A Secret Star

by noblecrescent

**One shot. Steve's had secrets for many reasons: for safety, fear, strategies even. But, when he and Seren decide to keep their budding relationship a secret, it could be said that it was done for all three. The once agent Soul now lives in secret from the government and because Steve wants to keep seeing her, he'll do everything he can to keep her safe & out of the public's eye.

1. A Secret Star

A/N: A one shot in which I screwed the timing of some things because I wanted to.

The OC is meant to look like the actress Mariluz Bermudez!

P.S I have a tumblr account dedicated to my fanfic works! It's also a place where anyone can comment about a story or even just talk to me! I often drop aesthetic work belonging to my stories too! Feel free to check it out, my URL is "saiilorstars"

---

It was all about numbers, really, and strategies. With Ultron's army growing steadily, the Avengers needed any numbers they could gain. Sure, they'd already gained two new allies in the Maximoff twins, but they needed more.

"You don't have S.H.I.E.L.D. anymore, Cap," Tony said, "And if you don't watch it, the twins won't make it to the jet either." Because of course everybody was still weary of the two teens Steve had brought with him after bringing back the body Ultron was in the midst of creating for himself.

"I'm not saying we need S.H.I.E.L.D., Tony," Steve rolled his eyes. "But the Iron Legion is big and we are not."

"He's right," Clint came into the lab with Natasha beside him. "If Sokovia is the place for our next battle, we're going to need some help."

"Yeah, and where are we supposed to find them?" Tony challenged. He was all open for suggestions and ideas but he doubted that any one of them had a secret army lying around. "They in the storage room or something?"

"Maybe it's not about numbers," Natasha spoke suddenly, gaining the attention of all three men in the lab. "It's about quality."

Tony brought a hand to his chest. "Ouch, Romanoff, that hurts." Natasha rolled her eyes.

Steve knew Natasha was already thinking of something. She always chose her words with care. "Natasha, what is it?"

She exchanged a look with Clint, prompting Steve to guess that Clint knew whatever she was thinking about.

"We don't know where she is," Clint whispered to her.

"Worth a shot," she returned.

"Hello?" Tony waved a hand. "What are we talking about?"

Natasha exhaled before explaining. "There was this agent I used to work with back when S.H.I.E.L.D. was running. We both did, actually," she motioned to Clint.

"Really? S.H.I.E.L.D. agents?" Tony shook his head. "You do remember how that story ended, right?"

"She was different," Clint said, "She believed in the cause."

"We trusted her," Natasha said, looking directly at Steve, "She wasn't with Hydra. She was one of the few agents devoted completely to the job."

Steve nodded. He trusted her so he would trust this agent she spoke of. "What happened to her?"

"After S.H.I.E.L.D. went down, I got a text from her saying she was done. She was, for a lack of a better word, disillusioned. She didn't tell me what she was going to do next nor where she was going. She sort of fell off the grid."

"So how the hell do we find this woman?" Tony asked.

"She's unique—"

"Romanoff, this is no time to go on about how she was different from all the other girls—"

Natasha heavily rolled her eyes. "Tony, she was literally different. She has some abilities that we can track."

"Is she enhanced?" Steve asked, his mind immediately going to the twins. Natasha shook her head. "Mutant?" Once more, Natasha shook her head. "Then what is she?"

"Think of Thor, Steve," Clint said. "Only she's much smaller. And with a scary temper."

~ 0 ~

Natasha led the small debriefing and as quickly as possible. Scanners were already up and running to find the woman now visible in a profile Natasha had grabbed from the internet. The hologram displayed a woman with a ginger pixie haircut and green eyes. Her S.H.I.E.L.D. I.D. was still clear and visible for anyone to see thanks to the dumping of all S.H.I.E.L.D. information on the internet.

"Agent Seren Soul, a.k.a. Stardust, was one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s prized agents," Natasha said, "It's said that she was part of S.H.I.E.L.D. from a very young age—I'm talking minor. She's skilled in combat, average with technology but deadly in a fight. Whereas our Asgardian God fights with thunder, this girl manipulates star matter." To show what she meant, Natasha had several tests they'd run on Agent Soul in the past. "Celestial star matter. She can create it, manipulate it, shape it, basically bend it to her will. Hence her codename: Stardust."

"She sounds powerful," Banner remarked wearily, "Are you sure we want someone like her involved in this?"

Natasha nodded. "She's not what you think. She was one of the good ones. If there's anyone who wasn't with Hydra, it was Seren. She's someone we could trust entirely, no questions asked."

Steve liked what he heard. "We need to find her and fast. I doubt Ultron is going to wait for us."

"Well, Romanoff's right," Tony said from the computers, "This woman's powers are unique in that nobody else has them. Scanners' picked up some star matter residue in Virginia. Think that could be her?"

"Seren did always like forests," Clint said, exchanging nods with Natasha. "Didn't she have a safe house over there?"

"Grandmother," Natasha remembered. "That could be her."

"Well, looks like she didn't run far enough," Tony smirked.

"Let's consider how we'll approach her," Steve cut in before Tony decided to take charge with that attitude. "She disappeared for a reason so we need to be very careful when we meet her. Natasha, you'll have to come."

Natasha had already figured that.

"And we might need some back up..." Steve thought for another moment. His idea might not be well received but then again, most of the ideas born in this lab weren't the best anyways.

~ 0 ~

The safe house was a beautiful two story home. The visitors could hear a river somewhere in the distance. It seemed like the perfect place to live secluded in with the tall trees and the chirping birds and radiant sun. It would just be a hassle getting the one resident to speak to them.

"Seren, please open up," Natasha knocked endlessly against the front door. "It's Natasha, c'mon!"

"Nat, we have to come up with a better way to get her attention," Steve sighed as he pulled the woman away from the door.

"You know I can open the door with my mind, right?" Wanda boredly reminded the pair. She made a gesture of her hands glowing red.

"Breaking in is not the impression I'm going for here," Steve told her and motioned her to lower her hands. "We need her help. Sokovia needs her help. I will not be breaking doors down."

Wanda only lowered her hands when he reminded her that it was her home in need of help this time. "What if she doesn't want to help?" A huge reason Sokovia was in trouble was because of her and her brother's choices and now that they had the opportunity to fix it, things weren't lining up to make it happen. "My home will be destroyed."

Steve felt for the girl but he really wasn't intending on breaking down doors to get a moment with the agent. Fortunately, it seemed like some luck was coming their way because they heard the door begin to open. The trio stiffened in their spots as the door opened up to reveal a petite woman on the other side. Her big, striking green eyes landed on Wanda of all people.

"Sokovia—who the hell are you and why is your entire country in danger?"

A fair question asked in a not so gentle way.

"We've piqued your interest, Seren?" Natasha flashed the woman a big smile.

Seren rolled her eyes. "You haven't changed."

"But you have," Natasha said, gesturing to Seren's appearance. The only photographs they had of Seren were very misleading, apparently, because Seren was no longer ginger nor did she style a pixie hair cut. Her hair was mixed shades of blonde and brown and was longer, hanging loosely over her shoulders in curls.

Seren smiled wryly. "Nothing says 'look at me!' like ginger hair did."

"Agent Soul, we really need to talk with you," Steve said, "It's a question of life or death."

Seren met his gaze and for some reason it was more curious than serious. "Not an agent," she said first, "And you of all people should know that me choosing to live in the middle of nowhere means I don't want to talk to anybody."

Fair point, Steve would give her that. "I understand but this is incredibly urgent and Natasha says that you might be able to help. Please, can we come in for a moment?"

"No," Seren said without a moment's thought. "I left for a reason and I don't want to come back. Don't make me."

Nobody could deny the fear underlying her words. It was odd how similar she sounded and yet how different she was from him. She was, he thought now, what he could've been in the past: somebody who'd gotten the courage to leave the fighting. The only thing he did not like to hear was the fear in her words, and much less see in her eyes.

"I understand, believe me, but there are so many people depending on us right now. Please, just two minutes. That's all we ask for."

Seren tore her gaze from him to look at Natasha. The redhead nodded and when Seren shifted her eyes to Wanda, she saw a scared girl. "Dammit," Seren whispered and stepped aside so the three could come in.

Seren closed the door behind them then motioned for them to start walking forwards. The house was grand and spacious, much too big for just one person. Her living room was beyond big with the front side having glass walls that allowed her to view the forest (and perhaps potential threats). She was very neat by the looks of her furniture but Steve did catch sight of one messy pile of papers in the living room. It was an incredibly large living room, resembling a loft all on its own, with matching mahogany couches and bookshelves and one simple television. There was a working desk set up by the glass wall with a laptop sitting on top. The only thing that stood out where those bright white papers on the coffee table.

"How did you find me?" Seren asked the trio suddenly. "I don't exactly fly in the air anymore."

"Stark's technology," Natasha answered with a shrug.

"Of course. Why?"

"Because we need your help. Do you keep up with the news?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"Then you've seen what's happened and what's coming. Ultron is powerful, Seren, and we need someone like you on our side."

"You don't need me," Seren said, swallowing hard. "As far I know, you have a tech genius, a super soldier—" she made a gesture towards Steve, "—a god of thunder, Clint, whatever that girl is—" she made a nod at Wanda, "—and, oh yeah, a Hulk. You don't need me."

"But we do," Wanda insisted. "They say you can create star matter? Stardust? That's a very powerful ability. I made the mistake of trusting people I shouldn't have and now my home is going to pay for it. These people seem to trust you to make it not happen."

Seren raised an eyebrow at Natasha. "Well, I don't know where people would get that idea from. All anyone seems to remember me for is that I personally helped S.H.I.E.L.D.—oh, wait, Hydra—" she laughed bitterly, "—get whatever they wanted."

"I did the same thing too," Wanda admitted, leaving Seren silent for a moment. "Willingly."

Seren stepped back from the trio immediately. Steve saw the fear fill her eyes again. "Can we talk for a moment?" he asked her. Her expression turned incredulous fast. "Cards on the table, I swear."

"You can trust him, Seren," Natasha assured the woman. "You know you can."

Seren seemed to ponder a bit more but she ultimately agreed to speak with Steve. "I'll get you all some water," she said. She turned slowly for the kitchen and glanced over her shoulder to see if Steve was following her. He was.

She picked up her pace the closer she got to the kitchen and by the time they arrived there, she was more irritated than anything else. "I don't appreciate being put on the spot like that."

"I'm sorry," Steve said, "But we really need your help."

"You keep saying that," Seren moved around the isle to gather glasses from the wooden cabinets. "But you're not listening to me. I don't do that anymore. I don't do the fighting anymore."

"I know, and I gotta say I admire your will." Steve watched her freeze in the midst of reaching for a glass.

She flipped her head in his direction and her hair went flying to the side. "What?" she frowned.

"Natasha gave us your file. I read it all before coming. You were a good fighter, a good agent."

"A puppet," she corrected bitterly. "That is all I was. A damn puppet. I worked for S.H.I.E.L.D. all my life, fought the fights they needed me to. I thought I was doing good and it turns out that I was just helping them create their twisted Hydra world." A matching bitter smile marked her face but Steve saw right through it.

"You're disillusioned," he concluded. Seren's facade fell right off her face. Irritation gone to finally show her true self. A kindness emanated from her striking eyes, nothing that matched the descriptions some people were giving her on the internet.

"Weren't you?" she countered. "You read my file; I read yours. You died for nothing. You left your world behind and Hydra still prevailed. You had the courage to come back to the fight but I didn't. People were already hesitant about me when I was just an agent for S.H.I.E.L.D., most of them detested me for what I truly am."

"Because you're half human and half alien," Steve was gentle when he spoke those words. It was the most prominent detail about her on the internet. Seren was right. A lot of people disliked and distrusted her for being different. Couple that with her unfortunate work with Hydra and she was thrown into a deep hole of hatred.

But how could anyone hate someone who seemed so kind?

He'd read about her missions and she was always the agent putting herself in the most danger for others' sake. She'd rescued countless people at her own expense because, yes, he'd also seen some of her extensive injuries she'd sustained from missions. Her only flaw to people was that half of her genes came from an alien.

"Many people were afraid of me even when I was just a regular agent," Seren said, coming up to the other side of the isle, "I tried my best to help, to seem docile even, but it never worked. I wasn't like Thor. He's a God. I'm a half-breed freak. There are only two things you could feel towards me. You either hate me...or you're afraid of me." Steve saw the subtle manner in which her eyes looked him over. "You're from the 40s, a time where people like me were just movie stories. Are you afraid of me?"

Steve planted his hands on the isle as he leaned over to meet her eye to eye. "I don't know you but you don't scare me. If anything, you're a bit fascinating."

Seren's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Excuse me?" She may have wanted to laugh to counter a strange warmth crawling up her neck and face.

"I mean in biological terms of course," Steve said, though perhaps it came out just a bit too fast. "You're right, you're a story I would've seen in movies back in the 40s but who says it would've been a horror story? I see more of a fantasy side. Maybe even action because you, Agent Soul, are still a fighter."

"Seren," she corrected him, "I'm not an agent anymore. Call me Seren."

Steve nodded. "Okay, Seren, I stand by my words. You're still a fighter. I saw those papers in your living room and I've seen enough paper maps to pick up a thing or two. You're looking for someone. And if I'm smart enough, I'm willing to bet it's someone you think is in danger. You want to save them. Stardust is still up and working."

Seren was, for a lack of a better word, impressed with his quick connections. "I don't..." She laughed solely because she didn't know what else to do with herself at that moment. "You think you're so right, Captain—

"It's Steve and I know that I am." Steve smiled at her and watched her huff admittedly adorable. "I'm doing the same thing."

"For Ultron," Seren assumed only to have Steve give a sharp 'no!'. She turned her head slightly, wondering who he was searching for. Then it hit her: why did she care who he was searching for? And why was she trying not to look away from him? What, she was suddenly nervous?

"I'll pass you my strategies if you pass me yours," Steve offered. Seren was beginning to get tired of that cocky smirk on his face. "Stardust has to have some tricks up her sleeve."

"Let me guess, you'll pass me your strategies after I help you fight Ultron?"

"Stardust is also smart," Steve nodded. He smiled when she rolled her eyes. "C'mon Seren, I know what I'm asking is big and you're afraid but...there's people that really need us."

"They need you, not me," Seren said quietly. "People have made that very clear."

"Times change and these people may not even know you. Their children definitely don't. Please?"

If only he knew that she'd accepted the moment he brought in the children. She always had a soft spot for the children even when their parents hated her. "Let me get my suit," she said.

~ 0 ~

Truthfully, Seren thought after the battle in Sokovia, the Avengers would forget about her. She was completely fine with the idea because she wasn't at all interested in becoming part of whatever they were (they were far from being a coherent team by any means). They'd sort of went their own way after the battle anyways. Stark left to tend to business and Thor had gone off world. As far as Seren knew, it was just Steve and Natasha handling the 'Avengers' now. She herself was as good as alone again. The way she wanted it.

But she was dead wrong.

One month after Sokovia, she was surprised to find Steve on the other side of the door.

"I made a promise," he said when she asked him why on Earth he was back on her front step, "I have some tips for your search." He pulled a folder behind his back to fully remind her of their little deal they made before she agreed to help him and the others in Sokovia.

Seren was still relatively unconvinced he was really doing this. "I thought...you don't actually have to—"

"I don't break promises, Seren. Can I come in?"

Seren hesitated for a second but, after a moment of thinking, she realized he posed no danger to her way of living. She ultimately let him in and listened to his story about how he was attempting to find his long lost best friend from the 40s.

"He's the Winter Soldier?" Seren was both terrified of and sympathetic for the lost man. "The-the same Bucky Barnes history has practically idolized as part of your team?"

"The same one," Steve nodded. "But he's just Bucky to me and he's lost right now. I need to find him." Seren cocked her head to the side. Her long stare in the end made Steve shift. "What?"

"Nothing, you just..." Seren cleared her throat, "You just became more human to me."

Steve couldn't help the laugh that came out of him. "What? What was I before?"

"Oh, you know," Seren slid her hands into her back pockets, lightly rocking back and forth on her heels, "What history said you were: Captain America. That's what S.H.I.E.L.D. thought of you."

"Well, if I had met you during those days, maybe you would've seen I'm really not what they chalk me up to be." Steve wished everybody would understand that because then maybe, just maybe, people wouldn't give him the same dumbfounded looks they typically did when they saw him. Then again, looking back at it, Seren hadn't done it. She looked straight at him with mere curiosity about his presence.

"Oh, S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't allow that," Seren said, leaving Steve very confused. She went around him to gather her own papers from her desk.

"What?" Steve turned after her, eyebrows knitting together as he failed to understand what she meant.

"I told you my reputation was tarnished long before S.H.I.E.L.D. fell. They couldn't possibly let me soil your reputation too." Seren had her papers in hand when she met Steve's look. "I wasn't allowed anywhere near your missions and you weren't allowed near mine. Shame, really. I always thought we could make a good team."

Steve was utterly flabbergasted with what he was hearing and even then, he couldn't say that he was surprised. Fury called the shots when it came to his agents' missions and he could definitely see him pulling this stunt. "Seren, I am...sorry..."

Seren laughed. "Not surprising you'd do that. I'm over it, Steve. I've learned to live with things like that."

"No, it's terrible! I wouldn't—I don't stand for things like that! And I sure as hell don't care what anybody has to say about me or my friends. And—" he pointed at Seren who'd been about to say something, "—before you even say it, we are friends. You could come live with us at the compound, you know? We're all misfits in our own way."

Seren smiled softly at him. "You're something, alright," she agreed. "But I can't go. I'm good here."

"Seren..." Steve walked up to her but he noticed the few steps she backtracked because of him. He knew better than to try and touch her.

"I can't go there anymore, be what you guys are. The idea, it...it gives me hives, honestly." Seren hugged herself, crumpling the papers between her arms in the process. "What I did in Sokovia was a one time thing. I can't do that anymore."

All Steve could do was nod and give up. He couldn't force her back into that life and he sure as hell didn't want to eradicate this new friendship between them. If anything, he wanted to make it stronger for everything he learned today. How dare anybody think that he would care more for a reputation instead of forging what would have definitely been a good partnership and friendship.

~ 0 ~

Seren was relieved when Steve stopped bringing up the subject of joining the Avengers. She was even content with having him continue to make visits. They did make a good duo when it came to their search for their missing persons. Of course, he still had no idea who she was looking for but he didn't ask her either. All he did was help where he could and that was exactly what warmed her heart. He took extra caution with her boundaries, something that the few people who knew where she was hardly did. Even Natasha occasionally hassled her to come live at the compound. Before she knew it, Seren came to look forwards to Steve's visits.

He eventually felt the same.

The life of an Avenger, his life, was fast-paced and busy and when he visited Seren, everything slowed. He could breathe. He could enjoy himself and even relax. Sure it was true that a lot of the time he visited her with the pretense that they would work on their searches but little by little, that excuse was forgotten. He visited her because he liked her; he liked the time they spent together.

One visit, Seren surprised him with the fact she baked excellent cinnamon rolls.

"I'd say that the recipe is mine but the truth is I found it on YouTube," she shrugged when she presented him with the plate.

Steve laughed. "I am all ready, but you should know that I do tend to eat more courtesy of the serum."

"Ah," Seren raised a finger, "You should know that I have the same issue. Not because of a serum but because of my lovely alien genes."

Steve then remembered Thor's appetite and wondered why he never made that connection. "Nothing to be ashamed of, though."

Seren's light 'hmph' was meant to be casual as she went to retrieve the other batch of cinnamon rolls she had made knowing their combined metabolisms would help them eat through a lot, if not most, of them.

Steve, however, knew where that stemmed from and he just couldn't let it slide. She was brushing off the fact she was ostracized for being a hybrid, like it wasn't part of the reason she lived on her own in the middle of nowhere.

"Seren, your genes shouldn't be something you look down on," he said and when she looked at him with her big green eyes, he felt an extra layer of pressure to get his words right. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her even more. If he did that, well...he didn't know what he would do with himself. "You're different, yeah, but you're great. Amazing, even."

"Fascinating?" she reminded him of his first description of her.

Steve laughed lightly with embarrassment. God, he couldn't believe he told her that the first time they met. "I know I'm failing miserably here but I'm trying to make a point, I swear. Whatever your other origin is, it shouldn't be looked down on by you. It's who you are and who you are is someone really kind and a damn good fighter."

Seren smiled bashfully at him. She hoped to God that the blush she felt wasn't visible to him. "Celessian," she said out of nowhere. Steve naturally gave her an odd look until she explained. "It's what I am—the other half of me. My mother was from a planet called Celessia and apparently it's a planet full of stars both day and night. I've never been there but she says it's beautiful."

"Sounds beautiful," Steve said. It was the first time Seren ever spoke about her history. He didn't think Natasha or Clint knew about that and it made him feel a tad special. She was beginning to trust him more.

"My father's perfectly human, though. He's from New York. He met my mother in college and when my mother was brave enough to tell him what she was, he wasn't afraid of her."

"Not everybody's going to be afraid of you, Seren," Steve said.

"Well, those people are rare. It's hard to forget you're dealing with an alien."

"That's not what you are—"

"It is, Steve. It's exactly what I am."

"To an extent," Steve would amend. "But it's not who you are. When I look at you, you're just Seren." He reached over the isle to place his hand over hers. She was warm and soft, not at all surprising.

Seren swallowed hard and not just for the pain her past usually brought her. Her eyes flickered to their hands. She was highly aware of the level of comfort Steve was bringing her with just a hand of his. "You know my Dad used to say one day I'd find special people who wouldn't be afraid me." That was a lie. Her father had said she'd find someone special who wouldn't see her as either half human or half alien. They would just see her.

"Seren?" Steve gently called her name.

She blinked out of her thoughts and met his eyes. Were they always so blue?

"You good?" Steve asked her, wondering if he'd ultimately messed up. "Did I...?"

Seren's smile relieved the nerves already stacking over his shoulders. "I'm good, promise. Cinnamon rolls?"

"Yes, of course, but are you really okay?"

"Yeah," Seren slipped her hand out from under his and almost instantly regretted it. He was so warm and even though the house was always nice and cozy, it paled to his warmth.

~ 0 ~

Seren was painstakingly aware that each time Steve dropped by, it was harder to see him leave. She was more anxious when he wasn't around; she felt more lonely. Moving to this house had all been done to be alone and now she could hardly wait for Steve to come by. Even if it was just for work, she was always happy to have him around.

"My connections say that they may have spotted your friend, or someone who looks a lot like him, close to the borders of Hungary," Seren came over to the couch with a series of papers in her hands.

"Connections?" Steve gave her an odd look that had her laughing.

"Just because I choose to live here doesn't mean I lost all my friends," she shrugged and sat down. "Don't worry, obviously I kept details out but they still came through. Whether or not they were right, however..."

Steve put a hand on her arm, effectively stopping her. "Thank you. Whatever you have, I will gladly take."

Seren met his look with a small smile. "I hope it's enough."

"I'm only upset that I haven't been able to live up to my word and help you find your missing person," sighed Steve. They'd been doing their searches for over a year now and while he seemed to get slightly closer to finding Bucky, Seren was far from her individual.

"It's alright, finding her is a long shot, I knew that when I started," Seren said, truly looking resigned.

"Her?" Steve picked up on the new word. Up until now, she had not disclosed who she was searching for. Truthfully, he had assumed she was searching for a man. It may have made him a little jealous that this stranger claimed a lot of Seren's focus and attention.

Seren knew she what said and regretted it for all of ten seconds. This was Steve, what would he do? Certainly not hurt her. "Yeah," she ultimately confirmed. "A young woman. One of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secrets that nobody was supposed to know about until Natasha dumped everything on the internet."

"The gift that keeps on giving," mused Steve.

"Oh yeah," Seren nodded. "After everything happened and I got settled here, I started going through the files on the internet and I came across this one project that I had no idea about. It involved a girl with these strange abilities that was a result of God knows what. S.H.I.E.L.D. manipulated her when she was young and I can't help but sympathize with her because the same thing happened to me."

Steve recalled Natasha mentioning Seren had started at S.H.I.E.L.D. at a young age as well but he couldn't, for the life of him, remember if she'd said an exact age. Either way he supposed it didn't matter right now.

"They gave her the name Ghost, and I was given Stardust. Both young girls who should've known better than to fully believe these people," Seren said through gritted teeth. "I got out but based on what I read from her files, she can't last long without proper medical help. I need to find her, Steve. I feel like it's my responsibility to find people S.H.I.E.L.D., or Hydra, has harmed. It's the least I can do for helping them in the first place."

"You're incredibly kind, Seren," Steve said, bringing his hand up to her cheek. "You have no responsibility for anything that S.H.I.E.L.D. did."

Seren lightly scoffed. "I was supposed to be the best and I couldn't see the lies that were right in front of me. This girl is just one of thousands that got hurt because nobody bothered to look twice." She felt Steve's fingers stroking small circles over her cheek and as upset as she was, she slowly fell into his touch. The anger and frustration with herself faded. "God, I really wish I had met you earlier."

"Why's that?" Steve asked her. He was aware that he'd scooted closer to her.

A bitter smile marked Seren's face. "Because then you would've met a far less screwed up version of me." Sure she was living in lies but at that point, she felt good about herself. She was doing what she wanted which was helping people and she was at peace with herself. That's the version somebody could like, definitely the version she herself liked more.

"Honestly, I'm just glad I was able to meet you, period." Steve's fingers slipped under her chin to turn her head. "It's infuriating that they kept me away from someone like you."

Her smile softened when she laughed lightly. "Steve, c'mon..."

"I'm serious. I am so grateful to have met you." Instead of using words that would probably come out in a stumbling mess, he decided to simply go for it. He leaned over and pressed his lips against hers in a small kiss. Every part of him screamed 'What the hell are you doing?' but even then again, no part of him could find the will to pull away from her.

Seren was a wide-eyed statue when they pulled away. Her heart was beating so fast it might just burst from her chest and she was sure that her face had to be red as the roses growing outside the house.

"I'm really glad I met you," Steve said, sighing when she didn't respond. He might as well have been saying goodbye to her.

"I'm...glad I met you too," she whispered, offering him a small smile. "I just can't help but wonder if you'd maybe liked me more before...this..." She made a gesture to the place she called home.

"I would've liked you anywhere, no matter what." Steve leaned his forehead against hers. He watched her eyes fall shut as his hands came up to her cheeks. "Can I kiss you again?" he asked her. His heart thumped when she smiled so quickly at him.

"Please," she said. Her smile was soon covered with his lips.

~ 0 ~

Nobody would say anything to Steve about his increased visits to Virginia. If they knew something, they didn't tell him either. They didn't want to ruin whatever the hell made him so happy when he came back each time. They had ideas but it was better to keep quiet rather than risk poking holes, not that Steve hadn't already thought of things that would poke huge holes into the situation. Months flew by and each time he visited Seren, it was that much harder to leave her. His work with the Avengers was picking up as the search for Bucky got closer and closer. Their own side missions were increasing as well. It pained him to leave such big gaps between his visits sometimes.

Seren would never say it but she was just as upset as he was whenever he couldn't visit her when planned. She understood why he couldn't come and she wasn't going to make him feel bad about it. She focused on her own search and her state of mind that, as of late, had changed a lot. She found herself more and more afraid and it wasn't fear for her, it was fear for Steve. Living on her own, secluded from everything and everybody meant that she often didn't know what Steve was up to. Calling wasn't always an option and even then, she didn't want to risk being answered by the wrong person. She didn't want her name plastered anywhere on the news, much less next to Steve's. Her reputation was long tarnished and she wasn't going to bring his down either. Then there was the part of her that simply wanted to stay away from any media attention, any attention in general. As much as she wanted to be with Steve, and she did, she couldn't fathom living the way he did surrounded by all those people and media.

She shared that with him only a few days after they both admitted their love for each other.

It had come up suddenly during a walk they were taking near the house. Steve had come extra early that day due to a mission he and the Avengers would be taking later on in the day. He'd felt so guilty coming in before dawn even happened but Seren had welcomed him with her arms open and one of her precious smiles. They walked hand in hand along the path of trees, neither minding the chilly tinge of the air as the sun began to rise in the sky. The conversation had become too serious to note anything else.

"Anybody else would be smart enough to keep quiet and pretend like there was nothing wrong but I can't do that," Seren sighed. "You know that I can't leave this place. I-I can't. It's too scary."

Steve squeezed her hand, assuring her that he was listening to her every word. He could see the fear filling her eyes the more she talked about the idea of coming to live in the city again. He couldn't make her do that, at least not until she felt slightly ready. "You can stay right here, sweetheart," he said. "I wouldn't make you leave the place where you feel safe."

"I know," she glanced at him, "But you don't deserve to be tied to this place either. You should be with someone who lives in the same state that you do, somebody who's not afraid to be with other people. You're always free to go."

"I hear everything you're saying but I can't leave you." He stopped walking and turned to her, both of his hands holding hers between them. "Seren, I love you. I can't think about anyone else."

"You should," Seren smiled sadly. "You could have anybody you want, be anywhere you want."

"I am right where I want to be, I promise you that."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you sort of snuck up on me here," Steve shared a small laugh with her. "You're my secret star in this forest."

"Well I'd love to have you as my little secret too but to my unfortunate luck, every damn woman out there wants you," Seren huffed at the idea. Sometimes it was better to be disconnected from the world because she might go crazy if she was right in the middle of the city with all those fawning women. "I want to be the only one who gets to say I love you to you."

"You haven't said it this morning..." Steve innocently reminded, making her roll her eyes. "Wounds me, actually. Right here." He patted a hand over his heart.

Seren got on her tippy-toes to give him a short kiss. "I love you."

Before her feet would give out, Steve wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed her body to his. "My favorite words," he said. She truly had no idea how much he loved to hear those words come out of her lips.

~ 0 ~

Seren knew something was wrong when Steve showed up unannounced. Actually, he wasn't technically unannounced. The last time he came around, he'd told Seren that they'd found traces of an old S.H.I.E.L.D./Hydra agent resurfacing. He would be gone for a while.

But here he was. There was no greeting, no usual 'surprise' or even his usual smiles. As soon as Seren opened the door, she was engulfed in a huge (and tight) hug.

She managed to pull him inside to get away from the cold. She had the fireplace going before he showed up with a couple blankets and pillows for a cozy read and delicious roasted marshmallows. Now she was glad she did. He needed comforting background noise to help him tell her the story. She made him a spot on the ground in front of the fireplace, trying to give him some humor by admitting she'd been trying to roast marshmallows. While he was kind enough to give her one smile, she knew it was fake and done merely for her sake.

"Tell me what's wrong," she said, putting aside her bag of marshmallows to hear what promised to be terrible.

His mission had gone horribly wrong.

The young Maximoff girl had accidentally set loose a bomb in a building that took the lives of many, many people as well as leaving many injured. The media had a field day with her. Steve blamed himself for letting it happen because he'd gotten distracted when Rumlow mentioned Bucky.

Seren knew that no matter what she was going to say to him, she wouldn't be changing his mind right now. He was too deep in his sorrow to hear logic. She could only hope that someone was offering the Maximoff girl the same support she would have for Steve. Things only got worse when Steve brought up something called the Accords.

"It's a contract and it's got everybody divided, including myself. Stark thinks we should sign it but I...I can't do that, Seren," he explained. During his story, he'd come to rest his head on her lap. Seren stroked his hair over and over while he talked. "Signing that contract would give away all of my freedom, our freedom in general."

"This contract..." Seren said, thinking as fast as she could to let him keep the floor, "The way it's written...I fall under its categories. Oh god, Steve, tell me you didn't get in trouble for my sake."

Steve would've left that part out if she hadn't figured it out. It was another source of his argument with Stark. Tony was aware of where Seren resided and the only reason he hadn't said anything was because of Steve. They yelled and snapped over the subject until Natasha cut in. Seren did fall under the same category as they did but, like Thor and Banner, she was technically M.I.A. for the government.

"Steve?" Seren called again. "If I'm part of the reason you're having problems, then I need to go back—"

"No," he cut her off immediately. He pulled himself up to sit beside her. "Absolutely not. I don't want to sign the Accords. You're free to do what you want but don't do it for my sake. If you sign that contract, you won't get to live here anymore. You'll become an agent again, an Avenger, and if that's what you feel like you have to do then I will support you...but don't move if you're doing it for me."

Seren searched his face for something that would betray his apparent stance. He was afraid, she knew, and if her coming back to sign that thing would ease the fear then she would do it...but there was nothing to indicate that. he was thoroughly against the Accords and it broke him that his team was falling apart because they couldn't agree. As far as he knew, Tony, Natasha, Vision and Rhodey were all signing.

"I don't want to sign," she whispered. "I don't want to go."

Steve nodded. He cupped the side of her face. "Then stay right here, sweetheart. Don't move." She nodded. "You don't have to get caught up in our problems."

"I still want to help you," she said, "I don't like seeing you like this. Don't sign and, I don't know, stay here with me." She knew that what she proposed sounded mad and crazy but it was the only solution she could come up with at the moment. Tony wouldn't dare come for him here, Natasha wouldn't allow it. The government had no idea she lived here and she would pity them if they dared to go to her parents or grandmother. This was the only safe spot they had.

Steve smiled at the idea. "That would be nice, huh?" It was a nice thing to think of living with her in the spacious house. They would be together all the time, away from problems and anything Avenger-related. But, just like her, he couldn't lie to himself. He wouldn't be content forgetting the others. There was Sam and Bucky, for starters, and even Wanda who was the only one who couldn't make up her mind about the Accords.

Seren knew the tone of his voice was bittersweet. Even when she knew what he would ultimately tell her, she scooted herself closer to him and talked about what they could do if he stayed with her. "We could make all the cinnamon rolls we want. We could go and take walks, maybe take a swim together when it's warmer out?"

Steve mused. "Hm, that would be nice."

"And we could have picnic lunches when it's warmer. Right now we could have movie dates under a blanket right next to the fireplace," she made a quick gesture to the fireplace beside them, "I have a ton of books we could read together." She sat on her knees and draped her arms over his shoulders. As much as she shouldn't get excited over something that wasn't going to happen, she couldn't help but hope just a little that Steve would say yes to her proposition.

He sure had fun hearing everything they would be able to do. It did make him wonder why he spent so much time away from her. Yes, he led the Avengers but did he always have to? No. He did not. He deserved some time off, key word time off. "Would you, I don't know, be open to longer stays?"

The mere question had Seren beaming. "Of course! Would you really stay for a longer time?"

"A few days wouldn't hurt anyone, especially me." Steve loved being responsible for her happiness. He pushed some of hair from her face. "I love you, Seren, and I'm sorry I don't say it all the time."

"I always know," she said, her eyes following his hand down her cheek. "Being in love doesn't mean you have to constantly tell me. I just know because you show me."

Steve smiled at her. She always had the perfect words for him, didn't she? He met her lips in a kiss. She happily responded. She didn't often tell she loved him either, she preferred moments like these to show him. One of her arms pushed past his shoulder, raising her hand to dig through his hair. It was always so smooth—it was one of his best features and he had no idea.

"Hey Seren," Steve managed to speak because even as he tried to pull away, Seren wouldn't let him go. "I'd love to stay but...I think I have to go." He wasn't saying the right words and he knew it. Lucky for him, Seren knew it too.

"Do you need to right now?" she asked after strategically giving him a loving kiss. While it was very difficult for him to lose air, Seren found a way to make it so.

"Yes," he said, swallowing hard when he felt her hands slip under the collar of his shirt. Her hands roamed the skin of his neck and parts of his shoulders. She didn't say anything but her alluring smile kept him from moving even an inch away from her. "I have to...I mean I should..." He wanted to insist that he needed to leave but the truth was, he was beginning to forget everything beyond the walls of the living room.

Seren raised her head to meet his gaze and lifted an eye brow at him. She'd never been that cocky. Her heart may be hammering under her chest but she loved the sensation of the power she was holding at the moment. Steve was free to take it at any time, he just had to give in.

"The Accords have to be signed by tomorrow night," Steve said, leaning closer to her. He gave her the smallest of kisses that she groaned for more. "I have no idea what to do..."

"Let your mind rest for a while," Seren said, dragging her hands once more around his neck. "Sometimes you need to stop thinking about something to cool your mind. I used to do it all the time when I worked with S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Did it work?" Steve genuinely asked. Everyone was a mess with the Accords and their time to think things over was running out.

Seren nodded her head. "When you stop thinking about it so much, your heart—" she patted a hand over his heart, "—takes over. And that's what you need to make this decision."

"That's not entirely true," Steve said, bobbing his head, "I may have also needed help from my secret star."

He muffled Seren's laugh with his lips. She was all too happy to respond and soon enough, she finally had a couple of Steve's buttons undone. He was quick to help her out and push his shirt off him because once that was out of the way, he could focus on removing what she had on. She had no qualms pulling her blouse off for him. Steve passed a couple gentle fingers down the middle of her chest. How she managed to appear innocent when she shuddered yet still flash him a coy smile was beyond Steve. He pushed her curls behind her shoulders and pressed a trail of kisses down the side of her neck. He absolutely loved Seren's sweet moans. She slipped her hand under his jaw to bring him back to her lips. He shouldn't tease her like that when what she wanted was for him to kiss her senseless. They silently agreed that they wanted to stay just like that for hours to come. The fireplace would help keep them warm but, really, would they even feel the cold when their bodies were tangled with each other?

They wouldn't when they laid together either.

The first few rays of light from the rising sun were illuminating the room. Seren snuggled up to Steve under their blanket. She knew his time to leave was approaching and she wanted to soak it all up until the last moment possible. She rested her head against his bare chest and smiled when his fingers made circles over her back.

"Did you think about it?" she whispered, not daring to look up at him just yet.

"Yeah," he answered in the same whisper. "I don't want to sign, Seren. I know it'll cause a lot of trouble, especially between Tony and I, but I can't sign something that I don't believe in. I can't work for something and someone that I don't trust and I don't trust the people behind the Accords."

Seren tried ignoring the ache in her heart. She couldn't explain why but she was afraid. The way he explained the Accords made it sound too official to simply not sign. She was sure that Steve had thought about that and she could only wonder if he was already preparing himself for the repercussions.

"I'll be here when you need me," she said. She tilted her head up to him. "If I need to come out, you know I will."

"You won't need to," Steve promised her. He left a kiss on her forehead. Whatever happened, he would not force Seren to come out of her home just to help him fix his problems. But, like her, he was afraid of what would happen knowing what he was going to tell the others. For that matter, he held Seren tighter in his arms. Things would be changing and he would have no control of just how much things would change. That included Seren, unfortunately.

~ 0 ~

As secluded as Seren wanted to be, after Steve left to deal with the Accords, she was glued to her computer for any news. She nearly lost it when they started rolling out broadcasts and articles about the Winter Soldier and the now pursued Steve Rogers accompanied by Sam Wilson.

She may or may not have ran out of her house three times fully determined to go after him but her logic kicked in. She had no idea where Steve was nor if he had his own plans. She had to stay put, period.

But things only seemed to get worse from there on out. The list of "criminals" expanded to include familiar names until everything stopped and the ending was even worse.

As far as anyone knew, Steve Rogers was now a war criminal and was on the run because he was basically wanted by everyone, everywhere. Seren had no idea what to do. She was stuck. If she went out, she automatically qualified for the Accords and she wanted absolutely no part of it now...but if she didn't go...she might never see Steve again. Every mode of communication they had was gone because Seren was sure that he had to have thrown all technology away, or destroyed it, for safety.

Her days would be endless and painful not knowing anything about him. It was the worst week of her life.

When she heard a strange noise in the middle of the night, it didn't distract her from the ache in her heart. There was an intruder? Fine. She'd take care of it and then get on with her sleepless night.

But a few steps out of the front door had her recognizing a few familiar faces. For the moment, though, she only cared about the first face she saw.

"Oh my God!" She lost her breath at the sight of Steve coming towards her. She couldn't wait and raced had also picked up his pace to meet her halfway. She jumped into his arms and held him as tight as her significant strength allowed her to.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," Steve could only apologize over and over. "I didn't want this to happen, it just...there was...I couldn't..." He had practiced what he was going to tell her but it was all failing him.

"I don't care, I'm just glad you're here," Seren pulled away to cup his face. She could see some heavy tiredness in his eyes. The clothes he wore weren't exactly in their best condition. He was definitely on the run. "You're here, you're safe." She pressed a kiss to his lips and hugged him again.

"We, um, we need your help..." Steve was ashamed to say.

Seren nodded and stepped away from him, though she kept his hand tightly in hers, to see the rest of the group. Even in the dark she could see the same weariness in Steve was also amongst them. Natasha, Sam, Wanda, Clint and the man she learned was Scott Lang, all looked at her with the same shame that Steve had.

"Come on," she told them, "The house is big enough for everybody." She turned with Steve and walked back for the house.

She would have spare clothes for them and nice showers along with rooms for them to rest. Steve was the first one to come down and find Seren lingering in the kitchen. She'd offered them something to eat before going upstairs and now she was done cleaning the mess.

Seren wasn't surprised when Steve apologized to her again. She kissed him soundly until they were both in need of air. All she wanted from him was to hear the story. She needed to understand what happened that led to such a catastrophic ending.

Steve had been in dire need to talk to her. She needed to know that he hadn't meant to cause the battles he had. He hoped she would understand him and, maybe, still love him after everything.

"You were both right and wrong," she told him when he was done. "You and Stark...you were both right and wrong and that's why this ended the way it did. Is Bucky alright?"

Steve nodded. A part of him appreciated the fact she cared for his best friend knowing what he had been in the past. "He's safe." She understood he wouldn't tell her the location for her own safety...which led him to his next, and inevitable point. "We'll have to leave soon."

"No," Seren was quick to say. "You just got here. I-I didn't know where you were for a full week."

"Seren," he placed his hands on her shoulders, "You know what I am now, what we all are now. We need to run and hide."

"Stay here," Seren offered. "Nobody knows where I am."

"Tony does," Steve said quietly.

Seren swallowed hard. "You don't think..."

"I never told him what we are, I never told anyone, but they all knew. Right now, with how mad Tony is, I can't predict what he will and won't do," Steve sighed. He thought about this on the way here. Tony was unpredictable at the moment amd even if he wasn't, being with the Accords meant he didn't get to choose a lot of things anymore. Someone might force his hand and Seren would be compromised. She would have a hell of a better chance if she was found alone.

Tears filled Seren's eyes. "I don't want you to go," she whispered.

Steve's hands cupped her face and tilted her head up. He rested his forehead against hers and together they closed their eyes. "I don't want to go either but it's the best thing I can do for you. I've already lost so many things this past week, Seren, I can't lose you too."

"How will I see you again?"

"I have special communicators I'm going to leave with you. They'll work anywhere, I promise. I'll always be there to talk with you, okay?" Seren refused to nod. Steve opened his eyes to see her frowning. "Seren, please."

She ultimately nodded. What else could she do? "When do you have to go?" she asked.

"I don't know, maybe in a couple days when we figure out where to go next."

"Will you come back when you can?"

Steve nodded. "Yes. I don't know when but I'll visit when I can."

Seren would take it. "It's, um, it's still pretty early...the others probably want to nap. Do you want to sleep? My room's open..."

The idea of giving his eyes a proper rest sounded so good, especially if he would be able to sleep with Seren beside him. "I would love nothing more than that," he said. He held both of her hands in his so he could kiss each one.

She blushed under his gaze. "Okay," she whispered. She led him out of the kitchen, hand in hand, towards the stairs then her room. That would be the last morning they spent together for many months to come.

Because for the next two years, Steve would spend most of his time running and hiding as well as making sure the rest of his team was safe. He would occasionally have days with Seren but even then, it wasn't the same.

Seren could feel it too. Before, their moments together were slow and peaceful. Now, as much as Steve wanted to be relaxed, he always ended up looking over his shoulder. He was afraid that he was putting Seren in danger with his presence. It pained Seren to see him that way and know there was nothing she could do about it.

"Not your fault," Steve told her when it came up in their conversation (just like it often did when he was around).

"Just wish I could help," she shrugged.

They both sat on the couch with a blanket draped over them. It was a chilly evening and they were enjoying it with hot chocolate and t.v. Steve had Seren's head resting on his chest with one arm draped over his stomach. He'd pulled their blanket over her shoulders to keep her warm.

"You have no idea how much you help me already," Steve said, "You are all I need."

Seren tilted her head up at him. "If you say so."

"Really?"

"Well, you're on the run all the time! I don't know if you tell me these lies just to calm my own nerves."

"I don't lie to you, Seren, ever." He tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "You're my star, remember?"

She hummed. "Am I?"

"My secret star," he bopped her nose.

She laughed. "Well, I guess you're still my secret too. My criminal secret."

"Funny," he remarked.

She pushed herself the necessary amount to kiss him. "I think my criminal secret might need a shave soon, though." She scrunched her face with the tickle of beard against her skin.

Steve laughed. "Seriously?"

Seren shrugged playfully. "I don't know...I might be more used to it if I saw you more often."

"Wouldn't that be nice?" Steve mused with a sigh.

And as luck would have it, he would get a message from Natasha that Wanda might be in trouble. He had to rip himself from Seren just like he always had to in the end. She was understanding, like always, but deeply voiced her concern for this trouble.

"Do you know what the issue is?" She followed him out the front door.

"I don't know, something about Wanda and Vision and, believe it or not, Stark. Global, maybe." Steve was just as perplexed as she was. Natasha didn't fully explain but expressed the urgency that he return.

"Hey," Seren grabbed his arm before he would step off the porch, "Be careful, alright? If it's global, then...promise you'll be careful?"

"I will," Steve assured her. "I have to go make sure they're okay and, if this is really big, I have to make sure you're safe."

"I'm always safe if you're looking out for me," she said sweetly.

Steve liked to think it was true just to make him feel a little less guilty for not coming to see her more often. She didn't rely on him for anything except for his love. She had faith that he would always come back to her because he loved her, but she never talked about keeping each other safe. They had nothing to discuss since they lived so far from each other.

"I promise to always keep you safe," he said. He lowered his head to kiss her for as long as their lungs would let them. Everything about their relationship was complicated from how they met to their short meetings to his fugitive status. She had left the city and everyone else to be at peace, something he had yet to find for himself and thus be able to provide for her. So when he kissed her right now, he endeavored to show her how much he felt for her, to show her all the love he had for her. She was and would always be his girl.

"Don't get hurt," she begged him again. "Whatever happens out there, be careful please."

Steve assured her twice more that he would. The last image of her he would have for some long days would be of her standing on the front porch watching him leave. He wouldn't be able to forget the fear in her eyes, though. She was afraid again and the last time she'd been afraid, he'd become a fugitive of the law.

Seren was never wrong.

She was never wrong.

Steve tried his best to keep things under their control. All they had to do was distract; one big glorified distraction until they could safely destroy the Mind Stone then everything would've been fine. But the world had never been too kind to him and the rest of the team.

They fought and fought and fought...until things slipped from them. The Mind stone was taken from them and used for one horrific mass genocide. People were disappearing by the second and there was no way to tell who it would be.

Steve saw many of his own turn into dust before they even left Wakanda. Bucky was the first to go by some twisted act of fate. Soon it was Sam then Wanda, even the King of Wakanda himself was gone. The numbers were rising and the chaos with it. Even when they returned to New York, those who were left, the numbers hadn't stopped rising.

Things were getting too blurry because all Steve had been able to think of on the way home was Seren. The communicators had stopped working when the creator turned to dust as well. Without Shuri, many of her inventions stopped functioning.

He could only anxiously wait to drop Natasha and the others in the compound to then make his way to Virginia. He had close communication with Natasha all the way there. She was getting detailed information about the confirmed disappeared and unfortunately, some of them did include Seren's family. Her grandmother, the original owner of Seren's current home, was one of them.

Steve couldn't get there any damn quicker.

None of Natasha's words registered in his head and nothing would until he had Seren in his arms. When he finally landed the jet, he dashed through the path, all the way to the house.

"Seren?" He unlocked the door himself with his key. He'd apologize for the way he entered later. "Seren!" He yelled through the house. He saw the television was on and her blanket left on the couch. He sniffed the air and smelled coffee.

Kitchen!

"Seren!" He ran for the kitchen only to find it empty. The coffee pot was done, probably more than done now that he was closer to it. He took slow steps until his eyes fell over a pile of dust. Dust.

His heart stopped. Everything stopped.

He drew in a sharp, but shaky, breath as he bent down. He swallowed hard. It was exactly the same as Wakanda; the remnants of those who'd...vanished.

She was gone.

His secret star was gone just like the rest. His heart was finding ways to break over and over, each more painful than the last. He'd lost so many people before her but she was making it hurt a lot more.

He had told her that he would keep her safe. It was the only thing he could do for her and he still failed. She had disappeared on her own, probably without even understanding what was happening. He should've stopped it, he should've done everything and more to stop this from happening.

Everything could come dangerously close to being pointless. Because through the years things had changed, but Seren was always there. He could always come home to her. This house was their home, it was their secret place where they could love each other. And he had, my God he had. He loved Seren and now he was supposed to live without her? Knowing that he was responsible for her disappearance?

It should've taken him too.

It would've spared him the special ache in his heart he would now carry with him until the end, whether or not it was the end of his life was up in the air but Steve couldn't find any part of him that cared.

His star was gone and with her went his heart.