Chapter 22

Hellooooo. Yall know my excuses by now. Enjoy the chapter and lets take some bets on when I'll update next.

Here is a quick timeline for the Captain America movie/these letters:

-June 14th, 1943: Steve Rogers is recruited for Project Rebirth

-June 22nd, 1943: Steve is given the Serum, Erskine is assassinated

-November 3rd, 1943: Steve Rogers rescues prisoners of war at Hydra facility—Bucky and Howling Commandos

-February 1st, 1945: Bucky Barnes dies

-February 5th, 1945: Steve crashes into ice

-August 5th, 1945: first Atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima


June 21st, 1943

Dearest Steve,

It's only been a week, but I must say, life without you is positively boring. Whatever am I supposed to do with myself when I am not keeping you out of trouble? Knit? (Though I have discovered that I do in fact enjoy knitting, don't tell Bucky. He teased me on it in his last letter and I knit him a scarf out of spite—you are getting socks, they are hideous). I've been spending the rest of my time volunteering and attending women groups. Did you know that the air force is currently accepting women pilots? —WASPs are what they are called. A woman I met, Donna Van Dyne, is one of them. She is an extraordinary individual—I hope you can meet her one day.

How is training? Are you getting along with everyone? Are you joining the front line soon? Bucky is heading to Poland next, maybe you'll be stationed there as well. You can look out for each other.

Love always,

Ava


July 8th, 1943

Dearest Ava,

I miss you terribly each day, your letters are always something to look forward to. I hope you will be able to write one soon as it has been quite some time since I've heard from you. Almost a month, actually. Know that I love you dearly and will be coming back to you as soon as I am able. Haven't yet seen one gal in all my travels who compares to you, sweetheart.

We recently landed in England safely. I haven't seen Howard in a couple days, said he had something important to work on—could change the course of the war he claimed. Him and Ms. Carter have been together often recently, makes me think they're having fondue (don't roll your eyes at me, fondue is a perfectly acceptable term for it).

I understand the need for this tour, morale-boosting is important, but I feel as though I could be doing more. Howard says I look good in tights—punk reminds me of Bucky. Last I heard from him, Buck was in Germany. Are you still writing to him, Ava? Hopefully I can join him soon.

Sending all my love,

Steve


August 20th, 1943

"Forget about flying cars, this kind of energy is beyond our time-" Ava struggles to breathe, it feels as though something is pressing down on her chest.

"But can you use it? Weaponize it?" A woman speaks, her voice soft but cutting as Ava tries to open her eyes.

"I doubt I can manipulate it; my tech can't even get a proper reading." A sigh. "I've never seen anything like it."

"No one has seen anything like it." The hissed words bring Ava closer to the surface, the pair had moved closer than before. The woman's voice softens. "So, you're saying it's useless?"

"I didn't say that," her fingers twitch, "I can still observe, replicate." The man's voice lets out a breathless laugh, it doesn't comfort her like Steve's does. "It'll be a whole new form a warfare."

Warfare? Ava managed to lift her arm, her vision blurry as she tried to sit up, she needed to go home. To Steve.

"How is she awake?" A firm hand pushes her down, Ava moans in frustration as her energy pulses. "OW! Fucking hell, hand me that."

Her energy keeps pulsing as her body pushes back against the man's grip, the smell of burning skin reaching her nostrils as her hair starts to break into tendrils. She didn't care she needed Steve. Steve. Steve. Steve.

Where was Steve?

She snapped open her eyes as a woman stood over her head, oxygen mask being forced around her head.

"Steve is gone. The serum killed him."


November 1st, 1943

Ava,

You've got me worried, sweetheart. Maybe I should listen to Howard and stop sending letters, that you've moved on. But I can't believe that. You're my girl, Ava. I'll never stop loving you.

Bucky has been captured and no one seems like they are going to do anything about it. Too risky, they say. Well I didn't take the serum to dance on stage, I wanted to help people. I will help people.

I know where he is, I think it's time for me to be the super soldier Erskine wanted me to be. Wish me luck.

Steve


November 15th, 1943

"HYDRA might have been onto something." Ava can feel an energy pulsing near the voice, it is angry, violent. Caged. She shies from it as it comes closer.

"We need to start seeing results," she is surprised to hear a different voice, she doesn't remember the last time the woman was here. "This war has been dragging on too long."

"You can't rush genius," something sharp pokes in her side. "Is he still asking about her?"

"Unfortunately," Ava feels her ring being slipped off of her finger. "He still sends a letter every week as well. Seems I'll have to force him to stop asking."

The man only hums in response.

"I'd step back if I were you."

Soft heals click on the floor as the energy pushes into her, burning, angry, afraid. The building begins to shake as Ava screams.


February 4th, 1945

Ava,

I'm not sure why I'm writing this. Hell, I don't know what I am doing anymore. I wish I could hold you in my arms, even for just a moment. I wear your ring around my neck and your photo in my pocket, did you know that Ava?

So many things have happened. Bucky. Bucky—he died yesterday. I was so close to saving him—

.

.

.

Sweetheart, I'm lost without you two. Maybe one day we'll meet again. Until then, keep each other company.

Yours,

Steve


August 6th, 1945

The chamber reminded her of her time with the stars. She felt weightless in the liquid; her senses muffled as scientists scurried around her. She was dressed in skintight white, tubes with chemicals keeping her complacent.

The pain is constant, though dampened today as the sea of white coats gathers on the other side of the lab around a television. Through half lidded eyes she watches a mushroom cloud replay on the screen as the lab erupts into cheers.

Her pain returns as her energy anguishes with each life extinguished in the blaze.


Patience is not a trait that either Stark, father or daughter, possess. But it can be noted that Elli put forth a great effort in waiting for her daddy to return—she just got bored. And curious. And bored. She would have done better if Peter had not fallen asleep, DeeDee curled under his head acting as a pillow.

"JARVIS? Where is daddy?" The littlest Stark takes off her bracelet so she can float to the fridge.

"Sir is at SHIELD." Blueberries were on the top shelf.

"With Papa?" Maybe a box of juice too.

"I believe Agent Fury is there as well."

"Okay!" Elli pulls out her lunch box, smiling at Anna and Elsa on the front. Opening the lid, glowing food packing itself in like Tetris. "I'll bring them snacks!"

"I am sure they have snacks on the helicarrier, young miss."

"But they don't have blueberries! Or fruit snacks!" Elli zips up the lunch box. "Daddy complains about it all the time!"

That was true but JARVIS was sure that the elder Stark could survive without those two items for a little longer.

"Tell Uncle Bruce I'm going out." The lunch box hangs at her side like a briefcase as the young Skīr-r walked through a portal.

If JARVIS was capable, he would have sighed.


"You're not much of a talker, are you?" Wade rested his hands on his knees as he sat back flushed to the glass of his cell. The Winter Soldier sat on the other side, down an arm as he glared at the mercenary.

"That's okay, I can talk enough for the both of us." They allowed the merc with a mouth to keep his suit. Stripped him of his weapons though—which is why the Winter Soldier was currently the One-Armed Wonder. "What's the deal with you and the living Glowstick?"

Wade glanced back to watch the man's expression.

"Enemies, acquaintances, rivals, ex friends, old friends?" Nothing.

"And what was with Captain Sparklepants? You three have some kind of history? A love triangle maybe?" A twitch, miniscule, barely noticeable. "I knew it, she stole him from you, didn't she? That's why you hate her. She's depriving the world of Stucky, Starbucks, Wintershield, Barnes and Noble, or whatever other ship name the readers prefer."

"No." Deadpool nearly jumps.

"He speaks!" The man glares between strands of hair.

"You're annoying." His voice is gravely from lack of use.

"So I've heard," Deadpool shrugs. "Do you know what is really annoying though? The lack of food. What kind of underfunded organization is Fury running here? I DEMAND SUSTINANCE"

"Ha! I told JARVIS there wasn't enough snacks here."

Both prisoners turn to see the arrival of a small glowing child.

"Hey, Heavy Metal, do you see a mini version of the target right now?" It could just be one of his hallucinations again.

A grunt—huh not a hallucination.

"Okay hold on a second," Wade shakes his head. "I don't do kids. That's a rule." A pause. "But that rule's negotiable if the kid's a dick."

"Do you want a snack?" The kid stops glowing and holds out a packet of apple sauce. "It's banana flavored!"

"AW! Isn't she just the cutest thing you've ever seen!" Wade walks to the edge of cell as the child manages to push the snack through the glass. "Is this one of those drinkable ones?"

Elli trots over to the other cell.

"Hello!" The florescent lights glint off of her sparkly white teeth. "My name is Elli! Want a snack?"

The man stares.

"What happened to your arm?" The child doesn't wait for a response as she kneels, putting down her lunch box and unrolling her faux flesh sleeve. "Don't be sad about it, cuz my dad can make you a new one! See!"

Both imprisoned men stare at the arm as the child wiggles her fingers, showing off the intricacy of Stark tech. After a moment, something changes in the Winter Soldier's eyes as he lowers himself to the child's level, sitting cross legged on the floor.

"I would," he clears his throat, "love a snack."

Rolling the sleeve back up, Elli extends a baggie of pretzel goldfish.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'

Bucky is by no means cured; he still needs to chill with Shuri for a bit in Wakanda for a while to recover from the brainwashing. Also, we're just going to pretend Endgame doesn't exist because I don't want it to.

Till next time