The Ghost [Marvel | Steve Rogers]

Chapter 30

Novi Grad, Sokovia

Spring 2015

It had been decades since the old church in the heart of Novi Grad had been in use. And it showed. The façade was slowly beginning to crumble and the domed roof had long since begun to decay, the rafters and arches that supported it visible in places through the disintegrating tiles. Miraculously, many of the stained glass windows were still intact, but they were long faded, more disappearing as each year passed. The flagstones of the surrounding courtyard were cracked and lifting, shrubs and grasses straggling forth around them. Even the fence that had been erected to keep curious citizens out was beginning to sag and rust away, the scattering of flowers and notes pinned to it out of habit and tradition looking cold and withered beneath a dusting of late season snow.

It had been condemned and declared unsafe for as long as the Twins could remember.

But not only did no one seem to have the heart to actually tear it down, there simply wasn't the money to do so. So the church lingered, a decrepit, melancholic relic of days long past when Sokovia hadn't been the downtrodden, faded place it had become.

And allegedly, Tony Stark waited for them inside.

As they approached the old building, Nina was beginning to rouse in Pietro's arms, squirming with an adorably exasperated expression as she realized what was going on.

"You don't have to carry me. I'm perfectly capable of walking," she muttered petulantly when her wiggling wasn't enough to get him to put her down. Pietro chuckled. Wanda, meanwhile, shot the other girl a look that was both concerned and aggravated.

"You could hardly keep your eyes open, and you were shaking so bad you couldn't have walked far if you tried," his twin said dismissively, though there was little actual annoyance in it. The concern was much more evident. Nina huffed, weakly shoving at Pietro's chest.

"Well, I'm awake now," she insisted stubbornly. His chuckles continuing despite his serious mood and his focus on what waited for them just beyond the fence they were approaching, Pietro obliged. Gently letting her own, he still kept a steadying hand on her back, not at all surprised when she wobbled upon getting her feet beneath her. Wanda shot him an exasperated look, her eyes betraying a mix of worry for the blonde and impatience to get inside and confront whoever was waiting for them there. Worry gnawed at him too; for all her spirit, Nina was still so weak.

Which was why he couldn't help the surge of relief when, despite not shrugging off the casual arm he curled around her back, a flicker of annoyance did appear on her face at the gesture. It nearly set off his laughter again.

But quickly enough gratitude and exhaustion replaced annoyed exasperation and she was leaning into his supporting grip.

Something the vain, even chivalrous side of him basked in.

Though that too faded to be replaced with worry as she nearly fell when the three of them slipped through the gap in the fencing surrounding the church, Wanda only barely managing to keep Nina on her feet as the blonde made it through. This was a girl who had managed to take on three grown men—mercenaries, and highly trained ones too—and hold her own. That she was so weak she could barely slip through the fencing without help?

Worried really was an understatement.

As he followed Wanda and Nina through the fencing, he saw his twin growing serious as she looked up to the crumbling church. Abruptly Pietro's own features took on a grim cast, his jaw clenching as purpose and resolve surged up in his chest. Though, there was a healthy measure of anticipation there too.