Author's Note: Hey guys, next chapter! So, the song quoted later on is called 'Vincent', and it's by Don McLean. It's heartbreakingly beautiful, and you guys should check it out!

Warning: So, I feel obligated to say there is some pretty heavy swearing early on in this chapter, so if that offends you terribly, I would not read. Or if you're under 13, or whatever age you start learning to swear… so yeah.

Enjoy otherwise!

Born To Die

First Times

Ana had always been taught by the Russians to observe a room before even thinking of speaking. One can learn a lot from the expressions, and the way people are standing and sitting.

So her eyes immediately moved over Fury, who was staring at her with a –well- furious, but at the same time curious expression, but seemed keen on her speaking before he said a single word.

Steve was looking out over the computers, shoulders hunched. Ana felt a sudden stab of guilt: she had never wanted to hurt Steve. She knew he would eventually forgive her, but it would be a process. Thor was closest to the door, an obviously contrite look on his face. He reached out to her, but she shook her head. This wasn't a good time, her eyes told him, and for once, he got the message.

Bruce wasn't there, and Ana hoped feverently he was unaware of what was going on, and maybe she could delicately explain it to him later. Natasha slid into the room, a slightly nervous tremor to her hands, which of course meant everything was going to hell.

Ana opened her mouth to speak, but never got the chance.

"I can't believe, I cannot fucking believe that I had to find out about all your shit, Ana, from the whole damn reason we're all here in the first place!"

Tony didn't even yell. He barely even raised his voice. Yet, Ana flinched. Tony Stark knew what he was doing, and she knew he was going to make her hurt before they all left the room. And she knew no one would defend her.

"So what? You were just planning on fighting with us, being part of this little super secret boy band, until one day we all died and you kept living? Or did you ever plan on telling us all that you're immortal?"

Ana, taking the first chance she took, cut in. "Tony," she pleaded, "this is what he wants, he wants us all to fight-"

"Us all?" Tony interrupted. "No, this is between you and me, sweetie. You, me, and your LOCD."

She rolled her eyes. "What, and your egomania doesn't cause any problems? All of us have issues, Stark."

"Yeah, but I think being a lying bitch tops the rest of them. An elven princess that has superpowers, did you know that, Captain?" Steve turned to watch with swollen eyes, Ana's mouth dropped open, and Tony lunged forward, grabbing her wrist. "Why don't you show us, huh?" He began to squeeze her wrist, tighter and tighter, before her self-preservation instincts kicked up and the fire that always burned restlessly under her skin scorched to the surface and seared the billionaire's hand. With a gasp, he pulled away, staring at her in astonishment. It was as if he couldn't believe she actually hurt him.

She desperately grabbed his arm. "Tony, I'm sorry. Do you think I asked for this?"

Tony looked at her incredulously. "Does anyone actually get a say in who they are?" He pulled his arm away. "Anastasia – if that even is your name – do you think I wanted to be the man who indirectly killed millions of people? But at least I owned up to it. I don't think I know who you are anymore, and you know what the funny thing is? I don't think you even know who you are."

Ignoring her pleas for him to 'just listen', Tony stormed out, followed quickly by Steve and Thor. Natasha only stopped to inform Director Fury that she'd tell Doctor Banner before Stark got to him.

Natasha stopped briefly in front of her, and stared for a minute. Then she gave her a soft hand squeeze before running out. Ana made to follow when Fury called her back.

He seemed slightly uncomfortable. "Miss Woods… protocol demands that we ask you a few questions, make sure you're not a threat to SHIELD, and assess your power."

Ana nearly choked in surprise, before schooling her features and looking at Fury coldly. "I can assure you, Director, I'm no threat. You can ask Natasha if you wish to know anything about my powers, or re-hack into your video surveillance. I used training room B earlier."

Then she was gone.

AAA

Following the soft strains of music, Ana hesitantly walked into the large gym. It was empty, except for an old version of a radio and a quiet Captain America.

He didn't notice her until she finally spoke: "Funny. I never pictured you much as an Elton John fan."

She was impressed by his restraint; he didn't even flinch at the sound of her voice. "Is that who this is?" Ana frowned. His voice was too high, too fake. This wasn't her Steve.

She silently wandered to his side, but she didn't feel like it was her place to sit next to him. "Yeah."

Steve wasn't exactly sure what she was doing here. Did she want him to forgive her? Because he had already done that, but he didn't really want her to know that. At least, he didn't want her to know that yet.

She was also lost in her own thoughts. She should've known they wouldn't accept her if they knew all of it. They had taken the fact she was an elf rather well, but that she was an immortal Alfheim princess with a certain penchant for setting things on fire? She didn't think so.

Natasha had comforted Ana in her own way as she left the briefing room after Tony had stormed out, so she knew the SHIELD agent had no issue with her, though she didn't really seem happy.

Thor already had known everything, but even he looked solemn. She could hear Loki laughing over the monitor. 'Not as perfect as you thought she was,' he jeered in her head. Steve had left silently, not even glancing at her. That had hurt.

Ana's breath caught. "Are you…" she began fearfully.

"Am I angry?" Steve finished for her. "Shocked and slightly hurt, but no, I'm not angry."

The brunette sighed in relief. "Thank you… Steve, you know you were my first friend in this realm. I'm not going to forget that."

Steve took her hand, pulling her down next to him. She should've known that he could never be mad at her; he was practically in love with her. Ana looked at him, an uncharacteristically pleading look in her eye. "Can I ask you something, Steve?"

Steve raised an eyebrow. "Shoot," he consented, bracing himself.

But the question she asked was something he didn't expect. It was one that no one in this time had asked him yet, not even the psychiatrists that SHIELD had given him. In retrospect, that was rather surprising.

"What was she like?" Anastasia paused, then clarified. "The woman you were in love with?"

Steve turned to look at her. How did she know about that? No one knew about Peggy, she had faded into the woodwork. And although he hated to think about it, she had probably passed away anyways.

He took a moment to think, barely noticing the radio had abandoned Elton John and moved onto Don McLean, whoever that was. How could he possibly describe Peggy? She had been his perfect match: strong-willed, and willing to look beyond the scraggily kid from Brooklyn and see the man, see Captain America.

"She was- she was amazing. Perfect. We were perfect for each other, and she never saw me as some deity." He paused. "We never had that dance," he blurted out, suddenly becoming aware of the fact that tears were leaking from his eyes.

Ana smiled sadly, knowingly, and wrapped her arms around him as his body shuddered with sobs. She thought of Alexander, of Gwindor -her elven fiancé- of her vow to never let another man into her life.

"What about now?" She questioned suddenly, standing.

Steve looked up at her, tears still falling down his cheeks. "What?" He choked out.

"Steve Rodgers, Mr. America, May I have this dance?" She asked, smiling softly. She held out her hand, fingerless gloves and all.

The super solider sort of wanted to laugh. Here they were, on a helicarrier of all things. She was wearing a bodysuit, knives and guns hanging from her waist. He was wearing a spandex stars and stripes costume, face drenched in tears. And she just asked him to dance. There was really only one thing he could say:

"Okay."

She helped him up, and he put his hands on her waist. Her hands gripped his shoulders: "It's been a while," she admitted. As they twirled around madly, not at all to the slow pace of the song, Steve began to smile. Soon they were laughing, hugging tightly, barely stepping enough to warrant dancing.

Eventually they slowed, Ana's head buried in Steve's neck while he stroked her hair with one hand. He kept the other on her waist, leading her in a slow waltz. A minute later, they pulled apart.

"You should find Tony," Steve whispered. He didn't really want her to go.

The brunette sighed. "I know. He just isn't going to forgive me as easily, will he?"

Steve smiled, but shook his head. "There's no way," he admitted.

Ana moved toward the door, listening to the broken radio, stopping when Steve spoke one more time. "Ana?" She cocked her head. "Don McLean was right about one thing."

"And what's that?"

Steve took a deep breath, looking at her intently. "Ana, this world… this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you."

Her breath caught in her throat, and she could only nod to him before she was running down the hall, running from the perfect man. The man… the man she couldn't make herself love.

Starry, starry night

Portraits hung in empty halls

Frameless heads on nameless walls

With eyes that watch the world and can't forget

Like the strangers that you've met.

The ragged men in ragged clothes

A silver thorn, a bloody rose

Lay crushed and broken on the virgin stone-

But I could've told you, Vincent, this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you.

AAA

Tony Stark stubbornly stared at his hand. He knew burns were probably something to worry about –he had gotten some bad ones as a child- but he refused to lower himself to asking for help at SHIELD's hospital wing.

He couldn't believe Ana had actually burned him, actually hurt him. He knew he was hurting her, squeezing her like that, but he thought she had better control than that. Guess she didn't practice much…

"Tony? Can I come in?"

He almost jumped in surprise, turning to see a repetinent Ana standing in the doorway. He noticed she had changed from the black bodysuit to a pair of dark skinny jeans and a yellow tank top. So focused on this small detail, he forgot to hide his injury.

Ana's expression changed from almost shy to abjectly horrified. "Oh my God, Tony! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean… I can- let me," she stuttered, taking his hand gently in hers.

Tony would've protested, but her hands felt so good on his. His eyes drifted closed; it was almost a cooling effect. He sighed in relief as the sensation seemed to spread through his hands, and when he looked down, the burn was gone.

He looked up at Ana in surprise, but she just shrugged. "I have to power to heal whatever damage I inflict," she informed him, her calm voice nothing like the frantic mumble it was moments earlier. "I apologize for not doing it before."

"If you had come by before now," he told her honestly, "I probably would've slammed the door in your face."

She sighed. "Thanks for being honest."

"I was harsh, Ana," he said matter-of-factly.

"I deserved it," she retorted.

"I took it too far."

"But you were right, Tony, I'm a liar."

"You're a person with a past. You should've shared it, but you're only human."

"But I'm not."

"Ana, it's a figure of speech."

She chuckled lightly. "Are we really having this conversation?"

Tony studied her for a moment, and decided maybe he could forgive. But not yet. "Yeah, we are," he affirmed. "So, what's with the outfit? I thought Fury demanded we be ready to go, every second of every hour."

Ana frowned. "Fury doesn't dictate my life, Tony. And technically, with my powers, I can be ready to go just as quickly as you. But I needed a change. And plus" –she blushed- "I brought Beverly Hills Cop."

He looked at her for a moment. "I'm not sure," he began, and she immediately cut him off.

"If you can forgive me? Tony, I get it. I know it's never going to be the same, and trusting might take time. But can we please just hang out on the couch and forget the world for two hours? I know Doctor Banner and you already finished the machine that will locate the Tesseract." She took a deep breath. "After all, who knows what's going to happen in the next day or two?"

He tilted his head, silently staring at her for a few minutes. Then he slowly shook his head. "I… I can't. Sorry."

Refusing to look at Ana again, he sped past her to the door. Ana watched him leave until he disappeared from sight.

There was a horribly aching feeling in her chest, and she couldn't breathe. She gasped, but no oxygen entered her lungs. He had seemed like he was forgiving her, but… she guessed not.

Anastasia wasn't positive, but she was pretty sure she was feeling her heart shatter.