Athena Erskine was beautiful and bold. A female scientist in a world of men. Athena lived every day outnumbered but not outsmarted. Athena had to force her way into every room. So that she could demonstrate how much brighter, she is than all the men...
"When we lose someone we love, we must learn not to live without them, but to love with the love they left behind."
Unknown
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The following day Athena woke in her own bed. Yawning she stretched her arms above her head like a cat in the sun. That's when it hit her. Vati was dead. Athena and Artemis were orphans.
Athena felt as her throat closed up, and she started to sod again, the tears coming thick and fast as Athena thought about her Vati. Athena shoved her face into her blanket as she cried.
When Athena calmed down enough to think straight, Athena dragged herself out of her bed and to the desk. Athena picked up a pen and a sheet of paper.
The question was now just how to tell Artemis that their Vati had been killed. Only yesterday, Athena had sent Artemis a letter informing her all about Steve and how close they were, promising more details to came. Now a day later, Athena has to tell Artemis that Vati was dead.
Athena put her pen towards the paper before drawing back. Thinking some more and finally putting pen to paper. Athena started to write.
Athena wrote, and she wrote. She was letting it pour out of her as she told Artemis what had happened, making sure to tell Artemis their father's last words on this earth.
Athena finished the letter putting it in the envelope and sealing it. Athena put the letter on her desk before collapsing back into her bed. Wrapping her blankets around herself, she started to cry.
A loud knocking sounded at Athena's door. Causing her to look up. Then, deciding that she should see who was there. Athena stood up with her blankets still wrapped around her. Opening the door, Athena could see Steve standing outside. Athena managed a weak smile at the super-soldier. Opening the door and inviting him in.
"How do you feel?" Athena asked.
"You're the one who just lost their father. I should be asking you that," Steve told her.
"You also just went through a dangerous science experiment," Athena returned.
Steve just sent Athena a look that told her to stop avoiding the question. Athena trued back to sit on her bed before she answered the question.
"I keep crying," Athena told Steve, "I keep thinking about him, And when I think about him, I start to cry. I can't believe he is gone."
"And that's fine," Steve assured Athena, "you just lost him, and you are in mourning. You are allowed to feel like that."
"But we are at war," Athena told him, "so many people are losing people all the time, but they are still fighting on. and here I am blubbering and crying."
"And that's okay," Steve assured her, "you are allowed to morn, you are allowed to cry. If you botel it all up, you will only make it worse."
Athena smiled weakly at him before bursting into tears and throwing herself at him. Steve, who was worried that he had said the wrong thing looked around in a panic. Not sure what to do with the sobbing women in his arms.
"Did I say the wrong thing?" Steve asked franticly.
"No," Athena sobbed, "It's just Vati would have been so glad that if only one person could get the super-soldier serum, it was you. It was why we were so determined that you be the first person to get it. Because you had a good heart, and that was what we were looking for."
"And your father would have been proud of you," Steve assured Athena as he gingerly started to rub her back.
They stayed like that for a long time, Athena's tears calming down until she had stooped crying. But the two stayed there; it felt safe as if all the horrors of the world were far, far away.
Eventually, Steve had to leave to meet up with Brandit so they could go on tour. He promised that he would write to Athena so that she was a little less alone with the loss of her father. Athena smiled weakly at that, glad to be able to keep in touch. Steve also took Athena's letter to Artemis with him as she didn't have to leave her room.
Steve left, and Athena curled back up in bed. She was lying there thinking of her Vati. Athena's tummy started to rumble, but Athena couldn't bear the thought of getting out of bed to get food. Unfortunately, it means that she would have to face people offering her their condolences as if they had ever known her father and pretend that they cared when most of them had held the fact that he was German against her father. So no, Athena wasn't leaving her bed.
Not 10 minutes later, Athena heard a knocking at the door. Looking at the door, Athena once again dragged herself out of bed, all her blankets in tow. Opening the door a crack, Athena peered around to see who was on the other side. To Athena's enormous relief, it was one Howard Stark.
Athena opened the door all the way so Howard could come in. Howard smiled at her as he came in. Athena saw that he had a tray of food in his hand as her tummy gave of an almighty rumble.
Howard chuckled, handing the tray to Athena, "I see that I have impeccable timing as always."
Athena didn't say anything; she had already sat back on the bed and dug into the food.
"Colonial Phillips wants us to take the fight to HYDRA," Howards told Athena when she was about halfway through the food. But then, Howard took a deep breath before carrying on, "he says that you are allowed to come with us if you would like, or you can stary hear and go home and pretend that none of this happened. The plane is leaving tonight, so we need your answer by then."
"I'm coming," Athena told him without hesitation. Athena liked the idea of being given a purpose, especially if it means hurting the people who had taken both her parents from her and Artemis. Athena was also glad that Howard didn't try to comfort her; Athena knew that Howard wasn't good at that. Nevertheless, he knew that what she needed was a purpose.
"The plane leaves in 2 hours," Howard told Athena as he stood up to leave.
"I'll see you there," Athena promise Howard as he walked out the door.
And Athena did. She packed her belongings into a small bag, said farewell to her room and left it. For Athena had somewhere to be. Somewhere where she could make a difference.
