Steve's POV

After Tony leaves, I lock the door. I turn to face Ally in the darkness.

"Sorry about him." She speaks before I can say anything. "Goodnight."

I sigh, making my way back over to my bed. "Goodnight."

---

"So how long do we have to stay here?" I ask as we all sit around the big table for breakfast.

"As long as it takes to fix the compound and add a few security measures." Tony sips his coffee. "Maybe I should ask that Shadow girl to help out with that."

I hear Ally scoff from beside me and my head snaps in her direction as does everyone else's.

"Something funny?" Tony asks, clearly annoyed.

"Never thought the infamously prideful Tony Stark would ask someone he hates for help." She shrugs.

The Shadow has come up in conversation around Ally before so it's not suspicious to the team that she knows some things. Plus, she was working the case on it before she came to work for Tony.

"Well clearly my tech isn't advanced enough considering you got hurt." Tony sighs and Ally gives me a look, realizing that I told Tony about the bullet in her shoulder. "If her help will keep everyone safer then it's worth a shot."

I notice a surprised look on Ally's face. She quickly returns her focus to her food as she plays with it.

After breakfast, the team and I get ready to head out for training.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us? Just to watch?" I ask, tying my sneakers.

"I probably shouldn't." She sighs.

I nod and grab my iPod before leaving the room. I open the door to find Bucky standing there.

"Ready to go?" I ask him.

"I um.." He looks passed me and at Ally. "I'm not going today."

I furrow my eyebrows as I look between them.

"I wanted to talk to Ally about something." He admits.

Ally furrows her eyebrows and her small self appears beside me. "Talk to me about what?"

Bucky looks at me and I let him into the room.

"Do you want me to stay?" I ask Ally.

"No, it's fine." She gives me a small smile. "I'll see you in a bit."

I give her a small smile and nod before leaving the two of them. I wonder what they could possibly have to talk about.

Alexandra's POV

"What are you thinking?" James asks as soon as the door closes behind Steve. I give him a confused look. "You know he likes you, right?"

I feel myself blush. "I mean I had my suspicions."

"Ally.." James shakes his head. "You can't mess with him. He's got a big heart and that makes him fragile."

"I'm not messing with him." I defend.

James raises an eyebrow. "Steve will do everything he can to protect the ones he loves. He's lost so many people in his life already."

"I know that." I narrow my eyes at him. "We've been friends for a while now, y'know."

"How can I get my point across?" James asks himself as he looks down. "I don't think you should be spending this much time with Steve."

I furrow my eyebrows. "Well that's not your-"

"He needs someone that can be there for him and not give him a heart attack by disappearing or almost dying every other day." He continues. "I know the way you live, your intentions, because I was the same way when I first left Hydra."

"But I've been my own person for years now." I cross my arms.

"But you've still got that kind of mindset, Al." He sighs. "You don't want a life with someone. You don't want a family. You make it a point to avoid any dating because you think of it as a waste of time."

I hang my head as I realize that he's right.

"Don't waste Steve's time. Don't break his heart."

I sigh, taking in his words. Maybe he's right. Maybe I should make a run for it while I still can.

"So, what, do I just stop talking to him and leave him wondering why?" I ask, my heart aching for some reason. I don't like Steve, I can't. Not only is James right about me, but Steve is Tony's best friend. That's just.. Weird.

"I don't know, I haven't been very good at this dating stuff after.. y'know." James sighs. "Maybe just talk to him and let him down easy."

I nod, fumbling with my fingers as I begin to formulate the conversation in my head.

"So." I speak up, looking at James. "You've been looking for a lady?" I smirk. His cheeks turn bright red as he looks away. "How's that been going? Any candidates?"

James and I have always been close. Back in our Hydra days he was the only one to care, despite his Winter Soldier ways.

"Well.. When you first popped up again I considered it." He teases, causing me to fake vomit.

"Seriously, James." I laugh as he lightly shoves me.

"I don't know, there's a cute girl that works at a coffee shop downtown but I doubt she'd ever go on a date with me." He sighs. "If she knew who I really was she'd run for the hills."

I press my lips together and stay silent. I can't help but feel bad for him, he never asked for this metal arm or murderous past. It sucks to see how it affects him growing and moving passed that.

"When you find the right one, she won't care about any of that." I reassure him, giving him a small smile.

He smiles back at me. "Thanks, Al." He stares a little too long before chuckling softly. "If I didn't actually know you, I'd think you were flirting."

"Me? Flirting?" I laugh. "Only for a mission."

He laughs at my statement and pulls me into a hug. I hear the door swing open and we pull away to find an exhausted Steve walking into the room. James and I exchange a look before standing from the couch.

"Hey pal, how was training?" James asks him.

"Good. Tiring." He sighs. "Everything alright in here?"

"Yeah." I smile at both men.

"Well, I'll let you guys be." James says, giving both of us a hug before leaving the room.

Once the door closes I feel Steve's arms around me. "Are you sure everything's okay?" He breathes down my neck.

"Y-Yeah." I squirm out of his grip, my conversation with James still fresh in my mind.

"He didn't pull anything, did he?" He asks.

"What?" I laugh.

"I've seen the way he looks at you." Steve says, grabbing fresh clothes out of his bag.

"James?" I stifle a laugh. "There's no way. He knows I'm not into him."

"Why not? He's a good looking guy." Steve shrugs.

"Not my type I guess." I sigh.

"What is your type, exactly?" He asks and I know what he's playing at. I stay silent and Steve looks up at me. He must notice my watery eyes because he jumps to my side. "What's wrong? Did I say something?"

I shake my head and look down at my feet. James is right. I can't do this to him. God, why did I put myself in this situation in the first place?

"Ally." His voice is soft and filled with concern. I look up at him as a tear rolls down my cheek. "Talk to me." He pleads, wiping my tear away with his thumb.