? ?Agent Parrish, steve rogers

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE —
( Back in the familiar comfort of home. )

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        Thor dropped Evelyn off at Washington DC, where Steve and her were staying due to S.H.I.E.L.D. moving there. Evelyn told him to leave her at the park across the street so she could relax and soak up the beautiful weather that DC was blessed with. As she lay there, passersby shot her strange glances, likely because she was covered in torn-apart clothes splattered with blood.

Evelyn gazed at the clouds overhead, hoping to find familiar shapes and patterns. Unlike people with vivid imaginations, she struggled to see anything beyond their fluffy appearance. While others spotted animals and objects in the clouds, Evelyn could only see them for what they were—clouds. She wished she still had an imagination and child-like innocence, but after everything she had been through, she wasn't surprised she couldn't force her mind to jump towards a happier place.

Evelyn lay down on the grass to contain her emotions about what had happened the last few days. Evelyn saw her father cry, something she wouldn't have dreamed of seeing. He looked so broken, so distraught. She looked after him, made sure he himself didn't do anything rash. Frigga loved Loki so much that she wouldn't want him to hurt himself over her death.

As Evelyn reflected on the moment of Loki's passing, she was surprised by the depth of her emotions. Despite their complicated relationship, she realized how much she truly cared for him. He was not just her father, but also the sole remaining link to her biological mother, and her last remaining relative. With his death, she felt a profound sense of loss and emptiness. She had no family.

The piercing roar of a motorbike shattered Evelyn's thoughts, drawing her attention from the tears pooling in her eyes. She saw Steve parking his bike beside their apartment complex and striding inside. With a heavy sigh, Evelyn pushed herself off the ground and followed suit. As she walked through the entrance of their apartment building, she was enveloped by the welcoming warmth that seemed to embrace her like a comforting embrace.

Ascending the stairs, Evelyn noted the absence of Steve, realizing he must have bounded up the steps while she lagged behind, each weary step a burden on her already heavy heart. When she reached their floor, their neighbour Sharon exited her room. She was an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent going by 'Kate', but Evelyn and Fury were the only ones to know that. Evelyn smiled at her as Sharon looked up at her.

"It looks like you've been through hell," Sharon chuckled softly as they passed each other.

Evelyn surveyed her torn clothes, which were stained with dirt and blood. Her disheveled hair sat in a tangled mass atop her head. She let out a dry laugh in response. "Yeah, I guess I have," she replied.

"I'll see you around, Evelyn," Sharon said, continuing on her way.

"I'll see you around, Kate."

Evelyn turned around slowly, her eyes fixed on the door before her. She paused, taking a deep breath, attempting to stem the tears threatening to overwhelm her, and knocked on the door.

Steve eagerly opened the door, his handsome face breaking into a joyful smile as he caught sight of his love. "Eve!"

But Evelyn's tough exterior seemed to shatter in an instant. Tears welled in her eyes, and she gazed up at him, her lip quivering. "Steve..."

The tears began to flow uncontrollably, and Steve sprang to her side instantly. She gripped his shirt tightly as he wrapped his arms around her, murmuring words of comfort that she couldn't quite make out. Her legs trembled beneath her, and Steve must have noticed because before she knew it, he had lifted her off the ground and settled them onto the couch with her in his lap, holding her close. She sobbed for what felt like an eternity, letting everything she had inside out until her cries turned into quiet sniffles and hiccups.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Steve's voice was soft and tender as he spoke.

Evelyn nodded solemnly and recounted every event that transpired since she parted ways with him. She detailed Odin's lackluster reception, her imprisonment alongside Loki, the sorrowful demise of Frigga, and Loki's behavior. Evelyn also narrated their escape from Asgard and the intense battle with the Dark Elves. While revisiting the memory of Loki's sacrifice, she struggled to hold back her tears. Lastly, she shared the details of the confrontation with the Dark Elves and the moments of peace she found in the nearby park.

Steve listened to every word, offering comforting gestures as Evelyn recounted the events involving Loki. Their conversation varied through various topics until Evelyn eventually succumbed to sleep in Steve's embrace, back in the familiar comfort of home.

AUTHORS NOTE
Dark World is finally over!!! Winter Soldier is about to get a lot more intense, so enjoy the final part of this book 😁🕺🏻
Pheebs/-rosepetal