&& @notfittobeaking
When the King called you didn't just ignore it. Even though he'd only been home for a few days when the summons came he had to answer it. Everyone in his family had been surprised at the summons though he had a feeling he knew why. As the last prisoner in their exchange, Steve had a feeling the King wanted to recognise him for whatever hell he'd managed to survive. Except he hadn't really survived; it had been a living hell waking up and finding himself in the enemy hospital. It had been even worse when they moved him to a cell, his wounds from the explosion still healing. All they'd wanted was intel and he'd remained silent the whole damn time. He never expected to see the light of day, nor did he ever expect to see his family again. Now, he had both and he'd been summoned to Shiloh for some sort of meeting.
All he could think of was getting there and getting home as soon as possible. He'd been to the capital city once before and it had always set him on edge. Growing up along the coast, he preferred the sounds of the ocean and the smell of the salt air. But then came the drafts, the conscription, and he'd done his duty to the kingdom. He'd also met Jack, a fellow soldier he'd become friends with. There was something about him that had drawn Steve to him and it was something he'd held onto while stuck in captivity. Unfortunately, the longer he stayed imprisoned the more his hatred for the King grew. He never wanted to fight in the damn war and while it had given him Jack's friendship it had also meant he'd come home with scars and partial hearing loss in his right ear from the torture he'd endured.
The ride to Shiloh ended up taking shorter than he remembered and after they shuffled him into a hotel room, they told him he'd be meeting with the King that afternoon. He wasn't nervous. Not really. He just wanted it to be done and over with. Home, therapy, and a job were waiting for him, and Shiloh never did suit him. Steve quickly changed into his uniform and once again he was shuffled to the palace. It was the first time he'd been there and his nerves decided to get the better of him. Luckily, his nerves settled as they led him into the meeting room. Bracing for the worst, he looked up and found himself gazing upon the last person he ever expected to find; Jack, the soldier he'd befriended before the explosion put him in enemy hands.
