[He takes the letters; his stomach has bottomed out, iced over, he feels slightly sick. Those letters were private for more than one reason.]
Because...
[He takes a breath. Rosella didn't remember this, Steve doesn't know why. Maybe because she hadn't had a lot of friends, and Steve had always had Bucky, or maybe because she didn't want to. But their parents hadn't wanted her to know and Steve wanted to abide by that.]
Because we were. He and I, not you. Our parents adopted me, Rosella. When we were five.
no subject
Because...
[He takes a breath. Rosella didn't remember this, Steve doesn't know why. Maybe because she hadn't had a lot of friends, and Steve had always had Bucky, or maybe because she didn't want to. But their parents hadn't wanted her to know and Steve wanted to abide by that.]
Because we were. He and I, not you. Our parents adopted me, Rosella. When we were five.