Chapter Text
When he manages to get his breathing relatively back under control Steve sees that he's not the only one crouching on the sidewalk. The boy who was kicking the air out of him is now kneeling beside him holding his face in his hands. The blood that dribbles through his fingers indicates a broken nose.
The second thing he sees are two scrapped knees peeking from under the seam of a yellow skirt.
The other two boys continue to do what they do best. Standing around and look imposing. Not that the girl seems impressed by it. Why would she? If she's the one that punched the other boy to the floor. The cracking of their knuckles only result in an eye-roll from her. Besides him the boy stopped groaning and looks up angrily. She can't be much older than them and doesn't show any signs of being trouble. But the other boy has to see something Steve doesn't, because the next moment he addresses Steve.
“You need a girl to fight for you?”
He feels himself blushing.
“Shut up, Billy!” For good measure she kicks a stone that hits the boy's, apparently Billy's, leg. “Or do you want the whole block to know that it was a girl who broke your nose? I'm sure your brother's would love this story.”
The posture of the three boys changes immediately. Struggling to his feet he sends her an angry glare before they turns.
“Oh, come on, Billy. Don't be like that,” she calls after them. “I won't tell that you went down crying after one punch.”
“Keep your mouth shut!”
Laughing she turns her attention to Steve. “Everything good?”
“I didn't need your help.”
Her smile grows even bigger. “Well, that's a funny way to say thank you.”
Not waiting for Steve's apology, she reaches for his arm and pulls him to his feet. His mama did raise him to be nice to girls. Unfortunately she never mentioned what to say to girls that save him from being beaten in a back alley.
Luckily she doesn't seem to have the same problem as him. Putting an arm around him she steers him back towards the main street. It is during her explanation how to throw a real punch while telling him that he shouldn't start a fight he can't win that she suddenly stops.
“I'm Jennifer by the way. But you can call me Bucky.”
Frowning Steve looks at her outstretched hand. How does one get Bucky from Jennifer?