Astrild; Goddess of Love

Chapter 16 - Security Snafu

Author's Note; Only 2 exams left now, thank goodness, hoping to update everyday this week. Comment and vote as always, I love hearding your thoughts. FanGirl8ygc3804

Disclaimer Update;
Fern is a original character and unrealted to any other charcters with the same power and/or backstory. Also any of the Xmen characters mentioned belong to Marvel.

"All good I hope," Steve smile politely.

"Of course, just make sure you look after her." Warren said.

"Seems to be a lot of concern for him harming me but he couldn't lay a hand on me. If I didn't want him to," I smiled remembering our first sparring practice at the tower.

"I would never harm you in anyway, even if I could." He said reaching to place my plait back in front of my shoulder.

"I know that and you know that. They apparently don't." I replied gesturing towards Warren.

"Don't talk about my boy that way." A familiar voice said as the person it belonged to placed their hands over my eyes.

"Fern." I warned and she moved her hands to give me a hug from behind.

"Liz, I have missed you so much." I turned to face her in her hug and leaned back to get a proper look at my sister with her pixie cut traditional brown hair and lime green highlights.

Her outlined lime green markings were as beautiful as ever. Along her cheeks the ivy vines were twined together, separated by her green eyes; half going to just by her eyebrow where they blossomed into a single daisy chain across her brow and at its centre a single rose, the half that went under her eye ended in a simple ivy leaves. The ivy vines continued down her neck, along her shoulders in an ivy embrace until they followed her veins to her wrists where they became daisy chains encompassing them. She was wearing a long vest top over leggings and scandals.

"I see you've embraced your markings since we last met." I smiled happy for her. She looked at them proudly,

"Well when I heard you were leaving I thought I better get used to it. What about you, hiding yours still?" She motioned to my long sleeves.

"Not when I'm at home but I have no choice outside they brand me as an enemy, but I'm learning to cope." I smiled, "If you can, I can." She hugged me again before skipping to Warren's side giving him a peck on the cheek and linking arms with him.

"Lead the way, everyone's waiting for us."

We went back to the lower levels and passed the room that Steve and I had occupied.

"What happened there?" Fern gapped as Warren pulled her past.

"I did." I said calmly. "I'm sorry Steve, again." I apologized but it did nothing to absolve my guilt.

"It's not your fault, we just discovered that Pyro's connected to HYDRA right before you went to sleep, there's no wonder you had a nightmare." He said quietly putting a strong arm around me and squeezing to him.

"Thanks, but that doesn't make me feel any better about hurting you." I said with an uneasy smile.

"Don't worry about it. After all I did say I wanted to prove that I can protect you, even if it's from yourself." He said sincerely removing his arm from my shoulders and kissing my head, but I didn't have chance to miss his heat as he took my hand in his, "You don't have to do this alone." He looked forward as he said it but he spoke to my inner self and I felt a little stronger, taller and more self-confidant with just those few words. I squeezed his hand in return for his support.