He's on the table when he see's it, drills tearing him apart, and yet he still hears her cheeky giggle bounding inside his skull. Like they're eight years old again and playing hide and seek in the armoury. The flash of blonde hair. The flash of blonde hair that used to cause all kinds of mischief, that kept him distracted in class until he was fifteen years old and traded her in for a grudge. A minute later and the door caves in; their cavalry here to save the day, their kingdom to reclaim. She's covered in blood, always covered in blood, and her eyes are shuttered, but her eyes flash to him and do the quick inspection he's so used to before evaluating the room. She's beside him in an instant, small hands making quick work of patching him up as he mumbles a lame "just like when we used to play doctor, huh" to ease the tightness in her mouth as consciousness finally slips away.

He's breathing fresh air when he awakes, in a meadow as his people prepare their trek home. The trees swirl before him and the voices come in fits and starts but he sees a flash of blonde hair and knows they're safe. He rushes towards her, tripping on his bandaged legs, with a loud "Bambi! Thank God". The strange looks and the dull ache in his back mean nothing compared to the chuckle and small smile he feels against his neck. Because she's here and she's alive and she got them out. The little girl who used to fall asleep every night watching Disney movies on his couch had become a princess who moved mountains and saved lives, saved his life.

"Cap's alive. He's back at camp. He's been looking for you." Her smile is bright and encouraging but there's something in her eyes that subtracts from the excitement you feel. Once upon a time you knew this girl, and though you know that those walls are not about your father, you feel your stomach tumble anyway.

When you wake the next morning and hear the news, you feel your heart stutter, but you're not surprised. So you stand tall beside the boy she left behind and keep her people safe; a favour she didn't have to ask.