Ice Princess

20

Waking, her head hurt. Melinoe didn't remember drinking any whiskey last night, but she felt like she must have. Her head was pounding so hard, she couldn't see straight. Making her way to the sink, she poured a large glass of water and began drinking it without turning around. When she finished she leaned against the counter. Bucky had to pick that moment to look up from what he was doing, the bee stings on her lower back were clearly visible and her firm ass was jutting out just so as her mouth hung open, still wet from the water she drank, and her wrist was resting on her forehead. She was a vision to behold. Bucky was folding one of the blankets he used last night on the couch in front of him to hide his growing erection.

"Oh good, you're up." Bucky cleared his throat.

"Fuck, I was hoping these past two days was just a bad dream." She straighten up.

"Well, it wasn't. Why don't you get dressed? I bought some food..." He purposefully gestured towards the table to get her gaze off him. "It's a bit cold in here." She saw him folding blankets and straightening up his nest on the couch when she looked down and quickly crossed her arms heading for the bedroom to change. As she was changing, Melinoe heard him busying himself in the other bathroom. Choosing clothing that clearly would have covered everything, she made her way out just as Bucky was sitting down to eat. "There's juice and I got you tea since I know you don't drink coffee."

"Why?"

"Why, breakfast? Well, most people eat it when they wake up."

"No, the sedative."

"Bruce thought you needed some sleep, you were looking pretty spread thin there."

"Why didn't he do it himself?"

"He knew you would have fought back if it was him, whereas me... I'm not going to ask why you would welcome death so easily."

"What's the point of living? This is what my life has been relequated to, chaos. Each day, keeps getting worse. I'm not strong enough."

"You're stronger than you think." He took a bite of a breakfast sandwich to give her time for things to sink in. "What were the coins about?" They still sat on the floor where she dropped them when she passed out.

"The fastest way to meet my parents is to go to the underworld. I needed fare for Carin to take me across the river Styx."

"You realize how ridiculous that sounds, right?"

"This from 108 year old man who works with Thor and the Hulk?"

"Point taken."

"I don't know of another way to go to the underworld rather than dying. Strange mentioned another way and that Thor could help, but after talking with him last night, it ended up being a dead end." While she looked at the food, Melinoe didn't feel like eating any of it. Instead, she sipped her tea, even that sat sourly in her stomach. "Why are you even here?"

"Rocket's going to be here today. He's taking you off world to get what you need for Doom's project."

"Ah. Doom's project."

"Bruce wants you to finish it."

"I don't know why, he's more than capable of doing it himself. So many are qualified to be able to do it."

"Yes, but they're not the one Doom is expecting to see in the new year."

"Bait."

"Yes."

"You do understand how messed up this all is right?"

"More than you know."

"If I had known the companies I was working for were involved with HYDRA, I never would have worked for them. I really don't care if you believe me or not at this point. I don't care if you kill me. So many choices have been made for me before I was even given a chance and the choices I did make made me end up where I am right now."

"Perhaps with this trip, things will get better."

"Oooh, look who's trying to be optimistic."

"How can things get better? I'm being used for what I am, not what I can do." Bucky was all too familiar with that feeling.

"Come on, Rocket's waiting." He rose. Melinoe picked up the coins from the floor and put them in her pocket on the way out. She didn't know if this would be the last time she'd see her apartment, she didn't care. It never was home. She didn't have a home.

__________

"No, absolutely not." Melinoe called from the locker room. "I am not wearing this."

"It's made of nanotechnology specifically for space travels and to help support your puny human bodies during the jumps." Rocket said. "Geez, I don't know what's got a bee in her bonnet."

"You wouldn't make a man wear this." She came out, the outfit was like a second skin. Looking quickly around, all the men stopped working to gape and stare. "You can all shut your mouths now." She tried to walk as confidently as possible past all of them as she could, but stumbled at the last minute, catching herself. "Hi, how are you? Are you using this jacket? No? Thanks." She slipped on Bucky's leather jacket, the warmth was greatly appreciated but it also covered her butt enough to keep people from staring. She entered the ship and found her seat.

"Ok, everyone back to work." Bucky said and men scrambled. Bucky boarded, "I expect that jacket back when we come back home."

"Of course. Hey, no fair. You don't have to wear this lousy get up."

"It's the older model, get over it."

"Whatever."

"I got to know, are you good?"

"No, but when have I ever got what I wanted." Before Bucky could say something back, "Don't worry, I can hold it together enough until we get back." She leaned back in the chair after attaching the five point harness.

"Just don't throw up on my jacket."

"What? And ruin vintage leather? Never."

"I heard that, no one is barfing on my ship. If you are get off now." Rocket called back to them. "Ground rules. I'm the captain. No matter what you think, know, or say on this ship I'm in charge. Two. Don't touch anything no matter how wonderous and pretty it might be. Three, which goes with two, unless I eat it or drink it, don't. Let's see what else am I missing, oh yeah. No side missions, got it."

"Sure." Melinoe said, "Rocket, I'm sure these rules were because other people have done these things?"

"You have no idea." He started the systems check. "So for the next hour, sit back relax, do not put down the tray tables and abide by all the rules."

"Ever been to space before?" Bucky asked her getting settled.

"No, but I read about the jumps. I'm just a tad bit worried about those. You?"

"Inner space, not outer." Bucky responded.

"Great two newbies and I get to baby sit." Rocket grumbled.

Popping a pair of earbuds in, she listened to some music and snuggled down into chair. Bucky's jacket smelled wonderful and it really felt cozy. Melinoe slept through the various jumps missing Bucky looking a little green around the gills.