Wake up miho, you're going to be late." Anua said as she pulled the comforter off of her granddaughter. Auset wasn't her granddaughter by blood but by after the long years of watching over her, she had become that figure in her life. She was unsure of how many years had passed. She stopped counting after the first few thousand. They had seen the rise and fall of many civilizations. Some they enjoyed and others they were happy their time had come to pass. Anua headed into the bathroom to tidy up her salt and pepper hair. She wasn't an old woman. By mortal human standards she was in her 40's. At least she thought she was when Ra had granted her immortality and tasked her with watching over Auset.
"Nana why can't I just stay at home tonight. It's not like we need the money and you know what, why don't we live somewhere nicer? I'm sick of living like peasants I am a-"
Anua turned around and placed a hand over Auset's mouth. Giving her a fierce gaze.
"I know what you are. You know why we live the way we do. To keep you hidden." Anua finished tidying her hair and left Auset standing in the bathroom alone, to prepare getting ready for work. She did not want to argue with her today. Even though Auset had stopped aging eons ago it did not change the fact she was still blind to the world around her. Still young in the mind.
Anua brewed cups of tea and listened as Auset rummaged around her room getting ready. Pacing between her room and the bathroom. The girl did not know how to be still or organized.
"Nana I'm sorry if I upset you. It's just I... well sometimes I get tired of hiding. Sometimes I feel like maybe we should fight or I should die trying. I never get to make any friends. Or fall in love. I feel like I'm a cursed to walk this existence. I've never met my father or my mother. I have to rely on stories you tell me or books that are only half truths."
Anua slid the cup of tea over to Auset and gestured for her to drink. It was always around the time of her day of birth she was a little rebellious. Anua watched her brown fingers curl around the small cup and breath in the steam. Her full lips inching closer to the rim. Her green eyes fluttering close to revel in the taste. Auset had grown into a beautiful young woman. She almost resembled her father but there were times she saw a lot of her mother in her too. From her well rounded hips and her short build. Anua was surprised she wasn't tall like her father. At least she had his eyes.
Anua sipped from her own cup enjoying the silence that hung comfortably in the air. Setting down her cup Anua waited for Auset to finish.
"I know you are restless. It has been quite some time since you have taken flight. Perhaps this weekend we will drive out to where the mortals are sparse and see how strong you have become."
Auset's eyes widened and she stepped around the counter to hug Anua. Anua's hands came to rest on her back getting tangled in Auset's long dark silky curls.
"Thank you nana. I love you and I will see you when you get home yeah?" Anua nodded her head and helped Auset slip into her sweater. She kissed her on her forehead and watched as she disappeared down the hallway.
"You're late." Auset's boss screamed from across the room. Auset rolled her eyes at him. The big burly man stomped over to her and grabbed her arm and pulled her outside.
"This is the third time this week you've been late. Give me one good excuse why I shouldn't send you packing?" The man tightened his grip on her arm. Auset let out a fake wince in pain and snatched her arm back.
"Listen here doughboy. You're not going to fire me because I bust my ass for this shitty catering company and you will be more short staffed than you already are."
The man let out a grunt of frustration.
"One of these days your smart mouth is going to be your downfall."
"And one of these days Rico, your perviness will land you a lawsuit. Alas, it looks like that day is not today for either of us. Now, if you don't mind fuck off!" Auset replied and walked back inside with a smirk on her face. She knew Rico would not fire her. He needed her. Not only for her exceptional skills at serving but her good looks. No one wanted to look at wait staff who was unattractive. Auset also put up with his bullshit.
Running outside to the catering van Auset grabbed her apron and blouse. Doing a quick glance over her shoulder she swapped shirts as fast as possible. Quickly fastening her buttons Auset headed inside to do her job.
"Come on Buck, don't look like this is the world's worst party." Steve said to his friend. Trying to coax him out of the constant depression he seemed to be in. Bucky forced a smile but Steve didn't buy it.
"I'm trying to Steve I really am. It's just I think it's too soon." Bucky responded.
He had only been living at the tower a few months. Steve and Sam had finally tracked him down to Romania and brought him back. At first he thought it was a good idea but the more time he spent there the, more he felt like he needed to be alone. Even the missions didn't help. And one would think that 70 years of bottled up revenge would be a start but it just left Bucky feeling empty. With a shrug of his shoulders Bucky excused himself from Steve and walked through the kitchen toward the service exit. He would slip out and go for a walk. To clear his mind. Maybe tonight he would get a decent a night's rest.
Auset was done for the night. If Rico thought she was going to stick around because the arrogant prick of a man Tony Stark decided to extend the party, he was wrong. Auset ditched her work blouse and grabbed her bag. Discreetly trying to sneak out of the back door. With light quick footfalls, Auset made a beeline for the door. Only she wasn't watching the corner and crashed into a brick wall. Only it wasn't a brick wall it was a man. A really gorgeous looking man. On any normal day she would've sensed him but today was just a day where her mind was all over the place. One strong hand shot out to balance her.
"Oh shit, man I'm so sorry." Auset began to apologize profusely. The man was dressed nice. Obviously a party goer. His long brown locks pulled back into a man bun. His fitted black suit clung perfectly to every muscle in his body. She did not need to piss him off. The last thing she needed was a bad complaint from a party goer.
"No ma'am, I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going." Bucky replied. Unable to take his eyes off of hers. The woman was beautiful. Almost otherworldly so. Her face tinged with a blush that even her brown skin couldn't hide. Her green eyes danced in the poorly lit corridor. Her long dark hair hung over her shoulders hiding her perfectly angled cheek bones.
Auset scolded herself. She lingered for way too long. She cleared her throat and Bucky removed his hands off of her arms. Auset adjusted the strap on her bag, averting her eyes away from the stranger's beautiful gray ones.
Bucky stepped aside and opened the door for her. Auset mumbled her thanks and stepped through first. Bag in hand she began her walk home. Bucky paused for a moment to watch her walk away. Auset turned around and stared into his eyes. There was a lot of pain in them. Like he had seen and done many things. But his spirit was good. Auset felt a pang in her heart for the mortal. Whatever torment was swirling his mind was clearly affecting his sleep judging by the bags under his eyes. Auset wanted to say something comforting but nana absolutely forbid making friends or being noticed. So instead of saying something she just smiled and waved goodbye.
The old Bucky would've flirted with her. He would've said something charming to get her to smile. Maybe even ask her out. But he wasn't that Bucky anymore. He desperately wanted to go after her but decided against it. He was way to fucked up to get someone to be interested in him. Hell he wasn't even interested in himself. Then she did something unexpected. She looked at him. Like really saw him. It was as if she was looking into his soul. Then the way she just smiled at him set his blood on fire. It was like she was bathed in a light of gold and she glowed. Bucky smiled back and nodded. But before he could say anything she had turned around and left. Leaving him to think about her the rest of the night. Bucky headed back inside. Suddenly feeling like he didn't need to take a walk after all.
A thick ominous fog filled the empty streets as Auset got closer to home. The happiness gone. The fog leaving behind an aura of sadness and gloom. Auset shivered. Not from the weather but just the strange sense of foreboding seeping into the pores of her skin. Something wasn't right. Afraid she was overreacting Auset opted out of using her abilities and picked up her speed on foot. She pulled her sweater tighter around her. The fogs soupy breath like a blanket on her skin. Auset quickened her pace to get home.
Avengers Tower
"Excuse me sir." The A.I interrupted Tony in the middle of a steamy make out session.
"What JARVIS?" Tony asked annoyed as he pulled away from the leggy blonde. Sheila, Sharon, Shirley? Shit he couldn't remember her name.
"I'm detecting some strange energy readings sir. I think you and the team may want to take a look at this."
Tony stood up and extended a hand to the blonde. Who took it reluctantly.
"I'm sorry Susan. Maybe in another lifetime." Tony didn't even give the woman a chance to respond he had pushed her into the private elevator from his penthouse and hurriedly made down to where the rest of the Avengers were assembling.
Bed-Sty
Auset stood in front of her dilapidated building. It was quite. No lights were in not people were hanging on the stoop. Not even a dog was barking. She knew she should turn and run. She knew the plan. If ever things didn't seem right she had been instructed to leave and If Nana could she would find her. Auset couldn't leave. She had to check in Nana. She could doom her to a fate worse than death if want she feared to be happening actually was.
Auset steeled her nerves and began her trek up the stairs to the fifth floor. The only light on was a flickering light at the other end of the hallway she didn't remember being there before. Auset fumbled with her keys.
Stepping inside, the apartment was dark but she was not alone. She could sense a presence. Just as she was about to flip the light switch on she was knocked back by an unseen force. It was so hard she flew through the wall and landed in the street below. Auset groaned and rolled over to stand on her feet. The Avengers who were just hopping off of the jet took defensive stances.
"Excuse me civilian are you okay?" Auset looked behind her to see Captain America standing inches from her person. Auset sneered.
"You should not be here. You are in danger." She replied.
"With all due respect ma'am-" Steve's words were interrupted by the transformation in front of him. Auset's clothes materialized away and she was left standing there in golden armor with hieroglyphic markings covering them. Her armor consisted of a top that looked like a bra and a corset all made of gold of course and an Egyptian styled skirt. That wasn't what made his jaw drop. She had at the very least 8 ft. wings extending from her back. Not 8 ft. together but 8 ft. each. They were black just like her hair but at the very tips off the last few rows of feathers they looked like they had been dipped in Gold.
"Holy shot are those?" Clint asked
"Yea they are." Sam replied a little sourly.
"I know her." Bucky responded getting closer to the woman.
"Yeah and I'm Santa Claus" Tony said sarcastically.
Bucky rolled his eyes. He recognized her as the woman he bumped into earlier.
"I can hear you all talking. If you wish to keep your lives you should leave now. I will not be able to save you." Auset called out not bothering to turn around. Before anyone could supply a rebuttal a horrifying shriek sounded through the air as two disgusting looking winged creatures hovered above them.
"What the fuck is that?" Clint asked.
"Um captain you're not going to reprimand Clint for his language?" Tony replied taking to the air.
"Tony not now." Steve replied moving forward.
"I know what she is." Thor called out as he to hovered over them.
"We'll figure that out later. Let's take care of the naked flying thingies before news crews show up." Sam called out.
Auset flapped her wings and held out a hands. A spear appeared in one hand a shield in the other. She rose to the height of the harpies.
"Give her back and I will spare your lives." Auset said calmly. She was trying to mask her fear. She had never fought before and she definitely had never wielded Amenonuhoko (Her sword) before. Her Nana had told her she was the keeper but had never dared call for it in a fight, for fear she would be found if she actually used it. Turns out they had.
The harpies hissed and bared their teeth. The spoke in unison. It almost sounded like an echo.
"We do not serve you."
Auset flew into a death roll towards the harpies. Effectively slicing the head off of one.
"Nooooo. My sister!" The other cried out and shot out a blast of purple from her hand. Auset held up her shield blocking the purple blast which knocked her back down to the ground. Not for long because she was on her feet in an instant.
"STOP!" A booming voice called out. Auset looked around and her eyes found nothing. The Avengers unsure on what to do still frozen in their spots.
A man seemingly appeared out of nowhere. His Skin was as black as oil, and shined like gold. He was dressed in a similar skirt like Auset's. He wore sandals the resembled hers. The man approached Auset until he was a few feet away from her.
"Do you know who I am child of Ra?"
Auset's face contorted into anger. Her eyes narrowing, nostrils flared.
"I know who you are Anubis. Give me back Anua and I will spare your life."
Anubis laughed.
"You wield the power to kill me yet you won't be able to. You are inexperienced and your strength is failing you. I came here to make a deal. You will come back with me and rule by my side and I will spare the life of this woman." Anua appeared on the ground in between them.
"Do not listen to him Auset. He only wants the spear. It can destroy worlds. He will take over this one. My life means nothing if you go against the wishes of your father. Don't make my sacrifice void."
Auset looked between the two of them. She had been taught all of her life about her purpose of keeping the spear safe. As much as she loved Anua she knew what she had to do. She had to put her wants aside and that meant letting her die.
Anubis seemingly read her mind. In one swift motion he plunged his hand through Anua's chest. She instantly fell to the ground.
"I will get what I want Auset. One way or another." He disappeared along with the harpy. Auset cried out and went to grab Anua's body. The Avengers quickly swarmed her. Tony was doing damage control. He was calling in teams to have what little damage had been done cleaned up. Steve walked towards the woman who was weeping. He kneeled next to her.
"Excuse me ma'am."
Auset's green eyes looked up at him and flashed annoyance.
"What do you want?" she hissed.
"This place will be swarming with government officials soon. We would like for you to accompany us back to the tower and maybe help you figure something out."
Auset was unsure. She did not know this man nor did she trust him or his government. Bucky approached Auset and knelt down beside her. Her eyes flashed with recognition. His flesh hand reached out and took her hand.
"We only want to help you. I don't think it's by chance we've run into each other again. Do you?"
Auset shook her head.
"I'm afraid I cannot carry her. Can you please?" She asked between shaky breaths. Not wanting to relinquish her hold on Anua but she could feel herself succumbing to sleep. Auset's wings began to disappear as well as her armor. Leaving her in the clothing she wore before the small fight. A warm liquid pooled from her nose. She reached up and touched it. Blood. Anubis was right. She did not have enough strength to wield the spear for long. Her mind was tangled. Her skin was crawling. Auset closed her eyes and let the darkness take her.
Bucky caught the woman before she could hit the ground. He untangled her arms from the dead woman's body and gently picked her up bridal style. He looked back at Steve who recovered the other woman's body the two of them heading in silence to the Quinjet unsure of what had just happened.