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TWO - THE WAR
Italiana didn't feel like leaving the quarter when it finally died down. She had headed back to the steps of the stage she had first noticed when she got there. Sitting down she looked up at the stars and started at the one that led to home.
"You look a little homesick," looking behind her at the sound of a new voice she saw the man from earlier.
"Howard Stark isn't it?" She asked and he smirked, showing that flirtatious nature she was all to used to, mostly because she wore that same smirk most of her life.
"And who might you be?" He asked coming to sit down next to her. He folded his hands and rested them on his knees, but she didn't answer him right away as she stared back up at the stars.
"Italiana," she answered not looking back at him. The sight of the star that led to Asgard, led to home made her sick to her stomach. She never thought she could miss it this much once she got out.
"What like the goddess? The one notorious for sleeping around against her parents judgment," Howard asked probably thinking she had been named after herself.
"So you've heard of me," Italiana said as she sent him a smirk of her own, one that was more devilish than flirtatious.
"Whatever you say," Howard responded obviously not believing her, not that she expected him to either.
She let the silence wash over them once again as she stared up into the sky. She had always loved the night, the calmness and the beauty it brought with it was the only time she truly felt at peace. There had always been this raging storm inside her but as the days came to a close that storm seemed at bay.
"Beautiful aren't they," Howard said drawing her attention back to him, probably something he intended for. "The stars I mean," he motioned his hand up to the twinkling lights.
"They're the only thing in the universe that is," Italiana responded which Howard seemed to think as a morbid thought considering the look he was giving her.
"I suppose, but where I'm going I probably won't to get to see much anymore," he commented as he began to stand up but all she could focus on was where he could be going that he didn't see the stars covered everything in the galaxy, they were put there to help guide people home.
"What do you mean you won't see the stars where you're going?" She asked looking up at him as he brushed off his pants.
"Well I'm going to the war of course, there's a project I'm assisting on," Howard explained as if she should've already known this.
"What war?" Italiana stood up to her full height. Part of her asked the question because she was curious but a bigger part her was hoping this would be her opportunity to finally fight.
As a girl she had trained but the minute she became betrothed her parents forbade her from going to war, which seemed hardly fair. She hated how she watched her sister pass up every opportunity to go to battle in the hopes that Lady Sif would never return. She hated how when she volunteered she was always shot down because she needed to be alive and getting ready to produce possible heirs. Italiana hated being anything but the warrior she truly was, and even more hated the people who kept her from it.
She had been locked in a cage most her life, at least that's what it felt like. There were girls lining up outside the palace to marry one of the princes so why did they have to pick her? What was fates reasoning behind keeping her from doing what she believed she was meant for.
"A war between the world, another world war," Howard must of thought she had lost her mind by his tone of voice. He really did think her crazy for not knowing about this war, like everyone in the world knew about it which she supposed they did if this was a world war.
"Take me to it," Italiana said almost bouncing on the balls of her feet. She knew war wasn't a good thing but she at least wanted to experience the heat of battle once in her life.
"No offense ma'am but I don't think war is the place for you," Howard said as he backed away a few steps. It was like he believed she would jump him if he didn't do what she asked.
"You don't even know me," she said a little annoyed, another thing she hated was when men thought women weren't capable of stomaching a battlefield.
"That is true," he seemed to consider. Looking up into her wide and sparkling eyes he seemed to realize he wouldn't be able to talk any sense into her. "I still think you're crazy."
"My whole life people have thought that, so what's new?" She shrugged with a small and crooked smile. Howard chuckled but motioned for her to follow him.
They walked out of the quarter together and into one of those machines he had displayed earlier. He let her get in first before sliding in next to her. Italiana was fascinated about getting to see one of these machines up close though she really hoped this one didn't fly like the other one, tried to at least.
"Let's go home we both have an early flight tomorrow," Howard said to the driver and then they were off down the streets of New York.
"You can fly?" Italiana questioned in disbelief, she had no recollection of learning about mortals that could fly, it was news to her.
"Not exactly," he sent her a smirk causing her brows to furrow, wondering what that could possibly mean. He didn't elaborate though and the rest of their ride to Howard's place was in a comfortable silence.
• • •
I guess I'm kinda, sorta back? I don't know I'll probably be on and off a lot until mid to late June but I'm making a comeback after almost a year of being on hiatus, something I desperately needed. However endgame has me in my feelings and wanting to get back to writing on here so here we start with one of my favorites, Tony Stark.
