THE DESTROYER OF DEATH

I put my palm in front of me,just above Steve's shoulder whom slightly turned his head to watch my silly smile as the wind brushed my fingers. He smiled,but didn't comment on it.

“Hey!”,i had to yell a little as I got my body closer to his for him to actually hear me. “This is incredible” ,i said in agreement to what he had previously said.

“I told you she is” ,he turned just a little,seeing me with the corner of his eyes,and every time he did our cheeks would slightly touch.

“We won't be the only ones in that party though,right?” ,i asked him,my voice loud in his ears.

“What?”

“I said-” ,someone horned so I took a small pause before continuing , “- we won't be the only ones in that party,right?”

“Oh. Nah,i don't think so” ,he shook his head a bit.

“That would be a little awkward”

“Stark is an all out kind of guy. I'm sure there'll be many more people other than us. He will probably say it's a chance to socialize” ,he joked and I let out a muffled chuckle.

“You're right”,i said with a low voice so I'm not sure he heard me.

Before long we had finally reached a tall building just in the heart of New York,as Tony himself had described it. The sun was now slowly setting,the sky painted in a tint or red and orange together.

The building was as tall as the sky,not as much as Tony's tower though,and all lit up,like a star in the city.

Steve got up and gave me a hand to do so to. I suddenly felt a little dizzy,disoriented somehow and so I held on ti him for a little longer.

“You alright?” ,he laughed a little

“I'm great” ,i said in a big smile and he helped me get rid of the helmet,still smiling.

“Hey,you're here” ,i heard Tasha's voice and turned around to see her with Barton and the doctor.

She was wearing a tight black skirt and a read,sleeveless shirt,a coordinated red lipstick on her lips,and heels.

“Damn,Tasha,will I be wearing that too?” ,i asked,dumbfounded by her attire and she chuckled.

“Probably” ,she titled her head. “Come on,let's get you ready”

Her gaze lingered on Steve,and as she was practically pushing me forward I turned my head to see me watching from now afar,a tight smile on his lips.

He went inside an elevator,reaching the fifteenth floor; there was a long,endless corridor and using some kind of a plastic card Tasha opened the door of a big room,dragging me inside.

“Go take a shower,but don't take too long. You and Steve are the only ones left,all the others are waiting. Party's already started” ,she said we lifted eyebrows. “I'll pick something from the closet,Stark's kind subside” ,she continued and before I could speak she pushed me inside the bathroom.

I took one brief yet pleasing hot shower. I always enjoyed the heat,but the water wasn't exactly kind on my freshly acquired cuts and wounds. Especially the one on my forehead,caused by Loki.

I wrapped a towel around me,already increasing the heat on my body,the droplets all gradually drying off.

“Well that was quick- what is that around you?” ,she asked concerned and surprised at the same time as there was steam coming out of my body.

“Oh..nothing i'm just drying up” ,i simply said and she pursed her lips,not in the mood to bother,and then waved at me to get closer.

“I'm only guessing here”,she started talking, “ but I think you're more of a pants girl than a skirts one”

“Uhm. Yeah,i prefer them” ,i agreed.

She put out some on the bed and helped me dress up-

although she mostly yanked my arms and legs as she did.

I looked myself at the mirror; it was a pair of long,black pants,their beginning reaching just above my belly button,and a sleeveless white shirt tucked in,a v cut going all the way down. I could see the scar just bellow my breasts,the horizontal one,a war gift from that damned Seetheerist. I was suddenly a little self-conscious.

“I didn't know you had a tattoo” ,Tasha noted in a surprised voice,pointing at my left shoulder.

“Oh. Yes,it's not like that. It's the White Guard emblem”,i explained.

Every member of the order had one,on the exact same spot. I got mine on the initiation ritual held for me,mere days before I became a renowned criminal.

It was three long spears,intertwined and pointing upwards. A hand-poked job,yet beautifully detailed.

“What does it symbolize?”

“Freedom; the three spears of war, discipline,brotherhood and purpose all pointing upwards at the blue sky,a road to freedom” ,i explained in faint voice as I brushed the tattoo with my right hand.

“That's almost poetic” ,she joked. “Yet also noble”

She said I had to have some make up on,although I wouldn't really know how to do it; she put some dark red lipstick on my lips and brushed my eyelashes with black liquid to make them look longer,but anything more than that was too much to get used to. It felt..weird on me.

She then braided some strands of hair,a few short curls falling on my forehead,and made me look myself on the mirror; I felt..i don't know how to describe it exactly,but it was a pretty image,an unusual one.

But I wouldn't be wearing any heels. I'd fall down my ass on the first step. Thankfully she found some nice shoes for me – no heels.

We were back on the elevator,now stopping at the twenty second floor. As soon as the doors opened...

Loud music,low ,faint lighting,and so,so many people.

I said I wanted more people to be there,but the entire floor was basically packed.

We approached the crowd- the bar mostly,and I was making it my job to stick close to Tasha,her feeling like a safe ground to me.

“Oh,you're here at last” ,i could recognize Tony's smug voice from blocks away. I turned around,now having reached the bar,and saw him in a pretty,well cut suit. In his hand was a tall woman,smiling at us,with blonde hair and a long,black dress.

“Kid,that's Pepper; my girlfriend. Pepper,here's the kid” ,he moved his head at each our ways and I rolled my eyes.

“I'm Persephone” ,i introduced myself.

“See? I told you she says that,in that exact manner,every time. It's like her catchphrase or something,beats me really” ,he bubbled but Pepper shook her head and gave me her hand.

“Nice to meet you Persephone”,she said in a low and gentle voice. How the fuck can such a woman stand him enough to be his girlfriend,to quote him,beats me really..

“Well,Tony actually has told me all about you”,she confessed and Tony gave her a look,followed by a shrugg.

“A team,remember? A t e a m”,he moved his hand in between them. “Ah,Rogers! Just the man I was looking for” ,he then said and I turned around to see Steve approaching us.

His head was down as we walked,just before he lifted it up and our eyes locked. He wore a light blue ,buttoned up shirt,tucked in black pants with rolled up sleeves. He smiled at me upon seeing me,and I did so too. I,for some reason,felt a little..too tight?

“I've been dying to get you drunk” ,Tony put his arm around Steve and lifted two fingers to the bartender,whom then came in front of us.

“One more of these for me”,he said swirling his champagne glass,” And Captain here will be having a..?”

“Just a beer”,he huffed,awkwardly looking around.

“I shall too have an ale!” ,Thor appeared before Steve,tapping him on the back. He wasn't in his usual attire,but instead wearing a long,black coat,a white shirt underneath. This was Stark's doing,no wonder.

“A vodka for me”,Natasha butted in. “Neat”,and then the bartender turned to me,all their eyes upon me.

“I...” ,i wouldn't know what to even say. Back home,as far as alcohol goes,we only have wines,much better than the ones served here as I found out when Jean got me some,and I wouldn't expect for them to grow the same grape cultivation as we do in Pelimorre.

“I'll have a vodka too” ,i said,that being more fresh,mimicking Tasha,while the word came out too loudly,as if i'd never said it before -which I hadn't.

“You sure Pers?” ,Natasha asked me.

“Oh come on,the young avatar is tough! Of course she shall have the vodka!” ,Thor said loudly with a smile on his face.

“Now i'm young avatar?”,i asked confused.

“Slips better on the tongue”,he explained with a cyclical movement of his fingers right next to his mouth.

“Of course”,i snorted.

I took the short glass,the liquid inside colorless,just like water. Soon the doctor and Barton joined us and Tony lifted his glass,everyone mimicking him,me included,to make a toast.

“That's been a stressful say”,he started and we all sorta chuckled at it. “Here's to dysfunctional families” ,he eyed Thor whom kinda nodded,” ..and to the team”,his gaze now on Steve,whom let out a faint smile and we all clinked our glasses before taking a sip.

The vodka left a burning aftertaste on my tongue,and I really liked that. This was a good choice after all.

“Did it burn you?” ,Natasha asked me.

“Did you seriously asked the fire girl if the vodka burned her mouth,Romanoff?” ,Tony asked,laughing and Tasha's lips formed a thin line.

“Right”

I could tell Steve wanted to tell me something,but Natasha suddenly dragged me away and he sighed,scratching the back of his head.

“What are you-” ,there was now a young man with short dark curls and green eyes in front of me.

“Agent Larson,here's Persephone,the one I told you about”,her brows where lifted,whereas mine were knitted together.

“Ah,of course. The death destroyer,right?” ,he pointed,his beer bottle in his hand and I looked at least surprised.

“How do you..”

“Oh,right,sorry. Heard some woman call you that on tv earlier. That wasn't you,perhaps?” ,he had a thick accent,one similar to Jean's.

“I ..uh,yeah it's me”

“I'm Tom”,he said in a smile,giving me his free hand,which I shook.

“I'm Persephone”

“That's-”

“Greek. Yes”,i said impatiently.

“I was actually gonna say unique”,he chuckled and I felt embarrassed.

“Oh. Sorry”

“It's fine”,he assured me. “So,you can like shoot fire and stuff,right?” ,suddenly Natasha was no longer near me. For fuck's sake..

“Uhm..yeah,kinda”

“That's really cool” ,i lifted my gaze.

“It is?”,i asked puzzled. I..nobody had ever said that about my fire nature before. Nobody had ever seemed amazed – in such a good way,by that fact.

“Yes,of course. Who wouldn't want to be able to do that,right?” ,he let out a soft laugh,his eyes growing smaller as he did.

“Huh..right”

As the conversation dragged on I was feeling my chest getting tighter. I could tell he had noticed my scar,his eyes falling on it occasionally,stuck for a few seconds before lifting his gaze on my face again.

I wasn't feeling all that comfortable in these clothes. Too much exposed skin. And I was constantly worried about that lipstick getting on my teeth,my eyelids feeling itchy from time to time,an urge I had to ignore.

Then Tom put his hand low on my waist,pulling me closer,just so he could whisper something on my ear. He was laughing,but I wasn't.

“You know,i heard Captain there”,he pointed at Steve,still at the bar,our eyes momentarily locking before he turned his head away. “ is a real pain in the ass. Acting like an old man,a soldier nonetheless. Guess this can happen if you're stuck on ice for seventy years,huh?” ,he laughed,but then stopped,seeing how I was looking mostly angry.

“Steve is a good man”,i said in a strict voice and his lips parted.

“I-no,i mean yes,of course. Sorry. Didn't realize you guys were..close”,he tried to explain himself,finishing his sentence with a nervous chuckle.

“We fought alongside each other. He kept me safe,as did i”,my voice was now getting a little louder.

“Come on sugar,chill out. T'was a joke,that's all”,he rubbed my back and I took one big breath in. “We're having fun,aren't we?”

Barely.

He then pulled me close,his movements rushed and unhandy – and then he kissed me.

This felt..wrong. I pushed him away,as much as I could.

“What the fuck are you doing,you nutjob?” ,i yelled at him and noticed people stopped talking,all their eyes on us.

“Hey,what the hell?” ,he asked,looking surprised..offended even. “Are you kidding me now? You crazy bitch”

“Everything alright here Pers?” , I then saw Steve standing next to me,his eyes fixed on Tom.

“I...yeah,it's fine”,i huffed.

“Oh,fuck off”,Tom snapped at me.

I could see Steve getting tense. He took one step closer to him,Tom himself taking one backwards.

“Agent Larson “,Tony lifted his hand,silently asking Steve to back off,and he clenched his jaw.

“Considering how this bitch is the one who saved your ass today from becoming alienscrapfood,i would be really careful with my choice of words,if I were you that is” ,his brows were lifted,now standing in between me and Tom.

I could see Tom was slowly swallowing a gulp.

“Mister Stark,i-”

“You work in logistics,right?”, his hands were moving along with every word. Tom slowly nodded.

“Yeah,i thought so. An accountant like yourself should hold the brains to understand some certain things. I'm sure you've watched the clips already,right?”,Tom nodded again.

“Good. Then you know that this woman here could burn your sorry,disrespectful ass to ashes,had she wanted to,right?”

“I...r-right” ,he agreed. I had a smirk on.

“How about you say a thank you then?”

“W-what?”,he stuttered.

“You know. For saving you”,he took a small pause,pointing at him. “And you,and you “,he pointed at random people all around. “ and basically being considerate enough to not cause a scene and kick your ass”

“I..i don't think-”

“Yes. You clearly don't”,he noted and I tried to fight off a small laugh. “Come on then. Go on”

“I..”,he turned to me. “Thank you” ,he said under his breath.

“Come on Larson my boy. Full sentences” ,Tony corrected him.

“Thank you..”,he took a big breath, “for saving all of us..and not kicking my ass”

“See? It wasn't that hard now,was it?” ,Tony said with a smile,turning around to everyone,people now throwing in chuckles,pointing at Tom.

“And now”,he turned to him again, “Get the fuck away from my property”

“What? But I said it!” ,he argued,his voice loud.

“No. What you did- “,his words were dragged on his mouth,now standing too close to Tom's face, “-was insulting my friend. You're out” ,before he could speak a few security guards dragged him out.

“Whoa..”,i whispered and Tony smiled at me.

“Come on kid. Let's get your glass filled” ,he put an arm around my shoulder and dragged me to the bar.

Steve was left behind,our eyes still lingering on one another. We seemed to be doing that very often nowadays.