➢𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗➢

『 I'm not discarding you like broken glass
There are no winners when the die is cast
There's only tears when it's the final task
So don't give up, it's just young lovers' romance 』
―𝘚𝘪𝘢, 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘎𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴

⟶𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 3: 𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝑮𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔⟵

〖 . . . 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐄𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑? . . .  〗

-𝙼𝙰𝚈 𝟹𝟶𝚃𝙷, 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾-

𝙴𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙱𝚄𝚁𝙶𝙷, 𝚂𝙲𝙾𝚃𝙻𝙰𝙽𝙳

In Scotland, Wanda Maximoff and The Vision share a room, the synthetic uniquely in his human form as a man with blonde hair—pushing open the large curtains covering a window that rains on the other side.

He experiences a snap-second worth of pain, a high-pitched trilling giving him a headache as he touches the surface of the glowing-yellow circle inside his head.

This alerts Wanda, who looks up with an expression of much concern, "Vis? Is it the stone again?"

"It's as if it's speaking to me."

"What does it say?"

The female gets off the bed, slowly coming up to the male who relays, "I don't . . . I don't know. But something."

He is confused by this pain, wishes to understand it, and even more importantly, Vision wonders if Dani is experiencing this too? She possessed only pieces of one of the Stones, sure, but it was of the same energy . .  . From the same source. 

She must know somewhat of what is going on, or at least, be experiencing it.

The man experiences it again when Wanda is closer, causing the Infinity Stone to glow brightly and the woman to shush it, "Hey."

She takes his face in both her hands and while doing so Vision turns his head so he can kiss her left palm.

Then he gently brings it toward his forehead, his voice both soft and silky, "Tell me what you feel."

Wanda blinks calmly before gesturing, her hand emitting red swirling energy that coats the yellow stone.

She sighs before admitting peacefully, "I just feel you."

Vision similarly in content, lowers down to press his lips against hers.

Again, in content.

"So, there's a ten AM to Glasgow which would give us more time together before you went back." 

Vision is still in his human form, "What if I miss that train?"

They are on a stroll.

Wanda informs, "There is an eleven."

"What if I missed all the trains?" The man stops his girlfriend, hypothetically pressing further and meaning it, "What if this time I didn't go back?"

The woman reminds him, "But you gave Stark your word."

Vision formulates a smile, "I'd rather give it to you."

"There are people expecting me too, you know. We both made promises."

Vision corrects, "Not to each other." Before putting both hands on her shoulders, "Wanda . . . for two years, we've stolen these moments, trying to see if this could work."

"And . . . I don't know. You know what, I'm just gonna speak for myself — I, I . . . I think . . ."

He doesn't need to worry about saying it, because she does along with him, "It works."

"It works." Between them.

And it was truly something pure and wonderful that had developed between the two. Unfortunately stunted by the civil war, but that didn't stop them.

Vision whispers to the young woman, "Stay. Stay with me."

Wanda looks down in uncertainty, though her gaze latches onto something to her left.

He now seems unsure, "Or not. If I'm overstepping . .  . "

She leaves his side to get a better view of the TV inside a kebab shop, one that shows live footage of New York City. 

Vision follows her over, and they see the invasion of New York. The Q-Ship. 

That Tony Stark was missing. And then these alien creatures.

Wanda is fearful, "What are they?"

"What the stone was warning me about." Vision takes her hand once more, kissing it, "I have to go."

She disagrees, immediately, "No, Vision. Vision, if that's true, then," She stammers, "then maybe going isn't the best idea."

He slowly starts to smile, "Wanda, I . . ."

He is impaled! Another child of Thanos, Corvus Glaive, is suddenly behind and stabs the man through his back, causing him to turn back to his normal phase—and to scream in excruciating pain.

"Vision!" Wanda cups her hands over her mouth in shock and immediately begins circling up the energy to fight, but Proxima Midnight sends a blast into her from behind and Wanda is sent through a glass window.

The synthetic is now back to his gold, green, and red appearance and is then held down while a mean-looking staff plunges into his forehead in an effort to pry out the stone. This results in Vision experiencing more pain that he is soon relieved from when Wanda commits her own attack, striking both of the aliens away with her red magic and then using it to lift Vision and herself, somewhere safe.

"The blade . . . " He gets out while they both retreat through a courtyard, "It stopped me from phasing."

Wanda lowers him down, narrowing her brows, "Is that even possible?"

"My systems are failing." He says while distorted, though that is surely taken care of when the young woman uses her red abilities to regenerate the wound on his side.

"I'm beginning to think . . . we should have stayed in bed." He tells her with a small smile.

She returns one.

Then, they are attacked again.

"Vis!"

Vision battles Corvus Glaive, the two of them levitating into the air while in the church, and Wanda takes on Proxima Midnight, expertly dodging the large spear constantly being thrown her way.

Wanda hears Vision screaming, then bending over backward the female alien's body glows red as she is sent over the burning lorry sliced in half by the Mind Stone.

The Witch levitates upwards.

Getting to Vision after subduing Glaive, Wanda ignites more red magic so that they can fly out of there, though once again they are stopped when Corvus Glaive aims his alien-powered spear right at the unusual couple.

They fall from the air and down the roof, and Wanda quickly covers them. They head straight for the ground inside the Edinburgh Waverley Train Station.

Wanda crawls over to Vision who can barely stand.

She has a bleeding cut on her forehead, "Come on. Come on. Come on, you gotta get up."

He slumps against the railing, all parts of his body phasing, "You gotta get up. Come on." Wanda chants, "Hey. Hey. We have to go."

The Vision shakes his head, then pleads as he holds delicately onto her face, "Please. Please leave."

"You asked me to stay." Wanda Maximoff says, headstrong personality shining through, as well as dedication to her love, "I'm staying."

She gets up, turning around to face a readied Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive.

Two alien-powered beings. Two children of the Mad Titan.

Wanda builds red power in her hands, breathing heavily, though prepares to risk her life for Vision. To protect him.

All on her own. She could.

But the thing is, she doesn't have to.

Because she is not alone.

An express train passes by, horn blowing, and behind it, Proxima senses a presence.

Wanda's gaze follows, confused.

As the train car goes by, the silhouette of a figure becomes more clear on the far sight of the platform. 

Proxima takes this as an opportunity to launch her spear in that direction, fiercely.

The figure catches it, fiercely, then reveals himself when stepping into the limelight.

Steve Rogers. 

Looking quite different than before, bearded, and with untamed hair, the former Captain America is furious. Wanda and Vision show expressions of much relief, and while the enemies are distracted—others roll in. To help.

Sam Wilson, the Falcon, swoops in on his wings and kicks Proxima across the platform through the closed cafe's security gate. Swooping in again, he fires at Corvus. At the same time, in steps Natasha Romanoff. 

The Black Widow, who has short blonde hair now. Steve throws Proxima's weapon to her who then fights Corvus, ducking under his swing and stabbing him in the gut. She executes a jump kick to knock him backward.

Proxima, who has rushed back to the fight, summons her weapon back to her hand and attacks Black Widow. Captain America leaps forward and rolls, picking up Corvus' dropped weapon and then holds her off, Black Widow joining in with her own sticks. 

While they are fighting, Falcon returns and again kicks Proxima backward and she scuttles over to an injured Corvus.

Falcon draws both of his Steyr SPP submachine pistols on the couple.

"Get up." The alien woman demands from the man.

Who shakes his head, "I can't."

Natasha speaks coolly, "We don't wanna kill you. But we will."

"You'll never get the chance again."

They are beamed upwards, into their ship, and away. The staff Steve holds onto is simultaneously sucked up with them as it involuntarily leaves his hold. The trio of both fugitives and former Avengers make their way over to their allies, Steve and Natasha walking alongside one another swiftly as the woman returns her sticks to being behind her back.

"Can you stand?" Sam extends a hand to Vision, who grunts as with help from Wanda rises to his feet.

The blonde hair of the Black Widow waves in the air as she looks for any more trouble, meanwhile, Captain America makes direct eye contact with the synthetic being.

Electricity shimmers over Vision's surface, his voice distorts, though he manages to say, "Thank you, Captain."

And Steve Rogers nods, "Let's get you on the jet."

"Now, I thought . . ." The hatcher doors of the Quinjet stolen two years ago close, and Natasha lightly scolds Wanda, "We had a deal."

"Stay close, check-in, don't take any chances."

The younger redheaded woman apologizes, "I'm sorry. We just wanted time."

She sits close to Vision, the both of them recuperating from the attack, and as Natasha crosses over Sam is seen at the pilot seat, "Where to, Cap?"

Steve has both hands on his belt, confident and smooth in his answer.

"Home."

The Quinjet plans to head back to the Avengers Compound.

. . . Hours in, and they are sailing smooth. Not much commotion since everything that had happened that day. 

A commotion of the internal is far more present than the external, and that's exactly what Captain America experiences as he looks out the window of the jet he and his friend stole when going to Siberia. To find that Sokovian. The other Winter Soldiers.

That was right after a civil war had started, followed by a betrayal, and then a painful, painful rupture . . . Remembering what he lost that day, truly, never fails to cut him up like a knife on the inside, tear his organs out, muscle by muscle. 

His heart. That is hardened like steel years later, with no chance in hell of caving in. Strong and forceful.

Someone who understands his tribulations slowly accompanies him.

She interrogates him using a light, whisper-like tone, "Are you nervous?"

The voice of Steve Rogers is deep in response, and he doesn't break his gaze from the window of the Quinjet, "No."

He is firm when adding, "They need us, even if they don't want to admit it."

Natasha starts to nod aptly in agreement, "That's . . . true."

Then tilts her head, "But not what I was talking about."

Steve involuntarily—but voluntarily—is pushed into silence after that, and it speaks volumes of his thoughts on the current matter. Generally. The current matter pertaining to what they are about to do, him and Natasha: come home. 

Finally. 

A bit of uncertainty tugs at his ab muscles. 

Presumably by witnessing the closed-off and perhaps, unstable demeanor reeking off this Captain—despite the strong forcefulness from earlier, the best plan of action, or rather desired one . . . Would be to leave him alone in his thoughts and slight anxiety.

But, Natasha persists, because there is no way that she cannot. For she as well, falls victim to these gauging feelings. 

Is feeling the exact same way as Steve.

About an impending reunion.

The blonde haired woman speaks in a voice just above a whisper still, though it is one that is slightly raspy and low-toned—her more vulnerable side leaking through. Rarely used with anyone.

Except for Steve, when it comes to this. 

'This' being about a child.

"Are you nervous to see her?"

"Steve . . . " 

He finally rips his stoic gaze away from the window when addressed, and by that point, a sigh threatens to emerge from him upon being fully aware of what the blonde is asking—and she does so. Without any restraint.

"Are you nervous about seeing Dani?"

The man's rough composure ultimately breaks. He looks down.

Keeping a muscular arm resting on the corner of the Quinjet, his figure otherwise standing tall, Steve responds to Natasha's question by flipping it right back onto her, "Are you?"

She puts on a soft pretend smile, "I don't know."

She then shrugs before looking away, hardened exterior falling down as well, and they both know the reason why—it's due to the mention of the child they previously 'Co-Parented' together. 

That they both loved with all their of heart, considered their real daughter—though only through surrogacy. Now, however, it was just different.

Considering how things ended, and what they both individually did that inadvertently hurt Danielle, the question of whether or not either one feels anxiety upon being reunited with her in circumstances like so, presents itself as a dark cloud on a sunny day. 

Honestly, it is a bit difficult to describe. 

For Natasha, the world is falling apart. The Avengers need whoever is willing and ready to fight at this point, especially after losing Tony Stark. Him missing along with a few others. 

The Black Widow solely believes that is the most important factor to be focused on right now, getting the job done. Protecting.

But it's a completely and utterly opposite playing field when a child is thrown into the mix. Was thrown into the mix of the chaos occurring two years ago, and then now again, that enhanced child now being teenager, Dani Rockland.

She is two years older since Natasha Romanoff and Steve Rogers have last seen her.

Since Natasha betrayed her, and since Steve . . . 

Well, since the Captain left her.

First and foremost, he could not put into words what it was like to be in as much pain as he was that day he dropped his shield, when he briefly spoke to T'Challa—all he could think about was her. 

Her tear-stained and young-looking face, the fear written all over it, and because of him. Of something, he did to her. Though then there's looking at the situation outside of everything else other than his brain and memories, and it is through the lens of his heart.

His heart, that painfully longs to see his little girl again.

Hear her delightful little giggles, hold her tight whenever she has a nightmare, or just needs a hug that will bring her the comfort and solace that she was neglected as a baby. That saved her. That shielded her, and made her feel safe. 

Like it used to. Like they used to.

It can only be a memory now, a fond one at that, because reality kicks in when Captain America remembers that his 'kid' is not little anymore. His former kid. 

Former adopted daughter because, again, two whole years have gone by with him not in her life. 

Dani was forced to move on, form relationships with other people, grow, and even that makes him experience an unbearable amount of agony on the inside, and it is strange for the SuperSoldier.

Strange because it's an unfamiliar feeling, not unnatural—considering the role he selflessly stepped into, but it felt that way all the same. True and out.

He experiences much relief in finally being able to see her again, after many dark days, trials in doing their job as Ex-Avengers—Steve Rogers is looking forward to reconciling with his former adoptive daughter, Dani. 

The only inquisition was if Dani herself feels this way too, about him . .  . After everything that's been done.

Is she going to reciprocate these similar feelings of consolation, and comfort? Be excited to see him?

Although considering their once strong bond, tight-knit relationship, it had unfortunately been severed.

Even though Steve and Natasha were more than able—as grown adults—to healthily move on from any grudges or falling outs . . . the individual on the other end here is different. A child.

Someone who had no warrant in enduring what she did in Siberia, or in Germany, already has engrained and practiced trust issues from being an abandoned orphan, and that will result in how she responds to these adults showing up on her doorstep much later.

With confidence.

Dani will walk the same way. In what she believes in and currently feels. 

Anger. And so much more.

"I wonder if she's opened the letter?" 

The Widow crosses her arms, biting down on her lip as she blows air through her nose—that was an important query.

Very important. The key to everything. To prevent things.

Looking out on the horizon, Natasha expresses her consistent and as well-practiced optimism, "I hope so."

"But we can only hope, right? We've done all we can . . . "

Another memory hits Steve of when they were first on the run, and he nods while his long lashes reflect downwards—he puts his hands back on his belt, "Yeah, we have."

"I hope."

He says, last, seeming like he could say more but doesn't—just waits until they arrive at the Avengers Compound in New York.

Where he and Natasha Romanoff will finally be reunited with Dani Rockland-Rogers.

The child that they Co-Parented.

Would still co-parent, if she allows it.

If.