Jane Doe.

Images flash behind your eyes that lead more questions unanswered. Only recently have they become more vivid. Before you had welcomed the cloudy dreams, hungry for anything to figure out what had happened to you. Now they had become vivid and filled with sadness and rage. You sat up abruptly from your slumber, yanking your gun from under your pillow. Chest pounding and sweat coating your skin, you squeezed the trigger firing one round into your bedroom door. Realizing where you are, hands shaking you drop the gun onto the floor. You rubbed your palms against your eyes while gritting your teeth. These years of nightmares, of stealing, of being lost and confused. Why couldn't you function? It was only 4am and you knew Fitzgerald would be knocking down your door with yet another noise complaint.
Laying back down you hear your door violently being pushed from its hinges. The locks and bolts slide across the wooden floor leaving scratches behind.

"Jane!?"

Did someone just call you're name? Couldn't have, your mind had to have been playing more tricks on you. Nevertheless you sat up, throwing your covers to the floor. This was it, some one had broken in. You peer through the fresh hole in your door, catching a view of a bulky shirtless man headed towards you. He had to have been stronger than he looked to have completely decimated your entryway with one blow. You dart back against the farthest wall quickly, pressing your body into your opened closet. The stranger pushed against your bedroom door heavily, embedding the door deeply into the drywall behind it. His chest is heaving and with wild eyes passes your hidden form slowly, lifting your entire bed up before placing it back down gently. He stiffens before turning toward your closet. You brace yourself lunging towards him briefly distracted when you hear a snapping sound.

----------

"Well, well what do we have here?"
Steve walked around your two forms getting ready to collide. His sparkling blue eyes scanned over your expression, one of animalistic fear. He ran a soft finger tracing your jaw,
"I had hoped we wouldn't end up back here Y/n, I know you don't quite remember what landed you in this predicament but..I wish I could have done something. I- I wanted to give you a chance- both of you to live. I didn't know it would turn out quite like this.

"And what chance would that be?" A woman appeared to the opposite side of him, smelling of sulfur and surrounded by black mist. She dawned an olive skirt and white blouse.

The man pursed his lips, glancing over to her. She still looked as breathtaking as he remembered. Sadly he knew the form she took before him wasn't real.

"Why are you here, Peggy?" He plainly asked,

"Oh please Steve." Her English accent was thick, taking a few long strides towards him. Her bare feet, coated in rank smelling tar, made suction noises on the floor as she sauntered towards him.
"Don't act like you don't know! Any interest of yours is and interest of mine." Her red painted lips gleamed in the moonlight. She pushed her vintage curls over a shoulder walking over to James, extending a black tar-coated finger towards his neck,

"DON'T." Steve yells, wind whips around them both. He clears his throat and composes himself, placing his hands behind his back. Gold flecks linger in his once clear blue eyes, a small display of his strength.

"Don't what my dear? Touch your precious toys?"

"You know you'd kill him. That's what you want, isn't it? These people, I saved them. They're not yours to decide who does what and they certainly don't deserve what has happened to them."

"People? That's not what they are, not anymore. And No. they deserve much, much worse."

"You don't get to call judgement on anyone!"

"You're right. I CALL JUDGEMENT ON EVERYONE." Her voice shakes the room. Now it's her turn to reel her emotions in. She clears her throat, pursing her lips together, "After all, you made me this way."

"No. you made yourself. You were driven by such a hate Peg, you never realized how much-"

"That is not my name!" She shrieked, her eyes glowed, "These beings" she pointed wickedly at the pair, "They earned this. They didn't truly love those they claimed to. Each of these gods exist because of their own lies. They honored reputation, money or power over what matters..." her voice softened, Steve glared at Peggy, wanting and hoping there was still a shred of humanity left in her.

"What do you think love is? It is nothing but an experience? Who are you to say what matters? Besides you can't go throwing a child-like tantrum."

"Oh Steve. What would I do if you were not here to entertain me? Let's make a bet, a wager shall we? For old times sake?"

He thought against his better judgement though to appease her he nodded, "shoot."

"If James finds his way back to his beloved Y/n they will both die. James chooses Natasha he will live. And not only live, I will dissolve the rule of love ending in death and all the pesky details in between- for the immortals. How does that sound handsome?"

"So you wanna see if-"

"Which one he woos with his manly rugged charm and vice versa?" Steve rubbed his chin, looking between the two unmoving figures before him. Even in life, he could never turn down a bet.

"What's the catch?"

"One. Just that neither of us can intervene."

Mulling it over he nodded hesitantly taking one more glance at you.
"This isn't going to turn out well, is it?." He blew out a breath of air, smoothing his bleach blond hair back. "Do you think James will be too weak minded? Geez hun, you've really got it in for them don't you?"

Peggy licked her chrimson lips, white pointed teeth peeked through.
"The immortals? Oh dear boy, who ever said I was ever after him?" Her eyes wandered over Steve once more, before turning around and disappearing into your apartment.

He wrinkled his brow, confused by her statement before snapping his fingers once more, unfreezing you both.

----------

Wrapping your thighs around James' neck you flip him against the far wall. Cracks appear and plaster crumbles and the figure stands tall, barely fazed by your attack. You glare at his eyes reflecting the moonlight, glints of cold, blue steel.
It felt like forever watching one another. Only the shadows cast from passing cars hitting your bodies and walls temporarily lighting the room. Finally he takes a step towards you, jumping back in response you are unaware that you are floating above the carpet.

"So you know." He rasps,

"Know? I know that you have an issue with knocking!" You retort, lowering yourself.
His expression was either mesmerized or terrified you couldn't place it. Would this stranger report you? Would so called life of theft and survival end? You had watched as the world that had once embraced immortals now spat in their faces and set fire to their statues. No, this was all you had. No matter that it is shabby and full of stolen goods.
Anger filled you, pushing you to move against the figure. He blocked every punch, dodged every kick and every move in between. It was as if he knew what you would do next. Quickening your speed you attacked once more, noticing he too could move just as fast. How can that be?

Smoke from the debris surrounded your bodies like mountains, like breath. The man stood propped up against the wall, his hair wet and stringy with sweat, stuck to his face and neck. Looking down even in the faint light of the rising sun there were bruises appearing upon both of your bodies.

He took a step towards you again, you planted your feet into the scratchy carpet of your bedroom,
"You want some more?" You spat, blood dripping down your chin.

"Wait," he threw his hands up in surrender, "Are you alright?"

You briefly dropped your stance, "From what? My gun going off or from you?"

"I didn't know. Maybe I thought you were in danger." He scratched the back of his neck surveying the damage.

"Danger? really?"

He chucked speaking too low for you to hear, "Yeah, I forgot you've always been more than capable"
He dusted his pants stepping slowly over the fallen debris.

"What did you say? 'More than capable?' How would you know? Have you been watching me?"

"No... yes... I mean, not really... I..."

"Suddenly you're at a loss for words now? " you watch him walk around your room picking up fallen items.

"Can I take you out? Maybe for some coffee?"

"What?! NO! You bust into my apartment! Break my doors! Try to - well I don't know what exactly you were trying to do but you can't expect me to go out with you right now?!" You grunt heading away from him muttering, "asking me for coffee! you out your damn mind."

"Look Jane-"

You turn quickly,
"How do you know my name?" You are nose to nose, he looks over your features, then turns away as if distracted by something invisible.
"I know a lot more than that"

"Ok Mr. dark and mysterious, can start by telling me why you're as strong as I am?"

James gulped, his eyes looking around, "Like I said we really need to sit down and talk this out. "

"What happened to your arm?" You questioned, pointing to the metal limb. In the silence you could hear it making whirling noises. Each silver platelet moved on its own. Mesmerized, you reached out to touch it, he jumped back in a aggressive stance.

"I was in an accident,"

"What do you want? Will you report me?" You question, cautiously backing away from him, "If you do-"

"NO! No, I would never." He reaches a hand toward you, a sign he'd hope you'd take positively, " I'd have to turn myself in as well."

"Alright creep, I've got work in the morning-"

"My names not. Creep"

"Ok 'not creep', what do I call you then? "

---------------------------

"Are you serious? So, not only did you approach her, which I cannot stress this enough- I begged you not to mind you AND gave her a fake name?" Anthony shoved a handful of popcorn into his mouth, "This is rich."

Thor, turned to James,
"You thought she was taking her
life."

"Yes I mean no. I didn't hear anyone over there but I panicked. "

"When Time gets ahold of this he's going to make your life hell."

"Her eyes flashed, just for a moment, she's not who I remember."

"Who you remember or who you want her to be?"

"Well, isn't that good then? No harm no foul? Let her go back to whatever she does." Anthony responded.

"So 'Thomas' what are you going to do now?"