Lieutenant - Daughter of the Captain

Chapter 42.5 - Cecmpa

Carter could only nod and wipe away her tears as she moved back to sit in Steve's arms.

They didn't speak as the lifeboat docked and shield agents began guiding the civilians onto the hellicarrier. She let her dad carry her on, following the EMTs as they brought Pietro to the infirmary.

Carter watched them silently as they continued working, hooking him up to machines and IVs.

Carter...is he okay? Where is he? Where are you?

Wanda's voice echoed in her head, panicked and teary, traveling with a wave of concern.

Infirmary, with Pietro, they're patching him up.

No hesitation.

On my way

"Kid, you okay?" Steve spoke up, holding her hand to keep the world out, but noticing the glow in her eyes, "Do you need your EARS?"

"It was just Wanda," she said, shaking her head. "She's on her way down,"

He nodded, rubbing his thumb gently on the back of her hand.

She smiled slightly at the action, "Dad?"

He smiled, "Yeah?"

"Sorry for stepping on the rock," She joked somberly, still observing the medics and doctors.

He chuckled, shaking his head slightly, "I would scold you, but you saved three lives out there..." he met her gaze. "You did better than I could have hoped. A good soldier knows when to follow orders. A hero knows how to trust their gut. Disobey orders to do the right thing. I'm proud of you, kid. You became a hero today," He finished, his eyes softening.

Carter wiped a start tear from her face, "Thank you, that's uh...good to hear," She sniffed, smiling at him and sending a wave of gratitude and joy to him.

A second later, Wanda burst through the door.

"Oh my god," She gasped, spotting her twin and observing all the medics and machinery in use as they worked. Her eyes found Carter and Steve, and she rushed over to hug the girl. "Carter, oh god, thank god you're okay," She said, hugging her tighter.

"Pietro will be too, Wanda, don't worry," Carter reassured her, hugging her back and feeling their powers come into focus.

They separated, but the woman kept a grip on her hand.

"I know, I know, the doctors are very easy to read," She whispered the last part to Carter and Steve making them chuckle. "Captain," She acknowledged him with a nod.

"Please, call me Steve," He said, standing and glancing at Carter.

"Go," The two responded, both reading his thoughts.

He chuckled again, "I just have some briefing to do with Fury and the others, we'll have to go over things, but it can wait until he's stable. Keep me updated," He said before making his way out and leaving the two to wait as the medics finished up.

A few minutes of silence passed before a thought popped into Carter's head.

What does cecmpa mean?

Wanda looked at her, amused.

Cecmpa? Do you mean what Pietro calls you? 

Carter nodded, confused about why she hadn't asked before.

The woman smiled.

In sokovian, it means 'sister'. You are one of us, Carter. It took him a bit to realize it, but when you used your abilities on us, you brought back many happy memories that we had forgotten. He has not forgotten that, and he has made it his mission to treat you like the little sister we've never had.

A tight feeling grew in Carter's throat. She looked at Pietro again, recalling every time he had called her...his sister.

She couldn't believe it. In less than a week, her life had been forever altered. She'd begun to manage and gain some control over her powers. She'd started calling Steve 'dad'. She'd met two people who had both been given abilities by the Mind Stone, and they had become her family.

She wondered if this is how her life would be. A collection of milestones that astronomically change her perspective and her life in a matter of weeks, months, or even days.

Her life is anything but normal. And she used to want that. Stability, routine, casual existence. But things had changed. She was becoming an Avenger. She had the strangest, most dysfunctional family ever, but it was still a family. And she would be grateful for whatever milestone came next, because maybe...just maybe, her family would grow a little more, and she would grow with it.

"Cecmpa..." She whispered out loud, gaining Wanda's attention, "...I like it,"

Short update, but as we shift from one movie to the next I wanted to give a little update on Carter's thoughts, perspectives, and expectations.

And if you know what's coming...
You know she could not be more wrong.
C.B.K.