Lily Lantern

“Of course. Let me just check.”

The receptionist looked in her ledger for your name and you realized when she didn’t look very hard that it was an act for your sake because she already knew who you were. Less than ten seconds of looking and she led you and your friends towards the back of the store where the studio was set up with lots of tables and chairs. She directed you guys towards your table in the center of the room with the little chalkboard label that read Wilson-Rogers inside a large star.

The four of you grabbed snacks and drinks and sat back down while people slowly started piling in for the class. Lots of people greeted you as they entered but were kind enough to leave it at a simple hello before sitting at their own seats. The teacher came in and clapped to start the class, setting the music low and turning on their mic so everyone could hear. 

“Hello! It’s nice to see familiar faces and as always a welcome to our newbies whether it’s a one time thing or you like it so much you come back, we are glad to have you here. I’m McKenna, your certified Bob Ross for today’s class…”

Some patrons laughed and you assumed that this must have been something McKenna always said at the start of class.

“And for today, we’re going to be painting a full moon over the ocean. Not too hard, lots of fun. If everyone would squeeze out a glob of each paint tube on the station provided and grab the largest brush, let’s get started!”

The first part was easy. But once all the paint was squeezed onto your little palette, you realized it was almost all blue and purple. McKenna called for everyone to dip their brush in the darkest blue, mentioning it was the Royal Navy color for those who wanted to keep track of paints they wanted to buy and take home. MJ watched as Peter, her, and Ned got started but you just looked at the palette. Three colors appeared to be visibly darker than the rest of the paints so you just had to narrow down and make a guess as to which was the Royal Navy.

Your brush hovered tentatively over one of the shades and almost dipped in before you pulled it back and went to the other one, now unsure. MJ gently grabbed your hand and moved the brush over the correct color, not saying anything. When you went to look at her, she was already staring at her canvas again, coating the bottom of it in the dark paint. It went like that for the rest of the class. Each time McKenna would call out a blue or purple color, MJ would move your brush over the correct one and then go back to her own canvas. The class ended and there was a thirty minute period to hang out while the paintings dried up enough to be put into cars and taken home. 

“Thank you,” you said to MJ as you all compared your four paintings.

“They mentioned it in a history book I was reading.”

She left it at that. You and Peter parted ways with Ned and MJ to go back to the compound— well, MJ thought Peter was going home. Since he didn’t even want Ned to know, he was trying to stall MJ and his Aunt May finding out he was Spider-man for as long as possible. You and Peter walked hand in hand to the juice bar near the painting shop that you told Happy to pick you up at. Peter wouldn’t let you pay for the drinks, insisting on it since you had paid for the paint session. You heard the click as Peter handed you the drink. You both looked over to see multiple large cameras.

Evading paparazzi was something you were relatively good at— mainly because they weren’t allowed on campus so as long as you and Peter walked straight to his house, you usually didn’t run into anybody. All the Avengers were subject to the tabloids and social media but you, Vision, Wanda, and Clint were harder to find everywhere. You gave them a small, unsure smile in hopes that would appease them since no one had actually stepped into the juice bar. It seemed to be enough for now because as Happy’s car pulled up, they started to leave and you and Peter raced into the car in case someone tried to come back. 

Happy complimented the two paintings and you guys headed back for the compound. You debated whether you wanted to get in a round at the punching bag or not before starting a movie. Instead of going to the residential floors— that were empty of almost everyone since they were doing office work downstairs until at least seven pm— Happy led you and Peter to outside the conference area where Tony was typing away on his phone. He looked up as you two approached and jogged over. 

“Sorry I took your suit. I mean, you had it coming. But actually it was the perfect tough-love moment that you needed, right? To urge you on? Wouldn’t you think?”

“Uncle Tony, not amusing.” 

“Well, let’s just say it was. Point is I also screwed up a little with you two, we all did. You both are assets to the team. Welcome back to the Avengers, Sarah. And congrats on becoming the newest official member Peter.”

Tony pressed a button on a remote he was holding and a panel in the wall slid open. It revealed two mannequins dressed up with you and Peter’s suits on them. 

“Woah,” Peter said as he looked at the new design.

“What did you do to my suit?”

“It’s— this is better, I improved it,” Tony said defensively at your scrunched up nose.

“Is my old suit still around?”

Tony gave you a face before giving up and answering. 

“Your dad put it back in your closet. So after Peter’s press conference, Happy will show you your own room Spiderling, you’ve already seen the compound.”

“Press conference?” Peter asked, confused. 

“Show you to the world as an official—”

“Aunt May. I can’t do this if it’s public. She can’t know right now.”

“... okay, secret member, now you two get lost.” 

“Come on, Dheaidí just bought more Ben & Jerry’s.” You grabbed Peter’s hand to start heading up to the residential floors and your apartment. He could pick out a room later, it’s not like he didn’t spend half his time at the compound anyway— the rooms weren’t going anywhere. 

“My Rocky Road there?”

“Yeah if Dad didn’t already eat it… oh Uncle Tony, if it makes it better, I like the pink half mask makes me look badass like Uncle Jamie.”

Tony huffed out a mix between a snort and a laugh but smiled anyway. At least Peter liked his suit and Tony guessed he could settle for the consolation prize that was your half mask. He and Happy watched like the proud uncles they were as you two ran to the elevators with a quickness. 

“Where’s the kid?” Pepper asked. “Did you guys screw this up?”

“Ran off with Baby Wilson-Rogers, probably halfway through a tub of ice cream though I’m pretty sure they’re both lactose intolerant.”

“Tony, what?”

“I know, those two are cra—”

“Tony! Everybody’s waiting. I’ve a room full of people in there looking for some announcement. What am I supposed to tell them?” 

“Think of something, how bout um, Hap. You still got that ring? The engagement ring?”

“Been carrying it since 2008.” Happy threw the ring to Tony while Pepper looked on in absolute shock with a glint of joy.

✿✿✿

Bucky stopped in the doorway of Steve’s office. 

“Oh good, you’re here too,” he said to Sam who had come in moments earlier to file a mission report. 

“I don’t like the look on your face.” 

Sam quickly caught the phone that Bucky threw at him. Both he and Steve looked down to see he had it open to Twitter. You were the top four hashtags trending: AmericasDarling, Gemstone, DarlingsDarling, and SarahRogers. They were confused considering nothing special had happened that they were aware of. Sam clicked on one of them to see lots of people commenting and tweeting all with pictures at the bottom of each tweet. Every picture was of you and Peter inside the juice bar. One was of you two holding hands while waiting in line, the other included Peter laughing at something you said. Another was of you accepting the drink Peter handed to you. 

“You think they know?” Sam asked. 

Before Bucky could answer, you and Peter came into Steve’s office— ice creams in hand. Steve gave you a face as you sat on top of his desk with little regard for his paperwork. Peter took the small office chair. You handed Steve your phone that had the same tweet pulled up that was on Bucky’s. 

“I think they know,” Steve said to the other two men. 

“We’re not dating, Dheaidí. Just thought I’d say that before you found out from the press.” 

Sam chuckled. “Trust me, if you two were dating, we’d know.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Spiderling’s got a mouth on him,” Steve answered. “Speaking of Spiderling, got an alert about one of Tony’s old weapons being sold tonight around your area. You wanna take it, Queens?”

“Is this a test?”

“Not a test. You two are back on the team fully, this doesn’t seem to be too hard for a first mission. I thought you might want it.”

“Y-yes sir.” 

“Better head out now, deal’s happening soon. Details will be sent to your suit.” 

“Thank you, Captain.” 

Peter saluted to Steve, making you and the other three men laugh. Peter capped the lid on his ice cream and ran out the room. He was back in less than a second to give you a peck on the cheek— this wasn’t new to Steve, Sam, and Bucky but after the Twitter posts they just saw, the three of them couldn’t help but look at the gesture a little differently. 

“Last day of school’s a half-day at Midtown,” he told you. “Want to finally catch that improv show for lunch?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Parker, weapons, clock’s ticking,” Steve interrupted. 

“Right, weapons. On it.” 

Peter ran out again, grabbing his new suit, and left to go handle his first official Avengers’ mission.

Peter ran out again, grabbing his new suit, and left to go handle his first official Avengers’ mission. He smiled to himself as he heard your last statement to the three men in the office. 

“If Peter and I were dating I definitely wouldn’t call him my darling. That’s so lame Darling’s Darling, ew. He’s more of a bae, you know. Ha, Spider-bae… ugh, why am I even talking about it to you three? Probably don’t even know what bae is,” you muttered as you jumped down from Steve’s desk and went back upstairs. 

"How old does she think we are?" Bucky asked.

✿✿✿

“She found out?” you asked Peter as he grabbed the last of his books from his locker. 

The last day was full of people cleaning out their lockers and signing yearbooks, everyone making sure they got you to sign theirs. Peter was telling you and Ned about last night. He had stopped the people trying to sell Tony’s weapons with no real effort but didn’t expect May to walk into his room to see if he had come back from the compound. You and Ned laughed as he recounted the very long conversation including two phone calls to both Tony and Steve for confirmation.

“Guess I can tell MJ now. I’m just hoping no one else finds out.”

“No one else finds out what?” MJ asked as she came up behind you. 

“Peter is Spider-man,” Ned blurted out. 

“Ned!” 

“Oh, I knew that already,” MJ said causing you, Ned, and Peter’s jaws to drop. “Anyway, you two dating? It’s all over the timeline.” 

“Still?” you asked, looking at MJ’s phone. 

“Everyone’s trying to figure it out. My personal favorite tweets are the ones that call Peter your darling.”

You cringed. “Those are my least favorite.”

Peter chuckled as he closed his locker. “Yeah I heard you in the office. Spider-bae, really?” 

Ned and MJ both laughed, MJ wiping literal tears from her eyes. 

“Spider-bae, I’m not letting that one go.” 

Peter rolled his eyes as he swung his backpack over his shoulder. His hand automatically found yours making both Ned and MJ look with raised eyebrows since they noticed neither you or Peter ever answered MJ’s first question. Peter looked at the two of them and then at you. 

“Should we invite them? You know, in case, there are more cameras?”

You nodded. “Ned, MJ. Do you two want to come for lunch and an improv show with us? It won’t look as weird if we’re in a group.” 

“I’ve got nothing to do so sure,” MJ agreed. 

“I’m down,” Ned said and the four of you left the school.

“You know my dads still won’t let me get social media even though Uncle Jamie got one! What’s he even going to post? Deadass, the only people on the team without them anymore are me and Vis,” you complained to your friends on the way to the show. 

“Yeah I follow the whole team,” Ned said. “Your father posts a lot of pictures of his cooking.”

“Yeah, he’s proud of himself for that. I think he likes the validation from people that’s not Avenger related. Wanda keeps trying to get him to post thirst traps.”

The other three started laughing, asking if you were serious. 

“No, for real. His response is always, and I quote, Wanda?! I am a married man… with a child.” You pretended to clutch your pearls in the same fashion that Steve did any time Wanda brought it up. 

“He does know his gym selfies are all over your dad’s account, right?”

Ned showed you the accounts of everyone on the team while you guys got on the bus. You were laughing at some of the interactions between Clint and Nat and Tony versus Bucky. Wanda’s account was by far your favorite, she liked to post artsy photos that she took.   

Like Peter had speculated, there were cameras at the building the show was held in when you guys got off the bus. You guys darted in but you were sure they had still gotten pictures before you and Peter had thought to separate your hands, ensuring a whole new round of pictures out. The PR team hadn’t released any statements yet considering they weren’t sure themselves.

The whole building held a meeting while you and Peter were at school about it and decided it was best to just hope that the situation died down— especially because if you two said you were they had to decide how to navigate the fact that Peter wasn’t out as Spider-man to the rest of the world. They had announced Spider-man as the newest Avenger but everyone was trying to figure out who the man behind the mask was. They also weren’t in a rush since Peter was a good kid that didn’t do anything. To them, it didn’t really matter if the public found out his name from the photos because he didn’t tarnish your “Darling” reputation. 

✿✿✿

The improv show was hilarious. You thoroughly enjoyed the show, almost choking on your drink when the audience suddenly suggested you and other members of the team as characters for the actors to play in a skit. When the show ended, you guys decided to go back to Peter’s for a little bit to hang out before going your separate ways. MJ had suggested baking dessert and Ned suggested turning it into a competition. MJ asked if she could film it since she had a YouTube channel. It was small and mainly just her reviewing books in her general MJ tone but she found that she enjoyed filmmaking and editing. You agreed after sending a text to your dads asking if you could. To your pleasant surprise you got a separate text from Bucky saying that the PR team was trying to sweet-talk Sam and Steve into letting you have Twitter like the rest of them. 

“This is going to be all professional,” MJ said as she pulled two cameras from her backpack— one big one and a small vlog one, handing the small one to Ned. “Like the British Bake-Off or something. Team Darling versus Team Parker.”

“Wait, why do I have to use my nickname?” You asked as both Ned and MJ started to film you and Peter. 

“Because Wilson-Rogers is a mouthful. So what are you two making?”

You and Peter thought for a moment. 

“Red velvet cupcakes,” Peter answered. “They’re easy.” 

“If he’s doing cupcakes then I guess I will too, um, dang, I can’t think of anything else. Scratch that, I’m making apple pie… oh that is so traditional, I’m turning into my father, oh no,” you gasped dramatically. 

MJ followed Peter while Ned followed you around the store as you guys picked your ingredients— taking longer than necessary for dramatic commentary as well as getting sidetracked in the store. You guys finally made it back to Peter’s apartment, excited that May was there so she could judge alongside Ned and MJ making it an odd number for the panel. You threw flour at Peter’s face, telling him to go faster so his cupcakes could go in the oven first and finish since they had to bake at a lower temperature than your pie.

Peter claimed you were trying to sabotage him by having his dessert be cold while yours would be nice and warm. He threw flour back at you before May yelled that any flour on the floor was being cleaned up by you two. Since MJ commented that the music couldn’t be something with copyright, they listened to your ballet playlist while baking. Ned and MJ occasionally turned the cameras on each other as well as May to get some judges’ feedback as they watched the competition. After Peter iced his cupcakes, you still had to wait a little for your pie to finish. There were still chunks of apple leftover and MJ got footage of you sitting on the counter and throwing chunks of apple at Peter for him to catch in his mouth until your pie was done. 

“A tie?” you and Peter questioned at the same time. 

You shook your head in protest. “Mutiny. This is mutiny.”

“I’m the real winner.”

“Excuse you, Peter Parker. The title of best baker is mine.”

“You didn’t win.”

“America’s Darling, I always win.” 

You and Peter were arguing— MJ keeping the camera recording while Ned and May just ate their bits of dessert enjoying the show in front of them. MJ, being MJ, thought this was probably funnier than the entire competition and made a note to keep the argument in her final video. The argument led nowhere so you and Peter dropped it, both claiming that you won in your heads. After cleaning May’s kitchen, you gave all your friends cheek kisses and left with the announcement that you would be gone for the first two weeks of summer on a mission and then trip to see Shuri in Wakanda.

✿✿✿

Peter was already at the compound training when you came back. He had finally picked a room and started spending half his time at May’s and half with the Avengers as if they had dual custody over him. Knowing that you had come back, Peter stopped his training and headed up to your apartment.

Some point during you and Peter’s probation period, he had started coming over so much that he had his own pair of house slippers in your apartment. You were startled to see Peter on the couch as you came out of your room ready to ask your dad what he was cooking since the smell had wafted down the hall. You excitedly waved to your friend who had pulled up an episode of Everybody Hates Chris.

Since you two had finished Friends and Living Single, you moved onto Everybody Hates Chris and Boy Meets World. Sam had once jokingly asked if you two watched anything from your generation to which you both responded Game of Thrones and after the first relatively graphic sex scene came on the screen, Steve, Sam, and Bucky immediately got up and left the room— feeling extremely uncomfortable at watching any of that with two minors in their presence. The team ended up watching Game of Thrones separately but on the same schedule as you and Peter, enjoying the discussion and theories but without having to acknowledge the sex scenes. 

Sam, Steve, and Bucky were discussing work in the kitchen while Steve was finishing up dinner. You slipped past your uncle to pour yourself some tea since Bucky had a kettle on the stove before sitting down next to Peter. He hadn’t started the episode yet and looked over when he sensed you staring down the side of his face. 

“What?”

“Nothing.” You pursed your lips and looked at the screen that was still paused. 

It was silent for three agonizing moments. You side-eyed Peter. The three men watched as you suddenly straddled him. Steve made a move but both Sam and Bucky held their hands out to stop him, silently agreeing that they should let it play out a little more before rushing into anything. You took Peter’s face in your hands.

“I’m not moving till you admit that they liked my apple pie better.” 

Bucky had to bite back a laugh while the other two rolled their eyes. All this over a competition? You definitely had Steve’s competitive streak and air of pettiness.

“It’s been two weeks, you’re still on this?” Peter asked. 

“Because I won.”

“Um, excuse you, I was the winner. So get off so we can start the episode.” 

“I don’t think you understand. Even if May calls and says you need to come home, you won’t leave until you surrender.”

“Bold of you to assume I want to go home.”

“Ugh, just say I beat you.”

“Ned didn’t vote.”

“Because Ned’s too nice but we both know the vote would’ve gone to me.”

“He was practically moaning at my red velvet cupcakes. You got a satisfied smile at best… are you ticklish?” Peter asked with his eyebrow raised.

“What?”

Your body lurched as Peter proceeded to tickle you in attempts to get you off of him— not giving you any mercy. You sunk back in laughter but refused to let go as you moved your hands from his face to his shoulders in attempts to hold him to the couch. Peter gave up and rested his hands for a moment, keeping them on your waist. 

“Why are you so strong?”

“Flattery will not distract Miss Wilson-Rogers’ agent.” You upturned your nose in jest.

“Did you just quote Hairspray?” 

“Just admit it.”

“That you lost?”

“I didn’t lo—”

“You lost, Sarah, shut up and deal with it.”

“Make me.”

Peter paused for a moment and then decided to press a peck to your lips to the shock of you and the three men still watching in the kitchen. You suddenly became very aware of Peter’s hands on your waist. Your fingers drummed along his shoulders. You tilted your head and observed him, Peter keeping eye contact. He would’ve been worried that maybe the kiss was a mistake but you weren’t the only enhanced any more. He could easily hear your heartbeat and if he really focused using his spider vision he could see the slight tinge of pink on your cheeks underneath melanin that wouldn’t be detectable to others. 

“Still owe you two more times.” 

Your eyes darted back to his mouth. Peter leaned up to peck you on the lips again, pulling away just slightly to press a slightly longer peck the third time.  

“Hi, Peter Parker,” you said stupidly. He chuckled a bit at your sudden malfunction. 

“Hi.” 

“Okay, new rules need to be established.”

Your head shot up and Peter tilted his back over the end of the couch to see both Bucky and Sam hit Steve’s biceps. 

“You couldn’t let them have a moment, punk?” Bucky asked. 

“Yeah, babe, teen love’s already awkward as it is.”

“What?” Steve asked. “Might as well get it over with now.” 

“Dheaidí,” you waited until he looked at you. “It’s Peter.” 

“Who’s no longer a friend I’m assuming,” Steve said with his Captain's voice. 

“I won’t cross any boundaries Mr. Captain Wilson-Rogers America Falcon sirs. I, I mean I’d like to kiss her— NOT making out that’s probably a boundary cross…” 

Peter’s head came back up and his eyes went to where his hands were on your waist. He all of a sudden threw you off him— you landing on the couch with a bounce— and stood up to face your parents, wringing his hands awkwardly.

“I just like your daughter,” Peter mumbled. 

“Look what you did, Steve.” Sam laughed at the whole incident. 

Steve smiled and dropped the Captain act. “Didn’t mean to scare you like that, Queens. I trust you, Peter, you’re a good kid… hands equator and north.” 

“You know my boobs are north of the equator,” you couldn’t help but mumble. 

Both Steve and Peter’s faces got red. Peter shot his hands up in a surrender. 

“Hands equator and north, sir, but not the um, the, um…” 

“Himalayan Mountain Range,” you offered, making them all look at you as you shrugged. “Just sticking to the geography metaphor.” 

“You spend too much time with Tony.”

“I’m pretty sure I get that from you, Dheaidí.” 

“Really, Babydoll?”

You flopped over the back of the couch, resting your chin on your hands, and batted your eyelashes dramatically. 

“I could do this all day.” 

<Sarah. You and Peter—> 

“Uh, Peter’s been learning to sign. You might as well just say it.” 

Steve tried to keep up his father act but he was smiling internally that Peter was actually seriously learning your second form of communication. Sam stepped in to help. 

“You two are young, no need to move fast at all. Take your time and just enjoy each other okay. And remember you were friends first, don’t throw that away. Peter, don’t hurt our little girl.”

“Understood, sir.”

“Thank you, dad,” you said extra sweetly. 

“Anytime, sweetheart… and if you two do choose to do something anyway, please for the love of God use protection.”

“Sam!” Steve yelled as he followed the other man out of the kitchen.

“They’ve already slept in the same bed, what would we be stopping Steve? Rather them be safe than sneaking around and a teen pregnancy on our hands.” 

“Okay fine but,” Steve turned back to face you two, pointing a finger. “Just don’t have sex in the first place. No heavy petting either!”  

Bucky was the last to leave, waiting till Steve was out of earshot. He leaned in close and dropped his voice. 

“Pressure her into anything…” 

He didn’t finish the threat verbally. Instead, he flexed his metal arm so the plates would shift and whir under the pressure. Peter gulped and nodded. Bucky clapped him on the back acting like nothing happened, causing Peter to cough from the amount of force behind it. He shakily sat back down on the couch once everyone had left. You moved closer to him. 

“I like you too, Peter Parker.” You pecked him on the cheek.

“Thank you. Oh, I got these for you two.” 

You handed Ned a pair of Mickey ears and presented Peter with the Peter Pan hat, making him laugh. You adjusted the hat on his head.

“Thank you, TinkerDarling.”

“I’m gonna let that slide only because I’m about to say the dumbest thing ever.”

“Does it involve you telling me you’re actually made of pixie dust… you’re joking.”

“Not quite pixie dust, but twirl me.”

Peter grabbed your hand and spun you. He and Ned wowed as you made your skin glitter.

“The kids got me thinking about if I could harden the diamond on command, without having to get hit, you know.”

“Oh now I’m really not letting it go, Tink.”

“Then you and Ned are my Lost Boys.”

“Of course.” Peter twirled you one more time.                 

“Alright. I have a free period so I’m going back to Neverland, would ask if you wanna come but heard you got detention?” 

You smirked while Peter rolled his eyes at you. You gave Ned a peck on the cheek and the Peter. 

“See you tomorrow, Ned, Peter Parker.”

✿✿✿

You ate breakfast in the common room dining area because it was one of the few occasions the entire team was up early on a weekday before you had to leave for school. Pepper came strolling in, already in her business attire, typing something away on her phone. 

“We did it, Avengers Tower has been sold. I’m enlisting all of you to help with moving, no complaints.” 

“You sold the Tower, Uncle Tony?”

“Ever since we started phasing all of the New York S.H.I.E.L.D. branch into the compound, I just don’t see a reason for us to have both. Keep everything in a central location. How much was it bought for Pep?” Tony moved to the toaster to wait for his breakfast.

“More than necessary.” 

“Capsicle, ever heard of a trust fund? Sarah got one?”

“No.” 

Tony caught the toast as it popped out of the toaster. 

“Ms. Potts, set up a trust for Baby Wilson-Rogers… Split it, half to the Spiderling.” Tony aggressively took a bite out of the toast and walked out of the common room and towards his lab. Nat poured herself a cup of coffee.

“Well, now we know why he’s never having children. He already has two.” 

“Wait, does this mean I’m a millionaire?”

“Technically, multi,” Pepper said. “And technically, not till you graduate. Finish eating, Happy’s downstairs already.” 

You finished and went to the car. Happy laughed as you tried to convince him to let you drive to school— not succeeding. When you jumped out of the car, you saw MJ on the bench reading. She looked up from her book. 

“Jared’s going to ask you to the dance before homeroom.” 

“Oh, joy.”

“This makes him sad male number five?”

“It’s not sad… and number six. Do you want to go dress shopping after school?”

“Yeah, sure.”

You extended a hand that she reluctantly took and walked with you inside. MJ never walked with you for very long but she was slowly opening up considering this was the first time she stayed holding your hand as you pulled her inside. When you caught up to Peter and Ned alone, Peter was buzzing in anticipation to tell you something. He looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to their conversation.

“I found out their next whereabouts, new buyer named Mac Gargan.”

“Look at you go. So new buyer, what are you going to do now?”

“They meet tomorrow on the Staten Island Ferry. I know we were supposed to go see that improv show but—”

“But you’ve got a job to do. I get it Spider-man, I guess this is payback from when I had to bail on bowling… you know, I’ve never been to Staten Island.”

“It’s… Staten Island. When it’s not a mission, let’s go.”

You and Peter shook on it. Even if you two never ended up going, the thought of it was still nice. You didn’t know what you were going to do over the weekend anymore— Ned’s wasn’t even an option because of a family reunion. Most of the house was going to be on a mission or in Tony’s case various “business trips” for Stark Industries that very closely resembled vacation. Maybe Pepper would want to go with you somewhere but she was overseeing the move. 

Your Aunt Laura and Cousin Lila ended up being your substitutes for Saturday morning with Peter when Clint came in to fill out the papers regarding his “probation/house arrest” that he was taking way too seriously as an excuse for a vacation he felt was long overdue. Laura and Lila agreed to go to the nail salon with you. When you guys came back to the compound, you proudly showed off your nails to your family. 

“Oh that’s cool, they change color,” Wanda said. “I’ve always wanted to try that.”

You looked at your nails, but didn’t see anything. You were about to ask when Steve entered the room. He didn’t get very far into the common room when you shoved your nails in his face. Steve grabbed your hands. 

“They’re very pretty, Babydoll.” 

“Wanda says they change color.”

Steve looked at the nails reflecting in the sunlight and started to chuckle before he caught himself. 

“They change from purple to blue.”

You looked at your own nails for a moment. It still looked blue and more blue. 

“Oh.”

Steve couldn’t stop himself from laughing that time. You didn’t even register the color change and it wouldn’t help this time if he attempted to describe the purple one to you. He couldn’t remember the last time he really helped you with color and shade perception, with you explicitly asking him. Even in the drawings they had hung up in the apartment, you either avoided those two colors if you couldn’t figure it out or just didn’t care. Sometimes the sky was light purple or Steve’s eyes were periwinkle instead of light blue, other times the purple petals were actually blue. Occasionally Steve would wordlessly rearrange the pastels, crayons, and pencils so you could attempt to see the shades or at least if it seemed more blue or purple. Neither of you acknowledged that he did it but he saw the smile of appreciation every single time. 

“FRIDAY, play chess with me, please?” you asked the AI as you set the chess board on the coffee table in the common room. 

“Of course, TinkerDarling.”

You looked up at the ceiling, unamused, muttering Uncle Tony. Pietro, who was dangling over the couch while watching TV, laughed. 

“Sarah’s fine.”

“Understood, Sarah,” FRIDAY said as a small robotic arm extended from the coffee table to play with you.

You had tried to get the others to play chess but with little success. Steve thought too much about each move, Tony just talked too much, Pietro was too fast, Wanda liked to cheat. Clint refused to learn the rules. Sam and Nat were okay but didn’t enjoy it most of the time and Bruce, who you suspected would be the perfect partner, was still missing in action. Bucky was fine too but he was on a mission and didn’t come back till tonight. And Thor, well aside from also missing with Bruce, you weren’t sure if he even knew or was interested in the Midguardian game. 

“Sarah Elise Rogers!” Tony yelled as he entered the common room. 

“Uh-oh, government name,” Pietro said as you looked away from the tv to where he walked in. 

“Yes, Uncle Tony?” You asked, not looking up from your game as you took FRIDAY’s bishop. 

“You know where your little boyfriend is right now?” 

That caused you to put your rook in a bad spot, FRIDAY taking it, as you looked up at Tony in confusion. You weren’t sure when you had acquired a boyfriend. And if you magically had a boyfriend you were very curious to learn his name and maybe meet him. 

“What?” 

“Peter Parker, that name ring a bell?”

“He should be at his house…”

“You know where he was before I took him home, no? Here’s an idea, destroying a ferry! And you knew. You knew that he’s going after whoever the hell and you didn’t tell anyone!” 

“He just wanted a chance.”

“Yeah I heard that.”

“I’m on the team, Uncle Tony. Peter can become a ful—”

“Oh we’re changing that.” 

Tony threw the briefcase down on the table. 

“Parker’s suit is in there and after this stunt you seemed to be accomplice to, yours is gonna be in there as well for the time being.”

“Uncle Tony!”

“No! No, Sarah. This was serious and clearly you two are still immature. Act like a child, get treated like one. You go to school, you go to Peter’s and do homework, you come home, you go to bed. Rinse and repeat until you’re mature enough to think simple things through like telling us what the hell is happening… FRIDAY, where is Captain Rogers?”

“Uncle Tony, wait, please…”

“Captain Rogers is in the gym sparring with Agent Romanoff.”

“Let him know I’m on the way up.” 

“Understood, Mr. Stark.”  

“Uncle Tony,” you pleaded again but Tony was walking off.

✿✿✿

You sat in the passenger’s seat of the car, arms crossed. Steve pulled into the school parking lot instead of just rolling up to the front. He turned off the car and looked at you. Your head stayed focused straight ahead, watching the students head into the building. 

“You haven’t talked to Sam or Bucky, this is the first time since the weekend I’ve seen your hearing aids in, and you refuse to look at me.”

“I’ve got to go. Math test I should study for.”

“You have a 99 in that class.”

“Because I study.”  

You unbuckled your seatbelt and started to get out of the car. 

“Sarah.”

You finally turned to Steve, wiping tears. He watched you suck in a breath.

“I get it. I’m off the team, Dheaidí. There’s nothing to discuss anymore, you said it all on Saturday. We were stupid and acted like children.  I would just like to get to class now.”

“Sarah—”

“May I please go to school, Captain?” you asked with an air of desperation.  

Steve faltered and nodded. You pursed your lip in thought for a moment.  

“I’m going to have dinner at Peter’s.”

“I was hoping we could have family dinner.”

“Can we do it tomorrow?”

“I— Sure, Babydoll.” 

“Thank you… I promise I’ll be in a better mood when Happy drops me off.”     

Steve watched you swing your backpack over your shoulders and head into the building. He sighed. He was confident in his decision but wished you would have taken it better. He couldn’t even get Sam to play good cop or Nat or Bucky. They all agreed with Tony, leaving Pietro to be the only person in the compound you talked to the whole weekend. 

“Sarah!” Ned called out. “Are you okay?” 

Peter turned at Ned’s words. You came towards them looking frustrated and upset.  

“They benched me. My dad actually listened to Uncle Tony and benched me. I’m not even allowed in the training room or the lab.”

“Because of me?” 

“Don’t sweat it, Peter Parker. I’d do it again for you.” You pecked him on the cheek. “Oh… shouldn’t do that since Liz asked you to homecoming. I’m pretty sure that violates some girl code rule. Catch you two at lunch.” 

You ran off, giving both him and Ned one last wave before heading off to your class. 

“You’re staring,” Ned said. “I know that look… Sarah? Really, bro?”

Peter shook his head. “What look?”

“The look you had reserved for Liz all of last year… and you’re not denying it.”

“It’s Sarah,” Peter said with a shrug. 

“And what does that mean?”

“That you’re not wrong.” 

Peter closed his locker door and he and Ned started to walk to class. 

“Are you going to tell her? What about the dance and Liz? Are you—”

“I’m still going with Liz, she asked me. That’d be a douche move to bail so close to the dance.”

“Okay and Sarah… Peter, you’re going to tell her right? Holy crap, you’d be the boyfriend of America’s Darling.”

“Me and Sarah, not happening.”

“You’re chickening out?” 

“I’m saving a friendship.”     

“Chickening out.” 

“Ned, I just got her kicked off the Avengers. I’m sure I’m the last person she’d want to date.”

You entered the robotics class late, handing the teacher a slip. You strolled over to the workstation with Ned and Peter. Dropping your backpack at your feet, you set down your tablet on the table and opened up the coding you had been working on. 

“Sorry, I missed lunch. Tina threw up after Lorraine brought the class macarons her mom brought back from a business trip to Paris. Turns out she’s allergic to almonds, who knew?” 

“Why does Sarah get to do whatever she wants?” one of the students asked. 

“Because Sarah works in Tony Stark’s lab. If she can build an arc reactor, she can build whatever she wants including… what are you working on?” 

“A Roomba.” 

“A Roomba?”

“Wanted to see if I could do it from complete scratch.” 

You finished the code you had and unplugged the Roomba from the cord. Setting it on the floor, you turned it on for a test run. The Roomba rolled around the room while you monitored the tracking and its patterns on the tablet. It returned, deftly hitting the leg of your stool. You leaned over to pick it up when you spotted a letter on it. 

“Sarah,” you read out loud, having picked up the note. “Will you go to homecoming with me?”

Peter and Ned’s heads both shot up from their work to look at you. 

“Chris Bongiorno,” you finished. 

Your eyes met your friends. You looked over to Chris and said sorry, he nodded before you could even finish asking you to save him a dance. The same lie every boy before him came to accept, you might’ve been on a mission. It was stupid, you should’ve just accepted someone asking you since there was no point in waiting anymore. But you also rather go in a group with Ned and MJ instead of someone you barely knew— besides most of them were probably in it for the clout, whoever was the date to America’s Darling would definitely be all over the headlines.

✿✿✿

You weren’t expecting Steve outside of Peter’s apartment instead of Happy. You threw your backpack in the back and climbed into the passenger’s seat. The atmosphere in the car was nothing but awkward. 

“Did you guys have dessert?”

“No, just dinner.”

“Let’s go out for some, just you and me. What do you want?” 

“Cheesecake?” 

Steve nodded and started the car. Despite being New York for a while now, you had yet to go to Brooklyn. Steve stopped at the little bakery and asked for a giant slice of cheesecake. You watched from the car window as he ordered, the paper bag that he took out of the car for some reason swinging stiffly at his side. He stepped out of the bakery and nodded his head for you to exit the car. Locking the door, Steve began to walk until you reached an old apartment complex. 

“Bought the place back from the Historical Society a year ago. This is where Buck and I used to live, it’s a lot prettier now.” 

Steve unlocked the door and you both walked through. He opened the window so you both could get onto the fire escape to sit. Steve opened the box of cheesecake and handed you the other fork. You both ate a few bites in silence. 

“Sarah, you understand why I made the decision.”

You nodded. 

“I know it feels like the end of the world but I promise you it’s not. This isn’t permanent but it's necessary.”

“I understand. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you or anyone else on the team. And I’m sorry for giving attitude.” 

“A little attitude was expected, you’re a teenager. I think we both forget that sometimes and maybe right now you should be a normal child and I should be just your dad. Not your captain. Just for a little bit, Babydoll.”

You nodded in understanding as you ate the cheesecake off your fork. Steve smiled, the head bobbing was larger than before indicating you weren’t as upset as before. 

“I got asked to the homecoming dance,” you offered up information about your day as an olive branch of sorts— to show Steve you could accept him being just your dad for a little while. 

“Really? That’s great… you don’t seem too excited.”

“It’s about the twelfth boy not that special.”

“Why is this the first time I’m hearing about this?”

“Because I may or may not have been lying and saying we had a mission the day of homecoming and I don’t know if I’ll even make it in order to reject them.”

“You told this lie to eleven other boys before this one and he still asked?”

“They keep thinking that if the mission gets cancelled and they ask at the right time, I can say yes.” 

“I might be a long time removed from school dances but isn’t this the exact problem girls want? All the guys asking you.” 

“But they’re not the boy I wanted to ask me.”

“You want a specific boy to ask you?”

“I’m not talking boys with my dad, anymore.”

Steve grabbed the box of cheesecake, keeping it out of your reach. You struggled to grab it and failed. Sitting back down, you gave Steve a side-eye and sighed. Steve watched you pick at your fingers. Your phone rang and you picked it up, relieved you suddenly had a way out. 

“Sarah.”

“Hey, Peter Parker.”

“Put me on speaker and check the time.” 

You did as he said. “I’m staring at 11:59.” 

“It’s 11:59 and 49 seconds, 50, 51—” the call turned into a FaceTime and you accepted. 

“What are you doing?” 

He held up five fingers and started to put them down. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

“Thank you!”

“First one. Okay, I’m going to bed. I’ve got a math test first period. Oh wait, I learned this.” 

The phone jostled around as Peter set it up against his wall so you could see him full body and he had both his hands free. 

Who is Sarah Wilson-Rogers? A girl that’s really cool, really nice, wicked smart. Best Avenger. Peter Parker’s best friend. And I hope you have the best birthday with only happiness and smiles. You’re my favorite person ever.

“Did I get it all right?” Peter asked.

You laughed and nodded. 

Yes. Thank you. 

“I have something to teach you.”

You leaned the phone against Steve’s leg. He watched as you seemed super excited and he realized he had been demoted from dad to simply a phone stand for the next couple of minutes.

“My best friend is Peter Parker. He’s a dork but he’s my favorite person…” you looked up at Steve. “My second favorite person. P-E-T-E-R. Peter.”

It was the sign favorite followed by a ‘P’ for Peter. He was one of the few people to get a name sign from you— not even the whole team got one, depending on if you signed with them or not. 

“That’s yours now, I’ve dubbed thee Peter Parker with that name sign.”

“I’ll treasure it forever.”

“Dork. This is why I said you’re a dork.”

“Your dork, okay, goodnight. I really should sleep before that test.” 

“Goodnight.”

The phone cut off and you remembered Steve was there. 

“Can’t believe the kid beat me to my own daughter’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Babydoll.” 

He pulled the wrapped present from the bag and handed it to you. Steve had been working on the custom piece for a minute. You unwrapped it to see a Build-A-Bear bunny with a necklace around it. It was a gold necklace with your name on it. 

“That’s not it, press the left hand.”

You pressed it and the little recording started to play with Steve’s voice. 

“Hi Babydoll, it’s Dheaidí. I’m so proud of what you’ve become and how far you’ve gone. I know life hasn’t been the most fair to you but not once have you let it get you down or given up on your life. You’re my best girl and I love you, okay? One of the best things that’s ever happened to me.” 

You pressed it one more time to listen to the message. 

“We found some recovered files from the base you and Bucky were at, some with… press the right one.”

“Hi, Babydoll. It’s mom. Oh, I don’t know if you’ll ever hear this. They might delete this once they’ve found out I recorded it but if you do, know that I’m proud of you. I’m so proud of what I know you’re going to become and how far you’ll go. We don’t have an ideal life but you can’t give up. You find your way out and fight. I love you, and I’ll love you forever.” 

You looked at Steve and then back at the stuffed animal. You pressed the right paw two more times, just listening. Steve wiped the tears at your eyes. He gently took the bunny to show you one more thing. He had them place two more recordings in the torso of the bunny. 

“We also found vital recordings… I know heartbeats help you fall asleep. These recordings are on a loop and won’t stop until you press them again. Right side is Elise’s, left side is mine.” 

Steve pressed one and then the other. The heartbeats differed in pace, Steve’s being slightly faster. You pressed each button to listen to them individually. You launched yourself at your dad for a hug. Steve patted your back.

“Thank you, Dheaidí. For real.”

“Anything for you. I should get you back before it gets any later on a school night.”

You two split the last bite of cheesecake and then headed back to the car. Steve glanced over ever so often during the car ride to see you staring at the stuffed animal before pressing either his or your mother’s message. He didn’t wake you as you pulled into the compound. Steve swung your backpack over his shoulder and lifted you out of the car, hearing the heartbeat of both his and Elise’s recordings playing.

He looked at your pillow, spotting the shine of satin, and set you down. You still didn’t stir, only snuggling more into the stuffed animal so Steve grabbed the large duvet at the end of your bed and placed it over you. Plugging your phone in, he set the alarm for slightly earlier than your usual wake-up time knowing you’d kill him if you didn’t wake up early enough to shower and fix your hair. Steve muttered a goodnight to you, kissing the top of your forehead, before leaving your room and turning off the lights.  

✿✿✿

“You look so pretty,” Steve cooed over the video call. 

You were standing in the living room in your dress for the homecoming dance, Pepper holding the phone so you could be seen full body. You shifted awkwardly in the heels— you only felt comfortable walking in them when the weight was all on your toes like a pointe shoe, but that would look a bit ridiculous the whole night. Walking back into your room, you switched the high stilettos you bought for the backup wedges. You came back out and Steve couldn’t stop gushing to the amusement of Sam and Bucky. 

“Dheaidí! Dheaidí, I’m going to be late getting MJ. Dad, Uncle Jamie, stop him.” 

Sam and Bucky laughed. Bucky finally got Steve to stop while Sam took over the call. 

“One more time for us, how’s the evening going to go?” 

“I’m going downstairs where Happy’s waiting, we’re gonna pick up Ned and MJ and then go to the dance. Happy won’t be able to pick us up till the end of the dance because of moving so we can’t leave unless we get hungry then we can go to the diner across from school but nowhere else… oh, and no underage drinking, drugs, or debauchery of the sorts. Yes?”

“Yep, that’s everything. Sorry we can’t drop you off but we should be back by early morning.” 

You nodded in understanding. Missions couldn’t be helped and if it was truly important to you then they would find a way out completely but sometimes, they could only buy themselves a couple hours. You gave the three of them a wave before Pepper hung up and the phone back to you so you could go into the car with Happy. MJ and Ned were picked up and you made it to the dance a little late on purpose so the dance would already be well on its way when you arrived. You spotted Liz as she walked in and bounded over to her. 

“You look so nice,” you complimented with a big smile. 

“Thanks, you look good too.” She looked behind her. “My dad’s grilling Peter.”

“Dad talk? That’s going to take a while, come dance with us.” 

Liz let you lead her toward your group. The music picked up and you just had fun dancing and messing around. You went with MJ to go get some punch, leaving Ned and Liz for a moment. As MJ grabbed a cup, you noticed Peter finally enter the dance looking visibly shaken. He said something to her and started to walk out of the other doors, practically running when he cleared the crowd of students. MJ quirked an eyebrow and made a move when you placed your cup in her hand. 

“I’ll get him, go back to dancing.” 

You left, following him down the hallway. 

“Peter!” you yelled as he lifted up a set of lockers where his old suit was hidden under. 

“I’ve got to go.”

“Without me?” You looked at the suit in his hand. 

“I got you benched. I’m not hurting you again, stay and enjoy the dance.” 

“You know I can’t not help.”

“The guy with the wings is Liz’s dad.”

“What?!” 

“Call Happy or Mr. Stark or anyone. I’ve got to go. And get Ned, he’s kind of been my guy in the chair.”

“Okay. Go get your guy, Peter Parker.” 

“Thank you.” He looked at you for a moment before pecking your cheek. 

“Hey!” you called out when he got a little farther. 

“This makes it number three.” 

Peter smiled. “I owe you for a lot more than that.”

You tried not to look suspicious as you found Ned away from Liz and MJ. You grabbed him by the arm and the two of you snuck away to the school’s computer lab. Ned turned on the computer to get systems online for communication with Peter while you pulled out your phone. Happy didn’t answer on the first ring, not that you expected him to. So you began going through the rolodex of team members, calling anyone you could but everyone was on a mission and not answering. Ned finally got online with what he needed and called Peter. 

“Go for Ned.”

“Ned, Ned. I need you to track my phone for me.”

“Yeah, but where is it… got it anyway, he just passed a GameStop on Jackson Avenue.”

“Where are the headlights on this thing? I’m in Flash’s car.”

“Okay, I’ll pull up the specs.”

“Alright you’re on speakerphone.”

“Guy in the chair,” Ned said as he spun to the computer across from the one he already had up.  “You stole Flash’s car? Awesome.”

“Yeah but I’ve never driven before! Only with May in parking lots. Has Sarah gotten to Happy yet?” 

“He’s not picking up and everyone else is gone on a…”

“Alright, takeoff in nine minutes.” You heard Happy’s voice through the phone.  

“Happy? Happy, look Peter’s found—”

“Not this game, look you’re benched. Go back to the dance, Sarah. I’ll pick you up when it’s over.”

“No, no Happy wait… dammit!” You looked at your phone in disbelief. No one had ever hung up on you before. 

“Peter, he stopped at an old industrial factory in Brooklyn,” Ned read the GPS tracking. 

“Happy hung up. He’s more concerned with clearing out Avengers Tower, it’s Moving Day.” 

“Moving… he’s gonna rob the plane! Keep trying to get through to Happy.”

Happy didn’t pick up again when you redialed. But your phone lit up with Bucky’s face on the screen. You had called him, Steve, and Sam about fifteen times each. 

“Sarah! Are you okay, why did ca—”

“Uncle Jamie, you have to promise not to get mad and listen. I need you to listen.”

“Alright.” 

“The guy with the wings is the dad of Peter’s date, Toomes, and they’re in trouble. Happy’s not picking up.” 

“Sarah, where’s Peter right now? Is he okay?”

“Toomes is going to rob the plane for moving day, Ned where’s he now… Coney Island. We need to tell Uncle To—” 

The lights turned on and you were face to face with the Spanish teacher. You quickly hung up the phone, sending one last text to Bucky in hopes that he could get through to Tony or Happy since no one seemed to be listening to you. 

“What are you two doing in here?”

“I’m looking at porn,” Ned panicked. 

The teacher raised an eyebrow and looked over at you. You raised your hands in surrender.

“America’s Darling, I don’t even know what that is. I needed to call my dad.” 

“The hallway wasn’t good enough?”

“It’s about a classified mission, ma’am.”

“And Mr. Leeds could overhear it.”

“Well, you heard him, he was too busy watching porn.” 

“The dance, both of you. Now.” 

“Yes ma’am.” 

You and Ned looked at each other and left the computer lab, knowing there was nothing you could do with her there. MJ questioned when you came back. Whether she believed you or not, MJ accepted the lie about you calling Steve and Sam on their mission. You couldn’t enjoy the rest of the dance as you worried about Peter, no longer having communication.

Liz had left some time while you and Ned had been in the computer room. You tapped your foot to the beat more in nervous anticipation rather than enjoyance. You heard MJ scoff and turned to see what she was looking at. Peter was standing at the glass, suit for the dance on him and looking nice— he thought he should clean up before coming back to the dance. You forced MJ to put her hand down as she was flipping Peter off. Peter laughed as he entered, watching the scene unfold. You ran over and hugged him, almost knocking him back. MJ and Ned came up. 

“You know, my dad gave me cash for the diner. You guys want to use it to get a taxi back to the compound instead? We can get take out.”

The other three kids nodded and you guys signed out of the dance and took a taxi home. You texted Happy, to be met with a string of texts apologizing for not listening. You called him to tell him not to worry as you paid the taxi driver and went back inside. 

Sam, Steve, and Bucky came back to the sound of laughter in their apartment. Sam wasn’t even surprised, checking his phone and seeing it read one am, that you guys were still up and talking like it wasn’t late. 

“Why would you teach them to sign I’m a dumbass?” They heard Peter’s voice in protest. 

“Because only a dumbass could break my Roomba!”

“All I did was turn it on.”

“It took one look at you and went nope,” MJ said. 

The three men shook their heads as they walked towards your room. Steve knocked on the door to your bathroom, even though it was open, and the four of you looked up. You guys were still in your fancy outfits, each person with an individual blanket and the pillows had been taken from the couch. You set down your rice bowl in your lap to wave at them.

“You know we have a couch for a reason?” Steve asked. 

The four of you just laughed in his face causing Steve to look at the other two men in confusion. They shrugged, not knowing either. Handing the bowl to Peter, you wrapped your blanket around you and stepped out the tub. 

“Can they sleep over? Please?”

“In the tub?”

“Haha, no, the living room. Or the bed.” 

“Sure. Peter, Sarah, I need to talk to you both.” 

You and Peter followed Steve out of the bathroom and into his room. 

“I’m not here to yell at either of you,” Steve said when he saw the looks on your faces. “I’m checking that you’re okay?” 

You both nodded. 

“We’re sorry,” Peter started. 

“No, you did the right thing. You two tried to contact us first. I can’t act like I wish you didn’t get involved at all but I understand.” 

“Thank you, Dheaidí.”

“Thank you, Mr. Wilson-Rogers.” 

“Alright, you two go enjoy your friends.” 

You coughed the word traitor as Peter looked at you with an unamused face. He sat back on the couch, this time with a blanket, and you two had no problem laying back down in front of Steve— not reading the room at all. Sam swooped in and pulled him away for the run before he could say anything. When they came back, the four of you were up and looking a little more alive than previously. Ned and MJ were dropped off after breakfast while Peter came back to the compound with you guys. The rest of the team watched from the sidelines as the two of you did light training in the gym.

It kept going like that until there were only two weeks of school left. You and Peter hadn’t tried to go after any villains since homecoming. You would train in the gym in the morning and on the mornings he stopped by Peter would join. The two of you did little things in the lab but didn’t once pester Tony if he said something was too classified for you guys to know. Tony smiled at the series of pictures Pepper showed him that she secretly took of the three of you— it was you and Peter sitting on top of your workstation while Tony sat at the bench playing a game of three way chess. Most of the pictures were of three of you staring intently at the board but Tony’s two favorites was one of him and Peter hi-fiving while you had a shocked expression on your face realizing they had been in alliance with you. The other was you three laughing over a dumb joke you told. 

“They’re taking it surprisingly well,” Nat said as they watched from the common room window. 

You and Peter chose to run around the compound early in the morning before school. Pietro had been challenging you both for a little while, claiming he was running as slow as he possibly could, but soon had gone back inside with the others. Everyone agreed with Nat’s observation. Sam took a sip of his coffee. 

“You know I asked her the other day about being off probation. She said whenever we say she can come back that she’s ready, but she didn’t push it.” 

They watched you and Peter stop running and look around the flat area. The two of you spotted a tree and nodded running towards it, tapping the trunk and then running back. You shoved Peter to throw him off balance and when he caught back up, he did the same to you. You guys had hands on your knees and were breathing a little heavy. You both jumped as a bolt of lightning landed near the two of you, which was strange because it was a clear day. Thor and Bruce appeared from the bolt. 

“Uncle Bruce! Uncle Thor!” You cheered excitedly while running up to hug the two of them. 

“Our strongest Avenger,” Thor said jovially as he lifted you up. Thor thought it was funny calling you that, anyone else tried to take the title from him and he would stare daggers until they took it back. 

“Are you guys done with your mission?”

Thor shook his head. “We’re taking a small break but I think Ragnarok is near, I can feel it. Banner and I will need to leave again soon… Almost forgot, Happy late Birthday! I have a present for you… I hope.”

You looked around him, not seeing any gift or anywhere that Thor could hold. Thor’s last present from when you were a lot younger was not appreciated by Steve— it was Christmas and Thor thought it was appropriate to gift you with an Asgardian wolf which got sent back the next morning. Thor didn’t realize the type of pet wasn’t the problem and got confused when one of the few pegasus they had left on Asgard also got sent back— but the pegasus was still yours, recognizing you the few times Thor’s taken you to Asgard. 

“Hand,” Thor said. 

You held out your hands like he said. 

“Close your eyes.”

You did as he said and were confused when after a few seconds he started laughing. Thor turned you around to face the window while the rest of the team inside looked in shock. You opened your eyes to see Mjolnir in your hands— and you still standing. 

“Awesome!” 

“Go up to the roof.” 

The rest of the team watched as you ran inside and took the elevator. They were surprised that the doors didn’t ding on the common room floor but kept going. Steve, Sam, and Bucky— mainly Steve— didn’t like wherever this was headed. The team’s attention was drawn back to the window as they heard your shouts of delight. Steve screamed as he saw you racing through the air being pulled at an insane speed around the compound, slowly getting closer to the ground with each pass around the large building. You aggressively jerked as Thor caught you and set you down. You stumbled around dizzy before collapsing onto the grass. Peter did a handstand and then let himself tilt a little too far so he would fall flat on his back against the soft grass next to you and you both busted out in a fit of laughter. Thor and Bruce came inside to get food and start their small break— Steve yelling at Thor while the Asgardian god just laughed in entertainment.

“Would you like a turn?” Thor offered the hammer to Steve.

“No! That’s not what I’m mad abou—”

Thor walked off to go to his room.  The team turned back to the window and looked on as you and Peter laid on the ground, smiling and talking about something they couldn’t hear, until the car approached with Happy driving. 

“They’re good kids,” Clint said as they watched you two grab your backpacks and get in the car. 

“Yeah, school year’s almost over. Maybe we should see how summer goes for them off-bench,” Steve suggested before picking up his ringing cell phone.

“Dheaidí? I forgot to tell you, decathlon has one more practice and we’re gonna be late coming back home, I got MJ to agree to go painting with us.”

“How late?”

“Hmm, 5? Is that okay?”

“Just fine, Babydoll.” Steve hung up the phone. “Tony is five too late for your press conference?”

“Eh, we can squeeze it in Capsicle.” 

You all suited up, Peter’s new suit luckily fitting, and raced into the garage to pile into the quinjet. Texts were sent to Sam and Natasha, telling them to meet you at the main airport in Germany as quickly as possible. Two cars pulled up at the parking lot, one with Nat and T’Challa. The other, Sam was stepping out with a lanky man in tow. He came up to Steve. 

“Captain America! Mr. Lang, it’s an honor. I’m shaking your hand too long. Wow! This is awesome! You all. I know you all too, you’re great.” He grabbed both of Steve’s biceps making you snicker as Steve looked back at you with a funny face. 

“Look, I wanna say. I know you know a lot of super people, so thanks for thinking of me.”

“Alright, Tic Tac, let’s wrap up the talking.” Sam patted him on the back. “What are we waiting for?” 

Bucky surveyed the area, eyes squinting due to the bright sun. A voice came over the airport PA system in German. Bucky’s head turned to where the noise was coming from, focusing intently. 

“They're evacuating the airport,” he translated. 

“They’re here,” Steve said, putting on his helmet. He pointed at you and Peter. “Stay back as long as you can.” 

You both nodded. Peter pulled down his mask while you pulled your hood on— clipping it in so it stayed. You watched as a single soldier crossed the empty parking lot. None of your team moved, knowing it was a trap. But you couldn’t see where any of the others were. Peter felt all of his hairs stand on end. You, Steve, and Bucky heard the slight scrape against concrete. The four of you turned your heads first, everyone else following, to see a helicopter being thrown at you. Wanda sprung into action, catching it in the red bubble to gently set to the side.

The soldier that had been walking towards you, jumped into action and so did the other soldiers from wherever they were hidden. The team had to split, immediately thrown into the throws of fighting. Peter shot out a web and swung you both to the top deck of the parking lot, out of the way like Steve said. You guys watched the fight from above, everyone getting their ass kicked. Your eyes scanned quickly and then you stood up to look around, seeing nothing else in the parking lot. 

“We’re missing four… Dad, can Redwing find an open jet?” 

“... we’ve got a problem. Special Ops are here. Hangar five, north runaway,” Sam said as he received the scans from Redwing. 

“They’re going to get themselves killed,” Nat mumbled. 

Two of the winter soldiers knocked her to the ground and started to run into the terminal.

“Alright, Underoos. G.I.” 

“On it, Mr. Stark.”

Peter threw you at the glass of the terminal, shattering it on impact, before swinging in himself. The two of you started to fight the two soldiers, chasing after them after they ran off. Tony and Rhodey were launching small missiles where they could, trying to avoid hitting the team. One of the soldiers launched a gasoline truck, forcing everyone to run. 

“Okay,” Rhodey gritted his teeth. “Now I’m pissed.” 

“Anyone know why they aren’t all here? Lang, Barton, handle Special Ops.” 

Scott and Clint ran off. One of the soldiers caught the shield that Steve threw and flung it into Pietro, knocking him out mid run. Scott and Clint reached the Special Ops. 

“We’ve got this.”

“You are currently operating outside the law. The Accords.”

“Yeah, yeah. Accords bullshit, I think you can see there are bigger problems,” Clint said. “Stay out of the way before someone gets killed.” 

“Barton, you don’t tell us…” 

“I’m gonna regret this, later.” 

Clint shook out his hand and punched the Special Ops right in the face. Scott looked and followed suit with the other right in front of him. Clint shot off a few arrows to contain the others. 

Peter trapped one of the soldiers with the webs. You stopped to deal with thee soldier pulling at the web that had her stuck to a ticket booth while Peter chased after the other. You kicked her in the chest right as she pulled off the webbing. She lunged at you. The two of you tousled when you heard Steve’s voice through the comms. 

“They’re leaving! Report to the hangar.” 

You headbutted the soldier on top of you, knocking her out. You grabbed her by the collar and dragged her to the hangar where everyone was waiting. Tying her up along with the other four they captured, you threw them at the feet of Special Ops that had recovered from getting hit by Scott and Lang. 

“Here’s five of them,” Steve said. “Let us do our job and get the others. We’re gonna need the jet, they kind of threw ours at us.” 

“How are we supposed to get back to home base? Get them to headquarters?” The lead guard asked. 

Clint tossed them the keys to one of the vans you guys had come in. “You got a license?”

“Watch it, Barton.” 

“Yeah, yeah. Blow me, you can put Scott and I on probation when we're done. If you excuse me.” 

Clint swung into the jet and Steve started it up while Bucky typed in the coordinates for the HYDRA base in Siberia. Scott, Pietro, and Peter had  gotten a little banged up so they stayed with Vision and Wanda to help make sure the captured soldiers didn’t escape while the Special Ops team was transporting them. 

“You know I’m not letting the probation go,” the guard said to Scott. “You two are definitely going on house arrest.” 

“Figured as much.”

Your jet was chasing after the other one when suddenly there’s turned around. 

“What’s it doing?” Bucky asked. 

You all watched it hover and then you saw something that looked like beams start to light up. Rhodey, Sam, and Tony opened the jet door and jumped out. 

“Keep going, beat them to Siberia, while they’re distracted with us,” Tony said before he jumped out. 

The jet continued while Tony, Sam, and Rhodey took out the blasters. One of the blasters managed to hit Rhodey in the chest, knocking him offline. Rhodey was free falling fast. Sam and Tony both nosedived to try and catch him but Rhodey hit the ground hard before either of them made it. Tony ripped off his mask to have FRIDAY read his vitals. 

“Go, I’ll get him to medical,” Sam said. 

Tony took one more look at Rhodey before nodding and slipping his mask back on, speeding off to try and catch up to your jet. 

You landed amongst a snowstorm, the mountain eerily quiet. You approached the large double doors, locked. They weren’t opening even after Tony blasted at them. 

“I’ve got this.” 

You pressed the button on your pinky. Your glove heated up until a large diamond blade came out, more fine tip like a pick. The door screeched as you drew a large circle, cutting through the door. You kicked it hard and the metal fell in. Hissing through the pain, you punched off the diamond pick. 

“That,” Tony pointed to your hand. “Impressive, G.I.” 

“Thanks.” 

The base seemed too quiet as you all walked through, you and Bucky leading the way. Almost as if there was no need to be on high alert. Bucky pulled you along when he noticed you had froze staring at your old cell. The others looked in as they walked past. There were still books in there, a stripped-down bed, and a prominent blood stain on the floor making Steve think about what you had told him and Sam.

“I’ve got heat signatures,” Tony said. 

“How many?” Steve asked. 

“Uh, one.”

You entered the room where he had read the signatures. The cryo containers were empty. The lights came on and you could all see Zemo in some containment unit. Steve threw his shield at it hard but it just bounced off the unit and into his hand. 

“The Soviets built this chamber to withstand the launch blast of UR-100 rockets,” Zemo said. 

“Bet I can get through it,” you said. 

“Oh, over time you probably could 001. Or is it Gemstone now? It’s all in the same isn’t it.”

“You killed innocent people in Vienna to get to us,” Steve said. 

“I’ve thought about nothing else for over a year. I studied you, followed you.”

“All this for Sokovia?” 

“Sokovia was a failed state long before you blew it to hell. No, all this because I made a promise. I lost everyone and so will you.” 

A screen above the chamber clicked to life. You all watched security footage timestamped 1991. 

“I know that road,” Tony said. 

Soon a car rolled into view, crashing into a tree, quickly followed by the Winter Soldier— Bucky’s Winter Soldier— on a motorcycle. You all watched as Bucky grabbed Howard Stark by the back of his hair, the recognition of Bucky as well as fear clear on his face. Bucky punched Howard three times in the face and the man dropped, Tony’s mother— Maria— screaming. 

Tony’s jaw clenched as he watched Bucky drag his father back into the car and prop him in the driver’s seat before walking around choking his mother and shooting out the security camera. Tony dropped to his knees. The minute his knees hit the ground, the winter soldiers descended. Catching you all off guard, since you were distracted. You all tried to regain your footing and you noticed Tony still hadn’t moved as a soldier stalked to him. Bucky shot the soldier between the eyes, where he couldn’t recover. You grabbed Tony and carried him to the corner. 

“Uncle Tony, Uncle Tony, I know how it feels but we don’t have time for this now. You can punch Uncle Jamie later but we need you out there.” 

Tony nodded slowly and you smiled as the Iron Man mask came down. You all kept fighting. T’Challa looked to see Zemo slip out of the chamber and left to stalk him. The contained space made it harder to use gunfire from Bucky or missiles from Tony but it did make it easier for close combat. And with the lack of access to large helicopters and vehicles to throw, you guys were able to tag team soldiers until they had all been knocked out. Steve made the executive decision to kill them, Ross and the Task Force would have to be happy with the five they got. 

You all walked back to the jet, not talking. When the jet got into the sky, Tony went to lunge for Bucky— Steve grabbing him by the arm.

“One swing. Let me get one swing.”

“Steve, let him go.” 

Bucky didn’t try to brace himself as Tony punched him hard in the face. Bucky stood up and Tony punched him again before he walked away, breathing heavy. Tony moved to sit in the pilot’s seat away from Bucky. 

✿✿✿

You sat at the dining room table doing homework with Peter while Tony worked with Rhodey on physical therapy. Tony had fitted him with smart tech leg braces so he could walk again— Sam had informed everyone that medical declared Rhodey paralyzed from the waist down. 

“Give me some feedback, anything you can think of,” Tony said as he watched Rhodey walk slowly while holding onto bars. 

You looked over when you heard the crash, making a move to help but Rhodey shoved you and Tony away. He wanted to get up by himself. You sat back down at the table.

“138,” Rhodey said. “138 combat missions. That’s how many I’ve flown, Tony. Every one of them could’ve been my last, but I flew them. Because the fight needed to be fought. And yeah that sucks, this is a bad beat. Shit happens.”  

You and Peter looked over when there was a knock on the glass window. The very old FedEx delivery man was standing there with a box.

“Are you Tony Stank?”

“Yes, this is Tony Stank,” Rhodey pointed. “You’re in the right place. Thank you for that! Never dropping that, by the way.” 

Rhodey went back to the bars. “Table for one, Mr. Stank. Please, by the bathroom.” 

You and Peter giggled. Tony looked over at you two. 

“That’s funny? You two are grounded.”

“Not our dad,” you retorted. 

Tony muttered something along the lines of thank goodness and never having children as he brought the package over to the table. He ripped it open and pulled out a small booklet along with a letter. Tony opened the letter to find a single seal from Secretary Ross. He looked at the booklet to see it said: The New Accords. The front page read, signed by 193 countries and two observer states. He flipped it to the next page to see a single paragraph:

For as long as S.H.I.E.L.D. continues to serve the good of the people, the Avengers will remain a private organization trusted to protect the world. S.H.I.E.L.D. will create a small branch to work in tandem with the UN. But the current individual team known as the Avengers and dubbed Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and any subsequent members that join will operate as a special ops team under their own jurisdiction. 

Tony flipped through the pages, each page saying the same paragraph with a different countries’ signature at the bottom. 

✿✿✿

You and Peter were sitting in the back of the car as Steve dropped you two off at school. He heard your laughter and looked in the rearview mirror to see you two staring at Peter’s phone sharing earbuds. 

“What’s so funny?” 

“Peter vlogged our trip to Germany,” you said before returning your attention to the phone. 

Peter had filmed the most random scenes. It started with Tony asking him if it was his first time on a private plane, if you could even consider the quinjet a private plane. Him scaring Tony when he had fallen asleep on the ride to Germany. He had shown off his new suit in the hotel room mirrors. You eating a giant pretzel and giving some to him behind the camera. There was even a scene of you smiling and waving at the camera while you two waited on top of the parking deck where the fighting was happening.

There was one of you dragging the soldier towards the hangar with Peter saying ‘go best friend, that’s my best friend’. The rest of the footage was new to you since it was after you guys had left Peter and them to chase the other soldiers— one which involved an interesting message to May from Tony acting as a fake alibi for him. 

“You two know you can’t—”

“Yeah, yeah, Dheaidí. But you know maybe the team should get social media. We’re already public figures aren’t we?”

“We already had this discussion. I already said no Instagram, no Twitter. Nothing more public than we already all.”

“So I have to delete my Snapchat?” 

“What?”

“Nothing. Let’s go, Peter Parker. Oh and I already asked Jessica on PR, she’s thinking the idea over.” You dragged Peter out the car as it rolled to a stop at a stop sign a few blocks down from the school, ignoring Steve’s shouts. 

“Sorry, Dheaidí. Don’t want to be late, you know. Trying to actually finish the school year with decent attendance… Oh, is Uncle Clint coming to dinner?” 

“Not this week. Says he’s using the house arrest as an excuse for a long vacation, now about Snapchat?”

“Nope, gotta go.” 

Steve looked at you two running off and picked up the phone.

“Babe, did your niece get better after sophomore year?” 

“Considering she was turning sixteen, just worse.”

“Oh, joy.” Steve’s car sped off. 

You reached the front of the school, having to jump onto the curb to avoid getting hit by Flash Thompson in his convertible. 

“What up, Penis Parker? Hey, Sarah.” 

Peter rolled his eyes and continued to pull you along into the school building. The TVs in the hallway played the morning announcements with Betty and another student whose name you couldn’t remember. They were reminding everyone of the homecoming dance coming up and to get your dates and secure tickets. You walked with Peter to his locker. Ned appeared with a tiny lego Sith in his hand, propping it on Peter’s shoulder. 

“Join with me and together we’ll build the new lego Death Star I just bought.” 

“No way, you got the Death Star?” you asked, excitedly. “How many pieces?” 

“3,803.” 

“Awesome,” you and Peter said at the same time. 

“I know. You two want to do it tonight?”

Peter sighed. “I can’t I’ve got the Stark—”

“The Stark Internship. I know. How busy do they have you? I feel like Sarah gets more free time and she’s an Avenger.” 

“It’s because they’re training Peter on all the new tech,” you lied. “I see him with Uncle Tony late in the lab. They want him knowing the machinery in and out before a real project.”

“Hopefully it’ll lead to a real job soon,” Peter said. 

“It’s called being patient, Peter Parker.” You knew he was itching to get out into the field after trying the big leagues. 

“Yeah,” Ned started. “He’ll be all good work with the spreadsheets, Peter. Here’s a gold coin. What? I don’t know how jobs work.”

You laughed as Ned said that when Peter looked at him like he was crazy. 

“That’s exactly how they work,” Peter joked. 

“Well, I’ll knock out the Death Star base at my place and then come by later and we can finish it. Sarah, you still coming?” 

You nodded. Peter might have had training but you didn’t. Well, you did, but it was early in the morning with Bucky and sometimes Steve if he and Sam chose to join you two instead of sleeping for thirty more minutes. 

“Liz is back?” 

You looked in the direction that had caught Peter’s attention. 

“Liz?” you asked. 

“Yeah. Girl, Peter’s been crushing on since freshman year. She spent first semester on an exchange program, she’s a junior,” Ned explained to you. 

“Oh, she came back at the beginning of second?” 

“Yep.”

“Ok, I know I’ve missed a lot of school but how come I’ve never seen her. Let’s invite her to lunch.”

“No!” Peter yelled. 

“Ha, good luck. He stares at her from a distance.”

“It can’t be that bad.” 

You realized it was in fact that bad as you sat across from them in the cafeteria. They were watching Liz put up the sign for the homecoming dance. 

“Is that a new top?” Peter asked.

“No, we’ve seen that one before but never with that skirt,” Ned said. 

You gave them a look that both of them ignored as they kept looking. 

“We should probably stop staring before it gets creepy.” 

“Too late,” you muttered. 

“You guys are losers,” Michelle said and you three turned to look at her. 

“Amen, sister.” You slid the tray over to her and moved to sit down. “Uncle Tony was right… testosterone.” 

You saw more of Liz because it turns out she ran decathlon as Mr. Harrington’s assistant. The team introduced you to her so she knew not to ask you questions, that you just liked to sit in. 

“Can I just say this is a mini fangirl moment. I love the suit, the pink star’s really cute.”

“Thank you!” You said cheerily. “I’m glad someone appreciates it.” 

✿✿✿

Ned gasped, making you look over and stop staring at the bottom of the top bunk of Peter’s bed. Peter dropped from the ceiling and the Death Star fell out of Ned’s hand and crashed onto the floor. 

“You’re the Spider-man,” Ned said.

“I’m not. I’m not,” Peter said as he hit the spider logo on the suit so it fell off and to the ground, as if that would somehow make Ned magically forget he saw it.  

“What are you doing here?” Peter asked. 

“We finished the base, I said I’d come by after.”

“What? I didn’t know you meant to— why’d you let him come in?” Peter directed the last bit to you. 

“How was I supposed to know you snuck home after training? I thought you used the front door like a normal person.”

“I do, but I saw a bank robbery and… forget it.”

May came bursting into the room, fanning at the smoke from the oven. 

“Whoo, that turkey meatloaf is over. I’m thinking Thai. Sarah, Ned, you want Thai?” 

“No,” Peter said quickly and then looked at the two of you. 

“Ned and I are going on a date, May. We’ll be going in just a minute.”

“You two? Didn’t see that coming, would have thought you and— never mind… might want to put on some clothes for dinner, Peter.” She said as she closed the door.

“You owe me,” you said to Peter as you grabbed his sweater off his chair and chucked it at his chest. 

“She doesn’t know?” Ned asked. 

“Nobody knows! Mr. Stark because he made my suit and the other Avengers but that’s it.”

“Are you an Avenger now?”

“Sort of,” Peter shrugged. 

“He is,” you said from behind him. 

Ned grabbed his chest. “Oh, geez.” 

“You can’t tell anybody. You gotta keep it a secret.”

“Secret? Why?”

“You know what she’s like.” Peter pointed at his door, talking about May.

“But Sarah’s parents…”

“Are both Avengers, Ned,” you said. “Circumstances are a little different.”

“If May finds out people try and kill me every night, she won’t let me do this. Ned, please. I cannot do that to her right now. I mean everything’s that happened with her, I—,” Peter pleaded with his best friend. 

“Okay.”

“Swear it.”

“I swear.”

“Thank you. I promise I’ll tell you everything tomorrow.”

Peter looked at you and you grabbed Ned’s hand. “Let’s go, I’ll answer any questions.”

“But, but…”

“I’ll let you try on Uncle Tony’s suit.”

“Let’s go.” Ned practically pulled you out of the room. You groaned as you heard May ask about you and Ned going on this fake date. 

“So does he do that and the Stark Internship?” Ned asked as you two waited outside for Happy. 

“Ned, that is the Stark Internship.”

You directed him into the car when Happy rolled up, asking him to stop for cheeseburgers. True to his word, Ned spent the next day asking Peter all sorts of questions about him being Spider-man. Peter on the other hand was not having any of it. You got to avoid most of the questions simply by not having class with the two of them, until gym rolled around. You thought it was dumb that you of all people had to do gym but they made you anyway. The teacher rolled out a tv and you saw the words. Captain America’s Fitness Challenge, flash across the screen and then a picture of your dad in the goofiest version of his Captain America suit. 

“What the… God, he’s so embarrassing,” you whispered. 

“No lie,” MJ looked up from her book. “I would disown my dad if he did that.”

You chuckled and rolled your eyes. “Let’s just start the sit-ups station. You’re my partner.” 

You dragged MJ to one of the mats. She held your feet in one hand while still reading in the other. Ned paired with Peter to keep asking questions and try to persuade him to be as Ned put it ‘the guy in the chair’. You and Peter could both hear some of the kids playing a game of F, Marry, Kill with various Avengers. 

“I’d F Thor, marry Iron Man, and kill Hulk,” Betty said. 

“If I hear my fathers’ names out of anyone’s mouth,” you shouted, making them laugh.  

“You’re all good,” Liz said. 

Peter kept listening when he heard them ask her about Spider-man while you went back to the pushups. 

“Peter knows Spider-man,” Ned said, making the whole gym stop to look at him. 

Peter tried to backtrack it somehow. Flash jumped down from the rope station. 

“Yeah the same way Coach and Captain America are friends.”

You looked at Peter who was watching Liz’s face with disappointment. 

“No, it’s true. Peter’s met him a couple of times by chance when he comes to the compound for homework and…”

“The Stark Internship. That I’m not really supposed to talk about.” Peter directed the last bit to Ned. 

“That’s awesome. Then maybe you should invite him to Liz’s party, tonight. Right?” Flash said. 

“I don’t think he’d—” the bell for class cut you off and everyone started to exit the gym. 

You grabbed Peter’s arm. “Second time you owe me.” 

“Thank you.” Peter gave you a one-armed hug and pecked you on the cheek. 

“Oh and I’m not coming to D.C. with y’all for decathlon. We’re taking a family vacation. Figure out how to talk to Liz, please… but I’ll keep my phone on in case you need help.”

“You’re the best, Sarah.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” 

You left Peter and Ned to their conversation. When you got home, Sam asked about where Peter was. 

“Not training today. Liz is having a party.” 

“And you aren’t at said party because?”

“Not my thing, Dad.” 

“Isn’t that part of being a normal teenager?” 

“So are drugs by that standard… what are you making?”

“Fair enough, sweetheart, and it’s mac and cheese.”

You walked over to the kitchen and looked at all the ingredients. You opened the fridge to grab a drink. 

“That’s a lot for mac and cheese. What do you need the breadcrumbs from?” 

“What do I— have you never had mac and cheese?”

“That’s not how Dheaidí used to make it. Just pasta and cheese sauce.” 

“Pasta and cheese… Steve’s trying to poison you.”

You rolled your eyes and walked off to go knock out an hour in the ballet studio.

✿✿✿

“Wait so Uncle Tony got pissed at you?” You asked, walking with Ned and Peter to the bodega before heading to Peter’s. 

“Mainly that I almost drowned. He says I should stay the friendly neighborhood spider but the problems are coming into the neighborhood,” Peter said frustrated as he looked at the drinks in the fridge. 

“I think he’s just worried. Sometimes he doesn’t even like when I go on missions alone, you’ve just got to prove that you can be an Avenger.” 

“If they ever let me.” 

“Don’t say that, of course they will. You said you found Chitauri weapons, don’t let a setback like Uncle Tony’s temper tantrum throw you from your job. Was the party fun at least?”

Peter shrugged. “It was fine.”

“He actually talked to Liz,” Ned offered. 

Peter shook his head when you gave him an excited yet questioning face. “She’s cool.”

“Cool? That’s it, I thought this was the girl you had been crushing on since freshman year?”

“Crushing was a strong word.”

“You know what else was strong, your staring.” 

“It was cause we hadn’t seen her since last summer. I talked to her, she’s cool. I guess I still like her, just think I’ve started to notice someone else.”

You guys made your way to the checkout. You and Ned both questioned Peter but he didn’t say anything. He grabbed the snacks out of your hand and paid for them before you got the chance to take out your wallet like usual. Peter blinked in surprise when you suddenly were right in his face. 

“I’ll find out who this mystery girl is. You can’t hide her from me forever… damn, can’t come over anymore,” you read a message off of your phone. “I just made Prima in company.” 

“When did you join a real ballet studio?”

“Well I didn’t. Aleisha Dupont, from France did… now if you boys excuse me, I have a wig to change into, some prosthetics to put on and a headmaster whose face is about to meet the end of my pointe shoe. Bye, Ned, Peter Parker.” 

You gave both boys a peck on the cheek and darted out the bodega where Happy’s car was pulled up. Happy drove carefully so you could apply your makeup and secure the black straight wig with bangs. It was a small mission technically but you loved any mission that let you do solo work. Not because you didn’t love the team but team missions were usually always smash a few things and lots of fighting, solo missions for you tended to be spy work and if someone has to die it's discreet without much of a fight. 

“Aleisha!” 

You ran to your friends and hugged them. 

“We heard about Prima, the whole company is talking.” 

“It’s too bad I can’t enjoy it.”

“Can’t enjoy it.”

“Mon pere, we’re moving back to France. Today’s my last day.”

“No, really? Well, we should celebrate our 24 hour prima. Let’s go, I want a good spot at the barre.” 

You stayed behind when everyone else had cleared out to talk to the headmaster. Well, there wasn’t any talking. You hit him upside the temple with the pointe shoe when he was in the hallway and dragged him back into his office to prop him up in his chair. Humming the Dance of the Little Swans, you turned on the electric kettle and poured him a cup— making it the exact way you’ve observed him do it for the past few months. The headmaster started to wake up so you hit him with your shoe again. While the tea cooled, you took off the wig and makeup. You sat on the desk and waited until S.H.I.E.L.D. agents had come in to take him away. You sipped on the tea as Sharon and Maria entered to help look through files. 

“You know, he might be evil but this cup of tea is nothing but heavenly. I’m definitely stealing this recipe.”

The two women looked at you and you stretched out the cup towards them. 

“You want me to make you one?”

Sharon laughed. “I think we’re good. Your dads are outside with the car.” 

You put on your other pointe shoe and hopped down from the desk. The agents tried not to laugh as you danced out of the office and towards the front door. Steve and Sam were waiting in the car so you guys could drive to the airport for vacation. Principal Morita had signed off on your document that stated you’d be out of school for Thursday and Friday. They shook their heads as you danced all the way to the car, stopping on the steps for the ending of your performance. Both men clapped, unenthusiastically, when you finished. You connected your phone to the car’s Bluetooth system. Sam and Steve looked at each other when your music came on. 

“And this would be?” Steve asked. 

“Britney Spears… All eyes on me in the center of a ring just like a circus!” 

Sam and Steve were subjected to the whims of their teenage daughter all the way to the airport, a ride made unnecessarily longer due to traffic. Your music taste was diverse and often along the lines of Steve and Sam but that particular car ride you only wanted to listen to your pop divas. So Beyonce, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, and Diana Ross were a few of the artists they had to listen to. You pulled up to the airport, Steve paying for the days the car would be parked there, and found a nice spot currently away from all the other cars. You asked Sam to record a video for you to send to Ned, MJ, and Peter. You turned the volume all the way up in the car as “I’m Coming Out” started to play. Sam filmed as you stepped out the car dramatically in time to the words and did a goofy strut until you approached the camera. 

“Hope you guys win decathlon! I’ll be sending you nothing but good vibes from sunny California!” 

Steve felt your head practically slam against his shoulder as you fell asleep halfway through the flight. You were thinking maybe you guys shouldn’t have tried to be normal citizens and should’ve taken the quinjet instead because you were not prepared for the flight time to still be so long. When you guys landed you turned off airplane mode on your phone to see a couple texts had come in. You opened the one from Peter that was a video.

“Have fun in Cali, wish we were there with you.” 

“Liz asked Peter to the dance!” Ned popped up behind Peter. “Right in front of everyone on the team.” 

“Ned, I’m sure Sarah doesn’t care… it’s not that big a deal. Gotta go, we’re still practicing. See you soon.” 

The video cut off rather abruptly. The other messages were from Ned and MJ that were just texts thanking you for the good luck and hoping you enjoy your vacation. 

✿✿✿

The Big Thunder Suite at the Disneyland Hotel wasn’t as bad as you thought. You wanted to stay in the FairyTale Suite— Steve and Sam did not. But the copper tub in the suite was a good enough consolation prize for you. You flopped onto the bed with excitement before changing into sweats and joining your fathers downstairs for dinner. 

“I’ve got the whole park planned so we can see everything!” you said excitedly, barely chewing your food before swallowing. 

Steve gave Sam an amused smile. 

“She’s got the whole thing planned.”

“Whole thing?”

“Whole thing.” 

“I hate you both.” You rolled your eyes while both men laughed at your expense.

The first day did not go as planned. You, Steve, and Sam had the uncanny ability to forget that you were well-known Avengers resulting in lots of kids coming up to you three— especially Sam and Steve. You guys had sat down to get lunch when one child recognized Steve first. You and Sam had ducked your heads down but the kid took one glance and recognized you too.

Before Sam and Steve could process what was happening, you left the area, forcing them to deal with the growing line of kids wanting pictures with Captain America and Falcon and the apologies of their parents who tried to tell them that the two men just wanted to enjoy the park. Sam and Steve were glad to take pictures and sign autographs. You thought you were in the clear until you stumbled into the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. 

Both men looked around once the line had gotten smaller and tried to find you. Sam grabbed his phone to text you when he got a message sent from the PR team, it was a link to Twitter. Someone had posted a photo of you at the boutique and a line of children now wanting makeovers from America’s Darling. They scrolled through Twitter, your name now trending, and saw various photos and videos. 

You gasped when you saw the little girl with green hearing aids approach the station that the employees let you have. She gave you a little wave. You pointed to your own hearing aids and she nodded excitedly. 

We match!

You looked up to see her parents. 

She begged for your color, it’s not even her favorite, her dad signed. 

You’ve given her so much confidence that she can do anything, her mom signed. 

You looked back at the little girl. I think one large Avenger sized makeover is what we want. 

Another video popped of you getting asked questions as you left the salon, not getting farther than the bench right outside. 

“Is all the glitter because of pixie dust?”

“Glitter?”

“Your skin!”

You laughed when you realized they were talking about the diamond. Whenever you got hit with something, you see the sparkle of the diamond briefly upon impact as the area became super tough to stop the damage. The kids looked at you patiently, expecting an answer and you weren’t about to spoil magic for them in the middle of Disneyland. Their fifth grade history class can do that for you. 

“Yes. My mom was a fairy.”

The kids gasped in amazement. 

“Was your mom a tinker fairy? Is that why you’re so good at making things?”

When you nodded the children started chanting ‘TinkerDarling’. Steve laughed when he heard on the video one kid say in wonder that Captain America was once married to a fairy. 

“Should we go save her?”

“Probably.” 

They got to the area where you were but saw you already had another savior approaching. 

“Peter!” The kids yelled, making you turn your head to see Peter Pan. 

“Hey, kids. Tink and I are needed in Neverland, Captain Hook is back to his evil ways.” He made a face causing the kids to gasp. “We’re sorry to leave you but remember to always have faith, trust, say it with me… and pixie dust! Come on, TinkerDarling.”

Peter Pan stuck out a hand that you gladly grabbed and he whisked you towards the stand labelled Maurice’s Treats where Steve and Sam were. He dropped you off. 

“Thank you.” 

“Any time, TinkerDarling,” Peter Pan broke character for a moment. “You know that’s staying.”

“It’s already trending,” Sam said as he held up the phone. 

Your phone rang and you answered it while waving a goodbye to Peter Pan. Tony’s voice came through the phone. 

“For the record, I got the Tinkerbell nickname I wanted.”

“Bye Uncle Tony.”

“Bye, TinkerDar—”

You shoved the phone back in your shorts’ pocket. The park saved you guys as it came on through the speakers that the Avengers were in the park for a mission to stop HYDRA agents hiding in Disney and that if any children see through their disguise to pretend they don’t know you— as well as report any HYDRA looking activity to another Disney character and they’ll find the Avengers right away. You were able to move through the rest of the park relatively seamlessly, children pointing and shushing each other or giving you all winks excited that they were assisting on such an important “mission”.

You made Sam and Steve take lots of pictures, complaining that you’d have nowhere to post them— instead of buying into your guilt trip, Steve simply sent the pictures to the PR team and said now they’d be posted. Rolling your eyes, you followed the two of them to the next ride, Sam’s pick. The park had you absolutely worn out by the time you guys left on the night of Day 2. You flopped onto the bed of the hotel room. 

Peter smiled looking at the text from his phone. It was a video from you once you had gotten back home from the park. 

“Hey Peter Parker, guess what happened. I’m officially a Disney fairy. Well, not really but for about two hours I was the fairy leader of a small army under the age of ten that wouldn’t leave me alone. And you’ll never guess who my savior was? Peter Pan! Don’t worry, you’re still the cuter Peter. Have fun at decathlon, do your best! I hope you guys win. I know you’re smart so it shouldn’t be a problem. Knock ‘em dead, Spider-man. I’ll send a little pixie dust your way, just for luck.”

You laughed as you wiggled your fingers. 

“This is your TinkerDarling, signing off.” 

He needed something to boost his morale as he watched the rest of the decathlon team have fun at the pool. He had a job to do. Yeah, being with other students was fun but he had a job to do, to prove to the other Avengers especially Tony. Peter pulled on his mask. Knock ‘em dead, Spider-man ringing through his head. 

✿✿✿

“What if you had a Disney wedding?” You asked while you guys waited for the Animation Academy drawing class to start. 

“Babydoll, I think you’re the only one here who is that obsessed with Disney here.”

“Yeah, I like Disney but I don’t think I want Mickey officiating our ceremony. How about the beach?” Sam asked Steve. 

“Beach is fine or maybe a barnyard venue.”

“We could ask Clint, doesn’t seem like a bad idea.”

They continued to talk about ideas quietly, you offering input at certain ideas, while the animator taught everyone how to draw Pooh Bear. 

“It’s a battering ram,” Nat said. 

“Go now.” Steve’s voice came in. “He’s not hitting the police.”

The truck battered into the barricade of the Institute for Infectious Diseases before you could try and stop it. Two more trucks came from the corner and lots of men poured out. You ran in head first towards the back area since the bullets couldn’t pierce your skin. The men didn’t seem to get a clue as the ones with guns kept firing even after you started taking them out. Sam, Steve, Wanda, and Nat showed up in the front courtyard where the truck had crashed. Steve ran over to a guy on top of a van and kicked him so hard he slammed into the building. 

“Body armor. AR-15s. I got seven hostiles.” 

Sam threw another off of the smaller roof area, landing on the van with a crash. 

“I got five.”

“You guys are children...” 

Everyone heard your comm go silent minus the grunts and knew you were about to come on again with a smart remark. They heard the spray of gunfire. 

“Ow, you actually chipped my nail… Nine hostiles, I win. Back’s all cleared.”

“Alright, Wanda like we practiced,” Steve said and braced himself for Wanda to lift him into the air so he could quickly be on the sixth floor. Wanda then directed her attention to getting rid of the gases in the building. 

“Rumlow’s got a biological weapon,” Steve said. 

“I’m on it.” Nat came in on a motorcycle, throwing herself off of it and attacking a soldier. 

“What was that?” 

You had heard multiple explosions that sounded like grenade launchers. Both Nat and Steve were coughing and groaning giving you an idea that they might have been hurt or at least slowed down. Steve’s voice came over the comms saying where Rumlow’s van was headed. Both you and Sam headed in the direction Steve said.

“I’ve got four. They’re splitting up,” Sam said. 

Nat, who had found another motorcycle, had weaved through the crowd. “I’ve got the two on the left.” 

“They ditched their gear.” Steve had gone after the other two and stopped when he saw the crowd had gathered in a circle around something. “One of them has the payload, I’m going after.” 

Steve started to chase the ones with Nat while Sam took the two on the right. You reached the area that Steve had just been in. You looked at the gear, noticing it had absolutely no dirt on it despite the fact that all of you had been fighting.  

“It’s a diversion! Nat it’s one of your—”  

You felt the wind knocked out of you as you were punched so hard in your back that you actually were thrown to the ground. It was a man in some kind of metal suit, almost a crude Iron Man meets Iron Giant prototype. You rolled out of the way as his boot came down trying to crush your face. You jumped to your feet and started blocking the low kicks he was sending your way. It was hard to land a solid punch when his arms were covered in machinery. You pulled one off but the gauntlet on his other hand whipped out a blade. You ducked as he aimed, the blade breaking off the concrete wall behind you.

Your thumb pressed a button by the knuckle of your pointer finger on your fingerless glove. The light from the star shaped reactor on your palm heated up and pulled at your skin until poking through the middle of the star was a hard, sharp diamond blade. You brought your palm down over the man’s blade and it shattered on impact, freeing you from the corner you had been trapped in. You kicked him in the chest and started to stalk over to him when he removed his helmet. You walked around him and picked him up by the collar, hand slipping in grip slightly when you came face to face with the man. With Rumlow. 

“I heard they fixed your brain, little doll. Why the scared look? You’re still just the little girl aren’t you…”

You heard the click and looked down to see Rumlow’s thumb on the trigger of his bomb vest. You were about to scream and try to tackle him when the explosion was contained in the familiar red bubble of Wanda’s magic. Rumlowed screamed as the explosion continued around him while Wanda struggled to contain it. She lost control and knew that she had to try and send it into the air to avoid everyone on the ground getting hurt. Unfortunately the bubble tilted slightly and she didn’t just send into the air but into the top floor of a nearby building, destroying that whole corner area. Everyone ducked from the noise and blasts of fire. Wanda’s hand covered her mouth in horror. You looked in shock as well. 

“Dad, Dad we need help,” your voice came out shakily. 

You pulled at Wanda’s sleeve as you two ran into the building as Sam flew overhead. The ride back in the quinjet was silent for a while. You looked at the diamond blade still sticking up from one of your palms. Taking your other hand, you punched at the blade and it broke off hitting the floor with a clank. You hissed in pain as you took both gloves off drawing Steve’s attention. He switched piloting with Nat and walked over to see what the fuss was about. He looked at your palm to see a sight he never thought he would. The skin was torn in shreds and bloodied. 

“Sarah?”

“It’s how the reactor works. The laser heats up the diamond enough to pull and break it until it reforms into the blade.” 

“Are you doing that on every mission?” Steve grabbed the small first aid kit in the jet and moved to the seat next to you, pouring alcohol all over the cuts. 

“Just when necessary. I found a way to weaponize the skin, not just a diamond casing.” 

“At your expense.” 

“It’ll heal in a day or two, won’t even know it happened.”

Steve frowned in disapproval. He didn’t know that’s how your gloves worked. Honestly he had never seen you take them off right after breaking off the blade. And he didn’t go on many missions with you— it was arranged that way that you, Sam, and Steve tried not to take too many  high-stakes missions with each other for fear of being distracted and overly concerned with the other’s safety. 

✿✿✿

Wanda and you sat in her room, eyes glued to the television where the news was playing the incident on repeat. You cringed even more when King T’Chaka appeared, the country that had helped you and Bucky so much had suffered casualties in the explosion. Steve heard the noise of the TV and walked to where you two were. 

“I’m sorry I made you step in,” you apologized to Wanda. “I froze and put us all in danger.” 

“It doesn’t matter. It became my fault when I couldn’t control it.” 

Steve grabbed the remote that had been flung towards the door and turned off the TV making both of you look at him. 

“This isn’t good for either one of you. We can’t make it clean every time,” Steve said as he sat down on the edge of the bed.  

“No,” Wanda started. “But this one was preventable.”

“Our line of work, we try to save as many people as we can. You dwell on this and you’ll never get out of it. If we can’t make peace with not saving everybody, maybe next time we save no one.”

Before either of you could speak you heard the weird noise as Vision stepped through the wall. 

“Vis! We talked about this,” Wanda said. 

“Yes, but the door was open so I assumed that… Captain, you wanted to know when Mr. Stark arrived from his convention.” 

“Thank you, we’ll be right down. Come on, girls.” 

“I’ll use the door. Oh and he brought some guests.” 

“Who?”

“The Secretary of State and Task Force Commander of the CIA.” 

You walked downstairs where the other Avengers were gathered around a conference table. Holograms with various world leaders and their staff were pulled up behind everyone. The two government men shook hands with you, Steve, and Wanda. 

“Thaddeus Ross and Everet Ross,” the secretary introduced the two of them. 

“That’s not confusing,” you muttered. 

“Don’t mind her,” Steve covered as he directed you to the seat next to Sam. “Teenagers, you know.” 

“Completely understand.”

“You have kids too?”

“Oh, no. Would never.” 

Steve sat down as Secretary Ross began to talk to you all. The holograms mumbling in approval here and there. It started off with the flattery of how you all had been working so hard to save the world and that was something they were all grateful for. The bombshell hit as a fat stack of papers was plopped onto the table. 

“We all agree you are heroes. However without control some see you all as vigilantes.”

“What would you use, Mr. Secretary?” Nat asked.

“Dangerous. What does it look like if a group of US-based—”

“Cap’s the only official affiliated with America. And a good chunk of this team not American or fully,” Tony spoke up from his chair in the corner.

“Well it’s not a good look. US-based enhanced operatives that routinely ignore sovereign borders to inflict their will— we understand that you are the only ones who can do it and we’re grateful. But it’s not a good look. New York, DC, Sokovia, and now Lagos. So we’ve met at the UN—”

“You discussed us at the UN without us being present?” Rhodey asked. 

“Well it was just a precursory—”

“So that’s a yes?” 

“Colonel Rhodes, if you please… thank you. We met and it’s been agreed that S.H.I.E.L.D. should become a division of the UN. We’ve labelled it as the Accords.”

“The Accords?” Tony asked. 

“Yes, the Sokovia Accords. It would allow the Avengers to work around the world without the backlash. A more sanctioned superhero team. Like the Navy Seals but for the entire world. We’re just bringing you under a more official signature.” He pointed to the stack of paper and produced a pen for you all to start signing. 

“That looks like it’s saying more than just that, Mr. Secretary,” you said. “And you don’t sign a contract without reading it first.”

“It’s approved by 117 countries already.” 

“That’s still 76 countries and 2 non-member observer states.” 

“One. The Vatican signed, it’s a majority anyway.”

“With all due respect, majority once agreed slavery was fine, the Crusades were okay, mass genocide of indigenous people… I think we should read the contract.”  

You reached over and grabbed the fat stack. Both Rosses looked at each other and Everet Ross crossed his arms. 

“Little wise-crack, isn’t she,” he said to the secretary as he chuckled uncomfortably. 

“Team’s got a sassy teen on their hands.”

“That’s a microaggression,” you said deadpan, causing the team and some of the holograms to laugh. You passed the stack to Pietro and his fingers flew through the pages in under thirty seconds. 

“It’s house arrest,” Pietro said. He pointed to a paragraph for Steve to look at. 

“We would only be deployed by the panel when and if deemed necessary,” he read. “Do you know how long it takes for you all to make a single decision? No chance.” 

“Captain.”

“The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place.”

“Then tell me Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now.” 

“Our last contact was when they left for Asgard for an Asgardian mission.” 

“And why haven’t we had communication since… that’s right their comms went down. Or did they take themselves off grid?” 

“That’s speculation,” Nat said. “And if I remember the position you hold Mr. Secretary used to belong to a HYDRA operative. I don’t think the government could’ve done anything about it without us.” 

“Three days from now, the meeting is being held in Vienna to ratify it. Talk it over.”

“And what if we come to a decision you don’t like?”

“Then you retire.” 

The secretary and Ross walked out. The holograms behind you guys slowly turned off as well. Sam sighed when it was just the team. 

“Let’s say we agree to this thing? How long before they LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals?” 

Rhodey drummed his fingers against the table. “I don’t know. 117 countries want to sign this.” 

“You can’t keep playing both sides.”

“I have an equation,” Vision spoke, making the team all look at him. “In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially. During the same period, the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate.”

“Are you saying it’s our fault?” Steve asked a bit defensively. 

“I’m saying there may be a causality. Our very strength invites challenge and challenge incites conflict and conflict breeds catastrophe.” 

You shook your head. “I know you have JARVIS and Ultron and all that Vis but you’re still new to the world. It doesn’t always work like that.”

“But the equation.”

“Then how do you explain the 1940s? The 90s? Asgard? It’s a correlation but correlation isn’t always causation. Before Dheaidí was announced as Captain America, HYDRA was already in full force. The Red Skull was already trying to use the Tesseract. And then when he was iced, they worked on Uncle Jamie despite no known enhanced threat. There’s always going to be danger. Some people in the universe are just… like that. Whether we’re public or not.”

“This document just shifts blame,” Steve said. “I don’t see why they need us underneath them just for the same damage to ensue.”

“I’m sorry, Steve, but that is dangerously arrogant,” Rhodey said with a scoff. “This is the United Nations we’re talking about.” 

“Another government body run by people with agendas that are always changing. I thought I had stopped being a dancing monkey in 1943. This is us surrendering our right to choose, what happens when they send us out on something we don’t agree with and with more firepower than necessary?”  

“Tony, you are being uncharacteristically silent,” Nat noted. 

“It’s because he’s already made up his mind,” Steve said. 

“You can’t be serious Uncle Tony! You told the world you were Iron Man.”

“Yeah and maybe that was a mistake.” 

Tony pulled up a picture and began to tell you all about running into some boy’s mother at his convention. A boy who died in Sokovia.

“He wanted to make a difference, I suppose. But we’ll never know because we dropped a building on his head while we were kicking ass in Sokovia… we need to be put in check! Whatever form that takes, I’m game.”

“Tell that to the military,” you muttered. 

“What?”

“Do they get checked when they bomb any country they please? Full of just civilians? No one cares when they ignore whole genocides because they have countries to run. You think they’ll ever get around to sending the Avengers out to deal with a threat? When they have what they consider bigger issues?” 

“G.I…”

“No! We’re the closest immediate help people have. How many things have we solved in a week that would’ve taken a single country months, years if they had to cooperate with others.”

“And then what happens to kids like Charles Spencer, is he supposed to just dodge buildings for the rest of his life? And every other person that was gonna do something until we made them collateral damage, every other child?”

“I’M WHAT HAPPENS! Don’t start talking about potential and children because none of you notice! No one ever notices and we’re the poor ones who suffer and die every damn day while countries decide they have more important business. Where would I be if S.H.I.E.L.D. hadn’t chosen to conduct their own search and rescue? Because you know that base was on UN files, did you know that? I could’ve used the Avengers a lot earlier in my life and now you want to throw that all away and be a desk lackey! The kids like me? Without the Avengers, try to find a new way to kill themselves every day and rather have a building dropped on them in a failed rescue knowing at least someone gave a damn because their country sure didn’t… I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t—” 

“G.I.?”

“I didn’t mean to yell, I’m sor— I have homework, um, MJ’s supposed to call about our chem lab, I should go… I should go.” 

You ran from the conference room back to the apartment while the others looked on in shock. Steve dropped the Accords, not concerned with discussion any more. He knew the homework was your poor lie to leave, you had discussed it earlier. 

“You all can figure it out,” he said as they watched him get up from the chair. “FRIDAY, Sarah’s location.” 

He didn’t like to spy on you with the AI but right now was an absolute priority. 

“She’s in her room, Captain Rogers.”

Steve knocked gently on your door. “I’m coming in, Babydoll.” 

Steve entered to see you curled up on the bed over your duvet, sniffling. He sat down, rubbing circles on your shoulder as you cried. You hadn’t looked at him at all since he entered, eyes focused on some random spot on your duvet. Steve got up to get you a glass of water and get your headscarf. You were limp when Steve pulled your arm to lift you up. He wiped your face with a napkin and handed you the glass of water to drink while he put on the headscarf for you. Sam showed up, staying in the doorway for a moment until you nodded for him to come in.

“I know you don’t like to, sweetie, but for once I’m gonna push you a little to talk about it.” Sam sat down on the other side of the bed and you were sandwiched in between him and Steve, all three of your backs against the mountain of pillows and the headboard. They both stayed quiet and stared ahead at the straw icosidodecahedrons that were hanging from the ceiling. You sighed and it was quiet again for a moment, the two of them giving you all the time you needed. 

“Tony’s decision really hurt you, didn’t it?” 

“Do you think anyone would have come if S.H.I.E.L.D. hadn’t, Dad?” 

Sam sighed. “If it was already on files and they hadn’t already… probably not, sweetie.” 

Steve could hear you talking as he came back with the tea.

“I just can’t support something that would’ve left me and others like me. Thank you, Dheaidí.” 

Downstairs, tension had died. Bucky sat back in the chair. 

“Way to go, Stark.”

“Did you know?” Nat asked Bucky. 

“Yes. And she was right, it was on UN files. But it was a low operating facility, not very high up on their priorities.”

“That wasn’t a priority?” 

“Somali Civil War, Al-Qaeda, their whole War on Terror campaign were a few things they considered more important. They operate slow… it made it easy to take them out back in the day.” 

Tony rubbed his face in exasperation. “I didn’t mean to— we still need regulations, if we just do what we please we’re no better than the bad guys. We have made some very public mistakes.” 

Nat conceded. “Maybe Tony’s right. If we have one hand on the wheel we can still steer, we need to win their trust back. But Sarah and Steve are right too. We take these Accords lying down and we’re doing a disservice to civilians. It’s not just government trust we’re held to, it’s the people we’re actually saving.”   

You and Steve stayed up late that night. Sam was already tucked onto his side of the bed, you and Steve were sitting on the other side. You needed your parents and Steve wasn’t leaving you in the state you were in. 

“Go to bed, Babydoll. The whole team will discuss this in the morning.” 

“Goodnight.”

You kissed each other on the cheek and you curled up on him. Bucky came in later, he would’ve knocked on the door but it was already open. He came in and handed Steve the Accords along with a highlighter and a pen. 

“Tony still wants to go through with it, on better terms.” 

Steve nodded and took the Accords, positioning them so he could read them while you were still curled up in his arms. Bucky gave you both one last pitiful look before retiring to his room for the night. The phone vibrated and Steve looked over to read a text saying Peggy had just passed in her sleep. He sighed and set down the phone, turning to the Accords and was marking up points he disagreed with and what needed to be changed. He had a lot to deal with in the morning.

✿✿✿     

You sat in the front pew while Sam, Bucky, and Steve assisted in carrying Peggy’s casket into the church. You moved over so the three men could sit down after. The whole affair was solemn yet not heavy with sadness. It was about the achievements that Peggy had achieved throughout her lifetime. The church slowly emptied out leaving just your family. Nat came in a little later. 

“I’m sorry to do this to you, Steve and Bucky, I know you’d rather just mourn but the jet’s outside for Vienna.” 

“We have a job to do. Let’s go.”

The conference was already starting on rocky footing as the leaders of countries looked through the Accords and the marks that Steve had made. They were pleased at the announcement of signing until they saw the copies of the new Accords being handed out. 

“We notice a lack of Miss Rogers’ signature,” one of the leaders said. 

“She’s a minor, my signature is enough for both of us as her parent. Take it or leave it but you are not holding a minor to your world council.”

Murmurs but eventual agreement on that point. You zoned out as the Avengers kept going back and forth, some points were agreed to immediately, others were marked as needing to be returned to towards the end of the meeting for further discussion. A recess was held— Tony calling it despite not being in a position to, but everyone agreed that one was needed anyway. Bucky went to get you a soda and pretzels from the vending machine like you asked. You stood with Nat at the large glass windows and stared at the outside down below. T’Challa, a welcomed face, came up to you. 

“I suppose none of us are used to the spotlight,” T’Challa said.

“It’s not always flattering,” Nat gave a dry chuckle. 

T’Challa shrugged and looked at you. “At least you get to miss school.” 

“I think I’d rather be giving my oral report in English class than staring at all these leaders… or in Shuri’s lab.”

“Ah. Ah, you two cause trouble.” 

“Only to you.” 

He turned back to Nat. “The two of them together, nothing but problems. It’s like I have two sisters, Shuri’s found her long lost twin.” 

Natasha laughed and continued her talk with T’Challa about the Accords. He agreed more with the newer version that the Avengers were pushing for, stating he didn’t care about the politics of it all. You went back to your looking out the window. You meant it, the oral report you were missing would be less intimidating— you didn’t like how they kept trying to ask you questions, everyone else on the team kept answering for you. King T’Chaka came up as well. You both heard Nat ask T’Challa what about the politics he wasn’t a fan of. 

“I find that two people in a room can get more done than a hundred,” T’Challa said. 

“Unless you need to move a piano,” King T’Chaka leaned down and whispered to you, making you laugh. 

The intercom came on to announce that the talks were starting again. They agreed to leave you alone and let you stay by the window per your and Steve’s request. You had turned off your hearing aids until it was King T’Chaka’s turn to speak, wanting to hear him talk but also because you had respect for him. You watched the people get to and from wherever they had to go. Vienna seemed nice, the people seemed nice and very relaxed. They strolled along to their next destination, so different from the busyness of New York.

Even the cars seemed more relaxed, you thought as you watched the news van pull up across the street. A dog started barking, breaking the relaxing Vienna you had created. You watched the dog’s owner pull him back. It was a German Shepard and then you paid attention to the owner attached to the leash… a police officer. You saw another cop approach the area and then noticed how the news van that had pulled up wasn’t parked on the same side of the street as the others. Everyone was avoiding the barking dog, not that you blamed them. Except for a couple, sitting at the outdoor cafe where the van had parked in front of. You squinted and looked at them closer when the woman lowered the mug she had been sipping from. The brown bob was a new look but you knew that face, you thought you knew that face. Your eyes darted between her and the van. She was watching it with intensity and your eyes widened.  

“Everybody get down!” you yelled, facing the conference room again as they all stared at you. “Bomb!”

As soon as the word left your mouth, the whole area exploded— glass spilling into the conference room. You watched in horror as T’Challa clutched his father’s body when the smoke subsided and you were all standing in rubble. A few other leaders had been injured but from what you could see, amongst prominent officials, only King T’Chaka had died. However, assistants and security guards weren’t moving on the ground and you suspected the worst. Steve ran over to you, checking frantically that you were alright. 

“Dheaidí, Dheaidí I’m fine.”

“You were so close to the window.”

“Diamond casing.”

Steve helped you stand up and you groaned, making him turn you around. He saw the cracks on the back of your neck, from an intense amount of shrapnel and the heat of the explosion hitting you. It actually injured you a bit. Your neck currently looked like a geode cracked open but he couldn’t see blood so the injury mustn’t have been that bad. Steve ushered you to a part of the UN building that wasn’t destroyed where the Avengers were all currently sitting, as well as both Rosses, and T’Challa who had entered moments later, face tear-stained and parts of his suit splattered in blood. Other officials had gone back to their hotels with the promise to meet at a new date to be set as soon as possible, if the building could be cleaned of rubble by tomorrow they would want it done tomorrow. In the smaller office room, the team was discussing what was happening.

“Sarah?” Bucky asked. “You look out of it, kid.” 

“Uncle Jamie… we weren’t the only ones were we?” 

“The only one what?” Ross asked. Everyone was looking at you and Bucky but you two weren’t focused on any others.

“I think I recognized someone.” 

You grabbed the pen and notepad from the desk and made a quick, slightly crude, sketch of the woman and the man’s faces. 

“I can’t remem— the reporter.” Bucky looked at the team. “Siberia. You wanted to know what he had asked us about. He asked us about Siberia. Where we were kept.”

“Why would he need to know that?” Tony questioned.  

Your fingers traced the sketch as Bucky looked Tony in the eye. “Because there are other winter soldiers.”

“I’m sorry, what?” The secretary asked. 

The team was sure you and Bucky were lying. There was no way. They all looked at each other. You tapped your finger on the sketch of the woman. 

“This one’s Leena, I think. I think that was her name.” 

Bucky looked back at the sketch. “Yeah… and that should be… Daniel? David?”

He looked at the secretary and Ross. 

“I didn’t just train Sarah. I was in charge of them too. HYDRA’s most elite death squad. Unstable at times but too good for HYDRA to kill the program. My kills look like child’s play when you add all of theirs up and that was before the serum.” 

“So they’re like you two?” Steve asked. 

You shook your head. “Worse. They speak thirty languages, can hide in plain sight. They’re meant to destabilize. And if they do their job correctly, they can do it in one night.”

“JFK was the winter soldier,” Bucky said. “But it wasn’t me.” 

Everyone nodded, understanding the weight of his words. 

“So we have no time,” Ross said. “How many are there?” 

“Thirteen from when we were there. Potentially more now.”

“Okay, the Task Force will find them and bring them in.” 

“I don’t think you understand,” Bucky said. “They will end you. And you don’t find them unless they want you to.” 

“This is our job. You all should be concerned with your Accords problem.”  

T’Challa made a noise that sounded like a scoff and a laugh at the same time. He was fiddling with his ring— his father’s ring. 

“In my culture, death is not the end. It’s more of a stepping-off point. You reach out with both hands and Bast and Sekhmet, they lead you into the green veldt where you can run forever.”

“That sounds very peaceful,” Ross said.

“My father thought so. I am not my father.”

“Prince T’Challa, this is for the Task Force to decide these winter soldiers’ justice.”

“Don’t bother. I’ll kill them myself.” T’Challa walked out of the small office. 

Steve stood up. “I think he has the right idea.”

“Well, this’ll be a disappointment to my kids,” Clint muttered. “I was supposed to take them waterskiing.”

You all followed Steve out of the office. He looked at Sharon who shook her head with a sorrowful smile, she technically had to stay with Ross as part of the Task Force. Steve nodded and walked to the Task Force Center that had a branch in Vienna. Tony pulled up all the hologram panels and the team sat down while you and Bucky stayed standing at the front of the room. He plugged in a hard drive that contained FRIDAY so you could use the AI during your meeting.  

“The reporter said he wanted to see an empire fall. With these guys, he could do it.” 

“But what empire, the entire world?” Nat questioned.

“No…” you thought. “He should’ve just deployed the soldiers individually, that’s what HYDRA would do. The explosion was meant to make noise, a loud murder… he’s not HYDRA. It’s too out of character for them.” 

“FRIDAY, pull up footage of Sarah’s UN meeting,” Tony directed the AI. “Play it… okay, stop. Run facial recognition.” 

“There is nothing in the system, Mr. Stark.”

“So this man has a clean track record?” Pietro asked. “Never done a crime before, this seems like a pretty big first case.” 

“He wants something. FRIDAY, scan papers, social media, anything, go past US records.” 

“This will take a while, Mr. Stark.” 

“Alright. Alert someone when you finish.” 

“Of course, Mr. Stark.” 

“So what do we do right now?” Tony asked.

“We need to figure out their next move before more people get hurt,” Bucky said. “And we need more than just us. These guys are enhanced, all thirteen of them.”

Sam stood up. “I know a guy. I’ll be back.”

Nat nodded. “Yeah, I think I have an idea. Right downstairs” She left as well.  

You checked your phone to see texts from Peter, Ned, and MJ asking if you were alright. That they saw what happened in Vienna. You pocketed your phone. 

“This might take a while but I still have school. Jet’s autopilot plugged in right?”

“Just say G.I.,” Tony said.  

“Get lost kid, we’ll figure it out and call you in,” Clint said with a smile.

You nodded and left the room, Steve’s shout calling you back. 

“Sarah! Phone on, all day. Straight home afterwards. We’ll be right behind you.”

“Understood.” 

You got to school, Happy dropping you off, late. You had missed the first few periods and lunch. Before exiting the car, you sent multiple texts to Tony. 

“Don’t leave, I’ll be right back.” 

“Right back? Sarah, isn’t the point of going to school to actually be in school.” 

“Not this time, Happy. See you in a minute.” 

You raced into the building. It was now the second semester of the school year, so you had Peter’s schedule memorized. You reached the door to his math class. Standing in the little window on the door, you waved frantically trying to get Peter’s attention. He finally looked over in confusion. His eyes darted to the front where the teacher’s back was turned and then looked back at you. You moved your hand in a beckoning fashion to which he replied with a shrug and pointed to his math textbook. You repeated the motion and then pointed to having to go. You pointed to your hearing aid and then turned it all the way up, ignoring how overwhelming it was. 

“Is it important?” Peter whispered, looking at his textbook. No one else heard it with how quiet he was. 

He looked back up and you nodded. Peter’s hand shot up and the teacher called on him. 

“I’m not feeling well, may I go to the nurse?”

“Ten minutes until individual work, Mr. Parker. Let’s just finish the lesson.”

“I’m going into anaphylactic shock.” 

The teacher looked at him and his hand lowered. Peter looked at you. You rolled your eyes and opened the classroom door. Everyone’s attention turned to you. 

“Miss Rogers?” 

“Um, Peter’s been accused of stealing Avengers’ technology. He needs to come with me.” 

“What?” Peter said at the same time as the rest of the class. 

“It’s a mistake. I let him use my laptop but um he still needs to be brought in for questioning. We don’t have time, let’s go.” You grabbed his arm and yanked him out of the seat, the two of you racing down the hallway. 

“I stole tech? Really?” Peter said as he followed you outside to where Happy was waiting.

“I panicked. Back to the compound, please, Happy.”

Peter was confused as was the rest of the team when you came in with him. The only person who had a clue what was going on was Tony who nodded at you as he entered the compound with another woman the team didn’t recognize. 

“May?” Peter asked. 

“You didn’t even tell me about the grant,” May said, giving Peter a hug. 

“About the grant?”

“Sarah said you hadn’t gotten any of my emails,” Tony said quickly. “About the September Foundation. Remember when you applied?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Well, I approved so now we’re in business.”

“But you didn’t tell me? You’re keeping secrets from me now?” May asked. 

“I just know how much you love surprises so I thought I would let you know if I got it…”

“Sarah, honey, you knew?” May turned to you. 

“Peter made me not tell you.”

“Sneaky teens. I’m proud of you, Peter.” 

“May, why don’t you go into the conference room over there to sign some papers as his legal guardian and then Happy’ll drive you home.” 

Tony pointed her towards the conference room. She left to go, Happy following her. You and Tony waited until Happy had closed the door and then turned back to Peter. The rest of the team still didn’t know what was happening. Tony pulled out his phone. 

“Quick question of the rhetorical variety. This is you, right?” He showed the video you had sent of Spider-man stopping a car thief. “Look at you go, that’s what? 3,000 pounds. 40 miles an hour?”

“Thirty-five,” you said. 

“That’s all on YouTube though, right? That’s where you found that, because all that stuff’s fake you know.”

You looked at Peter. “He’s lying. You’re Spider-man. Go ahead, show them, hit me.” 

“I’m not hitting you.” 

“Show them how strong you are. He’s like me, Dheaidí, and Uncle Jamie.” 

“You’re my friend, I can’t just—”

You punched Peter in the arm. It wasn’t even your hardest throw but you knew it probably still hurt. You grinned and proudly turned to the side so you were looking at Tony and Peter was shoulder to shoulder with you. He turned his head to look at you before shoving you back and pushing very far away— clearly farther than an average person could. You came bounding back over, proud.

“See!”

“Can I just say that suit, dire need of an upgrade, kid. Already worked on it, hope the dimensions are right, FRIDAY assessed them from the video,” Tony said. 

“Wait, what? Sarah I said not to te—”

“I know, I know. But we need your help. It’s Avenger time, Peter Parker.”

“I can’t.”

Steve stepped in. “I’m going to have to agree. He’s a kid, Tony.” 

“Dheaidí.” 

“Sarah, take your friend home.” 

“You said we needed as many people to take down the winter soldiers. Here’s a person.”

“Sarah,” Peter turned you to look at him. “I’ve only had these powers for a few months. I’m not like you guys. I’m not a superhero.” 

“You don’t think you are but that’s not true to me or any of those people you save around Queens. With great power—”

“Don’t finish that… fine, fine.”

You pecked him on the cheek. “Thank you! Glad you agreed, I was worried we were gonna have to blackmail you.”

“What?”

You pointed to May in the conference room, talking to Happy. 

“You were going to tell her?”

“Threaten to tell her… but look, not a problem anymore.” 

Tony clapped Peter on the back. “Glad to have you on the team kid.”    

“Um, what’s he doing?” Peter asked as Tony tilted his head and scrutinized him. 

“He’s coming up with a nickname… he just does that.” 

Peter leaned back when Tony suddenly leaned in. He snapped his fingers in the boy’s face. 

“Spiderling.” 

“Huh?” Peter blinked but Tony was already walking away, satisfied. 

“Brilliant, Tony, you’ve done it again.”

Steve looked at you two. 

“Dheaidí, please. We need all the help we can get.” 

Steve sighed. “Now I have two children to look out for.”

You were in Spanish class when you thought you heard something. You focused your ears on the hallway instead of what your teacher was saying and heard the mumbling of the familiar Peter. He seemed in distress. You raised your hand asking to go to the bathroom, only to be denied until the test were finished being taken up. It was only a minute but by the time you went outside you couldn’t see Peter anymore.

“Where’s Peter?” you asked once you entered the cafeteria. 

“No clue. He left history after the test and haven’t seem him sense,” Ned said. 

You hummed in question but sat down anyway, sliding the war rhino statue over to Michelle at her spot that you noticed was one seat closer than before. Peter wasn’t just missing from lunch Monday but for the rest of the week as well. And whenever you and Ned did catch his eye, he barely waved before getting jittery and walking off. He wasn’t hanging out after school anymore beside decathlon where he seemed stressed if he peeled his eyes from the table for a single second. 

“You see this video?” Ned turned his phone to you while you guys waited against the lockers for the homeroom bell to ring. 

“What is it?” 

“New superhero… at least that’s what the local news is saying.” 

“New superhero?” 

It wasn’t the Avengers’ job to keep track of every enhanced or new hero. Most of them you definitely didn’t know about but S.H.I.E.L.D. did try to keep tabs as best as they could. You hadn’t heard of any new heroes and no one else at the compound had said anything about it. Ned played the video and you watched the newly proclaimed ‘hero’ stop the robbery of a deli. 

“Woah.” You jumped when what looked like webbing shot out from the hero’s hand and he swung around a lamp post before disappearing into the night. 

“I know right. They’re calling him Spider-man.”

“I can see why.”

“So he’s not an Avenger?”

“Nope, never seen him around the compound. It’s still just the usual line-up. Maybe he wants to stay quiet, like the old superheroes you know before Uncle Tony told the world he was Iron Man and made us public figures. He seems cool though… the suit could be better.” 

“Can you talk? You don’t even have a suit.”

You faked offense. “Well my suit will be cooler when I make it.” 

The bell rang for homeroom and you jumped up from the floor, extending a hand to Ned. You pulled him up with more strength than necessary, making him shriek and stumble, as payback for the suit comment. Once again, Peter was avoiding and you were starting to get really upset— borderlining anger which was a new feeling for you. But you didn’t want to think about it because Steve and Sam were supposed to be coming home in a few days if everything went as planned. A month seemed like such a lifetime, especially considering you missed spending Halloween with other Midtown High students because you were waiting for a call from them all night— spending the night on FaceTime undoing your braids instead of going to Flash’s party. 

You caught Peter by accident in the hall one day. You had left the textbook you needed for chemistry in your locker and the teacher let you go get it. You weren’t sure what Peter was doing but you were glad that whatever dragged him out there caused him to be in your path. 

“Peter Parker, why are you avoiding me and Ned? You’ve missed lunch and all our hangouts.”

He looked around realizing the hallway was empty and he couldn’t escape you. Peter sighed loudly. 

“Maybe I just want some time alone.”

“Since when? We do everything together.”

“Yeah, well not everything has to be!” Peter snapped causing you to step back— you didn’t do well when people yelled at you. 

“Woah, I was just asking. Sorry I bothered you, I didn’t mean to make you upset. You just seemed so s— never mind, sorry.” 

The tears started and Peter realized he messed up. He watched you turn off your hearing aids and abruptly turn around, briskly walking back to class before he could call out your name. Peter kicked the locker in front of him, causing it to dent, and went back to his class. You weren’t at decathlon practice and he knew it was bad. He immediately apologized to Ned for being off the past couple of weeks. Peter texted you but got no reply back— you never had your read receipts on so he wasn’t even sure if you saw it. He had resolved himself to apologize the next day but you weren’t there, Ned said something about your dads coming home and ditching school. 

✿✿✿

Bucky stayed in the common room for dinner so you, Sam, and Steve could have the evening with just the three of you. You hugged both of them and then made them stand in the middle of the living room so you could inspect them for cuts and injuries despite Steve saying they already got checked by medical. After you were satisfied that they were okay, you finally let them go. Steve’s shower was as quick as he could possibly make it, knowing that Sam would take a while. Steve recruited you to help with dinner which was spaghetti and breadsticks. As you threw the pasta into the boiling water, Steve showed you the ring for your stamp of approval. He busted out a nice bottle of red wine, which you attempted to sneak a sip. Steve quickly yanked it out from your hands. 

“Ah, ah. Underage. You get ginger ale.” 

“Do I have to lay down afterwards too?”

“Huh?”

“Never mind, Dheaidí… FRIDAY, play Earth, Wind & Fire.” 

Sam came into the kitchen, dressed nicely because Steve requested for whatever reason. He figured it was because dinner after coming back from being separated from you for a month was a special occasion. He laughed as the two lights of his life danced ridiculously to ‘Boogie Wonderland’— you and Steve hip bumping. Sam slid over to join you two singing the verse as loud as possible. The cooking was done as FRIDAY moved onto Frank Sinatra per Sam’s request and lowered the volume. 

“I know we were gone for a month but why are you grinning so much?” Sam asked you. 

“No reason.” 

Steve nudged your foot underneath the table but you couldn’t stop grinning so you just ate another forkful of pasta. Steve asked FRIDAY to lower the volume of the music even more as he stood up. He took a sip of wine, not that it would help, and placed it on the table. Sam watched as Steve stood in front of him and asked him to stand up. It finally clicked when Steve started to lower to floor, the knowing smile on both of their faces bright enough to blind. 

“You’ve been by my side literally since we’ve met. And despite having every valid reason to bow out of this crazy life, you are still here. I’m feeling like the universe is giving me a second chance at everything since coming off ice. Especially when it comes to family and, Sam, I want you in our family officially. Will you marry me?”

Sam chuckled, “You’re always a few steps ahead of me, running man.” 

“Hmm?” 

Sam pulled out his own little box from his back pocket. Steve stood back up, grin taking up half his face, as the two switched rings. 

“I vote we make the family name Wilson-Rogers,” you said. 

Both men turned to look at you to find you had taken Steve’s wine glass and swirled it around. Steve raced back around to try and grab the glass from you but you quickly took a gulp. 

“Yeah, that’s what you get,” he said as your face contorted tasting the alcohol, taking the wine glass back that you readily handed over. “But I like that, Babydoll. Wilson-Rogers sounds nice.”

✿✿✿

“Sarah Rogers!” 

You turned at the sound of your name but saw no one. Closing your locker door, you jumped slightly as you were face to face with Peter. 

“Peter Parker,” you said with a lot less enthusiasm. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to lash out at you.” 

“I know… I got your text.” 

“Can I talk to you? I know you have this free.”

“Don’t you have class, though?”

“It’s a test. Took it yesterday.” 

“They let you do that?”

“I told them I had a dentist’s appointment. Please?”

“We can’t wait till lunch.”

“I don’t want you upset for a moment longer.” 

You sighed and walked with him to wherever he was leading which turned out to be underneath the bleachers on the football field. You stood there patiently as Peter gathered his thoughts. 

“I didn’t mean to snap at you and Ned. It wasn’t anything you did, I promise. I really like hanging out with you. A lot.”

“Then why have you be—”

“I’m Spider-man!” 

You blinked, opening your mouth before closing it. “What?” 

“The meltdown at Columbia, yeah, the super spider and I got bit and it’s so weird like I have super powers spider senses and everything and watch!”

Peter put his hands up on the bottom of the bleacher and then brought his feet up as well, sticking to it before crawling along the underside to move closer to you. 

“I— I, why didn’t you tell me? My dad is Captain America, I live with superheroes. I’m a superhero!”

Peter dropped back onto the grass. “I was hoping it would go away at first and then when it didn’t I guess I just went with it but… I’m not an Avenger, you would’ve…”

“Thought my best friend is cool. You don’t have to fight aliens or go every other month to a HYDRA base. Queens needs their own hero, too.” 

“I really am sorry. It’s just— the first week was more stressful than I thought.”

“Welcome to crime fighting… when you say spider senses, the web shooting? Is that coming from you?”

“Oh, no, no. Web fluid, designed it myself. Just kind of worked with the whole spider thing.” 

“Oh thank goodness, I mean not that there would be anything wrong with— no, no it would be a little weird. Apology accepted. I’m going to hug you now, Peter Parker.” 

He chuckled and opened his arms for you to embrace him. 

“Can we not tell anybody. I don’t think I’m ready for the world to know who Spider-man is.” 

“Alright. I won’t say a word. Not to Ned, or my dads, or S.H.I.E.L.D.” 

“Thank you.” 

Luckily, Ned had accepted Peter back without question and the three musketeers plus Michelle were back. It was more like Charlie’s Angels, Michelle obviously the aloof Charlie. You walked with them— Michelle was only there because she was catching the bus that day and the stop was on your pathway. You turned when Michelle had paused, finally reaching the bus stop. 

“MJ. If I asked you to come to Hamilton with us would you say yes?”

“I—”

“You wouldn’t even have to sit next to us.”

MJ gave a half smile and nodded. 

“Two seats apart. I’m not letting you sit any further from us.”

She held up her hands in surrender. You, Ned, and Peter stopped at the bodega when you felt two vibrations on the tile floor that felt different from the normal pounding of everyone. You turned to catch the candy bar that almost hit you in the face. Ned and Peter also turned and were in awe at Pietro standing in front of them. 

“Captain’s requesting you come back home.” 

“Why? Dad knows I always go to Peter’s after school.” 

“Your surprise came early.”

“Surprise?” 

“Let’s go, Doll.”

“I’m not—” 

“My doll, I know. Let’s go.” 

“Bye Ned, Peter Parker.” 

Pietro bent down so you could climb on and for once you felt like you were going to throw up from the speed— regretting have eaten the snacks you just bought. You got down and needed a moment to readjust before following him into the compound. The elevator stopped on the common room floor. The whole team was there and Steve stepped up to you. 

“Babydoll, I’ve got a surprise.” 

The team cleared the way and you saw a small group of people you had never seen before. The eldest woman gasped as she saw you. 

“You have her smile.” 

“Um, hello?”

Steve squeezed your shoulders. “Your grandparents, uncle, and two aunts. Elise’s family… I’m sorry it took me so long to contact you guys.” 

“We already told you, we understand.” Your grandfather waved off Steve’s third apology of the day. 

“Sarah?” 

Someone asked but you weren’t sure who. You were staring at the youngest woman in the group. You were positive someone called your name again and didn’t become aware until Steve was wiping at tears and panicking. The woman cleared her throat. 

“She didn’t know… I’m Taylor. Elise’s twin sister, identical. We’re so sorry, sweetie, this must be very overwhelming. We can leave.” 

You shook your head, stopping them in their tracks. The team slowly cleared out until it was just your family— Steve, Sam, and Bucky stayed at the dining room table while you made your way to the couch. Steve didn’t realize that Elise had never told you about her family, if he knew he would have warned you about her sister but as they watched from the table you were taking it all in stride. Your grandparents took out pictures of your mother and her siblings told you stories of their childhood. You enjoyed the stories, despite not being very open with it— they all understood. 

“Just like your mama. She wouldn’t even smile at me until she was five and she knew me her whole life,” your uncle, Jerome, said. 

The family exchanged numbers with you and a promise to visit again when they found themselves in New York— they didn’t live in the state. They weren’t surprised by your mannerisms at all since Steve had warned them and assured you nothing felt awkward on their end, they were just happy to even see you. Happy to know they had some part of Elise since they were never getting her back. You gave them each a hug, lingering on your Aunt Taylor a little longer by accident. She kissed the top of your hair. 

“I’m sorry, sweetie. I know it hurts.” She looked over to the three men at the table that tried to act like they weren’t listening. “But at least you’ve got a great family here. You’ve done a fantastic job, Captain Rogers.” 

You finally let her go and watched the elevator doors close. You looked over at Steve, Sam, and Bucky smiling in appreciation. 

✿✿✿

Bucky entered the kitchen unsure why everyone was snickering. You and Clint ate your cereal at the kitchen island, immediately making Bucky suspicious. He asked if there was something on him and that just made everyone laugh harder. He looked around and finally landed on the magnets stuck to his arm that you and Clint had put there while he was sleeping. It spelled out Ham4Ham vertically on his arm underneath the red star in honor of you guys going to the show that evening.

“You two are immature… why is it not coming off?” He pulled at the magnets. 

Tony pulled out his phone to record Bucky’s struggle. 

“Hey! Both of you, what the hell did you guys…”

You and Clint both took out your hearing aids, placing them on the island, and went back to eating cereal. Sam had to take a lap around the common room at the synchronized action. Bucky looked at the two of you, eyes squinted. 

What did you guys put— 

You and Clint closed your eyes. Bucky’s mouth dropped open. 

“Steve, Sam, get your daughter!” 

Eventually you felt bad torturing your Uncle Jamie, and didn’t have much more time for breakfast before finishing getting ready for school. You told him it was superglue and no you wouldn’t help him take it off until after the show. Tony and even Bruce told him they weren’t gonna help either so he had no choice but to wear the magnets to the show. The tickets were for decent seats but the minute word got out about you and other Avengers wanting to see the show, the cast offered backstage access if you showed up early. The amount of pictures you took were abundant and after enjoying the pre-show haze, you went to find your seats. Michelle was two seats down and when Steve went to ask you, Peter, and Ned just told him that it was her thing. He looked at Sam and Bucky who seemed just as confused by this form of friendship but if it worked for you kids they guess it worked. 

“I like it so far,” Bucky said when intermission rolled around. He and Sam hadn’t listened to the soundtrack before the show. 

“Just wait,” MJ said. 

When Steve came back with the snacks, you spent the rest of intermission trying to convince him to let your friends sleep over. He argued that he was already getting the other kids home late on a school night which only made your arguement stronger that it made sense for everyone to just head to the compound so you can sleep quicker.

“They don’t even have— you kids all have stuff to sleep over don’t you?” Steve asked. 

MJ, Ned, and Peter held up their backpacks that contained mini sleepaway kits tucked behind their textbooks. Steve sighed and gave in while Bucky muttered how Steve was so soft. 

“You’ll be the same, Bucky.” 

“If he can even find a wife,” Sam snorted. You high-fived him much to the exasperation of Steve and Bucky. 

While Steve agreed that the others could sleep over, he was hard pressed that you guys could only stay up for a little while longer and not to try and push it because he can hear you from he and Sam’s room. 

“Where are the kids? Did Happy take them? It’s a little early isn’t it?” Sam asked the next morning when Bucky and Steve came in from their run as he poured coffee. 

“No?”

“They weren’t in Sarah’s room. Her bed looks like it hasn’t even been touched.” 

Steve started to walk and the other two men followed. You joked around and pushed the line with Steve sometimes but one thing you didn’t do was sneak out, he was sure of that. The three men looked at the empty room, Steve already thinking of punishments, until they heard a snore.

Walking to the bathroom, they opened the door to see the four of you in the tub with a large comforter draped over. MJ’s head was on your shoulder, Ned’s head on Peter, your feet were tucked under Peter’s leg and one of your hearing aids was on the floor. Peter’s head was titled all the way back and his arm was dangling over the tub ledge while both Ned and MJ were halfway out of the comforter. Both you and Michelle’s bonnets were not on properly and Steve, Sam, and Bucky were struggling to hold in the laughter as they saw the bonnets on Ned and Peter’s heads as well. 

“This is why I said don’t stay up late,” Steve said but none of you stirred. 

He walked over and knocked on the ledge of the tub and you all jolted awake, wiping at the sleep in your eyes and drool from the corner of your mouths. Steve laughed and reminded you all that you still had to get ready for school. It didn’t take long for you all to get dressed and eat before hopping in the car.

✿✿✿

Peter’s Spider-man act wasn’t terribly dangerous yet you couldn’t help but worry about him. You desperately wanted to tell Steve or Tony or somebody because it would make you feel better if Peter had resources to S.H.I.E.L.D. but you respected his wishes. So you waited on the top bunk of Peter’s room and refused to go to sleep until he got back— Steve was mortified when he was told about the first time you slept over at Peter’s without Ned or MJ being present, however after you and Bucky talked to him, he came around. 

You almost screamed when Peter came in on the ceiling, forgetting he could do that. He dropped to the floor and changed. You jumped down from the top bunk. 

“What are you doing?” Peter asked.

“Are you hurt anywhere?” 

“No. I got kicked in the ribs but I’m fine.” 

“Okay.”

“Are you going to let go of me so we can sleep?” 

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. Sorry, goodnight.” 

It was a relief to get up at a decent time on Saturday with you and Bucky’s treatment being over. Bucky was happy to get off of probation and go back on mission. You were happy that you could become an official team member. But currently, you were happy that you didn’t have to leave Peter’s house early in the morning and instead could have breakfast and just relax on the couch. When you got home, you immediately ran to Tony and Bruce’s lab. 

“Hey, there’s our little tinkerer… Tinkerbell!”

“I’m sorry, what, Uncle Tony?” 

“You’ve got the whole diamond skin, pixie thing going. Your superhero title.”

“Tony, that’s trade-marked,” Bruce said as he returned to his file. 

“Yeah, Uncle Bruce, because that’s the problem with name,” you muttered as you sat on top of your lab bench and pulled out your sketchpad. 

You begun thinking of your suit and how functional it needed to be for you. The only thing you were sure of was that you wanted to incorporate a star somewhere so you could match Steve. You pulled up the print that Tony had of Steve’s suit and decided to modify it from there. Every now and then, as you sketched Tony would call out a potential superhero nickname only for either you or him to shut it down. So far he had called out: Baby America, Diamond, Cadet America— brought back to your misfortune, Gemstone, and Echo. Echo because your detecting vibrations trick reminded him a lot of ecolocation especially since you had been learning how to make it stronger and for non moving items. Gemstone was currently your favorite.

You finished the sketch and held it up for Bruce and Tony to look over. It was a sleek suit that you wanted made out of a material kind of like Nat’s. It was in all white and sleeveless with a large hood— you added the big pink star on the back. You also sketched fingerless gloves in pink and silver, like Tony’s Iron Man gloves but with the blasters also shaped like stars. You had a thought about modifying how your diamond skin worked and if it went well, the gloves would help you control and use it. 

“And then of course a stealth suit like Dheaidí which is this but in all black and the star would be an even darker black. What do you think?” 

“Looks good G.I.”

“It’s very functional for you, Sarah.” 

You beamed at Bruce and Tony’s praises, excited to get to work.

School was interesting the day after your press conference. You had been introduced to the world once again when the holidays were over. Only instead of being Sarah Rogers aka America’s Darling, you were the newest member of the Avengers: Gemstone. The PR team also chose this moment in order to overshadow the announcement of Steve and Sam in case of backlash. You became the talk of school again much to your detriment. You had enjoyed how the hype had died down around you but now it flared up like the first day of school again.

MJ, Ned, and Peter didn’t appreciate how people suddenly surrounded your table. You tried to answer any questions you could, having to tell them that a lot of what they were asking was classified so you can’t give any answers. You felt nothing but relief when you left to go to Peter’s— MJ still not fully on board coming home with you guys, it might take till senior year but you were determined to bring her into the squad completely. Even if it involved more nights like Hamilton where she’d see the logic in sleeping over and reluctantly agree. 

“I’m surprised you don’t have to go home.” 

“We set strict boundaries. I’m Midtown student Sarah Rogers first and Avenger second and besides, I already train before school anyway...you got number four wrong.” You peeked at Ned’s chem homework. 

He looked down and erased it. “Oh thanks, yeah that shouldn’t be there.”

“And it’s a Friday. I’m on vacation unless there’s a mission. The weekend is my time to thrive!” 

You made a funny gesture causing both boys to laugh. May let you guys eat pizza in Peter’s room and actually have the apartment to yourselves for a good chunk of the night because she had a date— also because she was positive the three of you wouldn’t do anything with her all of a sudden being gone. Peter looked at his bed. 

“There’s only two bunks,” he said. Usually you guys never slept over all three at Peter’s house but at Ned’s and whenever it was going to Peter’s either you or Ned couldn’t stay over. 

“That’s fine, you and Ned can share,” you said. 

Ned pulled the pizza slice from your hand. “Um, I’m an only child, I don’t share. And Peter’s bed is too small for us both.” 

“We’re all only children,” Peter said. “My house, you two share.” 

“Dude, I just said your bed is too small for me and you, what difference would it make being me and Sarah?” 

Peter sighed because Ned wasn’t exactly wrong. He looked to you but you stayed quiet because you were glad Ned found a reason he couldn’t share with you either. You cut him off as he opened his mouth. 

“I’m not sleeping on the floor.”

“I was gonna ask if you wanted to share!”

“... I get nightmares,” you admitted to them. You continued talking when both boys stayed silent. 

“That’s why I’m worried about sharing, I don’t want to wake either of you up. They can get, um, pretty bad… all HYDRA stuff.” 

“I mean there’s no guarante—”

“About five times a week. They’re slowly calming down, it used to be every night… my Uncle Jamie and I usually help each other relax enough to go back to sleep.” 

“How?” Ned asked. 

“Tea, candles… face masks.” 

Ned and Peter looked at each other and then back to you. 

“We do so much of our stuff I forget how soft you are. May’s got all that stuff.” 

“Would she mind?” 

“Probably not. I’ll replace it for her later.” 

Peter stood up to get stuff while you and Ned got ready for bed. Your giant pink t-shirt with matching shorts and long socks added even more to Ned and Peter’s perception of your ‘softness’ as Peter put it. 

“This is… different,” Ned said. “But a kind of good different.”

You directed Ned and Peter to lay down on the floor with the face masks on as the scent of vanilla from May’s candle wafted through the air. The soft music from Swan Lake played on your phone. They followed your guidance in how to pat in the essence of the sheet masks after taking them off and then the three of you sipped tea.

Sitting on the bottom bunk with Peter, you plugged your phone into the charger and propped it up against the wall to call Steve who was on a mission. The two boys stayed quiet as you talked to your dad. 

“Hey, Babydoll.” 

“Hi, Dheaidí. Is that a black eye?”

“It’ll be gone by the morning. Sam already chewed me out.”

“You weren’t wearing your helmet were you?” You asked as you started to braid your hair in big braids for bed. 

“Who’s the parent here? How was school? Didn’t you say you had an essay that you turned in Monday.” 

“Yeah, World War II history paper. Uncle Jamie had lots of stories, got a 94.”

“Buck helped you, isn’t that cheating?”

“Dheaidí, what’s my IQ?”

“194 and you don’t let me forget it, Sarah.”

“So I probably would’ve done well on the paper anyway. Besides, it wasn’t cheating. It’s called using primary sources. Mine was just super fresh and alive… should’ve gotten a 97. I’ll give Mrs. Morcei the three points on grammar but she docked me cause she says one of the stories was ‘unlikely— you know the one about your enlistment forms and the day before he got shipped out. Like, I didn’t grill Uncle Jamie for seventeen hours for a fake story. I mean were you there Mrs. Morcei? No, he might be ninety-nine technically but he’s not geriatric. I think the James Buchanan Barnes remembers the war he fought in and the time period. Not everything was sorrow all the time Mrs. Morcei, we get it the whole thing was depressing but people still tried to live their lives. She’s just mad that it took some of the glamorization from war. But I’m not bitter or whatever since I still got the A you know.”

Steve chuckled at your tangent. Moments like this with you were his favorite. You never noticed how passionate you got when discussing anything academic but would just talk and talk. He felt like maybe this was what your mother was like, that he was getting glimpses of Elise. And you talk uninhibited, a part of that was because it was just Steve. But another part was because when you started explaining things to him it was with such blind focus it was like you forgot all your problems. You weren’t tormented by HYDRA memories, on the verge of a breakdown at any moment if something triggered it. You were just his little girl sharing her school day. 

He watched you finish the braid you had started while moving on to a new chem topic that he’s sure he’s heard Bruce talk about at some point. You reached into your bag and pulled out a silk pillowcase, handing it to Peter. 

“What’s this for?” Peter asked, suddenly reminding Steve that you were at your friend’s house. 

“You need to change out the pillowcase. The cotton one could break off my hair. I’m trying to be the next Rapunzel and you kind of need the length for that.” 

“I thought that was what the bonnet you normally bring was for. Do I have to change the pillowcase? It was actually a struggle to put this one on.”

“I didn’t bring it this time, didn’t want to wear it. Stop complaining, not my fault you won’t sleep on the floor. Use my pillow, you need to change the case. I thought hosts were supposed to be accommodating? Please.”

“It’s my pillow. You’re in my bed, my house. And fine, only cause you said please.” 

You gave Peter a dazzling smile that he rolled his eyes at before taking the pillowcase from your hand that had been outstretched with it for the entire conversation. Steve’s eyebrows furrowed as he watched— mainly heard— the scene unfold. 

“Babydoll? Peter?”

Peter leaned in so he was in the small frame of the phone. “Yes, Mr. Rogers?” 

“Same pillow?” Steve was going to be vague about but he didn’t know himself exactly what he was inquiring about. 

“Yeah, we’re sharing his tiny bed with only one pillow. Who only has one pillow?”

“Why do you need to sleep with multiple pillows?” 

“Sharing the bed?!” Steve was a little louder than he meant to be. 

You took the phone off of the charger and just leaned out of the bottom bunk to stick the phone in the air. Steve was suddenly face to face with Ned on the top bunk, waving enthusiastically.

“Hi, Mr. Rogers.” 

“Hello, Ned.” 

You brought the phone back to your level. 

“There’s just not enough room, Dheaidí. Nothing weird. Strictly G-rated, platonic bed-sharing…”

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that because it makes me feel worse.”

“Does it help that you know Ned is on the top bunk?” 

“A little… Ned, don’t leave the room until morning,” Steve called out.

“Yes sir, Captain Rogers, sir,” Ned said in the most serious tone. 

Steve sighed and you turned the phone for him to see that there seriously wasn’t room and there were only two beds. He breathed out a sigh of relief that Peter was wearing a shirt, knowing lots of men slept without shirts. 

“Even if I was mad, I can’t exactly do anything from over here. I’m trusting you, Sarah.” 

“Thank you. I promise nothing funny.” 

“Alright, goodnight Babydoll. Goodnight Ned, Peter.” 

“Night Mr. Rogers.”

“Goodnight, Dheaidí.” 

You and Steve blew each other kisses and then you were met with the image of yourself looking back at you. You locked the phone and set it down, flopping onto the pillow. It took a minute and multiple tries for you and Peter to try and find a comfortable sleeping position. 

“This isn’t working,” you said with a huff. 

“We’re going to have to touch.” 

“Yeah, I know. How do you like to sleep?”

“Fetal position on my left side or on my back usually.”

“Hmm, I’m not spooning you but I do sleep on my stomach.”

Peter laid back down and you moved to be on top of him. The two of you breathed out in relaxation together, finally comfortable. You didn’t mind that one of his hands was resting on your upper back considering that’s how he normally slept. If the two of you could crane your necks even further in the opposite directions to avoid each other then you would. 

“So I didn’t have to change the pillowcase after all.”

You lifted your head to look at him.

“I’m just saying, your head isn’t even on it anymore… seriously?”

You had looked him dead in the eyes as you removed your hearing aids. 

“Sleep, Peter Parker. We should both sleep.” 

“Okay.”

“Goodnight, Pete. Goodnight, Ned.” 

You lowered your head back down as the boys said their goodnights and drifted off to sleep. Peter’s spider senses woke him up before he himself was aware of what was happening. He heard the soft whimper and felt your body tense up on top of his. Peter turned his head to see your face, your eyes were shut tight and he could see your face contorted in pain. The hand that was on your back gently shook you while he softly called your name. Your eyes opened and you looked around in panic— you were never fully out of the dream when you woke up. 

“Hey, hey. You’re okay,” Peter said softly. 

“I woke you up. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” 

“It’s fine. Are you alright? Do you want to talk about it?” 

“I… it was just another HYDRA dream, it’s nothing.” 

“Up.” 

You got up and walked with him into the kitchen. He filled up two glasses with water and took out a large jar of skittles that May had stored in the cupboard. You thanked him as he handed you a glass and sat down at the dining room table, turning his chair to face yours. The two of you sipped on water and ate skittles in silence. You held up a skittle and threw it at him, Peter catching it in his mouth. He did the same and that was the new way you two ate. You brought your knees up to hug them. 

“It’s so hard, Peter. I don’t feel like I can win anywhere. I’m too messed up to be America’s Darling they all think they’re getting and it’s fake. It’s all fake because I’m supposed to be just like my dad. You know they’ve even tag lined my moniker? I saw it the other day. Some articles said what’s tougher than diamonds nothing, making Gemstone the perfect name for our darling. This weird strong black girl image that they knew they would get because ‘look, it’s Captain Rogers’ daughter’. I’m not my dad in a girl’s body. They made fun of my suit because it’s accented with pink. I like pink, I have long hair, and I’m sorry I don’t think punching everything like Captain America is a solution to my problems… HYDRA, S.H.I.E.L.D., Avengers, America, the world. Even freakin’ Asgard. I don’t know how to not break myself in order to fit what people want. And I break down when I can’t fit it.”

“I worked so hard to push down HYDRA so I could be an Avenger and I’m scared that even one more small slip up like at the UN and I’m done. I can’t be done, I don’t know anything else. 001, Gemstone. I know those. I don’t know who Sarah Rogers is. What’s me and what’s what they all want…  I was made to be HYDRA’s doll and now it just haunts me every awful thing I’ve ever done. I’m worried I’ll never be okay, I don’t think I ever was.”

“Maybe you don’t have to be.”

“I envy you. You have what I want,” you said with a yawn. “May’s kid. Student by day and superhero by night. Only one of the good guys. To just be Peter Parker. That’s what I want, to just be Sarah Elise Wilson-Rogers… I’m sorry. Oh wow, I just dumped that on you, you’re not my therapist.”

“No, but I’m your friend. I can help in my own way and I think you just needed someone to listen… and eat skittles.” He threw one for you to catch in your mouth. 

You chewed it with a smile. 

“Thank you.”

Peter screwed the lid back on the jar of skittles and the two of you went back to bed.   

“He’s struggling,” you said, not taking your eyes from your phone where you were texting Ned and Peter. 

“She made it look so easy, but I’m sorry. Gripping and making the separate pieces is not easy.” 

“Move.” 

Sam walked over and Steve gladly moved out of the way. He watched as Sam split the hair and started working. He sulked into the kitchen when it became apparent that Sam could braid it no problem. You set your phone down, it was too hard to concentrate with your head moving about, and turned on the TV. 

Bucky came back from a sparring session with Nat and Pietro— they wanted to teach him skills past just being fast. He smirked when he saw the scene, Sam braiding your hair while Steve sprawled out on the couch invested in the movie and very occasionally feeding Sam popcorn. 

“How domestic,” Bucky fake swooned. “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes open up a salon. Ever think about quitting your day job, Wilson?” 

Sam rolled his eyes. 

“Keep laughing but I got a picture of you and Sarah with those mud masks on.” 

Sam held up his phone in satisfaction. Bucky stepped closer and Sam threw the phone at him.

“Go ahead and delete it. Already sent it to the whole team… shouldn’t have called me a bird-brain,” Sam smiled proud of himself. 

“Steve, get your boyfriend.”

“Give it up, Uncle Jamie,” you sighed, making Sam and Steve laugh. “You done been caught.” 

“... Man’s whole family gangs up on him, just not right,” Bucky muttered as he stalked off. He came back after his shower like you all knew he would and sat down silently. Steve handed over his popcorn bowl which of course Bucky accepted. 

✿✿✿

“I’ll be late for dinner,” you said as the car pulled up to school. Since they were free, Steve and Sam could actually drop you off for once. 

“Why?” Steve asked. 

“Ned and Peter have their nerd decathlon practices right after school so we can’t start the Steamboat set till after that.”

“Steamboat set?”

“Yeah, Steamboat Willie. The lego set based on the Disney… we watched Fantasia last month? Never mind, Dheaidí. Dinner, I’ll be late. Happy already agreed to drive me home.”

“You got Happy in on your little plan?”

“... maybe…” 

“How late are we talking?”

“Fifteen minutes? No more than twenty-five, promise. Bye!” 

You ran out of the car and met up with Peter and Ned who were waiting for you up front. They complimented the new hair and you flipped it obnoxiously for effect. 

“And she had the nerve to call them nerds. Has your daughter met herself?” Sam asked. 

“At least she has friends?”

“At least she has friends.” 

Both men chuckled as they watched you high-five the two boys and walk inside the building, throwing your arms around their shoulders. 

“Hey, Rogers,” someone called in your morning Statistics class— the concept of a rotating schedule was weird but you were adjusting to classes not being at the same time each day.

You looked up in surprise that someone had called your name. You were positive after the mess that happened over the weekend everyone would stay far away from 001. The teacher didn’t seem to care that students’ talked during the problem-solving time at the end of class as long as you weren’t talking during the actual lesson. 

“Is it true?” 

“Is what true?”

“That freaky UN shit, that was a joke right?”

You ducked your head back into your textbook to write down another problem into your notebook. Some of the other students laughed as you looked away. It amazed you, one week you were the school’s coolest celebrity but right now, well you weren’t sure what you were but it certainly wasn’t America’s Darling. 

“So all you’d have to say is longing—” 

You ripped out your hearing aids as quickly as possible. You were breathing rapidly and pressing your hands to your ears as hard as possible. The teacher’s attention was suddenly on the class.

“Mister Adams! Principal’s office, now! Are you okay Miss Rogers?”

She bent down in front of your desk. Tears were threatening to spill out and you were shaking your head back and forth. Anyone who at first thought the joke was funny suddenly felt bad. You jumped when the teacher placed a hand on your shoulder. She spoke a little slower and more deliberate and— despite it being unnecessary since she was so close you could hear her and the fact that you were used to reading quick lips— you appreciated the gesture. 

“Class is almost over anyway, why don’t you catch your breath before going to the next one. Or maybe the counselor’s office? I’ll write you a pass.”

You thanked her and haphazardly shoved all your stuff into your backpack. The bell rang as you got a few steps away from your classroom. You accidentally bumped into someone and when you looked up it was Ned, right next to Peter. Both of them eyed you with concern. 

“I’m fine,” you tried to reassure them until Principal Morita’s voice came in through the intercom. 

“Students. I understand we’ve all seen the events that transpired this past weekend. Any jokes about the UN meeting will be met with punishment and so much as a whisper of certain words will be greeted with a prompt suspension. We take care of our fellow students at Midtown and I, as well as the rest of the faculty, expect more from you all. That is all. Have a pleasant day and learn something new.” 

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

You pushed past the boys when Peter grabbed your arm. You turned back and gave him a watery smile. 

“I’ll catch you at lunch, Peter Parker.” 

He nodded and let go of your arm with some reluctance. Your chemistry teacher understood when you handed him your homework and then booked it to the counselor’s office. She let you stay in her office until lunch, asking if you wanted her to call anyone. 

“It might be better if you call someone, maybe they can come get you.” 

“I’m supposed to go to a friend’s house after school,” you mumbled. 

“Oh, that’s good! I’m very glad you’ve made friends, Sarah.” 

You nodded and sighed before taking her office phone and dialing in the ten digit phone number. 

“It’s my Uncle Clint… can you please ask him not to tell my dad.”

“Of course sweetheart. Patient confidentiality, I am actually licensed,” she chuckled while waiting for the call to go through and somehow that made you feel a bit better. 

As you left the office to head to the cafeteria your phone pinged with a series of texts from Clint, he didn’t like long paragraphs. It made you chuckle. While he wasn’t necessarily the best at giving advice he always knew the right thing to say— in this case it was the very confidential story about what happened in Budapest. Was there supposed to be some lesson there? Probably. In his own weird way, advice was usually found deep in the story. 

You pocketed the phone and made it to your usual table. You were shocked to see Michelle sitting in the seat right next to your usual one. Ned and Peter shrugged when you gave them a questioning look. 

“One time thing,” Michelle said. “I don’t like seeing you wallow, miserable’s not cute on you. You’re meant to be a smiler… Adams is a dick.” 

“Thank you… MJ.”

She shrugged like it meant nothing but you watched her smile while reading. You felt satisfied for the time being. She’d come around eventually, you were sure of it. Your teachers and classmates alike let you be in silence for the rest of the day which you appreciated. While robotics rotated out, you weren’t too upset because you were still seeing Ned and Peter after school… and Michelle, surprisingly. You didn’t know she was on the decathlon team. Mr. Harrington, one of the science teachers and coach for the decathlon, was more than willing to let you sit in on their practice in the library. Flash blew you a kiss, that you ignored, before being brought to attention by Mr. Harrington. You pulled out homework and finally stuck your hearing aids back in, trusting no one on the team was going to pull anything. 

“Alright team. Let’s work on some questions! I was thinking today I just ask questions and you answer, no training, no prep so we see what you guys know. Sound good?” 

“Sounds good, Mr. Harrington,” the team responded. 

You listened to him ask all sorts of questions, the team doing fairly well. They seemed well-rounded, there was always at least one person that knew the answer. Mr. Harrington was going through the flashcards at record speed. 

“This is an art one. What’s the printing process in which ink is forced into recessed lines?” 

Everyone paused, making funny faces in attempts to rack their brains for an answer. 

“Intaglio,” you muttered. 

The whole team looked at you. You shrunk your seat. 

“The answer you were looking for was intaglio… I’m sorry, it’s your practice. I wasn’t try— you just seemed like—”

Mr. Harrington just shook his head and picked up another flashcard, looking directly at you. 

“What measures the responsiveness of the quantity demanded to a change in price?”

“Elasticity.” 

“Louis Daguerre used mercury frames in his photography experiments for what task?”

“Shorten exposure time for developing an image.”

“The ancient Mediterranean world was characterized by lots of technological advancements especially in what field?”

“Metalworking.”

“Where was the earliest known case of smallpox found.”

“The mummy of… Ramses the fifth?” 

“Correct. If you don’t mind me asking…”

“It’s 194.” 

“Brains and beauty, you are the perfect woman.” Flash shot you a smile.

“Would you like to join decathlon? You’d be the perfect addition.” 

You snorted. “I’m good.” 

“Such a waste of talent, are you sure?” 

“Avengers already takes up a lot of time.” 

“Oh, of course. Avengering… avengering?”

“I don’t know,” you shrugged. “Uncle Tony just calls it saving the world.” 

After getting over the fact that you really did know every Avenger, the team finished up practice and you walked with Peter and Ned to Peter’s apartment. Ned proudly brought out the Steamboat Willie lego set. 

“How long are you two planning on staying? We can order a pizza,” Aunt May said from the doorway of Peter’s room. 

“Ham and pineapple?” 

“You got it, Ned.” 

“I promised my dads I’d be home for dinner. Maybe next time?” 

“Of course, sweetie. I’ll just order a large for us then, boys.” 

“Woah,” you gasped as Ned unboxed the set. 

You weren’t expecting so many pieces and pages to the manual. It was agreed that you would each work on separate parts of the boat since the manual seemed to say you could and then would connect them at the end. The boat was slowly coming together and you understood why Peter and Ned did this, it was like working in Tony and Bruce’s lab…

“You guys want to see something cool?” 

“Sure?”

You put down the part of the boat that you were working on and opened the secret compartment of your backpack. You pulled out the two gloves that you had been working on. 

“Is that an Iron Man glove?!” 

“Nope. Well, kind of. I made it. Uncle Tony’s letting me borrow the plans for his suit.” 

“That is so cool!”

You took off the glove and gave one to each boy. “It doesn’t actually shoot anything big yet, just jets of air until I finish the rest. But it still lights up.” 

Ned and Peter aimed the gloves at each other, aggressively blowing jets of air into the other person’s face. You laughed hysterically as their hair stuck up everywhere in the midst of their hot air war. Eventually Ned picked up how to make the jetstream continuous and didn’t let up on Peter until the other one surrendered. They handed you the gloves back to tuck away. 

“I’ll bring you to the compound when I finish the whole thing.”

“Will they let us?” Peter asked. “Isn’t it fairly classified?”

“Hmm… you’ll probably have to get security detailed but I don’t see why you can’t come.” 

The three of you finished the set just in time as Happy approached the door. He actually stepped inside and went all the way to Peter’s room. He came in with a box that held another lego set, the Hogwarts Express. 

“Your dad told Tony and he insisted,” Happy said. 

You took the box and handed it to Peter. He placed the boat in your hands. 

“Not too much room here to store it, plus it’s your first set. You should keep it.” 

“Thanks guys.” You gave them both hugs. “See you tomorrow. Bye, Ned. Bye, Peter Parker.” 

“Why do you always say both my names?”

You shrugged. “I like the way it sounds.” 

When you got home, you showed off the little boat before heading up to your room while Steve went downstairs to help Wanda and Sam cook— it was a team dinner today with everyone at home. Clint knocked on the door as you were moving around the souvenirs from Sam and Steve’s last mission in Alaska in order to put the boat on your bookshelf. 

How did the rest of school go? Clint signed, knowing that two super-soldiers were in the house and could come upstairs at any moment to get you. 

Fine.

Fine? 

No one else bothered me. Stupid kid, thought it was funny. 

Alright… I’m here for you. Okay? Anything you can’t tell them, you know you can tell me.

I know. I’m fine, really. Thanks, Uncle Clint.

No problem, kid.

One question.

Yes?

Did that really happen in Budapest?

Nat thought her being the Russian prostitute was too cliche.

So if I ask her?

“You will do no such thing.”

“What won’t Sarah do?” Steve asked as he came into the room. 

“Nothing!” Clint said too quickly. 

“Ask Uncle Clint,” you said as you walked out before looking behind to stare at Clint. “Maybe he’ll volunteer to tell you.”

“I did not!” Clint said as he followed, leaving Steve utterly confused. 

“Where’s Pietro?” you asked as you approached the dinner table. 

You felt the two knocks and turned around just in time to catch the fork. Pietro laughed as he, for once, walked at a normal speed to the table. He sat down next to you but didn’t mess with you for the rest of dinner. 

“Are you going to your friend’s house again tomorrow?” Sam asked. 

“Friend? Like actual friends?” Tony perked up and so did the rest of the team. 

“Um, yeah. Ned Leeds, Peter Parker, and MJ.”

“Hmm.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, Uncle Tony.” 

“Nothing.” 

“It means something.” 

“Lots of testosterone, that’s all.” 

“Tony means,” Nat cleaned up for him. “Living with idiotic boys we thought you’d want some girlfriends. Especially since you seem to like feminine things.” 

“I have you, Wanda, and Aunt Pepper… also MJ’s a girl.” 

“Oh.”

“Yeah, she doesn’t admit that she likes us though. She’s kind of like you, Aunty Nat.” 

That made the whole team laugh. Even Natasha chuckled a bit since you weren’t exactly wrong. You told Steve and Sam that you probably would go over to Peter’s tomorrow but would be back early. Dinner finished with several jokes and stories. Steve called a family meeting when your small household got back into their apartment. 

“Sam and I are leaving again on Thursday. Fury said we’re needed on the mission… for a month.” 

“No!” 

“Babydoll, we can’t get out of it.”

“Both of you? You both have to go?” 

“Sarah, sweetheart, we’ll call you as much as we can,” Sam assured you. “And metal man’ll still be here.” 

“Okay… at least twice a week, promise?” 

“We promise. And speaking of Buck,” Steve started. “You and Sarah are both on temporary leave. Your principal called Sarah. If kids are joking and know the words, then we can’t have you on missions Buck until we see if Wakanda can actually help you guys. And this’ll prolong you joining the team, Babydoll.” 

You sighed. “I figured… I’m gonna go take a bubble bath. If I don’t come back, assume I fell asleep.” 

“Babydoll!” Steve called when you were halfway down the hall. 

When we get back. Steve signed. He knew Bucky could understand but as long as Sam didn’t, he didn’t care. Besides, he was going to tell his best friend anyway. 

What? 

You wanted to be flower girl, right? 

Really?! In a month, for real?

Is that okay with you? You can tell me if you don’t like Sam.

I call him dad. He’s family… I’m not giving up my bedroom. 

… Alright, doll. 

You got giddy. “First Budapest, now this!”

“What about Budapest?” Steve asked. 

“Nothing!” 

You darted down the hall before they could ask any more questions.

✿✿✿

“Hey, Peter Parker. Where’s Ned?” You asked when you sat down at the cafeteria. 

True to her word, Michelle was several seats away again. You had seen Ned in first period robotics but now he was nowhere to be found and you knew Peter had most classes with him. Peter chuckled as you said both his names. 

“He got hurt last period, the nurse sent him home.”

“Aww, poor Ned… we shouldn’t start the set without him.”

Peter agreed but that left the two of you with no afternoon plans now. And since decathlon didn’t meet on Wednesdays and Fridays, you guys had plenty of time after school. 

“You know, I’ve never seen most of New York.”

“What? Really?”

“I was here once when I was twelve and aside from school, I don’t leave the compound.”

“That’s it then! After school, we tour New York. I’ll show you all the best places.” 

Flash Thompson sat down next to you before you could say anything. You jumped as he put his arm around your shoulder. 

“Can you please not do that?”

Flash removed his arm but didn’t rid his face of the smile he had been wearing since he strolled over. He drummed the table for a minute before speaking. 

“A bunch of us are going to the mall after school. You should come.” 

“I’m sorry, training.”

Flash nodded in understanding. “They ever give you a free day?”

“Not until I’m a full Avenger, honestly. The hour you guys have for decathlon is about it.” 

“Bummer, well, whenever you sneak away the offer always stands to come with us. Especially when you get tired of this loser. Why do you even sit here? I’ll catch you at our practice.” Flash winked. “Bye Sarah. Penis Parker.”

Peter scoffed and then gave you a look when he noticed you snickering. You apologized, still giggling and Peter rolled his eyes before getting up and pulling you to your next class. When school ended, true to his word, Peter became an unofficial tour guide. He said there was absolutely no way to see every single thing he wanted to show you of New York but it was absolutely necessary that you see Manhattan. 

You had never been on public transport that wasn’t the buses of DC so the subway was a new feeling. A feeling you weren’t sure you liked after seeing the subway and the strangeness on it. You sat a bit close to Peter as more people packed into your subway car. You were overwhelmed when you stepped out of the subway station and into the main street. 

“You good?”

“Lot of people.”

“Yeah, it’s Manhattan. Hand?” 

Peter held out an upturned hand that you gladly accepted. First stop, the Empire State Building. Peter huffed as you chose to run up the stairs of the building when one of the employees said people could try it. Most of the tourists gave up and went back to a floor with elevators but you didn’t. You turned around as you picked up on his heavy breathing and ran back down a few flights to meet him. 

“Want a lift?”

Peter eyed you skeptically, the two of you were almost the same height. 

“I can lift a whole car, I don’t think you’re much of a problem.” 

You were right. Peter wasn’t much of a problem at all. You set him down when you guys reached the observation deck. It was so pretty when you looked out. You pulled out your phone and flipped to the front camera. 

“I wanna send a picture to my dads.” 

Peter felt like the bottom of his face was going to fall off with the amount of selfies you took, deleting each one because you didn’t like how they looked. After spending a few more minutes looking, you guys took the elevator down. 

“Where to next?” 

“Greenwich Village, Washington Square Park. And then Broadway, back to Times Square, and home.” 

He held out his hand again which you dramatically slapped your hand into before interlacing your fingers and letting him lead the way. You stopped at Starbucks, the one thing you were familiar with, and headed to the park. 

“I’m sure you recognize this from Friends” 

“From what?”

“Fr— have you not seen that show? It’s old, six people basically live together and navigate New York and their lives together… no?”

“You mean Living Single?” Sam had forced you and Steve to watch it, not that you were complaining after a couple of episodes.

“Living what?”

“Peter Parker! Have you never seen Living Single?”

“You’ve never seen Friends!”

“... Show swap? You watch Living Single and I’ll watch Friends.”

“Deal.”

Your phone vibrated as you guys hopped onto the edge of the fountain and started walking along it, while talking about nothing in particular. It was a text from the family group chat— the smaller family one that was just you, Steve, Sam, and Bucky. 

“Um, my family wants to meet my friends before my dads leave tomorrow… Do you want to come over for dinner?”

“Let me text Aunt May and ask if it’s fine.” 

You and Peter finished your drinks and headed towards Broadway. 

“Hamilton?” You looked at the brassy doors with an interesting silhouette on it. 

“Yeah. Was off-broadway for a while, just opened up here at the end of summer. It’s supposed to be really good, the soundtrack isn't bad.”

“We should see it.”

“Do you know how expensive tickets are?”

“When’s your birthday?”

“Already passed.”

“Then it’s a late birthday present, we should see it… what?” 

“You don’t have to keep spending your money on—”

“It’s Uncle Tony’s money and I don’t have anything else to spend it on. I want to… unless it makes you feel weird, I don’t have to.”

“No, it’s fine. I just don’t want you to think Ned and I are friends with you because of money and stuff.” 

“So, Hamilton?”

“I guess we can see Hamilton.”

You smiled and texted Steve about going to see the show when he and Sam came back. Peter and you finished his mini tour before waiting where Steve told you to wait at Grand Central. You clambered into the backseat with Peter so he wouldn’t feel awkward. You eyed Steve when he looked at you in the rearview but didn’t say much besides a hello. He didn’t say it but you knew that Peter’s upcoming interrogation was going to be with the whole family and Bucky was arguably about to be the worst one. 

“You kids do your homework?”

“Not yet,” you answered. 

“First thing while we work on dinner.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.” You mocked saluted Steve making Peter laugh. Steve rolled his eyes. 

“Is that funny?” Steve put on a serious voice and poor Peter went red. 

“No, no, sir. Mr. Captain Amer—”

“I’m just messing with ya, Queens.”

“Dheaidí!”

“Just having fun, Babydoll.”

You pulled up into the compound and Peter looked at it in awe. Like you said, he had to be security detailed including FRIDAY saving his biometrics in the system. Steve waited with you guys while Peter got checked and began explaining the compound as he led the boy inside. Of course, none of it really mattered since Peter couldn’t get onto most floors without you or another Avenger/S.H.I.E.L.D. agent being with him. 

“We’re back and I’ve got two teens in tow!” Steve yelled into the apartment. 

He had taken the elevator directly to your floor once reaching the residential areas to avoid Peter being overwhelmed by the entire team. Following you and Steve’s lead, Peter took his shoes off at the door and slipped on one of the guest slippers that you had pointed out. Bucky and Sam waved to Peter and you started to head to your room. 

“We’re gonna do homework and then the TV’s ours, we have some serious show watching to do.” 

You pointed to where Bucky was half watching the news while reviewing agents’ training records— he took up training them while he was being placed on leave. Grabbing Peter’s hand you directed him to the hallway. Holding his hand was the wrong move as all three men noticed and Sam proceeded to yell. 

“Door open!”

You groaned in embarrassment. “We’re not even doing anything. What if I said I was gay?”

“Great, door still open.”

“You guys are embarrassing!” 

You yelled as you led Peter down the hall. He didn’t say anything but just took out his books. Peter looked around and noticed you didn’t have a desk. You told him that he could just sit on the bed since that was where you did all your work. You both snapped the textbooks shut when finished and walked back into the living room where you were satisfied to see the TV was already free. 

“Want a popsicle?”

“You two are going to ruin your appetite.”

“Never stopped you from letting me have popsicles before dinner,” you brought up the first year of living with Steve. 

“It’s like that, Sarah?”

“Just like that.” 

Steve playfully glared at you while opening the freezer door and handing you two popsicle tubes. You and Peter sat on the couch, not terribly close in order to avoid anyone saying something to embarrass you again, while eating the popsicles and trying to figure out which show to watch first. Eventually, you settled on one episode of each show at a time starting with Friends. 

The three men watched from the kitchen as you and Peter laughed while watching the TV. It was good you had someone your age to be around. They looked forward to meeting MJ and Ned as well. Peter seemed like a good kid and yes, Bucky might have been assessing him from the moment he stepped into the apartment. He didn’t sense anything bad, a lot of nervous energy but nothing bad. 

“Alright kids, dinner’s up.” 

Peter nervously answered all of the questions thrown at him until your family was satisfied that their initial assessment of him being a good kid was correct. Dinner finished and the two of you returned to the couch for two more episodes before Peter left to go home. 

You showed up to decathlon practice the next day with smoothies for everyone since you had one. They were all surprised— including Mr. Harrington who definitely didn’t expect one— as you handed them out. Flash lingered as you handed one to him, you were wondering when he’d move on from whatever crush or infatuation or whatever it was. But he wasn’t mean or pushy so you didn’t say anything. 

“Didn’t expect you to be here,” Ned said. 

“Yeah, you weren’t at the table.” Michelle took her smoothie. 

You had skipped to spend the day with Steve and Sam since they didn’t leave on their mission till the end of the school day. The school was fairly understanding when Steve called to inform them that you wouldn’t be in for the day. But you still wanted to go to decathlon practice— their quizzing was surprisingly nice background noise while you did homework. And more importantly, you really wanted to start on the Hogwarts Express set now that Ned was back and feeling better. When the team was given a small break, you whispered to Peter and Ned. 

“I finished the suit.” 

“No way, really.” 

“Yep, got the helmet done this morning. Uncle Tony hates the color combo.”

“What is it?” 

“Pink and silver.” 

You laughed as both boys scrunched their noses and then tried to backtrack and say the colors were cute. Practice continued and like usual, you made your way with the boys to Peter’s house. Aunt May was pleased to hear you could stay for dinner especially since Peter had been over the day before. 

You and Nat attempted to get Wanda into the dance studio but after ten minutes and lots of complaints, Wanda bowed out to go back to normal training. Natasha was glad you had forced her back into the studio. It was pleasant and she enjoyed the discipline that came with the one to two hours you guys spent there. Well, partial discipline. By the end, you two would put on music that didn’t match classical ballet at all and dance however you wanted. Bucky stepped into the studio, phone in hand. 

“Your dad’s calling,” he said as he turned the phone to face you showing the picture of Steve on it. 

Steve and Sam had been keeping good to their twice a week calls. Although sometimes they could only manage one during the school day and when you weren’t free, causing a bit of frustration for you when you couldn’t answer and couldn’t get in contact for the rest of the day. You and Nat stopped for the day and you took the phone from Bucky, following him back upstairs to the apartment. 

“Uncle Jamie?” you asked once you hung up the phone. 

“Yes?”

“Can I go to Peter’s on Friday?” 

“You know you can… what’s the catch?”

“Can I sleep over?”

“Sarah—”

“We’re just friends, you wouldn’t care if he was a girl. And don’t say it’s cause we’re straight cause if I brought home MJ and said she was a lesbian you would still say okay. Please?” 

Bucky sighed. “I wasn’t going to say that, kid, although you’re right. I was going to say your nightmares.”

“Haven’t been that bad since we started going to Wakanda, Shuri said so herself.” 

“But you still have them… if I say yes, are you going to be okay?” 

You nodded and gave him a hug, saying thank you and running to your room before Bucky could change his mind— him yelling about the fact that you still had to leave Peter’s early in the morning to fly to Wakanda. You packed a bag that waited patiently in the corner of your room until Friday rolled around. Ned couldn’t stay for dinner so it was just you and Peter. You both sat on the bottom bunk of his bed, cross-legged and facing each other, for a game of twenty questions. You tossed a Rubik’s Cube back and forth, each person solving it when it was their turn to talk.

“Do you feel anything when they brainwash you?” Peter asked, hesitantly, as he tossed the cube to you. He was curious but didn’t want to upset you either. 

“Honestly, no. It’s like I don’t even exist in my own body. All the damage gets done later.” 

“I’m sorry.” 

“It is what is.” 

You pushed a blonde braid out of your face and tossed the cube back to him asking about how he came to live with his aunt. When the game finished, Peter left so you could shower and change before coming back in and doing the same. You climbed up to the empty top bunk and he threw up a pillow and blanket. Turning off the light, Peter walked back to the bottom bunk and flopped down on it himself. 

“Too bad you can’t come on the field trip tomorrow.”

“You should ditch the field trip and come with me and Uncle Jamie. Wakanda’s science lab is so much cooler than Columbia University’s.” 

“But do they have super spiders?” Peter said in a funny voice, making you guffaw. 

“No… but have you ever seen a war rhino?”

Peter sat up abruptly, almost hitting his head on the bunk. “War rhinos?” 

You laughed and ignored him asking about the war rhinos. “I’m taking my hearing aids out now. Goodnight, Peter Parker.” 

“Goodnight, Sarah Rogers.”

You could hear the slight mocking but light-hearted tone in his voice and could picture him giving a fake salute. You took out your hearing aids and grabbed the bag that lay at your feet on the bed. You placed the hearing aids in the front pocket and took out a mouth guard. It wasn’t something you wanted but you didn’t explain the nightmares— you weren’t comfortable yet doing that. So you bit down on the mouth guard and hoped that if you had a nightmare it would muffle any screams.

You woke up in a sweat, sitting up abruptly. When you dipped your head over the side of the bunk you looked to see that Peter was still dead asleep. The mouth guard did its job or maybe you didn’t scream. Either way, you didn’t disturb your friend’s sleep. You quietly got down from the top bunk to check your phone and saw that the time read six in the morning which for a Saturday was definitely early.

You also saw the text from Bucky saying that he’d be there at seven. Peter still didn’t wake up as you got ready— which was just brushing your teeth, you always stayed in pajamas and headscarf while getting work done in Wakanda. You took a sticky note from the cube on his desk and wrote a little note saying you had to go and catch him at school on Monday as well as writing a second sticky note for May. Peter’s note, you stuck to his forehead— taking a picture. 

“Let’s go, hospital’s not too happy I parked the quinjet on their helipad,” Bucky said as he met you outside the apartment building. 

You usually slept on the ride there while Bucky flew. He looked over to see you curled up in the passenger’s seat and smiled. He still couldn’t believe that Steve had a kid but was happy you existed. It meant he and Steve had a life in the modern world, that they could have a life. You meant that the two super-soldiers weren’t completely out of time, even if it felt like it occasionally. He shook you awake before reaching the border, knowing that seeing the entrance into Wakanda was one of your favorite things. 

T’Challa and his entire family greeted the two of you as the jet landed. You yawned as you tried to greet them much to Ramonda and T’Chaka’s amusement. 

“She insisted on sleeping over at a friend’s house before coming,” Bucky said. 

“Well you can continue sleeping in the chamber and then we get dinner.”

Shuri dragged you along. You linked arms with her and you two skipped to the lab not bothering to wait for the adults. You smiled at all the scientists who waved back and settled into the cryo chamber for a strange death-like sleep while they worked on your brain. You opened your eyes again before they closed the lid. 

“Wait. General Okoye, can I train with you and the Dora Milaje?”

She and everyone else laughed. 

“When you get better little doll, we will gladly train you whenever you want to come to Wakanda.”

You smiled and closed your eyes as the cold settled in so they could get started. The one part you and Bucky weren’t excited for was when all the memories came flooding in. They assured you that the nightmares themselves wouldn’t result in you screaming like you tended to do now but they would be there and would probably last for a longer time. They could’ve gotten rid of it completely but that would involve risking brain damage to you both because of how HYDRA wiped you guys— which they did on purpose to make it near impossible to fix you. Both you and Bucky thought it wasn’t worth it, you had nightmares now it wouldn’t matter if you still had them. 

“Why doesn’t Sam get a title?”

“Falcon. It’s the military project he was on, that is the title.” 

“You don’t call Uncle Jamie ‘Sergeant’.” 

“Okay, but that’s not important.”

“Uncle Jamie says you’re a dick.”

“Not the first time I’ve heard that, G.I.” 

Tony felt satisfied when you just shrugged at his nickname instead of making a face like when he said Cadet America. You started flipping through the plans he had. Tony looked up from his own work when you called his name. 

“Can I really make my own suit?” you asked with a hint of doubt but mainly hopefulness. 

“Absolutely.” 

When he called, Steve was surprised to see you not in your room. You were perched on top of your workstation— you didn’t like sitting down in the chair like Tony. You looked very content as you tinkered, refusing to tell Steve what you were working on. Tony wouldn’t tell him either when he texted him. He just said it was a surprise and Steve would have to wait. 

“We’re coming back later today.” 

“Good… hey, Dheaidí?”

“Yes?”

“If I go to school, I would still be an Avenger right?” 

“Is this really what you want to do, Sarah?” 

You nodded. 

“Okay. School comes first but I don’t see why not… Clint, was that the right thing to do?” Steve forgot to mute his end before he asked. 

“I don’t know, my children don’t have superpowers.”

“Thanks for nothing… Babydoll… I didn’t mute the— forget you heard that.”

“Not gonna happen,” Tony called from his workstation. 

“Shut up, Tony! Sarah? We’ll look at schools when we get back.” 

“I already found one.”

“You did? One second. Sam, Buck!” 

The other two men of the household stepped into frame of the video call. 

“We might have to get a second apartment to make it easier. It’ll be nice to go back to Brooklyn.” 

“Brooklyn? Harlem’s where it’s at,” Sam said remembering his childhood home. 

“The school’s Midtown School of Science and Technology,” you said quickly to stop any arguments. 

“See,” Sam said proudly. “Harlem’s closer.” 

“It’s in Queens.”

“Queens?!” All three men yelled. Bucky and Sam adamantly shook their hands. 

“I will personally drive you every morning, we’re not moving to Queens,” Steve said. “This really the school you want?”

“It’s very academic. Great science program, everyone there is really smart. I’ll feel…”

“Normal?”

“Yeah.” 

“Alright, Babydoll. Midtown School. We’ll get you signed up when I get back. See you soon.”

“Bye, Dheaidí… hey, Uncle Tony,” you said when you hung up. 

“Yeah, kid?”

You laughed as he ducked when you aimed the glove at him. Tony threatened to kick you out of the lab, stuttering when you turned off your hearing aids and went back to working on the gloves. He looked at you incredulously and when he realized you weren’t going to look up again or turn the hearing aids back on, he went back to work. You casted your eyes up just slightly to see he had gotten quiet and sneakily turned them back on to hear him muttering to himself about how Steve had the patience for parenting was beyond him. 

Back to school shopping was a lot easier when school had already started. You were only a couple weeks late from when Midtown started but they still enrolled you anyway— of course, they weren’t going to turn down Captain America’s daughter. You had yet to actually go to the school but your first day and tour were all going to be rolled into one. Sam joined you and Steve for shopping. 

“Sarah! Which one?” Sam called out from the end of the aisle, you and Steve looking at fancy stationary against the wall. He held up two backpacks for you to look at. 

“Isn’t that sweet,” a woman walking past said as she put some school supplies in her cart. “It’s so nice to see a father spending time with his daughter.”

“Oh, no, ma’am. No, she’s— ma’am she’s no—”

“Dad! I can’t tell the one on the right,” you called to put Sam out of his blubbering misery. 

Both Sam and Steve faltered. Steve was red and if blush showed up on Sam, he was sure it would be there. Steve recovered before Sam. 

“Right one is light purple with blue flowers, Babydoll.”

At Steve’s nickname for you, the woman looked between him, you, and Sam. You watched her face go through many emotions and then settle on confusion. 

“He’s my real dad, same hair.” You pointed to Steve. 

“Oh.” 

That was all the woman said before walking off. You couldn’t tell what she meant but it probably wasn’t the best because both Sam and Steve attempted to pull the brims of their baseball caps even lower. 

“Is it a clashing blue? Because it all looks the same right now,” you said going back to the task at hand.  

“They go together.” 

You looked at the two backpacks. Not that you didn’t trust Steve but you also didn’t trust Steve. Yeah, sure he was an artist but you still didn’t quite believe his sense of what looked nice. 

“I’ll take the green one.” 

You placed the stationary you were looking at in the cart and walked off to go find the rest of your supplies. You only made a few steps when you realized no one was behind you.

“Dheaidí? Dad? Calculators… ooh, lip gloss.”

Steve grabbed the shopping cart and both he and Sam went to grab you a calculator while you got distracted by makeup. 

✿✿✿

“Captain Rogers, it’s an honor to meet you. My grandfather served with your Howling Commandos, Jim Morita?” the principal shook Steve’s hand rather enthusiastically. 

“Jim, good man. Always making us laugh,” Steve chuckled at the memory. 

Throughout the tour, students and teachers alike kept staring. Mainly because Steve was in his stealth suit. He would’ve worn something casual but he was called on a mission and had to leave immediately. He was already pushing it by telling S.H.I.E.L.D. that he was taking you to your first day of school, mission or not, and they would have to accept him being late. 

“And this is the chemistry lab and your first class of the day Miss Rogers.” 

Everyone in the class, including the teacher, moved to the door to see Steve. He gave an awkward wave and then turned to you. 

“I gotta go now, Sarah.” 

“How long?” 

“Two weeks.”

“Weeks?”

“I know, I’m sorry. Three days and I’ll call.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” He held out a pinky. 

“Oh and Pietro’s picking you up, he insisted.” 

You groaned knowing that meant you weren’t taking a car. Steve chuckled and gave you a hug before he left. The students all returned to their seats and you sat at an empty lab bench. Maybe Uncle Jamie was wrong. Yeah you picked Midtown but maybe school still wasn’t going to be easy. You got through your morning classes quickly and quietly. 

No one talked to you, everyone too busy staring. You were no longer in the private eye and Steve’s famous status was already affecting you. Yours as well but people tried not to mention 001, not that you didn’t hear whispers. Especially since it had been announced that you had to speak at the UN just like Bucky had to in a week. It was more customary than anything. To absolve you of anything you did under HYDRA’s influence. But they just had to announce it the day before you started school. 

You walked into the cafeteria and grabbed lunch. Even if they tried not to look, the kids were still staring. You noticed a few waving and attempting to call you over, trying to be louder than other tables doing the same. Making friends was going to be interesting. 

“Free seat over here, babe,” Flash Thompson called. 

You remembered him from your history class, somehow he got it in his head that you liked the nickname. You acted like you didn’t hear him, purposely turning your face so the hearing aid would show, and scanned the cafeteria landing on a relatively empty table with two boys. 

“Can I sit here?” You asked when you walked over. 

“Yeah su— holy crap, you’re Sarah Rogers,” the tan boy said as he looked up from his lunch. 

“Yeah,” you said, tight-lipped. 

“You’re so cool! I mean your dad is so co—”

“Ned!” Another boy cut him off. 

“I’m sorry, he didn’t mean it. I mean you’re cool, not that you’re not cool we just don’t want you to feel weird unless this is making you feel weird…”

You sat down at the table anyway, if they annoyed you too much you’d just move. 

“I’m used to weird. Sarah Rogers,” You introduced yourself even though it was pointless.

“Peter Parker.”

“Ned Leeds.”

“Michelle Jones,” a voice piped up. “But my friends call me MJ, if I had any.” 

You looked over to see a girl sitting at the table but slightly farther away. She gave you a shrug and went back to reading. You were going to say something else but she seemed content to only be at the table so you went back to your lunch and the two boys in front of you.

“So…” Ned started. “Have you ever thrown the shield?”

Peter shoved Ned’s shoulder. “Ned!”

“What, don’t you want to know?” 

You looked at the two of them and laughed a little. Ned’s curiosity seemed so pure that it didn’t bother you. 

“No, my dad doesn’t really like when anyone touches it.” 

“Bummer.” Ned nodded his head, seriously. 

The rest of lunch went quietly, Ned and Peter in their own little world. They didn’t really talk but you liked their presence. It turned out they were both in your robotics class and you joined their table. 

“This must be child’s play for you,” Ned said as he got out the small robot they had started the first day of school. 

“I mean, it’s n—” 

Everyone covered their ears at the high pitched ringing from one of the machines. You ripped your hearing aids out, the sharp whistle cutting through it extra loud. The hearing aids crashed to the ground and the teacher ran over to help the student turn off the machine, crushing your aids in the process. He looked down underneath his foot. 

“Oh no. Oh, goodness, Sarah I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine.” 

You picked up the broken hearing aids and looked at them. The rest of the day was going to be even more quiet than it already was and now you’d have to sit in the front row for every class to make sure you could hear while taking notes— which was the absolute last thing you wanted to do. 

Pietro greeted you outside, creating a second buzz amongst the students. You started to wonder if this was your new daily life. Pietro noticed your hearing aids were gone and you held up the crushed pieces. 

“Let’s go, Doll.”

“Not your doll,” you said as he picked you and ran, much to your protest. 

“A car. You can’t just take a car?” 

“Where’s the fun in that?” 

“Pietro, stop torturing her,” Wanda laughed but made no move to actually help you when Pietro dragged you around the entire compound a couple times before letting you go. 

✿✿✿

“You’re quiet, Peter Parker,” you said as you bit into an apple. 

It was almost the end of the school week and every day you found yourself sitting at Peter and Ned— and Michelle’s— table. Peter hadn’t said a word the whole time since your first encounter, letting Ned do most, all, of the talking. 

“It’s cause he’s never talked to a girl.”

“You don’t talk to girls either, Ned. It’s not that. I just don’t want to make you feel weird, I know everyone just talks about your dad.” 

“Thank you, I guess… I think you two are kinda cool.”

“You’d be the first,” Michelle muttered. She gave a cheesy smile when the three of you looked over at her. 

“Do you want to come over?” you asked, indicating the several seats between you and her. 

“I’m good watching from over here, thanks.”

You opened your mouth to say something and then closed it again. Michelle reminded you of Natasha. Weirdly hard shell but good person over all. She wasn’t really making fun of anyone, just snippy comments, so you were content to let her be and hoped that maybe she’d join the table one day.

“Do you like legos?” Ned asked, causing Peter to bang his head on the table. 

“Never played with them.” 

“Oh, dude, me and Peter have so many sets. You’ve got to join, we’re doing one this Friday.” 

“I can’t… I have my UN meeting. Maybe, when I get back Sunday?” 

Peter looked up. He wasn’t expecting you to actually enjoy what he and Ned found interesting. 

“Yeah, yeah, that’d be cool. We should exchange phone numbers. To make a date I mean— not a date date, like for the set…”

You pulled out your phone and shoved it into Peter’s hand, shutting him up. He and Ned gave you their phones. They both laughed when they saw the contact name you listed: Your Favorite Avenger. 

“Don’t give my number to anyone. I’ve already had to change it twice… and don’t lose your phone, please.” 

Ned held his phone to his chest. “I’ll guard it with my life.” 

“You’re so weird. I like that.”

You turned up the music on your phone and set it down on the desk while the three of you kept working. Once you finished, you checked your phone and still didn’t see any text from Happy or Tony. You watched Ned and Peter until they finished doing their own work. 

“So…” 

You didn’t know what to say. You never had friends your age before. Plus, Peter and Ned seemed so close that you weren’t sure if you would impose by saying the wrong thing. The two boys looked over at you and suddenly you felt the rest of Peter’s room was more interesting. 

“Is that a Rubik’s Cube?” 

You walked over to the drawer that it was laying on top of about to grab it when you stopped. 

“Oh, can I?”

“Yeah, go ahead.” 

You grabbed it and returned back to the desk chair. Fingers moving at rapid speed, you listened to Ned and Peter talk. You held up a solved Rubik’s Cube in accomplishment. 

“You’ve heard us talk all week, what about you?” Ned asked. 

“What about me?” 

“Who is Sarah Rogers?” Ned asked all serious that made you laugh. You threw him the Rubik’s Cube and spun in the chair before stopping, facing them again. 

“Hmmm. Sarah Rogers. Um, I’m a super-soldier baby, deaf, colorblind but only with blue and purple. Engineering is one of my favorite academics. Favorite color is (f/c), I love Disney. Oh, I like to draw… I can teach you how to snap a man’s neck?”

“Awesome,” both boys said at the same time.

“Yeah?” You felt the corners of your mouth lift up. “So what are lego sets?” 

Ned began to go into a tirade about them and how he and Peter save up to buy sets. You were amazed to find out how expensive they could be. Peter pulled out a few of the sets that were kept at his house. Most were kept at Ned’s since he had more space. 

“We were gonna get a new set for Sunday, we just finished saving up for another one. You wanna pick?”

“Oh, I don’t know. You guys saved up a lot… I don’t want to pick one you don’t like.”

“That’s the beauty, the goal’s to build them all at some point.” 

Peter pulled up the sets in their price range and called you over. They scooted over so you could sit on the bed and flip through. You bit your lip nervously as your eyes landed on the one you wanted. 

“Which one?” Peter pulled his phone out of your head. “Steamboat Willie? You really do like Disney.”

“We don’t have to go with that one. I’ll pi—”

“Looks cool enough,” Ned said as he peered over Peter’s shoulder. “I’ll pick it up. Just text us when you want to come over on Sunday and I’ll bring it.” 

“Knock, knock,” Aunt May said as she stood in the doorway. “Sarah? A Happy is here for you.” 

“Happy! Thank you for letting me come over, May.” 

“No problem sweetie, anytime really.”

You turned to your new friends. 

“I like hanging out with you two. I’ll see you Sunday. Catch you later, Ned, Peter Parker.” 

You greeted Happy at the door. He was holding an apology burger and milkshake courtesy of Tony. You gave a final wave goodbye and left with the big bodyguard for the drive back to the compound.   

✿✿✿

You wished Steve was here but he was still on a mission. Bucky and Natasha had come back from their separate mission so they were accompanying you along with Tony and Sharon who was now S.H.I.E.L.D's plug with the CIA. Everyone wanted to wait till Steve got back but the UN wasn’t having it. S.H.I.E.L.D. had a sneaking suspicion that they were up to something and this was just the start but there wasn’t much they could do. 

“Why do I have to straighten my hair?” You asked as you sat in the salon chair while on the phone with Sam and Steve. 

“I don’t know, the PR team said it was best you do.” Steve shrugged and looked at Sam. 

“It makes you seem more ‘presentable’ is what they want to say.” 

“Presentable?” 

“They think our hair’s not suitable for the workplace. A lot of those country leaders and diplomats at your UN meeting aren’t black. PR wants you to appeal to the masses, you’ve already got the blonde hair America’s darling thing going. They want to place you as close to whiteness and Steve as they can… yeah, I know. Unfair, sweetheart, I know.” 

You frowned but continued to let the salon lady straighten your hair. You appreciated that Sam was always blunt with things you and Steve didn’t understand. He truly was there for the two of you. 

“Dheaidí, can you braid my hair when you get home? Like the ones that Howard girl did?”

“Um, I can try, Babydoll.”

Sam chuckled already knowing the gears turning in Steve’s head as he tried to figure out how many tutorials it would take him to figure it out. You could’ve found someone to do it for sure but you really wanted some time with Steve.

“I wish you two were here.”

“We do too but we couldn’t cut the mission shorter than tomorrow. We’ll see you after the meeting though, we promise. But you’ve got Aunt Nat, Uncle Tony and Buck. You’ll be fine sweetheart, it’s just a little meeting think of it like a parent-teacher conference… What are we going to do if they schedule a parent-teacher conference when we’re on missions?” Steve started to focus on a different problem, overthinking once again. 

“Babe,” Sam broke through Steve’s hyperfocus. “Bridge we’ll cross when we get there, okay. You’ll do just great, Sarah. Knock it out of the park, got it?”

“Got it. Dheaidí?”

“Yes?”

When’s the wedding? 

Steve choked, leaving Sam a confused mess between your laughing and Steve’s blubbering. 

Sarah.> 

Yes?>

Sam and I… this is still new to me.

Steve shook his head. “Why am I talking with you about this?” 

“Because I’m not a baby anymore.”

“Always my baby.” 

But you two have been together since I was gone right? He’s already a part of the family. 

“Let it go.”

I’m gonna be the flower girl, right?

“Don’t you have a hair appointment to finish. Bye, Sarah.” 

“Bye, Dheaidí, Dad.” 

You hopped out of the salon chair and looked at yourself in the mirror. The straight hair wasn’t bad. But it was a lot of work and with an Avenger lifestyle, you were almost positive it would be sweated out and it probably wasn’t for you. You exited the salon and into the black van waiting for you outside— the good thing about living in New York was that the UN headquarters was there and that’s where they chose to have your meeting. Tony, Bucky, Nat, and Sharon were already in the car along with the head of the Avengers’ PR team who was giving you last minute tips and prep. 

“Don’t scare the poor girl,” Bucky said. “It wasn’t that bad, little doll. I’ll be up there with you anyway.” 

Bucky was a stand-in for Steve as legal guardian. If it wasn’t him, it was going to be one of the other Avengers. They were all your pseudo-guardians. Bucky had a hand on your shoulder the whole time as you entered the UN floor. For the most part he was right, it wasn’t too bad. You got mainly sympathetic looks from the dignitaries in front of you. It was time for a brief recess and you left the stand to stretch your legs while Bucky got you a water. You shook hands with more people you could count and accepted so many apologies and questions about your position on the Avengers— which Tony swooped in to answer most of those, including your unofficial status until you had a suit and a moniker… and your dad actually let you go on missions. 

“Miss Rogers, I’m King T’Chaka and this is my son Prince T’Challa,” an older gentleman said as he shook your hand. 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” 

“We are utterly sorry to hear all you’ve been put through at such a young age. If you would like, for both you and Sergeant Barnes, Wakanda would be glad to help.” 

“Wakanda?” Your brain scrambled for where you had heard that before. “Oh, vibranium like my dad’s shield.” 

“Yes,” T’Challa chuckled. “We’re a little more than meets the eye. Feel free to visit at any time, we find the fresh air of our country can be very beneficial. Work miracles almost.” 

T’Challa shared a knowing look with his father. You didn’t have time to ask more questions before they called you back to finish speaking. Bucky intercepted a question about the Avengers taking responsibility for collateral damages when events such as Sokovia happened. 

“With all due respect, that’s a question for Captain Rogers not his daughter. And we’re trying to figure out how to save the world with less damage which aside from bigger cases, we’ve managed to do pretty well. Once again we do apologize for damage caused to Sokovia and have been working closely with the city to continue repairing damages. If there are no other questions for Sarah, we would like to wrap this up. She does have homework she has to finish.” 

That earned a small laugh from everyone on the floor. Bucky nodded to one reporter who stuck his pen up for the last question. The man stood up and flipped open his notepad to read off his question. 

“This is actually in regards to both Sergeant Barnes and Miss Rogers about your time in HYDRA.” 

“Yes?” 

“How do we know that you are working for the Avengers? That this isn’t some HYDRA scheme?”

“Well, I suppose we—”

“For instance if an agent were to come in, you wouldn’t turn on us?”

“Both Sarah and I have no positive affiliation with HYDR—”

“Not even if they were to say Longing. Rusted.”

You and Bucky both froze like deers in headlights. Bucky recovered first and ripped your hearing aids out to at least try and save you while Nat ran from her spot in the back of the room to stop the reporter. But it didn’t matter because the reporter’s pre-recorded voice came over the loudspeaker and no matter how much you covered your ears you and Bucky could still hear it. 

“FRIDAY, locate the source and shut it off!” Tony commanded. 

“On it, Mr. Stark.” The A.I’s voice came through. 

“Benign. Homecoming.” 

You and Bucky tried to run. 

“One. Freight Car.”

Both of you stood still in your tracks while the other Avengers yelled for people to run while it was oddly silent. The crackle of the pre-recorded voice came back over the speakers with your instructions. You and Bucky pushed past everyone. Bucky picked up the reporter while you attacked anyone who got in the way.

You entered a hallway, Bucky twisting the door so it stayed locked. The reporter asked you questions that whether you wanted to or not, you both were answering. There was pounding at the door, attempts by the Avengers to get you out. 

“You’ll get me to safety and where I need to go. Now, Soldat. 001.” 

You ripped the door off of the handle and threw it at Tony. Bucky set the reporter down and picked you up, throwing you into Nat and Sharon. The Avengers had never seen you fight before and not as a tag team with Bucky— although, right now, this was not exactly where they’d be wanting to see you two in action. Someone in a catsuit had also appeared to stop the fighting. Bucky ran with the reporter, fighting off anyone that stopped him, while you tried to distract and hold the others back. He succeeded in getting the reporter to a helicopter and starting it up before he turned back around— even under programming, Bucky always came back for you. He almost twisted the man in the catsuit’s arm behind his back when he saw him corner you. 

“We’re gonna have to shoot,” Everett Ross said. 

“Are you crazy?” Tony started, much to the agreement of others. 

Tony hadn’t packed his whole suit but he did have the glove. It formed around his hand and Tony hesitated for a split second before coming after you and hitting you in the temple with the glove. 

“Sorry, G.I.”

You stumbled back and Bucky’s attention was immediately focused on Tony who was now backing up. Your head was spinning as you came to your senses. You blinked a couple times and looked to see Bucky stalking towards Tony. You ran in front of him. 

“Uncle Jamie, I’m okay.” 

You snaked a hand up to his temple, knowing you could get away with it as he assessed that you weren’t injured. You hit him as hard as Tony had hit you and he stumbled back but also came to his senses. Bucky looked around to see everyone but the two of you almost out of breath. 

“What did we do?”

“Honestly, we’re not sure yet. We’re trying to figure out who that reporter was and how the hell he slipped through the cracks.” 

“He’s HYDRA,” you said, dryly. “They always find a way to slip through the cracks… who’s he?”

Everyone turned to see King T’Chaka coming up behind the man in the sleek black catsuit. He removed his helmet and you were surprised to see Prince T’Challa. So this was what the two of them meant when they said Wakanda was more than meets the eye. The king approached you and Bucky. 

“Miss Rogers, Sergeant Barnes… it is hard to explain but we strongly suggest that you take up our offer. For the safety of everyone and our Avengers, we think we can help with your programming problem.” 

Bucky was all for it. He had enough of HYDRA’s control on him but he sensed your hesitation. 

What’s wrong, little doll?

“I just started school… I was starting to enjoy my life.”

T’Challa spoke up. 

“Maybe for the weekends? It would take longer, maybe two months instead of one. But I don’t think we want to disrupt and upset Miss Rogers’ life any more, Baba. Does that work for you?”

“I think we should talk with Steve,” Bucky took over the guardian role again. “But that seems like it might be best for the two of us.”

T’Challa and his father nodded, leaving contacts with Bucky, and then left before anyone else on the UN floor could spot T’Challa in his suit. You and Bucky went back to the UN floor for a final statement that no one was truly paying attention to. They didn’t need it, everyone had witnessed firsthand the damage HYDRA had inflicted on the two of you. You were quickly ushered into the van to head back home. 

“Shit,” Tony muttered as he put his phone down. “The helicopter was ditched as soon as he could. We’ve lost the guy.”

“He’ll show up again eventually, they always do.” 

“What did he want from you two? What was he asking you in that hallway?” 

You and Bucky couldn’t remember to save your lives. 

“Doesn’t matter. He probably wants what all of HYDRA wants,” Nat said. “Why the long face, kiddo?” 

“Can we dance when we get home?” 

Nat nodded. Your question answering hers. The van stayed quiet for your sake, understanding you felt like crap after everything. HYDRA had that control over you. Being born under them, it was always harder for you to shake off a spell than it was for Bucky. He would go straight to the moping stage but you usually spent a few hours in the stages of guilt and fear. You pulled out your phone and texted Ned and Peter in your newly formed group chat, Two Weirdos and Rogers

Favorite Avenger: Guys, can we reschedule to Monday? I don’t think I’m feeling the weekend anymore.

Mastermind (Ned): No problem, are you okay?

The Awkward One (Peter): Are you okay? We saw what happened. 

Favorite Avenger: It’s already on the news?!

The Awkward One: Yeah… but no one’s saying anything bad. 

Favorite Avenger: whatever, can we do Monday after school?

Mastermind: P and I have decathlon after school but if you’re cool waiting till after that. 

Favorite Avenger: Yeah, sounds fine.

The Awkward One: are you sure you’ll be okay?

Favorite Avenger: yeah, I’ll be fine. See you guys Monday

The rest of the team watched in awkward silence as you looked confused. They could see the evident pain in Steve’s face. You looked around at everybody and then at the seat you had placed in. It was large enough that you could sit cross-legged. And you discovered it swiveled. You turned the whole chair to face Steve and folded up your legs. 

“My name is Sarah Elise Rogers. Yes or no?” 

Steve was stunned by your question, so was the rest of the team. You looked at your dad in desperation. You had thought you were thirteen. If you couldn’t get an age right, what else were you wrong about. You needed real answers.

“My name is Sarah Elise Rogers. Yes or no?” 

“Yes.” 

“I’m fifteen years old?”

“Yes.”

“My mother is Elise Lanns, a graduate student, and my father is Steven Grant Rogers, Captain America. You.”

“Yeah, Babydoll.”

You faltered for a moment. Pizza, there was pizza when he called you that the first time. And a couch?

“We live in DC?” You asked hesitantly. 

“We did.”

“But you're from Brooklyn and Wales.”

It was then they all knew what was going on. Everyone knew by now Steve’s family was Irish. You weren’t asking questions as some interrogation, you were asking questions because you didn’t remember. They hadn’t realized it because it wasn’t what Bucky did. Instead he would write it down or look it up and only when someone corrected him would he maybe ask a question. 

“Ireland. I’m from Brooklyn and we’re Irish.”

“I have an Uncle Nat?”

“Aunt, Aunty Nat.”

You turned the chair to face who you assumed were Clint and Nat since they sat closest to you, studying their faces. Nothing. You knew they cared about you but you got nothing, no memories. You pointed at each of them.

“Auntie Nat? Uncle Clint?”

They both nodded. You looked at Clint.

“You have a wife and two children. What are their names?”

“Laura’s my wife. I have a son, Cooper, and my daughter, Lila.” 

“I think I liked them. I’m the oldest, right?”

“Older than Coop by two years.” 

You nodded absentmindedly and turned the chair back to Steve. 

“I have your blonde hair and super soldier abilities.” You continued after Steve nodded. “I’m a genius like my mother… they killed her when I was seven?”

“They did.”

“My diamond skin. It’s not from you or her but HYDRA?”

“Diamond skin?” 

Steve’s question gave you enough answers. You ignored it and moved on, knowing they’d want to come back to it at some point. But that wasn’t your focus or problem.

“HYDRA are the bad guys. There’s only one person I trust there, Jamie.”

“Bucky?”

“Who the hell is Bucky?”

“I… you’ll see him soon. Any other questions, Babydoll?”

“...no… they wipe me every morning if that’s why you’re still staring.”

Bruce spoke up at that. “Every morning?”

“They do it after she leaves breakfast,” Wanda piped up from where she and Pietro were sitting.

“Is that necessary? Bucky said they only wiped him if he started asking too many questions.”

You were starting to think Bucky was Jamie's real name… kind of stupid but who were you to judge.

“It kept me docile.”

“I know you don’t remember me but I am so sorry,” Bruce said. And you nodded in acknowledgment.

“Babydoll, diamond skin?” Steve asked carefully, worried about pushing boundaries. 

You met his eyes before looking away all together. Since you weren’t looking at anyone and they weren’t about to scream in the contained quinjet, no one knew what to do next. Pietro spoke up.

“Her skin hardens at points of impact. She feels pain but it’s almost impossible to actually pierce her skin. Watch. Doll! Think fast.” 

Pietro knocked twice on the quinjet floor when he saw you had uncrossed your legs and planted your feet again. He purposely knocked deliberately later than when he threw Clint’s arrow so you would only have time to hold up a hand but not grab it. You turned and held your palm up, the arrow hitting and falling to the ground. You looked at Pietro.

“I’m not your doll. And ow.”

“That didn’t even hurt you.”

“It could’ve gone through my hand.”

That made you and the twins laugh until your sides were sore. It might’ve been over a dark topic but Steve’s mouth automatically pulled into a smile when he heard your laughter. 

The quinjet landed at the compound and everyone looked in awe.

“Yeah I know. It’s incredible, go figure. First things first we have a new A.I. Unit. Since JARVIS is now a part of Vis, everyone meet FRIDAY,” Tony said as he exited the jet first.

Steve placed a hand on your shoulder and guided you out. Tony continued his speech as he gave a tour of the compound. You were mainly looking because Tony wasn’t speaking very loudly and would constantly turn around so you couldn’t see his lips.

“Uncle Tony!” You called once you all reached he and Bruce’s new lab. 

That made the man stop in his tracks. 

“Yeah, Sarah?”

“You made my hearing aids? Yes or no?”

“Yeah, kid. And the minute the tour’s over, you come back down and we’ll get you new ones. You still like green?”

You nodded. Tony needed a minute to recover before he continued the tour. They all did. But you didn’t see why, these were your dad’s friends. His family. So they must’ve been your family too. 

“And the residential floors. Only Avengers on property after hours, all SHIELD goes home, but I figured we’d have additions to the team so from here up is all residential. Common room in the middle. Dorm style beneath the common area. Family style above.”

“The difference?” Clint asked.

“Family style have their own living room and kitchen. But rest assured each room dorm style is the size of an apartment. We don’t skimp.”

“Oh good to know.”

“Pepper and I stay on the upper most apartment. Pool is at the very top along with a bar. Everyone go pick your places. Just claim a room and tell FRIDAY.”

“I think I’ll just get a room. Leave Laura and the kids on the farm, feels safer,” Clint said as he headed towards the elevators. 

“Capsicle? Sarah, you need a nickname, kid.”

“Babydoll’s already mine for her, don’t even think about it. Is there a family style with four rooms?”

“Four? I mean yes but four? You, Sarah? I’m assuming you’re adding the Manchurian Candidate… that’s three.” Tony held up three fingers as if Steve couldn’t count. 

Steve scratched the back of his head before sighing and giving up.

“Sam.”

“Wilson? I didn’t know you…”

“Yeah, we didn’t talk about it much in the 40s. Is there one with four rooms?” 

Steve cut Tony off. He still wasn’t very comfortable talking about it, everyone’s claims of the 21st century be damned. 

“Yeah, the third and fourth ones.”

Steve turned you around to see him.

Which one?

Four of us. Fourth floor.

“We’ll take the fourth floor,” Steve said and you two started to walk towards the elevator, leaving the others stunned at Steve’s semi-confession. 

Sam and Bucky rushed back the minute Steve called. They were relieved because their latest lead included something called an Ant-man and after meeting the guy they knew he was of no help. The apartment was massive when they entered late at night. Steve showed them around and let them pick their rooms, like Sam suggested you took the biggest room— kicking Steve out of the master bedroom. You were already asleep so they decided to just say hi in the morning.

You didn’t put your new hearing aids in when you got up to get water in the middle of the night. While you figured that you guys would probably spend more time in the common room than anything, you were glad to have your own kitchen for moments like this. You shuffled to the kitchen in one of Steve’s too big shirts and socks, having not much of your own currently. Aside from the small box of your stuff that he took when he moved into the Tower, it was too painful for Steve to keep a lot of your things physically in the house. He had to get what wasn’t damaged in DC out from storage which was his plan to do first thing tomorrow. You didn’t even have a bonnet, stealing one of Tony’s fancy scarfs as a headscarf— not that the billionaire really minded. 

You reached up for a cup of water when you felt the footsteps. They were heavy and off balance, one side stepping harder than the other producing a heavier vibration. Not your dad. You grabbed for the knife in the little knife rack on the counter and threw it. 

“Woah.” Bucky’s eyes went wide as he grabbed the knife in his metal hand before it had hit him.

You gasped in surprise and ran to hug him. 

“Hey, kid,” Bucky said as he held the back of your head.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you we—”

“No harm, no foul. Wasn’t trying to sneak up on you, just got thirsty.” 

You and Bucky got your waters and sat down on the couch. You held the cup up to your face, not stopping your drinking, when Bucky turned his head to look at you. He was analyzing you and you knew it. You could always tell when he was doing it. Bucky took the cup from you and moved your head around as if he were looking for any injuries.

“Why did you get up for water?”

“I just got thirsty.”

“You still lick your top lip when you lie.”

You looked down. One to try and find a better answer and two because you couldn’t see what Bucky was saying if you weren’t looking. He turned your face towards him again. 

“How many times did they wipe you?”

“Every morning,” you confessed. 

Bucky’s metal fist clenched at his side. He was hoping you getting up was because you actually just needed water. It was the same thing he did when a nightmare of being wiped appeared. It felt like a dry burning in your mouth that could only be subdued by cold water. But he was less worried about the wiping and more about the implications. They wiped you every few months to keep you scared when he was under their control. Wiping every morning? They wanted you to forget things, things you did. And Bucky was worried that you’d eventually remember and it would drive you insane like it was threatening to do to him. 

“I’m tired, Uncle Jamie.”

Uncle? That was new. He didn’t know that you were already aware of his connection to Steve. Well at least that wasn’t something they’d have to go over later. It felt weird. Jamie, James. Being called anything other than Barnes or Bucky. He couldn’t even remember when he had become cognizant enough once to tell you his first name. It wasn’t much but you had stuck to it. 

“Okay, little doll. I won’t keep you up. We’ll talk about this later.”

“Okay.” 

You strolled in later at a more reasonable time of morning seeing the others already gathered in the kitchen. 

“Good morning,” Sam, Steve, and Bucky said at the same time.

“Morning…” you remembered the question you had been meaning to ask yesterday. 

“Uncle Jamie, why does Uncle Tony call you the Manchurian Candidate?”

Bucky rolled his eyes while the other two men laughed. He set down a cup of orange juice for you.

“Because your Uncle Tony’s a dick.”

“Woah, Buck, language!” Steve didn’t miss a beat.

You laughed when Bucky winked at you before giving Steve a weak apology. You took a sip of the orange juice when Sam came around with two plates. He sat down and pushed one towards you while Steve and Bucky loaded up theirs— the two 100% super soldiers of the house insatiable. 

“Thanks Un— Sa— thank you.”

The three men looked at each other.

“Should we ask?” Steve looked at you. 

You and him? You asked. 

Bucky and Sam sat back, not understanding the silent communication taking place between you and Steve.

Yes?

Together? 

Kind of.

Kind of?

We haven’t talked… this is adult stuff, I don’t need to discuss this with you. 

Together? 

Steve sighed. Yes.

Then I can’t call him uncle… weird. 

Steve laughed. “Okay, Babydoll. Fair enough.”

Sam looked over but Steve shook his head.

“Nothing bad. I promise you.” 

Most of the breakfast conversation was taken up by the three adults. You didn’t have much to share from the past year— and there wasn’t much you wanted to share. You laughed here and there but mainly just looked out the window as they talked about some mission that Bucky missed out on. It had gone sour before it really started, their one lead missing.

“What was his name?” Bucky asked.

“Torren. What the hell kind of name was that?” Sam asked, making them laugh.

Steve caught it first and then Bucky picked up on it immediately after. Your breathing had gone shallow as you looked out the window. Steve knocked on the table causing the fork to drop from your hand. You jumped when you heard it hit the ground. 

“Sarah?” Steve asked.

You finally tore your gaze away from the window and looked at the three concerned faces in front of you. 

“I killed him,” you whispered. 

You suddenly stood up from the table and ran to your bathroom. Steve shot up after you, Bucky and Sam slowly behind thinking it’d be best to give you two space but wanting to make sure everything was okay. Steve could hear the running water of the sink and your muttering before he got close. 

“I killed him, I killed him, I killed him…”

You muttered over and over again as you scrubbed at your hands. The blurry memory was playing in your head. He wasn’t much of a fighter, grabbing his neck and snapping it was easy. You had taken out his security guard and pulled him from out of the car still parked in the parking garage. You had just left him there on the ground. His kill was technically clean, after the first three times you discovered you liked to snap necks more. It was easier to forget with less blood, the wipings weren’t as harsh when there was no blood. But the guard was too big for you to effectively wrap your hands around so you had to slit his throat. And now you could see that blood on your hands and a dead Torren at your feet, neither image leaving no matter how hard you scrubbed. They watched you switch back and forth from the soap pump to the steady stream of water.

“Sarah!” Steve called but you kept muttering. “Sarah, Sarah!”

He walked over and pulled you away from the faucet and to him towards the ground. Steve rocked back and forth, cradling your head and trying to shush you. The tears on your face didn’t register to you as you kept muttering ‘I killed him’ like they were the only words you knew. 

Sam called Dr. Cho up and you were given medicine to knock you out. Steve had taken you to the common room couch, needing to be close in case you woke up again while the rest of the team talked. Everyone had gathered in the living room, Steve sitting on the floor in front of your couch. They turned to Bucky who seemed to have the most experience with anything HYDRA related out of them all, even if he couldn’t remember some chunks of it.

“If she can remember that even with daily wiping, she’ll remember everything eventually.”

“How could they do that?” Thor asked, looking over to where you were. Even in sleep you didn’t seem at rest.

Bucky sighed. He felt you might not have wanted to talk about it but he didn’t have a choice now. 

“Do you know why I call her little doll?”

“Doll, it’s 40s slang,” Tony said. “Like Steve calling her babydoll.” 

“I wish. I didn’t remember it was from the 40s. I called her that because doll was the guards’ nickname for her. Everyone called her 001 to her face but doll behind her back. Because she was easy to break like a porcelain doll. She was everything HYDRA wanted but emotional, moral…”

“Still somebody,” Nat finished for him, remembering the Red Room motto. 

“So they broke her down almost every day in hopes that it would either harden her to be someone like me or that she wouldn’t be able to fix herself again and they would rebuild her. That’s when they killed Elise and it still didn’t work.” 

“Did you know about the diamond skin?” Steve asked, he wasn’t sure if it was a new development or it just wasn’t in your file. It wasn’t like he had ever thought that would be something he needed to test for.

“Third birthday present. She’s been designed since birth to be the perfect weapon. After they killed Elise they brainwashed Sarah, same trigger words as me. It was the only way to get her to do anything, but it never lasted long and they’d have to wipe her otherwise she’d remember and stop functioning.” 

“Why does she not stay a soldier as long as you?” Bruce was curious. 

That Bucky didn’t have an answer to. But you did as you woke up. Steve felt the shift on the couch and turned to see you had popped open an eye. 

“Hey, Babydoll,” he cooed. 

You sat up straight. 

“Because they did it in the wrong order.”

“Wrong order?”

“Diamond then brainwash, it should be the other way around. It’s not just my outer skin that can harden on impact. If they wanted the electrocutions to be fully effective they should’ve done it first… it’s just science,” you whispered gently. 

That made Tony and Bruce smile at you. That’s right, you were a little scientist. Bruce had suggested to Tony that maybe they make you a tiny workstation and that’s what he spent all night doing. 

“Sarah?” Steve asked gently. “When Bucky says they tried to break you?”

You hugged your knees. 

“It was the Red Room but worse. And because I couldn’t be cut, it went on for hours. I could only feel the pain but never be fully hurt, so they’d go till I passed out and then they woke me up and went again.” 

The Avengers got quiet. HYDRA was always a sensitive topic and one you never liked to talk about. This was the most detail they had gotten from you ever. The twins were instantly by your side to the shock of the other Avengers. You were their little sister, they couldn’t help it. Wanda put her hand in front of you, the red dancing at her fingertips. 

“Nothing recent, nothing from after I met you, please.”

Wanda nodded and touched your temple. Your eyes closed and your head rolled back. Her other hand produced a large ball of red that she moved to the center of the room so the rest of the team could see what she was seeing. 

“Is it at all possible to see her? Place a timeline?” Clint asked. 

“It’s her memories, it’s in… Sarah, can you try to picture yourself?” Wanda moved her fingertips against your temple a little more.

Wanda’s fingers left your temple. The Avengers looked around avoiding eye contact with you. 

“Sarah?” 

“May I be alone?” 

“Of course, Babydoll.” 

“Uncle Tony, you said the training room had a studio?”

“Off to the side.”

“Sarah.” Sam placed a hand on your shoulder when he saw you reach up for your hearing aids. “Don’t leave yourself in your head, okay? It’s worse when you shut off from the rest of the world.” 

“Okay,” you whispered before sneaking away. 

Nat entered the studio, the blaring classical music indicating you were in there. She saw the hearing aids on the floor by a water bottle and a pair of brown pointe shoes. She would’ve knocked on the floor like she saw Pietro do but she honestly wasn’t sure if you’d feel those vibrations over the ones from the speaker. So she waited until you fiddled more with the music and finally turned around.

“Can I join you?” Nat held up a pair of ballet slippers.

You nodded. 

“I haven’t done this in years, don’t make fun of me if I mess up.”

Her smile faltered a bit when you didn’t laugh but she slipped on the shoes and started at the barre letting you have full room on the floor. She liked from this vantage point she could watch over you. She never saw herself coming back here but Natasha was protective of you and after what they all saw she was willing to push aside her own discomfort for you. 

You didn’t tell her but you were grateful for the company even if it was silent. The entire first hour she didn’t try to talk to you, let you process. She looked over when you turned down the music. You grabbed your pointe shoes and hearing aids. Sticking the aids back in, you walked over to her and began to put on the shoes and lace them up.

“Did they ever wipe you?” You asked.

“No, Sarah. They never did.” 

Nat helped you stand and you both began doing more barre exercises. When you were both facing the mirror, she looked at you through your reflection.

“You’re not a bad person.”

“I know.”

“Then why can’t you look yourself in the face when you say it?”

“He wouldn’t even look at me,” you whispered.

“Who... Steve? Sarah, honey, he wasn’t looking to stop from crying.”

Nat tried to reason but you wouldn’t see it. You kept shaking your head over and over again. Nat watched you snake a hand up and turn off both aids before muttering sorry and running away. She returned to the other Avengers in the common area. 

“Girl talk wasn’t what she wanted, we should’ve just sent Steve first,” Nat said as she sat down.

“What happened?”

“We’re back to square one. She thinks you think she’s a monster… wait, Rogers, give her some space.”

Steve faltered for a moment before heading up to the apartment, he felt like he needed to see you— that if he gave you space, it might fester into something worse. He couldn’t see you in the living room and didn’t hear any sound of movement. 

“Sarah? Sarah, Babydoll, it’s dad,” he called out but still no response. 

Steve leaned against the dining room table and started speaking loudly into the apartment, not sure if you still had your hearing aids turned off or not. 

“What happened to you isn’t your fault. I’m sorry they did that to you. That you went through any of that and I wasn’t there to save you or your mother. But I don’t for one second blame you for anything you did or they made you do. It wasn’t your choice and it wasn’t you. Okay, Babydoll. I know my Sarah, you aren’t just what they made you.”

Steve almost didn’t hear you say bathroom. He had checked there already but went anyway, hoping his mind wasn’t playing tricks on him. The bathroom was still empty until he heard a sniffle from the bathtub. Steve gently pulled back the curtain and saw you sitting in the corner of the tub. He carefully climbed in and sat down, waiting for you to speak. 

“You don’t hate me?”

“I could never. Whatever you thought you saw, I didn’t once think you were a monster or horrible person. I just couldn’t believe they would ever do those things.” 

“Auntie Nat said I’m not a bad person.”

“Because you’re not.”

“But I don’t know if I believe her,” you whispered.

Steve got quiet. He could shield you from a lot of pain with the outside world but he couldn’t shelter you from yourself. And he knew in that moment nothing he said would change anything. 

“Will you be okay if I leave you for ten minutes? Just to go get us dinner?” 

You nodded but didn’t look up. 

“Dinner in a bathtub… first time for everything,” Steve muttered as he stood up, making you laugh a little.

Steve awkwardly stumbled out of the tub and into the kitchen where he was surprised to see Sam— well Sam’s back. The other man turned around with two noodle bowls and placed them in Steve’s hands. 

“She okay?” 

“Honestly, I don’t know. I’m gonna set her up with the therapist as soon as possible. I feel like I’m failing her, Sam.” 

“Hey, don’t say that. It’s hard, yeah, but you’re doing the best you can. I don’t think anyone else is exactly in your situation.”

“How to raise a super-baby, too bad no one has a manual on that.”

Sam chuckled and hit him on the bicep. “Alright, go take care of your girl. I’ll be downstairs with everyone else.” 

“Thanks, babe.”

Steve went wide-eyed as his own words slipped out. They hadn’t talked and Steve was someone who liked to talk everything through before making a move. He was very much an overthinker in that way so to give Sam an affectionate pet name without discussing their relationship more was out of left field for him. Even though his face was red, Sam took it in stride. He simply kissed Steve’s cheek and walked out, leaving the super-soldier to walk back to the bathroom and hand you a bowl of noodles. 

You had stretched out a little after accepting the noodles, so now Steve had to sit more on one side of the tub than the middle in order to stretch out his legs as well without hitting you. You made a face of confusion and looked down at the bowl in your hands. Steve watched you take another bite and make the same face. 

“What?”

“You didn’t make this,” you said suspiciously.  

“Yeah, Sam made it for us.”

“Hmm.”

“You don’t like it?”

“No… it’s better than your cooking.”

Steve looked at you with fake offense. “Really?”

“Salt’s not the only seasoning in the world, Dheaidí.”

You tried to say it with a straight face before laughing. Steve couldn’t help himself but laugh with you, happy that you were smiling. It was going to take time for you to get over the past year that you had been put through but in that moment Steve could see that it was still possible.

“Dheaidí?” Steve noted the sudden change from you saying dad to using the Irish word instead. 

“It’s Irish for—”

“No, I know, Babydoll. Just wondered what made you change.” 

“Because grandma’s Irish and you need a new name in case Sa…”  

“Your hair’s so big now,” Steve commented, wanting to move to a softer topic for your sake after you trailed off. 

“Yeah, it’s not the best I don’t think but it’s better than when I first came.” 

“It’s still blonde.” He remembered the black dye from when you were younger. 

You nodded. “I like it this way.”

“I like it that way too.” 

My pretty doll. Steve signed.

You rolled your eyes but smiled anyway. 

✿✿✿

Bucky sent the other two men back to their room when they all ran out after hearing you scream. It was a nightmare, he already knew it before even entering your room. How Sam and Steve got any sleep between Bucky’s nightmares and now apparently yours was still a huge question to him. Bucky knocked and waited for you to say he could come in. He could see the sweat on your forehead as he sat at the edge of the bed. 

“You remembered something else didn’t you?” 

Bucky covered your hands with his when he saw you looking at yours with the same stare from the other morning. You looked up at him. 

“They all knew who I was. She said my name before I killed them.” 

“Sarah, who? What’s going on in your head, little doll?”

“A girl my age. Her whole family.”

Bucky got up and extended a hand for you to grab. You followed him to the kitchen where he put a kettle on the stove. Bucky listened to you recount the events of what happened while he made tea. You thanked him as he handed you the cup. 

“I find it helps me. Anything calming really. Tea, meditation, any hobby that lowers your heart rate. Natasha said you liked to dance.”

“That doesn’t really lower your heart rate.”

“But does it keep you calm?”

“Yeah.”

“Then stick with it. It gets easier, I promise you… you don’t ever really make peace with it but it gets easier.” 

You looked at him like you didn’t believe him and Bucky couldn’t blame you. He wouldn’t believe him too if he wasn’t experiencing it. The nightmares from when he first joined the Avengers were a lot more frequent, more violent, and louder than the ones now. He was positive they would get better for you— only he wasn’t sure when yours would slow down, you were a child so everything was more intense. 

You took another sip before setting the tea down and telling Bucky you’d be back. He looked confused when you came back with several packs of things he couldn’t identify. You spread out the masks and candles on the table that Pepper had bought you. Most of your life you were with men and never got to really explore your feminine side. So Pepper, Natasha, and all the other women of the compound were who you quickly turned to and they were glad to fill in where Steve couldn’t, including self-care because Steve’s idea of it was to go harder in the training room. 

Bucky watched as you searched the kitchen drawers for a match and finally lit the candles once you found one. He realized that this is what it was like to raise a teenage girl and it was foreign to him. But he picked up a mask and followed your lead, anything that would calm you down and send you back to bed. 

“They make them for your feet?” 

You laughed and continued with your face mask before grabbing a foot mask as well. Bucky didn’t like the feeling on his feet but kept it on. You two sat in silence, enjoying the aroma of the candles and just focusing on yourselves. 

“...Dheaidí put me back in therapy.”

“You don’t sound excited about that.” 

“She told him that he shouldn’t let S.H.I.E.L.D. make me an Avenger. That I should be with other children.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

“I don’t know anything else, Uncle Jamie.”

“Do you want me to talk to Steve about it? I’ll report back to you, the punk doesn’t have to know.” 

Bucky would always be your partner in crime… literally, back in the past. You called him Uncle Jamie but he was more like an older sibling, potentially a second father figure— you two’s connection going back longer than yours with Steve. He would always care for both you and Steve, even if that meant double-spying and planting ideas in both of your heads. Right now, it seemed he needed to be on your case more but he also recognized that maybe the therapist was right. 

“How about you consider it, little doll? Before Steve can even make a decision. Maybe pick where you want to go, it can’t be so bad if you pick it right?” 

You shrugged and finished the tea. Maybe Bucky was right. You’d have to look for a certain school though. Skipping grades due to your smarts would defeat the purpose but you didn’t want to be bored— not when it’s a place you’d have to be for a minimum eight hours a day.

The other half of his mind was stuck on the overpass where he wasn’t sure if his daughter had survived the car flipping over or not. His wandering mind caused him to lose the shield as the Winter Soldier threw it into a van. He flipped out a knife and Steve was now holding his hands inches away from his face. 

“James! Soldat. Jamie!” you yelled as you ran into the street. 

Steve and the Winter Soldier turned to you, confusion in both of their eyes. Steve snapped out of it first and kicked the man to escape. You ran in between the two of them as James’ fist almost connected with Steve’s face. You hissed at the pain from when you blocked it. You knew he wouldn’t hit you. Would he do anything to get around you and get to Steve? Probably. But he would try his hardest not to hit you… even if you attacked him. So you hit him in the face and pulled the mask off his face as he staggered back. 

“Bucky?” Steve gasped. 

“Who the hell is Bucky?” He began to stalk forward again. 

“Jamie.”

He looked over at you. “It’s a mission, little doll.”

“He’s my dad, please Jamie.”

Bucky stopped. He ripped Steve’s shield out of the side of the van and shoved it back into Steve’s chest. 

“Go. Before they take you back.” 

“Come with us, we can help.” 

You watched the recognition he had slowly get clouded again by something else. 

“You said we’d escape together! Jamie…”

Sam kicked the Winter Soldier out of the way and then a grenade from Nat was thrown and after the smoke cleared, James was nowhere to be found. 

“No!” You screamed as you looked around for him. 

Black vans surrounded you. The four of you found yourself being forced to your knees by large men with guns. The only thing stopping your death was the news helicopter that suddenly appeared and Rumlow realizing how bad it could look. They stood you all up and you found yourself being taken to a separate van. Steve started to fight, struggling with the weird handcuffs he was placed in. You were being contained by multiple guards. 

“Sarah! Sarah! Where the hell are you taking her? That’s my kid! Rumlow, that’s my fucking kid!” 

“HYDRA wants their pet back.”

Sam, Steve, and Nat watched in horror as your body slowly went slack when Rumlow started speaking in Russian. Longing, Rusted, Seventeen, Daybreak, Furnace, Nine, Benign, Homecoming, Freight car. 

“Ready to comply?” 

“Ready to comply.” You turned to follow the soldiers. 

“Sarah!” 

“001.”

✿✿✿

“Soldat, your little technician’s here,” one guard said.

“Fix his arm.”

Pierce turned to you when you didn’t move. He looked and couldn’t see any hearing aids. Pierce didn’t bother to raise his voice but just repeat his words forcing you to look up at him and focus on his lips while trying to hear him. You understood but you were still shaking. 

“Did you hear me?! Fix his damn arm!”

“Where’s my dad?”

Pierce stepped closer and grabbed you by the collar of your shirt. 

“Doll!” 

James yelled loud enough that you could semi hear him. Pierce let go of you so you could see him.

<Just do as he says.> 

You grabbed the toolbox off to the side and sat on the stool right by James. It wasn’t very complicated. It was still short circuiting from when Nat had electrocuted it but the job shouldn’t be too hard. You opened up a few of the metal panels, the mechanical whirring high pitched enough that it cut through your silence despite not being very loud. James moved his arm after you had closed the panel, all the proper feeling had returned and it was no longer short circuiting. 

<Thank you, little doll.>

“What are you doing with her?” James asked aggressively as you were pushed back into a chair that matched his.

A gun was pointed at you.

“Get up Soldat and she’s done. Prep them both.”

James sat back and opened his mouth for the scientist to place the mouth guard in. He looked you in the eye and nodded for you to do the same. 

“How much sir?” The scientist asked.

“He needs to remember her.”

“And 001? Do we want to wipe completely?”

“No. She needs to remember her mother and Soldat. Three years to be safe. 001 shouldn’t know her own name or have a face connected to a Steve Rogers,” Pierce said. 

Rumlow bent down in front of you. “We can thank Cap for one thing. Morning training for two years means we don’t have to do any work.” 

He patted your cheek and gave a condescending smile before he and Pierce walked out of the room. You tensed up as cuffs tightened over your arms, keeping you in place. The chairs tilted back and two large metal panels covered parts of your face. You and James’ screams were muffled by the mouth guards as you were electrocuted. 

They left you and James in the chairs and cleared out. James stood up first, he could handle the wipings better than you— he always was able to. He walked over to where you were still in the chair and shaking. You panicked when you felt a hand on your knee until you registered the cold feeling of metal. You finally lifted your head and gave a small smile. 

“Are you okay, little doll?” James refused to call you 001 like the rest of them. 

“Jamie…”

“Don’t give them a reason to bring you back here. Can you stand?” 

James extended a hand to help you up. He stood behind you as he guided you out of the room. You changed your hair. It wasn’t the tangled dark brown he remembered from last time. It was blonde and braided… he remembered that blonde from somewhere. And you looked older. He couldn’t remember if he had missed a chunk of time with you. 

The room you were in was padded. James opened the door and you entered, knowing better than to fight with the cameras and the guards standing about. James was about to sit down with you when a guard stopped him. 

“They need you. Follow Smith. 001 isn’t going anywhere.” 

James left and you felt alone. You sat down on the padded floor and started to cry. Your mind started to wander and you looked to the door, hoping James would come back. James… you remembered a fight? No, not a fight. You punched James in the face and pulled off a mask. But, why? You couldn’t remember. But why would HYDRA want you to forget a fight with James? It wasn’t like you weren’t forced to fight him before. You remembered the street, some street. But that was all before you passed out against the padded floor— the wiping having taken a toll on you. 

✿✿✿ 

Steve felt himself being dragged out of the water. The last thing he remembered was stopping the Lemurian Star before it exploded. He coughed slightly and groaned as he was thrown onto the dirt. Steve didn’t have time to process what was happening as Bucky’s face appeared over him. 

“I know you,” Bucky said unsure. 

“Sarah...” Steve huffed out.

“Sarah? Little doll?” 

Bucky helped him stand, Steve using the man for most of his support. They slowly walked back to the now destroyed S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters where Nat, Sam, and Maria were waiting. They ran to Steve when they saw him and took him from Bucky. Bucky stood there confused and slowly followed them, careful not to make sudden movements as they set Steve in the car and rushed him to the hospital. 

Sam set up the phone to play the Marvin Gaye soundtrack while Steve was still sleeping after being checked out by the hospital staff. Bucky stayed on the chair in the corner while Sam took the one nearest the hospital bed. They both sat quietly, Sam reading, until Bucky finally broke the silence. 

“Little doll. Her real name is Sarah?”

Sam looked up from his magazine. 

“Sarah Elise Rogers.” 

“She’s not twelve is she?”

“Fourteen.”

“It’s been two years,” Bucky muttered. 

“What?”

“I used to train her, protect her…” 

“Do you know where she is?” Steve had woken up and caught the tail end of Bucky and Sam talking. 

“I think so.”  

When you woke up it must’ve been dark, you didn’t know. There were no windows but they had turned the lights off. You sat up and the lights flickered on again. Not off, motion censored. You looked at your hands and then at the door. No guards. It was definitely a trap. You stood up and paced the floor. 

The street. The street flooded your vision again and suddenly you didn’t see yourself in your padded cell but in the middle of a street in… you didn’t know where. You looked around for landmarks but there wasn’t anything significant. 

You were pulled from the vision and staring back at your plain room. 

“Come on, doll, think,” you muttered to yourself. 

“Street. It was a street and Jamie and I were fighting… not fighting. I hit him. I hit him and pulled his mask off because… he needed to fall back so I could move. Not me, someone else? Me. So I could escape… no not me, so someone else could escape. So, so…” 

You flopped onto the floor of the cell, slowly turning yourself until you were on your back. The tears threatened to spill from your eyes. Your fists pounded the plush ground. 

“So someone… Come on, doll. Think. Think, Babydoll… babydoll?” 

That was a name you knew but you weren’t sure why. It wasn’t from James. You were his little doll. Your mother? You sat up. 

“Mom?” you asked in a panic and sighed when you remembered. “They killed her.” 

You pulled yourself into a meditation position. You were glad you at least remembered the nickname. It was better than 001. You started to recite a mantra, reciting mantras after wipings was something you had done since your first one. Your mother used to help you with them. 

“I’m called Babydoll, I’m… twel— fourt— I’m not an adult yet. There are two people at HYDRA I trust. Jamie who is still alive. My mother who is dead. They killed her in front of me when I was seven. Her name is Elise Lanns… Elise… my middle name? I’m called Babydoll Elise, I’m not an adult yet. There are two people at HYDRA I trust. Jamie and Elise. Elise Lanns is my mother. She was taken by HYDRA and forced to have a child with… not with, from Captain America. His real name is… Fuck!” Sarah pulled a straight face all of a sudden. “Language… he used to tell me to watch my— I know him. Captain America’s real name is… his real name is… name…”

You couldn’t speak anymore as the tears flowed. Guards, led by Rumlow, came into the room. 

“Up. We’re moving out.” 

✿✿✿

The sun was up when you opened your eyes. The doors to your cell would open in fifteen minutes. It was clockwork. You changed out of the plain pajamas into plain clothes. A dark blue t-shirt and shorts. At least you thought they were dark blue. Your hearing aids were still gone, they didn’t get you new ones. You finished brushing your teeth and looked at your curls— you had taken out the braids when the new growth at the top came in. They only gave you water with basic shampoo and conditioner but you learned to make it work. You stared at yourself in the mirror, gently tugging at a honey blonde curl that landed in front of your face. 

“My name is Sarah Elise Rogers, I’m… not an adult yet. My mother is Elise Lanns and my father is Steven Grant Rogers. I don’t know what either of them look like now. My mom was a graduate student and my dad was… is Captain America. From Brooklyn and Wales? I have blonde hair like him. And his super soldier abilities. I’m a genius like my mother. They killed her when I was seven. I have diamond skin. That’s from neither of them but from HYDRA. They are the bad guys. I trust one person at HYDRA, Jamie. He's missing. I have an Uncle Nat? And Aunt Clint? Clint is married and I have two cousins named… I have two cousins. They’re going to wipe me today, like they do everyday after breakfast. I will remember this,” you whispered the last bit as you clutched the sink. 

Like it always did, the door opened and you stepped out. There were no guards in this area, there never were because it wasn’t necessary. You were the only potential deviant. You walked the hallways stopping at Pietro’s room first. He raced over to meet you, almost knocking you over with his speed. You rolled your eyes and continued walking till you both approached Wanda’s room. The twins were always smiling at each other. They were always smiling at you too, which you returned wanting to have at least two people not be cruel. They took you under their wing as part of their family. You accepted despite wanting to yell how they volunteered to be experiments, you never had a choice from the day you were conceived. 

Breakfast was dull and you left the twins to go get wiped. You had stopped fighting it. It was easier to do as they wanted, kill who they wanted and then not remember. They tended not to make the wipings as bad when you did that. You sat down and place the mouth guard in your mouth. For a few hours you wouldn’t remember anything. You’d be 001. But before you went to bed you would remember Sarah Elise Rogers. You had to. 

✿✿✿

Tony’s Iron Man suit ran into the forcefield of the hideout. 

“Shit!”

“Language!” Steve yelled as his motorcycle zipped between trees. “JARVIS, what’s the view from upstairs?” 

“The central building is protected by some kind of energy shield. Strucker’s technology is well beyond any other HYDRA base we’ve taken.”

“Language?” Tony questioned. 

“Leave it alone, Stark,” Nat said as she took down a man. 

Thor took out as many soldiers as he could. “Loki’s scepter must be here. Strucker couldn’t build this defense without it.” 

“No wait a second. No one else gonna deal with the fact that Cap just said ‘language’?”

“I know… just slipped out.” 

Steve’s voice was tense. Something about the tone telling Tony that he actually should drop it.

They fought their way to Loki’s scepter and returned to the quinjet. S.H.I.E.L.D. had been rebuilt, right now it was just the Avengers but they were slowly recreating every part of it. It was taking time as the vetting process was now extremely crucial. Not many people knew Nick was currently alive— that information still too sensitive. The quinjet pulled into the Avengers Tower in Manhattan, the current home while Tony insisted on creating a huge compound for S.H.I.E.L.D. They rushed Clint down to medical with DR. Cho while Maria came aboard to talk to them about the two Enhanced twins they saw out on the field. 

Just because your skin was diamond, shit still hurt. You couldn’t be cut with just any blade and it took a lot to stab your skin. Most things just bounced off but you could still feel it. The man who punched you between your eyes was confirmation of that. HYDRA had made it so points of impact would harden up when touched by a weapon. The skin around it would still bruise or absorb the shocks of pain. You pushed through the pain and slammed the man down before throwing him up into the ceiling. He groaned before you grabbed his neck and pulled your arms in two different directions, the man falling dead to the ground. You turned his body over to pull the keys from his back pocket and unlocked the door, grabbing the weird piece of tech that HYDRA wanted. You returned to the van and gave your handler the tech before settling into your seat. They let you eat before you had to go to training. You found Wanda and Pietro. 

“She took out Tony Stark,” Pietro said, very smug as you sat down. 

“Tony Stark?” 

That name sounded familiar. Pietro said something but you weren’t looking and he was too quiet. He knocked on the table until you looked up— even the twins had learned quickly that if they were too quiet, they’d have to get your attention before speaking so you could read lips. 

“Tony Stark. Iron Man, you really don’t know? She really doesn’t know. The man whose weapons were used to destroy our home. The arms dealer who tried to turn his back on all the wrong he did before his change of heart, as if he has one.” 

“He looked like he was going to die.” Wanda extended her fingers towards you, the red power dripping from her fingertips. 

You swatted it away, making the twins laugh. 

“Keep that away from me.”

“001, mission report?”

“Not nearly as entertaining.”

“You never like to share. You’ll forget it in the morning anyway.”

“Snapped a man’s neck today.”

Pietro leaned in. “You always get the kills. Does it feel weird? Ending someone?”

“I don’t know… can never remember.” 

The guard yelled for you to go start training. 

“Hey, Doll!” Pietro yelled as loud as possible. “Think fast!”

Pietro threw the butter knife and as it got close knocked twice on the ground for you to feel the vibration— you had gotten better at that, using vibrations to make up for what you couldn’t hear. On the second knock, you turned and caught the knife. 

“I’m not your doll, Pietro.”

He laughed as you dropped the knife and followed the guard out of the room. They left you alone in the training room. They tended to leave you alone a lot more now. You punched the bag until you felt like your feet and hands were going to fall off. Your foot connected with the bag once more. 

“How’s that… too loud?”

You almost fell back as the memory appeared. The face was blurry but the voice was clear as crystal. Your fingers reached up to your left ear, a ghost of a touch. 

“Tony Stark?” you whispered softly. 

You went back to punching the bag with determination, hoping maybe another memory would appear.

✿✿✿

Tony Stark's parties were always loud. Saturday’s party was no exception. It was a farewell party for Thor who was returning to Asgard for a brief amount of time and a celebration of Tony and Bruce slowly cracking Loki’s scepter in an attempt to create Ultron. Ultron was going to be a protection around the world, a way to stop aliens after one too many encounters with Earth. Tony wanted the only threat to people to be from other people— that was something the Avengers could solve. Something a rebuilt S.H.I.E.L.D. could solve. 

The Avengers were mingling with the guests— all very distinguished people, or rich, including the prince of Wakanda who Tony was honestly surprised actually came. It was more like a secret UN meeting. Only with more drinking and lots of secrets that would be kept hidden from public view in the morning. Steve was nursing a whiskey at the bar, he wasn’t in the mood for all the festivities. Thor came up and handed him a flask of Asgardian mead, guaranteeing it would get him drunk. Tony appeared out of nowhere and clapped Steve on the back. 

“I know this is a sensitive time.”

“Sam and Bucky are looking for her. I should be out there.”

“You can’t be everywhere at once. The world still needs you buddy.”

“Yeah… Sarah needed me too.” 

Steve shot down the mead and went to find Thor for another one. Sam and Bucky had come back and gave Steve a shake of their head. Sam sat down while Bucky went to chase down Thor after getting a sip of Steve’s drink. 

“From what Tony said when we came through the door, sounded like one hell of a fight.”

“Wasn’t supposed to be. If we had known, I would’ve called you two.”

“Don’t sweat it. That metalhead and I are perfectly happy chasing cold leads on our missing person.” “Thank you.” 

“Steve, we’re gonna find her.”

Sam sounded so sure but Steve could only muster a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Sam reached over and grabbed Steve’s drink from his hands much to the super-soldier’s protest. He wiggled his eyebrows before bringing the drink to his lips. Sam took a sip and scrunched his face up causing Steve to laugh for the first time that night as he took the cup back. It was a back and forth dance between the two and they knew it. They would never say anything, not until you were home, but they knew something existed between them. It took Steve longer to come to terms. It was another thing he was taught to push down in the 40s and then he met Peggy and it became bearable because she didn’t have to know he also liked men, just that he liked her. 

“That’s death in liquid form, how the hell are you still standing upright?”

Steve leaned in close but didn’t move to close any gap. He just smirked as he threw the drink back. 

“You found a place in Brooklyn yet?” Sam asked once he recovered. 

“Don’t know if I can afford Brooklyn.”

“Isn’t everyone on Tony’s payroll?”

Steve laughed. “Guess I was trying not to go to Tony for this one. I saw a couple places, I think Sarah would like them.”

“If she’s anything like my niece, just give her the biggest room and she’ll be happy.” 

Tony cleared most of the guests out so it was just the Avengers. Steve had loosened up thanks to the mead and was now sitting smushed between Sam and Bucky on the floor since Clint took the whole couch while they debated on lifting Thor’s hammer. 

“It’s a trick,” Clint insisted. 

Thor reached out a hand and Clint stood up. They all laughed as he couldn’t even make it move. Tony also failed. Even with the suit… and Rhodey… and Rhodey in the suit. Bruce failed. And Steve felt it shift but panicked and it got heavy again, much to Thor’s relief. 

“So, it’s rigged,” Tony stated as if it were a fact.

“You bet your ass,” Clint said.

Maria pointed at him. “Steve, he said a bad language word.” 

Steve rolled his eyes and looked at Tony knowing he was the source. Tony just held up his hands in a weak defense. 

“You tell everyone about that?”

“It’s fingerprints. I bet that it’s, the literal translation is having Thor’s fingerprints.” 

“That’s an interesting theory,” Thor said before lifting up the hammer. “But here’s a simpler one, you’re all not worthy.” 

A high-pitched whirring made them all clutch their ears. They turned as they saw a weak looking robot made from various parts of Tony’s suits come in, Ultron. The robot started repeating Stark’s words and they slowly got up as more robots came at them. They defeated the robots and the initial body that Ultron was in but the song that rang throughout the tower shook them to their core. 

“I had strings, but now I’m free...”

“There are no strings on me,” you muttered under your breath as you sat back in the chair for wiping. 

The twins weren’t at breakfast, they weren’t at lunch either. They must’ve been on some mission because now it was night and you hadn’t seen them all day.

“What’s that?” one of the scientists, Marco, asked. 

You liked Marco. He wasn’t trustworthy but he was nice enough. Nice enough that you could reveal little things to him. 

“It’s a song. From Pinnochio.”

“Pinnochio? The children’s movie?”

You had forced Steve… you finally remember his face. You had forced him to listen to the song multiple times. You remember your hair still being very low, almost like a buzz. It was early into living with him, maybe only a couple months? He looked at you in exasperation as you grabbed the remote. Looking him dead in the eye, you rewinded the video forcing the song to play again.

“Babydoll?” Steve whined.

“It’s from the 40s.”

“This wasn’t the music I was talking about.”

You ignored him and hummed along. Steve sighed and got up off of the couch. He pushed the coffee table aside and bowed low.

“I suppose we can still dance to this. Care to humor your old man?”

You pretended to think about it before rewinding the song to the beginning. You had asked Steve more about his time and the dancing intrigued you so he promised to show you a thing or two when you finally gave in to listening to his old records. This wasn’t the compromise he intended but you knew you’d win out sooner or later. Steve was such a sucker for you. And because you were a daddy’s girl, you stood up and grabbed his hand. 

“That’s my best girl, put your other hand on my shoulder… you can stand on my feet.” 

You did to reach Steve’s height as he danced for the both of you. He eventually gave in and started singing with you and the track.

“I must’ve heard it in the Red Room. I think I liked that song.” 

“I’ll try not to wipe it, 001. Open.”

You took the mouth guard but didn’t slip it in. 

“Where are the twins?”

“Strucker died, don’t exactly know where they are now. Heard something about a claw and Ultron before they left. The mouth guard.” 

You nodded and sat back, trying not to scream as the electricity pulsed through you. You were alone again. 

Clint’s farm was a necessary retreat. It was the only off the grid place they knew they’d be safe. The rest of the Avengers were surprised at this— Tony even going so far to say it was all a decoy at first. They were even more surprised as the two children jumped into Steve and Nat’s arms. 

“Aunt Nat! Uncle Steve!” 

“Hey kiddos.”

“Have you found Sarah yet?”

Steve set Cooper down. The room got quiet. Steve looked around and noticed the large wood pile outside the kitchen window. 

“Laura, do you need that cut?”

Before she could answer, Steve walked outside muttering that he would get it done for them. Laura patted Cooper’s head, assuring him that he didn’t say anything wrong. That it was just sensitive for Steve. 

✿✿✿

“Think fast!” 

The two knocks vibrated through the floor and up through your feet. Your hand automatically shot up and you caught the knife, turning your head to see Pietro. He was a welcome sight considering you hadn’t seen them in days. Pietro walked over and grabbed your hand as he started to walk out of the training room, saying something but it was too fast and too quiet. You pulled away and he looked at you in confusion. 

“Too fast, too quiet.” You pointed to your ear. 

“We don’t have time, Doll.”

“Not your doll.”

“Ultron’s going to kill everyone and we need you.”

“You finally figure out HYDRA’s bad?”

“Not the time.”

Before you could protest, Pietro scooped you up and ran. You could hear the screaming of people on the streets of Sokovia when Pietro finally set you down. And judging by how loud it was in your ear, the screaming was plenty. 

“We need to evacuate the city,” Pietro said as you watched it slowly start to lift from the actual Earth. 

“You knock out the robots, I’ll move the people,” you said and ran off. 

It was hard when you didn’t speak the language of Sokovian and couldn’t really hear anything besides screams. But people seemed to trust you. Or trust you enough to let you direct them. You ran towards a bridge, seeing a car tip dangerously over it. You went to grab it and pull it up as the poor woman inside screamed. The car was almost on the bridge again when the back bumper separated from the rest of the car and it fell. You looked down in horror but soon saw a man in a large cape racing towards the car. 

“There’s another Enhanced in the field,” Thor said. 

“What?!” Clint asked, not believing what he was hearing over the comms. 

“Are they helping or on Ultron’s side?” Steve questioned as he took out a robot. 

Thor looked up from where you were watching him and the car plummet. He grabbed the woman’s hand and nodded at you, you nodding back. Thor flung the woman up and you jumped over the bridge, holding onto to the edge as you grabbed her. It wasn’t going to be careful but you threw her up and over as gently as you could. You grunted as you pulled yourself back up but when you did, you saw the woman running off to a safer spot. 

“Helping, I think,” Thor said. 

“We deal with it later, then. Stopping Ultron is our only focus.”

“Understood, Captain.” 

You saw carriers and directed people, punching out any robots in your way. Something sounded destructive from the center of the city but there was no time to process. You were satisfied that people were safe as you damn near threw a man onto the carrier that was pulling away. The air was getting thinner. 

The other Avengers made their way to the carriers like Steve said before they started to turn around. He was going to sweep for stragglers. That’s what he said. It was a suicide mission and they knew it. Because if he couldn’t get to the carriers in time, he was as good as dead when the city either floated into space or dropped to the ground. Steve looked at them like they were insane. 

“We’re not leaving you Rogers,” Nat said when they heard a scream. 

It sounded like a child. They located the boy and could see a robot aiming at it. Cap ran, fatherly instincts kicking in and grabbed the kid shielding him in brace for impact. But the bullets never came. He looked up to see you watching him, slightly leaning. And then Steve saw all the bullets at your feet and the cracks on your skin start to close up. 

“Sarah?” 

Clint scooped the boy up from Steve’s arm as Steve ran to where you had dropped. 

“Fuck, that hurt.”

Steve clutched your face in both of his hands as he laughed half-heartedly, tears forming at his eyes. Before he could open his mouth, you cut him off.

“I know, I know. Language.” 

The man must have been running the same path as you two because you had passed him again. He could hear you and Steve coming and looked over his shoulder. 

“Don’t say it. Don’t say it.”

“On your left,” Steve said as he ran past. 

“Oh come on!” 

You laughed and slowed down to jog with him for a moment. 

“Sorry about my dad,” you said before taking off again, yelling at Steve. “Cheater! You know I stopped to apologize!” 

When you and Steve had finished your race— him winning, because he cheated— you spotted the man sweaty and breathing heavily underneath a tree. Steve approached him. 

“Need a medic?” he joked.

“More like a new set of lungs. You two just ran, what, thirteen miles in a half hour?”

“Guess we got a late start.”

“Really? You should be ashamed of yourself. You should take another lap… did you just take it? I assume you just took it.” 

Steve laughed before spotting the symbol on the man’s sweatshirt. 

“What unit are you with?”

“58th Pararescue. But now I’m working down at the VA. Sam Wilson.”

“Steve Rogers,” Steve said as he extended a hand to pull Sam up. “This is Sarah.”

“Kind of put that together. Must’ve freaked you out, coming home after the whole defrosting thing.” 

“It takes some getting used to but this one’s trying to help me out.” Steve threw an arm around your shoulder. 

“Nice hair, you two match.” 

Sam had commented in attempts to acknowledge you, causing you to groan as he pointed to the honey blonde and straight pixie cut that looked scarily similar to Steve’s old hair from the 40s. 

“I just said the wrong thing, didn’t I? Don’t like the cut?”

“It’s supposed to be this big.” You made a vague gesture to a large head of curls you should’ve had after two consistent years of hair growth. 

“I said I was sorry, Babydoll.” 

“Go ahead, tell him what you did.” 

It was a few months ago. Both you and Steve were still learning how to do your hair as it slowly got longer and thicker. You came to the conclusion that the curl butter and softening conditioner you had bought wasn’t keeping the curls moisturized and soft enough. So Steve said that when he came back from a mission he’d buy a different one. 

Clint dropped you off at home after you two came back from the farm and Steve proudly announced he found the new product he hoped would work and had learned a new twist out style. You sat down on the floor and let him run the product throughout your whole head. It wasn’t very long into it that your head started to itch. 

“Dad, is it supposed to burn?”

You two ran to the sink and washed out the product but the damage was already done. So Steve once again busted out the clippers and tried to console you while you watched the blonde, damaged hair hit the floor. He tried to make it better by cutting his hair as well which didn’t help much when his grew back to its normal style in a short amount of time while you were stuck. You weren’t sure if the straight hair looked significantly better than the curls, all of it was at such an awkward length, but you were just buying time till the hair was back to a length you could work with again. 

Sam was laughing his ass off at Steve’s expense. “You didn’t…”

“How was I supposed to know? I told the lady that she was looking for something to soften the curls.”

“You softened them alright,” you muttered. 

“I was told to stay away from perms. No one said there were more straighteners than a perm. She said it would keep some texture.”

“Cause it was a texturizer! Why would you even ask the beauty supply lady?”

“You asked at the beauty supply store?!” Sam was damn near in tears now. “My man, it went south the minute you walked through the door.”

“Okay, I get it you two. I messed up big time,” Steve said as he rubbed at his back. 

“It’s your bed, right?” Sam noticed the rubbing. 

“What’s that?”

“Your bed, it’s too soft. When I was over there, I’d sleep on the ground, use rocks for pillows. Now I’m home, lying in my bed and it’s like…”

“Lying on a marshmallow. Feel like I’m gonna sink right to the floor. How long?”

“Two tours.”

“You must miss the good old days, huh?” 

“Well, things aren’t so bad. Food’s a lot better, we used to boil everything. No polio’s good. Internet, so helpful in trying to catch up. And I’ve got a family, didn’t really think that’d be possible.” You and Steve fist-bumped. 

“He’s got a list, in a little notebook and everything,” you chimed in. 

“Marvin Gaye, 1972. Trouble Man soundtrack. Everything you missed jammed into one album.”

Steve felt his phone vibrate. He pulled it out to see a text from Nat stating he had a mission and would be where you guys were in about two minutes. 

“Alright, Sam, duty calls. Thanks for the run.” Steve shook his hand. “If that’s what you call running.”

“Oh, that’s how it is? Oh, that’s how it is,” Sam chuckled while Steve gave him a blinding smile. 

“Nice to meet you Mr. Sam,” you said shaking his hand as well. 

Sam called out as you two started to walk off. “Any time you want to stop by the VA, make me look awesome, just let me know.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Yeah.” 

Nat’s sleek car pulled up. 

“Hey, fellas. Either one of you know where the Smithsonian is? I’m here to pick up a fossil.”

“So funny.” 

Steve rolled his eyes before opening the car door for you. He got into the passenger’s seat himself.

“Sarah, was it?” Sam called and you rolled down the window. “You know Howard?”

“The HBCU?”

“Yeah. All sorts of college girls that braid cheap, someone can help you out.”

“Thank you!” You patted Steve on the shoulder. “First thing we’re doing when you get back, old man.” 

“Howard, you said?” Steve asked Sam.

“Yep,” Sam said before the car sped off.

“Hey, Sarah. Clint’s on a mission too but we’ve already got your flight to the airport, Laura’s waiting for you there,” Nat said. 

“Cool.” 

You looked over to see Nat already had your suitcase. If it was anyone else you would feel some type of way that she just easily breaks into your apartment at any moment. But it was Aunt Natasha. She was on your small list of people that you liked and trusted. 

✿

“You know if you ask Kristen from Statistics, she’d say yes,” Nat said as they suit up to jump out the jet and land onto the rogue ship in the Indian Ocean.

“What’s that face?” Nat asked as Steve scrunched his nose before putting on the helmet. 

“Sarah’s not a fan.” 

“I thought she liked Kri… nope, it was Kiely. Damnit, I think she has a boyfriend though.”

“Oh, wow, isn’t that too bad.” Steve’s voice dripped with sarcasm before he jumped out the jet. 

When he returned home from a mission, just like promised you were taken to Howard after a nice girl offered to do your hair. Steve walked with you through the campus until you met the girl outside the main library where she said she would be. As a junior, Imani— as she introduced herself—  lived in off campus housing nearby. Imani assured Steve that the rest of her roommates were fine people, not that anyone would try anything stupid anyway in Steve’s mere presence, and they wouldn’t go blabbing that they met Captain America’s kid. She already had all the supplies including hair after getting a picture of your hair. 

“Yep, that’s a match,” Imani said, holding the hair up. 

Steve’s phone rang after about half of your head was done. When he hung up he looked over from his spot on the spare couch. 

“Um, how much longer do we think it’s going to take?” 

Imani and her roommates started laughing. 

“Mission?” you asked. 

“Yeah, Babydoll. They’re asking me to go in two hours.”

“Captain Rogers, this is going to take more than two hours. Maybe four,” Imani informed him. 

Steve’s eyes bugged. Four more hours? It had already been like three hours. Steve picked up the phone again and the college students acted like they weren’t eavesdropping on his conversation. 

“Rumlow, how badly am I needed? Level… Can I get there tomorrow? Yeah, I’m kind of doing something. Maybe four hours… you can’t wait, fine fine. Give me a minute… Hey, Clint?... yeah, just for two days. I’ll send the location, we’re at Howard… NO! I’m not hitting on col— what is the matter with you… that’s not fun— stop laughing, okay bye. Pick her up in four hours, are you listening? Thank you.”

Steve got up and kissed the top of your head where the braids were already finished. He pulled out his wallet to give Imani the money and left extra for you all to order food much to the gratitude of all the college kids in the room. 

“Alright, Babydoll. Duty calls, see you in two days.”

You held out a pinky. “Two days.”

“Two days or I’ll call.”

Clint came in four hours later just like he was supposed to. 

“Hi, Uncle Clint.”

“Sarah! Hair looks great. Ready to go?”

You got your stuff, telling Imani they could keep the change from the leftover food money and left with Clint. 

✿

You and Steve both faced your fears and decided to go to the Smithsonian where there was an exhibit on him. He felt you were old enough now so Steve dusted off his helmet and broke out the motorcycle. You enjoyed how open the motorcycle was. 

The Smithsonian exhibit was kind of cool. Steve led you through the exhibit, adding little anecdotes where the histories stopped short. While you were staring at his old shield from the USO shows, Steve turned around to see the glass panel with writing on it about Bucky. You turned around to find your dad when you caught what he was staring at. Your breath hitched in your throat when you saw the picture. 

“Sarah? Something wrong?”

“No.”

“You’re lying.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” 

Steve dropped it. You had never said you didn’t want to talk about something. Even if what HYDRA related, you would just get quiet until he made you comfortable enough to talk. But this was new. Steve didn’t want to ruin the day so he let it go and you two walked to where they had a film set up. You liked watching the woman named Peggy. She seemed nice and you could see why your dad liked her. Meanwhile, Steve had come for closure. He had seen Peggy many times now that she was older, having yet to bring you, and he had come to the acceptance that she had lived her good life. She had lived her life and it was time for Steve to move on and live his. But he wanted to see her as he remembered her one last time. Steve looked down from the screen to flip open his compass that now held a black and white picture of you. He closed it and took your hand. 

“Come on, kid. Someone I want you to meet.” 

You gently shook Peggy’s hand. Peggy smiled seeing you. She turned her head to address Steve who was sitting in the visitor’s chair right next to her bed. 

“I lived my life and had only one regret that you didn’t get to live yours. I’m glad you’ve found something to live for.”

“Yeah, my whole world now.”

“You were always so dramatic,” Peggy joked, making them both laugh until Peggy erupted in a fit of coughs. 

Steve stood up to pour her glass of water while you sprung up to call a nurse. 

“Steve?” Peggy gasped. “You’re alive! You came back.”

“Yeah, Peggy.” 

“It’s been so long, so so long.”

“I still owed you a dance.”

When the nurse arrived, Steve guided the two of you out. You patted his arm and smiled in reassurance. Steve looked down at you. He had a new best girl that he would do anything for and couldn’t really see it any other way now. Even if she didn’t always remember, Peggy said she was proud of Steve for moving on. And he was too— because honestly, he never thought he would. 

Steve and you entered the building where the VA was located. You could hear Sam’s group talking and waited against the doorframe so as not to draw much attention to yourselves. Steve seemed like he was intently listening to Sam’s word. You two waited quietly until the meeting was over and Sam had said his goodbyes to the last person.

“Look who it is, the running man,” Sam said. “And baby Rogers, nice braids.”

You waved to Sam and stood a little off to the side.

“Caught the last few minutes. It’s pretty intense,” Steve said as he leaned against the wall. 

“Yeah, brother, we all got the same problems. Guilt, regret.”

“You lose someone?”

“My wingman, Riley. Standard rescue op until an RPG knocked Riley’s dumb ass out of the sky. Nothing I could do, it’s like I was up there just to watch.” 

“I’m sorry.”

“After that, I just had a hard time finding a reason for being over there, you know?”

“But you’re happy now, back in the world?”

“Number of people giving me orders is down to about zero so hell yeah. Are you thinking about getting out?”

“No,” Steve said before looking over at you. “I don’t know. To be honest, I don’t know what I would do with myself if I did.”

“Ultimate fighting? See, she agrees with me.” Sam gave you a high-five after you snorted at his comment.

“You can do whatever you want man. What makes you happy?”

Steve’s eyes looked over Sam before meeting his eyes. He sighed. “I don’t know.” 

You hit his side. 

You, of course, Sarah. 

It was late when you and Steve got home. You saw your neighbor with a load of laundry as she just got off the phone. 

“You know you’re welcome to use our machine. Least we could do for all your help.”

“Oh, no problem. But I’ve already got a load in downstairs plus these scrubs have been to the infectious disease ward,” she laughed as Steve held up his hands. “Oh, I think you guys left your speaker on.”

“Oh, right. Thank you.”

Steve waited till she walked away, telling you to stay outside. You could both hear the jazz music coming from inside the house. Steve went back downstairs and snuck in through his window. He sighed when he saw it was Nick and stomped over to the door to open it for you. 

“I don’t remember giving you a key.”

“You’d really think I’d need one? My wife kicked me out.”

“Didn’t know you were married.”

“A lot of things you don’t know about me.”

“Yeah, Nick. That’s kind of the problem.” 

Steve went to turn on the lights and when he did you both almost gasped at the sight of Nick. He held up a finger telling you both to be quiet before clicking off the lamp closest to him. Nick typed up something on his phone for Steve to read: Ears Everywhere. 

You screamed as the first few bullets stormed through your house and hit Nick. Steve threw you the shield while he dragged Nick to a safer spot towards the back of the apartment. Nick slipped something in Steve’s hand. 

“Don’t trust anyone.” 

Steve looked over as the door clicked open. 

“Captain Rogers.”

You and Steve looked in confusion as your neighbor came in with a handgun. 

“Captain, Sarah. I’m Agent 13 of S.H.I.E.L.D. Special Service.”

“Leanne?”

“I’m assigned to protect you.”

“On whose order?”

“His,” Agent 13 said as she knelt over Nick’s body. 

She pulled out a walkie talkie. “Foxtrot is down. He’s unresponsive. I need EMTs.”

“Do we have the shooter in custody?” the dispatcher asked.

Steve took the shield from you. “Tell him I’m in pursuit.”

You watched your dad jump from your apartment building to the one across the street while you stayed with Agent 13 until they whisked Fury away to a hospital. Nat came bursting into the waiting room where you and Steve were, watching them operate on Nick. 

“Is he going to make it?” 

“We don’t know,” Steve said. 

“The shooter.”

“He’s fast. Strong. Had a metal arm.” 

You tensed up. It didn’t go unnoticed by Steve and Nat. Steve pulled you in, cradling your head to keep your vision away from the window. 

“You shouldn’t be watching this.” 

He tried to shield you even more as they tried to revive Nick, failing in the end. Steve told you to wait in the hall while he and Nat mourned. Maybe it was pointless but he didn’t think you needed to add Nick to the alarmingly long list of people you’ve seen die in front of you. You looked up when Nat stormed into the hall with Steve hot on her trail. 

“Natasha.”

“Why was Fury in your apartment?”

“I don’t know.”

“Cap, they want you back at S.H.I.E.L.D.” Rumlow interrupted. 

“Sarah…”

“They want you now.”

“Okay.” 

“You’re a terrible liar,” Nat said before walking off. 

Steve looked around for a moment, his eyes landing on the vending machine, before turning back to you. 

“Sarah, let’s go.” His hand was on your shoulder, guiding you out as you followed Rumlow and the STRIKE team back to headquarters. 

You and Steve were walking to the elevators when you saw Agent 13 in an office suit. Steve was about to leave on a mission and wasn’t sure what to do after talking with Nick, he didn’t feel comfortable leaving you with anyone he wasn’t sure of at the moment. Sharon spotted you guys since she was headed in the opposite direction. 

“Captain Rogers.”

“Neighbor,” Steve said before his mouth hardlined. 

You offered Agent 13 a small smile because Steve was more stubborn than you. But you kept walking with him because a part of you felt betrayed as well— you thought people were done lying and tricking you. A man stopped you two. 

“Captain. I’m Alexander Pierce.”

“Sir, it’s an honor.”

“The honor’s mine. My father served in the 101st. Come on in, it’s nice to meet you Sarah. Will you wait outside while your father and I talk?” 

You didn’t want to leave. Especially after last night, you were already struggling to let Steve go on his latest mission. Steve seemed to sense it because he grabbed your shoulder. You took out your hearing aids and handed them to Steve. Pierce swallowed but seemed to accept the compromise and you followed him into the office. You looked out the window as they spoke, knowing you’d be able to read Pierce’s lips. When Steve stood up so did you and you followed him back out, almost knocking into him when he stopped suddenly after Pierce called his name. 

One of the things you liked about S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters was that the elevators at the very end of the halls were glass and let you see the outside world. You and Steve looked out the glass as he commanded the elevator to take him somewhere. He turned around and so did you, now seeing that the elevator hadn’t started to go down because Rumlow and the STRIKE team was entering. Steve greeted them and you went back to looking at the window. The elevator stopped not on your floor and more men piled in. Steve grabbed you and shifted you in front of him and closer to the doors as the elevator began to get packed. He looked over at the man next to him and watched a bead of sweat roll down his face. The elevator stopped once again and three more large men were standing there waiting to get on. Steve put your hearing aids back in. 

“Sarah, take the next elevator.” He started to push you out of the elevator, not really able to follow with all the bodies. Steve tensed, sure that he could have followed but the men for some reason were trying to hold him back without making it look like they were.

“Come on, Cap. No one would ever think about it,” one of the men said.

“Can never be too careful, nothing personal guys. Four floors down, Babydoll.” 

Steve signed as he spoke. But the words didn’t match. No one else would know but you were confused. 

“Four floors down, Babydoll. Nat's office, got it? I need some paperwork then we can go home.” Steve repeated with the same wrong signs: Don’t go home. Understood? Home. Don’t.

“Okay, Dad. Aunty Nat's office,” you said as Rumlow pushed the button for the elevator doors to start to close. 

Steve carefully signed very close to his body so that no one else would see it. 

Run.

You heard the crack of a taser wand the minute you sprinted. You looked behind you with wide eyes as you saw the men turn on Steve but you didn’t stop running because he told you to go. There was another STRIKE team about two floors down that were standing in front of you. You threw all your weight into the emergency exit stairs and ran before they could do anything. Less of the STRIKE team was following you, Steve being number one target. The plan was to use you as leverage because everyone knew Steve wasn’t going to leave his kid. One man got close until you turned and grabbed him, slamming him into the railing and then throwing him into the next closest agent.

Your lungs burned because even as half super-soldier, you chose not to stop until you were in a location where you felt you could hide in the crowd which pushed you past your limits. Steve said not to go home. Because they knew where he lived but where were you supposed to go. And how were you supposed to find him? Your phone was missing. You had chucked it at the security guard’s neck, the only space not covered, and never stopped to pick it up as you left S.H.I.E.L.D. You ripped your hearing aids off, not even wanting them on, as you tried not to hyperventilate. No one seemed to notice or care as you crouched in the grass trying to think. You stood back up, put the aids in, and looked around. You knew this location. You walked, more like ran, with deliberation to the brick building. 

“Baby Rogers! Where’s running ma— Sarah, are you okay?” Sam’s joking tone turned to one of concern. 

“Dad. They’re trying to kill my dad, he told me… I didn’t know anyone else to trust.”

“Okay, hey Sarah, you’re good. Alright. Do you know where he is now?”

“No! My phone, I lost—”

“Sarah, sweetheart, calm down. Do you know his number?”

Steve told you not to go home but now you weren’t picking up his calls. He didn’t have time to panic, he had one place to stop before starting a manhunt for you again. Steve checked the vending machine where he hid the flash drive Nick had given him. The machine was empty but he saw the reflection of Nat in the glass as she popped a bubble out of the gum she was blowing. Steve turned around and shoved her into an empty room and up against a wall. 

“Where is it?”

“Safe,” Nat said. 

“Do better.”

“Where did you get it?”

“Why would I tell you?”

“Fury gave it to you. Why?”

“What’s on it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Where’s Sarah?”

“Sarah’s missing?”

“Don’t bullshit me! Where’s my daughter?”

“I’m not. I only act like I know everything, Rogers. I don’t know what Fury said but I’m on your side.”

“I swe— hello?” Steve answered his phone. “Sarah?! Babydoll, are you okay? You’re not hurt are you?”

“I’m okay, Dad. I’m at—”

“No names, they could have the phone tapped. Hint, Babydoll.” 

“...On your left.” 

“My left… alright. I’ll find you okay. Stay on your left, three days.” 

“Three days, promise?”

“Promise and I won’t call, I’ll be right there. Okay? I’m with you, Babydoll.” 

“Three days. Love you, Dad.” 

“Love you, too.”

The phone clicked off. Steve would’ve liked to hear those words under better circumstances and not said because you thought you actually might not hear or see him again. Steve turned back to Nat to press her for more information on what she did know. 

✿✿✿

The knocking on the door alerted Sam who was in the kitchen drinking orange juice after having just come from his morning run— you didn’t budge, having not heard a sound with your hearing aids on the table. He rolled up the blinds on the second glass door to see a dusty Nat and Steve. 

“Hey, man.”

“I’m so sorry about this.” 

“She’s in the kitchen.”

Sam moved aside for Steve to race past him and into the house. Your back was to them from where you were sitting at the table. Steve reached over you and knocked on the table. Immediately flying up from the chair, you hugged him in a death grip. After an eternity, you let go of Steve and hugged Nat before letting them both clean off in Sam’s bathroom. 

“I made breakfast. If you guys eat that sort of thing,” Sam interrupted Steve and Nat’s talk.

“So the question is, who at S.H.I.E.L.D. could launch a domestic missile attack?” Nat asked. 

“Pierce,” Steve answered.

“Who happens to be sitting on top of the most secure building in the world,” Nat retorted. 

“But he’s not working alone.”

“Zola’s algorithm was on the Lemurian Star so was Jasper Sitwell.”

“So how do the two most wanted people in Washington kidnap a S.H.I.E.L.D. officer in broad daylight?”

“The answer is, you don’t.” Sam plopped down his old file in front of them. “Consider this a resume.”

“The Khalid Khandil mission,” Nat said, looking the file over. “That was you?” 

“You didn’t say he was a Pararescue. Is this Riley?” Steve asked. 

Sam handed them a second part of the file. Steve opened it, looking at the pictures inside. 

“I thought you were a pilot.”

“I never said pilot.” 

“I can’t ask you to do this, Sam. You got out for a good reason.”

“Dude, Captain America needs my help. Last one of those is in Fort Meade. Guarded heavily.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Steve said as he dropped the file reading EXO-7 Falcon on the table. 

Steve sighed. He now had to confront something he had been avoiding for months now. Steve looked at you.

“I’m taking you to your grandparents.”

“What? No!”

“We can’t risk you going to Clint’s. I found Elise’s parents, their house is on the way to Fort Meade. You’ll be safe wi—”

“No! I’m not going with them. You’re not leaving me again!”

“Sarah, it’s another mission. We’ve done this before, just once more and I’ll quit, okay?”

“No.”

“Sarah.”

“No! This isn’t another mission, it’s about S.H.I.E.L.D. I don’t want you to quit. I like my dad being Captain America but you’re not leaving me this time.”

✿✿✿

“Stay in the car,” Steve said as they left to go get Jasper Sitwell. “Don’t even argue. The car, stay here.”

You shut your mouth and sat back in the seat. Steve cradled the back of your head for a moment before he closed the car door. You couldn’t see where Steve and Nat had gone but you could see Sam sitting on the bench in front of where the car was parked on the curb. You were uncomfortably sandwiched between Jasper and Nat as the car sped off. 

“Insight’s launching in sixteen hours. We’re cutting it close,” Nat said as she leaned over. 

The window was suddenly smashed and Jasper was pulled from the car. Nat pushed you down and then launched herself into the front seat, maneuvering her body to cover Steve while pushing Sam to the edge of the car as much as possible. Steve shoved the gear shift into park. The car lurched forward and a man was thrown from the car.

You were about to get up from the floor of the car when a large Jeep slammed into the back, jostling you back to the floor. Nat attempted to find the gun that had fallen by Steve’s feet. The man used his metal arm to rip the steering wheel out of the car. He jumped onto the Jeep behind you guys before Nat could properly shoot him. The car began to swerve and hit other cars. The Jeep pulled back and rammed into the car again causing it to start to flip. 

“Sarah!” Steve yelled. 

He couldn’t reach you as the car flipped. He, Sam, and Nat fell out on the broken passenger’s side door. The door was sliding along the freeway and while Steve couldn’t see it, he had horror written all over his face as he imagined the car flipping over multiple times. Once the sliding stopped, he quickly stood up but didn’t have time to try and reach you as the metal armed man pointed a large grenade launcher at them. Steve shoved Nat and braced himself with the shield. The impact knocked him over the overpass and into a bus.

Lila and Cooper helped you make the triangles and pentagons until Cooper got bored and suggested you play outside. Cooper set up the bases while Lila dug through the garage for what they were looking for. You stood there, not knowing how to help. Lila taught you the very basic rules of how to play baseball. You weren’t sure if you were supposed to always catch or let them win so you did half and half. Sometimes catching the ball after Cooper hit it and sometimes letting it go. 

“Alright, Sarah. Your turn to pitch. I’ll bat and then when you bat, Lila will pitch.” 

“I just throw it at the bat.”

“Yeah, pretty much.” 

It seemed simple enough. You went to mimic Cooper’s stance when he was pitching to Lila. You geared up and threw the ball. The loud crack rang out as the ball you threw completely shattered the wooden bat as it made contact, the splinters barely missing the boy. You dropped the baseball glove and started apologizing while backing away. 

“Clint’s going to kill me. He’s going to be so mad” you thought before turning on your heels and running, ignoring the shouts of Lila and Cooper. 

All you could think about was how mad everyone would be. And the panic only got worse when you heard Clint and Laura calling for you. So you kept running until you reached the lake edge. Sitting down, you took out your hearing aids and prayed that you wouldn’t be found. 

Clint began pacing the house and even Laura couldn’t get him to sit down. 

“I had one job, watch Steve’s kid. I told him that we could’ve taken her if he wasn’t ready and I lost the kid.” 

“Clint, we’ll find her.” 

“It’s getting dark. I’m going back out.” 

Clint grabbed his phone and a flashlight. There was no way you’d run off of the property, right? He headed to the edge and spotted you, dangerously close to the lake edge. He called out your name and you barely turned to your left. Clint sat down next to you and waited patiently until you put the hearing aids back in. He could talk to you and focus mainly on your left ear but he knew that it would be easier for you if you could read his lips and it was too dark for that. 

“Gave us quite a scare, kiddo.” 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to break it, I swear I wasn’t tr— please don’t tell Steve.”

“Sarah, relax. It was an accident. But you can’t run off like that, okay? That made us very worried. And I’ve got to tell Steve, but he won’t be mad either.”

“Promise?”

“Promise. We have dinner being made if you’re hungry.” 

✿✿✿

Steve slumped back to the crusty motel room after the second day of stakeout. He was tempted to not even shower as he flopped on the bed when his eyes flashed open. Sarah. He hadn’t called you and it was already the second day. Steve still had to remember there was someone else he was responsible for now. He sat up and wiped his face before grabbing his phone. 

“Hi, Sarah, did I wake you up?” 

He hadn’t accounted for the time difference. You nodded and yawned, grabbing one hearing aid and sticking it in. 

“Sorry, I can let you go back to sleep.”

“It’s okay.”

“You don’t sound okay.”

“I broke a baseball bat yesterday,” you mumbled.

“What?”

“I broke a baseball bat.” You decided you wanted to tell Steve before Clint did because you didn’t believe that he wouldn’t be mad. 

“What happened?”

“We were playing baseball and they told me to throw and it hit the bat.”

“And the bat just shattered?”

You nodded. Steve watched your hand snake up to the hearing aid, ready to turn it off so the yelling would be harder to hear. He quickly spoke before you did anything. 

“Accidents happen. I accidentally broke the window of a wedding shop running down the street.”

Your hand fell to your side and you looked at him in surprise. 

“Yeah. It happens. We’ll buy Clint a new bat. Are you having fun?”

You nodded and proceeded to talk his ear off about the outside drive on the way to the farm. Steve’s eyes were getting heavy but he kept them open. You seemed to get very excited and come out of your shell when explaining things to him before immediately shutting down again. He caught your yawn and used this time to cut you both off. 

“Someone’s tired. Okay, Sarah, I’ll let you get back to sleep. See you in two days, alright?”

“Alright, bye.”     

✿✿✿

Steve waved as you and Clint came from baggage claim. Clint laughed as he saw the baseball bat in the hand Steve was waving. Once you two actually reached, he took the bat and smiled at you trying to show that everything was fine after all. Steve also pulled something else from behind his back. 

“Our mission was in Peru. I, um, got you something,” Steve said as he handed you a chullo hat with a toy alpaca in it. 

“Thanks Da— thank you, Steve.” 

You tucked the alpaca under your arm and put on the hat— it was very colorful but obvious the reason Steve bought that particular one was for the large white star on each ear flap. Steve took your suitcase from you and patted your shoulder. 

“Nat’s right outside with the car. Why don’t you head on out, Clint and I are right behind you.” 

He watched you walk out the airport doors before turning back to Clint. The pompom on the top of the hat bobbled back and forth as you walked away.

“When we say she broke a bat, how bad?”

“It was in literal splinters, I don’t think she knows how much strength to put in certain tasks.”

“I’ll work on that with her. Hope that’s a good one for your kid.”

“Yep. Same brand, you didn’t have to buy a new bat.”

“Ah, no problem.”

Steve started to walk when Clint grabbed his arm. 

“Hey, man. Sarah ran after it broke thinking something bad was going to happen to her. She was gone for almost the whole night and was so worried about us being mad.”

“I’m working on that too. I don’t know what the hell HYDRA did to her but we’re trying to undo that.”

Steve got in the backseat and let Clint take the passenger’s. It was silent until Nat finally reached over to turn on the radio. Steve turned his head to see you staring out the window, absentmindedly picking at the soft fur of the alpaca doll. Clint and Nat both looked in the rearview mirror to see you take out the hearing aids and place your hand on the speaker on the backdoor of the car. You closed your eyes and sat back with a smile. When the song changed your eyes opened with a frown. Clint messed with the stations until he found one with a similar vibe. When your eyes closed again, he turned to Nat and Steve. 

“Sometimes it’s not about the song itself but the music. She probably likes the way the vibrations feel.” 

“Have you guys eaten lunch?” 

“Nah, had to leave early to make the flight on time.” 

So Nat pulled up at an outdoor restaurant instead of just taking Clint to his studio and you and Steve to the apartment. You took off the hat and left the alpaca in the car. The waitress came over and the three adults watched you tilt your head as she approached, looking at something. The waitress pulled out her phone for you all to read: Hello, I’m Ally, your server for today. Please bear with me, I am completely deaf but can still do my job. I’m happy to help. Do you know what you want to drink? 

Ally’s smile grew large when you and Clint both tapped on your ears. Clint took over taking everyone’s orders and signing them to the waitress. When she came back with the sodas, she handed you a kid’s menu with crayons. 

I like your hearing aids, pretty color. Is green your favorite? Ally asked. 

Thank you. Yeah, I like it.

Ally took your food order and headed back to wait her other tables. The three Avengers discussed the missions Nat and Steve had just come back from, being careful not to discuss classified information in case someone was eavesdropping. Steve, who was sitting across from you, looked down to see you drawing— surprisingly well, especially for having crayons. Nat and Clint looked as well. 

“You know they say a portion of creative ability can actually be an inherited trait,” Nat said. 

Both Clint and Steve looked at her. 

“What? I had to be a child psychologist for a mission once.” 

You looked up when Steve took a crayon. 

“Can I?”

You shrugged and pushed the menu in between the two of you, where you had flipped it to the blank back side to reveal your drawing of the roses in the pots next to your table. Natasha and Clint looked on with silent amusement as Steve leaned over the table and started coloring with you while waiting for the sandwiches.

He added the actual restaurant in the background, including the green awning while you made the tables and chairs. You looked at the flowers on the table— not red roses, but purple flowers. Which wouldn’t have been a problem, except the crayon pack had all the blues and purples next to each other.

Steve took the crayon pack out of your hand and wordlessly took all the crayons out, rearranging them on the table so each blue or purple was separated by another color. You picked up the crayon that seemed closest, now able to have a sense of differentiation. When Ally came back with the sandwiches and fries, you quickly cleared the table of your stuff to make room. The other three didn’t miss how you looked at the drawing one more time before taking up a crayon and writing down: Steve & Sarah’s Restaurant. You quickly folded up the paper and started to eat. 

“Sarah?” Nat asked. “Do you have anything you like to do? For fun, like drawing?”

“They made us dance… but I liked it.” 

Natasha froze and neither Clint nor Steve was sure if they had ever seen her that way. It had been years since she touched a dance floor. Any missions that involved disguising herself as a dancer was immediately passed to a different agent, Nick knew not to even ask. 

“You liked it?”

“It was when they left us alone.” 

That made Nat laugh in agreeance. It might’ve been painful and torture but once the music started you were right, they left you alone. 

“I like…” 

You trailed off when you spotted the large dog. When your eyes returned to the table, you had forgotten what you were going to say and finished eating. Nat dropped you and Steve back home after dropping off Clint. You set the alpaca toy on your bed and gave the hat a front row seat on an empty part of your bookshelf. 

“Sarah?” 

You popped your head out of your room. 

“Nick found you a tutor if you want one? It seems better than school for now.” 

Steve thought that you should be privately tutored until you were further detached from HYDRA. He didn’t want one wrong move from a teacher or another student to cause you to run off. 

“Okay.” 

“You said you finished the polygons at the farm. Do you want help putting them together?”

You nodded excitedly and brought out all the triangles and pentagons. Steve grabbed two of the popsicle tubes and handed you one. You both sat cross-legged on the couch, facing each other, popsicle tubes dangling from your teeth. You showed him the template and started connecting the shapes with ribbons. He held up the finished product. 

“First icosidodecahedron finished in all blue. Nice work, Babydoll.” 

“My mom used to call me that.”

“Oh, I don’t have to—” 

“I like it.” 

✿✿✿

You woke up early from the noise, having forgotten to take out the aids. You got up and opened your room door to see Steve, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. He turned around as he heard the door open. 

“Good morning, Sarah, I didn’t mean to wake you. I was going to go on a morning run and then come right back.” 

“Can I come with you?” 

“Sure.”

Steve slowed himself down but was impressed by the stamina and speed you kept. The two of you ran for ten miles in the half hour before you got tired, instead of his normal thirteen. You two quickly ate breakfast and made your way downstairs again to where Nat was waiting. 

“Scheduled the test for Monday. We’ll be out of your hair soon and in our own car.”

“If you pass, Rogers. I’ll hold my breath. How are you, Sarah?”

“I’m good. We finished the icosidodecahedrons yesterday, would you like one?”

“Is there one with red ribbon?”

“That’s Steve's.”

“We can give Nat the red one, Babydoll. I’ll take the blue one.”

Steve took you to Nick’s office after training, where the tutor was, before leaving for his own office to type up the mission report. The office was now oddly quiet, he had gotten used to your audiobook playing in the background. The mission report was boring but Steve meticulously typed it up anyway. Nat came strolling in a few hours later, sitting on the corner of the desk. 

“When did that progression occur? The nickname?”

“Is it too old school sounding? She said her mother used to call her that.”

“No, it’s cute, I just didn’t expect it so soon. You two are a nice family.”

“The kid’s growing on me… speak of the devil.”

You walked into the office carrying two containers of lunch and two water bottles balancing on top of them. You gave a wave to Nat and set the food on the desk, taking up the single chair on the other side once again. 

“The tutor gave me an hour for lunch.”

“Thank you, Babydoll.” He took the second container. 

“There’s a lot of agents here. Not a lot of guards,” you said. It was just a simple observation. 

“We don’t need guards, everyone’s a good guy here,” Nat said. 

“I like that,” you said after a moment of silence. 

Nat left you and Steve to go do her own work which included research on a cartel. Steve opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out his sketchbook and colored pencils that he kept there. He slid them across the desk and towards you. You opened it, seeing a few of his drawings. 

“I like to draw too, figured you would get more use out of it than me.” 

You and Steve got used to the new routine. Early morning runs before finishing training at S.H.I.E.L.D. Then you would part ways for your tutoring while he worked before you grabbed lunch and ate in his office. Tutoring would finish and you’d both go home, ready for dinner. The times he had a mission, you’d hop on a flight to Clint’s farm. And Steve would always bring back something from a mission for you. It had been going like that for three months. 

You were sitting at the round dining room table after having taken a shower, drawing in the sketchpad. Steve was still working on dinner when you came back— he was slowly making his way through a cookbook, now on the recipe for lasagna from scratch. It definitely wasn’t going to look pretty, most of the things he cooked didn’t, but it would taste good. 

“Hey, Sarah… Babydoll.” 

Steve looked over when you hadn’t responded. Your head remained down, glued to the picture you had been working on. He noticed the hearing aids weren’t in— you had left them on the bathroom counter. Steve put the lasagna in the oven and walked over to the table. He moved his hand into your line of sight and knocked on the table. You looked up, focusing on his mouth to see what he wanted. 

Your hair is longer. Do you want to cut it again? He laughed when you went wide-eyed. Steve didn’t want you to feel like you had to have the hearing aids in all the time, and wanted to communicate on the off chance that something happened and you just didn’t have them on you. 

I’m learning. 

I want to grow it out, you signed back to him. 

Alright. Who’s this?> 

Steve looked at your drawing, seeing the young black woman on the page. She had big hair and full lips that, in their stretched smile, took up almost the entire bottom part of her face. 

My mother.

Elise? She’s very pretty. 

And young is what Steve thought. Obviously your mother had started graduate school way earlier than most people but it hadn’t really occurred to Steve until he saw your drawing. He was too busy staring at the picture that he almost missed your last words that came out so quiet. 

“I’m starting to forget what she looks like.”

Steve looked down at you. Do you know her last name?

Lanns.

Steve nodded and returned to the kitchen to check on the lasagna. He now had two new things on his mind. One, finding videos on doing hair since you wanted to grow it out. Two, finding any living relatives of Elise Lanns. 

A series of events involving Sarah and Steve leading up to Winter Soldier:

✿ “Sarah, come on we’re about to go,” Steve called towards the back of the store from where he was at the checkout counter. 

He had taken the Saturday off to take you to the mall— something he read was a good bonding activity. You still were afraid of getting lots of things but Steve thought maybe he could at least see what caught your eye and maybe sneak them into the house slowly but surely. He kept the brim of his baseball cap low to avoid anyone that might recognize him, trying to only focus on you for the day. As well as keep your identity hidden as best as he could. Who knows what would happen if enemies knew Cap had a kid. 

Before you could go to him, a couple approached you. The man watched over his shoulder for Steve while the woman got a bit closer. 

“Are you okay, honey?”

“Yes?” You took a step towards the rack and looked over to where Steve was paying, the woman following your line of sight. 

“Do you know that man? Don’t be afraid, you can trust us.”

“That’s my da— Steve!”

“We can get you help, you don’t have to lie. He won’t hurt you anymore.”

Steve was over before you could even blink. “Is there a problem here?”

“I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t let you leave with that child.” 

“With my child?”

“Your child? We can clearly see—”

“Yes. My child. Not that it matters but her mother is black.”

“May we see a picture?”

“You’re kidding…” Steve was attempting to keep his composure.

“We want to make sure you’re not kidnapping a child! If we don’t know she’s safe, she’s not leaving with you sir!”

Steve looked down when he heard your breathing get shallow. He immediately stopped his argument with the couple that had attracted more people concerned that a very large white man was seen with a child far from his skin complexion. He once again dropped to below you and turned you to face him. Steve turned off the hearing aids to try and help you find calm in the silence. He was speaking while signing but more for the other patrons’ benefit than yours. 

“Hey, Sarah. Sarah. Look at me. You’re fine, they were just concerned. You’re fine. I’m not leaving you, okay? Breathe in. Okay, now out. Again.” 

They’re going to take you away. They take everyone away. 

Steve was in panic mode now. You weren’t in the same reality as everyone else, thinking this whole thing had been some cruel HYDRA set up. You were positive that in any minute guards would come drag you away and Steve would be killed in front of you or even worse be wearing a sick smile as he watched them haul you back to your cell. 

“No, no. Sarah, no one’s taking me away. I’m right here. You won’t lose me. Sarah. I know they took your mom but we aren’t with those bad people. Right?... That means they won’t take me away either. Okay, so I’m right here.” 

Steve waited as you tried to calm down. 

“I hope her panic attack was proof enough she’s mine.”

“We’re sorry, but you have to understand why everyone was concerned. We just wanted to know, you two have a nice day.”

The customers scattered as if they were never there and went back to their shopping. Steve scoffed at the audacity they all had to act as if interrogating a child to tears was normal. He only thought about the problems from being a single dad and younger than he should be to take care of a twelve year old. He stupidly hadn’t accounted for the racial aspect and that was something he had to now take into consideration. This was your daily and he was finally witnessing it. Another thing he had to learn. 

After your breathing slowed down, you reached up and turned the hearing aids back on.

“You promise, they won’t take you away?”

“Promise, Babydoll.”

Steve watched you sigh like you didn’t believe him. Because you didn’t. Lots of caretakers had promised you they wouldn’t get taken away or leave. But the barrel of a guard’s gun can make people do anything. And leaving you behind was easily one of those things. ✿

Steve knocked frantically on his neighbor’s door. Nat hadn’t picked up the phone and he hoped the neighbor would answer. She finally did and Steve started rambling. 

“There’s blood and she’s cramping and—”

“She’s started her period. One second.”

Steve gladly showed the woman into the apartment where she helped you while he threw the sheets and bloody underwear in the washing machine. He thanked her once again now that you were out of the bathroom, still cramping but less so, and now on the couch. His face nearly paled when the blonde turned to him before leaving. 

“She might want to start using tampons at some point—” 

“Bridge we’ll cross when we get there.”

✿ 

“Captain Rogers?” 

Steve looked up from his desk to see you and your tutor at his office door. 

“Sarah forgot her hearing aids, again. We’ll just have to call this session off.”

“Thank you, anyway.” 

You walked into his office and sat down at the chair. Steve waited for the tutor to leave before looking at you. 

You left them at home again. On purpose. 

I don’t like her.

What’s wrong with your tutor?

I don’t like her. 

Can you tell me what’s the problem?

I don’t like her, Steve.

Steve sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Your old tutor got a permanent teaching job two weeks ago and they had found you a new one. Only you’ve only had one lesson with this new teacher. He looked at you again and saw you scratch at your left ear. Another tell. It had been five months since you’d been living with Steve, he was slowly learning your tells. Including scratching at your left ear when you felt like you wanted to tell him something but couldn’t get it out for whatever reason. Steve knocked on the desk so you would look back at him. 

Does your tutor make you uncomfortable?

Scared.

Scared?

She looks like my nurse.

We’ll find you a new one.

Steve didn’t need you to say more. You only spoke in fragments about HYDRA and every time you did, it gave him a better picture of what happened. This wasn’t the first time you had mentioned a nurse. He took out a pen and jotted down a note on his memopad to find you a new tutor. 

✿

You waited anxiously at your laptop for Steve’s face to appear. He was supposed to be gone for three days but now it was five and he hadn’t called yet. You didn’t eat much dinner, even with Clint and Laura’s prodding or reassurance. Fiddling with the alpaca doll, you almost fell asleep when the call appeared. You accepted it immediately. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier, Sarah. We were in a zone where we couldn’t.”

“When do you come home?” 

“Three more days, maybe four.”

“Maybe four?” your voice rose two octaves.

Steve cringed. You had separation issues, he learned that the last time a mission took longer than he had originally told you it would take. You were used to your handlers, tutors, guards, anyone you grew attached to being killed randomly. And when someone didn’t come back when they said they would, you started to assume the worst. The last time you trusted your favorite watcher, he was suddenly gone and not a single guard would tell you what happened. Now you didn’t need to talk to Steve for long, just see his face and be reassured that he’s coming back. 

“I’m in a place now where I can call you every night. Okay, Babydoll?”

“Okay. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Steve’s mission ended in two days so he booked a flight to Clint’s farm to surprise you. He heard you laughing with Clint’s kids as he approached the door. Clint walked in first announcing a surprise that made you turn. Relief washed over your face when you saw Steve’s imposing figure in the doorway. You ran over and hugged him to confirm he was actually there. 

We have a surprise for you, you signed when you pulled away.

For me?

Name sign. S-T-E-V-E. Steve. 

You showed him the name sign you and Clint came up with for him. The letter ‘S’ but you tapped it twice to the middle of your chest where the star on his uniform was located. Steve was touched, he kind of didn’t expect one. He had learned yours which, now that he thought about it, was very similar to his. It was the letters ‘S’ and ‘E’ in quick succession near the middle of your chest. 

Thank you, doll. 

Whenever he was signing, Steve usually omitted the baby part of your Babydoll nickname— going only with the single sign for the word ‘doll’.

✿

Why do they have the section labeled ‘Ethnic Hair’ behind glass doors? That was what Steve thought as you two finally found the hair care aisle of the general merchandise store. He waited for an employee to come by before finally giving up and going to search for one. He found a woman with shorter hair like you.

“I don’t know where to start,” he admitted.

The woman kindly placed her favorite products in the basket. 

“If those don’t work, try another line until you find what works for you. And while it might work for her shorter curls now, it could be the wrong product once the hair gets longer. Honestly most products you can probably finesse if you’re willing to try that hard.”

“Thank you so much.” 

“Oh and you’ll want those.” She pointed to the large row of bonnets and headscarves.

“Thank you again and um, is there a reason these are behind glass and not the Pantene stuff?”

“They think we steal,” the woman said with some spite while holding up a hand before pointing somewhere. 

Steve looked over to see you, who had left the aisle to look at trinkets across the way. He saw what the woman was pointing to. There was a non-black employee watching you intently while acting as if they were folding the clothes in that section.

"Sarah, let's go," Steve said, pointedly glaring at the suddenly embarrassed employee.

✿

They never let you watch Disney movies. Except for Snow White, played on repeat with subliminal messages. Steve caught that when he saw you having a Disney marathon on the living room TV he literally just bought. He wouldn’t say anything but if he had to hear “Friends on the Other Side” one more time or hear the neighbors’ dog bark when “Let It Go” played for the fifth time in a row, he would punch his head through a wall. 

You finally switched to a new movie that hadn’t been played at all since the marathon started, Brother Bear. This was by far Steve’s favorite movie until they got to the song and you rewinded  it… four times.

✿

Steve should’ve known that Nat knew about Clint’s farm sooner. But he didn’t put the pieces together until you both saw her in the kitchen with Laura prepping for Thanksgiving dinner. The four adults as they cooked— Steve in charge of pumpkin pie— listened to you begin the lecture about Thanksgiving and the conflict in celebrating said holiday. 

“Steve, stop letting her watch university lectures.” 

Nat set down the now empty bowl that once held the brown sugar pie filling for you and Clint’s kids to eat. You guys didn’t even bother getting spoons but just stuck your fingers in the remnants of the bowl and licked them clean. 

“Well you and I are in the clear,” Nat continued when you looked at her confused. “I’m Russian, you’re half black. We didn’t participate.”

“Really?” Steve and Clint asked at the same time, making you laugh. 

Steve grabbed the bowl before you guys could finish it, not wanting you to ruin your appetites. 

“Tell you what. We finish Thanksgiving dinner and talk about what we’re thankful for and then we find a bunch of Native American organizations to donate to. That sound good, kid?”

Steve watched your face and the next statement you made had the four adults doubled over in laughter in the middle of the kitchen while you, Cooper, and Lila looked at each other in confusion. 

“Captain America celebrates Thanksgiving with reparations.”

The dinner looked like it was straight from a magazine or one of those cooking channel shows. The large dishes were passed around and everyone took a bit of each dish with the exception of the pies cooking on low in the oven. You guys started to say what you were thankful for. 

“I’m thankful that we have a cool Aunty Nat,” Lila said. “Plus Sarah and Uncle Steve.” 

You and Steve both looked in surprise. Laura grabbed both of your hands and offered a smile. The two of you didn’t realize that they had considered you family. It made you both feel warm inside— Steve more than you because you still felt like this was some elaborate HYDRA scheme to break you once and for all.

✿

He looked like an idiot. All the agents in the office thought it was sweet how he was willing to make himself look like an idiot for you. Because the scene in front of them was quite a sight. You had sent an email on Steve’s computer asking if anyone knew how to double dutch? Steve didn’t even know it until his inbox was flooded with actual responses. The agents gathered in the training room as agents Fraser and Cole began to spin the ropes. You jumped with ease and then turned your eyes to Steve who was watching with the others. You beckoned him over. 

“I don’t know how to double dutch, Babydoll.”

“It’s like Jump In.”

“Jump In?”

“The Disney movie, Steve. We watched it last week, with Corbin Bleu and Keke Palmer.”

There were some snickers from other agents. It was funny to them that Steve was relegated to watching movies based on the wishes of a pre-teen. Steve sighed and moved over to where you were. You stepped out and everyone watched as Steve failed multiple times to even jump into the ropes. Fraser and Cole slowed down the ropes as much as they could and showed Steve the easiest jump. He almost failed when you jumped back in but picked up his feet before the ropes got stopped. 

“Why the hell is everyone in here instead of the cafeteria where lunch is supposed to be eaten?” Fury yelled as he entered the training room. He immediately shut up when the agents pointed to you jumping with ease and Steve concentrating with all his might. Fury gave a short laugh and then looked at everyone. 

“Lunch ends in ten minutes. Make sure you do your damn job and get back to work on time.” 

“Yes sir,” all the agents said, not sparing him a second glance.

✿

Clint called in a burst of laughter after he received the picture from Steve. Nat was soon to follow. The matching Christmas pajamas were already ridiculous enough. The matching bonnets you two were wearing was icing on the cake. It was a small Christmas celebration, just you and him, which reminded Steve a lot of him and his mom. The TV was playing Holiday reruns all day but the reruns were new to both you and Steve. You exchanged presents. You had bought yours when you asked Nat to sneak you out the office for it. Steve opened his present to find a new jacket. You opened yours to see the oil pastels you had been eyeing when you passed by the art store on your runs. 

“Thank you.”

✿

You fell asleep on Steve’s shoulder before the New Year’s Countdown finished. He laughed because you were so determined to stay up to witness your first celebration. Maybe he should’ve woken you up but the thought was too late. The ball already dropped and there was no point in waking you up now for what? 12:01? Not nearly as interesting. Steve picked you up and carried you to your room, taking out the hearing aids to place them on your nightstand.

✿

“Where are you from?” you asked Steve during your lunch break with the tutor. 

“New York. Brooklyn.”

“Has your family always lived in Brooklyn?”

“Unh-unh. My mom’s from Ireland. Immigrated over with her family.”

“So I’m half-Irish?”

“Yeah, kid. But it’s been years since I’ve celebrated anything even remotely Irish.” 

“Why?”

Steve took a bite of his sandwich. He honestly couldn’t remember why. He used to keep it hidden and just to the apartment of him and his mom. Then after she died he slowly stopped because Bucky wasn’t Irish and it just reminded him of his mother. After he entered the war, he became Captain America and, maybe because of how anti-Irish he saw people behave towards his mom growing up, he felt that he couldn’t— that it would somehow make him not Captain America. Not American. But now that didn’t matter. Except it did because the problem was just passed down to you. Second generation of marginalized group with a single parent. 

“It’s never too late to start again,” you said. “March is Irish-American Heritage month, right after Black History.”

“Back to back celebrations. I like your thinking, Babydoll.” 

The two of you clinked your bottles of water together. 

“Did it surprise you, Steve?”

“Hmm?”

“I heard some of the agents talking about you.” 

“About what?” 

Steve still had to prod to get you to answer anything. Especially when it came to him or HYDRA. You didn’t know much about him past his actual birth and how he ended up in the modern day— both you and Steve weren’t really ready for you to take a deep dive into your father’s history. So you hadn’t seen any pictures or watched any videos but sometimes you still heard things. 

“Coming from the 40s and suddenly seeing no segregation. How it must be weird having a mixed kid, that you probably never saw it coming.” 

“Have you read much about Brooklyn from my time?”

You shook your head. You hadn’t looked much at Brooklyn at all in your history books. 

“I wasn’t rich, Sarah. We lived in the DUMBO area. Historically queer and non-white, lots of different walks of life and people. I might not get it all but I’ve seen it all. The only surprise I got was that you existed, not what the existence looked like.” 

You smiled at Steve and then left to go back to your tutor. 

✿

The car rides to work now involved Steve learning a new figure in black history for the entire month of February. He wasn’t even sure when you read this information to give him a whole history class every single morning but without fail you had someone for him. 

“And Reverend Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was el—”

“Elected to Congress in 1942. Got you on that one, Babydoll,” Steve said as he cut you off. 

“How?”

“I’ve met him.” 

Steve laughed as you ignored his comment and pulled up a different figure, not one to be outdone just because he happened to know who you were talking about. You made the decision that for the rest of the month, you weren’t mentioning any historical figures from before Steve landed in ice.

✿ 

Steve turned the faucet of cold water when you said the hot water was too hot. You surprisingly found the sink relaxing despite Steve’s too big hands trying to be gentle with curls that led to a yelp from you and a curse from him every single time he got caught on a tangle. Your hair was growing but the wash was still quick, the deep conditioning however was not. It really is a whole day Steve realized and picked up the phone to order Chinese food because he was not about to cook after this. 

He probably should’ve timed it better because his hands were soaked in conditioner when the knocking on his door started. 

“Just a second.”

Steve gave the delivery man an apologetic smile as he handed him a slightly damp five dollar tip. Steve finished washing out the deep condition and you two went into the bathroom so he could finish doing your hair. The first part was easy, divide the front part of your hair into two and make two small buns. He was pretty sure he might have used too much gel when going through free curls in the back to define them. Steve turned you to the side so he could actually see your face. 

“The baby hairs,” you said as you pulled on the two buns to make them a little tighter. 

“Yeah, the baby hairs. We totally got this.” 

Steve stuck the toothbrush in the edge control and gently formed the baby hairs in swoops along your hairline. You moved your head from side to side while looking in the mirror before nodding in approval. You and Steve high-fived at his first real hairstyle done well and went to the dining room table for the food. Steve was right. Baby hairs, totally got this. What he didn’t get was how dumb he was to buy a toothbrush for your baby hairs that resembled the toothbrush he used for his teeth. And then leave them both out next to each other after washing off the gel. If they were both clean then would it… no, it would bother Steve so he left to go buy a new toothbrush. 

✿

Steve had a few hours before Clint dropped you home. He looked around his house that only a year ago was relatively empty and just for him. Now there were various trinkets from missions, drawings that got switched out for other ones every three days, more of those straw and ribbon polyhedrons, lots of books, and a basket that held blankets. The handwoven one was currently resting on top.

Steve moved to his room to take off the suit and change, he tried not to wear the suit around you as much as possible— keep that identity separate. Even if he caught you looking at the shield more than once. He checked his phone and groaned at the two texts. The one from Clint he welcomed considering it said that you would be home in forty minutes. The other one was from Nat who had decided that Steve had adjusted long enough to now having a child and was ready to get into the dating pool. So he was staring at a text with the attachment of one of the secretaries. He was just going to ignore the text and hoped that Nat got the memo even though he knew she probably wouldn’t, or she would and just didn’t care.

✿

Steve’s birthday rolled around and the headline you said last year was now a real one as the newspapers read: Captain America celebrates Independence Day with reparations. This was the second time actually. The first one was on Juneteenth to black organizations. Steve both times managed to keep you out of the paparazzi, thank goodness. His birthday was a quiet event inside the apartment after the donation fiasco. But it was also quiet because fireworks sounded a lot like gunshots and you were unprepared. They were loud enough to be heard clearly even without your hearing aids in so Steve was now attempting to distract you with cake. The fireworks you could see were fine but the random ones that rang out and weren’t in the direction you were looking scared you, because you couldn’t connect the noise to something safe.

✿

So artistic abilities definitely ended with both of you when it came to pottery. You and Steve only had clay lumps that vaguely resemble mugs. Following the teacher’s advice, you both got off the pottery wheel and went to the canvases that you were good at. You two sat across from each other and started to sketch each other. The pencil sketches were finished when the class was over. You and Steve took the canvases home, wanting to work on them. 

Nick came into the office for a mission report during Steve’s lunch break to see the two of you— lunch in one hand, the other using pastels to color in your drawings of each other. Steve interrupted your drawing to grab your hand and rub multiple pastels on it until finding which combo would create your shade. Nick didn’t want to interrupt and walked out. He would just ask for the report when you went back upstairs for tutoring. 

✿

“Steve, sorry. I got called on a mission too and Sarah was freaking out about going with Laura and the kids to a new place s—”

“Clint, it’s fine. Just where are you taking her?”

“We could only ask your neighbor. It’s not like people don’t know your face now, I mean we didn’t tell her in case she doesn’t but…”

“Don’t be surprised when I get home? Okay, thank you, man.” 

When the mission ended, Steve felt like shit. He called his blonde neighbor and asked her to keep you at her place a little longer. He carefully snuck upstairs and almost made it into the house but he heard your foot shuffles and soon his neighbor’s front door opened. If Steve closed the door in your face, it would break all levels of trust but he was trying to avoid you seeing him busted up. 

“Hey, Babydoll,” he said while keeping his head down as he entered the apartment, leaving the door open for you to follow. 

His attempt was a short-lived success as you ran to his bathroom before he could close the door. You gasped when you saw the cuts and bruises. 

“It’s not as bad as it looks, I promise. I’m fine, Sarah, I was trying not to have you see.” 

You pointed to the toilet and made him sit on it. Steve watched you pull the first aid kit from his cabinet drawer and pull out the hydrogen peroxide and cotton. He grabbed your hand to stop you. 

“You don’t have to—”

“Dad, sit.” 

Steve shut up in an instant, ignoring the sting of the cut over his lip as he tried not to smile too widely. With more patience than he's ever given anyone before, he let you run the pad with hydrogen peroxide over his face. He didn't even open his mouth to argue against the band-aids that were both unnecessary… and Frozen themed.

You were asleep mid-work. Bucky chuckled at the unnatural position and wondered how you could’ve been comfortable enough to even fall asleep. He gently scooped up the papers on your bed, trying not to put them in the wrong order. Bucky caught glimpses of the work as he put it on your desk. Something about gauntlets and stones and you were recording this weird timeline as if you were tracking someone. You were already in pajamas and hair already tied up so all he had to do was reposition you comfortably, into a real sleeping position. Bucky started to head out when he spotted his tactical boots neatly by the dresser. That’s where the other pair was, he had forgotten he took them off in here. He smiled as he saw a pair of your shoes by his— a pair of soft house slippers you wore around the compound instead of real shoes during office hours. The contrast of his hard shoes and your fluffy ones. Bucky sighed and went to the top drawer of the dresser, you had a stack of his clothes in there. He ran downstairs to grab his toothbrush. 

Stark liked you better. That’s what Bucky thought as he washed in your shower. He swore his shower didn’t have that strong of water pressure. When he felt clean from the mission, Bucky slipped on his pajamas and turned off your bedroom light. You didn’t stir as he sunk onto the bed. 

Bucky was unsure what was happening when he felt water hit his chest. The confusion only grew when he looked at the clock on your nightstand reading three in the morning. He became more alert and looked over to see you crying, wrapped up in his arms. Bucky realized his hands had found their way around you despite that not being the way he fell asleep. He pulled back almost immediately. 

“I, I didn’t ask if it was okay. Baby I didn’t mean, please don’t—”

“You stayed.” 

Bucky blinked as he registered your words. You were crying happy tears because he had stayed the night. He wiped your tears with his thumbs and pulled you into his lap.

“Shit, baby, I should’ve stayed a long time ago.”

“It’s fine, Buck. I wanted you to be comfortable.”

“With you. I’m comfortable with you. Can I sleep here again tonight?”

Bucky found his smile return when you nodded.

✿

It was going to be a doctor’s appointment turned vacation. Bucky had to go back to Wakanda to get his arm checked and decided to turn it into a couple’s retreat for you two. The team already knew not to contact him for a mission unless the literal world was ending. 

“Two weeks. Just give me two weeks with my princess, please guys,” Bucky asked as the quinjet was headed home from a recon mission. 

“I think we can stop the bad guys for two weeks without Barnes and if we can’t maybe we should all retire.” Sam clapped Bucky on the back who smiled in appreciation. 

“I’m leaving too. It’s Coop’s birthday, we’re taking the kids to Disney,” Clint said. 

The team exited the elevators and stepped into the common room. They could see you on the couch, asleep. You always tried to work late and stay up whenever you got wind that they were coming home from a mission so you could greet them. It worked about sixty-seven percent of the time. This was not one of those times. The rest of the Avengers watched Bucky crouch down in front of you and lightly shake your shoulder. Your eyes fluttered open and a large smile appeared on your face. 

“You’re back.”

“Just got in, darlin’.” 

Bucky looked down at the journal that was underneath you. It looked relatively new so he assumed it was your personal one. He chuckled as he held it up— the page was smudged from where your face had been rubbing against it, and there was a small drool stain. 

“Slept good?” 

“Oh no,” you grabbed it from him. “Don’t tell me I ruined it.”

The page wasn’t bad. Only the drawings were a little smudge but the drawings weren’t exactly important— just references for a clearer picture. 

“What is it?”

“Infinity Stones… I think, at least that’s what this Asgardian explorer called it but I’m pretty sure he, I think it’s a he, Asgardian names are kind of hard to make out gender but he picked it up from Titans.”

“Infinity Stones?”

“Hmm mmm. They give the wearer God-like powers but would definitely kill most people if all six were used at once. And…”

“Let me guess,” Steve said when you faltered. “Someone’s looking for them?”

“Arn— the explorer guy— says it's a Titan but his descriptions are vague. I’ve been piecing it together but I don’t think the Titan wants it just for power. I think he’s on a mission, something happened. It doesn’t matter though, no one really knows where the stones are… well except for Vis, but the rest are currently lost in location.”

“Well, how about we continue piecing it together after bed, printesa?” 

You nodded and stood up. Gathering your stuff, you let Bucky lead you with his hands on your shoulders towards the elevators. 

“Your room or mine?”

“My floor is closer, printesa.”

✿

Bucky’s suitcase was filled with clothes for the both of you because your suitcase was filled with papers. You also put in a two week vacation form with S.H.I.E.L.D. but the papers were all Infinity Stone related. You felt compelled to figure this out. It was probably nothing considering the planet Titan was apparently wiped out or damn near a few years ago but still. If Arn seemed concerned, you were as well. It would’ve been easier with Thor and Bruce to help you figure out anything— the stones seemed very science based— but they were still gone doing who knows what. You assured Bucky that he and Wakanda were the main focus of your trip and the books were mere background. 

Despite the fact that T’Challa opened outreach programs to the world after the whole Killmonger incident, Wakanda itself didn’t get many tourists— not that they were complaining. And since most of the tourists didn’t stay long, didn’t go very far, and were black, when you guys stepped off the quinjet, Bucky was still greeted with the shouts of random children calling him White Wolf. You also earned a nickname, Little Raven. Amongst the historian, Caliber, and a few others you didn’t care for, Little Raven wasn’t that bad. They called you that because of your cleverness like the bird and because ravens hung around wolves.

“You two need to visit more often!” Shuri practically pounced on you, followed by Okoye. 

“I’ve missed this place, Wakanda is honestly a second home.”

“Then come visit your cousins.”

“My fault, I’m afraid. Missions keep us kind of busy,” Bucky said as he took the suitcases and started walking towards a car. 

You and him were stopped before he could put them in the trunk. 

“Where do you two think you’re going?”

“Our apartment… did you guys sell it?”

“We moved you.”

Okoye took a bag from Bucky and you both followed her. This apartment was a little closer to the palace than your last one. After seeing the place you understood why they moved you guys. The old apartment was a two bedroom— both bedrooms small and made for roommates. This two bedroom was made for an actual couple/small family. One of the rooms was significantly bigger, clearly the master bedroom. It was also a lot nicer than the other place. To the point where for a brief second you and Bucky were concerned it would take up a whole paycheck from one of you, even with the sizable salaries S.H.I.E.L.D. (Tony) provided. T’Challa insisted you guys didn’t have to pay but you two wanted to do things as normal as possible in life and paying for an apartment was something civilians did. 

Shuri was pleased with the tests being run on Bucky. His arm seemed in fine condition as well as his brain, they would try to help him with the nightmares. While he ran tests, you worked on the journals. Bucky came back to the apartment very late to see you on the bed looking at a loose sheet of paper. He walked over and carefully climbed on the bed, not one to mess up your work. You smiled but kept working as Bucky’s weight slowly settled on top of you— he still kept himself propped up a little. Bucky moved your hair out of the way and you almost shuddered as you felt his breath against the back of your neck. 

“Is this okay?”

“I’m working.” 

He backed off and just hung his head over your shoulder to see what you were doing. Bucky watched you finish a sketch of a gauntlet and next to it… a giant purple man?

“Who’s this?”

“Thanos. I think. Another explorer actually gave a name of the Titan and a description. Big, purple, large chin, beady eyes. I’m guessing this is what he looked like.”

“So that’s who wants the stones?”

“His planet was dying, he thought that would make it better. Titan was gone before he could find out, and then he went dark.”

“Dark?”

“The new explorer’s journal. It’s a refugee diary. Thanos couldn’t save his own planet and now wants to save others. He wiped out half their population.”

“Half?!”

“To stop them from overpopulating and dying like Titan. And from what it seems, he’s got a lot of resources to do it. I wish I had his journal, could know exactly what he wants instead of third hand accounts. But Thanos doesn’t strike me as a notebook keeping type, huh?” 

You finished the drawing and showed Bucky more of what you found. He was impressed. Just like with Victor you managed to get into the head of Thanos and figure out what they wanted. You showed him a crude drawing of the universe, your attempt at mapping all the planets outside the solar system and locating Titan— you wanted to give it to Thor, since he trusted you with the Asgard files, you wanted it to be an Asgardian that went back to Titan. Snapping the book shut, you put your work off to the side and turned around underneath Bucky so you could look him in the eye. 

“It’s kind of sad, don’t you think? I mean it’s wrong but he’s trying to fix a problem. He just doesn’t even see that he’s not actually helping.”

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

“Yeah. Still, I wish we could talk to him… help him.”

“Does he want to be helped?”

“I don’t know. But I want to find him and tell S.H.I.E.L.D., if anyone can help it’s the Avengers.”

“You sound like those cheesy skits about us.” 

You batted your eyelashes and sighed dramatically. “Oh thank goodness you’re here, Mr. Winter Soldier. I need an Avenger to save me.”

“Cheesy, darlin’.”

“I’m a damsel. I’m in distress. And I need a strong Avenger to save me.”

You reached up to grab Bucky’s face. He rolled his eyes, laughing, but dropped his head down to kiss you. He pecked your lips once more and then lifted you up once he got off. 

“Tomorrow, do you want to go to the jazz bar?”

“That sounds fun, Buck.”

You two showered together like you almost always did— the exception being when he was covered in blood that wasn’t his own from a mission. You settled easily into Bucky’s right side. He always preferred you on the right since it was his flesh arm. Bucky rubbed your arm until you fell asleep, following shortly after. 

You felt Bucky’s grip tighten slightly and felt movement from underneath you. He was having another nightmare, you could tell from the movement. Without even opening an eye, you stretched your hand and gingerly brushed your fingertips against him until you reached the metal arm. You found that he woke up sooner when you knocked on the metal, the sound of the knocking combined with the touch pulled him into the real world quicker. 

Bucky stilled for a moment and his eyes flashed open. He looked down at you. Your eyes were closed but you were still knocking, unaware that he was awake now. Bucky grabbed your hand to stop it. He watched you sigh as he kissed your knuckles. When he let go, your hand fell to where it was wrapped around his waist before the nightmare had started. You snuggled in harder and were once again out like a light. Bucky just watched you for a moment before closing his eyes and settling back down. You didn’t blink, didn’t complain, and weren’t scared. You just tapped him awake like it was nothing and went back to sleep. For that he was forever grateful. 

✿

Instead of getting a call from the team, you were suddenly face to face with them. Some of them. You didn’t see Peter, Tony, or Clint. 

“Clint’s getting his family back to the farm, we um, don’t know where Stark and the kid are,” Steve said when you pulled back from the hug. 

“Okay, but why are you guys here?”

“How far have you gotten on those stones?” Bruce, who you were shocked to see, asked.

You quickly entered the lab where Shuri was up immediately to see Vision and examine him. 

“Bruce, half of Asgard?” you asked in disbelief. 

“Half of what little was already left. That’s what Thor called me for when we left. They called it—”

“Ragnarok,” you recalled the myths from Arn’s journal. At least you had thought it was myth and legend. 

You shook your head to clear it. Your heart ached for Thor but now was a bigger problem. Now that everyone was settled in the lab, they looked to you… even Shuri. 

“I’m not done but by the time Shuri gets the mind stone out of Vision, I’ll have the whole journal finished, I’m sure… I’ll make sure. You said four days?”

Shuri nodded. 

“Okay, I’ll try to get it done in four days. I’m not really needed for the rest of this right now, I think it’s best if I go home and start.” 

The rest of the team agreed since they would just train with the Dora Milaje and plan for an invasion. 

“Alright. See you at home, Buck.”

“Catch you in a minute, darlin’.” 

Bucky waved and blew you a kiss that you pretended to dramatically catch, an ode to the cheesy damsel in distress joke from the other night. You briskly walked home and pulled out your journal, flipping through what you had done so far. The stones had been tracked, if you had known Thanos was headed your way you would’ve said something. You didn’t have their exact present day location but you did have them tracked up to last year and someone could’ve started to look. But it wasn’t a concern, Earth wasn’t overpopulated. Maybe struggling a little but not overpopulated. Apparently not to Thanos. 

You had various drawings for how to hold all the stones at once to use them. It was just a drawing with no real plans since engineering was Tony’s thing not yours. Explanations of each stone, Thanos’ backstory— as much as you could find, and a map of the universe were also in your journal. 

Now, your focus was on anything that would help them stop Thanos with the other five stones so they could be given to Wanda to destroy. You also needed a backup in case Wanda couldn’t destroy the others for whatever reason— you were sure the stones could destroy each other but what you hadn’t discovered yet was if that would blast Earth into oblivion, a safe option is what you needed to find. 

While you were in the apartment, the others were gathered around Vision. 

“Four days? Not any quicker?” Steve asked Shuri. 

“There’s too many paths. If I mess up on one, it will cause critical failure in Vision.” 

“Alright. Well it’s better than no—”

Shuri, Okoye, and T’Challa’s kimoyo beads rang alarmingly loud. Okoye pulled up a map of Wakanda on her beads and moved it to the large screen.

“Something’s entered the atmosphere.”

“Cap,” Sam’s voice came through everyone’s comm. “We’ve got a problem here.”

The barrier shook as something hit it. Everyone looked at Shuri. There wasn’t going to be much time for the young scientist, they had to act and fast. More and more ships were landing outside the barrier. Bucky cursed in a moment of panic, there was no time to get to you. T’Challa yelled for them to evacuate the city, he had to hope that you would leave with the Wakandans headed for Jabariland. 

“There are two heat signatures at the barrier,” Rhodey’s voice came in as he headed outside to scope the area with Sam. 

“What the hell?” Bucky whispered when they all raced out. Alien dog creatures were shoving themselves at the barrier in attempts to get through. 

“Captain, if these things close in around us, they’re going to get to Vision.” 

“I’m not done!” Shuri yelled. 

“Then we better keep them in front of us,” Steve said. 

“Open the barrier,” T’Challa calmly commanded. 

You heard screaming and then it got eerily silent. You lifted your head from the work to look out the large window. Gasping, you stepped back as an alien hit the top of the barrier but disintegrated. Thanos was here. You scrambled back to your journal. This wasn’t about prevention anymore, this was about reversing. The team always admired your plans and what you managed to figure out. The sinking feeling in your stomach told you that you needed a new plan for when Thanos screws you all over. Your pen flew and you were a little worried that your handwriting would be hard for you to understand later but that wasn’t what mattered. You picked up your phone, there was a special connection to the comms. The minute the phone line went through you started speaking, not caring who picked it up. 

“Don’t let him close his hand! Thanos’ closes his hand and we’re dead.”

“Yeah… we’ve got that.” You heard the grunt of Sam and assumed they were already fighting him. 

Then you heard the yelling of Thor, when did he get back? You couldn’t make out any words he was saying since he wasn’t wearing a comm but it sounded pissed. 

“Where’d he go?” Steve asked. 

“What the hell is happening?” Bruce asked and you desperately wished to see what was happening on the field. 

“Where’d he…” you whispered. “Look! You guys need to find Thanos, it can be stopped if St—”

“Printesa?” 

Bucky called for you along with the rest of the team in the field. The rest of the team that was still alive or non-dusted? They had no clue what was happening. 

“Bucky?” Your voice came out shakily. “I don’t feel well… no, no.”

They couldn’t stop Bucky as he ran. Sam had never seen the man move that fast but it was clear that he could easily keep up with Steve, maybe surpass him. They all heard your voice on the line as you whispered no and they heard the scribbling of something. 

“Bucky, I want you to know that you’ve become an amazing person. Do you hear me, James? I care about you, okay. I care about you so much, James Bar—”

They heard the line go quiet. Then the only sound that came through their comms was Bucky. 

“(Y/N)! Printesa… Shit!” 

The Avengers heard in their comms something smash as they headed towards your apartment. The vase was smashed against the wall when they entered and Bucky was sitting on the couch clutching his cell phone in his hand. He had his hands pressed against his lips and his friends could see the wet tear stains down his face. Without saying anything, Bucky held up the phone and pressed something. 

“Bucky, I want you to know that you’ve become an amazing person. Do you hear me, James? I care about you, okay. I care about you so much, James Bar—” Your voice played out on the phone. 

“She recorded the end of the call and sent it to me.” 

“I’m sorry, Buck.”

Steve spoke up. Even though Bucky wasn’t looking at them, the rest of the team nodded and agreed with Steve’s sentiments. 

“She cared a lot about you, I know you care—”

“No. Damn it, I don’t care about (Y/N). I love her… let’s go, S.H.I.E.L.D. probably wants us back to New York as soon as possible.”

“Bucky, we don’t have to leave right now. If you need a day, we get it.”

“Thanks, Steve, but I don’t think I can be here right now. Printesa’s presence is all… maybe later, but I think for now I need to leave.” 

The team watched Bucky walk onto the quinjet with heavy steps. He didn’t take anything with him but his cell phone that had your last message. He was quiet. And Bucky stayed quiet for all the days to follow, he answered only really when spoken to. The few times he opened up it involved crying to Steve, which usually made him feel worse because Steve was all he had left after he had been told Sam was dusted. Steve didn’t know how to help either. He felt the pain of Sam but of you, it was like losing a friend too. He still had Sharon, luckily, and he knew he would never understand Bucky’s pain on that level. 

Bucky was sitting outside the compound, late at night, like he normally did. He picked at his fingers, debating on whether to play your recording again. He needed to stop is what he told himself but it was your voice. Before Bucky could pick up the phone, a woman landed on the compound setting down a large spaceship. The others joined him outside quickly. The door opened and a very sick near-death looking Tony was being escorted by a blue cyborg/android lady. Steve ran up to Tony to help him down the steps of the ship.

“Couldn’t stop him,” Tony muttered.

“Neither could we,” Steve said as he held onto Tony’s arm. 

“I lost the kid.”

“We lost, Tony.” 

Rhodey pulled up the files onto the holographic screens of the conference room. “It’s been 23 days since Thanos’ snap. World governments are in pieces.”

“He did exactly as he said he was going to do,” Nat started. “Thanos wiped out exactly half of the population.” 

“Where is he now?” Tony asked from his chair. 

Steve sighed. “We don’t know.”

“We don’t know?”

“He opened a portal and walked through. We’ve been hunting Thanos for three weeks. Deep space scans, satellites, we got nothing. Tony you fought him—”

“There was no fight. He dropped a moon on my face,” Tony cut Steve off. “You can’t fight him because he’s unbeatable.” 

“Did he give you any clues, coordinates, anything?” 

“Hmm let me think, oh wait, nothing Steve.”

“Tony now’s not—”

“Don’t tell me what the time is! I watched them all turn to dust. I almost died in space. We lost, Cap. We lost. I’ve got nothing for you. No clues, no strategies, no options. Zero, zip, nada.” 

Tony ripped the IV out of his arm and immediately hit the floor. Pepper and Rhodey laid him down in a bed. Bruce had given him a sedative and he seemed calmer. 

“You guys take care of him. I’ll bring him an elixir when I come back,” Carol said as she started to move toward the door. 

“Where are you going?” Nat asked. 

“To kill Thanos.”

“Hey, we’re usually a team here. I know it’s different for you but we’ve got to work together. We get that it’s more your territory but it’s our fight too.”

“Do you even know where he is?” Rhodey asked. 

“I know people who might.” 

“Don’t bother,” Nebula said. “I know where my father is.”

✿

“Understand this might not work. We’re going in shorthanded. There’s no guarantee this ends any differently than before,” Bruce said. 

“Because before you didn’t have me,” Carol said. 

Rhodey stopped her. 

“Hey, new girl. In case you haven’t noticed, everyone in this ship is ‘bout that superhero life. And if you don’t mind me asking, where the hell have you been this entire time?”

Carol shrugged. “There are a lot of other planets in the universe, not just Earth.”

“Can you both shut the fuck up?” Bucky spat out aggressively. 

Carol and Rhodey instantly got quiet. The whole ship got a little quiet. They all lost people, they all lost you but Bucky was invested in you and they had to remember that. He thought he lost everything with Steve, and then he really did with HYDRA, thought so again when you could’ve died at the hands of Winter Soldier, and now you were actually gone. This was his chance and he was on edge and antsy, any little annoyance made him snap.  

Carol blasted beams at the hut that Thanos was in. She held him in a chokehold while Bruce, in the Iron Hulk suit, and Rhodey held him down. It took everyone to fight and pull off the gauntlet. Bruce finally pulled off the gauntlet.They watched it clank to the floor stoneless. 

“Where are they?” Steve asked, holding the edge of his shield to Thanos’ throat.

“The universe required correction. And once fixed, the stones became nothing more than a temptation.”

Bruce let go of Thanos and punched him across the room. “You murdered trillions!”

“You should be grateful,” Thanos said. 

“Where are the stones?” 

“Gone. Reduced to atoms.”

“You’re lying. You used them two days ago.”

“I used the stones to destroy the stones, nearly killing me. But it had to be done. I am inevitable.”

Thor screamed as he sliced off Thanos’ head before any of the others could stop him. 

“What did you do?” Rocket asked as they looked at Thano’s detached head. 

“I went for the head,” Thor said without absolutely no feeling. He walked out of the hut. 

“So what now?”

“Now?” Steve said. “Now we have to move on… Buck, where are you going?” 

“The ship. We get back, you drop me off in Wakanda. You said we move on, this is me moving on.” 

The team watched him stalk out of the hut and take himself to the ship. 

✿

“My Queen, we’ve gotten the attackers at the border… they’re Americans mainly and a few others,” Okoye said to Ramonda. 

After T’Challa and Shuri were dusted, Wakanda asked for Ramonda to step up and lead. No one dared challenge, even after she almost begged. But she pushed through her own grief to lead her people. 

“Take them to Sergeant Barnes for questioning.”

“The White Wolf is still on his mission, Your Highness.”

Bucky threw the smugglers into the back of the giant armored van and got back into the passenger's seat. W’Kabi started up the van and they drove back to Wakanda. After checking that the prisoners were all locked up, Bucky headed back with W’Kabi to the palace to report to Okoye and Queen Ramonda. 

“I’ll get to the attackers on Friday. They’re probably working for someone else.”

“Thank you, James,” Ramonda said. “Will you be okay tomorrow?”

The three native Wakandans looked at him. Bucky swallowed and shifted in his spot, it would be the anniversary of the dusting. Five years and it was well known that the former Winter Soldier never took it too well. The only thing he wanted to do was drink himself into forgetfulness when the day came around and getting drunk was the one thing he couldn’t do. He usually went to the outskirts of town and returned early in the morning to do his job, acting like nothing occurred the night before.

“I will be, I think I’m going to stay at home actually.”

“That seems like a good idea, we’ll leave you to it.” 

Bucky nodded and proceeded to walk out of the throne room before Okoye stopped him. “W’Kabi and I are having a simple dinner tomorrow. Would you like to join us?” 

“I don’t… maybe I should. Okay, that sounds nice, thank you.”

The apartment was too empty when he returned. Bucky knew it was unhealthy to stay but he couldn’t bring himself to move apartments. All of your stuff he kept in the master bedroom and he moved into the smaller guest room. Bucky washed off and sunk into the small bed. 

He looked over at the clock. 4 a.m. The sheets were wracked with sweat from his nightmare. He sat up and looked around the dark room. Grabbing his phone, Bucky opened to his messages and searched for a text he hadn’t played since getting on a quinjet to Wakanda. 

“Bucky, I want you to know that you’ve become an amazing person. Do you hear me, James? I care about you, okay. I care about you so much, James Bar—” 

The tears rolled down his face and Bucky clutched his phone in his right hand. The only reason he wasn’t throwing it was because it held your last voice message. He got up slowly, everything felt numb. After getting out the shower and changing the sheets, Bucky let his eyes wander to the door he’s kept closed for five years. He approached it carefully and slowly as if there was a feral tiger behind the door. The dust that was gathered flew up before resettling as Bucky entered the room. His fingers dusted across every surface, stopping at a picture frame. Sam had taken it— you and Bucky, asleep on the couch. His dog tags, that you had stopped constantly tucking in, caught a flash on the camera. 

Bucky set down the picture and kept looking around. It was all your stuff or things he had bought you yet it felt so foreign somehow. Your phone laid dead on the nightstand along with your family’s tags. Aside from occasional calls and visits to Steve and Natasha, Bucky didn’t really see the rest of the team. However your family, what was left, he made sure to always call. Cookouts were way more somber and he knew it when Ella sat next to him two years ago and started asking about you and him in a casual, almost friendly way. Your mom and dad were both still alive. The third cookout when Bucky showed up again, the entire family knew what was up even if he didn’t. Bucky was in deep. And he knew it when at the fourth cookout, your mom and dad gave Bucky their rings. It was a symbolic gesture since he’d never be able to give you one but Bucky wore them like he used to wear his tags, always and tucked under his shirt. 

Finally his eyes landed on your journal that he had set on the bed. Bucky sat down on the bed and picked it up gingerly. The same way you never looked at Bucky’s personal notebooks, he never looked at yours. But just this once, he opened the pages. The book almost flew from his hands when the first page showed your drawing of the Infinity Stones. The reason they were in this damn mess. But Bucky persisted and kept thumbing through, reading the pages just to look at your handwriting. His phone rang and he was brought out of his trance, taking your notebook with him to go answer it. 

“Steve… Do you know what day it is? If you’re fucking playing with me I swear… okay, I’ll be there soon.”

✿

“Alright. We’ve got the how now we just have to figure out the when and where. We have limited particles to retrieve the stones. This has to be perfect,” Steve said. 

Tony paced back and forth. The team was pulling up a hologram to try and place the stones, when Bucky walked in. He noticed them before they saw him.