#and I appreciate that Tony offers to help the Hulk and then tries to save him at the end

[daydreamerdrew]

Iron Man (1968) #9

[avengersrewatch]

E8: Some Assembly Required

I think you should skip to this one after "The Breakout." Maybe you can watch the episode about Captain America, but boy I wouldn't watch the others.

This episode starts with the Avengers capturing Mandrill. I noted in my last post that Mandrill is gross so this is why I love the Avengers. Mandrill surrenders when he sees the Hulk. Thor says he "shames all monkeys with his cowardice." Nah he shames monkeys with his existence, but I appreciate you making fun of him, Thor. I want to kick him when he's down too.

Meanwhile, on the docks, a black-clad figure comes ashore. Who could it be? Oh gosh I can't stand the suspense. Anyway, the shot of Black Panther (spoilers!) crawling down the chain in the moonlight is cool.

Everyone except Pepper and the Hulk are late to the first Avengers meeting at the Avengers Mansion. I like when Jan lands on Thor's element and just... stays there for the rest of the scene.

Jan is very excited about the Avengers and she seems to be the only one. I think that is why I like this iteration of Jan. She wants to help people. She leaves her "penthouse" apartment to stay at the Mansion (like that's a downgrade? I'm not sure). She's not a reluctant, jaded hero. She's like, "this is so cool. I want to save everyone and kick ass!" It reminds me a bit of Kamala Khan's energy, but she's not a fan. You know? Not everything has to be dark and terrible and angsty.

Speaking of angsty, the Enchantress is manipulating Hulk by pretending to be Banner in his head. Telling him not to trust the Avengers. So Hulk quits. I guess this is a bit similar to Wanda manipulating the Hulk in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Marvel loves to make the Avengers fight each other for dumb reasons. Thor tries to bring him back, it gets messy.

We get our first "AVENGERS ASSEMBLE" from Tony, which is cool. Less cool is it is to go fight Hulk who should be part of the assembly?

JARVIS figures out there's a strange "energy" around the Hulk and Thor guesses he's been enchanted. Like, could you maybe do these scans before you start hitting each other and damaging property, next time?

Hulk only stops fighting the Avengers when Janet is squished. Because everyone loves Janet, she's just so cute. (And also she and Hulk had that moment in "The Breakout" where she helped him.)

Then there is an obligatory fight with Enchantress and Skurge (Skurge appeared in Thor Ragnarok where he serves Hela, not Enchantress like he usually does, but we never did get the Enchantress, unless you could Sylvie "enchanting" things in Loki which I don't).

Real Banner talks to Hulk--and I should say here they are not only separate entities, they can talk to one another--so it's a bit like Moon Knight and how Steven can talk to Marc. Except it's just in their head and everyone else is like "who's that big green man talking to?" (Strong arguments have been made by people more knowledgeable about the comics that Bruce Banner also has dissociative identity disorder, but that is not really how it is played in the MCU.)

Anyway, Hulk returns to save the other Avengers from Enchantress and Skurge.

(There is a joke that is similar to one in The Avengers where Thor hits Iron Man with lightning and it recharges his power. Since I'm noting similarities.)

Even though Thor offers a bit of an apology, and Jan is sweet, Hulk decides to quit the Avengers. He probably needs some "me" time.

But don't worry because we're about to get a new Avenger on the roster-- and it's not the one in the Black Kitty costume who is seen watching all of this. (I totally understand why T'Challa is skeptical about joining the Avengers at this point. It was their first real day together and they had a knock-down fight. He's going to a take a few more episodes before he decides they are worth befriending. He's like, "I'm gonna wait and see if these white people get their act together. Or maybe I will go to the X-Men.")

Spoilers: It's the one with a shield encased in ice. (Interestingly, a shot like this was cut from The Incredible Hulk where he went to a similar frozen place and Cap's shield was going to be visible.)

Rating: Eh, if you're interested.

[iron-mum]

I wish you would write a fic where Tony and kid Peter are being adorable father and son as retribution for the angst you’ve made me suffer through in the past hah! (JK I love you and your angst! 💛)

Well, well, well. What do we have here, eh? A request for adorable? I'm not sure, I'm very good at that 😌

Here's SIMTony who would stop at nothing to help his unwell son, Peter get better. Even if it meant using Extremis.

P.S. ILY3000 💕

In the final throes of the graveyard shift at the hospital floor, the elevator pinged for its frequent lone visitor. The front desk staff, whilst tense and sitting up suddenly straighter, knew not to actually engage. No ID was needed for their boss, one of them barely suppressing a gulp as his determined strides headed for the private room that had been deliberately placed near to the room equipped for every possible kind of emergency. Once inside, he carefully shut the door silently and took a seat at the bedside.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Sharp blue eyes shifted from the persistent buzzing of the most technologically advanced medical equipment anyone, anywhere could offer before looking back down to something far more invaluable and precious. Tony’s entire world. His purpose in life. The little boy on the bed lay motionless, breathing slowly and evenly, nose occasionally scrunching up at the discomfort of the oxygen mask upon him. He should have been cocooned in a hug from his father but instead his son, Peter, was littered with wires attaching him to the very best modern medicine had to offer.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Pale, soft skin with the daintiest of freckles stood out against the dark curls spread across the far too big pillow. The small fingers of his left hand had loosely closed around the calloused thumb of his father, letting him know that whilst he had been rendered weak from illness, he was still aware of his comforting presence. Tony’s index finger gently glided across the small knuckles, willing himself to see a tiny curve of the lips on his son’s face.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

This had been the Avengers fault. Peter’s current critical condition. The young boy had been on a school trip when a battle had broken out and the wannabe heroes managed to cause more destruction than lives saved. A chemical explosion had landed most of the class in hospital and many of them had ended up becoming very unwell. Unfortunately for Peter, he already suffered many ailments so even under the wing of Stark’s finest medical personnel, the struggle had taken a toll. The genius shook his head as thoughts of revenge started to sprout from the many seeds that had been planted since the catastrophic incident. He shelved the many ideas he had that would lead to the demise of the reckless group once his kid was better.

It had been hours when the sound of a nurse's footsteps acted as the catalyst that would remove Tony from the room so he could head back to his lab. As he reluctantly moved his hand away, there was no reaction. Not even a twitch from the slender child. Bending down, he tentatively stroked a small amount of the exposed skin that was available on the boy’s face before planting a light kiss on his forehead. By the time the nurse was opening the door to the room to complete the routine checks, any sign of a visitor would be long gone.

The moment Tony was back in his workshop, he strode towards his desk. Music started to reverberate from the ceiling, the sound greatly appreciated compared to the low hum and incessant beeping from the emotionless devices that were currently keeping his son alive.

Tony didn’t believe in a higher power other than himself. So in no way, shape or form was he ever going to accept that he couldn’t save Peter from the incurable illness now ravaging his frail body. Feeling powerless was simply not an option.

Rolling up the sleeve to his top, the genius opened a drawer and pulled out a device meant for extracting blood as painlessly as possible. Not that pain meant much to him these days. No pain would ever compete with a parent having to watch their child deteriorate every single second of every single day.

Satisfied with the draw, Tony placed it into a diagnostic machine of his own making. He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the glass of his workshop, eyeing it like he was in the most intense staring contest of his life. Jaw clenching, his arm shot out allowing liquid metal to glide across his skin before firing a repulsor at the glass and shattering it. There was an element of irony to everyone loving his face except himself in the minimal but intrusive “what if” moments that surrounded his current situation. With a crack of his neck, his arm remained outstretched so the Endo-Sym armour could return to it’s housing tank.

“Boss, the results are back,” F.R.I.D.A.Y. informed as the music lessened in volume. “No adverse reactions detected still. The chemical composition indicates that the Extremis is unchanged in it’s integration with you on a genetic level and continues to remain stable.”

“And the sample from Peter?” Tony asked, confident that he knew what the answer would be.

“Also remaining stable.”

“Alert the staff intending to see Peter following tonight's shift that their presence will not be needed,” the genius demanded as he mentally reiterated the next steps of his plan in his head. Lips curled into devilishly handsome grin at his victory, eyes crinkling at the sides. The smile only softened when his eyes drifted to a framed picture Peter had drawn of the both of them. He’d done it.

“Certainly, boss,” the AI had responded without any acknowledgement. Tony was too busy in thought. Not only was the Extremis flowing through his own veins, leaving him feeling at perfect health. But soon, it would be doing the same for Peter too. Pain free, peak performance and at complete and optimal health.

“Have there been any sightings of the Avengers in the last hour? I feel a splash of revenge is in order for this special occasion?” The holo-screens in front of him started to flicker as social media sites were searched and hashtags refreshed repeatedly. Hulk had been trending within the hour and Hawkeye in the last eleven minutes.

"Well, how about that?" he grinned gleefully. "I really am being spoiled for choice."

Whilst the genius had been certain F.R.I.D.A.Y. had relayed the message to the morning staff, Tony still found himself exhaling sharply at the sight of someone sat by Peter’s side reading his file. The thin bag of Extremis in his hand was shifted into his back pocket as quickly as humanly possible. The good feeling from beating the shit out of one of the Avengers, plus the buzz of providing Peter with a cure that no meagre doctor had been able to, shifted into a tension as tried to work out who it was.

Their face was narrow with sharp features and glasz eyes remarkably penetrating when they met his perusing stare. His black hair had been combed back neatly, the sides of his temples a distinct light grey. The well fitted suit looked designer even for Tony’s impeccable standards.

“Your services are no longer required,” he affirmed with a dismissive flourish of the hands before the man could even introduce himself.

“I’m sorry?” the other man replied without hesitation, closing the file and rising from the chair. Tony’s chair. If he’d been expecting any pleasantries or introductions, he was thoroughly mistaken. Tony was already locked onto Peter, the gentle rise of his chest a welcoming sight as always. He refused to allow his attention to be divided, ignoring the piercing stare boring into him now. “I have an oath to this patient. He critically needs help from the best in all fields. He needs my help.”

The genius turned at that, an eyebrow raised as he looked the doctor up and down. He certainly held himself strongly for someone who had that much audacity in addressing the owner of everything within his current vicinity.

“Are you new around here… Doctor Strange?” He asked disingenuously, eyes narrowing as he scrutinised the name badge. The letters ‘VISITOR - Dr Stephen Strange’ jotted on the bottom, likely the reason he hadn’t got his AI’s memo. The receptionist who let him in would be fired whether it was her fault or not.

“Unlike everyone else in this building, no, I don’t work for you” the doctor shot back tersely. “However, you were so insistent on my consultation that, somehow, I found my diary completely cleared of all surgeries that were booked in.”

“Well, you can now stick them back in your diary. We’re done here.”

“I know this is difficult,” the doctor started, tone suddenly softer as if he were hoping a change of tact would get through. “You brought me in for my expertise, so use them.”

“I’m the most intelligent, capable person on the planet. I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone.”

“Your arrogance surpasses all the rumours and expectations I had of you,” Strange snapped back incredulously. Apparently nothing was going to get through. “Your child is-”

“You know, it would be a real shame if you were to lose your medical licence, wouldn't it, doctor?” Tony sneered dangerously low. This ungrateful little shit was going to get it for not only wasting his time and energy, but also his son’s. An insignificant speck like the rest of the world.

“Are you threatening me?” the doctor replied doing his best to keep his tone cool and unflinching when the other man removed all personal space between them. The lack of intimidation he was feeling only pissed Tony off more.

“Let’s not test my resolve, doctor.” Despite feeling completely wrong about leaving considering Peter’s condition, Dr Stephen Strange tucked the file he’d been reading under his arm and left the room in just a few strides. Tony had spotted the hand diving for a phone as the door shut behind him and clenched his fists in disdain.

“F.R.I.D.A.Y., be a darling and ensure Doctor Douchebag doesn’t make it back home,” Tony demanded followed by a nonchalant sniff.

“Yes, boss. His phone has also unexpectedly lost all signal so will not be usable anytime soon.”

Satisfied with the course of action his AI had taken, Tony locked the door to his son’s room for good measure. He eyed the current equipment before making his move. One of the drips currently providing Peter with much needed medicine was switched to make way for a sample of the Extremis that Tony had meticulously created and tested on himself. He peered at his son, swallowing thickly that this would all be worth it.

Bag secured, the first few drops started instantly, the older man watching as they flowed along the thin tubes before entering the cannula imposed on Peter’s hand. The skin began to glow orange, the lava looking trail gliding all the way up the arm’s before entering the chest. Daring a glance at the monitors, Tony noted an instant improvement in the readouts. A smile spread across his face as sheet-white, sickly skin started to immediately brighten.

Peter’s big, brown doe eyes suddenly shot open as he took a huge gulp of air, eyes landing on his father who was remarkably in focus for the first time in his life without the aid of glasses. Tony removed the oxygen mask so he could take his son’s face in fully for the first time in well over a month.

“Dad?” the young boy croaked, clearly a little disoriented from the abrupt wake up.

“Hey, buddy,” Tony whispered, voice cracking with emotion as he closed the distance between them.

Peter lunged at his father, his small arms wrapping tightly around the genius’ neck and face burying into his chest. It had been far too long since either had been able to enjoy the tender, heart-bursting feeling of overwhelming, unconditional love from one another.

“I love you, kiddo.” Tony gushed as one of his hand’s lovingly cupped the back of Peter's head holding him as close as possible. The other enveloped around his back, his thumb slowly stroking up and down. When the older man's hand started to trail through Peter's hair, the boy somehow managed to burrow even closer. Tony soothingly lifted curls between his fingers and then let them ping back as new life continued to circle through his son’s body.

“I love you too, dad,” Peter whispered, a strain evident in his voice that Tony hadn’t been expecting. When he leant back, he saw the likely cause. Now unnecessary wires were tugging at his child’s skin.

“Let’s get these off you, bud. You don’t need them anymore,” he promised softly as he carefully went to work at removing the monitoring equipment clips and stickers. Peter’s curious eyes followed every step of the way, surprisingly not wincing even when some of the tougher stickers were peeled away. Although he was too young to even begin comprehending what had happened, he knew from vague memories he’d been hurt and that he’d slept a lot. Often he had been unsure if he was dreaming or awake when he’d hear his father read him stories, express his love and let him know how brave he was being. A slight tug on his hand drew him from his recollection as he looked down.

"I’m scared," Peter timidly admitted as he eyed up the last piece of medical equipment attached to him. The cannula in his hand.

“Here’s what we're gonna do, bud. We’re going to put on our brave faces and before you know it, it’ll be all done and over with. Can you show me your bravest, fiercest face?” Tony gently challenged, as part of his upper lip curled and he playfully growled.

The child’s dinky nose scrunched up and his lips pushed out into the biggest pout he could form. He shook his head a little and hummed in a way that likely felt fierce to him but could only be described as adorable to his dad.

"Wowzer. That was super mean, you nearly scared me!” Tony gasped dramatically, as he gestured for the boy to look down and see that the only thing on the top of his hand was a small cotton wool ball and a light pressure from his dad. Using his free hand to fish into his pocket, Tony revealed a green Paw Patrol sticker with Peter’s favourite character, Rocky, on it.

It had been a distant memory since the young boy had handed it to him, having spotted the numerous nicks and cuts that littered his hard working hands after a long day in the workshop. Extremis meant Peter wouldn’t even need it, but the placebo effect would make it worth it.

“Am I all better, daddy?” Peter asked as Tony eyed him up once more. The overwhelmed father cupped his kid’s face and planted another kiss on his forehead, relief washing over him that he was now free from the concatenation of medical instrumentation.

“You most certainly are. And that means we get to skedaddle out of here.”

Before his son could anticipate his next move, his father had scooped him up into his arms and they were making their way not only out of the room, but off of the floor for good.

They’d had a chance to change into matching casual wear and feasted on a huge breakfast before snuggling up on the sofa. Peter had selected an Octonauts movie to watch as he tucked into his father’s side and enjoyed the sound of his steady heartbeat.

It would be a couple of hours when Tony’s phone pinged with a notification he knew was F.R.I.D.A.Y. when she was being discreet. His son huffed at the movement as he shuffled to get the phone out of his pocket, muttering an apology to his kid before opening the message.

[Unfortunate accident on the Hawk’s Nest, Route 97. Vehicle crossed the barrier and rolled multiple times down the cliff’s edge before landing in the Delaware River. Initial scan from one of the Iron Sight Bot #364 shows one survivor.]

Tony’s smirk widened into a full blown smile. Peter’s heart-of-gold eyes suddenly on him, looking up from his position. It was likely a silent protest at the lack of head strokes he was suddenly receiving so the genius replied swiftly.

[Call off any emergency services and get him med-evaced here.]

“You know what I think we need. Celebratory cheeseburgers for lunch,” he announced as Peter let out a squee of joy.

[donutloverxo]

Salty Baby

Chapter six

Summary - When you moved to New York in hopes of living a glamorous life this isn’t what you expected. Steve offers to help you but your pride gets in the way. Pride isn’t going to pay your rent and college loans.

Chapter themes - This chapter you meet the Avengers. Will you be able to make a good impression on them? smut, semi-public sex, angry sex, jealous steve.

Pairing - Steve Rogers x reader

Word count - 3k

Masterlist is linked in bio! Previous chapters can be found in it!

You were nervous about getting lavish gifts from Steve, for the twenty-five five gifts of Christmas he was going to give you. Things you didn’t really need, like the diamond bracelet he got you for your two month anniversary. You couldn’t exactly wear those kinds of things to class. Where your classmates talked about was dungeons and dragons or whatever a doctor who is.

But Steve’s twenty-five presents, all of them, were anything but materialistic. You were amazed at how he personalised each of them specifically for you. He knew you so well and in such a short time. Like how he got you first edition Sylvia Plath books, which you actually had the time to read now, or how he woke you up with your favorite breakfast, or how he woke you up with his mouth. You liked that much more than the breakfast. He also got you a big cosy grey sweater that swallowed you whole.

“You look so cute” He beamed at you bending down to kiss your forehead. You couldn’t help but blush at that. “I’m not cute!” You almost stomped your foot “You’ll always be cute to me doll”

You were pleasantly surprised when Anna invited you and Steve for Christmas dinner at her place. You did miss your nephews. Brock was, as always, gone for work. She didn’t want to spend Christmas alone with the kids. She also had to make a dig at you, how you’ll be in the same boat as her, what with Steve’s demanding job. Which was far from the truth, but you let it go.

The only problem was that it was the same day as the Christmas party at the Avengers tower. Steve, being the angel that he is, said you could go to the party after dinner, it would probably start late anyway.

“Doll, how does this one look?” He asked as you stared at him noticing how thick he looked under the off white cable knit sweater.

You gulped down smoothening the flare of the white lace dress Steve gifted you. “It’s perfect Steve. And stop being so nervous! I told you I don’t care about Anna’s opinion”

“Yeah but she’s the only family you have. I want to make a good impression” he said giving you a pout which you kissed away.

Thankfully you didn’t have to ask him to not take his death trap of a motorcycle. He got you both an uber. You enjoyed the whole city lit up with the beautiful festive lights. You couldn’t help but think you wouldn’t be half as happy if you didn’t have your man sitting right next to you.

“Oh my god. Ca – Captain America” Anna stammered as she looked at your boyfriend. Right, you never did mention you were dating Steve Rogers.

“Ma'am” he gave her a curt nod handing her the non-alcoholic wine bottle he had got since she was pregnant. She pushed about how considerate he was. Which was true.

Your nephews, instantly loved Steve. It didn’t take much to impress them, the lego sets and other toys and chocolates you got them probably helped as well. Both of them hanging off of his biceps as he sweeped them off the floor. While Anna tried to process that The Captain America was standing in her living room.

She dragged you to the kitchen excusing you both away from Steve. “What is wrong with you?! You never told me you were dating Captain America!” She whispered harshly.

“What difference does it make?” She only shook her head calling you a liar “Omitting information is not the same as lying. On that note I haven’t really told him about Mom” You paused gauging her reaction “I would appreciate it if you didn’t either” You winced as she smirked at you. Wouldn’t she love having such power over you?

“What do I get in return?”

“What the fuck do you want?” you snapped.

“I’ll think about it. But remember that you owe me”

You couldn’t get her words out of your head. As you kept stabbing at your meatloaf barely eating it. Steve squeezed your thigh, under the dinner table as if to reassure you. He threw his head back at the kids antics and making polite conversation with Anna.

“I’ve worked with Rumlow before” He mentioned referring to the picture frames he saw of Brock.

“Oh goodness really? He never mentioned it. But he never really talks about work. Are you good friends?” She asked eagerly.

He cleared his throat sitting up straight “Not really. But I would like to get to know him better”

Friends was always a touchy subject for Steve. Having lost so many of them, you were amazed at how he was still willing to open his heart up. He couldn’t connect to or trust anyone in this era. He didn’t need to tell you that, you could sense it. You were almost anxious, did he feel connected to you? Atleast half as much as you did to him.

Maybe that’s why you were more scared to meet his ‘family’ than he was to meet yours. You had to crane your neck up, to the point that it actually hurt so you could get a view of the Avengers tower. It was majestic and maybe a bit over the top. Not really your cup of tea, but from what you heard from Steve about Tony Stark, he loved going all out. Which was probably why there were humongous reindeers next to the A of the Avengers.

“It’s amazing!” You gushed as you both got in the elevator making your way over to the party deck. You could see why they called it a white party. The Christmas tree decorated with silver and white ornaments, which seemed to be the theme of the party. “Oh” You let out as you read that all the decorations and the tree would be bio-degradable. How is that possible?

“Cap you finally made it” You turned around to look at a blonde man, who was taller and larger than Steve which you didn’t get to see everyday, and a redhead, whom you recognised as the black widow, greeting Steve. You quickly stood next to him, holding his hand and lacing his fingers with yours.

“Oh you must be Steve’s lady” He raved squeezing you into a tight hug, which would normally be uncomfortable for you but somehow it wasn’t when he did it. It was almost comforting, like a bear hug. You awkwardly patted his back. With your face smashed in his chest you could barely breathe.

You finally pushed him away trying not to hypnotised by his eyes wrinkled by his wide gein “Yes I am the lady” you chuckled nervously smoothening the wrinkles of your dress. You looked down at the pretty white thing. You had never even worn a dress before, you weren’t sure if it was for you.

“Hope Steve is treating you well” Black Widow smiled at you before looking at Steve. “Aren’t you gonna introduce us?” she raised a brow at him.

“This is Thor” Steve frowned at the bulky blonde out of the corner of his eye “And this is Natasha” She smiled shaking your hand. Now Natasha, she looked absolutely ravishing in her grey bodysuit, that seemed to hug her in all the right places, she looked like someone who was made to fit into a place like this.

“Can I borrow Steve for a minute? We have some business to attend to” She said lacing hers arm with his.

Your breathe hitched at the thought of being left alone. “I – uh” You stammered.

“I can keep you company if you like” Thor offered and you smiled at him. Feeling his presence already comforting. You thanked him letting Steve know that you were fine.

For the next hour, Thor told you all about his home, which was in another world, something you still couldn’t wrap your head around. His delinquent brother Loki, who’s never up to any good. And his girlfriend Jane who unfortunately couldn’t join you too. His face beamed up when you told him you study physics. “I believe that is what Stark does”

“Oh I’m not sure it would be the same field. But maybe” You hummed.

“Where is he” He looked around, his silky long strands shaking with his head. “Oh Clint! Come meet Steve’s lady” He called out to someone.

“Oh you know what? I think I have to use the restroom” You stood up abruptly collecting your clutch. “I’ll catch you later” You said briskly walking away. You had caught a glimpse of a balcony on the when on the way from the elevator to the party which was your destination. As much fun as it was supposed to be to hang out with everyone, how all your classmates and your sister were ‘so jealous' of you, you were exhausted and completely burned out.

You breathed in the cold fresh air as you stood near the railing of the balcony, which was empty save for a few people. You wrapped your arms around yourself as you felt the air creep chills up your body. You close your eyes, your teeth clammering as you tried to rub your arms to create some warmth

“You don’t look so comfortable there” Your eyes snapped open as you heard someone drawl out. You looked to your left, where the voice came from, and instantly recognized the face. You’d have to live under a rock not to. It was the man who saved New York.

“I’m fine” You brushed him off. Not knowing how you could possibly speak to such a larger than life personality.

“It’s a nice party. Isn’t it?” He moved closer to you standing just a few feet away from you now “No? I’ll try to do a better job next time I guess” He shrugged his lips curling up in a smile.

“It is nice. But – I don’t know” you stopped yourself “– I’m just an introvert”

“See that's what people get wrong. Introverts don’t hate parties. I know plenty of ‘em who are the life of the party in fact”

“Name one” You scoffed.

He hummed for a minute as if thinking it over “Oh the hulk!” you cringed as he yelled enthusiastically “Banner is an anti social geek but the hulk is actually a pretty fun guy if you get to know him” he said leaning on the edge of the balcony.

“I don’t think that counts. Hulk and Banner are not the same...” you trailed off not quite sure if they were or weren’t and this time he scoffed not believing you “It’s true!” you argued “just like how Steve and Captain America aren’t the same person”

“Who capsicle?” he tilted his head.

You tried to hold it in, you really did but you burst out a laugh and quickly held your hand over your mouth to contain it. “Cap – what does that even mean?” You shook your head finally giving in and throwing your head back laughing at the ridiculous nickname.

“There you are” You stopped laughing as soon as you heard that voice. You whipped your head to look at Steve approaching the two of you, his jaw clenched and eyebrows furrowed. “I’ve been looking all over for you” He said pulling you into him by grabbing your waist.

“Oh I’m sorry I got caught up -”

“You two know each other” Tony interrupted you and Steve introduced you as his girlfriend.

“We should get going. There are some other people I want you to meet” Steve said looking down at you, somewhat sternly, his tone reminding you of his authoritative side, the one he used on the battlefield and in bed with you.

You felt your heart beat fast and your mouth dry as you nodded. Steve held onto your wrist guiding you away from the balcony

“Wait!” Tony called out for you “don’t you wanna know what it means?”

“What’re you talking about?” Steve rolled his eyes, still pulling at your wrist but you stood your ground, you did want to know. You looked at Tony expectedly.

“He spent decades in the ice frozen like a capsicle” He chuckled “and because he always has a huge stick up his ass”

Your smile faltered at that. You thought it would be something fun his friends tease him with, but this just seemed mean-spirited. “It was nice to meet you Tony” You bid him goodbye and he waved you off as you walked with Steve back to the party.

You could feel Steve fuming beside you, but you weren’t exactly sure what he was angry at. You didn’t think a stupid nickname would make him so mad. You were about to ask him but you were pushed into a coat closet? What the hell? You yelped as your backside bumped against the desk in the middle of the closet. “What - Steve!” you scolded him as you looked at the brown grease on the desk stain your white dress. “this isn’t going to come off you know” you tried rubbing at it but you were sure it was ruined.

“What were you laughing about out there with Tony? I left you alone for barely half an hour” He said. His tone contained and cool. As if what he was saying was completely rational and true. Which only served to piss you off even more.

“You left me for an entire hour! You know I’m not good at these things. Why am I here?” You said pointing your at your chest “I’m here for you! And now you’re saying what? I’m flirting with other men?”

“That’s what it seemed like” He said with the same even tone and your hand twitched wanting to smack him across his stupid beautiful face.

“Whatever Steve” you shook your head pushing him away to get away from him. You never thought you’d need distance from your Steve. “Steve let me go” you pushed him again but you knew it would be of no use. You were no match against the great Captain America.

“No” He walked close to you caging you in till you had no where to go. You felt his hot breathe fanning against your face as he stared you down. You let out a breathe, disgusted that you could feel his erection against your thigh. That you were just as turned on.

“Fuck it” you leaned up on your toes crashing your lips onto his wrapping your hands around his neck, your teeth clattering together as his hands worked to push up your skirt and pull down your panties. He pushed you up to sit you on the desk and you cringed thinking of your once beautiful dress.

He pulls away from you, his face flushed and his lips swollen from your rough kiss. He put your panties into his dress pants. “I’ll buy you another one doll” But you didn’t know if he was referring to your dress or your panties. And frankly you didn’t care. You were so angry and hurt, that all you could think about was his dick inside you, your golden boy railing you in a fucking coat closet.

Your hands made quick work of unbuckling him and pulling him out of his briefs. His cock already hard and ready. You pulled it in to line him up with your entrance but he stopped you, swatting your hands away.

“I’m too big for you doll” He leaned into your ears to whisper, two of his fingers entering your channel. “And you’reso tight. We have to get your prepared” he groaned driving his fingers in and out of you adding a third one as you held onto his shoulders for life, biting into the crook of his neck to muffle your screams.

“Don’t you dare come” He warned you as he felt you clench around his fingers. You could only whimper to answer him, holding off on your release. Knowing that if you didn’t listen to him he wouldn’t fuck you. In that moment you felt as if you’d die if you didn’t feel his cock inside you. “Please fuck me” you tried to catch your breathe as tears clouded your vision. You cried as you felt his fingers slipping out of you. You were about to say that you didn’t come. That you were good. You deserved to get off!

But then, in one single thrust he pushed his cock deep inside you, hitting your g-spot. You sighed biting his earlobe and sucking on it as a way to thank him. The weight and warmth of him cooling down the burn in your core just a little bit. But you were still very much on edge.

He rolled his hip as he started fucking into you. You grabbed onto his hair with your hand pulling on it a bit. He groaned at that driving into you faster.

With his cock hitting your cervix, again and again with such ferocious pace, you couldn’t even remember what you were angry about. Were you angry? What were you doing in a coat closet? It didn’t matter, not really. The only thing that mattered was him, his cock inside you and your impending doom. “I need to come. Please “ You wailed unable to contain your sounds.

“Go ahead doll” he pulled away a bit to look into your eyes “I’m all yours” He drove his cock into you, in the way he knew you loved. He pushed your hair out of your face, staring at you so lovingly, feeling so vulnerable and overwhelmed you closed your eyes, if you didn’t see him he couldn’t see you either right?

You clenched around him as you felt him fill you up with his warm seed. Your orgasm hitting you like a tsunami. You felt completely spent, not being able to hold yourself up you laid your head on his shoulder.

Your high didn’t last for long. You felt him slip out of you, shuffling to take out a handkerchief and clean you up. You recalled what you were fighting about. How he mistrusted you even though you had given him no reason to do so. You hugged him closer not ready to address all those issues just yet. They could wait till you had had your moment with him.

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[hailing-stars]

@febuwhump day 10 : I'm sorry, I didn’t know keep moving forward summary

“Oh, look who it is,” said Tony. “The amazing Peter Parker and Iron Lad.”

“I’ve asked you to stop calling me that,” said Harley. He put his laundry basket down on the porch.

“Shouldn’t you two be off doing college boy things? Like blowing up your dorm rooms or terrorizing your professors into retiring early?” Tony’s eyes shifted to Peter. “Or not studying for your Chem midterm on Monday?”

Peter frowned, and dropped his laundry bag from his shoulder. It landed with a thud, next to Harley’s basket. “How did you know about my test?”

“Think it’s hard for this genius and savior of the universe to hack a lousy MIT server?”

A gentle breeze fresh off the lake blew through Peter’s hair, bringing with it all the familiar and welcoming scents of his second home.

He shut the door to Harley’s baby, a vintage red Camaro with black racing stripes, and immediately locked eyes with Tony, who watched them both walk the dirt path up to the lakehouse from his favorite chair on the porch.

“Oh, look who it is,” said Tony. “The amazing Peter Parker and Iron Lad.”

“I’ve asked you to stop calling me that,” said Harley. He put his laundry basket down on the porch.

“Shouldn’t you two be off doing college boy things? Like blowing up your dorm rooms or terrorizing your professors into retiring early?” Tony’s eyes shifted to Peter. “Or not studying for your Chem midterm on Monday?”

Peter frowned, and dropped his laundry bag from his shoulder. It landed with a thud, next to Harley’s basket. “How did you know about my test?”

“Think it’s hard for this genius and savior of the universe to hack a lousy MIT server?”

“Morgan’s right,” said Peter, having flashbacks to that time, a couple of weeks earlier, when she had called him from her closet to complain that her dad spent the entire day at her school. “You have boundary issues.”

“And I’m called Iron Man 2,” said Harley.

“Yeah,” said Peter. “Cause he’s the sequel.”

“Well you know what they say about sequels. They’re never as good as the original.”

“It’s cold here,” said Harley. He turned to Peter. “Why did we come here, again?”

“I dunno, my memory’s sort of foggy…”

“Oh, let me try,” said Tony. “Maybe cause you’re both broke college students who haven’t had a solid meal since the last time you drove four hours to do laundry, and you know on Friday nights I make my famous lasagna.”

“Yeah,” admitted Peter. “Sounds about right.”

Tony pulled him into a belligerent hug, knocking the air of him, and ruffling his hair with his prosthetic arm. Harley was nex

t, though he tried, and failed, to get away. Peter lifted both heaps of laundry off the porch. The three of them went inside, where the aroma of home cooked lasagna filled the air.

Peter breathed it in, and a peaceful feeling spread through his body. He was home. At least for a while.

*

The garage was dimly lit, but that was the way Harley liked it. Reminded him of home, and all those nights he’d snuck out to the garage after his mother went to bed to tinker until sunrise, working quietly by lantern and flashlights only, to stay hidden and unbothered.

It didn’t matter how much noise he made at the Stark lake house. He’d always be drown out by Morgan’s chaos or Tony’s rambling or Peter’s frequently moody loud thoughts. It was comforting, and annoying, at all once.

“Burning the midnight oil?” asked Tony, and Harley poked his head up from insides of his beloved Camaro.

Tony wore a robe patterned with tiny Spider-Mans over his pajamas, and Harley had never really gotten used to that, to seeing Tony Stark, Iron Man, walking around in goofy dad pajamas.

“Something like that.”

“I can help you, you know,” said Tony. He patted the red Camaro, and Harley swatted his hand away.

“No way,” said Harley. He knew what happened when Tony started tinkering, even when he’d claim they were only minor upgrades. “Touch her and die. I like her the way she is.”

“That’s not what you said when you asked for my expert advice about your suit.”

“One of my biggest regrets,” said Harley.

“Brat.”

“Old man.”

“I’m not that old,” pointed out Tony.

“But you’re retired,” said Harley. “And that automatically ages you up about twenty years.”

“I’m not retired. I’m a dad, thus making retirement impossible.”

Tony sat on a stool, and with his latest statement, his mood shifted towards something more heavy, more sad. Just the way conversation tended to go lately, as if someone had died. That was about right. Someone had practically died.

“You’re worried about Peter?” Harley guessed.

“I’m always worried about Peter,” said Tony. “And Morgan. But I actually came in here to talk about you.”  

“Me?”

“Yeah, you,” said Tony. “How’s MIT? How’s your first semester going? I need all the details.”

Harley paused, wondered if it was alright to tell the truth, then realized he couldn’t help it. He broke out into a grin.

“It’s great,” said Harley. “It’s everything I thought it’d be.”

They spend the next couple of hours ignoring the Camaro in favor and talking about hated professors, loved professors, his favorite classes, parties, that girl in his Econ class that always seems to evade him whenever he’d worked up the nerve to ask her out.

“I’m glad you’re having a good time,” said Tony. “You don’t have to feel guilty about it just because -”

“-because Peter’s not?” offered Harley. “I’m worried about him, too.”

“He’ll be fine,” said Tony, but there wasn’t any reassurance in his words and his eyes looked a bit lost, evident even in the dimly lit garage.

“He’s depressed.”

Tony took a breath, as if he’d known along, but wasn’t ready to hear the simple, plain truth stated like that.

“Yeah,” said Tony. “I suppose he is.”

After several seconds of dead air, Tony stood up from his stool, and clasped him on the shoulder. “I appreciate you looking out for him, as long as you’re remembering to look after yourself.”

“Yeah, sure,” said Harley. “It’s really like we look out for each other, tough. Take turns being the responsible one. We’ve got a calendar for it and everything.”

Tony laughed, and got that far off look in his eyes. The one he usually got before launching into a story about his and Rhodey’s college days, but on that night, Harley was spared a story about good ole days. He suspected it was due to Tony worrying more about Peter than he was letting on.

*

Tony wanted to call May.

She was a beacon of parental wisdom, especially when it came to Peter, and Tony could really use the help. He was out of his league, here, but last time he’d call at this time of night, he hadn’t gotten advice about how to sooth Morgan through the sudden loss of her imaginary friend. He’d gotten yelled at, by her, and then by Happy, both of them grumpy about being woken up.

And since Pepper also didn’t like being woken up, Tony would have to go with his instincts this time. His instincts told him what Peter needed was a little bit of tough love.

So, he positioned himself on the stairs, just as Peter tried disappearing into his room for some sleep.

“Tony,” said Peter. “Please don’t be annoying.”

“Too late. I was born that way.”

“Please move. Tired.”

“MIT has really gone downhill since I left, huh,” said Tony. “Students can’t even speak in complete sentences.”

Peter groaned, and Tony slung his arm around him, directing him into the kitchen where’s set up the table with a variety of study aids and all of Peter’s school books.

“What is this?”

“Oh you know,” said Tony. He let go of him, and walked around the table. “You got your energy drinks, you sour gummy candy, your laptop, school books, day old pizza in the fridge, all the necessities for an all-nighter.”

“Why?”

“I’m teaching you how to be a real college student,” said Tony. “And I figured I could help you study for your Chem midterm, since you don’t seem to be interested in it at all.”

“I’m a genius. I don’t need study help.”

“Uh huh,” said Tony. “A genius who’s almost failing Chemistry, and will without a decent score on this test.”

Peter dropped his shoulders, and annoyance flashed across his face. Tony waited for him to yell, or start a fight with him.

He’d been so polite, for the most part, during his teen years Tony figured it was about time for them to be at odds over something, about time for Peter to go off the rails the way only a nineteen-year-old could.

“I was thinking,” said Peter, stating his discontent calmly. No yelling only meant it was gonna be harder for Tony to shoot this down. “I could just forget about school.”

“Forget about school?”

“Yeah,” said Peter. Like it was no big deal. “I could help you and Bruce figure what’s wrong with me.”

“There’s nothing wrong with you. Except for your Chemistry grade.”

“You know what I mean, Tony,” said Peter, a bite to his tone. “Find out what’s wrong with my powers. So I can be Spider-Man again.”

“Kid, we’ve been through this over and over again. Bruce and I, we’re handling this. School is your job right now.”

“Well I’m tired of just sitting around, and waiting -”

“-hence you being enrolled at MIT.”

Tony pushed Peter towards the table, and they both sat down.

“Listen, Pete,” he told him. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what it’s like to have these powers and suddenly have them disappear. It’s been… rough on you. And May and I get that. We let you mope around New York all summer long, but it’s time to pick yourself up and keep moving forward.”

Peter stared at the table, at all the study materials, and it was hard for Tony to interpret what he was thinking.

“Think of it as a shot at having some normalcy,” he said. “Before you get your powers back and with them, all of Spider-Man’s responsibilities.”

“What if,” said Peter. His mask of uninterest started to crack. “And what if they don’t come back?”

“They will.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do,” said Tony. “I literally saved this whole universe, and our friend Professor Hulk brought half the population back. I think we’ve got it covered.”

“Yeah,” said Peter, though he didn’t sound convinced. He looked away from Tony, and at his school books. “I guess we better get started.”

Tony frowned.

He had been hoping for more conversation, or at least to break through to the kid, in some way, even if it was just a talk and a vent.

Instead he had an almost breakthrough. A tiny crack in the disguise. And that wasn’t good enough, even if Peter was studying and allowing Tony to help him.

When they’re done, Peter disappeared to his room to get some sleep, and Tony sat up, at the table, sipping on a god-awful energy drink and wondering who he’d have to bribe to become a professor at MIT.

[worstloki]

Fic idea: Loki mermaid AU with literally any plot except merfolk are canonically genderfluid (inspired by this one post about genderfluid merfolk in trending tumblr wont let me link it)

I can’t find the post but I’m jumping on the gender-fluid merfolk bandwagon so thank you for that :D

- plot? what plot? 

- okay so instead of falling off the bifrost or whatever odin dumps both his male princes manly sons #patriarchy on earth to learn some lessons in humility/obedience but to avoid the two of them working together he’s left thor as a human on earth and dumped loki into the water as a half-fish (thanks, odin)

- thor bumps into jane and darcy and erik except when he can’t lift the hammer he’s decided to go reunite with loki (because loki always knows what to do - he’ll know what to do about the hammer and how to get father to accept them back!) and they help him set up an ID and stuff for himself after jane realizes the guy has very limited knowledge about the wormhole he fell through.

- thor struggles with getting a job and working hard to be able to work on-board a cruising agency. he learns to work hard for what he wants, he waits tables and makes beds and no one lets him near the cooking but he washes dishes and everything else on-board the R.D. Stark, while always keeping an eye on his map and which parts of the ocean they’ve gone over and not found loki on, because he totally believes loki would be trying to get to him and staying near the surface just like he is. 

- loki though? nope. not even trying to get back. he knows thor is out there and he believes odin will accept his heir back eventually, but himself? yeah he figured out what happened, its obvious he was either abandoned/stolen and actually a jotun, so as far as he’s concerned being stuck as a mermaid is an upgrade. not to mention mermaids don’t have gender roles so he can go around following his interests and doing whatever he wants (he’s considered a juvenile mermaid and gets adopted by the collective mermaid community) and he can switch genders freely and no one judges loki for it. he’s happy down here exploring and learning and the ocean is a huge place to explore and he’s got a knack for learning ocean magic (odin didnt remove his magic he removed his knowledge of magic so he cant use it without relearning everything) and he’s even got friends now (more on this later)

- The Avengers left as humans are Tony Thor and Clint, where Tony is still Tony, and Clint and him work for SHIELD and the real reason they hired Thor was because SHIELD has been keeping an eye on the guy claiming to be an alien deity since trying to lift the hammer... they get close to Thor and with the amount of tales this guy has to tell and the way his eyes water when he talks about his brother they’re starting to believe him... and now Stark is helping cover the areas on the maps they haven’t covered and he’s built sonars to pick up on ‘mermaid’ if they really are underwater somewhere...

- The Avengers left as mermaids are Steve (found frozen the mermaids found him and converted him with ocean magic), Natasha (Budapest mission with Clint gone wrong she drowned in the Denube...) and Bruce (a bullet didn’t work but surely the hulk couldn’t breathe underwater?... anyways now he’s a mermaid and into water calming meditation and stuff and the hulk is just him but green and doubled in size but he keeps the tail) and they’ve been a part of the mermaid community for a while but they’re barely passing as adults even steve at 100 because mermaids are long-lived oKay so they’re a group that goes exploring and fights capitalist sea monsters and stuff

- thor learns to show when he cares and to value lives of even lesser races like humans and fish creatures when his friends are in danger (tony and clint probably started drowning in the on-cruise pool or something smh) while loki learns self worth and that identity isnt based on material things like gender or what services you can offer another (probably after he profusely apologizes for not being perfect and preventing something in a fight?)

- the sound waves tony’s sonar has? yeah its messing with the beings that live deep underwater including the mermaids (ouchie ears hurtie) and some ancient sea monster they’ve waken up with tony’s powerful tech (cthulhu is that u??)

- anyways loki and co. turn up to fight the monster while its attacking thor and co. and then the day is saved through teamwork and mermaids singing (okay, steve and loki singing, because they’ve got good voices and nat can only sing in russian...) the monster to sleep by projecting their voices into tony’s sonar machine.

- then you’ve got the reunion and thor learns loki never intended to go back to asgard because he thinks he has nothing there... the mermaids are staying on the cruise pool because Clint and Nat need to have a talk too because Clint was blaming himself for her death and maybe there’s some emotions there (they’re friends but also clint doesnt have a family in this AU) ? nat has learnt to be more expressive and clint is so so happy for her... thor does NOT want to leave his brother he doesnt care if he’s jotun he just wants to be with his brother... tony meets steve and is like ‘woah ur the guy my dad had the hots for’ and they get along and tony’s kinda curious about underwater tech? tony mentions the winter soldier and suddenly steve loved living underwater but he doesnt care if the world has moved on he has to go see bucky--  but, oh? what’s this? Tony is offering to bring his parent’s killer to steve? he understands the brainwashing doesnt leave the man responsible? Tony has learnt to be down to earth? by spending time making genuine friends for the sake of making friends? he’s gotten emotionally attached? he’s learnt empathy through watching thor;s love for his brother and watching clint melt at seeing nat alive? 

- anyways thor and clint decide to stick with their respective merfolk (thor doesnt care if it means giving up asgard’s throne he just wants his brother to be happy and if that means changing genders and living underwater and being appreciated for magic thor would happily trade the throne for that) (all clint had was shield anyways and nat? she was a friend he’d trade the world for even years later) steve wants to turn human and go to bucky but tony brings bucky to him with a hit on the noggin and after some time in wakanada™. OH I didn’t mention that Tony absolutely freaks out when he finds out BRUCE BANNER the legend himself is underwater too... Tony totally gets VIP membership and can switch between human and merman now... because he helped ‘unite many broken souls’ or something... hmm... Stark Industries Underwater Division sounds nice....hmm........

- everyone lives happily ever after and odin chokes on his mead when he tries to check on thor’s progress and finds him and loki happily together adventuring actually getting along 

[petersspidey]

Tony’s Sister

Request: i’m thinking maybe Howard had another child, Tony’s half sister ? Pepper knew about her and invited her to the Avengers house. She had been waiting for Tony. The first night , she woke up with nightmares about her brother , fearing he is dead , Steve comforts her. Things end up really smutty! I mean sexy steamy and just down right smutty.

A/N: I hope this is what you were looking for! Thank you for the request!! 

Warnings: Smut

Masterlist 

Growing up, you had no idea who your father was. When your mom died, she finally told you who your father was. You were a Stark. As in, THE Tony Stark. You were his half-sister.You held onto this information, not wanting to reach out to Tony. You saw him on TV, you knew all you needed to know about Iron Man.

But, it was nearly a year later when you got a phone call from an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Hi, is this Y/N, Y/L/N?"

"Yes, Who is this?" You asked

"Hi, My name is Pepper, I'm Tony Stark's girlfriend,"

"Oh."

She paused for a second before continuing, "I was just wondering if you would like to come to Stark Tower. I know I would love to meet you, and Tony would too,"

You thought for a second before responding, "I appreciate the call, but I'm really not interested,"

"Please, Y/N. It would mean a lot to both of us,"

You sighed, "Alright," you agreed.

You stayed on the phone with Pepper for another few minutes arranging the trip to New York.

A few days later, you got on your flight and was heading toward New York. You practically spent the entire flight googling Tony Stark. You wanted to know as much about him as you could. From what you read, he was a cocky rich superhero, but you also saw that he made constant donations to charities every year and saved the world more than once.

When you got off the plane, Pepper was waiting for you in the terminal.

"Hi! Y/N!" She said, walking toward you.

"Hi Pepper," You smiled. She walked toward you and embraced you in a hug. There was a man with her that offered to take your bags for you. You were taken aback, but handed him your bags anyway.

"Is Tony here?" You asked

She shook her head, "No, he's actually out on a last minute mission right now, but it didn't sound like it would be long and hopefully he'll be back in a few hours,"

The man with your bags led you and Pepper to the car. You both climbed in the back as he drove you to Stark Tower.

You chatted with Pepper, getting to know her a bit better as she asked you questions about yourself.

When you got to Stark Tower, you stood outside and looked up. It had to be one of the tallest buildings in New York. When Pepper led you inside, you weren't exactly sure what you were expecting, but it was more than you thought.

Pepper led you up to the upper floors to where she and Tony lived along with the other Avengers.

"Are there going to be other Avengers here?" you asked Pepper as you rode upstairs in the elevator

"Well, Natasha is on a mission, and Clint is home with his family, but Steve and Bruce should be here,"

"Captain America and Hulk?" you asked

She laughed, "Yes, Captain America and Hulk."

You stepped off the elevator into a huge room. "Let me give you a quick tour," Pepper said,

She took you around, showing you the lounge, the kitchen, and Tony and Bruce's lab.

When you walked into the kitchen, you were taken aback. THE Captain America was standing there making a sandwich. When you and Pepper walked in, he looked up.

He smiled at you, and walked over toward you.

You had seen pictures of Captain America, but seeing him in person was completely different. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. You could see his muscles through his shirt. You were starstruck.

"Hi, I'm Steve," he stuck his hand out toward you. You took his hand in yours and shook it.

"Hi, I'm Y/N," you smiled

"You're Tony's long lost sister,"

You nodded, "that's me,"

"It's nice to meet you. I can't wait to get to know you," He smiled,

Pepper led you out of the kitchen and smiled at you, "It seems like Steve likes you,"

You just smiled and followed Pepper for the rest of the tour. She ended the tour in the room you'd be staying in.

"Do you think Tony will be back soon? I'd really like to meet him,"

You get settled in and I'm actually going to try and call him now and then we'll have dinner when he gets back,"

She smiled and left you alone in your room.

You looked around your room and sighed. You weren't sure if you should have come or not. You wanted to look around more, and were hoping you wouldn't get lost again.

You walked out of your room and began wandering down the hall. You wandered around corners and down staircases. You had no idea where you were and you had no idea how to get back to your room. You wandered around a few more corners, passing a few labs. You turned around to go back to your room. You thought you had turned the right way, but you ended up in an even further part of the building. You turned another corner, hoping to find your way, but you ended up in a gym.

You looked around at all the equipment. It was crazy that this was all Tony's. Suddenly you heard noises coming from the other side of the gym. You began walking toward the sound.

You stood back when you saw who it was. Captain America was standing across from you hitting a punching bag. You watched him, for what seemed like forever, before he looked over at you.

"Y/N?" He asked, smiling and walking toward you.

Steve was in a tank top and sweatpants. Your mind was going crazy over how Steve looked. You just wanted to reach out and touch him.

"Hey," you said awkwardly.

"So I kind of got lost and I have no idea how I even got here,"

Steve laughed, "Do you need help finding your way back,"

"Yes please,'

Steve walked toward you, and placed a hand on the small of your back, "Let me show you,"

You walked with Steve back toward the lounge area, still stunned by his handsome good looks.

"So you haven't met Tony before?" He asked

"No, I haven't. Can you tell me about him. Pepper didn't really say much and I really only know from what I've seen and read online,"

Steve nodded, "He's a good guy. He's very cocky, and likes to show off, but he's kind to the people he cares about. I have a feeling you guys will get along fine,"

You smiled and nodded, "thanks. And thank you for showing me my way back to the lounge,"

"No problem, Y/N. It was nice talking to you," He smiled, and headed toward the elevator, leaving you in the lounge.

You sat there for a moment, taking in your conversation with Steve. He was hot and kind.

"Hey Y/N, so I couldn't get a hold of Tony. I'm not really sure when he's going to be back," Pepper said, walking into the room.

"Pepper, you sound worried. Is everything ok?" you asked

"I'm not really sure," she sighed "He never takes this long, and he always answers me. I'm sure everything is fine though," she said trying to reassure you and herself.

You weren't sure what to say.

"I don't think we'll be able to have dinner tonight. I'm going to try and keep getting in touch with Tony. I'm really sorry this happened when you were supposed to meet him for the first time. If you're hungry just help yourself to anything in the kitchen. If I hear anything from Tony, I'll let you know, and if you need me I'm going to be in the lab with Bruce,"

"Thank Pepper," You said, watching her turn around and walk out.

You were getting kind of worried. Pepper seemed worried. You began wondering if you should even have come. It was all too much for you. You decided to skip dinner and head back toward your room.

You saw Steve down the hall about to enter his room.

He turned and saw you, "Hey Y/N. You're not lost again, are you?" He joked

You laughed, and continued walking toward him, "No, I'm just turning in for the night,"

"Which room is yours?" He asked

You stopped a meter short of him, and pointed to the door beside his.

"Guess we're neighbours," He smiled.

"Guess so,"

Steve turned to walk into his room, leaving you in the hallway, "Have a goodnight Y/N," He said, before closing his door behind him.

You walked into your room and leaned against the door. Steve was amazingly dreamy, but you were also worried about your brother.

You sighed, and began to get ready for bed. You lied in bed for hours before you fell asleep. Your mind racing with thoughts of Tony dying, getting hurt and not being able to call for help.

You woke up screaming, in a hot sweat, thinking of your brother getting injured. You sat up in bed and tried to catch your breath.

You heard a light rapping at your door.

"Come in," You said

The door opened slowly, and Steve walked through the door.

"I thought I heard you screaming, are you ok?" He asked

You took another deep breath, "Yeah, I just had a nightmare is all,"

"Do you want to talk about it?" Steve asked

You thought for a second, "Uh.. not really," you said

"Ok, i'll just go," He gave you a small smile and moved to leave and close the door behind him,

"No, wait. You can come in," you said,

Steve nodded, and closed the door behind him. He walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"So are you ok?" He asked again.

You paused before answering him, "Is it weird that I'm worried about Tony?"

"He's your brother, it's not weird to be worried about him,"

"But i've never met him. I didn't even want to come here and meet him, and now i'm sleeping in his huge New York mansion, and having nightmares that he's dead,"

Steve moved forward and placed his hand on your knee,

"Y/N, that's still not weird, even if you've never met him. He's still your brother," Steve stated.

You sighed, "I guess,"

"Do you want to talk about your nightmare?" Steve asked

"I just… Tony was dying, and there was no one there to help. What is he dies out on this mission before I ever got to meet him,"

"Believe me, Y/N, if Tony couldn't handle this mission on his own, he wouldn't have gone alone," Steve reassured you

You looked down at where Steve's hand was on your leg. You lightly went and placed your hand on top of his. He turned his hand over and held your hand in his.

"Thanks for being so nice to me today," You said, looking up at Steve and staring into his eyes.

He didn't say anything. He looked back at you, and began inching his face toward yours.

"Maybe I can try and get your mind off of things?" he asked softly

You nodded, leaning in closer to him, gently pressing your lips against his. He moved himself closer to you on your bed.

He deepened the kiss, pulling you toward him. He slipped his tongue into your mouth, and moaned into the kiss. You moved from where you were sitting and climbed onto Steve's lap. He pulled you tight against him, cupping your ass.

You wrapped your arms around him, and began grinding on him. You could feel his dick getting hard through his pyjamas, and you could feel your wetness going through your panties.

You both moaned into the kiss. You began pawing at the bottom of Steve's shirt. He pulled away from you and pulled his shirt over his head. He tossed it onto the floor, and reached for the bottom of your shirt. You lifted your arms and let him pull it over your head, revealing your bare tits.

He began kissing down your neck, you knew there would be purple marks left there tomorrow. He pulled you tighter toward him, pushing his bulge against you harder.  You pushed Steve backward, and he lied back on your bed. You lied on top of him, and deepened your kiss.

Steve moaned, bucking his hips up toward you. You pulled away from Steve, and stood up. He watched you as you slipped your panties down your legs. You stepped out of them and moved back toward Steve. You grabbed the waistband of pyjama pants, and pulled them down, revealing his hard cock. You threw them aside, and climbed back on top of Steve.  You rubbed your wet pussy against Steve's dick, causing him to moan.

He placed his hands on your hips, and rocked you back and forth against him. You were going crazy, you needed Steve's cock deep inside of you. You raised yourself, and grabbed hold of his hard dick, and slowly started lowering yourself onto him.

You both moaned as you felt his dick getting deeper inside of you. You sat still for a moment, your mouth agape in ecstacy, taking in the feeling of him.

Steve's grip on your hips tightened as he began to rock you back and forth. You moaned at the feeling of his dick moving inside of you. You placed one hand on his chest to hold yourself up, and allowed the other to fall on your clit as you began rubbing small circles, which only drove you crazier.

You began moving up and down, allowing his dick to move in and out of you. You both moaned as you got closer to orgasm. You rubbed your clit harder, as you moved up and down his dick faster. You could feel your orgasm building, and you knew Steve was close. His head was thrown back into your pillows as his grip almost painfully tightened on your hips. You could feel his hips bucking up toward you, as his cock began twitching. His face relaxed as he orgasmed, you could feel his come spilling into you, driving you over the edge. Your insides tightened against his as you came all over his bare dick.

His hands fell from your hips as you fell forward and collapsed on top of him. He wrapped his arms around you and left light touches up and down your bare back. You sighed, trying to catch your breath.  

You fell asleep with Steve that night in your bed. The next morning when you woke up, Steve was already gone. You got dressed and went downstairs hoping to run into Pepper and find out if there was any news on Tony.

You went downstairs to the kitchen. There was no sign of Pepper, but there was of Steve. He was standing there in the same pyjamas he had on last night, cooking breakfast.

"Hey," you said,

Steve turned, "Morning Y/N," he smiled

"You left," you said, going to sit down at the counter.

"I know. I wasn't really sure if you wanted me to stay or not," he admitted

"It's alright. Maybe next time you can stay,"

"Next time?" Steve smirked, smiling at you.

Suddenly, you heard a voice coming from behind you, "Wow, Cap. I leave for one night and you manage to fuck my baby sister before I could even meet her,"

You turned to see Tony standing there.

Steve opened his mouth to say something, but had no idea what to say.

"Tony," You said, getting off the chair, and moving toward him.

"Nice to meet you little sis," He smiled

[evien-stark]

✧I Need You✧ Chapter 172

Wherever you were, it was warm and comfortable. Memories of the horrors in Sokovia were fading. Sleep had been blissfully long and uninterrupted. An almost impossible task, considering you’d had to board the helicarrier and be taken home. Somewhere in the middle of all that you’d slipped unconscious, and hadn’t woken back up. At least until now. And wherever changed its definition as you returned in small bits and pieces. 

You were home. You were safe. One of the things not always assured. 

Tony’s voice was a low murmur in the next room. You wished he was in bed alongside you. Realizing that that spot that belonged to him was empty pulled you slowly from the sleep you’d been enjoying. Tony was working. You were lazing. That was probably unacceptable. But almost as if he somehow realized you were stirring, the door of the bedroom opened and you turned on your side, meeting his gaze with your own pair of sleepy eyes. His smile warmed you straight through and he held a finger up to signal- at least you thought- not to move, and that he’d be with you in a minute. 

“Well. Don’t wait up for me. I’m not planning on a ribbon-cutting or anything, but if I was I’d want it in a week.” He came further into the room, pacing in lingering steps towards the center, one hand in his pocket. You sat up just a little, blinking to better adjust your eyes. He was half well-dressed. Suit slacks, an ice-blue button up with the sleeves rolled up to his arms, and a loose black tie. You imagined a waistcoat and suit jacket were sitting on the back of a chair somewhere near the front elevator. “Sure. Look. I gotta go. Keep me updated.” 

When he turned, you patted the spot next to you on the edge of the bed. Your beckoning worked, he moved as if you’d thrown a lasso around him. Tilting your head up, “What’s going on?” 

He sat down on the edge of the bed. “A million things. Nothing terribly important.” Grinning just a little. “The new facility is on schedule- at least they are now.” Facility… oh. He was talking about the new Avengers Facility upstate. They must have put work on hold while deciding whether or not the Avengers were actually going to be alive, and Tony had to come in and kick them back into gear. Something that was kind of important. 

“And it’ll be done in a week?” It was difficult to remember the last time the two of you had talked about it. He’d already had it half in the works then. 

His shoulders came up in a weak shrug, and he threaded his fingers loosely together over his lap. “They’re placating me. We’re probably looking at something closer towards the end of the month.” 

“Just in time for your birthday.” 

“Lucky me.” Said flatly with a little roll of his eyes. Once he was done he turned a little more towards you, reaching out to slide some hair behind your ear and then cup the side of your face. “You alright?”

This was something you probably should have been expecting him to ask. Something you should have had an answer for. But the question left you a little stunned until you finally decided on, “I have no idea.” 

For one reason or another this seemed to amuse him, if only lightly so. “Yeah. That’s probably fair. Seems like there’s been a lot of that lately.” The fall of your face hit him, and he quickly went to nervous correction. “Not that- not that that’s your fault.” 

Had it even been one entire week since your life had started falling apart? Tony had told you you had absolutely no idea about yourself in the lab. JARVIS had died. Ultron had  been born. Fury was an alien- and the real one confirmed you knew even less than Tony had gathered. JARVIS had been found- and nearly died again- only saved by some efforts of yours- and then been reborn. The Infinity Stones had been revealed. Six in all. And no telling where they were, or why suddenly they’d become important. Tony had almost died. And had told you to leave him- and you had. Sokovia had been utterly destroyed. You’d kept Pietro from dying. Somehow. At the behest of powers beyond your comprehension. You’d been burning up, and your gamma pulses had been out of control. Ultron had died, and in his last moments had sought out your comfort in a realm you understood very little. You had offered him peace in his final flicker, and then sent him off. And JARVIS had helped you come down off that edge somehow.

...did that about cover everything? 

“Honey?” Tony’s quiet pang of nervousness brought you out of your cloud. “You still with me?” 

Your eyes lowered from the thousand yard stare you’d assumed and you put a hand to your forehead. “I hate to do this. Can you- ...can you debrief me?” It was such a cold and removed way of doing things. Of listening to the things that had happened to you. To your team. Just asking for a recap of events was never enough. But it was what you needed. 

He gave a weak nod and then cleared his throat. “Well… Sokovia is gone. The Relief Foundation is working on helping everyone that was displaced which is- ...well. Everyone. Casualties are still being counted. Ultron’s presence has been wiped clean. The press wants a statement. Bruce is gone.” 

That last bit of information struck you hard and fast. “What do you mean gone?” 

A terrible blue took over him. Heavy sorrow that he was reluctant to show. “Gone. Hulk took over the quinjet. Nat tried to get him to come back but he turned off all the comms. He put it in stealth mode and- thanks to me- that means it’s untrackable. So. He’s gone.” There was a soft flicker of resentment but it was mostly buried by guilt. 

Reaching out you put a hand over his. “That’s not your fault.” 

He scoffed with a bitter smile. “That’s not the way everyone else feels. Which is fine. Maybe they’re right. You know, I had redundancies for this kind of thing- but I had no idea the big guy was that smart.” Speaking quickly. Always a sure sign that he was struggling. 

“Bruce knew all of your protocols. Are we sure it wasn’t him?” Not really sure what the point of arguing who had taken off was. Maybe just to get an idea of who had really left. Hulk? Or Bruce? 

Tony just shrugged weakly. “There’s no way of telling. At least not until he comes back. I’ll do my best to find him but. He’s gonna have to meet me halfway.” Bruce taking the quinjet was something else entirely. Maybe if it was just Hulk, there was a chance he’d crash it somewhere. But if Bruce had run off? 

...why? Why would he do that? You remembered overhearing him and Natasha, but Natasha was still here. So Bruce had just ran away? It was nearly unfathomable. ...and an incredibly painful thought. To think that he thought his only means of contrition after what happened in Johannesburg were to just disappear off the face of the earth... You would have protected him from the media. From accusations that it was his fault- it hadn’t been. He had a life here. Family.

Which made all the more sense why Tony was taking this so hard. You found yourself sad, too. There was so much more to say here- so much more that you should have said. Things you should have done to try and help Tony process this, even when you couldn’t do it yourself. But he moved on while you fumbled with your own sudden grief. “The Facility is getting its roots settled- like I said. It’ll be a little while yet. But the team knows about it and they’re starting to migrate that way. Surprisingly had no qualms. For once.”

“It’s out of the way. They probably like the idea of being a little more protected. Less in the public eye.” The Tower was great. You remembered a long time ago when it had been your baby. And the new face of justice after just being the new face of clean energy for barely a day. But. It was time to- 

“And I’m working on a speech that goes with our two week notice.” 

Retire. Funny. You were just about to think that. “A speech, huh? You wouldn’t happen to be planning some annoying retirement party, would you?” 

His face fell just a little and then he moved quickly to looking insulted. But only jokingly so. “Okay, well, now that you called it annoying-” 

“Tony-” 

“Look. I just think it’s fair. We put in a ton of work. The least they can do is drink champagne from an open bar and- I don’t know- is it too much to ask for one of those oversized cards?” The sight of his grin encouraged your own smile. 

Something you hid as you bent forward, nuzzling your forehead against his shoulder. “Maybe asking a little too much from them, yes. They’re not really that socially coordinated.” 

“Don’t have to tell me twice.” 

The thought buzzed around in your head. Not angrily. But it did make you slightly nervous. Your tone backed off. Quiet and thoughtful. Not really wanting to invite the universe to give you ten more reasons that you couldn’t. “You really think we’re allowed to retire?” 

That question had been out there for much longer now than was fair. The both of you had had long discussions- too many at this point- about what an actual life looked like. One with each other. That you were in control of. No more of this superhero business that Tony had thrown himself into. ...it still didn’t seem possible. 

His own voice lowered to match yours. “That’s not a question I can answer on my own.” 

Meaning… he needed you there with him. He needed your agreement. Your consent. He needed you to walk along this path with him. He couldn’t decide to retire on his own and have you work. Nor could you walk away with him still on the frontlines. It just didn’t work that way. 

“How do you feel about it, Tony?” Sitting back again just so you could look at him. Have a real conversation with him about this. About the fate of your lives. The next chapter. 

He looked at you for a long time. Really thinking. And you appreciated it. “Well… Vision is no Ultron. Maybe he’s better for it.” The whole reason this had started. The one thing Tony had promised you. Ultron was what he’d been working on. To protect the earth. And to give you both the ability to feel safe. To… do exactly what you were talking about now. “He’s ready to be part of the team. And, don’t tell him I told you, but I think he’s our ringer right now.” 

JARVIS certainly seemed extremely powerful. It was hard to even label what it was he could do. But he was also holding an Infinity Stone. Whatever they were. Something also incredibly powerful. With it in his hands- good hands- the world did seem a little safer. Like he would come to challenge whatever tried to hurt it. Like an Avenger. 

You caught Tony looking at you. Waiting. Waiting for your judgment. You felt your brows knit. “You trust him? With our future?” Not just the world’s future. A little more selfishly so… you were asking if Tony could turn his back on the Avengers knowing JARVIS (or Vision, as they kept calling him) was there. That he trusted JARVIS to keep everyone safe, so that no matter the crisis, you and Tony didn’t have to come back onto the battlefield. 

“Next to you? JARVIS was the only other person I trusted that much. Vision might not be entirely JARVIS but. You’re right. There���s part of him there. Enough of him.” Talking himself through that thought until finally he nodded. “Yeah. I trust him.” 

This was a lot. This was saying more than a lot, in fact. Tony was ready to give up this life. He was ready to move on. He had been for a long time. But he knew the importance of what the two of you were doing. Of what the team was doing. He’d seen the horrors that you would never understand. He’d sat in space for a full minute- sometimes it still haunted him. Yet despite all that… he was ready. 

The question now was, were you? 

He startled you from your thinking when he raised a hand, the backs of his fingers brushing gingerly down over your temple and then traced the line of your jaw. “If you want me to beg, just say the words.” 

“Beg?” It was too much to ask that you didn’t fall immediately to pieces with the way he was looking at you. The way he was touching you. It was hard to think beyond that. “I don’t want you to beg-” 

“But I will. Whatever it takes to get you there- whatever I need to do- if I need to beg for you to run away with me- to start a life with me- I will. I want this. I want a home. I want stability. I want you. I want you to be happy. I want you to be safe. With me. And- frankly- I’m getting tired of sharing you with everyone else. So if you want me to beg-” 

His silence was easy to earn. You reached over, securing your hand around the middle of his tie, and drew him in with a pointed pull. He went very easily. Words stopping in a catch of breath, eyes lowering and then closing just as your lips connected. His palm went flat against the side of your neck. Against your wishes he broke back, so you chased him, and it was the parted lips, the small brush of tongues that made your muscles go slack. 

Which seemed to be fine. With another tug as you fell back, he followed you in, keeping close. His knees went to the sides of your thighs on the bed, while his hands reached out to steady himself over you. While you had him, you looped your arms around his neck, drawing him further. Kissing him harder. Leaving the two of you breathless. He was panting as he asked, “Is that a yes?” Smile the next thing pressed against your lips. 

But it didn’t stay. He was on the moved, dragging fleeting kisses down from your jaw and over your throat as your head tipped back all the way to give him access. “Tony- please-” The tingly scratch of his beard and mustache had you writhing beneath him.

An amused hum bubbled out from him, “I thought I was the one doing the begging?” A warm glow bounced back and forth between the two of you. Easy to acknowledge. Happiness.

Nothing simpler and yet somehow still nothing more complex. Almost strange to be able to access the feeling after everything the both of you had been through. But when you were together- like this- ...it was so easy. 

His teeth at the juncture of your shoulder and neck sparked a pleasurable thrum that had your hips lifting to meet him, a soft noise leaking from you. You were getting lost. So was he. You had to make sure you put a cap on this before it was too late. “Yes-” It came out in a quiet hiss, a half moan as he nipped again, working his way out towards the round of your shoulder. You tried again for something less salacious. “Yes- Tony- let’s do it-” 

At this he really did chuckle, a dark and loving noise that rumbled out against your skin and shot straight through you. “We’re about halfway there.” Teasing you so easily. “Though I’m not sure about the crass language. Usually you’re much more eloquent-” That smirk he was suddenly pressing onto your collarbone lit up all your hot points. “Tony-” Warning him. Liar that you were. Not even his smart-mouth sass would stop this. He probably knew that. “-but I’ll forgive you, considering...” Deciding better safe than sorry. Smart man that he was. His right hand moved down, cupping the back of your thigh, hefting you up into another press of hips that had your mind reeling- especially with the quiet groan it urged from him. 

“Yes- please-” Losing the thought again. Having to struggle to get it back. You settled your hands on the sides of his face, tugging him back up to look at you. His eyes were darkened with lust, but after only seconds of looking at you he eased into something far softer. “Tony- let’s retire. Let’s start our lives.” Agreeing. Finally. 

Your moment was now. You were finally going to have a life with him. An actual life. 

His smile was nothing short of enamored. “I love you.” He didn’t give you a chance to echo the sentiment as he closed in on another heated, deep kiss. Not with words- so you let him know anyway- 

I love you more. 

The message hit its mark almost instantly, and he went a little weak over you for just a handful of seconds. Then it seemed to renew his drive all the more. Yet he was moving in slow motion compared to after- when your hands moved down and you ruined his shirt. Ripping it open with a quick yank, sending torn buttons scattering. 

I need you. 

Another thing he needed to know. And as always, he was up to the task. 

It took no time at all after that- part of you wished you’d savored the moment- but the rest of you was intensely grateful when you were able to rid him of his clothes, and he of yours. His hand gripped your hip tight, and you pressed yourself against his warm body, legs locked around his waist, drinking in every moan between you as he fucked you senseless. As the two of you finally found time for each other. Found comfort in each other. 

Finally had time for each other. Finally were committing to each other.

Finally. Finally. 

[imagine-loki]

Gifted

TITLE: Gifted (Sequel to Giftless)

CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: 10/?

AUTHOR: nekoamamori ORIGINAL IMAGINE: 

Imagine that you are Stark’s niece and you secretly share a strong relationship with Loki since he entered the crew. One day you get hurt so bad during a mission that you are about to die.  Loki knows a spell that will save you and share his immortality with you but you and he will be linked forever sharing thoughts, pain, emotions…

RATING: T NOTES/WARNINGS:  Also on AO3 click here

After dinner with your actor friends, you went back to the tower where you curled up on your usual couch in the common room to watch TV, read, and wait for your super friends to join you later in the evening. You couldn’t help laughing when the pictures from the evening started coming through social media. They also ended up all over the news. The pictures the cast tagged you in and sent to you were better than the ones the news outlets had found, but that was to be expected. 

You made the pictures of the cast all bowing down to you on your throne surrounded by props your new profile picture for all of your social media.

You had given Loki a couple books to catch up on, since he had missed some new releases over the last year. You had stubbornly set them aside for him specifically so he could catch back up when he got back. There were books piled on your coffee table waiting for Loki.  You were really determined that he was coming back.  No matter how many times Tony told you to put your books away.

Your thoughts were interrupted by a tiny black cat mewing next to your couch while you were reading. You looked down at her and couldn’t help smiling. “Hey, Aunt Pepper. Tony had to go talk to Fury about something. You can hang out with us until he gets back if you want.” you offered. The cat hopped up in your lap and you petted her while she purred. Pepper Potts was Tony’s fiancé, CEO of Stark Industries, and practically your Aunt, even though she and Tony weren’t married yet. She had also recently acquired the power to shapeshift into animals.  She didn’t get powers in the initial wave of magic that had swept the world, just like you hadn’t.  She’d only gotten them recently, so she was spending more time in the tower while she learned to control them.  

Which meant you occasionally had a cat to curl up and read with you.  You didn’t mind, you liked Pepper for all that you had barely seen her before she got her powers.

“Do I need to turn into a cat so you will pet me like that?” Loki purred in your ear. 

You looked up at him and giggled at his silly antics and his whispered teasing.   “You can do that?” you asked instead of answering his question properly. You weren’t dignifying his seductive purring with an answer.  Despite the blush that rose on your cheeks.  

“When you are feeling better, I will teach you how as well. It is not a skill I use often, but it is one of my abilities, and so it is also one of yours,” Loki told you warmly.  You’d gotten all of his magical abilities through the soulbond.  As well as all of his years of study.  

Tony arrived soon and you caught him scanning the ground as if looking for a missing cat. You waved at him from your spot on the couch. He waved back, but looked distracted, and worried. “Uncle Tony, if you’re looking for Aunt Pepper, she’s here,” you called innocently. You saw Tony turn red, but he nodded and came to join you. He sat on your couch with you, as far from Loki as he could get, and next to your feet. You promptly put your cold toes on his warm leg, which made him yelp and glare at you. You giggled at the look on his face.

Pepper abandoned your lap and went to go curl herself on Tony’s lap instead. Tony tried to act nonchalant about allowing it, but you knew him better than that. Even after all these years, he had issues showing how much he cared for Pepper or for you, though he tried his best.  You grinned at the pair and settled yourself more comfortably in Loki’s arms. Tony glowered suspiciously at you and you gave him an innocent smile in return, which just made him glower more deeply, which should not have been physically possible.

Pepper shifted back to human form. Thankfully she had clothes when she did it this time. That wasn’t always the case and it had taken her a lot of work to learn how to shift back and forth with clothes.  Everyone in the tower was grateful when she managed it, so Tony wouldn’t have to kill you all for seeing more of Pepper than you should have.  

Tony swore and cursed in surprise at the sudden change while you and Loki laughed at their antics. Pepper was curled quite comfortably in Tony’s lap and wrapped her arms around Tony’s neck, kissing your uncle on the cheek so Tony turned even more red. Though he used to be such a playboy.  He was shy around Pepper and walked on eggshells for fear of losing her.  “Pepper!” Tony exclaimed, you had never seen your super hero uncle so embarrassed.

“Calm down, Tony. They already know.  Everyone in the universe has known since well before you proposed,” Pepper replied with a grin.  It was true.  Everyone in the known world knew Tony Stark had proposed and knew he was dating his CEO before then.

You yelped when Loki grabbed you around the waist and pulled you into his lap, so you and Pepper were mirrored on the couch. “If it is proper for your uncle to have his love on his lap, then it is proper for me to have mine in the same place,” Loki explained quite reasonably. You all laughed, except for Tony who glared, but couldn’t easily fight Loki’s logic. You settled yourself more comfortably on Loki’s lap and he wrapped his cool arms around you once you were settled.

“You don’t think-” Tony trailed off, losing whatever words he was trying to find. You grasped the concept behind his question, though.  He wanted to know if you were ok with his relationship with Pepper.  He had gotten so much flack over it and didn’t want any from you too. 

“Tony, I don’t care who you love as long as they treat you well,” you told him sincerely, trying to be reassuring that you really was open to whatever relationship made him happy. You were glad, of course, that he’d stopped being a playboy, and you loved Pepper, so it was great.  The moment you saw the reassurance in his eyes though you couldn’t help adding: “Unless you love Loki. You can’t have him. He’s mine,” you added, because it was your job to tease him. You stuck your tongue out at him and he laughed.

“You can keep him,” Tony replied, finally relaxing and wrapping his arms around Pepper.

By the time the news aired the footage of the crash again, Pepper’s head was on Tony’s shoulder and Tony was absently petting her hair. They were absolutely adorable together. Tony stiffened every time someone walked into the room, but all he got from them were waves and friendly greetings, so he finally calmed.

One idiot made a joke that was derogatory about Pepper in the relationship with Tony.  It wasn’t the first time, people were always saying derogatory things since she’d been Tony’s assistant before he made her CEO. You were the first one on your feet to defend Tony and Pepper, daggers in both hands, one held to the idiot’s throat. Loki was right behind you, not visibly armed yet. You were soon surrounded by supers, all of whom were prepared to fight and all of whom were defending Tony and Pepper. “I’m sorry! It was a joke!” the idiot insisted.

“It’s not funny,” you snarled. You were mildly impressed that this hulking brute was terrified of you, the tiniest girl in the room.  And the one without powers at the moment.  But then again, on a normal day, you were the deadliest person in any given room.

“No more jokes, I swear!” he begged.

“There better not be,” you snarled. There were cheers from the others. Loki touched your arm.

“I believe he has gotten the point, darling,” he said dryly. Lucky guy was getting saved by Loki. Hopefully he appreciated it. You saw his grateful look at Loki. Loki just glared at him in reply.

“He insulted Tony,” you pouted at Loki.

“That is not a killing offense, dear, or I would be long dead,” Loki’s voice was still dry.

“Fine,” you replied, stepping back from the idiot. You handed one of your daggers to Loki to vanish and sheathed the other one with a flourish.

“You summon excellent daggers,” Loki commented appraising your dagger as you calmly walked back to our couch.

“A girl has to have standards,” you replied with a smile. He laughed and vanished the dagger before he resumed his place on the couch and pulled you onto his lap. You curled up there contentedly and he wrapped a blanket around you to keep you warm against his chill.

Pepper pouted and looked pathetic until Loki summoned another blanket so Tony could wrap it around her. Pepper instantly perked up and you could hear her purring from your end of the couch.  Sometimes the animal traits stuck more than she wanted to admit.  

You were soon joined by the rest of your friends, who insisted that you watch Superhero Musical. That movie was the tower favorite and you watched it all the time, sang along every time, and somehow never got tired of it. You all sang along as per usual and you looked up at Loki surprised when he jumped in right along the rest of you. He didn’t miss any of the words, either. 

He’d been practicing.

You all stayed up way too late and ended up falling asleep in the common room, on various couches, chairs, cushions and beanbags. You had a feeling that it was Fury who took the picture that ended up on the official Avengers’ website and Facebook page, heavily edited so no supers identities were compromised, of course.

[rankakiu]

Thoughts of the Droid: Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Hello, Tumblr people! How life treats you? As always, I hope very well. Finally, I was presented with the perfect opportunity to see one of the most anticipated superhero films of this year: Avengers: Endgame, is a production that closes with 10 years of stories about heroism and of course, a decade of success for Marvel Studios.

WARNING: NOT SPOILER-FREE. Read at your own risk

Entering already full to the review, what did I think the movie? Short answer: While it is not up to Infinity War, it is a great movie by itself. Now we go with more details. 

Characters: Basically our favorite characters are still faithful to themselves. In Infinity War, we saw our heroes dead of fear and full of uncertainty; in this film is when we can see them completely broken, with their confidence on the floor and generally affected to know that they have not been able to save the world (and the universe). We see them struggling to adapt to a new world with half of their lives destroyed, a hostile environment that constantly reminds them of their failure as heroes and as humans. And even though they find Thanos and have a brief fight where they easily defeat the Crazy Titan, their feeling of emptiness gets worse, knowing that they can do nothing to reverse the situation ... or do they?

At this point, it could be said that the character of Scott Lang, when speaking to them about the quantum realm and his theory of time travel, causes the hopes of the Avengers to be reborn. Hence, our characters face various conflicts, mostly emotional, to know that many of them were not in the best friendly relationships, but even so, leave all that aside to focus on a common goal: to collect the gems of the infinite and thus have a possibility, not only to beat Thanos, but to fix everything.

History: It is at this point where I will be honest with you. The truth expected a different and more epic story. I do not know, a story where the surviving Avengers faced Thanos but seeing the inordinate power of the Crazy Titan, they would flee and from there formulate a time travel plan to collect the gems and that Thanos knowing that, would also travel to time to stop them. I expected a conflict that was even superior to the one shown in Infinity War. Instead, I saw a somewhat simpler story without so much epic tinge, so I was a little disappointed.

But why is history bad? Of course not. In fact, it is interesting to note that the story in Infinity War is about the villain, his background and motivations, why he does what he does. And they formulate it so well, that the spectator can sympathize in Thanos's crusade, leaving a bittersweet feeling: you can understand that his goal is to a certain noble point, but you do not agree with the method with which he wants to carry out his goal. On the other hand, in Endgame, it is a film that deals more with our heroes, to see them at first deal with their failure, and then see how hope is reborn in them and how they finally come together to carry out their plan, where they return to work as a real team, not as superheroes, but as brothers. It is a story where we see how the most powerful heroes of the planet seek on this journey to heal their wounds and in fact, this is what the story of the film is about: a healing process and with which they will seek redemption.

Speaking more about history, time travel seemed very successful, since it is here where we see our heroes more emotional than ever and that we can appreciate their human side much more. They face a mental challenge that supposes a hypothetical trip in the time, but in addition, they face an emotional challenge, that supposes being with a loved one, or facing a difficult decision of life and death. 

In the first case, we have Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, where Rogers looks with yearning and longing for Peggy Carter, the woman he loved the most in the world. We see him contemplate it with nostalgia and with the tension that supposes that Rogers can make the mistake of wanting to go see her. You can see that his conflict is more about deciding between meeting her or faithfully following her mission of collecting the gem of infinity. In the end, he chooses wisely to continue your mission for the greater good.

In Stark's case, we can clearly see all the overwhelming range of emotions he feels when meeting his father. And I found it quite interesting that they had a talk about the family and that in fact, it was the son who advised the father on this subject. Their meeting can be described as extremely moving.

In the second case, it is up to Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff. It is here where you can witness the great friendship that both had. Long before their time travel, the viewer can witness how Black Widow is devastated to learn how his friend lost his entire family at the hands of Thanos and how later Hawkeye became a vigilant too vengeful, as a way to discharge his anger and resentment against the world and destiny. The scene where they finally meet face to face is one of the best in the film, as Natasha offers Clint the opportunity to recover his family and after a few moments of doubt, he agrees to help the Avengers.

Of course, I could not stop mentioning the peak scene of these two companions that occurs in the Planet Vormir, where you can still appreciate the great friendship that both have. And this can be appreciated even more when they discover that a sacrifice is necessary to possess the Gem of the Soul. The brief fight between the two is intense and full of tension, where one as a spectator eats the nails and wishes that neither of them dies. And in the end, Natasha, in an act of true friendship and camaraderie, sacrifices herself so that Clint can not only get the gem but also continue with the mission of defeating Thanos so he can return to see his family. A most moving scene without a doubt.

The third case, we see Thor and Rocket Raccoon travel to the past, specifically to the lands of Asgard when they were in full glory. Thor cannot help but feel a certain nostalgia and above all the need to see, even for the last time, his mother, Frigga. Rocket Raccoon would be the comic relief for the situation, it is also the voice of reason for Thor, for the god of thunder to focus on his mission. Certainly, the conversation that mother and son hold is very endearing, it is in its pure sense, a conversation in which the mother gives valuable lessons and advice to her son, above all, the lesson that the past must let go to face the present , a mother who gives encouragement and emotional support to her son, when he most needed it. A scene very well carried out.

The fourth case, we have Bruce Banner, the Hulk, being face to face with the Ancient One, where we see that she also fought against the first invasion of Thanos, in New York, making sure that the Sanctum Sanctorum she was guarding did not fall into enemy hands. I do not have much to emphasize about this particular scene, except for the fact of its importance in history, since we see how Banner, using his intellect and tenacity, tries, by all means, to convince Ancient One to deliver the Gem of the Time, which she does when he mentions that Stephen Strange gave Thanos that gem in the present timeline. With this, the Ancient One seems to realize the whole plan of her pupil.

The fifth case that concerns us, You can see a great evolution in the character of Nebula, where she has a somewhat unpleasant encounter with her past self and her sister Gamora. Nebula tries to convince her self of the past that Thanos's goal is totally wrong and that she can free herself from her bonds and be someone else by herself. The conflict that arises between the two Nebulas is quite interesting in my opinion. The Nebula of the present is quite clear that she wants to be, while the Nebula of the past seeks to define herself by having her father Thanos as the most fundamental of her life.

She is presented with the perfect opportunity and the Nebula of the past does not hesitate for a second to take it since her obsession was too much to receive recognition from his father. That is why both the Nebula of the present and Gamora knew that it was impossible to save the Nebula from the past, for which they had no choice but to kill her.

We arrive at the scene of the final battle, where Thanos maintains his initial objective but now he wants to carry it out on a much larger scale, to eliminate half of the universe to eliminate ALL the universe and from there create another more prosperous one. The Avengers face the Crazy Titan in an epic fight, where despite the power of Thanos, there is an improvement in the Avengers, where they now perfectly know the kind of enemy they face.

Thanos keeps showing they why he is powerful, but the Avengers fight with more security and determination, which ends up delivering a very memorable battle. The climax of the fight reaches its point when those killed by the power of the gauntlet arrive on the scene of the fight and launch themselves into the charge against Thanos and his army. In the end, the Avengers win the match thanks to Tony Stark, who seizes the Gems of Infinity and with snapping his fingers disintegrates Thanos himself and his army. It is noteworthy here that when Thanos witnesses how his army fades, he goes through the same phases as the Avengers in Infinity War: First he looks in disbelief, then he feels fear and in the end (unlike the Avengers) he understands that he has lost war, he sits down and with it he resigns himself to death. If you ask me this is a worthy ending for a villain of his size.

Finally, the film closes with an emotional funeral in memory of Tony Stark, where we appreciate all the heroes and acquaintances of the deceased saying goodbye to him with melancholy, where they know that the world has lost one of its great and irreplaceable heroes. We also have Steve Rogers returns the gems of the infinite and stayed a lifetime in his timeline, fulfilling his dream of sharing his life with Peggy Carter. We see him return to the present, already aged and gives a last act both a superhero and human: bequeath his shield and with it his name to Sam Wilson, to Falcon, so that this is the new Captain America.

Certainly, it seemed appropriate that they also give this closure with the character of Captain America, we're probably in a future movie they mention that he has died of natural causes.

In general, Avengers: Endgame handles a very good story, solid and that keeps you attentive, making your three hours of duration go completely unnoticed.

Visual and special effects: Being a super production and even more a superhero tape, the visuals must be impeccable and fortunately Avengers: Endgame fulfills very well and thoroughly with this point. We know that many of the scenarios, creatures and the odd character are made by computer, but they make it feel that it feels completely real. In addition, they are also used to make the powers of different characters shine in all their glory. You can be calm, the visuals are perfect.

Action: While there are several action scenes, I feel that they were a little short, since most of this is only seen until the final confrontation with Thanos, that although I will not deny that it is one of the best achieved, I would have liked to see at least half of that action in other scenes. But I'm not complaining anyway. The action is exciting and overwhelming, especially in the epic final duel.

In conclusion, Avengers: Endgame is a great movie of superheroes and that closes with a flourish all the movies of the Avengers. The film gives moments of glory to many of their characters and gives a worthy conclusion to others. A film that, along with its prequel Infinity War, is to be seen again and again and that it will also earn the right to be immovable within a collection of an authentic movie buff, especially if it is a fan of superhero movies. So while I give this movie 4 out of 5 Gems of Infinity. A film that will undoubtedly mark a before and after in superhero movies.

Greetings

Rankakiu

P.S. Motherfu... They killed Black Widow, my favorite character! How dare they!? It is something that I will not overcome in years XD.

[atlas-of-a-human-soul]

Royal, pt. 6 (T’Challa)

Summary: Freya and T’Challa get a moment alone.

Warnings: none

Word count: 1540

Watching them walk away was one thing, throwing people off their trail was another. My wounds weren't really cooperating with me either. I walk like my limbs don’t really belong to me and each step feels more like a negotiation rather than an order. Everything hurts now. Every damn thing. I took some pleasure in knowing they were okay, but I was in dire need of some rest. As the adrenaline stopped, allowing me to come down from the rush, the pain seemed to be amplified. It was intense enough to make me take in shaky, shallow breaths as anything more than that resulted in misery. I was far too prideful to admit I needed help, so I went back to that conference room and sat on a chair, trying to find some inner peace and do some healing. Water manipulation came in handy for numerous things if you knew how to wield it correctly, healing was one of those things. It was slow, but I needed to do it.

People aren't really aware how powerful it is, water. It seems like a weak element to some, but I consider it to be stronger than fire. For starters, water is everywhere, in each and every single thing in this world, even out of this world. Using it against people was easy, especially if you take in mind that people are about 75% pure water.

In order to heal, I didn't need an extra source of water..I had it on the inside already. Healing with water was a more delicate, refined process of repairing and regenerating damaged cells on a molecular level.

„Your friends won't get far.“ A strong accent in the voice made me stiffen.

„I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about.“ I say nonchalantly.

„I think you do.“ T'Challa responds, taking a seat next to me.

„You are mistaken.“ I reply and a silence settles in.

„You don't look good.“ He breaks the silence and I turn to him.

„Ouch. You didn't have to hurt me that way!“ I say sarcastically, placing a hand over my chest like I was deeply offended.

„Oh, I didn't mean it like that. You look beautiful. I meant, you look hurt.“ T'Challa blurts out, his steely face mask disappearing, letting that young man I've met only a few days ago make a reappearance. It was nice to see him nervous.

„So..You think I'm beautiful?“ I question, my eyebrow raised, a smirk playing on my lips.

„I think you're stunning, but that doesn't matter.“ T'Challa's mask was back, his eyes turned a little darker and any evidence of a smile was erased.

„Why'd you save me?“ I pulled my own cold mask on and decided to play his game.

„Although wrong, your actions were honorable.“ He says, boring his eyes into mine.

„Right. No ulterior motives?“ I purse my lips and lean back into the chair, crossing my arms over my chest.

„How about you answer some questions?“ He turned the game back on me and I was a willing player.

„Shoot.“

„You're enhanced, correct?“ He asks, his eyes focused on every move I make.

„Not exactly. I'm not like those Maximoff twins. I was born this way.“ I reply.

„From what I gathered, you can manipulate water?“

„You're correct!“ I say, not amused by the way this conversation was going.

„Tell me about it.“ It felt like he ordered me and I didn't like that one bit.

„Look buddy, you may be the king of Wakanda, but“ I was cut off by Tony, Natasha and Ross entering. I looked at T'Challa who was already getting up and leaving the room.

„I don't suppose you have any idea where they are?“ Ross looks to me, expecting me to blow the whistle. Has he not read my file? I'm not a mall cop!

„Nope!“

„We will. GSG-9's got the borders covered. Recon's flying 24/7. They'll get a hit. We'll handle it.“ Tony pipes in with an attempt to reassure the secretary.

„You don't get it, Stark. It's not yours to handle. It's clear you can't be objective. I'm putting Special Ops on this.“ Ross interjects and I jump up from my chair.

„NO! They shoot first and ask questions later! Are you willing to kill Captain America?“ Every time he opened his mouth I got angrier. He felt empowered to micromanage every little aspect of our lives, every damn thing done his damn way, just because we signed the Accords.

„What happens when the shooting starts? What, do you kill Steve Rogers?“ Natasha backed me up and I sent an appreciative nod her way.

„If we're provoked. Barnes would've been eliminated in Romania if it wasn't for Rogers. There are dead people who would be alive now. Feel free to check my math.“ My face was red with suppressed rage, knuckles became white from clenching my fists too hard, and I gritted my teeth in an effort to remain silent, hunching slightly so it exuded an animosity that was like acid - burning, slicing, potent. Thing is, no matter how big the fire is on the inside, it only comes out as ice. The room temperature dropped significantly and I knew I'd snap if he didn't stop talking soon.

„All due respect, you're not going to solve this with boys in bullets, Ross. You gotta let us bring them in.“ Tony tried reasoning. It was a better option, but I still wasn't convinced.

„How would that end any differently from the last time?“ Ross asked all high and mighty and the glass table froze into solid ice. His eyes switched to me and that act of the man in charge seemed to crumble, piece by piece.

„Because this time, I won't be wearing loafers and a silk shirt. 72 hours, guaranteed.“ Tony offers with a hopeful look on his face.

„36 hours. Barnes. Rogers. Wilson.“ Ross shivered and ran out of the room.

„Thank you, sir.“ Tony rubs his hand on his chest and slumps, exhaling. „My left arm is numb, is that normal?“ He questions and I roll my eyes at him.

„Ice princess, stop it. I'm saving your man's ass here. I am the reason why he might get out of this alive. Are you in or are you out?“ Every word Tony said stung, only fueling the fire that burned inside of me.

„I'm in.“ I reply through gritted teeth, forgetting to correct him on the term 'your man'.

„You might want to stop freezing the room. You know, before we all die of frostbite.“ He remarks.

„I kinda hoped it would freeze your overinflated ego, so I could chip it off, but hey, I had to try!“ I stick my tongue out and purse my lips.

„You alright?“ Nat pats him on the shoulder.

„Always. 36 hours, jeez.“ He exclaims.

„We're seriously understaffed.“ She says with a small sigh.

„Oh, yeah. It'd be great if we had a Hulk right about now. Any shot?“ Tony remarks.

„No. You really think he'd be on our side?“ She questions and I huff.

„No.“ Tony and I answer simultaneously.

„I have an idea.“ Nat says and I look at her, cocking an eyebrow.

„Me too. Where's yours?“ Tony says, almost excited.

„Downstairs. Where's yours?“ She asks and Tony smiles slightly.

„I'm not liking that smile on your face Stark! I'm gonna go with Nat on this one.“ I wink at her and head for the door.

„Meet me by the elevator in 15.“ I tell her and leave.

I had one thing I needed to get done. I might have lied when I said I had no idea where the guys were. We made a rendezvous point, just in case of separation. I was watched like a hawk at this point, but I knew someone who wasn't. I hated the idea of letting her do this, but I had no choice.

„Sharon. A word please.“ I say politely and she scurries over.

„Need something, Agent Frost?“ She questions.

„I need you to be honest with me. Did you give Steve the info on Barnes' location?“ I question and she looks around alarmed, to make sure no one was listening in.

„Yes.“ Sharon replies and I nod.

„Willing to help him out again?“ I inquire and she nods in confirmation. God, I hated this!

„Take the shield, the wings and this car.“ I pull out a key and give it to her.

„This is the address. Give them my best and warn them of the 36 hour window please?“ I ask, but we both knew this was more of an order.

„I will.“ She says, excitement in her voice. Ugh, I wanted to bash her head into a wall repeatedly, but I needed to keep my cool. Steve wasn't mine, she had every right to go for it now.

„Oh, Sharon! Make sure you're not followed.“ I tell her as she nods again before walking away.

I hurry to the elevator and find Nat already tapping her foot.

„I know. I'm two minutes late!“ I say as she points to her watch.

„Losing your touch, are we agent?“ She teases.

„Ugh. What's your plan, anyways?“ I ask and she smirks.

„You'll see.“

[morgana-greenleaf]

Tower of Tomorrow - Chapter 2

Tower of Tomorrow Masterlist

One year after TWS, Sam and Steve finally track Bucky down and bring him back to Avengers Tower.

Of course, there's still lots of HYDRA bases to be taken down, and Bucky finds himself actually enjoying the Avengers' company, and making friends.

Fury cleared Bucky to access the rest of the tower late the next morning, and the moment he stepped out of the lift he was accosted by Tony, holding a tablet that was projecting a hologram.

“So, I was thinking, since you’re stuck in the tower for a while, you’d need your own floor. There’s an empty one sandwiched in between Steve and Clint that should be fine. And it’s already got the basics – bedroom, bathroom, living room, plus a kitchen and laundry, although JARVIS can order you takeaway if you like, or you can use communal kitchen, that’s what most of us do, but it’s there if you like. And there’s a chute you can put your laundry and it’ll be back clean and dry within twenty-four hours, although you can do it yourself if you like. But that’s not what I’m here about, I need to know if you’d like anything special put in. Bruce wanted it extra-reinforced to survive the Hulk, and Natasha wanted it super-duper secure for all her secret spy stuff. And Clint has his set up so JARVIS can still send him warnings and whatnot if he hasn’t got his aids in. And for a dog.”

“I-I don’t need anything. You don’t have to-” Bucky began.

“Damn right I don’t have to. But I’m gonna. I need a new project to work on, and redesigning your floor might keep me amused for a few hours.”

Bucky hesitated. Did he really deserve his own floor? “Yeah, okay. But you don’t have to do anything special.”

“You must have something you like doing. Something to amuse you all day instead of moping around the tower like Steve’s been doing,” Tony protested, poking the hologram. “Look, there’s a huge empty spot here. We’ve gotta put something there.”

“A library? Maybe?” Bucky had always loved reading, although his family hadn’t been able to afford many. He must’ve reread The Hobbit dozens of times.

Tony smacked a hand into his forehead. “I’m so stupid! I didn’t build a library level! JARVIS, cancel my plans. We’ve got a library to design. Why didn’t I think of this before?”

“Because the reading you do is usually on an ebook?” JARVIS suggested.

“That-that’s not the point, JARVIS,” Tony huffed, fingers already flying across the screen.

“If it’s too much trouble, I can just use an ebook thing?” Bucky offered, but Tony dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

“No, this is fun. Plus, physical books are better. Just stay out of your level until dinner while I get the builders in.”

“What am I supposed to do until then?”

“Ummm.” Tony looked stumped. “I dunno. Explore. Go online shopping. Just don’t kill anyone.”

“Online shopping?” What the hell was that?

“Just ask JARVIS to order anything you like in. Clothes, shoes, books, knives, whatever you like.”

“I don’t have any money.” And speaking of which, was he supposed to pay rent? Because he’d rather just squat in abandoned buildings.

Tony looked shocked. “You’re on my money now. And I have a lot, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Okay, thanks.” Bucky turned away, but Tony caught his wrist.

“One more thing, JARVIS, scan him.”

A blue light ran up and down his body, and then JARVIS announced, “All done, sir.”

“What was that?” Bucky demanded.

“Most of the tower uses fingerprint ID or retinal scans. JARVIS is giving you access,” Tony explained, shoving past and into the lift.

Bucky wandered over to the kitchen benchtop, and glanced around to make sure there was no one else there. It was clear. He looked up at the ceiling.

“Building? JARVIS?” he asked, sceptical.

“Yes, Sergeant Barnes?” JARVIS responded.

“Can I eat this? The food here? Or do I need to buy my own?” he asked.

“All the food for here is in the communal area, and therefore, in theory, for anyone. However, I might advise against eating prepared food that someone might have saved for later, or Ms Romanov’s chocolates.” JARVIS informed him.

“Thanks.” He opened the fridge, and found a large tub of yoghurt. That would do. Even a year on from HYDRA, he still preferred to eat softer foods, closer to the consistency of the gloop they’d fed him. He filled a bowl, and then added in some berries from the fruit tray. He settled on the lounge nearby, and switched on the television.

It showed a report on the HYDRA base he’d destroyed just yesterday. “-believed to be the work of a vigilante group comprising of at least a dozen members,” some politician was saying at a press conference. “While their efforts are appreciated, we must reiterate that it is not their responsibility, but rather the job of the Army and Special Forces. We ask them to stand down. Anyone with information on the location of HYDRA bases should call the hotline 1300 655 506, where it will be dealt with by the appropriate authorities.”

The number flashed on the screen, and then changed back to the studio. “And just in, the notorious Winter Soldier has been detained in relation to the events last year in DC, as well as two dozen assassinations and several more suspected assassinations. Thought for many years to be just a ghost story-”

The screen switched off. Clint chucked the remote onto the ottoman and dropped down beside Bucky. “Don’t look at that. It won’t help.”

“Who told them?” Bucky growled.

“None of us. Things get leaked. It happens. Trust me. My home address got leaked, and I could barely get out the door the next day there was so many people. But Tony’ll get his press people onto it. They’ll sort it out.”

“That’s what Steve said about the lawyers. Sounds like Tony doesn’t do much, he just pays people to sort everything out for him.”

Clint snorted. “Guess that’s an advantage of being so rich no one can actually put a value on you. But seriously, they’ll sort it out. You might have to give a few statements, do some interviews, talk about what happened, which sucks, but then you’ll be fine.”

“I can deal with that,” Bucky said, “What I can’t deal with is sitting here all day with nothing to do.”

“Want to come to the range with me?” Clint offered.

“Am I allowed?” Fury had said he could go anywhere in the tower, but surely thing wouldn’t allow him to shoot things.

“Course you are. And anyway, the guns only have blanks on the range. Although I use real arrows.”

“And I can use a bow. How do you know I won’t shoot you with one?”

“I don’t,” Clint grinned, and lead the way to the range.

Bucky had a surprisingly good time at the range. He spent half an hour destroying the bullseyes of the four targets in his lane before Clint showed him how to on the fight simulator. The two of them spent hours fighting off wave after wave of holographic projections shooting holographic projectiles at them. As time progressed, and the simulator got harder, the walls started shooting jets of water at them, trying to knock them off their feet, or tipping piles of foam bricks on their heads (to simulate falling buildings), and then the wind machines turned on at full power. Bucky was just gland both he and Clint had had the presence of mind to fit as much ammo as was physically possible on their person.

Then the floor started shaking. Apparently Tony had found a way to simulate earthquakes. The man was a genius. And completely mad. Foam balls started rolling along the floor at them. A blue blip hit Clint in the head, and it took Bucky a few moments to realise that the simulator had ended. They stood there, in a room empty except for water and foam blocks and balls, with arrows and the blank bullets littered around. They were both drenched.

“Hey, you’re pretty good,” Clint said, clapping Bucky on the shoulder. “We should do this more often.”

“You’re not bad yourself, Hawkeye,” Bucky said. “JARVIS, what’s the time?”

“It is currently three forty-nine, Sergeant Barnes.”

“I’ve got to go and see the doctor for some assessments. Thanks for…this,” Bucky said, turning to leave.

“You’ll come to dinner though, right? 6 o’clockish, the kitchen. Everyone’ll be there. And we’ll probably have a movie night, after.” Clint began picking up his arrows.

“Sure,” said Bucky, and headed back out.

He managed to sneak into Steve’s floor and have a quick shower (once JARVIS informed him Steve was in the gym) while he dried his clothes in the drier.

It was one minute to four when Bucky stepped into the lift, and the clock flickered over to four o’clock as he stepped out of the lift into Bruce Banner’s lab. He swept his gaze over the lab, cataloguing everything in sight, every piece of equipment that might be used on him.

“Hi, Bucky,” Bruce said, setting his glasses down on desk.

“Hi,” he gritted out. This was a bad idea. The doctor would run tests on him. Experiment on him. Use him as a labrat. He tried to back away, but his back hit the wall, blocking his escape.

Bruce followed the movement. “Nothing that I’m going to do will hurt you, or alter your body in any way. I’m not a HYDRA doctor. I won’t do any of this without your permission, although I strongly advise you to do this.

“All we’re doing today is some scans, mainly focused on your brain and arm. For your brain, we would like to compare your current scans to the ones in the files from HYDRA, to see how the healing is going. The other thing we would like to look at is your arm, and how it is attached to your body. Tony will probably want to have a look at it at some point, if you’re willing.”

“The files said how it was attached,” Bucky mumbled.

“The files showed several versions, which I assume means different arms?” Bruce asked, and with a nod from Bucky, continued. “It also showed that a lot of your bones have been either replaced or reinforced with metal to support the weight. It’s anchored quite deep into your chest, I believe.”

“Why do you need to scan, then?” Bucky asked, dreading the answer.

“We don’t think that it’s particularly good for you, with the way it’s done. If it’s left the way it is, there might be permanent and serious damage to your spine and back.”

“I managed for seventy years.”

“Yes, and did a lot of damage.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll do the scans,” Bucky said. Better get it over and done with.

Bruce led him over to a gurney. “If you’d like to hop on here, I’ll put you in the machine. It’ll take at least an hour and a half to fully scan you, so feel free to sleep or something.”

Bucky took a deep breath, and climbed onto the gurney. He squeezed his eyes shut as Bruce wheeled him into the scanner and turned it on. It was cylindrical, just like his cryofreeze chamber. It made whirring noises, just like the cryofreeze chamber just before it froze him. He dug the fingernails of his right hand into his palm, and tried to focus on that instead. He couldn’t sleep like Bruce suggested, because who knew when he’d wake up? But he could survive an hour and a half in there, if it helped Fury clear him. He’d survived worse.

Ten minutes by his count into the scan, Bruce settled into a chair. “How about I put some music on?”

“Sure,” Bucky said. It came out barely audible, and weirdly high pitched.

There was a moment of silence, and then music began to play. “This is the Beatles,” Bruce said, “Rubber Soul.”

“Okay.” Bucky settled back and focused on the music.

The ninety minutes passed in a blur. The scanner switched off just as Help! finished, and Bruce pulled him out.

“Would you like to stay and see the scans?” Bruce asked.

“Yes, please.” This was a luxury never afforded to him by HYDRA doctors.

Bruce pulled the scans up on a holoscreen, and then pulled up the HYDRA scans next to it.

“This is the most recent scan, from July 2011. There’s minimal difference between that and the scan from 2004, so if we assume that nothing major happened between 2011 and 2014, we then compare it to your scan you just did.” Bruce pointed to an area on the brain. “This is your hippocampus, where memories are stored. If you look at the two scans, you can see it looks a lot better than it did in 2011. So we can assume that your brain has been healing very quickly. I’m guessing you’ve got a lot of your memories back?”

“Yeah. I think I remember pretty much everything, expect for what a normal human forgets. But I remember my family, and growing up and moving out, going off to fight. And fighting in the war, and getting captured. I remember all the experimentation and torture…from Azzano and from later.”

“Do you remember when everything was? The order of memories? Or are they just…there?” Bruce asked.

“I think most of the order of the memories I’ve worked out is from books than my memories. But every day, they make more sense,” Bucky said.

“That’s a good sign, Bucky. I’ll let Fury know, send him these and explain them. Is that okay?”

“Yeah. What choice do I have?”

Bruce looked guilty. “I wish it were otherwise.”

For some reason, Bucky believed him.

He left the lab feeling considerably better than when he’d entered, and took the lift up to the kitchen, where Clint, Natasha, Tony, Steve and Sam were loading platters of food.

“Help yourself,” Clint said, shoving a plate at him. Bucky grabbed it reflexively, then followed Clint over to the benchtop.

Clint filled his plate with pizza, which Bucky ignored in favour of the spaghetti bolognaise.

“Who makes this?” he asked, sitting down between Clint and Sam.

“Whoever feels like cooking, and then we just order takeaway for the rest,” Clint said around a mouthful of pizza.

“The spag bol’s mine, by the way,” Sam said.

“It’s very good,” Bucky said honestly.

“Oi! Terminator!” Tony yelled.

“What is it,” he said. One conversation with Tony had proved exhausting.  He wasn’t sure he could cope with another.

“So, it’s movie night tonight. Have you seen Star Wars?”

“No, I’ve been a little busy.”

Tony gasped dramatically. “Okay, we’re watching A New Hope tonight.”

“A New Hope? We have to watch The Phantom Menace first,” Sam said.

“A New Hope came out first,” Tony said, “Therefore you watch it first.”

“The Phantom Menace is first chronologically. It makes sense to watch them in the order they happen,” Sam argued.

“All in favour of original trilogy before prequels?” Tony asked. He raised his hand, followed by Clint, and after a moment’s hesitation, Natasha. “Sorry Sam, you’re outvoted.”

“You didn’t ask Bruce,” Sam said, petulantly.

“JARVIS, please ask Bruce his opinion on the order to watch the Star Wars films,” Tony said.

“Don’t you think you’re taking this a bit seriously?” Bucky asked.

Tony looked scandalised. “No! This is an important part of your cultural education.”

“Excuse me sir, Dr Banner believes A New Hope should be watched first,” JARVIS interrupted.

“Argument settled. A New Hope it is,” Tony announced smugly.

Sam huffed, and looked away.

After they’d all finished eating, and worked together to wash up and clean the kitchen (which Tony managed to get out of by setting up the movie and making popcorn), they sat on the lounge (except for Clint, who sat on a purple beanbag, with a massive labradoodle lying on top off him, trying to steal his popcorn) and watched A New Hope. And when that ended, Tony put on The Empire Strikes Back straight away and no one argued, so they watched that, and then they decided they may as well finish the trilogy, so they watched Return of the Jedi as well.

By the time Bucky trudged out of the lift and into his new home, it was past midnight, so he didn’t get the chance to explore, instead just lay down on his bed without even undressing, and fell asleep.

All things considered, it was a good day. No one had tried to electrocute him, the doctor actually seemed okay, and the Avengers hadn’t treated him weirdly, and actually seemed to accept him, although he wasn’t convinced that would last. It was probably because he hadn’t spent that long with them yet.

Still, maybe tomorrow would be a good day too.

[tilltheendwilliwrite]

Sledgehammer

Chapter Seven

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader  |  Word Count: 2709 Warnings: Angst, swearing

Song: Hurts Like Hell by Fleurie

Feeling better after your short talk with Clint, you headed toward your office and smiled when you ran into Garry in the corridor. “Hey. Where you been?”

“Around,” he shrugged, smiling at you.

“Well, would around be up for an afternoon of target practice?”

“Hell yeah!” he cheered, offering you a high five.

As you laughed and made to slap his palm, the two of you rounded the corner only to come upon Steve and a beautiful blonde woman. You came to a complete, dead stop. “Oh,” popped out on an exhalation of breath, causing Steve’s head to whip toward you.

A flush of red built in his cheeks and his smile appeared… guilty. “(Y/N), dollface, come meet Agent Sharon Carter,” he called out, motioning you closer as he eyed Garry.

Knowing you were stuck, you nodded to Garry to stay put, and made your way forward, a smile plastered on your face. “Nice to meet you, Agent Carter.” You held out your hand, and she shook it warmly, a genuine smile on her lips.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” she said, looking to Steve. “You’ve been part of the Avengers for a while now. I’ve seen the reports. You’ve saved Cap’s butt a few times.”

“He’s saved mine just as many,” you chuckled quietly, smile softening.

“It must be nice to have such a dependable teammate, right Steve?” Releasing your hand, she placed it on Steve’s arm.

“(Y/N)’s the best,” Steve smiled at Sharon, patting the fingers on his arm.

The entire exchange soured your stomach, and you turned to go. “Nice meeting you, Agent Carter.”

“Likewise!” she called.

Hurrying away, you didn’t notice the concerned frown on Steve’s face or the way Garry watched you with smug satisfaction. Pressing a hand to your stomach, you made it only as far as the closest bathroom before you ran inside and were violently ill.

The way they’d looked at each other, the familiarity with which she’d touched him. The way he hadn’t corrected her when she’d assumed you were only another of Steve’s teammates. The whole of it set you off in another round of gut heaves.

“Hey, (Y/N)?” Garry called, pushing open the door a crack. “You okay?”

“No,” you croaked as the tears started and you leaned your head against the arm you had draped over the bowl as you flushed the sick away. Too bad you couldn’t flush the despair as well.

The door shut and you assumed he’d left only to have a hand come down on your hair. “It’s going to be alright,” he murmured, stroking your hair and rubbing over your back soothingly.

“No, no it’s not!” you cried. “She’s beautiful, she’s smart, and everyone likes her. Even Bruce told me she was better than me! Then Tony called me useless.”

An unseen grin flashed swiftly over Garry’s face. “You’re not useless. You’re great! I think you’re great at least.”

Slumping over your arm, you sighed. “Thank you. Would it be alright if we reschedule target practice? I think… it would be best if I just went and laid down.”

“Sure. No problem, teach,” he quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

You smiled a little. “You’re a good guy, Garry. I’m sorry I never gave you the benefit of the doubt before.”

He helped you to your feet, wiping the tears from beneath your eyes. “I’m always here if you need me, alright? Night or day. Anything you need. You’re the only one to give me a chance, (Y/N). I’ll do whatever I can to repay that. Whether it’s beating some sense into Steve, or… I don’t know… helping you run away. Whatever you need.” He squeezed your fingers.

“I appreciate that, Garry. Really.” Thrusting your hand through your hair, you gave him another small smile and trudged out of the bathroom.

***

Waiting for the door to swing shut, Garry turned the lock with a quiet click and pulled out his special phone.

“Report.”

“Things are progressing faster than expected.”

“Explain,” demanded the gruff voice on the other end.

“Three are out of the picture, and Stark did my job for me.”

“And the Captain?”

“Carter’s in the building. It’s only a matter of setting the stage.”

“You’re so sure she’ll rabbit?”

“I’ll make sure she sees no other choice. Good thing half the teams away. Made my job that much easier.”

“Good. Inform us when it’s done, and she’s running. We’ll be ready.”

“Yes, sir.” The line went dead. Tucking the phone back in his pocket, Garry sauntered out of the washroom, unaware of the hard eyes of the metal-armed super soldier who watched him.

****

“No good, boss. I can’t seem to… wait! Another call was just made.”

“Where?” Tony snapped. “Show me!”

The screens around him shifted, changed, whizzed through the compound and landed on the washroom not far from his lab. “Cameras?”

“Not there.”

“Why the fuck don’t we have cameras there?” he muttered. “Biometrics?”

“Three bodies. Bucky, (Y/N), and Garry,” Friday told him. “Steve and Agent Carter were also in the vicinity, but they were farthest from the signal.”

His fingers tapped out a rhythm on the consul to his right. “Garry….” he muttered.

“Sir?”

“Yeah, FRIDAY?”

“I’m not sure if it’s relevant, but I believe I have a glitch.”

“Glitch?” Tony snorted. “I designed you. That’s as likely as the Hulk taking tea with the Queen. Explain.”

“I seem to be… seeing double.”

***

Steve stared after (Y/N) with a worried frown.

“You should go after her,” Sharon urged. “She didn’t look well.”

Scrubbing his hand over his face, Steve sighed. “I didn’t want to spring you on her like that. She was already asking weird questions.”

It was Sharon’s turn to frown. “What kind of questions?”

“Just… foolish questions.” He shook his head, unwilling to talk about it with Sharon when his ex already made his girl uncomfortable.

“Steve… you’d better go talk to her.” Sharon gave him a shove. “I need to get this stuff to logistics so they can get that mission planned. Don’t leave it.”

“Yeah,” he sighed, walking away, heading the direction she’d gone. “Thanks, Sharon. See you later.”

Sharon waved and headed the opposite direction.

He was worried, how could he not be.

Ever since (Y/N)’s falling out with Bucky, things had been spiralling out of control. She was moody and depressed. The confidence and snark he’d found so sexy and appealing were suddenly non-existent. She’d become a shell of her former self, jumping at shadows, asking crazy questions.

How could she have ever even asked if he’d leave her for Sharon? The very idea of it was laughable. Sharon was sweet, but she wasn’t his girl. His girl was fire and bravado, backed up with skill and talent. She may be a normie as the enhanced and Inhumans called them, but she was a damn fine agent and an incredible woman.

He’d give anything to figure out what the hell was going on with her. Things were getting out of hand.

Lost in thought, he rounded the corner and ran smack into Garry, knocking the man right to the ground. “Hey, sorry.” Holding down his hand, Steve helped the guy up. “My fault.”

“No harm done, Cap. You look… worried. Everything alright?”

He eyed the man warily. (Y/N) liked him, Steve still wasn’t sure why. He was smug, arrogant, and a shit disturber. Something about him set Steve’s hair on end. “Yeah, fine. You seen (Y/N)?”

“She went to her room. Something about not feeling good. A headache or something. Probably best you leave her be.” Garry shrugged.

The old itch that preceded a firefight when he was in the army was suddenly zinging at the back of his neck. Something about this wasn’t right, but he wasn’t going to tip his hand. “Maybe I’ll give her an hour and check on her later. Thanks, Garry.” Plopping his closed fist down on the man’s shoulder, Steve tried not to smirk too wide when Garry grunted in pain.

“Anytime,” he wheezed, trying not to groan as he rubbed his shoulder.

Waiting a few feet before chuckling, Steve made his way toward the private quarters after glancing back to make sure he wasn’t being followed. Just before he got there, a hand shot out of another open doorway, dragging him inside. “Jeez, Buck! Give a guy a warning. I nearly clocked you one!”

“Like you could hit me, punk.” Bucky snorted, waving off Steve’s protests. “We need to talk, pal.”

“About?”

“(Y/N),” he nearly growled. “What the fuck is going on?”

Steve thrust a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. I really don’t.”

“Well, you’d best find out. Garry’s got something to do with it. I can almost smell it on him.” He flexed his metal hand. “And you’d best do something about your girl. She came out of the bathroom looking like someone had died, and shortly thereafter Garry wandered out looking pleased as fuck.”

“What?” Steve asked, voice cold.

“She was crying, punk. Red-eyed and puffy, and it’s not the first I’ve noticed. Why haven’t you?”

“I…” Steve opened his mouth only to close it and sigh. “She’s shutting me out, and I don’t know why. Two weeks, Bucky. We’ve been together two weeks, and I feel like I’m losing her.”

“Then you need to get your ass to her room and talk this shit out, cause she looked like hell. Worse than hell. She looks liked death, pal. And a woman only looks like that when someone dies, or someones broke her heart.”

Feeling sick, Steve nodded. “You’re right.”

“And find out what the fuck I did, for god sake! It’s driving me insane!” Bucky growled.

“Yeah, yeah I will.” Before he could reach for the door handle, his phone rang. “Tony?” What was the Iron Man doing calling him when he could just have FRIDAY inform him he was needed.

“I need you to haul ass to the lab, now.” He hung up without another word.

Bucky’s phone rang next. “What the hell, Stark?”

“Just get here. You and Steve. No one else and don’t tell anyone else.” The line went dead.

“Guess we’re going to the lab,” Steve muttered, looking longingly in the direction he wished to go instead.

“You could still go,” Bucky said.

Sighing, Steve shook his head. “Garry said she wasn’t feeling good. Had gone to lay down. I’ll do this thing for Tony first.” Opening the door, they headed down the hall and past the common room where most of the newbies, including Garry, were chatting about the latest round of mock missions.

Garry looked up as they passed, but Steve pretended not to notice.

***

Bruce walked into Tony’s lab, into a storm of swearing and muttering. “Tony?”

Freezing in place, Tony said only, “FRIDAY?”

Bruce jumped when three different beams shot from different parts of the lab, scanning him thoroughly. “Ugh… Tony?”

“He’s good, boss.”

Straightening, Tony rounded on Bruce. “We’ve got a problem. Maybe little, may end up being a huge one, but we need to figure this out.”

Frowning, Bruce headed for the computer screens, reading as he went. “Unauthorized phone calls? Could it just be someone snuck in a personal cell phone?”

“Don’t be stupid,” Tony snapped.

“Don’t be a dick. I’m just asking,” Bruce huffed.

“Well, it was a stupid question.”

“Not as stupid as (Y/N) sending Garry to help me out in the lab today,” Bruce grumbled, picking and pulling at information, sorting through the ridiculous amounts of data.

“Huh?” Tony glanced at him. “Why would she do that? She likes helping you. Says she learns new stuff all the time.”

“I don’t know, but I showed up, and there was Garry. He even fed me some cock-o-mammy story about (Y/N) considering breaking up with Steve because she didn’t realize what she was getting herself into. I almost believed him, but it’s Garry,” Bruce scoffed. “She’s so head-over-heels for Steve… that’s not happening, not in a million years.”

Tony slowly turned to look at Bruce. “Uh…”

“What?”

“She was in here earlier. I kind of… chased her out with my mood. FRIDAY said she was upset.”

“Oh… shit,” Bruce hissed before he grunted and rubbed his temple, something he only did when the Hulk was actively participating in the conversation. “What time was that?”

“Don’t know. Hour ago. Maybe?”

Again Bruce frowned. “Why would she be in here with you, when she was supposed to be with me when Garry said she’d had something come up?”

“Garry....” Tony muttered, turning back to his computer. “Why does your name keep coming up?”

“Boss?”

“Speak, oh benevolent one,” Tony quipped.

“I found a discrepancy.”

“Show me!” he commanded.

“Here and here. Sergeant Barnes seems to be in two places at once.”

“What?” Bruce asked, confused.

“Keep looking, FRIDAY.” Digging in his pocket, Tony pulled out his phone.  

“Tony?” Steve asked, sounding more confused than usual.

“I need you to haul ass to the lab, now.” Tony hung up and dialled again.

Barnes was quick to answer with a snarled, “What the hell, Stark?”

“Just get here. You and Steve. No one else and don’t tell anyone else.” He hung up and turned to frown at the computer screens.

“Good thinking,” Bruce muttered.

“Should be the right ones if I phone them,” Tony murmured.

“Right ones?”

Tony’s frown deepened. “Think we have an imposter in-house… and I bet I know who.”

***

The text chimed on your phone, and you picked it up only to see a message from Steve. You’d kind of hoped he’d come after you, find you, force you to spill your guts and unload everything. But at the same time, you didn’t want to speak your fears and have them become truths.

What if you told him you were terrified he was going to leave you for Sharon, and he sighed and did it? It would break you right in half. You’d never recover.

Looking at the message, you read, 'Hey, doll. We need to talk. Meet me in the lounge in ten minutes'.

You frowned at the message. It was rather abrupt, not Steve’s usual style, but you hauled yourself up and went in the bathroom to splash water on your face. There was no helping how horrible you looked. You looked like you felt. Tired. Drained. Sick. Heartbroken.

Two weeks. That’s how long it took for your world to go from heaven to hell. Three of your four in-house teammates had turned on you. You weren’t sure yet about Steve, but he’d turned on you in other ways.

Not saying anything, was that the equivalent of not denying it as well? Was this meeting to tell you he was done? That it had been fun, but he was getting back together with… her?

Feeling frozen, you grabbed a jacket, stuffed your feet in your boots, and headed for the lounge. It was a quiet space, big comfy chairs and a shitload of windows. It was a calm space, private. Great place to get dumped as any scene you happened to make would go unwitnessed.

Walking through the doors, you paused at the voices already present. One was Steve, but the other was too soft to make out. Sure you were early, but not that early. Creeping forward, you peered around the corner and slapped a hand to your mouth to hide your cry of distress. Steve was standing with none other than Sharon, his hand on her waist, another on her cheek.

“I’ve really missed you,” he said, stroking her cheek with his thumb.

“Steve?” she frowned, appearing confused.

He smiled that smile, the crooked one, the one you loved, the one that never failed to have you smiling back. “I think… I think we made a mistake… when we broke up,” he said.

She gasped, gaped at him. “What?”

“I should never have gotten together with (Y/N), not when I still have feelings for you, Sharon,” Steve pulled her in, but you’d seen enough.

With your heart breaking, you turned and ran. That was it. It was over. You’d lost… everything.

Next Chapter

[science-hoes]

Who You Are

Pairing: Bruce Banner x Reader

Prompt: Know Who You Are from Moana

Warnings: Language at some point maybe

Words: 1k+

You arms clung tightly around Bruce Banner’s waist as he weaved between cars on his motorcycle. He was taking you out on his day off, the first one in a while. It was such a beautiful day, too. Usually, motorcycles would scare you, but being with Bruce gave you a strong sense of security. You both arrived at the park and got off the motorcycle to begin the walk around the sidewalk.

Bruce’s fingers linked with yours. “How beautiful.” He mused while you examined the flowers along the pavement.

“I know. I forget how pretty the park flowers are.” You replied, continuing to study the colors.

Bruce threw his head back and sighed. “Ugh, (Y/N), I was talking about you.” He chuckled.

You looked up at him and smiled, blushing. “Oh, sorry. Thank you.” You replied before giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

You both continued to walk and chat about random things, Bruce’s hand never leaving yours. Suddenly a flash of red caught your eye. You raised an eyebrow and heard a familiar whizzing sound. Tony Stark was flying above the two of you and coming closer.

“God help us…” Bruce muttered as his friend neared.

Tony gracefully floated to the ground. “Bruce, we need you.” He said immediately.

You sighed heavily and bit your lip. Bruce heard your sigh and slightly puffed out his chest. “No, this is my day off. I cleared my schedule to be with (Y/N) today.” He responded.

Tony rolled his eyes. “Okay, Romeo, that’s great. But we still need you. For like an hour. Look, (Y/N) likes to see all the pretty flowers. It’ll keep her busy.” He said.

You crossed your arms. “I like looking at the pretty flowers with Bruce.” You commented.

Bruce shook his head. “Tony, I’m sure you and the others can handle it.” He said.

“We really can’t. Steve is out with the flu. Which reminds me, wash your hands after you touch anything red, white, or blue.” Tony added

“Tony…” Bruce mumbled deeply, resembling a growl.

Tony grinned and flew slightly above the two of you. “Oooh, good. He’s getting angrier.” He said before sticking one of his flame-supported legs out at him, in attempts to slightly scorch him.

Bruce swatted at Tony’s leg. “Stop! No, stop it, Tony!” He exclaimed before turning to you. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can.” He said.

You smiled slightly, appreciating his earlier efforts. “It’s okay, Bruce. Go save the world.” You replied before kissing his lips gently.

Tony scoffed and lifted Bruce into his metal-covered arms. “Let’s go, Big Guy.” He said before flying off across the city.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

You had been waiting on the park bench for an hour. To busy yourself, you had gone to the nearby coffee shop and purchased a drink. Now you were simply waiting. Bruce’s missions could take hours. Occasionally days. But you were determined to wait a while longer.

You thought you were hallucinating when you heard the whizzing of Tony’s Iron Man suit again, but then you saw him racing towards you in the air.

“(Y/N)! No need to panic, but we need you to calm the Jolly Green Giant down.” He said hurriedly.

You stood up and brushed off your skirt. “What? Is he okay?” You asked, nervous.

Tony shrugged. “Well, he could be better. But his heart rate won’t go down. He needs you. Now come on.” He said.

He placed his arms under your knees and back, careful to fly you around with your skirt on. You clung tightly to him, more nervous than you would be on a motorcycle, when you saw the city’s size decrease below you as Tony zoomed through the air. You soon saw the isolated area where the Hulk, Clint, Natasha, and Thor were residing. The Hulk was trying to smash his fist on top of Thor’s head while Thor scurried around like a bug.

Tony began to approach the ground, and the Hulk noticed. His face dissolved from anger when he saw you in his arms. But when Tony was about 20 feet from the ground, one of his foot-rockets shorted out, and he dropped you. You screamed as you plunged towards the concrete, but the Hulk jumped up to catch you in his enlarged arms.

The Hulk let out a fierce yell to Tony before looking back to you. You laughed nervously over a smartass comment from Tony, and the Hulk growled and began to swat at Tony’s feet.

You placed a hand on the Hulk’s chest. “Hey, Big Guy! Look at me. Yes, look at me, not Tony.” You said gently.

The Hulk’s green eyes glared at you, though less menacingly than they had been at Tony. You moved your hand to his cheek and brought your face closer. “You’re not calming down…you know who you are.” You whispered.

The Hulk huffed and bared his teeth at you. You carefully placed a small kiss to his green cheek. “Come on, darling, it’s your day off.” You tried again.

You saw green begin to leave his face, and his body decreased in mass. “There you go, sweetheart.” You said, jumping out of his embrace to give him time to de-hulk.

Within a matter of minutes, Bruce had turned back into his normal self, curled up on the ground, his pants stretched and torn. You kneeled in front of him and offered your hand. He looked up weakly and smiled. You pulled him to his feet, and he slung his arm around your shoulders, needing support to walk.

“Let’s get you home before that radiation sickness kicks in.” You said.

Bruce nodded, still unable to speak. He stumbled beside you, heading for Stark Tower. You made it all the way back, just in time for him to suffer his post-Hulk side effects. Afterward, you both spent the rest of the day cuddled in bed, watching TV. You felt better knowing that you could reach through to Bruce when he was at his worst.

[starryfictionalgirl]

The Office (The Avengers Style) Episode 1: Break room Bonanza

Masterlist

Warnings: None really, unless you’re scared of laughing too hard XD

Summary: The Avengers are known for being the heroes of the world, saving the day is their job. But when they’re not out in the field, what does their office life look like? 

Episode Summary: The Avengers new intern Peter Parker makes a fatal mistake in the break-room, unleashing the wrath of one of the Avengers.

Characters: Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, Thor, Nick Fury

A/N: Hey guys I thought I would branch out from just writing Pietro and write some fluffy comedy fics about all of the Avengers in this new series I’m writing! Send in any requests for “episodes” if you have them! But anyway enjoy this first part! 

Peter walked into the main lounge of the Avengers living area and made his way over to the fridge. It had been a long day of interning, training with the Avengers to master his combat skills and he was starving. His eyes landed on some lasagna in a container and he smiled and took it out, warmed it up in the microwave, got a fork and settled down at the bar for a nice meal. He took a bite and hummed in approval. He continued to eat it more ravenously. Tony walked in and arched an eyebrow at him. “Tony you’ve got to try some of this.” He says and gestures to the container filled with the heavenly tasting food. 

“What is it?” Tony asks, grabbing a beer from the fridge and looking at what Peter has. 

“Ooo can I have some Mr. Stark?” Peter asks eagerly and reaches for the can. Tony pulls his arm back. 

“No way kid you’re too young.” Tony says and drinks the beer and Peter pouts. Tony sighs and passes him the can. “Okay one sip but don’t tell your Aunt May.” He says and Peter smiles and takes the can and sips. His face scrunches up and he looks disgusted. 

“Why is it so bitter?” He asks. 

“I don’t know. Probably to keep underaged kids like you from drinking it.” Tony says and takes the can back. “So what are you eating that tastes so good?” 

“Some lasagna I found in the fridge.” Peter says. “It’s amazing! It tastes even better than my Aunt’s!” Tony slams the can down on the counter and his eyes go wide. “What?” 

“Peter? Did that container have a name on it?” Tony asks. 

“I don’t think so.” He says then looks at the lid. His eyes widen when he sees who’s name is on it. 

~Bruce Banner

“I’m dead.” Peter says. 

“Well it was nice knowing you kid.” Tony says and pats his shoulder before going to walk away. 

“No no no wait Mr. Stark you’ve got to help me!” He says and runs after Tony. 

“Look kid, you just ate the Hulk’s lasagna I don’t think I can be much help to you now. I hope you enjoyed your last meal.” He says and tries to walk away again. 

“Please help me Mr. Stark!” Peter begs and gets on his knees on the ground. Tony sighs. 

“Alright. I suppose we could go and throw out the container and then erase the footage of you eating it so that he’ll never know.” Tony says. Peter lets out a sigh of relief. 

“Oh thank you so much Mr. Stark.” Peter says. 

“Yeah, yeah anything for my favorite intern.” He says and places a hand on Peter’s shoulder. 

“I’m your only intern.” Peter says.

“Just take the compliment.” Tony replies. Just then, Bruce walks in and notices the empty container. He looked up at Tony and Peter. 

“Who ate my lasagna?” He asks, his voice raised slightly. 

“Peter did it.” Tony says and walks away. 

“Tony!” Peter calls after him then looks at Bruce who was staring him down. “H-Hey I just didn’t read the label on there…Sorry Bruce. I’ll make you another one if you want, I’m not sure how good it will taste but…” He notices Bruce start to turn green a little. 

“You ate Hulk lasagna, now Hulk eat you!” He threatens and Peter lets out the highest pitched scream he’s ever screamed and ran down the hallway as fast as he could. 

Thor walked out of the training facility, swinging his hammer and smiling at all of the agents that were lying on the ground, practically passed out. “Good work today men! Same time tomorrow?” 

“We might need a week…” One of them groans. 

“Well I suppose that works. I am a Demigod after all, I have time.” He says and laughs heartily before leaving and walking down the hall. He stops when he hears some whimpering and sniffling coming from the trashcan. “A sentient object! It must be like the toaster that keeps catching me off guard and making me look like a fool in front of my friends! Die!” He says and whacks it with his hammer. It hits the wall and breaks open, Peter fell out. “The spider-kid?” He asks. “Why are you hiding in a trashcan? Are you practicing your stealth for covert missions?” 

“No…I’m hiding from the Hulk.” Peter says and stands up, picking wrappers out of his hair. “I ate his food in the break room and now he wants to kill me.” 

“So why are you hiding?” Thor asks. 

“Because after I screamed like a little girl and ran away from him I called my Aunt May and she said she couldn’t pick me up until 4-” Peter explains then gets cut off by Thor. 

“No my boy, I mean why are you hiding?” He asks. “You’re a hero in training are you not? Why don’t you fight him?” 

“Because he’s the Hulk and I’m Spiderman.” Peter says simply. 

“Exactly. You’re Spiderman.” Thor tells him. “A man would not run away from a fight, and a hero especially not. This is a test of your character Peter Parker. A test to see if you can truly be a hero or not. Now you can either hide from Dr. Banner your entire life or you can face him or become the hero you were meant to be.” 

“You’re right Thor.” Peter says and looks determined. “I need to fight him. Then everyone at S.H.I.E.L.D will know how useful I can be! Thanks for the advice!” He says then runs off down the hall.

 “You’re welcome young intern!” Thor calls back and waves. He chuckles to himself then continues walking down the hallway. “I’ve sent him to his death.” 

Hulk crashed through a wall, terrorizing a few agents and office people. “Where puny spider!” He yells. 

“Right here!” Peter calls to him from the top of a balcony in his Spiderman suit. Hulk growls and punches the balcony, but Peter jumps and lands on another one, across from him. Hulk punched that one too. Peter jumped on the ground and started running then Hulk roared and tried to chase him but noticed he was stuck on the walls in webbing. Peter shot a few more onto his arms and then onto his body, eventually effectively wrapping him in a giant cocoon that he couldn’t escape from. 

“Puny spider! You pay!” Hulk roared and struggled against the webbing. Peter and Stark had been working on making it stronger and now Peter was seeing how that paid off.

“Look man I’m sorry I ate your lasagna! I’m a growing boy who needs his sustenance and I saw lasagna and took it without reading the label and that was wrong! I know that now. I’ve learned my lesson. Can you forgive me big guy?” He asks sweetly and gives Hulk those sweet innocent Spiderman eyes that no one can say no to. Hulk started shrinking and Peter took off his mask and smiled. Hulk came out of the cocoon and Peter let out a girly shriek when he saw he was naked and shot a web at his crotch. “Cover up man!” 

“You want to try to make me mad again?” Bruce asks and Peter quickly shakes his head. 

“No sir. I just wasn’t expecting to see that.” Peter says and Bruce rolls his eyes. “So do you forgive me for the lasagna?” He asks and Bruce sighs. 

“Yeah I guess I do.” He says and Peter smiles and hops a little bit. “But you owe me a meal now!” He tells him and Peter nods. 

“Of course! Anything for you Dr. Banner. You can come over for dinner tonight at my Aunt’s if you want?” He offers and Bruce shakes his head. 

“Nah I don’t want to impose on you guys. However, I would appreciate it if you brought me some leftovers.” Bruce says and Peter nods his head yes. 

“You’ve got it Dr. Banner!” He says. 

“Great.” He says and looks around. “I’m going to go and find some clothes.”  Bruce walks away and Peter turns around to find Nick Fury staring him down. 

“I did not authorize you to build your own personal spider web in the office Spiderboy.” He says angrily. 

“Oh well you see Mr. Fury Hulk and I were-” He gets interrupted by Nick. 

“I don’t care!” He says. “Just clean it up or else I’ll beat your spider ass!” He says and Peter starts pulling up the webbing. 

“Right away Mr. Fury!” He says and Nick nods at him and turns and walks the other way. 

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed episode 1! I plan on writing more but I don’t currently have any ideas so if you guys have any requests for funny office moments for the Avengers send me requests and I’ll write them! And I plan on writing some more Pietro stuff so stay tuned!

[gokinjeespot]

off the rack #1244

Monday, January 7, 2019

 I hope you all are having a happier New Year than I did. Our Aunt Helen passed away just before the end of 2018 out in Victoria and my Grandma passed away January 4. Both ladies were in their nineties and lived full and loving lives. That eases my sadness a lot. Another big loss for me was when The Comicshop in Vancouver closed its doors forever on January 4 as well. The Comicshop was where I started my comics retailing career in 1980, working there for 10 years. It was where I was head hunted to manage The Silver Snail in Ottawa where I worked happily from 1990 to 2015. I took over writing "off the rack" from Chris Brayshaw in the late eighties and continue to express my thoughts on the comic books that I read every week. I have talked to both Keith Bickford and Brent Stratichuk, the two stalwart lads whose capable hands I left the 'Shop with and they are doing okay. I tried to console them by sharing my experiences when The Silver Snail in Ottawa closed after 25 years. The Comicshop lasted 44 years and it will be missed by everyone who became a part of the family generated there over those years.

 Endings give way to new beginnings and I hope the start of 2019 begins to look better for everyone.

 Penny presented me with The Complete Far Side for Christmas and I finished reading all three volumes by New Year's Day. Aside from delighting in Gary Larson's warped sense of humour again I greatly enjoyed the letters that were included alongside some of his cartoons. I especially liked the letters to newspaper editors complaining about some of them. I wonder how much more outrage we would be able to see now with the prevalence of social media. There are also a few pages of Gary writing about his time doing the strip which made me appreciate them even more.

 Iron Man #7 - Dan Slott with Jeremy Whitley (writers) Valerio Schiti (art) Edgar Delgado (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). Stark Realities part 2. As exciting and beautifully drawn as this issue is I have to wonder when Tony Stark is going to stop trying to fix the world's problems with tech that can then be hacked and endanger innocent lives. Remember when Reed Richards used to do that too? Uh oh, Dan Slott also writes Fantastic Four so I guess we'll be seeing this plot device used again.

 Marvel Knights #5 - Matthew Rosenberg  & Donny Cates (writers) Niko Henrichon (art) Laurent Grossat (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). What seems to be a fight of misunderstanding turns out to be a shocking revelation when the Black Panther and the four woke super heroes meet. You can tell that this isn't the "real" Marvel U because the Kingpin would not have been able to overpower Doctor Doom like that. The twist at the end persuaded me to keep reading.

 Immortal Hulk #11 - Al Ewing (writer) Joe Bennett (pencils) Ruy Jose (inks) Paul Mounts (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). This issue would feel right at home in a comparative religion class. What is the nature of hell? That's where the Hulk finds himself after his fight with the Absorbing Man. I appreciate the higher level of writing that this book has. It stimulates my brain.

 Archie #701 - Nick Spencer (writer) Marguerite Sauvage (art) Jack Morelli (letters). Archie has a new girlfriend? I like the possibilities that this new relationship has to offer. The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Reggie's dad is going to shock the town of Riverdale and that's more than enough reason to keep reading this book.

 Books of Magic #3 - Kat Howard (writer) Tom Fowler (illustrator) Jordan Boyd (colours) Todd Klein (letters). It was nice to see the tribute to Stan Lee by the Distinguished Competition.

 Action Comics #1006 - Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Ryan Sook (art) Brad Anderson (colours) Josh Reed (letters). Invisible Mafia part 6. You would think that with this story's title that when we finally meet the villain plaguing Superman that it would be some Don Corleone type guy. Nope, no Italians here. It's round two of Superman versus the Red Cloud. I liked how the big blue boy scout tried to reason with the big red deadly gas bag. The last page made me smile with its homage to Action Comics #1. Ryan Sook is making this book a real treat to read.

 Runaways #17 - Rainbow Rowell (writer) Kris Anka (art) Matthew Wilson (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). That Was Yesterday Part 5. Time's up. The bad guys are back and they are going to wipe out humanity. Things get very complicated as these young heroes try to save the world. There's a hint to a time travel solution and I really hope they don't go that route. I like how one of the bad guys and one of the good guys flip the script. I can't wait to see what happens next.

 Man Without Fear #1 - Jed MacKay (writer) Danilo S. Beyruth (art) Andres Mossa (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). I stopped reading Daredevil a little while ago. It was one of my favourite titles for a very long time, but the addition of a sidekick and the bad guy with the multi-fingered hands turned me off. Then I find out that they "killed" DD and launched this new title. This first issue runs the gamut of all the incarnations that the blind super hero has had. It was neat for me because I've been around for all of it. I don't know that a new reader would appreciate all the changes and might even get confused by the different costumes. So Matt Murdock isn't dead. He's lying in a coma and his best friend Foggy Nelson comes to visit. This gives Jed MacKay a chance to tell you what makes Daredevil tick. I couldn't help but notice that the ghost tormenting Matt was wearing yellow and thinking what a coincidence it was that the Flash wears red and one of the Flash's arch villains wears yellow. I liked this enough to want to see how they're going to bring back the Man Without Fear. We don't have to wait long because #2 hits the racks on January 9.

 Champions #1 - Jim Zub (writer) Steven Cummings (art) Marcio Menyz & Erick Arciniega (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). I like this team of teen super heroes even though they are basically the Young Avengers. The biggest change in this relaunch is that the team has way more members. The original core members are still around but all the new faces had me wondering where they came from. Then there are the changes to some familiar characters. Amadeus Cho is now Brawn. Did something happen to his brain? Sam Alexander lost his Nova powers? Where did Snowguard come from? Is she Canadian? I'm sure if I kept reading all these questions will be answered as the kids go global in their mission to make a difference. Certainly the surprise villain on the last page piqued my curiosity.

 Heroes in Crisis #4 - Tom King (writer) Clay Mann (art) Tomeu Morey (colours) Clayton Cowles (letters). The cover shows Harley Quinn holding a smoking gun, standing over Wally West with one foot on his chest. If that doesn't get you to buy this comic book I don't know what will. We're four issues in to this murder mystery and I am slowly gaining some comprehension as to what Sanctuary is and how it relates to what's happening. My favourite thing this issue: the new Batgirl.

 Conan the Barbarian #1/LGY #276 - Jason Aaron (writer) Mahmud Asrar (art) Matthew Wilson (colours) VC's Travis Lanham (letters). The Life and Death of Conan part 1. For a time in my teens I was a rabid Robert E. Howard fanatic. I scoured book stores old and new for anything he wrote. I devoured his Conan books and cherished the ones with the covers by Frank Frazetta. I didn't start buying the Marvel original run of the comic book with #1 but purchased the very first issue (#4) that I saw on the spinner racks. I am waiting for the release of Volume One of the Conan Omnibus soon. Re-reading those Roy Thomas stories and relishing Barry Smith's art again is going to be a pleasure. I'm glad Jason Aaron is writing this new book. If anyone can capture the sense of adventure that R.E.H. did it's Jason. Mahmud Asrar's art is right up there with John Buscema so it's an easy decision to add this to my "must Read" list.