Lost in the Mirror (Avengers Fan Fiction)

[ 6 ]

Steve stopped just inside the break room.

Delaney stood by the window, her purple snake around her shoulders and a cup of coffee in one hand. Her free hand was gently stroking the snake. She looked to be in deep thought. Steve didn't know if he should break her concentration but he wanted to talk to her about her dream. If she was having the same dream over and over, maybe she needed to talk it out, to have someone just listen.

A soft exhale left her lungs and Steve heard it. He stepped further into the room and decided to make his presence known. He cleared his throat, shifting awkwardly in his spot. Delaney turned around to face him, a warm smile coming to her lips.

"Oh, Captain Rogers. I didn't even hear you come in. How long have you been standing there?"

"Not too long." Steve shook his head with a gentle smile. "Valente, I just want to make sure you're okay after what happened this morning."

"Of course I am." Delaney nodded her head, taking a sip of her coffee. "I really appreciate the concern though, Captain."

Steve nodded his head gently and moved to sit at one of the little round tables.

"Remember when I was staying with you and when I'd have those bad.... those bad dreams, you'd sit with me at the worst times in the middle of the night and we'd eat ice cream and talk until the sun came up and you had to go to work?"

Delaney nodded her head gently.

"Of course I remember those times, Captain." She gave him a soft smile. "I spent a lot of money on ice cream."

He returned the gentle smile and messed with his hands.

"Do you want to talk, Steve?" Delaney moved to sit beside him, her hand falling to his wrist. "You know I'm always free to listen."

"I just want to know that you're okay." He admitted, lifting his gaze to meet hers. "Hill told me what happened to you when HYDRA came out of S.H.I.E.L.D., what you had to do."

Delaney brought her eyes down to where her hand touched his arm.

"I-I didn't want to hurt anyone, Steve. You know I never would but they wanted to kill me."

"You did what you had to do to survive, Delaney." Steve moved to hold her hand.

"But they didn't, Steve. They didn't survive. I have no-I have no right choosing who gets to live or who gets to die." She shook her head gently. Steve let out a soft sigh and rubbed the back of her hand.

"You've heard of what they did to Bucky, Delaney. Just keep that in mind. They could've been one of the agents who hurt him and tortured him."

Delaney nodded her head.

"You're right."

"Is that what your dream was about?"

She inhaled softly and shook her head.

"No." Delaney bit her lip and crinkled her brows together. "It was worse.... I mean, I can't help but feel that way."

"How was it worse?"

She nodded her head and took another deep breath.

"I've been going to my therapist for a while about this, about the dream. It scares the living crap out of me, Steve."

He could feel her hand begin to tremble inside of his. She was visibly shaken just by thinking about this reoccuring dream.

"Just take a deep breath and you can tell me when you're ready." Steve told her, gently rubbing her hand. Delaney nodded her head again and took a third deep breath, slowly opening her eyes.