5 A Brush with Destiny

As Steve and Ethan entered the bustling recruitment center, they couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and nerves. This was it – their chance to join the army and make a difference in the world. Well, at least for Steve; Ethan was just there for the adventure.

"Alright, Ethan, let's do this," Steve said, trying to muster up some confidence as they approached the registration desk.

Ethan nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension gnawing at his stomach. "Yeah, sure thing, Cap. But just remember, I'm only here for the free snacks," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Steve shot him a bemused look before turning back to the registration officer with a polite smile. "We're here to enlist," he announced, his voice tinged with determination.

The officer glanced up from his paperwork, eyeing Steve and Ethan with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. "Enlistment, huh? Well, you boys sure picked an interesting time to join up," he remarked, his tone dry.

Steve squared his shoulders, refusing to be deterred by the officer's indifferent demeanor. "We're ready to do our part, sir. Whatever it takes," he replied, his voice ringing with conviction.

Ethan couldn't help but admire Steve's unwavering determination, even in the face of skepticism. It was like watching a little puppy trying to take on a pack of wolves – endearing, yet slightly ridiculous.

After what felt like an eternity of paperwork and waiting around, Steve and Ethan were finally ushered into a back room for their preliminary assessments. As they waited nervously for their turn, Ethan couldn't resist cracking a few jokes to lighten the mood.

"So, Steve, you think they'll make us do push-ups or something?" he teased, nudging his friend playfully.

Steve rolled his eyes, though there was a hint of amusement in his expression. "I wouldn't be surprised. But hey, at least it'll be good practice for when we're dodging bullets on the battlefield," he replied, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Before Ethan could come up with a witty retort, the door swung open and a stern-looking man in a white lab coat stepped into the room. "Ah, you must be Rogers and... Ethan, is it?" he said, peering at them over the rim of his glasses.

Steve and Ethan exchanged puzzled glances before nodding in unison. "Yes, sir. That's us," Steve replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

The man – who Ethan assumed must be Dr. Erskine, judging by the way he carried himself – nodded approvingly. "Good. Follow me," he said briskly, gesturing for them to follow him out of the room.

As they walked through the labyrinthine corridors of the recruitment center, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that they were about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Little did he know that their encounter with Dr. Erskine would be the beginning of a journey that would change their lives forever.

But for now, as they followed Dr. Erskine towards their destiny, Ethan couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement coursing through his veins. After all, who knew what kind of hilariously absurd situations they would find themselves in next?

Outside, Bucky Barnes leaned against the wall, tapping his foot impatiently as he waited for Steve and Ethan to finish their enlistment process. He wasn't particularly thrilled about the idea of Steve joining the army, but he knew better than to try and talk him out of it.

Just then, a familiar voice called out to him from across the street. "Hey, Bucky! What's got you looking so glum?"

Bucky turned to see Peggy Carter striding towards him, her fiery red hair catching the sunlight as she walked. "Oh, hey, Peggy. Just waiting for Steve and Ethan to finish up in there," he replied, plastering on a forced smile.

Peggy raised an eyebrow, her blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ah, the old recruitment center. Never a dull moment in there, that's for sure," she remarked, her lips quirking up into a smirk.

Bucky chuckled, shaking his head. "You can say that again. Those poor recruiters won't know what hit 'em with Steve and Ethan in there."

As they waited, Peggy filled Bucky in on the latest gossip from the SSR headquarters, regaling him with tales of Howard Stark's latest escapades and Agent Sousa's bumbling attempts at undercover work.

Before long, Steve and Ethan emerged from the recruitment center, their expressions a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Bucky couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as he looked at his best friend, knowing that Steve was about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

"Well, boys, looks like it's official," Bucky said with a grin, clapping Steve and Ethan on the back. "Welcome to the army."

Steve grinned back at him, his eyes shining with excitement. "Thanks, Buck. Couldn't have done it without you."

As they walked down the street together, Steve couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building in the pit of his stomach.