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Chapter Text

“Remember your job?” My dad asks me and I nod.

“Aunt Nat and you are main offense, Mr. Wilson runs interference. I focus on Vision and Miss. Maximoff.” I run over the plan.

“And try not to rush in.” Aunt Nat says. I give a small smile.

“Let's move.” The Quinjet lands and immediately my dad runs out. I'm quite a bit behind.

“Cap, they're cornered. If you go behind the train station you can get their attention. Nat and Ryanne run in from the two sides we can box them in.” Mr. Wilson calls out. I nod heading for the left of the station. 

“I'm in position. Slowly move in.” My dad says over comms and I quietly open the door. I hear 2 crashes through the roof. Then a red glow shines further in. The train starts to run. 

“Okay we're all in position Cap.” Mr. Wilson comments.

“Time to say hi.” My dad says and I stay where I'm at. Once the train is gone I see Mr. Wilson fly in beside me. I hear glass shatter as the thrusters fire around. I run in quickly going over to Miss. Maximoff and Vision. He has what seems to be a gash in him. I hear a snarl as I look over to see the weird masculine alien stabbed through with tech obviously not of this world. I turn my focus back to the couple. There's a few clanks behind us Wanda watches transfixed. I just work on helping Vision stand. I hold where the wound is as we look over to see Mr. Wilson kicking the feminine alien back. She tumbles next to her injured counterpart. The 3 adults get closer to the duo. 

“Get up.” The feminine one hisses. 

“I c-cant.” The counter part responds sounding hurt.

“We don't want to kill you. But we will.” Aunt Nat says to the 2. 

“You'll never get the chance again.” The feminine one responds as a glowing blue light flashes down beaming them up. The weapon in my dads hand flys up with it. I hear the whirring of engines as I look to see a dark object leave. The 3 adults turn to us. Walking over.

“Can you walk?” Mr. Wilson asks trading places with me. Wanda takes the other side and my dad stands infront of them.

“Thank you. Captain.” Vision responds.

“Lets get you on the Jet.” My dad says walking away leading Vision and Wanda. Aunt Nat hangs back with me. 

“That was cool.” I whisper to her.

“You didn't even see the fight.” She whispers back.

“Eh I assumed you kicked ass.” I respond gently, elbow bumping her.

“Careful your dad doesn't hear you.” She says. We follow the team I look around trying to spot any threats all I see are cameras and immediately I look down. 

“There's too many cameras they'll know.” I hiss at my aunt.

“Let them know. The world is in chaos. They should know people are still defending Earth.” She responds. I nod looking up as we head into the Quinjet. Mr. Wilson going into the pilot's seat. My aunt closes the door behind us. “Now. I thought we had a deal. Stay close, check in. Don't take any chances.” She says to the couple, I go to sit in a seat once the door closes.

“I'm sorry.” Miss. Maximoff responds as Auntie Nat walks over. “We just wanted time.” 

“Where to Cap?” Mr. Wilson asks. I look over to see Miss. Maximoff and Vision huddled together.  I look up at my dad and he looks at me.

“Home.” He says I frown. I haven't heard that word in years. 

Chapter Text

I fall asleep on the ride back. I don't even know what I dream about anymore. All I know is that familiar feeling of being shaken awake. The moment where I don't know where I am. I don't recognize anything. For a brief moment I'm terrified. 

“Kid, come on, need you to help me with Vision. Mr. Wilson's voice isn't unusual. Just not what I hoped. I slowly stand to my feet. My head feels foggy as I help Mr. Wilson support Vision. Probably testing my strength. We've been working on figuring out how much I am affected by the serum. I just follow my dad and Nat into what used to be home. There's a few moments where I have to slow my pace for Vision or his feet trip up. But I just work with it. I feel tired. 

“Rhodey knows we're coming.” Nat says.

“Will he be a problem?” Miss. Maximoff asks.

“He's changed in the last 2 years.” Dad informs the young woman. I hear Secretary Ross in the background. With Colonel Rhodes. I take a deep breath as the door infront of us opens and we turn to see Secretary Ross in holographic fashion. Dad and aunt Nat stand forward and Mr. Wilson shifts so I'm hidden behind my aunt. 

“Mr. Secretary.” My dad addresses. 

“You got some nerve. I'll give you that.” Secretary Ross responds.

“You could use some of that right now.” My aunt comments making me smile. 

“Tch, the worlds on fire. And you think all is forgiven?” The secretary asks. 

“I'm not looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking permission.” My dad starts, besides we don't need to apologize for anything. “Earth just lost her best defender. So we're here to fight.” My dad steps forward towards the hologram. “And if you wanna stand in our way… we'll fight you too.” That sends a slight chill up my spine. 

“Arrest them.” The secretary orders his tone is cold, his voice lowered. 

“All over it.” Colonel Rhodes responds I hear the hum of the hologram going away. Then a computer beeping in the background. 

“That's a court-martial.” Colonel Rhodes says there's a pause. “It's great to see you Cap.” My dad walks forward, I hear the handshake.

“You too, Rhodey.” My dad comments as Nat walks forward. I see my aunt and the now former Colonel hug. I stand there awkwardly as Rhodes faces us. 

“Wow. You guys…” His eyes land on me. “Really look like crap. Must've been a rough couple of years.”

“Yeah well, the hotels weren't exactly five-star.” Mr. Wilson comments earning a soft chuckle from Rhodes. 

“I uh,” the voice makes me turn to see Dr. Banner. “I think you look great.” I see Nats head whip around. I look over to my dad. This is gonna be weird for a bit. “Uh.. yeah. I'm back.”

“Hi Bruce.” Nat says it feels so weird I want to cover my eyes. It's so quiet for so long.

“Nat.” Is all the Doctor responds with.

“This is awkward.” Mr. Wilson mumbles to me and I just nod my head.

“Mmhm.” I reply. 

“I got Vision, you go get some rest.” Miss. Maximoff says. 

“But.” I start looking around the room. They don't actually want me to rest, they want time to formulate a plan. I sigh heading out. I end up finding the room I'm looking for. The black walls dim lighting. Aunt Nat taught me to dance in here, I didn’t understand it at the time but now I know it was a preface to teaching me how to fight. I press my back against a wall sliding down. I'm tired. I know I told my dad that we should run instead of taking some deal. But I'm exhausted. And of course now we have aliens claiming to be children of some dude named Thanos. I sigh. Closing my eyes once again but not to sleep just to remember what home feels like. 

Chapter Text

I've never gotten to see Wakanda. I was excited, Mr. Wilson let me be co-pilot. Basically I sat in the seat behind him to his left and watched out the window. There's a morning fog rolling off the low mountains. It's serene. 

“Drop to 2600, heading 0-3-0.” My dad tells Mr. Wilson. 

“I hope you're right about this,” Mr. Wilson responds, lowering the Quinjet. “Or we're gonna land a lot faster than you want to.”  I see the trees incoming. I lean forward in my seat worried about us flying directly into a small mountain. The trees fade out as light blue hexagons shine revealing a beautifully advanced skyline, the type of fiction. I gasp.

“Woah.” I whisper as we fly in. The buildings are taller in person. I smile, my eyes widen.

“Here I'll take your position, co-pilot. Enjoy the view.” My aunt says and I jump out of my seat going closer. The warm yellow glow of the sun reminds me of the stories Thor told me of Asgard. I always wanted to visit. I hope I still can. The plane lands in their little landing pad. I walk away letting the adults lead as I hang back behind Miss. Maximoff and Vision. Mr. Wilson is standing next to me. 

“It seems like I'm always thanking you for something.” My dad says shaking the hand of King T'challa. I hear Doctor Banner clear his throat as he goes to bow.

“Uh. We don't do that here.” The king says addressing Doctor Banner. I giggle a little.  Mr. Wilson elbows me slightly. “So how big of an assault should we be expecting?”

“Uh, sir. Sir. I think we should expect a big assault.” Doctor Banner jumps in trying to walk behind King T'Challa.

“How we looking?” Nat asks 

“You will have my kingsguard, the border tribe, the Dora Milaje, and…” King T'challa gestures over where I see the face of my dad's old friend. 

“A semi stable 100 year old man.” The Winter Soldier says with a smile. I watch as members of Wakanda escort Miss. Maximoff and Vision elsewhere. I see my dad give his old war buddy a hug. 

“How you been Buck?” My dad asks. 

“Eh not bad for the end of the world.” Barnes responds. 

“Let us take you to my sister.” King T’Challa says 

“Buck, Sam, Rhodey, stay here watch out for anything. Natasha, you, me and Ryanne will see how Vision is doing.” My dad says and I nod following him onto a little hovercraft that flies through the city. Heading for a building towards the back.

“Your country is beautiful, king T’Challa.” I compliment heading closer to him.

“Thank you. I’m glad you see the same beauty I see.” The king answers as we head to what I assume is their capital building. I walk in following my dad. The technology, all the floating screens and shiny surfaces, I wonder if this is how my dad felt when he woke up from the ice. We file into the room where Vision is laying on some sort of bed. They start talking about science and I just lean against the railing watching outside the window. An alarm sets off. I stand up straight looking over to my dad.

“Something’s entered the atmosphere.” The Dora Milaje head woman says. 

“Hey Cap, we got a situation here.” I hear Mr. Wilson in the comms. I look out the window to see bright oranges clashing with the blue of the barrier.

“Don't start celebrating yet guys.” Rhodes comments in the comms. “We got more incoming! Outside the dome.” I see dark grey almost black orbs enwrapped of the orange of flames going across the sky landing across from the building dust and dirt rising from the ground as they land. Affecting the barrier it's next to.

“It's too late. We need to destroy the stone now.” Vision says I look at him getting out of the bed.

“Vision, get your ass back on the table.” Aunt Nat scolds the android.

“We will hold them off.” The king says walking off.

“Wanda, as soon as that stones out of his head. You blow it to hell.” My dad says. 

“I will.” Miss. Maximoff responds. I look over to my dad. I have a bad feeling about this.

“Evacuate the city. Engage all defenses. And get this man a shield.” King T’Challa points to my father. 

“Where do you want me to be?” I ask following him up the stairs.

“I need you to work on protecting princess Shuri and Vision.” My dad orders. 

“Sir yes sir.” I give him a mini salute as he goes down the hall. I take a deep breath as I watch the princess starting to work. 

Chapter Text

I go closer to the railing looking at Vision then at the lined up assault force. 

“Requesting confirmation my king.” Shuri asks to her beaded bracelet. “You said open the barrier?” Me and Wanda look at each other. What is about to happen. I frown. “Ryanne, that's your name? Yes?”

“Yeah.” I respond. Hopping down to where she is.

“When I tell you I need you to press this button.” She informs me and I give a headnod staring at the holographic scene infront of me. I watch out the window as the assault teams are now running forward. “Pressit!” I press the button and see the barrier open ever so slightly. They're funneling them in to contain where they go. I look to Miss. Maximoff and she's watching Vision and what she can of the fight outside. I see what I assume to be my dad and T'Challa reach the mass of aliens first. I can't exactly see how it's going, everyone is just specks from here. 

“I've barely begun brother.” Shuri says frantically. She swipes something off her holographic screen infront of her. I step towards Miss. Maximoff. 

“There's too many of em!” I hear Doctor Banner shout in our comms. I see the bright lights of the fight starting to die down they're overwhelmed. I look at Miss. Maximoff her hands forming the little red balls. I feel a vibration as I look out a window to see translucent lights of green, yellow, and red. I haven't seen a bright colorful beam like that since… bright blue lighting swings out of the beam. The beam goes away as the weapon returns to the god of lightning, Thor! I grin.

“Is that?” Miss. Maximoff asks.

“Yeah.. it is.” I answer, the clouds get darker as blue electricity crackles as he flies into the sky slamming down onto the ground sending bright electric blue light through a hoard of the aliens. Miss. Maximoff looks away from the fight back at Vision. I watch as purple circles of energy explode, blue energy shots, electricity crackles, two specks of Rhodes and Mr. Wilson fly. It's incredible to see. But it also worries me. My dad doesn't have anything noticeable from here. I feel a distant rumble. I look over to Miss. Maximoff as she looks up at me walking towards the window.

“What is that?” She asks. Her question is answered as large circular objects come out of the ground heading towards our team. Each circle is separated going on their own path. 

“My god.” I whisper. 

“Ryanne. Ryanne look at me.” Miss. Maximoff turns me to face her. “I'm going out there cause they need me. You keep Vision safe.” 

“I'll protect him.” I respond with a nod.

“Good girl.” She then breaks through the glass flying out into battle. I walk over to Vision. It's my job to protect him. It doesn't take long before I hear a grunt of pain. Two other fighters run up the stairs. There's screams and glass breaking as Shuri and the Dora Milaje member fall down. I look to see it's the masculine alien from earlier. He jumps down and I grab his spear before he can attack me with it. He's stronger than me, the handle digs into my hands and he swings me into the wall. I look up to see him walking towards me. Before Vision grabs him by the throat pushing the two out the window.

“Shit.” I mutter. 

“Guys we got a Vision situation here.” Mr. Wilson calls out.

“I'm working on it!” I shout before jumping out of the window sliding down the slant before the drop off.

“Somebody get over there!” I hear my dad yell.

“I got him!” Dr. Banner responds. 

“On my way.” Wanda also says. I feel a pit in my stomach. She entrusted his safety onto me. The trees scratch my arms as I tuck in my legs trying to grab ahold of a branch but they all snap. I land on the ground grunting. As I tumble. My head spins for a bit. I hear the hulk buster suit land. I slowly get up, my body has a dull screaming at me. 

“Oh no. Oh no you don't.” Dr. Banner says. “This ain't gonna be like New York again. This suits already kicked the crap outta the Hulk.” I hear a metal clunk as the thruster goes off Doctor Banner shouting with it. Quickly I run over to where I heard it all happen. “Guys! Vision needs back up. Now!” Doctor Banner shouts in the comms. 

“I’m handling it.” I respond seeing the masculine figure standing across from Vision, his weapon going through the android. 

“I thought you were formidable, machine.” He says gripping Vision's face “but you are dying like any man.” The weapon is pulled out as Vision falls to the ground. Shit. I had one job. I run over charging at the alien my shoulder leading my attack knocks him back onto the ground. I fall with it.

“Get outta here!” I shout, turning to Vision as I stand. I don't want to fail. I turn around as the alien makes a noise charging at me. I grab the weapon with one hand punching him in the throat with the other. It knocks him back a bit. I punch him in the chest once then sending a kick to his crotch pushing him back. Thank the stars for Nat. 

I turn to see Vision still here. Goddammit. “Go!” I shout at him. The alien gets up again and I run over hitting him but my fist is blocked by his weapon. I use my arms to take a few hits from the handle of his weapon. He goes to swipe at my chest, I hold his weapon there before I punch him in the face. He swings the weapon above my head and I duck, he goes to swing it again and I kick it away, launching it out of reach. I go to punch his throat. He accepts the hit as he takes the opportunity to grab me by my throat using the momentum of my punch to stumble backward, spinning my body with it launching me back. 

I spin a bit as I hit a dead log and tumble to the ground. I grunt. I try to get back up but I'm too slow. The hand is back on my throat keeping me down. My feet start fidgeting as I try to punch the arm off. My vision is darkening. It hurts. 

There's a distant grunt as I see the blade of his weapon go through him. The pressure off my neck. I cough as my opponent is lifted up in the air next to me before dropping. I sit up coughing seeing Vision there. He collapses on his knees. Stupid. I rush over to him trying to support him. “I told you to go.” I tell him as I lift him up.

“As your father says, we don't trade lives.” Vision responds. “Speaking of.” I turn around to see my dad and Wanda standing there.

“Miss. Maximoff I'm so sorry.” I start to apologize.

“No no. You did good.” She interrupts walking over supporting Vision's other side as I go over to my dad. I frown at the scratches he has. I hear a pained shout from Vision before I can say anything.

“He's here.” Vision says. The wind starts to pick up everything in my body screams that something is wrong. 

“Everyone on my position. We have incoming.” My dad says on comms. I see a cloud or turquoise blues and dark gray. Out walks a man probably triple my dads size, purple skin, and a gold glove with 5 glowing stones on it. 

“Cap.” Doctor Banner's voice is grave. “That's him.”

“Ryanne.” My dad quickly looks at me. Terror gripping my heart. “Turn off your comm and run. I'll find you I promise.” I nod as I dart through the woods the sounds of pained shouts echo as I do. 

Chapter Text

My feet are pounding as I run. I hear screaming, Miss. Maximoff's cries. I throw my comm on the ground. I still can hear the echoes of the fight of the other Wakandans. I hear shouting, crying, screaming. Pain. I hear pain. I feel warm water falling down my cheeks as I try and blink away how blurry it’s getting. My feet snap twigs, crunch on leaves. But I can’t run from the pain. I put my hands over my ears as I rush to who knows where.

I don’t even know if my dad will find me. I don’t know if he survived. Dr. Banner was terrified of this alien, Thanos, he came through a portal with this cold stance, the wind blowing around him, I knew he was a problem. I ran as my dad told me. I ran from that danger. I feel something in my chest as I realized.

I left my dad.

I turn around to see a yellow blast come from where I was. A burst of energy. 

“What is happening?”

“Are they okay?” 

My thoughts are racing just as my feet do. One message is clear in my brain. Run. I finally break through the forest line. Each breath I take is heavy.  I see the barrier infront of me. I look around to see a small pond. I look back where I came from to see as if the yellow energy is played on reverse it goes back to its origin. Then the world goes quiet. The breeze stops. I look down at the pond seeing the little fish swimming around. 

I smile a bit at the fish. Its bright colors shine in the sun. It’s peaceful existence so undisturbed by what has been happening around it. For a brief moment I feel that tranquility that it must be. My breath calming down I watch as if in slow motion the brilliant golden colors start to flake off. 

I stare at the fish. I don't want it to leave me here alone. I want to keep this relaxed state with this creature. Maybe it’s hurt, surely it's just injured. I reach my hands into the water. The fish starts dissolving into a brown ash I quickly grab as my hands swipe through the fish. As where it was turns to ash and disappears. I quickly push away from the pond as my stomach twists and turns. 

“Did I cause that?” I look at my hands; we don’t know what my enhancements are. Did I just kill this animal? I look around at my surroundings as I see more of this Brown ash floating around me. My heart pounds, I quickly scatter to my feet looking around. I want to be sick. 

Something doesn’t feel right.

I want my dad.

I need my dad.

I wail out my throat hurting. I’m scared and I don’t want to be alone.

“ Dad !”

Steve POV

For the first time since the serum I feel out of breath. My body hurts. I walk over to where Thor is standing. His new weapon on the ground. I hold my side as I shakily walk over.

“Where’d he go?” I ask the god. I look around trying to see if maybe he’ll pop up somewhere else. “Thor.” I look back over to the Asgardian hoping maybe his knowledge of these sorts of things can help us. “Where’d he go?”

“Steve?” It’s Bucky’s voice. I turn around to see my best friend walking over. He’s looking at his left arm almost as if inspecting it. He’s walking oddly. Then I see as his body seems to start turning into flakes. He looks at me before he stumbles forward turning into a brown ash. My heart almost stops. I walk over to where his body should’ve landed. No way I lost him. I kneel down by the ash. I just had him back. I just got him back. I carefully lower my hand to the brown flaky ash of Bucky on the ground. 

There's a shouting in the distance. I can’t understand what is being said. I feel as the world spins around me. 

“Sam where you at?” I hear Rhodey calling out. 

I carefully stand up looking around seeing a grey toned body. Vision. I carefully stumble over rolling his body over to find a dented hole where the Mind Stone once was. I fall to the ground again, the weight of what happened suffocating me. We failed to prevent the snap.

“What is this?” Rhodey asks behind me. “What the hell is happening?”

“Steve?” Natasha asks over my shoulder. I turn to see the Raccoon, Thor, Rhodey, Bruce, and Natasha all looking at me. Survivors of this snap. Survivors. Ryanne!

 I told her to run. If Vision’s body is here then she ran behind me. I stand up and run in the direction I saw her go.

“Steve!” I hear Bruce call out after me. I don’t care about that. I lost Bucky. I’ve lost Peggy. I won’t lose Ryanne. I refuse to believe I’ve lost her. I hear my feet land heavily on the ground. 

“Please world, please don’t take my little girl.”

“Please don’t take my Ry.”

“Ryanne!” I shout looking around the trees looking for any sign of her. “Ryanne!” I practically scream as I continue running. I feel droplets of water fall from my face. I shouldn’t cry, I haven't lost her. I haven’t lost her. “RYANNE!” I scream looking around for any sign of her. “ RYANNE !” It’s a desperate begging as I smack leaves and branches away from me as I run. My throat hurts, my chest feels tight, my body screams for a break. But I won’t rest. Not until I find her. “RYANNE!” I’m desperate. “Ryanne!”

“Dad!” I hear her voice, I hear her. “Dad I’m here!” I dash towards her voice. And sure enough there she is. Standing by a pond. Her blonde hair is a bit messy, her green eyes wide. 

“Ryanne,” I breathe out in relief as I rush over to her. She looks at me up and down.

“Dad… W-what happened?” She asks me. Her eyes wide.

“I… I don’t know.” I answer her, She looks away and you can hear a wail break out. A scream. Ryanne’s hands start to shake as she backs up into the barrier. “Easy. Easy Ryanne.” I try to soothe her try to keep her here. I hear the barrier stinging at her skin.

“We lost.” It's a hushed whisper. “We lost..”

“Hey. Hey.” I move her hands infront of her. 

“I… I don’t” She doesn’t finish the sentence just looking up at me. Looking for something. Like everyone is, but this is my kid. I look into her green eyes. The flakes of blue around the outside are more prominent in this lighting. She looks so… young. I pull her close to me, hugging her body tightly. And she wraps her arms around me. 

“I’m so glad you are okay.” I whisper to her I hear my voice crack a little. She’s here in my arms. Safe. I still have my kid. I press my lips on her forehead. I hold her a bit tighter as tears start falling. We lost. We all lost. But I still have my little girl. If Thanos really did his goal if he… If he really did wipe out half of the population. I’m probably one of the few who can say I still have my family.