Steve x Reader |Negotium| [5]

Not him, too.

“James?! James, baby, look at me!” (Name) cried, knees slamming into the ground as she hoisted James up in her arms. He was unconscious, and she could feel the broken bones in his arm and ribs. His neck was still intact, along with the other important parts. She sighed in relief, particularly when she felt a pulse.

“James--” Steve came to his side, pressing fingers to the boy’s neck, just after (Name). Blood dripped from the teen’s forehead, and he was completely out. Pain etched along his face. And for the first time in years, Steve was terrified.

But it was short-lived.

Because in the next second, another force rammed into Steve’s side, sending him flying into the nearby building. He crashed into the concrete, shield protecting him from a broken spine. He was about done with people getting thrown into things. First his son, then him.

Life just hated his family.

“Mjolkhaff vrinslayao?!” A young, female voice echoed in the air. (Name) didn’t look up, focusing on her son instead. She lifted him up quickly, hoisting him in her arms and running him over behind another building, trying to stay hidden from the newcomer.

“Guys, we’ve got another one-- She’s knocked out James and Steve’s in the side of a building.”

“How do you know it’s a girl??” Tony asked, and she heard the Iron Man suit coming back around. He was already on point, even if he was asking stupid questions.

“Doesn’t matter; She needs to go!”

“On the vay. Don’t get killed in the next forty-two seconds, kay?” Pietro said, and (Name) scoffed, setting James gently against the brick as she tried to tend his wounds.

“You got it.”

“Tylav ritskyla!! Hrenh zhtu havyla!!” The voice cried, and a shower of strange dark matter rained through the streets, ripping up everything in its path. (Name)’s eyes immediately went to Steve, trying to see if he was alright.


And there he was, shield up against the matter as he raced across the way, catching sight of his wife and regrouping. He had a nasty bruise on his cheek that wasn’t going away anytime soon. And this freak was going to pay for it.

“Steve! Are you okay??” She asked the second he was there, and he nodded, swallowing thickly when he looked down at his son.

“I’m fine. I’m fine, but-- James?”

“He’s not dead. Just unconscious, a little broken up. He should be fine.” She assured him, and Steve nodded, taking his son’s hand in his.

“You better stay with me, buddy. You’re all I got left. Besides your mom. And the Avengers. But mostly you.” He said to his boy, making (Name) smile. Even though the situation was getting increasingly worse.

"Steve, stay here with him. I'm going after her." She told him, noticing the killer rain wasn't just strange; it was familiar. The exact same powers as hers.

Someone else was using dark matter.

"When I let James do that, this happened to him." Steve said seriously, catching her wrist. (Name) huffed, recognizing the telltale fear in his eyes.

"I'm not James, I'm his mom. And trust me; what she did to him, I'm gonna give right back. A thousand times over." She murmured, releasing herself from his grip and turning, tousling her hair as she entered the fray. Steve watched her go, trying to decide whether to let her go, or join her.

"Ugh...what happened..?" James' eyes slid open painfully, and Steve turned his attention to the boy. A sigh of relief escaped him, and he offered a weak smile.

"You took care of the bad guys. One of them just tried to take care of you." He explained, and James huffed, an attempt at laughing.

"I got caught off guard. Whoever that was- she looked familiar."

"Well they're the same ones that attacked when you were younger, but-"

"No, I mean.. She didn't look like the aliens, she’s smaller. She doesn't sound like them." James continued, brow furrowing. He wiped at his mouth weakly, the taste of blood disgusting and gross. Steve looked at him, not sure what he was supposed to think.

"What else could she be?" Steve asked, glancing up at the fight exploding nearby. Where were the rest of the Avengers when they needed them? “Stark, where are you??”

“Your wife set a barrier! And thought it’d be funny to stick us all outside!” Tony responded, and Steve exchanged a glance with James.

“She didn’t- What are you talking about?”

“Look around, Cap! Wherever you guys are, she stuck you inside! We can’t get in; it’s dark matter. We touch it, we’re screwed.” Tony explained dully, considering that was common knowledge. Now Steve was slightly concerned.

“Mom didn’t set a barrier.” James said quietly, and Steve nodded, jaw clenched as he searched for the answer. “But I’m willing to bet it was the girl.”

“Nobody else knows how to use D.M. except your mom and you…it’s a family thing.” Steve mulled over it, his brain working.

The only person in the world that had been caught in the mishap was (Name), and it had never been repeated, that he knew of. James got the powers thanks to DNA being tainted by the dark matter, which meant that only familial connections would be able to control it.

Which meant it was someone they knew.

Someone they had to have been close to.

“James...did you get a look at their face?” Steve asked his son, and James shook his head, leaning against the brick as he rode out a wave of pain, clutching at his side. Definitely a few broken ribs in there.

“N-No. She was wearing one of the alien helmets, but she wasn’t built like one. I don’t think she is one.” James explained, and the Captain nodded. That would make sense.

“We need to get that helmet off her.”

“You mean go up to her and take it off?”

“I’d have Stark scan her, but considering the circumstances…”

“Got it. I’d love to help Dad, but I’m a little out of commission.” He joked, and Steve nodded, hand on James’ shoulder.

“It’s fine. We’ll get an ID on her and let you know.” He promised, and with a final glance at his son, he burst onto the field. (Name) was fighting tooth and nail against the newcomer, who was matching her blow for blow.

His face hardened against the sight, searching for some way to enter the battle. (Name) was taking her on at every attack, and if he jumped in he might disrupt the flow. They were entirely focused on each other.

And that’s when he got the light bulb.

Steve rounded the corner, grabbing the side of a building and swinging himself around, pulling himself through a broken window. He raced through the offices, searching for the stairs. If he could get high enough, then he could make a jump for it and bring the alien  -or whatever she was- down to the ground, and take her from there.

’Here’s hoping James isn’t just delusional and near gets us all killed.’ He thought, slamming the door to the steps open and making a break for the top floor. The steps flew underneath him as he sprinted up, not a drop of sweat lost as he rushed past them. Finding the top, he busted the door open, and there it was.

The perfect launch point.

He paused, angling himself behind the girl who was currently trying to kill his wife. His eyes narrowed, taking a few steps before breaking into a run, one more time. He gained more speed, and more, and then-

Lift off.

Steve flew through the air, the world moving past him in a stunning blur. The girl was just in front of him, so focused on (Name) she didn’t notice Captain America about to floor her from thirty stories up. And oh, did he ever.

His shield crashed into her back, making a heavy impact against her and sending them both careening towards the ground. The alien shrieked in shock, whipping around to try and rip him off of her. But he grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to ram head first into the ground. Which they would hit in about twelve seconds.

“STEVE!” (Name) shouted, and he could see the dark matter coming towards them. The girl’s matter had completely dissipated, her control all but gone. Steve pulled his hand up, reaching for the girl’s helmet while she struggled underneath him. Four seconds to impact.

With a grunt, he ripped the helmet off of her head.

Two.

Blonde hair. His eyes. (Name)’s nose.

“W--”

One.

"Shtyrla mjankauv!!"

He couldn't breathe.

Zero.

The matter slipped between them just before he hit the ground, sending him flying away from the girl and back to (Name), where he was safe. Whereas the girl continued into the road, pulling a similar stunt that she’d performed with James. It was almost the exact same.

Like a twin.

"Steve, are you okay??" (Name) demanded, rushing up to him with a wild fear in her eyes. He couldn't respond. All he could do was stare at the girl implanted into the ground. (Name) grabbed his shoulder, trying to get his attention. He looked alright, despite the helmet clutched in his hand. "What were you thinking?! I had it under control. Why would you do that? I mean, you could've at least told me that you were going to do it!!"

"Winnie..." Steve whispered, the strangest look on his face. (Name) paused, staring up at her husband who looked like he'd just seen a ghost.

"What are you talking about?" She asked him quietly, concern growing for her husband. Steve didn't answer. Instead, he moved away from her, slipping from her grasp. He was staring at the crater in the ground. There wasn't any other explanation.

'Nobody else can use dark matter. Nobody else can control it but (Name) and James. Nobody else should be able to.

Nobody else looks just like me and (Name).

Just Winnie.

He began to jog towards the hole, oblivious to the matter falling around all of them. The barrier the newcomer had set was dissolving, and the Avengers coming in to help. Steve's eyes were fixed on the girl. He saw a flash of blonde, curly hair.

He was running, now.

"D-Dad...?" James watched Steve running towards the alien, his brow furrowing. Normally, most people would be trying to get away from the person who just tried to annihilate the city. But there had to be a reason; And James had a feeling he knew what it was.

"Steve, what are you doing?" (Name) demanded, hurrying to follow after him, and try to get him away from the possibly still alive alien in the rubble. Smoke and dust were billowing from the crater, which meant he'd have obscured vision (aka a weak spot and vulnerability). "Steve, stop!" She shouted, forcing him to turn towards her.

He whipped around, an expression she hadn't seen in years on his face. It was just like the one she'd seen when Winnie had died. But there was something else there. Hope.

"...I think...I saw Winnie." He whispered, and she gasped, eyes widening. "No, I know I saw Winnie. This- Has to be." He stated, turning back to his mission. He grabbed onto the standing rocks, the remnants of the road as he peered into the crater.

"There's no way it's Winnie. She's gone." She murmured, moving to go after him. But she was stopped by Tony, whose face mask was up as he looked down at his friend.

"What happened? Why'd you block us out?" He asked her, an annoyed look on his face.

"I didn't." She protested, looking up at him in confusion. Tony grit his teeth, pointing to you and James.

"You and the incapacitated kid over there are the only ones who can use D.M. That barrier would've crushed us if we tried to go through it, and that's power we've only seen from you. And last I checked, there aren't too many (Name)'s running around in the world." Tony pointed out, and her eyebrows knit together.

"But I didn't set the barrier! It  must've been the...alien." She realized, going slack at the revelation. He was right; There was only one of her.

But there were two children. And James was unconscious when the barrier went up.

"W-Winnie?" She breathed, suddenly turning towards the crater. Steve had gone in, stooped over the girl buried in the rubble. He was lifting her out.

"Winnie?" Tony repeated, staring at her like she was crazy. "What are you talking abou-"

"Oh, my God." (Name) clapped a hand over her mouth, pushing away from Tony and stumbling towards the crater. She came closer and closer to Steve, who was holding the girl in his arms. His eyes met hers, and she saw the tears in his eyes.

"She's alive." He said hoarsely, a single drop slipping down his cheek. She sobbed, breaking into a full run. She nearly crashed into him, staring down at the girl asleep in his arms.

Blonde hair. Blue eyes. The spitting image of her father, but with her mother's nose.

"Oh, my God!!" She choked out, grabbing onto the girl and pulling her into her own chest. Steve kneeled down next to them, watching as (Name) dropped into the dirt and cradled the girl close.

Holding Winnie.

"I-- She's-- Oh, Winnie!!" She cried, pressing her against her chest, hands around Winnie's waist and cupping her head. Just like she had when she was small. "Winnie's home!" (Name) sobbed, curling around her daughter. Her whole body shook with sobs, relief and joy flooding her system.

"I knew it." Steve said softly, a large hand resting on Winnie's forehead. He ran it through her hair, like he'd done when she was tired or sick and couldn't sleep. Old habits die hard.

But this time they didn't have to.

"Steve, I-I can't believe it!" (Name) exclaimed, looking up at her husband with the biggest grin on her face. He nodded, holding back his own tears when (Name) threw an arm around him, wrapping around his neck and holding him tight. He buried his face in her hair, grabbing onto her and Winnie and hugging them as close as he could.

His family was back together, again.

"W...Winnie?"

The parents slowly separated at the sound of James' voice. At the top of the crater, he stood, hand clutching onto his limp arm as he stared down at his family. (Name) nodded, smiling brilliantly past her tears.

"Yes! It's-- Your sister's ba-ack." She told him, voice breaking. He nearly burst into tears right then and there.

"It's really her? T-That's my sister??" He asked loudly, hope shining in those (e/c) eyes as he tried to work his way down to see her, himself. To see his other half.

But a ruffled Bruce Banner caught him, followed by Tony and Wanda.

"Hang on a second." Bruce said, cutting the reunion short. "We don't know if this is actually her. Tony needs to run a scan."

"What? But- I mean, look at her! She looks just like Winnie! I know it's her!"

"You can't know anything for sure until it's tested, buddy. Like that time I thought giving the Ultron Project AI would be a good idea. And now we know, it's really not." Tony replied, landing down in the crater and joining the couple.

"Scan her all you want." (Name) told him, smiling confidently. "But I know this is my baby girl."

"I'll hold you to that." Tony joked, face mask sliding down as he turned to the sleeping girl. "JARVIS, run the scan. Tell me who this alien-wannabe really is."

There was dead silence as they held their breath, waiting to see the answer. All the Avengers circled the crater, wondering if this really was the lost Rogers. They prayed it was.

"...Match confirmed; Target is Winnifred Grace Rogers."

They'd never cheered so loudly in their entire lives.

James screamed, barreling into the crater and slamming into his family, grasping onto his parents and hugging his sister as tight as he could with one arm. Steve and (Name) laughed, holding onto James and Winnie as tears spilled from their eyes, again. They couldn't help it; This was their baby girl.

Natasha would never admit it, but there were drops of salty water in her eyes, just like the rest of the team as they watched the family reunite. Wanda and Pietro leaned against each other, recognizing that feeling between the twin siblings. Tony turned to Bruce, giving his science bro a thumb-up. And also told JARVIS to remind him to kiss Pepper when they got home.

Steve and (Name) just felt like their whole world had just gotten a thousand times brighter. Because after years, and years of grieving, they could finally be healed. Their baby girl was back home.

Winnie was alive.

~To Be Continued~