Chapter Text
It seemed like the world always wanted there lives to be a battle, and I had no idea why, but now I do because the battle that I thought I started; started way before I was born.
July 16, 2001 was the day of my first battle, the day I was born to be exact. I was born at 11: 32 p.m. Weighing six pounds and being fourteen inches long. I had a mop of blonde hair and piercing blue eyes , and how do I know? Well I've seen pictures, pictures of me and my dad and just me, but none have my mom in them because she died, and it was my fault.
Yet I still grew up under the watchful eye of my protective father. Most said that we were the perfect family, but I always scoffed at them even at young age, but how could we be a family when I had no mother. I tried asking questions about her, but all I got was "you look just like her."
Back then I thought that my dad died that day to, but I was about to find out that he still had a lot of fight left.
I never noticed my dads traumatic flashbacks until I was seven, once I finally barked up the courage to ask him he just got this really sad look, and said "I can't trouble you with my pain Kels." After that I closely watched him whenever he didn't think I was looking. He often punched the walls, screamed, or just plain cried which broke me but I couldn't do anything.
The June after sixth grade is really when my life changed. My dad got a call offering him a new job, and I for one was overjoyed since he hated his previous job, so I pushed and pushed for him to accept but he just told me over and over that I didn't understand. He was right though I didn't understand.
So one night we went out, and he said it would be the last time we could do this which confused me considering we were at a park, and I loved parks. For awhile we just stared at each other, but soon he started crying which made me cry for some reason, and then he started explaining.
"Her name was Sharon, and like I say often you remind so much of her that sometimes it's painful." I nodded as he continued explaining everything rom the war to being thawed from ice, and for a tween it was hard to process, and I tried not to believe but how could I turn against my dad. Then he explained his new job which was to become Captain America again. As a child I wanted to jump up and down and to all my friends that my dad was a superhero, but I didn't understand the consequences at the time.
The next morning my dad quietly entered my room while I was still half asleep. He kissed my forehead and promised he would return before my birthday. After that I heard nothing from him, and I woke up to an empty house after that. Most days I went to my friends houses so I wasn't alone, but sometimes I liked the utter silence leaving me to think.
One sleepover I had with two of my other friends we ended up watching the news as the God Loki attacked New York City, and her father and the rest of his team were there nearly being killed every five seconds. My friends giggled about how soft Thor's hair was or how ripped Captain America, which made me gag, but I sat on the other side of the couch curled up terrified about what I saw worried he really wouldn't return even after he promised.
It was after that once he came home that I realized he was really never dead he Just needed to be woken up. Immediately I embraced him in the biggest hug I could muster letting tears spill from my eyes.
After that he just went on small missions nothing to big, but still scary and still dangerous. While he was gone for a day or two I found myself partying with more than just my girls, I partied with guys. Once I met Alex we immediately hit off, but after that night he changed. Hen he held her hand he squeezed to were it left a mark, he let his hands roam over her flat body even though she said no, and he threatened her not tell anyone.
It wasn't until he actually kissed her, taking her first kiss which was supposed to be special, that she ended it with him. But for that he made sure that the rest of her seventh grade year was torture. Boys smacking her butt, rubbing her thigh, or shoving up against her. If her dad knew of the things that boys did to her without her permission he would flip out, and show up to her school and go full Captain America on them.
It was April when he got his next mission, and it was just supposed to be a smallish one, but one thing led to another and he was gone longer than expected, and I was left alone with my 'admirers'.
I survived the rest of the year, but dad barely did I saw reports all over the news looking for him saying he was a criminal along with agent Romanoff. It freaked me out a little bit seeing what I thought were his allies shoot at him, but I refused to believe that he was bad, so I stopped watching the news not wanting to be engaged with there lies.
He soon returned but explained very little, and he seemed off like the flashbacks were happening all over again. All he said was he met an old friend, but he was different. I shouldn't have been surprised when he brought Natasha home one night after a small patrol saying she needed to stay hidden, but I saw through that.
I also shouldn't have been mad, and stormed out but I couldn't help it. I also shouldn't have cried, but I was worried that he was moving on and would forget my mom. I heard apologizes from miss Romanoff through the thin walls of there apartment which just added fuel to my fire for some reason.
"Kels can you open up so we can talk?" dad asked worry evident in his voice. After a minute I sighed and opened the door reluctantly. Immediately I regretted my actions once I saw his pained and exhausted face. "I'm sorry dad I'm just... Just scared" I said barely able to say it. "Why would you be scared Kels we can trust..."
"Dad it's not that, I'm scared you're going to forget mom" I whispered meekly. I remember the worry immediately wash away from his face, and be replaced with understanding. "How could I forget her when she's right here" he said touching both of there hearts. "Besides Natasha and
I are not like that we're colleagues, but I thought you might enjoy talking to another girl" he said pulling me in for a tight hug.
After that I gave Natasha, or Nat, a chance and we actually really hit off. We both had secrets and found it easy to confide in each other, but she to was only around a few times a year.
Once eighth grade started I started taking my dance career more seriously, and not only using it as a way to escape the house. Everyday I walked to the studio considering dad was usually busy. Plus he went off again leaving a note because he had to leave urgently. It said that he didn't know how long he would be, but he didn't want to promise me anything.
So once again I was alone but used a different method to keep me busy, I stayed at the studio and once I even fell asleep there. Everyone thought I was crazy, but I didn't want to watch the news with them and see what was happening. Instead I would've rather dance.
This time when dad came home he told me all about it which was unusual, but I loved hearing the tales of ultron when he was safely in front of me, so I knew he survived.
Over the length of my freshmen year he was gone more periodically, training new avengers and what not. By now I had isolated myself from practically everyone at school because so many of them hurt me, but I had my dance friends to turn to, but even they wanted to engage in the childish games involving superheroes that they thought were hunky.
"So I would kiss iron man, marry captain America, and kill hulk" one of her friends giggled. "What would you do Kelsey?" She asked as they looked at her eagerly. I remember hesitating not wanting to pick any of my dads colleagues to kiss, marry, or kill. "I don't really want to think of myself getting with thirty year old guys" I laughed nervously.
"Oh, but you would do Adam Levine" a girl teased playfully shoving my arm which I immediately Tensed at. I gaped at her once regaining my composure. "I think you're forgetting Spider-Man I would for sure get with him" I stated feeling pleased and so did my friends.
For awhile life was normal I got used to dad leaving all the time, and just appreciated the time we did share, and I even got a new boyfriend David, but dad hated his rebel attitude even though I never joined in.
the most recent thing he did was a war against his best friend for another friend which tore him apart but that was 4 months before something much worse would happen.
One day while dad was in upstate New York, and I was getting ready for dance the house was ambushed by guys in black suits. We had prepared for the moment, but it was still nerve racking as ten guys pointed there guns at me.
"We're here for Kelsey and Steve Rogers if that is you please turn yourself over." I gulped trying to remember the script that I had written. "I've never heard of Kelsey and Steve Rogers Before I am Jane Matthews, and I was just getting ready to go to dance" I said in a shaky voice trying to keep my eyes on all of them.
"Where's your dad?" The same guy screamed. "He's a semi truck driver, and is out a lot" I stated as I heard one of them click there gun. At that moment my dad crashed through the window knocking two guys out as he did giving me a chance to run and hide, but some of the men followed me shooting there guns making me duck, but my dad threw his shield knocking all three out. I turned to see the rest of the men passed out in our living room floor and dad standing I between them.
Without a word he ushered me upstairs yelling that we had less than an hour to pack, and I was still half paralyzed from the earlier scene so I didn't question it. I grabbed two suitcases and filled them full of clothes not knowing exactly what we were doing. Once I was finished I sprinted into my dads room hoping to get answers.
"The same thing happened at Stark Tower, so we're relocating up state to the facility with everyone else." That was all he said as he quickly shoved me downstairs and out the door to our car. "Dad who were they?" I asked in fear.
"HYDRA"