Lightning Girl

Lollipop Dance

Men laughed drunkenly as they sang songs praising beer on a night off of the war. Dim lights and soft conversations between couples completed the atmosphere of the crowded bar. 

Steve smiled to himself as Bucky and a couple of other men joked as they downed beer after beer. Steve hadn't touched his wine, but would occasionally take a sip.

He hadn't ever really quite had a night like this before. Bucky had done this several times and had invited Steve along, but he had always declined.

"Boys!" a voice called exuberantly. 

Their group turned to the voice to see the one and only Katie Harper standing proudly. She wore a suit jacket and pants and her wavy blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Behind her, posing in the same way, were two teenagers. Both with the same blonde hair but the girl had green eyes and the boy had deep black. 

"May I introduce my half-siblings, Becca Armstrong and Nathan Greene," Katie said with a flourish, gesturing to the two teens. 

Steve stood and stepped forward to shake their hands but they both just screeched and hopped up and down. 

Katie sighed and grabbed each of her siblings by the collar and held them still. "Sibs. What did I say about how you act in public?"

"To not do anything that you wouldn't do in front of Hades," Nathan replied, ashamed.

Becca nodded enthusiastically and waved her hands around in front of her. 

Katie nodded. "Yes. I am well aware of the fact that he is Captain America."

"And I thought you were joking when you said you knew him!" Nathan sassed, crossing his arms across his chest. 

Becca waved her hands again. 

"Becca, Nathan! When have I ever lied to you? And Becca, I know none of them know ASL but you do not need to say so crude things," Katie chastized.

The soldiers glanced between the three of them, even Becca who continued to wave her hands. 

Katie eventually gave in and turned to Steve. "These are my half-siblings. Becca's deaf. Nathan's a pile of manure, but I have to put up with him anyway."

Nathan shot Katie a glare and held out his hand for Steve to shake. When Steve grasped his hand, Nathan shook it with vigor. "Name's Nathaniel Ajax Greene. I'm 5 foot 4 and not an inch mean." (A/N: did you guys see what I did there?) 

"Nice to meet you," Steve replied, voice shaking slightly as Nathan continued to shake his hand. "Bud, you can let go of my hand now."

Nathan nodded and quickly released his hand. 

Steve turned to Becca. "And you?"

Becca turned to Katie and waved her hands. 

Katie cleared her throat. "My name is Rebecca Medusa Armstrong. Yes, that's my real name. I don't need you men telling me my name is stupid. I've had plenty have people telling me that already," Katie translated.

"Oh," Steve said and shook Becca's hand. She seemed a lot more docile than Nathan but she clearly took some lessons from her older sister. 

Bucky leaned forward on the small wooden table. "How old are you guys?" he asked. 

"15." Nathan answered proudly, "One of the oldest dem-" Katie interrupted him with a smack to the back of his head.  "-kids in our family."

Bucky turned to Katie. "You brought 15-year-olds to a bar?"

Katie shook her head. "Nah. 15-year-olds brought me to the bar. And now I will stay and they will leave. Per the agreement." she glared at her siblings, "Isn't that right?"