Lesedi awakens to a dark new day on Asgard:
Steve?-On Midgard, and according to Heimdall, dealing with his own problems. Missing him was painful, needing him but deciding not to call just made matters worse.
Frigga-resting among the stars after deli...
(Apologies-this couldn't be cut, and I owed it to the characters to do this right. Hope you understand and enjoy.)
It had been three weeks.
Shuri and I were progressing slowly. We shared a laugh or two, but she seemed guarded. I understood that. She was analytical, like Tony Stark, and I bristled as she at times had conversations that seemed more like interviews.
T'Challa was far warmer and welcoming, and even decided to have a Wakandan wedding ceremony for Steve and me. After being shown the picture of my grandmother and my grandfather King Arizarri I didn't need much convincing. My dress was even a replica of hers, though I felt she looked better because of her white hair. He wanted no doubts of my lineage, no doubts of who my husband was or who our child could be someday. Steve and I were married in three realms, and had two weddings. Steve wasn't crazy about the fanfare, and was a bit surprised about the cut of the dress, but he liked it, understood its importance to me. He enjoyed seeing the looks of admiration from warriors who would have been trying to court me if I wasn't already his. The one thing that the council seemed to understand was how much I loved him, that this was real, and that this was a ceremony for their benefit, a repeating of vows.
It was nice to have Steve at home, especially for Steven. They did all this catching up-fishing in the River of Grace and Wisdom with special permission from T'Challa, hiking in the mountains, visiting the farmlands. T'Challa toured much of it with them, but I was left with the elders, who were boring. They gave extensive lectures. They tried to press their views, believing I had the ear of the king. But evenings were the best time of day. We stayed in our wing and spent family time together and after Steven would fall into bed from all his daily excitement, Steve and I would spend time together as a couple.
But in the third week, Steve was on edge. He acted alright, but he spent time in the barracks daily. He needed to work out, he wanted to keep his skills honed. It was like he sensed something in the air.
And then it came.
Steve got some sort of call on his phone. It was next to our bed when it rang. Steve picked it up and walked off, and I realized that this must be a mission. He showed me the very short list of numbers on that phone once, and just about everyone was an Avenger or a SHIELD operative that owed him a favor or some sort of loyalty.
"It's Banner," he said quickly.
"What's happening?"
"Trouble," he looked so serious he looked older, as if he'd aged in that phone call. "Real trouble."
"Steve--"
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"I have to find T'Challa." He was thinking aloud.
"Steve?" I felt a panic. His body was here, but his mind was elsewhere.
He slowed his actions, taking a deep breath. "Sit down," he nodded.
I sat, and tried to fight the tightness in my throat. "A mission?"
"Yes," he nodded. "There is a being named Thanos--"
"Wait, he had something to do with New York--"
He covered my hand with his. "He's coming, and I've got to go--"
I kissed him. "I understand." I wanted to tell him not to go but this was who he was. "I need you to tell our son. Don't leave without saying something."
He nodded in agreement and got dressed. He talked to T'Challa as I got dressed, and we met to walk to the elder children's education center, where he was in class.
"Sorry to interrupt," Steve said softly. "We wanted to take our son?"
The teacher nodded in understanding.
Steven was smiling until he saw the looks on our faces. "Mom? Dad?"
"Walk with me," Steve offered his hand, and then led his son down the corridor. "I have to go on a mission."
"A mission?" Steven repeated, and I saw him squeeze his father's hand. "Do you have to?"
"This is a very important one," he said softly. "Safety of the world, son."
"Oh."
Steve looked down at him. "Oh?"
"Like Asgard?"
Steve took a deep breath. "I look at you, and all I see is my son. I keep forgetting what you've been through, that you're a very young warrior yourself..." He knelt before him, and put his hands on his shoulders. "Too young."
"I don't want you to go." Steven said softly, his eyes welling with tears.
"I want to." Steve said. "I need to. Now that you and your mother are here on Earth-in Midgard-I am going to be fighting twice as hard for this place. Will you take care of your mother for me?"
"We take care of each other," Steven said in a whisper. "Who will take care of you?" "My team, remember?" Steve looked at Steven, and they nodded. Then they shared a tight hug. He rose to his full height, and kissed me so tenderly yet so passionately it took everything not to cry. "It'll be different this time. I'll be back soon."
I nodded, caressing his face. "Miss you already...so much. Be careful, Steve."
"We'll be ready." T'Challa said. "Shuri is already working on it."
"Thank you." With that Steve, Natasha, and Sam moved up the walkway into the ship. Steve turned at the top, and put his hand over his star, and I saw the iced fire stone glow from underneath his uniform. Steven put his hand over his heart, and the iced fire stone in his bracelet glowed. My wedding ring glowed on my hand as I placed it over my heart. We watched the ship close, and in seconds, it was gone.
