Celebrations and Holidays
Allie waited anxiously in a chair outside of the Conference Room. She didn't know how she hadn't burst from the seat, instead settling for fidgeting and tapping her feet against the ground.
She hadn't been sure of what to wear. She didn't even know if she would be having to speak to the officials herself. She had taken a page from her brother's book, dressing in a nice dress she had borrowed from Natasha. She was certain that even with her seemingly put together appearance, she must have still looked entirely frantic.
She looked around the room for a clock, praying that she could know how much time had passed. Had it been five minutes? Ten minutes? An hour? She knew her sense of time wasn't exactly her greatest strength.
People passed by her, stopping for just a moment to say hello before realizing why she was sitting. A few didn't bother her when they noticed her staring directly at the Conference Room door.
She wondered if she looked as warm and sweaty as she felt in the moment. Had she ever looked or felt that way before? Even when being punished by her mother, awaiting the wrath and fury that only a mother could bring when her daughter decided to find trouble, she wasn't as nervous. What she would have given to relive that scolding in the middle of the hospital when she had jumped into the canal.
She could barely make out figures standing up and walking towards the door after an eternity. Her eyes blinked fast as they came to the present moment, her lips parting before she licked them nervously.
Standing up as she heard the door opening, her arms were stiffly at her sides. Her heart was thumping against her chest, painful in its drumming beat. The government officials left the room first, glancing over at her before looking back into the room. Reaching out their hands, they shook hands with Steve before turning on their heels and leaving without another word.
For a moment, Steve almost looked somber when he turned to his sister. After glancing back and noticing the officials were gone, he let out a breath he had held in. Giving her a smile, Allie sighed a breath of relief, stepping up to her brother and giving him an embrace.
"You're technically still my responsibility," he gave her a small squeeze. "But so long as you don't go around burning down buildings or starting the next Ice Age, you'll be fine."
"Well, thank you," she squeezed him in return. "Believe me, you won't have to worry about me wanting to cause that kind of harm on purpose."
"I know," he nodded. "Come on."
The two started walking back to the common areas of the Compound. "Now, Tony can finally get started on that suit now that you're officially okay with the government," Steve took in a long, deep breath and led her back to the lounge. "We'll work out a training schedule. He's currently working on the rooms to be completely heat resistant and able to withstand extremely cold temperatures as well."
"Is that so I don't burn down the entire compound?" her nose scrunched up.
"No," he shook his head with a small laugh. "Actually, Tony described it as if it were a place meant specifically for you. Sort of like my office, I guess, and his workspace."
"You're making him sound generous," she scoffed, her arms folding against her chest.
"Yeah, well, he kind of was not trying to turn you in right away," he reminded her. "And he still is."
By the time they had made it to the lounge, it seemed that a small group had been waiting for them. Wanda, Natasha, and Sam all sat with widened eyes and seemed to be waiting with bated breath.
As they learned of Allie's approval to stay, congratulations went around. It included a grin from Sam and a hug from Wanda, though she received an approving nod from Natasha.
"Go get changed, we'll all go out for drinks," Steve grinned, looking between his sister and their friends.
"I like the sound of that," Sam agreed, leaving for his room.
Allie didn't say much, instead leaving for her room and looking through her closet. Every day since she had escaped, she felt like she didn't have her own preferred style anymore. She didn't miss her dresses as much as she may have once thought she would, but she also didn't always favor the jeans she had in her dresser.
Nevertheless, she made herself presentable, talking to Wanda as the group set off for a nearby town with a bar. Upon their arrival, they settled into a nice booth after playing a few rounds of pool together. A first round of drinks had been ordered by the time they had sat down, each of them giving a toast to Allie's tentative approval by the government.
As the night wore on, Allie felt like she was back with the Commandos. She could order different drinks, banter back and forth, and enjoy her evening. It was comfortable and it was safe to her.
Steve, however, could only look at Allie, watching as she ordered another strong drink. Frowning, he remembered what she had been like. A drink or two with Bucky and she would be done for the night. It was rare that she would drink herself drunk, and yet he feared he was watching her do just that for a second time.
For a moment, he remembered that she did enjoy celebrating a victory with a bourbon or a whisky, she enjoyed having a schnapps on occasion. This, however, didn't strike him to be the same. He kept silent, hoping to keep the peace and prevent a possibly embarrassing moment.
Wanda and Natasha had both sat back with their own drinks, settling for two as Allie happily took her newest drink. Sam was completely distracted from all of it, drinking and talking and laughing.
It may not have been noticeable to anyone else, the way Allie was behaving, but it was to him. He knew what he had seen since she had returned, and he wasn't sure he liked seeing her like that. She was his little sister, and it was unlike her, at least the 'her' he remembered.
He made certain to go on and enjoy the rest of the night out, laughing and joining in the conversations that they had. It seemed that Allie was starting to fit in better than what she thought. Despite the gnawing feeling he had, he was happy she could enjoy that time out.
When they all arrived home late in the night, he had stopped at her room before she could close the door. "Allie?" he spoke her name softly, watching as she turned to look back at him. "Can we talk?"
She gave him a confused grin, nodding and welcoming him into the room. He didn't say anything until the door had been closed. And even then, he wanted to choose his words carefully, though he was sure he was bound to mess them up.
"I noticed at dinner," he finally admitted. "How much you drank."
"I've told you, I can handle my liquor," she pursed her lips, her brows furrowing.
"Except, at the hotel when we took that trip, you didn't," he pointed out. "And you seemed a bit close to that tonight."
"So? I've drank a couple of times since I came here," she said dismissively. "Is that a sin?"
Steve let out a sigh and dropped his gaze to the ground. The memories of her before he had gone in the ice came to the front of his mind. He remembered how she had changed after Bucky had fallen from the train.
"Allie, you drank a lot before I went in the ice," he pointed out. "I remember that."
A cold, clammy feeling poured over her as he reminded her of it. She remembered how she had been, all too well in fact. She remembered the way she had treated Mary, Louise, and Evelyn. She remembered the way she had treated the boys, all who only wanted to help her after she had thought she was widowed and a newly only child. She didn't need the reminder.
"You don't get it," she shook her head. "Sometimes, I've needed to be able to escape. I've needed to forget for a little while."
Silence settled between the two as Allie walked over to her bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. Steve continued to stand, though he wondered if that made him look as if he were patronizing her. He didn't know what he could say to her.
"I never realized I had any enhancements to my body," she finally swallowed, her eyes pinpointed on the ground in front of her. "I just knew that I could make the fire and ice. And now that I know about how I have slight enhancements? Well, I feel lucky because of it."
"What? Why?," his nose scrunching and brows knitting in confusion.
"Think about it. How quickly do you and Bucky heal now?"
"Quickly."
"Exactly. Peggy told me that she found you in that bar we found in London. You remember the one under all the rubble?" she waited for his nod. His realization came in the form of widened eyes. "Well, she told me about how you told her that you can't get drunk. I can.
"Steve, I can forget everything that's happened. I can forget about the day Bucky fell from the train. I can forget the month leading up to the final time I saw you. I can forget about that damned radio call where I heard you... well I thought I had heard you die. I don't have to be here anymore when that happens."
Guilt seeped over him as he listened to her. He hadn't thought of that. That day in the bar, before Peggy had found him, hadn't he been jealous and desperate to be drunk himself? Wasn't he angry that his newfound abilities meant that he couldn't be found asleep or so far gone that he didn't know which way was up or which was down?
How long had she carried that burden? The memory of everything that had happened. She had felt that she was completely alone, even thinking that he had chosen to leave her behind when he put the plane in the ice.
"And you know, if I can still forget, then I'll be okay at the end of the day," she gave a small shrug of her shoulders, but her brother noticed the pursing of her lips. "But I have powers and I'm angry about them at the same time that I know I'm lucky."
"And what makes you lucky?"
"I'm not dead for one," she scoffed. "There were a handful of times where I was close to it, but this happened and now that I know he's out there, I can do something to protect him. I wasn't there that day, but I can be now."
Steve looked at his sister, watching her hand fly up to the locket around her neck like she did when she thought of Bucky. She looked riddled with guilt at the memory.
"You know, I can protect him. I can protect him, and I can still forget about the bad things," her jaw set.
"Allie, you don't have to feel that way anymore," he assured her. "Bucky's alive and so am I. You're somewhere that wants to help you, not use you."
"I know," she nodded. "But I still have things I want to forget."
Steve looked to the ground. He wouldn't pry about everything she saw and everything she did. She looked tired enough of the thoughts. Instead, he gave her a soft smile.
"Maybe you don't need to. Maybe those things that you want to forget, you can use," he suggested. "When we start training, you can use that instead of drinks."
Allie nodded, but she wasn't so sure it was going to be an idea that worked. She said goodnight to her brother, telling him she would see him in the morning. Swallowing harshly as she readied herself for bed, the thoughts of what he said rattled in her mind.
And that meant she couldn't sleep. She just thought.
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There was a buzz around the Compound on Christmas morning. Allie had taken the time to decorate her room with modest decor, garlands made of tinsel, a small tree with a few ornaments.
On her dresser, she had a CD player she had purchased the last time she and her brother had gone out for a day. He had lent a few CDs for her to listen to along with the few that Wanda had lent to her. As she readied herself for the day, a CD of Christmas music filled her room.
It was the warmest she had felt since her arrival. For a moment, she wasn't distracted by the training sessions she would have to endure or the tests on her strength and her powers. She didn't have to worry about if any government would come after here, with only her brother to protect her.
She knew that she was awake far earlier than any of the others would be. There was something about the holiday that gave her a sense of peace and excitement. She had begun friendships with a few of those around the Compound, Sam and Wanda in particular making an effort to befriend her. From time-to-time, she would run into Natasha and have a polite conversation with her, though she was convinced Nat didn't much care for her.
Glancing at the clock, she realized the others would soon wake. Thinking for a moment, she left the comfort of her own room, making her way down to the kitchen. The bedroom doors were still closed the lights off as she passed by. She thought herself lucky that there were windows letting in the early morning light as she turned on the lights of the lounge and kitchen itself.
Humming carols under her breath and quickly gathering ingredients, Allie set to work making a pancake breakfast for everyone. She liked having something to do, something to keep her hands busy and mind distracted.
In the few weeks she had been at the Compound, she had never cooked breakfast for anyone. On occasion, she would make something small or something quick for herself. Taking a breath after she pulled plates out of a cabinet, she felt like herself for a small moment.
Hadn't that been what she did for the Commandos? She had enjoyed cooking meals, enjoyed trying new recipes and working with her brother to feed their team. She tried not to think of them too long, saddened when she realized that they weren't the ones that would sit at the table.
But that led to the feelings of guilt. Hadn't the people who would sit at the table to eat breakfast with her welcomed her? After an initial bad introduction, hadn't she begun to learn how to work with them? Hadn't she started to befriend?
Taking a sharp breath of air in, she shook of the thoughts entirely. Footsteps were sounding against the ground, turning to look over her shoulder, she could see Steve and Sam walking in. Allie had started to set the table when the two stopped in their tracks.
"You weren't kidding," Sam grinned over at Steve. "She cooks."
"Merry Christmas," she smiled over at them. "I thought it was the least that I could do."
"Oh, you could do it a whole lot more," Sam gave a small smirk, taking an exaggerated smell of the air. "Damn it smells good."
"Wait until you taste it," Steve grinned. "Allie's always been a better cook than me."
Allie shook her head a touch as she walked to pick up the plates of food she had made and placed them on the table. More footsteps sounded down the hallway, more of their teammates and friends appearing from around the corner.
At the realization that Allie had cooked the breakfast, a few looked to her with surprised expressions. It wasn't long until others were agreeing with Steve's sentiment. The memory of the Commandos trying her cooking for the first time flashed in her mind. Remembering the way they couldn't stop asking for more, she smiled. A few of those at the table that morning seemed to lean the very same way.
As it turned out, her cooking breakfast for everyone had been something sorely missing from the Compound. Along with being asked to cook more often, she had noticed each of those she ate breakfast with seemed to be a touch merrier than they had before, or maybe she had just imagined it. She wanted to hope she didn't just imagine it.
She spent time amongst the others, stories being told and movies being watched. It was different than the Christmas days she had spent in Brooklyn. It was different than the Christmas days she had spent as part of the Commandos. But it was just as pleasant as those times were.
Lunch had passed by the time presents had even been mentioned. Allie wasn't surprised that the others had gotten one another presents. She herself had gone and gotten them each something. She was surprised, however, to discover that they had gotten her presents as well.
She had received new clothes, papers and pens, her brother had even purchased her more CDs. Allie handed out the gifts she had gotten for the others, watching their smiles grow. Wanda in particular seemed taken aback when she opened the books filled with sheet music for guitar.
"Well, I noticed the guitar in your room," Allie commented. "I thought you might like sheet music."
"Thank you," Wanda almost sounded surprised as she looked down at the music. Allie was unsure how to take her surprise until she saw Wanda's smile growing. "I like it."
Allie nodded and glanced down at the present in her own lap. It was a bit heavy, something that she hadn't been expecting. Tearing the carefully wrapped paper, Allie quickly released what she was holding. In her lap sat beautiful copies of Shakespeare's plays and sonnets.
"I had seen a memory of him giving you those plays," Wanda admitted. "I thought you might like having them again."
"I do," Allie nodded with a warm smile. "Thank you. You know, it's what he tended to give me as a gift. I could always count on novels or scripts from Bucky. It feels a bit like having him back in my day."
In the two Christmases she had spent with the Commandos, it had always felt like a warm holiday at home. When she had thought about the holiday this time around, she wasn't sure it would feel that way. But she was wrong.
Around her, there was a warmth that the Avengers seemed to have. Maybe they weren't the same types of personalities that she had been accustomed to. Maybe they carried burdens and pains of their own, much deeper in some ways than what Dugan or herself or Bucky or Steve, or any of them for that matter, had carried.
Maybe it was just the way she had her brother back. She could enjoy the day to some degree. She did have friends now, finding herself spending every other afternoon with Wanda who would put sitcoms on her television and answer any questions that Allie had. Allie found she enjoyed sitcoms, looking forward to her afternoons with Wanda.
Sam had taken it upon himself to talk to her about what had happened. What she talked about always stayed between them, and she was grateful for that. Steve was relieved to see that someone had offered her a shoulder to lean on that wasn't himself.
The afternoon passed and the rest of the presents were given. A small Christmas dinner was made, mainly by Allie and Steve with Wanda volunteering to help halfway through. Allie's laughter could be heard bubbling around the kitchen, something a few hadn't seen yet. Dinner was served and eaten, dishes were done, and goodnights had been said.
Allie spent another hour or so with Wanda talking about what she missed about the holiday when she was in Brooklyn. Wanda had introduced her to Christmas specials. Allie was particularly fond of Rudolph.
When the night had begun to wind down and night had approached, Allie made her way back to her bedroom. Turning on the light, she glanced back at her dresser and the small stack of CDs. Walking over to it, she placed another collection of Christmas music inside.
Pressing play on her CD player, Allie began to hum the carols. Allowing herself to turn her mind off and enjoy the warmth of the day, she placed the gifts she had been given in their new spots. Holding a copy of Romeo and Juliet, she gave it a small smile. Placing it on her nightstand, she sat down on her bed.
Closing her eyes, she took her locket in her hand and squeezed it tightly. She thought of him. Was Bucky enjoying Christmas? Did he have a warm and festive breakfast? Was he safe with friends? Did he have friends the way she was finding she did? She could only hope he was okay.
A week later, the New Year had approached. Sitting with a cup of hot chocolate, Allie sat in her pajamas with a book of sonnets. Steve walked into the lounge, giving her a small smile when she had looked up.
"You know, there is a party going on downstairs," he mused. "You could go to it."
"It's a work party," she corrected him. "They wouldn't need me there."
"But they would want you there," Steve gave a small shrug of his shoulders. "Sam is still talking about your cooking. Christmas morning made an impression."
"At least it's a better impression than what I originally gave," the small huff of air puffed between her lips. "I'm fine Steve."
"Come on, it'd be more fun than you think," he encouraged.
Closing the book, she held her mug with both hands. Allie could only study her brother for a moment. Steve was the one trying to convince her to go to a party? She couldn't remember a time when that was the case. Wasn't it always her who teased him? He had always been so serious when they were young.
In the silence, she could just barely make out the sounds of the party. Sure, it may have been a fun time, and it was filled with joy and laughter, but she wasn't so sure she really would be welcomed. Sam and Wanda may have been working on becoming friends with her, but apart from them and her brother, was there much at the party for her?
"You can't let me go on my own," Steve teased. "I didn't think I was the one who liked a party."
"Correction: it was always Bucky dragging us out to parties and dance halls," she snorted, grinning as she looked at her brother. Sighing, she put the book of sonnets to the side and walked her mug to the kitchen. "Let me change and then I'll join you."
A short bit later, Allie was down and in the midst of the crowd. She didn't find herself listening closely to any of the music around her. Instead, she followed her brother around. It was odd, following him instead of having him trail behind her and Bucky. The thought was yet another reminder of how times had changed. She wasn't sure she liked it.
The two made polite conversation to those who stopped them. There were plenty of lower clearance workers. Many were average agents, but as she looked out, she began to recognize the doctors and scientists that were employed by Tony. She had been making notes each night about what Steve told her.
Allie and Wanda had talked for a few minutes, happily keeping to themselves as Steve went on to talk to different people. There were a few snacks here and there that they ate together, keeping an eye for when Steve would be done.
When he had finished, midnight was approaching quickly. Wanda had said a quick goodbye, leaving the siblings to walk together. Steve again led the way, walking up to greet Tony.
"Cap," Tony greeted. "You got her down here?"
"It'd be shame to celebrate a new year alone," Allie mused, her eyes roaming around the party. "Steve mentioned to me at one point that you enjoy a good party."
"Yeah, well," Tony gave a small shrug of his shoulders and glanced around. "I still have to get up in the morning bright and early."
"What a way to start a new year," she gave a small, mostly polite, laugh.
Around the party were plenty of people animatedly talking and enjoying the music. As she began to finally listen, Allie hadn't the foggiest clue of who she was listening to as the music played. She had a new level of familiarity with new music, but something pricked at the back of her mind as she longed for the music she had heard in those Brooklyn dance halls.
There were those dancing, those eating, those sitting and lounging. There small pockets of people drinking together, clinking glasses and waving down waiters for another drink. Noticing one of the young waiters walking in their direction, Stark looked at the siblings.
"Champagne?" Tony pointed over to the waiter walking closer to them.
Allie watched as he took his own flute, and for a moment, she reached for one as well. She blinked at her hand, glancing to her brother who watched her movements. He didn't look angry or excited. He simply had a blank expression on his face. Pursing her lips, she swallowed harshly and took her hand back. Shaking her head a bit, she smiled at the waiter.
"No thank you," she rubbed at her wrist.
"Suit yourself," Tony said under his breath, giving the waiter a tight-lipped smile. "Oh, and uh, by the way, I'll need you to start coming in to see about this suit prototype I've got going for you."
She blinked. For a split second, she could have sworn that Howard was in front of her again. A bittersweet, melancholic feeling rushed over her. With a small, miserable excuse for a breath, she nodded.
"Tell me when and I'll be there," her smile was half-hearted.
"Tony?" Pepper Pott's voice could be heard calling for him.
"That's my cue. Happy New Year," he gave a brief acknowledgment to both of the Rogers siblings.
Steve let out a low, deep breath. Allie was biting the inside of her cheek lost in thought, not that he wasn't already accustomed to seeing her deep in thought. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder and giving a small squeeze, he smiled.
"It's a new year," he mused. "I think it could be a good one."
"Really?" a laugh puffed out from her mouth, thick with sarcasm. "I don't know if it'll be a good one."
Steve looked over at the countdown, watching as the last few minutes of the year ticked away. For a moment, he thought of his own year. He thought of the missions he and the other Avengers had gone on. He thought of Sokovia and what had happened. He thought of seeing Allie for the first time in seventy years.
Allie thought of her year. She had been frozen in time for the first few months. She had been frozen in time possibly for years. She still wasn't certain on that. She remembered going through the final injections, that final serum they had put in her that gave her powers. That subpar flat she spent a few months in before she braved coming back to New York and finding her brother.
Neither of them could have predicted what they had faced that year. Yet, neither of them could have ever predicted everything that happened since World War II had started.
Casting her own eyes on the countdown, Allie took a breath. "I know my resolution," she glanced up at him. At the twitching up of his eyebrow, she took in a deep, resolved breath. "I'm going to find Bucky."
Steve couldn't help the amused grin that popped onto his lips. Nodding at her, he took his own breath. "Well, we're both here now. Maybe we will."
"We will."
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A couple of weeks into the New Year, Steve had woken Allie up earlier than she had liked. He didn't say much more than for her to get dressed for training, which she rolled her eyes at. She hadn't been a fan of waking up early to train when she went to the S.S.R., and she already didn't like it at the Compound either.
She spent the walk with Steve yawning and stretching her arms, making a feeble attempt to wake herself up completely before her ass could be handed to her during a sparring session.
She had expected to take a particular turn down the hallway, knowing that was where they had gone the past few times he had taken her to go and train. Steve didn't look back as he went down a new corridor, one that looked far more specialized than a gym.
Stopping in front of the last door that sat in the corridor, Steve opened the door and turned back, nodding for her to go in. Standing and leaning against the doorframe of Allie's new training space, he watched with a small smile as she took in the room. It was clear that it had a large level of protection, but it didn't feel cold.
"This is far better than what I had at The Lab," a small of amazement puffed from her mouth. "There, it felt like a prison. I actually feel like I'm getting to train."
"Well, you have Tony to thank for that," he nodded and closed the door to the room. "Now, can you show me what you're capable of."
Allie folded her arms across her chest. Pursing her lips as she thought, she turned to him. "Haven't you already seen what I can do?"
"Well, yes," he agreed. "But now you're safe and can let go. This room can handle it."
Allie took in a breath. Closing her eyes for just a moment, she could have sworn she was back in time. She could have sworn that seventy years hadn't really passed. She was just in the S.S.R. with Bucky while he was teaching her how to use the weapons at her disposal. Opening her eyes, she felt a wave of disappointment realizing she really was in an entirely new century.
"Alright," she looked at her brother for a moment.
Across the room, she noticed a number of training dummies lined up. Without much a second thought, she gave a slight wave of her hand, and one was completely engulfed in flames as it slowly melted apart.
At the door, Steve could barely do anything but blink at the dummy. He knew that she had to have been powerful, he had seen how easily she could create a small forest fire and how easily she could put it out if she chose to. He wasn't sure, however, that Allie knew how powerful she was.
"We'll have to ask Tony for spare mannequins," she commented, turning and completely encapsulating another in a thick casing of ice.
Watching his sister, Steve wasn't sure if he was more scared of her than he had ever been or prouder than he had ever been. Maybe it was a mix of both, awe completely washing over him. After watching her lower the flames before entirely ridding the room of them, Steve found his mind filled with thoughts and ideas.
These abilities Allie had, could they be used both by herself and with the other members of the team? Who else could she work with to develop strategies and systems? At once, he thought of Wanda.
The two women had powers that were unlike anything he had seen. They were forces to be reckoned with. The thought of them working together pricked continuously in his mind. What if they combined their abilities? What would happen? What would the two of them be capable of?
The world was riddled with threats and issues that required much more than just a pair of fists and vibranium shield. Maybe what they needed was a girl with telekinesis and a girl with fire and ice.
"Wow," Natsha blinked at the destroyed training dummy. The sudden voice caused both Rogers siblings to jump in place. Allie gave a sheepish grin and bit the inside of her lip as she looked between Natasha and her brother. Natsha gave a slight shake of her head and smiled. "I'm glad you're on our side."
"Romanoff?" Steve's brow had risen as he nodded to what she was holding.
"I bring a gift," she grinned, holding out a folded suit in her hand. "Tony's busy but still wanted to send it down to you."
"My suit?" Allie looked at Natasha, watching as she was given a small nod of confirmation.
"Try it on," Steve grinned.
She went to do just that. There was something refreshing about having a new suit. At The Lab, she had always been kept in activewear, she had never been given something that was as nice as this.
It wasn't nearly as bulky as her tactical suit from the war. Instead, it was thinner and more flexible, but thick enough to protect her. It was such a close shade of blue, she had to wonder if Tony had taken direct inspiration from his dad's design. The fabric looked almost identical to the one used for Steve's suit.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she looked at the sleeves, ones that went down onto her hands, almost like it was meant to appear as if it could harness her powers. A pair of gloves that were only missing the fingers were sat with the suit, and she put them on. They were a darker blue just as the thickly padded boots were and the protective vest on the outside of her suit were.
There were stripes of lighter blue that lined her body, something she knew was purely aesthetic rather than practicality. Looking down the length of her own body, she liked the look of it. It wasn't uncomfortable to move in, and as she tried forming a flicker of flames, she watched as the fabric remained intact. It was going to work.
Walking back into the room and looking to Natasha and Steve who were in the midst of talking, they both looked to her. Each of them looked over her appearance, approval seeming to settle onto their faces.
"It looks good," Natasha grinned. "Blue's your color."
Allie's smile dropped as she heard the words. Her eyes turned to the ground, remembering the night Bucky had told her that same sentiment. It seemed that wherever she went, whatever she did, she was followed by the memories of his words. Taking a breath and looking back to Natasha, she smiled.
"Thank you."
"Does it handle the heat and ice?" Steve questioned.
"You tell me," Allie grinned and turned to the intact training dummy in the corner of the room.
Swiping her hand up and engulfing it in flames before waving her hand and encapsulating it in ice, she looked at her hands with pride. There was something satisfying to having her own suit, her own space, people that saw the value in what had been done to her.
"I think you're right," Natasha whispered to Steve. "We need to get them training together."
Allie could hear the two as they whispered about plans for training and strategic meetings later in the week but didn't say a word. Instead, Natasha stayed just long enough to watch Allie trying out her powers in the suit and with her new resources. Steve stepped in a few times to make suggestions, even when it drove his sister nuts.
The day passed by, Allie's training happening here and there throughout it. It wasn't until later in the day when Allie went to go and say goodnight to Steve that she took pause. In his room, he had a desk covered in files. She was surprised that they weren't all kept in his office.
She glanced at a few of them as they talked, recounting the day's events. She quickly realized why a few of them were in his bedroom. They were of Bucky and the possible leads to him. Some seemed to have notes stuck to them with words like "debunked" and "possible", but for the most part, they seemed to be dead ends.
"Steve?" she glanced at the different files on his desk. At the small hum that came from his throat, she swallowed harshly and turned to him. "When we find him, you do know that I won't be able to leave him again. Right?"
Steve paused, staring at his sister for a moment. His first thought was one that was completely unsurprised by the statement. As her older brother, however, he began to worry.
"I understand that once he's found, you don't want to leave him," he began, swallowing harshly. "But you do understand that there would be a good chance it would jeopardize you being a free citizen, right?" he watched she pursed his lips. "He's going to be a wanted man."
"I know," she nodded. "But didn't I sign up for better or for worse?"
"I'm not so sure he'd feel the same about that," Steve furrowed his brows.
Allie took in a breath, pursing her lips. "Steve, I'm serious. When we find him, I'm staying with him."
He took a deep breath, letting it out with a sigh. Swallowing and nodding, he gave tight-lipped smile.
"I know."