Character : Rose Wheeler, 15 year old teenager. Steve's neighbour and an intern at the SI
Warning : Mention of Suicidal thoughts and actions. (But ends in fluff)
It was weird how the last person Rose expected to even know in person was now a father figure to her. It was none other than Mr. Steve Rogers...or more famously known as The Captain America. Rose wished he was rather a real father but won't even dare to say that out loud. She wasn't sure when their bond grew so much....or when it evolved from just the neighbour next door who one day knocked at their door to give them cookies to him being her role model just like her father used to. Rose had lost her parents and her younger sister 2 years back. She still remembered that day like it was yesterday. They were having dinner and planning about all the fun they were going to have on the long road trip her parents had planned for their daughters. She still remembered.....they were laughing....there was a crash....there were men in black with guns ....three gun shots.....and then many more. By the time it was over the trespassers were dead on the floor. She remembered how relieved she was that the bad men were gone. She remembered...turning around to hug her family but they.....they were gone....just like those trespassers....those men in black. Her mom, dad and little sister were on the floor. Their foreheads had fresh holes in them covered in blood and skin. There was so much blood. They were gone...they had left her all alone. She was only 13.
Since then she has lived with her Aunt. Every night dreaming of the road trip she had planned with her family 2 years back....only to wake up to a cold room and an empty bed. Every night the same dream and every morning the same nightmare. And then suddenly there was this man in her life who entered unknowingly. Mr. Rogers or as people called him Captain America. At first he was just an Avenger. Then he was this man who baked her cookies every weekend. Then he was this man who took her to the Avengers Tower when he came to know how interested she was in computers and science. And then suddenly he was the man who reminded Rose of her father. Just like him...he knew her favourite book...her favourite colour...her favourite food...her favourite Friday night take out order. Just like her father he somehow knew what she had wanted for her birthday...Just like her father.
As for Steve....he had no clue when and how the little girl next door had made his heart go soft for her. Maybe it was the first day they met when he had mistook the 13 year old for a 10 year old. He remembered how offended she looked but still cracked a smile. Maybe it was when he had seen the girl stand up against boys double her size for bullying a bunch of puppies. Maybe when she said that Captain America was cool but she liked Steve Rogers more for who he was and not cause of the super soldier serum. Maybe when she had told him her parents and little sister had died.....killed right in front of her eyes a few months prior and had excused herself to the washroom and when he went outside the door he had heard little sobs and muffled words of assurance coming from inside indicating that she was crying and it had broken his heart into tiny pieces realising how broken the little kid was.He could not point out exactly when he started seeing her as a daughter he had always wanted. He like every other man wanted a family...even before he went to ice...even after he came out. But now things are different. He was an Avenger which meant being in danger at all times. He wasn't fit to be her father. The girl was so kind and sweet and polite and respectful.....she was so intelligent and deserved utmost care which he never thought he could give. But oh god was he wrong. And it took him a near heart attack incident to realise that.
Rose entered her Aunt's apartment. She won't say she was close with her...but then they hardly saw each other. Her Aunt worked double shifts most of the days which mostly left her alone in the house. Today too she had expected the same but instead she was met with her suitcases packed at the entrance of the house. A confused Rose went inside the house only to find her aunt and some random man standing in the middle of the room. "You're late", said her Aunt. "I was in the Stark Industries for a project work with Mr. Rogers.", said Rose. "Why isn't he here with you then ?", her aunt asked glaring daggers at her. Yeah she knew her Aunt despised her staying out late but she didn't really care. Her intern time at the SI alongside Mr. Rogers and sometimes Mr. Stark and the other Avengers was the only highlight of her day which she won't let go at any cost. "He had to stay back for some work so i came back myself." "Well then now you can get out by yourself too I hope", asked her Aunt. "W-What ?", replied Rose not believing her ears. "Listen Rose.... honestly I never wanted to take you in with me but I had no other option. You are a curse you understand.....your parents and sister DIED cause of you so how can you expect me to want you anyways??..and all these coming back home late after your alleged internship... it's not believable. So pls do me a favour and get out. Anyways my boyfriend and I are gonna shift to a new apartment and have already sold this."
All Rose could do was just stand there listening to what her aunt just said. She knew she didn't like her but this was all still unbelievable. Her mind raced. What was she gonna do now ??.....where would she go??....her aunt was right tho....she did kill her family....she was a curse....no one loved her...no one wanted her....Mr.Rogers just pitied her. Her train of thoughts were broken with a big hand landing on her shoulders giving it a hard painful squeeze. She hated it....she didn't want that touch...it was nothing like Mr. Rogers did. He always asked for a silent permission from her....and every time he touched her shoulder to praise her when she successfully did a good job at the internship...it was soft and gentle...just like how her father did. Shaking her shoulder from under the hand she looked up at the man...her aunt's bf towering above her. "Get out kid...we don't have all day"....and Rose did. She stepped out of the house with her bags as the door slammed behind her back. What was she gonna do now ??......she was a curse....her first thought was to go to Mr. Rogers but no.....no she won't.....what if Mr Rogers too dies like her family cause of her. What if he too throws her out like her aunt ? She can't go anywhere..she can't stay with anyone....she doesn't deserve to be alive ....so that was exactly what she was gonna do. She had to do it. Taking out her phone she switched on the message app, clicking on Mr. Rogers contact number. Her fingers were too shaky to type so all she could do was leave a voice note. Recording all she had to say she clicked sent and made her way to the highest tower in the town.