Altered - A Marvel AU

Chapter 13 - Time to Leave

I woke up in the morning to see the bed empty beside me, "Steve?" I called out quietly. I got no response, huh that's weird I thought. I brushed it off, getting out of bed and immediately noticing my body's chilling response. I looked down to see myself naked and covered in love bites and all of yesterday's memories came into mind. I smiled to myself, wearing my clothes for the day and getting ready to brush my teeth. As soon as I came out of the washroom, my mother surprised me by smiling at me, "Sweetheart." Ok, that was weird since she never called me sweetheart. "Mm?" I replied.

"Um, well I know this is kind of short notice, but I need you to wear your prettiest shalwar kameez (traditional pakistani clothing). I blinked, knowing my mother was up to something, "Why?" My mom turned red, "Your...um your future mother-in-law and husband are coming to see you." I started, "MY WHAT?" My mom fumbled over her words, "Well, you turned 18 yesterday and so a while back I put a portfolio of you into this muslim marriage site and a possible prospect came up and well now the family is coming to meet you." "I..." Mere words could not have described the explicit anger I was feeling towards my mother, "Did you ask me?" I asked through clenched teeth.

"I'm sorry?" My mother said, her eyes narrowing, "Did you ask me?" I asked a second time with a slightly raised voice, letting her know of my frustration. "I am your mother, I don't need to ask you." "LIKE HELL YOU DON'T. I'm the one getting married, not you." My mother stared at me, "Don't you dare speak to me like that." "Oh fuck off, seariously. This isn't 18th century Pakistan where you marry girls off without asking them first." My mother's face got red, she grabbed my arm harshly, "Either you get dressed to meet these people or you move out of my house." I stood there, I loved Steve, I didn't even have to think about my decision twice, "Then I guess I'll start packing." My mother let go of me as I stormed to my room locking the door and smashing my things into my suitcase while tears streamed down my face.

***

I stood out in the hall with all of my things, unsure of where I'd go, I wished I knew where Steve was. Faaz came out of the house running into my arms, hugging me tight, "Why are you leaving me, Baji?" Tears were freely falling down his face, my heart clenched, "Sweetheart, me and mom can't live together. It's for the best, I'll try to see you as much as possible." Faaz cried into my chest as he hugged me tighter, "I love you." I put my arms around his small body, "I love you too." My mother pulled him away harshly as her jaw clenched while looking at me. She disappeared back into the apartment and the last thing I saw was Faaz's grief stricken face before the door closed.

I hauled my stuff into a taxi and called Hannah, she picked up, "Hello?" "Hannah, I need a place to stay for a little while." I knew she could hear the tears in my voice, "Oh my God, Megan what happened?" "I'll tell you later, can I stay?" "Yeah, of course, I'll get my spare bed out." I hung up waiting for the driver to drop me off to Hannah's house.

"Soooo, let me see if I got this right." Hannah held up her hand, trying to wrap her mind around everything I had told her thus far. "Mr. Grant and you have been dating for a while, a couple of months now. It was a secret relationship, you guys had sex yesterday for the first time, which by the way I need details of. You love him but Auntie arranged a marriage prospect for you. She gave you the option to either stay and get married or move out and since you love Mr. Grant, you moved out. Oh wait, what did I forget. Oh yah, just the fact that Mr. Grant is actually Chris Evans who is actually Captain America who is actually Steven Grant Rogers, the super soldier." Hannah took a deep breath. "It's the truth." "Sis, I believe you, you don't lie, plus I knew he looked like Chris Evan's darker haired twin." I laughed. "So you haven't seen him today?" I shook my head, "He just disappeared." "Well how does he know where to find you?" Hannah asked, genuinely concerned. "I don't really know, I guess he'll just have to find me." Hannah laughed, "Yeah, he shows up at my house and my parents freak. They love you to death but they won't tolerate Steve!" I nodded, "Yeah, don't worry. Thanks for letting me stay, I won't disturb the peace in your house." Hannah smiled, "Thanks."

The doorbell rang and I could hear our friend group rumble up the stairs, "You didn't tell them about Steve, did you?" Hannah shook her head, "Bitch no, I'm not crazy. I'll keep that to myself, don't you worry." I nodded, feeling relieved. Abdul walked in, kissing Hannah on the cheek. Soon all of our friends were in Hannah's huge bedroom, chilling out on her bed or canopy or bean bag chairs. Hannah's room was like a separate tiny house, complete with a mini kitchen, bathroom and living room. Kylie sulked in after everyone, "I don't get it, your mom allows the boys here but not Christian?" Hannah shrugged, "That's what I was telling Megan. Boys our age are okay, even then they aren't allowed to stay the night, but teachers, especially hot young teachers my best friends are dating? That's a big no no." Kylie pursed her lips, "Well, whatever."

We all hung out and for a small while I felt as if everything would be okay.

***

One week had passed by without a single word from Steve, I was beyond worried that something happened to him, but a nagging thought at the back of my mind insisted that he got what he wanted from me, sex, now he was gone. I knew I couldn't believe that, but he still hadn't contacted me, so what was I to believe?

Hannah's parents were on a trip while Hannah was out with Abdul to the theatre watching that new horror movie that came out. So, the whole house was to myself. I hung around in my tiny Pyjamas, watching Riverdale and munching on popcorn. All the lights were off and the window blew a chill into the room, I shivered getting up to close it. I was about to resume back to my seat on my bed when I saw a pair of gold eyes stare at me. The golden eyes were about the prettiest things I had ever seen, glittering brightly, even in the dark.

"Who are you?" I found that I was calm and not scared around this random person, but I was rather uneasy. "My dear, I am here to rescue you from a broken heart." His voice was rich and smooth, flowing out with a beautiful serenity to it. "A broken heart? I don't understand." He took a deep breath, "No, I presume you don't. Mr. Rogers has left you for someone better, he's gone from your life after taking what he wanted from you, sex." I bit my lip, tears welling in my eyes, "No. that's not true, he loves me!" The man inhaled deeply, as if my tears hurt him, "Where is he then?" I thought about it, could it be possible that Steve didn't really love me? Of course, how could I have been so naive, why would he have wanted to be with a nitty 17 year old when beautiful and famous 20-somethings threw themselves at him.

"Yes, realization is dawning on you. Be with me, you'll be my queen. I promise you eternal love and happiness." Tears fell from my eyes, "How can I trust any man? What if you want to use me just like Steve?" The man stepped into view as the moonlight casted light to his face. He was gorgeous, no doubt, he had golden, smoldering eyes, and red lips stretched into a smile. His bronze complexion shone, and he looked vaguely Greek. "My dear," he spoke and I was immediately enchanted into his rich voice, "I never break promises. I will make you my queen, we will rise to power, I will be the most powerful in the world and with you on my side, we will be an unstoppable force." "What, rise to power?" The man nodded, "I will explain all this to you, but I need to know first, are you willing to leave everything behind for me?" I took a deep breath, "I don't even know you!"

"You don't need to." I thought about that, about his offer, the more I thought the more my thoughts became murky and only one decision remained. "Even my brother and friends?" I asked. "Sadly, yes my dear." I nodded, he took my hand and spun me into his chest, kissing me deeply, I felt loved for the first time in a week and I felt powerful. I wanted to dominate this world, burn it to ashes and rise as queen. The man pulled away, "You can call me Kronos." I gasped, "Kronos as in the Titan of time in greek mythology? That Kronos?" He laughed a melodic laugh, "Yes my dear, that Kronos." I thought that if Superheroes could exist, so could Greek Gods so I shrugged and kissed the beautiful man again.