Lieutenant - Daughter of the Captain

Chapter 30.0 - Maximov

"Tony says the afterparty will be low-key," Steve tried to reassure her.

She continued to glare at him. Further expressing her thoughts on the idea of her going any aspect of Saturday's festivities.

Outsiders were going, so she wouldn't.

"Just tell him you'll stop by, even if you don't. It's just going to be us who live in the Tower, he gave me his word," He waited for her expression to change, and he ended up staring her down.

It felt like minutes before she broke. With a sigh, she turned around to sink a throwing knife into the target fifty feet away.

He patted the back of her shoulder, letting her throw the other five before he found the courage to speak again.

"Tony and Banner are studying the Scepter, and then it's off to Asgard with Thor," He informed her, gauging her reaction.

"The enhanced, she was made using the Scepter," It was her only response.

Steve frowned, "That's what they think. Do you?"

"Yes," She hesitated, "I think that's what I felt...the night that it..." She hadn't said it out loud, only contemplated it in her head.

"You think you felt the Scepter giving her those abilities?" He asked, processing the new information.

She nodded, going to retrieve her knives.

"I think there a connection between us," She returned and started tucking the knives back into their sleeve "A...link established through the Scepter. I've been...I've heard a voice in the back of my head-"

"You've been hearing voices?" Steve interrupted her, knowing she was paying enough attention to read his lips.

"One voice. The first time was that last session with Banner...the day before my birthday," She explained, waiting for him to respond.

His frown deepened, but he nodded for her to continue.

"It was a woman, and she seemed as confused as I was," She recalled with a laugh, "The connection was weak, it was like an echo. But when I tried to reach out with my abilities..."

"It fried your tech," He finished for her, understanding swimming with the almost angry concern in his eyes.

She nodded, not feeling the need to respond verbally. She tried to convey with her eyes the confusion she'd felt, her reasoning for not telling him.

And it worked.

His face softened, and he took a seat on the leather bench that was beside him, gesturing for her to sit as well.

She rolled up the set of knives and tucked them away, before going and straddling the end of the bench- something she did often so she didn't have to turn her head to watch someone talk.

"When did you last hear them?" Steve asked calmly.

She sighed, "I turned off my E.A.R.S. and reached out while you guys were off on mission," She rattled off, speaking quickly so she couldn't stop herself. She knew he would be pissed.

His jaw ticked and he took one of his fire-extinguishing breaths before asking, "What happened?"

"I got a response. She asked who I was, and I asked it back. But then..." She hesitated, recalling the anger she felt when they'd uttered the last word before she'd reactivated her E.A.R.S.

"What is it?" He prompted gently, already worried about the outcome af the interaction.

"She said 'The Avengers'..." She frowned, "I don't think she meant to say it to me, I think the connection was strong enough that I could read anything she though. But she was...angry," Carter explained, "I felt it," She watched Steve's face fall as he processed the information.