.05 | Mystery Man

The circus might have been over, but the night wasn't ending anytime soon. After the crowds departed the big top most everyone made their way towards the carnival that had been set up in the field. There was an assortment of games and prizes that the kids could win if they were lucky enough.

Merida knew from experience the games were tough. Her mother had always expressed frustration that the games were almost set up for failure, but that she supposed it was part of the way the circus could make their money.

Only the kids that thought outside of the box would be able to master the carnival games.

When Merida had finally stopped quaking from fear, she decided it was time to get changed so she could mingle around in the shadows for a little bit.

Merida had quickly changed into a simple black cotton dress that came to her knees. The dress was long sleeved but had enough breathing room so she wouldn't die from the heat. It had a small scoop on her chest but was proper enough that it wouldn't make her feel overexposed. She slipped into a  pair of black jeweled flats to match her dress before heading out of her dressing room.

Merida never really liked the exposure of her wrists, and she had found many ways to cover up the scars from prying eyes. If her outfit didn't have long sleeves on them, she was wearing some kind of wrist accessory so that she wouldn't have to look at them. They were a dreadful reminder of her past, and something that she was heavily ashamed of.

Not because she had tried.

But because it hadn't worked.

Killian had had quite the cackle about her attempt to rid herself of this life. It made her face burn red for a moment as an echo of his cruel laughter poured over her.

It was a wonder Killian even allowed her to roam the after-circus activities, but at the end of the day he was utmost confident she wouldn't run.

He knew her so well.

The mere thought of running sent an assortment of goosebumps down her arms. Her bottom lip trembled as his promise echoed in her mind. She felt a revulsion in her belly at the thought of Killian touching her in that way.

She was brought back to the present as she walked further into the carnival, the lights and the sounds of the games captured her attention. The people in the crowd made her pause as smiles lit up their entire features. It made her realize just how happy people became from attending their circus.

There were people eating cotton candy and bags of nuts without a care in the world. Girls and boys, and even elderly, were joining in on the whimsical feeling that encompassed the atmosphere.

Each person she passed was in such a state of magic that they didn't even recognize her as the mutant girl from the show's finale. Couples clung to each other's arms and families laughed merrily.

It would be very easy to reach out and grab someone in the crowd...to tell them she was a prisoner of the circus, but fear kept her from doing anything rash like that.

Fear kept her insides quivering at the thought of Killian finding out she had attempted to get help.

She had suffered before on more than one occasion. She wouldn't allow him the pleasure of using his hand against her face or his venomous words against her soul.

Merida continued watching with quiet eyes as the scenery unfolded around her. She was like a ghost in the crowd.

Except one person had noticed her ethereal figure wander aimlessly. His movements were calculated, but only because he wanted to keep up with the girl from the show.

Merida had no idea that a particular Avenger was walking amongst the crowd, his blue eyes watching her lonely form as she moved like a ghost.

She paused as a bouncy ball came rolling to her feet. Her eyes caught sight of a small blonde girl that came bounding over from a game where her ball had hit the back of the wooden board, but ricocheted off it and towards Merida.

The ball touched the tips of her flats, her eyes weary as the little girl pushed back blonde hair that was in her eyes.

"That's my ball. Sorry!" Her voice was high pitched, elation at being at the carnival ever present in her hazel irises. Merida picked up the bouncy ball and bent down to the girls level, handing it to her with a meek smile.

The girl took the ball slowly, her eyes holding fast to Merida's face as she scrunched her brows inward in concentration.

"You're the tiger lady." The girl whispered with a look of awe.

Merida froze as she anticipated the girl's reaction to change from awe to horror. She braced for the sudden shift, but it never came. The girl stared at Merida, her eyes roaming her face, but the backlash she anticipated never came.

The look of horror and disgust didn't come either.

The little girl merely looked interested.

Merida rarely experienced moments like this so she froze, unable to comprehend the ball of emotions in her chest.

"MOM! MOM! It's the tiger lady!" Her voice broke through as shrill excitement.

She repeated her words again as Merida stood up quickly, the ball still in her hands as the girl hadn't taken it yet. She looked around, clearly spooked. The crowd around Merida and the girl was small, but people started to turn and whisper.

She wanted to curl in on herself.

She had a bad feeling clawing at her belly.

"MANDY! Get away from her! NOW!"

The mother of the blonde girl ran up as if Merida were about to eat her child. She grabbed her daughter, her eyes assessing her for a moment before they rose to meet Merida.

Recognition swept through her eyes as she looked at Merida's face. She recognized Merida from the show just as her daughter had. The mother swiped the ball from Merida's hands as she weakly protested, but the mother glared at Merida in disgust.

"Get your claws away from my daughter." The mother murmured with tone of absolute disdain.

Merida shrank away as the crowd around murmured hushed whispers. A few people in the crowd looked as if they were about to take a photo of her, but Merida turned away from their phones, hiding her face.

"I just-she lost her ball-" Merida pleaded with a sullen voice, involuntarily taking a step towards them as the little girl looked between her mother and Merida with panicked eyes. The daughter's eyes welled over as tears spilled from her tears. She looked confused, and it broke Merida's heart.

The mother didn't even give Merida the chance to finish her pleading words before shooting out the two words that still burned Merida to her core to this day.

"Stay back, mutant freak."

Mutant Freak.

The woman might as well have slapped her in the face because the words brought more shame to her heart than this woman would ever know.

"Hey! That's enough!"

A bold voice broke from behind Merida.

Everyone whipped around to see who had so adamantly stepped ip into the small circle that had formed. Merida's eyes instantly caught sight of the figure that had caused a stir of silence.

Some of his face was obscured by the darkened sky, the lights and the decorations from twirling bulbs passed over his face again and again, making it hard to make out his face completely.

A series of whispers filled the small circle as the man who had approached bore a brown leather jacket and a grey shirt underneath, along with a pair of dark blue jeans. He wore a dark baseball cap to cover his hair, but his face was strikingly chiseled.

Merida raised a brow at the man's bold words to the woman, who was now eyeing him curiously as well.

There was a heated moment as people started glancing at the man curiously. The woman stared at the mystery man as her daughter cried silently against her shoulder.

"Just stay the hell away." She responded flatly. The woman curled her lip in contempt at Merida before stalking off with her daughter looking at Merida from over her shoulder.

A sadness radiated from the child's eyes and Merida tried her best to smile meekly at the girl to reassure her it was okay.

It was far from okay though. Her soul had been stomped on by the ugly words from her mother. The prying crowd dissipated, what was left of it at least, and the carnival carried on as it had been.

Her eyes fell to the pavement, her cheeks still burning from the embarrassment at the crude words spoken to her. She felt her nostrils flare slightly, which was usually a pre-cursor to tears. She sniffed before finally willing her eyes to look up at the man who had spoken up in her defense.

"You didn't have to do that."

Her words were softly spoke, but loud enough for Steve to hear, along with the broken tone she carried.

He had watched her in the circus act and he could see the fear in her eyes as she looked at the Ringmaster. He even noticed the subtle way she shifted her body away from the Ringmaster when he would come closer to her.

"I'm not a fan of bullies." He commented seriously, taking a small step towards Merida. His brows furrowed in concern as he moved.

Warning bells went off in her mind as he approached. She was not to really mingle with the public.

Per Killian's orders.

But as the man had drawn a step closer, she saw a flash of compassionate blue eyes from the man.

Was she even worthy of a gaze so compassionate?

She didn't feel like it.

"You don't look like a guy that's bullied often." She skeptically noted, taking in his broad shoulders that were prominent from underneath the leather jacket. He nervously stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jacket and looked down, a ghost of a smile escaping his lips.

"Would you believe me if I told you I used to get beaten up?"

"Not entirely, no." Merida responded a bit louder than her previous words to him. A twitch of her lips indicated she had offered him a very small, docile smile.

But it wasn't near enough to reach her eyes.

When did it ever reach her eyes?

He laughed and Merida looked around hesitantly as if Killian were watching her. She whipped around over her shoulder, her eyes alarmed in anticipation, but he was nowhere around. She felt her body freeze at the mere thought that Killian might catch her lingering with a circus guest.

"I hope I'm not holding up your time." The man mentioned politely, looking around as if wondering what she was looking at.

She shook her head.

"No, I just-I shouldn't be here. I-uh, I'm not exactly allowed to mingle with the guests,"

"At least not for long." She added in one breath.

He furrowed his brows, an assessing gaze growing over his face as he pulled his hands from his pockets. She radiated fear. He could see the way her eyes looked from left to right as if anticipating someone to catch her out and about.

"Why not?"

Merida swallowed thickly.

The conversation had gone well past where it should have gone. She didn't understand why her feet were planted to the ground, firmly rooted. She willed her body to move and rush away from this man, but she just couldn't.

"Because I scare people."

He shook his head as he gazed at her politely, "Well, you don't scare me, ma'am."

She didn't know what to think of the fact that he had just called her ma'am, but it was odd to hear such a word. A word like that was rarely ever spoken to her from a guest.

"You're either very brave or very stupid, sir."

He laughed.

Merida found the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. He had an inviting aura, something that was hard to find in people. He had this way about him that made Merida comfortable, which in turn, made her extremely uncomfortable.

And afraid.

"It depends on who you ask." He responded, a cheeky smile escaping his lips.

She noted that not one point of the conversation yet had turned towards her mutant ability, or the fact that she could turn into a giant tiger. The man spoke to her like normal, which made her cautious and slightly on edge despite what his aura was saying.

"Cap, I'm scouting the side tents."

Natasha's voice came over his earpiece.

He looked around, his face turning away from her as he looked behind him, his right hand drew up to his ear for a moment as if he were listening to something she couldn't hear, but he said nothing as he turned back towards her.

Merida eyed him as he sheepishly grinned.

"You wouldn't get into too much trouble by escorting me to the cotton candy stand? I've gotten kind of turned around in here."

Merida was many things, but a fool was not one of them. He had a sheepish gaze upon his face as he looked at her earnestly, but this man was far from turned around. However, she would play along with his request.

She didn't know who he was, or why he had been at the circus all by himself, but he held some kind of authority about him that made her skin bristle. He didn't look like a police officer.

Merida couldn't put her finger on what he was.

She nodded silently, turning slowly so that he would follow her to the cotton candy stand. He fell into step beside her, casual conversation didn't come natural to her so when he started to talk she felt her heart race with anxiety.

"You know I haven't been to a circus since I was a kid."

Merida eyed him as they slowly made their way through the crowd. She took note of the way he gave her his undivided attention. She swallowed thickly past the lump in her throat and looked up at him expectantly.

"Was it like you remembered?"

He looked down at her, drawing in his eyebrows as he pondered her question. He shook his head up and down.

"Yeah, but now I'm wondering why I was so scared of the clowns as a kid."

She smirked despite herself and he smiled back.

"You were scared of the clowns?" Her question came out with disbelief in her tone. He laughed lightly, pulling the baseball cap a bit lower on his head in a nervous gesture.

"Yeah, my friend Bucky would tease me about it."

Bucky? What kind of name was that?

She chose not to ask, nor ask why there was a hint of sadness in his eyes when he mentioned his friend. There was a small patch of quiet in the conversation as they got stuck behind a huddle of people in line waiting to play a game.

"Have you been part of the circus for a long time?"

You have no idea.

Merida glanced up at him, but nervously looked away as her throat wobbled with unease. She didn't like the casualness of the conversation and the questions he was asking. It felt too personal, but despite her better judgement she answered. Every single thing she was doing tonight had gone against her better judgement though.

Merida could feel her mind racing with thoughts about Killian punishing her for mingling with the guests, especially a guest such as this handsome gentleman. Killian was possessive and there was nothing he wanted more than to make sure she knew she was belonged to him and only him.

"I'm sorry if I'm prying." He furrowed his brows in concern. She had taken too long to answer the question.

She shook her head.

"No, you're not," She paused, poising her answer carefully.

"I've been part of the circus my whole life. My mother was an acrobat."

There was tone to her voice that Steve caught immediately when she talked. He caught the past tense she used in regards to her mother and he frowned. He couldn't imagine what kind of life she had led being part of a circus.

It seemed very unconventional.

Steve noted the haunted look in her eyes. There was something like a chain wearing her down, holding her in place here at the circus. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the chain was Killian, the Ringermaster. He knew a trauma victim when he saw one and she held all the signs of someone that was held captive by a manipulator.

Her eyes told him what her voice could not.

Merida didn't like the way he gazed at her, so she turned away, pushing dark curls away from her face.

They approached the cotton candy booth and she noted a few people were in line before them. Merida paused awkwardly and motioned to the line. The man smiled, stuffing his hands in his blue jeans pockets as he rocked back and forth for a moment.

She could smell the sweetness of the cotton candy, the colorful hues of blue and pink bouncing around as the handler made the cotton candy for a little girl in line.

"Do you enjoy it here?" He asked casually as the line started to move quicker than she had anticipated. Merida found herself refusing to leave his side, even though every bone in her body was on edge.

Every neve ending was screaming at her to run and hide, but she could not.

She smiled tightly at him; a lie plastered upon her face in the hopes that this mystery man wouldn't see it.

"Of course." She answered in a tone that was not her own. The high-pitch sounded forceful and her smile never once made it to her eyes as the man gazed at her with an indescribable look that made her avert her gaze once again.

There had been scrutiny in his eyes, but not necessarily of her, but at the way she spoke.

She was saved from another awkward conversation as the man approached the counter and ordered two, one blue and one pink. He paid the man quickly, putting his wallet back into his back pocket before grabbing the orders once they were done. He handed the pink one to her with a sheepish look on his face.

"I hope you like cotton candy. I mean, you're part of the circus so I assume-" His voice trailed off as he hesitantly handed her the pink sugary goodness on a stick.

She stood there in shock. Merida's eyes were doe eyed at the mystery man with the baseball cap.

Merida could not remember the last time a complete stranger had showed her this much kindness. She bit her lower lip, hesitant to take the cotton candy from him, but the softness in his blue eyes made her cave.

She reached out and took the cotton candy, plucking a piece off and popping it in her mouth. They walked away from the stand and she looked up at him expectantly, "I do like cotton candy. It's uhm-I'm just not used to people buying me things."

Her words tumbled out before she could stop them, her cheeks faint trace of pink as the man look at her with concern.

She didn't like that look.

The look of concern.

The last thing she needed was someone prying into the circus and her well-being. Killian would kill this man before he could even blink.

They stood there staring at one another for a brief moment, hesitance on his face.

"It's the least I could do since you helped me find it. I probably would have gotten lost if you hadn't shown me." He offered a cheeky smile. She watched as he ate a few pieces of his own cotton candy, to which she did the same.

"I probably should have been the one buying you cotton candy. You're the only one that stepped up for me back there." She was quiet and looked at him with earnest eyes and felt her heart clench at the idea a complete stranger might actually care for her well-being.

It didn't even seem like reality.

He lowered his cotton candy for a moment, "I'm sorry that happened. I think people have a way of fearing things they don't quite understand, which brings out the worst in some. The world is changing far more quickly than people can keep up with."

He paused and she realized he was giving her some kind of pep talk, but whatever it was he held her attention. It had been far too long since a stranger had captivated her to this degree.

Merida didn't really feel worthy of it either.

"Are you keeping up?" She asked without thinking, her fingers slipping another piece of cotton candy into her mouth, relishing the sweetness.

He laughed lightly, looking down and then nodded, "I'm trying to."

She smiled and he returned the sentiment.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that I understand what it's like to be bullied. We just have to figure out if we're willing to fight against them, to take a stand and push against the injustice."

"Not all bullies can be taken down easily." She whispered, her throat bobbing as the conversation turned to a dangerous road. She wondered what exactly this man was talking about.

"True, but you don't have to go at it alone either. There will always be people willing to step up and help." He mentioned casually, a small smile on his face despite the serious gaze to his bright eyes.

He knew.

Merida felt dread pull at her belly.

Was it possible he saw straight though her? Was it possible he realized from the show itself that she was a slave to the circus and her bully was Killian? Or was he talking about the random lady that spat awful words to her?

Her mind swirled and she felt faint.

Before she could respond, Fran appeared beside them both, her eyes wide and alert.

"Lovebug, you're needed immediately."

Fran's eyes were practically begging to Merida to leave the conversation, a silent plea that Merida caught on to quickly.

Merida looked at the man, his eyes searching Fran over and trying to figure out what was going on.

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to excuse me. I need to go-" Merida replied meekly to the man, her eyes averting his questionable gaze.

Fran gave the man a once over, her eyes gazing at him peculiarly before gently taking Merida's upper right arm and pulling her along. The man barely parted his lips to speak a goodbye before Fran whisked her away.

Merida gave a shy glance over her shoulder at the man before turning around and looking at Fran who was on her right.

"Killian was making his rounds in the shadows. I didn't want him to see you with that man." Fran whispered as she dragged Merida along with urgency.

Merida could hear the frantic concern in her voice, her eyes holding fast to the cotton candy stick still in her hand before Fran got her around a corner of a corndog stand.

Fran gazed at her and Merida met her gaze.

They knew the consequences that could be had if Killian decided he didn't like what he saw. Fran had intervened in the nick of time to prevent a harsh punishment that might have come with Killian's roller coaster mood swings.

"Thank you." Merida whispered.

Part of her was disappointed in herself for entertaining the notion that talking to him was a good idea. She had been foolish to do as such. Merida was meant for the shadows and conversing with guests was to be done so with the utmost caution.

Especially if Killian were to see.

A part of Merida wanted to blurt out to Fran about what Killian had said tonight, but she kept quiet about it. There was no use in worrying Fran in matters she couldn't control. Killian would have Merida by the end of the weekend and it was not something she wanted to burden anyone else with.

"Who was he anyway?" Fran asked curiously as her eyes searched Merida for answers.

"I didn't even get his name." Merida spoke with a sad smile forming on her face. Fran raised an eyebrow, her sinewy hands clasped before her magical robes with an incredulous look.

"A very handsome man buys you cotton candy and you don't even get his name?"

Merida looked at the cotton candy and then at Fran, her cheeks turning pink. She pursed her lips and squashed any bit of contentment she had felt at being talked to by that man.

Contentment was a foreign subject and she was denied so much of it in the past years that she honestly didn't like to think about it. If she was happy or content at any given, Killian would be there to take whatever it was away from her.

He had done it before.

He would not hesitate to do it again.

"Why get the name of someone you'll never meet again?" Merida responded pessimistically.

Fran sighed, a small smile of understanding on her face, but she still looked disappointed in the fact that Merida had not gotten a name. She put a hand on Merida's cheek and pinched it lightly as Merida let out a small huff of laugher.

"Merida, you never know when a stranger could become a friend."

They looked at one another for a moment before Fran looped her arm within Merida's, pulling her close as they trailed the edge of the perimeter, making their way back to the side tents.

---

Steve watched as the older woman pulled the girl away, his eyes never leaving her frail figure. He watched as she turned around, giving him one last gaze over her shoulder.

Before he could think anything else, a voice rang out in his ear. Steve lowered his head slightly as garbled communication came through his earpiece.

"Scouted the north and south borders. Got a good layout of the place. Let's dip out before we're spotted by fangirls."

Sam's voice came in on the line and Steve smirked, shaking his head.

"Got a good layout of the side tents. I'm meeting you guys in five."

Natasha's voice chimed in.

"Meet you at the south exit in five." Steve mentioned in a hushed whisper, his head low and lips barely moving an inch so no one would see.

As soon as he looked up and took a step towards the south exit his eyesight caught a figure leaning against the side of a pillar that stood among the decorations.

His figure was unmistakable.

His red, black and gold Ringmaster outfit tailored to perfection. The bright orange hair like a flame and the thin eyebrows that matched the color of his hair. His face was sickly white, but his eyes were dark as the night sky.

Steve felt a tremor run down his spine at the sheer darkness that radiated from the Ringmaster. He had no idea how long he had been standing there but judging from his cold dead stare he might have been there since he was talking to the girl.

Before heading towards the south exit,
Steve fixed him with a steely gaze of his own, then and there silently vowing to himself he would come back not only to take down Killian, but also for the girl.

Author's Note:

Okayyy but how cute are my babies Merida and Steve?

I enjoyed this chapter IMMENSELY..and we FINALLY have an official meeting between them. I think it's adorable he bought her cotton candy. For Merida, this is all foreign. She has no idea what chivalry is and so of course Steve's actions kinda concern her.

I feel like she doesn't feel worthy of it Dx
My poor bean.

Francesca is legitimately a life saver and I love the motherly-like relationship she has with Merida. She can't replace her mom, but she can darn sure try and protect her like one.

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter.

SUPER EXCITED FOR WHAT IS TO COME!!!