Chapter Text
Sharon was alone, but at the same time, she wasn’t. Everyday started feeling like she wasn’t alone when she obviously was.
She stared down at the tombstone before her. Read the same bold letters over and over again.
CAPTAIN STEVEN GRANT ROGERS
1920 – 2016
SON. BROTHER. AVENGER. HERO.
There’s another line of text covered by the large pile of flowers sitting against it. On top are a collection of colorful stones. Wanda explained to Sharon that it’s a Jewish custom to leave rocks on the grave of a loved one. Sharon had done the same once, when she saw a green rock that reminded her of Natasha’s eyes outside her apartment building, and thought maybe Steve would want something to remind him of Natasha. As far as anyone knew, she hasn’t been here since the funeral.
To be fair, most of the Avengers avoided this place like the plague. It reminded them of the war they had. The lives they’d lost. The stupid pettiness they’d come to agree upon after all was said and done. The friendships and teammates that no longer meant anything. This war had pulled them all apart.
The only people Sharon has talked to since are Sam, Wanda, and Clint. Sam because he was trying his damnedest to keep it all in and not crack in front of everyone, until one night he accidentally chipped a coffee mug and he finally broke down and cried to Sharon on the phone. Wanda because she was the strongest one out of the bunch, and a reminder that she already knew what people were going through, even if it wasn’t as personal as hers. And Clint to let him know that there are still no files on his family in any database, and to tell Laura that her get-well baskets were a touching gesture.
Sharon feels the presence of someone again, but this time, she knows there’s someone there. He called her and asked for her to meet him here. She turns and looks at Nick Fury. His one arm is in the pocket of his hoodie, the other holding a manila envelope. He’s not wearing his eyepatch, but instead sunglasses. He holds out the envelope to her.
She looks at it blankly. They already talked about it. This is the answer that has everyone on edge. The man who killed Steve Rogers.
No one knows for sure. It happened underground, where the only people present were Steve, Tony, and Bucky. The heroes didn’t want to jump to any conclusions as to who to culprit was, but SHIELD saw the beat-up Iron Man and only slightly-damaged Winter Soldier and chose to arrest both on the spot. Tony posted bail easy. The Winter Soldier had help escaping, and though Sharon wasn’t one to point fingers, she had a suspicion it was Natasha’s doing.
“So,” Fury said, raising an eyebrow, “do you really wanna know who did it?”
Sharon closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Someone had to look. Someone had to make the decisions here. The Avengers needed to know where to go from here. If Fury was giving her the answer, there must be a reason. She opened her eyes and looked at Fury. His face and body language were neutral. She had no idea what to expect.
She took to folder from him and opened up to read the paper inside.