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Revenge sounds so mean

That's why I call it returning the favor

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The party was louder in the village, people were actually partying and having a grand time unlike in the castle where people where to afraid to taint their reputation to actually enjoy themselves. 

James personally was shocked to see his parents dancing and cuddling up so close to one another. They were two completely different people out here. James wasn't stupid, he knew the circumstance of their relationship, and while they are happy he wasn't really sure if they were in love or just content. He has heard them say they love one another but he didn't know to what point, was it friendship or something more. 

Watching them tonight, he didn't know if it was just the vibe of the party, the fact that his mother was a tad bit intoxicated or it's their actual feelings but they looked in love. James couldn't help but smile. He liked it down here, everything seemed easier. 

"Beautiful isn't it?" James turned to see a woman wearing an old dress, but James didn't think too much of it. 

"Excuse me?" He asked taking a step back. Usually, he wasn't allowed to talk with the villagers much do to guards keeping him safe, this was his first conversation with one without his parents or royal advisers nearby. 

"My apologies, I meant the world down here. It just has so many beautiful qualities don't you agree?" She asked and James nodded his head slowly, watching the lady. "Am I making you uncomfortable your highness?" 

"You know I am the prince?" He asked. 

"Well you are dressed in very nice clothes, the whole village talks about you and your sister. You are the heart of the kingdom if I do say so myself." She said with a smile. 

"Right..." He said. The lady looked at him as if reading his mind. 

"You seem bored," She said. 

"As amazing as this world is, I am just not in the spirits to play as the prince tonight," James said with a sigh turning back to his parents. They looked so happy. 

"Why don't you be James," She asked. "Don't be the prince, be yourself. It's not like your parents are watching you" 

"I care too much about them to leave them alone," He answered. 

"It's doesn't look like they will miss you too much." She smiled. "Tonight is about enjoying ourselves, your parents say so themselves, go and enjoy yourself. I can show you the stables." 

"How do you know I like to ride?" 

"Do you want to go or not?" She asked beginning to walk away. James looked at her and back at his father, his mother was no longer in his arms, but he talked to a few other dancers. James knew he shouldn't but the thought of being free and happy was just so tempting, even for a night. He sighed before running after the lady. Time to celebrate in his own way. 

*
*
*

Meanwhile, Natasha and Steve were dancing with a smile on their faces. Steve moved his hand lower down her waist in an affectionate manner but Natasha stopped his hand moving it back up. Steve sighed. 

"Are you still upset with me?" He whispered in her ear keeping a smile on his face. 

"You lashed out, not only at me but our son in front of the biggest kings and queens in the world Steve," She said sternly. "So yes I am still angry." 

"Those kings and queens are our friends. They too have children and they understand the pressures." Steve claimed to try to calm her down because he knew the tone in her voice all too well. "I doubt they care." 

"I don't care if they were our siblings. Steven, they tried to calm you down as well but you didn't seem to care." She said, she too had the smile on her face, but her grip on his hand was not loving. 

"our son was missing, right after we had a war. He has to understand boundaries Natasha, we can't have them running around doing whatever they want." 

"oh like you used to?" She asked, anger in her voice. She had to take a deep breath. "You are being too hard on the kids lately and as far as I am concerned Steve he is acting exactly like you when we met." She moved away from him. 

"Where are you going?" Steve asked standing there helpless. 

"Water." She answered and began to walk away from him. Natasha's eyes grazed the people around her and she noticed that James was not among them. She frowned and kept looking and that's when a woman caught her eye. 

She was blond, wearing an old dress and something about her seemed oddly familiar. Natasha saw her take James behind some buildings. She started to follow them making sure to smile at some villagers to seem less conspicuous. 

Natasha watched them walk down a long hall that was empty and then turn the corner. She frowned. Why would James be with this person who he clearly didn't know? 

"James?" She said looking around when she noticed that he wasn't there anymore. Her heartbeat started to pick up at the thought of losing her baby boy.  

"he is so much like his father," A voice filled the air, but Natasha couldn't see who was speaking. That voice sounded so familiar to her. "to have the people want something from you but you just can't see yourself pleasing them. Makes him gullible." 

"Who are you? Where is my son?" Her voice was strong. "Keep me here too long and see what happens." 

"Don't hide behind your guards Natalia," She said, causing anger to take over Natasha. "I'm sorry your majesty am I upsetting you?" 

"Give. Me. My. Son. Back." She said. "Or you'll regret it."

"Too bad we are already gone. I will take everything from you just like you took everything from me. Starting with your children and ending with your husband." She said and an evil laugh filled Natasha's ears until it faded out. She knew that voice. She knew that laugh. 

"Where did you go!" She yelled looking around behind every corner but she couldn't see any sign of the woman or James. 

"Your majesty?" A guard suddenly appeared behind her. Natasha turned to him, anger lacing her eyes. 

"Call. My. Husband. Now." She started walking away. "I want guards immediately searching the area for any sign of my son and a group up to the castle where Sarah is." 

"Natasha, what is going on?" Steve said coming toward her, the party still on in the background. She looked at Steve with a little bit of anger. 

"You said she was locked up. You said she couldn't escape even if she wanted to!" Natasha's voice was harsh as she yelled at him. Steve stood there confused as ever. 

"Who are you talking about? Why are our guards going back to the castle." He asked. She was pulling him out of the crowd to their carriage ignoring his questions. "Nat talk to me," 

"Sharon Carter escaped." 

*
*
*


"Morgan, do you ever feel like the world is spinning way too fast?" Sarah looked around the room, and she was so bored. 

"Are we complaining about how boring everyone here is or are we talking about life going by too fast?" Morgan asked. 

"Both. I guess I have accepted the fact that I am going to be queen one day. Personally, I don't want my kingdom to be boring." She said looking around at the people nicely dressed and talking about political topics. 

"well then make it interesting,"  Morgan suggested. "It's your kingdom girl, your parents can't tell you how to rule your life once you take the thrown." 

"I guess you're correct." She smiled. 

"Of course I guess you'll have to deal with some king but what can they really do?" Morgan said taking a sip of her water. 

"What if I don't want to marry a prince?" She asked. 

"Well I guess you can marry a villager, it would just be a little difficult. You would have the support of the people just not so much the royals." Morgan shrugged her shoulders scanning the people. 

"What if I don't want to marry a man?" She asked. Morgan looked at her for a second and was about to say something when a guard came rushing up to her. 

"Your Highnesses, the king and queen are shutting down the party and are requesting everyone returns to their sleeping counters." The guard. 

"What is going on?" Sarah asked. 

"Sorry, your highness but your mother asked us to take you to your room immediately." He said. Morgan looked at Sarah and then at the party. She noticed the rest of the party being escorted to their rooms. 

"Morgan come on let's go to our room," Pepper said and Tony ushered her along. "Sarah listen to the guards your parents will return shortly," Sarah knew that her aunt was staying calm for her sake but she knew something was wrong. 

"Your Highness..." The guard reminded.

"Of course." She said and she and the guard started walking toward her room. "I have never met you before," then they took a turn that leads away from her room down toward the basement. "Where are you taking me?" 

The guard was silent and shoving her to make sure she kept moving her along. Sarah's heart was beating outside her chest and her breathing was becoming uneven. She had never been in this situation.

Despite the fear, she felt a sudden burst of adrenaline and hit the man straight in his neck causing him to stumble. Sarah started to run screaming, however so far down her voice wasn't heard. She tried to hide behind cellers but when she stopped for a break an arm wrapped around her neck pulling her to the ground. 

"I was hoping we could do this nicely." He muttered and then stabbed something into her left arm. 

"Who are you?" She managed out. The man peeled back his armor mask and let out a heavy breath. 

"Names Rumlow, but people call me Punisher." then it all went dark. 

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No one ever told me that 
grief felt so much like fear

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