You & I

Chapter 2

Steve was watching the news on the screen of his office, a sketch of her face in the grip of his fingers as he studied them carefully when he heard a knock on the door. He tossed the sketch on the table, facing down, hoping Wanda could not see what he was staring at.

"Steve, Fury has a mission," Wanda said as she opened the door.

"Are the others informed?"

"Oh no, no. The mission's meant for you only," she explained.

Weird. Now that they were a team, it's a very rare occasion that only one of them is involved in a mission. Even if it ever happened, it usually was a partner from the group.

"Did he say what it was?"

"No, Maria called, she said it's classified," she said, "What were you doing?" she asked him.

"Watching the news."

"I meant what were you doing with that piece of paper," Wanda said knowingly.

"What piece of paper?" Steve tried to play dumb and glanced down at his desk to find it missing.

"This," she said as she held the sketch between the red flames of energy between her fingers and tossed it to see a picture of the redhead, "she looks fierce even in picture," she said.

"Wanda, give it back," Steve warned.

"Steve, I told you if you still haven't moved on from Natasha then why force a relationship with Sharon?"

"Because I love her!" Steve defended, Wanda raised an accusing eyebrow and flung the sketch back towards his desk.

---

Just like that he was back at the S.H.I.E.L.D Headquarters in his dark navy blue combat suit and his iconic shield tucked behind him. Through the crowds of agent who gave him nods out of respect and some female agents even dared to smile at him, even though they knew he belonged to a certain blonde agent of Shield. He smiled at them anyway, out of respect.

He tapped in the access code to Fury's office as he entered the elevator.  The glass casing of it lets the view of New York to be framed perfectly as he continues to go up the heights.

"Captain Rogers," Fury greeted with his back facing him as he was sitting facing the glass panes.

"Fury," he replied with equal respect, "You have a solo mission for me, Sir?"

"Yes," he said as he rotated his chair to look at the blonde. Tapping in some files on the touchscreen flat computer on his desk he flicks a finger towards him and a holographic image of a paused video appeared, "There have been some kidnapping events over the last few days."

"Kidnapping of?"

"Childrens. Orphans."

"And you called me in to solve a case on kidnapping? What happened to the local police department? Is everyone of them on their coffee and donut break?" Steve quipped.

"The case, Captain Rogers, is solved. But the police department can't catch this kidnapper, this ain't those regular kidnappers," Fury explained.

"Two years ago I thought I lost one of my finest agent," he started as he flicked his fingers again to start the footage.

The room was dark and the picture was grainy. A bulb of light lit on top of a clean plain floor as he saw a shadow of a figure loomed into the room. Tall and lean and feminine? Hooded with an outfit as dark as the room.  The figure turned back to look at the camera and he froze right in his spot, his body tense and fixated onto the ground he's standing. Her eyes were green, the same shade of green he found himself drowning in several times. A glint of mischief in the corner of her eyes. No, this can't be. This can't be , it's impossible. The figure in the frame flinched when perhaps she heard something around, and her hood fell to her shoulders exposing her fiery red locks even in the dim light. He couldn't believe what he had just seen. This is impossible, it can't be.

"Natasha Romanoff," Fury said,"back from the dead."

"T-This can't be," Steve stuttered,"she was gone I saw her myself!"

"Well, look at it again and tell me that isn't Natasha," Fury dared.

Steve was silent, his mind went wild. Thinking of every possibility on how she might've stayed alive. Except there weren't any possibility of her being alive, he saw her himself. He saw her as her heartbeat slowed down to a stop on the operating table. He was there, shedding his tears as Bruce called the time. He was there. He knew she was gone, this can never be.

"H-How?" Steve asked confusedly.

"I don't  know," Fury said.

"Stop lying!" Steve said to him in a louder voice.

"If I knew, I'd bring the whole team with you and tell 'em how she lives. But, I don't. You're assigned to this mission to confirm her existence and stop her act of kidnappings," Fury said.

"This is impossible!"

"This is an order, Rogers!" Fury raised his voice, "I expect this mission report as soon as possible. This mission is classified, do not let anyone know of this matter. You are dismissed."

He left the room with confusion rotating in his mind, with his brows furrowed and his hands on his belt, his steps were rushed as he approached Hill in the command center, demanding for security footages of the crime scene, last known location of the alleged resurrected Natasha Romanoff and evidence from the crime scene and sped off on his bike to the Avengers HQ.

The sun was setting in the horizon when he went back home. He tried to eat, but he can't. His mind was fixed was something else. They talk to him, but his answers were short and delayed. His mind was focusing on something else. He tried to sleep, his physical body demanding of one but his mind was wide awake and raging in work to try to sort and find things out. To try and sort out this whole 'she is not dead' thing. His brain was suggesting more logical reasons, telling him that it was impossible that it was Natasha, it was probably someone who looked liked her especially in the poorly lit room. But his heart was hoping, hoping for something he knew was impossible. His heart was hoping that it really was her, even if she turned out to be a person opposite to who she was before, he hoped it was her. He hoped she was alive. For once, he tried to believe in miracles but at the same time afraid he would choke on it.

When the stars began to fill the dark night sky and when the moon settled on its place amongst the stars, he still laid wide awake. His mind and heart not working in sync. Then a loud thud just outside his door was heard he jolted upright. Silence tailed the sound. He grabbed his shield on the bedside and quietly went outside.

His heart dropped to the floor.

He swore he saw an apparition.

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Hi! Sorry this was short but, the good things are happening after this chapter so stay tune! I hoped you guys liked this, don't forget to vote and comment! They lighten up my days!

Much love