Viper

Chapter 1: And so it all Begins

I look around for any sign of my blonde-haired, blue-eyed brother and his tall brunet best friend. Not finding them near our usual meeting spot, I decide to take a walk around Brooklyn to try to find the two boys.

My name is Adelaide Grace Rogers. I'm the twenty-seven-year-old sister of Steven Rogers. Unlike my twenty-four-year-old brother, I am very healthy, fit, and incredibly strong. I am also especially smart. All of this led to my being recruited by the Strategic Scientific Reserve or SSR for short. I work very closely with Howard Stark and Colonel Chester Phillips. Steve has no clue what I actually do. He believes that I work in a bookstore, which for all intents and purposes I do. After our mother's passing, I easily paid off the bills and took care of my brother, and Steve and Bucky moved into my house. Steve would have been completely lost without me he claims, but I am sure that Bucky would have offered to take care of Steve if I had not been here.

I turn the corner heading toward an alley, and there I see it. My little brother crouched over after receiving another quick punch to the gut.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" I yell.

"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do if I don't, sweetcheeks?" the guy questions.

I quickly jump over the trashcans and dodge his punches before strangling him in a chokehold.

"Leave my brother alone," I say and quickly flip the guy over and pin him to the ground, keeping him there with the heel of my boot. "Stevie, are you okay?"

"Y-yeah­—"

"Now, you listen to me," I address the man on the ground, "If I ever see you harassing someone again, I will not hesitate to end you. Do you hear me?" I yell at the guy.

"Y-y-y-yes, m-m-ma'am," he whimpers.

"Good. Now, get out of here. Stevie, come on, sweetheart. Let's get you home to get cleaned up."

We suddenly hear a nearby whistle.

"James Buchanan Barnes!" I yell at him. "Where were you?"

"I-uh-was just-um..." he mumbles something under his breath.

"Just what, James?" I ask.

"On a date," he mutters quietly.

I give him a humph and sigh as we reach the house. After our mother's death, I had insisted Steve move in with me as he couldn't handle living in the apartment where everything would just remind him of Mom. We are sharing a room just like we used to because we don't want to run the risk of losing each other. Bucky wanted to be close to us, and he is dating me anyway so it just made sense for him to move into the guest room.

Bucky unlocks the door, and I quickly grab the first aid kit and get to work on my brother.

"Look, doll, I'm sorry."

"Hmm," is all I will reply. "Stevie, I want you to go lie down for a while. Can you do that for me?"

"Okay. I love you, Ady. Don't be too hard on him," he replies.

"I'll try," I voice as Steve goes up the stairs. Finally, I turn to look at Bucky. "James, what do you have to say for yourself? And don't try to give me that bullshit about a date again because I know you wouldn't do that to me."

"Doll, I really am sorry for leaving Steve by himself," he says softly.

"Bucket, is everything okay?"

He laughs at my little-used nickname for him. "It will be, I promise."

"Good," I reply before pulling him in for a sweet kiss. "Listen," I begin after pulling away for air. "There's something I need to tell you."

"What's on your mind, Doll?"

"The bookstore is sending me to a writer's conference for a couple of weeks. I'm leaving next Saturday. Steve already knows, I just didn't have the chance to tell you yet."

"What am I going to do without you?" Bucky innocently asks.

"Not get much action," I say with a smirk.

"That isn't what I was referring to, Doll," he states lowly.

"That may very well be, but your intentions can be seen clearly in those icy blue eyes of yours, which are now a deep navy hue. Would you like me to continue?" I sassily respond, but before the last words fall from my mouth, Bucky has picked me up bridal-style and is carrying me to the bedroom in the basement so Steve won't have to hear us.