The Twin Flame: Grumpy x Sunshine

Gold Rush

"I don't like that falling feels like flying 'til the bone crush. Everybody wants you, but I don't like a gold rush..."

You didn't hate places. Most definitely not entire cities, but you were glad to be leaving Berlin again.

You reconciled that at least this time you weren't leaving in handcuffs.

Though you rationally knew it had nothing to do with the city of Berlin, and everything to do with the choices and decisions you made in your life, it seemed like Berlin never had anything particularly good in store for you.

-

"You okay?"

"I'm not the one that got pushed down an elevator shaft," you quip.

"Why'd you go after-" Steve starts, a concerned look painting his face.

"I think you're right, Steve," you blurt.

"Right about?"

"He hesitated. Your friend, I don't- I don't know, but he hesitated."

"Hold on, hold on, just walk me through exactly what happened," Steve prompts.

You nod, taking a large gulp of air. "I was just down the hallway with Nat when the power went down, and I saw him tackle Sam down. He pushed you down the elevator, Nat went one way. And I know I'm supposed to be staying out of it, but I followed him."

"And?"

"His arm, it's made of vibranium like your shield. He heard me coming from behind him, I sort of grabbed his arm. I swear I wasn't trying to shove him that hard, but he fell down some stairs, his head hit one of the steps so I went to make sure I didn't, you know?" you insinuate with a wince. Steve nods, waiting for you to continue. "But when I went to look, he sorta popped back up. Steve, he could've killed me right there. I know that he could've, but he didn't. He just watched me for a second, and then he took off again."

"He hesitated," Steve murmurs under his breath.

"I know what he did to Nick, Steve," you remorsefully mumble. "I wouldn't be saying anything that I didn't really believe."

"And what do you believe?" Steve gently asks.

"He just, he looked..." you falter, fumbling for an accurate portrayal of a moment that was so fleeting but carried so much weight. Steve catches your eye again, silently urging you on. "He looked trapped."

"Want to tell me what the hell that was about?" Tony furiously questions as he strides into the room.

You already had the inkling that Tony saw your actions, or more accurately, your inaction earlier. You just hoped that he would've taken that as you being scared in the face of the Winter Soldier, but from the tone of his words you know that he knows there was more happening. You immediately begin apologizing profusely, "I'm so sorry, Tony. I guess I just- I hesitated-"

"No, I saw you. On the staircase, you had him and you let him go, and I want to know why!" Tony demands, his voice seething with rage.

"Tony," Steve chides, a little taken aback by Tony's vitriol that had never been directed at you.

"I already told you -" you start.

"You're a terrible liar, you know that? How about you try the truth this time!?"

"Tony," Steve admonishes once again.

Your eyes remain downcast as you finally admit what ran through your mind as the Winter Soldier stood in front of you while you did nothing to capture him. "He's a person, Tony. Just a person."