Finding Death

шесть

Nomad

My sister's not here anymore, but Steve is, looking like his normal self instead of the weedy kid I was seeing a moment ago. "Are you okay?" he asks me carefully; we're not inside anymore. I don't know when that happened. The wind ruffles my beanie and the sleeves of this jacket, making me shiver with cold. "You were saying some weird stuff."

"Come on, Rogers, don't act like you've never seen a girl before," I mutter absentmindedly, slamming my back not painfully into the Smithsonian's outer wall.

Steve leans beside me. "I remember that," he says quietly, wrapping his arms around his midsection. "I didn't think you did. Or would."

"I didn't. Just... reading that thing about me, about Rebecca- Rikki Carter. It sparked something in my head, in my brain. Like I got transported back to that moment."

"I could tell. It was like you weren't here."

I sigh, closing my eyes against the cold. "My sister seemed quite spiffing. Rebellious, determined, protective..."

"Yeah. She is."

"Is?" I pause, opening my eyes to stare incredulously up at Steve. "She's still alive?!" he nods, as if it were the most stupid question I've ever asked. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

*

Captain America

The drive back to Avengers Tower is mainly silent. I'm pretty sure that Rikki's mad at me for not telling her about Peggy, but I thought it was the best thing to do. I really did.

"I did it to protect you, Rik," I explain just after switching the ignition off.

"You don't need to protect me, Steve," her voice runs ice cold, my limbs shivering. "I wanted to know who I was- who I am- and my sister is a huge part of that, of me! What part of not telling me about her is protection?"

"The part where I knew you'd beat yourself up if you knew what happened after you died."

Rikki reels back, glaring at me. Her finger twitches like she's trying not to beat the answers out of me. "Tell me," she orders, fierce and brave and angry.

All I do is open the car door, swinging myself out of it. She follows- I knew she would- knowing to keep silent. I look behind one moment later and she's gone- but she's there when I arrive at my bedroom, arms folded as if in challenge and fake glasses thrown carefully onto my shelf. I perch on the edge of my bed, beckoning her to beside me. After a small while, she does.

"Peggy was heartbroken when you died. Obviously," I start, unable to stop moving my hands. Or to stop staring at them. "You were sisters. But you had a brother as well. Michael."

"What happened to him?" my silence is almost a good enough answer. "Steve? You owe me this much."

"He faked his own death and joined an illicit organization."

Rikki makes a noncommittal noise that could sound impressed. "Me too."

"His was intentional."

"Hey, follow your dreams, right?" she laughs. Actually, properly laughs. It's the first time I've heard that sound since the second world war- half of my wants to cry and the other half wants to hug her and never let go. "What about- Steve?"