For the Love of a Patriot || 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 ✔️ [#wattys 2018]

16 | Give Thanks Pt. 3

'I'm in so much fucking trouble...' I thought as I bit the crook of my index finger, nervously.

"That is the face of someone who knows she's in trouble!" My father chuckled and I buried my face in my hands.

Mother fuckers and cheese I was an idiot.

"It's been a while, Mr. Bennett." Steven put his hand out and my father shook it with a smile.

"What's it been, four years? You look spiffy for a man who's only been out the ice for six." My father shook his head and I went back to face palming.

Robert, or Bobby as people liked to call him, Bennett became a mechanic after he retired. He just couldn't let that good technical intellect go to waste, especially since he formally worked as SHIELD's lead weapons specialist.

That's right, my father designed guns and shit for SHIELD.

He started way before I was born, even before my eldest brother. Even before he and mother got together. He and Fury went way back. I assumed my mother never knew, always thought he was some sort of R&D department worker. The secrets put quite a strain on their relationship.

They were separated.

The only two people who'd for sure known about my father's real occupation were Chris and myself. We'd found out the same way. He was driving me to school when I was nine and we just decided to follow him to his job. Obviously that led to Christopher becoming an agent even despite my father's strong objections.

I stayed out of it.

He retired from his job four years ago.

"Around that time, yes. How's retirement treating you?" Steven inquired politely.

"Ok...Rachel needs a drink..." I ran my hands over my face. "You guys go ahead and talk, I'm gonna go find some bleach to choke on..." my cheeks began burning with a blush and I turned to walk away. "Yikes." I said walking down the hall to the foyer where I left my bag with my presents for the kids.

Walking past the living room, I paused at the sound of the laughter of a child and an old woman. "Bibi?" I turned the corner to see my grandmother holding my nephew Elliot. She was wearing a purple head wrap made of kente cloth. Her facial features were twisted in a beauteous expression of joy and it made my cheeks feel hot. Sitting next to her was Elliot's dad, Devon, and his wife Naomi. She was speaking to my brother in Swahili and he was laughing and translating for his wife.

My grandmother'a gaze landed on me. "Mtoto nyota!" She exclaimed, excitedly holding her arms out.

I smiled widely. She'd called me her Star Child. "Bibi! I missed you!"

Naomi took Elliot out of her lap and my grandmother shot up with lightning speed. Must've been that Kenyan and Wakandan  blood.

"Wewe ni kupata kubwa, nyota!" *You are getting bigger, Star!* She pulled away and looked me up and down with awe. I laughed. "I'm just as big as I was last time. I'm still twenty six, you know."

She laughed, nodding. Bibi did understand English, in fact she used to teach it back in Kenya, but ever since my Babu died, she stopped speaking the language altogether. Now it was left to her son, us five Bennett kids, and occasionally mother to know exactly whatever the hell she was saying. It was her favorite game to play.

"Nyota, mimi nina akimaanisha mgongo wako. Wewe wamekuwa wakifanya?" *Star, I'm referring to your backside. You have been working out?* She looked to the side of me and I let out a loud guffaw. "Bibi, you are wild!" I laughed. "But as a matter of fact, yes I have. You noticed?" I gave a little side pose to playfully show off my butt. She raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Wewe bora kuwa kahaba." She said turning. My eyes widened and I shook my head quickly. "Of course not Bibi, I would never."