Chapter 7
Steve and Tony had gotten sent out to pick up the Chinese Food, later that night, and Rose was helping set the table with Pepper. Thor and Loki were nowhere to be seen, and Bruce was somewhere in the Tower in one of the labs. Rose had last seen Natasha and Clint on the training floor. "I have a question." Pepper said gently as they two put the plates out on the table.
"Ask away." Rose smiled.
"I've asked Tony and the others... and they won't give me a straight answer. I was wondering if maybe Steve told you... or you asked Steve and he told you." Pepper said before looking up at Rose, "Why did they attack? You aren't a monster... at least not like Loki was. I'm sure you could be if you really wanted to, but you aren't like him. You aren't like the Mutants either. Why would they attack?"
Rose watched her for a moment before responding, "I never bothered to ask Steve, I just trusted that since he helped me he saw the good and not whatever he was sent after me for. In Hogwarts a kid born to muggle parents... his name was Tony Sanders, asked why we couldn't help the world. Why our healers couldn't team up with the Muggle Doctors. Why our Aurors couldn't help the Muggle Police. Professor Binns went into a very long explanation of History between Magical Beings and Muggles. In The end he explained, things will never change and people will always be afraid of what they can't understand. He told us that those who run the Wizarding World are afraid of what could happen if we reveal ourselves, and judging from History we were always afraid of the Muggles being afraid and attacking us. I believe they attacked because they didn't understand what I was, and since I was not a Demi-God and not a Mutant they were fearful. Our fear they attacked, and out of fear is what we must worry about."
Pepper remained quiet for a few minutes as the two finished the table, called everyone up so they knew Dinner was ready in a few minutes. "Why do you and Loki fight?"
"Loki believes I dwell in the past. I don't dwell in the past, and it doesn't help he likes entering my mind without permission. I admire him, and I've asked him to help me learn wandless magic. He said it would take time, patience, and a lot of self control. I fight with him because he intrudes on my personal space. I think he has a reason behind it, but as to what that reason is I'm not sure... not yet at least." Rose smirked and Pepper shook her head at the young witch. Everyone seemed to arrive up at the Penthouse all at once. Jane was still working on something out in New Mexico, and Thor was going out there later after dinner to check on her. Everyone else was happily chowing down on Chinese Food.
"Okay, so... Miss Weasley, would care to join the Avengers?" Thor asked in his Thunderous voice.
Rose looked at those around the table. Natasha now spoke, "We talked Fury into it, but you can still say no."
"I... I'm not sure..." Rose spoke softly, as she looked down at her plate. "I'd like to think about it, if you don't mind."
The Avengers gave respectful nods. Once dinner was over Rose helped clean up before disappearing to the roof of the Tower. She sat there looking out at the City below and the lights that seemed to shimmer against the dark of night. "Why didn't you say yes?" She heard a familiar voice and heard the person sit down beside her. She looked over to see the familiar blue eyes of Steve watched her from where he saw beside her.
"I'm not a Gryffindor. I'm not brave or-"
"How do you know? I saw a brave young witch a few months ago who fought off a God and a man in a metal suit. A young Woman who took an arrow and kept going. I saw a young woman who didn't have much, but kept working through everything to keep herself safe. I never saw a coward in you. I've seen bravery, courage, and loyalty. I've seen an exceptionally smart young witch who challenges Tony at Chess, and even Bruce in the lab. I see a a crazy smart young woman who isn't afraid the God of Mischief, Chaos, and Magic. A young woman who could easily cause the God of Chaos to be challenged. I've seen bravery, Rose, and I think you are very brave."
"Then why did I run?" She asked watching him, they both knew what she was referring to and Steve sighed.
"You were afraid. You were afraid and took advice from your best friend."
"What if it happens again?"
Steve was silent now and Rose watched him carefully before he spoke again his eyes seemed to become sad for a moment before they went back to happy, "I don't think that will happen again. That's the beauty of learning. You learn from the past so the past doesn't repeat itself." She then saw a smile appear on his face as he said, "You know we still have movie night tonight right?"
Rose smiled with a soft laugh as she asked, "What movie is it tonight?"
"I was thinking you could pick." Steve smiled.
"You pick?" Rose asked and Steve smiled and nodded. He stood up and held his hand out to her and she gratefully took it. They made it down to their floor and Steve played with the DVD player for a few minutes before moving and she curled up against him as the movie started.
Steve gently picked Rose up off the couch where she had fallen asleep during their second movie, and gently moved her to her bedroom. He tucked her into bed, gave her a gentle kiss goodnight and went to turn the TV off and head to bed. He passed her room when he thought he heard her talking, he gently cracked the door to see she was still asleep but indeed was talking in her sleep... well more like mumbling in her sleep. He gently pulled the door close and headed to bed.
Steve awoke to a song voice singing in the kitchen. He entered the kitchen and listened quietly as Rose danced to herself singing while she cooked. When she ended her song he asked, "What song was that?" She jumped, clearly surprised he was there.
"Just a song stuck in my head." She smiled back at him.
"Where did you hear it?"
"My Mother sang it to me when I was little. It was her lullaby to my brother and I. We never asked where she heard it, but she would sing it to us when we were little. She taught me how to dance too." She grinned. Steve watched as she waved her wand and the spatula took over cook the eggs and pancakes. He watched as the radio was turned on and soft song started to play through the floor. "I can teach you."
"I'm sorry, I don't dance." Steve said, holding his hands up.
"Dancing is easy, you just have to look like you know what to do." Rose grinned and Steve watched her start to dance around the kitchen in her bare feet, sweatpants, and an old t-shirt she had "borrowed" from him. She gently tugged him and he moved around the kitchen with her, smiling down at the young red headed woman who was determined to get him to dance. "See?" She laughed as he spun her outward and he watched as she spun back in and kissed him on the cheek. Steve slowly grew in confidence as the song continued on, and slowly he was picking up how to dance with her. No lyrics were heard over the radio, just the instrumentals, and it would pick up and slow down, and pick up once more. Steve was trying to keep up and eventually took a step back to watch Rose dance. He thought she was beautiful the way she showed him how to dance, and she even dragged him to dance once more. He got lost, just watched her as she danced with him. The song came to an end and the two stood facing each other and watching the other carefully, both with a large smile on their face.
"You dance beautifully."
"You're not so bad of a dancer yourself." She grinned.
"I think you were taught how to dance much better than I was."
"I think you don't want to admit you know how to dance."
"Maybe." Steve smirked down at her.
