Steve knew he had to make a decision, and fast. Most of his allies wouldn't wait. Thanos certainly wouldn't wait. He asked himself what Becca would want. Would she beg for him to turn on his team for the slim possibility of her return? No, she wouldn't. She had seen the magnitude of Thanos' power, watched the bodies fall. And yet, as soon as she was free, she had leapt at him. In that second, pride and horror had warred within Steve. Then, Thanos had set his hand on her shoulder, and horror won out.
But Steve had learned to contain horror long ago during the war, to lock down and fight on. Only Becca had freed him from its weight, bit by bit. She had done so much for him. She had saved him more times than he could count, in more ways than he could name. He had never told her that. Not often enough, at least. Didn't he owe her this rescue? Didn't he owe her the world?
And yet…
If he turned against his team, and if Thanos brought her back – which was by no means a certainty – the world might fall under the power of the Infinity Stones. Then, Steve would look up into Becca's eyes and see horror. There would be no time to help shoulder her burden, no holding her close, no murmured reassurances. There would be guilt, and then, there would be nothing. And even if they met on the other side of the pearly gates, Steve would know that he had failed her, that he had failed them all.
"Attack Plan: Scorpion." His voice didn't come out as strong as usual. Steve cleared his throat and repeated himself. "Attack Plan: Scorpion. On my signal."
The team spread out, maneuvering into position.
Thanos seemed unperturbed, but then, he held all the cards. He spoke slowly, as though talking to a disobedient pet. "I will give you a last chance, Captain." He flexed his hand and a patch of air glowed orange. "Think carefully."
The orange glow receded to the edges, and in the space between Steve could see Becca. She collapsed to the ground, body spasming as she dry heaved onto the pavement. Her eyelashes fluttered, and Steve worried she would faint, but her eyes remained open as she fell onto her side. The urge rose to reach out for her, but Steve knew better. He wouldn't be able to touch her, if this was even a real image. There was only one hope for Becca. They had to win.
Steve gave the signal.
Author's Note:
I'm off on a trip to New York, so I'm afraid this will be all until next week. Thanks for your patience!
(N: Thanks! I will neither confirm nor deny your theory because spoilers. But there will definitely be pain before all this is over, that I will say.
Crystal H: Thank you! That is a lot of questions, and I'm not going to answer any of them haha You'll see! And I am enjoying writing this story immensely.)