Tess (A Dark!SteveRogers AU)

Chapter 20

"Almost had him the other night, then your sister decided to get drunk and flash her titties at me". John took a swig of whiskey from the bottle and stared hard at Brock. "To say I'm pissed is an understatement Rumlow, you promised me her".

The bottle slammed down hard onto the table.

Brock rolled his eyes. "Relax, you'll get Tess - clearly if you found nothing at his place then he's stashing it elsewhere".

"I want him dead Rumlow, I can't just shoot the damn blacksmith, questions will be raised - we need a new plan. You told him that you needed his gang for back up? So stage some fake shit that's about to go down and lure him and his friends there". John fined. "We've been planning this shit for too long and I'm getting bored".

If Tess ever found out that her brother had been plotting with Walker to pull this off, then she'd go mad. She had been pissed off enough at the fact that she'd had to marry Steve, but to know that it was all because of this? To allow the Hydra gang their pardon in Coalstone? Well...Brock didn't know what she'd think. He just wanted a better chance for them all, more opportunities - and Walker? Well, he was corrupt on the inside, even if he didn't show it on the outside to the town, he had a hold over. With Walker's pardon, Steve's name dragged through the mud and him finally dead as a doornail, he could have the prize that was Tess, as well as the backup of Brock and his gang to protect the town from other bandits. 

"You'll get your cut, everything that Rogers looted once that bullet's in his head". Brock reassured him. "I was kinda hoping that Tess would've shot him herself by now, but it seems not to be the case".

John snorted. "She's mellowed, caught the pair fucking on his workbench this morning - if he's not dead by the end of the week then I'm gonna be shooting you alongside him".

Brock hadn't pondered on whether his sister would end up actually liking Rogers, but the fact that she did? They needed to get this over and done with. 

"He's a dead man walking John - I'll go see him tomorrow and ask for his 'help'. You wanna be the one to pull the trigger or me?"

"At this rate I couldn't give a shit, send me a message once you've talked with him". Walker downed the last of the whiskey and got up, making his way out of the saloon and riding off back to Coalstone. 

He would see Steve Rogers was dead and Tess Rumlow was his bride before the week was out. 

**

Tess wandered the prairie early one morning, staying close to town. Sleep was a little hard to come by currently and Steve had something to do with that. 

Now, as she walked on, she saw a red-haired woman sat outside of her home. 

Wanda Maximoff. 

It had to be. 

Nat had mentioned her to Tess when she'd arrived, stating that she was the one to go to for healing potions and whatnot. She lived in solitude and Tess now thought of how nice but also lonely that could probably be. 

"Tess Rogers..." She now heard her name being called and looked over, seeing Wanda now standing on her porch watching her. 

She frowned and walked over. "Who's asking?" 

"Not asking. But I know" Wanda told her. "I've seen what happens..." 

"Look, I know you probably have been sniffing some of those potions you apparently make? But I can tell you now, it was probably a hallucination". 

Wanda looked at her. "Think what you like, but it doesn't stop the fact that he will kill you". 

"Well, whoever 'he' is, tell him that he can take his best shot". She smiled and turned, beginning to walk away.

"Your son wouldn't like that..." 

Tess stopped in her track and now turned back to Wanda. "I'm...I'm not..." 

"You'll have a son, the image of his father with all the attitude and confidence of his mother..." Wanda said, her words now drawing Tess back to her. "But you won't see him grow...not unless you stop him..." 

"Who? My son?" 

"Walker". 

Tess was silent. "How much have you seen?" 

"Enough to know that a single shot will strike you down - unless you get to him first". 

"Do you know when this happens?" She now swallowed

Wanda shook her head. "Not all the details are as clear as some, but your son? He is only young when it happens. It's unclear just how young though". 

Tess nodded silently, taking it all in. She could try and say that perhaps Wanda was a little mad, but her words stuck something hard. "I should go, but...if I end up changing what you've seen? Getting to Walker first? Will they still hang me?"

"I don't know..." 

She accepted the answer and began to make her way back to the town. Wanda's words never leaving her. 

If she didn't kill John Walker? Then he'd kill her...