A cool summer day, brisk July evening. Everyone was giddy and excited for the upcoming Fourth of July Firework show. Even with the war still raging on, most of the men gone and the women hard at work, there were a few that were still there helping out best at home. But months ago before summer had even begun, there was a boy named Steven, a what used to be lanky, small blonde who had changed over the course of rigorous training and some experimental drugs that were runned by the highest of the high. At the time it was the dawn of a era known as Tony Stark's time to shin, though Steve and the infamous Stark had little to no contact, he did see him working along side Abraham Erskine, the German doctor who had worked somewhat with the previous Stark before his untimely death. Steve met that man only once, and had liked him but sad as it was he had been taken from the world too soon so his son stepped in. A sophisticated looking man from the clothing he wore, but from his manners- or therefore lacking of, he had lived up to his reputation. Though it wasn't all bad, two women that worked there as well, Ms. Carter and Ms. Potts

Though the two did not get along...so well at first... but later on, as they began to work together more it had been a bonding time. One particular night had changed it all.

"Ouch- Stark, quit poking me with that! I'm done, through! This isn't ever going to work I..I'm done here." Steve was about to be injected with another dose of the experimental drug that had been promised to give them results. It had been started in 1939 as soon as the war broke out, it was only just now ready for human testing and this is the only candidate they could find. The only one the doctor and Mr. Stark would agree upon. After the months of training though on the frail American's body, his will was faltering. His pride dashed away by now, shirtless he could only see bones and skins when looking to the mirror across from them. Steve felt such a anger yet ...a feeling of hopelessness. He was even shorter than Ms. Potts, Ms. Carter- all of them. He was small. He was weak. The serum clearly wasn't working. "I'm not going to be your guinea pig anymore, theres no reason to keep trying when all I can do is just sit in the room while you poke and prod at me!"

He had jumped off the table, not even bothering to look at genius who had been working on this project for actually quite a while now. But if he had looked, if Steve had just turned his head he would see a shocked and somewhat annoyed expression on his face, but Steve didn't want to see. He didn't want to stay there, he was only a lab rat to them. But before he could make it out the doors as he grabbed his shirt about to put it back on, a large hand grabbed his wrist as he was forced to stop.

"Are you a idiot? I mean, I knew you were...but now your a coward. Thats even worse, whats wrong with you? Can't you see? It is working! Your just being too much of a coward- and a idiot, to realize this! We egg heads here have been working our fingers to the bone trying to figure out how to merge your DNA and this serum together, but you knew right from the start! What happened, huh?" Steve hadn't moved. Back still to the older one, his mouth had opened but nothing came out. How could he answer Tony? But seeing as he had nothing to say yet, the slick man had continued, never loosening his grip. "What about all that talk about being a man and fighting for this country? Huh? What the hell happened Rogers? The doc. and I did not just spend all these months working with you just for you to give up!" Thats when the other finally started to fight back.

Turning around halfway to face Anthony, his eyes darkened from the shadows of the room, being it just the two of them since most of the team had actually left as soon as Tony started, it was mostly him and the doc even if he didn't even spend time in the room at all. But tonight he wanted to give Steve a physical, so he summoned him from his room that he was staying at, which was inside the Stark building. Being able to to look up at him, his eyes had narrowed a bit as he barked out; "I signed up to become a soldier, not to just be given drugs that don't even change me a bit." With that he had actually managed to tug away his skinny wrist and shove Tony hard actually causing the man to stumble back and fall into some machines. He had sighed slightly heavily and stared at him before turning back around.

Coming to, Tony had realized what had just happened. "Wait, Steve wait!" He said getting to his feet again. Though hearing him say his name, the blonde did stop and shake his head,

"What?" With that he was turned around by a smiling Tony, "..What..why are you grinning?" But Tony only shook his head, eyes lit up with something like glee.

"Don't you see Stevie boy? It is working! You just don't see it yet! You have gotten bigger, only a bit and you have really gotten stronger!" It took him a moment to soak this in, then he realized he was able to maneuver away from Stark. Someone who would have been more than capable to take Steve down. Looking for a moment he smiled looking up at Tony laughing slightly, soon the other joined his laughter as they joined in a hug. Their laughs echoing through the halls of the barren faculties, they soon settled down.


Steve had sighed slightly, what a memory. He wasn't that skinny guy from Brooklyn anymore. Nope. He was bigger, almost six feet if not six feet already! Weighed a lot more too, most of it the newly found muscle he had acquired from the agonizing training he had endured, but it all paid off. He was a soldier now, and here he was in his room with only the window open where the sunlight was able to get through. Today was the day he would be revealed to the public. That the training and all the tax payers money was a success. But Steve felt a nervous swirl in his gut as he sat at his wooden desk, drawing laid on it. Pencil resting lazily in his hand as he bit his lower lip, looking down at it.

"Rise and shine sunshine, we have people to meet, and people to greet!" A arrogant voice said as thee Tony Stark busted into his room. Glancing up, Steves baby blue eyes met with a oak like brown ones. Ones that always seemed to be calculating something, that seemed to be breaking down every fiber of your being and finding out exactly what you were trying to hide. It made Steve shiver, but not now as he smiled faintly to the man. He nodded glancing down to his paper, finally he remembered what he was drawing in the first place as his eyes widened, no doubt Tony had saw this as well. "Whatcha drawing over here golden boy?" He said as he approached Steve, but quickly Steve took the paper in his hand and stood up, chest out and feet together as he stood straight.

"A-Ah got it, I'll be out in a bit Mr. Stark! I just need to-" before he could even finish, Tony nodded smiling coyly to Steve, that only made him more nervous. But a low chuckle from now the shorter of the two kept the soldier on his toes.

"At ease... come on relax, your going to show everyone how impressive you are." Taking one step closer Steve had the reflex to take one back, paper behind his hands as he swallowed thickly, his Addams apple moving slightly as he did so. The look on Tonys face softened some as he gently patted the others chest, "We're all proud of you Steve. If my dad where here..." he seemed to have to put some effort into this next part, it was subtle in the pause, the way his voice had been tuned it was almost as if he had practiced this. "...He'd be really glad to see what a success you turned out to be. He was...right about you." Feeling a rush of warmth wrap around the young man, he couldn't help but notice the lingering touch as Tony pulled away as soon as they both noticed it.

".....Thank you Mr. Stark. I really cannot thank you enough for everything you've done for me. I will fight in this war..and we will win." The determination was back into Steves voice, his heart always showing. "You know I'll die before I let this country down!" But when eh said that, he saw the flinch the genius had, but the ghost of a smirk that was presented on his face obviously was a way of trying to sell the idea he was happy and glad that day but something told Steve he wasn't. Arching a single fine brow, Steve had asked slowly, both hands grabbing Tony's shoulders as he leaned down. "Are you okay Mr. Stark? Something seriously looks wrong with you. You even seem...upset." He said, and as he did this he did take note of the reddening cheeks of the millionaire.

"Whoa, slow down there slick! I-I just, hate to see you leaving. Shipping out first thing next week..right?" He said a bit hesitantly, hands up as a signal of giving up. Pulling back he sighed, a smile on his own face as he said quietly,

"I'm leaving after the fireworks show tomorrow." as Steve finished that, he felt a dread fall onto him as he saw the look on Tonys face. Why had it made him so..sad? Before either could say a thing, there was a knock at the door as someone said beyond it, "Five minutes guys!" This was supposed to be the day he said goodbye to his neighborhood with cheers, where he lived it all up and smiled. Right now he stood still, paralyzed as he heard the other man before him finally speak.

"Your going...t-tomorrow?" His voice shook as he looked up at him with pleading eyes, full of angst and something that Steve could not put his finger on.


To Be Continued.