Peace - P.M.
The path down to the river was a rocky one, tiny with roots of the surrounding trees growing into it.
She loved trails like these, the trails that wind through the forests in the mountains. They reminded her of home.
When she came onto the clearing , she had been searching for, her gaze was instantly drawn to the young man, sitting by the riverbank, a man who she told herself she despised.
She didn’t really, she knew.
And that made her hate him even more.
She had trusted him, when they had both been with Hydra. He had been kind to her. He had promised her, to take her with them, when they were released, to look after her. And then he had left, without her, not looking back, never even wasting a thought.
She had trusted him, felt safe.
And now, only months later, she found herself hating him.
It’s sad, isn’t it?
She had wanted to come here to think, to be alone.
He didn’t say a word as she crept up behind him, silently.
And for a moment, in the light of the dawning sun, she allowed herself to look at him.
Not the look, through a haze of hatred and mild annoyance, but to actually look at him.
He looked more peaceful than she had ever seen him before.
Even more so, seeing as he was alone.
He always seemed a little on edge, when his sister wasn’t with him.
Like they belonged together.
She couldn’t recall all the times, she had yearned to do the same.
To belong.
She too had once belonged.
But that feeling, that sense, it was long gone.
And then it had sparked up again.
With him. With them.
Perhaps, she mused, that was also a reason for her dislike of him.
Jealousy. And rejection.
Always rejection.
His hair was an astonishing shade of dark grey, nearly silver even.
It made her think of the clouds in a thunderstorm.
A breeze came up from the woods surrounding them, betraying her presence to him, when her earrings moved in the wind. She froze for a second, debating whether or not to retreat, but when he still didn’t comment, she proceeded to sit down on a rock.
Neither of them said a word as she continued roaming his contours with her gaze.
He was rather handsome, she decided.
Without that shit-eating smirk that is.
He had a scar on the side of his neck, that she only noticed now, when he was sitting (he was a lot taller than her after all) and from the right angle.
She wondered where it had come from.
His hands were littered with tiny chips and cuts, but after spending years with Hydra, she didn’t know what she had expected.
She looked worse, she knew.
“You’re staring”
His voice was unreadable.
It sounded calm, not teasing.
Odd.
It still startled her though.
Her head shot up and her eyes snapped back to his face, but he hadn’t turned.
She could feel her face heating up and turned her head away, to the river.
Why was she so flustered? She had only been looking after all.
She had caught him doing more to her several times before. But not in such an intimate place.
“Relax. I do not mean to tease”
His voice held the tiniest, warm smile, but it was enough to chase the cold that had gripped her fingers.
How was that possible? A persons tone of voice shouldn’t be able to warm her from the inside out.
But goodness it did.
He was being watched. He could sense it.
Years of training should’ve taught him better, but he dared not look back. It would break the moment.
The peace of watching the sun sink from view behind the forests of Sokovia, always made him feel...home.
A light breeze came up, cool, bearing the tidings of winter, and arose a clinking sound from behind him.
He knew the sound, only too well.
It was Her. Her earrings.
Golden and long they were, she had the ability to move with utter silence, not letting them give away her position, to anyone ever.
Until now.
He hated those blasted things. She refused to not wear them, despite being extremely bad for her ears and just senselessly annoying.
He could feel, she was mustering him intently now.
It wasn’t an uncomfortable stare. It wasn’t a hard one, or a scowl like the one, she wore when he teased her.
It was a curious one. One that showed kindness and -dare he say it- vulnerability.
He almost regretted calling her out on it, when she didn’t resume her looking.
He hadn’t wanted to startle or tease her.
Well, maybe tease a little, but he liked the quiet.
With her.
And so he leaned back a little more on his elbows, enjoying the last rays of sunshine that the day held.
And perhaps also the company.