She groans as she wakes up. I just stand there glaring at her.
"Three days! You were out three bloody days, just because you drank something that could have killed you!"
She moans and presses a hand to her head.
"First hangover ever. Remind me never to drink a Pan Galactic again, unless we're all going to die before the hangover kicks in."
"ARE YOU LISTENING TO A WORD I SAY!?"
She moans again and pulls the pillow over her face.
"Be quiet. Head hurts. Turn the light out when you leave. And the heating off. It's too noisy."
I deliberately slam the door on her, then put Glen Miller on at the top volume. I feel a flash of shame but I've been staying up for three days, stopping her from choking on her own vomit. She tossed and turned and I thought for a while she would die. And she brushed me off like that. Five days later, I regret what I did.
I'm on the run, a fugitive. I pretty much left my wife alone, angry with what she did to try and forget. I… I forgot what she had seen. When I got back after my really rather shameful walk away, I found her gone and a note saying that she was sorry but clearing bodies reminded her far too much of the Holocaust. I think she went back to the Xavier Institute and that's why I'm here. I creep forward.
"Ahem."
I whip round. Etana is leaning against a tree, eyebrow raised.
"If it isn't the fugitive, come to beg something."
"How's your head?"
"Better. I don't normally drink. Only when… well, when something bad happens."
"Like Stamford?"
"Yes. Like Stamford."
"Will… will you come with me?"
She half-opens her mouth then closes it. Looks away. And I fear.
"Tana…"
"I can't Steve. I'm an X-Man. You know that. The X-Men… well, we don't want to get involved. It's political, more so for us that anyone else. We're the ones who can't change what we are and there are so few of us. Then there's SHIELD. I'm on the payroll, even if it's under the heading 'Consultant'. And then there's you. And Steve… I can't make that choice. If I go with you, the X-Men will be accused of sympathising. And… I'm not ready to tell people. About us. There are too many people out there who would use you against me. And… If I take a side, I… well, not to sound too full of myself, I would instantly create the winner. Asgard, the Otherworld, pretty much every sorcerer and sorcereress and a great deal of other people owe me favours. And this isn't black and white, right and wrong Steve. This is all about perspective."
"Etana. Are you…?"
"No. Look, I… I'm like Stephan. I'm a symbol, a figurehead. Someone who appears more than human, despite that being all I really am. So I can't take a side. The Atlantians will follow whoever I point them to, because I'm the Kingmaker. The Otherworld owes me a great debt. Asgard… well, I've always been close to Sif. And as for Olympus, you already know about my history there. I take a side, all my debtors and friends and people I fought alongside and against will flock to my side. I'm a point in the centre of confusion Steve. I hate it, but I'm there."
"So that's a no."
"Not to you Steve. Never to you…"
