Once A Warrior Princess

Chapter 10~ The Beginning Of Something Beautiful

Steve's POV

"So, what is it you wanted to show me?" Melody asked as we walked around the city. We had decided against dinner, opting instead to just explore New York. Something I had done my whole life; something that became that much more special.

"Nothing really. I just wanted to explore the city with you. I have a feeling you probably haven't seen much of it since you've been here."

"I do have a tendency to hide away in my room," She admitted.

"I've noticed. What is that about, anyway?"

"Anxiety, I guess. I am always scared I'm going to accidentally hurt someone. I do this back home too," She answered.

"You don't have to be scared, Melody."

"I wish that was true. Steve, how much do you know about my powers?"

"Not a whole lot, admittedly."

"There is a reason for that. Transmonian magic is based off of emotion and personality traits. Because of this, I am an Ultimate Powerhouse, which means I have all types of Magic. I am mainly a Firesta or a fire witch, but I am also a Spireista or a spirit witch, an Aquaresta or a water witch, a Terrareista or an Earth witch and an Airesta or an air witch. But I also have a kind of Magic that only one other creature has and that's Death Magic. If I don't make the conscious decision to kill, then the Magic takes over and I kill anything with a pulse. It's...awful," She explained.

"How often do you have to kill?" I asked.

"I've managed to last up to a month, but it used to be every week. And I do extensive research before I kill unless someone comes at me with the intent to kill me. I never kill the innocent, and never children, no matter how much of an asshole they may be."

"When do you kill next?" I asked.

"In two weeks. I already have my next victim lined up," She answered.

"It doesn't change anything."

"What do you mean?" She asked, confused.

"It doesn't change how I feel about you. I still want to protect you. I still want to show you how much I loved you; how much I'll always love you. Because I do, Melody. I've been denying it for so long, but I do love you. I am in love with you. And I know it's wrong of me because you're only 16 and I'm almost 100," I finally admitted.

"In this lifetime, yeah. I'm only 16. But this is my third lifetime. I am eons old if you add it all up. But I understand if you feel guilty for wanting to kiss me or go any further than that. But, Steve? I'm in love with you too." I thought my heart was going to burst. She felt the same about me as I did her.

"So, where do we go from here?" I asked.

"We take it slow. Really slow. Hand holding, forehead kisses, cuddling, and the like. And if we're feeling extra saucy, we could actually kiss," She answered after a minute.

"You'd be willing to do that?"

"I have a good feeling about you, Steve. And besides, my birthday is in a few months. And then I'll be an adult by Transmonian law. And we can reevaluate from there. I really want to make this work, Steve. But I also don't want to force you to do anything you aren't comfortable with."

"I appreciate that," I smiled, taking her hand in mine. We spent the next few hours exploring every nook and cranny of Brooklyn. I was surprised at how much had changed, but I was even more surprised at how much had stayed the same. Being with Melody made the whole experience so much better. She seemed to find beauty in everything, and I could help but think it was because she had seen so much death and destruction in her short life.

"Humans are so weird," Melody said seemingly out of nowhere.

"What?" I chuckled. This was bound to be interesting.

"Humans are really weird. You don't see it because you're one of them, but to me, an outsider, y'all are fucking strange."

"First off, watch your language. Second of all, have you ever thought to consider that you are the weird one?"

"Oh, I know I'm weird. That's a given. But Tranmonians don't live their lives following their emotions so blindly. Of course, we take how we feel into account, but 9 times out of 10 we think through every possible outcome. We're thinkers. Human's are feelers."

"Doesn't that get exhausting?" I asked. That sounded like a lot of stress, especially for young kids.

"Yes. Without a doubt. But it's how we are wired. We don't really know how to just... feel. And to just... exist. And to see Humans beat the shit out of one another because of some petty reason baffles me."

"Language. And I can see that."

"What is your obsession with my swearing?" She laughed.

"Let's just put it this way. It was... uncommon... for a lady to curse when I was growing up."

"You know you sound really old when you say things like that, right?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I am really old!"

"Please. I have millennia on you. And I don't sound old."

"Did you say you have been reborn twice?" I asked.

"Yes."

"That's why," I whispered in her ear, placing a quick kiss on her temple.

"In a way, you were reborn," She countered.

"How so?"

"Weren't you in ice for 70 years?"

"Yeah." Where was she going with this?

"That counts as being reborn."

"No, it doesn't," I laughed.

"It so does."

"Melody, my being trapped in an ice block does not count as being reborn."

"Steve, yes it does. Time moved on without you. Just as it did for me in between my rebirths. It counts." I knew she had a point with that explanation, but it was fun riling her up. So I denied the fact that she had won me over.

"I have only been born once. I assure you."

"it doesn't have to be literal. If there's one thing I've learned about your planet, Steve, is that metaphors are big here."

"Hey, Melody?"

"Yeah, Steve?"

"I have a confession," I smiled.

"Which is?"

"I believed you when you said time moved on. I just find it fun to rile you up."

"Is that so?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow and smirking. God, the things that smirk did to me.

"Yeah."

"Well, this is the beginning of a very interesting relationship, isn't it, Mr. Rogers?"

"Indeed it is Ms. Lupine."

"And Steve?"

"Hm?"

"I knew you believed me. You aren't talents with a shield don't apply to your mind or your thoughts. When did the wet dreams start?" I stopped breathing.

"You know about those?" I asked, fear running icily down my veins.

"I do. And when we get to that stage, Steve, I fully expect you to reenact every. Single. One," She said, walking ahead of me. She was right. This was going to be the beginning of something beautiful.