Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel; only Rebecca and the world surrounding her.

Heart of Gold - Birdy

Welcome to Lithe from the To Build A Home Series!

Thanks to ahandley, ZabuzasGirl, artemis7448, kimberlyannelston, THE FEELS, BlackcatLover13, Kadence1, Amazeballs96, Aussieshipwhore, & Guest

and everyone that reviewed, favorited, and subscribed to this story so far!

You all are FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! OMG the last chapter outdid anything I've ever posted in just 48 hours and I was truly tripping on something!

We're very close to The Avengers, like so close...so so so close.

Heart of Gold

I can be strong when I want to be

You think I'm weak 'cause you can tear me apart

With the words that you speak

You think you're in control but you don't understand

How much you are wrong

When my heart is made from gold

And forgiveness seems too bold

April 2012

She would admit, Becca was in a way kind of excited to be doing history lesson after history lesson. She had always enjoyed school, History and English being her favorites. Anything she could get her nose stuck in a book and lose her mind for a few hours she enjoyed. Her apartment contained more books than movies she had no doubt. And it helped that Steve was very similar. Over the past few weeks now they had grown closer each day they spent together. Whether they were just sitting by each other reading, working out whether that be running or her joining him at the gym, or her teaching him simplicities of this new world. They have found an easy rhythm with each other. Which brought them to where they were now.

They decided to spend the morning getting lost in the American Museum of Natural History. Steve for the most part was up to anything Becca suggested, which made her on the constant search of things for the two of them to do. It wasn't that complicated seeing as Becca started with her favorites and worked out form there. But she also knew he was searching the city on his own in the times she had to be at SHIELD.

At the moment, she was across the room from him, taking their own time in the Space section. Explaining to Steve that we had landed on the moon and so on was in a way challenging, especially for Becca now knowing there actually were other beings out there. Namely a God that decided to bring his presences to Earth. Becca watched him from afar, hands stuffed in his pockets as he intently read the paragraphs and paragraphs in front of him. There were school kids and tourists scattered about but no one bothered him. He would simply smile at them when he crossed their paths and keep going. Eager to learn anything he could get his hands on. Right now, he was just a face in the crowd. No one knew who he was or what he had been through, and all she could do was wish upon him to stay unknown for as long as possible. A difference for her, who had a baseball hat slung low on her face to not alert anyone of the young Stark.

The two found their way back to each other before finishing up the exhibit and hitting the gift shop. Steve simply looked around while Becca stole a few minutes to herself to buy them each something. He followed behind her as they left the building, him trying to get her to say what was in the bag. His nagging finally got to her while she stopped on the giant marble steps.

"You're being weird. What did you get?" Steve hovered over her, trying to catch a peak of what was in the bag.

She pulled the bag to the other side of her body, away from his grabby hands. "I'm not being weird, you're just being nosy."

"I'm going to go with a bit of both." He stepped down a step to be in eyeline with her now. "I'll admit I'm impatient if you just show me what you got."

Becca rose an eyebrow at his words. "That sounds like a whole lot of you winning. What do I get?"

"My undying gratitude."

The chuckle that was followed by the shaking of her head couldn't be resisted. "You are something else, Rogers."

"So, I've been told. By you a few times, actually." His fingers pulled at the bottom of the plastic bag in her hands.

She rolled her eyes with a sigh, before finally pulling out the contents inside. "I got 2 keychains; one a spaceship and the other an astronaut. You can pick which one calls to you."

"The spaceship."

"I had a feeling." She handed the small charm off to him, who pulled his keys out of his pocket to attach it. "And…" her hand dropped her own keychain back in the bag pulled out another metallic looking bag, "ice cream!"

"This is not ice cream." He looked at her as if she was ridiculous, pushing his keys back in his pocket. He might have lost out on a few things in life, but he very much knew ice cream was a frozen product that shouldn't be just hanging out on a random shelf.

"It's astronaut ice cream!" Becca poked her tongue out at him, liking the lack of height difference between them right now. It wasn't that Steve towered over her all the time, but it gave her neck a break in the bright sun that was out in this April afternoon. "It's freeze-dried. All the water is taken out of it."

"Have you tried it before?" He read over the Neapolitan bag in her hands as she attempted to open it.

"Nope." She grunted, still not able to rip the top off. "We can try it together...if the damn thing wants to open!"

"Need some help there, muscles?" The sarcasm was answered with a glare, and then a pout when she still couldn't do it. Her bottom lip jutted out with the sad eyes as she held the bag out for him. Steve chuckled, taking the bag from her and easily peeling off the top portion. "You're welcome."

"This is why I keep you around." She took the extra plastic from him and slipped it into her museum bag to throw away later.

"I don't know about this." He pulled a pink piece out of the bag, feeling adventurous with strawberry as his first taste.

Becca shrugged, stealing a piece of chocolate from the bag he held out for her. "Cheers!"

The two hesitantly dropped their respective pieces in their mouths. Each had a different reaction to the taste. While Steve hummed in enjoyment, Becca wanted nothing to do with it.

"It tastes like chalk." She scrunched her face in disgust, tongue coming out to try to get the taste out of her mouth.

"No, it doesn't." He countered back, shaking the bag to find another piece. "It tastes like ice cream, just warm."

"Gross."

The tall blonde tried the chocolate this time to see if she was right. "I think it tastes fine."

"Well that's what you get for a 40s sense of taste." She got a glare in return this time. "What? If you're gonna dish it out, I'll throw it right back." Daring him to retaliate, which he didn't, simply enjoying the easiness that has developed between the two in the past two months.

He simply shrugged, popping another piece in his mouth. "You want any more?"

"All yours." She took a step around him and started down the stone steps with him following. She grabbed her keychain out of the bag before throwing the garbage away.

"You know, they went out of their way to make sure soldiers got ice cream in the war?"

You could practically hear her neck snap as she looked up at him under her hat brim at the comment. This was the first time he had brought up that part of his life to her, and she wasn't expecting it to be strolling down the street on a spring afternoon. "I didn't."

He nodded, eyes searching the bag again for his flavor of choice at the moment. "They banned alcohol years before that, but they started shipping out ice cream. Other countries started to ban it, but the U.S. spent more money. They said it was for the calorie intake but we knew the real reason."

"Which was?" She asked timidly, not knowing what would be too much for him.

"Comfort." Steve locked eyes with her for a second as they waited at the crosswalk. She expected to see ghosts of his past flash through his eyes, but they were still the bright blue she had been looking at all day. He looked both ways and guided her across the intersection, something he had been doing since their first meeting. "What's your favorite flavor?" He asked, expertly changing the subject.

"Mint Chocolate. Anything mint actually." She thought about for a second, stuffing her hands in the front pocket of her zip-up hoodie. "But I also can't deny peanut butter. Everything unhealthy I'm a fan of, let's be real."

Steve let out a laugh at her admission, throwing his now empty package in the trash as they walked by. "I want to try those."

"That is literally like the best excuse you ever gave me to go buy way too much ice cream that would fit in my freezer."

"I won't complain."

She simply smiled at the ground, keeping up with his long legs. The innocent moment was sadly ruined by the sound of her phone ringing from her bag. Steve moved the two over in-between the large plants that sat on the curb to get out of everyone's way as Becca found her phone. At seeing the name, she cleared her throat and straighten her shoulders. "This is Agent Bex."

"I'm calling you in." Director Fury greeted from the opposite line on the phone. "When can you get here?"

"I could be there in about 10 minutes." She thought about the walk down to midtown in the afternoon traffic.

"Alright. Would the Captain be with you by chance?"

Becca looked up at Steve who had been watching her intently since the conversation began. He has watched her turn from Rebecca to Agent Bex in a split second. "He is."

"If he wouldn't mind accompanying you to headquarters, I'd like to speak with him as well."

"Will do, sir. I'll be there in a few." With Fury's goodbye, the two hung up their conversation until she got there. "Fury." She explained, dropping the phone back in her bag. "I've been called in and he was wondering if you would come talk to him as well."

He was taken back by the question, surprise clearly on his face. He hadn't been back to SHIELD since the first day he was back in the city after he was at the safe house for a few months. "Sure."

Becca could feel his hesitance but simple nodded, and took the lead this time to get to the office. The conversation that was once easy between them had grown silent. For her it was being called into work, normal. For him, he was heading into the piranha tank. He followed a step behind Becca, or now Agent Bex that she had transformed into, to the elevator and to towards Nick Fury's office. Maria Hill had intercepted the two before they fully made their way to the office.

"Agent Bex, Captain Rogers." Agent Hill nodded at the two.

Becca nodded at the older women before introducing Steve. "This is Agent Hill, she works directly with Director Fury."

Steve understood the pass to the office now. "Ma'am." He nodded, letting his hand come out to shake hers which she returned.

"Agent Bex, Director Fury asked me to send you straight to STRIKE Intel."

"Will do." She nodded again, and turned to leave but not before giving Steve a bit of encouragement. "I'll see you in a bit."

He nodded back before watching her stalk back down the hallway. The tether between them needed to be broken at some point to walk on his own.

"Are you ready, Captain?"

Steve turned back to Maria and assured her. She guided him to the office, opening it and allowing him to walk through ahead of her. At the sound of his office door opening, Fury turned from his work and found the two.

"Thank you, Agent Hill." Said woman nodded with a smile and exiting the office, leaving the two men on their own. "Captain Rogers. It's good to see you out." The Director walked over to shake the man's hand in greeting before guiding him over to the seat opposite his desk.

"Agent Bex explained you wanted to see me." Steve skipped the pleasantries, not feeling the small talk with an almost stranger still after a pleasant morning with Becca.

"I did." He nodded, clasping his hands together on the desk. "I wanted to catch up in how things were going."

"With her?"

Fury shrugged, not trying to make this a business meeting. But he also understood that's where the soldier's mindset was at. "With her, with adjusting. Anything like that."

"It is what it is, I guess. But Agent Bex has been more than helpful." Steve didn't feel up being open about himself to someone he truly didn't know, but he had no problem praising Becca for everything she had done.

"More than helpful?" The director rose his eyebrow. "As in she's doing too much?"

"No, not in the slightest. Not that's she's doing too little either. She's...she's just been patient and extremely open-minded."

"Good. The is honestly what I wanted to hear."

"Is that all, sir?" Steve held his hands tight against the arms of the chair. The coldness of the metal keeping him calm in the situation.

"No, actually." Fury cleared his throat before leaving back in his chair for a different angle. "Given on how you are adjusting to the world, I wanted to see where the offer stood on working for SHIELD."

Steve's eyes held his knowing this conversation was going to come up but wasn't sure when. Honestly, in the past two months being with Becca he had forgotten about the offer. He didn't know if he wanted to be a part of the organization, but he also didn't know what else he would do with his life.

"I still am not completely sure." He admitted, pure honesty.

"Have you looked over the folders I have given you?"

"Yes."

"Then you understand where this organization came from. Correct?"

Of course, he did. It was one of the first things he took notice to upon opening the memories. 3 of the most important people in his prior life had begun SHIELD. He just didn't have a set reason on why they had done so and how it had gotten to the point they were at now. But he hadn't looked at those folders, again, since the safe house. It was almost as if coming back to the city meant starting over. "It is much more than that, Director."

Fury nodded his head. "I understand. I just want to you to know that option is there for you, Captain. It can be on your terms."

He knew he needed to start thinking about it again, it needed to become a priority. And with the thought of Becca probably going out on a mission it gave him a tiny bit of incentive. He trusted Becca, in the best way he possible could in a new world. It was her heart that truly was captivating. It was hard for him to picture her in a mission given the fact of how warm she was to people, but he also knew he wasn't about to test that theory. She might have tried to hide the knives that she had stashed around her apartment but he found them. Also, he had taken to more than once finding her twirling one of her pocket knives around her fingers. It was a sight.

"Can I have a bit longer to think about it?"

"Yes." The Director was not one to handle apprehension well, exactly why he put Agent Bex on this, but he was trying to understand the situation. "Just let Agent Bex know when you are ready."

"Edwin Lopez. Conglomerate of Colombia. Net worth higher than any of our heads. Currently, in ranking to becoming an elected official." Brock Rumlow stood in front of the digital screen, showing the step by step rundown of the targets for the STRIKE Team. "Let's just say the money is running the campaign. Javier Lopez. The son. His father is gearing up to make him the next in line for the family business. But he's the essence of every over privileged kid; parties, spends money on reckless things, and no doubt has all the drugs he needs in his sight. This is what everyone knows. What everyone doesn't know is that he is making a deal to buy 25 grams of plutonium, worth at least $100,000."

Becca let out a heavy breath, as did the other agents, leaning back in her metal chair. Along with herself and Rumlow, the other Agents in the room included Rumlow's second, Jack Rollins, Garrett Neilsen, and another new agent that she hadn't worked with yet, Chris Lawrence. She was the one clearly out of place at the moment, given this was a team on its own and currently her team was stationed in different parts of the world.

"Tomorrow Night," Rumlow continued, "there will be a gala held in Phoenix, Arizona. Both Lopez's will be attending and we believe this is where the exchange is going to be taking place. We will be intercepting the delivery."

"Who's the dealer?" Rollins rubbed his jaw, looking over the information.

"An off buy from Ten Rings. They are using this event as an off to transfer the product, and then back over the state lines. No doubt now wants to be part of the weapons game if Lopez does become elected."

"So, both father and son, are a part of the deal?" Garrett was sitting forward in his seat.

"We only believe it's the son wanting to partake in this, but we're going to be looking at both. The son more so."

At the ending of his words his eyes shifted to land on Becca, which had her raising an eyebrow. "What do you need me to do?"

"Your role is seductress." Rumlow handed her a manila folder with the name Victoria Rosensmith written in black marker. "The daughter of a millionaire who is looking into investing. That should be a foolproof disguise for you."

She knew the man was trying to get a rise out of her like he always does, she could feel the other men's eyes flashing back and forth between the two, ready for a showdown. But she would do what she always did; held her head high. "No problem here."

Rumlow's arms crossed almost disappointed she didn't start a fight once again. "Neilsen will be on the inside with you. The three of us will be stationed outside to watch for transfer, you just need to keep him occupied long enough to let us intercept and get them to the authorities."

The five finished up a few more things before they were sent their ways to get geared up, leaving in an hour. Becca headed to her office to get her gear bag before heading to the 'costume' room to find a dress suitable for the gala. As she stepped out of the elevator, her eyes landed on the tall soldier leaning against her door down the hallway. "I didn't think you'd still be here."

Steve's head snapped over to her, that soft smile back on her face that was there this morning before they were called in. "I didn't know how long you'd be, so I figured I'd wait a bit longer before heading out." He leaned against the door frame to let her unlock the wooden door for the two of them.

"That's sweet of you." His kindness right now was outshining Rumlow's awfulness. With the door open she bent down and picked up the mail that had been slid under Delta's door for the agents. "How'd you find it anyways?"

"Agent Hill gave me a quick guide through the building." His eyes looked over the office, seeing the three desks which he quickly determined to be her partner's desks. He wondered when he would get to meet the famous Barton and Romanoff that Becca had nothing but good words about. "You get called out?"

"Yeah, I leave in about an hour." She put Clint and Natasha's mail on their respective desks before setting her folder for STRIKE and the envelope on her own. The envelope confusing her since there was something hard and circular in it.

His hands immediately went back to his front pockets of his khakis. He was nervous about her being called out for a mission even though she seemed to be cool about it. Just so many memories we're circulating through and it was making him anxious. She was a skilled and trained agent, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to be worried about her. "How long?"

Becca finally looked up from her mail at the tick she heard in his voice. She was getting good at reading him and picking up the little things he would do when he got tense over topics. "It should only be a few days. I'm heading out with the team, so I'll have plenty of back up."

All Steve could do was nod and decided to take a seat on the couch that was in the corner. "Nice office, by the way."

"Well thank you." The agent pulled her bag out of the 3-door cabinet that almost worked as lockers for them. "Kind of lonesome by yourself though."

"I can understand that." He watched her start packing clothing along with some weapons in the small duffle. "Don't they have an arsenal for you?"

"Yeah, it's all downstairs. This is just a few of my own things." Becca held up a double-sided dagger that Clint had given her as a present when she first ranked up and a case of throwing stars that Natasha had given her after never using them herself.

"You know, if I didn't know you, I would think you're crazy as you smiled wide holding up weapons."

"I was going for psychopath, but I'll take crazy." She continued her mission routine about the room with his eyes following her everywhere she went. "So what did Fury want?"

"Just asking how I was adjusting." His fingers traced the fabric on the arm of the couch. "How you were helping me."

"So, you told him I've been kicking your ass and dragging you around the city on a leash?"

Steve shook his head, but a grin was still present. "You're something else."

She shrugged, zipping the bag shut. "So I've been told." Their words opposite of the same conversation they had only about an hour before.

"I do appreciate everything you've done for me, Becca." His words sincere, making sure not to break eye contact with her so she understood that. She didn't know if it was his words, the kindness in his blue eyes, or the fact that this was the first time he had called her Becca, that had her body tingling and cheeks grow a light shade of pink. This was such a different Steve Rogers than the one she had laid eyes on so many months ago, or just beginning to talk to him two months ago. His shoulders we're no longer hunched over with his neck down, trying to get lost. At least around her.

She was about to respond when Garrett came clambering into the room, whistling his own tune. It came to a stop when he saw the look in between the two people in the room. "Umm...should I come back?"

Becca finally was released from Steve's gaze and the blush deepened at Garrett's arrival. "N-no. I was just finishing up packing. Uh, Captain S-Steve Rogers, Agent Garrett Neilsen." Steve stood and shook hands with the agent after her introduction.

"Captain Rogers, it is an honor." Garrett was sincere. He had heard all the stories as well about the hero, so this was also a great moment for him.

"It's great to meet you as well, Agent. Bex has said you're apart of STRIKE as well." Steve remembered her talking about the man in front of him in passing before.

"Aww, you've been talking about me?" Garrett wrapped an arm around her neck as Becca had come next to the two men now. He had no problem rousing her in the slightest though.

"You're such a shit, Gar." She elbowed him in the ribs to get him to stop pressing her, but he still kept the arm around her shoulders. "We need to go?"

"Yeah, they need us to get suited up for tomorrow night."

She nodded up at him before looking back at Steve. He had been watching their interaction with a touch of intimidation at seeing the arm still around her. The last two months he had been so use to Becca being there with him almost every day, Steve had forgotten that she had a whole life outside of him. He guessed it was a touch of jealousy, but it was just knowing he had to share that warm smile that she gave everyone she was in contact with.

"I'll be there in a few minutes, okay?" Becca looked up at Garrett and saw him agree to that. The two men quickly said their goodbyes and the other agent left the room. "He's a bit of a handful sometimes but he means well." She explained on her way back to her desk to check her bag one last time.

"Promise you'll be careful?" The desperation was in Steve's voice, getting her to turn back to him. "I know you can handle yourself, I have no doubt about that. Just...just please promise me you'll come back in one piece." His voice was no higher than a whisper in the quiet office. They could hear the sound of work being done from the hallway, but right here and now was all that mattered.

"I promise, I'll be back before you even known I'm gone." That's all that she could say, feeling the like the world was melting under her feet each time he looked at her today.

Steve simply nodded. "I'll see you soon, Becca." And with one last sad smile he walked out of the office.

The young girl had to take a second to breathe and find herself back on solid ground. This man was becoming more and more of a liability to herself without either of them realizing it. She gathered her thoughts to let the persona of Agent Bex to return and zipped up her bag. She grabbed the bag and her folder, taking a glance one last time at the mysterious envelope. Deciding she would deal with it when she returned, the girl locked the office door behind her.

"I've been compromised."

Those were three words Agent Bex never thought she would have had to say on any mission of this desire. It wasn't even fully her fault, just the fact that they should have known being the actual daughter of a billionaire would eventually catch up to her. Her face alone would have eventually been her downfall and that's where she was.

The mission started out simple. She got all dolled up, easily becoming the character of Victoria while Garrett played a waiter so he had eyes all around the gala. It was an easy character for her to transform into. She simply used her usual Stark Attitude when she was forced to one of the events and then she dosed up on the overly flirtatious way, and that was who Victoria was. She mingled around the gala, keeping her eyes open for the first sign of the son, Javier Lopez. Once the son and father had their welcoming parade into the room, she played like a cool cat. Constantly making eye contact with him across the room with a subtle purse to her lips and swaying body movements.

At some point in the night, one of Javier's bodyguards had come over to her, giving her an invitation to the son's inner circle. Becca, or Victoria, agreed with a shy smile and was led to the young man. The two drank and flirted, she being more coy to keep him interested which was clearly working. But she could feel the eye pressure on her, and not just the kind where people wished to be in your shoes. This was the kind that was on to who she was, and she had to act her way out of this one. By the time she felt almost sick of the feeling, Javier explained he needed to do some business for a bit, which she was sure code for 'Hey, I've got to go sell some highly illegal and expensive material, just chill for a bit'. As Becca, went to try to casually stop him a large bodyguard, way bigger than she had ever seen came over with hand on her arm as Javier was taken away.

"I would recognize a Stark anywhere."

Those were the words that were whispered in her ear before everything turned upside down. Becca tried to play it cool that she didn't know what he was talking about but he wasn't taking it back. She turned around, getting Garrett's attention and letting the other from the earcom know they had to go about this a different way.

Which brought her where she was now, a day later back in Director Fury's office, in a heated 'discussion' with Rumlow.

"She can't be on STRIKE anymore. She nearly jeopardized the entire mission and got all of us killed!" The STRIKE agent had his arms crossed tightly again this chest.

"But I didn't though. The second that I knew I was compromised I got out, and made sure we went to plan B just like we planned." Becca was utterly done being treated like the gum under your shoe by her colleague.

"Well we wouldn't have had to go to plan B if we didn't have someone who was such a high price factor on their hands! Maybe you should have been out on a mission the past 2 months instead of babysitting." Rumlow glared down at her with such force you would swear she was going to melt to her shoes. "But clearly you can't get anything done without your two teammates!"

"Agent Rumlow!" Director Fury finally raised from his seat, a type of annoyance written across his face that Becca had never seen before as he stared the other man down. "Did you finish the mission?"

"Yes sir, but-"

"-Was the plutonium collected and the officials notified?"

"...yes."

"Did anyone die on this mission or was any part of it not completed?"

Rumlow cleared his throat with a shake of his head, dropping his arms back to his side. "No sir."

Fury leaned his hands against his desk, getting closer to him. "Then you better watch your tone, Agent, before you say one more thing that will resort in consequences." Neither of them knew if Fury was haven't a bad day before they walked in, but he sure was having one now that they were back. "You are a STRIKE team member of SHIELD. You do not act like that in my building. If that's going to be a problem for you, I have no hesitation to move your entire team to DC to shape up. Let's see if Pierce wants to handle your behavior instead."

He nodded, jaw clenched, but nodded anyway. "I understand, sir."

"Now get out of my office."

Becca looked up, not knowing if that involved her as well, but Fury's eye was strictly on Rumlow's back as he left. As the door closed, the older man fell back into his seat, gesturing to Becca to have a seat in her own chair across the desk.

"That man," Fury rubbed his chin his thoughts of how to say his next words, "he's been a hothead since the day we recruited him. Never knows when to just stop talking...but he's still one of the best agents we have."

She nodded, pushing her hair behind her ears. She did feel horrible about the way the mission turned out, but she thought she had handled as well as she could given the situation. "Guess I should have expected this at some point."

"We've known this would possibly be a problem down the line, especially with your father's role in the world right now. The fact that we actually got over 4 years' worth of quiet is entirely shocking. I suppose we should start talking about what to do from here and your place in SHIELD."

"In SHIELD meaning away from missions?"

"Not in the slightest." The director shook his head, his mood changing to back to one of understanding then where he was with Rumlow. "You are one of the best we have, not just agents. You hold compassion, Bex. That's something that is lacking around here, but you should also know that's something that might be a downfall to you somewhere."

She knew that. Clint had told her that many times before, but it was also helpful for her. She was great at reading people, feeling them out to get what she wanted. It came hand in hand for what she was good at. "What are you saying, sir?"

"I'm saying that you have a choice to make. Someday, sometime, people are going to realize you are a Stark. It's your choice to make whether you present that fact to people or let them find out on their own."

Becca had always thought about her life as trying to fight against the system. Trying to constantly fight for something that she can call her own, but she can't run from her family name forever.

"When that choice comes," Fury continued, "you will have to take the path you are continuing in SHIELD or take a step back. That is your choice to make."

"I want to be here." Her voice of pure determination. "I wouldn't have fought for everything in the past 4 years to throw it all away. I don't quit."

"I know you don't."

"I want to be here, in SHIELD, doing what I think is best for the people who can't protect themselves. I know my compassion or selflessness might get the best of me, but I also don't want to turn into a cold-hearted person who can't understand suffering. I just...I'd rather know where my loyalties lie with people in a mission or in this organization, than have people bowing at my feet for no other reason than the fact that I'm a Stark."

"That's all I ask of you, Becca."

She walked back to her office with her head in a fog. She knew she was a high insurance factor on this last mission. Everything could have ended badly if she had acted out with the bodyguard recognizing her. She was a big risk for everyone involved, Garrett almost getting the brunt of it from him trying to get her out of the situation unscathed. The man had the gun pointed right at his head, but they were able to get out. Everything, one way or another, had turned out okay.

But her guilt was overriding the accomplishments.

As she opened the office door, seeing it the same way she had left it, made her feel truly alone. Everything Fury said was true, she needed to open up her life, but who would be at fault because of her declaration. She had to stop putting the people that cared about her at risk of exposure, and that was her price to pay.

Becca's eyes landed on the envelope from a few days ago that she had left there. She tore the yellow package and first pulled out the paper.

For Captain Rogers, when you believe he's ready.

-Coulson

She let the paper fall to her desk before turning over the package in her outturned hand. Out came falling the round item, that she now understood to be a compass. She twirled the compass around her hand, taking in the discolored metal. She gently pushed in the side button and watched as the top flipped open. The normal compass was on the bottom while the top had her breath catch in her throat. An old, torn picture of one Peggy Carter was tucked around the edges to stay in place.

Becca's legs fell out from under her, sitting down in her chair. She felt claustrophobic at seeing the picture, a whole battle of emotions fighting inside of her. Steve hadn't talked about her yet. He had barely talked about anyone of his past, specifically anyone he had contact with those last few years before the crash. To her it was a lifetime ago, to him he was with them just a few months prior. He was fighting a different war, he was mourning the death of what she understood to be his best friend, he was in love with this woman. Despite how close Steve and Becca had become, they were still separated by too many things to count.

And even with everything that she was feeling and how horrible the past few days had been, she just wanted his company. She wanted to tell him everything and him to do the same.

The brunette carefully tucked the compass away in her bag before locking her office and heading out of the building. It was late afternoon and Becca just wanted it to be summer already so she could be out in the sun 24/7. With a quick stop at the grocery store, she was at Steve's apartment. She twirled the plastic bag in her fingers as she knocked on the wood door. It wasn't long before she was back to looking up at those blue eyes.

"Hey there."

Steve's eyes widened in relief at not just seeing her standing in the opposite side of the door, but in one piece. He wanted to pull her into a hug, to feel that she was there. That she had come back, but he didn't think they were at that level yet. All he could do was smile back at her. "Hi."

"Told you I'd be back before you know it." She walked over the threshold he had gestured for her. "And I come baring gifts."

"You seem to always do." He said softly, noticing her slight lack of energy from what he just assumed was from the mission. He jutted his head towards the bag. "What did you bring?"

"Any type of ice cream I thought appropriate for you to try." She grinned, handing him the plastic bag to take a peak. He laughed, pulling out a few of the points to see the flavor. "You shouldn't have given me this leverage, I told you I was ruthless for ice cream."

"I had no doubt." He shook his head, and looked back at her tired eyes. "Why don't you take a seat and I'll put these in the freezer. You want water?"

"Always." She sighed falling onto his couch, her jacket and bag pooling off of her body to the floor. Her eyes found the folders and his laptop opened on the coffee table. The screen had a paused video up, while the folders all consisted of what she could tell was SHIELD Intel. But the ones that made her throat dry was her father's and grandfather's sitting on top.

"How was the mission?" He asked, coming back in with a glass for her.

"What?" Her eyes redirected to him, just not hearing exactly what he said from her former eyesight.

"The mission. Good? Bad?" He handed her the glass before taking a seat beside her on the sofa.

"It was…" She took a drink to steady her nerves that had just stood on end at seeing her family in the paperwork. "It was something. Um...I was compromised, but we were able to complete it."

She was expecting him to ask how. How? Because she was a Stark and she had been lying to almost everyone she had come in contact with for the past 4 years. The only people that had known everything about her were two assassins who have become her family. Because she was a liar and mistrusting, and she was putting everyone in danger. And she was ultimately scared of pushing him away.

That's what she wanted to say. She just wanted to lay it all out of the line here and there. But once again, Steve had to go and surprise her. "Well...I'm just really glad you're okay."

"What have you been up to?" She nodded at the table, pushing away the mission talk anymore. She just wanted to know how much he knew about them.

He cleared his throat, pushing the folders slightly back from the edge of the table. "So, Director Fury didn't just ask about how I've been doing the other day. He also asked on if I've thought about joining SHIELD."

"And...what did you say?"

"That I had to think about it." Steve shrugged just one shoulder, looking at her before back to the papers. "I mean these people, these people helped me to become this guy."

"Captain America."

"Yeah, I mean my whole life I was trying to help the little guy. And I met these group of people who for once understood my outlook on life and they created this organization. But now I'm in a world with this," he picked up Tony's report, "guy who clearly doesn't have that same thought that his father had."

Becca dropped her head to play with the small tear at the knee of her jeans. She understood what he was saying, sort of had the same ideals as him, but this was still her father. And it made a clear line now where she would stand with him when her last name would finally be mentioned.

"I just…" He dropped the paper back on the table and rested his chin his hand. "I don't know what else I would even do at this point. And helps that you're there. It gives me a little hope that this could actually be something I see myself a part of." He looked over at her and saw she was playing now with a small knife that she had pulled from her belt. If he hadn't have seen her do it before he might have felt anxious, but he had found out this was Becca's way of handling a situation. The knife spun around her fingers with ease. Everything about her was ease. From the way that she moved to her voice.

"I can help whenever you're ready." She whispered, eyes not meeting his though.

He took that time now to carefully place his hand over her, letting the knife halt its action in her palm. Though hazel eyes that were a touch more brown today finally looked up at him, exhaustion sitting just behind them. "I appreciate everything you are doing, Becca."

The nod she gave was ever so slight, but she knew he saw it from the soft smile that was placed on his lips. She wanted to fall into those blue pools but her leg felt heavy from the object that sat in there from earlier.

"The ice cream wasn't the only thing I brought." Her voice still soft as she started unzipping her bag.

"...alright." He said with confusion about her changing back to the original conversation. His hand coming to rest back in lap, feeling warm from her skin.

The cold metal came in contact with her palm, taking it out before she had a second thought. "This might be a lot, but it's yours and you deserve to have it."

His face remained emotionless at the sight of his compass resting safely in her palm that didn't hold the knife. He had thought it was gone, lost when he went down. But there it was, a bit weared down but still intact. Steve carefully took the object from her, feeling the familiar weight in his hand. Clicking the latch, the sight of the old picture instantly bringing the emotions to the forefront. Becca felt the energy in the room switch.

He closed the compass and let his head rest back into his hand that was holding it. Leaning forward to try to take any deep breaths that he could. She let her hand lay soft on his back, trying to soothe him without overwhelming his situation.

"T-thank you." Tears filled his voice but she didn't know if he was crying or not from his position. She just continued to rub his back. The walls that they had built up against each other were slowly chipping away.

Stecca just really needs to open up to each other before it's too later.

Up Next: Secretary Ross is becoming problem, more cute Stecca, & a very important phone call from Coulson.

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