Ascension (Dark!SteveRogers AU) 18+

6

She looked pretty. 

That was Steve's first thought as Haven walked in, accompanied by Natasha who he'd sent to guard her while she had slept. 

Getting her to the city had been easy. He'd slipped a tonic into her water pouch before they'd left, and after she'd consumed it at the inn, her deep sleep state had allowed him to get them back faster and undetected with the help of the infinity stone.  He'd been thankful to finally cut his hair and revert back to his clean shaven appearance again. Much neater, even if he wasn't. 

Now, as he set eyes on the Queen - or former Queen considering she had now ultimately been dethroned, he couldn't help but think that this look suited her more. Less prom and proper, more...Hydra...

Red was her colour. 

"Hello Haven..." He now looked down at her from the throne. The hurt in her eyes wasn't too hard to miss. She had placed her trust in him after all, and now here she was - right in his lair. "You wanted my help?". 

"I wanted it from The Serpent...how could you?" The last part came out as a whisper. 

He shrugged and sat back, taking the knife from his belt and toying with it. "I saw my chance, and I took it - to win you need to play the right cards. Mine? It was infiltrating my way into your court and gaining your trust. Ok, at first I was on the verge of driving this knife into your heart while you slept, but I decided that it would be too easy...plus it would expose me more than anything". 

Haven didn't look at him. "Well...you know why I wanted to find you, so just kill me now and get it over with. I know that you won't agree to help me and I will never beg, not even for my life". 

"Shame...because I think that you would look prettier on your knees in front of me". He smirked and now stood up, pacing back and forth in thought. "You want me to kill your brothers..." 

"You know I do...they wanted to kill me after all". 

"What's in it for me? Other than the satisfaction of seeing the life drain from their eyes, just like daddy's on that battlefield". 

Haven's eyes now met his. "I didn't get that far with my plan..."

Steve tutted, "Coming here unprepared...what would Lord Steven say?" 

"I was told he was dead". She spat bitterly. 

"The persona I played is, yes. But me? I'm a little harder to kill". He replied smugly. "So...how about we make a deal for the time being until you decide what you can give me in exchange for your brother's heads? You stay here and I won't kill you. You try and run? And I won't hesitate to stick this knife in your back. When you finally decide just what you can offer? We can perhaps reach a more suitable agreement. Is that fair?" 

Haven glared. "I didn't think the Serpent played 'fair'?" 

He walked down from the dais to her and now studied her face, a cool hand tilting her chin up so that he could see her a little more. "I don't...I like to play dirty - perhaps you want to see that instead?" 

"No". 

"Shame...so what will it be?"

Haven was silent for a moment and then looked at him again. "Once you kill my brothers, if you take my throne and Kingdom? What will become of me?" 

"What would you like to become?" He asked as he circled her like a vulture to their prey. 

"I...I don't know..." 

Steve took a step back. "Then that's something you need to think about - for now? You stay here until a final decision is made. I won't go slaughtering those brothers of yours just yet. There wouldn't be any fun without a battle...or three. You can go anywhere in the city, anywhere in the palace. But you can never leave. Understood?" 

She nodded. "Yes..." 

He nodded to Natasha. "Take her back to her room, and have someone bring her something to eat and drink". 

Nat nodded and gestured for Haven to follow, Steve and the rest of the court watching as the pair exited through the large doors again, before they closed. 

"Anyone who lays a finger on our precious Queen will answer to me..." He announced to the court who quickly nodded. It was too much of a risk to take. No one dared upset the King, and if they did? They soon found out just what would happen. 

 "Which, in more simple terms means - touch her and die".

Sitting back on the throne, he dismissed the court so he could finally have some peace and decide just what he was going to do with Haven.