DEMONS.
( chapter three. )

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Edited 11/26/2015 @10:57 AM
Edited 04/17/2016 @2:24 AM
Edited 11/15/2017 @12:18 AM

ANDREA FELT ANNOYANCE COURSE through her as the sound of her phone ringing from her bedside was heard. She buried her head beneath her pillow, desperate for just a minute longer of sleep. She clung to what was left of slumber, but found that the ringing of an incoming call wouldn't leave her alone that easily. In that moment, never before had the Jones girl been more tempted to throw something at the wall.

But, by some God-given miracle, Andy managed to refrain.

Rather than giving in to her anger, the brunette reached towards her nightstand and answered the phone with a string of incoherent profanities leaving her lips. Who in their right mind would wake up at such ungodly hours? "Make it a good," she seethed, tone menacing and─ breath smelling disgusting, she thought with a furrowed nose.

"Good morning to you too, sunshine." Andy sighed at the sound of Steve's voice chuckling from the other end of the line. Rubbing her eyes, she allowed a yawn to escape her lips. Her annoyance was eased with the knowledge that it was only him, but she was still irritated by the awakening.

"What in fresh hell, Steve." Andrea glanced at her clock. 7AM, the letters blinked at her. She didn't have to be at work until nine. "I'm not sure if your memory has suddenly gone awry, but I, for one, distinctly remember what happened the last time you woke me up and I won't hesitate to do it again." Steve only chuckled and, at the sound, the Jones girl allowed a smile to spread across her lips.

It was common knowledge that Andrea was the textbook definition of not a morning person. "Yes, Andy, I remember─ God knows you'd never let me forget. But, I, for one," his tone was mocking, "recall you saying that you wanted to go for a run with me. Hurry up, I'm making breakfast now." With that, Steve hung up.

Andy sighed before she reluctantly pulled herself out of bed. After brushing her teeth, the female looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. Her eyes followed the movements of her hands as she tied her hair into ponytail. She would need to keep it out of her face if she was going to be running. 

After she was done, the Jones girl couldn't help but pause for a second. Her gaze stared at the person looking back at her, studying the lines of her features. For a moment, she couldn't help but feel a certain disconnect with whoever was looking back at her. It was as if she wasn't seeing herself, like the girl before her was a mere facade.

  Was this really her? Andrea leaned in close, so close her breath fogged the mirror as she stared into her own reflection. Then, she shook her head, letting out a breathy laugh at her own idiotic actions. She was being foolish.

Andy exited the washroom and quickly changed into some running gear. She didn't like flashy things and brand name clothing, so she usually just opted for simple clothes to go about her exercise. She put on a pair of loose shorts and a long-sleeved shirt. When she was done, she headed into the kitchen, collecting a water bottle from the fridge before she finally left her apartment.

In mere seconds, Andrea welcomed herself into Steve's living room as if it were nothing more than extension of her own home. The Rogers man peered around the corner that led into the kitchen, catching sight of her and chuckling. "Yes, please, come in," Steve called out sarcastically, though there was a playful grin on his face.

She zipped up her fitted S.H.I.E.L.D. jacket. "So where's this breakfast I was promised, Captain?" Andy questioned as she flopped onto the couch, landing on the cushions with a soft thump. Steve stared after the female for a few moments, brow raised before he shook his head and walked away. She knew he was questioning their friendship and couldn't help but laugh as he disappeared to get changed.

"I still don't know where the food is," Andy called out after him. 

"In the kitchen. Please, help yourself," Steve replied from somewhere down the hallway, more sarcasm to his tone. They both knew that, either way, she would get the food with or without his consent.

"Sure will," she murmured to herself. Andy teleported the short distance to make herself a bacon sandwich. When she was done, she teleported back to the couch and claimed her former seat. It was easier to move small distances, it took less concentration and energy. As she ate her food, Andy shifted her position so that her legs rested atop the couch.

The Jones girl's muscles worked to keep the upper half of her body balanced with the seat. It wasn't necessarily hard. Really, it was more amusing than anything. After all, she'd been trained to do endure worse things. Like, for example, hanging upside down for two hours without passing out.

Now that had been a challenge, and an unnecessarily real training exercise.

"Ready to go?" The sound of Steve speaking up was so sudden that Andrea's concentration wavered and she lost her balance. She fell off the couch with a thud, an exclamation of surprise leaving her lips as she hit her head lightly on the floor. Luckily, however, she managed to save her sandwich from sharing the same fate.

Andy turned her sharp gaze to Steve from where she lay on the floor, frowning as he laughed at her misfortune. "Ha, ha. Laugh it up, Rogers," she grumbled, collecting herself from the ground and stretching before eating the last of her bacon sandwich. "Alright, let's go before I can do anymore damage to myself."

Andrea made for the door, but paused when Steve didn't follow. She turned back to grab his hand, but he refused to budge. Instead, he watched in amusement as Andy struggled to pull him towards the exit. "Come on old man, we don't have all day," she seethed as she continued to attempt to move him.

Steve only grinned, earning a scowl in return. "Fine," she snapped, "I'll teleport us there." How could someone who woke up at seven in the morning be so lazy?

"That would've been more efficient, now wouldn't it?" At his taunt, Andy only rolled her eyes. Sometimes, she wondered if Steve ever thought about the effects her abilities might have on her. She couldn't always teleport whenever she wanted. However, for Steve, who she'd been through so much with, she felt that this was the least she could do for him.

Besides, maybe it was good to push her limits every once in a while.

She heaved a sigh. Closing her eyes, Andy focused all concentration on rousing her abilities to life. The buzzing in her fingertips began to grow in strength until the feeling consumed her entire body. From there, she concentrated on pushing the sensation outwards to Steve and envisioned their destination. Steve had never specified their running course, but the Tidal Basin was a personal favourite.

Not long after, the feeling faded and, when Andrea opened her eyes, she looked around. In the cool morning air, she could feel her senses sharpening and her muscles relaxing. The sun still had yet to fully rise, leaving Steve and Andy's surroundings shrouded in a partially dark veil.

Andrea paused for a moment to regain her bearings as Steve went on ahead of her. She felt her exhaustion right away and knew she had to lay off her powers. But, even despite her weariness, Andy refused to let it get to her. If she showed the effects of her abilities, it would only worry Steve and he fretted about her more than enough.

Andy took a deep breathe, pulling her leg up behind her in a stretch before repeating the action with the other. Once she was finished, she lifted her gaze to look at Steve, who was already looking back at her. She rose a brow, noting the mischievous glint in his eyes. She didn't like that look.

"Race you around the Basin," he said with a grin before abruptly turning and sprinting from Andy. She felt her mouth fall open in shock. But, she was quick to pick up her jaw and chase after the Rogers man, cursing her slow start as she did.

"That's so unfair! You got a head start!" She called after him, though she had easily caught up in less than a minutes time. Which, mainly had to do with the fact that Steve had slowed down for her. But, the Jones girl chose to ignore this factor. Steve chuckled before the pair continued on in a comfortable silence.

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Andy grinned in amusement as both she and Steve approached the man they'd been─ for lack of better word─ teasing for the past ten minutes. Passing him on their course around the Basin had been a coincidence at first. But, upon taking the lead, Andrea noticed that Steve's course deigned to lap around him more and more.

"On your left," she heard the Rogers man say from ahead of her as he passed the man for a third time on their laps around the reflecting pool.

They were running in front of the Lincoln Memorial now. The innocent civilian had kept quiet for the most part of their torment, save for the occasional sigh at their childish antics. "On your right," Andrea followed as she passed the man as well. She shot him a grin over her shoulder before picking up her pace in order to catch up with Steve.

"So," Andrea gasped out, struggling to keep her breath even with one word, never-mind all of the others she wanted to say. "Is there a specific reason we're tailing the cute guy by running laps around him? Or am I just looking into it too much?" She couldn't help her grin when she was finished.

Steve glanced at her, "You're looking into it too much." Andy didn't buy it, considering how he quickened his pace. She didn't think his red ears were from exertion either. Andy laughed, easily catching up once more. Steve showing interest was an exciting thing, and she wasn't letting him off the hook that easily.

"You know," she began, speaking breathlessly, "you can be a patriot and not be hetero-" Steve took off ahead of her and Andrea collapsed on the sidewalk with laughter. "Was it something I said?!" She yelled after him, struggling to get back on her feet in the midst of her gasping laughs.

He finally slowed after a while and she caught up again, but he kept his gaze far from Andrea's smug smile. When the pair began approaching the man on their final lap around the pool, he turned his head and took notice of their approach. He visibly quickened his pace and, as he did, Steve and Andrea quickly followed. The female grinned as he let out a huff of frustration.

"Don't say it, don't you-" the innocent runner was quickly cut off.

"On your left," Steve said as he passed.

"On your right," Andy followed, shooting a wink over her shoulder as the man let out a yell of defeat.

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"If you want to see him again," Andy's smile was coy as she nudged Steve's arm, "we can do another lap around the block and see if he followed our course." Their run was over, but oddly enough they lingered in front of the Capitol Building. Steve gave her a pointed look and opened his mouth, but Andy didn't hear his remark as she watched a familiar figure jog out from around the corner.

"I guess we don't have to," her grin was positively beaming as she took Steve by the shoulders and turned him around to face where the man had collapsed on the grass. Clearly he was finished and in due time for a rest, but he didn't appear to notice the pair.

"Wanna go and talk to him?" Andrea asked, laughing when Steve whirled around to face her.

"Are you insane," he said with a flustered expression.

Andy shrugged, "Fine. I'll go by myself." She didn't bother waiting for a reply, dancing out of Steve's reach just as he went to stop her. Andy grinned as she approached the subject of their amusement. He was leaned up against a tree now, breathing heavily.

At her approach, the runner shot the brunette a playful glare. "Got anything more for me?" He asked, the words breathless. Andrea raised her hands as if to emphasize that she had nothing on her.

"Nope, I'm all out of tricks," she said, letting out a laugh as she sat down on the grass near him. "I'm Andy," she stretched out her hand in greeting and he took it.

"Sam," he replied. "So, where's your friend?" Andy suppressed a grin at his interest and gave a casual shrug. She laid on her back, crossing her arms behind her head. She wondered if he recognized who Steve was, but figured that he did. It wasn't exactly a hard guess, given that he kept his identity out in the open.

"He's probably basking in this beautiful, American morning somewhere like the patriot he is." Sam chuckled at her mocking tones and she grinned. "I'm kidding, he's just being sh-"

"Need a medic?" Steve asked, cutting in before Andy could finish as he finally joined the pair. Andrea shot Steve a smile before she pursed her lips, stepping out of the conversation. Though, she kept a keen eye on it.

Sam closed his eyes, chuckling dryly. "Man, I need a new set of lungs," he replied. "I swear, you both just ran thirty miles in under fifteen minutes." His words were spoken between heaving breaths. Andy chuckled as she sat up, leaning back on her hands and weaving her fingers through the grass.

"I suppose we got a late start," Steve reasoned and Andy bit her lip to keep from snorting in disbelief.

"Oh, really?" Sam questioned, all attention on Steve. "You should be ashamed of yourself, take another lap─ did you take it? I assume you just took it." Andrea couldn't help it, she laughed at that.

"So, what unit are you in?" Steve questioned just as Andy turned away, losing interest in the conversation. She was only half tuned-in to the pair as her eyes wandered, looking around the beautiful borough of DC. Across the street, Andrea found her gaze abruptly halting on an all-too-familiar figure.

She first noticed the cap fitted low on his head, but didn't place the recognition she felt until her eyes fell upon his upturned collar. She knew who he was; the man from the museum. Only, this time there was a black scarf wrapped haphazardly around the bottom half of his face.

Andy felt her eyebrows knit together as she stared at him, concerned by his appearance. He wasn't watching them directly, but he was suspicious from the moment she met him and Andy was hardly one to believe in coincidence. Andrea barely noticed it as she rose from her spot on the ground, moving to approach.

However, almost as soon as she got up, he was gone; disappearing in the crowd of people and the vehicles between them all over again. For a moment, Andrea felt confusion overcome her, unsure if she had even seen the man at all. She would be lying if she said she hadn't thought about him much after the sigil triggered her memory.

Andrea heaved a sigh, brushing the instance off as a subconscious trick of the mind. He stuck out too much in crowds to disappear that quickly. She turned back to face Steve and Sam. Andy figured it was best not to give too much thought to the strange figure. If she did, then the mystery of him would only distract her.

But, if it happened again, Andy knew she would have to look into him. Which, reminded her of the dog-tags the man had dropped. She'd left them back at her apartment. Andy hadn't gotten the chance to look at them with all that had happened the day before. But, she made a mental note to check it out as soon as she got home.

"Must be hard, right?" She heard Sam ask, the words recapturing her attention.

Steve merely shrugged, "It's not so bad. Food's better─ we used to boil everything. No polio is good and then there's the Internet. So helpful." Steve was rambling and Andy smiled, bumping shoulders with him. Though, her shoulder barely came up around his bicep.

"You say that like you know how to use it," Andrea taunted. Steve rolled his eyes, shoulder bumping her back. "But, seriously," Andy directed her words towards Sam now, "he hardly knows how to work the toaster without setting off the smoke alarm." Sam chuckled at this piece of information.

"That was one time," Steve insisted, "and it was mainly Stark's fault, he was distracting me." Andrea snickered, finding the conversation far too amusing. It was always fun to tease Steve.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," she replied, patting his arm before the beep of her work phone was heard. Andy glanced down at the screen as a new S.H.I.E.L.D. notification popped up─ which likely meant that she was assigned a new mission. Andy heaved a sigh and turned to Steve, showing him the message.

He nodded before shaking hands with Sam, Andy quick to follow suit. "Duty calls, Sammy Boy, but thanks for the run." She gave him a wink, receiving a chuckle in return.

"If that's what you want to call running," Steve added playfully, and both Andy and Sam laughed.

"Oh, that's how it is?" Sam questioned, grinning as Steve began to smile.

"That's how it is," he replied, and Andy rolled her eyes at the pair. She wouldn't exactly call it flirting, but they were on each other's radar now and it was more than enough to please her. Just as the conversation died down, the roar of Natasha's vehicle was heard and Andy turned.

She lifted a hand to wave, a smile forming on her lips at the sight of her red-headed friend. "Any of you know where the Smithsonian is? I'm here to pick up a fossil." Natasha's eyes were teasing as she peered up at them through her open window. Andrea couldn't help but burst out laughing at the remark, a lot harder than she should've.

Steve rolled his eyes at his best friend's antics and Natasha grinned. At least someone appreciated her humour. "Laugh it up Jones." Steve narrowed his eyes on the female, who let out another string of laughter fall from her lips. Once her fit was over, she climbed into the backseat of the vehicle. Amazing car, but terrible seating.

"Can't run everywhere," Andy said as she leaned forward to peer out of the front window. She directed her grin towards Sam. Though, he was a little too busy staring at Steve to fully comprehend her words. "No, you can't," he agreed and Andy grinned, waving before the trio drove off.

She looked over towards the Romanoff woman and grinned upon seeing her hair. It was long and straight, a different look from her natural curls. "I like the new look," she commented with a grin before leaning forward to turn on the radio.

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Steve and Sam are in LOVE. I saw a post about the running scene on Tumblr and how little sense it made and I was like, damn... I'm incorporating that now and no one can stop me.