Chapter Thirty-Six

Rosie:

"If you're going to make out with him, the least you could do is make it interesting for me," Ian Ald said, a flat, stern look on his face. We were standing in the middle of a street in this dream, facing each other, eyes cold. It was deserted and dark, the windows of the brick buildings around us tattered and broken, the only light coming from the flickering street lights. I couldn't pinpoint exactly where he'd brought me this time, but it was shady and fiercely intimidating. And I knew why—he was setting the tone for this dream.

But instead of backing down, I sneered. "Stay out of my head," I said, practically growling. "Then maybe you won't have to worry about what I'm doing with Steve."

Ian Ald raised a challenging eyebrow, a growl creeping onto his face. "Don't try to get smart with me, darling," Ian Ald said, his voice gravely sinister. "Remember that I have the power over you, not the other way around. I can hurt and kill whatever and whoever you care about, so I'd be careful of the tone you choose with me."

I opened my mouth to spit out some sassy comment, but then stopped. Steve and Tony rushed into my mind, followed by Pepper, Bruce, Clint, and Natasha. Ian Ald would go to great lengths to make me feel pain, that much I knew. He'd proved that to me when he killed my mom. I didn't know what else he was capable of, and I didn't exactly have the heart to find out.

"There you go, Rosie," Ian Ald snarled as I grew silent, his Italian leather shoes bringing him closer to me. His eyes were predatory. "Silence is a much better way to keep your loved ones alive."

I had to make an effort to keep the scowl from my face. "Why have you come back?" I asked, my tone rigid. "I haven't had a nightmare in weeks."

Ian Ald laughed, the rich sound reverberating off the faded brick walls. "You make it sound like I went on vacation," he said. "I never left, Rosie. I just sat back for a while. Enjoyed the show. Watched you spiral downwards." He circled me like a shark circled a helpless fish. "Tell me," he went on, his voice low and thick behind me. "How does it feel to know that you're slowly succumbing to the darkness? To me?"

"I'm not," I said, my voice stronger than I expected. "I won't destroy this world, and I won't let you have me. I'll never, ever stop fighting you."

"Still trying to be so strong," Ian Ald said, his lips right by my ear. My body tensed as he moved my hair away from my neck, pulling it over one shoulder. "The darkness is taking over you, Rosie," he said, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me close to his chest. The action made my skin crawl. "And there's nothing you can do about it," he murmured, his lips against my neck. He pressed himself further into my back before continuing. "How are you going to live on when your precious Avengers are no longer there to protect you? What will you do then? How on earth are you going to escape me?"

I swallowed hard. "You'll die, too," I said. "One day. You're mortal. And, for the record, so am I. And I don't plan for this darkness to turn me immortal, so get that idea of me being some sort of immortal being out of your head right now."

He chuckled into my neck, nuzzling his nose against my jaw. "You'll be immortal one day, Rosie," Ian Ald said, sounding very satisfied. "As a matter of fact, you're nearly there."

I chose to not believe that last bit. "And what if I do something to compromise this," I said, my voice no more than a whisper as I felt Ian Ald place three, delicate kisses across my jaw. It made me want to shudder with disgust, but I knew he wouldn't hesitate to hurt someone if I resisted. So I stood like a statue, continuing, "What if I destroy the darkness?"

He didn't even miss a beat. "Then I'll kill you," he said simply. "You're mine, after all. And I'd rather see you die than have you get rid of everything I've worked so hard for. But destroying this isn't an option for you, Rose," he went on, his breath in my ear. "You'll never be able to destroy it, and you'll never be able to get rid of me."

"And if I try?" I whispered, somewhat scared for the response. Was he going to have me hallucinate Steve dying? Was he going to have me see Tony being tortured?

No. He was going to do something much worse.

He grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back onto his shoulder. I cried out, my neck completely exposed to him. "Have you forgotten that I know everything you do?!" Ian Ald said, his voice a threatening growl again. "Are you that stupid to forget to easily?! I know it all, Roslyn, which means that I know the real meaning behind that stupid little note of yours—'I have slain S!'" he recited. I screamed in pain as he yanked my hair harder, forcing me to look into his bottomless blue eyes. Pure fear coursed through my veins. "And if you think for a second that I won't use that against you, you're wrong. I'll really slay him while you watch, Roslyn Simon!" he yelled. The horrifying images coursed through my veins, and I was ashamed of myself when a whimper escaped my throat.

"That's right, darling," Ian Ald said with a wicked smile as he used Steve's nickname for me. "Be afraid. Be very afraid. Because I know all of your worst fears. And let me tell you something," he pulled me dangerously close. "If you try to destroy the darkness, I will kill him. That's right," he said, noticing the fear that made my eyes go wide. "I know where he is. What did that note refer to him as? S, was it? Yes, I know where S is. And if you try and run from me, I'll kill S, and I'll make you watch. And then, I'll make you immortal." He said his threats so simply, he could have been talking about the weather. "Oh, and one more thing," he said, weaving his fingers through my black hair. "Tell that soldier not to touch my stuff anymore," he said. With that, he yanked me horribly close, slamming his lips onto mine.

I screamed.

I woke up sweating, wrapped up in my blankets, with tears streaming down my face. This had by far been the worst nightmare of them all. My lips were burning, my heart was throbbing, my mind was racing. I wanted to cry, scream, and die all at the same time, but I knew that none of those things would make my situation any better. Ian Ald knew where S was. That was the worst part of it all. Not that he had threatened me, or Steve, or my dad, but that he knew where S was.

And I didn't.

For the first time in my life, I knew what feeling completely helpless was like. Being imprisoned in the Helicarrier was suddenly a walk in the park. And the Fool's contract with Alistair and Clueless? That was nothing more than a cool summer breeze against my cheek. This was so much more real than those two combined, so much more intimidating.

And there was nothing I could do about it.

I rose shakily onto wobbling legs. All I wanted to do was sleep, but Ian Ald was in my dreams. I'd have to force myself to stay awake. In my head, I could hear Ian Ald's laughter taunting me. I wiped my mouth on the back of my hand roughly, trying to rid all traces of him. Though I knew the kiss had only been in the dream, it still made my skin crawl with disgust.

I crept down to the first story of the house, trying to make as little noise as possible. All I needed was a Coke, then I'd scurry back upstairs, ready to face the rest of this sleepless night. I shook my head, running my fingers through my hair, tugging at the roots. I brought my nails to my lips, gnawing anxiously as I tiptoed into the kitchen. That was a habit I did only when I was nervous. Very, very nervous.

I cracked a Coca Cola open, taking a huge gulp. The cool beverage soothed my burning throat, the bubbly sensation helping to calm my lips, still on fire from where Ian Ald had kissed me. I wrapped my arms around myself, pacing around the kitchen, my only thoughts being of Ian Ald and S.

"He knows," I murmured to myself. "He knows… And if he knows, he can hurt him… Shit," I mumbled to myself, pacing around the kitchen, Coke in hand. "He probably knows who S really is, then. And if he knows that, he knows everything." I closed my eyes, allowing a frustrated sigh to escape my lips. "S, I swear, of all the times to try and give me some secretive message…"

"Rosie?" came a small voice, nearly making me jump out of my skin. I turned around. It was Steve. Shit. He looked beyond concerned, eyes narrowed in sleepy confusion. "Rosie?" he said again, slowly coming into the kitchen, eyes tired and drowsy. "What on earth are you doing? It's," he glanced at the green numbers on the microwave, a giant yawn escaping his mouth when he spoke. "Almost two in the morning."

My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I took another swing from the Coke, then tried again. "I-I'm sorry," I said softly, my voice cracking as I placed the Coke on the table. Inside my head, Ian Ald was screaming. "I didn't know I woke you."

"You didn't," he said, slowly coming over to me. "I was already up. Couldn't exactly sleep after everything that went on today," he explained. Any other moment, I would've jumped at an opportunity to talk to him. But now, all I wanted to do was be away from him. I didn't want him to know what I was going through. I didn't want to bother him with any more of my problems. We all had enough to worry about, as it was.

"Oh. Right," I said lamely, running my fingers through my hair again. "I'm sorry about that. I'm just…" my voice trailed, my mind desperately buzzing for an excuse, a way out. I didn't find one. "Um, goodnight," I said awkwardly. I did my best to maneuver around him, trying to skitter back up to my room, but he caught my waist.

"Rosie," he said quietly. "Why do you always try to run from me?"

"Don't take it offensively," I said, not missing a beat. "I do it to everyone."

Steve sighed. "Darling…" and I knew he was about five seconds away from going into some heartwarming speech about how good I was and how I didn't have anything to be afraid of, etc., etc.. Don't get me wrong, I cared about Steve. Deeply. Very, very deeply. But right now, I was too concerned about S to really want one of his loving speeches.

"Don't darling me," I said, twisting out of his grip. His eyes instantly flashed hurt, and it sent a pang right to my heart. I sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. I know you're trying to help, but right now I really, don't want to talk about this, alright?"

Steve's eyes locked with mine, searching for answers he knew I wouldn't give him. "Something wrong," he confirmed. "What happened?"

"Nothing," I lied quickly. "I just can't sleep." His quizzical look told me I had to elaborate a bit more than that. Or tell better lies. "I get a lot of nightmares," I said. Well, that part wasn't exactly a lie.

Steve just shook his head, eyes not leaving mine. "I don't know why you do this to yourself," he said. "Or to me."

Now it was my turn to be confused. My brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean," Steve said firmly, but not harshly. "You always do this to yourself. You keep everything in, bottle up all your problems. Even when I try to break down your walls, you don't want to let me in. I guess you've spent so many years putting on a masquerade you don't know when to take down your mask and breathe for a while." He sighed. "You're just so stubborn that sometimes you don't realize that you need to take a step back and lean on someone for a while." His eyes flickered to the scars on my arms, then back to me. "Is it me?" he asked softly, in a tone that made my heart twist and ache. "Do you not trust me? Because I'm not like him. I would never, ever even dream of hurting you, Rose."

"I know that," I said, my voice no more than a whisper. "And it's not that. Because I do trust you. A lot."

"What is it then?" Steve asked, gently cupping my cheek, his voice a gentle murmur. "Help me understand."

And for a moment, I nearly did. For a split second, I considered telling him everything. About rich Ian Ald, about the nightmares, the true meaning behind the note, who S really was. I considered it, all up until Ian Ald's voice echoed through my head.

Go on. Tell him. Then you'll really find out what torture is.

I swallowed hard. "I can't," I whispered. "I'm so sorry. I just… I can't."

Steve sighed again, deeply this time. His hand fell from my cheek, and I found myself shivering at the loss of contact. "Alright. I understand," he said. "But I'm always here for you, darling. I don't care if it's three thirty in the morning, or if you're in New York and I have to drive thousands of miles to get to you. I'm always here for you, no matter what, because I'll always chase after you." He pecked me softly on the cheek. "Goodnight, Rose."

The best way to describe my reaction was dumbfounded. I stood there, a shocked statue, watching Steve as he made his way back into his room. He looked over his shoulder at me, and even flashed me that crooked smile I loved so much before he disappeared into his room. What on earth was I doing? Here was a man, chivalrous, kind, and someone who truly cared about me, and I was pushing him away. But you have your reasons, my mind reminded me. You know Ian Ald won't hesitate to hurt him.

I knew that was true. But at the same time, I felt ridiculously alone. I was surrounded by people who I knew I could trust, like Bruce, Tony, Pepper, Clint, Thor, and now Natasha, but I couldn't talk to any of them the way I could with Steve. There was something about him that, even through the darkness, made me feel safe.

You know what? Screw rich Ian Ald.

Before I could stop myself, my feet were stumbling over towards Steve's room. I pushed the door open as quietly as I could. The lights were out, but I could see him laying in bed, turned on his side. I bit my lip, closing the door soundlessly behind me. What if he didn't want me here? Well, it's kind of too late to turn back now, Rose.

I tiptoed over to his bed, and without a word, slipped myself underneath the covers. He didn't so much as flinch. Instead, he turned over to face me. "You alright?" he asked, his voice a quiet whisper.

I shook my head. "No," I said. "I won't be alright for a while. A really, really long while."

He nodded sympathetically. "Do you want to stay here tonight?"

And maybe it was the gentle way he asked it, or the fact that Ian Ald really was breaking me, or maybe it was just because I really needed a good cry, but a single tear streamed down my cheek. "Yes," was all I was able to manage, in a low, broken voice.

I broke down then, crying and sobbing in next to the super solider. He immediately pulled me into his arms, hugging me into his strong, warm body. I wrapped my arms around his neck, curing into his comforting form, sobbing into his neck. He whispered sweet words to me the entire time, rubbing my back soothingly, brushing my hair away from my face when it fell into my eyes.

"It's okay, Rosie," he would say with the occasional kiss to my forehead, wiping away my tears with his thumb. "I'm here for you, darling. I'm right here. You're alright. I've got you."

He would hold me closer every now and then, almost cradling me into his strong form. I'm not entirely sure how long we lay like that, with me wrapped in his arms. It could have been minutes or hours, I'm not exactly sure. But eventually, he turned onto his back, and I lay my head on his shoulder. He positioned the blankets around us, just enough so we would be comfortable on the summer night. I couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh as his arms wrapped around me again, holding me, keeping me safe. My eyes drifted shut, but before I could fully fall asleep, I felt him kiss my forehead softly. I smiled faintly, nuzzling closer into the crook of his neck.

"Don't worry, Rosie," I heard him whisper. "Whatever haunts you, I'll protect you from it. I'll protect you, from anything and everything. I will, darling. I promise."

That was all I heard before I succumbed to sleep. It was a plain, ordinary sleep, one without Ian Ald, and one with no nightmares.

IT'S LITERALLY SO FLUFFY! Alright, anyway, pardon my craziness… I hoped y'all liked it! I know I'm writing a lot of Steve/Rosie fluff lately, but I love the fluff! And I hope you guys do, too, otherwise I'm just kind of writing nothing. And for those of you who are wondering who S is, his identity along with rich Ian Ald (who I'm assuming most of you have figured out by now, I dropped a lot of hints) will be revealed soon! Please continue to review cause I LOVEEE reviews, but I also appreciate follows/favorites too because I love any/all feedback! And great big thanks to all those who do! I love y'all, thanks for reading, until next time!

ReadPaxJoy—Yes! It is confirmed, there will be a sequel! I'm just not sure what it's going to be called yet:3 And don't be scared yet! You don't have to be scared until chapter 42. That's when stuff starts to go crazy. Thank you so much for reviewing, btw:) And don't worry, there will be more team bonding to love!

Liz—EEP! That makes me so happy, thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

n-narcissistic—Yay! I'm happy you enjoyed it! And thank you a million, because I work so hard trying to get the chapters to perfection! And that is so sweet of you to say, but honestly I'm just happy with any feedback I can get!:) And never fear, I will keep going with this! There's too many plot twists ahead for me to give up!