Steve followed the trio to the computers in the lab. Eva was typing away furiously. It was clear that her lessons with Tony and her time away had taught her how to use modern tech. Steve was proud of her but his anger at not knowing where she had been or what she had been doing still had a hold on him.
"Sister," said Loki, trying to get her attention, "you need to stop. You need rest, just as we do."
When he placed his hands on hers to get her to stop, she looked at him and said, "I'm fine, Mischief. I just want to find her and-"
Bucky hugged her, seeing a fine sheen to her eyes, as he replied, "Sis, stop. You'll hurt yourself."
Eva looked at them. "If I stop, I'll think of what Steve said and Her and-" She sniffled and gulped. "I can't. I can't do that."
Loki growled. This was supposed to be time to rest, catch up with everyone, and recharge while SHIELD looked over everything. But Steve had effectively destroyed that for them. Even if things were made right, Eva would still work. The problem was, only Steve could make her stop.
"Don't give Her the time of day," Loki ordered. "You love Rogers. You need him, even if I want to stab him right now."
Bucky, knowing where Stark kept his hidden bar, made himself a drink as he said, "Agreed. On both counts. You are pissy without him. You know how he gets when he worries."
Eva began playing with her nails, replying, "I thought he would attempt to understand. I know he wants to protect me, but I need to do this. I love him, and we did everything as safely as possible and we didn't try to kill anyone. But he keeps-"
Steve stopped in the doorway. She knew he was worried and the three of them had done everything like they were supposed to, just without the team with them. She saw both sides. But was he? His heart was sinking further and further into the floor as he listened.
Bucky and Loki see Steve out of the corner of their eyes but don't move in acknowledgment. Instead, Bucky took a drink.
Then, the one-armed super soldier asked, "Have you tried to tell him how it makes you feel when he orders you around?"
Eva's head snapped up as she responded, "I never got the chance. He just yelled at me. How can I tell him that it makes me feel trapped all over again? That I need to help bring her down to feel free?"
Okay, it wasn't completely true. She didn't know if him being in charge and ordering her around in the bedroom made her feel trapped or not. But all other times, she wanted to run to the nearest balcony and let the wind play over her skin.
"You just did, sister," Loki said with a smile. "Now, talk to him."
"Steve?" she gasped. "What-"
He turned her around on her chair. She was stunned, seeing Steve there. He moved towards her, hands in his pocket.
In trying to keep her safe, in only seeing how dangerous the missions had been, he had ignored her needs and how this was helping her. He heard the others say it, but hearing the pain in Eva's voice as she talked to Bucky and Loki made the reality of it sink in. Steve had let his guilt for not protecting her from Nat in the first place take over and he had been suffocating her. He had grown jealous of Loki and Bucky for being able to comfort her and help her heal. Steve had to make this right.
He pulled her into his arms and said, "I'm sorry, Evelyn. I never meant to make you feel trapped. I just-"
"I can't sit on the sidelines for this," she interrupted, already knowing what he was going to say. "I know it's dangerous, but if I don't do this, I'll always look over my shoulder for her. And I can't live like that, Stevie."
Steve fought the tears threatening to fall. "I know, sweetheart. I know. I just," he took a breath, "I can't see you hurt anymore. It's too painful."
She cupped his cheek. "I feel the same way about you."
He crushed his lips to hers. He knew he had a long way to go before he was okay with her going on missions. Who was he kidding? He'd never be okay with it, but if she needed to be a hero and fight at his side to feel free or useful, he would support her just like she had him over seventy years ago.