Standard Disclaimers Apply
Steve Rogers stared down at the casket below him. It was brushed silver in color, and already had a few roses thrown over it.
Glancing up at Wanda, Steve felt his heart break a little. She was stoic, her face blank and her posture that of a soldier, but anyone could see the red shimmering just beneath her skin. It gave away how hard she was trying to keep her emotions buried.
She did well, he thought, as each of the team members gave a small eulogy in Pietro's honor. Clint's was the hardest, and not just for her. Even Natasha had to discreetly wipe away a tear.
A pastor read a few verses, prayed, then the casket was lowered into the ground. People came and tossed flowers, offered their condolences to Wanda, then left quietly. The girl remained statuesque through it all.
After everyone else had gone, Steve lingered. Something made him stay, made him unable to leave the girl across from him, who was now crumbling before his eyes.
Wanda sank to her knees, sobs tearing through her as scarlet light collected around her hands. A small ripple of energy made its way through the air, striking Steve and bringing a familiar agony with it, a shadow of the pain she felt.
He took a deep breath and began walking towards her, but before he reached her she'd lowered herself into the hole and curled up on top of her brother's coffin. Steve raised his eyebrows but said nothing, choosing instead to sit beside the grave in silence and mourn with her.
The day went on, and Wanda didn't move. As it began to get darker, she started to sing, the song clearly an old lullaby even though Steve couldn't understand it. He didn't want to force the girl to leave, but the groundskeepers of the cemetery were lingering just out of earshot, becoming impatient. Steve sighed.
"Wanda... Come on out, it's getting late."
There was no answer.
"You can't stay there forever, you know," He tried.
"The hell I can't..." Came her reply, her voice rough and small.
Sighing again, he stepped down into the hole, kneeling beside the quivering girl.
"We have to leave now, Wanda. I know it's hard, believe me, I've been through it. But you have to push forward and keep him with you in your memories."
She began to quietly sob once again, but didn't resist when Steve picked her up and jumped out of the hole.
He nodded to the caretakers, who began to make their way over. The girl he was holding felt so fragile, so tiny in his arms. Placing a light kiss on her forehead, he glanced down at the silver casket one last time and swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat.
"I told you to walk it off..." He whispered, then cradled Wanda closer to him and turned, the girl he held falling silent as her eyelids drifted shut.
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