Ulterior motives
Steve showed up a while later and was immediately rushed by Bucky Loki and Tony. “Are you out of your mind even entertaining the idea of a date with her?” He took a step back from them. “It seemed kind of rude to not give her a fair chance. I mean no one has. It’s not a huge deal. I am being nice.” Tony rolled his eyes “Yes your wholesome apple pie personality strikes again. Did you actively forget the part where she led to the destruction of Asgard and is the goddess of DEATH?”
He moved over to the couch and took a seat “Look, If I listened to everyone's impression of everyone else I wouldn’t be in this room right now. Hell I might not even be alive. I know what its like to have people ignore you and not give you the time of day. It hurts and you can get pretty jaded by it. I think that's what happened to her. I’m not trying to fix her, I'm just trying to show her the world isn’t all bad.” Tony crossed his arms. “Well if half of what Bruce and Loki have told me is true I just think you need to be careful.” He raised an eyebrow at them “I can handle her.” Loki gave up “It’s his funeral literally.We will not mourn you should you succumb to your stupidity.”
Happy had returned with Peter and Morgan but there was still no sign of Pepper, Natasha and Hela. Morgan dove onto the couch on Steve’s lap. “We got so much candy Uncle Steve!” She poured the bag's contents out on his lap. “That's only one bag. We each filled two pilow cases. It was awesome.” Buck walked over and inspected their haul. “Morgan if you are smart you won’t let Steve near your candy especially if you like chocolate.” Peter smiled “We promised Steve half since he lent me the shield.” Morgan grinned “Happy said you like Hershey bars and Kit kats.” It was then that Steve noticed the collection in his lap was all hershey bars and kit kats. “He is absolutely right. Thank you.” They scooped the candy back into the pillow case. ‘Makin’ a couple a kids get candy for you? That's pretty low Rogers.”
“Hey fair is fair. Pete wanted to borrow the shield and I wanted candy. All in all I think it’s a fair trade.” Tony plucked Morgan up “Dad would have had a heart attack if He knew you had done that.”
“Good thing Howards not here then isn’t it?” Bucky grinned “I can’t imagine how he would have felt that time you dropped it into the potomac, or when Thanos actually broke it and tried to chop you in half with it or when you left it behind that one time.”
“He used it as a snow coaster on a job”
They all turned to see Natasha saunter into the room. “Steve I believe you have someone waiting for you in the hallway.” He got up and found Hela standing with Pepper. She was now wearing blue jeans and a black sweater. Her hair was pulled into a braid and her face actually had some color to it. “Well you clean up nice don’t you?” She nervously grabbed at her arm “I feel ridiculous.” Steve took her hand “Well I think you look nice. Come on we were gonna eat dinner.” Bucky looked up when they walked in and whistled “Damn she cleans up nice.” Loki had to do a double take not believing it was Hela walking in on Steve’s arm.
“Who’s the pretty lady with uncle Steve?” Thor was ecstatic “That is my older sister Hela. She has come to visit for Halloween.” Morgan walked over to her “You’re really pretty.” Hela smiled down at her “Thank you. Such a bright child. Who does she belong to?” Pepper picked her up “She is mine and Tony’s. Morgan this is Hela.” Bucky was still staring when Bea came over to him “Kinda makes ya think you had it wrong huh?” He blinked back at her. “He always seems to bring out the best in people.” She pulled him close “So do you.”
Once Morgan was in bed they settled into watching a few spooky movies before calling it a night. Bucky had been closely watching Steve with Hela. He was being careful and gentle with her. Things that Bucky was certain no one had ever shown her. She had been raised to be a cold hard warrior, a weapon. He now began to see what Steve was seeing. Loki laid their head on his shoulder and whispered in his ear “I sense a lot of thinking going on when you could be snuggling between two amazing people on the couch while we sit through this ghastly picture.”
“I may have written your sister off too quickly.” Loki sighed “Do not feel badly. She brings it upon herself.”
“How many people have said the same about me?” he murmured “ Loki shifted a little “Ah, you sense a kindred spirit.” He shrugged “Yea, I guess so. I mean sure she comes on a bit strong but she doesn’t know any other way. She was taught to be a weapon not a person.” Loki was now playing with his hair. “I never saw it that way. My time with Hela has been brief as she does not particularly like me. She still holds prejudice against Jotens.”
“Maybe you can teach her that she was taught wrong. I mean you have done a good job proving yourself to us.”
They were drawn towards a shriek from across the room followed by Steve laughing. Hela was sitting on the arm of the sofa next to him, her arms crossed looking rather miffed. “I couldn’t resist, you were so caught up in the movie I just had to.”
“I Wasn’t scared, you just took me by surprise. I am a goddess of death. I have no fear.” Steve wiped the tears from his eyes “Ok fine,fine you weren’t scared just surprised.” Thor now had the biggest dumbest grin on his face. “I believe I will call it a night my friends. Good night, Captain, Hela, good night.”
Bea shook her head “He took her from death goddess to kitten faster than I thought possible. Perhaps we should excuse ourselves as well?” She got up from her seat. “Time for this old lady to hit the sack. Good night happy halloween.” Bucky and Loki followed after her a few minutes later leaving Steve, Hela, Bruce, Tony and Pepper. Once the movie was over Bruce stood up and excused himself “Goodnight everyone.” Tony leaned on Pepper’s chest nodding off “Ok Tony, I think it’s bedtime.”
“Aw we didn’t even get to watch Bride of Frankenstein.” She patted him “maybe tomorrow ok sweetie?” he nodded sleepily as they got up and headed towards the penthouse.
Steve and Hela sat silently for a while. “Thank you, for showing me kindness I am far from deserving.” he looked over at her “Everyone deserves kindness. It’s just up to you how you respond to it.” She moved a bit closer. “I suppose it is a lot nicer to woo someone.”
“In my experience yes.” She looked over “Do you have much experience with that sort of thing?” He blushed a bit. “No not really. I mean there was a girl once but that was a long time ago. Things just never seemed right after that.” She placed a hand on his thigh “Someone like you? People must be falling over themselves for you.”
He chuckled “Not exactly. Some people are down right intimidated by me and those that get to know me well… they would rather have Captain America not Steve Rogers.” She tilted her head “There’s a difference?” He couldn’t help laughing “Yes there’s a difference. Captain America is the propaganda hero they read about in history books and movies and comics. Steve Rogers is by comparison….boring.”
“Well who took us to the Island today?” He smiled “you ma’am have been in the company of Steve Rogers.” She inched a little closer to him. “Well I find that there’s nothing wrong with Steve Rogers. I would love to show you my thanks” she purred at him.
“Um.. I um...I’m not sure I….” Before he could finish she had pulled him into a kiss. “Wow...you sure know how to say thanks.” She threw her head back and cackled “I’ve been holding that in for a few thousand years.” She was now on top of Steve when the lights came on and Morgan wandered into the room. Steve jumped up and went over to her tossing Hela to the floor. “Morgan honey what’s got you up?” She looked at him with sleepy eyes. “I had a bad dream and I was looking for you.” He picked her up and headed to the couch. “Why me?” Hela was now eagerly listening to Morgan. “I had a dream that something bad happened to you. You got sick and didn’t wake up.” He hugged her close. “Aw sweetheart everything’s ok. I don’t get sick very often and even if I did it would take quite a lot to hurt me. Your dad would be able to get me help before something bad happened.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. “Mr. Strange said to take dreams seriously. He said it’s how we get messages sometimes.”
He sat back a bit so she was comfortable “Maybe he can. He’s magic but unless there's something I don’t know, you are a regular little girl. You don’t have to worry yourself about me getting hurt or sick.” Morgan seemed satisfied by the answer for the most part. She gave him one last hug and looked him dead in the eyes. “I will never let anything happen to you.” The look gave him chills he remembered ultron. He remembered the look in Tony’s eyes when he insisted he needed to protect them, to protect everyone. Morgan climbed off his lap and left for her room.
Hela knew there was truth to the child's dreams. She could smell death lingering around him. It sat and it waited. She had hoped she could lay claim to him first. She knows that is what drew Loki to come. They knew the signs just as well any serid user was capable of it. She was running out of time. If she did not lay claim before the dawn she might lose the chance. She knew this man was dear to her siblings. If she only did one thing right in her wretched existence it may as well be this. “Would you excuse me Steven.” She got up but he grabbed her hand. “Are you running out on me?” Her expression softened “No it’s just..my time in this realm grows short. I cannot walk between worlds as Loki or Thor do. I can only do so once a year and with dawns only a few hours away I am running out of time.”
He smiled sheepishly. “Are you pulling the shipping out routine on me?” She stared at him, baffled a moment. “It’s a thing guys used to do in my day, tell a gal they were kinda sweet on that they were shipping out and if they died they would never have had sex. Is that what you are doing to me?” She smirked “What if I was? Would that make you want me anymore?” She had now resumed her place perched on top of Steve. He began to blush but she could tell she was getting somewhere. “I don’t kiss and tell Captain. Who knows you could die tomorrow and never know what it would have been like.” She playfully batted her eyelashes at him. “Ok you win.”
Loki was pacing the room when Bucky found them. He wrapped his arms around their waist. “What’s got you wearing a hole in my floor doll?” Loki sighed “I haven’t been truthful about my visit. I have the feeling something is going to happen to Captain Rogers. I can feel it in the air, I can smell the lingering stench of death hanging over him. I don't know what fate would befall him that could take him out but it is coming and I fear not even I can stop it. I feel that is why Hela was here. She probably senses it too. It would explain her infatuation with the Captain.” Bucky had gone silent. “What do you mean like you think he’s gonna….gonna die?” Loki nodded “That is a distinct possibility and I cannot warn him as it is one of the highest rules not to intervene when death is coming. We can only act when death has arrived and even then it is out of my power."
Bucky raked his hands through his hair. "Please tell me we can do something. I'll…….I'll do-" Loki threw a hand over his mouth. "DO NOT finish that sentence" they hissed. "Death cares not the source of its pound of flesh just that it gets what is promised." Bucky was now shaking as he desperately gripped Loki's shirt. " I can't lose him. I can't not now, not yet. I've lost so much time with him I can't lose this time." Loki held him close and sat down on the couch. "Hopefully whatever my sister has in mind will be in his best interest." Bucky pressed tightly against them "I hope you're right doll."