#sustarters

“Step right up and have a go!” he called to the passing people. He’d decided this was as good a way as possible to see people in a more relaxed environment. The Administrator had given him his orders and he wouldn’t disappoint him. So the sooner he started the better. He lobbed a few rings, his training helping all to land easily on the hooks. Pity he hadn’t had these skills years ago.

“Hey there,” he turned as someone approached. “So, wanna lob a ring or two?”

The day had started out normal enough. So normal, in fact, that Steve really couldn’t have seen it coming. It had been his birthday and, as such, it had been a pretty low-key, normal day. A number of his friends had forgotten his birthday, but, well. That was fine. His evening had consisted of saying goodbye to Bucky at the door with a small peck on his lips. A murmured, “I love you had been exchanged, and then, Steve had been on his way, leaving his sweetheart back at the dorm where he thought it would be safe.

Safe.

And then, there had been explosions. 

Steve didn’t know how many people were hurt. Hell, he had no idea if people had died. He’d been running one moment, about to text Bucky when, in the next, everything was a blur. He had then seen Gwen, trapped underneath a pile of rubble, and Natasha, running. It hadn’t taken long for him and Natasha to get Gwen out from underneath the rubble - thanks to Nat’s devices - and take Gwen to the medical bay. After that, he had gone back out, seeing what could he could do to help and making sure Bucky was safe and alive and alright -- that everyone was.  And now, he was back where he had started: the medical bay.

Resembling something out of the walking dead (dark eyes, slow movements, and clothes that hadn’t been changed out of in days), it didn’t take an idiot to know that he hadn’t slept in a while. Nevertheless, he didn’t even stop to consider his presence as he waited in the waiting room of the medical bay. Rather, he just sat there, silent. 

 It was a moment, maybe two, before he stood up, wanting to see everyone and find out if they okay -- alive, even. Stepping into the first room, he pulled the curtain aside and stood there. His eyes immediately assessed the situation at hand, and after a long moment of silence, he took a step inside.

“I would ask if you’re alright,” he started, quietly, “but it’s obvious that you’re not.” 

Her first excursion outside of her room was to gather some basic things, and more importantly find something to eat. It was the morning after Coulson had dropped her off and already she’d begun getting texts and pictures from Jemma and Fitz about how much they missed her. It made her heart ache but she made sure to let them know they were loved in return and that she appreciated them.

  Luckily there was a general store on campus, so she headed there to pick up a few things. Snack foods and drinks for her room, pillows and new sheets, a few things to help keep her organized, hangers for her walk-in, and a wax warmer with a few various scents. She figured that Coulson would send her the requested effects for her room soon enough, so she didn’t look at anything large, then she checked out and headed back to her dorm with bags in arms.

  Rounding a corner to a building, she received another message, from Fitz this time, expressing how weird it was to have her room so quiet in her absence and how much he hated it. As she read, she bumped into someone, nearly dropping the coffee she’d gotten from the cafe earlier.

  “Oh my gosh, I’m sorry. Texting and walking, a hazard I know.” she jokes, readjusting the sun hat on her head with a smile in the strangers direction.

   It had been a long day for Anna, full of new concepts and theories, and after spending hours editing yearbook photos, she felt well and truly exhausted. It was for this reason that she hadn’t noticed the person walking towards her.