Seren grew to love London only days after arriving. Her apartment was far more luxurious than the one she had in New York. It was just a shame that she was all on her own. That alone could make her turn right back for New York, but she had a job to do and like always, she put it first.
On her first day, she reported for work half an hour before she was meant to. It was quite surprising for those who were meeting her that day, especially since the location was of the utmost secret. It was an offsite building with a major focus underground.
"Morning," a chippy older woman greeted Seren at the reception. She was dressed in traditional professional attire like she was the CEO of some corporation. Her light brown hair was pulled in a tight bun. "I'm Rebeca Hale."
"Seren Soul," Seren shook hands with the woman.
"Of course, we're honored to have you on our side of the ocean," Rebeca smiled and motioned Seren to walk with her. "I'm the one who explicitly requested your relocation here. Nick Fury is one hard man to bargain with."
"You bargained for me?" Seren blinked.
Rebeca laughed. "In return for your relocation, I had to give him access to some of our records on potential criminals."
"Potential criminals?" Seren wondered who on Earth Fury could be looking at that he would need help from overseas. "Did he mention who he was looking for?"
Rebeca waved the matter off. "Nothing you need to worry about from now on. You're with us now," she winked at Seren.
Seren wasn't sure how to feel about that. Whatever Fury was doing, it was now S.H.I.E.L.D.'s problem as she technically was "on loan". She literally had no business knowing what their current missions were.
"Come now," Rebeca had stopped in front of a closed door. "I have compiled a list of possible candidates for the team. Don't worry, you can rearrange them, discard them, in whatever way you'd like."
Seren nodded but couldn't say anything. She had too much on her mind and that alone was going to be trouble if she couldn't get it under control. Maybe she just needed a few weeks to get accustomed to her new life.
~ 0 ~
Chloe returned to New York not that long after Seren left the city. Very quickly did she catch up on everything that had happened in her absence, thanks to one Natasha Romanoff. It's what the agent decided to converse about with Chloe at the local coffee shop.
"You think they could actually get together?" Chloe watched the smug smirk that spread across Natasha's face. That was more than any verbal answer. "I mean, I knew about it the last time I was around. Not that shocking nothing's really advanced since then."
Natasha hummed with a nod of her head. "It's painful, I swear. Seren's been gone for all of a month and Steve's acting like a lovesick puppy."
Chloe chuckled. She could totally see that. She would have loved to discuss that image but the Captain himself appeared in the shop and quickly spotted them at their table.
"Hey!" Chloe was up from her seat as soon as he joined them and hugged him.
"Good to have you around again, Chloe," Steve said, giving her a gentle pat on the back.
"Yeah, I like New York," Chloe nodded and took her seat again. Steve took the middle seat between her and Natasha.
"How long are you staying?"
"Uuh, I don't know. Fury's changing a couple of my assignments so as far as I know, it might be a month but it could very well be extended..." Chloe very suddenly placed her hands on the table, clasping them together as she settled an odd smile on Steve. "I was wondering if I could maybe stay with you for this month?"
"Me?" Steve seemed as if he'd just heard the most impossible thing in the world and considering what he'd seen and gone through, it was saying a lot.
Chloe nodded. Underneath the table, she sent a kick at Natasha's shin...for the redhead was close to laughing. Steve's reaction was too much not to laugh. "Natasha and I can't live under the same apartment. We'll kill each other in three days."
"One," Natasha corrected with so much honesty that Steve nearly agreed to the arrangement on the spot.
"See?" Chloe gestured at Natasha to make the point. "And as much as I would love to have a hotel room—"
"Chloe, you don't need to explain things to me, I'm just surprised that's all," Steve cut her off.
"Why? Because you've never had a girl sleep over at your place?" Chloe smirked knowing full well what the answer was. "Don't worry, I won't hit on you. I think we're way past that by now, don't you think?"
"That's not what I meant," Steve shook her head at her while he fought the urge to smile at her sarcasm. It was for these things that didn't make him so uncomfortable at the idea of having her stay with him. She was absolutely right, he'd never had a woman stay with him, both in the past and now. Not even Seren. At the thought of the Celessian, Steve shifted in his seat. He was working on not feeling the ache that lingered in his chest every time he started thinking about Seren now that she was so, so far away.
"I promise I won't make a mess," Chloe said, smiling at him in a certain way, "And if it doesn't work, of course I'll find a hotel room."
"It's fine, Chloe. Really."
Chloe beamed and threw her arms around him, nearly falling out of her chair in the process. "Thank you!"
Natasha would commend Chloe for her immense lying skills. She herself knew how to tell some good ones but Chloe was too young and totally not trained to do the same. She often wondered where Chloe had gotten these skills from.
~ 0 ~
Claire Hyes. Maeve Yates. Ross Lorn. Hue Wells. Those were the names that Seren had placed at the top of her own list of possible recruits. Truth be told, she had stopped paying attention hours ago. The exhaustion was catching up to her and the fact her days weren't seemingly going by quickly as she hoped they would once she got sorted at her new job.
"Miss Soul?" A young man poked his head into Seren's office. "Ms. Hale is here."
At the mention of the woman responsible for the new opportunity, Seren straightened up in her chair and asked the assistant to let Rebeca in. Seconds after he disappeared, Rebeca walked in.
"How are we doing, Seren?" her chirpy accent made Seren smile despite the troubles following her. "Have you got ideas?"
Seren gestured to the stacks of profiles on her desk. "I'm going through as many as I can but there are a lot of people. Truth be told, I think a lot of them could be potential candidates."
Rebeca seemed to understand what Seren meant. "We really only want to start with a group of 4 or 5 individuals. Better way to see how they work together."
"I know," Seren nodded. If a team that was too big and they were already newcomers, it was going to be more difficult to train them as well as making sure they were all linked with each other during missions.
"You looked tired," Rebeca said, tilting her head with a warm smile on her face. "I think you should call it a night and go home."
"I'll take your word for it," Seren sheepishly smiled back. "I haven't been sleeping well."
"Of course. Please, go home and rest. Maybe call home too. That's always good to do."
Seren agreed. She organized her files for tomorrow then collected her things and left. When she got home she took a long bath in hopes of relaxing and thus inducing some sleep. She still decided to call home afterwards just in case she missed something important. Was it shameful to admit that she kind of wished there was something she missed?
Chloe laughed when she heard the admission. "You're that bored?"
Seren was sheepish on the screen. Instead of going to sleep, she had decided to video call Chloe instead. "It's not 'boredom' persay just...it's all different here."
Chloe dramatically hummed a 'mhm'. She reached for something on the coffee table which turned out to be a mug. "I bet," she took a sip.
"What are you drinking?" Seren squinted her eyes at the small mug on the screen.
"Tea—that's what the Brits drink, haven't you seen?"
Seren rolled her eyes. "Take me serious, Chloe, just this once."
Chloe shrugged. "I am. You called me because you were bored or—" she wagged a finger at the screen just as Seren opened her mouth, "—maybe you called me because you knew that I was temporarily living with a certain captain."
"Chloe—"
"Even though I should, logically, have my feelings incredibly damaged, I would not fault you."
Seren sighed heavily. She could spend time trying to get Chloe to drop that but knowing the young agent meant Seren knew better. "How is it living with Steve? I hope you're not bothering him."
"What am I? A child?" Chloe rolled her eyes. She shifted on the couch, going as far as pulling her legs up to sit cross-legged. She almost laughed at the clear disapproval that marked Seren's face. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Chloe, I know you and I know that you mean well but Steve is different. He comes from a different time, alright? So please don't give him a hard time. Don't make him uncomfortable."
Chloe waved her off. "Yeah, yeah, you think I don't know that? It's adorable actually." She had only been staying for a week and it was already so clear that Steve had the least bit of knowledge when it came to women, even if said woman was just a friend. "He offered me his room but I literally had to force him to stay in there. As if I don't know the good feeling of a couch. I slept on yours for a month, didn't I?"
"Felt like years," Seren mumbled, prompting Chloe to deadpan her.
Instead of making her usual smartass response, her eyes flickered to something off-screen. Seren had little time to panic before Chloe exclaimed, "Steve, come here!"
Seren scrambled to make herself presentable—she was in pajamas for God's sake!
"Come here!" Chloe successfully got Steve to sit on the couch with her.
He had just come home from a pretty uneventful shift at S.H.I.E.L.D. and the last thing he wanted was for Seren to see him when he was unorganized and tired. Those thoughts only amplified when he saw her on the laptop screen. But at the same time, he lost his air. It felt like he'd gone ages without seeing her when it'd only been about 2 weeks since she left.
"Hi," Seren broke the silence with an awkward wave of her hand. Chloe would've laughed if she didn't already know it was a moment.
"Hi," Steve felt like there was nothing else he could say than that simple greeting. He'd have to buy himself some time so that he didn't come off that big of an idiot. Luckily for him, he had one smart-talking woman beside him.
"Seren was just saying how bored she is in England like there aren't some great places to visit in London," Chloe rolled her eyes. "And I would know, I did live there for a couple months."
"I said I was tired, Chloe," Seren said, though if she was being honest she didn't quite remember most of what she did right now.
"Are you working long hours?" Steve finally came up with a few decent words. He hoped it would continue.
Seren shrugged. "Yeah, but nothing I didn't already do at S.H.I.E.L.D. The only difference is that I'm sort of on my own."
"You haven't made friends?"
Chloe laughed. "Sorry, it just sounds like Seren's at a new school." She easily became the subject of two identical looks. "Okay, Mom and Dad are in the building. Tell you what, I'm going to make myself comfortable with a nice bath. Talk to you later, Seren," she waved goodbye to Seren as she pulled herself from the couch.
"Seriously, if she's giving you a hard time, don't be afraid to send her on her way," Seren warned Steve when Chloe was long gone. "She has more than enough resources to live on her own."
Steve smiled at her concern, and partly for Chloe too. "It's fine. She's...she's fun."
"Really?" Seren initially couldn't take his word for it considering how he was about people's feelings. "Because she doesn't have to stay with you. Don't feel bad about it."
Steve assured her that everything was fine. "She's young and she shouldn't be on her own. Call me old fashioned…" His heart skipped a jolt when Seren laughed.
"Yeah, just a bit," she planted an elbow on her table to rest her cheek against her palm. "But it's fine. It makes me feel good knowing that you're looking out for her. She's safest with you."
Steve smiled at her. Her faith in him was never ending and it was the best one he had. It went beyond being co-workers at S.H.I.E.L.D., co-leading their missions. "So, how's the job?"
"Eh," Seren shrugged meekly.
"You haven't found any potential candidates?"
Seren groaned. "Steve, there are so many!" she brought both of her hands to her face to tiredly rub. Steve laughed at her. "I have hundreds and hundreds of files! That's all I've been doing since I got here. I just look at files!"
"It's a process. I'm sure that you'll be picking out the best candidates in no time."
"I hope you're right because otherwise I may have just wasted their time coming here."
"No, I don't think they did. You're simply the only one for the job," Steve said with all the honesty in his heart. Like her, he had the same faith in her. There was no doubt in his mind that only she would be capable enough of recreating what S.H.I.E.L.D. scrambled to do over the course of 17 years. It just hurt him knowing that it would take her at least a year to make it happen. At least a year.
"How are you?" Seren's question was softly made. Something had changed and neither were against it.
"Okay." As soon as the word left his mouth, Steve regretted it. He could have said something more than that for sure. What was Seren supposed to do with that? God he needed to get better at this. He wanted to. Seren wasn't demanding, not in the least, but she was someone Steve felt like he could talk to for hours. He wanted to be able to have those conversations with her for as long as she gave him.
"I know Natasha mentioned that you went on a few missions. You're leading them now," Seren said, chuckling when he showed a clear sign of embarrassment.
"There are some things I still need to learn," he preferred to leave it at that.
Seren laughed because she knew exactly what he was talking about. "It's a big world, Steve. It's impossible to learn everything in the months you've been awake. It'll be years."
"I know," he sighed. "But it's just different without you."
Seren blushed from her end of the screen. "It shouldn't be," she tried to say without letting him know how his simple words affected her. "You don't really need me."
"Stop saying that Seren," Steve looked at her sharply. "Of course I need you." Backtrack, he heard the warning in his head. She meant it as a friend and he was obviously returning the words with more meaning. "I need...my friend back. It's just different without you. Natasha doesn't do curry all the time and...her personality…"
Seren chuckled. "Right. You know, you could always come visit me." She really hoped she wasn't being too straightforward there but it was always an option that she had thought about the moment she landed in England. "Like you say, everything is different. I'm sure we can find some places to visit here."
Steve loved the idea but he couldn't make it so obvious. "Y-yeah, that would be a nice idea."
"And if you don't want to come alone, we can always get Natasha to come too. And Chloe."
Steve nodded, feeling a guilty pit in his stomach for wanting the exact opposite of that from happening. "Right."
The evening went by in conversations about pretty much anything that came to their minds. Chloe poked her head every now and then without being noticed. It was simply infuriating that they couldn't see what was happening. Now she got what Natasha was talking about.
It was late for them when Steve finally shut the laptop. He was overly tired, far more than when he had initially come home but it was all worth it. He rubbed his face and leaned against the couch, not completely against the idea of letting himself fall asleep on the spot.
"Nice talk?" the sound of Chloe's voice startled Steve more than it should have. He dropped his hands to his lap and looked over to Chloe leaning against the wall. "She sounded happy—tired, but happy."
"Yeah," Steve nodded. Seren had talked about the people she'd met so far on the job and though she was a bit lonely starting new, she didn't regret taking the job. "She'll find the right people eventually."
Chloe nodded. She pushed away all the jokes and sarcasm that usually laced her words. Once she had that under control, she walked for the couch. "Steve, you know that I'm very grateful for letting me stay with you. I know that I'm a tough person to be around with—"
"Chloe, you're not," Steve shook his head at her while he tried his best not to smile.
"No, it's okay, I know that I am," she sat down next to him, making herself face him. She pulled one leg up and tucked it under her other leg. "Trust me, when I was a teenager, when I was in high school, I didn't always have the best attitude. Over the years, I sort of got better, but that's not the point. I'm trying to make a point here." She waved her hands and her head to get back to her actual point. "I am your friend, just like Natasha and Clint and even Tony, but you and I...I feel like we're a little closer. Maybe like siblings. I know Seren perfectly and I love her. I like seeing her happy, especially because of everything that happened to her. You…" she reached for his hand, "...you are someone who makes her really happy. And she makes you happy, doesn't she?"
"Y-yeah, of course she does," Steve tried shrugging like he wasn't a mess of nerves.
"That's good, that's very good," Chloe patted his hand. "So can I ask you something and get a straight answer from you?"
"If I can—"
"Do you have feelings for Seren?"
As soon as the question was asked, Steve pulled his hand out from under Chloe's. He didn't mean to do it so blatantly, it was just an instinct. He wondered who was more blunt: Chloe Winters or Natasha Romanoff. "Of course not—"
Chloe sighed, her eyes falling shut, "Steve—"
"I don't—"
"Steve, I respect you, but with all due respect, you're fucking lying to me."
"Chloe!" Steve was outright shocked with her language, and her straight face.
"You know the alien hive mind in my head can tell me things about people, right? They're like predictors with probability and all that crap. Even they know there's something going on between you and Seren."
"I — seriously?" Steve's eyes widened.
Chloe nodded. "The Celessian hybrid and the man out of his Time. You're a popular topic."
Steve wasn't sure what to make of that. For the moment, he permitted himself to breathe a little and admit to the truth. He turned on the couch, leaning back on it, and let out such an exhausted sigh. "How could I not?" His voice was quiet, albeit his mind was loud. And fast. He saw flashes of Seren almost all the time, without a break. "How could I not have feelings for Seren Soul, a literal star." Of all the people he'd met and worked with, he had to go and pick Seren. It was solely her fault for being so her.
Chloe was overly eager with his admission. "Ah, finally! We can work with this—"
"No!" Steve knew exactly where that idea was leading to and he was not interested in playing a game he was sure he was going to lose at. It's always how it went, the only difference now is that it wasn't Bucky throwing him into the game. No, it was a clever, sneaky woman with imagination to spare. Steve didn't know who was worse.
Chloe pouted. "Why not?"
"Because there is no future there. I talked to Peggy about this and she said things that seem to be just right but now that Seren is in England, working on her own missions...who am I to come and distract her from that?" As much as Steve would love to try something with Seren, he didn't feel adequate for her. She was on another level and she was off doing her own thing. "She doesn't need me."
"Hey," Chloe pointed a manicured fingernail at him. "Don't you dare believe that. I've known Seren for years and I can see firsthand the difference you've made in her life in the time you've been with her. You really don't see it?" She almost laughed at his naivete. "Steve, look at her eyes when you talk to her. They light up like the frikin fireworks from 4th of July!" Her pointing finger came back to the air. "Which I have plans for by the way!"
"Chloe…" Steve shook his head at her. "It's hard to believe that I could do something like that."
"Why?" Chloe raised an eyebrow at him. "You had that with Peggy Carter. What's the difference now? Besides the time period of course. Or is that it?" She blinked when it struck her. "Is it because Seren is from another time that you're not comfortable with yet?"
"I don't know, maybe? It's definitely part of it," Steve shrugged. There were many things in the way. "Seren is intelligent and she knows her way around this world. She could have someone who knows how to use a laptop, for starters."
"These are material things, Steve. I can't believe I have to explain that to you. You think Seren cares about that stuff?"
"Maybe not now but it'll definitely be something later on. I don't know the social queues from this world. I barely knew the ones from home. I think differently, I act differently."
"Yeah, you think a lot better than most men in this world," Chloe crinkled her nose. "Chivalry is dead if you haven't noticed. You have that old fashion vibe that's just right and I'm pretty sure Seren likes that. It's not really my thing but to each their own."
Steve couldn't help but smile at her. "It's not?"
"Nooo," she smirked. "No I'd like someone to argue with. A lot. It's more fun." Steve had to laugh, even if it was short and in disapproval. Maybe Chloe was like a little sister. She playfully whacked his arm. "So, what are we going to do now? I can help you with whatever you need."
"Honestly Chloe, I have no idea."
~ 0 ~
As the weeks went by, Seren started getting more into her new schedule. She became more accustomed to the people around her. She could eventually hold actual conversations with people beyond the usual "how are you?" greetings.
"Acquaintances. That's what they are right now," she explained over a video call. Both Steve and Chloe were attentively listening to the explanation, but were failing to keep a straight face with her. She was over explaining things. When she noticed, she huffed. "You know, Natasha at least kept the straight face until the call ended!"
Chloe threw her hands up in a surrender motion. "Sorry but no one says 'acquaintances' anymore!"
Seren rolled her eyes. It was just a start. She eventually came to be friends with some of them. Marina Doyle, for one, was her neighbor and Seren was proud to make a normal friend outside of work. Little by little, the list would grow.
Weeks would turn into the first months of her new home. With everything getting started, Seren often found little time to call home. Everyone felt it but knowing what Seren was working for meant no one said a thing about it. Still, each time she managed to call through, she apologized profusely for her lack of contact.
"I've got two new recruits," she happily announced in the middle of May. On the other end, she had Steve and Natasha. Chloe was gone for the month in God knows what South American country.
"Really? What made them?" Natasha asked.
"Honestly, their behavior," Seren said and went straight to explaining. "They're completely skilled like the other candidates I met but their behaviors struck me as people who could get along with others. You have no idea the pretentious people I've met these past weeks." She shuddered at the reminder. "Terrible. But these two people - Risha Cameron and Hue Morrison - they're good people."
"It's good to see you finding people," Steve smiled at her. She certainly looked happy right now. The last time they spoke she'd been struggling but it seemed like things were beginning to pay off.
"They're ecstatic and so am I!" Seren exclaimed. She wasn't able to continue with the call seconds later due to a call in her office. With an apology, she bid goodbye and ended the call.
Steve couldn't help wonder when he would get the chance to talk to her again. The gaps between their calls were getting bigger each time and he feared the day would come where the calls would stop altogether. Seren would inevitably find other people to have these conversations with, people she didn't need to explain things twice to.
Indeed the next call would be longer. Seren took her two first recruits under her wing. From dusk till dawn they were training and learning. The female, Risha, turned out to be an excellent strategist. She had the natural leadership that Seren wouldn't ignore. She tried embracing it with several scenarios where Risha would have to take charge.
"Risha, I really think you could be an amazing leader," Seren said after completing yet another day of training.
Risha was a tall brunette with more leg than body. She was rather timid too but the fact she could take charge despite it is what made Seren like her. "Coming from you, that means a lot." Risha tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ears. Her tight bun was almost spilling.
Seren laughed. "Why?"
The two women had gathered their things together and were making their way out of the building.
"Seriously?" Risha's bright blue eyes widened. "You're a hero, an original Avenger." Her dramatic whisper only made Seren laugh more. "You have no idea what it means that you picked me for this proposition."
"Just keep doing what you're doing and you'll be fine," Seren stopped by her car, the one Rebeca had given her at the start.
Risha nodded her head quickly, practically committing everything Seren told her to memory. "Seriously, thank you."
"You don't have to keep saying that," Seren waved a hand at the woman. "And please, definitely don't feel intimidated by me. I am far from glamorous."
"But you are," Risha was smiling so widely Seren wondered how much more would it take to crack her face. "I saw you on t.v., I know what you can do. I want to be just as good as you, minus the whole powers of course."
Seren was touched that someone already had that much determination in themselves because of her. "It's great that you want to be the best but you don't have to measure your success to mine." And as she said those words, she couldn't help but think of herself. She had learned everything she could, done what she could, to be as great as Carol Danvers—the reason she was even brought into S.H.I.E.L.D.
Risha took her advice halfheartedly and bid Seren goodnight shortly afterwards. Seren would take her thoughts home and well into the night too. It was difficult changing her ideas after living with them most of her life, but she had to start somewhere.
~0~
It was late June when Seren was given the surprise of having Chloe land in England.
"Surprise!" The blonde agent was giddy when Seren first saw her waiting by the door of her apartment.
"Oh my goodness!" Seren laughed so loud that she wouldn't be surprised if her neighbors poked their head in the hallway to see who was responsible for the noise.
"I have been waiting for 2 hours!" Chloe motioned to her duffel bag hanging on her shoulder. "I am dead!"
"Steve said you were in, um, Italy!" Seren ended their hug to open the apartment for them.
"I was and I'm on my way back to New York—you do remember that Steve's birthday is coming up right?" Chloe was very studious of Seren's reaction.
The ginger gave a simple nod but there was a faint blush sprinkled over her face. She remembered alright. Had it perfectly marked in her mind. "Next week."
"Right, so I thought I would pop in on him since it's his birthday in, uh, you know...a different century?" Chloe dropped her duffel bag on the couch. "You wanna come?"
"I can't, I'm still training Risha," Seren sighed. There was a clear desire to do the opposite of what she'd said. She had to admit to herself — and she did — that she missed Steve so much it was actually unbearable. In the beginning, it alarmed her she could miss someone like that. It wasn't even the same feeling she felt when she thought about her own parents— her grandmother! It was an ache that sat right in her heart and every day spread more, and more. The only option she had was to learn to live with it. She'd learned to live with many different kinds of pain in her life, this one should be no different.
"Is that the new leader?" Chloe was still watching Seren. The Hive Mind was buzzing in her head.
Seren nodded. "Aaron didn't last so I'm down to one recruit."
"That's bad but taking a few days off won't kill anyone. And—" Chloe started to smirk, "—I know that it would be the best present Steve could get. And since I convinced you, that would take care of my present in the process."
Seren smiled at her antics. "I just can't, Chloe. Trust me, if I could I'd already be on a plane." She absolutely hated that she would miss Steve's birthday knowing exactly how he felt about it. He was living another year while everything he knew and had loved was gone. She wanted nothing more than to be with him and comfort him.
Chloe practically read her thoughts. "Wow, even the aliens in my head can see your humongous crush on the man. And—" she tapped her finger over her left temple, "—they're from a different galaxy."
Seren flushed on the spot and looked away. "If I knew their language, I'd tell them myself to stop."
Chloe laughed and plopped down on the couch. "Why? They're not lying, are they?"
"Why is this such a big topic for you people!?" groaned Seren.
Chloe smirked. "Why is such a hard topic for you?"
"What?"
"I mean," Chloe shrugged, "if someone told me that I liked Steve, I wouldn't get defensive. I'd just correct them and move on. No blushes, no defensiveness, no trying too hard to convince them, you know?"
Seren glowered at the younger woman. "Is this why you came? To make me — to make me think about stuff like that?"
"No, I had an idea," Chloe said, "And I'm seeing it through."
"Oh, well!" Seren waved Chloe off and stalked into the kitchen.
Chloe remained on the couch, listening to the Hive Mind. Her eyes flashed blue for a moment and afterwards, she smiled to herself. "You've been pretty sad, huh?" she called out to Seren.
Seren was coming back with two bottles of water. "Here," she unceremoniously tossed a bottle to Chloe. "I haven't gone shopping so there's no alcohol for you."
Chloe snorted. "Thanks, mom. So, how about it, then?"
"Chloe..." Seren said wearily as she sat down on the couch with Chloe, "Why...why is it so important for you to know this stuff?"
Chloe chuckled and shifted on the couch to face Seren. She brought an arm over the top of the couch and leaned her side back. "Because in the years that I have known you, I can't remember you ever being in this much denial about a guy."
"Denial?" Seren made a face.
Chloe uncapped her water bottle and took a drink. "Mhm," she nodded. "I mean, you've gone on dates here and there but there was never any denial. Usually—"
"The guy ghosted me, yeah? How could I forget that?" Seren said tartly. "It only happened one too many times."
"All wankers if you asked me," Chloe said, smirking.
"They just can't get over my unearthly side," Seren muttered. "Some of them actually told me that to my face. But then again, on the other side, I had guys interested in me solely because I was an alien. Kinky alien sex is such a big appeal, apparently."
Chloe tried her best not to laugh. She remembered how horrified Seren had been when one brave soul had told her exactly that. "I get it, the dating thing hasn't been easy for you—"
"It's never been easy, Chloe!" Seren exclaimed. "I never dated anyone in high school because I was dead scared of what would happen if they found out I wasn't completely human. Teenage boys are a special kind of hell."
"Mmm, tell me about it..." Chloe nodded to herself.
"The only boy I ever liked actually asked me to prom and I said no because I was too afraid about what could happen," Seren said, shaking her head. "And then" — she laughed sourly — "I thought that at SHIELD, because everyone knew what I was, that things would be easier but no...it actually got worse. All they wanted was to explore the differences between me and a regular human woman. It's humiliating, Chloe." Seren's gaze fell to her lap.
Chloe was silent for a few minutes. She'd never heard this explanation from Seren before, and she wasn't surprised that it hadn't come up until now. Seren was always focused on other people and what they needed, whether it was what they needed from her or themselves. She was a woman devoted to others, plain and simple. It was easier to think about others and organizations than to think about her when she was always so at odds with herself.
But that was before Steve Rogers came into her life.
Without knowing it (because he really didn't notice between all the things he had to learn), he'd forced Seren into a zone she wasn't familiar with. And that was the hardest thing Seren had to accept. She had to accept that she could no longer remain in her safe little bubble where feelings never managed to cut through.
"Ooh..." Seren dragged a hand through her hair then used the same hand to splay over her face.
Chloe watched with sympathy. She presumed where Seren's thoughts had gone and smiled softly. "You know that Steve is not anything like those guys. Maybe he's the guy who tried asking you to prom. Actually, he is! Because just like that teenage boy you didn't give a chance, you're not giving Steve the opportunity to prove he's different."
"You say it like there's hope." Seren dropped her hand on her lap, looking so crestfallen that Chloe almost thought to call Steve and make him confess to Seren right there and then.
"Uh, because there is!" Chloe exclaimed. "You know he has feelings for you too, right? Like, it's embarrassing that you're the last one to find out!"
Seren shifted on the couch to lean her back against it. She stared straight ahead, falling silent for a few minutes. "I'm...it just...it wasn't supposed to happen. The way I crossed so many ethical lines here — I'm a horrible agent and person."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Stop thinking about S.H.I.E.L.D. for one fucking moment, please!"
"I met Steve through S.H.I.E.L.D., Chloe!" snapped Seren. "I met him as an agent. He was, as bad as it was, an assignment, and I completed it and I...I actually fell for him in the process! What kind of — I shouldn't have done it!"
"Hey!" Chloe snapped her fingers at Seren. The latter turned her head in Chloe's direction. "You don't get to pick when that stuff happens. And if it counts for anything, and it should, Steve was falling for you at the same time. Trust me, Seren, he likes you. He so likes you!"
"But..." Seren seemed thoroughly confused, "Why...why me? I mean...I know why I like him. He's so sweet — literally the sweetest person I have ever met. He's so kind, and loyal — God, he's so loyal. He's always trying to help me when I know he doesn't quite understand things yet but he still tries. He's been through so much and yet he'll jump back into the fight if I ask him for help. He makes things feel so easy around him, so warm and..." She sighed. "What the hell did I do?"
Chloe laughed and bumped shoulders with Seren. "Fall for Captain America, that's what. You know we learned about him in high school right?" She laughed even harder when Seren reiterated' what did I do!?'. "It's alright," she rubbed a comforting hand over Seren's back. "Think about it this way. Maybe the reason you never really dated anyone is because you were waiting for Steve to wake up."
Seren could only let out a light laugh. Sure, that was one way to see things. Unfortunately, she was not all about seeing things in a bright way. Working at S.H.I.E.L.D. for as long as she had made her see the world differently. For every happy moment you wanted, there were about ten dark threats waiting to take it. She was Stardust, he was Captain America. Each one could bring about twice the darkness from S.H.I.E.L.D. itself. Could there truly be a way to keep it all away?
~ 0 ~
On the day of his birthday, Steve woke up feeling a tad blue—extra blue, anyways. He had not talked to Seren in over a week again and wondered if today that would change. He was realistic with himself that Seren had plenty of things to do, that she couldn't just drop everything for him, but he still hoped just a smidge.
Outside his apartment, however, he was bombarded with traditional birthday wishes from everyone. Literally everyone. He had the entire city sending him wishes through the media and the skies. He was beyond stunned to see the messages in the sky. A true testament that he still didn't understand 2012.
When evening strolled by, he was gifted with a small party in his apartment. He wanted nothing big—he had made Chloe swear that nothing big would happen—and it stuck. Only Chloe, Natasha, Clint and Tony and Pepper were there. The only one missing was Seren. His heart had ached the moment he saw an empty spot beside the group.
He didn't want to admit it either but he was slightly excited to see what her present was. She'd actually sent him a gift with Chloe, something she went out and bought for him. The size was curious but he wasn't so focused on it. Seren had bought it just for him and no matter what it was he knew that he would love it. If he couldn't see her tonight, he would at least have something of hers.
"Hmm, let me guess which one is from Seren…" drawled Tony as he came up beside Steve in the living room with a drink in hand. "I'm going to take a wild stab at it and pick the one you've been staring at riiiight there!" He pointed at the orange-wrapped box on the table.
Steve rolled his eyes at him. Even Tony's sarcasm wouldn't turn his mood around. "Actually, I was looking for yours."
Tony snorted. "Sarcasm. I didn't know you were capable of that."
"I am many things, Tony, if you didn't know." Steve turned away from the room and headed for the kitchen.
"I do my research," Tony shrugged and followed him. On his way into the kitchen, he met Pepper's brief warning look not to do anything. He wouldn't go picking fights with Steve on his birthday. That was sort of the present. Tomorrow would be a new day. "So how's S.H.I.E.L.D. working out for you?"
Steve would send an odd glance at Tony for the question. "Since when do you care about work?"
Tony shrugged. "Just curious."
Sure. Steve would still be polite and give him an honest answer. "It's fine, Tony. Thanks for asking."
"To be honest, I didn't think you would fit the bill for that place."
He just couldn't help it, could he? Steve shook his head. "I'm doing just fine."
"Are you, though?"
"Is there something you want to get at here?"
"I'm just fascinated by the idea of an honest man like you working for such a shady organization."
"It's not…" Steve crinkled his nose, "...shady."
Tony scoffed. "You do remember the part where they stored Hydra weapons right?"
"Of course not, I just don't think that the entire organization should be clumped under the same belief that it's all bad."
"Mm, and by that you mean Twinkle Star?" Tony never got the answer to that. "I'm actually happy that she was sent overseas away from this place. She's like you, she wants to believe in all the good in the world. Her working for S.H.I.E.L.D. never made any sense, just like it doesn't make sense for you."
"You know, Tony," Steve cleared his throat, "I sort of get the feeling that you're trying to get to a point here but I really don't know what it is and I know that Chloe is really excited about cutting a cake, so…" He made a gesture for Tony to get to that point already or move on completely.
Tony passed a finger over his upper lip. "I've been thinking," he started, "S.H.I.E.L.D. can't be trusted and you know that. The only reason you're there is because it's all you know and Seren is there, plus Romanoff, Barton and Winters. I get it, but don't you think you — everyone for that matter — would be better off working outside of it?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've been working on reconstructing the tower and I've had a few ideas...about a team." Tony's eyes drifted to the living room where the others were starting to get ready for the cake Chloe was setting up. "Make a new team under new rules with absolutely no secrets."
"You would do that?" Steve wouldn't hide his doubt. It was a fair placed doubt, mind you.
"I would try," Tony said, believing it meant thousands if he was saying the truth. "Just...think about it. Maybe comment it to Seren when you see her."
"See?" Now it was Steve's turn to scoff. "Yeah, I don't know when I'll see Seren again."
"Oh," Tony sniffed, "I forgot to give you your present." He pulled a slip of paper from the inside of his jacket. "Here," he held it out for Steve to take.
"What is it?"
"A plane ticket," Tony tapped a finger over the date of the flight. "For Twinkle Star's birthday."
"What?"
"November 1st."
"How did you—?"
"I do my research, Captain, c'mon," Tony heavily rolled his eyes. Wasn't it obvious?
"Well, thanks Tony, but I can't acc—"
"Don't even try it," Tony warned him. "It's not just about you. I figured I'd kill 2 birds with one stone with that one. Present for you and present for her."
Steve felt odd about the whole thing but he did note Tony's honesty. "Thank you," he held the ticket tightly in his hand. "I, uh...thanks."
"Mhm," Tony flashed him a smirk. "Say hi for me when you open that present of hers and inevitably call her, alright?"
Steve rolled his eyes and walked around him. Of course he was thinking about calling Seren but he wasn't going to admit that to Tony. He was thankful for the party and for everyone who came by but if he was being honest, he couldn't wait for them to leave. It was probably the rudest thing to think of tonight of all nights.
Seren's present remained untouched on the coffee table. He had yet to open it and was really only waiting for Chloe to go to bed.
"Are you sure you don't want to take your room?" She remained by the hallway. "It's your birthday! I can't make the birthday boy sleep on the couch!"
"Chloe, it's really alright," he promised her. "Thank you for everything today. It was so sweet of you, now go get some rest."
Chloe nodded. She knew when she wasn't wanted in the room. She could see the laptop already on the table, waiting to be used for the following morning. "Okay, goodnight Steve."
Steve heard the door of his bedroom close and if he was right, Chloe would soon fall asleep. She did so pretty easily, he learned. When he was sure of it, he scooted forwards on the couch and reached for the present on the table. He slowly pulled the wrapping paper apart until he found the surface of the box.
Warmth shot throughout his body at the sight of an old record player printed on the box. Vintage was the word used to describe things like these apparently. But Steve knew this went beyond the attempt of vintage. It was a piece of home.
The urge to see and talk to Seren skyrocketed in the next minute. Steve couldn't wait for morning. The five hour difference between there and London had never felt so agonizing to him. Maybe he didn't sleep, maybe he slept a few hours, who knew. All he did know was that as soon as it was a decent time in the morning, he was working fast on the computer to get it working—he had finally learned the basics of the thing.
From her end, Seren had heard the first alert of an incoming call. She was busy disposing of her lunch. She quickly washed her hands and dried them then ran to her bedroom. She was absolutely nervous when she answered the call but getting to see Steve was all worth it. She had settled herself against her bed's headboard. "Happy birthday!" she said as soon as his face was clear on the screen.
Steve chuckled. "Thanks!"
"Well, you know, belated birthday and all! I'm so sorry for having to miss it and not being able to call yesterday!"
"Don't worry about it," Steve said. He was getting all he wanted right now by getting to see her.
"So, what are you now, 100?"
"No, technically I'm 93."
Seren snorted. "Right, my bad, that's so different." Steve rolled her eyes at her but he liked the banters with her. He liked everything about her, actually. "How was it?" Seren asked him eagerly. "The party that Chloe threw? She can get a little over-excited about things."
"It was fine, she listened to my every request."
"Good, that's good." Seren debated how to work her way up to the question she'd been dying to ask. She didn't realize she started biting her thumb's nail.
"You're nervous," Steve said, startling her.
"What!?" Had he figured it out? Was she that obvious?
"You're biting your thumb's nail," Steve pointed at the nail that was still indeed between her teeth. As soon as he did, Seren pulled her hand down. "That's your nervous tick."
"Is it?" she lifted an eyebrow at him. "I didn't know that."
"I doubt I'm the first one to point it out." He wasn't wrong. Natasha had pointed it out in the first week after they met. "What are you nervous about?"
"Uh, I...just the recruits. Did I tell you I have a new one again? This time I think he'll stick," Seren hated herself for this. The last thing she wanted to talk about was the Initiative right now.
"Really? What's his name?"
"Joshua. He's a little older than the last recruit but he definitely sticks to the training. He's got a really good linguistics background which I think will help with missions. Not to mention he's an excellent martial arts student."
"He sounds good," Steve nodded. Like Seren, he was trying to figure out how to get to the topic he called her for. He realized that no matter how much he thought about it, he would never figure out the right way to get to it so maybe...he should just do it. "I loved your gift, Seren."
Seren was incredibly relieved to be an ocean away because he wouldn't be able to see the monumental blush that spread over her face. "You did?"
"Yeah, it's...it's home. Thank you so much, it means a lot."
"That was sort of the point. Home. I know that you've heard it before from a bunch of people but Steve, I really am so sorry about what happened to you. I just wanted to give you a little piece from home."
"Thanks, but you know...I've been thinking it's time to start letting go, little by little." Because if he didn't, Steve knew that he would never be able to build that life he wanted now. He had no idea what this new life would be but if he wanted a chance at it, he needed to start living it.
"I'm happy for you," Seren said. "And you know that I'm here for whatever you need."
"Of course. You know what's something I want right now?"
"What?"
"A place to buy records." Steve smiled when Seren laughed. "I'm serious!"
"Yeah, I figured you would. I didn't buy any because I wasn't sure what type of music you wanted. I knew something old—"
"Oh, thanks," Steve deadpanned her and was afforded another laugh.
"I just meant music from back then!"
"Got any recommendations, then? I sort of missed the last couples of decades."
Seren nodded. She leaned her head against the headboard, slightly tilting up as she thought of a few songs. "Oh, my favorite is 'Put Your Head on my Shoulder' by Paul Anka. 'Sleep Walk' by Johnny and Santo is a classic. They're both from 1959 and so sweet."
"I'll give them a try," Steve decided.
Seren smiled at him and was aware that it was all she was doing now. It was terrible knowing that despite her denial, her attempts to stay neutral, she just couldn't do it. But even then, what was she supposed to do with these feelings? She was miles away—a whole ocean away—and with no real date of when she would be able to come back to New York. She wasn't one to believe in long distance relationships—they were too messy and simply too frustrating. What was the point of being with someone if you couldn't actually be with that person? Besides, Steve wasn't short on admirers. Even Risha had already asked about him.
Seren couldn't see herself trying something if she couldn't even touch him. That itself sounded like the biggest torture ever.
"Hey Seren," Steve called her name gently. She seemed to have gotten lost in her thoughts. "Um, I heard your birthday's coming up too…"
Seren made a face. "Oh no, no, no. I don't want to think about turning 26. I'm closer to 30 than I am to 20!"
"I'm 93, Seren," Steve reminded.
"With the appearance of a 25 year old! It's always different for women," Seren dramatically sighed. "Even my Celessian side won't let me appear younger."
"You look just fine," Steve assured her. He wished he could say more but he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. "I was just commenting because Tony mentioned it."
"I dread to think how he found out about my birthday…"
"Do you know if you're coming home for that day?"
Seren shrugged. "I'm not sure. My schedule is up in the air, honestly. Right now, I don't know anything. I have to keep working on the Initiative and find more recruits. Why do you ask?"
"Just want to know if we'll have a chance to celebrate it together…"
Seren smiled softly. "I'd love to do that." What she would give to have that come true.
Steve decided there and then to leave his potential visit as a surprise. If she was able to come home then he wouldn't even need the ticket but just in case she couldn't, and she was disappointed, then he could at least go see her as a surprise. Either way, he would be seeing her for her birthday.
A/N:
Ah, someone's finally opened their eyes. Look at Seren growing up before our very eyes! This one's a bigger chapter because, you know, these idiots had to talk some stuff out with our mvp miss Chloe Winters.
I didn't realize that there's only 2 more chapters left before this story wraps up its first part. I might combine the last two chapters together, not sure yet. It would be around 10k and I don't want to overwhelm anyone. But I'm super excited to start Winter Soldier ;)
P.S. As always, I have an AO3/Wattpad account under "noblecrescent" and a tumblr account under "saiilorstars" if you'd like to follow :)