The Dove & The Strongman

"So, you clean up rather nicely, Dugan. What's the occasion?"

Timothy groaned and shook his head.

He was not in the mood for this right now. He was going to be late.

Monty walked up to him and leaned against the wall near the mirror that he was using.

"Oh don't give me that silent treatment now, big man. What has you getting all spiffed up for a night on the town."

Dugan relented, realizing that Monty had in fact helped him and so maybe deserved an explanation.

He smiled at the other man, "If you want to know so badly, I've got a dinner date."

Monty's eye widened, "Tonight? But we leave at 0900 tomorrow morning."

He glared, "Not that type of date, Monty! It's with Lyla."

If he thought the other man was shocked before, now he just looked like a fish out of water, gaping for breath.

"You have a dinner date?"

He nodded.

"With Lyla?"

He rolled his eyes, "What part of that are you having trouble understanding, Monty?"

"It's not that. It's just, " He laughed, clapping a hand on his shoulder, "That's fantastic! So you finally told her who you were, huh?"

"She told me that she already had an inkling that it was me."

"How?"

"I forgot to wash my hands when I wrote that first letter to her. She could smell the gun oil and cigar smoke on the letter. One of the many perks of being blind."

The British man lifted an eyebrow at him, "Many?"

He shook his head, "Not going to tell you that, Monty. That's private."

Monty threw his head back and laughed. "She saw you through her finger tips, didn't she?"

It was Dugan's turn to be shocked. "How do you-"

"I have a niece that's blind as well, Dugan. She did the same with people she met for the first time. That's how they see people in their minds and then pair it with their voices. Sounds like she didn't want you to just be a voice. You should feel very lucky, for some blind persons it is considered very private and personal to touch a person's face."

"Yeah it was definitely personal. God, I'm going crazy here."

"Don't worry, my friend. I'm quite sure she probably feels the same."

He shook his head, "You don't get it, Monty. I don't think I've ever felt like this before. I'm not the type of guy to talk about of stuff like this, but-"

Monty patted his shoulder.

"I do believe that that feeling you're feeling is called 'Love', Dugan. It's a force to be reckoned with once set on its path. I would say that you are quite doomed, my friend."

"Doomed? Hell, what a way to go."

They both shook their heads and laughed.

Jim walked in at that moment and looked confused between them.

"I missed something, didn't I?"

It just made the two laugh harder.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

"You look fantastic, Peggy."

"Thank you, Steve. You clean up quite nicely yourself."

Dugan rolled his eyes at the small talk.

When were those two going to realize that they had it badly for each other.

'And they call me stubborn.'

"You should know that my sister is making a traditional Irish dessert for tonight."

"What is it?"

"Its our mother's recipe. Bread and butter pudding."

Peggy nodded, "I have had something similar to that. My gran, god bless her soul, used to make a steamed pudding. We'd drizzle sweetened double cream over it with berries."

Steve smiled, "That sounds delicious."

Dugan tuned them out after that. He was already hungry, he didn't need to talk about food and add to the torture his stomach was already in.

He looked out the car window and noticed a building that made his eyes widen in shock.

He didn't have a gift for Lyla.

"Stop the car!"

The driver quickly stopped the car and he climbed out.

Steve stuck his head out the window.

"What are you doing?"

He pointed to the sign behind them, "Not forgetting a gift for my girl."

Steve read the sign and laughed. "If they don't have lilies, she likes daisies too!"

He waved a hand back at him and entered the flower shop.

Peggy and Steve shared a knowing look at Dugan's smile when he emerged a few moments later, holding a bouquet of white lilies.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

He tugged on the neck of his shirt, suddenly nervous. He chuckled to himself.

'Just six hours earlier I had her wrapped in my arms, kissing the living daylights out of her and I'm suddenly nervous about dinner?'

Steve gave him a questioning glance as he knocked on the door.

They heard footsteps move closer to the door.

It swung open to reveal Jarvis, who smiled and gave a slight bow.

"Please do come in."

They all filed into the house and waited until Jarvis motioned them to follow him to the other room.

"Dinner is still in the oven. Won't be long though, just five more minutes. Miss Lyla is waiting in here."

He knocked on the door frame, and they all heard a shuffling noise.

"Well about time they get here. I'm starving. Jarvis can you-"

"Already headed there, sir. I'll check the pot pies."

Howard clapped his hands, "Good! Hey, come on in. Don't linger there like a bad smell."

"Howard, hush."

"Hey, Lyla, I've got to tease where I can."

His line of sight was blocked by Steve standing in front of him.

"Sis, you look beautiful."

Dugan tapped his shoulder, to which he turned his gaze back at him and smiled. He motioned his head to the room and walked in.

He walked in and looked over to where Lyla was and stopped dead in his tracks.

The desire he had felt for her six hours ago came back full force, hitting him like a punch to the gut.

She was stunning. Breath-taking.

Her hair was brushed and pinned so it fell over her right shoulder in a wave of pale yellow leaving the left side of her neck bare and looking kissable.

Dugan's eyes traced over her form, his heart stuttering in his chest at the bit of flesh teasing him through the slit in the dress near the top of her breasts.

"Blue is definitely your color, dove. You're beautiful."

She flushed at his words.

She reached out and lightly brushed her fingers over his chest.

"What material is your coat made of?"

He smiled, "It's tweed."

She opened her mouth but was cut off.

"Its a light brown and I'm wearing a darker brown turtleneck sweater under it and dark slacks too."

Lyla giggled, "You're getting the hang of this. You sound handsome."

Steve elbowed him and nodded to the flowers in his hands.

"Uhh, I brought some flowers for you. Lilies."

She gave him a bright smile, "Where did you find lilies?"

"Flower shop. Stopped there just before coming here."

He gently grabbed one of her hands and pressed the flowers into it.

She gently trailed her fingers over the back of his hand, making him shiver.

"I wasn't going to go to dinner with my girl and not get her flowers. No matter what people think of me."

She reached her hand up and brushed his cheek, her own cheeks tinged pink.

"Thank you, Tim."

"Anything for you, dove."

He noticed the pink on her cheeks darkened and he realized why.

'Anything for you dove.'

He had said that just before they had kissed.

Dugan's eye's landed on her lips, stained cherry red from her lipstick, and swallowed hard.
Now his face felt hot.

A throat cleared, breaking them both out their stupors.

"Well, I'll just put these in water for you, okay, Lil'? And everyone can go ahead into the dining room."

Howard stated.

She nodded, handing the flowers to the man, "Of course, thank you, Howard."

Dugan took her hand and put it on his arm. "Here, let's go get you sat down, okay?"

She giggled, "You're hungry too, huh?"

"I'm starving, dove."

Steve and Peggy took up the rear, both shaking their heads at the two, but unknowingly standing closer to each other.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

Timothy noticed something was off as soon as they sat down. There wasn't a plate for Lyla.

"Lyla, where's your plate?"

She frowned, "I, umm..."

Steve spoke up then, "She gets embarrassed easily when eating in front of new people. That was part of the reason I got in so many fights at school. People wouldn't leave her be about it."

"Steve, please..." She cautioned.

Timothy scowled, "So because you had to use your hands to eat more than they did, they bullied you for it?"

She nodded.

Dugan's hands clenched in anger at the sad look on her face. 'Those bastards.'

He turned to Jarvis and spoke with finality, "Get her a plate. I'm not eating unless she's eating."

Jarvis did as he was told without any question. Placing a plate in front of Lyla with a smile and a pat on her shoulder. He then retired back to the kitchen to check on the food again.

Dugan cleared his throat. "I..uhh, don't talk about my time in the circus a lot, but well..."

Steve's ears perked up at his words. 'Circus?'

"Umm...A lot of the folks in the circus, mainly the sideshow performers were treated like they were lower than dirt more than half the time. I didn't approve of it then. Still don't. Those were some of the hardest working people I had ever known, until I ended up fighting in this war. So hearing what you had to go through at a young age because of something you had no control over makes me angry beyond belief. There are people in this world who are so damned ignorant that it makes me sick. You shouldn't have to change and I don't want you to. You're perfect just as you are."

He didn't notice the look that showed on Steve's face at his words. A look of complete and utter approval.

Steve hadn't been completely sold on Dugan and his sister being together until that moment. Being blind, there were so many things that she had to do differently. She had limitations, but it didn't dim her drive to be what she wanted to be. Yeah she was bullied a lot but she didn't let it affect her, but he had heard her cry herself to sleep enough times to know that wasn't true. It affected her, she just didn't show it. She just kept on with a smile on her face and a kind word on her lips.

So, for Dugan to say that, to right out accept her differences, her limitations and not push her to change, it showed he really did care for her. Deeply.

It caused a brilliant smile to spread across his face, he knew his sister would be in good hands with Dugan.

A sniffle caught Dugan's attention and he quickly turned his eyes to Lyla, she was crying. Again.

He gently held her hand in his. "Dove? Are you alright?"

"Of course I am, you big idiot. Just thank you, you know."

He smiled at her words, "I didn't mean to make you cry."

"I know."

Jarvis walked into the room holding a giant baking dish that smelled of chicken and vegetables.

"Ladies and gentlemen, dinner is served."

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

The food was excellent, much better than that slop they served in the mess hall back at base, but the highlight was the dessert.

Dugan inhaled, the scent of baked bread and custard making his mouth water.

"That smells amazing."

Lyla smiled widely, "I know. I always rushed through my dinner when momma made it, just so I would be the one to get the first serving. But I did collaborate with Jarvis this time on it and paired a caramel sauce with it this time."

Steve looked scandalized, "But mom never-"

"Yes, but I'm quite sure momma would be okay with this change. You will be too, once you taste it."

Jarvis handed out the plates of bread and butter pudding with the sauce drizzled over it with sweetened cream on the side.

Dugan took one bit and immediately knew why the sauce was so special.

"This has whiskey in it, doesn't it?"

She smiled, "Yes, it's good isn't it?"

"Good? It's fantastic, dove. I'm having seconds...maybe thirds."

Lyla giggled.

Steve took a bite and closed his eyes in bliss.

"Sis, I think mom would've loved the sauce as well. Great job!"

Peggy was happy to speak up, "Yes, it reminds me of my gran's steamed puddings. I haven't had one of those in a few years, so thank you."

Howard laughed, "I think you've been outdone today, Jarvis."

"I humbly accept my defeat, Miss Lyla."

She let out a short laugh, "Oh stop it! The pot pie was wonderful. I'll be asking for that recipe later."

"I'll get it written down as soon as I can."

There was a familiar warm feeling spreading through his limbs as he sat there looking at the people surrounding him. His gaze landed on Lyla last and he could only smile.

She was sitting there next to him, laughing and smiling without a care in the world. She was so beautiful it made his heart hurt. He could only think of how lucky he was in that moment.

He had survived being in a Hydra work camp, survived PT with Carter, helped to take down numerous Hydra bases, but he never felt luckier than when he heard her whisper his name with that soft smile on her lips. 'You're Timothy?'

Or when she wrapped her arms around him in a hug that first time.

'Chinn mé ar deireadh tú...'

Or when she asked him to kiss her and then kissed him.

He absentmindedly brushed the back of her hand and she gripped his hand, her fingers tangling with his and gave them a light squeeze which he returned.

It hit him then when he was looking down at their hands clasped together that Monty was right.

He was completely, utterly...

And quite madly in love.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

Once everything was cleaned up, they all continued to sit there, just content to chit chat for a bit longer.

That was until Peggy looked down at her watch and noticed the time.

"It's nearly eleven-thirty. We better say our goodbyes, we leave at nine in the morning, gentlemen."

Dugan didn't want to leave just yet, he still had to talk to Lyla in private.

She was gripping his hand hard, her own shaking at the thought of him leaving.

Howard noticed he was hesitant to move, so he smirked.

"Mr. Dugan, would you care for a cigar? I know you smoke. Oh don't worry, Steve, why don't you and Peggy go ahead and go back to base. I'll have Jarvis drive him back."

Steve raised an eyebrow, "We can wait."

Peggy placed a hand on his arm and whispered, "Steven can I speak to you in the hall?"

When they were in the hallway, she finally spoke.

"I know its hard for you to think about this, considering its your sister involved, but our mission starting tomorrow could end up going wrong. We could all die at anytime after tomorrow. HE could die. At least let them have tonight, Steve."

He stopped walking, "You mean...Howard's covering? For them to...to..."

Steve's face turned red and he nearly turned around, but Peggy stepped in front of him and poked him in the chest.

"Don't you dare, Steven Rogers. What's between them now is new and wonderful, and prone to breaking easily. Let them cushion their fall."

"You've got a way with words, you know that right?" He admitted.

She smiled brightly at him, "And so do you, at times."

"Alright, but if he hurts her..."

"You'll have to wait in line, Steven." She assured him.

He chuckled.

Peggy gripped his arm and laughed. "Now back to base, Captain. That's an order."

He grinned, "Yes, ma'am."

Notes