INDEPENDENCE DAY
.

The summer heat of Nevada lingered even with the rise of the moon and the shine of the stars. Muffled music and the pops of fireworks filtered through the air, but better than the atmosphere and celebration of Independence Day, was Sadie's company.

Better, was Steve's voice in her ear, his hands on her skin, and the view of him, so healthy and safe as they sat and watched the bursts of red, white and blue in the sky.

"They're celebrating you," Sadie had teased, earlier.

Steve had only kissed her, and smiled. "We're celebrating us."

"I don't want to move from here," Sadie sighed, the soft breeze from the open window blowing past the mesh curtains to kiss her skin. "This day has been perfect."

"I don't want to either," Steve said, softly, pulling his arms tighter around her as she leaned back into him. "But it's better if we move under dark. Staying another day isn't an option."

"You're right," Sadie sighed, but neither of them moved.

"We're going to have to be all sensible on that jet," he said, but it sounded more like a complaint than an order. "With the others there."

"Says who?" Sadie chuckled, craning her neck to get a better look at him.

"Says the next few missions lined up," Steve answered. "Are you ready to work again?"

"Are you kidding?" she grinned, finally dragging herself to her feet. "I've been ready to work for months."

"But?" he asked, attempting to pull her back, but she dodged his touch playfully.

"There's nothing else," Sadie said, pulling on a pair of sweats. He didn't seem to be very convinced, though.

"There is something else," Steve said, and she sighed.

"How do you know?" she asked, casually.

Sadie was glad she stood, because she could use the excuse of getting dressed as a way not to look at him. Because if she did look at him, there on the bed with little more than the linen and his briefs to cover him- it would be far too easy to give in.

Steve though, seemed completely unaware of the temptation he provided, far more concerned with the topic she was trying to avoid as he crossed the room to her.

"Something's bothering you."

Sadie chuckled as she buttoned up her shirt. "Absolutely nothing is-"

"Sadie," Steve said, spinning her around to face him.

He didn't say anything else then, and she knew the trick- he was waiting for her to fill the silence. It was never usually a problem, to stay in a moment's quiet with Steve. But when he was looking at her so seriously, waiting for her to speak, and when his skin was still bare, and she could feel the heat of him-

"There's no way I can say it without sounding selfish," she explained, the words tumbling out like an avalanche. "How do I phrase it? If I say I don't wanna heal anymore then that's-"

"You don't want to heal anymore?" Steve repeated, shock written all over his face. She shrunk away slightly, frowning.

"Inaccurate, and dramatic," Sadie finished, looking him up and down. She turned back to the bag on the table and pulled out a set of clothes which she threw his way, and he caught. "Get dressed."

"You're not off the hook," he insisted, but he followed her orders regardless.

"Look, of course, I want to heal," Sadie started. "But every job I've done in the past, what, two years? Almost all of them have failed, or gone badly. With Stephen, I made him worse, and now he's God knows where."

"I think it's 'inaccurate' to measure it as two years," Steve commented. "This past year hardly counts. For any of us."

"Okay, then it's one year, then," she conceded. "Point stands. If you're hurt you can come to me, I'll always help you, Steve, but... I don't want to give strangers false hope."

"It isn't false," he said, finishing dressing with an impressive speed. "I know that firsthand."

"I appreciate that," Sadie said, crossing back over to him, draping her arms around his shoulders. "I just have to ease into all this. That make sense?"

Steve only nodded then, and Sadie couldn't help but smile as he leaned into her. It seemed she could render him speechless just as he could pull words out of her.

"You're so attentive," she sighed, brushing her lips over his. "But I'm okay."

"If you think kissing me will make me shut up," Steve murmured. "Then you're absolutely right."

"I'll make a note of that," Sadie smiled, as she pulled out of their kiss. "We're getting going?"

"You're the boss," Steve said, simply. "But before we hit the road, what's your cover?"

For some reason, that took Sadie aback. She hadn't thought about any consistent story. "What?"

"If a store clerk starts a conversation, or you gotta explain something," he elaborated. "What's your cover?"

"I... I don't have one," Sadie admitted.

"Okay," Steve said, and there was no judgement in his face. "You picked a name? Something you'll remember?"

"I got them to put Savannah Valentina on my ID," Sadie grinned. "My sister and my soul sister."

"Sounds great," he smiled. "So what brings you to Nevada?"

"I came out here to follow a guy I really like. He's an army guy, constantly on the move," Sadie explained, as Steve nodded, ever true to his role as the curious stranger. "He works super hard. So, we're getting away from the world for a little while."

"Impressive," Steve said, and Sadie could have sworn she could see him grow little red in the face.

She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, which only made him blush harder. It was extremely satisfying. She hadn't seen him this bashful in a long time.

"What's your cover then, Steve?"

"Who's Steve?" He grinned, and she rolled her eyes. "You might be mixing me up with someone."

"I told you mine, doofus! What's your cover?"

"Alright, alright," Steve laughed. "Grant Stevens."

"Grant Stevens?" Sadie repeated. "That's lame."

"Well, it's a name I'll remember but nobody else will, unlike yours," Steve teased.

"Shut up," she argued. "Savannah Valentina is much tamer than Isadora-Michelle Moore."

"Well, I love Isadora-Michelle Moore," he answered, and it was her turn to be bashful, and his turn to grin. He didn't tease her though, steering back to the topic. "My story was that I'm on the road'finding myself'. But I guess now I'm the army guy that works too hard and has a beautiful girl chasing him across country."

"Wow, isn't it crazy how your whole life can change in just a few days?" Sadie laughed.

"It really is," Steve replied, maybe a little too sincerely. Sadie kissed him again, just because she could. "I'm surprised you could think of a story that quick. Took me a while."

"I mean, there's no lie," she shrugged. "Technically, you are an army guy. Certainly work too hard."

Steve rolled his eyes but he didn't argue with that, and it didn't take them long to gather their things before they went.

Sadie insisted on stealing all of the soap and taking two cans of coke for the road. Steve insisted on tidying the dishes from breakfast and room service and leaving a thank you note for the cleaning ladies while he was at it.

They knocked on the doors of both Sam and Natasha to no avail. Unsurprising, since they were at least twenty minutes late for their rendezvous.

"Ma'am!"

Sadie could have had a heart attack for the attention as she and Steve crossed the motel reception.

She was relieved to notice the voice was only a member of staff behind the desk, and so the couple paused instead of running. There were two- a man around the age of fifty, and another half his age.

"Ma'am, do you have ID?" the older man asked, and Sadie nodded, pulling out the false card.

"Wait," Steve said, as she handed it over. "Why do you need her ID? We're on our way out, not in."

"The room was booked for two but we only have..." the man glanced down at the name on the card. "Mr Stevens' name on file. We're just covering our own backs, I'm sure you understand."

Sadie certainly didn't miss how the man's eyes lingered on her as he said so, scrutinising her ID like a minor at a bar. And she didn't miss how the younger man beside him eyed her tote bag, as if she would have something to hide in there.

She wondered for half a second if they would have checked Natasha's ID- wondered whether or not they'd checked Sam's. She'd ask him later.

"You don't need to cover anything," Steve pressed. "We're an honest pair. And I think you've looked at my girl's photo long enough."

"Your girl?"

Sadie could have slapped the man for the shock on his face.

"Yes," Steve said, firmly.

The man just gave a tight lipped smile as he handed back her card, holding his hand out to Steve expectantly. She didn't think that the man had any previous intention to check up on Steve but, perhaps her partner's loud mouth had irritated him.

Sadie could tell from Steve's demeanour that he wanted out of there as soon as possible, but he gave over his ID anyway, tapping his foot impatiently.

"You look very different from your photo," the man said, and Sadie was quick to jump in before Steve could say something argumentative.

"It's the facial hair," she smiled, leaning against Steve's shoulder. "Everyone's a catfish these days, am I right?"

"You look a lot like that fella," the man started, as he handed back their ID. "Which one was it you said earlier, Johnny?"

"C-Captain America," the younger man said, nervously, and Sadie did her best to give a good natured laugh.

"Captain America, sure," the man drawled. "But that can't be, can it?"

Sadie glanced over at Steve beside her who was not helping his case by keeping that intimidating frown in his brow, and hardly moving an inch. She'd have to save them then.

"Everyone used to say he was the exact doppelgänger when we were in college," Sadie giggled, in a voice that was completely not her own. "Right, baby?"

"What?" Steve said, clearly shocked by her unfamiliar tone. "Oh. Yes, yes they did."

"I'll be honest, it's why I went for him," Sadie added, for her own enjoyment now. "I love Captain America."

"Right," Steve chuckled, tightly. "Maybe a little too much."

"My wife's the same," the man said, and it seemed his guard was down. "Says she likes me cause I look like a young Robert De Niro, but I don't know if that's a good thing!"

Sadie couldn't think of anyone who looked less like young De Niro, but she chose not to comment on that.

She also chose not to comment on the fact that the man hardly acknowledged her at all in the conversation, not looking her way once after he cleared her ID.

"I guess I have something of his charm," the man continued, before nodding to Steve. "There's worse men to be compared to, am I right?"

Steve looked like he didn't know what to say to that, his defensiveness still a solid barrier, so Sadie jumped in once again, despite the fact she was sure she would be ignored.

"Well, we've had a wonderful stay here," she smiled.

They were swift to walk away then, Steve letting out a heavy sigh of relief next to her as they stepped onto the street. Sadie bit back her laughter as she looked at him- the pure annoyance on his face was completely endearing.

"It's not funny," Steve said, as he linked his hand in hers. "That guy's a pig."

"He's just covering his back," Sadie said, with sarcastic innocence. "Can't believe my kids are going to have to deal with that micro aggressive bullshit."

"Your  kids?" Steve asked, pointedly, and Sadie cringed for the slip up.

"We're not family-planning while we're on the run," she said, quickly. "And you haven't put a ring on it anyway, sir."

That didn't seem to take him off guard as she thought it would. Instead, Steve just hummed in response, lifting their intertwined hands. Conveniently, he'd been holding her left.

"How about when we stop running?" He asked it so casually, only half-looking at her as they crossed the street to where Nat had hidden the Quinjet.

"You're so sure that we will?" Sadie asked, in return.

"Wanda stopped," he said. "She's safe. Checks in."

"Wanda is Wanda," she said. "You're you. We saw what happened back there, and you told me what happened on that Tennessee train. Can't tell me those are the only close calls."

"If we found some place in the country..."

Steve didn't look like he believed his own words, but there was a steady hope in his blue eyes and his soft smile that Sadie couldn't help but feel it too. Even if she was a city girl at heart.

"Maybe when stop running," she conceded. "Someday."

Instead of pressing on the topic, Steve only gave her a look as he opened up the jet. A quipped brow, a bitten back laugh. Sadie couldn't help but smile herself as she realised he had been thinking the same as she had in the motel reception- and not on the topic of micro-aggression.

"Young De Niro?" Steve laughed. "Is he serious?"

"He's got some of his charm. At least, as much as any middle aged, pot bellied idiot in the West," Sadie said as they entered the jet. "Sam! Did you get carded at the desk?"

"Think you already know the answer to that," Sam said, and then, by way of greeting: "So you cut parole?"

"No, she cut her sentence," Natasha said, waltzing over from the cockpit. "Couldn't stick it out."

"I lasted longer than any of you would," Sadie laughed, as Natasha tossed a familiar duffel bag to her feet. "Oh, you angel!"

"Stealth suit," she said, nonchalantly, and Sadie's smile fell. "Don't look like that, it's not a fashion show."

"I hate that thing," Sadie grinned, but she took the bag regardless.

"You're gonna need that thing where we're headed," Sam commented, and she nodded. "If Cap finally agrees to go, that is."

Of course, Steve in all his silence, was changed into his own stealth suit at the back of the jet in his lightning fast way. And he looked almost exactly the same as any other time she'd seen him wear it, besides one major difference.

His silver star was gone, only the indentation of the stitches remained. Something to talk about later, she thought.

"I don't see why we can't go," he shrugged, and Sadie frowned. "No use avoiding it anymore."

"Where?"

"Jakarta," Natasha said. "Those weapons have spread around the world, it's like a game of whack-a-mole. And we've only been dealing with America."

"But if there were other threats..."

"Cap didn't wanna leave the States," Sam commented. "Even though it's apparently fine to hop over to Wakanda, it was a push to get him to Quebec."

"Why?" Sadie asked, turning to face Steve who had been exceptionally busy adjusting his gloves.

He only gave her a look, and she understood it. Sadie's heart swelled at the gesture, that he'd stayed on this side of the Pacific for her- in case she ever needed him.

He'd meant it when he said he'd go get her if she asked him to.

"Let's get the hell out of this place," Nat said, breaking the silence. "We've been here too long, and been too loud while we were. Bounty hunters are probably racing in on this location. Sadie, did you take care of what I asked?"

"Anyone who has been tracking me will be finding lots of room reservations for locations we're nowhere near," she confirmed. "And folks back in New York are giving a few false tips."

"Alright," Steve nodded. "Let's buckle up. It's almost a day's journey to Indonesia."

~

They'd landed in the outskirts Jakarta after nineteen hours flight that Sadie had used half of to fit in golden brown extensions in the form of box braids- a colour she would never usually go for, but maybe it would help her to remain slightly incognito. And braids, at least, were easier to maintain on the road than her loose curls.

Sam, Nat and Steve had taken turns to fly and that left Sadie feeling extremely guilty that she couldn't help. So she'd started to learn, terrifying as it was. Steve kept telling her it wasn't so different to driving a car. So far, Sadie didn't find that to be true.

"We need to remember to stay out of the sun," Sadie said, going over the plans in her head. "It's the dry season, and it gets hot as hell."

"If we can just intercept this trade without blowing up the city, I'll be satisfied," Sam said as he opened the jet, and the team nodded gravely.

Since Steve had been so insistent to remain in the States, Sadie could guess this was the first real international mission since Lagos. Personally, she didn't count Berlin- they hadn't been fighting true enemies then.

"We'll head to position," Nat said, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear before looking over at Steve and Sadie. "Two of you coming?"

"Sure," Sadie grinned, moving to follow Sam and Natasha as they walked onto the dusty road, but Steve grasped her hand.

"You forgot these," he said, and she realised he'd put some material in her grip.

She turned the grey fabric in her hands. Her arm cuffs, the Red Cross embroidered on them. The scarlet burned her hands. But at least he hadn't brought her hat.

"Oh, I wasn't going to wear them," Sadie smiled, casually, setting the cuffs on the bench.

"Why?" Steve asked, and she wished he wouldn't look at her that way. All worry and... disappointment?

"The colour is a little bright, don't you think?" she chuckled. "We're supposed to sneak up on these guys."

"It's broad daylight," Steve said. "Don't think a little red will make a difference."

"Steve, I told you I'm not... I don't work like before," Sadie sighed. "I can't go around wearing that symbol when I don't work like before."

"But it's important," he reminded her. "This is who you are."

"No more than that star was," she countered, gesturing to the outline on his chest.

"Sadie, I just got you back," Steve said, desperately. "Don't change now."

Sadie took a breath then, bit back her reply that she already had changed. Losing her work, losing her friends, losing her mother had changed her already.

"If someone's hurt I'll use what's in my belt," she said, instead.

"But if you can do better than that, shouldn't you?" Steve asked, and she didn't resist the urge to roll her eyes. "I realise you've had a lot of knocks lately-"

"Tiny knocks," Sadie commented. "Tiny mistakes- stupid mistakes."

"It's all built up, hasn't it?" he asked, and she couldn't help her frown then. Sadie didn't know whether to hate him or love him more for all his insight.

"It was... a gradual epiphany, yes."

"I just think you have so much more to give-"

"Steve, I love you, but I don't wanna go in circles," Sadie said, bringing a hand to his face. "I know you want to help, but I need to heal for myself first. Can you just trust me on this? Okay?"

Steve didn't say anything, but she could tell he was still wracking his brain for a way to change her mind, a way to fix her right away. And Sadie felt a little guilty then, wished she could feel better already, that she wasn't so wary of healing- if only so that she could stop him worrying about her.

But she didn't feel better. And not only was she still wary, but she was afraid. Of failing like she'd failed Rhody, how she'd failed Shan- of hurting people like she'd hurt Stephen Strange.

It was better to stay on the safe side.

"I love you," Sadie sighed. "Just trust me. Okay?"

"Okay," Steve answered, his brow still furrowed. "I love you."

. . .

. .

.

oop what's this? amber's trying gifs again? I guess so. ngl gifs for Sierra are pretty rare but if I hunt down enough I can sprinkle them here and there. if you know any good fan sources/fan blogs that might have some more of her lmk! I've gathered a decent amount for now, but still, can't be too prepared!

yay, we've got the team together again! not the whole team, for obvious reasons, but at least we have a quartet lmao

hope the fluff/angst balance wasn't too crazy for you all. Sadie is struggling but she's still grieving her mother, she still feels guilty for her failures throughout Civil War (not saving people in Lagos, and Vienna, and then Rhody too) and on top of all that she's assuming the worst has happened to Stephen even though we know the bloke is thriving lmao

bit of a slow chapter but we'll be getting into more action soon!

let me know what you think!

-Amber.