Occasion
Steve had never been one for occasions. Before the treatment, he never felt like he fit in with everyone else in their suits and bowties, so he avoided them. After the treatment, he was subjected to event after event, and for each one he was forced to wear a suit and bowtie; failing that the Captain America costume he had been assigned right at the beginning.
It wasn’t just science events, the ones he attended with Howard Stark as a prop, as proof of the results, but events as Captain America during the tour. Steve felt uncomfortable at all of them, sticking to dark corners as often as he could and retreating from the room as soon as he could.
It wasn’t that Steve hated the events, it was just he still didn’t feel like he belonged there. Two months ago, he would still have been skinny and small, treated like a child who didn’t know his own mind; now, he was treated like a hero, someone to look up to.
During one memorable occasion, early on in the tour, he had taken too many glasses of champagne and had ended up with a sore head the next day. Luckily for him, travelling was the only thing to be done, and so he slept most of the journey. He had learned his lesson.
There was one event that Steve was looking forward to in his life. He looked forward to keeping his promise and date with Peggy. Even after he woke up in the ice, he constantly thought of the woman who had captured his heart, all those years ago.
It was at a celebration ceremony Director Fury had organised that Steve learned to love occasions. It was by chance he happened to look in the corner where an old lady sat smiling at the younger people. He walked over and presented his hand.
“Would you care to dance? See I had this date with a lady I intend to keep.”
Peggy smiled and took his hand.