Frail heart

Disclosure

Chapter twenty

Steve could admit that he was having doubts about following this most recent lead, but he wanted answers and this seemed to be the only way he was going to get them. He had almost immediately ruled you out of the mission, but then he remembered that you knew more than anyone about what you might be facing. The way you reacted to the location of the building on the map only proved this point.

You were an asset; anyone could admit that. You had all the necessary skills to protect yourself and the team, but Steve feared that, in this moment, you were also the target of whoever was behind this all. This exact piece of information had him deliberating on whether you accompanying the team on the mission was the right idea, or if he should simply just let you tell them what you knew and remain in the confines of the building. He knew you wouldn't take that option very lightly, but sacrifices had to be made to prevent fatality.

The team had the go-ahead from Fury and backup on standby if needed, courtesy of Maria, but the nerves were still prevalent within the blonde. Despite this, he could understand that this wasn't a decision he could make on his own.

"I want to be there."

Natasha sympathises with you, but her decision had to be supported by rationality, not emotion, "I know, but we don't know what we're walking into. It's too risky just hurling you into a place you don't know."

There's a silent disagreement behind your eyes and Natasha picks up on it quicker than you would have liked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion, "What?"

You look over at Steve for help, but you're met with the same look Natasha is giving you. You tap your hands against the table as a means to gather your thoughts, and it proves somewhat effective, you're just worried about how the two people with their gazes set on you might take it. "I grew up there. Where the marker is."

That was the last thing they were expecting you to say, and it shows in the way they both slump back into their seats, "What?"

"I grew up in Detroit, and I have a small suspicion that the marker might lead exactly to where that was."

"You mean your hometown?"

You nod, worrying the inside of your cheek between your teeth as you wait for the silence to be broken. When it isn't, you resort to a hurried apology, "I'm sorry, I should have told you."

Natasha is quick to ease your worries, shaking her head as she thinks, "No, this is really beneficial actually." She sits up straighter in her seat, eyes flickering back and forth between you and Steve, "If that's where you grew up, then you'll know it inside out, right?"

"I don't know... It's been years since I've seen that place." You honest in your words, you could barely remember anything from before hydra, you couldn't say for certain you'd be able to navigate

She shrugs, "Sure, but when you see it again, maybe it'll bring it all back."

You consider her words, and they make sense, but Steve isn't convinced just yet, "But what if it doesn't?"

All heads in the room swivel to the figure who has just strolled through the door, cup of coffee in hand, "Then we go home. It's an open space, what's the worse that can happen? The odds are in our favour."

Natasha nods along with Tony, raising her eyebrows in expectation at Steve, "It's a solid plan, Steve."

Steve pushes himself up and out of his seat, tugging down his shirt that had rode up. The other occupants of the room watch him in anticipation of his answer, after all, he had the last say. The suspense was short lived however as his usual authoritative voice pierced the charged air in the room, "Let's end this."