Steve felt something in his chest drop and shatter – like a glass had fallen off a table, and now the shards were ripping him apart.
He fell to his knees over the bloody forms of Erskine and Adeline. Adeline had collapsed on her side, her hair half covering her face. He couldn't even tell where she was injured there was so much gore and blood.
Erskine's eyelids fluttered, and he grasped at Steve, making Steve bend over further.
Gently, with the last of his strength, he tapped Steve's chest.
Then he slackened, gaze going glassy. Steve lowered his head.
"I'm so sorry-"
A hand grabbed him, and he gasped. Adeline was staring at him, the one eye he could see wide and blood shot.
What the-?
"Go! I will follow!" she hissed.
He reeled back at her rough wheezing voice, but did as she said, sprinting after the man who had shot her.
Steve felt panic rise in his chest as he vaulted over the dead body of the old woman, and out into the street. Agent Carter stood there, unmoving – and a cab was bearing down on her.
Without thinking, he leapt for her. He tackled her to the side, and she reared up, spitting. "I had him!"
Steve was already off, throwing an apology over his shoulder. As he picked up speed, he realised something was different.
The power he felt…
The speed…
It was unlike anything he could have imagined. Every second step he kept expecting to have to catch his breath – but his lungs felt better than they ever had been.
He couldn't stop the bemused smile that spread across his face for a second as he rounded a corner after the cab – and promptly crashed through a window.
Adeline got up slowly, feeling her head spin as blood tried to make its way throughout her body evenly.
Those left in the room were gawking at her – and Colonel Phillips was watching her like a hawk. She held up a bloody hand in something like an apology. Howard was pressed against one of the monitors, eyes wide. He made eye contact with her – and her heart sank, ready to see the fear in his eyes. Instead, an overwhelming warm relief coloured his gaze. Adeline nodded to him, and without looking at anyone else – tore from the secret base.
Steve felt a wave of panic catch him as he went spinning over the cab as it rolled. Thinking quickly, he let go, instead, rolling into a ball to absorb some of the shock, like Adeline had taught him.
He got unsteadily to his feet, and dived for the car door in front of him as he realised that his enemy had recovered already. He ducked as shots hit the metal loudly. Thankfully it was thick enough to stop it.
But he couldn't stop him from grabbing a young boy.
No.
Steve was already moving forwards before he could stop himself, moving quickly behind the cover of a wall – and not a moment too soon a bullet ricocheted next to his head.
Despite the danger, Steve didn't stop. He couldn't stop. He owed it, not only to the boy, but to Erskine – and Adeline.
That must have been her final breath.
He pushed the thought away, and focused on his target – moving closer.
Steve cursed inwardly as the boy was thrown in the water. He rushed to the side, and moved to jump in as he watched him flounder.
"I'll get him." the voice at his side made him jump, whirling around. Adeline was standing there, still as bloody as before – but undeniably alive. When he did nothing – mouth wide open in shock – she growled. "He's getting away! Go!"
"Uh, right!" Steve nodded jerkily, and almost stumbled in his haste to get after the man. Behind him, he heard a splash as Adeline entered the water.
He couldn't… He didn't understand.
How was she still alive?
Adeline was waiting when he returned with the man, and when the sopping wet body of the scum that had shot her and… Abraham, was thrown up onto the cement, she was on him instantly.
She jammed her knees onto his shoulders, and shoved a hand against his throat.
It would be easy to rip it out.
Steve crouched beside her.
"Who the hell are you?" he yelled – voice aggressive for maybe the first time Adeline had heard. She resisted the urge to look at him.
"The first of many… cut off one head," as she watched, his lips moved oddly, and there was a faint crack as his cyanine tooth was broken. "Two more shall take its place."
"No!" she growled, as foam built up around his mouth. He grinned at her – eyes bright with mocking amusement.
"Hail Hyd-"
In a sharp movement, she gripped his head and brought it down hard. There was a sickening, wet crack, and blood bloomed underneath him as his eyes went dark.
Adeline was panting hard. "That fotze."
She didn't dare look at Steve, who was breathing quietly and steadily next to her. "Are you-" he began softly, and pressed a gentle hand on her shoulder. For the first time, his skin was warm as hers.
She closed her eyes.
It took him a minute to realize she was crying.
She was so silent – for a second he thought she was just shivering. Then he saw a tear fall on the face of the man she had just killed. For some reason, the fact didn't bother him. Slowly, he eased her away as she kept her head down, tears still coming out silently.
He bit his lip, trying to figure out the right words. "I'm sorry. Erskine was a good man-"
"He died begging for forgiveness. For my forgiveness." Her voice was perfectly even – the only evidence of her emotion a faint hoarseness. "He died thinking I hated him. He died-" she let out a choking sound.
Steve ever-so-slowly, so she had time to move away, put his arms around her. She was smaller now, and fit perfectly under his arm and against his chest.
She didn't move, didn't even breathe.
After a few minutes, she sucked in a shaky breath, and reached up to wipe away tears. "I will never forgive myself." She said quietly.
Steve made a soft noise. "No. Don't do that. You know he would hate that. Hell, he'd probably throw a bottle at you or somethin'! Wave his arms around and make a fuss in heaven." He chuckled. When she said nothing, he swallowed nervously, and reached for her chin, tilting it up gently. She was pliant. "Listen. That man loved you, and I know you love him. Remember that. Don't remember the end. That's what I do, for my folks. 'Specially ma."
"Your mother is-?"
"Dead, yeah. Tuberculosis or something. According to the Doc." Steve looked at her. Her face was so close, and the tears had turned her eyes into molten silver. He flushed suddenly. "I don't know why I'm-"
"No. It's good. Now I know I can survive it." She said softly. Her eyes flickered down, head turning away again. "I have seen so much death… caused so much death. And now it is someone I love – and I think I might never feel… vollkommen, ah, complete, and the same."
"You don't ever feel the same. You just feel different. You find different love… and remember the old, and it completes you differently." Steve said. They could hear sirens. They'd have to go soon. He shifted slightly.
Adeline hummed, turning to look back at him suddenly, so close that their lips almost touched. She flushed, but asked him anyway; "What love did you find?"
"I have a friend. A brother, really. He's good. The best. But I don't know… sometimes, I feel like I'm still looking." He couldn't help it. His gaze darted down her mouth, which was still pink, despite the chill of the water.
"Rogers! Wolfe!"
Adeline practically leapt backwards at the call of their names. Colonel Phillips was standing there with some other men in suits, beckoning them furiously.
Adeline was on her feet at once, and jogged over. She accepted the offered jacket that Peggy held out for her gratefully.
Steve felt the loss of her body heat keenly as a cold wind swept up off the water.