling to her eyes, and she wasn't quite certain of the reason. It was probably the mass of emotions that came with sending off the only friends you had off to war, and your sister still stuck in space. She turned her head and whispered in Nat's ear. "Take of Steve for me? I know he doesn't need it but- just keep an eye on him for me?"
Nat nodded her head against June's shoulder. "I always do."
They broke apart, but Nat kept her hand on June's shoulder. "He really does care."
"Shut the hell up and go kick some ass." Nat grinned and walked to the group forming near the door. The only ones who weren't among them were herself, Wanda, Vision (still on the medical table) and T'Challa's little sister.
June moved slowly toward, half afraid that as soon as she got to them, they'd already be gone. But Steve saw her coming and stopped midway through the door to the elevator. "Came to say goodbye?"
"Came to tell you to be careful."
He chuckled lightly. "Look who's the overly-concerned one now?"
"It's still you Rogers, still you."
He laughed through his nose. "I just-"
"Wanted to tell me to be careful? Nat gave me the shpeal, she's got it covered."
He nodded and laughed again. "Good to know."
June cleared her throat, as the last of their group walked on the elevator leading to the ground.
"What were you going to ask me earlier? Before we were interrupted?"
Steve paused and looked at the ground. His eyebrows furrowed together, and he looked up. "I'll tell you later, maybe when this is over."
"I'll take it." He nodded and held out his hands. June took them, intertwining her finger with his. "We're gonna be fine. We'll fix everything when this is over, I swear." Steve looked at her hands in his and released them, but quickly wrapped her in a hug.
Note to self, June thought, when the end of the world arrives, there will be lots of hugs.
Steve's chin fit just on top of her head (June only came up to his shoulders) and his arms wrapped around her waist and back. She could feel the cool metal of his new shield through her suit, but barely.
Steve released her, slowly, like it pained him to do it. June smiled up at him, and Steve leaned down, and June thought this moment was going to be like the romance novels or the movies, where the couple shares a goodbye kiss.
Boom.
An explosion flared against the outside of the Wakandan barrier, and June whipped around to see the gold and red and orange flames lick up the shield, then turn into wisps of smoke. And it was the second time she'd been interrupted from having a moment with Steve today.
"Go." She turned back to Steve. "Go now." Steve looked back at her once before rushing to the door. She watched him enter, squeeze in between Nat and T'Challa' bodyguard, and turn back to her.
She waved once, almost like a salute, and Steve smiled. He called her name, just as the door was closing, mouthed two words to her, and winked.
'Love you.'
June's jaw dropped in surprise, shock, and a bit of happiness before it split into a genuine grin. June hadn't smiled like that in a long time, too long.
Steve caught a glimpse of her face before the door closed, June was sure of it, because his face split into the same grin she wore. All that was left now were the four people in the room and a huge sense of foreboding.
And June waited for the world to end.
A/N: Guys I'm so sorry I posted this at like 12 pm it has not been a good week
I have a best friend in the hospital send some prayers I'm serious she's having surgery
hope this didn't suck as much as it usually does this was so cheezy I'm sorryyyyyy
Thank you for the 400+ reads and 40+ votes, it really does mean so much to me like you guys we have 39,000 reads on Pull Y'all are killing me 1,500+ votes??? quaking
wattpad is being super wonky with writing ugh did ya'll see the new app update??? throwing me for a loop wow
hope you've been having nicer weather than we have Michigan like to throw temper tantrums we were supposed to have snow today yet here we are with another two inches jfc
enjoy, thanks for reading
Stay not dead,
~Kelly~