It's been just over 24 hours since the battle at the Triskelion. Freya refuses to leave Steve's side. He hasn't woken up yet, but he's beginning to quickly heal. The U.S. Senate had requested her and Natasha's appearances for a hearing, but she refused to go. Natasha had gone and told her she would cover for her. Knowing that Freya would be a mess if she left Steve.
Freya is currently sitting at the left of Steve's bed. Leaning forward, her head rests next to him while she sleeps, her hand holding his. Sam is seated on his right, reading a book while Marvin Gaye plays in the background. Steve finally begins to stir. Only noticing the other man to his right at first.
"On your left."
"Well, look who's finally awake," Sam smirks.
"Where's Frey?" Steve rasps out. Clearing his throat after not speaking since the fight.
"On your left," Sam grins.
Looking to his left, Steve sees a sleeping Freya. Her face is toward him while she sleeps peacefully. The bruises on her face are mostly gone and the cuts are almost nonexistent. Sam stands from his chair and stretches.
"I'll leave you two alone," he hums out.
Steve nods, not taking his eyes off of her. As soon as he hears the door shut, he pulls his hand out of her grasp and places it on her head. Gently stroking her hair, he watches as she begins to stir.
"Hey, Doll."
Her eyes quickly snap open as she focuses in on the soldier.
"Hey, Spangles," she starts to smile. "I was wondering when I'd get to see those blue eyes again." Freya sits up straight as his hand finds hers again.
"You okay?" he asks.
"For the most part," she shrugs. "The wounds are almost healed and my face looks semi-normal."
"'Wounds?'" he asks sternly.
"Uh..." She scrunches her face at him and looks down at her hands. "Rollins kinda shot me... Twice..."
"What?!" His face contorts into anger upon hearing what had happened. "Where is he?!"
"Dead. Maria shot him," she simply states. He sighs and tries to calm himself.
"Bucky pulled me from the river," he finally says.
"He did. I watched him," she nods.
"Where is he now?" he asks.
"I don't know. I told him to run. Law enforcement wouldn't understand the situation if they got a hold of him. I promised we'd find him, though." Steve hums in agreement. They sit in comfortable silence before Freya quietly speaks up again. "My, uh." She pauses and clears her throat. "My powers took control of me for moment when I fought Rollins."
"What?" Steve's eyes go wide as his head snaps up to look at her. "How?"
"After he shot me the second time, I started to slip away. I didn't have the strength to contain the them. They gained control. When Maria killed Rollins, they got so angry at her for taking that kill from them. It was just this overwhelming rage. I almost went after Maria," she frowns. "I don't know how I did it, but I got control back. I reeled them in. And now, I can't even feel them. The voices that always lurked in the shadows seem to be gone. I still have all of my powers. I think. They might even be stronger now. I feel stronger. But I think they might be gone."
"Do you think you have total control now?" he asks. She thinks for a moment before nodding confidently.
"Yeah, I think I do," she replies. He sighs in relief and relaxes into the bed. Silence taking hold of them once more, she stares at him. Studying the features of his face before speaking lowly. "I thought I was gonna lose you..."
He looks up at her and connects with her green eyes before giving her a warm, loving smile.
"You can't get rid of me that easily. I'm kinda attached to you." Freya smiles fondly at him while he looks down to their intertwined hands and he continues. "You know, when I came out of the ice, I thought it was the worst thing that ever happened to me. That I'd never be happy again." Steve's eyes find hers again. "And then I met you. And I realized that going into the ice was the best thing I could've ever asked for. Because it brought me you."
Freya tries to hold back tears. Her heart thumping in her chest at his words.
"I thought that I was happy, working for S.H.I.E.L.D., doing my job. I was living life, but I always felt like something was missing. And then you came along. Spending time with you over these two years has made me realize that you are what makes me whole, Steve. You keep me grounded. You're my anchor."
"Say it again," he sighs happily. His gaze not leaving hers.
"Say what again?" she tilts her head in confusion.
"What you said on the river bank."
"You heard me?" her eyes slightly widen in surprise.
"I was barely conscious, but yeah. Say it, please...?"
Still holding his hand, she stands up and leans over him. Bringing her other hand up to cup his face as she smiles down at him.
"I love you, Steve Rogers."
"I love you too, Freya Stark," he grins back at her, ignoring the pain the action causes.
She leans down and gently kisses him. Their lips slowly moving in sync. Eventually pulling away, Freya looks down at him as they smile at each other.
"Well it's about damn time you guys told each other."
The voice at the door makes them jump. They both look to see Sam standing in the doorway with a huge grin on his face. The two Avengers roll their eyes at him. Freya sighs as she sits back down, still holding Steve's hand.
"You're such a mood killer, Wilson," Freya snorts.
After finally leaving the hospital a few days later, Freya, Sam and Steve stand in front of Fury's gravestone while they wait for him to show up.
"It's gonna be so weird now, not having him barking orders at me."
"He's going into hiding Frey, he's not dead," Sam snorts.
"I know that you dunce," she scoffs. "That's exactly what I mean. He won't be around much," she shrugs. "We're on our own."
"We'll be just fine, Doll." Steve's arm tightens around her shoulders as she stands between the two men.
"So, you've experienced this sort of thing before," Fury addresses Steve as he walks up next to Sam.
"You get used to it," Steve shrugs.
"We've been data mining HYDRA's files. Looks like a lot of rats didn't go down with the ship. I'm headed to Europe tonight. Wanted to ask if you two would come," Fury nods at Steve and Freya. Steve looks down at Freya. Who smiles and subtlety shakes her head.
"There's somethin' we gotta do first," she replies. Pulling a raised eyebrow and a smile from Steve.
"How 'bout you, Wilson? Could use a man with your abilities," Fury turns to Sam.
"I'm more of a soldier than a spy," Sam smirks.
"All right, then," Fury nods. He reaches out to shake the men's hands before pulling Freya in for a rare hug. Pulling away he nods at the other two. "You keep these two in line, young lady."
"Yes, sir," she chuckles. Stepping back from them, Fury gestures at his headstone.
"Anybody asks for me, tell them they can find me, right here."
As he walks away, they hear a new voice to their right.
"You should be honored. That's about as close as he gets to saying thank you."
Turning around, they see Natasha walking toward them. Steve and Freya walk over to her while Sam hangs back.
"Not goin' with him?" Freya questions.
"No," the redhead smiles and shakes her head.
"Not stayin' here," Steve states.
"Nah. I blew all my covers. I gotta go figure out a new one."
"For you, that's gonna take a while," Freya teases.
"I'm counting on it," Natasha smirks and hands a file to Freya. "That thing you asked for. I called in a few favors from Kiev." She turns her attention to Steve. "Now, will you do me a favor? Take care of Freya, please. That's my sister you've got there. Be good to her or you'll have to deal with me."
Steve's eyes go wide as he nods. Freya just grins and shakes her head. Natasha steps forward and gives Steve a friendly kiss on the cheek before pulling Freya into a tight hug.
"You better keep in touch," Natasha says.
"You, too. I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other soon, though. Love you, Red."
"Love you back." Natasha smiles and turns around to leave. "Be careful, you two. Especially you, Freya. You might not wanna pull on that thread," she says cryptically as she looks back at them one more time before finally walking away. Confused, Freya watches her leave as Steve looks at the folder in her hands.
"Whatcha got there?" he inquires. Looking up at him, she hands him the file. As he opens it, he freezes. He looks back at her as a smile starts to form on his face.
"I promised him we'd find him," she nods at the folder. "And I don't break my promises."
He presses a kiss to her head as Sam walks up behind them and looks over Freya's shoulder.
"You guys are goin' after him," he states.
"You don't have to come with us," she replies.
"I know," he sighs. "When do we start?"
Steve smiles down at Freya before glancing at him.
"We just did."
