A/N: Hello all, yes here is Chapter 7. I hope it is to your expectation or better. There is a TRIGGER WARNING, as there is a moment later in the chapter where a women is in danger of assault. If that is not your cup of tea I understand, it is only apart of the story but there will be notations ~~ where it begins. It's not graphic, but I wanted to leave a warning just in case. There is language, so I'm going to change the rating to Mature due to language and possible gore in the future. This is a Assassin's Creed fic and also set during World War II and I would rather not gloss over the very true history if I can help it. Let me know what you all think, and if I could do anything better. I am not the best writer when it comes to fighting scenes but I tried.
~MP~
Chapter 7
~Present Day 2015~
I sat on the bench beside the super soldier, his mouth flapping open and shut as the wind rustled his styled hair. My smile began to fall as my fingers began to grip the newspaper tighter, the already dry material losing what was left as a cooling sensation circulated through my hands.
"How have you been Steven?"
The man shook his head before looking around the block once more as if attempting to find the S.H.I.E.L.D agents that had been following him.
"They're pre-occupied at the moment. I was able to cause a distraction for them long enough for us to speak… if you ever speak that is."
He looked back at me, the color in his face returning as he began to breathe normal and his posture relaxed. Leaning towards me, he reached a hand out to gently cup my face, callouses from holding his shield and from work grazing my cheek. Breathing in deeply I remained as still as I possibly could, watching his blue-green eyes flutter over my person as he took in my appearance.
"Y-you… You look exactly the same as the day the Valkyrie…"
I pulled my face away from his hand, eyes turning down to stare at the paper. Flinging the paper to the part of the bench separating us, corners and a part of the center crumbling and drifting with the wind. Wiping my hands against the fabric of my jeans, I reached back to grab the tail of my braid and pulled the elastic that kept it from unraveling. Running my fingers through my tresses I continued to stare down at my lap as Steven continued to watch me, waiting for me to respond. Releasing a shaky breath, I spoke softly knowing that he would be able to hear me due his enhancement.
" Don't you remember Steven? I'm a freak of nature…"
January 1941- New York City, Brooklyn
The cool wind beat against my back as I stood on the sidewalk waiting for a taxi to see my raised arm. Men and women alike rushing down the concrete walk way, heads downturned as snow covered their shoulders and hats. It had been two months since my incident with the construction worker, a month since I lost my apartment, and only recently have I truly given in to working as a full time assassin once again. Resorting to obtaining information, or worse killing individuals that come through the network channel.
Sighing in frustration, I lowered my arm and crossed both in front me as the black wool cape that I had on closed once more to keep in my body heat. Spinning on the toe of my right boot, I turned right and began walking down the side walk, blending in with the crowd as men held onto their hats, and women buried their faces into the scarves that wrapped around their necks. A particularly harsh gust of wind slammed against my back, almost sending the black fedora that I had on through the air and over the crowd if I hadn't of placed a firm hold onto it. Quickly rushing towards an alley opening, I inhaled deeply as the wind was blocked from my person.
I leaned against the brick wall as people continued to rush back and forth as they traveled to their destinations, a lucky few stopping to hail a taxi cab. The perks of being seen at all times rather than when one chose. Sometimes blending in with ones surroundings can become so second nature that you can become practically invisible. Inhaling deeply, I concentrated on my core, attempting to pull the cooling sensation that would warm up my body. Over the time that has passed since October, I have spent many hours in the training square of the New York Assassin's sanctum. Attempting to reproduce the same cooling sensation that occurred through my body and produced the flame that coated my hand as if it was liquid. No matter the amount of meditation that I completed, how many times I attempted to summon the fire, my efforts were useless. Forcing the air from my lungs, I left the alley.
Merging with the foot traffic of Brooklyn, I engaged my sixth sense to investigate my surroundings, looking past the sea of gray as city dwellers hurried along the side walk. I lowered my head and began walking along side them, cautious to not bump into anyone yet remaining unnoticed. Two block later I stop at a crosswalk alongside the other pedestrians of Brooklyn. Another harsh gust of wind slammed into my side, sending my hat into the air and down the road. Grumbling under my breath I eased my way between the small crowd I found myself in and raced after the piece of clothing before it could fly farther. Sliding to a stop, leather boots squelching on top of the accumulating snow, I reached down for the offending hat that ran away when I heard a yelp come from further down the street. Blue eyes snapping towards the sound, I gripped my hat and squished it firmly onto my head causing the pins that held my braided bun to dig into my scalp. I turned back towards the crowd that allowed me to travel unseen and began to make my way towards them as they began to cross the road, when the sound of a trashcan being turned over echoed through the evening snow. The sound of muffled screams reaching my ears, causing my heart rate to increase as I recognized the pitch to belong to a woman.
Heaving a sigh I spun around and began walking down the empty sidewalk, engaging my sixth sense as I looked down each corner that belonged to an alley. My brows began to furrow as I walked farther and farther away from the main road, and towards a couple of small bars. The sound of men arguing reached my ears along with the sound of sobbing echoing through the cold air. Grinding my teeth together I finally found the alley that harbored two men and a single woman who sat atop of a busted trash bag, mascara running down her cheeks and hair a knotted mess.
"Ah told ya that she was mine Chris, now why don't ya just back off!"
The shorter of the two men shoved one with a severe receding hairline, their bodies unable to stand straight as they argued over who was the rightful champion of the woman. Stepping into the alley, un aware of ice blue eyes watching me, I approached the two men slowly.
"And ah told ya to bugger off ya' damn while man!"
Rolling my eyes I grabbed the arm of the balding one, twisting it behind his back and shoving him out of the alley way, his cry of surprise echoing through the alley. Turning back around I made eye contact with the shorter man, muddy brown eyes bleary from alcohol racing through his system.
"Why ain't ye a pretty thin… *Hic* I'd rather 'ave a blonde 'nyway."
Taking a step in my direction, the man reached his hands toward me, his eyes trailing from my toes to my face as snow blew down the alleyway. Lifting my lip in a snarl I grabbed his hands and tugged him in my direction, spinning out of the way as his body made contact with the brick and crumpling to the ground. Turning towards the women on the ground, I allowed a small smile to grace my face as I reached a black leather gloved hand towards her.
"It'll be okay. Are you hurt?"
Shaking her head quickly, she grasped my hand and scrambled up, ankle rolling slightly in her haste to rise out of the garbage.
"T-thank you… I-I d-don't know how.."
Raising a hand to stop her, I shook my head before motioning for her to go.
"Us gal's have to stick together after all, it was nothing."
Giving a shaky smile, the woman nodded before looking over my shoulder and letting out a sharp gasp.
"Look out!"
Spinning around, I barely had enough time to jump to the side as the balding man swung a bottle in the direction of my head. I shoved the woman away from the man and towards the mouth of the alley while shouting at her.
"Get out of here now!"
Listening to the woman's shoes scuffling through trash, cans scattering across the concrete, I focused my attention on the tall man. It seemed that instead of giving up, his alcohol addled mind told him to fight. Shaking my head I watched his body language, noticing the sway as the alcohol caused his body to be more relaxed than it normally would be during a fight. It was always fun fighting drunks…
"Wa' gave you 'ny right to drag yer' nose inta' other's business, eh?"
He swung the bottle at me once more, long arms arcing over my head and causing the bottle to shatter as it came in contact with the brick. The drunken man now was a lot more deadly. Reaching a hand up, I quickly unbuttoned two of the notches on my cape, sweeping the fabric behind my shoulders and exposing a knife belt along with my bracers that held my wrist blades.
"And who gave you the right to harass women in the first place?"
The man grunted and made a stabbing motion towards my abdomen, barely grazing the fabric as I bent back. I reached for a dagger, twirling the blade within my fingers to hold it reverse, and swung it across his arm. Yelping in surprise, the balding man slapped his left hand onto the three in cut within his forearm. I held the knife at jaw level, blue eyes watching his every move as he looked at his arm, as if he was unable to realize that his life force was leaking from his body. Holding my breath for a second, I watched the man as his brown eyes connected with mine, the alcohol no longer clouding them as rage replaced it. Releasing a snarl he rushed towards me, broken bottle raised in his hand as he looked to barrel his shoulder into my stomach. Swinging my left arm out, I grasped his wrist and swung my right forward to dig the dagger into the top of his shoulder. Crying out in pain the man pushed harder against my hand, his muscles and veins bulging as he fought to over power me. Releasing a huff of air, I spun to my left, sending the man into the brick wall and shattering what remained of the broken bottle.
"If you know what is best for you, you would stand down. I don't want to kill you."
The man leaned against the wall, red seeping through his white button up shirt as he heaved deep breaths. He turned to side eye me, sweat beading down his face and into a patchy beard as he gritted his teeth.
"And if ye' knew what was best for ye', ye' would shut yer' feckin mouth and open yer' legs like the way all women should!"
Eyes widening in surprise, I watched as the man slowly turned towards me, taking long steps in my direction and his arms outstretched. I raised my hands, right still clutching my dagger as he neared me when I noticed that he wasn't moving slowly. I could hear my heart in my ears and as he was within arm's reach I felt a rush of cold spread through my body and pool in the palms of my hands. Staring him down, I grabbed his right wrist with a amber flame coated hand and swung the knife to his throat. I pushed him to the wall, arm pinned against the concrete as his skin began to bumble from the heat, and a now glowing red blade singeing the hair on his chin.
Suddenly, everything began speed up, the smell of burning flesh reaching my nose and the light from the flames illuminating the mans now ashy skin tone as he sagged against me. Looking down I realized I was holding the man up a foot above my own height and with a yelp I dropped him and the blade. Shaking my head I looked at my hands and willed the flames to die, shaking them and once that didn't work, shoving them into a snow drift at the end of the alley. Removing my hands from the steaming pile of ice, I watched as my hands turned from an amber glow and back to their original pasty hue. Spinning around I ran back to the man, hand reaching to the right side of his neck to check for a pulse, and cussing in gratitude when I felt the faint budd-lump. Standing up quickly, I reached down for the still warm dagger and placed in back through the loop on my belt. Redoing the button's of my cape, I adjusted the placement of my hat and rushed out of the alley.
Suddenly I heard the sound of siren's as I saw a group of men running in my direction. Shaking my head and rushing away from the mob. Turning a corner I expect for the sidewalk to be empty, when I come in contact with a man almost a foot taller than my 5'3. Looking up, my blue eyes connected with ice blue eyes that belonged to the friend of one Steven Roger's. Stepping back and to the side, I began to walk away from the man when I felt a grip on my shoulder.
"Wait, are you okay?"
Looking at the man over my shoulder, I shook my head and sent a smile his way before brushing the appendage off and running down the sidewalk. I turned a corner and was finally able to blend within a crowd as the sounds of sirens grew louder.