Archive of Our Own

Once Upon a Time, a blue sun in a galaxy far far away exploded, sending radiating shock waves and pieces of the star throughout the surrounding galaxies. 

Many of these pieces of star burnt out on their journey. Some struck other stars or planets.

But one lone piece continued to travel. A small blue speck floating through an infinite darkness. 

Its glow never weakened. It sailed through space and past other stars and planets, avoiding them as if it had a purpose. 

Finally, it started to sink into the atmosphere of a small green and blue planet. 

The stone burned through the atmosphere and fell, gravity hurtling it faster and faster towards the ground. 

It pierced the terra and lodged into the dense layers of earth. 

There was a witness to this meteor arriving. One man was watching the sky when it broke through and entered the atmosphere. His wide eyes followed its trail and he began to search for it. 

It took him over a month to track it down, but eventually he came to the spot where it had landed. 

And he knew he had arrived at the right spot because by that time, the growth of the dense forest had changed. 

The area was more alive. The plants had a glow to them. 

But there was one flower, a beautiful lily that was clearly the most changed. Its petals glowed softly in the evening light, and the intense blue in which they were colored told the man this was the thing he was searching for. 

He sat beside it for days, trying to understand what it could mean. Where the glow was coming from, how he could benefit from this thing. 

Eventually, the man reached out his red hands and tore a petal from the flower, unsure if he was destroying the thing. 

But the flower simply continued to glow. 

The man held the petal in his hand, studying it and wondering how it could still glow after being removed from its host. 

Then he felt a sensation on his palm. 

Where the flower had been ripped from its plant, a liquid flowed, turning the man’s skin from red to its once normal shade. 

The change spread until he felt a jolt of energy and a full change. 

He stood, shocked at the transformation. He was his old self, before the age and disease had turned him into the monster he’d been. His hair was back, skin was flawless and supple. And he felt… strong. 

Greed and joy gleamed in his eye and he devised a cover so that way he could hide this plant from anyone else’s eyes. 

——————

100 Years Later

Stories of the man who never aged were among the myths and legends of the area as it began to change and grow. Population increased as the villagers thrived in the area. Although the effect was lesser, the meteor had made the lands fertile and dense with nutrients, causing many to move there. 

Eventually a kingdom grew out of the small villages. Ruled by a loving king and queen who were chosen by the people. They lived bountiful, happy lives. 

Soon, the queen became pregnant. The kingdom was thrilled, an heir that would solidify the lineage and legacy of their kingdom. 

But something was wrong. 

The queen became ill, forced to remain in bed for fear of losing the child. The king sent far and wide for help. Trying to find anyone or anything that could save his wife and child as she was growing weaker by the day. 

A scientist and magician named Abraham Erskine came to the king. He told of the myth and legend of the man who had been healed and never seemed to age. A fairytale since he had no proof, but he believed it. Could sense their kingdom was different. A special land. And he convinced the king that something in their kingdom was the cause. 

The king trusted the man and sent out legions of soldiers. They were to look for anything unusual. Anything that may save his wife and baby’s life. 

Three days later, the flower was discovered. The intense aura of the thriving land around it had given it away. Erskine knew it had to be the one as it had been cleverly disguised and hidden.  Which meant the man who never aged was still around protecting the secret. 

But Erskine instructed them to dig up the flower, roots and all. 

He carefully distilled a tonic using up all the liquid inside and administered it to the queen.

Joy and elation filled the kingdom as she got better, and gave birth to a healthy boy. 

The boy’s eyes glowed bluer than could ever be natural, and his parents knew he was special. 

The kingdom celebrated by shooting fireworks up into the sky, as high as they could manage. The booms and cheers, celebration and music lasted all night long. 

And all was well. 

Or so they thought. 

The man who never aged discovered his flower was missing not long after. 

It didn’t take long for him to find out what had happened. 

Rage filled him. It had been ages since he’d been back to the flower and his skin was already starting to return to its monstrous red shade and he knew he didn’t have long. At the beginning, the liquid from the flower had kept him healthy for years. But the older he became, the shorter the time was in between needing its healing qualities. So he devised a plan and enacted it, stealing into the castle, and making his way up to the child’s room. 

The man loomed over the crib of the sleeping child. 

And like the flower, the man had determined that the magic of his power must be inside the child. So he made a small slice, drawing only a single drop of blood. But enough to waken the baby, who started to cry. 

The man was startled by the shade of blue of the boy’s eyes. He quickly wiped up the drop of blood, feeling the sense of energy and liveliness return to him. 

He could hear feet. Probably the queen drawn by her son’s cry. So the man stole away, hiding behind the curtain to watch. The queen indeed appeared and soothed her child. 

Once he was back asleep, the queen watched him for a bit, stroking his soft golden hair and singing a tune the man did not recognize. 

Then she left. 

And he knew that he would not be able to keep returning for the boy’s blood. And he didn’t know if the blood would keep if he took a vial of it.

So he had only one option. 

He wrapped the sleeping boy into his cape and stole the child, stealing off into the night. 

He heard the alarm raise as he was riding out of the kingdom. But it was too late, he had his prize. Now he just needed to figure out a way to keep it. 

————-

Five Years Later

Steve crept quietly, knowing his papa would be upset if he caught him out of bed. So he silently made his way to the stone window and piled his fairytale books so he could climb up and reach the window ledge. 

Then he waited. 

His patience was rewarded as not long after, burst after colorful burst filled the night sky. 

The colors and shapes were dazzling to him. 

He’d seen them on accident two years ago, having had fallen asleep on the stone ground by the window with a pencil in his hand. His papa wouldn’t let him waste a candle to draw. So he would use the moonlight. But this time, a burst of color fading into the window had awoken him and he had yawned, looking out and gasping at the incredible sight. 

Every night after that first night, he’d checked to see if more lights would go off. But he was disappointed as night after night passed without the lights. 

Then, his patience was rewarded as the lights once again appeared in the night sky. Steve used a pile of books and his short arms and legs to climb up onto the small stone ledge and watch them, eyes wide with wonder, reflecting the bursts. He tucked his knees up under his chin and smiled at the lights that seemed to burst and wink out just for him. 

————-

Two Years Later

“Papa?” Steve asked, yawning, “what’s wrong?” 

“Nothing.” His father snapped at him, “hold still.” 

Steve did as he was told. Used to these late night awakenings. He felt the knife slice across his palm and he tried not to wince. It was good for papa. It helped papa. 

He watched as his father went from stiff and annoyed and looking feverish to seeming healthy and relaxed. 

“You’ve been good?” 

Steve nodded, eager to please, “yes, papa.” 

“I’ll be gone for a week this time,” his father placed a basket of provisions on the table, a new book and a toy. Steve’s eyes lit up, papa only brought a toy rarely. So rarely. 

“Be good, keep this place clean, and I’ll be back.” 

“I will.” Steve whispered. 

“Get into bed. Cover your face.” Steve did as he was told so that way he wouldn’t see where the exit was. 

He was kept here to keep him safe. His blood was special. That’s what papa told him. People had tried to kill him and steal his blood when he was a baby. It was what kept his papa alive. It kept Steve alive too. That’s what his papa said. So he wasn’t to leave the home they have, carved into the face of the mountain. He could only look out the tiny window, down into the valley where he could just see the tip of the castle over the smaller ridge. 

That’s where the bad people were. His papa had told him never to go there. It was dangerous. He would be killed or worse. Steve didn’t know what worse was, but his papa was the only person he’d ever met, and he knew his papa just wanted to protect him. Steve wondered how such a bad place could have such beautiful lights but he never questioned it out loud.

He heard the secret latch and the sound of stone on stone. Then it was gone. Steve peered out and saw that he was once again alone.

He walked over to the table, holding his bleeding palm against his chest. His eyes stared at the toy, eager to play with it. 

But Papa had rules. So he grabbed the broom and began sweeping instead. 

—————-

5 Years Later

“But—“ Steve tried, “I’ll be careful. I won’t let anyone see me.” 

His papa slammed his hand down on the stone table and glared at him. “Look at me, Steven.” He gestures to himself. “I am pale and dark haired. My eyes are brown. I look like the people in the kingdom.” He points at Steve, “you are straw haired with mutated blue eyes. They will catch you in an instant. You would stand out among them like a  freak.” 

Steve’s brow furrowed, “what’s a freak?” 

“A strange person. One who doesn’t fit in and isn’t wanted.” Steve swallowed thickly, trying not to be hurt. “I’m just trying to protect you, Steven. There are people out there who would do anything to get their greedy vicious hands on you. You’re safe here. I’ve protected you all this time. Don’t you trust me?” 

Steve hung his head, and he nodded. “I’m sorry.” 

“Now, no more nonsense about seeing the kingdom.” 

“Yes, papa.” 

That night, Steve slipped out of his bed and stole to the window. He could see the lights. The bursts of colors and the glow as they simmered and sank to the ground. He'd wanted to see them in person so badly he'd actually asked to leave the tower again... But of course it had been a resounding no. 

“Steven?” 

He turned, startled. His father’s face was a menacing frown, “what are you doing? Why are you by the window?”

“Oh” Steve breathed out. “I was just watching the lights—“

“Lights? What lights?” 

Steve pointed to the window, “the lights from the kingdom.” 

His father stared out the window and then turned to Steve. “What are you doing watching them? How do you know about them?” 

Steve was confused, "what? No one, I just… I saw them one night long ago. They happen once every 365 days. And…” he felt his cheeks go red, “I don’t know. I just feel like they’re meant for me.” 

His father sucked in a sharp angry breath. “What are you saying? Why would they be for you?” 

“I don’t know,” Steve stammered out, “I just thought—“ the backhanded slap came quickly. Stinging his cheek and making his voice drop off. 

“Steven. That’s ridiculous. Leave the thinking to me.” Then his chin was being grabbed and his papa was staring at him intensely, “why do you make me treat you this way? Why can’t you just behave? I’m keeping you safe and you should be grateful for that. What I say goes. Isn’t that right?” 

Steve nods, “yes, papa.” 

His father sighed and then wiped at Steve’s cheek where his ring had drawn blood. Steve felt the small sap of energy as his father breathed deeply, the energy transferring. 

His father stood straighter and stronger. “There is nothing more important than your safety. Perhaps all those fairytales are filling your head with nonsense. Those stories are not real, Steven. This world is real. And it’s cruel and full of hatred. And you would be ripped to shreds. So you are safe here. And you must remain here. Understand?” 

“Yes, papa.” 

———————

6 Years Later

Steve could hear his father coming. He looked around to ensure that everything was clean and orderly before he went and sat, waiting. 

He knew where the entrance and exit was now because his papa trusted him to not leave. The stone on stone sounded and then he heard the huff. 

He turned, eyes widening, his father looked worse than last time. Eyes sunken and hair graying. Steve walked over and then knelt, holding out his hand. His father took his knife from his hip and sliced a long thin line along Steve’s palm. Blood pooled and his father grasped his hand with his own. Sighing in relief as the blood poured healing into him. 

“You were gone too long.” Steve stated quietly. “It’s getting worse.” 

The man glared at him but then shook his shoulders and pushed Steve’s hand away. “Once a child always a child. They are hunting you,” his father stated. “More vigorously than ever. I have to do everything I can to avoid them.” Steve watched as his father dragged a satchel from over his shoulder and thunked it onto the table. “Open it.” 

Steve walked over and pulled open the leather flap. His eyes widened, “is this--?” 

“The paints you won’t stop asking for. Yes.” 

Steve felt joy and excitement as he looked at the little metal canisters, a small dab of paint on top to denote the color. He looked up, “you got them for me?” 

His father nodded. “You’re never more quiet than when you’re painting. So it’s doing both of us a favor.” 

Steve just stared at the paints in disbelief. The last time he’d received a present had been years ago. 

“Thank you,” he whispered out. “Thank you.” 

“Dinner?” 

Steve nodded quickly, setting the paints down gently. “Yes, it’s ready.” 

His father sat beside the fire and began reading. “Good, bring it to me.” 

“Yes, papa.” 

—————

Warmth. Golden hair dangled in front of him. Soft hands touched his cheek. Blue eyes, sort of like his stared at him. 

A soft melody was hummed to him. His hands reached out, wanting to know who this person was. Someone so kind and so gentle. Chubby small arms were all he could see reaching. His arms didn’t look like that. He frowned, then his eyes caught something else.

Something blue and beautiful above him kept his eye——

“Steven!” 

He shot up, knocking his head on the small wooden bunk bed above his. He turned, his father was standing over him, glaring.

“Yes, papa?” 

“What is this?!”

He looked at the paper his father shoved into his line of vision. A strange deja vu as it was the same object he was just dreaming of. 

“I—“ Steve started, “I don’t know. I dreamt about it and then I drew it.” 

His father seemed surprised, something that didn’t happen often. 

“Kneel.” 

Steve knelt without question and raised his palm. 

His father cut a long line, deeper than usual. He kept his wince internal. The sigh of relief from his father made the tension in the room go lighter. 

“I don’t want to see another drawing of this ever again.” 

Steve furrowed his brow. “Why not? It’s just a flower.” 

Steve saw it coming. He always saw it coming nowadays. The slap threw his head back and he bit his tongue to keep from groaning. His father was very strong right after taking his blood. 

“Do not ask inane questions that you will not be able to comprehend the answers to! You are ignorant of the world—“

Because you won’t let me go into it! Steve thought but didn’t say aloud

“—So you are to listen to what I say.” His father glanced towards the large metal shackles that were cemented into the stone wall. “Or do you need another few days to think about it?” 

Steve swallowed hard. “No. I understand. I apologize for asking.” 

“Good.” 

———————

Peggy grinned as they crested the mountain. There it was. The kingdom of Saibhir. 

“Come on, fellas.” She called to the two trailing behind her. “We need to make it to the kingdom center by dusk.” 

She could feel Rumlow’s eye roll at her back but she didn’t care. One last heist. Then she could retire and live her life the way she actually wanted. 

“Shouldn’t we…” Rollins started, sounding like he’d taken a rock to the head. "Make camp outside the kingdom before we go in?” 

She turned to him and sighed. “What, so that our belongings can be found? Or so that way after we rob the castle of some of its treasure we can sit outside comfy in our bedrolls hoping they don’t find us and string us up as thieves?”

Rollins seemed too confused to speak and Rumlow smacked him on the back of the head. 

—————

“I will wait for you in the chamber,” she instructed. “Do not be late or we will all die. Do you understand?” 

Rumlow glared at her and she smirked before throwing her hook and rope and ascending the castle wall. 

————

Her footsteps were silent as she slunk along the walls. Timing her journey perfectly, avoiding all the guards and making her way deeper. 

Finally she found the door she was looking for. The castle’s treasury. 

After a few failed attempts, she managed to get the massive iron lock to click open. She winced as the sound resounded through the empty marble hallways. But quickly slid inside the door and closed it behind her. 

Her mouth gaped at the amount of things her eyes could see. Neatly stacked wooden boxes she was sure were filled with treasure. Then walls of silver dining sets, scales piled high with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. 

She went to reach for those, grabbing a handful would set her up for life, when the glint of something gold caught her eyes. She felt drawn to the portrait. The King and Queen stared out from it, and in the queen's arms, a baby, sleeping, hair blonde like his mother's. A crown sat on the boy’s head, too big for him of course, but it made her smile all the same as it was crooked. 

Which is when she noticed the glass case beneath the portrait. 

She almost gasped aloud. Inside, nestled in velvet was that crown. The crown of the lost prince. 

Gingerly, she picked it up and out of it’s case, studying the incredible work that had gone into the craftsmanship. 

She was about to set it back when she heard running and shouting coming towards her. 

Adrenaline spiked through her and she looked back at the piles of gems. She wanted to run and grab them but she could hear them almost to the door. 

So instead, she shoved the crown into her satchel and ran over to the wall, a window high above, higher than she could ever climb sat up in the stone wall.  “Rumlow!” She shouted. No use being quiet now. “Rumlow!” 

A rope came tumbling down and she thanked her lucky stars, wrapping it around her waist and giving it a solid tug. 

Men were just rounding the corner of the large room as she was hauled up. They were shouting and shooting arrows at her. 

She shrieked quietly and covered her face with the leather satchel to protect herself. An arrow thunked into her bag and another bounced off the thick sole of her boot before she was being yanked up and out through the window. 

There was no time for talking as they raced over the tiles of the roof, slipping and sliding along the way. 

Rollins almost went over the edge but Rumlow managed to grab him and haul him along. 

Her knees and feet protested as she slammed against the stone ground right outside the castles’ huge walls, but she ignored it, heaving a deep breath and scrambling to her feet, running as if her life depended on it. 

Which it did. 

—————

Through panted breaths and sprinting into the woods, she managed to explain that she only had time to grab the crown, but that the gems in it would be enough to split between the two parties and set them up for life. 

She watched a knowing glare trade between Rollins and Rumlow, and her own sense of survival and also annoyance at them rose. 

These goons had been riding on her coattails for the past two years and she was getting mighty sick of it. 

Although they had pulled her out of some tight spaces. She could admit that. But she’d saved them on many occasions as well, so she didn’t like the mutinous looks in their eyes. 

——————

Which was why, with the sounds of thunderous hoof beats and the shouts of the palace guards chasing them, she decided to choose herself over the shaky partnership. 

When Rumlow asked to carry the satchel, she didn’t hesitate, handing it over to him and his suspicious glare. 

But when push came to shove, and they were up against a small ledge about to be ambushed by palace guards, she used her years of pickpocketing to carefully remove said satchel from his shoulders as she climbed the two brothers and scrambled over the edge.

“Help us up!” Rollins called, extending his hand. But she’d got what she wanted and she knew they were dead weight. 

“Actually—“ she said with a smirk, “my hands are full.” She showed the satchel with a little wave and then took off, ignoring the outraged shout of—

“CARTER!” 

——————-

Even though she heard the hoof beats fading further away from her, she did not slow. Intent on putting space in between her and the men she’d betrayed and the guards who would hang them all. 

Peggy avoided clearings and wide open spaces, choosing the dense undergrowth and hanging vines to conceal her and her tracks. 

She skimmed her hand along the stone wall, trying to decide if the sound she heard was a horse or perhaps just another animal when suddenly the stone under her left hand disappeared and she had to catch herself from stumbling. 

She turned to face the rock and frowned. The vines hung, making it all look like one solid wall of rock. 

Slowly she stretched out her hand, surprise flitting through her as her hand passed through the vines and into an empty space behind. 

She could hear something behind her, so she took the leap, stepping behind the vines, and using the rock wall on her right to guide her further into the darkness. 

—————

After a few seconds, she had to tear through a thick wall of vines to get out of the small tunnel. She blinked at the bright light of the sun as she reentered an open space with sky above her. 

But her vision was drawn to the massive rock wall in front of her. What she had thought was the side of the mountain was actually just a strange outcropping, concealing the base of the mountain of which she now stood before. 

The small clearing was green. Plants and birds and bugs skittered around and teemed with life. A little waterfall was rushing to her left and— she grinned, a small crevice high up, almost like a window. 

A perfect place to hide and wait it out. 

—————

With sore toes and fingers and exhausted lungs, she crawled up and over into the hole which turned out to be a window after all. 

She sucked in deep breaths as she laid on her back, eyeing the place. 

It seemed… clean. Quiet. She could see a wooden table and two chairs. 

A bed that was made. 

She stood, about to inspect the dust to see if someone was living here when her senses prickled. 

But it was too late, a painful thwack to her head was the last thing she felt before toppling to the ground. 

——————

With a groan, she awoke, a sharp thumping pain behind her eyes. It only took her a second to realize she was restrained, tied to one of the wooden chairs.

“Oh—“ she sucked in, “oh no.” She started to panic, unable to see the satchel. 

A noise to her left had her head whipping sideways. 

And then she was stunned. 

Blue eyes that were so vibrant they practically glowed stared at her. “Who are you?” A soft, deep voice asked. 

“Um—“

“Why are you here? How did you find me?” The man walked closer and she swallowed thickly at how handsome he was. Tall and well muscled, hair the color of deep gold and skin silky smooth and pale. 

“I don’t know.” She responded honestly. “I just saw the window and climbed.” 

He narrowed his eyes and then picked up something, a book she could tell now, as he turned to her. 

“You’re a girl.” He stated, almost as if it was a question. When she didn’t answer, too confused and head still pounding, he turned the book to face her. An illustration on a page of a woman, long hair and gentle features. Peggy squinted to see better. It looked like a fairytale book. “You’re a girl,” he repeated. “Right?” 

She nodded. “Yes.” Then she glanced around. “Is that a problem?” 

He didn’t answer this time, studying her and circling her. “Who are you?” 

This she knew the answer to, but wasn’t going to share. “Where is my satchel?” 

“Hidden,” he answered. “Where you’ll never find it.” 

Her eyes roamed the place. A small kitchen, a fireplace, a workspace and what looked like a mini laboratory. She could see a set of winding wooden staircases, each going to a different door. But she assumed she’d be able to find it quick if she needed it to. 

“Listen,” she started. “I didn’t mean to intrude. If you give me back my satchel, I’ll leave. No harm done.” 

The suggestion seemed to confuse him. “You… would just leave?” 

“Yes,” she gritted out. “In fact I would be glad to. So if you wouldn’t mind undoing these ropes and letting me be on my way.” 

“Do… you know who I am?” 

She frowned. “Other than the man who has tied me up?”

He seemed so taken aback to that answer that he was quiet. Thinking. 

His eyes flashed and then he slowly approached her. "You really have no idea who I am?"

She frowned. "I really don't."

“Then I’d like to make a deal.” 

Wariness overtook her, but she eyed him calmly, trying to stay alert. “What is the deal?” 

“If you can find your satchel, then you can leave. But if you can’t, you have to take me to see the lights.” 

“Lights?” 

Suddenly he was straightening, eyes wide as if he was frightened. Then he looked at her and winced, “sorry!” He whispered out. But she didn’t have time to ask what he was sorry about because the only sound she heard was the thump, of whatever he'd grabbed to knock her out again, against her skull. 

—————-

Steve ripped the girl from the chair, carefully arranging her into his toy and book trunk. Good thing she was small and the trunk was big and mostly empty. Papa never looked there. 

He coiled the ropes faster than he ever had in his life and then stored them where they belonged. 

He had just pushed the chair back to the table and sunk into it, the same book he’d showed the girl in front of him, as his papa opened the stone door at the base of the stairs. 

Steve looked up, pretending to be surprised. “Is everything alright?” 

His father huffed and set his bag on the table, glaring at him. “Yes, I simply realized I wanted to bring another satchel of the spices in case I was able to trade it.”  

“Oh,” Steve responded. “But you’re alright?” 

His father rolled his eyes and walked over, eyeing the book he was reading. “Still invested in childish nonsense I see.” 

Steve looked down at the weathered pages and flowery text surrounding the image of the brown hair and red tinted lips of the character who reminded him of the lady he’d just hidden. “Sorry, papa.” 

His father raised a knife and Steve held out his hand. After the transfer his father pointed to the far side. “How are you coming along on the experiment?” 

Steve lead his father over to the small laboratory. “I still can’t seem to separate the healing gene from my own blood. It seems to be fused together—“ then Steve gathered the courage he’d been trying to hold together since the last time he'd ventured into this topic, years ago. “Perhaps there’s someone in the kingdom who could help us--” 

The hand was around his throat and he was twisted, back pressed against the stone table and esophagus pinched in less than a second. “What have I said about the kingdom?” His father snarled. “It’s like you have a death wish! They would eat you alive! You would look so foreign to them, they would tear you to pieces! And don’t forget that you don’t know their ways or customs! You would be a vile creature to them. Is that what you want? To be hated? To be reviled as a monster? You would be a monster to them. Your looks and your abilities. They would fear you and hate you. That’s why I’ve dedicated my life to protecting you!” 

Steve's own hands were wrapped around his father’s wrist, but did not pull it away. That wasn’t allowed. His father had taught him the rules. 

Somewhere, deep in his heart and mind, in the crevices where the storybooks and the fairytales had taken root, he thought that this didn’t seem like love or protection at all. But he didn’t know what the real world was like. Perhaps it was. Perhaps fairytales were just that, stories. Falsehoods like his father always said. 

“I wasn’t asking to leave,” Steve whispered, his throat struggling to get enough air to say the lie. “I thought perhaps you could be the one to find someone.” 

The grip loosened on his neck just a touch before his father shoved him hard against the table one last time before releasing him. He turned back to the kitchen, grabbing a bread roll and tearing at it. “That could take a while.” 

“If it means I would be able to save you—“ Steve said softly. “Then it would be worth it.” 

His father did not like to discuss the fact that his health was deteriorating. If he didn’t take blood from Steve at least every eleven days he would get sick rapidly. It scared Steve to think about. 

His father said nothing. Only ate the roll and walked up to his room.

Steve checked very carefully on the woman. She was thankfully still passed out. 

Then he began to make dinner, head filled with tumultuous thoughts about the future. 

An hour later, his father came down the stairs and ate a quiet meal. 

“I know of a man,” his father started. “Perhaps he could figure it out. But I will need to take vials of your blood to do so.” 

Steve agreed easily. After he filled two vials, his father made a new slice across his palm, taking more blood to invigorate himself for the journey. Steve stayed quiet the whole time. 

“I’ll be back in less than a week,” his father stated. “And…” the man sighed, “perhaps I’ll have answers. And more paint.” 

Steve smiled. “I’ll be here.” He reached out, resting his hand on his father’s. “Be safe, papa. I love you.” 

His father’s expression tightened and he withdrew his hand. “I’ll be back soon.” 

Then he was gone. And Steve knew that something... something was not right. Love should not feel so... one-sided. But there was nothing to do about that now. There was a girl. A real life lady in his toy chest and he had just might have the opportunity to achieve his dream. 

The lid creaked softly as he raised it.

—————

She was not sure how long had passed when she struggled back into consciousness. But two apologetic eyes were not what she expected to see. 

“I’m really sorry,” that same soft, but deep voice said. “I had to.” 

Her head was fuzzy. “Had to what?” 

“Keep you hidden. Now, do you accept my deal?” 

It took her a few moments to scramble everything back together into a cohesive thought line. “What lights?” 

“The ones that they have in the kingdom, every 365 days.” 

"They have lights on every night. Year round." 

"The special ones. The ones in the night sky that burst and sparkle."

Peggy frowned. “The firework thing they do for the lost prince?” 

His eyes widened and he was grinning. “Fireworks.” Then he paused, looking curious. “Those are fireworks? Do they... work with fire?” 

Peggy frowned deeper. “Listen, I’m not a magician. I don’t know. They just shoot into the sky and burst into colors and sparks. Why do you care about seeing them?” 

“No reason,” he answered quickly. “Can you take me?” 

She sighed. “Fine. But only if I don’t find the satchel.” 

He nodded and began undoing her bonds. 

Her wrists, slightly raw from the ropes stung upon release and she rubbed at them before glancing around. “Alright…” she breathed out, beginning her search. “Now where are you?”

————-

“I’ve searched this entire damn place. Where is it?” 

The blonde man smiled excitedly. “You have to take me to the lights first.” 

Frustration boiled up through her lips and she threw up her hands. “Fine, I’ll take you to the lights. Now give me my satchel.” 

He stood up and looked at her with a frown. “No. The way you get your satchel back is getting me back here safely.” 

Two thoughts ran through her head. Who on earth would try to harm this massive man that he felt the need for someone else’s protection?

And secondly… he had no doubts about her being that protection. 

She sighed again, loudly. Going back to the kingdom was asking to get caught. But she had done everything but tear down the stone walls to find the satchel. So it was take this strange man to see the lights or lose her ticket out of her circumstances. 

“Fine,” she snapped. “Let’s go.” 

He seemed excited, grabbing a different leather bag and stuffing a few things in it. She didn’t wait too long, throwing her legs over the edge of the window. 

“Wait—“ he said, tapping her arm. “We can take the door,” he offered softly. 

She looked to where he was pointing but could see nothing. He led her over and it must not be as heavy as it looked because he managed to slide open a stone door, three feet thick. “Just down the winding stairs,” he said. 

The door scraped closed behind them and sheltered them in darkness. Her hand along the wall kept her steady as she carefully stepped down, down, down along the winding staircase. 

“So,” she said quietly, feeling like she wasn’t allowed to be too loud for the fear of an echo. “I’m assuming you’ve never been to the kingdom?” 

He made a non-committal sound in his throat before saying, “no. I uh— haven’t.” 

Just then her hand hit an edge and she stopped. “I think we’re at the bottom.” 

“I assume there’s a handle," he whispered. 

And the word ‘assume’ rung in her mind as she searched.  After finding it, she pushed the door open and stepped out. Only glancing back when he didn’t follow. 

He was on the edge of the stone floor, staring at the grass like it was going to bite him. And she suddenly realized he didn't have shoes on. 

“Are you alright, blondie?” She asked with a sarcastic bite to her tone.

“My name is Steve,” he responded with a worried expression. “Well, Steven actually.” 

“Okay, Steve—“ she intoned, amused at how the nickname annoyed him which meant she was going to use it again. “Time’s a-wasting. The lights happen just after sundown tomorrow and it’s a decent walk.” 

When he looked up at her, there was true fear in his eyes. “I’ve never been outside before.” 

Her mouth dropped. “Excuse me?” He didn’t repeat it. Just stared at the grass with a guilty expression. “Why not?” 

“It’s not safe,” he answered slowly, taking a small step back. “My father will be so angry if I leave.” 

Trepidation and confusion mixed in her gut. “Why would he be angry?” 

“There’s dangerous people out there who—“ he stopped himself, his throat bobbing with the strength of his swallow. “This was a bad idea.” 

Then Peggy shrugged. “Fine, I don’t care. But if you’re changing the deal then I get my satchel.” 

He stared at her and the meadow outside his home for a long minute. “No, I—“ he took a deep breath, “no, I’m going to do it.” 

Then he closed his eyes and stepped off the stone floor onto the grass.

Suddenly he was kneeling, feeling the grass between his fingers and laughing, and she couldn’t believe how fast he moved. Looking at every flower up close, staring at the trees, feeling their bark and startling when a bunny came close. 

She would have laughed if she wasn’t partially annoyed by the waste of time and also how strange the man seemed. How could he have never been outside? 

—you’re a girl, right??—

Suddenly the question made sense. He’d never met one before. 

Peggy looked back up at the window and wondered what sort of upbringing this man had had. 

“How old are you?” She asked, standing in front of the thick vines at the exit. 

“How old?” He asked, seeming confused. 

“Yeah, how old are you?” 

He shrugged, “I don’t know, how do you tell?” 

She blinked. “What do you mean how do you tell? How many birthdays have you had?” 

He looked at her with a confused pull of his eyebrows. “What is a birthday?” 

Something about that question deeply unsettled her. 

“How many years have you been alive?” She asked, leading him through the thick vines out to the main forest. 

"How long is a year?" 

There was a long pause as she tried to rectify him not knowing how long a year was. "It's 365 days." 

His eyes lit up, "oh..." he seemed lost in thought. "They're every year." 

"What is?" 

"The lights. they happen once a year." 

"Yes," she huffed annoyed that they were back to this. "On the lost prince's birthday." 

"Who's the lost prince?"

She rolled her eyes. "The King and Queen's son. He was taken from the kingdom as a baby. That's why he's lost." Steve seemed unsure how to respond. "So how many years have you been alive?" 

“Oh…” he answered, “I’m not sure. My father has never said.” 

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. Is it important?” 

“It’s just strange that you don’t know.” Then a thought popped into her head. “How many times have you watched the lights?” 

He thought for a while before answering, “I don’t know. I’ve watched them every year since I was little.” 

She obviously wasn’t going to get an answer, so she changed the subject. “And why do you need to see them up close?” 

He glanced at her and then at the ground, studying the flowers. “I just have always dreamed about seeing them. Ever since I saw them as a kid.” 

“Well,” she sighed. “I guess your dream will come true tomorrow. And then I get my satchel back right after, right?” 

“Right.” 

——————

Herr Schmidt sighed in frustration. Even the small country road that he usually never saw anyone on was blocked by guards. He could see they were stopping all the women, looking for someone in particular. But he didn’t want to risk it. Perhaps he should return home and try again tomorrow when they were less agitated. 

So he began the trek back. 

As he climbed the stone steps, he felt the ache in his chest again. His heart was almost 176 years old. He was running out of time. 

Rage at the boy he kept filled him. It should have been him who received that tonic. He should be the one with magic flowing through his veins, not the simpleton head-filled-with-fairytales, waste of space he called his son.

At first he had thought to keep the boy in a small cell. But children were so cumbersome and whiny as toddlers so that hadn’t worked. So he’d decided to play benefactor and father instead. Catch more flies with honey so they say. That had been his least favorite lie. But he'd needed the child to believe they were connected. Every time the boy called him papa he felt ill. 

And the idiotic child believed him without question. Which was all well and good as it kept the boy under his thumb. 

But as the child grew, Schmidt knew one day the boy would turn on him. Steven was headstrong and impulsive and Schmidt had already had to teach him the lesson of obedience many times. Schmidt had installed the shackles before the boy was 7 and had kept him locked up on several different occasions to remind him who was in charge. 

It amused Schmidt to no end that the boy didn’t realize he was strong enough to rip the shackles out of the wall now. But once a person learned something could restrain them at a young age, they tended to stop trying to escape it, even as they grew older. Mental bonds once set are hard to break. 

But the boy had had one decent idea. Someone else might know how. Which led Schmidt to think of Erskine. The man who had distilled the tonic from the flower in the first place. He could probably be threatened to do so again but with the child’s blood. And once that was done, Schmidt could rid himself of the boy and be done with this too many years long nightmare of a charade. 

He slid the stone door open, huffing at the amount of strength it took. 

He stepped through and paused. It was unusually quiet. 

He looked around and frowned at one of the wooden chairs set in the center of the room and ropes at it's base. His heart began to beat rapidly. It looked like the whole place had been diligently searched. 

“Steven,” he snapped out. “Steven!” 

When no response came, he began to panic, running up the stairs to the boy's room and flinging open the door. 

Other than looking searched, it was the same as the last time he’d seen it. Wall to wall paintings and books piled on a desk. A little creature sewn together from a garment that had gone threadbare rested on the bed. 

Schmidt tore back down the stairs, calling the boy's name and running up to his room. 

Nothing. 

Schmidt bellowed as he ripped through the kitchen and lab, anger at his possession having been taken or escaped. In a final fit of rage he kicked at the wooden chair, sending it crashing and toppling to the ground. 

It splintered and Schmidt paused as below the decorative wooden carvings on the seat something popped open. 

He frowned, walking closer and crouching, examining the chair. 

Beneath the wooden seat, what looked like the base the chair seat was supported on, was actually a secret compartment. 

His reddening fingers pried the splintered wood up and slowly reached inside, pulling out a small leather satchel. 

His fingers undid the tiny hoop and rope enclosure and pulled out a wanted poster. A woman’s face, pleasant but with something off about the proportions stared at him. She was wanted for thievery in the kingdom. Perhaps that was who the guards on the road had been looking for. 

Something beneath the paper glinted at him. 

—————-

They were probably halfway to the kingdom when she heard his stomach growl. “Are you hungry?” 

“I’m fine,” he answered, eyes darting around them. 

He was pretty jumpy. Every sound seemed like something new and he would stare at any passerby with worry and suspicion. 

“Come on. There’s a tavern near here. We can grab some food.” 

He looked at her, eyes widening innocently. “Is it safe?” 

She wanted to laugh. But she looked at him seriously, remembering another tavern about two miles further down the road. One much less savory. 

Perhaps one scary enough to get him to change his mind and she could get her satchel back early. 

“Of course,” she said with a sly grin. “It’s the highest quality in the kingdom.” 

———————

The Howling Cavern Tavern was more rundown than the last time she was here. Which was perfect. 

They walked up to the door that was half off its hinges. 

Peggy flung it open wide and stepped in. Pleased that it was even worse than she remembered it. 

Dark, dingy, and too loud. Steve seemed aghast, following her with his arms tucked against him like he didn’t want to touch anything or anyone to notice him. 

But that was not an option. Eyes followed him every step he took, reminding her about how odd he did look. Hair blonder than any she’d seen, eyes so blue they basically glowed. Not to mention the height and the muscles. Men turned to look at her but she glared at them, so their eyes moved to him. And he did not glare at them. He stared at them, wide eyed and wary. 

“You got a problem there, pretty boy?” Someone sneered. 

She turned to see a massive man, even more massive than Steve with a mustache and a horrible hat glaring at him. 

“Wh-what?” Steve asked. “Who?” 

“Hey—“ she shouted, hand going to the place she usually kept a knife. But it wasn't there. No clue when she'd lost that. “Leave him be,” she said threateningly instead.  

The man let go of Steve’s shirt and shoved him, but Steve barely moved. The guy glared but Steve didn't stick around, hurrying to follow her. The table they chose had a sticky surface and she grimace, regretting her trick. Because he wasn't backing down and she sure as hell didn't want to eat here. 

But it didn’t matter. 

A thwap caused her and Steve to jump. And she looked down to see a wanted poster with a poorly rendered drawing of her. Probably made after her last heist three villages south of here.

She wanted to groan.

“Ain’t this you, little lady?” 

She smiled tight lipped. “It is not—“ but it was too late. She was being yanked and pulled up and out of the booth. 

“Hey!” She shouted. “Let me go—“ 

“It's a big reward,” the man with an accent similar to hers said. “You’ve been causing trouble for a while. They’ll reward me handsomely—“ 

“Reward?” Another piped up. “What reward?” 

“Nothing—“ said the man holding her.

But the mention of money threw the pub into a panic. She was being yanked between four men trying to decide who was going to turn her in. 

“Hey—“ a voice said quietly, then she heard a clang. “HEY, STOP!” 

The pub came to a freeze and her head swiveled to look back. Steve stood there, something round and metal in his hands. She squinted at it, was that a refuse lid? But he was glaring at them, his hands only trembling slightly as if he feared for his life. “Please, let her go.” 

One of the men turned to Steve, approaching him menacingly. “And why would we do that?” 

“Because…” he swallowed hard, looking like he wasn’t sure but pretending he was, “I need her to take me to the kingdom, to help me fulfill my dream of seeing the castle lights." His eyes went soft and his voice was hushed. But you could hear every word. "I’ve been waiting my whole life to go see them. And this is my only chance. I don’t have anyone else to take me and I can’t go alone. I don’t know the way. So please, I’m asking you to let her go to help me.” Then his face got earnest and his eyes practically oozed sincerity. "Please," he said calmly before taking a deep breath and holding his hands out as if they might hand her over. “Please.”  

The man with the mustache looked at Steve strangely, like he'd lost his train of thought. “I had a dream once.” He looked between the two of them, still gripping her arm, “I wanted to—“

The tavern door slammed open, causing everyone in the room to startle. She only had a second to see the Royal Seal on the uniforms before she was yanking her limbs from everyone’s grasp and ducking down, hauling towards Steve. 

As she crouched to pull him with her, her eyes caught the sight of Rumlow and Rollins in chains. Fear and adrenaline spiked further in her and she yanked Steve down and crawled alongside the wall. 

She had no idea why, as a minute before they’d all been ready to sacrifice her for the reward, but suddenly the patrons of the tavern were crowding around the guards, keeping them occupied while trying to help hide them from view as she led him to the only place to hide, behind the wooden bar.

"Oh I saw them three miles from here!" One of the patrons lied. "Over by the Snuggly Duckling!" Peggy glanced back at Steve who in the dim light by everyone's feet, his eyes were alight with fear and excitement. It was like… he’d affected them. Like his own personal aura had shifted theirs. 

“Psst.” She turned to see a small man. “Down here. Escape tunnel. Go.” 

His accent was strange to her but she didn’t question it. This had been a smuggler's tavern beforehand, so any matter of secret hideouts and escapes probably existed. She leapt forward, crawling into it and heard Steve follow. 

———————

After crawling for a ways, they were able to crouch and eventually able to stand. Steve seemed quiet, thinking about something. 

The silence lasted for so long it started to irritate her, so she looked at him. “What’s wrong now?” 

It was a bit snappish maybe, but he just looked at her with a forlorn expression. “That guy had a dream.” Then he looked so sad it almost made her stop in her tracks. “And he didn’t even get to tell us.” 

Disbelief filled her voice.  “And you care about his dream?” 

Steve looked at her as if he couldn’t understand the question. “Of course. Haven’t you ever had a dream?” 

Her mind filled with memories. Brief flashes of a father, mother, brother. All lost before she was old enough to speak. And the deep sense of longing to belong somewhere was drowning. She’d always dreamed of having a home. Someplace stable where people knew her and loved her. 

But she’d ditched that dream almost a decade ago when she started stealing to survive. 

“My dream is to get my satchel and live my life however I want.” 

She said it in a short annoyed tone but he nodded and smiled. “That’s a wonderful dream.” 

His sincerity stunned her into pausing for a few steps before she shook her head in disbelief and followed after him. 

Several more silent minutes passed before she saw a pleased expression on his face and curiosity got the better of her. “What are you so happy about?” 

His expression was full of awe. “I was in a room full of people.” Then he looked at her with open joy. “And none of them thought I was a monster! In fact they… they listened to me even.” Then he laughed self deprecatingly. "If only for a moment.” The way that was phrased made so many questions pop into her head. Monster? But before she could ask, he was talking again. “So where are you from? The Kingdom?”

She chuckled. “Whoa, sorry Blondie, I don’t do backstory.” He frowned but it wasn’t a serious frown, more half amused, “I am, however, becoming very interested in yours.” She eyed him with curiosity. He was looking at her with an open expression and seemed a willing enough conversation partner, “If you’re so interested in the lights, why haven’t you gone before?” 

“It’s dangerous there,” he answered. But it was almost like he was parroting someone else.

“Why would it be dangerous to you?” She asked, genuinely curious. “And why… would people think you’re a monster?” 

Wariness crossed his face, but he opened his mouth to answer when the sound of echoing footsteps started to surround them. 

She grabbed his hand. “Run!” 

——————

He was fast. So fast in fact he ended up pulling her along, practically carrying their weight as they raced through the caverns and tunnels, trying to stay ahead of the guards who were running and shouting after them. 

—————-

Sunlight assaulted them as the tunnel ended, bursting them out on a flat stone precipice. They were up high on a rock wall. A wooden dam above them and half a wooden bridge leading over to the next rock wall, which led to more forest. 

Peggy sighed. Of course their way out was destroyed. 

Guards were quickly approaching, she could hear them nearing the tunnel exit. 

“Over here!” Steve shouted, pointing to the bridge. “We can jump the rest of the way!” 

“Are you insane!?” She shouted, right as the guards burst out of the opening behind them. 

But he didn’t seem to be listening. “Follow me—“ he instructed before taking off towards the bridge. She watched in awe as he reached the end and just leapt. 

She and the guards were stunned as he arced, high in the air before gracefully sailing back down to the ground and landing nimbly, rising to his still bare feet.

His eyes met hers and confusion rose. “Come on?” He called, half a question. “Let’s go!” His expression seemed to display that what he'd just done was normal. Something anyone could do. 

The guards were regaining their state of mind and she did the only thing she could, she followed. But when she got to the edge she just stared at him. “I can’t jump this distance! I’ll fall to my death!” 

He frowned. “What? Just jump it!” 

But she didn’t have time, the guards were bearing down and she turned to fight them. Slipping under their raised swords and striking out with her fists. Thankfully the first guard went down and she pulled his sword from his hand. The clanging of sword against sword was all she could hear as she danced precariously on the wooden beams of the narrow bridge, trying to avoid dying.

A thump behind her had her adrenaline spiking, worried the guard she had knocked down was back up. Hands wrapped around her waist and she elbowed the man only for a “hold on—“ to make her realize it wasn’t the guard, it was Steve. 

Then she was in free fall. 

She didn’t even have time to scream as Steve grabbed part of the support posts beneath the bridge and began climbing down them in a manor that let them descend quickly like monkeys in a tree swinging to the ground. 

Her heart was absolutely pounding by the time they reached the bottom. 

The guards were above them, staring at them in surprise and she just stared back, just as shocked as them. 

“Come on—“ Steve said, grabbing her hand like she’d grabbed his. Leading her towards a small cavern opening the hopefully led out of the area. 

Wood splintering and debris flying caught their attention. They looked over and she gasped as Rumlow and Rollins appeared on their level. Knives in hand.

Steve frowned. “Who are they?” 

“They don’t like me,” she breathed out. “We need to move now—“ loud thuds and a crack echoed through the rocky area. 

She and Steve froze, looking up as the guards had worked together to obliterate one of the dam supports. 

And now the structure was collapsing. 

“Run!” She shrieked, hauling him along with her. 

The water became a roar as it began tumbling down. Steve didn’t hesitate, running alongside her and looking back with wide eyes. When he gasped, she couldn’t even take the time to see why. But she heard it. The thud, crack, and boom of the rocks falling into the area meant the were either going to drown or be crushed if they didn’t get out of here right now. 

They were approaching the opening, flying faster than she’d ever run in her life. 

Screams she recognized meant the brothers had been caught up in the rush of water. She couldn’t think about that now. 

Darkness crashed over her as she slid into the tunnel, Steve close on her heels. 

And the first wave of water touched her boots and she shivered, still running. 

“Keep going,” she panted. “There has to be a way out!” But no more than five seconds later, they ran around a corner to find a large open space with the far opening covered from a rockslide, cutting off their exit.

Panic overtook her as the water was already at her knees. Steve wasn’t looking, he was staring behind them as if he may need to fight anyone who approached. 

“No—“ she breathed out. “No, no, no, no—“ her hands tore at the rockslide but they were huge, too heavy for her and the water was at her waist. “Steve—“ she called, “come help me!” 

She began tearing at the wall of rocks again and he rushed over to join her. The water was getting high enough it was starting to lift her off her feet. “This can’t be happening,” she breathed out, trying to lift a rock as she started to float— “ah—!” She cried out, dropping the rock as it tore across her palm. 

“What?” Steve asked, pausing in his rock removal. 

“Cut my hand—“ she grits out. 

The water was at her shoulders now and Steve’s lower chest. He started to dive down, to try to remove more but she grabbed him and yanked him up, “stop, Steve, it’s no use. It’s pitch black down there.” 

He looked at her so intensely. “This is all my fault. I can fix this.” And in the darkness, his eyes glowed even more as he spoke. 

Her head pushed against the top of the cavern. “No, you can’t, you’ll—” She was about to say ‘die trying’. But she felt the water reach her chin, and knew that was the option either way. 

“I—“ he winced, “I can do this. Do you trust me?” 

And somehow, that same aura that had affected the tavern affected her. “I do,” she gasped out as the water tried to c law inside her mouth. 

“Take a deep breath.” She did as commanded as the water reached her nose anyways and she felt a hand wrap around her waist and pull. 

She could hear the sound of something happening in the water, thuds and cracks and little pieces of rocks seem to float into her, but she couldn’t really focus on anything but keeping the oxygen in her lungs. 

And then she was being yanked along with the gravity of water flowing in a different direction as her vision started to get fuzzy. 

—————-

A wet drowned cat had more elegance than she, as she crawled up onto the river’s edge. 

She could hear her own gasps and pants for breath. She was alive. 

How in the hell was she alive? 

She turned to Steve who was laying on the river bank as well, soaking wet and smiling at the sky. 

—do you trust me?—

She glared at him until he could feel it and turned to her. “What?” 

“How are we alive right now?” 

He curled in on himself a bit. “I moved the rocks.” 

Her eyes narrowed. "there were enough boulders there to build a castle. Not to mention the jump. You're not normal."

He avoided her gaze.

“And your eyes. They do that weird thing--" he grimaced but she didn't relent."What is with tha-- ow!” She winced as her hand that was cut scraped against the dirt. "Ow, ow, ow," she hissed, curling it into a fist and then dipping it back into the running river to clean it. 

"You're right," he said as if he was admitting to a crime. "I'm not normal and--" a small guilty smile crossed his face as he pointed to her hand. “I can help with that too.” 

———————

She’d been patient as he’d made her walk a ways until they were under more cover. Then she was patient as he started a fire since night had begun to fall and it was getting dark. And she was even patient as he collected and started cooking a root she was unfamiliar with. 

But when he sat opposite her and held out his hand, she paused. “What?” 

“Let me see your hand.” 

“Why?” 

“Just… do you trust me?” 

He’d asked that question before. And she’d said yes. And he’d saved them. 

So gingerly she reached out her injured hand and he grasped it softly. With his free hand, he pulled a small knife from his pocket, one she’d had no idea he even had, and held the knife out to her. “Make a small slice here.” He pointed to the soft flesh of his palm beneath his thumb. 

“What?” She asked appalled. “Why?” 

“Just—” he sighed in exasperation. “It doesn't work if I do it myself. So please, just—“ he carefully adjusted the knife into the grip of her free hand and placed the blade on his palm. “Please? You said you trusted me.” 

With disbelief at how strange a day she was having, she carefully drew the knife across the place he’d instructed. A few drops of blood began to pool and he smiled before resting his now bloody palm over her injury. 

She started to pull her hand back in shock but he held it firmly and she felt the heat from his hand on the top of hers as it rested there. 

Then she felt a whoosh and a sort of jolt of energy. 

Steve removed his hand, smiling softly at her. “There.” 

She looked down and almost shrieked. Her hand was perfectly healed, as if it had never been injured in the first place. 

Her wide eyes rose up to his and he winced, like he had guessed what she thought of him by the expression on her face and it wasn't pleasant. 

“How…?” She asked, looking at her hand again, running her fingers along where the injury should be, “how?” 

He shifted, suddenly seeming uncomfortable and then he looked into the fire. “My father said I was born like this.” He gestured to his hair and then his eyes, “That people figured out I was strange. A monster. What other baby had eyes that glowed when he cried.” She furrowed her brow… his eyes practically glowed all the time. Did he mean that they actually glowed when he cried? “And as a baby, they tried to kill me since they thought I was a mutation. But somehow, it was discovered that my blood healed.” She didn’t want to know how that discovery was made. “So my father took me away, keeping me safe from everyone who wanted my blood.” 

It all started to make a bit more sense. “That’s why you never left.” 

And he hung his head as if he was ashamed. “I was scared.” 

She could see that the prospect of being killed for that healing power would be frightening. So she reached out and rested her now injury free hand on his, “I understand.” But then she tilted her head, trying to get him to look at her, “but… you’re still going to go back?” 

He frowned, “no.” Then he winced, “yes. Maybe. I don’t know. It’s complicated…” He looked up at her, clearly torn and unsure. Then he shrugged and seemed to take a deep breath, looking like he was ready to change the subject, “you know what I realized?” 

She grinned, “what?” 

“I don’t even know your name.” 

She blinked in surprise. “Oh…” and for the first time since she was a little girl. She gave her preferred name over just her last name. “Peggy.” 

Steve grinned, “nice to meet you, Peggy.” His smile was like a magnet, making her lean forward. And once again, she couldn’t explain it, but the forest seemed to breathe with Steve. Like his entire aura was affecting it. Making it more alive. “I know you said you didn’t do backstories… but…” He gave her a small half smile, “why… are you a thief?” She blinked in surprise and he laughed, “I’m just wondering.” 

She grimaced with humor and then sighed. “Well…” her memory flashed back to when she was little. “I’ll save you the sob story of little orphan Peggy Carter—“ he frowned, clearly not liking her dismissal. And he purposefully scooted closer, looking at her like he had all the time in the world. She huffed, “well, when I was young, there was this book that I would read to all the other little kids. The Empire of the Black Widow.” She smiled at the memory, “a whole book about this woman named Natasha who ruled with a firm but knowledgeable hand. She was smart and brave and good at fighting and—“ she laughed, “courted many men—“ 

“Was she a thief too?” 

Peggy winced. “No… No, she was so rich she could do anything she wanted to do, she could go anywhere that she wanted to go…” the longing filled her voice and she cleared it. “So for a young girl like me that just… seemed like the better option.” A rustle sounded a bit away and they both froze, but when nothing happened, she laughed off the tension and stood, needing to pace. “I’m going to go see if I can collect some more firewood. Alright?” 

Steve gestured to the root roasting in the coals. “These will be done when you get back.” 

————-

“Well,” a voice that made Steve’s spine straighten said. “I thought she’d never leave.” 

He turned, feeling five years old again and caught drawing when he was supposed to be sleeping, “Papa.” He looked around, worried Peggy would be coming back, “How did you find me?” 

“Please. The people have seen you. Your strange looks are the talk of the forest. Finding you was simple.” His father grabbed his wrist. “Come on, Steven. It’s time to go home.” 

“No, wait, I—“ Steve searched for the words, “I’ve been on this incredible journey and… and no one knows about my blood, and I’ve learned so much and—“ He glanced back to where Peggy had left. “I even met someone… a girl.” 

His father’s eyes danced in anger. “Yes, the wanted thief. I’m so proud,” his father snapped at him. “Come on.” 

Despair at the thought of being so close to having freedom and not getting to see the lights filled him. “No, you don’t understand—“ Steve choked out “I— “I like her and—“ He winced, knowing how childish it sounded. "I think she might like me too."

His father scoffed, so harshly that Steve felt his throat constrict in sadness. “Please, Steven, that’s demented.” 

“Papa—“ 

“This is why you never should have left. This whole ‘romance’ that you’ve invented just proves you’re too naive to be here. Why would she like you, come on now, really? Look at you, you think that she’s impressed?” He yanked Steve’s wrist, “don’t be an imbecile and come home—“ 

“No—“ Steve snapped back, yanking his wrist out of his father’s grasp. 

His father’s eyebrows rose in disbelief and a mocking sneer crossed his face, “Oh. I see how it is. Steven thinks he knows best. He’s in the real world and so he’s so mature. Filled with the knowledge of those blasted fairytales. Then go ahead and give her this—” Steve gasped as his father pulled Peggy’s leather satchel out from behind him. “This is why she’s here. Don’t let her deceive you. Give it to her and watch, you’ll see. Trust me, my son.” He snapped, “that’s how fast she’ll leave you.” He gestured to the direction that Peggy left in. “Put her to the test.” He threw the satchel and Steve caught it, the crown clearly inside. 

Steve felt his voice shake. “I will.” 

His father shook his head, disappointment radiating from him in such a crushing wave that Steve felt like his chest was being squeezed. “If she’s lying to you, and she’s only after the crown?” He glared at Steve. “Don’t come crying to me. I tried to tell you.” 

Then his father disappeared out of the clearing and into the shadows. 

Steve stood there, shocked and frozen from the altercation. 

“Hey—“ he heard Peggy’s voice call, and his eyes went straight down to the satchel. 

——————-

She re-entered the clearing to see Steve standing a bit aways from the fire, “Steve?” He turned, looking like he’d seen a ghost, “are you alright?” 

He rubbed his hands together as if trying to get something off them before huffing self consciously and sitting down, “uh, yes, I’m fine. Just…” he winced, “lost in thought I guess.” 

Peggy shrugged, “does your blood make people stronger? Because I swear I feel stronger.” 

Steve laughed awkwardly and began helping her unload the firewood from her arms without answering the question.  

—————

Rapidly approaching hoofbeats startled them both. 

They tried to scramble out of the way but a palace guard on a horse rounded the bend and saw them before they could hide. 

“Hey!” The young guard, probably her age, shouted. “Hey! Stop!” He leapt from his horse and drew his sword. “You’re that thief!” 

Peggy practically shrieked and started to run when she heard a “hey, woah, hey, wait a second!” She turned to see Steve, standing with his arms wide and blocking the guard from getting at her. “Just hold on!” 

The guard tried to sidestep Steve, but Steve was quicker, getting back in front of him and gently knocking the man backwards, making him drop his sword. 

Peggy got the distinct feeling this was a new recruit. He was clearly inexperienced with conflict and fighting. "Sorry," Steve offered. "Here-" he reache dout a hand to help him up. 

“Don’t—“ the guard said in a voice trying to be brave, “don’t come closer, I’ll fight you.” 

Steve paused and then lowered his hand. “We don’t want to fight you.” 

The young man looked at her, voice a bit shaking, “I have to arrest her.” 

Steve winced, “alright, so, I understand why you think that, but I really need you to help me out here. I have something I need to do and only she can help me do it. Would you…” again that deep breath and pleading expression making the air shift, Steve exuded life and calm and it made the guard squirm, “please wait just a day or so?” 

“Hey!” Peggy snapped, but Steve just gave her a look and she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. 

“Why would I do that?” The guard asked, looking between the two. “She’s dangerous.” 

Steve smiled. “No, she’s not. She’s very nice actually.” He turned to Peggy. “Aren’t you?” 

And she had the most petulant urge to stick out her tongue at the young guard who was glaring at her. But she didn’t. 

“What’s your name?” Steve asked, looking at the guard like he was genuinely interested, which he probably was. 

The soldier was still looking unsure but he frowned and answered, “James.” 

Steve smiled, “James. Nice to meet you. I’m Steve and this is Peggy—“ he walked to the horse who was nickering and shuffling its feet in uncertainty. “And who is this?” 

James looked at her and his eyes read confusion like he’d been bamboozled. “That’s Falcon.” 

Peggy snorted. “Falcon? For a horse?” 

Steve glared at her and turned to the guard, “I think it’s a great name.” 

“I named him that because when he runs fast it’s like he’s flying.” The guard answered, looking at her again. 

Steve lit up, “wow,” he reached out and began to rub the horse's nose and jaw and behind its ear, “that’s amazing. What an amazing creature.” 

And somehow even the damn horse seemed taken with Steve. She huffed and straightened, “can we get moving? We don’t have all day!” 

The guard, James, seemed to straighten, “I need to…” he looked at Peggy, “it’s my duty. I have to arrest her.” 

Steve walked over and placed an arm over the man’s shoulders, “today is kind of the biggest day of my life and… I really need her help. So if you just give us the next 24 hours and then she’s all yours.” Steve winked at her and she rolled her eyes. 

The guard seemed to consider this and then shrugged, “okay, but just 24 hours. No more.” He glared at Peggy, “and I’m coming with you.”  She glared back. 

—————-

She and James did not get along. 

Steve was practically aglow with everything they passed as they neared the kingdom. Every wagon, horse, and villager was up to his inspection. He greeted people and always seemed elated when they greeted him back. People did stare. He was an unusually handsome person even if his eyes were a bit strange. 

But Peggy was getting the feeling that perhaps whatever magic was in his blood oozed out of him. She felt better than she had in years, more fresh, not as worn down. The birds sung louder, the grass seemed greener. And the horse, Falcon, seemed to trail after Steve like it was a giant puppy, which amused and annoyed both her and James to no end. 

But she and James bickered. Where to stop, what to eat, how they should approach and enter the kingdom. 

Steve ignored them, too entranced and excited. 

And then she heard a gasp. She looked up from stabbing a finger at James to blame him for the pebble in her boot, to see the bridge leading over the water and to the main center of the kingdom, the castle looming over them. 

“It’s beautiful,” Steve breathed out. And then he was laughing and practically running forward. 

She felt a smile cross her face as she watched him. 

Then she felt a nudge at her ribs and she looked over at James who had a smirk on his face, “you like him.” 

She shoved him and stalked away after Steve. And she huffed when she heard James laughing and Falcon nickering behind her. 

—————-

By the time she reached the village, Steve was practically floating. He wanted to look at everything, see every shop and say hello to every person. The kingdom was clearly decorated and getting ready for the Prince’s birthday celebration. 

“I—“ Steve frowned, pointing at the golden banners that were embroidered with the kingdom’s seal. “I know that flower.” 

Peggy studied it. The seal had originally just been a golden sun. But after the birth of the prince, the king and queen had added the blue flower that had saved the prince's life. Or that’s how the story went. Peggy had only learned about the history a little bit. 

“It’s on all the kingdom seals,” she responded. 

“Yeah,” James added, pointing to a stone portrait of the king and queen and the sleeping baby. “It’s to represent the flower that saved the lost prince.” 

Steve studied the portrait and he frowned. “The queen and prince have hair kind of like me.” 

James nodded. “Yes, and?” 

Steve seemed conflicted. “I was told that no one else had hair like me.” 

Peggy’s mind began to turn, unsure why those details stuck with her. “I don’t know. It is rather rare. Especially your shade. But it’s not unheard of.” 

Steve seemed to accept this. And he looked about to ask another question when the bells rang to mark the hour and he jolted in surprise. She and James laughed and Steve looked about to chide them when his eyes lit up, comment forgotten as he walked away from them. They followed him to a little cart that was selling chalk. 

James purchased a few pieces for him which Steve seemed stunned and extraordinarily grateful for, then he knelt directly on the stone, drawing long lines and complicated patterns. 

Peggy and James watched in awe as Steve drew. His skill was something she’d never seen before, and it must have been exceptional because he began to draw a rather large crowd. Peggy pulled her collar up to hide her face. When he was finished drawing, he smiled and wiped a hand over his forehead from the heat, leaving a long streak of blue chalk that had Peggy snorting into her hand and James looking at her with a knowing smirk. 

————-

After exploring the city more, Steve began to slow, really watching the people and interacting with anyone he could manage. She and James and the horse trailed after him, unable to keep the joy and amusement that radiated out of Steve from affecting them too. 

Eventually, they bought dinner and ate it on a small quiet stoop. Steve seemed to relish in the rustle of the wind through the banners hanging over the street. 

James studied him. “Have you never been to the kingdom before?” 

Steve shook his head. “No. I haven’t.” 

James looked at her in question but she just shook her head softly, not wanting to explain more. 

With dinner finished, they were packing up when Steve’s head perked up, “what is that?” 

Peggy listened and James pointed to the main city circle they’d just come from. “That’s the band. They’re going to have dancing tonight.” 

Steve’s eyes lit up. “Music? Actual music?” 

Peggy frowned. “Yes, haven’t you heard music?” 

Steve seems unfazed, “I’ve read about it.” Then he moved again like he was being pulled by the sound, practically floating over the stone streets and back towards the circle. 

James looked at her in confusion but she just got up and started to follow Steve. 

—————

People were swaying to the music but no one had started to dance yet. 

Steve looked expectantly at the two of them. “How do you dance?” 

James laughed but Peggy elbowed him to shush him, turning back to Steve, “you’ve never learned?” 

Steve shook his head, then he held out his arms, “show me? Please?” 

And how could she say no to that? 

She ignored James’ wide smirk and showed him how to place his hands just so. Then she led him in a few steps, making a few people stop to watch them as they spun in slow circles and soft movements. 

Steve seemed enamored with the process and… she wanted to blush, with her. He was looking at her in such a way she felt her heartbeat quicken. Suddenly more people were joining, starting traditional kingdom dances and pulling them to and fro as they spun in large circles, switched in and out of lines, and held hands as they weaved in and out through all the dancers. 

She looked over to see Steve laughing, eyes shut and pure joy radiating off his features as a little girl next to him spun him in a circle and he had to stoop to hold her hand. 

Peggy found herself laughing too. 

————

“To the boats!” 

Peggy leaned against the stone wall on the side of the circle where she’d taken a break from dancing. 

“You know,” James said with a smirk. “If he’s wanting to see the lights. A boat is the best way.” 

She glared at him, “and how am I supposed to get a boat when I’m a wanted thief?” 

He thought about it for a moment before grinning, “come on, I know a guy.” 

—————-

Steve climbed awkwardly into the boat and sat down, staring at the castle as if he looked away he might miss it. The sun was setting and the kingdom was starting to glow. 

Peggy grinned and climbed in after him. She turned back around to help James into the boat but he just grinned at her and stood, pushing the boat away from the dock with his boot, “have fun you two.” Falcon nickered behind him. 

She rolled her eyes but then decided that maybe she didn’t mind. 

————

“What is it?” Steve looked up from where he was staring at the water and noticed Peggy’s head was tilted and she was looking at him. 

“What?” 

“Are you alright? You look scared?” 

He swallowed hard, “I’m terrified.” 

“Why?” 

“I have been looking out my window, hoping to be here for as long as I can remember. Dreaming about seeing these lights.” He paused, looking at her, fear in his eyes, “what if it’s not everything I dreamed it would be?” 

“It will be,” Peggy assured. “I promise.” 

He smiled gratefully at her and then he sighed, “and what if it is? What… do I do then?” 

She took a deep breath and looked out over the waters before turning back to him, “that’s the exciting part, You get to go find a new dream.” 

——————

It took a while for the sun to fully set and darkness to cover them. Only the lights of the kingdom made a reflected glow on the water. 

Steve gasped at the first sight, a tiny bolt of light, racing up towards the sky and then bursting into a shower of golden sparks. They drained back towards the sea and Steve felt his heart pounding in his chest. 

Red, blue, white, and gold were the dominant colors, bursting over and over again. Sometimes big ones that seemed to fill up the whole sky, other times they were shot off in smaller groups of twos and threes. 

He looked back when he heard a sizzling and his eyes widened in surprise as Peggy held two small thin wires, the tops glittering and releasing sparks. 

He laughed and settled excitedly in the seat across from her. “It’s a sparkler. I...” she grinned at him, “thought you could join in the celebration.” 

He gingerly took the sparkler, and stared at it in awe. He raised his hand to the glow and felt the way the heat and sparks jumped off the wire and into the air. 

Steve swallowed heavily as the sparkler ran out and looked at Peggy, “I have something for you too.” 

He reached into his leather bag. 

————

Peggy watched in surprise as Steve pulled her satchel out of his bigger satchel. 

“I—“ he struggled to find the words. “I should have given it to you before. But I was worried.” He shook his head, “no, I was scared to give this to you. But the funny thing is… I’m not afraid any more.” He looked at her with a hopeful wince, “does that make sense?” 

She grinned at him, “it’s starting too.” 

And another burst filled the sky, making Steve look up and the colors sparkle and reflect in his blue eyes. 

The deep urge to pull him down to her and kiss him was crushing. And she was just about to when something caught her eye. 

Her hand froze, eyes widening as she saw them, standing on the bank of the water, staring directly at their boat. 

Rumlow and Rollins.

Steve looked down at her and his smile faded, “are you… okay?” 

She nodded, “yeah.” Then she began to paddle towards the shore. “There’s…” she could feel him watching her, confusion on his features, but he helped her paddle, “there’s something I need to take care of.” 

They slid up onto the shore and Steve jumped out, pulling the boat further up. 

She had watched them walk away, she knew where they were. 

“I need to take care of this.” She said slowly, grabbing her leather satchel and taking a few steps back. Steve looked down at the satchel and then back up to her face. Worry clearly etched there. “Everything is fine.” She said, trying to sound calm and collected, “I’m sorry. I’ll be right back.” 

Steve was very clearly at a loss as to what was happening but he nodded, trusting her, “alright.”

————-

Rumlow was waiting for her further along down the shore. 

They both said nothing for a long moment.

And the tension was thick. So she decided to cut to the chase. “I know what you’re thinking, and you’re right. I shouldn’t have split and left you both. So I’m here to apologize and—“ she tossed the satchel, it landed with a thunk and the crown skittered out and onto the rocks, “I think it’s for the best if we split ways. Crown is all yours. Good luck, Rumlow.” 

She started to walk away but ran directly into Rollins, who glared down at her. 

“What,” Rumlow sneered at her from behind, “you think we are stupid?” 

She wanted to nod but she kept her composure, “what? No.” 

“We hear you found something even better than a crown.” 

“What?” 

“You’re holding out on us again, Carter.” 

“I am not—“

“We want him instead.” 

She tried to play dumb, "Uh, him who?" 

"The boy with the special blood." 

Her eyes widened and she stepped back, Rollins hand grabbed her arm in vice like grip.  

—————-

Steve felt the nerves eating away at him. The birds in the trees were jittery like they felt it too. 

A shadow started to approach and he sighed, relieved she was returning, only for it to turn to wariness when not one shadow but two began to form and approach. 

Two tall men he was pretty sure he’d seen somewhere stalked towards him. 

He thought they might just be passersby when the two men stopped and stared at him like he was someone they knew. 

Steve nodded, “hello.” 

The one to the left chuckled, “a boy with blood that can heal. I wonder how much someone would pay to stay young forever.” 

Dread filled him, “what? How did you know that?” 

The other one, the one closer to him, grinned menacingly at him, “Peggy told us. Traded you for the crown.” 

“What?” He breathed out, “no, she wouldn’t—“ 

The both chuckled and the one closer to the shore pointed out to the water. “See for yourself.” 

Steve looked out at a boat that was drifting back towards the kingdom and he felt his heart drop to the ground at the sight. Peggy stood, facing away from him, hands on the wheel and crown clearly visible. 

“Peggy—“ He called, “Peggy!” But she didn’t even glance back. Disbelief and despair filled him as he looked back to the two men who were advancing on him. 

“Come quietly now,” one said. 

Steve backed up, raising his fists, ready to fight when a thunk caught all three of them off guard. 

The one who was closer to him looked dazed and stumbled before hitting the ground. Then Steve blinked in surprise as another thunk sounded and the second man crumpled. Steve stared at his father who was holding a thick log, heaving. 

“Papa!” Steve called, rushing forward and holding the man. 

A hand patted him on the back and sighed. “Yes, Steven. It’s me.” 

“How did you find me?” 

His father eyed him with an amused look and shook his head. “I was too worried about you. So I’ve been following you, making sure you were alright.” His eyes went behind Steve to the boat. “The girl?” 

Steve turned, looking at the boat with a forlorn expression. Devastation that he was as stupid and naive as his father had always said he was. He turned back to his father. “You were right, papa. About everything.” 

His father nodded and started to walk, gesturing for him to follow. 

Steve took one last look at the boat, feeling the glow of his eyes as they filled up with tears, but he didn’t let them fall. He just blinked them away and followed after his father. 

—————

Peggy groaned, her head pounding. She blinked open her eyes and then froze. Her hands were tied to the steering wheel of a ship, the crown tied to her hand and she was approaching a pier. 

“What—“ she breathed out, “no," she yanked her head back and forth, searching, "Steve!” Was the only thing she could manage to think, trying to free herself from her bonds.

“Who goes there?” A voice shouted and she looked up, seeing two palace guards on the pier. Then they stared at her in shock, “it's the thief!” Another gasp, "and she has the crown!"

She tried to yank herself free but it was no use. They boarded the boat and secured her hands before cutting her loose. 

“No,” She struggled, “you don’t understand! He’s in danger!” 

But they were ignorant of her cries as they hauled her off the ship and onto the pier. 

She looked to the left and could just barely make out the pier they’d originally left from. A small black shape was on it and she wondered… 

“James!” She shouted as loud as she could, hoping with all her might that that shape was him and Falcon, “James! Save Steve! Please! JAMES!” 

As she was pulled towards the kingdom wall, she could have sworn a head popped up from the lump on the pier, but then she was pulled forward and out of sight. 

—————-

Steve was quiet the whole way home. His father eyed him with a passive expression, although Steve could tell he was still angry at him. 

They walked up the stone steps and into the house. 

And he walked quietly up to his room. 

He stared at the wall for a long time before he heard another sound. He looked up to see his father standing in his doorway. 

He sat up and waited, wondering what lecture he was going to receive. But his father just walked over and sat on his bed next to him. “Now you know the truth of the world. Everyone wants something. And they’ll sell you to get it.” 

He looked down at his hands, still a trace of blue chalk in the cracks and under his nails. “Yes, papa.” 

Then his father held out his hand and Steve let him grab his wrist. The slice was nothing compared to the ache in his heart. 

He father took a deep breath and stood, walking to his doorway to go back downstairs. 

“I tried to tell you.” He stated firmly right before he left. “I tried to warn you.” 

Steve didn’t have any response in him. 

——————

Peggy woke in a cell and shivered. She paced and tried shouting at a guard but no one cared. 

Then, four guards came to her cell. “Come on, Carter. It’s time to go.” 

She looked at them warily, “go where?” 

One guard held a noose in his hands and she held a hand around her neck on instinct. “Oh.” 

They led her out of her cell and down long stone hallways past other inmates. 

That’s when she saw them, Rumlow and Rollins. Confusion filled her and then anger. She surprised the guards by dropping her weight to the ground, pulling them with her, and then she yanked free and slammed into their cell bars, grabbing Rollins’ collar and yanking him up to the bars, “How did you know about him, tell me!” 

“It was the old man—“ he sputtered out, “he led us to you.” 

She frowned, the guards regaining their composure and yanking her backwards. “What old man?” She asked quickly. 

“We dunno!” Rollins said truthfully. “He’d given Steve the crown back and then made us wait so we could get revenge on you!” 

The guards yanked her along, the cell disappearing behind them. 

But her mind was racing. 

She had watched Steve pack his satchel. Her satchel had not been in there. Which meant that Steve had acquired it at some point. 

And it had to be from someone who knew their house. 

She gasped. 

His father. 

Her brain couldn’t make sense of the details. Something wasn’t adding up. 

She was trying to think of something, anything to help her escape when her eyes caught sight of a hat. 

The hat from the barman at the Howling Cavern Tavern. 

She frowned in confusion. How did that get there? 

Chaos erupted before she could make any sense of it. 

The man with the mustache came barreling through the hallway and she shrieked as she leapt aside, the guards being bowled over. 

Then she was being pulled by the man who had initially wanted the reward. “We gotta go. Run.” 

She ran. 

——————-

Steve barely slept. Mostly he stared at his wall. But as dawn approached, his sadness and exhaustion pulled him under. 

And he dreamt. 

He dreamt of Peggy and her smile and her smirk. 

He dreamt of dancing with her and drawing with the chalk and the way her eyes sparkled with the reflection of the fireworks. And the way she looked at him as she held out that sparkler. 

Then his dream shifted. The same one he had over and over. 

Hair, blonde like his, dangling over him, a blurred face. Then, short chubby arms reaching for something above his bed. 

A flower. The blue flower. 

The flower on the kingdom’s seal. 

A melody floated along with the dream. 

Until the dream shifted to a memory. 

The memory of him staring at the King and the Queen’s portrait. 

Her hair just like his. 

Then in his memory he looked down at the baby in her arms. 

Hair just like his. 

His gravity flipped, and he tried to stand, feeling shaky. 

It couldn’t be. 

It couldn’t be. 

“Steven?” He heard his father call. “Are you up there?” 

But he couldn't respond. Couldn’t think. Was it possible?

He must have been too quiet because he heard the approaching footsteps. 

His door swung open and his father frowned at him. “What are you doing up there?” 

Steve looked at him, trying to keep a hold on his sanity. “Did you know the queen is blonde… just like me?” 

Instantly his father’s frame went rigid. “Is she?” He responded coolly, “I didn’t know.” 

“You said everyone would think I was a monster because of how I looked. No one did.” 

“Steven, you’re getting dangerously out of line. Didn’t running off and being betrayed by that girl teach you anything?” 

And it’s suddenly very clear in Steve’s mind. “I didn't run off,” he bit out. He felt his chest heaving, the truth weighing heavily on his shoulders, but… he somehow knew… he knew. “I am the lost prince,” he breathed out.

“Speak louder if you want me to hear you, Steven.”  

Steve shook his head, turning to face the man full on and glare at him, “I am the lost prince! Aren’t I, father?” Then he frowned. “Or should I even call you that?” 

“Would you listen to yourself?” The man crowed. “You sound insane. Claiming to be royalty? Thinking so highly of your wretched self! Enough of this. Now go wash up, we’re going to be working in the lab today.” 

“No.” Steve snapped, “I’m leaving. I spent my life hiding from people who would use me for my blood when—“ he stabbed a finger at the man in front of him, “I should have been hiding from you—“ 

He pushed past his father and was halfway down the steps when a calm chilling voice spoke. “She won’t be there you know.” 

Steve whipped around, there was a long silence before Steve glared at him, “what did you do to her?” 

The man laughed. “She’s to be hung for her crimes.” 

Steve gasped. “What!? No—“ 

“You’re better off,” the man said with a menacing grin, “as it should be.” 

Steve stomped back up the stairs and grabbed the man’s shirt, “you lied about the world, and you lied about me! And I will never let you use my blood again!” He shoved the man back and started back down the stairs. 

Only to feel a sharp crack against his skull and the darkness overtake him. 

————-

“Over there—“ the man pointed to another hallway, “you’ll meet your ride there as it dumps you out to the stables!” 

She nodded and put on more speed, sliding around the corner and into the wall. 

She blew past confused castle workers as the guards raised the alarm, but she didn’t slow down for a second. 

Finally sunlight appeared through an arched stone door and she burst through it, startling many of the horses. 

“Peggy!” 

She gasped in shock as James waved her over. “James!” 

She ran to him and panted from exertion, “It was you! On the dock?” 

He nodded. “I heard you calling.” 

Her eyes widened. “It was you who brought the men from the Tavern?” 

He grinned and she shook her head, “how did you know to go get them?” 

He laughed, “I was there when we first tried to capture you two there. They pretended like they didn't know how you escaped but I knew they did. So I figured they could be counted on to help you again.” 

She flung her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek, “thank you, thank you!” 

He laughed, “now where is Steve?” 

“I think…” she shook her head, “I think he’s in trouble. I believe his father came and took him home but something’s wrong.” 

“Where does he live?” 

“At the base of the mountain.” She groaned, “how will I get there in time?” 

James shook the reins of Falcon at her, “your ride awaits.” 

She blinked, “you’re sure?” 

He nodded, “fastest horse in the kingdom. Go save him, would you?” 

Emotion filled her throat but she nodded and mounted up. Then he tapped her boot, “I guess I’ll just have to arrest you tomorrow.” 

She laughed and dug her heels into Falcon, spurring him on and out the stable gate. 

———————

James was right. Falcon tore through the forest so fast she was shocked there weren’t wings attached to his sides. The kingdom, then the villages, then the countryside blurred past so fast it made her eyes water. 

Without even pausing she urged Falcon through the tangled weave of vines, bursting out on the other side and staring up at the small stone window. 

She leapt off the horse, “Steve!” She shouted, “Steve, are you up there!” 

But no response came. She ran towards the base and found the door, but it was too heavy to be opened by herself. 

So she ran back to Falcon and carefully tied his reins to the handle. “Pull, Falcon—“ She huffed out, adding her strength to his massive form as the horse slowly stepped backwards. 

The door started to scrape open and she wanted to shout in triumph, but she urged Falcon on, “just a bit more!” When the crack was wide enough for her to slip through, she did, slipping up the stairs in the darkness. 

Worry filled her that the other door would be closed and she wouldn’t be able to get in, but to her surprise it was ajar. 

Quietly she stepped into the living space and looked around. She was about to call his name when she spotted him. And she gasped. 

He was chained to a wall, cloth tied around his bleeding face, gagging him. His eyes looked dazed but there was a concern there, “—atch out—“ his muffled groggy voice called.

“Steve!” She went to move towards him only to feel a hand grab her arm. Before she could look, a blinding hot pain entered her side and she sucked in a choked breath before sinking to the floor. The stone was cold beneath her. 

Steve blinked and blinked again, his voice was muffled but she could swear that he was calling her name. 

—————-

His brain was fuzzy. Whatever the man he once called father had hit him with had been hard enough to cause him to not be able to focus too well. And he had to keep blinking blood out of his eyes. 

The man had dragged him down the stairs and tossed him in a heap beside the stone wall. 

Then he was in the chains. 

He hated the chains. 

When his father had first put him in them, he yanked and pulled and tried to get out of them. But never could. 

A slap made his adrenaline spike and he jolted back in surprise.

“Don’t move a muscle.” The man ordered, tying something around his face. His breathing became more difficult and his tongue felt heavy. 

He could sense him moving around. Packing things into a bag and muttering to himself. 

“Steve!” He raised his head, unsure if that had been a dream. That had sounded like Peggy. “Steve, are you up there?” 

The man went rigid and sighed in exasperation. Then he walked to the stone door and opened it enough for someone to enter. “Well.” He said towards Steve with an eyebrow raise and a sneer. “Let’s welcome her properly into our home, shall we?” The knife glinted in his hands and Steve felt sick. 

—————

Steve watched in dazed horror as the man stabbed Peggy in the side. 

“Now look what you’ve done, Steven.” The man sneered at him. “I told you that people knowing your secret would end in death and now look—“ he gestured to Peggy, clutching at her side on the floor. “You’ve killed her.” Then the man smiled, “thankfully, our secret will die with her.” 

Steve watched as Peggy gasped, scrunching her face up in pain. He struggled, pulling at his chains and trying to get to her. 

“Now,” the man said, “come along, we need to get going.” He grabbed the bag and slung it over his shoulder before walking to the wall that the chains were anchored in and releasing them. He held the ends in his hands and started to pull Steve backwards towards the stone door. 

Steve’s breathing was shaky and his muscles were trembling but he struggled, pulling with his might to get closer to Peggy. He had to save her. He had too. 

“Stop—" the man snapped, “stop this instant!” 

But Steve fought, trying to get leverage with his bare feet on the stone and pushing himself towards her. 

“We are leaving!” The man said with a strong yank, pulling Steve back, “we are going where no one will ever find us again!” Fear lanced through him and he tried to scramble, his hands crushed behind him and under his own weight. “Steven really! This is ridiculous, stop fighting me!” 

Steve rolled, pulling the man off balance and turning to face him. Staring up at him from the ground. He worked with his tongue and using his shoulder to pull the cloth down enough so he could speak, “No—“ he panted, head still pounding and mind dizzy. “No. I won’t ever stop!” His voice trembled. “For every minute of every day, I will never stop trying to get away from you!” The man looked at him in shock, so he took the chance. “But, if you let me save her. I will go with you.” Steve took a shaky breath. “Willingly. I won’t ever fight or try to escape.” Genuine surprise was on his face. “I promise.” 

“No—“ he heard Peggy’s weak voice call. “No, Steve—“ 

He turned back to her and smiled weakly, then turned back to the man. “Please. I won’t ever run away again. I’ll stay with you forever. You can have my blood. Forever.” 

The face glaring at him was calculating. So Steve tried one last plea. “I will never fight you again. Just let me heal her.” 

—————

Peggy groaned, “no, Steve. No!” But the man with the red skin was already walking over towards her and yanking her up. He shoved her against a wooden support beam and glared at her. 

The man then unlocked Steve from his chains and gestured to Peggy. “Quickly.” 

Steve scrambled over, still seeming a bit uncoordinated. “Peggy,” he breathed out with a smile, “I’m so sorry, hold on, I’m going to fix this.” He reached out and examined her wound, wincing. Then he pulled his knife out of his pocket, releasing the blade and holding it out to her. “Everything is going to be fine.” She shook her head and shoved his hands away. 

“Peggy—“ 

“No, Steve, I can’t let you—“ 

“Peggy, please!” 

She clutched at her side and tried to stifle the groan, “no—” she panted out. “No.” 

Steve held it out to her. “You have to—“ he seemed to be frantic, “you have to trust me—“ 

“No,” she said with all the strength she could muster. “I won’t let you do this.” 

He looked at her, those searing blue eyes showing fear and guilt. “I won’t let you die.” 

Her voice quivered. “But if go with him, then you will die.” 

Steve shook his head, holding the knife out and grabbing one of her hands, placing the knife in it, wrapping her fingers around it. “It’s alright,” he said, trying to comfort her, “it’s going to be alright.”  

He released her hand and held out his palm, waiting for her. 

She heard a huff of impatience and she tracked the sound, finding the man standing there impatiently. 

The man who would take Steve and hide him away. Steal his blood to— Her eyes went wide. To stay young. Healthy. 

The man who never aged. 

Her eyes narrowed. Living a life knowing Steve was held prisoner was no life at all. 

She always had been a good marksman. Without second guessing her decision, she whipped her arm back, pain streaking through her at the motion, but she didn’t hesitate, hurling the knife at the man, aiming for his heart. 

And it struck true. 

The man gasped, staring down at the knife now lodged in his chest. 

His hands shakily reached up and yanked it out, staring at it like it was a mystery. 

“P—“ Steve started to breathe out, looking shocked at the man who now started to stumble towards them. 

He reached for Steve, probably hoping to heal himself, but she kicked out, catching the man by his unsteady boots and he went tumbling, slamming in to the floor and going still. 

And then, before their very eyes, he began to disintegrate. Only a few seconds passed before it was just a pile of clothes. 

She turned to look at Steve who was stunned, staring at the clothes in shock. 

She could feel it coming. The heaviness of death weighed on her limbs. The pool of blood beneath her was too large to sustain life within her. 

She reached out a hand and rested it on his forearm, “Steve—“ he turned back to her, eyes blinking clearer than they had since she first arrived. She swallowed struggling to speak. “Steve.” 

“Peggy!” He called, grabbing her and wrapping her up in his arms, pulling her onto his lap. “Stay with me—“ 

She coughed, feeling the air crushing out of her lungs and not enough returning. 

“Look at me—“ Steve sounded far away, like she was fading into the floor, further and further away from him.

But there was something she wanted— no, needed to tell him first. 

“Steve—“ she breathed out. 

“I’m here—“ She blinked her eyes open to see his panicked face. “Hold on.” She watched as he reached over and grabbed the knife from where the man had dropped it. He brought it back to his arm and made a long slice, blood pouring immediately. He held the warm blood to her side but she felt nothing. 

“Peggy!” He cried out. “You have to do it, please! It doesn't work when I do!” She felt him try to get her to grip the knife but her muscles refused, too weak to do anything. “Please—“ he was begging her, “please, don’t go, stay with me, Peggy—“

“Steve—“ Her voice made him freeze, looking at her with such desperation. She was glad her lips had enough strength to smile at him one last time. “You were my new dream," she whispered out, feeling the last of her strength ebb. 

But her ears picked up a choked sob and a soft, “and you were mine.”

And then… Peggy knew no more. 

———————

Steve watched as the last of the life flowed out of Peggy. Leaving her still and limp in his arms. 

He was frozen, watching her for long minutes, unable to process or comprehend what had just happened. 

He swallowed, his throat dry and rough. His bloody hand gently brushed the hair back from her face. He rested his forehead against hers and couldn’t help himself. “Peggy?” He rasped out, “Peggy, come back to me. P—“ his throat tightened, “please.” 

But she didn’t respond. 

Gingerly, he lifted her up, holding her against his chest, burying his face into her neck and breathing in the smell of her hair for what would probably be the last time. 

Heat grew in his throat and nose and eyes as he felt the reality of what had happened crush him, tears welling up so thickly behind his eyelids that when he opened them, his vision was blurry. 

The tears streamed out of his eyes, down his cheeks and onto her skin. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered out. “I think I loved you.” 

A minute passed in silence, just the soft trickle of tears from his eyes dripping down onto her. 

Then Steve felt a sap of energy. 

He blinked, confused at the feeling before he blinked again, this time in surprise as the tear that had just dripped off his chin and onto her neck was glistening blue. 

A warmth made him straighten and turn, looking down at her side as a warm blue glow started to emanate from her wound. 

He could do nothing but watch in shock as the wound healed itself, filling the room with such vibrant energy and bright light that he had to squint. 

But the sound of soft breathing made him go rigid. 

Slowly he turned back to face her and the color in her cheeks made him hold her tighter, “Peggy?” 

Her eyes barely opened, just a hint of the deep brown, but a weary smile crossed her face. “Did I ever tell you I have a thing for blondes?” 

His laugh was watery as he pulled her up into his arms again, shaking in relief and holding her tightly. 

Her arms wrapped around him in return. Steve pulled back and looked at her, “you’re alive.” 

Then she leaned forward, kissing him gently on the lips. “I am indeed. Thanks to you.” 

And he kissed her right back. 

—————-

“Stop fidgeting.” 

Steve stopped, but then he started again. “What if they don’t know me? What if I’m wrong?” 

Peggy sighed, nudging him with her elbow, “they’ll know it’s you.” 

After returning to the kingdom, they had searched for James and returned Falcon. While doing so, Steve had hesitantly admitted his theory to James. 

Who had instantly gone wide eyed and dragged Steve to the mosaic portrait in the city circle to compare hair colors. 

But when Steve told about the flower and his abilities, James believed him, leading them up to the castle. 

“Wait here—“ he had said, walking inside. 

Now they waited. 

The large wooden doors creaked open and she could tell Steve was holding his breath as two figures walked out. 

She would have laughed if it was appropriate. Steve looked almost identical to his father, except his hair and his eyes. The blonde of his mother’s hair was a match and the shape of Steve’s eyes matched hers as well. 

The king and the queen approached him slowly while Steve kept his fidgeting hands gripped behind him tightly. 

Then the woman gasped, running forward, wrapping Steve up in her arms and clutching him with all her strength. The king joined, holding the two together and laughing in joy and relief.

Peggy smiled at the sight. 

“How do you know?” Steve asked, his voice rough with emotion. “How can you be sure I’m yours?”

“Oh my precious boy—“ the queen spoke, holding Steve’s face in her hands, “I would know you by those beautiful eyes alone.” 

And Steve’s eyes fluttered closed as tears dripped out and down into his mother’s palms. 

————————

The kingdom rejoiced for their lost prince had returned. 

The celebration lasted over a week and Peggy watched in amusement as everyone wanted to meet Steve and Steve wanted to meet everyone. 

Steve was stunned when he found out that the lights really had been for him. For his birthday. His mother had cried when she found out he had watched them every year and how they had given him a sense of hope even if he hadn’t known for what. 

Peggy was officially pardoned after Steve explained her role in saving him and she had blushed wildly when the king had a royal day declared to celebrate her birthday. 

Steve ensured that the Howling Cavern Tavern received a large lump sum to build a new and much improved place of business. 

James was given a promotion in the royal guard and he and Steve were quick to become excellent friends. 

Falcon and his ride to save the lost prince became a favorite story for parents to tell their children at bedtime as the legend of the man who never aged faded from memory. 

Steve took to being a prince like he was born to be one. He always rolled his eyes at that joke. The kingdom loved him, and the affection was returned mightily. He was a prince worth waiting for. 

And Peggy? Well she got her new dream. And her old dream. Steve proposed with a ring made from a jewel from his crown and she laughed as she said ‘yes’. 

She and Steve finally both had a home and a family. 

And they lived happily ever after. 

——————