Chemical Poison

Sipping at her coffee as she walked side-by-side with Alexander, he was giving her all the gossip from the past two days. Supposably his father decided that he wanted a new wife and swiftly divorced his latest wife (wife number 4), and the new future wife number 5 had a great taste in spirits. 

"I gave them my blessing, on the promise she brings vodka back into the spirit's cupboard. She agreed readily, and guess what?"

The spring breeze brushed up against her bare knee, her free left hand carefully holding down her dress as they walked down the busy street: cars rushing by, men in black suits and canes walking slowly past them and the screams of engines from the buildings. Picturesque would be a terrible way to explain New York at 7am, but it had a strange haunting beauty. 

Smiling. She kept her head facing straight to make sure she did not bump into the school boys running to get to school on time with their tie loose around their necks. It was a skill, but Anneliese mustered it all the same.

"You got vodka?"

His arms linked around her neck, his coffee splashing to the cement as he lifted his arms as if he was going to throw it (he did not). "The house is dripping in the finest vodka, a Grey man can buy."

They continue to walk, casual conversations between the two, and Alexander did not remove his arm around her neck. And as they arrived to the front of Stark Industrials, Alexander cheekily asked, 'How's you and Howard?', knowing the question would make Anneliese burn up brightly. Red.

Ignoring his comment, Anneliese nodded at the security at the door, and out of habit, showed him her ID card. And as they walked into the foyer of the already busy room, wondering employees stopped what they were doing to stare briefly, before they went back to work. It was normal behaviour, that had been doing this for ages. Especially ever since the announcement of America's involvement in the current war against Germany, their eyes were either filled with curiosity about what the two knew, the longings eyes for the current gossip. 

Wondering eyes used to bother Anneliese, but after so many days and weeks of walking to work after another 'planned' scandal, or attending charity events with Howard. Even talking to the press about the latest technology item (because even with her new position, Howard still wanted her to speak at nearly all press conferences). Now, she made their eyes her home. Comforting, lovingly and welcoming. They saw what they believed to be authentically her, when she had curated her image... a skill she learnt from her own mother.

They received what they wanted, a loyal dutiful woman. When she was so much more, so much worse. There was Schmidt blooding dripping in her veins.

As the two entered the elevator, Anneliese nudged his side, her coffee now cold in her hand. "Howard decided he wanted to go out tonight," her voice was loud and clear, knowing there was ears behind them thirsting for any information that came from her mouth. 'Do you know what he has planned?'

Alexander provided an explanation, not that she cared much for it. They continued their chapter until more and more employee's left the elevator as they reached the fifth floor. Yet, Alexander seemed to only grow more restless. Supposably a four minute trip, standing still, in an elevator was too much to ask of him. 

"Can you not stand still?", Anneliese asked, her eyes resting on his feet which seemed to be jumping from one place to the next. 

He shook his head, "Can't do that ma'am", he whispered, his smile curling. 

He lead the way out of the elevator, "And don't you like your men restless?"

Raising her eyebrow, she knew he was baiting her. Like always, it was clockwork with Alexander.

Replying, Anneliese offhandedly said, "I'm sure you like them restless."

His lips quirked up, his smile growing bigger as they walked down the quiet corridor towards Howard's office. 

"I'm curious Anneliese", he questioned, his head lowering to her ear as they walked, "Who is the dominant one in the relationship? Who's the to-"

Before Anneliese could even react, the two were stopped by Agent Carter stopping them before they entered the office. Her eyes raised from their conversation, and Anneliese couldn't help herself from blushing; definitely made her look guilty of Alexander's questions.

Agent Carter was always dressed in a green office uniform, badges ranking down her blazer and her hair perfectly curled and lips painted red. She was the definition of perfect. But of course, could you be perfect in a profession where your gender made you a liability?

She knew the answer, and she was certain so did Agent Carter.  

No words came from her mouth, not one sound. It was too strange. "Can I help you Agent Carter?" Anneliese asked, trying her best to be polite.

Again, she didn't speak. The silence was scaring her.

"Can you speak?"

Alexander's tone came off brutally aggressive, and Anneliese's eyes flickered to his... only to see their was worry in them. 

She lowered her head before she spoke, "Mr Stark has said he has a completed prototype for the serum..."

Giving the Agent a curious look, she had no clue how this was anything but good news. It meant they were ahead of time, and they would have more time to work on other projects, especially Howard's most top secret project for the World Exposition of Tomorrow. But the silence only made her heart race slightly quicker.

"And?" Alexander said again quickly, Anneliese had closed her eyes and without needing to look. She could sense that Alexander's fist were balled, his veins straining against his skin. 

Refusing to open her eyes, she could hear it all. The pounding in her ears, her heart running miles and how her fingers grew frostbitten holding her coffee cup. Suddenly she didn't want to be there anymore, or, she just wanted to know what was going on to make Agent Carter so silent.

Opening them slowly, her eyes met with Agent Carter's. Her's were filled with sympathy.

"The president wants us to begin searching for possible candidates... now."

Rising her eyebrow as Alexander mumbled, "And why are you prohibiting us from entering Stark's office?"

The agent turned her back to them and opened the door. 

Suddenly the corridor was filled with Howard's raised voice and a firm voice she was all too familiar with. The dread suddenly sunk in. Neither men realised that Anneliese and Alexander had stepped into the room.

"YOU CAN'T JUST GO-"

"How dare you speak to me in such a ton-"

"Well then, sir," She watched Howard say mockingly. "You're not allowed to go without the permission of the project manager, which is your daughter if you have forgotten. Do you really think she will let you go?"

Her eyes flickered to her father. She was expecting to see him weakly holding onto a cane, but instead she saw the same man that fired bullets at men in trucks when they escaped from Germany. He wasn't going to give up. There was a fire in his eyes, never to be put out and never to be controlled. It was the Lorenz curse, unyielding defiance. 

His response came out far too easily. "She will do what she is told," he said as if it was a matter-of-facts. "I am her father after all."

A small 'ahem' from Alexander was enough for both of their eyes to dart over to the three of them, awkwardly standing at the entrance to Howard's office. Instantly, Howard went to pat down his gelled hair, and tighten his loosen tie. Her father wasn't any better, he automatically  lowered his eyes... as if staring at Anneliese would make him back down.

She knew better. It was a trick of liars, and the biggest one of them all were the Lorenz's.

Taking a step into the office, closer to both Howard and her father. Her eyes were wide, her coffee long forgotten on the wooden floor, coffee slowly trickling from the damaged paper lid. She was baffled, completely off-guard from their argument and lost for words.

Luckily she had Alexander, who always had something to say.

"What the fuc-"

A stern glare from Anneliese was enough for him to stop speaking. It seemed Alexander's profanities was the cure, words came spilling through her mind. Disappointment, confusion, anger and all sorts of estranged thoughts.

Snapping her eyes back onto Howard and her father, she loudly asked, "What on earth is going on?"

Neither spoke, but Anneliese had already figured it out. Her father wanted to join Abraham in finding the candidate, that he didn't want to be left alone. It was another fight she wouldn't be able to win, especially against Josef. He was a master in these types of games, especially when he had someone by his side.

And where her mother stood now was Abraham. Anneliese would have no hope prohibiting him, but it didn't mean she wanted it to happen nonetheless. She was beginning to suspect that her father secretly loved Abraham, romantically, but she would never mention it to either men.

Since neither spoke, Anneliese did, "Father, we will discuss your chances of going another time" She begun, watching her father's eyes darted to stare at Howard, his eyes promising that he would be going, as a chance meant a possibility of going. "But I don't want to hear a word of this until we officially discuss this in a meeting."

She knew that Abraham was considering going to some of the Allied countries to find a possible candidate, but she was not risking losing her father on land that didn't belong to America. Her eyes were stern on her father, "You can go."

Her voice was cold as her father got up with the help of his walking stick. "Alexander, Agent Carter, can you escort him to his room", she ordered as she watched him walk past him, and right before he left she spoke. Her voice devoid of any emotions.

'Papa,' She called out, her heart thumping. Defiance running its course. "Do not speak to Howard in such a tone... or else," her tone was threatening, dripping in promises better unsaid. "I'm sure we have a common understanding what a Lorenz would do to keep what is there's, he is not yours to yell at."

Glancing to met his eyes, she knew her father would be more than annoyed with her actions, but his eyes only showed both pride and sorrow; an avalanche of emotional strain. This did not stop her heart from thumping quicker, as the pieces clicked. He wasn't angry at her, well maybe slightly, but he was proud of her. Because he didn't see his daughter, a girl covered in someone else's blood.

He saw his wife, Erna, in Anneliese.

And that was enough to nearly shatter her lungs, perhaps it did. Breathing loudly and consistently, she watched her father leave with Agent Carter and Alexander behind. She had to collect herself, she had to be strong.

Lorenz's were strong, she had to be strong.

Waiting for the click from the door, she snapped her head to face Howard. It seemed he hadn't let himself breathe the entire time, fairly so. They remained silent for the longest time, and Anneliese hadn't even realised she had walked all the way to his desk. He was only a few centimetres away.

Her hands were down on his desk, leaning across to stare at him, she knew in only a matter of minutes she would be blushing for being so close, so intimate. And yet, Anneliese couldn't compel herself to stop, to move away from him. He smelt like cinnamon and gunpowder, addictingly so. Tilting her head slightly, she whispered, 'Do you have anything to say for yourself?'

He didn't reply, and Anneliese was beginning to grow frustrated from everyone's silence, "You do understand you will need my father's blessing to do anything more with me, "Anneliese begun, "And yelling isn't the best look."

A smirk appeared on Howard's lips, "Well lucky for you, I don't do well with following rules," As he teasingly move even closer towards her, Anneliese's breath hitched as he whispered, "Not really my forte."

Close to nothing separated them, and Howard seemed to thrive from this. "Do i need your father's permission to kiss you?", a glimmer of satisfaction graced his eyes as the heat returned to her cheeks. This was a dangerous game, and yet, Anneliese struggled to remove herself.

In the one year they've been fake dating, they had never done anything more intimate than hug. Originally, Anneliese believed it to be because Howard wasn't interested, but it seemed Anneliese always acted scared to anything at all... lovingly... even a hug. Perhaps, the playboy gene in him hadn't completely dissolved, and maybe this was all a way to get it out of his system.

Yet, there was something otherworldly in the way his eyes glowed a golden brown, how they sparkled in curious delight. With her mouth slightly parted, she was lost for words.

:Are you going to lecture me now?", He whispered slowly, as he moved away from her. His hands loosely placed in his pockets as he watched her curiously, not as if she was a prey, but more like how a child stares down ice cream. Longingly, wishfully and addictively. 

The window behind him showcased the morning sunrise. A small gasp came from her lips as she watched his skin glow gold, much like his eyes, all of it seemed too unreal. Almost magical.

Slowly, he walked towards her, and Anneliese didn't dare to breathe. She wasn't scared, but she was unbelievably nervous. She wasn't one to be intimate. Her parents loved her, but they weren't really big of physical touch, so... Anneliese adopted this mannerism. It was why Alexander was so big at throwing his hands around her, trying to make her more willing to be affectionately touched by others. Nervous, awkward and all those butterflies in her stomach couldn't stop the what if's in her mind.

What if she just broke it off now?  She can't even bring herself to kiss him, not for the press, not for photographs and not even when Howard was asking. As if the kiss would open some sort of lurking monster in her, that it would wreak all the plans she has for the future.

He was in front of her now, Anneliese having no option but to lean against the desk, he was so much closure than before. Her cheeks still flush, her eyes darting in all directions but to meet Howard's, and she wanted to escape... but, it wasn't that what scared her. Not the possibility of a kiss, but the fact she knew it wouldn't just be a kiss.

Because to Anneliese, this was the key to a box she long buried. One she rather keep close.

His eyebrow raised as his boyish grin returned. "Why are you so red," he whispered into her ear, Anneliese almost choked, "Do i make you nervous?"

She didn't need to answer him, as her fingers were twitching in front of her skirt, and Howard's eyes trailed down to them. As he raised his eyes to meet her's again, he gently took one of her hands, and rubbed her fingers lovingly, gently. Calming the tremors in them. She felt safe with Howard, but absolutely terrified at the same time.

He made her feel utterly lost. The creator of all the lurking thoughts that bubbled to the surface. She would not come out of this breathing, she was certain of this fact.

"Anneliese..." he said breathlessly. 

He didn't need to say more, he was asking. He was asking if he could, and if she would. She knew he had been waiting patiently, that he figured out (or Alexander snitched) about her fear for such intimate physical touch. Sure, he had kissed her cheek numerous times, but this was different and Anneliese was... she knew what she wanted, but...

There were no buts.

Her chin was raised slightly by his free hand, his other hand still gently massaging her shaken hand. Anneliese having no option but to stare into his damning gold eyes; the window of his soul. She felt exposed, as if he knew everything she was thinking, wishing, wanting. It was uncomfortable, yet perfectly right. The conflict in her mind was too much-

"-I don't know how to do this."

The room grew quiet from Anneliese's confession, "I've never been in a relation ship, and I-", She begun rambling, "I don't know how to hug without becoming stiff, I don't know how to be the girlfriend you deserve, you need, regardless if its fake... or not."

Caught off guard from her own statement, her eyes widen as Howard's lit up, fireworks playing out in his eyes. "I don't know how to kiss you!", she blurted.

Scanning his face for his reaction, Anneliese wanted to run, to hide. She didn't want to admit she didn't know how to do something, and to say it so childish as well. But that didn't stop her from noticing Howard's growing smile, how his eyes glimmered with determination and his wrinkles crinkling from his raised eyebrow.

Howard leaned in closely, his breaths hot on her skin, "Anneliese, Darling," he whispered, "Just follow my lead."

And in that moment, as his lips gently crashed onto hers. Anneliese knew, he tasted as vodka felt.