RABBIT HEART || MARVEL (1)

SIX

The last course was running. Maggie was an average runner, but halfway she felt like she was dying inside. She was glad they weren't making her run in heels though. The brunette started to slow down when she saw Steve getting behind and moments away from an asthma attack. Luckily, Phillips stopped them for a moment.

"That flag means we're only halfway point. First man to bring it to me gets a ride back with Agent Carter. Move. Move!"

Maggie and Steve stood back as the other recruits tried to climb the pole. Steve was catching his breath while Maggie analyzed the pole. It took the moment, but she was able to find a solution.

"Steve, pull the pin," she told her friend, still looking at the pole.

"Huh?" He asked, brown furrowed in confusion.

"You're on your way to dying. I'd rather you get a ride. So, pull the pin at the bottom of the pole. Once you do, it will fall and you can grab the flag," the brunette explained.

"Nobody's got that flag in 17 years! Now fall back into line!" Phillips yelled. "Come on, fall in! Let's go. Get back into formation!"

Maggie and the men got back in line while Steve walked over to the pole.

"Rogers! I said fall in."

Steve pulled the pin, doing what Maggie told him to do. Both Maggie and Peggy smirked as Steve grabbed the flag and gave it to Phillips. He thanked the Colonel while he walked to to the Jeep. The blonde got in the back, nodding at Peggy up front with a smile.

___________

DAYS LATER

A COUPLE DAYS HAD PASSED AND THE TRAINING PROGRESSED.

At the time, all the recruits were doing push-ups. Steve was the only one who struggled and Maggie stopped moments at a time for her blonde friend to catch up.

"Faster, ladies! Come on. My grandmother has more life is her. God rest her soul. Move it!" Peggy encouraged them.

"Your not really thinking about picking Rogers and Shelby, are you?" Phillips asked Dr Erskine in a lowered voice.

"I am more than just thinking about it. They are the clear choice," Erskine answered persistently.

"When you brought a ninety-pound asthmatic and a woman onto my base, I let it slide. I though, what the hell? Maybe they'll be useful to you, like gerbils. I never thought you'll pick 'em. You stick a needle in Rogers arm and it's gonna go right through. And Shelby was probably cry." Phillips continued, watching Steve Struggle. "Look at that. He's making me cry."

"I am looking for qualities beyond the physical," Erskine informed. "Plus, I wouldn't talk about the Sergeant Major's daughter like that, if I were you."

"Do you know how long it took to set up this project?" Asked Phillips.

"Yeah, I know."

All the groveling I had to do in front of Senator What's-His-Names's committees?"

"Brandt? Yes, I know. I am well aware of your efforts."

"Then throw me a bone. Hodge passed every test we gave him. He's big, he's fast, he obeys orders. He's a soldier," Phillips argued.

"He's a bully."

"You don't win wars with niceness, doctor," he continued, taking out a hand grenade. "You win war with guts."

Phillips through the grenade where the recruits we're training.

"Grenade!"

All the soldiers moved away while Maggie and Peggy both ran towards. That's when Steve jumped on top of it, covering it with his body.

"Get away! Get back!" Steve shouted, waiting for the grenade to go off. But it didn't

"It was a dummy grenade. All clear. Back in formation," called an office from a distance.

"Is this a test?" Steve asked, looking at Phillips and Erskine.

The doctor looked at the colonel to confirm his point. He was right about choosing both Rogers and Shelby.

"He's still skinny and she's a woman."

Maggie angrily pulled Steve off the ground with sheer force. She was mad. Mad that her friend would throw away his life like that. Thank God it was a dummy and not real. But it still pissed her off.

"Don't you ever do something shit like that ever again! Do you understand me?" Maggie told him.

Steve only nodded, scared out of his mind. He swore her eyes flashed and luminescent green for a moment. But it could've been a gleam of light. The. He answered with a shaky voice.

"Yes ma'am."