➢𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗧➢

『 Oh, darlin', don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darlin', don't you ever grow up 』
―𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘵, 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘜𝘱

⟶𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 23: 𝑨 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒔𝒕: 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕 1⟵

❝... 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚?❞

-𝐌𝐀𝐘 𝟒𝐓𝐇, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟐-

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐘𝐎𝐑𝐊 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘, 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐘𝐎𝐑𝐊

✹𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐒𝐓✹

The first group has arrived at their destination. The year is 2012.

Chitauri aliens snarl landscaping New York City buildings, and surrounding them, having all circled up... finally, are Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The original six. 

Plus Dani.

With their backs remaining to one another: guns, signature weapons, and blasters all readied, the adults plus one enhanced child prepare to disperse in a plan set in stone by Captain America. Steve Rogers.

The Battle of New York. This was their fight.

A few blocks down from where all this is happening spawns a group of hefty time-travelers, ones who already experienced and lived through this moment in time.

Quantum Tunnel Suits come off when re-materializing, and the 2023 version of a blonde Steve Rogers speaks first, assertively, "All right, we all have our assignments. Two stones uptown, one stone down."

"Stay low. Keep an eye on the clock." Captain America tells Ant-Man, Bruce, and Tony, though a large thud sound causes all four gentlemen to flinch at the scene occurring across from them.

They watch from an alleyway as an enormous, green, rage monster takes his anger out on a Chitauri member, destroying it with a damaged car. The other alien nearby turns and runs away in fear but that doesn't stop the Hulk. 

He jumps up and down on the structure a few times while roars escape his mouth.

The others glance back at the no doubt smarter version of himself, and Bruce puts a hand on his green face―clearly abashed by the way he used to act.

Steve emphasizes with winced features, "Maybe smash a few things along the way."

"I think it's gratuitous but whatever."

Present Bruce Banner rips apart his black shirt and then begins to, quite frankly, 'smash' a few things in a much less angry and forceful way than before. Trying to blend in. The rest do their part in displaying a rather low profile because―obviously... if you didn't know―they're not supposed to be here. 

There isn't any time to ponder the typical punishment for 'messing with the timelines' as there is one objective and one objective only: saving the universe. All carry that heavy in their hearts and minds, factoring that into their stealth and motivation to bring back what they lost. 

For everyone.

Realistically, it is an hour or two more of fighting before the end of this battle finally commences, when Tony Stark shifted the location of the nuke that S.H.I.E.L.D.―with discrepancy―fired, that was going to level the city, instead leveled the ship responsible for the Army from Space. 

Much gratitude to that―even though that alluded to a lot of anxiety and trauma for Stark afterward―the Chitauri aliens had stopped both functioning and appearing, leading to an ultimate defeat for their controller, Loki―his helmet, scepter, and all―so currently the Avengers stand within Stark Tower on one of its floors. The one where Loki had just been brutally beaten up by the Hulk.

2023 Iron Man in his most recent development of suits, landscapes a building while effectively scanning the interior of his former Tower, and upon witnessing his coworkers from a distance apprehend the God of Mischief, Tony speaks into his earpiece, "Better hustle, Cap. Things look like they're just wrapped up here."

"Got it. I'm approaching the elevator now." Steve responds over comm.

With very caution and light feet, the brunette-headed male makes his way inside the building by soaring through one of the open sides, and from there a scene that happened over ten years ago plays out again in this instance.

Loki is pushed up to the edge of one of the steps, body battered and bruised. Around him are the Avengers: Thor with his long hair and red cape, Natasha with her skin-tight black suit and short red hair, and Clint with his bow and arrow pointed firmly at the dark-haired man's forehead. 

Hulk is giant and tall as he gives off a low snarl, and Steve in his patriotic suit stands directly behind a smaller and scrawnier Dani Rockland.

It is hard for Present Tony not to allow his jaw to drop open, it falls.

"If it's all the same to you," the variant of Loki appears extremely exhausted, and his eyebrows lift just as before, "I'll have that drink now."

Iron Man from 2012 instructs, "All right, get him on his feet. We can all stand around posing up a storm later."

"By the way, feel free to clean up," Tony instructs as he and his clunky metal boots start to walk away.

The present Tony when viewing seems to only focus on one thing, "Mr. Rogers," he scoffs, "I almost forgot that suit... did nothing for your ass."

"No one asked you to look, Tony," Steve replies from over comm, defense in his tone.

Iron Man mentions how "It's ridiculous," for the individual to be dressed in such old-fashioned stars and stripes uniform, similar to the one he has on just for this mission―on purpose―but to the immense dislike of the blonde SuperSoldier.... comments continue to be made about his behind.

"I think you look great, Cap." Scott from a miniature form says with conviction, even adding a salute as he commits, "As far as I'm concerned, that's America's ass."

"Who gets the, uh, magic wand?" A 2012 version of Natasha Romanoff holds the scepter with a glowing yellow gem inside, being mindful to keep it away from an anxious and also very worn-out Danielle.

"STRIKE team's coming to secure it."

Once finding out that the STRIKE team will be taking the unworldly weapon, attention immediately turns towards the young child among the enhanced individuals, who especially after a battle like so, is feeling extremely worn out, and tired. 

A hand goes out to soothe her fidgety stance, and Natasha and Steve both hover around the seven-year-old, taking on the official role of standing by her while this all goes down.

The back of Dani's natural, brown head is all that is visible when Tony changes positions, a suited-up and small Ant-Man still on his shoulder.

The Ironed Man cannot help but, again, be shocked by the appearance of his much younger niece, this time voicing it out loud, "Jeez, Cap. Was Dan-o really that small back then?"

"Crazy how fast time flies." He seriously ponders upon glancing at her tiny form, before adding in a witty tone, "Though technically not."

Captain America replies over com, speaking authoritatively, "Yep. She was also a lot more guarded during this time, so be extra careful when walking around you could run into her at any second."

"At this age, she had a bad habit of wandering."

Steve's words ring true in explaining the child's extreme nerves and overstimulation, and currently, the young girl clings to his past self. Her hand grasps onto his red glove and the non-helmeted SuperSoldier tries his best to put her at ease.

Meanwhile, the STRIKE team has entered the main floor through the elevator, and Jasper Sitwell intercepts the 'magic wand' from the ex-assassin, "We can take that off your hands."

"By all means." Agent Romanoff complies, cautioning as she walks over to Clint, "Be careful with that thing."

Agent Barton from 2012 adds with a bit of remark to his tone, "Unless you want your mind erased. And not in a fun way."

"We promise to be careful." Brock Rumlow emphasizes.

Natasha, then after receiving a drink from her longtime bow-and-arrowed friend, turns and shifts to look at the girl, addressing her, "Dani, Honey, do you want something to drink?"

"Is there anything here that isn't alcohol?" She wonders out loud, a questioning look on her face as she rummages through the collection of fancy drinks put out by Tony Stark.

The answer to that would probably be 'no'.

Anyhow, the 'magic wand' has been secured in a long white briefcase, and the eerie appearance of those who place it there triggers something inside Scott―him asking, "Who are these guys?"

"They are... S.H.I.E.L.D." Tony draws out the syllable before correcting himself diligently, "Well, actually, Hydra, but we didn't know that yet."

Ant-Man judges them for their lack of perception, "Seriously? You didn't? I mean, they look like bad guys."

"You're small but you're talking loud," Tony mutters into his right shoulder.

Steve Rogers from 2012 has a hand on his earpiece when claiming, "On my way down to coordinate search and rescue."

Like a parrot, a transformation mocks him, "'On my way down to coordinate search and rescue'."

"I mean, honestly," Loki returns back to his form, "How do you keep your food down?"

An automatic device goes over the dark-haired man's mouth, and Thor's voice is dark, "Shut up."

Hulk from behind them gives an angry, soft snarl. More individuals including Thor, Loki, and guards make their way to the elevator, and there is a discrepancy when the green monster tries to engage as well. Nevertheless, the 2012 version of Tony Stark closes down the gray more compact suitcase carrying the Tesseract. The first plan is in motion.

"All right, you're up, little buddy." Tony encourages, looking at the briefcase that holds the spiffy blue cube, "There's our stone."

Getting into a squat―still miniature―Scott readies himself, "Alright. Flick me."

Tony does and he lands right on the past version of the Ironed Man, sliding down into where his Arc Reactor is located and from there Tony gets the hell out of there―basically falling out of the sky and his suit cloaks him in so that he can fly up.

❀❀❀

He reaches the altitude to where he can spot the briefcase holding the scepter can be seen, and from there he relays to Cap its whereabouts. 

Steve enters the elevator filled with Hydra-infested S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents. The scene in some way mimics another one, one where the Captain had both hands protectively on the shoulders of his daughter, but she is nowhere to be seen. 

Instead, he gets away with collecting the needed briefcase by essentially 'cheating' the game.

Insisting that it was okay that he take the scepter, because he is working directly under the Secretary.

The blonde soldier wears an indented smile on his way out.

All is going well until it isn't, primarily insinuating that the Avengers have just blown their main shot at a successful heist. 

They blew it. 

Here is how: A quantum-sized Ant-Man detached a certain part of the 2012 Tony's Arc Reactor in order to put him into cardiac dysrhythmia―mild―yes, however, when kick-tossing the gray briefcase across the room and into 2023 Tony's hands―dressed in disguise as a guard instead of himself―the rampaging of a very angry Hulk completely knocked the Tesseract out of its security, resulting in some setbacks. 

Loki takes the cube and transports himself elsewhere. The angry Hulk triggers some alarms to be set off throughout Stark Tower.

Thor is still occupied with helping Iron Man regain control of his body which just leaves Captain America having stridden out of the elevator and down a hallway, his voice laced with concern.

The current Steve presses for info, "Tony, what's going on?"

He momentarily looks to the side before reaching a much more open and straight rampway, "Tell me you found that cube."

Then, every muscle in his body turns to ice when the tall blonde turns back around. 

He stops dead in his tracks.

Steve's palms suddenly become sweaty, his facial expression releases the biggest sigh possible, and the amount of annoyance and displeasure in his voice purely―solely―represents irritation towards himself, "Oh, you gotta be shitting me."

He sucks up the urge to cup a hand over his mouth in his choice of language, quickly fixing himself while still eliciting a whole lot of astound, "Son of a gun!"

"S-Steve?" 

There, standing in front of him, is a seven-year-old, baby-faced-looking... Danielle Rockland.

Shit.

He can't believe it. Or, well, he can believe it because didn't he just warn his team members to be cautious of her wandering nature? Turns out he can't take his own advice. 

The Captain blows out a huge breath, carefully setting down the long briefcase he carries, and Steve tries to, once again, integrate into the timeline. Impersonate himself.

He doesn't exactly do a great job.

"Munchkin—Doll!" the weird look she gives causes him to realize that he isn't calling her that fond nickname yet, "What're you doing up here?"

The younger version of Dani has slight confusion written all over her face, though nonetheless focuses on the main task at hand, aka why she has ventured away to find him. The 2012 version of him, that is.

"I-I was trying to find you," she explains with a quiver in her high-pitched tone, and after that, her sea-foam green eyes that are far too big for her face widen even further, in fear, "I think something is happening."

Her juvenile features which the man has not gotten to look at since she was this young automatically catch him off guard. Steve finds himself soothing out the pinches in his brows not covered by his helmet, the crinkles the lines on his forehead make―his expression is soft.

"What makes you say that?" He asks her, unwavering, and that is when things get way more complicated.

"Step away from her, or you'll regret it." A voice ringing with the exact same deep tone and righteousness―protectiveness, a little bit more, vocalizes strongly from the other side of the open ramp, and unraveling occurs.

Downright... perplexity, in the seven year old's eyes.

"... Steve?"

Dani turns her head in the direction of where a fully-helmeted and somewhat―if observant―a younger version of the man who had taken it upon himself to watch out for her, stands with his own vibranium shield perched on his right arm. 

Right away, Dani is bewildered. 

Her head hurts.

The poor girl is wildly confused upon seeing double the 'Captain America' at this moment, wildly. Just what in Dickens is going on?

"Danielle," Steve, from this timeline, speaks to her, "get behind me. I'll be the one handling things with Loki."

While much puzzlement still etches itself onto the seven year old's junior appearance, she does as she is told and quickly cowers behind her caretaker, whilst looking at the identical one from across the room. This Danielle doesn't know a lot at this point and time, seconding that she has little to no experience whatsoever when it comes to deception or trickery... however, her insightful demeanor proves to be incredibly protuberant as there is something inside the young girl... that writes off this character to be a transformed Loki.

The way that this Steve looked at her, referred to her as such by the name of 'Munchkin'... convinces her to perceive that he must know her better than one would think. There isn't a tangible explanation available to back this up, though, so for now she is left to believe that this is the naughty God of Mischief.

Dani grabs hold of the arm of the red glove the helmeted SuperSoldier pulls her back with... and after that the ones of the man across from her rise in slight submission.

He informs in a matching tone of authority, sincerely, "I'm not Loki..."

"And I don't wanna hurt you."

2012 Steve engages in combat with 2023 Steve, both men marking similar movements―if not twin-like―and their fighting styles clash just as their circular patriotic shields make contact. 

An uneasy and gaped-mouthed Danielle watches as Past Steve misses a strike with his leg while Present Steve grunts as if to do the same. The helmeted Captain America does a signature spin-kick and springs up when knocking the blonde-haired one back, and he recoils when hitting the ground.

Panting as he stands up straight, the Soldier says without a doubt, signature-like, "I can do this all day―"

"Yeah, I know," the future version of himself replies back while getting up with a bit of soreness, and continues to express exhaustion and annoyance with his past self, "I know."

He breathes before engaging again, intelligently tossing his shield in the air because it collides with the one previously thrown by the other variant of himself, which leads them to strict hand-to-hand combat. 

In which Steve gains the upper hand in by picking up and flipping the helmeted man over with his arm.

Danielle is still frazzled upon seeing the two of them go at it, and just as she is backing away, notices the scepter fall through the glass that is later broken by the men fighting, and something instantly switches inside the blonde one. As he is in the chokehold simulated by the other Captain America, 2023 Steve reaches his boot out to take them both off their feet, resulting in them beginning to fall and crash through the other glass rampways, creating an awfully loud ruckus.

One that makes seven-year-old Dani flinch as nerves climb up her arms like spiders on her back, and without hesitation, she turns and runs away from the fight.

Both men are equally hurt by all the staircases and platforms they had hit, and both lay in a similar recovery position until something catches the helmeted Captain's trained eye. 

It is a compass with the photo of his one true love in it.

 A horror that rapidly turns to anger makes its way onto his face.

"Where did you get this?" 2012 Steve holds out the picture of Peggy, and 2023 Steve instead of responding uses the temporary distraction to reach for the scepter holding the Mind Stone, but he is stopped by his distraught self stepping on it and getting behind him, in another chokehold.

They are forced to the ground as Past Steve keeps the Present back, locked up, and it is by this time that the older, and more experienced Super Soldier uses the trick again, except in a different way. With history.

2023 Steve relays to 2012 Steve, two inevitable statements.

"Bucky... is... alive." Firstly, then with an added emphasis, "And FORCE is still after Dani."

He can breathe again when the man suddenly lets go, ultimately shocked by what this one has just said. 

... What he said, about his best friend, who at this time, died in 1943. With that disheartening, so was the second statement, contradicting the promise that Steve made to the little girl who was just starting to feel like family to him. 

That couldn't be made... because Dani was now in danger.

Captain America is asked to repeat himself, "What?"

But 2023 Steve's fist plunges right into the nose of the 2012's, and he is knocked out cold when the use of the scepter alters him to be lying on his stomach, his behind coincidentally visible. 

Captain America's entire body aches as he stands up, truly having a good amount taken out of him upon fighting with his past self. Unexpectedly.

Also unexpectedly, when the blonde SuperSoldier returns the compass with Peggy Carter in it, to the safe place of his pocket and secures the scepter, does he truly both notice and take a look at the state of his behind, admitting in a quieter voice as he looks around, "That is 'America's Ass'."

Damn right.

He takes one step forward only to be stopped again, upon hearing hitched and panicked breathing. 

Most of it sounds as if the owner just ran a thirteen-mile marathon, and the Captain is aware of who it is. Who it could be.

The little brunette-headed girl from earlier is a few feet away from him as her hands stick to her knees, tiny form hunched over in exhaustion from, presumably, running all the way down where the two Super Soldiers had fallen.

Determination to do so present inside her nearly causes Steve to laugh, though he replaces it with a small smile. He remembers where he is.

"E-Excuse me," her polite but squirrely grapple to get his attention has him turn around to look at her, and Dani is persistent despite a stammer, "I-I need to ask you something."

And Captain America, upon laying eyes on her young figure again, is enraptured. 

He is mezmorized that at a given time, she was so small, inferior, and scared.

She replicates those emotions and ones of immediate fatigue when adding up her part in the battle of New York, and the running she just did, but now the seven-year-old is able to get out, to ask, "Just who... who are you?"

Steve stares at the young girl for a long while before emitting a genuine response, one that was honest for... not the first time ever, just in this particular circumstance―he is truthful, "Someone you know well."

"I don't know anybody well," Dani shrugs her boney shoulders in the air, bleary gaze desperately trying to focus on the seemingly wisdom-filled man in front of her.

One that looked just like the man whom she, unknowingly, saw as her father.

Steve tells her as if she were his daughter, "You will."

And she is his daughter, even if the girl has not been adopted yet.

Dani just always, will always, have a crippling effect on him, even before they were considered family. When she needed that sense of protection, comfort, and security, Steve unconditionally gave her for as long as she needed it. 

Her presence and proclamation of safety gave him the same reassurance, all until he realized that she was okay on her own. Until she was strong enough to take care of herself, to pick herself back up after being knocked down, and that was (one time) because of him, he knows, though it did make him think... about how much Dani has grown.

About how much she has changed, evolved, and will continue to evolve even without him someday.

This Dani he currently visits is the sole proof of that. Of her journey, of how far she has come and will continue to go, all being given that opportunity of a new life, of finding a home, thanks to him. 

Steve: A father that was not blood, not perfect, but... had that heartfelt and embedded love for her that never ever went away. Never vanished, and never will. Everything he does and will do will be for her going forward. From this moment on, for this Dani, from 2012.

From here up until where they are right now... when his baby girl is an adult, almost nineteen years old.

His role in her life while never sinking... diminishes in its presence because of the fact that she is older now, independent and self-sufficient. She will achieve left and right.

She, right now, is about to faint. 

The seven-year-old version of Dani is not able to entertain Steve with another question, before careening forwards, and the blonde SuperSoldier, carefully, reaches out to catch her. The weight in his arms is still cold like ice. She is out of stamina.

He lays her tiny body up against his other self's unconscious one, to both gain warmth and to make her comfortable. 

Steve finds himself nearly melting at her peaceful, young sleeping face, one so innocent it could make the toughest even swoon. 

Her brunette head is the last to touch the floor, and with that, the Captain's hands linger before pressing his lips together. 

 A memorable phrase comes to him, a fitting one, "Dream sweetly, Dan."

Steve sets off, smiling to himself as he continues on with a serious look.

Man, she's really grown up.

In the few strides he takes as he gets farther and farther away, making sure to stay out of sight, his heart is full of pride. She's come so far and will go much further... In the next stage.

And no matter what, Steve will love her. 

He loves her so... so much.

❀❀❀

Here's some fluff... the next chapter will entirely be angst. Welcome to the endgame...

xoxo, Alessandra (dreamkept)