"But?" Frank prompted.
"But I kept going. While that healed I started, I don't know, searching for more damage, I guess. And I found it. Nothing I could do about it though," She rubbed a hand over her tired eyes. "At first it reminded me of mom's cancer. Like...it was more of a feeling. It wasn't palpable. I couldn't touch it in order to heal it. It was just fucking staring me in the face," Nina gritted her teeth together, becoming now more angry than horrified.
"Somehow I managed to get into his brain and, it's just so...so bad up there, dad. I feel awful. I feel awful that I looked, that I felt it, that I couldn't do anything,"She had never felt so utterly worthless in her life and that was only magnified by the knowledge that she needed now more than ever to prove herself.
"I didn't know you could do that," Frank trailed off, trying to process what his daughter had just told him.
"Me either. Hell of a trial run, I'd say," Just like Steve had, her father told her there was nothing she could have done and she did her best given the circumstances. It wasn't good enough for her, but did put an end to the conversation. For a while they went on to talk about other, more mundane things, like her approaching birthday and what she was going to need to pick up from the house.
Just like the previous night, Nina felt like she'd barely closed her eyes when someone was trying to wake her up. She pushed herself up into a sitting position and glanced out the window. To her surprise it wasn't just a little dark outside. It was completely dark. Curious and a little worried, Nina got out of bed and unlocked her door.
"Can I sleep with you?" Olivia was standing in her doorway, a blanket hanging over her arms, hair sticking up in all directions.
"Fine," Nina agreed after a minute of contemplation. She was too tired to stay mad.
The two girls crawled into bed, facing each other.
"So, how much did you want to make out with Cap today?" Olivia asked after they got comfortable. Her eyes were droopy and tired, her smile no less sinister than usual.
"Ah, only a little," Nina smiled back and shrugged. She wasn't sure if it was just the intimidation factor or what, but every time he looked at her with those sky blue eyes she felt like she was going to pass out.
"You sure?" Olivia asked. "'Cause Kat and I are making bets and I take that shit seriously," Nina snorted and rolled her eyes.
"If your putting money on me sleeping with Captain America you can forget it," Of all things, that was probably the most unlikely thing that could happen to her. She was more likely to win the lottery.
"I told you yesterday. It's meant to be," Olivia insisted.
"What's Kat's bet?" Nina asked. She wasn't used to being the center of attention and she had to admit it was at least entertaining.
"Kat's bet is boring," Olivia waved the thought away. "She thinks you're just gonna be friendly with everyone and useful and shit," Nina barked out a laugh.
"Oh, how terrible," She pulled the comforter tighter around her and snuggled deeper into the bed.
"Now, Wanda's bet. Wanda's bet is where things get interesting," Olivia said, waving a finger and quirking an eyebrow. "Wanda thinks you and Bucky are totally gonna have a thing before long. And, I was thinking about it and, like, opposites attract," Nina rolled her eyes again.
Olivia held her hands up and raised one like a scale. "Dark, mysterious, and brooding. Sweet, innocent, and sensitive. I mean, I can see it now. You touching him to tend to his wounds and him just melting," She said dramatically, pressing her hand hard against Nina's shoulder.