Choices || CAPTAIN AMERICA (Book 1)

Chapter 9

The battle was over, but the aftermath lingered in the air as we handed over the Tesseract and the scepter to S.H.I.E.L.D. The cool, polished metal felt heavy in my hands, a reminder of the chaos it had wrought. Loki, now handcuffed and muzzled, was a shadow of the god who had wreaked havoc on our world. He didn't look at any of us as he was escorted away, his arrogance stripped down to something hollow and broken.

For a moment, I allowed myself to feel a sliver of pity for him. But then, I remembered the destruction he caused, the lives he endangered, and that pity turned into a quiet, cold resolve. Justice had to be served.

With our job done, we left the wreckage behind and headed to a small, unassuming shawarma joint, something Tony had been oddly insistent on. The place was a world away from the devastation we'd just fought through, and the smell of sizzling meat filled the air as we sat down, exhaustion etched into every face.

The silence between us wasn't uncomfortable. It was the silence of soldiers who had seen too much, done too much, and who were just grateful to be alive and sitting together, sharing a meal. We didn't need to talk. Not yet. We just needed to be.

The next day arrived far too quickly. The sky was overcast as we made our way to the secluded area where Thor and Loki would make their departure. The area was blocked off, secured by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who stood at the perimeter, watching us with cautious eyes.

Thor was quiet as he prepared for their journey back to Asgard. His hand rested on Loki's shoulder, a gesture that was more brotherly than restrained. Despite everything, I could see the pain in Thor's eyes as he prepared to take Loki home. Family, after all, was a bond that even betrayal couldn't completely sever.

One by one, we exchanged our goodbyes. Thor clasped hands with each of us, his grip firm and full of gratitude. When he reached me, he gave me a warm, sincere smile that I hadn't seen since before the battle.

"Take care, Alice," he said, his voice low and sincere. "Midgard is safer with you here."

"Take care of yourself, Thor," I replied, squeezing his hand. "And please keep an eye on your brother."

Thor nodded, a flicker of determination in his eyes and a small smile playing on his lips. He turned to Dr. Selvig, embracing him with a heartfelt hug. The scientist seemed relieved, glad to see an end to this chapter of madness.

Finally, it was time. Tony opened the Tesseract's case, the blue energy within humming quietly, a powerful force contained within such a small object. Banner carefully took it out and placed it inside a glass tube, holding it out to Thor.

Thor gripped the tube with one hand and handed the other end to Loki, who reluctantly took it. The god of mischief glared at all of us one last time before he and Thor leaped into the energy beam. In an instant, they were gone, the bright light of the portal fading into the sky. The wind rustled through the area, leaving us standing in the wake of their departure.

For a moment, we all just stood there, the silence heavy with the knowledge that this chapter was closing. And then, one by one, we splintered off, each of us heading in different directions, back to our own lives.

I made my way over to Natasha and Clint. They were leaning against a nearby S.H.I.E.L.D. car, their postures relaxed but their eyes sharp, always ready for whatever came next.

"Well, I guess this is it for now," I said, offering them both a small smile. "Take care of yourselves."

Natasha nodded, her eyes softened with an emotion I could never quite place. "You too, Alice. Stay out of trouble."

Clint grinned, his trademark smirk firmly in place. "And if you find any trouble, give us a call. We'll be there."

I chuckled and gave them both a quick hug before turning to find Steve. He was standing a little ways off, looking out at the horizon as if deep in thought. When he noticed me approaching, he smiled, that familiar warmth in his eyes.

"So," I said, coming to a stop beside him. "You still owe me that drink."

Steve chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck in that endearing way of his. "Yeah, I guess I do. How about we go grab that now?"

I smiled, feeling a flutter of anticipation. "I'd like that."

Just as we were about to head to his Harley, Banner climbed into Tony's sports car. Tony, ever the showman, revved the engine a bit too loudly before pulling up beside us. He leaned out of the window, a smirk playing on his lips.

Tony, ever the showman, revved the engine a bit too loudly before pulling up beside us. He leaned out of the window, his smirk softened just a bit, but the teasing light in his eyes was still there.

"Well, well, well. Look at you two," Tony said, glancing between Steve and me. "Cap, I hope you realize that taking my sister out means you're officially on Stark watch. And that's not just a warning—it's a promise."

I rolled my eyes, but the warmth in Tony's voice made my heart swell. "Come on, Tony. You know I can take care of myself."

"Yeah, yeah," Tony said, waving a hand dismissively, but there was a fondness in his gaze that he couldn't hide. "Just remember, Rogers—if anything happens to her, it's your ass I'm kicking. And believe me, I'll make sure it hurts."

Steve chuckled, glancing at me with a grin. "Noted. I'll make sure she's home by curfew."

Tony winked, the smirk returning to his face as he revved the engine one last time. "Alright, you two lovebirds, get out of here before I change my mind. And remember—no matter where you go, I'm just a call away."

With that, he sped off, leaving Steve and me standing there with matching smiles. Steve shook his head, clearly amused by Tony's version of a brotherly pep talk.

"You ready?" Steve asked, turning back to me.

"Always," I replied, climbing onto the back of his Harley. And as we took off, I couldn't help but feel a warmth spreading through me—knowing that, no matter where life took us next, I had a new family waiting for me.