Lessons in Rule Breaking and Other Reader-Inserts*Steve Rogers*Reader*

Walpurgis Night (Fairy Tale AU)

A small hand curled around his wrist, forcing him to halt and meet a pair of familiar emerald eyes.

"Natalia," he granted her with a reassuring smile and she sprang towards him from James' side, throwing her arms around him in an unladylike manner, losing nothing of the warmth of her gesture.

"Steven. Trust nothing you see," she warned him with a knowing glint in her eye, worry for her dear friend creasing the elegant arches of her brows.

Steven stiffened, taken aback by both her heartfelt assault and her words. He gently squeezed her waist, wary of letting people see their affection. She was to wed soon, to his best friend no less. James understood, however the people of the court and other commoners like himself might not.

"I shall return to you all, Natalia. Worry for me not," he whispered, allowing her to slip from his arms, nodding at his friend who reciprocated the gesture, patting his shoulder covered in expensive cloak.

"Don't do anything foolish, brother."

Natalia shook her head, tight-lipped smile on her face, brief and too weak for anyone to believe that she had that much faith in him.

It wounded Steven, yes, but feeble-minded he was not. The truth was merciless; not one man had ever returned from the path he was about to set foot on. Not a single one.

"You are a fool," Natalia lamented, her palm tenderly laid on his chest, as if she could feel his heartbeat under the many layers covering his torso, including the thick chainmail. "May the Gods protect you, Steven. Be careful."

He nodded, only having taken a single step aside when another person appeared in his path.

Wanda. The sister. Realization dawned to Steven, for the first time since the unfortunate morning of Pietro being chosen, that she had barely reached the age of a woman, rather being a child still. Bending down to her as her frame seemed even smaller than usual, her thin shoulders scrunched in guilt, Steven could see clearly her tears-stained face.

Her petite hands, cold to touch and trembling, wrapped around his left one, watery eyes looking up at him. Steven didn't hesitate to give her a smile, to assure her that she owed him nothing for taking her brother's place.

The redhead didn't seem to agree, seeing as her skirts swirled and she fell to her knees right in front of him in a gesture of subservience.

"My la-" he exclaimed, alarmed, more so when she turned his hand in hers, her lips hovering above his leather-cladded palm, another sign of inferiority to him, leaving him horrified. Overtaken by shock, rendered speechless, he only observed as she took his other hand and repeated her action, clinging onto him like onto a dear life.

Only when she raised her teary eyes to him, he shook himself at last and kneeled to her level, regardless of the mud staining his attire. She had clearly cared not for her skirts either as the plain dress she was wearing were now soaked in dirt.

"My lady, Wanda-"

Her lips quivered, tears rolling down her pale cheeks as she released his hand and reached to the curve of her nape, unfastening a thin chain carrying a pendent.

Breath caught in Steven's throat when she handed it to him without hesitation, curling her tiny fingers around his before he could even consider giving it back. Her whisper, peculiarly deep and so quiet he had to strain his ears to hear it, resonated in his soul, her gaze trapping him.

"Shall the kindness of your heart
be your lifeline in the dark.
May it shine and keep you warm,
perish not its honest spark."