Hey folks!
I'm back with June's new chapter, as promised.
Things are started to get even more interesting between Steve and Cora now, and around her capabilities. I hope you're enjoying this as much as me. I know what's coming later on and I can't wait to write it!
Thank you all for your support, you're still blowing me away! 122 followers and 73 favourites! Holy cow! Absolutely brilliant, thank you so much. Please do keep showing the love for Cora and Steve, and don't be shy to share with other Cap loving friends!
Here we go...
CHAPTER 8 - Trust & Sacrifice.
So far Cora had been quite impressed with all she had seen at SHIELD headquarters: The ingenuity and complexity of the technology, the vastness of the building and the quantity of skilled personnel was all intriguing to her. It was all new and unknown due to her amnesia so she experienced it all with the same sort of excitement as a well behaved child may possess when on a field trip, filled with questions and curiosity about her surroundings.
First Steve had taken her down to the ground floor to show her the extensive foyer that was decorated with a sophisticated yet professional style. He had enjoyed watching her awe and wonderment as she looked up at the sunny sky that shone through the vast glass roof of the entrance hall. The light had glowed on her creamy skin and autumn hair, something that had not gone unnoticed by the Captain.
After that he had taken her to various other floors that weren't deemed as classified, working up from the bottom. The training hall had been an interesting subject for her as she watched some agents practising unarmed combat, and it had spurred her to ask questions about his own skills. Especially when the new recruits seemed obviously nervous yet awed at being watched by him and his guest. Steve had explained it away using the excuse of his rank, leaving out the real reason for some of the trainee's admiration.
The gun range had been an unexpected stop on the tour, and a close risk that Steve hadn't thought through before surrendering to her curiosity and leading her into the tense environment. The sudden bursts of the firearms had caused her to make a quick exit with some deep breathing. She hadn't expected it to be so loud and Steve had apologised sincerely for his lack of forewarning. Fortunately, a few seconds later in the corridor, she was smiling and laughing as herself.
After that experience they had stopped by the cafeteria for a break and a hot drink to calm her nerves and to relax. There had already been a lot for her to take in, and though she was handling it all remarkably well, Steve still didn't want to rush the tour and bombard her with information. However, the moment they had finished their coffee, she was on her feet and politely eager to continue.
There was one part of the tour, however, that Cora didn't look forward to in the slightest, but managed to bear regardless: The glass elevator. The moment the doors had opened for the first time, the harsh daylight had made her turn away, her eyes unused to the brightness that glared through the glass. Once she had adjusted and stepped inside though, she seemed fine, smiling at the view of the city... Until the elevator began to swiftly drop towards the ground floor and the scenery was suddenly rushing by in the wrong direction. That had unsettled her quite a bit, to the point that Steve had stopped the lift for a moment so she could catch her breath properly. Luckily, there was no harm done and she recovered without incident with the help of his reassurance, but after that she insisted on facing the door whilst the glass lift was in motion. Steve would stand beside her, his hands crossed politely as he fought the need to chuckle at her sweet apprehension. Now was such a time.
"Was I ever afraid of heights before?" Asked Cora, her foot tapping anxiously as the elevator raced towards the top of the building. She was inevitably facing the door but her mind knew the view behind her was flying by with gut-wrenching effect.
"Not that I recall, no." He smiled, his hands clasped patiently in front of him in a casual stance, but he was always alert for any bad signs that could trigger her gift. So far though he had been impressed at her control in the face of a few surprises.
"Oh." She replied, her hands curling into loose fists as she tried to not pay attention to the odd pull in her stomach that the speed caused, "Perhaps it's just the sight of the city racing past. Almost like falling from the sky."
"Nah, this is nothing like that." Steve said casually with a slightly playful smirk, "I jump out of planes fairly often. There's a lot more wind for starters."
"I'll have to take your word for it, Captain, as I'm fairly certain I will never find out for myself." She joked lightly, relieved as she looked at the floor number ticking closer towards their goal and for his kindly distracting conversation.
"Steve." He corrected softly, "Call me Steve."
"Alright... Steve." She smiled fondly as the lift slowed to a halt with a 'ding', the doors sliding open with the female voice announcing their arrival, "Thank goodness."
Steve allowed her to exit ahead of him as was his gentlemanly way, and because the sooner she was off the elevator, the calmer she would feel. She practically ran out into the corridor, the top floor of one of the SHIELD HQ towers.
There were three curved towers surrounding a middle cylindrical one, reminiscent of a clock or the 'locked on' bullseye of a fighter plane's targeting system. All of them were connected by a top circular level which required the highest security clearance to gain access to: The World Security Council. Only Fury and a few others had the authority to go there.
Although the top levels of the towers were structurally on par with the council, it was impossible to gain access from them via the normal elevators or stairwells. The council level had it's own guarded lift within the center tower structure. This meant, however, that Steve had the adequate clearance to visit the other towers' top levels whenever he liked without causing trouble.
The office floor they arrived at was pretty empty now, barely a sound to echo from the polished floor of the corridor as this level of the tower was not currently in use for any department. There was no furniture and no lights to illuminate the corridor leading away from the lift, except for the tower windows at the other end. All three towers were encased in reflective glass to allow the maximum amount of sunlight.
"This way." Said Steve, leading her to a door on the left and opened it with a swipe of his security card, revealing a set of metal stairs.
"Where are we going?" Cora asked curiously as she stepped into the stairwell and stopped to allow her guide to take the lead, the door securely clicking closed behind them.
"Up." He smiled, chivalrously gesturing for her to go ahead of him.
"But we're already on the top floor...?"
"Yes and no." He replied as he climbed the steps behind her.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're quite a tease when you want to be?!" She joked, making the Captain chuckle.
"Not exactly."
"So... Are you going to tell me what's up here?"
"I think it would be better if I just show you." He smirked as he stopped in front of a metal ladder when the stairs eventually ended, a heavy roof hatch door above it as the only way to proceed.
Climbing the few short steps up the ladder, Steve swiped his security card over the reader beside the hatch, the lock beeping it's approval to allowed him to push open the heavy door with a squeak. Climbing the rest of the way up into the bright light, he turned back for Cora when he reached the top and motioned for her to climb up after him. offering out his hand for assistance as he looked down through the hatch.
"Careful now." He smiled, relishing in the softness of her hand as she tentatively accepted his aid to climb the ladder, gently helped her up the rest of the way. He knew that she didn't need assistance, but his manners insisted that he at least offer. Besides, a part of him wanted to see if she would accept, and now that part was almost sighing with contentment.
"Thank you." She graciously said as she stepped up onto the roof, her boots crunching on the loose gravel.
The fresh chill of the wind caught the loose strands of hair around her face as she squinted against the harsh light of day, raising her hand to try and shield her eyes a little.
Cora immediately gasped, her hand lowering as she slowly walked forward in dazed awe, captured by the vast landscape around her. If she had ever seen a view like it, then she certainly didn't remember, and her gaze showed her stunned amazement.
Steve smiled as he witnessed her innocent reaction, her expression so pure with emotion as she experienced the full beauty of the city and lush green land for the first time. He walked behind her as she drifted forward towards the edge of the rooftop, mesmerised on the details until she stopped at the walled ledge where she released a breath of unbelieving joy, her smile rising as she looked from one side of the horizon to the next. The wind whipped at her hair causing it to flick into her face but she paid no attention, the moment entirely filled with the wonders she saw.
The sky was a bright blue streaked with wisps of soft cloud as the afternoon sun glistened off the windows and surfaces of the impressive buildings of the city, surrounded by an endless expanse of trees and grass. The headquarters on which she stood towered above them all, situated on it's own island in the middle of a wide glistening river that ran through the middle of the city, having it's own roads leading to the river banks and the world beyond.
The sounds of life whispered gently on the wind from the ground many stories below them and from afar, the occasional bird swooping past with acrobatic flight to tweet an unintentional greeting.
She stood quietly and peacefully, just smiling at the world she had never seen, the light shining on her autumn hair and illuminating her cream skin and sparkling eyes. Steve marvelled as he wondered if there would ever be a situation where she wouldn't be beautiful to him.
"It's... incredible." She whispered finally, not moving her gaze from the view.
"Yes. It is." He whispered to himself, though his words weren't entirely referring to what she was seeing.
Cora smiled brightly at him, obviously not having heard what he had said or how he had said it. Luckily. It would only cause more questions. And possibly embarrassment.
"I thought you'd like it." Steve added quickly with a crooked smirk, "I'm just glad you're not scared of heights after all."
She giggled for a moment, shaking a happy tear free to her own surprise as she quickly wiped it away, "That is fortunate. Though I'm a little surprised you allow me up here."
"Well you don't plan on jumping, do you?" He asked playfully.
"Oh no, none at all." She laughed, "But thank you. Really. This is spectacular."
"You're welcome." He replied, perching on the wall casually, "I come up here sometimes when I need to breathe or relax between missions."
"I can understand why." She replied, leaning forward on the wall as she relaxed in the peaceful atmosphere, "I suppose in your line of work it can be difficult to have a quiet moment to yourself."
"Occasionally."
"So... Can you see your home from up here?" She asked, wanting to keep the conversation bright and not fall into dreary subjects that might upset him.
"Not really." He replied as he stood up to point into the distance, "But it's over there, quite a few blocks away."
Cora stood up straight and walked further along the curved wall of the roof in the direction he indicated, crunching across the gravel as she shielded her eyes from the sun to try and focus on the small details of the city's horizon, "And do you live alone?"
Steve was momentarily caught off guard at the query, not having considered that she may think him married or partnered at least. It was an odd notion coming from her considering their history together, that she may think that he wanted to be with someone else.
"I'm sorry..." Cora apologised when he didn't answer, "That was a little intrusive considering we barely know each other."
Steve couldn't help the ironic smirk that crept up on his features. She used to know him very well, second only to Bucky.
"No, it's fine." He reassured, "I don't mind. I'd like for us to be friends again so... ask what you want. And yes... I live alone."
"I'm surprised." She responded gently, "I would think you'd be married or at least involved with someone."
Steve chuckled lightly, his hands finding his pockets as he stood beside her, his sights either on his shoes or the horizon, "Like I said before, my life mainly revolves around my work. Too busy to date."
"No time for anyone at all?" She asked softly, a small hint of sympathy edging her tone as she looked at him.
"Not really. And to be honest, I find it difficult to connect with people on that kind of level. I'm a little... different."
"That makes two of us." She smiled, making him chuckle and blush lightly at the insinuation of them being a pair.
"So, relationship-wise, I figure I can wait." He blinked as he realised he had just fallen into another familiar conversation, and he wondered if she would unknowingly fulfil her part in the replaying of it.
"For what?"
Steve smiled fondly, looking down at his shoes as he answered and remembered the time all those years ago when he answered that same question, "The right partner."
Cora smiled at his sweetness as she looked back at the view, something in the back of her mind seeming to click at his words but not enough to create a memory.
Refusing to allow the disappointment to spoil the moment, she sighed out the frustration discreetly as the chill of the wind caught her bare arms to prickle her skin. The sensation was wonderfully pleasant, but she began to wish the temperature was a little warmer as they stood quietly together, instinctively folding her arms tightly over her chest against the breeze.
"Are you cold?" He asked.
"A little. We are up pretty high and it's quite windy."
"Do you want to go back down?"
"No no." She said fervently, turning towards him before she smiled at her eager response and calmed herself down again, "Can we stay a little longer, please? Feels like forever since I've been outdoors."
"Of course." He smiled, just before he slipped out of his blue jacket.
"Oh no, you don't have to..." Cora began to politely protest as she realised what he was about to do, noticing immediately just how large his muscles actually were now that his arms were uncovered, his broad chest sheathed in a tight t-shirt. His physique was certainly impressive to say the least.
"I insist." He replied with a gentlemanly smirk as he held out his jacket for her to slip into.
Cora smiled shyly before she turned around and slid her arms into the big sleeves, feeling how he gently helped to rest it on her shoulders. The jacket was still warm, a soft cosy relief from the cool breeze as the fabric stroked her bare skin. She blushed as she realised it smelt of him: a man's deep natural scent, like a mixture of musk, flesh and soap. It made her breathe deeply as she turned around, shuffling her hands out the ends of the sleeves that were too long.
"Thank you." She smiled with slight heat to her cheeks as she couldn't help but notice how his t-shirt fit snugly to his muscular body.
"Anytime." He replied kindly, his hands in his jeans pockets again and wrapped around the compass there as he tried not to be affected by how good she looked in his jacket, "Suits you."
"I think it's a little too big." She chuckled, wrapping the jacket around her for emphasis, only her fingers managing to poke out of the sleeves.
"Perhaps a little."
Smiling at one another, they suddenly found themselves locked in a long gaze until their blushing got the better of them and they turned away in favour of the view. For a while they remained silent, comfortable in each other's company as they stood beside one another and watched the city go about it's ordinary day, though they were both very aware of the other's presence and proximity.
Though the heightened senses and emotions around Steve were pleasant for Cora, it was also unnerving and confusing in a way. She had only really met him the day before and yet she was already finding him attractive and endearing when she should logically be keeping her distance until she worked him out properly, trying to figure out if he really was as he seemed or if he spoke falsehoods or was toying with her.
However, she was certain somehow that he was a good man, honest and kind and with honour. She barely knew him and yet she found herself trusting him almost implicitly, only being comfortable and calm with her unreal situation when he was around her.
Cora was certain that she shouldn't be so involved with him so quickly, even if he had explained that they used to be friends. It made her wonder if perhaps he wasn't telling her the whole truth. Though she trusted his words about her rescue, she now had doubts about the nature of their bond. Perhaps there was more to their friendship than he had suggested.
"Steve, may I ask you a question?" She suddenly asked carefully.
"Of course." He replied, though his stomach was trying to tense with a warning.
"And you'll answer it rather than trying to dance around and avoid telling me?"
Steve's brow creased with concern as he began to panic inside his head. Not only did she know he was withholding facts from her, but now she seemed to be on a course for questioning and figuring things out. It was too soon for her to be bombarded with the truth yet, he hadn't planned on it that way and he had no idea how to do it.
The only excuse and escape he could think of at that moment was to hide it all behind the guise of classified information for now. Her life needed to be handled delicately, one major issue at a time, and the first one to be addressed was her power and control. They were her greatest enemy right now and needed to be dealt with before anything else.
He had no choice. As much as he hated it, he would have to lie to her for a while for her own good.
"If I can." He answered tactfully, crossing his arms over his chest in preparation to steel his resolve. This wasn't going to be easy.
"We were very close, weren't we?" She asked gently as she looked into his blue eyes for his sincere answer.
"Yes, we were." Steve said with a crooked smirk, "There were only two people in my life that seemed to understand me best: You and my childhood friend, Bucky."
"Bucky." She repeated, a touch of recognition fizzing somewhere in her mind, something involving her and Steve, but once again refusing to give any sure light on why or how or what. "Where is he?"
Steve's smile disappeared with sorrow, "He died."
"I'm sorry." She said mournfully, a part of her beginning to regret her questions if it was going to bring up painful memories for him. "I didn't mean to.."
"It's alright." He interrupted gently, his tender smirk appearing once again, "You didn't know."
"Tell me how we met." She asked, changing the subject to hopefully something a little happier.
Steve took a deep breath, quickly cataloguing their first encounter for anything he should leave out, and wondering if this was going to start triggering her memories. A part of him was thrilled at the idea of her remembering, whilst another part was clenching with dread.
"Well... We actually met in a bar. You were getting a bit of unwanted attention from some guys so I stepped in to help."
"You seem to have a habit of rescuing ladies, Captain." Cora smiled, making him chuckle bashfully, "What happened then?"
"We... became friends." He replied, mentally hitting himself for the weak answer, "We went places, talked about things... We were close."
"So what happened when I disappeared?" She asked, trying to piece together her lost life, trying to understand why and how it had been taken, and how Steve was involved.
"I was away for a few months." He said, his answer becoming more serious as the guilt tried to snake it's way back in to torment him, "Training. We kept in touch, wrote to each other, but then your letters stopped. I came back to see if you were okay but... you were gone. No-one had seen you in a week and your apartment wasn't lived in. I asked my superior for some help to find you and... and four days later I was given a newspaper."
Cora watched how he recalled the memory, seeing the pain in his eyes even though they were not looking at her. As eager as she was to know more, she refrained from urging him to continue until he was ready. This memory was obviously upsetting for him.
"There was an article about a car crash. Two people died: The cab driver..." Steve hesitated, looking into her eyes now, capturing her attention to make her heart stutter, "...And you."
Cora's mouth dropped open slightly, a breath escaping with the shock of his words.
"I attended your funeral." He added sadly, before a small smile tweaked his lips, "But it was obviously a lie. Whoever had taken you went to a lot of trouble to fake your death, make sure that no-one would try to find you. If I had known, Cora... I would have come for you."
She looked up at him, registering his passionate and truthful words, as her eyes tried to mist in response. There was something in that gaze, something in the way he looked at her sometimes that was so familiar to her. It was sure and honest, holding no hardness to them, only a kind of tenderness that made her palms clammy.
"Somehow..." She managed to whisper, "I know you would have."
They were silent once again, taking comfort in each other's presence and soft gaze: Steve trying desperately to fight his guilt and yearning for their bond, and Cora craving her memories more than anything. As well as dealing with the way he made her feel sometimes against her logical thoughts.
"I wish I could remember you." She finally said.
"Me too." He said mournfully.
"Can I ask you one more thing?" She questioned lightly, making Steve nod slowly in response, "You've said that I've been gone a long time..."
Steve braced in horrid anticipation. He knew what was coming, and he knew this was when he would have to lie to her.
"How long have I been gone?" She asked, just above a whisper as she wasn't sure if she wanted to know, "And please don't answer vaguely. Just tell me truthfully."
"I can't." He managed to reply, not ready for this in the slightest.
"Why?"
"It's... classified..."
"How can my life be classified from me?" She retorted passionately.
Steve had nothing to say in response. She was right, of course. She was entitled to know her life and what had happened, but he was terrified of her reaction to it. He wasn't a good liar, he always strove to be honest, but she wasn't ready for this yet. Neither of them were. He would have to tell her something that was believable to put her at ease a little, but certainly not the truth.
"Please." She pleaded quietly.
Slowly releasing a deep breath, his head bowed as he closed his eyes for strength and resolve, he finally looked up to give his false sour-tasting answer, "Two years."
Cora looked at him for a moment, gauging his troubled face before responding calmly, "You're lying. I can tell. I don't know how, but I can."
Steve looked away, cursing himself for his lack of skill when it came to delivering lies, and for his inconvenient sense of honesty. Now was not the time for his usual morals.
"How long, Steve?"
His eyes closed once again as he tried to convince himself that what he was about to say was for the best and for all intents and purposes was the truth for now. This was how it had to be, it was for her own good. One step at a time. For both of them.
"Seven." He answered quietly, unable to look at her though, "Your funeral was seven years ago last week."
Cora was slightly breathless at his words. Seven years. She had been missing and experimented on for seven years. She now understood his initial reluctance to tell her, and she did her best to bury her shocked and grieving reaction, beat back the scratching inside her that was threatening to surface with her destructive gift. If she responded badly to every fact he gave her, he may stop indulging the information, or worse she may hurt him if she allowed herself to be overwhelmed. As difficult and crushing as his words were, she was grateful for them. She had needed to know. It was her life.
"Thank you." She finally said, her voice quivering slightly as her eyes felt wet.
Steve looked at her, seeing how much it really affected her though she tried to hide it. A part of him still felt raw and deceitful for lying to her about something so important, but another side of him knew that he had done the right thing. If she was so emotional over seven years, he dread to think how she would cope with the truth of seven decades. As rotten as he felt, he took comfort knowing that he was protecting her.
The ringing of his cell phone suddenly caught his attention, pulling out the sleek device and hitting the answer button on the touch screen when he saw who it was. Putting the phone to his ear, he watched as Cora turned away to watch the city again, quickly wiping away the small tears that threatened as if he wouldn't notice, "Natasha."
"Where are you?" She asked over the phone, her voice seeming urgent and calm at the same time. She had a talent for that.
"On the roof with Cora, why?"
"Looks like we're gonna' be cracking into those encrypted files soon, we found a back door. So you may want to be here... but I suggest without her. No telling what we might find."
Steve was torn. He didn't want to leave Cora right now, but they needed to know the information on that data drive as soon as possible as it may hold something vital to help her.
"Alright." He finally answered.
"Operations control." She instructed.
"On my way."
Clicking the phone off to end the call, he put the device back in his pocket as he stood in silence, not wanting to say what he had to right now.
"Time to go back to work?" She said, a faint smile finding her soft lips but not her eyes.
He nodded in reply, "We may have some information about what they did to you. They need me down there."
"And I'm assuming that it's classified to me."
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright." She replied, her smile appearing once again, "I can sort of understand."
"I'll take you back to your room first." Said Steve, offering for her to go ahead of him politely.
Cora walked across the rooftop towards the roof hatch, his jacket still wrapped tightly around her as she tried not to think about what he had revealed about her past. It would only end up upsetting her further and run the risk of severing her delicate control on her gift. She didn't want to trigger it again after seeing just how violent she could be without barely willing it to happen. Besides, there was nothing she could do now to change the time of her absence. She couldn't bring it back no matter how much she might wish it, so there was no reason to let it hound her with sadness. She just needed to let it go and try to pick up the pieces where her life had ended.
Steve jumped down through the hatch first and then remained poised at the bottom of the ladder as he watched her climb down, at the ready just in case she needed his assistance. After she quietly thanked him, he pulled the hatch door closed before they descended the metal stairs in silence, the only sound being the clunking of their boots as they headed for the nearest floor and then on to the elevator.
They waited quietly after Steve pressed the button to call for the lift, the silence seeming more awkward now, unsettled with the admissions that were now in the open, and neither were happy about it. Steve knew that she was upset about having to go back to the cell, just as much as he was for having to take her there again. And he knew that she was still trying to digest the years of her life spent in captivity, unknowing that the truth was far more incredible and harsher to believe.
The elevator dinged it's arrival, knocking them both from their sombre reverie as the metal doors slid open. With a deep calming breath, Cora stepped in first and immediately faced the door, Steve following suit to stand beside her before the doors closed once more and he stated their destination, the female voice of the elevator confirming his request.
"Hate this part." Cora said, her breath catching as the lift jumped to life and she felt her stomach trying to rise to her chest as they swiftly dropped down the tower. She closed her eyes to try and focus on something else, her fingers curling into anxious fists around the jacket's cuffs.
"Don't have far to go this time." Steve tried to reassure her with a gentle smile, his hands clasped in front of him as he tried to put her at ease and start a pleasant conversation, "Almost there."
Cora was about to smile in return for his comfort when the elevator abruptly jolted to a screeching stand-still, causing her to lose her balance in a panic until Steve instinctively grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close to steady her against him. He looked at the control panel that was now flashing red with an emergency stop, seeing that they were still a few floors up from their destination. The lift voice announced it's apologies for the error and that a maintenance crew would be along shortly.
"Damn it." He said under his breath before he looked back down at Cora and saw her hands were trembling as she grasped his arms, her face pointed directly at his chest with her breathing beginning to accelerate, "Cora?"
She didn't answer, instead he felt her legs beginning to give way and the lift seemingly trying to vibrate around them. Carefully, he knelt on the floor with her, her knees surrendering to her own weight as he eased her down.
"It's alright." He said, brushing aside the loose strands of hair from her face, seeing the struggling fearful expression on her features as her eyes were squeezed shut.
Around him he could feel the lift trembling, the metal rail that surrounded the space beginning to slowly bend away from them. She was losing control. The sudden fright when she was already on a fine thread had been too much.
"Cora, look at me." He asked quickly, his hands moving from her waist to cup her face and try to direct her gaze. It was then that he noticed two small orange lights: One on the metal collar and the other on the disc mounted at her temple. Steve knew immediately what it meant: They were now armed and ready to fire.
"Open your eyes." He asked, trying his best to stay calm though at any minute she could trigger the shock device, as well as potentially obliterate the elevator with her power.
He had no idea what level of her gift would set it off. So far she could get away with the vibrations and tremors, but she was clearly struggling to stop it going further as the rail squeaked under the crushing pressure.
"Cora you have to look at me." He demanded a little more firmly, causing her to tentatively open her frightened eyes to look directly at him, "Good. Now listen to me. Everything is fine, I promise. I know it was a shock and you're scared, but you need to calm back down. Just breath and focus on me."
"I can't." She replied quickly, sucking in a trembling jarring breath as if words might tip her over the edge.
"Yes you can. I've been seeing you do it all day, this is no different."
"Yes it is." She retorted, her lashes shaking free a trembling tear to slide down her face, "I'm trying not to hurt you. If I take my focus off the lift... and put it on you... I don't know what will happen."
Steve smiled with tenderness and sympathy, wiping his thumb across her flushed cheek to catch the stray tear, "I have faith in you. You control it, not the other way around. Just look at me and forget everything else."
A small crack in the window popped, splintering the glass to make her gasp, but she forced herself not to look.
Steve kept his gently crooked smile even though his chest was pounding with concern, "Just you and me, Cora. Nothing else matters."
The rail continued to whine with the strain of bending, the floor vibrating beneath their knees as they locked their gaze to each other, her hands tightly clutching to his arms in desperate restraint. She could feel it pushing inside her like she had a second entity beneath her flesh, writhing and stretching, heaving against her resistance to try and break free. She could almost hear it laughing at her inside her head, mocking her attempt to fight back. She didn't know how much longer she could keep it at bay, her body shaking with fear. Fear of hurting Steve. That possibility alone petrified her with an intensity that bordered on impossible, but she knew without any doubt that if she could, she would sooner turn the beast upon herself if it meant his survival.
"Cora." He whispered, his face bowing a little closer to hers to keep her attention, still with an unafraid comforting smile covering his lips even though his nerves were trying to get the better of him. Despite the danger they were in, he couldn't deny the pleasure of being so close to her after so many years, but he forced it to the back of his mind for now. "The first time we met... You were wearing a red dress."
She blinked, her breath catching at his words as her brow furrowed with realisation, her interest peaked but confused at the same time. Steve felt the relief of his plan working as he intended, pressing on with more harmless details that she wanted to know about, in order to distract her from succumbing.
"And you had long waving hair and deep red lipstick, like a beautiful heroine from a movie. You were alone at the bar, waiting for a friend with a glass of wine. Bucky and I saw you from the back of the room as guys kept coming up to try and win you over, but you always politely declined. You always did have kind manners."
Steve noticed as he spoke that the rail had stopped creaking and the glass had ceased cracking now that she was beginning to calm and fall into his words. Her eyes were turning from frightened to a surprised awe, captivated in what he was saying because he was suddenly giving her a fragment of her past, painting a picture of a memory she had lost.
"When one of the guys decided to stroke your hair without your permission, I decided I had better get involved before he got bolder." He continued, pleasantly remembering that night and wishing he could somehow show her what he saw, "Before I reached you though, you had already thrown your wine in his face."
Steve felt his heart quiver as she smiled, giggling lightly as she sniffled, her eyes wet for another reason now. The vibrations beneath them were beginning to ease, and he sighed his relief as the orange lights on her restraints disappeared.
"You were never one for giving in or surrendering, Cora." He smiled, catching another tear on her cheek as he still held her face gently, "You're stronger than you know."
Her grasp on his arms relaxed, simply resting on his biceps comfortably as she breathed deep, "I guess I need to trust your judgement a little more when it comes to myself. You seem to know me better."
"Let me tell you something that you once told me." He said fondly, relishing the moment of her being before him, her radiant face between his hands. "You said... 'You clearly don't see within you what I do.' ... I know you, Cora. I know you're kind and fearless when it matters. Trust me on this."
Cora let his words sink into her, her face softening as a realisation tickled her mind: The way he spoke about her, about them... Could it be that they had been more than just friends after all? Was that why she felt such a bond and protective instinct with him? And if so... What should she do now?
She swallowed her thoughts for the moment, now not being the time for such romanticised notions. Especially considering that they were trapped in an elevator and she was practically a walking bomb when pushed.
"Thank you." She said finally, just above a whisper as she felt her palms trying to sweat beneath his deep blue gaze.
"Anytime." He replied. Slowly releasing her to stand up, he offered her his hand to help her from the floor, "Let's get these doors open, shall we?"
"How?" She asked, wiping her face clean of all her distress as she accepted his hand to get up, partly grateful for the distraction whilst her head was reeling about their past together.
Steve answered by pulling the doors apart with one arm, his teeth gritting a little with the heavy strain until they shifted back completely and locked into place. The tower floor at his eye-line was quite dark and erupting with chaos as people ran about the corridor with purpose. What was happening?
"How can you be that strong?" She asked with shock, dropping his gentle grasp on her fingers with disbelief. He had just forced the doors open with one hand and not even struggled. There was definitely more to him than just being a soldier.
"I work out." Steve replied with a slight hint of nonchalant humour as he turned and beckoned her forward. Normally he would go first for her safety during a situation like this, but he didn't want to leave her in the lift on her own for even a moment. "I'm gonna' lift you up, okay?"
"Alright." She nodded with uncertainty.
Stepping towards him, he respectfully grasped her low on the waist as her hands rested on his broad shoulders. Both of them had to sink their nerves, their suddenly intimate positioning threatening to trigger their shyness.
With ease, he lifted her up and placed her to sit on the edge of the highest floor before releasing her so she could lift up her legs. She scooted back across the smooth cold tiles and was about to reach forward to help Steve when he lithely vaulted up with no difficulty at all.
Helping her up from the floor, he noticed that there were some people running to the stairwell door, some from one of the task teams.
"Rumlow!" He called, halting one of the team leaders.
"Stay close." Said Steve to Cora, falling into his military training to deal with the problem that was obviously effecting more than just the elevator.
Cora nodded her understanding as she followed him towards the group of men, jogging a little to keep step before she decided to reign him in a little and carefully took a tight grasp on his right hand so she could keep up with his determined strides.
Steve's heart spluttered for a moment when he felt her fingers slide across his palm to clasp his hand, her hold just as perfectly soothing as he remembered, but he hid the smile that wanted to break free as now was not the time for such moments unfortunately.
"What's the situation?" He called dutifully as he reached Rumlow and the other men by the stairwell.
"Power's out over the whole complex, Cap." Replied Rumlow, "Everything from the lights to the security access controls."
"Got a radio?" He asked, accepting the ear piece that Rumlow handed him, "Thanks."
Quickly fitting it onto his ear, he clicked on the power in hopes of getting some answers, "Fury? Natasha? Can you hear me?"
"I hear you, Cap." Romanov answered, obviously flustered and running about, "Where the hell have you been?"
"Getting stuck in an elevator, what's going on?"
"We got into the encrypted files and a minute later it shut everything down."
"Booby-trapped?" He asked, his brow pulled in with surprise.
"Big time." Answered Natasha, "Whatever they did to your friend, they didn't want anyone to know about it."
"So how do we fix it?" He said, diverting what she had said to avoid the anger it would cause if he allowed his brain to think on it.
"We're working on it here, but we got some people trapped in Lab B on the 26th floor, and the fire protocol has been triggered. They're gonna' be running out of air soon and you're the closest muscle that can get the door open."
"I'm on it." Steve said, his authority and training kicking in, "Rumlow, I want you to spread out with the team, go floor by floor and make sure everyone is safe. Come across anymore team players you spread them to another floor. I'm heading for the 26th."
"Affirmative." Rumblow asked, pointing at the locked door of the stairwell, " Want to do the honours, Cap?"
Steve briefly released Cora's hand, stepped forward and rammed his boot into the door with a grunt, buckling the metal as it flew open under the attack.
"Thanks." Nodded the team leader, "Okay, guys, half up half down, you heard the Cap we got floors to clear and people to rescue. Let's go let's go!"
Steve stood aside as the trained SHIELD soldiers ran into the stairwell and split into formation, taking the steps a few at a time. He then quickly beckoned for Cora, offering his hand to take once again which she grasped without hesitation.
"What's happening?" Cora asked as she raced down the stairwell with Steve leading her by the hand, bypassing the task team as they splintered off onto different floors having shot out the door locks to gain access.
"The power is down in the building." Steve explained as he rushed, counting the floors down and avoiding the details of the encrypted files so not to alarm her, "Unfortunately that's very bad news as all doors are electronically locked so we've got people trapped."
"Why are we going to the 26th?" She called, struggling to keep up and not get dragged along.
"One of the labs has sealed shut with people inside. The fire protocol has been set off so the room is being pumped with carbon dioxide. We need to get them out before they run out of air."
"Oh my god." She breathed, pushing herself harder to hurry, practically jumping down the stairs.
Finally they reached the 26th floor and Steve kicked the door open, the metal denting viciously as they rushed into the corridor and immediately heard the commotion of people shouting down the hallway towards the lab.
Cora quickly pulled her hand from Steve's as they ran, making him look at her with confusion, "Don't wait for me, just go!"
Steve nodded once and pushed himself into a full sprint, leaving her trailing behind. He didn't like it, but he understood, as she did, the importance of time right now.
As he turned the corner he saw a group of agents trying to force the door open to the lab, a few others trying to break the large lab window with a chair which just bounced off pathetically. They were getting no closer to saving the scientists inside.
"Get out of the way!" He called as he neared them, watching as they immediately cleared away from the entrance.
Pulling up to an abrupt halt in front of the locked lab, he quickly glanced inside through the door window to see four people coughing on the floor as they struggled for oxygen.
With gritted teeth, he braced his foot against the door jam, grasping the handle as he tried to heave the solid metal and force it to slide open. His face contorted with the strain, groaning as fraction by fraction the door contested with metallic screeches.
Cora rushed to the scene, panting for breath as she helplessly watched Steve trying to rip the thick sliding door from it's gargantuan lock, but it was refusing to yield. She could see the scientists through the hallway window, slowly ceasing to move as they ran out of air. They didn't have long left. If only she could...
Finally, the Captain wrenched the door back just enough for him to partially slide inside and begin to push against it. Cora immediately rushed in to help, grabbing the door and pulling with all her strength until it suddenly surrendered to slide back all the way, making her fall against the door jam with panting breath as a scientist fell into the doorway, having been propped up against it. Some of the agents pulled the unconscious man out of the way to care for him as Steve rushed into the lab, grabbing the first unconscious scientist from the floor.
Cora stumbled into the room after him to try and help, coughing with the distinct lack of oxygen in the air. The Captain rushed by and carefully deposited the senseless man into the care of the agents outside as other workers ran into the lab to claim the other remaining scientists that lay strewn across the clean white floor.
As Cora rounded one of the desks in search of more survivors, she found an unconscious woman slumped against the wall. Coughing on the thick lingering carbon dioxide, Cora quickly hooked the woman beneath the arms and began to drag her across the floor towards the door, unable to carry her weight properly.
"Here!" She called, immediately following it by fitfully choking on the gas.
Steve was suddenly by her side, quickly taking over by scooping the woman up and taking her into the corridor. Cora followed them out to lean against the hallway wall, gratefully sucking in the breathable air as she watched the agents tend to the survivors.
"Are they alright?" She asked slightly breathlessly.
"I think so." Steve replied, standing back to allow the first aiders some room to help and to let him get his breath again. The carbon dioxide had been pretty thick in there.
"She's barely got a pulse!" One of the agents suddenly said. He was leaning over the woman Cora had dragged from the lab, his fingers pressed against her throat, "We need to get her to a hospital now."
Cora immediately stood up straight with panic, watching helplessly as the agent began to pump her chest, trying desperately to speed up her heart once again. The woman looked about her age with golden hair tied away from her sweet face. She looked like the sort of person that would be innocent and kind. The sort of person that the world needed.
"We're 26 floors up, Mike, and no elevator. She isn't gonna' make it down there in time." Panicked another worker beside the dying woman.
"Then what do you suggest? Let her die?" Shouted the first agent as he continued the chest compressions, "I'm just a first aider, I don't know how to reset her heartbeat if this doesn't work!"
"Guys, arguing isn't gonna' help her!" Shouted Steve, getting everyone's attention before he clicked on his handset, "Just keep doing what you're doing, Mike. Natasha? You hear me?"
"Little busy right now, Cap." She answered into his ear piece.
"I've got a woman here that needs an ambulance asap."
"Not sure if that's gonna' be possible. The site is on lock down, which means the doors to the castle are thoroughly shut until we fix this."
Steve breathed out his frustration, turning away from the others to speak a little quieter, "I don't know if she can last that long, her heart's failing."
Cora listened to his conversation though she couldn't hear Natasha on the other end, her worried eyes fixed on the agents trying to keep the woman's heart from giving in.
"Come on, Emily." Said the first aider with panting breath as he worked furiously to save her life, "You've got a little girl at home so don't you dare let go."
Something inside of Cora grabbed at her insides and squeezed with raw emotion, making her gasp with the intensity. She didn't know why his words had affected her so much, wrenching at her gut with grief and guilt. Regardless, without any doubt, she instantly made a choice.
Her resolve and hope kicked her into action as she lurched forward towards the dying woman and her medics, "Move away!"
The agents were startled but one allowed her passage, watching with confusion as she forcefully pushed the other first aider from the woman to make him fall backwards hard when he didn't listen to her. The commotion caught Steve's attention, making him turn to see Cora kneeling beside the woman with a determination on her features that rang the alarm inside his head.
Taking a deep breath for courage, Cora knew that she needed to act quickly before Steve figured out what she was about to try. Pressing her hand over the woman's chest, and raising the other towards the building's windowed wall and out into the world beyond, she focused hard and with purpose. She could already feel the tremors shaking the floor, the entity beneath her flesh pushing against her skin for release. Just one more calculated nudge, she thought, telling herself over and over that she controlled it. Just a little harder, just one more push and...
"Cora, no!" Shouted Steve as he rushed forward to stop her, knowing what she was about to do with dreaded certainty.
Cora's wild eyes shot open as her breath was sucked into her lungs abruptly, as if the beast within her had just clutched at her soul before rushing to her head. Then it happened. She tried her best to focus the power, direct the animal that gnawed for freedom to surge out through her hand and take out the window in a neat contained shot, but it was stronger than she had anticipated. Suddenly the power blasted from her body, shattering the entire glass wall, the explosion flexing the window panes in a wave of destruction. The people around her were thrown back into the corridor wall, screaming and ducking for cover from the flying shards of glass.
Steve had only been a step away from Cora when he was slammed back with such force as to wind him, collapsing to the floor. Wincing from the pain as he tried to catch his breath, he lifted his head in time to see the collar trigger with it's full wrath. Her kneeling body tensed, arcing backwards with the cruel agony as blue shocks ravaged her, gritting her teeth against any screams to be choked by the pain.
However, Steve immediately saw that the savage electricity not only covered Cora, but was surging into the unconscious body of the scientist as her hand remained on the woman's chest, convulsing and twitching her limbs.
Steve quickly got from the floor and rushed to Cora's side, needing to help her somehow, make it stop before the shocks caused them both irrevocable damage. Sliding to his knees, he braced for what was to come as he enveloped her completely in his arms, pulling her convulsing body into him and away from the scientist. Steve immediately cried out through clenched teeth and determination, the constant piercing torment entering every part of his body as he clung to her, trying to somehow share the power of the collar in case it lessened the torture for her in turn.
Finally, the punishment ended and her limp unconscious body fell in his arms. He slumped forward, catching himself on one hand as he panted with relief and held her close in the other arm, his stomach doing nauseating somersaults in response to the shocks. He had truly pitied her the last time she had experienced the punishment, but knowing now the utter torture and suffering she endured only strengthened his admiration and pride for her, having just witnessed her voluntarily surrender to it in a courageous and selfless act.
The first aider quickly rushed over to the body of the woman beside him, checking her pulse after the onslaught that had just occurred. As Steve knelt back up and gently cradled Cora in his embrace, he wiped away the rivulet of blood from her nose as he felt her rushing heartbeat thudding against his chest.
"My god." Said the agent, his mouth agape with surprise as his finger pressed against the scientist's neck, "Her pulse... it's racing... and steadying!"
Steve smiled at the satisfying news, taking comfort in it so that Cora's brave act was not wasted after all, "I know. She triggered the collar to reset her heartbeat."