"I don't get why you insist on me going to the expo. You know we have a deadline on this serum. You go to your fancy expo and show off your flying car, and I'll stay here and finish the calculations on this serum so we can do our first test in two days."
"Mia, one of these days, you'll see I'm right. You're gonna go to one of my expos and meet one of those soulmates of yours." Howard teased.
"Listen, just because I have two doesn't mean my odds of meeting them are any higher than yours are of meeting the one you have. There ate so many people in the world, what are the chances of BOTH of my soulmates being here, huh? And at the expo, no less. Besides howany times have I said it- who's gonna want a dame with two marks, huh? No one. I'll stay here and play with my science kit while you go out and woo some ladies with your car." She said, shooing him off. "Be safe! Bring me back some cotton candy." She called as he left the room.
XXXXXXX
"Howard, I don't know. I'm sure the Colonel won't be thrilled with me being the first test subject. He already isn't thrilled with me helping you right now anyways. According to him, Peggy is the only "Capable of handling herself in a serious situation.". He thinks I'm just around to be a "morale booster"." Mia said, running her fingers through her hair.
"Exactly why you're the perfect candidate for it! You're already physically trained, and whether he likes it or not, you exceed all of the criteria we're searching for. Besides, no one else is going to volunteer for this. Not for a first run. It has to be you, Mia." Howard pleaded.
Mia looked at her younger brother for a minute before releasing a sigh of defeat. "Fine. Okay, I'll do it. But when Chester Phillips comes in here and gives you the what for, don't say I didn't warn you."
Howard's smile was blinding as he wrapped his sister in a tight hug. She couldn't stop the smile that settled on her own face. Her brother was making history, and who was she to stop that progress? Besides, she trusted the serum they had created. She trusted Howard.
XXXXXXX
"Don't you dare touch that switch, Howard Stark! You let me do this. You told me I could do it, and I'm going to do it. Doc, you tell him I can do this!" Mia yelled from inside the container. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she was almost positive that she was going to scream. The reactor was close to overloading, and Howard was struggling not to turn it off. Lucky for him, he didn't have to make that choice as the reactor shut down on it's own.
Dr. Erksine rushed forward to open the door. As he did, Mia slumped forward into his arms.
"Thanks, Doc." She said, trying to steady herself.
Howard noticed that she looked a bit different. A bit more muscular and sturdy than before. "How do you feel?" He asked as Erskine passed her into his hold.
She looked up at him with a playful smirk, sweat glistening on her brow as she took a deep breath. "Super."
XXXXXXX
Mia sat, reading the folder in front of her with her brows drawn. This man was just gunning for the fight. But there was something about him that intrigued her. She listened intently to the conversation that Doctor Erksine was having with the man.
"Queens. 73rd Street and Utopia Parkway. Before that, Germany. This troubles you?"
"No." The man answered.
Mia entered the room, flipping through Steve's file. "Where are you from, Mr. Rogers? Hmm? Is it New Haven? Or Paramus? Five exams in five different cities."
"That might not be the right file, ma'am." Steve tried denying.
"No, it's not the exams we're interested in. It's the five tries. But you didn't answer the Doctor's question. Do you want to kill Nazis?" Mia asked again, looking up at him. He continued staring at Erksine.
"Is this a test?" Steve questioned, the Doctor meeting his gaze.
"Yes."
"I don't wanna kill anyone. I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from."
Doctor Erksine and Mia locked eyes, an identical smile plastered on both of their faces. "Well, there are already so many big men fighting this war. Maybe what we need now is the little guy, huh?" He asked.
Mia nod, speaking over her shoulder as she exit the room. "We can offer you a chance. Only a chance."
"I'll take it." Steve said, scrambling to grab his things.
"Good. So where is the little guy from, actually?" Erksine asked as they followed Mia, who was stamping Steve's file.
"Brooklyn." Steve informed him.
Mia handed Steve's file back, smiling warmly. "Congratulations, soldier."
Steve opened up the file to sees that he'd been stamped as accepted. He finally met Mia's eyes and the air rushed from his lungs. The mark on his ribs burned, and the one on hers did the same. Her eyes widened as she looked at him, his jaw dropped.
"Well, Mr. Rogers, looks like we need to have a discussion soon."
XXXXXXX
"The last surveillance flight is back. No sign of activity." Peggy announced as she and a very quiet Mia walked into the Colonel's tent.
"Go get a cup of coffee, Corporal." Phillips said, looking at the fourth person in the tent.
"Yes, sir." The Corporal agreed, quickly leaving.
"I can't touch Howard Stark. He's rich and he's the Army's number one weapons contractor. I can't touch Miss Stark here for the same reason, plus she's America's Sweetheart. You, Miss Carter, are neither one of them."
"With respect, sir, I don't regret my actions. And I don't think Captain Rogers did either." Peggy informed him.
"What makes you think I give a damn about your opinions. I took a chance with you, Agent Carter."
"With all due respect, sir, Agent Carter, Howard, Steve, and myself all knew what we were doing. It was a calculated risk." Mia finally spoke, stepping forward. She was still in her Miss America outfit from the show she had finished only ten minutes prior. It was supposed to "keep the men going" while Steve was MIA.
"And now America's golden boy and a lot of other good men are dead, cause you had a crush." Phillips snapped
Mia took a step forward, ready to argue, and Peggy had to practically shove her back.
"It wasn't that. We had faith." Peggy informed him.
"Well, I hope that's a big comfort to you when they shut this division down and take Miss Stark away to be tested on like a common lab rat."
Soldiers start running and talking exitedly outside the tent, drawing all of their attention.
"What the hell's going on out there?" Phillips demanded. They followed the crowd to the edge of the camp where Steve was arriving with the freed prisoners.
Mia looked on with a wide grin. Of course he would come back. He always would.
Steve turned to salute Phillips before speaking. "Some of theres men need medical attention. I'd like to surrender myself for disciplinary action.
"That won't be necessary." Phillips informed him.
"Yes, sir."
Colonel Phillips turned and walked away from Steve, noticing Peggy and Mia standing close by.
"Faith, huh?" He asked.
Mia looked up and nod. "Faith. In him. I dont trust much, sir, but Steve? I trust him with my life."
Mia looked over at Steve and Peggy to see the latter pointing at her. Steve looked up and smiled widely, before rushing over to her and picking her up. He spun her in a hug before setting her down and kissing her.
"You should've let me go with you." She said with a smirk.
"Probably." He admit, as they both let out a laugh.
"Hey! Let's hear it for Captain America!" A voice called out, causing the pair to look over at a roughed up soldier, who lioked like he had been through hell and back. Through the cheering, Mia could hear blood rush in her ears as she locked eyes with him. The mark on her ribs burned for the second and final time in her life.
"Is that-?" She asked Steve quietly, not looking away from the soldier.
"Bucky." Steve confirmed, looking down at her with a smile.
"Bucky..." the name fell from her lips like a whispered prayer. Just like that, her whole life was changing again.
XXXXXXX
"Come in. This is Captain Rogers and Mia Stark. Do you read me?" Steve said over the comms.
"Captain Rogers, what is your…" Jim Morita said, only to be cut off by Peggy Carter.
"Steve, Mia, is that you? Are you alright?"
"Peggy! Schmidt's dead." Steve explained.
"What about the plane?"
"That's a little bit tougher to explain." Mia admit to her friend as she looked at Steve with a sad expression.
"Give me your coordinates, I'll find you a safe landing site."
"There's not going to be a safe landing. But I can try and force it down." Steve said, his eyes briefly meeting Mia's. They knew what they had to do, even if it meant the worst.
"I'll get Howard on the line, he'll know what to do."
"Peg, There's not enough time. My brother is a genius, but even he couldn't get us out of this one. This thing's moving too fast and it's heading for New York." Mia said, her eyes now filling with tears.
"I gotta put her in the water." Steve said solemnly, reaching out for Mia's hand. She laced her fingers in his, squeezing tightly.
"Please, don't do this. We have time. We can work it out." Peggy pleaded.
"Right now I'm in the middle of nowhere. If I wait any longer a lot of people are gonna die. Peggy, this is our choice."
"Peggy?" Mia finally asked after a beat of silence.
"I'm here." Peggy confirmed, and Mia could hear the tears in the woman's voice.
"I need you to tell my brother that I love him. You let him know that I'm so proud of him. Tell him...tell him that when he has that family he's always talking about, I want his kids to know how much their Aunt Mia loves them. I want him to know how much I love him. You'll tell him for me, won't you?"
"Of course. Of course I will Mia."
Mia looked over at Steve as the water drew closer and gave him a teary smile. "I just want you to know that it was an honor, getting to love you, Steve Rog-"
Peggy Carter sobbed as the radio went to static, and two of her closest friends were lost to the depths.
XXXXXXX
"Take her to the hold. They'll break easier seeing eachother helpless."
"Yes sir. The ice, sir. Do we unfreeze her?"
"Little by little. Be sure she is properly restrained and do not let them communicate. We can not have her giving him hope."
"Yes sir. Do we have orders on what she shall be called?"
"The Ghost. The Ghost of Hydra."