Sunflower🌻

A really random ThunderShield concept I've had in my head for months is 1930s Brooklyn, Steve and Bucky are wandering around a fair when they see a small crowd standing around something. It's a hammer, and they're trying to lift it. The guys are laughing and rolling their sleeves and trying to pick it up but it's too "heavy".

Bucky tries it too, for fun. They're on a fair, right? And it's free so why not! The thing does not budge an inch. Come on! Bucky calls to Steve with a smile on his face, you try!

Steve doesn't really want to try it, knowing that if Bucky and all these strong guys can't lift it, he most certainly can't. With some pushing of Bucky's sisters he walks up the hammer, stands in line for a moment and then grabs the handle. It feels weird. Like tiny zaps going up his arm and he almost releases the hammer in surprise.

Then, he yanks - and the thing flies up like it's made out of paper.

As Steve and everyone around him gapes at what just happened, a tall man pushes forth through the crowd, dressed in silver armor and a cape, and his long blond hair sways along with his large steps.

"Ah, there it is!" He exclaims, when he sees Steve, "I already wondered where she was!"

This is your friendly reminder that getting into fights with bullies is only a small part of pre-serum Steve. Steve also went to art school before the war broke out. Steve likely had hobbies, mostly indoors because of his ailments, so for instance drawing, painting, reading, etc.

Steve had a job to support himself and afford medical treatments. Steve was Catholic and maybe went to church (if it was safe to do so). He had neighbors he could get tea with, or people in the street in his part of Brooklyn. There were fairs and a theme park on Coney Island he went to with Bucky. He likes hotdogs.

Before his mom died they likely used to play indoor games, cooked and cleaned together, took care of each other. She was a nurse so she taught him things, how to take care of himself, how to go through life more easily with his disabilities. Maybe Steve went dumpster diving in the more well-off parts of the city. He could have taken strolls through parks, hung out in the school library, stayed after class to finish work.

Just... 💙pre-serum Steve💙