Alter Ego
Chapter 2
Evy POV
Miss Rogers? Ugh.
Miss Rogers? Maybe if I play dead, he'll stop.
Miss Rogers! There's silence-that's always a good sign.
Miss Rogers your brain waves clearly indicate that you are awake. Darn artificial intelligence.
"What?" I asked the ceiling, groggily. "Do you always scan people's brain activities?"
I make special allowances for certain inhabitants of the tower.
"We need to get you a hobby Jarvis, buddy," I collapsed back onto the bed.
Miss Rogers, your father wishes to inform you that if you are not out of bed within the next five minutes, I am allowed to gain your attention by any means necessary. He's bluffing. I let my head drop back on the pillow and just as my eyes began to droop, a trilling bugle blasted into my ear.
"Ahhh!" I fell unceremoniously onto the ground, still tangled in my comforter. Very disoriented, I looked up to see my father starring down at me.
"Aw, dad, couldn't you have knocked?" I asked him, trying to free myself from the quagmire.
"That was one of the more impressive awakenings that I have ever seen," Dad observed and I glared.
"Well Jarvis went all 9th amendment," I retorted. "Since when does he have unlimited alarm power?"
"Since 6:30 this morning, when you should have been up, but ignored my calls." Dad reached down and plucked me out of the blankets and I mean 'plucked!' Like a doll in a laundry basket! He set me on my feet and I made a scene of stretching abnormally slow. Dad shook his head, a slight smile apparent on his face.
"Come on my little sloth, get dressed. Breakfast is hot and on the table and you have to be at school in 30 minutes," he ordered directing me to the bathroom. I sauntered off to commence my morning rituals. As I tackled the task of managing my hair, I heard more movement in my bedroom. I grinned knowing exactly what it was. Dad was ever the over-compulsive neat freak.
"Da-ad!" I called. "You're not making my bed, are you?" I hear soft thuds, probably dad fluffing the pillows or the blankets.
"I'm just getting them off the ground so they don't get dirty," he defended.
"Because, isn't doing your child's chores for them, like the seventh sin of parenting?" I asked giggling.
"Just concentrate on getting yourself to breakfast," he called back.
Steve POV
"Evelyn, are you ready?" I called to her from down the hall.
"In a minute!"
"Get a move on it. Happy is waiting downstairs and your breakfast is getting cold," I reminded her, making my way back to the kitchen, I picked up one of the many files I had been studying. Desperately needing extra energy for the day, I reached for my coffee causing a sharp pain to shoot up my left arm. Pulling back I examined my fingers, slightly number and watched as I tried to make a fist. Eventually, my fingers worked again and I could lift the warm cup to my mouth. It was time to lay off the extra weights; it's not like I didn't do enough during work out anyway.
"Yum! Bacon!" My thoughts were interrupted as Evy bounded into the kitchen, her school bag dropped to the side of her chair. She eagerly dug into the savory and greasy food.
"I want to see that much gusto with your fruit," I reminded her, tilting my head toward the bowl of fruit and the piece of toast. She nodded, picking up her fork and digging into the rest of her breakfast.
"Hey dad?"
"Yes sweetheart?" I put down my file and gave her my attention.
"Can I hang out with Neil and Lizzie this weekend?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Nothing too complicated, just watching movies-maybe playing some video games at Lizzie's house."
"I suppose that would be all right. I'll need to clear it with Phil, but you should ask Happy if he can drive you."
"That's the beauty. Now that Neil has his own car, he can pick me up."
"Have they finished the security enhancements yet?"
"Almost..."she replied more timidly.
"I'm sorry honey, but until those modifications are made and tested, you'll need Happy to drive you."
"Okay...is my car going to need those security things?"
"Your car?"
"You know, for when I drive?"
"Let's talk after you've finished reading the manual for your permit,"
"I'm almost finished!"
"Then we'll be talking about it very soon." She gave me a look. "Honey, I will do everything in my power to make sure you can get your permit, but there's a lot to sort out-especially if we're setting everything up so that you can try for your driver's test later on. We'll need to schedule a time in advance to make sure that Shield can do a security sweep, we'll need to find an undercover agent to escort you to the DMV, and we'll need to figure out the paperwork with your identity."
"Yeah, I know my phony birth certificate..." she trailed off, pushing the leftover fruit with her fork. Times like these make me regret my decision to take Fury's solution. The alter ego complicated our lives, there's no mistaking that, but it has kept her safe and hidden thus far. Establishing a counter-identify, a grossly exaggerated representation of a super soldier's child, has kept her out of the spotlight. We've even been able to make it work so that she could go to school and spend time with her two friends. I would face these challenges and many more if it meant she would be safe and happy, but I know deep down that it bothers her. I'm not sure how much farther we can take this farce. She needs to start her life and not as Evelyn Rodgersen or as Pepper and Tony Stark's obscure niece. She needs to be her own person. I know that she wants 'Evelyn Rogers' to be on that damn permit and it kills me to know I can't give her that just yet.
Instead of having our age old discussion about the importance of keeping her identity safe, I did my best to bring a smile back to her face.
"If you're planning to see your friends this weekend, can you keep tomorrow free for your old man?"
"I guess...why?" she perked up.
"You'll have to wait and see," I remarked with a smile.
"Aww come on. Not even a hint?"
"It's a surprise," I responded, happy to see her eyes lighting up.
"Okay. My weekend's booked, but I can take tomorrow off!"
Captain Rogers, Mr. Hogan would like to know when Miss Rogers is ready.
"Tell him, she'll be right down," I told the AI as I picked up her lunch bag. Evy scrambled out of her seat, grabbing her book bag and making a beeline for the door.
"Sweetheart!" I stopped her and gave her lunch bag. "Have a good day at school."
"I will. Bye dad!" She leaned up and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before bounding off.
AN: Slow chapter, so I wanted to get this up a little earlier. Otherwise, I will post new chapters on Thursday. Next up, the plot begins to unfold. As always, thank you for reviewing, following, and reading this story. I appreciate your continued readership! MDwhitacre