Chapter Text
i. drastic
June 1990
Steve dries his eyes, he has to ; he doesn't want to appear sad or weak or worse , stupid, in front of Ms Stark. He is only twelve, yes, and his mother has always kept him as far as possible from the owners of the mansion – Steve likes to refer it as a castle, though, it is a prettier word , he thinks – and he is already afraid, wondering why Ms Stark wants to see him. His mother, lovely Sarah Rogers, cook and one of the maids of the Starks, is dead, taken by an infection, and Steve is alone now, all alone in this world, without a clue of what to do with himself.
He steps into the room when he hears his name being called ; he feels so out of place here, the castle shines with bright white walls and marble pieces of decorations – Steve knows them all, having drawn them several times while waiting for his mother's shift to end - , and he feels like a dirty spot that needs to be whipped out with bleach.
“Steve sweetheart, do sit down.”
Maria Stark's voice is beautiful, Steve always thought so, after all she's very beautiful and he thinks many men must have fought to get her, she's always been so gentle and sweet. She is pouring a cup of tea, a nice comforting smile on her face. Steve sits down in the soft chair – it's all soft, he realizes , with the arms a nice gold color , and the soft material a deep bordeaux red, he likes it – and watches her as she pours another cup.
“Do you take sugar with your tea, dear ?”
“No, thank you.”
He's not sure why she's offering him tea, but he takes the cup anyway, and waits before taking a sip ; the liquid is warm, but not enough to burn him, he recognizes a berry taste in the tea, he doesn't ask though, he doesn't want to push his luck and have Ms Stark realizes he's a stupid twelve years old boy.
“Steve, love, I wanted to see you today, because I know this is a particularly hard time for you.”
He looks up from his cup, and finds Maria Sark looking at him with sad eyes ; he knows this look, he saw it many times, once when his mother said that they had to move because they couldn't afford rent anymore, and some other time when his mother watched him having a cough fit and she couldn't do anything to help. And now Maria Stark is giving him the same look, and it can only mean one thing.
“I know ma'am, and I appreciate the kindness you've shown over the last two years towards me and my mother. It was very much appreciated.”
Maria smiles and a small sound escapes her mouth and Steve thinks she's chuckling and, okay, what has he done wrong ?
“Darling, You're speaking as if I am about to throw you out in the streets.”
Oh, and yes, she's chuckling, laughing even, and Steve can't help but be confused.
“You're..not ?”
She shakes her head, laughing slighly at him, but Steve can't manage to find the gesture hurtful. She leans in and grabs the cup, sitting on his lap between his hands ,and puts it away before she takes his hands in hers. They're soft, and she squeezes his, which are probably sweaty and all moisty.
“I know that your mother was the only family you have left, but I want you to know that I am not going to let you go on the streets alone or to the foster system, God knows how bad it is. What I want is for you to stay with us and be one of us.”
“Ms Stark, I don't understand..”
“It's simple, I haven't talked about this wih anyone but I am about to launch an organization for orphan children, and I knew your mother, she was very kind and I can see she brought you up to be just like her. So, would you like to be a part of the Stark family ?”
Steve is surprised, chocked to be honest, he can't believe his ears, he can't believe what she's telling him. She's asking him, Steven Rogers, a scrawny little kid, poor and barely able to lift anything, to be a part of the Stark family. They're rich, they're so rich, his mother told him so, he remembers her saying royalty or something ; he's not sure what it means, bu he doesn't have much to compare really.
So he lets out a small okay and lets Maria Stark hug him. His mother is gone but he is not completely alone, and he needs to hold onto something, and righ now, he only has that. He just doesn't how drastically his life is about to change.