AN: It's a miracle, I managed to stay consistent! And now that the most stressful two weeks of my life have passed I should be able to post chapters during the week. Thanks for the support guys!
The music from the choir echoed throughout the church, the hymn was beautiful. The church was beautiful. But even though I did not know Peggy well, I could feel the emotional impact she left on others. The room held a depressing blanket over top, I watched as Steve carried the coffin down the aisle with the British flag draped over top.
From a distance he looked like he was keeping it together. But when his eyes met mine and Grandma's at a distance, a tear slipped from my own eyes. I began rubbing Grandma's arms to try and comfort her as tears fell down her face. I closed my eyes and thought back to when I drove back to Harlem to deliver the news to her and begin the preparations to travel to London.
"I know," Grandma answered softly.
My eyes widened and I looked up from wringing my hands together, "How do you know? How could you know?" I questioned confused.
Grandma let out a humorless chuckle and closed her book placing it in her lap, before looking at me, "With powers like ours, there comes a time when we get strong enough and old enough that we can use our ability over vast distances. There are times when I occasionally like to check in on Peggy, today was one of those days. That's when I realized I couldn't sense her,"
I could feel the pain he felt as it began to impact me. The emotional drain he carried I could now see. Only a minute passed before he was seated beside Grandma in the once empty area. I watched as her aged, brown hand moved over to Steve's, grabbing his hand and giving it a light squeeze, Steve gave her a watery smile.
"And now, I would like to invite Sharon Carter to come up and say a few words," The minister of the church announced.
She stepped up to the podium and Sam on the other side nudged of Steve to pay attention. I knew her name was Sharon Carter, but I never clued in that she was related to the Peggy that Steve knew. Sharon exhaled shakily before speaking out.
"Margaret Carter was known to most as a shoulder of S.H.I.E.L.D...but I just knew her as Aunt Peggy,"
No way in hell. What's happening?
"She had a photograph in her office. Aunt Peggy standing next to JFK. As a kid, I thought that was pretty cool. But it was a lot to live up to. Which is why I never told anyone we were related. I asked her once how she managed to master diplomacy and espionage...in a time when no one wanted to see a woman succeed at either. She said, compromise where you can. But where you can't, don't. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move...it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree...look them in the eye and say 'No, you move,'"
~~~x~~~
"Grandma, are you sure about this?" I asked, as I attempted to hail a taxi.
"I'll be fine, my dear. I know my way around the city, I've been here plenty of times," Grandma reassured smiling. "Don't let my age fool you into thinking I can't do things by myself," she smiled, wagging her finger at me. I placed my hands on my hip and looked up into the dreary sky as I began to feel a familiar sensation form in my gut that's been there for days now. "There is something troubling you Amara, and it's not the funeral," Grandma stated, placing her hand on my arm directing my attention back to her.
"It's the Accords that I told you about on the way here, I just feel there's a storm brewing," I explained grimly, looking at her. "These Accords go against everything I believe in, and I'm being backed into a corner to sign it," I added fustratedly with a sigh.
Grandma grabbed my hand and enclosed them in her own, "Then do you what you think is right, Amara, critics be damned," Grandma stated firmly, there was a glint in her hazel eyes - a defiant sort of fierceness.
I nodded my head and smiled before raising my other hand to hail for a taxi, and amazingly a taxi pulled aside to the curb. I opened the door to the car and helped Grandma inside, as I was about to shut the door Grandma stopped me.
"Remember, no matter what happens or what you decide, I and the rest of the family will love you and support you regardless," Grandma added smiling, and closed the door.
I watched the taxi drive off into the busy streets of the city until the car wasn't visible anymore just as Natasha appeared next to me.
"Amara, could we talk?" Natasha asked, I nodded and walked with Natasha to the side of the church. "Look, I know what side you're on, but I'd really appreciate it if you came with me to the United Nations Panel for the ratification of the Accords," Natasha explained.
I wanted to be here for Steve, but I also wanted to be at the meeting, to show my point of not signing, and to formally apologize for the destruction we had caused.
"I'll come," I answered with a faint smile, that's all I needed to say for Natasha to smile widely at me
"Meet me in the car out front when you're ready," She instructed pulling me into a hug. "Your luggage is already on the plane," Natasha added.
"Of course it is," I chuckled, shaking my head.
I walked over to Sam and Steve, who were quietly talking amongst themselves. I patted Steve on the back, "You gonna be alright, old man?" I quipped, as he smiled down at me.
"Always,"Steve answered, and I pulled him into a hug.
"I'm going with Natasha to the accords ratification meeting," I began, Steve furrowed his eyebrows. "Don't worry, I'm not going to sign it, I just want everyone to know our angle on all of this, just so they don't think we're complete assholes. We gotta keep up appearances," I explained shrugging. Sam and Steve both nod as I hugged Sam. "Take care of him, I'll be back soon," I demanded, and Sam laughed.
~~~x~~~
I smiled falsely beside Natasha, greeting members of the UN with condolences and professional handshakes. When Natasha and I first walked in, the muffled voices in the room stopped as eyes were on us. As soon as I stared back at the silenced diplomats, they resumed their conversations. The room was large and held about two hundred people. It was round and had seats on elevation like a Roman amphitheater, a large window and a podium was erected in the middle on the floor.
"Miss Romanoff, Miss Sinclair? These need your signatures," a staff member came up to us, handing us both pens.
"Oh, no, no. They need her signature, not mine," I corrected, handing the pen back to the staff member.
"Thank you," Natasha said, and the staffer nodded after Natasha had signed and handed back her pen.
"I suppose the three of us aren't used to the spotlight," someone with an Wakandan accent stated, as they approached Natasha and I.
We turned around in unison, it was none other than the Prince of Wakanda. If I remember correctly his name is T'Challa. He was an extremely attractive man to say the least, hell he was gorgeous. Deep, brown eyes that matched his beautiful dark skin which reminded me of cocoa beans, and the cherry on top being his tall stature and muscular frame that filled out the suit he was wearing.
"Oh, well, it's not always so flattering," Natasha smiled.
"You two seem to be doing all right so far," T'Challa pointed out. "Considering your last trip to Capitol Hill I wouldn't think you'd be particularly comfortable in this company," T'Challa speculated.
"Oh trust me, we're not," I assured him answering for both of us, a nervous smile appearing on my lips.
"And that alone makes me glad you are here, Miss Romanoff and Miss Sinclair," T'Challa reasoned, smiling brightly.
"Why? You don't approve of all this?" I asked curiously, locking my hands behind my back and tilting my head slightly.
"The Accords, yes. The politics, not really," he responded, his brown eyes boring into mine. "Two people in a room can get more done than a hundred,"
"Unless you need to move a piano," a male accented voice commented, as he walked up from behind Natasha and I. It was the king of Wakanda, T'Chaka. The of them began speaking in their native language, T'Chaka looked at Natasha and I. "Miss Romanoff, Miss Sinclair," he greeted.
"King T'Chaka," we both greeted in unison.
"Please, allow us to apologize for what happened in Nigeria," I began sincerely, and bowed my head in apology
"Thank you," T'Chaka said with solemn smile. "Thank you for agreeing to all of this," Natasha nodded. "I'm sad to hear that Captain Rogers will not be joining us today," T'Chaka stated.
"Yes, so am I," Natasha sighed.
"If everyone could please be seated. This assembly is now in session," a man announced over the speaker.
"That is the future calling," T'Challa said. "Such a pleasure," he added, as Natasha and I went to go take our seats.
"When stolen Wakandan vibranium was used to make a terrible weapon we in Wakanda were forced to question our legacy," T'Chaka began, as he stood at the front. "Those men and women killed in Nigeria were part of a goodwill mission from a country too long in the shadows. We will not, however, let misfortune drive us back. We will fight to improve the world we wish to join. I am grateful to the Avengers for supporting this initiative. Wakanda is proud to extend its hand in peace,"
My ears perked up suddenly, instead of listening to King T'Chaka my ears began to focus on the commotion from outside, below us. I could hear dogs barking and yelling from outside. Something didn't feel right. I looked over to the window and saw that T'Challa was looking out the window with a horrified look on his face. I grabbed Natasha's arm just as the Prince of Wakanda looked back us, panic written clearly over his face.
"Everybody get down!" T'Challa yelled.
I quickly pulled Natasha under the table as a deafening explosions reverberated through the room, Natasha covered my head. Dust filled my lungs as I coughed violently. I grabbed onto the top of the desk, helping Natasha up.
"Oh my god," I murmured, as I spotted T'Challa crawling to his father, who was motionless on the floor.
He checked for a pulse, then pleaded for his father to wake up. T'Challa held him in his arms, rocking back and forth as Natasha and I helped people out of the rubble filled room. The room was blown to hell, for lack of a better term. Sirens blared from every direction as we filtered people out from the room.
~~~x~~~
After milling around the area outside where people were being given medical attention and being treated from my own minor injuries. I saw T'Challa sitting on a bench set across from me, his expression was emotionless and there was blood on his cheek bone and collar, most likely his father's. My phone buzzed and looked at the caller ID, before tapping Natasha on the shoulder, "I'll be back. Family," I explained, walking away from her as she engaged in a conversation with T'Challa.
"Steve?" I answered.
"Are you alright?" He asked, I pushed my hair behind my ears as I cleared my throat.
"Yeah, I was lucky, I didn't get the brunt of it," I sighed in relief.
"Do you see the coffee shop to your left?" He asked, as I furrowed my brow, I turned to the left seeing Steve outside of it, waving to me. He had on aviator sunglasses and a ball cap. "Come over here, don't let Natasha see you,"
I take a deep breath, hanging up the phone. Natasha was still talking with T'Challa, I slip through the crowd, meeting Steve.
"What's up, why are you hiding?" Before Steve can say anything, Sam walks out the door. "Guys, you gotta see this,"
"A bomb hidden in a news van blows up the UN building in Vienna, seventy people have been injured, and at least twelve dead, including Wakandan King, T'Chaka. Officials have released a video of the suspect, who has been identified as James Buchanan Barnes, the Winter Soldier,"
My heart raced and my eyes widened as I saw his face blurry on the TV. I turned to Steve who almost couldn't believe his own eyes. Sharon pulls Steve off to the side, handing him a file. I listen closely.
"And you need to hurry up Steve, we have orders to shoot on site,"
AN: Things are starting to pick up now! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did when writing it!