#and not jess is like “tony stark hates me” and carol is like

[biitchcakes]

@overclocks sent: Umf but like…objectively, so as to keep from getting in trouble // Send me “Umf” If your muse thinks my muse is hot. ( accepting )

Jessica's head curiously tilts, staring at him as a shit-eating grin begins to form. Her face flushes a few shades redder than mere seconds ago, unable to hide the way such an opinion ⸺ and seemingly so out of NOWHERE ⸺ makes her feel. Still, arms fold in their usual way, a scoff coming with it as she attempts to be more outwardly casual than her inwardly stunned and screaming brain. ❝ Objectively ? ❞ Her questioning tone is higher pitched than it typically would be. Great. As if her stupid blushing cheeks weren't enough, she rolls her eyes with a sigh at herself.

Clearing her throat, her fists find new purchase atop her hips. ❝ Objectively, hm ? ❞ Jess repeats, putting effort into sounding more NORMAL this time. Much better, so she continues. ❝ Is it my face, then ? My hair ? Or were you thinking more objectively along the lines of my body ? ❞ Popping her hip a little out toward him, she can't help but wonder just how far she could push it before Tony'd admit he's just pulling her leg. Maybe he just wanted to see what reaction he could get, she figures. But, any direction this ends up going, well. . .

The objective feeling is mutual. And she certainly can't deny the THRILL she's getting as she teases him in this way for a change.

[stevetonyweekly]

SteveTony Weekly - May 2

I know I say every week that I read a lot this week but I have been indulging in my favorite coping technique and so this list is ridiculously long. Twitter encouraged me. Blame them. 

**Indicates my recent favs 

~*~ 

On the inherent homoeroticism of cake decoration by welcoming_disaster (616/8K)

“She’s matchmaking, Barton,” Carol sighed.

“We,” Thor corrected, thumping himself hard in the chest, “art matchmaking.”

“Who, Cap n’ Tony?” Clint asked, his mouth full.

“Cap and Tony,” Janet confirmed, cutting herself a thin slice of egg and gently depositing it on her whole grain avocado toast, “it’s getting ridiculous.”

“Wait, I thought they were—“ Clint frowned, glancing around the room as though to confirm. Nothing but confused faces met his questioning gaze. “Huh. I really thought they were fucking.”

“And there is the crux of the issue,” Jess licked a bit of spaghetti sauce off her lip.

“Aye,” agreed Thor, “there’s rub.”

-----------

The team tries to set up Steve and Tony. Things don't go as planned.

Baby lovers like you and me (never say die) by FestiveFerret (Old Guard AU/7.5K)

The Avengers. They'd found him frozen in the ice, told him he was immortal, of all things. And with the way he'd lived through seventy years deep in the Atlantic, he found himself inclined to believe them. They'd also been very… convincing.

Without question, they integrated him into their unit - The Avengers, a secret team of unkillables seeking wrongs around the world and making them right, supported and housed by an enigmatic billionaire named Tony Stark. Their immortality, it seemed, was a secret to everyone but him.

Ready, set, bake by ChocolateCapCookie (Great British Bake Off/11k) 

The Avengers are on a nationally televised baking competition, but nobody seems to have warned the producers that the Avengers, while they save the world everyday and put their loves at risk doing so, are a) insanely competitive, and b) absolutely terrible bakers. Steve Rogers, especially, has a competitive streak a mile wide, and he's determined to win this competition, but it's not easy when his only real opponent is also the man he's been in love with for years.

***To make flowers grow (in this barren heart) by SoldiersShield, KakushiMiko (Hanahaki AU/16K) 

“You hide yourself away in your technology, but you are just as human as the rest of them. Your heart betrays your desire to possess.” Her gaze falls to the arc reactor, and Tony's blood runs cold in his veins.

“The Earth will reclaim what we have lost,” she says, dragging a hand over the chestplate of the armor. “It is you, and your kind-- your greed that pulls life from the soil as if it were nothing. You will reap what you have sown, Stark. The avarice in your heart will strangle the very life out of you.” Arna meets his eyes once more, a serene smile on her face as she leans forward.

“I hope he is worth dying for,” she murmurs, before digging her hand into his ribcage.

(Tony Stark falls in love with Steve Rogers. A rogue enchantress ensures he pays for it.)

Shelter from the storm by silkspectred (KidFic/5k) 

Tony adopts a baby. Guess who's Majorly Fucked Up™ about it.

Keep on beating by itsallAvengers (Domestic Fluff/6K) 

There were an awful lot of things Steve loved about Tony. But one thing in particular Steve could never get enough of was his heartbeat.

The good or bad thing by petreparkour (Multiverse/10k) 

 “It’s the metal suit,” Thor informed Steve, his normally-booming voice tinny over the SHIELD comms. “What did Stark call it—Iron Man?”

“But he’s down here,” Steve protested as the Hulk roared in Stark’s face, startling him into waking with a shout. “How could—”

“It’s damaged,” Thor reported. “But it looks different. More advanced. And he—ah. He’s carrying you, Captain.”

“Please tell me nobody kissed me,” Stark breathed out, and then Stark’s voice suddenly came over the comms, but the man lying next to him hadn’t moved.

“Guys, come on, you’re killing me here. What is it, 2012? God, I hate time travel. First, I'm fighting Thanos. Now, I have to deal with my past self and Thor's bad haircut? Oh my God, Cap, yes I hacked their comms, they’re my comms.”

Steve nearly opened his mouth to protest that he hadn’t said anything when he realized that this replica of Tony Stark wasn’t speaking to him.

***The tipping point by nightwalker (Domestic Fluff/7K) 

Tony has a few quirks. Steve's still trying to figure them all out.

We two, how long we were fool’d by glassessay (Soulmate AU/9K) 

Steve Rogers comes into the world as unblemished as his mother. When Anthony Stark is born, his soulmark is an obvious pattern of ink across his tiny chest.

It only takes a century, two names, and a shared love of Walt Whitman for them to find each other.

The tape in the cave by betheflame (Canon Divergent/5K) 

Steve had no idea what was happening.

“You think I didn’t know that?”

Tony was staring Zemo down as though the Sokovian was actual vermin - which, Steve reflected, he kind of was.

“You think that I,” Tony continued, not hiding the sneer in his voice, “Anthony Stark, who has more powerful technology in my literal fingers than most nations have, that I wouldn’t know everything possible about how my parents died? That I wouldn’t know it wasn’t an accident, that your silly little HYDRA Nazi knock-off pals are the ones who murdered them? Please, you are pathetic.”

Happy ending by Robin_tCJ (No-Powers AU/28K) 

 Steve is a mobile massage therapist, and Tony is a stressed billionaire. What could go wrong?

With a decent happiness by torigates (Teacher AU/16K) 

Tony Stark is Iron Man. Steve Rogers isn't, and never was Captain America.

Or, the one where everything is the same except Steve is a kindergarten teacher.

Nothing left but scars by SailorChibi (MCU/6.7K) - Reread

Steve wakes up to the fact that no one ever compliments or even says thank you to Tony, and that he has fallen into the same trap of painting Tony with a specific paintbrush.

This is how he showers a very confused Tony with praise to make up for it.

Our hearts should remember and follow by frostfall (MCU/5K) 

Steve hums. “I didn’t know you could play. Or sing. Don’t think I’ve heard anyone mention it before.”

Tony shrugs. “It’s one of the few things, skills, I don’t flaunt. Not something people are interested in, anyway. Not gonna sway any board members by playing fucking Für Elise for them. Sides’, there’s a high chance I wouldn’t even play. Well, maybe if you get me drunk enough and near an instrument. Then, I might reconsider.”

(After a dream leaves Tony rattled, he turns to the piano as a way to distract himself.)

Finally, you and me by pensversusswords (Multiverse/10K) 

Because in every layer of time, in every conceivable dimension, he was always meant to love Steve.

By some miracle, Steve was meant to love him back.

***Full disclosure not required (but appreciated) by Potrix (Identity Porn/16k) 

The one where Steve knows more than he lets on, Tony knows less than he pretends, Clint has a big mouth, Bucky is a little shit, and everyone learns why keeping secrets never ends well.

Almost never, anyway.

Heartlines by nanasekei (MCU/7.9K) 

“Let me,” Tony repeats. He regrets it deeply, so much, he wants to stick the words back into his mouth again, and it must show, in the way his voice wavers. He feels exposed, all of a sudden, as if he’s asking something bigger than what he can actually say. Let me touch you, let me take care of you. “Just… Let me do it.”

i found a way to let you in, but i never really had a doubt (marriage series) by quidhitch (Marriage Series/16k) 

Tony Stark doesn’t believe in marriage. It’s nobody’s fault. —Well, it’s Howard's fault, probably, but Tony doesn’t like to think about that for too long, finds that it dredges up all sorts of issues he’d rather keep buried under a mountain of strategically employed sarcasm, humorous self-deprecation, and the occasionally effective substance abuse.

***Hide your love away by sineala (Soulmate/33K) - Reread

Tony has suspected for a long time that the soulmark on his chest matches Steve's -- but he's never told Steve about it. And then it's too late to tell Steve anything at all ever again. In the wake of Steve's death, the Skrull invasion, and Norman Osborn's rise to power, the identity of his soulmate is just one of the many things Tony cuts out of his memory forever.

When Tony returns to consciousness, he's forced to deal with the aftermath of a war he no longer remembers fighting, not to mention a Steve Rogers who can barely stand to be in the same room with him. Surely the last thing Tony could ever need in his life is more amnesia. But that's what he gets. And Tony's new missing memory just might be the key to finding out the truth of his soulmark... as well as his chance to make things right once and for all.

Break the chain (can’t live in circles again) by orphan_account (FWB/19K) 

There had been seven amazing weeks of dating Steve Rogers before Tony realised that they weren’t dating at all. And then it was a scramble to adjust to the situation as it had always been: being Steve’s friend-with-benefits.

And if Steve seemed a little confused and bewildered by the way Tony was acting, well. Tony was probably just misreading that, too.

Five times steve and tony (tried to) bail each other out of jail by Teyke (MCU/6k) 

Twice before Civil War, twice after, and once during. For very loose definitions of both 'bail' and 'jail'.

Cracked hearts under iron ribs by XtaticPearl (Established Relationship/14k)

Rhodey is away for almost six months now and comes to meet Tony after the mission. He doesn't understand the domesticity of the whole Tower and unknowingly sets off a whole truck of insecurities which make Tony crawl back into being a Stark instead of just Tony. The team is not at all happy and Rhodey joins them in trying to figure out a way to help their resident genius feel better in his skin.

The single biggest problem with communication by BlossomsintheMist (616/108K)

In the wake of Steve's return from the dead and the end of Norman Osborn's reign of terror, the superhero community is recovering--Steve has taken on a new role and Tony is trying to put his life back together. Things are still awkward between them, but they're determined to put things to rights. But when a discussion about their feelings leads to further misunderstandings, they discover that might be more difficult than either of them realized. Set in the early Heroic Age after the end of Dark Reign, this is a get-together story about crossed wires--and second chances.

What are friends for? by bobertsmallismydad (MCU /2.8K) 

In which Steve is targeted by a virus. Will the Avengers be able to save him in time?

Starving by festiveferret (Vampire AU/2K) 

Steve woke up starving.

***Everybody wonders (What it would be like to love you) by SoldiersShield (MCU/3K) 

“...Is that what this is about?” He asks slowly. Steve blanches.

“Oh my god. It is.” Tony has no right looking as giddy as he does. “Steven Grant Rogers, are you jealous?”

--

Or: Steve and Tony have been dancing around each other for a while now, and Steve's rather content with it. Attending a gala together just might change that.

Re(A)d all over by brandnewfashion, MusicalLuna (Drunk Flirting/3k) 

Contrary to popular belief, Tony Stark can blush.

It just takes Steve getting drunk on some magical Asgardian mead for it to finally happen.

***The Do-over Proposal by nightwalker (Established Relationship/1.2k) 

Steve wants to go on a journey, Tony doesn't think it's a good time, and Bucky needs to beat some sense into both these idiots.

A Winter’s Ball by alliejowrites (Victorian AU/3.8K) 

Steve moves to London in search of a patron, so that he can finally devote himself to painting. He is not expecting everything he finds upon meeting Lord Stark. A fluffy little Victorian AU. One-shot.

What’s a fanfic by starksnack (AvAc/1K) 

Kamala introduces Tony and Steve to the world of fanfiction. There is a surprising amount of content about them being gay.

[sineala]

Fic Writer Meme

Tagged by @dirigibleplumbing! Thanks, this was fun!

1. How many works do you have on AO3? 288. One of those is a fanmix and least a couple are Latin translations.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count? 2,743,957. If I posted all the WIPs I have -- even just the ones I have that are completely drafted and just not posted -- I would be over three million easily, so I guess that’s something to look forward to next year.

3. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? Follow in Your Footsteps, Slipping off the Page into Your Hands, Think of This as Solving Problems (That Should Never Have Occurred), The Jar, Thrust Issues.

4. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? I respond to pretty much everything that’s not an obvious troll, because I figure if someone took the time out of their day to read my entire story and tell me they liked it, I can at least thank them for letting me know. It sometimes takes me a while to get to them, but I get there eventually.

5. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending? There is only one possible answer to this, and it is Sucker Punch. I feel like in every other fic I have written, even the ones where the characters end up dead, there is the possibility, however slim, for some hope somewhere. This is the one story of mine I think I could never, ever write a fix-it for because I think by the end of it Steve and/or Tony’s chances for any kind of happiness for either of them in any sense at all is irreparably broken. It’s not even a deathfic! They’re both alive! It’s just that sad!

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending? I write a lot of happy endings and I feel like a good contender here is Double Time because of the sheer number of things I managed to set right by the end of this. On the 616 side, I bring Steve back to life, I make Steve and Tony come to an agreement about Civil War, and I get them together. On the Noir side, I avert Steve getting iced and Bucky getting Winter Soldiered (though since neither of them are Noir canon I acknowledge that this is a problem I made for myself but I think it’s a reasonable problem) and also hopefully I fix all the, um, issues that Noir Tony has regarding his father. Because, yes, I fixed the things wrong with Noir Howard Stark, although he is an easier fix than many other Howard Starks.

7. Do you write crossovers? If so what’s the craziest one you’ve written? I can’t choose between Akratophoros (Classical Greece & Rome RPF/Highlander: The Series), which is Julius Caesar/Methos, and Being an Account of a Journey to the strange new California Republic (and a most peculiar Hotel therein) which is a mostly-gen fic containing relationships between characters of unspecified gender that is a crossover between the browser game Fallen London and the song “Hotel California.”

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic? Oh, yes. I sort of regret turning AO3 anonymous comments off sometimes because I know that 99% of anon commenters are lovely people but the repeated suicide-baiting was just something that I didn’t need in my life every few months. I have gotten hate engaging with the actual substance of my fics occasionally, but, yeah. Thanks, Carol/Jess troll!

9. Do you write smut? If so what kind? Uh... the good kind, I hope? Usually m/m, sometimes f/f, and a minuscule amount of het. There’s usually kink or at least some kind of power dynamic shenanigans somewhere in it, because why not. Sometimes I go through phases where I decide I’m not going to write any penetrative sex in fic as an ideological point and then sometimes I write fisting. I am large, I contain multitudes.

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not stolen in the sense that it was reposted without credit -- as far as I know, that hasn’t happened to me -- but the only reason I have a Wattpad account is so I can comment on other people putting my fics on Wattpad and tell them to knock it off.

11. Have you ever had a fic translated? Why is this next to the question about theft? Anyway, yes, lots, I love when people translate my fic; please go right ahead! It’s great. I have also translated my own (and my wife’s) fic from Latin to English because we have both written fic in Latin.

12. Have you ever co-written a fic before? Not yet, but there are a couple people I would very much like to co-write fic with, and they know who they are, and at some point when we all get our Writing Brains online at the same I would definitely like to figure out this co-writing thing. We have Ideas.

13. What’s your all time favorite ship? In terms of sheer longevity in my brain, I’ve been into Kirk/Spock for close to thirty years; it’s not always a ship I’m actively writing or thinking about but it’s pretty much always going to be there somewhere. I usually get bored and get a new main fandom every couple years, but I’m really surprised that my main ship has been Steve/Tony for about seven years now which is like three times as long as most of my fannish interests last and I am not burning out on them anytime soon, so they seem to be here for the long haul as well.

14. What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will? I still feel bad that I didn’t finish that one Eagle space AU because it’s sure not getting done, sorry Eagle fandom; honestly, the chapter I put up stands on its own well enough that I should just mark it complete but I don’t know if that will bump it up in the search results and I don’t want that to happen.

15. What are your writing strengths? I like to think I’m good at the storytelling part of writing, in terms of coming up with satisfying and engaging narratives and hopefully getting readers to Feel Feelings.

16. What are your writing weaknesses? I don’t think my use of language is very pretty. So many people can write sentences that are so beautiful that they hurt, the kind of phrases that just stick in your brain because they are gorgeous and perfect and I’d like you people to know that I envy you immensely because I think the line in my own fic that people quote to me the most is “Friends fisted friends, right?” and that’s just. Yeah. That’s a different kind of thing.

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic? I have a lot of Opinions on this, actually. I don’t like long passages in fiction in other languages with footnoted or mouseover translations, because for me it significantly breaks immersion; I think if the reader is supposed to know what it means, it should be made clear from context in the work itself, and if it can’t be made clear from context it shouldn’t be there. I think the choice of how to depict dialogue in other languages should also be filtered through the language knowledge of the POV character; if the POV character doesn’t know the language they’re hearing, I think in many cases they wouldn’t be able to even parse what they’re hearing into words if it’s more than a short phrase, and so I’d prefer “Marcus said something in Latin that sounded obscene” when the POV character doesn’t know Latin, unless learning what the phrase means is the point of the scene, which it sometimes is. If everyone is speaking the same language or if the POV character knows all the languages that they’re hearing, I am comfortable just reading in whatever language the story is in and taking that as a stand-in for the languages that they’re speaking. I want to use words in other languages if the character is actually saying them in that language (say, if they’re code-switching), and, not, like, “this character is going to say 'da’ occasionally to indicate to the reader that they’re really speaking Russian.” Having said that, if a word is not easily translatable -- say, a term of address that doesn’t exist in English but that the speaker would absolutely be using -- then, yeah, I want the word the speaker would be saying. Thanks for asking.

18. What was the first fandom you wrote for? If you count stuff I wrote on paper as a teenager, Star Trek. Then I had years of unposted WIPs for X-Men comics, and later on, Due South, and AO3 says the first thing I posted was an X-Files drabble.

19. What’s a fandom/ship you haven’t written for yet but want to? Oh, man. I don’t know. Someday I should actually write Phyla-Vell/Moondragon.

20. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written? I’m still really proud of Straight on till Morning. I am still writing the sequel. I promise I am still writing the sequel.

Tagging: I think most of the people who I would tag have already been tagged; I’m curious to know what @blossomsinthemist would answer but she does not seem to be using Tumblr a lot lately. I would also like to tag @teatotally who I bet has very interesting answers. And @iheartallthethings. Also if you just want to do this and I didn’t tag you, just do it anyway; I want to see everyone’s answers.

[sgt-morgan]

Lucky Kentucky ch. 1

Chapter 2

Hello there, this is my new Rockstar!Bucky x Reader fic. It was heavily inspired by my love of seventies mega rockstars, Almost Famous, Classic Rock, and a little bit of personal whimsy. I hope you enjoy, and read responsibly.

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ : cussing, sexy times, drugs, booze, smoking, objectification, fornication, liberation, and a litany of other sordid topics and traumas.

Your name didn’t matter, at least not so far as you could tell. They called you Kentucky, sometimes if they felt cheeky, Bluegrass. You liked it, the first band that gave you that name was some shitty college band out of Detroit. They were convinced they were gonna be the next Led Zepplin. They called it quits three years later, a good old fashioned Rock n’ Roll suicide, booze, women, and drugs. The finer things always gets the best amateurs. However, their lead singer had a way with words, he came up with the nickname. He also wrote a beautiful song about a girl named Kentucky, who he just couldn’t swing, some big named country superstar sang the song and the last you’d heard he had been writing for the best of the best since. This earned you your title, Lucky Kentucky. A bit on the nose for your taste, but it made perfect sense. You kept following the music, you went to a band in L.A., the day you left, they signed a record deal with Sony. The next was a little English girl and her backing band, her first tour of England with you landed her a tour of the US faster than they could say ‘Burbon.’

You are what is known in the music business as a road manager, so far as you could tell, this was the job you were born to do. You made schedules, you supplied booze and other artifacts, you got hotels, paid off paparazzi, packed busses, and shoved half out of their mind rock stars on to stages in more countries than you could count, you couldn’t imagine any better life. You were the best of the best, you were who the record company called when everyone else had given up. You were a fixer, and an incredibly talented one at that. You had a gift for taking a mediocre side show band, and turning them into headliners.

So when you got the call from Tony and Pepper that you had to fix The Howling Comandos, you were shocked. They were big time, nothing like your usual fixer upper opener that you could make insta stars. They certainly weren’t your crowd, but you always had a problem saying no to Pepper, Tony’s company manager. Tony was a talented mixer, and a gifted album technician. So when he started his own label, it blew up pretty quickly. The comandos were the first band he signed. They had won Album of the Year their first Grammy season without even batting an eyelash. So once business started booming, Pepper took over the paper work, and Tony did what he did best, Fucking around with a mixing board. You had met them when you started working with Natasha and the Widows, a Blondie style punk outfit. They had a pension for eating men alive. Eventually, it got in the way of their success, so you stepped in and saved the band from total destruction. You and the starks had been thick as theives since.

“Tony, you mean to tell me, that the Commandos, the biggest artists of the decade, need my help?” You scoffed down the line, checking the Widows out of the last hotel of their tour with Greta Van Fleet.

“Yes Bluegrass, I do. Barnes is going through some existential heart break shit ‘cause ole bitch called of the wedding, and fucked the Guitarist of their opener. He’s been all drugs, booze, and sappy shit since, and someone’s gotta get the mother fucker back on stage. I’m Loosing money here Kentucky, something’s gotta give.” Tony sounded livid, there were very few times where Tony was as frazzled as this, so you knew it was serious.

“Alright, but I have conditions.” You sighed, you thought you could hear the sound of Pepper weeping tears of joy, but you couldn’t be sure. “I want the Widows to open, I’m not done with them yet Stark they’ve got some potential that still needs to be tapped. I want Frankie on security, I want Wanda for wardrobe and makeup, I want Vision for my techie, and I’m taking Peter as my Head roadie.” It was a big ask, but if you were doing this, you were gonna need the best possible team.

“Jeez woman, rob the treasure chest would yah? You want all of them? You just asked me for the entire roster. They’re on other tours! I can’t just- HEY! Woman don’t you-“ you heard a slap and an ow, and suddenly you were with the one and only Pepper Potts- Stark.

“Kentucky? You have a deal. You can have the Allstars in three months, everyone’s tours should be wrapping up, that puts you just in time for festival season. You up to it?” Pepper sounded like someone had just kicked her puppy. So you knew, you were the only one that could save the day.

“Virginia? Count me in. Give me the three months to plan and connect with the team and I’ll make sure James Barnes makes it onto that bus.” You could practically taste her relief through the receiver. What had you just signed up for.

————————————————————————

You’d done it. Six months, 7 bus rentals, 75 hotels, 107 plane rides, 20 festivals, 95 shows, 89 cities, and roughly 200 people later, you had managed to construct the American leg of one of the biggest and longest tours you had ever seen. All it took was two months, and 23 bottles of Jack Daniels, and you had done it. Now all you had to do was meet the band, and have your first tour meeting.

You had never been so nervous to meet a group of men in your life. Normally, these meetings we’re pretty laid back and informal. Lots of getting to know you, and goofing off. This time, you were in charge of a multi-million dollar tour that could make or break the band of the decades d ruin your career. No pressure. Needless to say, you were fairly nervous.

You were relieved upon arrival that the first people to make it in were the people who seemed to be the most reliable. Vision and Wanda were quietly whispering  to eachother in the corner as always, their hands gently intertwined as they surveyed the rest of their new subjects. Frankie was standing off in another corner looking like an immovable brick wall. His sunglasses firmly in place on his nose, looking scary as always. Peter was off with the widows flirting with their drummer. You didn’t think it would end well, seeing as MJ was a bit of a hot head, and Peter was akward and nerdy, but to your surprise, they seemed to be getting along swimmingly. Natasha and Carol were staring at a book full of something, if you had to guess, it would be song lyrics of some variety, and to your shock and absolute awe, Peggy had saddled up to Steve Rogers. Steve was the guitarist of the Commandos, and he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying her company. Tony and Pepper were chatting with Clint and Sam the drummer and bassist of the Commandos, and Bruce Banner, your newly appointed second hand. James Barnes was nowhere to be seen.

“Well, well, good to see that most of you have arrived early!” You smirked walking to the head of the table with your big box of tour folders, Peter moving instantly to help you. “If I have not yet made your acquaintance, I am Kentucky, just Kentucky, you may call me Bluegrass or Lucky, but I will always prefer Kentucky. It has come to my immediate attention, that you sorry suckers were in need of a fantastic road manager, and here I am.” You survey the room as you spoke taking into account every face that you could see in the room and making sure everyone was following. “Now, where is James?”

————Some unnamed bar across town ————

Bucky’s head pounded. Wether it was from the booze or the pounding music he had no clue, but he could tell that it was far too early to be in this booth.

“You really went for it last night Barnes,” Bucky looks for the source of the voice to find that, Luke Cage, owner of the best bar in LA, was unloading boxes of tequila into his storage cabinets under the bar. “You shouldn’t have either, you’re late for your tour meeting.”

Bucky absorbed the information, and felt it melt out of his brain as if it were nothing more than an irritating ear worm. “How do you know about that?” He sighed running a hand down his face and slowly standing to grab his leather jacket.

“It’s sharpied onto your arm,” Luke chuckled pointing to Bucky’s right arm in just about the only clean space someone could fine. “Steve came in and did it last night before giving about a hundred dollars to let you sleep it off in that booth.”

“Of course he did,” Bucky scoffed, “the punk never knew when to leave well enough alone.” Bucky quickly slipped his sunglasses over his aching eyes, as he watched Luke slide a cup of coffee across the bar. “Goodbye Luke, your bar is the only thing I’m gonna miss about this town.”

“Goodbye Bucky, the free live music, and the fantastic tips are all I’m going to miss about you boys. I’ll tell Jess you said hello.” And with that final fond farewell, Bucky left Luke’s bar for the last time before he was trapped in a tour bus for six months.

The drive to Stark Records was as second nature to him as tying his shoes. He easily glided in between cars, making record time to his place of employment. He parked his bike next to a slot that occupied the sweetest little red corvette he’s seen in a good while. The tune in the reference catches his brain and he starts to whistle the chorus, wishing the artist formerly known as Prince was still around. He walked past Sharon, the desk clerk, giving her his customary wink and a smirk, stealing a sucker out of her candy dish and wandering into the meeting.

That’s when he saw her, the hottest piece of ass this side of the sunset strip. She looked powerful, she looked commanding, she was covered in tattoos and wearing the best looking little black number. She was saying his name. “Where is James?”

“Right here sweet thing, I hope I’m not too late to the party, I’d hate to miss anything that came out of that pretty little mouth.” Boy was it pretty, the full lips covered in a red shade that he could only seem to imagine smeared all over her moth as she panted his name.

“Ah, yes there he is. Hello, James. Just in time to-”

“James is my dad sugar, I’m sure we can think of something a little more clever for you to-”

“Alright then Junior if you don’t mind, I’m trying to conduct a meeting, and I will not be letting a drunken moron interupt my carefully planned work flow.”

Bucky’s jaw snapped shut as the people around him, some friends and some strangers, laughed at the clever lady’s little barb.

“Alright then, as I was saying, I’m here to help. I believe in the Peter Grant method of representation. The you-have-a-venue-you-want-it-filled-I-have-just-the-band-sixty-forty method.” She said, flipping her hair into a simple bun on the top of her head, which Bucky couldn’t find more attractive if he tried, “I have made hotel arrangements for every show, I have made bus arrangements, I have planned for added shows, and delayed dates. I have brought you the best opener I have, the best artists, roadies, security, and technicians I could scrape together, and most importantly, I have given you my time and my trust. I can make your touring life as easy and as simple as humanly possible, or I could ruin it. However, all I want is to get you out there, grinding again, reminding your fans the reason they love you. All you have to do, is let me work, and focus on the music. Can we do that?”

“Doll? I like the way you think.”

“Junior? It’s gonna be a long fucking six months.”

[nethandrake]

those nights.

tonyjan. marvel 616. rated t. non-canon compliant. 2.2k words.

also on ao3.

*****

Parties have always been one of Jan’s favorite events to attend. This one in particular, however, unsettles her.

Don’t get her wrong, she adores Steve Rogers. Even at his worst, at his most stubborn and self-righteous, there’ll be a part of her who unconditionally loves that stupid, stupid man.

But it’s hard for her to watch him around Tony, to take in the look of stark adoration on Steve’s face. Harder even to realize they've slipped away to the balcony to be alone, slipped away from Steve's birthday party.

It doesn’t make sense to Jan. Steve should be inside, cozying up to his girlfriend. He should be here, trading jokes with Sam. He should be here, standing by the punch bowl to make sure no one spiked the punch.

And yet, there he is, making googly eyes at her boyfriend.

Jan takes a sip from her mocktail and wonders if this is how it feels to be Sharon Carter.

It had been a miracle when Tony agreed to rekindle their romance, the one she had ended all those years ago. A part of her does regret breaking up with Tony then. She won’t deny that Tony was an asshole for dating her while keeping his identity as Iron Man from her. But she missed the crinkle around his eyes whenever he shoots those startling blues, missed the way he’d throw his head back and laugh like she made the best joke ever, missed him.

Being with Tony was, is, different than being with Hank, Alex, or even Paladin. Being with those men was great. Fun. Oddly enough, dating Tony is easier and safer, but no less thrilling and fun. Tony has been by her side since they were kids. He was one of the few people who kept her sane when high society got the best of her. He was the one she could be herself around with, to kick her feet up and just be Jan and not the Wasp or a van Dyne.

With Tony, she didn’t need to compete with anyone. She’s his and only his.

Until now, that is.

She doesn’t know how it’s only hit her. Steve and Tony have been doing this dance for over a decade now. It’s no secret to everyone in the superhero community that Steve and Tony are hopelessly in love with each other. Idiots who haven’t acted on their feelings from the moment they met, who decided that dating other people is for the best.

Jan’s stomach plummets at that thought.

Is that all their relationship is to Tony? A way to forget? Did he choose to date her just because Steve’s with Sharon? Is this some twisted—

She pushes that thought away before her brain could finish it for her.

Tony wouldn’t do that. Tony’s a man who lets his love for people consume him until there’s nothing left but skin and bones. Tony has let so many people into his heart, only for them to trounce all over it. He has to have genuine feelings for Jan. He has to.

Well, she thinks, a little hysterically, at least I don’t look like Steve. Been there, done that, and never again.

She pushes the stray lock of hair from her eyes and is about to turn on her heel when a voice stops her in her tracks.

“They’re at it again, huh.”

Jan shrugs her shoulders, not bothering to face the speaker. She could recognize that voice anywhere. “I think everyone sees it but them.”

Next to her, Sharon lets out a quiet snort. “Ain’t that the truth.”

Outside, Tony throws his head back in laughter. Steve’s grin broadens so widely that Jan’s surprised it hasn’t split his face in half yet.

For a long moment, Jan can’t tear her gaze away from the sight. It’s like being in a speeding car with no brakes, destined to crash and go up in flames. She wonders if that’s how their relationship is going to end – in flames.

God, she hopes not. She really hopes not.

Somehow her gaze has flickered over to Sharon. Surprise washes over her as she takes in how unbothered Sharon seems to be at the open affection between the men. It’s a big contrast to all those countless instances before. She’s seen the subtle discomfort and jealousy behind Sharon’s eyes whenever Steve went overboard with waxing poetic over Tony or at the way Steve lights up when Tony walks into the room.

Jan hates how she's in Sharon's shoes now.

“How do you stand it?” she says, startled at how quiet her voice is to her ears

At first, she doesn’t think Sharon heard her, given the boisterous chatter around them. But then Sharon purses her lips and taps a manicured finger against her solo cup.

“It wasn’t easy at first, seeing him half in love with someone who isn’t me. And sometimes it still isn’t.”

“But?”

Sharon tilts her head to the side. “But I just try to tell myself that I’m the one Steve comes home to. That some people can love more than one person. That his love for Tony doesn’t lessen his love for me.”

Jan gnaws at her lip. Names and images of the women Tony flash through her mind. “I don’t think I could do that,” she admits. “Share him.”

“Well, it’s a good thing they haven’t done anything about it, then.” Sharon pauses. “Look, I know Tony can be shit at communicating, but really, you have nothing to worry about. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, heard the way he speaks about you. He loves you. Really loves you. Seriously, take it from someone who’s dating a guy who’s also shit at communication.”

Tony’s rolling his eyes, elbowing Steve playfully. Steve returns the gesture with a light shove, his grin still plastered on his face.

“I know he does,” Jan says. “It’s just that sometimes I…” She exhales. “It’s hard. Sometimes.”

Sharon nods, humming before flashing Jan an empathic smile. “Yeah, I know the feeling.” She drains the last of her drink, sighing. “C’mon, let’s go and drown our insecurities in food. Jess brought some donuts from the bakery near her apartment and apparently, they’re to die for.”

The rest of the party passes in a blur. Jan does what she always does at parties – talk, laugh, catch up with everyone. And it’s nice, really, seeing and speaking all her superhero friends in a more relaxed setting.

And yet, there’s still that part at the back of her head, whispering. Nudging. Persuading.

“Hey,” Tony says, sidling up to Jan when Carol’s whisked away from her side. “You’ve been pretty quiet the whole night. Something up?”

Jan musters the best smile she can, cursing mentally for Tony’s perceptiveness. “It’s nothing. I’m just tired.”

Tony’s eyebrows knit together but fortunately, he doesn’t push for answers. “C’mon, let’s get out of here then. I’ll drop you off at your place.”

“But Steve—”

“Steve will understand.”

Will he though?

Steve has always been a terrible liar, always wearing his heart on his sleeve (which Jan supposes is what makes him a great Captain America). Even when he walks Tony and Jan to the door, grinning warmly as he thanks them and bids them goodbye, she can see the shuttered look behind his eyes.

The immature part of her preens at that.

Sharon might have a point. As transparent as Tony is of his affections for Steve, Jan’s the one he’s going on dates with. Jan’s the one he chooses to kiss and make love to. Jan’s the one he calls up to talk about everything and nothing with.

Jan’s the one he’s been in a relationship with for months now.

And yet, Jan can’t help the self-doubt clawing in her head, desperate to consume her.

“I love you,” she says when they settle inside Tony’s car.

Tony glances her way, a soft smile gracing his lips. She wonders if this smile is the same smile he gives Steve. She hopes so.

“I love you too.”

She’s heard this admission one, two, many times before. And yet, it doesn’t stop her heart from skipping at the warmth and the gentleness in his tone.

This time, however, it doesn’t settle the flare of jealousy and insecurity brimming inside of her. And since she can’t help herself, she lets it boil over.

“You love Steve too.”

Tony stills, the smile slipping off her face.

Jan swallows, her eyes trained on her hands in her lap, bracing herself. “I see the way you look at him, the way he looks at you. You’ve been pining for each other for years and if you—”

“He has Sharon now,” he answers flatly.

“Still. Doesn’t change the fact that he loves you.”

He frowns. “Where are you going with this?”

There’s an edge to his tone, one that tells her that she’s fucked up.

Maybe this is it. Maybe this is when Tony finally realizes that Steve’s his true love, when Tony throws the car door open and runs to be with the one he’s meant to be with, when Tony decides that their second chance was a mistake.

She should’ve kept him all those years ago. God, she really should’ve. She should’ve—

“Babe, I need you to—” Calloused fingers brush under her chin, Tony tentatively brushing it with his thumb. “Hey, look at me.”

With a sharp intake of breath, she steels herself and does what he says.

Tony’s jaw is tight and his bright blue eyes are aflame, like he has something to prove. It’s a reasonable reaction, expected even. But then she gives him another look and sees everything else – the softness behind the fire, the ghosted touch against her skin, the light blush tinting his cheeks.

“There’s always be a part of me who loves Steve. No matter what. I don’t think I can deny that part of my anymore. But— Hey, babe. Listen. Look at me.”

Again, she does so and freezes because god, his eyes are so blue.

The nerves behind Tony’s smile eases a little as he continues to worry her chin with his thumb. “Sure, I love Steve. I won’t deny— Hey, look at me. But he’s not the one I’m in love with, the one I picture myself spending the rest of my life with. You’re the one I’m in love with. You’re the one I want to live the rest of my life with.”

Just like that, all the air in Jan’s lungs dissipates. “Tony—”

Tony smiles. “It’s the truth. Honest truth. You make me feel whole. You make me happier than I’ve ever been in a long time. Hell, I don’t think I’ve felt this happy. Ever. Being with you makes me so fucking happy. I love you. You’re everything good in this world.”

“But Steve—”

“Steve is nothing compared to you.”

That earnest and genuine admission alone is what pushes her into action, sealing her lips with his. As always, his lips are soft and pliant, tasting of coffee and promises. His fingers trail upwards, his palm resting against her cheek as he returns the gesture with the most warmth and affection she’s ever experienced.

He loves her. Fuck, he loves her.

She’s totally taking Sharon to her personal tailor after this.

“Wow,” Jan breathes when they break apart, her cheeks warm and her heart in her throat. “Imagine calling Captain America a nothing. You better hope no one’s listening to this conversation because let me tell you, you’re screwed otherwise.”

Tony grins, a hint of mischief behind his eyes. “Anything for you, Miss van Dyne.” His smile fades, leaning back into his seat. “But really, if anyone that should be—”

She shakes her head, reaching over to give his calloused palm a reassuring squeeze. “Tony, no. There’s no deserving here. You are enough for me. You make me happy, happier than I’ve ever felt in a long time. I love you too.”

Hope flashes behind his eyes. “Yeah?”

Jan nods, her own stinging. “Yeah.”

The smile she gets in return is both warm and heart-wrenching.

Jan hates seeing Tony like this, hates the demons and self-loathing plaguing him. She knows it’s why he never tried making a move on Steve all these years.

Obviously, it’s all bullshit, but it’s something they need to revisit soon. That and her own insecurities too. In fact, they definitely need to talk a lot of things out.

Not tonight though. Tonight, all she wants to do is curl up next to Tony on the couch, ridicule the shitty soap operas on-screen and later fall asleep in each other’s arms. And judging by Tony’s expression, he seems to feel the same.

“Hey,” she begins, “you mind if I crash at your place tonight? It’s kinda late and your place is nearer—”

Tony’s lips tug to the side, cocking an eyebrow. “Janet van Dyne, are you propositioning me?”

Jan smirks. “And what if I am?”

His other eyebrow arches. “Nadia isn’t expecting you, is she? ‘Cause as much as I’d love to have you over, I would like to be alive to, you know, date you.”

Jan laughs, snaking her arm around his. “As long as you bring me back to her in one piece, she’ll be fine.”

Tony chuckles as the car roars to life. “Well then. She has nothing to worry about.”

[iron--spider]

My Endgame writeup or whatever

Okay

I’m gonna try to go in order of what I can remember. I might not hit on everything. Up front I will say—it played better than actually reading the spoilers did. But is that even saying much? I don’t know. I have a very strange feeling about all of it and I absolutely have not processed it yet. I just keep coming back to this thought—I just don’t know. I genuinely don’t know

- I loved the Nebula and Tony bits on the Benatar. He was such a sweet, sweet calming dad. I wanted more of all this. They rushed through it.

- Uh. How did Carol know. Why did they skip her finding out where he was? I need more lol. I also wanted the scene where she originally arrived. Don’t assume shit about us, Marvel, just don’t skip important scenes.

- Side note: the pacing in the beginning is....bad. Really bad lol.

- I liked the Tony arriving back bit. I like everything about Robert’s performance here. How he said “I lost the kid” with such emotion (though does Steve know who he’s talking about?)

- Next scene was some of the BEST work I’ve ever seen out of Robert. Seeing him so skinny like that was horrifying. The look on his face when he saw Peter on the screen. Ripping out the IV, everything he said to Steve, pulling out the housing unit and dropping it in Steve’s hand and then collapsing. Oscar reel. That’s my baby and I’m proud. Damn.

- “up until a couple minutes ago I thought you were a build a Bear” lmfao

- uhhhhh the killing Thanos.....yeah whatever. It was weird. And annoying.

- If I could rewrite this movie, the five years later is exactly where I would start :) A misstep, in my opinion. I don’t believe Tony would trust himself to have a child after losing one.

- “your mom never wears stuff I get her” lol

- kid is super super cute but not a good actress. I had no idea what she was talking about most of the time because she spoke so low.

- Paul Rudd fucking nailed every single scene he was in. He was amazing and a star player to me. His face in the Cassie scene. So good.

- Nat was great in every moment she had.

- The scene with the photo. God. Tony was so absolute in his opinion—he was not going to do this time travel heist. It was risking too much. No way. Get out of my house if you’re gonna talk that way. But then that picture. He takes one look at it, this dead kid that still holds such a big piece of his heart. And the next scene he’s cracking time travel.

- Pepper probably always knew this was a possibility. Their conversation made me cry.

- I hate professor hulk. It’s so stupid. Hate it lol.

- Thor just...made me sad. He wasn’t a joke to me. He was so obviously devastated and sad and just....not himself. He couldn’t forgive himself. It hurt to see him like that.

- Love when Tony drives up so fast and gives Steve his shield back.

- Here comes my favorite parts of the movie honestly. I love the whole team figuring shit out stuff once they were all together again. Tony and Nat laying on the table together with pillows. Everyone eating snacks and talking. This is the kind of shit I wanted ALL. ALONG.

- I felt offended when they were trying to explain the time travel to the audience. It’s so obviously bullshit. It creates massive, massive plotholes and it’s bad. Bad.

- But I enjoyed it lmao. The 2012 stuff was so wonderful. The Hulk getting mad and wanting to smash the elevator and Tony being like “stop, stop” lmao. Tony checking out Steve’s ass. Steve checking out his own ass. 2012!Steve saying “I can do this all day” and our Steve being like “yeahIKNOW”. Scott giving 2012!Tony a mini heart attack and 2012!Thor being so concerned lol.

- Steve and Tony journeying to 1970 was great and I adore them being a team a lot. But I’m not here for the redeeming Howard. Don’t like that guy. Don’t. Like him. Only glad it gives Tony a bit of closure.

- Uh Nat and Clint killed me. I was a wreck. They were my original ship and that just....I really miss her and she didn’t deserve that. My beautiful girl.

- The scene when they’re back and discussing her death was so hard. Thor particularly hurt me with how he couldn’t accept it.

- I knew the whole last bit was coming and it just felt like this sense of impending doom. I hate that it happened, I hate that that dickhead came out of nowhere right when they were fixing shit.

- Okay. The last battle was really good. Steve with the hammer was great. But I wanted Tony to do more. They didn’t let him do enough there at all. I loved the shot of the big three looking at Thanos before they started to approach.

- Everyone cheered and freaked out when the dusted started coming back. Peter got the biggest cheer.

- That little sweet angel running over to Tony and picking him up. Starting rambling on about what happened because he’s got to fill his dad in. Tony looking at him LIKE THAT, just....struck by the fact that he’s back, unchanged, right here, in front of him. His kid. The kid that made him want to have kids. The hug was gorgeous. So sweet how Peter was like “this is nice”.

- Loved the ladies bit and Peter just like :o

- Pepper in her suit. So cool. I wanted more.

- Peter protecting the gauntlet. I love you angel baby. He was so good.

- The whole fight for the gauntlet right there in the end was so tense. I thought I would hate Tony’s last line because reading that felt contrived but it worked because of the way he said it. I didn’t like how long it took Thanos and his army to dust away. I thought it took away from Tony a little bit.

- The death was. Awful. It was better than I thought it would be, because he did get to whisper “hey babe” to Pepper, hold her hand, smile a little. Peter broke my fucking heart. But I hate the whole “you can rest now”. Pepper would fight for her man to the ends of the earth. It’s clear to me that they wanted to do this for shock and to subvert our expectations. It didn’t need to happen. It really didn’t. Like someone wrote on here, he could have lost his arm and it would have been shocking but we could have still.....saved him. It was so hard to see him like that. I was crying so hard I couldn’t really see much of it honestly lol. But I saw enough. It hurt like hell. It’s one of the worst if not THE worst death I’ve ever witnessed on screen.

- I went kinda catatonic after that. I don’t remember details. I was really mad that they put those words in Tony’s mouth about happy endings and not always getting that even if you want it. Fuck u russos and writers. Was Peter in the room for the message? Idk. He should have been.

- Annoyed they tried to make Thor be funny after that goddamn memorial.

- “proof tony stark has a heart” lord they really had to......hurt me in that way again.

- Uh the Steve ending is a huge, huge disservice to him. He’d never. He’d never lol. That means he ignores all these events he could stop. Yes, Russos, it fucking does mean that. That’s what u did to captain America.

- Like I read on @jess-b-thot’s blog, this movie should have fucking ended with Tony’s face, not Steve’s. It’s Tony’s story. Not Steve’s.

Ummmm when RDJ’s title card came up the whole theater stood and clapped. I was still crying. I cried so loud it was so embarrassing. I don’t really know how I’m feeling now. @whimsicalethnographies has said the word ‘adrift’ and that feels right. It definitely had some moments I enjoyed, but it was not a worthy ending. Tony was spectacular throughout and continually reminded me of why he’s my favorite and why I’ll just MISS him so desperately. Everything he says is memorable, everything he does is important. I want to etch every expression on his face into my heart. He also looked so beautiful and I just cried whenever I saw him because I can’t imagine that beautiful, precious man being gone. It’s a horrifying thought. He’s just so important, the beating heart of this universe, and they killed him for an emotional shock. That’s why I can’t accept it or accept this movie. They shouldn’t have done it. He deserves the ending Steve got. And since this was his last movie, he should have gotten WAY more to do in that last battle. That was a Steve fest. Moral of the story, Tony deserved better. But that was always the story. Tony deserved the world but the world didnt deserve him.

And yes, Iron Dad is canon. Tony would have stayed in that life he made, but he saw that picture and he couldn’t. If there was even a chance of bringing the kid back, he had to take it. Tony’s love for Peter saved the universe. I hope Peter knows that the whole world was saved because of him. Everyone is back because of him. And Tony is gone because he loved Peter enough to change the fabric of time and space to get him back.

They deserved more time.

[ashotinthedark-avengers]

A Shot In The Dark: Chapter 1: Every Hero Needs a Backstory-Part 2

You woke up in a hospital bed, you had abrasions on your face and arms, and two different IVs connected to you.

Your dad was sitting on the chair next to the bed. He saw you stir and quickly ran to yell for a doctor.

A doctor and a nurse walked in.  

"What happened?" you asked groggily

"There was an explosion in your lab. You're lucky to be alive, we had to operate on you, a large piece of shrapnel hit your abdomen, narrowly missing your vital organs. You have a scar there unfortunately."

"Where's Collin" you asked

"They found him shielding you, I'm sorry to tell you that he didn't make it" the Doctor responded.

You burst out into tears. Your father hugged you and comforted the best he could. 

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

Julie came to see you later that day.

"Julie, I'm so sorry" you said, bursting in to tears.

Julie had light brown her, she has a soft demeanor, which makes her perfect for being a preschool teacher.

"They told me he died protecting you. That he's a hero." she cried.

"We will be having a service next Saturday" she said as she wiped a tear away and left without another word.

She had a hand on her belly the entire time, she was about 6 months pregnant. She couldn’t even look at you. You didn’t know why she invited you to Collin's funeral

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

The following morning, you received a visit from your graduate professor and a member of the student safety committee.

"Miss Vasquez, we're suspending your project until we've inspected it. Can you explain what happened?” the man asked.

"It was working fine. It was the power. If the power didn't go out, the faraday cage wouldn’t have failed. It probably all got ruined anyways, but ill send all my stuff, all my writings and research I’ve done so far” you told your professor. 

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

You were discharged from the hospital the following morning. You went back home instead of your dorm. You kept asking yourself what you could have done or if the project was actually safe. You felt guilty. Guilty that you let your best friend die.

You spent about a week in bed. Your dad tried everything to get you up. He even called your children hood best friend to come over. Jess. You’ve known Jess since birth. Your fathers have been friends since childhood. The two of you got a little distant when you started doing Calculus in elementary school, but she was always there for you whenever you went home. She brought you chocolate ice cream and sci-fi movies, she hated them but knew they were your favorite. 

That same day you received a call from your professor, they did an extensive inspection and found no faults. He was actually impressed that it works and told you that you can return to continue your work when you are ready.

When you hung up, you felt slightly better. The least you can do is finish your project and put Collin's name on. You had to do more research though. Even though it was the power that failed last time, you weren't taking any chances. 

You sat up on your bed, grabbed your laptop and searched up Bruce Banner. The first couple of searches, came up with the basic papers you already read. The others just showed the Hulk. You came up across a forum, that discussed a secret government department that was in charge of handling things  like the Hulk and Iron Man.

S.H. I. E. L. D.

"Maybe, there was more information about Dr. Banner in their files." you thought. "How hard can it be?" 

You found a loophole around their firewall and gained access to their mainframe.

There wasn't anything useful for your research. Nothing about gamma radiation.

You did come across some interesting files.

Bruce Banner/ The Hulk

Tony Stark/ Ironman

Steve Rogers/ Captain America

Black Widow/ Natasha Romanoff

Hawkeye/ Clint Barton

Thor

Loki, Vision, Scarlett Witch, Quicksilver, Black Panther, Spider-man, Steven Strange, Carol Danvers ,Ant-Man, The Wasp, Falcon;

The list go on and on.

You gave up, closed your laptop and fell asleep.

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

The following morning, and for the first time in a week you showered and got dressed. After all, It was Collin's funeral later that day. Your wavy black hair was pushed it back with bobby pins. You put on a black dress that had buttons all way down on the front.

The funeral was grim as expected, there was dinner after the church service, but decided not to go, the guilt of seeing Collin's pregnant wife would eat you alive. 

When you got home, you were emotionally exhausted from the day and went straight to bed.

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

"Here goes nothing" you said flipping a switch on your control panel.

" It's working!" you screamed.

You looked at Collin and him back onto your machine.

The power went out.

"No" you screamed as you tried flicking all the control panel.

There were electric sparks coming from the machine.

"Turn it off" Collin yelled.

"There's no power." you responded.

The emergency generator turned back on, the surge of power caused the cylinder containing the gas to break open. A flash of pink spewed onto you and Collin. The break caused the machinery to become unstable and caused the cage to fail. Collin realized this a flung forward to unplug the machine, but he was too late. You both realized it was going to blow. The last thing you remember is Collin standing over you protecting you from the blast.

~~~~

You woke up in a panic and sweating. It was dark, you stood up and headed to the bathroom and placed you hand on the sink and looked into the mirror in front of you. You eyes were glowing pink, you looked down at your hand and they were also emitting, a pink color.

"What in the hell" you said out loud.

You closed your eyes and made yourself calm down. When you opened your eyes again, everything was back to normal. Must have been dreaming. 

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

2 years later…………

You were sitting in your lab making the last edits to you thesis paper, when someone walked in.

"You can't be in here"  you yelled without looking up.

"I'm looking for Liz Vasquez" you heard a man say.

You looked up and saw none other than Tony Stark.

"You're Tony Stark" you said shocked. "What are you doing here"

"I've been hearing rumors of flying pink lady hanging around Los Angeles" He said.

You close your laptop.

"I've read your file, Stanford at 16, Cal-tech at 20. Masters in Quantum Physics and Biochemistry. Figure out where you're going after you graduate?"

"Here, for my PHD program" you stuttered

"At 22? Move to New York. Transfer and I'll fund your entire PHD project. And you can have your own lab at Stark Industries.

"WHAT? What's the catch" you asked suspiciously.

"I need your pink lady to help me out in a family dispute" he said

"Ampere, and just so you know, I don’t fly." you said.

"So what do you do?"

"I create plasma platforms. I can shoot plasma from my hands. I can create anything. Structures, weapons. I create what I want and manipulate them with electromagnetic energy.” 

You make your hands glow and create a small pink solid platform in front of you. And just as you conjured it, it disappeared.

"So are you in?" he asked.

"I'll need a suit. "