Lieutenant - Daughter of the Captain

Chapter 16.0 - Shwarma

Shawrma.

It's not as gross as it sounds, though difficult to eat while you're holding onto someone, as the girl soon learned.

Her and Natasha ended up resorting to using forks, which made the process much easier.

The Avengers didn't talk much, they simply enjoyed each other's company and ate their food.

Natasha sat to her left, while Steve sat to her right. She could feel him glancing at her, but couldn't bother to ask him what he was thinking.

But apparently she wasn't the only one who noticed.

"So kid, what're we gonna name you?" Tony piped up, glancing from me to Steve.

Everyone else at the table perked up, most seeming confused by his question.

"I am confused, did you not name her The Lieutenant, Stark?" Thor voiced his thoughts, confirming the facial expression he held.

"Not that name, point break, her real name," Tony clarified, looking around at the alarmed faces at the table.

"You don't have a name?" Clint asked her, and she shook her head, still not interested in speaking.

Steve was tense beside her, and she knew he wanted to voice his thoughts.

So, she did the one thing she could think of. She reached her hand out to his, letting go of Natasha's just as she made contact with his.

The transition wasn't nearly as rough as before, so she recovered quickly, wincing from the brief pressure on the fog but feeling it fade instantly.

He was sad, and...guilty...

She looked into his eyes, urging him to speak with her questioning gaze as the group watched. He sighed.

"S.H.I.E.L.D expects her to go with me," he stated, not breaking eye contact with her, "But you said it yourself, kid...I'm not exactly your...family..." he spoke with a nervous and sad tone, and the others couldn't help but pity their situation.

Surprisingly, it was Bruce who spoke next.

"But you're the closest thing to it..." He said matter-of-factly, "You're literally her only flesh-and-blood, I know I'd wanna adopt her if I were you," He continued after earning looks from the group.

The girl considered his words, not looking at anyone. Where she understood his point, the word 'Adopt' immediately put her on edge.

She felt like this conversation was far too one-sided. Here she sat, with people she barely knew, discussing things like her future and her relationship with the donor of her DNA, and them naming her...

She could feel herself become overwhelmed and frustrated, and she nudged Natasha lightly with her knee. The woman to one look at her, before glancing around the group.

"Steve, why don't you two have this conversation between the two of you," She urged, meeting his eyes and nodding to the girl.

He didn't need to be told twice, the panic that was building inside her flowed into him, and he wasn't sure how to fix it besides separating her from the group.

So he pushed his chair out, and lead her to the Shwarma restaurant's outside seating, having to prop up the table and chairs before being able to sit, side by side, peering out at the ruined street.

The two took a minute to relax, their linked hands having fueled the panic in both of them.

When the silence was broken, it was Steve who spoke first.