Steve Rogers trudged along the stairs leading up to his S.H.I.E.L.D. assigned apartment. It wasn't so much that the stairs tired him, as a Super Soldier, things like that were a piece of cake now...but more-so the fact that he had jumped out of a building from about 25 stories up with nothing but his shield as "padding".

Suffice to say, it had been a long day for Captain America.

When he finally made it to the top of the stairs, his neighbor, a young woman in her late 20's named Cyndi smiled and said "hello".

"Hey, Cyndi." He replied, trying to sound as friendly as possible given his current state. Besides, she was very pretty and he didn't want to come off as cranky as he was and spoil any possible chance he might have.

Not that he thought he had any chance. Sometimes, Steve still regarded himself as that scrawny kid he once was. It was hard to change the way he thought when all he had known was being picked on by bullies and rejected by women. He thought of himself solely as a soldier. Not a man who needed anyone or anything. Not even companionship. He was made to serve the country, and now, he was serving the world.

There was no time to fall in love in Captain America's world.

Steve noticed her countenance fall as she looked at his left arm. Furrowing his brow, he followed her gaze and noticed he was cut up and bleeding badly on his shoulder.

"How's the other guy?" Cyndi joked finally.

"Much worse." He laughed softly.

"I have some first aid supplies in my apartment, I could go get it..." She offered, motioning next door.

"That's sweet but I-" Steve began, not wanting to be a bother.

"Nonsense. C'mon." She replied softly, gently holding his right forearm and leading him towards the direction of her apartment.

"Maybe the day is finally looking up." The soldier thought to himself. He couldn't believe she was touching him, let alone inviting him into her home.

"My dog Belle may pounce on you." She warned with a smile over her shoulder before she slid the key into the lock and opened the door. On cue, a flash of golden fur came bounding off the couch, whimpering and circling them happily.

"She acts like she hasn't seen me in 10 years." Cyndi laughed as Belle whimpered happily and jumped up to get closer to her to bestow her with kisses.

Steve smiled and watched. He had never had a dog, must have been nice to have someone miss you when you were gone.

Suddenly, he was very aware that he was still holding onto his shield. Apparently, she noticed, too.

"You can put it by the door if you want. I'll go get the first aid kit. Belly Jelly, be a good girl and say hi to Captain Rogers." She smiled as she walked off and he put his shield where she had said. Awkwardly, he waited by the door, unsure of what to do with himself. While he waited, he looked around the cozy apartment. It was definitely a woman's home. She had furniture in teal, a black leather ottoman and a black coffee table. The rest of the furniture was black but had accents of teal and purple throughout the space. Pops of silver hardware on knobs, candlesticks and picture frames. From his limited knowledge of this time, it was very stylish.

At his feet, Belle rolled around on the carpet, looking up at him expectantly with big brown eyes. With a smile, he bent down and rubbed her belly.

"Made a new friend, I see." Cyndi replied as she returned, clutching a kit in her hand.

"Yea, guess so." He answered softly.

"You know, you can come in." She teased, motioning to the kitchen table, where she pulled two chairs out facing each other so she could tend to him arm.

"Right. Ummm, should I take off my boots?" He asked politely.

"Nah, I gotta vacuum." She smiled as she sat in her chair and the Super Soldier followed suit.

"Gimme." She said softly, reaching out to him. With a shy smile, he turned so that his left shoulder was facing her.

"Do I even want to know what really happened?" She asked as she leaned in close and rolled his sleeve up so she could get a good look at the wound.

"I don't want to bore you..." He laughed.

"I somehow doubt Captain America ever has a boring story to tell. But, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. You can just sit there and be a good patient." She said, smiling as she brought a wet wash cloth up to his shoulder and softly wiped off the mostly dried blood that had dripped away from the cut and down his bicep, cleaning the workspace. The water was warm and it felt nice on Steve's skin, as did her gentle touch as she tended to him. He wasn't used to anyone doting on him or giving him the kind of care he was now receiving.

It was nice.

"Are you a nurse?" He asked after a few minutes of silence, happily watching her work. It wasn't wasted on him, also, that she smelled very nice and upon closer inspection, had crystal blue eyes and long eyelashes.

"I just work at a bank, but I have little brothers. I had to play mommy sometimes." She grinned up at him.

"Get into trouble, did they?" He smirked.

"Boys will be boys, as I'm sure you know." She replied.

"I think my childhood might have been a little more sheltered. I was sick a lot." He said, remembering all the days he missed at school...not that he really missed anything, it was a welcomed break from the bullying.

"Oh, that is right, isn't it? I watched a biography about you once." She answered in a thoughtful tone, looking back down at her work.

"Was it interesting?" He asked with a smile.

"Very. You're a fascinating guy, Captain." She smiled, eyes still on his shoulder.

"If there's anything you ever want to know, feel free to ask the source. And, please, just call me Steve." He replied easily, watching now as she began to disinfect the wound. He had never been very good with women, but talking to her seemed to be as easy as talking to an old friend. Almost like talking to Bucky back in the good old days, only she was definitely more appealing to his eyes.

"Well, Steve, I think I'll take you up on that sometime. Maybe not today, I take it you might want to just go home and relax after I'm through with you." Cyndi mused.

"It's really nice of you to do all this, Miss." Steve replied, thankfully.

"Call me Cyndi." She said with a playful smile and a wink up at him.

She really was quite beautiful now that he had gotten a closer look at her. Usually they passed in the hallway with a brief, but always friendly greeting. Sometimes there was small talk about the weather. Sometimes she got his mail on accident or vice versa.

This was probably the longest they'd talked in the year he'd been living in this building.

A few more minutes later, her work was done as she wrapped his shoulder up securely in bandages.

They were about to get up when Cyndi lightly touched his thigh, making him remain still as she kissed her index and middle fingers and lightly touched his bandage with them.

"A kiss makes any boo-boo better." She smiled. He blushed through his smile and their eyes maintained a gaze for a second or two.

Gosh, was he glad to have jumped out of that building today.

"How can I thank you?" He asked as she walked him to the door and he picked up his shield.

"Take me out for a cup of coffee sometime?" She replied hopefully.

"You got it." Steve smiled brightly.

"Go get some rest and stay out of trouble, Captain. Doctor's orders." She teased as he stepped out into the hall and she leaned against the door frame, watching him walk over to his apartment door.

"Orders received and understood." He saluted with his uninjured arm.

"Good night, Steve." Cyndi said with a giggle.

"Good night." He smiled, watching as she went back inside and the door closed behind her.

The day had definitely gotten better.