Siren (Steve Rogers AU) 18+ - (2)

15

"How do you do it?" Steve asked after coming to join where I was on the rocks. "I never knew you could make things like that".

I shrugged. "Party trick I guess. Not all of us can do it though".

"Just those who are blessed".

"Or cursed" I corrected him quietly.

He glanced over at me. "I've never heard your story - your real story".

"You've never had reason to ask. You just thought I was a monster born and bred of the sea".

It was his turn to fall silent, and I could see the guilt flare up in his eyes once more. "Not my finest moment"

"Just know that I was mortal once, but I haven't been for years and years since the water changed me. I don't regret it though. At first I hated myself but slowly grew to forget. You get used to it".

I didn't want sympathy. I've never needed it before and certainly didn't at that moment.

"Will you be joining us this evening?" I asked.

"Did you want me to?"

It was funny how things could go back to being so awkward. We hadn't even mentioned about the night before. "Yes". I finally said. "I do".

He smiled. "Then I'll be there".

**

Already everyone was drinking and dancing as I entered the hall with Arion close to hand that evening. I felt Steve's eyes on me from the moment I walked in, and they didn't cease to leave until I took a seat on my throne that sat upon the dais. Overlooking everything and everyone. The long tables and benches were all taken up by guests and the court, food being brought out by servant upon servant and laid before them.

Then once it was all there, the court simply looked to me for one command. "Eat". I replied and they began to, going back to talking amongst themselves while the music continued. With the sun setting around us, it was splendid sight.

My eyes found Steve's and I noted that he wasn't eating. Instead he simply drank the siren wine that he had become find of - according to Rinus. Rising from my seat, I roamed the aisles, talking to people before I went and set myself at the vacant spot across from Steve. He looked a little surprised to see me mingling in with the court.

"I am above no one else here - I sit as an equal". I answered his inner thoughts out loud to him. Back in Auburndale, Joseph would be at the head of the table with Steve and Sarah either side.

"I mean...you were above me last night". He leant in and muttered.

I pursed my lips and reached out to take some meat from a platter and spoon some vegetables on there too. "Only to you and in private I am". Then eyeing him knowingly.

"Will you come to me tonight?" He asked quietly. Not that anyone else could hear us considering the talk and music were both loud.

"We have still yet to acknowledge that happened last night".

"Easy - we had very energetic sex on my balcony and where everyone across the city could hear us, before you bailed this morning". His eyes stared into mine. "And yes, I know you have duties. I'd have been the same. But every word I said to you last night? I meant it".

I looked at my plate. "Even the part where you told me that I was yours? That I belonged to you?"

"You know I meant it". He leant in further. "I don't care who you are now, what you have become. It's you I want and need. Not a wife, or a high lady, or even an enemy. It's just you, Hale".

There was truth in his words, his eyes. All pure truth - and I knew that he wouldn't lie to me about this.

I nodded slowly. "I have a meeting, but I can be there once I am done". It was a conversation we would need to have anyway - just after the sex of course. First I needed to speak with Nimreth - and it wasn't a conversation that I was probably going to enjoy.

Steve seemed to accept this and I put some food onto his plate. "Eat. It is good".

He began to push the food around his plate. "Last night was the first time I didn't need one of Erskine's sleeping tonics..."

My head whipped up. "Perhaps the exhaustion was a better remedy", I jested and he chuckled deeply.

"I think you could be right..." Eyes then flickered up to meet mine again. "You are my remedy".

If he carried on talking like that, I would have probably been the first siren to die from flattery. I picked at my food and soon enough knew where I needed to be. Rising from my seat, I told him to wait an hour before I would meet him in his room, and then walked out.

I knew Nimreth was waiting on the rocks for me before I'd even got up, and saw her as soon as I neared there. She looked to me and then out to the ocean.

"We really need to talk - I cannot delay any longer, not when I have learnt of what I have".

I stood there silently for a moment before speaking. "Ok then...so let's talk".