Weeks Later,
The news of SHIELD's fall from glory was still plastered on the news. Steve and I moved to a large apartment in Brooklyn. He and Sam are working on their "missing person case" to find Bucky but nothing has come up. But most surprisingly was the fact that I haven't told the team that Phil was alive. I wanted to see him for myself before I tell and team and bring their hopes up for nothing.
Before I got out of the hospital Fury gave me some coordinates to help me find him before he went rogue and disappeared. I told Steve I was going to visit Thor and Jane, I packed my bags and gave him one last kiss before leaving. I took the Stark jet to a small town in the middle of the Canadian wilderness. I put on my white winter clothes with my sword hidden underneath and talked to some locals, the coordinates were up in the nearby mountains and would take at least a day.
I grabbed some equipment and threw my backpack over my shoulder, I put my scarf around my face except my eyes to cover myself. I started the trek early in the morning and didn't make it until sunset. The coordinates led me to an open clearing and that's it. I looked around looking for any sign of SHIELD, but as the sun set there was nothing.
But when the night settled I heard movement next to me, I pulled my sword out and my other hand glowed to light the way. I heard someone walking towards me then stop, I pulled my scarf down to talk to them.
"Who's out there?" I asked "State your name."
The walking noise was suddenly behind me and I ducked down as an Asian woman jumped out to me. When she landed in front of me I saw the SHIELD logo on her arm.
"Kida Stark?" She said sounding confused "What the hell are you doing out here?"
"Who are you?"
"I'm Agent May I went underground with some other agents after we heard SHIELD was compromised."
"Then where's Coulson?"
"Agent Phillip Coulson?" She replied "He was killed before the battle of New York, you of all people should know."
"Cut the crap Agent May, I know about Project Tahiti and Fury gave me these coordinates to find him." She raised her eyebrow and turned around, she walked to a boulder and pulled out a SHIELD ID badge.
A door appeared and I followed her inside, when I looked around it looked like a tornado ran through here.
"What happened?"
"One of our agents was Hydra." She said as she turned around a few corners and stopped in front of a wooden door. "He's right behind this door, but be careful he's still adjusting to everything."
I nodded my head and she left, I raised my hand and grabbed the doorknob. For a moment I just stood there, thinking of what to say. I turned the knob and pushed the door open, I closed the door behind me and saw him on the other side of a desk facing the wall.
"Agent May did you find the target?" He turned around and froze.
"Hello Phil" I said, a part of me wanted to hug him and another part of me wanted to punch his face in.
"Kida, what are you doing here?"
"Sitwell told me about Tahiti, and told me SHIELD used a mix of my blood and alien DNA to make a miracle cure." I said "Fury confirmed it and gave me the coordinates to find you here."
"Does the team know?" He walked around the desk and stood in front of me.
"No"
"You haven't told them?"
"I haven't told anyone Phil." I could feel my voice crack. "I just don't understand. I saw you getting impaled, I felt your heart slow down, and I woke up with your blood all over my hands. You were dead, and I blamed myself every day since then. Yet here you are, standing in front of me like nothing happened."
"Kida I had to."
"Because your enemies can't kill you if you're already dead." I said and swallowed the lump in my throat. "I don't know whether to punch you or hug you."
"I do kind of deserve both." He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me.
I returned the hug and blinked the tears away, I rested my head on his shoulder and hugged him tightly.
"I'm so sorry Kida." He said
"I'm just happy that you're alive."
"Kida promise me you won't tell the team." He said "I want to tell them."
"Alright but what if I need to talk to you for emergencies?"
"I'll be there." He said "Come on I want to introduce you to the rest of the team."
I followed him outside and introduced me to Fitz and Simmons, they were a cute pair of scientists. I could see them as a lovely couple; I already met Agent May so I met the last member Skye. She didn't talk much and I knew what was wrong, a broken heart. I gave Phil the subtle hint of an elbow to the knee to give me some alone time with her. I followed her to an empty room that seemed to look like a living room.
"Ms. Stark?" She said when she noticed me "What are you doing?"
"I want to help you." I said "I know there's something wrong, is it about your old team member."
"His name is Grant Ward, when we met he was nothing like Hydra. I didn't see it until it was too late." She said as she sat on the couch. "And worst of all was….I actually liked him a lot."
"I know how you feel." I sat down on the couch across from her.
"How? You're Kida Stark, an Avenger."
"The first man I ever loved killed Phil and tried to take over the world." I said "I think I have some understanding."
"Wait you and Loki? How? Why?"
"Loki disguised himself as a human teenager and we dated for a long time. He revealed his identity before the Battle of New York."
"Did you forgive him?" She asked "I mean this is none of my business I'm just curious."
"It's alright." I said "And no I never forgave him and I never trusted him again. I remember when he told me who he was I felt disgusted with myself. Like I didn't belong with the team, hell my dad had trouble looking at me. I never hated myself more than in that moment."
"How did you deal with it?"
"Romanoff helped me, but I accepted that it's not what you've done in the past that defines you. It's what you do now." I said "My anger, however, was harder to control. I wanted to kill him like a lot of people. I didn't kill Loki not just because I'm friends with Thor, but because I didn't want to sink myself down to his level. I wanted to be above him, have more mercy and kindness."
"You wanna eat ice cream from the carton?" She asked after a moment of silence.
"Mint and chip?"
"Yes."
"Alright"
I followed her into the kitchen and we sat at the bar with a carton of mint and chip between us. We talked for the next few hours and Fitz shyly walked up to me to sign a photo. After a few hours passed I said goodbye to everyone and left. Phil hiked down the mountain with me and pointed me to the direction of town. Before he left I quickly gave him one last hug and walked off. I didn't know how long I'd have to keep this secret but I hoped that the right time to tell the team would be soon.
New York,
I drove back to my new apartment with Steve, the furniture was already arranged and he was grilling burgers and talking to Sam on the balcony. I walked over to them and hugged Steve from behind.
"Hey Captain Crunch" I said
"Back already?" Steve said "How's the big guy doing?"
"Doing good, what's up Sammy?"
"I decided to stop by and drop off some new leads on the missing person case."
"Alright, I'm gonna unpack and watch some TV." I kissed Steve's cheek and walked inside.
I unpacked and grabbed myself a drink, Steve handed me a plate with a hamburger on it and joined me on the couch. The three of us watched a Yankees game until Sam left, I cleaned up the living room while Steve cleaned the grill. While I put the dishes in the sink I felt him wrap his arms around me.
"We should go out tonight." He said
"Where?"
"You remember that Italian restaurant we went to years ago?" I nodded my head "Let's go there tonight"
"Sounds good to me."
He smiled and kissed my cheek, he walked out to the balcony and made a bunch of phone calls. I relaxed in front of the TV to pass the time. I changed into a mid-length black floral dress and black tights. Once I put my heels on I saw Steve walk out in his favorite suit, he seemed nervous.
"Steve are you ok?"
"I'm fine, and you're perfect." He smirked and kissed my cheek. "Let's go"
He drove his motorcycle down to the Italian restaurant, it looked the same way it did years ago. But when we walked inside it was empty, there was one table made in front of the stage.
"Why is it empty?"
"I emptied it out, the owner's grandpa is an old buddy of mine."
We sat down and I heard the kitchen door open behind us, but instead of a normal waiter it was Darcy.
"Darcy? I thought you were with Jane."
"Steve Jobs here called me and asked me to be your waiter." She said "Tonight's specials are Clint's BLT and Jane's chicken."
"Jane and Clint are here?"
"They're in the kitchen with everyone else, your dad and Bruce are eating the food and-" A loud crash interrupted her. "And that's Thor."
"I'll take the chicken." She nodded her head and walked back in the kitchen. "Why is everyone here?"
"Tonight is special and I wanted everyone here."
"Why is tonight so special? It's not our anniversary, it's not your birthday or my birthday."
"Just wait."
After a few minutes Darcy brought our food out and when we finished I could hear Clint giggling then groan in pain. I knew Natasha must've hit him in the rib. I looked up to Steve and saw the nervous look on his face again, he kept looking down at something in his hand.
"Steve you're starting to make me worried, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong it's just…I remember when we first met you were different from everyone else. You're a great warrior but also the most kindhearted woman I know. And when Loki attacked New York, when SHIELD fell, and when I found Bucky you were there by my side. And when you left I realized how much I need you with me." He stood up and went on one knee with his hand in his pocket. "Kida Stark, will you make me the happiest man in the universe and be Mrs. Kida Rogers?"
"Oh dear god…" He pulled his hand out and revealed a giant ring, my jaw hit the floor and I looked up at him. "Are you kidding? YES!"
He smiled and slid the ring onto my hand, I could hear everyone cheer in the background and walk out of the kitchen. My mom, Jane, and Darcy ran towards me and hugged me. My mom was in tears with joy while Thor hugged Steve in a bone crushing hug.
"This wedding shall be celebrated in all the nine realms." He said with a smile. "You my friend shall drink like an Asgardian."
"We've got to start planning the wedding immediately." Mom said "I'll arrange everything."
"And I'll arrange the bachelorette party." Darcy said
"And I'm in charge of the bachelor party." My dad said
"Oh dear god what could go wrong?" I said
Sam opened the champagne and poured a glass for everyone, I turned back to Steve and we kissed. Everyone cheered while my dad looked away. I rested my head on his chest and stared at the ring on my finger.
"Kida Rogers" I thought "I can't believe it."
~~Chapter Song~~
Running from the past
Heading out with no direction
A kerosene beauty queen
Looking for her matchstick king
-Wildfire by Demi Lovato
~~Link to engagement ring~~
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