Chapter Text
“When did you say she’d be here?” Pierce demanded, tapping his foot impatiently.
Strucker checked his watch. “She said she would be here at half nine.”
“What time is it now?”
“Uh… ten?”
Pierce gritted his teeth. He knew very well that he had to be patient; he needed Y/n’s support and right now she was the only thing standing in Hydra’s way. Y/n’s people were a neutral but powerful force and it had come to his attention that the Iron Kingdom were having some contact with her, no doubt to try and sway her over to their side. That would not do and so he demanded for a meeting with Y/n. Her people had obliged, promised y/n would arrive at half nine and left Pierce, Strucker and their peace offering in the meeting room for over an hour.
The doors eventually opened and Y/n walked in, her bodyguard following closely behind. From what Pierce knew of Y/n’s people and their culture, women took more active roles in society and the men were often the ones taking the role of the traditional housewife. It made Pierce wrinkle his nose as he took in Y/n and her armour. It was clearly made for her, protecting the most vital parts but remaining light enough for her to remain quick on her feet. Her bodyguard, a lithe woman with blood-red hair and an intense expression that was fixed on Pierce.
“Sit.” The bodyguard said tersely, gesturing to the tables and chairs. Pierce and his company had been warned to not sit until told to and they had grudgingly agreed. The three of them sat on one side of the table while Y/n and her bodyguard sat on the other. “State your business.”
“I am Alexander Pierce, King of Hydra. This is my advisor, Strucker. We would like to negotiate support.”
The red-head raised an eyebrow after translating for Y/n. “Support? For what?”
“Support for an attack against the Iron Kingdom.”
Y/n huffed a laugh and said something to her bodyguard in her mother tongue. The redhead’s lips quirked, as if she were trying not to laugh and then she turned to Pierce. “The Iron Kingdom has been an ally of ours since before the Great War.”
Pierce smiled. “I thought you would say that. I just figured the bitch would like some incentive to help us or else we’ll kill her and her people.” The redhead spoke slowly and Pierce wondered what she was saying to her Queen. Pierce waved a hand to the gift on his left who had kept his eyes fixed on the table, head bowed. “An exotic creature from the South. Gold is an unusual colour for hair.” He brushed a hand through the slave’s hair and wasn’t particularly bothered when the slave flinched away from him. “He would fetch a pretty penny in the market.”
Y/n leaned back in her chair, said something to her bodyguard and stood. She made a universal gesture of ‘come here’ and the slave slowly got to his feet, trying not to look her in the eye and got down on his knees before her. Y/n examined the slave carefully without touching him and at one point caught his eye to which he flinched and looked away.
“The slave belongs to Y/n now, yes?” The redhead prompted.
“Yes.” Pierce’s smile widened. “I take it you accept our gift?”
Y/n said something to the redhead, a fair chunk of speech, never taking her eyes off the slave. The redhead nodded at her Queen then turned her attention to Pierce again. “You have given us a gift. It is only customary that we give you one in return.”
Pierce’s eyebrows flew up to his hairline. “Oh? And what is that?”
“Your life. And the lives of all of your people. In exchange for this priceless gift, you will release all of the slaves you have in that city of yours.” The red head said coolly. “Do you understand?”
Pierce’s face reddened. “You bitch! The whore can’t do this! I will never yield to you!”
Y/n’s expression hardened and the redhead leaned back, evidently expecting something. “The Iron Kingdom is an age-old ally. You think a gift of a slave will break years of friendship? Me and the Iron King have played together, fought together. We grew up together. Nothing will change that, least of all you.” Her eyes fell on the slave. “Come with me.” She held out her hand and the slave hesitantly took it, rising to his feet.
She didn’t look back as she left the redhead with Pierce and Strucker.
She didn’t look back at the sound of the Hydra King’s screams.
Steve was… confused.
He’d been primped and pampered, which was strange in itself, and then taken to somewhere that Master Pierce called a ‘neutral location’. Then they waited for over an hour as Master Pierce became increasingly frustrated.
His new Mistress, Mistress ‘call me y/n’ L/n was beautiful. She had a natural beauty and gentle kindness that was rare amongst people nowadays. Steve had never seen a woman dressed in armour before and had to admit that if he weren’t a slave, he wouldn’t dare challenge her. For all her aura, it was clear she ran things with an iron fist.
Y/n led him to where a pair of horses were grazing. She clicked her tongue and the nearest, a dusky silver horse, trotted over and nuzzled Y/n. “Can you ride a horse?” Mistress L/n asked Steve. He shook his head. “You’ll ride with me.” Mistress Y/n was looking at him expectantly and Steve clambered awkwardly onto the horse. Mistress Y/n climbed on in front of him so she held the reins and urged the horse on. Steve glanced back and saw the redhead on her own horse looking bored, cleaning blood from a knife.
“Do you have a name?” Mistress Y/n asked once they were securely on the road.
“Steve, Mistress. But he will answer to any name you give him.” Steve said quietly.
“Where are you from originally?”
“I think I am from the Fire Isles.” Steve said.
“Hm. Did you know the Fire Isles were named so because it is said that the sun favoured them in the days of creation and gave them the gift of fire.”
Steve’s eyebrows raised. “No, mistress, I didn’t.” He spoke again, hesitantly. “Do you… do you know of any other tales?”
Mistress Y/n glanced back at him and smiled. “I know many.”