𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ Steve Rogers

The Voices ~ 4

Due to the lateness of the night, Peter offers to walk Eva to the subway station, the pair strolling side by side as the chilly winter breeze grazes their faces.

"You've definitely left quite the impression today, Eva," Peter remarks, breaking a momentary silence. He glances over to his friend, who smiles triumphantly at his observations.

"You think that was an impression, just you wait until I meet the others," Eva says, shrugging with a smirk. Peter laughs humorously at this, shaking his head.

"Yeah, that's not happening." He dismisses the notion, well aware of the potential chaos that might ensue if Eva were to introduce herself to the rest of the Avengers.

This wipes the smile straight off Eva's face as they both reach the stairs to the entrance of the nearest subway station.

"Even if I confessed to being a massive Hulk or Black Widow enthusiast?" She pouts, furrowing her brows. Peter's smile falters, uncertain if she's genuinely making this claim, and he regards her with incredulity.

"Um, no, Eva. That's not happening," he reaffirms, and Eva sighs in response. Without waiting, she turns and begins descending the steps to the subway.

"Evangeline?" Peter questions her abrupt departure, arms folding, though partly to combat the chill of standing still. She pauses on the middle steps, looking up. He extends a hand, and she grins innocently in return.

"Peter, I'll save the hand-holding for another day; I'm about to miss my train," she explains, earning a deadpanned glare from Peter.

"The money you took?" He questions further, his brow raised and arm still outstretched. Again, Eva's smile falters, evolving into another eye roll. Reluctantly, she pulls out a wad of notes, runs up a few steps, and forcefully places the cash into his hand. She attempts to hastily head down the steps again.

"And the rest of it, Evangeline," he asserts, pocketing the cash and reaching out again, his expression now stern. She pauses once more, turning to head back up, visibly peeved. "Mon Dieu, does it ever get boring being this good all the time?" she bites, pushing the remaining cash into his hand. Peter only shrugs, pleased with himself as he pockets the last bit she stole.

"Better than prison, Eva."

"Whatever," she grumbles and heads down to try and leave for the last time. This time she stops herself, turning back around to look up at Peter once more, just as he turns to head off.

"Um, Peter? I no longer have any money to actually get home," she explains, an innocent smile returning. He deadpans again, and with a roll of his eyes, he takes out a couple of notes and hands them back to her. Eva smiles her thanks.

"I'm also starting to get really hungry too..."

"Don't push it," he warns, shoving the money firmly back into his pocket.

"Alright, fine," she waves him off and hops down the stairs, holding the notes in her hand. Her back is now turned to him, and he watches her head down.

"Laters! See you in prison, Spider-Man," she calls out before finally walking through the entrance of the station, leaving Peter standing at the top, shaking his head disbelievingly. 

***

Eva finds herself alone on the subway train, en route to her home. As she relaxes into her seat, engaged in a simple game on her cell phone, an unwelcome voice intrudes into her thoughts.

"What an abysmal performance that was today, Evangeline," the voice berates her, its tone dripping with sarcasm. Eva responds with an eyeroll, making it clear that this isn't the first time she's had to contend with this particular voice. She sighs deeply, casting a quick glance around to ensure her solitude, before stowing her phone back into her pocket.

"I thought our agreement was that you would stay out of my head until my foot is at least through my apartment door?" Eva questions, her distaste for the voice evident.

"It's hard to stay out of a head that I'm already in," the voice quips.

"What do you want?" Eva rests her chin on her hands, shifting her focus to the black windows as the lights outside whiz by.

"It's been weeks, and you've still made no progress on infiltrating the Avengers' little circle, Evangeline. Why?" The voice's tone is stern, and she recoils slightly, loathing how the sound reverberates throughout her skull.

"Things haven't been easy, as you can already apparently see inside my mind," is her only retort, her voice muffled by her chin resting on her hand.

"Time is ticking. And I'm growing impatient."

"Yes, yes, I know. Look, I've already got Spider-Man wrapped around my finger... Well, almost," Eva recounts.

"Your natural charm isn't going to get me what I want, Evangeline. Use that mind of yours. That teeny little power of yours. The one where you can manipulate minds. Start using it," the voice orders, earning another small sigh from Eva.

"I've already manipulated Parker's mind to think we're friends to begin with. Have you forgotten that? If I mess with his mind more, I'll end up frying the poor guy's brain," Eva retorts, grimacing at the thought of a fried brain.

"WELL, I DON'T CARE WHOSE BRAIN YOU HAVE TO FRY. JUST DO WHAT I'M ORDERING YOU TO DO, OR I WILL FRY YOURS. UNDERSTAND?" The voice bellows through Eva's mind, sending an excruciating wave of pain. She reels forward, head between her knees, hands to each side in an attempt to quell the pain.

"Ok, Stop!" Eva pleads loudly, and after a few seconds, the pain dissipates. She quickly looks up to see that she is still alone and sighs in relief.

"Just give me time to figure out a plan B, okay?" She continues to negotiate with the voice inside her mind. It says nothing, and she leans back, arms folded.

"Asshole," she mutters and closes her eyes, now trying hard to focus on that plan B.

As Eva battles the echoes of the voice inside her head, the rhythmic hum of the subway train becomes a backdrop to her thoughts. She takes a deep breath, attempting to regain her composure in the solitude of the carriage. The black windows flicker with the passing lights, creating a rhythmic dance in the reflection of her closed eyelids.