The Other Rogers | Natasha Romanoff

Ch 43

"Come on Steve it's not fun if I'm the only one playing." I say leaning on the baseball bat tossing a baseball in the air.

"I don't know Mason, I don't want to get an asthma attack or what if we break a window." He says unsure fidgeting with his hands.

"Ugh you sound like a grandpa when we're 13." I say tossing him the ball and he catches it after fumbling it a bit.

"Look I'll even bring out your extra inhaler. I just want us to have the most normal childhood we can." I offer with smile.

"Alright." He smiles.

I run back to the house excitedly patting his shoulder as I pass him.

I get inside the house going to our shared room grabbing his extra inhaler I always keep with me from my nightstand. As I get back I pass our moms room and hear her talking on the phone.

"*sighs* I don't know what to do Annette. Mason is my child but we can't even go even go in public without being given dirty looks. The women even in my book club have even started to give snarky remarks. He- she! I mean she has no fault but it's very difficult, Steve's illnesses are one thing but now having to deal with this. Sometimes, sometimes I wish I just had Steve. He may get sick but it's still easier than dealing with Mason and all the baggage she has started to claim." I hear and my heart breaks at my mother's words.

I wake up sitting up tears in my eyes and down my face.

"Why does this keep happening to me." I groan frustrated covering my eyes then wiping them.

I tried to go back to sleep but failed miserably. I wrapped myself in a throw blanket and headed down to the living room. I sit on the couch, the blanket around me turning on the TV and play some Looney Tunes reruns. My eyes still teary as I stare at the TV for hours until sunrise.

The others slowly make their way down and see Mason and either 1 try to talk to her and get nothing in return or 2 just give her space.

"Oh no." Bucky says as he sees Mason in that position.

"How long has she been there?" He asks the others concerned.

"She's been there for a while." Bruce says.

"And she's watching Looney Tunes? This isn't good." Bucky shakes his head.

"Why does it matter what she's watching." Wanda asks.

"Because I know it's a coping mechanism. When we were younger and things were troubling her she would just drown herself in TV watching cartoons ignoring reality." He explains then makes his way to Mason the others curiously watching from afar.

"Hi Mace, you hungry?" Bucky asks softly and I shake my head.

"Okay let's turn off the TV, your eyes are red and bloodshot. How long have you been here?" He asks as he turns off the TV.

"Since two a.m." I say looking at the black screen.

"Why am I a burden Buck?" I ask, my eyes teary up.

"Who told you that?" He asks.

"I had a dream, my mom, was on the phone with her friend saying she wish she just had Steve because even though he had illnesses he was still easier to handle than the baggage I obtained." I explain with a shaky breath.

"That's all it was, a dream." He says and I shake my head.

"It wasn't just a dream, it was a memory dream. I have them all the time." I sigh.