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⌠MIND GAMES⌡ ❝everything you're running away from is in your head.❞
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EVANGELINE WAS STARTING to think that the last two months were too real to be this easeful, not that she hoped a hazard needed to happen, but she was still not used to a normal lifestyle without any rumpus waiting to be sorted out. Yesterday morning, Tony took his extra time to drive her to school before he went to see Pepper at the Stark Industries, which Evangeline still found it thoroughly bizarre because she knew Tony rarely did that in the past. And it seemed that the whole let's give Evangeline more attention thing also affected Pepper because she intersected her meeting only to remind Evangeline to eat her lunch.
As much as Evangeline needed older people to grace her life, what they both did was quite excessive. Yes, Evangeline appreciated their efforts to get closer to her or make sure she never touched the oddity of solitude, but they didn't have to check on her every hour. She was perfectly capable to keep herself safe. Probably.
But, at the end of the day, Evangeline could only embrace all the normality by pretending that everything was completely and utterly fine.
"You don't normally go to parties," Evangeline commented, sitting on the edge of the bed as she flipped through one of Michelle Jones' novels. "But, here you are trying to impress no one in particular."
"Change is good, Evangeline," Michelle replied, throwing a knowing look at her. "You should also do the same because, you know, your superhero life is currently off."
"Well, I have a better plan to spend my intrusive day."
"What, sipping tea with Captain Rogers?" Michelle teased, but only earned a glare from the other brunette. A grin on Michelle's lips instantly faltered, lifting her hands up in defense. "Right, too soon."
For two months, Evangeline thought that the compound was much better without Steve. Or more to her much better without his presence around. But, no matter how many times Evangeline denied it, deep down she knew, the team would never be the same again without Steve Rogers — without everyone. Sometimes Evangeline liked to stare blankly toward the dining room and ghostly pictured them all sitting while enjoying their meal after a precarious day. How the Avengers were still intact and stable despite the widespread conflicts.
There was a heavy feeling of regret that dredged herself, regrets for letting their friendship moldered only because of what had happened in the past. But for her, everything would only be balanced if she loathed Steve, as ridiculous as it sounded. Evangeline needed someone to be trusted in this milieu besieged by lies, not someone who instead concealed one bitter truth based on the intention to protect her from any pain.
