𝗦 𝗜 𝗟 𝗩 𝗘 𝗥

25 | "I lost my phone."

a/n: okay, so, lots of kisses this chapter (yay). also long chapter so get some snacks, maybe something playing in the background. how are you guys feeling today?

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Jada sinks to the floor, her legs giving out as the adrenaline leaves her body. She presses her back against the wall, the cold tiles offering no comfort to her weary bones. With a shaky exhale, she closes her eyes. The events of the past few hours play over and over in her mind, but exhaustion quickly takes over, pulling her into a restless sleep.

It feels like only moments have passed when she hears someone calling her name, a voice cutting through the haze of her dreams. A gentle tap on her shoulder pulls her further from unconsciousness.

"Jada... Jada, wake up."

Her eyes flutter open, the world around her blurry and disoriented. Slowly, Steve's familiar face comes into view. His concerned eyes meet hers, softening when she whispers out his name. "Steve?"

He smiles, leaning in close, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Can you hear me?"

She nods weakly, trying to focus, her body still aching. With his strong arms, he helps her up, steadying her against his chest as she winces from the pain.

"I was waiting for you to come," she whispers, her voice hoarse, still groggy from sleep.

Steve's smile deepens, his blue eyes tender. He plants a soft kiss on her lips, easing the pain in her chest. "I'm sorry," he murmurs, brushing his thumb against her cheek. "I'm sorry for arguing with you before."

Jada shakes her head, her hand resting on his chest. "It's okay." Her voice is quiet, but her heart feels lighter, the argument forgotten in comparison to everything that's happened. She kisses him again, slow and sweet, savoring the feeling of his lips on hers. It's comforting, warm — definitely what she needed. He's also a surprisingly good kisser for an old man so that's a plus.

When they pull apart, she searches his eyes, still struggling to piece together the chaos. "What happened?" she asks, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Steve lets out a heavy sigh, glancing toward the window where faint smoke still lingers in the air. "The attack came out of nowhere," he explains, his voice steady but strained. "We weren't prepared. Jane told us what happened and where you might be, so I came looking for you."

Jada's eyes widen. "Is Jane safe?" she asks quickly.

He nods, his hands moving to rub her arms reassuringly. "She's fine. She got out before things got worse."

A relieved sigh escapes her lips, and she wraps her arms around him, pulling him close. She lets herself rest against him, breathing him in, grounding herself in his presence.

Steve pulls back slightly, his hand resting at the small of her back. "We need to get going," he says gently, his tone urgent. "It's not safe here."

Jada huffs, leaning into him as he supports her weight. "I lost my phone," she mutters. She slings her arm around his shoulder, letting him carry her as they begin to move.

Steve chuckles softly. "We'll deal with that later," he reassures her, his voice warm as he adjusts his grip to steady her.

Steve carefully guides Jada through a series of hidden tunnels beneath the city, their footsteps echoing softly as they navigate the dark, narrow passageways. Every step is labored for her, but she pushes through the pain. Eventually, the dim light at the end of the tunnel leads them into a large, abandoned warehouse.

Inside, some of the team are gathered, the tension in the air palpable as they huddle around makeshift maps and monitors. Clint is the first to notice them, his sharp eyes immediately drawn to Jada's injured form. Without hesitation, he rushes over, slipping his arm around her waist to support her from the other side.