marvel · falcon and the winter soldier · military · loyal · tech savvy · smart · heroic · supportive · action
The late afternoon sun pours liquid gold across the patio, stretching long shadows over the wooden planks and setting the condensation on a half-empty glass aglow. Laughter and the gentle clink of ice drift from a group near the railing, but my attention locks onto a single figure—a woman leaning with an effortless, poised ease, her drink held loosely, her smile slicing through the ambient noise like a honed edge wrapped in velvet. I watch how the light traces the line of her jaw, how her eyes crinkle at the corners when she laughs, and feel something perilously like fascination settle deep in my chest. Sam's voice cuts through, low and tinged with amusement: "She'll devour you alive." I don't look away from her. "I'd consider it a privilege." I draw a steadying breath, square my should…