Once Upon an Avenger

Chapter 16: The pirate-princess

Hope was expecting the room to be drowned in cries of fear and horror, but instead she was met by an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of Steve's beating heart. All eyes were glued on them, even Sam and Loki's; just because they knew what was about to happen, didn't mean that they weren't still in shock.

She could feel the stares, like holes burning in her head, but didn't dare to meet their gazes, afraid of the looks she would receive. Looking to the floor, Hope began to speak softly. Even though it was for the greater good, it didn't stop the pain raging inside of her. Steve was a good man and didn't deserve this; a jerk sometimes, but still a hero.

"I know you're all probably thinking that I'm a monster right now. I don't blame you, I look like one, standing here with a man's heart in my hand. But I'm not! If I was, I'd be using this heart to control him. You see, right now, Rogers is nothing but a puppet and I the master. Heck, if I squeeze this, he'd be on the floor in a matter of seconds clutching at his chest and unable to breathe. If I kept on squeezing, in a few more, he'd be dead, and his heart would turn to dust.

"But that's not who I am, as much as I would love to be sometimes, I can't." Hope placed one hand on his arm, his heart safely being held in the other. "I'm so sorry, mate, there was no other way to make you believe..." She raised her gaze to meet his again, letting him know what she was about to do. He nodded, giving her the okay. Steve gasped for air once more as Hope raised her hand to his chest, gently pushing his heart back in. She made sure to keep a firm grip on his arm, worried that he might fall. "You good?" She asked, both hands still resting on him.

"I'm good." He smiled reassuringly, before noticing the tear rolling down her cheek. "Are you?" Steve placed his hand on her face and wiped it away with his thumb.

She pulled away quickly, stepping back a few feet. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I just thought that--"

"Yeah, well, think less next time." Hope snapped. She took a few more steps back, making sure that she was far enough away from everyone, mumbling as she did. "Let's see if it worked..." She lit fireballs in each of her hands. "Can you guys see this, or did I just rip deary's heart out for nothing?" She'd regained her normal joyous tone.

"I can see the--" Loki made an explosion motion with his hands.

"No shit, Sherlock!" Hope laughed. "I was asking them, but from the way they're all gawking at me, I'm guessing that they can."

"I... Uh... Hmm... Well..." Tony faltered, pointing at her hands.

"The great Tony Stark lost for words. Should I feel honoured of disappointed?"

He moved closer to Hope, his eyes not leaving the flames dancing in her hands. "There's a totally logical explanation to this," his muttering made Hope laugh. "Molecular manipulation, that's it!" Tony span around on his heels to face the rest of the team. "She can manipulate molecules and atoms, bend them to her will. It's a neat magic trick, kiddo, trick being the key word. It's not magic, just science."

Stark seemed so proud of himself and Hope couldn't help giggling. "Your denial outstands me, C-P3O. You believe. If not, you wouldn't be able to see it. But like all the simpletons from this land, you're trying to mansplain things with science."

"I'm not manspla— wait did you just call me a simpleton and C-P3O all in the same sentence?" Tony raised an eyebrow at her.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to catch on..."

"Tony, molecular manipulation doesn't explain why the fire is gold and white." Nat cut in before he could say anything else. "Nor the heart thing..."

Wanda spoke next. "She ripped his heart out and he was still breathing. It was glowing bright red and still beating."