A chapter under 9k and posted on time? I think yes!
Thank you all for the reviews, follows and favorites and I encourage more for it will help me understand if any of you like this story that isn't even hit the halfway mark yet!
Italics is either inner dialogue, text messages or inner thoughts
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Chapter 29: Under Pressure
"I'm begging you Alicia, do not do this to him." Amy pleaded as Alicia dried herself off. "You cannot do this to him."
"I'm sorry Amy, but my mind is made up and I will make sure nothing goes wrong." Alicia said back.
"I-I can't believe you…" Amy said quietly.
"Why do you care so much Amy? You and Desire are normally so stoic towards anyone but me and now you're yelling at me for this?" Alicia thought, as she got dressed. "Now, I need to text him… Huh, he already texted me."
"It's because right now, I'm your only voice of reason because no one else knows what's going on!" Amy yelled. "He's a great man and with all that time I haven't been in the Teserin I have been around them and appreciate them more than you do at this point!"
"Oh so now you have some grasp on human compassion now? After nearly three years if being with me you now show you care about humans?" Alicia asked unconvinced. "You're not fooling anyone Amy."
Alicia shrugged Amy comment away and checked her phone not noticing Amy's increasing anger against her.
From: Steve
Hey, I hope you're feeling better. Do you think after dinner you and I could talk? I have a lot on my mind right now and I need you to hear where I'm coming from this situation. Text me when you get this, okay?
"Well, this can't be good… But maybe I can make this work." Alicia said out loud.
Steve was on the elevator to the living room for dinner when he felt his phone vibrate in his pants pocket. He checked and saw Alicia replied to his text he sent a few hours ago.
From: Alicia
I hope I'm not in too much trouble haha. That is fine but before we do that, can I give you a massage? It should calm your nerves with the scented oil I have. Please? I want you to be as relaxed as you need to be. See you at dinner.
Steve looked at the request strangely as he headed towards the table. He looked up and saw everyone was already there and accounted for and he was the last to sit down. He saw a free seat next to Alicia and Natasha and quietly sat down and began to eat.
"Thank you for the piano Tony." Alicia said. "It's beautiful and it sounds great."
"I'm gonna miss having you around." Tony said. "What am I supposed to do with myself now?"
"I thought you wanted to go back to Malibu and away from the New York." Pepper said. "You been so anxious lately that-"
"Details, details." Tony said interrupting her. "You can always visit me in Malibu, okay?"
"Sure, I didn't know you were going back to Malibu…" Alicia told him.
"I need to make a suit that can resist the powers from you and Tedrich's gems. So I saved enough energy from last time, sent it to my house and I will construct a new suit. But I can't do it here."
"So, everyone's leaving when I move?" Alicia asked.
"No but until Tedrich stays low we aren't sure what to do. Except prepare." Natasha said. "Clint and I can't train here."
"Bruce?" Alicia asked.
"I'll be keeping a low profile but I'll be with Tony making more of the serum and helping with the suit."
"I'll miss you guys…" Alicia said sincerely.
"Do not worry. If you ever need us, we will be here." Thor said. "Soon, I shall take you to Asgard to meet my father."
"Asgard? To meet Odin?" Alicia asked in awe.
"Of course! You will be welcomed with great celebration!" Thor laughed. "You may also have your answers from my father as well. I am needed to restore balance to the nine realms from the chaos Loki created."
Alicia smiled softly but felt solemn as she thought she would never see Asgard or be with them soon. Even if Odin have answers she didn't want to go back home to abuse and loneliness of not having her friends or family. But she didn't want to stay here and hurt her new family and the team she loos up to with the highest degree.
She felt Steve holding her hand from underneath the table and cheered up as she looked at Steve for comfort. The group noticed Alicia and Steve never said a word to each other but could sense something was going on between the two of them, something they weren't telling them. Thor noticed and smiled at the two trying their hardest not showing their feelings around them while Tony tried his best not to embarrass Steve by Pepper's request.
"So, are you still up for a massage?" Alicia asked as they entered the elevator.
"Sure. It's almost ten at night though, do you want to do it now?" Steve asked as she pulled him into her room.
"That's why you're in my room." Alicia said; lightly pushing him to the bed. "Wait here. I need to wear something a bit more comfortable."
Alicia headed to her closet and saw Steve smiling yet confused on her bed. She closed her door and looked through her closet to find the lingerie.
"No… no… where the fuck is it?" Alicia asked herself. "Is this it?"
Alicia looked and found a blue, baby doll styled lingerie. She looked herself in the mirror and noticed the laced bra hugged her chest nicely and the flowing material that covered her stomach was practically see through as she noticed her toned abdomen was still visible under this. She turned and saw the material was smooth and soft all around but felt uncomfortable about the match underwear as she looked at the side mirrors.
"I hate thongs…" Alicia sighed. "I mean, it makes my ass look good but I feel like I have a perpetual weggie… I have to remember what my espionage coach told me about seduction."
"Know the man you're dealing with and know what drives him crazy. If not, go for neck and earlobe kissing. Wear something that screams intimacy and let him think he's in control while you silently pull the strings. Use anything you have like oils for an advantage. Make the sexual tension so unbearable for him where he has to do something out of his urges. Encourage all his advancements with moans and sighs and at times be the dominant one for fight for the dominance. Depending on the man, either he wants to have sex at this point or make the offer too sweet to ignore."' Desire recited in her head.
"Do not be on her side!" Amy said to Desire.
Alicia looked through her clothes and found Steve's plaid button down and covered herself with the oversized shirt. She opened the doors and saw Steve smiling and looking at her.
"Like what you see?" Alicia teased.
"You look nice in my shirts." Steve answered.
"Good but I need you to take off your shirt. I got this vanilla scented oil that makes your muscles relax and I wanted to see if it works." Alicia said walking towards him. "Pepper got it for me at the spa. Smell it."
Alicia put a dab of the aphrodisiac on her neck and let Steve smell the scent. She heard a hum of approval and smiled in the plan slowly starting to work.
"Smells nice." Steve said taking off his shirt. "Why aren't you taking that off?"
"Impatient much?" Alicia asked. "Fine, give me one second."
Steve watched from the edge of the bed Alicia slowly unbuttoning each button from his shirt. He wondered what she could be wearing and saw she was wearing lingerie underneath his shirt. He saw her approach her and all he could focus on is how good it looked on her. Her chest was pushed together slightly and flowing, silk like material covered her stomach and matching underwear.
"Does the look on your face mean you like it?" Alicia said lifting his chin up gently. "Can I give you massage now?"
Steve let go of her waist and Alicia stepped on the bed and sat on her knees behind Steve. Alicia heard him sigh and nod his head at her and she put the oil on his shoulders and neck and begun to massage him. She could feel his muscles relax immediately and his head lunged forward. She dug deep into his knots and kept applying the aphrodisiac all over his back and arms and rubbed in softly and slowly, as Steve was relaxed in approval.
"You're really good at this…" Steve said to her.
"Thanks. I've taken a class at NYU so it helped me a lot." Alicia said softly. "You're muscles are so tense Steve. But they are so strong…"
Steve felt Alicia kissing his biceps on both arms slowly but enjoyed her hands caressing each of his muscles and skin. He felt her hands slide back to his shoulders and started to feel slightly aroused.
"Do you like it so far Steve?" Alicia cooed. "I think you still have some neck tension…"
Steve's head was beginning to rise back up when Alicia started to softly kiss against his neck. He reached back and pushed her head in inviting Alicia to press harder against his neck. Instead he felt his hands being put on top of his chest by Alicia's hands and gripped them gently but tightly.
"Be patient, Steve." Alicia said to her panting solider. "Be patient."
He calmed down and soon felt Alicia sucking and licking his neck. He let out more, less constrained moans of pleasure. Alicia could hear the difference of these moans and yesterday's moans and kept the pace he wanted. She knew pleasing him would help lean towards what she wanted out of him, but she had to be careful.
"Steve, you seem so much more relaxed now." Alicia hummed in his neck. "I'm glad you like it."
Steve didn't respond which was a good sign for her. She continued the neck kissing for a little while longer then stopped and begun to massage his scalp. She could tell from her mirror that Steve wasn't thinking of anything, let alone whatever he needed to talk to her about. She felt his soft hair through her fingers and couldn't help herself.
"I love your hair. It's so soft." Alicia chuckled. "Even when it's a mess or when you wake up I still love it."
Alicia heard Steve chuckle and saw his eyes were closed in relaxation. She let this go on for a few more minutes before she moved close to his ear and began to nibble Steve's earlobe.
"A-Alicia!" Steve jerked.
"It's okay Steve… It's okay…" Alicia cooed while kissing his ear. "I can tell you like it. Stop holding back."
Steve let out a louder moan as his earlobe was tugged back and felt himself having an erection already. He did like it a lot and loved everything Alicia was doing. His hands felt fidgety, he was tempted to turn around and grab her but he loved her touch so much that she didn't want to stop.
"Okay, it's your turn." Alicia said turning around. "The oil is over there so put it there were you see fit."
"Alright…" Steve said applying the aphrodisiac. "Um, Alicia?"
"Yes?" Alicia asked back confused.
"What are you wearing?" Steve asked blushing.
"Lingerie?" Alicia replied. "Women didn't have lingerie in the 40's?"
"N-No, they did but I meant... What kind of underwear are you wearing?" Steve asked; unintentionally staring. "I've seen those... from Bucky's exotic Western magazines..."
"Oh, surprise? They're called thongs. This one is more of G-String and basically it's a type of underwear for women and men for some that is used to show off your ass." Alicia explained. "I'm not a stripper I promise but this underwear came with this outfit. You don't mind it do you?"
"N-No, I don't." Steve admitted. "It's just... Never mind. I hope I'll do a good enough job."
Steve calmed himself down slightly and started by massaging her shoulders and arms. He applied a decent amount of the oil and applied gentle amounts of pressure to her arms and appreciated the strong muscles he could feel as he rubbed her arms with his hands. When he got to her shoulders he moved the spaghetti straps to drop from her shoulders and massage her skin.
"She feels so nice…" Steve thought, as he smelled the vanilla aroma.
Alicia let out soft sighs as she begun to feel trails of kisses along both her shoulders. She could sense the aphrodisiac was working by how comfortable and sensual Steve was acting already.
"Having fun?" Alicia asked.
"You could say that." Steve replied in her neck.
Alicia's breath hitched and cheeks reddened as she felt him kiss softly on her neck while adding the aphrodisiac on her back to continue to massage. She couldn't help but feel aroused and let out moans to let him know she enjoyed it. But also noticed with each moan she gave Steve quietly hummed in gratification. She let out a louder moan once he begun to suck and bite at her neck and he replied with a moan himself.
"So, he likes it when I moan?" Alicia thought as Steve slowed down. "Good to know."
Steve stopped if only for a second and was kissing and tugging at her earlobe. Alicia felt her entire body going through sensations that made her feel incredibly good as Steve kissed her. She could tell the aphrodisiac was working on both of them very well but she had to keep the sexual tension going if this was going to work. She felt Steve tilt her chin to Steve's direction but stopped him from kissing him with her hand.
"No kissing until after the massage." Alicia taunted.
Alicia saw Steve purse his lips in impatience and she smiled mischievously at her small step to victory. After a few more minutes of the massage Steve finished and sat next her on the inside of the bed. They found themselves staring into one another's eyes; longingly, intimately and sensually. Their faces were inches apart as their hands grazed the other's arms in hunger.
"So Steve, what did you have to talk to me about?" Alicia asked with hot breath.
Steve had completely forgotten about the reason why he came into the room in the first place. He noticed Alicia's hand on his lap, his crotch to be more specific. But he noticed she wasn't doing anything, just resting her hand on his constricted erection. He saw the innocent look she was giving him, awaiting his response as he noticed her more revealed chest and skin. He wanted to talk to her about his concerns but he decided this wasn't a good time to bring this up anymore.
"You know…" Steve said resting his hand on hers, out how nice it felt; hoping she wouldn't move her hand right away. "That talk can wait. It's not too important."
"Whatever you say Cap." Alicia smiled.
"Please, out of everyone I know, don't call me that." Steve smiled. "I think you know me well enough to call me by a more personal level. Especially here and now."
"But what about if I want to play with you for awhile after a mission?" Alicia pouted. "Like in our suits, can't I call you something different then? I liked it when I got to kiss you as Captain America when I was Biotica yesterday."
"In the off chance that does happen… call me "Captain", but not all the time." Steve told her. "But right now we aren't Captain America or Biotica. We're Steve Rogers and Alicia Dacia, okay?"
"Yes, sir." Alicia laughed. "Now, I think I've made you wait long enough."
Alicia pulled Steve in by the back of his hair and finally helped feed their hunger. Steve felt himself make the kiss go deeper and faster as he pushed her head closer in while gripping her curls. He felt his hand move in circular motions on top on Alicia's hand to stimulate his arousal more.
"What am I doing?" Steve thought to himself. "I'm getting too excited. I'm pushing this and my hands are doing what they want. But I love it."
He groaned as he felt her lips leave marks along his skin from long kisses that begun to turn into love bites as she ventured lowered to his stomach as she dropped lower from the bed as Steve still sat on the edge of bed. Steve lost himself as he felt her teeth nibble on his muscles. His hands were all over hair and felt Alicia play with his belt buckle.
"Alicia…" Steve panted. "Ah… What are you-?"
"These pants have to go." Alicia said kissing his belly button. "You're too constrained."
Alicia watched as Steve fumbled to throw his belt and pants on the ground. Once he did he dropped to the floor and caught Alicia off-guard with a deep kiss. She could feel his hands feel the skin on her back underneath her lingerie then make their way to her behind and felt her ass being squeezed and felt as Steve released more low and needy moans of ecstasy.
"It's working… on both of us…" Alicia thought as she could feel the aphrodisiac's affects kick in. "But how can I push this farther?"
Alicia had an idea and put Steve in a sitting position and sat on Steve's lap. Soon after she begun to jostle her hips against him in excitement to Steve's hand gestures. Steve took the notion and begun to trust himself somewhat along with Alicia and began to kiss her revealed chest and her front shoulders. She let out moans and cries as she felt his teeth graze her skin after each kiss and felt herself already reaching her first high and needed to calm down.
Steve could feel her hands go from his hair and try to reach for her panties and grabbed them as he propped his head upward.
"Calm down. Just hold on for me until we're back on the bed." Steve panted as he suckled her neck.
"O-Okay..." Alicia whined and shook in impatience as she gripped his hair. "Whatever you say Steve. Whatever you want."
"JARVIS, can you dim the lights?" Steve asked.
Steve watched as the lights dimmed and the only bright light source was the Teserin that was pulsating rapidly around her neck. He still felt his now less constrained erection push against his briefs and didn't know what to do. His mind was going to dirty places he tries to avoid when with her, wanting her and taking her fully and all for himself. Imagining what this night could be got him more hot and bothered and almost couldn't handle it as Alicia was against his crotch releasing sweet sounds with each kiss he gave her.
"Alicia…" Steve whispered. "Want to go back to the bed?"
Steve watched as Alicia stood up and brought Steve with her. She took him by the hand to the foot of the bed and kissed him feverishly and Steve bite her lip after each kiss wanting to her a sigh from Alicia that she did without being told. He watched as she climbed onto the bed and laid there; waiting for him to come to her. Giving him an alluring look and saw her outfit show off her hips and chest, seeing her sway her hips suggestively with quiet and soft moans. He slowly followed her towards the bed and hovered over her; eyes taking in every part of how she looked with his eyes. But he wasn't too nervous like last night. He wasn't sure but he felt as if something was taking over for him, but he wasn't ending it; he was enjoying everything that was happening, but he wanted to take the lead for right now.
Alicia soon felt him gently on top of him and his hips were moving against hers. But they weren't the swirling motion that they have done before. She felt Steve was practically trying to trust against her, not as rough as she was yesterday but she could feel it and she loved it. She also noticed Steve never kissed her during this, instead she saw he was gazing at her; taking in her rosy cheeks, gasping expression, the Teserin glowing violently and her chest rising and falling just as fast. She tried to turn away, embarrassed but Steve turned her face back to his direction as if he was admiring her face of pleasure as she moaned.
He watched as Alicia took his right hand and slid it under her baby doll lingerie dress. He felt her smooth and lightly toned abs underneath and felt more impatient. He then felt Alicia take his hand and slid it slowly underneath her cup. His fingers grazed at the bottom of her left breast and looked taken back. He saw Alicia's reassuring gaze and smile and he took over and begun to feel and squeeze her breast underneath her lingerie.
"It feels so nice." Alicia cooed; gripping the skin from his back shoulders making Steve smile. "You're so careful yet commanding when you touch me."
"Do I really want her this badly?" Steve thought as he brushed her nipple and kissed her lips. "I think I really do want her that badly. But what do I do now?"
"Here's my chance." Alicia thought. "It's now or never."
"Steve." Alicia said breaking the kiss. "Steve."
"Yeah?" Steve asked, hot breathed.
"I want you."
"You already have me." Steve smiled.
"No, I want you." Alicia said trying to give Steve a hint.
"Still not getting it Alicia." Steve said taking his hand out of her dress. "You have to be a little more specific."
"Wow, you are oblivious." Alicia told him. "I want you inside me."
"Y-you want… to have… sex with me?" Steve stammered.
"Isn't it obvious Steve? We both want to. We can't keep our hands off of each other." Alicia told him, as he got more embarrassed.
"But this feels rushed. I… I don't know…" Steve told her.
"Come on Steve." Alicia said kissing him. "Don't be afraid. I'm all yours and from what you've been showing me I think you're more than capable to do this."
Steve just stared at Alicia as his thoughts raced on what to do, his hormones and old fashioned morals were at a standstill as whether or not to take her offer.
"What do I do? I want to but… it's too soon for us to do this. We haven't been together long enough at all." Steve thought as Alicia brought him in for another long kiss. "But she is so beautiful."
Steve cupped on side of her face and Alicia kissed his palm. He took in the innocent look she gave him as she rustled in the bed awaiting for his response.
"It's so tempting. She is so young and willing." Steve thought as he saw Alicia's hands were grazing his cheeks; smiling. "She's let me done so much; is she actually letting me do this to her? A twenty year old shouldn't be so free about something so serious."
Those words hit him like a brick. He never really thought about their physical age difference but he was five years three months apart. Never in his life has he ever wanted a woman so much younger than him before. She always came across as much older than a twenty year old due to her responsibilities but she was a twenty year old physically, and he could tell she misses being her age from what she has told him. This made him feel slightly uncomfortable of the idea now but the desire still loomed over him as he begun to kiss her again.
"She is so young, I mean, maybe not so now but it makes sense for her brother to be so weary of me. I would be too." Steve thought grunting with each kiss; not knowing if it was lust or confusion causing the escaping noises. "Does she really mean it when she said that to me though? Or is it just the hormones talking? No, she wouldn't have said that if she didn't mean it. Wait... does she mean she wants Steve Rogers or Captain America? I think I've been taking advantage of her without her knowing because it's me…"
Steve stopped the kiss and looked at her, got up and sat at the edge of the bed; covering his face with guilt of what he did and could have done to her. All the ideas of this rushed, possibly untrue notion made his head spin. He felt ashamed and angry with himself to the point he couldn't look at Alicia. He felt he was pushing a twenty year old farther than she should in a newly formed relationship because of who he is to her.
"Steve, what's wrong?" Alicia asked. "Steve, come back."
"I-I'm sorry. I can't do this." Steve said getting his clothes back on. "I'm sorry. I just can't."
Alicia watched as Steve rushed out the door and left Alicia in the room to herself. She looked at her broken mirror and saw the hickeys around her neck, chest and shoulders with the love bites to match.
"Dammit Steve, why did you have to think about it?" Alicia cursed. "I was so close to having you. Why did you stop?"
"Fix. This. Now." Amy ordered. "Before things get worse tomorrow."
"You mean before I fix everything tomorrow?"
"Why do you believe him and not Steve?!" Amy yelled.
"I don't know but I'm doing this because I care!" Alicia yelled back. "Now, I have to be a good girlfriend and go find Steve and talk to him. I just need to make sure he doesn't do anything to break me. He already ruined my one chance, but I have to at least calm him down."
"Are you putting any emotions aside now?" Amy asked. "He looked like he believes he is the guilty one!"
"Good, then I don't have to apologize." Alicia said heading for the shower.
"Ah! Unff-" Steve panted. "Hah…"
He was in the shower relieving any unresolved tension he had from Alicia's room. The cold water helped as his mind imagined what he could have done with Alicia if he said yes. Imagining the two of them naked, vulnerable, making loves for hours as she whispered in his ear to continue and to never stop; satisfying his every pleasure with her and ending the night in one another's arms in a blissful sleep. When he opened his eyes he felt his appendage go limp and washed off any fluids that came off of him down the drain.
"Why did I act like that? I normally never do. I just... something took over." Steve asked himself as he dried off in the bathroom. "If I didn't stop myself I would have actually done it. I was going to take advantage of her."
He saw in the mirror he had numerous hickey and now love bites along his neck and chest. He felt embarrassed by this and walked out the bathroom to avoid the mirror. He left the bathroom and came changed into more comfortable clothes for bed. Before he went into the covers the phone rang and saw it was Alicia. He stared at it for a moment and decided to answer the phone call.
"Steve?" Alicia asked. "Look, can we talk? About this and what you had to talk about? Please?"
"Alicia, I don't know."
"Steve, I don't think either of us should go bed confused and upset about what happened. I'm wearing more usual clothes you've seen me in. Can I come to your room? For a few minutes?"
"Sure." Steve sighed. "It's fine."
Steve heard the call end and waited for Alicia to enter the room in confusion and worry of how to explain everything. He wasn't sure of how to explain how weary and uncomfortable he was of the idea of having sex with Alicia at the moment because of how rushed it was. The door opened and Alicia walked in in sweats and a tank top that she normally wears and Steve did feel relieved by the clothing change; but he did noticed the hickeys and love bites and felt guilty again.
"You know, for someone who took a shower for probably the same reasons I did, you did not have to comb your hair." Alicia told him trying to break the ice. "Steve, you look like you want to talk first. Do you want to?"
"What happened up there I-I couldn't begin to tell you all the things I was feeling. You weren't wrong when you said we both wanted to do that but it was too soon. We've known each other for two months now and we've been a couple for a day. I was overwhelmed at a lot things Alicia." Steve told her.
"Like what?"
"Well, I know our age difference isn't the worst thing in the world but I felt as if I was taking advantage of such a young woman. I knew you were okay with it but I started to feel uneasy about it. Then I wondered if you were so okay with this was because it was me. I don't know if that meant Steve Rogers or Captain America." Steve said rather uncomfortably. "I'm so sorry Alicia. I was taking advantage of you. I respect you Alicia, I really do. That's why I couldn't go through with it. To me, when I have sex, I want to know I'm ready, I want to know I love this person with all my heart and I care about you a lot Alicia, but I need to make sure I know that I love you when the time comes."
"You chivalrous bastard." Alicia laughed. "It's okay, you don't have to apologize. We just got ahead of ourselves. Don't worry about those concerns, it's all in your head and I'm not gonna push sex on you unless you're ready. I know I promised you this before but I mean it and I was really relied up. I mean it when I say this; I may be Captain America's fan but I'm interested in and dating Steve Rogers."
"Thank you." Steve said hugging her. "I needed to hear that."
"But… you're not done." Alicia said. "You seem so out of it. Are you okay?"
"This situation has been affecting me more than it should."
"The situation with Tedrich or the situation between us?"
"Both." Steve sighed. "You've been opening up to me but at the same time I can't help but feel you are keeping too many secrets from me. I see you suffering but you aren't telling me anything."
"Steve, you know I've been keeping secrets from everyone. Not just you." Alicia said defending herself. "I have trust issues. I don't want people to leave once they know something about me. I'm slowly opening up to you all, what about the scars I told the rest of the team?"
"That situation seemed unavoidable at that point but I am proud of you for that. But you're hiding something from me Alicia. I can see it."
"Steve, I have nothing to hide."
"Yes you are." Steve said with a stern tone. "I'm worried you are going to do something stupid."
"Something… stupid?" Alicia asked; taken back from how serious he sounded.
"Every since the fight with Tedrich your spirit has changed and you've been thinking ideas that shouldn't be in your head. I don't want to wake up with you one morning and find you dead knowing I could have stopped it."
"Steve…"
"Fury does not approve of our relationship because you still don't know if you want to stay in this world or go to your world. We will cross that bridge when we come to it." Steve said; not sure if he would be okay with her leaving now. "But you've been the best thing that has happened to me since I woke up in the 21st century. I wouldn't have embraced the 21st century so well without you. I don't want this to be cut so short because you think you're alone but you're not. You may not have Tedrich anymore and I can only imagine what you're going through. But you have the team, you have your family and you have me. Please don't forget that, I don't want you to lose hope in us."
Alicia in her mind still has the decision made to let the poison overtake her tomorrow. She was doing it to save everyone from her and any future mistake she could ever make. Nothing Steve could persuade her otherwise but she knew Steve could get passed the hard walls she had around her, even if he didn't mean to. She looked at him and noticed his voice started to crack and looked as if he had a lump in his throat. She saw his eyes and saw they were misty, trying very hard not to show anything to her.
"Steve, no. Buck up Solider." Alicia said cupping his face. "Come on Steve, don't be so upset. You're overthinking this, just smile for me. "
"Stop undermining the situation." Steve said as he turned away and coughed and sniffed a bit, trying so hard not to break in front of her. Alicia felt herself fall apart as she watched the man she looked up to this upset and emotional because of her.
"Steve… why are you making this so hard for me? Why do you care so much?" Alicia thought as she held back her emotions.
"I-It's not because of you. I'm so used to figuring out problems on my own that I never wanted to worry you. You have to understand that I'm trying and it won't take me a day to completely tell you my life's story. I've told my brother things that I haven't told you because my family is kind of fucked up if you hadn't realize already. I need to tell and be comfortable telling things to Chris before I tell you involving my childhood in detail. I did tell him because of you though." Alicia tried to explain cheerfully. "You've made it so easy to tell you things about me without being afraid or angry that I thought of telling my brother something. It didn't bode completely well but I can tell he appreciated it. I told him that you would have liked me to tell him what I told him."
Steve cracked a slight smile from that but still felt as if she could not trust him. Alicia could tell and she was confused on how to convince him otherwise for the night.
"Steve, you need to know that I trust you but I know depending on what I tell you that you're going to be upset with me. If I could pour my entire heart to you to make you feel any better I would. But I can't do that. Neither can you at this point so we both have to work on this."
"But you are keeping something from me though." Steve insisted. "How bad is it?"
"Very." Alicia admitted. "Please Steve, please don't push this out of me. I can't tell you anything unless I'm ready. I'm not ready right now because I know no matter when I tell you, you are going to hate me."
He felt more guilty trying to push her to tell him something she wasn't ready to tell him. But he knew whatever she wasn't telling him was very bad and he knew Tedrich had a good hold of her compared to him and she couldn't shake her out of it.
"Why are you listening to a man who wants nothing more than to see you dead?" Steve asked.
"I don't know anymore." Alicia said, unsure if that was the truth or not. "He has a hold of me Steve. A hold I wish could let go so you can have a hold of me."
"He isn't getting away so easily next time." Steve cringed. "He touched you and he could have done something terrible to you because he overpowered you. I wish he didn't have such a hold on you because I know you wouldn't be listening to him if he didn't."
"Steve, I want to tell you but I need time. Please give me that, even it hurts you the longer you don't know but it won't come out right okay?"
Steve looked at her in pain and disappointment. He opened up to her about this, trying to figure out what she has been hiding to him but he got nothing out her except a false smile and a promise he wasn't sure he could believe. He was still upset at this entire situation and this didn't help but he nodded yes to her just because he knew he wasn't getting anything else out of her.
"I can see you aren't happy with what I'm telling you." Alicia admitted. "Do you want to spend the night alone or do you somehow want me to spend the night sleeping in your bed?"
Steve got inside the covers and pulled the sheets over; inviting her to sleep with him. She sighed with relief and got under the covers with him thinking maybe he believed her. They stared at each other unsure of how to sleep but saw Steve turn to the other side of the bed facing his back to her.
"Goodnight Steve." Alicia whispered.
Brooke was in a room alone all night watching the news. Most of the channels had the news reporting on the attack on Manhattan between the Avengers, Alicia and Tedrich and felt sick to her stomach. She didn't want the public to openly hate Alicia simply for protecting the city because of her gem. Tedrich brought up the fact he egged her on for that reason, but left shortly after yesterday and hasn't come back since.
She couldn't leave however. Near the door a Bertha loomed over staring at Brooke while Tedrich was away. Any notion of escape was useless against his contraptions that followed his orders obediently. She tried her best to not anger the machine and kept herself hidden from it's gaze.
Soon after she saw the door hinge open and braced herself for whatever Tedrich could have with him. She saw Tedrich holding a few garbage bags over his right arm that looked too big to actually be garbage bags. Next what seemed like a metallic blur brush passed him and heard the sound of a four-legged animal on the floor.
"Mrs. Adlers, I have returned. I brought you a new friend." Tedrich said taking off his coat and placing the bags on the living room floor. "Come and meet him."
Brooke was reluctant to respond but walked out of the door and was greeted by a robotic German Shepard. It wasn't the kind of robot she was expecting to see. The last two contraptions of his were very intimidating to look at. Their eyes were a red and hollow void; unable to emit any type of emotion. The metal was dark and sheer to give them a menacing look that made people cringe in terror and the heroes know that were not a force to be reckoned with from their larger than life sized, abnormally constructed designs.
This dog was constructed to be the size and to look like a German Shepard. Its eyes had pupils and the iris was the deep glowing red that showed her its eagerness instead of intimidating, hollow eyes. It looked as if the dog had actually fur but it was too metallic to be actual hair with the different shades to give it the look of an actual German Shepard.
"It won't bite you unless you try and leave the apartment without my consent." Tedrich explained. "You can pet him. I programmed him to be your new watcher. But he is much more friendly than what I'd like in my machines."
Brooke knelt down and stroked the German Shepard robot. She felt the metallic bristles did not feel too sharp or hard on her hands, but did not feel like fur either. She noticed its tail wagged in glee and licked her palm with a tongue that felt like an actual dog's tongue.
"Why did you build this dog?" Brooke asked as she stared at it and the bags in the other room.
"Well, I could tell that having Bertha at the door scares you half to death so I decided to fix that. I am working on a new friend to help me with my goals, I basing it more towards wolves but the design I have would scare you half to death as well. Although that model is not passed its preliminary stages I tried to construct a suitable guard dog for you. One that is familiar and one that can follow orders."
"So a German Shepard?"
"Correct and they are a good and loyal breed of intelligent dogs." Tedrich said. "The tricky part was to make a more friendly design and personality. I'm used to machines that do not have such a response to my commands compared to my Bertha or Vogel."
"Does it… have a name?" Brooke asked.
"He doesn't and you're going to name him." Tedrich said eating. "Remember, he is sweet but he can kill anyone in a heartbeat if he or any of us is threatened."
"I think Ziggy is a good name for you." Brooke said. "You have a lot of energy."
Ziggy barked and wagged his tail in approval to his new name.
"Ziggy? I'm not going to bother on the origin story." Tedrich sighed. "But now I need you and the dog to return to your room. I am actually going to be doing work and just to make sure you don't see I will ask you once, head back to you room."
"Can I ask you a question first?" Brooke asked.
"What could you possibly ask?"
"Do you just kill people for the fun of it or do you something to the bodies like what you're probably going to do now?" Brooke said pointing at the bags. "I've been a nurse for far too long to not know those are body bags."
I knew you were smart. You see, the Teserin that your sister-in-law changes the biological functions inside her body and she and I take a serum to regulate the energy that comes into our body. Without it we would die. My energy is manipulated due to Loki's Asgard technology so all the effects it actually has on my body is yet to be seen so I find people I deem worthy to participate in the experiments for my well being and to help improve my body's stability for the Teserin copy."
"What deems them worthy? It isn't just picking random people off the streets. What about the man you killed yesterday?"
"That was for show, to show that bitch and the Avengers I am serious. I usually pick people who are homeless, no family, no one to fall back on. I also go on a hunt at night and find prostitutes as well but sadly they do have family that makes reports. At least the police never check the homeless count or the murder charges against me would be through the roof."
"A-Are they all dead?"
"They wouldn't be so willing to be in the bags now would they?" Tedrich replied. "Be grateful they were dead when I brought them here instead of how I normally bring them here."
"What did you do to them?" Brooke asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.
"Men, I just beat them to death. It's never quick and I always want to hear the cries of mercy before they bled to death. As for the women… you wouldn't want to know what I did to them."
Before she could respond with a disgusted and terrified expression his gem glowed and appeared was Loki; his hair has becoming a mess and his clothes looked one of what prisoners would wear.
"Dr. Morius, I hope your fairing well." Loki told him. "I still don't understand how you live in such unbearable conditions."
"I manage Loki, I manage." Tedrich shrugged. "What did you need? I can't help you in that white box of a cell you're in."
"I just wanted to make sure you weren't toying around with the plans we made together." Loki explained. "Being imprisoned is not the most joyous situation to be in."
"I could imagine." Tedrich said as he placed a dead prostitute in a separate room. "I am not toying around, but this plan will not fully come to realization for a few months. Just be patient."
"What do you have in store for the girl you have your sights on? I know you want to kill her but I am wondering if your lust will overcome you and make a rash decision." Loki told him. "You've let your sexual urges come out for whores but will you let it come out for her?"
"Loki, you want the scepter and I want Alicia dead. What I do to her and the Avengers besides your brother is of my own her device. If I want to rape her then kill her I will. If I wanted to do it in front of her solider and brother and make it impossible for them to help her then I will." Tedrich told her. "I will however make all of her worst fears a reality. Luckily for me, rape is one of them and I am guessing Steve will be a bigger pawn to my plan if things go accordingly."
"Meaning if she goes to Asgard?"
"Not if but when because Steve will not let her die tomorrow. She is going to break his heart, she will hit a new all time low, I may pay her a visit and your brother will take her to Asgard and this will by me time to make my new companion and perfect my multiplier. But I'll need a team willing to do this."
"Are the girl and the solider lovers or…?"
"They have not admitted there feelings to one another but when they are together you can smell the scent of lovers on them."
"Green with envy I see." Loki smiled.
"That woman with the Avengers is not the same woman I once loved." Tedrich said back. "But, I have a strong hold of her. And unless I want to let her go and be with someone her she will always love me and no man will ever have her completely. How else could I have manipulated her to wanting to kill her so easily? I know everything about her and everything she fears and she understands that. The fear of hurting her new found family, the Avengers and her precious solider is too much for her to handle."
"You seem to have a good hold of her." Loki said.
"Well it's because she isn't willing to open her heart to anyone else except me because she is worried she will hurt him as she did me. That is why she is so weak, that is why I want to see her hit her lowest low before I kill her. But…" Tedrich said with a sharp and intense tone. "I may want to wait to see this "training" you hinted at done from Odin. I want to see her think her life is finally together and crush it. I want her in her last moments, her last breath in terror and fear of me. I want her alone and afraid of what will happen and not be in the comfort of Captain America or her friends. I want to ruin her before I kill her. So, do not rush perfection. Are we clear Loki?"
"You keep impressing me Dr. Morius." Loki smiled. "I suppose you in turn will be breaking the solider as well if you do this?"
"Absolutely. He is a key part in all of this, they are willing to do anything for each other and if she died because of him he will so distraught with guilt that without the Avengers will be nothing without their captain. Making Earth easy to take back and to take over as ruler."
"That is if you don't kill him."
"I don't want to kill men I admire but if he does it will not be my fault he dies of a broken heart."
"Excellent. I'll leave you to your work." Loki said. "I look forward to your progress and I am excited to finally meet the girl."
The gem dimmed away and turned to see Brooke mortified wanting to punch him in the jaw. But she could tell she was unsure of what Bertha or Ziggy would do to her if she tried.
"You're a psychopath. Or a socio-psychopath to be more specific." Brooke whispered. "You would rape her to fulfill that void of revenge? Killing Alicia will not bring your parents and it won't make you feel more fulfilled. If anything you'll feel more empty, unable to seek full satisfaction if you do succeed. But if you do I have no doubt in my mind that my husband will put a bullet in between your eyes if Captain America doesn't get to you first if you touch her like that, let alone kill her."
"That is why I am excited to see how this plays out in the next few months." Tedrich said. "I want to see how far I can push Captain Steven Rogers to his brink. To make him want to kill a man in cold-blooded revenge."
So yeah, that ended a bit dark. But it for preparation of the next few chapters. Expect the storm very soon (and a possible warning depending on how I word it) for the characters but don't expect Chapter 30 until the end of December. I have too much work the last two weeks of this college semester after Thanksgiving and DURING so I need all that time to get everything done.
Also, if you haven't seen Thor 2: The Dark World I suggest seeing it! I do have some gripes about the movie but overall that movie to me, was far superior to its predecessor and it is a very well made movie. It makes me excited when I got to write Loki in this because expect him to be un my story in the future!
Again, please review if you have not! I do appreciate every review I get for my story!
Until Then~
