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

28 | The Ring

~Ain't No Mountain High Enough~
~Tammi Terrell ~
~Marvin Gaye~
•••

Washington DC. I was in Washington DC. Apparently, it was the most logical place to get medical treatment, with it being so close to SHIELD. Lovely.

"I think I wanna visit school," I muttered more to myself as Steve sat beside me with his brows creased in thought. "What happened out there?" He inquired, causing me to look up from my ice chips and at him. "Hm?"

He looked at me. "With the Goddess."

"Oh." I looked back down at my poor excuse for nourishment. Chips before soup, Sossamon said. Also lovely. "Oya possessed me and gave me the power to subdue the Light," I said casually, shrugging.

He blinked, obviously confused by my statement. "Possessed you?"

I shook my head and slightly rolled my eyes. "Not really possessed, she's just..." I continued to shake my head in thought. "Dormant?" I tried, shrugging again. "I don't know." I looked back down at the cup. "She isn't bad, Steve. She isn't a threat unless people make her so, you know?"

He didn't know how to process the information. To be fair, I wouldn't have known how to, either.

"I can feel her intentions, she doesn't want to harm this world," I said softly. "She wants to know about it." I looked up.

"There's still a chance..." he started and I glanced at him. "She saved my life," I spoke. "We can doubt her later but just let me be grateful that she saved my life."

He felt like he was crossing a boundary and he looked up at me with apologetic eyes. "...I'm grateful that she saved your life too." He took my hand and I looked down at it. "If it weren't for her I probably wouldn't have been able to see you smile again." He lightly caressed my cheek with his thumb and I smiled softly.

"I'm sure Oya thanks you. In whatever way a goddess thanks people." I looked at my cup again as he chuckled slightly.

"Now about visiting my school." I started again, slyly. As I spoke, his phone chimed and he looked down at it. "It's too cold." He said, looking up with a small smile. "Besides, Tony got you a recovery gift."

I raised my brow. "Oh?"

He nodded. "In fact, it should be here just about..."

I tilted my head in confusion until I heard the familiar clamoring and padding of little feet. "Auntie Rachel!" They exclaimed, coming through the door, making my breath catch.

"My babies!" My voice cracked slightly at the sight of my little triplets, dressed in their winter wear, holding different wrapped parcels in their hands. My hand went to my mouth and I almost started crying. "Hi, guys..."