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It's a Sunday, which means that Jack has off of work. Well, she's not really ever off, Steve must admit, but it's one of the better times to catch her. For now he's decided on asking her on a lunch of pizza and a walk through the park to enjoy the changing of the leaves. It seems maybe a bit cheesy, but when you're displaced by a generation that is often the effect.
"Any more about that vampire business?" he says as they walk along. "Don't mean to sound like I'm checking up on you," he adds, totally checking up on her.
*
Jack's lips twist to the side as her hands slowly trail to her pockets. Too aware that everyone seems concerned about the weird vampire business, she casts him an all too knowing smile. There's a tick of her head and a drop of her chin, nearly shy as she replies, "No. Nothing new. Just the weird memories left by the strangest thing that's happened in my life so far."
"And what about you? Your friend still doing alright in hospital? I still can't believe this city and its increased violence."
*
"Yeah, he's going to make a full recovery. Thanks for asking," As Jack's hand goes in her pocket, Steve becomes immediately uncomfortable with what to do with his. That was his great big move and it has gone sideways on him. He, uh, well, he puts his hands in his pockets too then. "Sorry. I guess vampirism isn't really what you probably want to be talking about. How is work going? Any new clients or crazy coverages you've had to deal with this week?"
*
"It's okay," Jack actually shoots Steve an easier smile. "To be honest, I thought it'd come up." Her smile subdues, "When vampires take an interest in you enough that they kidnap you, bite you, and try to turn you into one of them people," her eyes flicker with vague amusement, "suddenly worry," the tone is one of mock surprise. "Evidently friends don't let friends turn to vampires."
She clucks her tongue. "Work is work. Big trouble with what's been going on with the monstrosity in Central Park." Pause. "And cemeteries, someone's been engaging in grave robberies it seems. Lots of them too. Major claims."
*
"Grave robberies? That's awful. Do you know if anyone has found out any information on it?" Steve feels a pang of guilt grow in his stomach. He should be doing something. He should be doing anything, but trying to find a new place to rent is going to be tough and he has to spend so much time just finding enough time to work to try and get some money in. Real life hitting him hasn't been working out well lately.
*
Jack shakes her head. "No obvious leads right now to my knowledge. But," she lifts a single finger, "I'm not an investigator. You'd have to ask people that know about those things." She issues him a small wave, "It'll be okay. Just keeps me in graveyards more than I'd like." Her smile softens. "And what about you? How's the cartooning going?"
*
"Well, I'm a better soldier than a cartoonist. I'm beginning to worry about whether or not I made the right decision," Steve admits. "I've got to find a place to rent by the end of the month. It's a lot harder in New York than it was 20 years ago. But, it'll all work out. I just have to find my niche."
*
"Is it because you did it longer?" Jack asks with a one shouldered shrug. "I mean, we learn things as we grow in them." Her eyes light up though as she notes, "Are you saying you miss it?" Her head cants to look up at him.
*
"I do. Is that bad? I struggle with the idea that maybe I am some sort of monster that needs war to be good at life," Steve shakes his head. "That sounds stupid. I'm the beneficiary of one of the greatest gifts of science in the past 50 years, and I'm whining."
*
"But is it the war piece you miss or the rest of it?" there's a light in Jack's eyes as she asks the question. "You didn't just do war. You helped people. You made a difference. You… changed things." She manages a flicker of a smile, "It's not whining. You're trying to figure out where you belong. I think… everyone does that. Frozen in time or not."
*
"I miss all of it. I miss making a difference. I miss the camaraderie with my friend and allies. I miss waking up in the morning and having a certainty about what my mission is." Steve shrugs, "I think I need to pick up the shield again and start going out. Even if it's just like that Spider-boy guy. Even if it's something small."
*
There's a pause as if Jack is considering something. "Then do it. You have a gift. You have a passion." Her eyes lid lightly, and then she takes a few steps ahead to stand in front of Steve. Her hands leave her pockets to lightly rest on Steve's shoulders, "Look. Steve. This city needs heroes. This city is a mess. I see the destruction everyday, and so many of us are powerless to do anything. We need heroes."
*
"Thanks, Jack. You're the best." His hands come out of his pockets as well. And though he hasn't tried to do this in about twenty years, and even though he wasn't all that particularly good at this sort of thing way back then, he rests his hands upon her sides and attempts to give her a peck, straight away on the lips, in public and everything.
*
The light kiss is returned, and the brunette's cheeks hue pale pink after it's broken. Bashfully, her chin drops and she emits a soft, nearly-contented sigh. "I'm not. But in your shoes, I would do it. Just… don't be too worn by it. You don't have to dod this, you want to." A glimmer of mischief reflects in her eyes. "So while you may be uniquely positioned for helping people, this is your choice. Which means… you're not a soldier anymore. This is your conscience. Your choice."
*
"Well we'll have to agree to disagree about that, but you're right. And this is my choice. I'm going to start tonight." Steve looks like he's got a bit more pep in his step, as if the decision has been weighing on him heavily and if he thought that such a thing might be the end of him and Jack. He's relieved. And happy.
*
"Want and duty are tied together, but they're not the same," Jack manages with a small shrug. "It's like my roommates." She squints. "Both of them try to make a difference. And so do I. In my own small way." She smirks. "We might feel a sense of duty, but it's still our choice. We can just live or we can try to make purpose. My dad used to say that."
*
Steve reaches for Jack's hand and begins to walk again, "He sounds like a very intelligent man. I would have liked to have met him." Mentally, Steve wonders if he should call Danny to try and get on the inside track of how things are happening in the city right now. She was early on the vampires and seems to know a lot about where to hit. But even as he thinks it over, Jack's words come back to him. The difference between want and duty? Steve is not sure he knows the difference.
*
Steve's hand is given a sharp squeeze. "He was," Jack replies and then with a laugh she offers, "He would've liked you too." She grins, "Of course, I think he hero-worshipped you once upon a time. Just like my brothers. The youngest was floored that I'd met you."
*
"So when I meet you brother, you're saying I should let him hold the shield?" Steve says with a laugh. "Well, as long as I have an in with them. That makes the whole prospect easier." He chuckles and shakes his head, "That's been the weirdest thing about coming out of the ice cube, really. I mean, I wasn't really aware of how my image was being used back here during the war. I had no idea people really knew who I was. Now I can't really go anywhere without being stopped. I hope that doesn't bother you."
*
"Pretty much," Jack replies with a raise of her eyebrows. "If you want to come to Providence, I feel like the whole town would want to meet you. And the shield." She nods lightly, "Your image was kind of a big deal here. People really were amazed." Her cheeks hue pink. "People just want hope. Wanted hope. They still long for it. All the time." Her cheeks redden further. "I'm not going to lie, it's surreal being out with you, but you're not… like I mean yeah, you're," her voice lowers, "CAPTAIN AMERICA," her voice returns to it's normal timbre, "but you're not right now. You're… Steve. I know," her eyebrows draw together, "both of those are true. I just… I'm not making sense."
*
"I'll go to Providence whenever you want," Steve says with a laugh. "I don't even know if there's really a Captain America. I look at some of the way I'm represented in the comics and in movies, and it's so much fiction. So much of an attempt to sell things. The gloss is never really ever as bright as it seems when you get to know the real thing. But if people get hope from it, I guess that's fine. I just sort of sometimes feel like a faker. And I think you're making plenty of sense."
*
Jack relaxes some. "Well, it's intimidating to know that you're the guy, but you don't seem like the guy. You don't read like the fellow my brothers were so keen for. You're… just you." Again her face warms. "And good. I'm glad i make sense sometimes. Statistically, a person is more likely to be hit by lightning than meet a single powered person and know it. So… I'd guess our stats are low because so many can just hide as the rest of us. Maybe we should just treat all people as people." She grins.
*
Steve laughs, "I thought you meant a single, powered person." Something about that he found really funny before he put together what she actually meant. "I've met quite a few of them and they seem pretty normal to me. Although I might not be the best judge—I was always sort of on the outskirts as a kid. I think that makes you more accepting."
*
Jack's face reddens and she stifles a chuckle with her fingers. "Not quite what I meant, but sure. That's probably true too." She clucks her tongue and then nods, "See? That's exactly it. All people are people. And yeah, I'd agree. Feeling on the outside makes you open to others somehow. Clearly."
*
"Well, I'm going to let you go on and keep thinking that," Steve says. "Hey, I realize it's cold, but the ice cream stand at the edge of the park is only open through next weekend if you're in the mood."
*
"For ice cream?" A sly smile tugs at Jack's features, "I'm always in the mood. Yes. Let's go. Besides, chills can always be resolved."
*
Steve's not exactly sure what she means by that, but he's too shy to ask. He leads on however, trying to get one more Root Beer float in before winter comes.