Captain America meets the Hunt chapter 9
She ended up staying with Peggy for a year, spending most of her time when Peggy was at work at Stark's manor. She found it annoying how each time she was with him he asked many questions and wanted demonstrations. So much so that he set up an archery field out back and had a room set up under the house that he called a gym. Set up for her style of fighting so that she could train. He also found out that she was really good at music she did not mind this part when she was asked to play something on the piano or her flute. Aria did end up going with Peggy on some of her solo missions.
"Is there a reason you have brought your niece with you agent Carter?"
"I was with her when I got your message. You said it was urgent." Peggy responded Aria looked at the men waiting for her.
"She can't come with us. This mission is dangerous."
"Aria go Wait in the car." Peggy stated Aria looked at her before nodding she left her and went back to the car. Or that is what the men thought she actually ended up shadowing them. They moved to a warehouse looking building Aria knew these were for storage. She could tell that there were several armed guards. She watched as Peggy took charge as the men around her agreed to her plan they started moving in. Gunfire could be heard and shouting also. That was when Aria moved in she could hear Peggy was in trouble. Sticking to the shadows she moved like an expert hunter slowly taking down the guards. Slowly the gunfire subsided and Peggy looked around at her team they were all confused at what happened but moved on when she gave the signal. Aria watched from the shadows before moving back the way she came and back to the car. 15 minutes later Peggy returns getting in the car and driving away.
"Thank you." Peggy stated and that was the end of the conversation.
6 months later Aria was getting anxious as much as she enjoyed staying in the mortal world she was missing the hunt. She had no idea how much longer she was meant to stay with Peggy. She kept to the routine praying to Artemis each night but so far there has only been silence from her goddess. She had faced a couple of monsters that were bold enough to try and attack her, she used her sword that Apollo gave her and she had a sense of déjà vu as the blade felt right in her hands she noticed the slight golden glow whenever she used it. As Peggy was at work she stayed with Jarvis, Howard and Anna. She used this time to get her frustrations out on the workout equipment that Stark set up for her. She did not even mind when he would come up with something to test her. She noticed that he kept holding this device in his hands as she went through his challenges with ease. She later found out that he was filming her when Peggy criticised him for it making sure no one could get their hands on it. He ended up starting a record of her in his own hand so no one could understand it but Aria after watching him for a while managed to decipher it. He had her draw the monsters and give a brief description on how to kill them. She was impressed with the progress Peggy made in her training that she was happy enough that if she did find herself in front of a monster she would be able to handle herself.
It was a Saturday and Howard was throwing a small gathering, mainly friends like the howling commandos and a select few others. Aria stood off to one side she found herself people watching, she always found a way to amuse herself by giving them a back story. As the night wore on she did not know how Howard managed to convince her to play something on the piano. Something she discovered she loved doing when she was alone in the room. Again as she played she noticed that Howard had Jarvis recording her on that camera. She kept her head away so they did not see her face as she let her fingers run across the keys with ease.
"Where did you learn that?" Gabe Jones asked when she had finished and was sitting with Peggy and the other howling commandos after the others had left. They adults were having drinks relaxing.
"Learn What?" Aria asked back
"That song? Who taught you? There was no music sheets." He asked
"No one taught me. What are music sheets?" She asked
"Are you saying you made that piece up by ear?"
"Yes."
"You're a true prodigy." He stated the others agreed with him Aria did not, she knew she got her music talent from her father considering he was god of music so she shrugged off their praise. She did it because she enjoyed it. They then started talking about things that did not interest her. Until they mentioned Steve.
"You going to look for him again?"
"Yes, I have made a few adjustments...I am going to bring him home." Howard stated and the mood within the group turned sullen. Aria knew all about Steve Rodgers sacrifice and how Peggy felt towards him. Looking over at her she saw that she was upset but did not know how to comfort her. They were talking about a topic she was not used to Love.
2 weeks later Howard was gone and Aria had been told that she could use the house while he was gone. Jarvis was working with him so Aria found herself getting close to his wife Anna. Slowly the days moved on and before she knew it Aria had been staying with Peggy for 2 and a half years. She had learnt a lot from her and was finding it amusing winding up Howard by referencing him as boy and Jarvis as man. She was startled to realise that she was starting to like being in their company. The wolf symbol was the only thing stopping her from running away back to the forest to find the hunt. She was amused by Howard's response when she tried to teach him how to hunt. She caught a rabbit and was showing how to skin it that was when he left her. Jarvis looked a little pale, but he stayed and watched as she prepared it. Even laughed when Aria tried giving Howard the skin, she ended up chasing him telling him he was the one that wanted to learn. That night they sat around the table as Jarvis informed Peggy what had happened. She seemed amused.
"So tomorrow I show you on a bigger prize maybe a pig?" Aria stated getting a glare from the man across from her at which she smiled innocently at.
Five days later Aria was working outside she was carving some gifts out of wood. She had made a figurine of a wolf for Peggy to show that she was part of her family. She was currently working on making a rabbit for Howard she couldn't resist the jibe at him. She had made a small rose for Anna and set of cooking knives for Jarvis. She also planned to make Peggy a bamboo flute she just had to get the right piece of wood.
"Hey here you are." Peggy stated walking out to her. Aria looked her over
"Everything okay?" She asked
"Just a rough mission. We lost an agent."
"I am sorry to hear that." Aria replied
"What are you doing?" She asked
"Carving. Something to remember me by." Aria responded
"Are you leaving?" Peggy asked
"I will be soon, people will start wondering why I have not grown." Aria replied she had no idea if this was true but she had a feeling it was.
"Oh right." Peggy stated now she looked really sad.
"I am not leaving today. Besides we both knew this was not a permanent thing." Aria stated
"Then I guess we will have to make good of the time we have left with you." Peggy stated Aria agreed putting away her knife happy that it was finished she noticed Peggy's small smile at the rabbit.
"That is so good. How did you know how to do that?"
"I have been taught many things." Aria stated getting up. "Did you want to do something?"
"Yes I will tell the others we are going out tonight. They have show on that I have been wanting to go to." Peggy stated Aria nodded before following her inside. They did end up going out to watch the show, Aria was enthralled by the music not necessarily interested in the story line. It was a good night out, even worth having to wear the dress that Peggy chose for her. She then ended up spending the week with Peggy doing all these fun but random things. Including going on a flight to an island for a picnic on one of Howard's smaller planes. Peggy did have to end up going to work and Aria found herself in the company of Jarvis seeming Howard was at work.
"So I take it Peggy told you?" Aria stated as she helped him in the kitchen baking.
"Yes. Do you know when?" He asked she could tell he was sad
"No, but I can feel it that something is coming." Aria stated she was just not sure if it was a good thing or bad.
Two days later Aria was walking with Peggy when she sensed it. A monster...she looked around trying to locate it.
"What is it?"
"I think it is time for you to go. I will meet you back at the house." Aria stated
"I am not leaving you." Peggy stated
"Princess of Alia he will be interested to know your location." A voice stated making Aria tense she had no idea what he meant but she was now staring at a man down the road only she knew he was not a man at all. Her instincts were the thing that saved her. As a fast projectile was aimed at her she moved out of the way pulling Peggy with her. She summoned her sword deflecting the spike that was aimed at them. She now knew what the monster was. She ended up charging the monster deflecting the spikes he kept shooting at her. A clang rang out as her blade connected with his. He was smiling at her but it never reached his eyes. She ended up smirking back as he tried stinging her with its tail only for her to deflect it at the same time as stabbing her other hunting knife at it. He hissed in pain moving back from her in speeds she had not seen in a while. She sliced his other spine shots away including the ones that he fired at Peggy which she shot with her arrows. She fired a rapid volley at him. Happy that she never left the house without her weapons. The manticore ended up cursing before stepping back staring at her.
"Enough, I will not cross blades with the Golden hunter again." He said putting more distance between them it would not do him any good she had an arrow drawn at the ready but what he said made her pause. Golden hunter?
"I have never faced you before." Aria stated not showing her emotions
"We have, facing the golden hunter is something I will not forget Princess."
"Lies!" Aria stated
"You do not remember?" He asked back then he began to laugh. "Oh how perfect. You have no idea do you? Who you are oh this he will want to know."
"What art thou speaking of?" Aria stated she was losing her temper.
"Your little goddess is the one to be deceiving you. She is the one that has messed with your mind. He will definitely want to know this." The manticore said before stepping away and seemed to disappear into the shadows. Aria growled intending to track it down for answers but stopped when Peggy called her over. Aria moved over to her noting that she had been caught by one of his spikes in her shoulder. Aria bent down and pulled it out she knew she had to work fast to stop the poison inside of her. She looked around helping Peggy up she took her back to her place where she pulled out medical supplies. She began working on getting the poison out of her. Peggy by this point had passed out, which she was grateful for she knew a manticores spikes were painful. When she was done she bandaged her shoulder and sat across from her watching over her. When Peggy came to Aria had made her some tea helping her sit up as she groaned.
"What was that thing?" She asked
"A manticore."
"He looked like a man." She stated
"He was in disguise."
"What he said...who is the princess of Alia?"
"He was lying. He had to be...I have never face him before." Aria stated
"He called you the golden hunter."
"A name I have never used." Aria replied
"Do you know who the Princess of Alia is?"
"No...Zoe once told me of the kingdom of Alia. It was back in Greece when the gods still lived there. You would know it as the Archaic period."
"I have never heard of it."
"I am not surprised you have not heard of it. It was sort of erased from history. It was said to be cursed."
"Cursed?"
"Monsters attacked Alia killing most of its citizens including the royal family. Anyone that tried claiming the throne ended up dead. Monsters took over the land and the people left those that stayed prayed for help from the gods when they did intervene they sort of wiped out the kingdom." Aria replied Peggy remained in silence
"They wiped out a kingdom?"
"A small one. The monsters that took over were using it as a foothold into the mortal world. The gods could not have them getting a strong foothold or who knows what they would have accomplished so they acted. How is your shoulder?"
"Numb." Peggy replied
"Yeah, that would be the herbs I gave you. It neutralised the poison from its spike. Give it a few days rest, no heavy lifting and you will be back to swinging punches." Aria responded as she looked away lost in thought Peggy could tell that what the monster told her was on her mind.
Peggy ended up falling asleep as Aria moved around the house preparing dinner for when she woke up Aria knew that she would need nutrients. They sat in silence as they ate then Aria moved about cleaning up once that was done they returned to the living room where Aria played her a gentle song on the guitar, a gift from Howard.
"You are good at that. Can you play any instrument?" Peggy asked she had another cup of tea in her hand as Aria fiddled with the guitar.
"So far any instrument I have attempted yes." Aria stated putting the guitar down once she had finished the song, she always felt calm after playing music she turned back to Peggy. "I will turn in for the night, you should also get some more rest." before walking to her room for the night.