A Love Like Ours

THIRTY THREE

The morning after Thanksgiving, Wakanda

Steve stirs awake as his 4:15am alarm goes off, Responding with the voice command 'Steven Grant Rogers, Awake and ready for the day.'

Yesterday was possibly the most difficult day he's had since first landing in Wakanda.

Assuming this would be the case, Ayo pushed him harder in their training throughout the entire day, And T'Challa even joined them for a bit of sparring outside at sunset.

But as Steve watched the gorgeous orange and red sky swirl together over the breath taking Wakanda mountains, His relentless mind kept drifting to how he wished he could share the view with his Ana.

And whenever his mind would drift, He'd end up taking a blow by someone's fist, Or the rounded edge of a spear.

After having pleasant dreams of her and Rosie all nightlong, He can take it no longer.

Pulling his phone from the bedside drawer, He brings himself to sit with his feet firmly on the ground as he opens his various social media apps, Hoping to find a picture of how they spent yesterday.

He just wants to see them happy.

Even though he know it will only break his heart further.

Finally opening Facebook, The first post on his feed is Bruce Banner.

A selfie taken by Vision as he extends his arm out to capture the entire group at a dining room table he's never seen before, With Bucky holding his daughter up proudly, His heart swells seeing her adorable Turkey onesie, A small smile spreading briefly across his lips, Until his eyes wander to the left, And he sees it.

The gruesome, Half healed, Bruised scar running along the side of Anastasia's otherwise perfect face.

"Thanksgiving in the suburbs, What could be more perfect? Thank you all so much for a beautiful holiday!"

Is what the post is captioned, Not that Steve's glistening eyes read it.

Frozen as he stares down at the woman he loves, Replaying the night he tossed her like a rag doll into a bed of glass over and over in his head.

Her ear piercing shriek ringing in his ears, Causing him to go completely deaf to the knocking on his suite door.

Frustrated by her first few attempts being ignored, Ayo kicks open the door and comes charging inside to stand at his feet.

"You are not ready. Why?"

"I- I, Uh..." He stammers, his eyes still fixated on the illuminated screen as she snatches it from his hand.

"Ah, White Wolf. I take it that is Anastasia beside him?" She asks, Shutting the phone off and tossing it back into the opened drawer.

"Her face..." He croaks out.

"What?"

"Her f-face... I-I... I did that... T-the scar..."

She eyes him suspiciously, Squatting down to meet his nearly blackened eyes from how dilated his pupils are.

"Do you feel guilty?"