THE DESTROYER OF DEATH

I was good to go in only fine days after I woke up;

Things were not as I remember leaving them.

HYDRA infiltrating SHIELD,SHIELD being exposed and reduced to nothing but a distant dream...it cost us much. Every agent's information,every intel once considered confidential,they were all out for the world to see.

And this could only mean trouble. Especially for me.

We were not just speaking about secret sex kinks and hidden family trees here; as of now,the US government,the military,every politician of any probable influence on the world we were residing in,they all knew not only of me being a fugitive here,but also of my father's huntdown for me,as it was all written down on my files.

Steve said that Tasha handled it,gained us some time to see things through.

But I knew this was all but a mere break. I- we couldn't outrun the worst scenario.

Thor was said to be in Earth,though neither of us had the means to pinpoint his exact location- nor did we have the time to.

Steve had obtained a file concerning Bucky's- no,the Winter Soldier experiments,and based on that we were to conduct our own search.

Steve wanted to find him,though I knew that we were merely wasting our time,desperate to convince ourselves that we're doing something that matters.

The entire world was thrown into chaos; this didn't just affect the US.

SHIELD was a globally renounced organization,the avengers' own back up.

With it's trust being now compromised,with every agent being a probable HYDRA infiltrator...we were very close to losing that same trust,the peoples' trust on us.

“He said it's no trouble Pers...”,Steve said as he turned the keys to his apartment,letting us both in.

I followed closely,allowing myself get comfortable on his couch. Felt nice,lying on a surface which was not a hospital bed. An almost nostalgic feeling.

“I just need my clothes,my scimitars,my PlayStation and my books. In that exact order”,i answered and I could hear a chuckle echoing throughout the hallway as he came closer.

He put the bags down,inside them some meds,clothes,books and stuff he had brought to the hospital,both for me and himself as we stayed there.

Tony came to visit me,a few days back in the hospital as soon as he learned I woke up,though he didn't stay for long. Everyone else was pretty much scattered and,truth be told,none of us had the audacity to expect the other to suddenly drop everything and come whenever someone was in the hospital.

This was pretty much ordinary actually.

But Tony would always come,no matter what.

-to tell me i'm reckless and,mostly, an idiot. Always messing my body up. He brought me chocolate and a newly out call of duty game,said the reviews were good enough,though he didn't really know what I liked about those “children's games”.

“He has people for that,it's not a bother to him you know”,he exclaimed with a sigh as he sat down next to me.

I put my head on his lap,making myself comfortable and he began playing with my hair. It was soothing.

“It's a bother to me”,i huffed.

“You won't have to do anything Pers”,he huffed with a warm smile.

“I'll have to re arrange everything. It's bothersome. Also-”,i turned my head to look directly at him,tying my hands above my stomach, “it's called minimalism. I looked it up. Pretty modern actually”

Steve didn't say anything for a moment; he was just looking at me,a confused expression on his face as he was studying my words.

“When did you even have the time to look it up?”,he finally asked,his voice filled with both some playfulness and disbelief at the same time.

“There are these videos on the line-”

“Online”,he corrected me with a smug smile.

I gave him a look,displeased as I was with that smugness,my upper lip raised at him.

“Online”,i mimicked his voice mockingly, “ -and anyway,there are people who are like,really committed to that shit. They only have the absolutely essential with them,not a single thing more. Gotta say,these videos are rather appealing to the eye”

“Mmhm”,he nodded,trying really hard to smother away a chuckle as he was still tangling his fingers to my hair. “And i'm guessing these people think video games are essential as well?”,he asked,one eyebrow raised.

“No- but I do”,i pursed my lips and he laughed.

In all actuality,and to keep things short- Tony offered me a job. It's not like i'd suddenly pretend to be a company's secretary,but he said I was welcomed to work for him.

Who in his rightmind would willingly go to work for Tony Stark. Who. Really.

None of his friends,that's for sure.

Ask every person on the team,sweet Gods of Spring,i swear by thy,if any of us makes the mistake to give Tony a reason to act like a boss on us we won't ever hear the end of it.

But,all things considered,i couldn't even If I wanted to.

Steve agreed on staying here for a little more,since we both could use the time for both our bodies and minds to heal a little. Though he suggested I stay at his place. We could look over the files together,plan our course of action. It was..convenient.

But,although Steve needn't say the exact words...we were kinda,sorta,in a way...together. So,of course it wasn't just like the time we spent with Tasha,living together.

It was different. As it should.

Tony said he could move my entire room to Steve's apartment since it'd take a while for me to go back,though I only wanted what I said I did.

My clothes,my weapons,some books and my PlayStation. Or,Clint's,but not the point.

We didn't dare to tell him about our..situation.

Oh no. This would be disastrous the very least.

“Are you hungry?”,Steve suddenly asked.

“Not really...”,i answered rather ambiguously, though I continued. “But also yes. Like...not enough to actually make anything,but i'd eat if something was laid in front of me kind of thing”

Steve chuckled,a short,really trying to be held in one,and then gently pushed me aside to stand up.

“It's getting late. How about chicken?”,he asked me,his voice echoing throughout the room from the kitchen.

“And potatoes?”

“Boiled?”

“Yup. Thank you”,i smiled and leaned back again.

I couldn't help but keep on thinking about everything.

A couple of weeks ago we were a national threat,SHIELD and HYDRA's number one fugitives.

Now,we were Captain America and Persephone Pearse.

We weren't the agents of anyone.

Nick Fury was officially dead as far as legal documents and the common knowledge went,and SHIELD was gone.

Just then I felt a vibration coming from my butt pocket; picked my phone,one with buttons this time,and saw that it was a number I did not recognize,so I didn't pick up immediately.

“What's that?”,i heard Steve's voice from the kitchen.

“My cellphone. Someone's....calling..”,i mumbled.

“Your what?”

He came up,watching me from a distance,an apron on him and I knife on his hand. He was confused,looking at me with a tilted head and one raised eyebrow.

“You don't have a phone”,he stated slowly.

“Yeah,no. I know. Tony gave me this at the hospital. Said since I never use the one he gave me last time now he found one more..suitable for me”,i muttered.

Anyway,i picked it up.

“Yeah?”

“When're you gonna learn some manners Pearse? Who the fuck answers their phone like that?”

“Fucking Barton! Yo,Steve- it's Barton!”,i shouted at him,pointing at the phone.

Steve smiled,though still bearing a puzzling expression,his teeth showing.

“Tell him I say hi”,he simply said and went back in the kitchen.

“Steve says hi”

“Yeah,i heard. Hi”,he said,awkwardly and bluntly as usual.

“How did you get my number?”

“Stark. How're you holding up?”

I sighed,trying to grasp everything,to fit them all in a short,synoptic sentence. How was I holding up?

“Uh..good. I guess...”,i huffed.

“Wanted to visit y'know. I just-”

“Yeah,yeah. No hard feelings. Don't worry about it. How are you?”,i asked,waving back and forth as if he could see me.

“Fine. It's...quiet. Nat told called me,explained what had happened. Can't really trust the media y'know..”,he chuckled,his voice muffled through the phone.

We spoke a little more; he asked about me,about Steve and all. Didn't really tell him anything more than what I had told Tony. Didn't see any reason to,really.

He said everything was fine,despite the fact that he was now unemployed. Had some aces up his sleeve,as a man his caliber should.

After a while I heard some noise coming from the background; someone calling him and then he excused himself.

Said he was glad I was doing fine,Steve too. Promised to visit at some point,though I explained that after a certain point i'd be probably hard to reach.

Steve came back from the kitchen,sat down on the couch,no apron on. His sleeves were up,his face somehow..blank. His gaze was fixed on the black tv,which was...off.

“Hey,you al-”

“Can I ask something?”,he cut me mid-sentence,his words rushed as he turned his body towards mine.

“Uhm..yeah,sure”,i said,uncertain about his behavior. A little nervous too.

“Barton...why,why did he call you?”

I pulled my face back,awfully surprised by that question. “He...wanted to see how i'm holding up?”

“Ah..”,he mumbled and turned back again.

“Did he..”,he turned again,scratching the back of his head as he spoke, “I mean did you..did you two ever,you know...”

“What?”,i asked,my puzzlement genuine.

“Were you two ever..together?”

I raised an eyebrow,my eyes squinty as I eyed him head to toe. My lips were pursed,the words not really that easy to come out as I was still trying to process the thing he had asked me.

“I...i'm sorry,what?”

“It's alright..”,he shook his head, “you don't need to tell me. This is overstepping”

“Wait- I mean..No,gosh- No. Steve”,i raised both eyebrows at him, “ no”,i spelled it out,trying to make myself as clear as possible.

He mouthed an “oh” and slightly nodded,though I was still feeling rather puzzled.

“Where..where is this coming from? Is it because he called me? I'm sorry,i don't get it...”

“Well...”,he said,his eyes hesitant, “I- ...you did kiss him once”,he said,shutting his lips as soon as he spoke.

I leaned back,my eyebrows lifted at this statement of his. I mean,yeah I did but..that was so long ago..and I was in no condition to be held accountable for such an act.

I was barely sane at that time,hadn't slept in days,only drinking and smoking. I barely even remembered that to be completely honest.

Like,yes I also kissed Bucky but..same thing actually. Hadn't really mentioned that one,wouldn't want to either.

“Steve...”,i dragged his name on my mouth,some playfulness on the tip of my tongue, “Were you jealous? Back then,did you get jealous because I kissed him?”

Steve coughed; he looked down and,pressing his thighs he stood up. “No. I ...i had no right to. I was just..um,wondering,that's all”,he mumbled and headed to the kitchen.

I bit my lip and tried my best to suppress a laugh.

What a bizarre turn of events indeed.