Chapter 25 – Seduction

The sun was setting over New York City as Steve Rogers let himself into his apartment. It was the middle of summer and late in the evening but he didn't mind that he was back so late. The rest of the Avengers remained in the tower but Steve always found that he needed some space, like now for instance everyone was so on edge that he knew he needed some space to try and think things through. He was of no use to anyone if he was stressed out. He'd never been very good at having a personal life alongside his role as Captain America, but he tried.

He walked through to his living room and threw his bag onto the floor beside the couch as he flicked the light on. He had always been wary of shadows, he didn't trust them or what could be hiding. He trusted them less now than ever before. He stood for a moment, alone in the room, before turning to leave and continue with his usual routine.

"You're not even going to offer me a drink?" the voice came from the opposite side of the room and Steve whirled around, preparing to have to defend himself. But Minnie was lounging on a chair, her feet dangling over the arm, her back resting across the opposite arm. She was wearing short shorts and plain t-shirt that clung to her a little too tightly; it was a little too see through and there was a lot of skin showing. Her hair was atop her head in a messy bun with a few tendrils curling around her face. She looked like she'd just come from a day at the beach.

"I wasn't expecting company." Steve responded icily.

"You all respond to me in the same way. It makes me sad." She replied with a pout before swinging her legs neatly around and leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, displaying a lot of cleavage. Steve tried not to look.

"Well how would you like people to respond to a parasite?" Steve asked, taking a step towards her.

"Ok that's fair." She conceded and stood up. "But you don't know me. I'm not a thing. I'm a consciousness. I think and I feel just like you. And actually I'm much more like Minnie than you realise. I only acquiesce to her… needs."

"I'm pretty sure she doesn't know the meaning of the word acquiesce." Steve replied and Minnie ignored him.

"I only do what she wants me to do, or go where she wants me to go. I only do things if she wants me too. What you don't realise is that I'm constantly talking to her inside this head. If she wants to feel powerful I go to someone it's easy to assert power over; if she wants to talk I go to someone who'll listen; if she wants attention I go to someone who needs it just as much." She finished, a ripple of shadows surrounded her.

"Yeah I'm sure she's thrilled." Steve replied sarcastically.

"You misunderstand me, Captain, I'm not a bad monster…" she began and looked offended as Steve scoffed. "I'm not." She walked toward him and he stood his ground.

"You're not?" he asked and as she closer he felt someone more in the air, something he hadn't experienced in a long time and he didn't quite remember how to fight.

"No, I'm just someone who likes to be on the winning side. I don't care whose side that is." She said, drawing closer. "Truthfully I'm getting a little tired of being in control. I want someone who'll dominate me. Will that be you, Captain Rogers?"

"Maybe." He replied and she smirked, he could feel the coolness of her shadows but he found that he didn't mind them, in fact he almost liked them. He felt himself losing control and wondered if she had him under some spell or it was just his own fault. He hated to admit that it was probably a combination of the two. She was so close he could smell her perfume and it clouded his thoughts even more. He knew he should take a step back and clear his head but it had been so long since he'd had any form of human interaction. And, contrary to popular belief, he did have feelings and urges.

"But you have to…" he began and lost his train of thought. She seemed to understand him perfectly though and leaned up so their noses almost touched; her breath caressed his lips; her palms travelled up his chest.

"Make me." she challenged him in a whisper and he lost all sense of self control. His lips sought hers in a second and his hands went to her hips, pulling her to him. Unable to bring her closer this way he pulled his arms around her back so he could pull her closer still. He was sure that he was holding her so tight it must be hurting her but he was too overcome with passion to stop himself from holding her tighter. She made no objection. Her own arms wound around his shoulders to pull him close against her in a crushing grip that was too strong for a girl of her build. But it still wasn't enough for Steve.

His hands explored her back and waist and travelled down her sides over her hips and the tops of her legs. He reached around to the back of her thighs and pulled her up. She helped by jumping up and wrapping her legs around him. He held her there for a few moments as their kiss grew more and more heated, elevated slightly above him, her hips pressing into him in urgency. He moved over to the couch and placed her down on her back as he positioned himself between her thighs. She once again wound her legs around him and ran her fingers through his hair in way he'd forgotten he liked. His own hands moved to her hips to position them to his before lifting at the hem of her t-shirt and pulling it over her head, he then repeated the same gesture with his own shirt before hungrily returning to the kiss.

She flipped them suddenly so she was sat astride him. She kissed him for a few seconds longer before moving down his chest and over his stomach. He leaned his head back and arched his spine as she continued to travel south. She teased at the buckle of his belt and undid it, loosening his fly before kissing back up his stomach and chest until she found his mouth again. At which point Steve remembered her comment about wanting to be dominated, so he flipped her around again so he was once again on top.

He kissed along her jawline hungrily and then down her neck, grateful as she rolled back her head to give him better access. It was when he reached the crook of her neck that he felt the cool shadow brush across his muscular back.

He wrenched himself off of her and stumbled back across the room, trying to put as much distance as he could between himself and her. She sat up slightly on her elbows and smirked lightly at him. A look of disappointment clear in her eyes.

"Thanks a bunch Captain, you were almost helpful. I guess I'll have to go someplace else to complete the experience for poor Minerva." She said before disappearing.

His breath came in short gasps as he fought back the tears and the fear of what had happened. Her discarded t-shirt lay on the ground as a reminder of his mistake, his own was atop it. Standing shakily he buttoned his fly and buckled his belt; running a hand through his hair he marvelled at how the room looked as if nothing had happened.

Steve was left alone with the unfriendly shadows and the regret of his actions.