Chapter 08: Ready or Not
HYDRA HQ - SCHMIDT'S OFFICE LAB
In a big bay window in the rock, through the glass, we see an artist painting at an easel. Then a knock was heard.
"Sir?" Dr. Zola confirmed if Schmidt was available. It can be heard that a record was playing. He hesitantly enters the room and stops.
"Don't stare, Doctor." Schmidt simply said. A little amused. An artist paints his portrait, palette all shades of red. "Is it something in particular?"
"I understand you've found him." Dr. Zola asked.
"See for yourself." Schmidt replied. On the table, Zola finds surveillance shots of Erskine in New York, in a cab, buying a hot dog, being escorted by MP's. Zola looks up at Johann Schmidt's standing silhouette in front of the window. He can't make out his face. "You disapprove." He said matter-of-factly.
"Berlin doesn't feel this is a proper use of their resources." Dr. Zola said honestly.
"And you are now their loyal servant? Berlin, if they care, can discuss it with me personally." Schmidt said arrogantly.
"I just don't see why you need concern yourself. I can't imagine he'll succeed—" He paused for a second then immediately said "Again."
"His serum is the Allies' only defense against the power we now possess. If we take it away, our victory is assured." Schmidt said.
Zola nods, resigned and just asked "Shall I give the order?"
"It's already been given." Schmidt replied. Zola smiles tightly and heads for the door but was called again. "Dr. Zola? What do you think?" Schmidt asked.
Zola glances at the artist, who looks queasy and frightened. Zola peaks at the painting and simply said "A masterpiece."
BROOKLYN STREET - BLACK SEDAN
Steve rides with Agent Carter, staring out at the familiar streets. Agent Sakura left the camp with his father much earlier than they did.
"I know this neighborhood. I got beat up in that alley...and that vacant lot...and behind that diner." Steve said matter-of-factly.
"Did you have something against running away?" Agent Carter asked, curious.
"You start running, they'll never let you stop. You stand up, you push back...they can only tell you "no" for so long, right?" Steve solemnly replied.
"I know a bit what that's like. To have every door shut in your face." Agent Carter starting to reminisce.
"Who'd shut a door on you? I figure guys would be climbing over each other to hold them open." Steve tried to lighten the mood.
"Depends which door you're trying to go through." Agent Carter has a small smile on her face.
"I guess I don't know why a beautiful...agent...why would she want to join the army anyhow? She could do whatever she wanted." Steve changed his sentence midway, avoiding to sound like a man hitting on a woman as much as possible. Though noone knows that he and Yumhee were dating besides her father, that doesn't mean he'll do anything to give Yumhee any reason to even think that he's not serious about them.
"You don't know an awful lot about women, do you?" Agent Carter teased him.
"You got me all wrong, Agent Carter. I don't know anything about women. Think about it; I don't have any money, so I can't take them to dinner. I'm...kinda short. That doesn't help. Ever. And I don't dance, so that's off the table." While saying these things about himself, he starts to feel somewhat insecure again. Then he remembered what Yumhee told him at the restaurant.
'You don't have to be ashamed of anything Steve. You're actually one of the very few people I know that have a very good heart. And I'm sure that whoever you end up with, is one very lucky woman. I'm sure of it, because I'd be feeling exactly that if it was me.'
With that, all his worries vanished. He really feels so damn lucky to have Yumhee, someone other than Bucky, he's bestfriend, to see him more than just a frail-looking man with many health issues. A smile started to appear in his face. Especially when he remembers what just happened this morning.
'You make me want things I'm afraid to have.' He still can't help but to swoon at the memory and feel the butterflies in his stomach. He tried hard not to blush and smile widely like a crazy person while in the presence of other people besides Yumhee...no, Malaya.
"You must have at least danced." Agent Carter said, curious again.
His wandering mind was distracted and after thinking momentarily what the question was about again, he answered indifferently. "Standing on my mom's feet when I was seven. I don't know. Asking a girl to dance seemed so terrifying, and then in the last few years it didn't seem so important. I figure I might as well wait."
"For what?" Agent Carter asked.
He shrugs, looking out the window. "The right partner." Then he reminded himself to take Yumhee to dance one of these days. While thinking this, he failed to see that his answer had an effect on Agent Carter.
The car slows. "This is it." Agent Carter said. The sedan pulls up to an antique store. Two bums loitering near the entrance. Two men in suits stand near a row of cars.
Steve climbs out, confused. And asked "Why did we stop here?"
"I'm redecorating." Agent Carter simply replied. The bell over the door rings. The antique store owner nods at Peggy and Steve.
"Lovely weather this morning, isn't it?" The owner greeted them politely but in truth, this is a code.
"Yes, but I always carry an umbrella." Agent Carter smiled at the owner which she returns.
"I suppose you can't be too careful." Said the owner. And Agent Carter replied with "Best to be prepared for a shift in the wind."
The code exchanged, the owner presses a button under the counter, where a submachine gun hangs hidden. Agent Carter leads Steve through a door in the back.
To say that Steve was astonished at how big and sophisticated it was is an understatement. He just let himself take everything in and roam his eyes everywhere possible without letting himself be left behind.