THE DESTROYER OF DEATH

I felt a turbulence under my feet and I could tell that perhaps this meant we were now flying. What a bizarre thing,to fly in the skies. After that I left my room and trying to find some familiar face I was led to a big room filled with people seated down in front of small screens operating something. There were big windows all around that room and I could actually see the sky and the clouds getting in the way.

“Damn..” , I gasped .

As my eyes were fixed on the vast sky ,the iron bars of the rail in front of me almost melted,one getting under my one foot and as I jumped a seat was made the same time I slid my palm ahead of the bars,wide enough to support me. I was sitting with one knee bent,just like a child dozing off,dazzled by the view,when I heard a familiar voice coming from behind.

“That's new” ,i turned around and saw Natasha; her voice was much hoarser than her appearance suggested,but I wasn't one to judge such mundane things. She was smiling,hands crossed on her chest.

“Are you surprised? I was recently told that not many people can actually do that” ,i could tell she was speaking about my iron harnessing.

“I've seen worse” ,she exclaimed.

Two men appeared behind her,one was that doctor,the Hulk if I remember correctly,yet he didn't come too close,he instead took a turn going downstairs. The other one came closer and now I could see him;

“Oh,you're the Captain” ,i said abruptly and he seemed to feel a little uneasy by my words.

“Just..Steve is okay” ,he said in a calm,deep voice.

“Oh,i get it now”

“What?”,she asked his face puzzled.

“I couldn't really tell by the picture on your file,but seeing you here..I get what it is. This something about you..” ,my voice was low and I noticed his furrowed brows,suggesting he was curious as to where I was heading with this.

“It's your eyes” ,i said with lifted brows as if stating the obvious. “ They're so calm. They're the eyes of a man who's already greeted death”

Steve looked at me silently,as if he was processing my words. He didn't really disagree with me though. My eyes caught glimpse of Fury,standing in the midle of the room,his hands each in one big screen,as if he was handling this Quinjet thing himself. Then,he saw me.

“I'm sorry,who are you?” ,i could tell this curiousness was coming from some feeling of discomfort.

“I'm Persephone. Persephone Pearse” ,i simply said,as if this was enough.

“She's a new recruit. Fury got her just this morning” ,Natasha explained.

“She looks like a child” ,he argued,yet they way he spoke gave off that it was a genuine thought.

“I am not a child” ,i said bluntly,getting just a tad offended. To be a child is to have a privilege which I had long lost.

“I see you're making friends Pearse” ,Fury appeared in front of us. I just rolled my eyes and tried to make myself more comfortable. “Also i'd much appreciate it “,each word was coming out louder for emphasis maybe, “if you didn't mess up my jet Pearse” ,he said pointing my new seat with his eyes.

“Stop being grumpy,you'll grow old before your time” ,Fury sighed a big one and turned again.

Steve took a few small strolls,his eyes just as dazzled as my own. I guess being frozen for seventy years equaled a huge gap. In some ways,he was just as lost and clueless as I were. For some reason,upon seeing Fury he gave him some money – Jean had shown them to me before.

Fury smirked and then went on to speak with the doctor. They shook their hands but I was too far to understand the context of their small conversation.

A man they called Agent Coulson explained that they were sweeping every camera,every phone,every screen. As far I could understand and in a place,a planet were every single person held on to a screen like that,each one carrying at least one device,we would find him. Now it was just a matter of time.

“Call every lab you know, tell them to put the spectrometers on the roof and calibrate them for gamma rays. I'll rough out a tracking algorithm based on cluster recognition. At least we could rule out a few places. Do you have somewhere for me to work?” ,the doctor spoke,his tongue never stopping as if he was in the most natural place for him to be in his mind.

“Agent Romanoff, would you show Dr. Banner to his laboratory, please “ ,Natasha nodded and marched off to probably show his this laboratory.

“You're gonna love it, Doc. We got all the toys”

I just stayed put,seeing them vanish through the many doors in the vast hallway. I had my eyes on Steve,seeing with speaking with man,the one i'd heard someone call Agent Coulson. But I couldn't understand what they were talking about.

“We got a hit. Sixty-seven percent match. Weight, cross match, seventy-nine percent “,a man suddenly said,and this must have been something important since Agent Coulson turned to ask him the location of whatever this was.

“Stuttgart, Germany. He's not exactly hiding “ ,so Loki was in Germany. I'm only guessing this is some place due to the context,but other than that,i'm lost.

“Of course he isn't” ,i mumbled.

“Captain, you're up”,Fury called Steve and he nodded. “Pearse you better not be thinking I brought you here to sightsee. You're going with him”,he turned to me with a strict voice,yet his sarcasm never leaving.

I could tell Steve got just a little tense upon hearing Fury,and I can guess he must be thinking I will be some kind of hindrance. Try me Cap.

“You got any toys for me too?” ,i asked him with a smirk.

“The fuck do you need toys for? Just grab a suit and go”

“I'm not wearing anything else than these clothes. Also,i'd like two scimitars”,i requested and he gave the exact same look you give to a crazy person.

“You want a fucking scimitar?”

“Two” ,i corrected him.

“Fine,fine. Someone get her two damned scimitars” ,he huffed and I smirked.

Steve landed before me,but I wasn't to keen to go down using their methods with those flying fabrics.

“What are you doing Persephone?” ,Natasha asked me and I could listen to her through a really small device they made me put in my ear.

“My thing” ,i answered and jumped off.

I could feel the air hitting me violently,but fuck me,i swear i've never felt so alive before. Just like a bird,almost flying.

A few dozen meters before reaching the ground I activated my master element,feeling the dark red circles in my eyes glimmering,kicking a blaze of hot fire and as I flipped the flames surrounded me until I finally reached the ground.

“I'm not the one who's out of time “ ,i heard Steve saying and then everyone turned to see me,and I could only assume this was due to my entrance.

“What the hell was that?” ,Steve mumbled yet I heard him in my ear. I couldn't help but smile victoriously for having astounded him.

“Now,who might you be ?”

This must be Loki; a young man with long hair,black as the dark starless night. His eyes light blue,filled with nothing but challenge and resentment. And..some need.

All around us was a crowd of people,many people,all dressed up in their finest clothes,kneeling down,all except for one old man.

“So you're the famous Loki then”,i could see his eyes lingering on me with nothing more than pure wonder and maybe some interest.

“ Loki, drop the weapon and stand down “,we heard Natasha's voice coming out loudly.

Loki then sent a blue lighting,coming straight out from his scepter,at the Quinjet. Natasha managed to turn it away just in time to avoid the hit,and Captain threw his shield at Loki. I must say,having a shield as a weapon...this is some high level irony.

Loki threw Steve to the ground, and then he shoot his shield at him, but Loki swat it away. Loki pointed that damned Scepter to Steve's helmet and I assumed this was my cue.

“Kneel”,he demanded

“Not today!”,oh he was fiery. He knocked him down with his leg,but Loki grabbed him and flipped his over.

“Aight,playtime's over” ,i said

I stretched a bit,just enough to get Loki's attention and then smiled at him.

“Now,what might you be cooking?” ,he asked,obviously intrigued by my confidence.

“Oh,i don't cook. I always end up burningdown everything” ,i said with lifted brows and a smirk.

Before he could answer I tapped the ground strongly enough for a rock to appear with just the amount of force I needed to be sent flying at him,my eyes red and flames already forming at the end of my kick.

Loki pulled away at the last minute,just barely escaping my kick.

“So you're Pelimorrean then” ,he said with a smile,wiping off some small flames caught on his arm. “A Pyreph of all things” ,so he indeed knew about us. This shouldn't be too surprising though.

“And you are the lost Asgardian Prince” ,i said crossing my arms to grab one scimitar in each one,twirling the blades from their hilts with my fingers. Loki's eyes smiled,in accordance to his eyes' glow.

“Of course you have heard of me. Our people's histories have long been intertwined after all. Asgardians and Pelimorreans both bathe in the same blood”

“Enough talking”

I was quick to swing my blades,and Loki put his Scepter in the way to stop me from cutting his face. I could see his eyes burning with a flame not so different than my own.

“I must say,although i've read a lot about your people... this is my first time seeing one of you up close”

“You talk a lot” ,i noted.

I slid my right foot forming half a circle and a trunk made of pure concrete came from his side,throwing him at least ten feet away.

“Alright. Enough games” ,he said in voice much more serious as he wiped some blood from the corner of his lips.

Suddenly,and as Loki stood up,some kind of music began playing out of nowhere,coming from the Quinjet.

“Agent Romanoff, did you miss me?” ,i heard in my ears and lifted my head,just as Loki and Steve did to see someone..flying over?

He blasted Loki back down to the ground and as he came closer I understood.

“Oh. This must be the metal man dude?” ,i said to myself.

“Who are you calling a metal man dude exactly?” ,oops. I guess he heard me.

He landed on the ground smoothly,his metal like armor which was covering every inch of his body opened up only to show all sorts of weapons.

“Make your move, Reindeer Games” ,he challenged Loki and surprisingly enough,he put up his hands and surrendered. His costume somehow changing.

“Good move.”

“ Mr. Stark” ,Steve awkwardly greeted him,and i followed along.

“ Captain”,i could sense some form of discomfort coming from both of them.

“Uhm,hi” ,i awkwardly waved at him and he had to turn his head twice.

“Aren't you the one who called me metal man?” ,he asked.

“Yeah. I'm Persephone”

Metal man shook just shook his head. “Great” ,he said sarcastically.

We were back in the Quinjet,Natasha handling the flying,the rest of us standing in front of a now cuffed Loki.

He was just sitting,his eyes calm just like the sea water predicting the storm to come. You wouldn't be anything but calm if you knew all there is to come. The whole plan laid in front of you.

Steve didn't like it. I didn't like it.

“Yes,this is too easy. He's cooking something”

“I'm sorry,who is the infant?” ,Tony asked everyone willing to answer,except from me, with attitude filling his voice.

“That's..our new recruit. She's part of the team” ,Natasha answered.

“You're..kidding,right?” ,he slightly pulled his face back. “She's a child. That's low,even for Fury”,he then turned to me,my nostrils opened,ready to snort air. “How old are you?”

“Nineteen”

“See?An infant “,he pursed his lips.

“Aight,at first I thought i'd be nice,but now i'm getting just a little angry. I'm not a kid, i'm a soldier. And I won't be taking shit from a flying metal suit”,his eyes opened in surprise.

“... kid's got spite “,he turned to both Loki and Steve. I wouldn't hope for anyone to speak for me. “You're a soldier,you say? I guess you two have something in common then,why don't you work it out,huh?” ,he called on Steve,and he didn't even have to say his name. All he had to do was purse his lips in a forced,unbothered smile.

“Tony. That is enough” ,Steve said.
“Yeah,didn't you like see her with the flames and the rocks and all? She's strong” ,Natasha's voice echoed through the Quinjet.

“The what now?”

“One must be truly an idiot to underestimate a Pelimorrean warrior” ,Loki spoke and I turned,my brows lifted,not expecting him to speak for me.

“What even is a Pelimorrean warrior? Are you in a cult or something kid?” ,he asked me and I rolled my eyes.

“You are truly annoying” ,I could see Steve fighting off a small chuckle. Metal man shook his head,not willing to drag this on.

Suddenly we heard a lightning,a thunder almost hitting us,and so the entire jet shook,our feet momentarily losing their balance.

“ Where's this coming from?”, Natasha asked.

We heard it again,and Loki was starring out the window.

“What's the matter? Scared of a little lightning?” ,Steve asked him

“I'm not overly fond of what follows” ,i couldn't help but squint my eyes. This meant trouble.

“It's him,isn't it?” ,my voice was hollow,and my ears stuck out,ready to follow on the distant echoes of each thunder sound left behind.

Loki was looking at me intensely,his eyes speaking instead of his mouth;

Well,yes it's him;it's always him ,they said.

“Him? Who's h-” ,Steve didn't have the time to finish his stentence.

Suddenly we felt a turbulence,as if something had landed on top of the jet; a blond man with rather odd clothing and a hammer on his hand opened the ramp and grabbed Loki by the throat.

Thankfully,unlike the Earthlings,i knew what to expect. I was quick to throw a flaming kick his way,which he was able to barely dodge.

I could tell I had burned him,even by a little,but he still flew out,strings of lightning following after him.

We were all dumbfounded for a moment,trying to process what had happened. Then,metal man put on his helmet.

“Now,i won't be asking how comes you can throw fires” ,he said as he adjusted that helmet of his,pieces of metal slowing falling in place all around his body,slowly and steadily embracing it.

“Might as well be a walking oven as far as I care for now. But you see,there's this guy here. Let's see what he wants”

“It's his brother” ,i answered his one good question,deciding upon ignoring all the other comments he had made about me.

“And somehow you seem to know hell lotta more than you say” ,he was skeptical,maybe even suspecting me for something. Fine then.

“Yes. My people know of Asgardians. He is Thor,Loki's brother,and the God of Thunder”

“God?” ,Steve repeated my word,astounded.

“Yes well,too bad. He has something of ours. If Loki's gone,then so is the Tesseract ”,he turned,ready to jump off the jet.

“Stark, we need a plan of attack!” ,Steve tried to stop him

“I have a plan. Attack” ,i couldn't help but snort out a chuckle.

Steve turned to give a strict look and I just shrugged.

“Sounds like a good plan to me”

“See? The kid gets it” ,Tony said and flew away from the jet,flames coming out of his feet. Oh. I get it.

Steve sighed and grabbed one of this flying thingies.

“I'd sit this one out, Cap” ,Natasha said.

“Nah. Let's humour them a little. Metal boy is right”

“Now he's a boy?” ,Natasha joked. “Doesn't matter,these guys are out of our league. They are-”

“They're Gods. AsgardianGods,that's what they are” ,i finished her sentence.

“There's only one God, ma'am. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that”

“One God my ass. I'll come along” ,i said getting too close on the edge,feeling the air hitting me.

“Also,don't ever call me ma'am again” ,i almost warned him.

“What are you doing? Grab a parachute “ ,oh,so that's what they're called.

“So i'm guessing you didn't exactly noticed her during that grand entrance,right Cap?” ,Natasha almost laughed.

“What?”

“Sorry 'Tasha,but i'm feeling a little adventurous. I think ima need to mess up your jet just a little more. I wanna try something”

“What does that m-”

“Don't trash it up too much Pers” ,she said and I nodded.

Steve's eyes were fixed on him,his parachute in place,yet he wasn't moving an inch. I saluted him,as we used to back at home.

“What's wrong with her eyes?” ,he murmured seeing how the small silver circles formed inside my eyes.

“You saw her before Cap. Don't act like this is something new” ,she said in my part and Steve couldn't really respond anything of value. He had seen me before.

I grabbed one edge of the already cut open metal caused by our dear Thor and with my other hand I violently pushed the surface and so a small chunk of metal was now on my grip.

I could see some amazement formed in Steve's eyes,but he didn't speak.

I put the chunk under my feet,and pulling my fists close to my chest the metal on the ground wrinkled,forming a crouch as far away as possible.

“Catch you later Cap” ,i said with a smirk.

I pushed my fists away,as strongly as I could and then the crouch moved quickly and jerked the chunk away,me on top of it,getting us out with enough force to get as far possible,the air pressure only helping.

“Wait!”,i heard Steve calling me. I saw him jumping out with his parachute,i could tell his eyes were fixed on me.

Once I felt the chunk slowing down I drew my left fist and the metal all gathered together,forming a big circle only to then catapult me away.

It was fine,all I had to do was follow the thunder; they weren't too far,i should be landing soon enough; copying metal man I drew flames from the end of my feet.

It wasn't as easy as it looked,even for me.

Yet I somehow managed to get far enough to now fall.