"I've got the book."
Fury raised his brow and looked over at Maria Hill, seeing the woman tense up, "Scan the pages on your phone and leave it. The General will be less suspicious that way. Did you get a confession?"
"Yes, Sir. I have it on my necklace recorder. I can transfer that to you when I arrive back in D.C."
"Alright, we'll send a jet to extract you. Be ready to go tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Sir."
The line went dead, and Fury turned to Maria Hill, who just pursed her lips and piqued her brow. Fury groaned as he leaned over his desk, typing slowly on his tablet, "You got something to say, Hill?"
"The Belarus government wants him exterminated."
"And he will be. I'm sending in STRIKE and the Captain."
"You want her to leave the book though?"
"I want them to bring back the book. Make it worth the trip."
"Sir," Hill said in frustration, "Why all the lies? This mission really isn't that complicated."
Fury narrowed his eyes at her and stood a little straighter, "Just because the mission isn't complicated, doesn't mean nothing else is." He nodded towards the door, "I have a call to make. Get the jet ready, you've got a long ride ahead of you."
As Maria Hill left, she looked over her shoulder, seeing Nick sit back down in his chair to make his phone call. Before she got in the elevator, she heard him say, "You ready to come home?"
Brooklyn walked through the halls of the General's mansion, smiling at one of the cooks as she made her way towards the General's study. She leaned against the door as her soft blonde hair fell in waves to her shoulders.
" Иди спать моя любовь."
"Come to bed, my love," She hummed as she ran her fingers over his shoulders, ignoring the way he stiffened. She pressed a kiss to his temple, dragging her fingers along his shoulder as her satin robe floated behind her. She shuffled her bare feet into the master bedroom, sighing as she pulled back the sheets to reveal the General's little black book of buyers. She looked up towards the door, making sure nobody saw her as she shimmied out of her robe to strap the book on under her nightgown.
She heard a familiar clang from outside the window and looked up to see the electric fence short out. She grinned in anticipation as she turned around and went sprinting down the hall, calling for the General.
He appeared from his study and she ran to him, grabbing his arms tightly, "Кто-то сломал забор" Someone broke the fence.
Looking over her shoulder towards the hallway, he steeled his jaw, prompting her to ask in broken English, "My love, what is it?"
"Иди прячься. Я приду за тобой, когда мы позаботимся о них."
Go hide. I will come for you when we take care of them.
Brooklyn nodded quickly and followed directions, heading towards the faint sound of bootsteps barely touching the floor.
He's here.
Brooklyn carefully peeled off her photostatic veil and discarded it to the side, knowing full well STRIKE would burn the place to the ground, destroying all of her evidence of deceit. She pushed her way into the bathroom, hoping she could at least grab her robe before being extracted.
She closed the door and sighed, pushing back her blonde hair. It was too light for her liking, but it was a sacrifice she was more than willing to make. Brooklyn took a few steps into the master bedroom, realizing she wasn't alone.
Suddenly, Captain America emerged from the coat closet, aiming his gun at her. She didn't even have time to register that it was him before his massive hand was covering her mouth and his shield was blocking her view. She gasped at his swift movements, wondering if he didn't recognize her until he was holstering his gun.
"It's been too long." He purred into her ear from behind and she relaxed.
"Steve." She replied as she turned and threw her arms around his neck, looking him over quickly. It had been fourteen months, he was every bit as handsome as she remembered him. Brooklyn couldn't help but grab his face and pull his lips down to hers, drinking him in like water after being trapped in the desert.
Steve pulled away and Brooklyn blinked quickly to push back the tears that were forming at the sight of him. He ran his hands over her slowly, and she relished in his touch, having missed it more than anything else, "Are you okay?" He asked and she nodded, looking towards the bathroom as he explained that they were there to get her out. "You hold onto me, no matter what, do you understand?"
At that moment, Brooklyn realized that everything she'd come to know and love over the past year was about to change forever. "Yes, Captain." Brooklyn took a deep breath, knowing what was about to happen, and feeling her stomach ache, "He'll be in his study."
As she pointed towards the closed door, Steve passed her with his gun raised and his shield ready to receive any hits should the General shoot first. Brooklyn held her breath as Steve shot the man without hesitation, then told STRIKE to take out the rest of the guards.
Brooklyn was shaking at the sight, unable to recognize the soldier before her. He was a cold-hearted killer on a mission, and he smiled when he saw the General die. Had Brooklyn done that? Had her absence darkened Captain America?
When Steve realized she was upset, he grabbed her and tugged her close and she shook even harder, ducking her head to get away from his gaze, "He deserved that. Don't look so upset."
"It isn't his death that bothers me. It was how ruthless you were about it." Brooklyn answered, unable to meet his dark eyes. If she didn't know any better, she'd guess Hydra had gotten through to Steve in her absence. It would comfort her more than knowing he'd just grown so cruel.
Steve studied her for a moment, but his hard expression didn't shift, "He had something of mine for too long. I've thought of little else."
Hazel eyes burst wide as he dragged her through the mansion, down the stairs and through the kitchen. It wasn't until Brooklyn came face to face with an older woman with greying hair that she realized the repercussions of her actions. All of these people were going to die because of her. She pulled the ring off her finger and shoved it at the woman, "Take this, and go. Save yourself."
"Кто ты? Я никогда не видел тебя здесь раньше."
Who are you? I've never seen you before.
Brooklyn grimaced as she grabbed Steve's gun and shot the woman in the back, letting out a gasp before handing Steve the gun and sighing, "She said she'd call the militia. We can't leave any survivors."
Steve nodded and began leading her away, but not before she looked over her shoulder at the woman. Her eyes were still open, and the diamond ring had fallen from her grip near her hand. Brooklyn bit her lip and continued running, realizing that Steve had killed one man to protect her, but she'd killed everyone else to protect herself.
By the time they reached the jet, Brooklyn wasn't sure if she wanted to go home with Steve Rogers, but as soon as the quinjet left the ground, his entire countenance softened. Brooklyn smiled weakly as he watched her like a scared puppy, and she relaxed seeing the man she loved was still there, "You okay there, Soldier?" She asked, using his pet name fondly as he took her hands in his. "I missed you."
"I missed you too. I missed you so much." Steve threw his arms around her and pulled her to his chest, pressing soft kisses to her head as he whimpered, "I've waited so long for this. I can't believe you're coming home. "
She sighed against his chest, already home. Her fingers found themselves traveling up his back and wrapping around his neck, scratching at his hairline as her breath caught, "You cut your hair."
"It was too long."
"I like your hair long. I like to play with it." Brooklyn scolded him, but he just gave her a knee-melting smile. "You haven't changed a bit."
Steve pressed his lips to hers, kissing her slowly and tenderly as he carefully backed her against the wall. Brooklyn felt self-conscious in her nightgown, far less fit than she'd been last time she was with these people, but nothing mattered for this brief moment. She was home.
For the first time in over a year, Brooklyn rested easy, but she couldn't sleep. She was overwhelmed by Steve's affection and the world she'd been away from for so long. Sharon Carter moved in across from Steve. That wasn't a coincidence. Steve had been molded into a prime SHIELD agent, and it broke Brooklyn's heart. He'd become everything she had hoped he wouldn't.
She had a sneaking suspicion that Steve hadn't slept well while she was away, based on how he snored louder than a chainsaw into her chest. Brooklyn didn't mind that he was keeping her awake, though. She needed to process all the time she'd been away, and she didn't want to do it in front of Steve.
Tears streamed from her hazel eyes and soaked her pillowcase as she stroked Steve's cheek. His hair was too short, and she couldn't get a good grip on it, but he still melted the moment her fingers touched the edge of his hairline at his neck. It reminded her of their evenings at the Retreat, and her heart broke that they could never have that life. If she had known how hard she'd fall for him, she would have stayed as long as possible in their little corner of the world.
Her breathing hitched, and she froze when he shifted, but he threw his muscular arm over her stomach and sighed, snoring again after just a moment. Brooklyn smiled through her tears at the sight of him holding her so tightly. She wasn't the same woman he'd loved before, but he didn't bat an eye at the weight she'd gained or the muscle she'd lost. He didn't ask about her forlorn gaze, instead choosing to let her set the pace in what she wanted and needed from him.
Brooklyn had missed Steve terribly, but her heart was torn. It could never fully belong to him again.
She carefully leaned over to the bedside table and grabbed her phone, holding her breath as she settled back against the pillows. She stroked Steve's corded arm as he held her tightly, his snores breaking for a moment as he let out a quiet hum while stretching his legs. "Shh, go back to sleep my love." Brooklyn murmured as she scratched his back. He nodded against her, muttering something unintelligible before falling back into his deep sleep.
Once she was sure he couldn't see her, Brooklyn pulled up photos on her phone from her time away, biting her lip to keep the tears at bay. Perhaps she should have never left. Then she wouldn't know how much it hurt to lose such a big part of her heart.
After three weeks, Brooklyn felt better about being back home. She'd stopped crying herself to sleep, and she'd actually enjoyed going in to work at the Triskellion. Steve was doting as always, and Brooklyn was starting to feel more comfortable around him.
Sometimes though, in her nightmares, she'd see him shoot the General. Hard, unfeeling, and jealous, Captain America was nowhere to be found. The person who murdered the General in cold blood was purely Steve Rogers, and it was the smile that haunted Brooklyn most. She shouldn't have been surprised, she knew Steve was jealous and possessive, but it was hard to watch it unfold in front of her.
Then again, Steve was following orders to take out a dangerous hostile. Brooklyn shot an innocent woman in the back for threatening to expose her secret.
The day before Valentine's Day, Secretary Pierce called Brooklyn to his office. She hadn't seen him since she returned, and she wasn't looking forward to the conversation. She didn't want to talk about her time in Belarus. She didn't want to talk about it because she wasn't there, and Nick Fury had asked her to keep her true whereabouts secret from everyone, including the Secretary, the other agents, and Steve.
"It's been a long time, Agent Hayes." Pierce called as he stood to greet her, meeting her just inside the doorway and engulfing her in a friendly hug. She stayed stiff, pushing her short blonde hair behind her ear as he looked down at her, seeming to check to make sure she was unscathed, "Nick says you've been a little spooked since you came back from Belarus. I wanted to make sure you were alright."
"I am. Thank you for checking in on me." Brooklyn said as she leaned back on her heels, locking her hands in front of her stealth suit. "It was just a long time. And since returning, I've been hyper aware of what's coming."
"Project Insight is scheduled to launch beginning of April. If you're up for it, the job offer still stands. Director Hayes sounds pretty good, doesn't it?"
"It does." She smiled, raising her chin boldly as her pearly teeth broke through her dark lipstick, "We're on the home stretch."
Pierce nodded and looked out the windows, and Brooklyn could tell he was nervous. She had a guess of what he was about to say- "Captain Rogers will be eliminated with the launch, as will the other Avengers."
"And Nick Fury?" Brooklyn asked evenly, "We had a deal."
"We still do. He's not on the Insight list, so you can do with him as you wish. Just make it quick. He's a good friend."
Brooklyn swallowed hard when the Secretary wasn't looking, wondering how he could be so nonchalant about murdering one of his best friends. Was this how she sounded talking about Steve dying? Perhaps he did what she did; perhaps he ran over Fury's death over and over again in his mind until it felt more like a memory than a possibility.
"Yes, Sir. I, uh, I better get going." Brooklyn stammered, pointing over her shoulder at the door, "Steve has plans for the weekend. I have to begin convincing him to cancel them."
"Why's that?" Pierce asked sincerely, and Brooklyn regretted bringing it up.
She shrugged, "I don't really do holidays," she mumbled quietly before licking her bottom lip, "Plus, I'll feel bad when he goes through the work to do something special and romantic… knowing he's only got another six weeks."
"That's the risk you take. But it's worth it, isn't it?" Pierce questioned and Brooklyn smiled sadly. "Enjoy your six weeks, Director Hayes." Her breath hitched as she nodded, sweeping out of the room to rush home to Steve.
She arrived at his apartment before he did and filled the tub to take a bath. Maybe if she avoided him, he couldn't surprise her with anything sickeningly adorable that would make her swoon and regret every life choice she'd made since she was sixteen.
When the tub was filled to the edge, she slid into the bubbles, causing the scalding water to spill onto the tile floor. She slid farther into the water, so it lapped around her collarbone, causing more water to soak the bathroom rug.
"Sweetheart?"
Brooklyn bit her lips to hide her shit-eating grin, staying silent until Steve appeared in the doorway and sighed, "Really?"
"Oops?"
"Oh, oops. I see how it is." Steve grumbled as he grabbed a towel and threw it on the ground to soak up the water. He placed his hands on his hips and tisked as he looked around, "What are we going to do with you?"
"Leave me here in solitary confinement until Monday?"
Steve threw his head back and laughed at her, "Ohhh, you're trying to get out of Valentine's Day tomorrow. Sorry, can't. I have too much planned."
"I don't want to celebrate."
"Too bad." Steve argued, biting the corner of his lip at he raised his head to look out the bathroom door, "In fact, we're gonna start celebrating early. Right now."
"Baby, I'm in the bath." Brooklyn whined as Steve disappeared from the bathroom, "Steve! Steve, I'm busy. I'm doing really important soaking!"
After a few long minutes, Brooklyn laid her head back and closed her eyes, taking what little time she had before Steve drug her out by her ankles.
Suddenly, Brooklyn was gently pushed forward, and she grunted, not wanting to get out, "Noo, not yet," but while she expected Steve to pull her out, he instead slid in behind her, causing half the water to splash out as he stretched his legs out beneath Brooklyn. She jolted and whipped around, seeing him beaming at her as he raised his knee to lock her in. She stuck out her lower lip to pout, whimpering, "You splashed all the water out."
"Oh, darn, whatever will we do?" Steve droned as he wrapped his arms around Brooklyn's middle and pulled her flush to his chest. He draped his chin over her shoulder and gestured towards the faucet, "Fill it back up. We're not leaving until you're a little raisin."
"A little raisin!" Brooklyn laughed loudly, looking over her shoulder to kiss Steve lovingly. "Love you."
"Love you too, Sweetheart." Steve poured her entire bottle of bubble bath into the tub when he thought she wasn't looking, but Brooklyn pretended not to notice, just like she pretended not to notice how hard he was when she laid back against him.
The harder Brooklyn worked to avoid Steve's plans, the more romantic he became. By Valentine's morning, she was too curious to see what he had in store for her to deny him any longer. When they landed at Avengers Tower to spend the weekend in New York, Brooklyn was sure he'd run out of surprises, but the biggest one wasn't something he'd planned out. The biggest surprise Steve gave Brooklyn was admitting he wanted to spend his life with her.
"You want to share your life with me?" Brooklyn said quietly as the elevator took them higher into Avengers Tower to Steve's private suite.
"I already do." Steve said evenly and Brooklyn sighed, her smile growing a little when he added, "I'd like to make it official if you'd let me. I'll do it right, but I want to make sure you'd say yes."
Brooklyn opened her mouth to answer, then realized it wasn't that simple. She couldn't tell Steve she'd marry him knowing he only had six weeks left before Project Insight launched. As long as Pierce and STRIKE knew where Steve was, he'd be living on borrowed time. That's what they'd promised Brooklyn. "I-"
"Don't need to have an answer. I'm not asking you to marry me." Steve said as the doors opened to the suite. Brooklyn stepped forward, taking in the picture windows overlooking Manhattan. The whole back wall was one floor to ceiling window and a California king bed rested in the far corner. Steve didn't seem fazed by the apartment, but Brooklyn looked around in wonder at the life she could have- could have had- with Steve. From behind her, Steve murmured, "I just want to know if it's something you'd be interested in."
"Yes."
The word spilt from Brooklyn's mouth before she could really think about it, but she meant it. She'd rather have six weeks of being Steve's wife than sixty years with somebody else. She looked away from the view of New York to gaze up at Steve, "Yes. I would be interested in marrying you. Very much so."
"Are you sure? I'm not asking you now, I just want to know if that's something you'd ever want, and I-"
"Steve, I just told you what I would say. If you buy a ring, I'll say yes." Brooklyn told him quickly, grabbing his hands and squeezing them as an idea bloomed.
We could run away together, somewhere nobody would ever find us.
"Honestly, let's get married this weekend. We can elope, and we can run away together." Brooklyn tried to gauge his reaction, hoping he'd ride this high with her without thinking too much into it, "Get away from SHIELD and the Avengers and just be together. Just the two of us. What do you say?"
Steve looked stunned by her suggestion, and she held her breath as he seemed to consider this. Brooklyn could practically taste her freedom. She hadn't gotten her tracker replaced since before Belarus, it would die out and they'd be able to run wherever they wanted. All he had to do was say yes and Brooklyn would do everything in her power to save him so they could have a life together.
"Brooke… I can't."
As quickly as her hopes soared, they crashed to the Earth in flames. She should have known he couldn't look past his duty as Captain America. "I understand."
"I'm sorry." He choked out and Brooklyn wrapped her arms around his torso to lay her head against his chest.
"Don't be. That doesn't mean I've changed my mind." Brooklyn promised, meaning every word.
She wished being in love wasn't so damn complicated.
After their show, Steve and Brooklyn strolled hand in hand through Bryant Park back to Avengers Tower. She wore a long black coat over her green dress, and a little beanie to keep her head warm in the cool February air. Steve had gushed over how adorable she looked, with her little pom on top, and he kept pulling it down over her eyes as she giggled.
"Steve! I can't see." She laughed as she stumbled forward a little, but he caught her as she pushed the hat back up. Turning around, she leaned into him and kissed his lips quickly before tugging him along the pathway.
He grabbed her by the waist from behind and spun her around as she laughed, kicking her feet to try and get away until he set her down and whipped her around to face him. He pulled her close, so his lips were inches from hers as she panted, looking up into his blue eyes longingly.
Steve began to lean forward when a small voice whispered loudly, "Is that Captain America?"
Brooklyn pressed her hand to Steve's chest and smiled up at him, nodding towards the family approaching them from the side. When she looked up, she realized it was a young boy with a Hulk t-shirt under a Captain America sweatshirt.
"We're sorry to bother you-" The boy's father said evenly, clearly realizing his son had been correct, "He's busy, Kasey."
"It's fine." Steve assured the father, kneeling down in front of the little boy. He thrust his hand forward towards the child and he took it, "I'm Steve. It's nice to meet you, Kacey."
The little boy looked up at his mother and beamed as Steve released his hand. He gazed up at Steve with wide eyes, "Are you Captain America?"
Steve leaned in close and whispered loudly, "I am." He looked around, then added, "Will you keep my secret?"
"Are you hiding from the bad guys?"
"I am. I gotta keep this lady safe." Steve nodded towards Brooklyn, causing her cheeks to blush. "She's really important, and I have to make sure nobody knows we're here."
"I won't tell nobody." Kasey promised, "You're my favorite."
The corner of Steve's mouth turned up in a humble smile, the one that made Brooklyn's heart pull, "Well, thank you. I appreciate that."
Brooklyn shoved her hands in her pockets and rocked back and forth on her heels, watching the exchange patiently. She hadn't seen Steve around children before, and it was the most adorable thing she'd ever experienced.
"Mr. uh, Captain- Sir," The father stammered, "would you mind taking a photo with him? So he can remember it?"
"Of course!" Steve said, shifting to face the child's parents as he put his hand on Kasey's shoulder and gave his best Captain America smile to the camera.
Brooklyn stepped forward and gestured for the phone, "Let me take one so you guys can get in it."
"Momma! Momma, come in the picture with us!" The child yelled as the woman handed her phone to Brooklyn.
As she snapped the photos of her boyfriend with the family, Brooklyn realized that Steve deserved to have this. He didn't seem to think anything of it, but Brooklyn knew better. It was time she told him the truth before he got any ideas about starting a family of his own.
"Captain America has to go now. Tell him thank you for taking time to talk to you." Kasey's mother prodded and the boy turned up to Steve with big, excited green eyes as he parroted his thanks.
Steve smiled and saluted the child, "Anytime. Get home safe. It's late." He gestured around the dark park, then turned to Brooklyn. She reached forward, taking Steve's hand, and giving the family a small wave before they continued back to the tower.
"That was really sweet of you. You made that kid's life." Brooklyn told Steve as she leaned into his arm, twisting her fingers among his.
He shrugged, bumping his hip into his girl, "T'was nothing."
Brooklyn beamed up at Steve as they walked along, "It was everything to him." When he continued to gaze ahead, Brooklyn's smile fell.
Have I wasted his life away?
It had been two weeks since Brooklyn had heard from Steve. They hadn't broken up, but he definitely wasn't speaking to her. When she explained to Jasmine and Mason why he wasn't around, they renounced him and called him an insensitive asshole. It made sense why they thought that way, because from the outside it appeared that Steve had rejected his girlfriend because she couldn't get pregnant. In reality, it was the months she spent lying to him before and after her time away that made him angry, not the fact that she couldn't have kids.
Brooklyn knew Steve was hurt that she'd omitted that fact for so long. Had she told him the day the doctors told her, he would have felt terrible, but he would have been happier with her. All Steve wanted was for his girlfriend to be open and honest with him, and she couldn't even do that. She wasn't surprised that he'd abandoned her.
"Drinks? It's been a long week." Jasmine said quietly as Brooklyn poured coffee into a to-go cup in the communal kitchen. She smiled a greeting at Cameron Klein, a sweet man who kept his head down behind a computer in Communications Control. "Brooklyn? You listening?"
"Listening, yes. Agreeing… also yes." She said as she leaned her waist against the countertop, "I'm being sent out on a mission early tomorrow. I can't go crazy tonight."
Jasmine rolled her eyes as she pulled her blonde curls up into a high ponytail, "It's going to be a long month with Insight launching. Exciting stuff for SHIELD."
"Yeah, I've considered joining the team."
"Really?" Jasmine's shock was evident on her face. Brooklyn just shrugged and watched Klein walk away. Jasmine stared at Brooklyn without speaking for a few moments, making her uncomfortable, "You want to go up on the helicarriers?"
"Maybe. It's not like I have any reason to stay here on the ground."
"Thought you had a job offer coming down the pipe?"
Brooklyn narrowed her hazel eyes at her friend, lowering her head as her back stiffened, "Who told you that?"
"Rumlow." Jasmine replied, turning to leave, "He's the second choice, right? If you don't take it?"
"Let's not talk about this here."
"Why not?" Jasmine dared. Brooklyn crossed her arms and ran her tongue across the bottom of her teeth beneath her closed mouth, showing her displeasure without saying it out loud.
"Because Insight is Level 6, something neither you, nor I am. Put a cork in it. What I do is my business, do you understand me?"
Jasmine shook her head and sighed loudly to express her disappointment, "Such a shame he ruined you. You were the best of us. Now you're just a befuddled mess."
Brooklyn lingered in the kitchen alone to finish her coffee, not having any intention of taking it to go anymore. She was tired of failing to live up to everyone's expectations. She was too broken for SHIELD. She was too attached to Steve for Hydra. She was too goody-two-shoes for her friends, too flaky for her sister, and she was too dishonest for Steve. No wonder she was a 'befuddled mess', Brooklyn couldn't do anything right. She'd once been so good at playing everyone, but apparently, she'd been living a double life too long. She was losing her touch.
Her sulking was cut short when a group of young interns filed into the kitchen, chattering loudly about someone exciting hanging out in the Residential floor. It was probably Fury collecting somebody for a mission. Interns were unnecessarily overexcitable.
Since she couldn't be alone in the kitchen, Brooklyn decided to be alone in her small room, a place she'd actively avoided when Steve was speaking to her. She missed his sprawling apartment with his knick knacks from days gone by and the soft sound of his record player that wafted through the space day and night when they were home. She especially missed his massive bed; not because it was larger and comfier than hers, but because he shared it with her. Coming home to her cubicle of a room after a long day only reminded Brooklyn of how she'd let her life get out of control. She should have just stayed home in LA with her aunt and her sister. She could have done anything; she didn't need to become a double agent for a covert security organization.
As she got closer to her room, Brooklyn realized the other agents hanging from their doorframes were watching her. She stopped at her door, tapping her armband to allow her access before turning around and glaring at the other agents as she pushed open the door.
When she turned, she finally realized why everyone was staring. Steve Rogers stood in the middle of her tiny room; her furniture dwarfed by his massive frame. He was in his stealth suit, freshly returned from a mission because his hair was greasy and his eyes were glassy, as if he hadn't slept in too long but was forcing himself to stay awake just a little longer. There was a slight bruise on his cheekbone and his lip was cut, but it was his big, sad blue eyes that made him look completely destroyed.
"I'm sorry."
Brooklyn let out a shaky breath at his confession, shaking her head as she locked the door behind her. "Why? You have every right to be mad at me."
Steve took a tentative step towards Brooklyn before stopping, attaching his hands to his belt so he had something to hold. He looked from the woman to the small bed against the wall, "I never considered how hard it must have been for you. You knew how I would act, and you were trying to protect me."
"I still shouldn't have lied."
"You didn't lie." Steve replied and Brooklyn could see his knuckles turning white from how tight he was gripping his utility belt. His frame was so rigid he could cut the tension in the room with his shoulders. "You knew it would upset me because it was my fault. I'm tired of being angry at you, and I miss you. I forgive you for keeping your secret. You meant well. You were trying to protect me."
I was trying to protect myself.
Brooklyn finally closed the space and reached for Steve, laying her hands on his waist as he finally released his belt to grab her upper arms, "I'm so sorry. You gotta know, it wasn't easy, I just didn't want to break your heart. It was easier to just sweep it under the rug, but I saw you with that kid, and I knew…" Brooklyn licked her chapped lips and sighed, "I knew you'd want that someday and I couldn't pretend that I could give it to you. There's no scenario where we end up together with a couple of kids, and a dog and house with a picket fence in the country, it's just not feasible. Physically, professionally… At first I thought it was none of your business, but I love you and I want you to have everything."
"I have everything when I have you."
"You could have more without me." Brooklyn slid her hand up to grasp the back of his neck, pulling him closer to her face, "I'll be the death of you, Steve."
He chuckled and Brooklyn knew he thought she was making some sort of joke. "That's a risk I'm willing to take."
You have no idea.
"Don't you want a family? Kids? A wife?" Brooklyn prodded slowly, "You need to look beyond me to what you actually want."
Steve ran his gloved hand up and down her back, gazing at her with a longing expression despite her attempts to push him away, "I'm not taking no for an answer, remember?" Steve's voice was low and husky, causing Brooklyn's body to vibrate from head to toe. He grabbed her jaw and held her firmly so she couldn't get away, reminding her that she was his, and nothing she said or did was going to push him away. Come hell or highwater, Steve Rogers was in love with her. "I love you. You doubt us, and you doubt my ability to forgive you, but if you just stop getting in your head, you'll realize that I make you really happy. Stop trying to make our relationship so grey, it's black and white. We love each other, and we should be together."
"Steve, there's something you need to know…" Brooklyn trailed off, but Steve reached into his pocket and pulled out a box, "No. No, absolutely not."
He scrunched his brows at her, giving her a warning glance, "I'm not proposing."
"Oh. Well, this is awkward." Brooklyn took a step back and clenched her teeth, "Sorry."
Steve smiled coyly, popping open the box to reveal an engagement ring. Brooklyn gasped, smacking him hard on the shoulder, "You just said!"
"I'm not proposing." Steve reiterated, handing the box over to her, "But I need you to know where my heart is at, and if you'd be willing to get your head out of your terrified ass and try to make this work with me."
Brooklyn studied the ring, noting how small and simple it was. The setting was tarnished, but the stone had been cleaned. It was old- vintage for sure- and Brooklyn wondered if it was from Steve's old life, "Where did this come from?"
"It was my mom's."
She snapped her head up to stare at him in disbelief, her hand shaking as she held the ring out for him to take, "Baby, I don't know…"
Steve gestured for her to take a seat on the bed and he knelt in front of her, so he was at eye level for the conversation. He pulled the ring from the little box and looked it over, "She left this for me when she got sick. Took a while, but I was able to track down my stuff from my place back in Brooklyn. I never got home after the USO tour, but luckily the government kept it in storage." He sighed, rubbing his thumb along the stone, "It isn't much, especially today. I'm gonna buy you the most beautiful ring I can find, so everybody knows you're Captain America's wife, but I don't want you to run away again. I won't either. If you're in this for the long haul, I promise you that I'll be yours as long as we live, and we'll go as slow as you need to. As long as you promise not to give up on me."
He held his hand out to see if she'd give him hers. She held her breath, trying to run through the variables. If she said no, Steve would be heartbroken, confused, and alone. If she said yes, Brooklyn could make this the best month of Steve's life, and of hers. Pushing him away in the end wouldn't save him from Hydra. It would just save her from her guilt.
Brooklyn thrust her hand forward, nodding quickly, "I promise."
Steve slid the ring up her finger and kissed her tenderly, tangling his hand in her blonde hair as she sighed into him. After a few moments, he pulled away first to tell her to gather her things. She wouldn't sleep in that uncomfortable little bed ever again.
As Brooklyn packed up what few sentimental belongings she had, she kept glancing down at the ring on her finger. Four weeks. She could make Steve happy for four weeks. Maybe she'd give him a chance to convert to Hydra, and he'd take it, realizing it was better to stay alive. He could still do good for the world, but the world couldn't have its freedom anymore. The general population had too much free will, and Hydra meant to reign them in.
When she was Director, she'd make sure Steve had a choice. Maybe, since he'd promised he would be hers as long as they lived, he'd keep his word and join her. Brooklyn just couldn't imagine Captain America going back on such an important promise.