#avengers oc

[saiilorstars]

OC HALLOWEEN CHALLENGE 2024. Day Twenty-Eight: SOLO COSTUME

Show us what your oc would dress up as for Halloween! Would they dress sexy? Scary? Lazy? Practical?

Rosalie - Rose would be quite on the nose and would love to be an ancient-times Greek girl because that's where her coven fled to and settled in.

Maleny - Because of her thousand years curse where her original body slept for 1000 years, she's definitely picking Sleeping Beauty for Halloween.

Seren - She's made of stars, therefore she'd totally go as a Star goddess of some kind.

Chloe - She would definitely be trying to sing a little siren hum on Halloween!

Romina - Poison Ivy is her favorite villain of all time so...yeah!

Arlet - Living in Mexico means Arlet doesn't quite celebrate Halloween the same way so I would definitely see her going as a Catrina for a festival!

OC Masterlist

Taglist: @ocappreciationtag​ @arrthurpendragon​​​​​ ​​​​ @maaaaarveeeeel​​​​ @stareyedplanet​​​​​​​​ @gloryekaterina​​ @lenonizi​ @averyhotchner​​ @foxesandmagic @kmc1989 @caplanbuckybarnes

[buckyssoldat]

Chapter 61: Flicker of hope

Warnings: mentions of death, grief and loss, emotional distress, mature themes, strong language, anxiety, trauma, ptsd, mental health struggles

A/N: This is part of my series, Forsaken - The Fallen Soldier. If you wanna be tagged in this, just send me an ask or a message. Feedback is always appreciated, don’t be shy to share your thoughts on this :)

I know I'll see you again, whether far or soon

But I need you to know

That I care and I miss you

Almost a month had passed since Alice went to Tony’s house to have dinner with his family. She had been spending her days in her apartment, mostly reading or painting, a new hobby that she had recently picked up. Visiting Natasha was also that was part of her routine – either to have a cup of coffee and talk about what was happening around the world, or to drink endless bottles of wine and gossip about their past.

One sunny afternoon, Alice was lounging on her couch, absently reading a new book, when a familiar name flashed across her screen: Steve. Even though they remained friends after their tumultuous relationship, they had eventually grown apart a little bit. Intrigued, she quickly answered.

“Alice, hey, can you come to the Compound? It’s urgent,” Steve said, his voice steady but tinged with an unmistakable urgency that piqued her interest.

“Is everything okay?” Alice asked, her heart racing as she leaned forward, the sunlight streaming through her window unnoticed.

“It’s… Scott Lang. He’s back. He has something important. You need to hear it.”

The mention of Scott, Ant-Man, stirred a sense of anticipation within Alice. She had thought he was lost to them, one of the many who had been snapped away by Thanos. The idea that he had returned was electrifying. Scott had always been a beacon of hope and humour, and if he had found a way back, it could mean something monumental. “I’ll be there in ten,” she replied, grabbing her jacket and rushing out the door, her heart racing with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

Upon arriving at the Compound, Alice made her way directly to the briefing room, her heart pounding with anticipation. The air inside was charged with an energy that suggested something huge was about to unfold. As she entered, she found Steve, Natasha, and Scott already present, their expression serious and focused. Scott was eating a peanut butter sandwich as if he hadn’t eaten something in years.

“Hey, Alice,” Steve said, his voice steady, but Alice could see the tension in his posture. Natasha stood beside him, arms crossed, her eyes sharp and analysing.

Before Alice could speak, Scott put down his sandwich and started explaining to her about the Quantum Realm and the possibility of time travel. As Scott laid out his theory, Alice listened intently, the possibilities swirling in her mind. They discussed various time travel mechanics and the potential risks involved. Could this actually work?

Alice’s heart raced at the thought. Time travel had always been a far-fetched concept, a theme reserved for comic books and science fiction films. But here it was, standing before her like a beacon of hope. If the could time travel, there was a chance to bring Bucky back, to bring everyone back. She locked eyes with Steve, who mirrored her excitement, his brows furrowed in concentration.

As the meeting continued, Scott emphasized the need for precision and teamwork. “We’d need to coordinate perfectly,” he explained, sketching out a timeline on a whiteboard. “In and out, no lingering. We can’t mess with the past too much.”

Natasha raised an eyebrow. “And what’s to stop us from running into ourselves or accidentally altering major events?”

“That’s where we’ll have to be smart about it,” Scott replied. “We’ll have to ensure we’re in and out before anything drastic happens. But I can’t do this alone. I need an expert. So who do we talk about this?”

Alice looked around the room, weighing their options. “We should talk to Tony. If anyone can help us figure this out, it’s him.”

Since it was too late to go to Tony’s, the four of them decided to spend the night in the Compound and go first thing in the morning. They spread out into the common area, where Scott began explaining his theories in more detail. But as the conversation continued, Alice found herself unable to focus entirely. The excitement of the meeting was overshadowed by a mixture of anxiety and hope for what was to come.

After a while, Alice excused herself, feeling the need for some fresh air and solitude to process everything. Steve wanted to go after her, but Natasha stopped him. Alice made her way to the roof, a favourite spot of hers. The night sky was a tapestry of stars, and a gentle breeze rustled through her hair as she stepped outside.

Not long after, she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Natasha emerging onto the roof, a couple of beers in hand. She approached Alice with a knowing smile, her eyes glinting in the moonlight.

“Thought you could use one of these,” Natasha said, handing Alice a beer and popping the top of her own.

“Thanks,” Alice replied, accepting the drink. They both leaned against the ledge, taking a moment to soak in the peaceful night.

They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, gazing at the stars above. Then Natasha broke the quiet, her voice soft yet steady. “It’s a lot to take in, huh?”

“Yeah,” Alice replied, taking a sip of her beer. “I never thought I’d see Scott again.”

Natasha nodded, her expression thoughtful. “It’s strange. It feels like a part of me wants to hope, but another part is terrified of what might mean. What if it doesn’t work? What if we mess up?”

Alice turned to look at Natasha, sensing the weight behind her words. “I get that. But what if it does work? What if we can change things? I mean, we have a chance to bring everyone back. I could get Bucky back, Nat. And you can get Yelena back. I know how much she meant to you.”

Natasha took a deep breath, leaning her elbows on the ledge. “I miss her, you know? I miss all of them. It’s like there’s this void that just… never goes away. But I also know how dangerous messing with time can be. If we aren’t careful, we could end up causing more harm than good.”

“I’ve thought about that,” Alice admitted, gazing at the stars. “But I can’t shake the feeling that this might be our only shot. If we have a plan and if we’re smart about it, maybe we can do this.”

Natasha turned to her, her expression softening. “You really love him, don’t you?”

Alice hesitated, feeling her cheeks flush slightly. “Bucky… he means so much to me, I don’t even know how to describe it. If there’s a chance to get him back, I want to take it. For him, for all of us.”

Natasha nodded, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips. “You know, I admire that about you. You have this fire, this determination. It’s what makes you who you are.”

“Thanks, Nat,” Alice said, feeling a warmth spread through her. “But it’s not just me. We all want this. We’re a team, and we need to support each other. I just hope Tony comes around. He’s the genius we need to make this happen.”

“Yeah, Tony can be stubborn,” Natasha replied, rolling her eyes playfully. “But he also cares about us. I think once he sees the potential in Scott’s plan, he’ll jump on board.”

“Let’s hope so,” Alice said, taking another sip of her beer.

As they stood on the rooftop, the cool breeze swirled around them, carrying with it a sense of friendship and understanding. In that moment, Alice felt a profound connection with Natasha. They were not just friends but best friends, bound by shared pain and the hope of a better tomorrow.

After a moment of comfortable silence, Natasha spoke again, her voice a little more serious. “You know, if this works, it’ll change everything. We’ll be diving into the unknown, and we can’t predict what will happen. Are you ready for that?”

“I think I am,” Alice replied honestly. “I’m scared, of course. But I’d rather take the risk than live in a world where I didn’t try. I owe it to Bucky and to everyone else we lost.”

Natasha studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Just remember, whatever happens, you’re not alone in this. We’re all in it together.”

Alice smiled, feeling a swell of gratitude. “I know. Thank you, Natasha. I really appreciate you being here.”

Natasha clinked her beer against Alice’s, a silent toast to their friendship and the journey ahead. “To hope,” she said softly.

“Yeah, to hope,” Alice echoed, raising her drink higher. As they took a sip, the weight of the world outside faded, leaving behind the flickering light of possibility.

As the night wore on, they shared stories and laughter, momentarily forgetting the heaviness of their reality. They discussed everything from their favourite movies to the ridiculous antics of past missions. Laughter echoed across the rooftop, intertwining with the stars above, a reminder of the strength that friendship could provide even in the darkest times.

Eventually, they made their way back inside, the warmth of friendship lingering as they rejoined Steve and Scott in the common area. Scott was animatedly discussing potential timelines with Steve, who listened intently, a look of determination etched on his face.

“Hey, what did we miss?” Natasha asked, her tone casual, though Alice could sense a newfound confidence in her voice.

“Just mapping out potential timelines,” Steve replied, gesturing to the whiteboard where Scott had scribbled various dates and events.

Alice exchanged a glance with Natasha, both silently reaffirming their commitment to this mission. They were in this together, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

The following morning, Alice, Natasha, Steve, and Scott piled into a car and drove to Tony’s lakeside cabin, where Alice had once found solace in the simplicity of his new life. But this time, the weight of the world was on their shoulders.

As they approached the cabin, Alice felt a sense of anticipation mixed with anxiety. Tony had been out of the game for a while now, and she wasn’t sure how he would react to the idea of time travel. But Scott’s theory was their only shot, and if anyone could figure out the complexities of it, it was Tony Stark.

As Tony strolled by the lake with his daughter, the peaceful silence between them was suddenly interrupted by the distant rumble of a car engine. Tony squinted towards the sound, spotting a black Audi pulling to a stop a few meters away. He groaned inwardly, recognizing the passengers. Steve, Natasha, Scott, and Alice stepped out, looking tense but determined.

Tony let out a heavy sigh. “Great,” he muttered. “Just what I needed – and impromptu Avengers reunion.”

Alice gave him a sympathetic smile. “Did you really think we’d let you live your quiet little life forever?”

Before Tony could respond, the rest of the group approached, and it didn’t take long for Scott to dive into the heart of the matter, his voice filled with excitement. He explained his plan in rapid bursts, his enthusiasm contagious despite the gravity of the situation.

“Now, we know what it sounds like…” Scott added.

“Tony, after everything you’ve seen, is anything really impossible?” Steve asked, his voice calm yet pressing.

Tony, trying to hold back his sarcasm, crossed his arms and shot Steve a look before launching into an explanation that left most of them blinking in confusion.

“Quantum fluctuation messes with the Planck Scale, which then triggers the Deutsch Proposition. Can we agree on that?”

The blank expressions on Alice, Steve, Nat, and Scott’s faces spoke volumes.

Steve accepted a drink from Tony. “Thank you.”

“In layman’s terms, it means you’re not coming home,” Tony added flatly.

“I did,” Scott retorted quickly.

“No, you accidentally survived. It’s a billion-to-one cosmic fluke. And now you wanna pull off a… what do you call it?”

“A time heist?” Alice chimed in, trying to sound proud.

“Yeah, a time heist. Of course, why didn’t we think of this before? Oh, because it’s laughable? Because it’s a pipedream?” Tony’s sarcasm was evident.

“The Stones are in the past. We can go back and get them,” Scott pressed on.

“We can snap our own fingers. We can bring everyone back,” Natasha added, her voice steady, but there was a hint of desperation.

Alice’s heart skipped a beat at Natasha’s words, the possibility of getting Bucky back looking more promising. But Tony’s gaze darkened at the mention of the snap.

“Or screw it up worse than he already has, right?”

“I don’t believe we would,” Steve countered.

Alice could sense the tension building. She finally spoke up, her tone softer than the others. “Tony, I get it. You have a family now. But so do we, in a way. We’ve all lost people we care about. We’ve already paid the price – shouldn’t we at least try to make it right?”

Tony glanced at her, his expression softening for just a moment before he turned back to the group, his voice firm.

“Gotta say, sometimes I miss that giddy optimism. However, high hopes won’t help if there’s no logical, tangible way for me to safely execute said time heist. I believe the most likely outcome would be our collective demise.”

“Not if we strictly follow the rules of time travel. That means no talking to our past selves, no betting on sporting event-” Scott began.

Tony held up his hand to stop him. “I’m gonna stop you right there, Scott. Are you seriously telling me that your plan to save the universe is based on ‘Back to the Future’?”

“No,” Scott mumbled, clearly embarrassed.

“Good. You had me worried there. ‘Cause that’d be horse shit. That’s not how quantum physics works.”

Alice exchanged a quick glance with Natasha, knowing Scott had just made his already shaky pitch a little worse. But Natasha wasn’t one to give up easily.

“We did stand. And yet, here we are,” Tony responded, the bitterness evident.

“Tony… we have to take a stand,” Natasha said, her voice firmer now.

“I know you got a lot on the line. You’ve got a wife, a daughter. But I lost someone very important to me. A lot of people did,” Scott’s voice raised as he tried to make his point. “And now, we have a chance to bring her back. To bring everyone back. And you’re telling me that you won’t even-”

“That’s right, Scott, I won’t even. I’ve got a kid.” Tony’s voice softened as Morgan ran out of the house, her small feet pattering across the ground.

“Mommy told me to come and save you,” she said proudly as she ran into her dad’s arms.

Tony smiled, lifting her up effortlessly. “Good job. I’m saved.” He turned to face Steve, Natasha, Alice, and Scott. “I wish you’d come here to ask me something else. Anything else. Honestly, I… I missed you guys, it was… Oh, and table’s set for six.”

As Tony set Morgan down, the little girl turned towards Alice, her face lighting up with a big smile. Without hesitation, she rushed over to Alice, wrapping her tiny arms around her legs in a hug. Alice’s heart melted instantly, and she bend down to give Morgan a proper hug, smiling warmly.

“Hey, kiddo,” Alice whispered softly, brushing Morgan’s hair back gently.

Morgan giggled and beamed at Alice before running back to Tony’s side.

There was a moment of quiet, the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone. Steve, ever the leader, broke the silence.

“Tony, I get it. And I’m happy, for you, I really am. But this is a second chance.”

Tony glanced at Morgan, holding her close. “I got my second change right here, Cap. I can’t roll the dice again. If you don’t talk shop, you can stay for lunch.”

Defeated, Steve, Natasha, and Scott walked back to the car, but Alcie stayed with Tony. He let out a long breath, his gaze shifting to Alice, who stood quietly, her expression troubled but unwavering.

Morgan had already run back into the house, leaving the two of them alone by the lakeside, the sun casting a warm golden hue over everything. For a moment, neither of them said anything. The soft lapping of the lake’s water against the shore was the only sound between them.

Tony glanced over at Alice, expecting her to say something light or teasing to ease the tension, but instead, her eyes were misty, her lips trembling as if she was holding back something deep.

“Tony,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, “you know me. I’m not one to beg.”

Tony’s brows furrowed, sensing the shift in her tone. He stood straighter, turning to face her fully. Alice took a deep breath, steadying herself.

“Please reconsider Scott’s idea,” she said, her voice shaking slightly. “This… this might be the only chance I have. The only chance any of us have to make things right. I need this. I need… I need him back.”

Tony blinked, the sincerity and desperation in her voice hitting him harder than he expected. He knew she wasn’t talking about some abstract “greater good”. This was personal.

“Barnes,” Tony said softly, piercing it together. Alice nodded, tears brimming in her eyes now.

“I lost him, Tony,” she continued, her voice thick with emotion. “And not just to the Snap. We were finally starting to heal, finally starting to build something. I know it wasn’t perfect, but it was real. And I don’t know how to live in a world where he’s just… gone. I tried to think I could, but I can’t…”

Tony stared at her, the familiar ache of grief creeping up his spine as he remembered all those he had lost too. He sighed, glancing down at the ground, his hands on his hips.

“Alice…” he started, but she interrupted him, her voice shaking.

“I deserve this, Tony. We deserve this. Bucky and I – we’ve both fought so hard. We’ve lost so much. I’ve spent years running from the idea that maybe I could have a happy ending. And now, the universe has taken him away from me, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Nothing except this.” She stepped closer to him, her eyes searching his for understanding. “You know what it’s like to have a second chance. You have it now with Pepper and Morgan. You have your family. I just… I want that too.”

Tony looked away, swallowing hard, torn between his fear of losing what he had and the pull of Alice’s words, the rawness in her plea.

“I don’t wanna lose him forever, Tony,” Alice whispered, her tears spilling over now. “If there’s even a small chance that I can get him back… I have to take it. Please. Please help us. Help me.”

There was a long silence. Tony clenched his jaw, his hands tightening into fists by his sides. He’d been where she was – desperate, willing to risk everything for the people he loved. But now… now he had a family, a life he couldn’t bear to lose. And yet, seeing Alice like this, broken and vulnerable, made it harder to hold onto his resolve.

“I’ve lost him too many times already,” she added, her voice barely audible. “I can’t do it again.”

Tony ran a hand through his hair, his heart pounding. He had to draw the line somewhere, had to protect what he had now. But Alice’s words lingered, echoing in his head, and he knew, deep down, that he was only standing there with his family because someone had once given him a chance.

He looked back at her, seeing the hope she was clinging to. Slowly, he let out a sigh, his voice quiet, almost defeated.

“I don’t know if I can do it,” he admitted. “But I’ll think about it.”

Alice’s breath hitched, a small sob escaping her. “That’s all I’m asking for. Just… think about it.”

Tony nodded, his gaze softening. “You’ve got my word.”

Alice wiped her tears, trying to hold herself together, but the weight of his words brought her some small comfort. She nodded back, her heart still aching, but a sliver of hope blooming inside her.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Tony didn’t say anything, but the look in his eyes said enough. He wasn’t ready to make promises, but he understood what was at stake now – not just for the world, but for the people he cared about. For Alice. For her chance at a happy ending.

Alice began walking back towards the car, leaving Tony standing by the house. She opened the door and sat on the backseat.

“He’s scared,” Natasha finally broke the silence.

“He’s not wrong,” Steve added, but his brow was furrowed.

Alice nodded, her mind racing. “He’s not wrong, but… I don’t think we have the luxury of playing it safe anymore.”

“Yeah, but I mean, what are we gonna do? We need him,” Scott said, frustration building in his voice. “What, are we gonna stop?”

“No, I wanna do it right,” Steve replied. “We’re gonna need a really big brain.”

Scott pointed back at Tony’s house, incredulous. “Bigger than his?”

Alice caught Steve’s gaze, her eyes determined. “There’s one more person I can think of.”

The next day, Alice found herself seated at a table in a cozy little diner. Across from her sat Scott Lang, still wide-eyed and blinking as if he was trying to process everything that had been happening. Natasha sat beside Alice, arms crossed as she watched Bruce Banner, or rather “Professor Hulk’, who was enthusiastically digging into his breakfast. Steve stood nearby, arms cross in his usual stoic stance. Alice couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the sight of Bruce – he was bigger, greener, and surprisingly… wearing a shirt.

Bruce pushed a plate of scrambled eggs toward the middle of the table. “Come on, I feel like I’m the only one eating here,” he said, his voice calm but still holding that deep resonance. “Try some. Eggs are good.”

Scott looked at him, bewildered. “I’m so confused.”

Bruce smiled a little too earnestly. “There are confusing times.”

“Right,” Scott agreed, then waved his hands in frustration. “No, no. That’s not what I mean!”

Bruce leaned back, his face falling into a more relaxed expression. “I know, I’m kidding. But yeah, it’s crazy, right? I’m wearing shirts now.”

Alice, sitting nearby, arched an eyebrow and leaned over to Steve. “Shirts? That’s the big revelation? I’ve been wearing them for years, and no one claps for me.”

Steve smirked but stayed focused on Bruce as Scott stammered again. “Yeah! How? Why?”

Bruce’s face darkened for a moment as the weight of his words became evident. “Five years ago, we got our asses handed to us. Except it was worse for me. Because I lost twice. First, Hulk lost, then Banner lost… and then we all lost.”

Natasha, always the level-headed one, spoke softly. “No one blamed you, Bruce.”

Bruce shook his head, his tone heavier. “I did. For years, I treated the Hulk like he was a disease, something to be cured. But then I realized… he wasn’t the problem. Maybe he was the solution. I spent eighteen months in a gamma lab, and I figured it out. Now… well, best of both worlds.”

Just then, a small group of kids approached Bruce, their eyes wide with awe. One girl, no older than ten, hesitantly tapped him on the arm. “Excuse me, Mr. Hulk?”

Bruce immediately brightened up, flashing a grin. “Yes, little person?”

“Can we get a photo with you?”

Bruce chuckled warmly. “One hundred percent, little one. Step up.” He handed his phone to Scott. “You mind?”

Scott awkwardly took the phone. “Sure, sure. I’m Ant-Man, by the way…”

Alice couldn’t resist. “Yep. The guy who shrinks. You should add that to your resume, Scott.”

Scott flashed her a look. “Thanks, Alice.”

As Bruce posed with the kids, Scott snapped the picture and handed the phone back, clearly a little bothered. “Don’t you wanna grab one with me? You know, Ant-Man?”

The boy shook his head. “Stranger danger,” he whispered, looking Scott up and down.

Alice stifled a laugh. “Ouch, buddy.”

Scott sighed. “No one knows Ant-Man…”

Bruce, trying to smooth things over, gestured to the boy. “No, come on. You wanna take a picture with him, right?”

The boy shook his head again, more forcefully this time. “No, I’m good.”

Scott shrugged. “He doesn’t want it. I get it.”

Bruce chuckled awkwardly. “Sorry, man. What about you, Onyx? You’re an Avenger, too. No kids asking for selfies?”

Alice smirked, but her tone was laced with sincerity. “Oh, I get my fair share. Let’s just say being one of the originals has its perks.” She leaned forward, her humour fading slightly. “But right now, this isn’t about fame or photos. It’s about getting everyone back.”

After the kids left, Bruce shifted in his seat as Steve spoke up. “Bruce. About what we were discussing…”

Bruce turned back, his demeanour changing again, realizing the seriousness of the situation. “Oh, right. The whole time-travel do-over thing? I gotta be honest, guys, that’s not really my area of expertise.”

Natasha glanced at Alice, giving her a knowing look. They all knew who had the most at stake here.

Alice leaned forward, her humorous tone long gone. “Look, Bruce, I know this isn’t simple. But you made the impossible happen once already.” She gestured to him. “No one thought you could balance Hulk and Banner, but here you are, in a shirt, telling us it’s possible. You can make this work, I know it.”

Bruce hesitated, glancing around the table. He could feel the weight of their expectations, especially Alice’s. “I get it. I do. And I’ll try to help. But time travel? That’s… outside my realm of miracles.”

Steve spoke up again, this time more firmly. “But we need this. We need you.”

Alice clenched her fists under the table, hiding the growing tension in her voice. “Bruce, I don’t care how hard it is. I need Bucky back. We all need them back. Whatever it takes.”

Bruce looked at her, truly seeing the desperation in her eyes. He nodded, understanding more than he let on. “Okay. I’ll do my best. Let’s get to work.”

tags: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​@capswife

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masterlist

[dangerousangerissue]

multiversal Siblings

@neonshrike and @banners-wolfy-fangirl

Reference:

[etherealspacejelly]

The Lonely Warrior - Prologue

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: Gen

Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe

Characters:

Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanov (Marvel), Bruce Banner, Thor (Marvel), Tony Stark, Clint Barton, James "Bucky" Barnes, Loki (Marvel), Nick Fury, Original Characters, Original Child Character(s), Original Non-Human Character(s), Original Non-Binary Character, Light Elf Characters (Marvel), Sam Wilson (Marvel)

Additional Tags:

Avengers Family, Found Family, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Angst, Fluff and Angst, Avengers Tower, Avengers Compound, Original Character Death(s), Adoption, the avengers adopt a kid

Summary:

Einar is the last of their kind, the Light Elves. They fought to protect the universe and won, but lost everything in the process: their family, their purpose, their entire species. Just a child with nowhere else to go, they are taken in by the Avengers, recruited by Director Fury to use their unique skills and abilities to help protect the Earth in exchange for a place to stay.

Basically, the Avengers accidentally adopt an orphaned alien child with superpowers.

TW for parent death, child abuse, and panic attacks. Please lmk if there's anything else I need to add to this list!

Tag list: (let me know if you would like to be added or removed!)

@fraudfrogz @wiggles-mcgee @nothoughtsgayboy @dobry-slimak @biblically-accurate-chaos @frogofalltime @emilytheghostwitch @shortergaything @cipherdragon

[winter-clue-heart]

I think Baymax and I would be a pretty awesome team up! Especially if we could both look out for our teams!

[jackiequick]

That’s Would Be Enough | Marvel Fanfic 🖋

Summary: Elizabeth wants to be the best inventor and aunt. She’s overworked herself late into the night, but what she needs a break. And to be reminded that she is enough. And who other to do it than her own favorite blonde, aside from Captain America.

Pairing: Jason Grey Underwood & Elizabeth Stark

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe—> Agent Carter, Iron Man 1-2, The Avengers

Marvel timeline: Pre/During—Avengers 2012 (Phase 1)

Characters mentioned: Tony Stark, The Young Avengers, Howard Stark and Jarvis

Song inspired fic: That Would Be Enough from Hamilton

A/N: I know it’s a simple fic but I was listening to this song and just had to write it.

Ship Name: JALIZZY

Sidenote: Jason’s nickname is JJ meanwhile Elizabeth is Liz

Click here to see the latest fanfic featuring this family

——

It’s been a few short weeks, Stark Tower was running high and low with noise.

New York City lights in contacts to the skyline views that the home brought to the world. Voices from the young heroes were softly heard. You could hear Liane and her friends screaming over the sound of the tv wired up in the living room and the hallways were being used as a reminder of how huge the building truly was.

But underneath the main lounge floor, past the elevator doors and across the narrow halls stood the tapping of nails against a keyboard humming a soft tune, that was played earlier from the afternoon radio. Files surrounding her desk as she spun in the chair for a while, as it reminded her of older memories at The Mansion’s lab.

The laughs and the louder bickering over bullshit that didn’t matter but it did at the time. Trinkets and posters surrounded the lab back then, it still does now but as many as Stark Tower.

She missed it, weather she liked to admit it or not.

And she wasn’t the only one.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knocking that belonged to a tall blonde with fluffy hair, sweatpants and a baby blue t-shirt, carrying two mugs of warm hot chocolate. She nodded, inviting him into the room as he took a seat near the empty chair, gently placing the mug into her palms as she took a peek noticing a few tiny marshmallows.

She hummed as she took a delightful sip of the warm drink.

He noticed she wasn’t upstairs for a while now. Something that never bothered him, he’s used to his creative minds spending longer than expected in the lab tinkering. However having seen what he would assume the worse of it from Tony in 2010, noticing his eyes bloodshot and the lights making his body appear weak, he made it a promise to watch the time to bring whoever was in the lab to bed.

Tonight it was Elizabeth.

She’s a Stark. So he can’t stop her being in a lab to invent something, since that’s one of places she shined. Aside from the stage of course. He have noticed her getting a new scope of the world, having been gone under the ice for a while now. He knew she had her own ways of doing things, as she handled the transition better than expected but it had him worried.

Does she believe that she’s not doing enough?

He has been there himself plenty of times, where he feels useless and annoyed around everyone but he never showed it. Everything phases him, just not exactly his face. With one swift look at her vulnerable face, the tired eyes and gentle smile that could light up the stars, he knew.

He has been around theses people long enough to not know. Especially since JARVIS tend to be the house’s eyes and ears, it all added up to this point and he wasn’t upset about it

Elizabeth’s eyes analyzed his facial expressions, noticing the small bags under his eyes and the way his shoulders dropped ever so slightly. He smiled softly at her, placing the mug of hot chocolate that was in his hand onto the desk. All she wanted was to rest her head on his shoulder and hear his smooth southern drawl as he hummed a old song while she drifted to sleep.

But she wonder, if she left asleep and let herself take a breath, then that would mean her inventions would be unfinished. Her work would’ve not been done and the studies she has been doing lately would have left aside. It was silly to think she was putting all this unnecessary work onto herself when she doesn’t need it but it made her feel like she was doing something.

Then it clicked.

“How long have you know?” She asked, running her fingers crossed the side of the mug

“A month or so.” He replied, playing with the fabric of his sweatpants.

“I never told you.”

“Jarvis told me a less than month ago.”

“No…”

“We all just wanted you home.”

She sighed, “You should have told me.”

“I’m not sorry.” He added, with a honest smile.

He smiled placing a hand on her knee and said, “I knew you’ll work until the idea was done.”

“The idea’s not done.” She replied, placing a hand over his and sighed.

“But you’re tired and deserve a chance to be with our son.”

“He’s Howard’s son, I’m just his overprotective aunt.”

“We both know your more than that to him. You don’t need to prove anything, you said it yourself years ago.”

“I know…um but still my work, my life. I just want to make sure I’m worth all of it and I’m leaving a legacy behind..”

He sighs and smiled, “Just look around and you’ll see the difference you made.”

“We made.” She corrected him with a smile.

The two chuckled soft at that.

Nonetheless, Jason continued, “Look around at how lucky we are, just to be alive right now is a miracle. And that’s saying a lot knowing what we’ve been through.”

“Will you relish being a silly inventor’s spouse?” She added, as it sounded like a question, “Somewhat dependent, not about to provide for our life? It’s stupid I know, we’re in a good place but it feels like the roles are reversed and i don’t know why..I don’t feel as independent yet. I mean, we used to have Jarvis and Ana to help us. Peggy too! And now we’re sorta alone at this..”

“It’s not easy, it never was but we can handle it. And that not true, you’re more than confident and independent. Give it time.”

“How much time? How did you do it? Let’s face it, I’m here now, I have been awaken from the ice for a considerable period of time, but it still feels odd. We both has been working for a long time and sometimes it felt like we can’t breath again because of it. The world is changing a lot more than expected…so do you still relish all of this?”

“Your just tired and a little vulnerable right now, honey. It’s okay, no rush here. But to answer your question, yes, I do. I also relish you someday being my wife. Just look around, look at where you are. Look at where you started..the fact that you’re alive is a miracle. Just stay alive, that would be enough.”

She smiled hearing those words, “Yeah. I guess I am tired…and a little worried, I just want to be the best version I can be.”

“You already you.” He added with a chuckle, “Our child shares a fraction of your smile and dare I say, a fragment of your mind just as much as he does Howard!”

“Oh good god he’s smarter than I thought!”

“And his ego too. I love him but damn, it’s wild.”

“Oh yeah, he’s more than enough to make a difference in the world. We’re safe then.”

They both smiled and laughed harder than expected knowing how many godchildren Tony gave them. So look out world, that would be enough.

He looped a finger underneath her chin, “Look, I don’t pretend to know the challenges you’re facing. The worlds you keep erasing and creating in your mind. Your reading more than i do when it comes to understand everything we can.”

“Mhmm! It’s hard moving from one era to another.” She admits with a light chuckle, “..sometimes I don’t know how we’ve done it for so long and haven’t driven ourselves mad.”

“I know...but I’m not as afraid as I should. I know who I married. So long as we all come home at the end of the day..”

“That would be enough. Uh, about our legacy and the money?”

“Liz.”

“Jason. I’m serious.”

“We already are creating one and we already have money. If I could grant you peace of mind, let us inside your heart…”

Those words shut her up, as her eyes watered a bit understanding everything he meant. That they are supposed to be made of steel but it takes the people you love to make it a strong material.

And truth be told, she told him those same words years ago. It wasn’t as gentle, heartfelt and darling as she said in her own way, but it was a similar format as theses line meant the same thing. She remembers telling him in a charming yet sweet manner.

“Just let us be apart of that narrative, in the story we are watching today.” He continued, with a gentle grin, “Let this be a new chapter where I hope we stay..”

“And I could be more than enough.” She finished for him with a gentle grin, “We could be enough…since that would be enough.”

“Took you long enough to get it.”

“I should’ve known by now, I just need the reminder...I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“It’s alright, you didn’t mean it. Now, can we please go to bed?”

She smiled breathlessly and softly replied, “Yes please!”

He stood up, and walked away to the doorway thinking he was following her. But she wasn’t. He looked over his shoulder to to find her holding out her hands at arms length with a cheeky little smile that resulted him to snicker.

“Carry me?” She asked with a soft chuckle, tiredness laced in her voice.

“You’re so dramatic.” He replied with a similar tone as he walked over and picked her up bridal style.

“Shhhhhh babe, there are people trying to sleep here.”

“Oh my god.”

“Hey.”

“Hm?”

“I think I love you.”

“I know.”

The pair smiled as he carried her to bed, as she nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck. She hummed a few words and cracking a couple of jokes while he rolled his eyes dropping her onto the bed. She swiftly crawled under the warm covers and laying her head on the pillow, smiling at the blonde who treated her well.

Sometimes she wonders how exactly did she deserve such a man? Guess she will never actually get that solid answer.

She reached for his hand, giving it a small squeeze as if to know she was real and not at all in that icey cold apartment she once placed into. He smiled in return and winked, as there was an unspoken feeling of love in the air.

He left her side and stepped over to the doorframe. He looked over his shoulder and whispered, “Night Liz.”

She yawned, about to ask, more like suggest something but choice against it. Save it for another night as she replied, “Night Jason.”

Just as Jason turned off the lights and leading himself towards the hallway, Elizabeth bite the bullet with a soft grin. She decided to go for it and muttered, “Grey?”

She wondered if he heard it but he did. It cause Jason to pause and turn around to face Elizabeth, because it was a rare but somewhat made common sense that he would hear his middle name being used. Not everyone called him that unless necessary and he secretly preferred it being used among certain people.

Usually it was a way to get his attention in an endearing manner, when it came to his plenty of nicknames over the years.

His mind was fighting off a nerve of worry, as he met her eyesight, and hummed, “Yeah?”

“C-can you stay with me tonight? In bed like old times…” She replied almost shyly, pushing away her curls. It was a rare moment for a woman as bold as she might be. Yet, there was gentle tired smile that tugged her lips.

“Y-you sure?”

“I wouldn’t be sure if I didn’t ask, would I?”

“Fair point. Uh, left side of the bed?”

“A-and you on right.”

“You’re positive about this?”

“Mhm, I am. If not, I can always buy a dog to keep me company instead. I heard Sal’s shelter is open this time and hour.”

“Elizabeth.”

“I’m kidding! But not about the dog thing.”

“Liz.”

“Come on, I know you can’t resist waking up the next morning to a nice view.”

“You talking about yourself or the city’s morning skyline?”

“Both. We’re such amazing views, just sayin’.”

With a chuckle and a little eye roll, Jason climbed into bed and nuzzled himself underneath the covers next to her. Elizabeth’s giggles could be softly heard from her own cocky comments from earlier, as she rested against his shoulder blade humming gently.

She pressed a tiny kiss onto his cheek, as her eyes slowly dropped muttering a few words as she did. He wouldn’t admit it but he missed this, as he pressed a light kiss onto the top of head. With a swig of his arm, he reached forward and turned off the lamp that rested on the nightstand as the soft night sky peeked through the windowsill.

~~~

~~~

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoy the fic

Please like, comment and share. Also let me know what you think in the comments below. Like suggestions for future content.

Tags: @gaminggirlsstuff @gcthvile @missstrawbs2001 @rooster-84 @djs8891 @halesfavoriteharlot @starkleila @mallowbee4 @mandylove1000 @yetanotherwells @topgun-imagines @hardballoonlove @buckysteveloki-me @sherloquestea @nakiaswg @carellmcu @savemewattpad @ximehs and etc

[cherrybombfangirl]

Hey you! Yeah you! Interested in my in progress Marvel OC Fanfic?

Ao3 Link: Only Human (7244 words) by cherrybombfangirl)/

Wanna read a Marvel fanfic that’s mainly an OC insert but also fixing everything that’s wrong with the MCU? It includes fixing what needs fixing, and my OC and all the small OCs that come with her.

Yeah you wanna read it!

The fic includes:

My OC Stacy who is the daughter of Steve and Bucky, a chaotic bisexual ADHDer, a maliciously compliant little shit, a gremlin but also a sweet ray of sunshine, coming from a mixed faith family, and just being the bane of the US government/Tony Stark’s existence in general

Fixing the erasure of representation issue- not just the whitewashing! Especially Steve’s disability and being an irish immigrant, also aggressively queer as he should be

^^^ and Stucky Supremacy :D 

Autistic, Trans, Asexual, Bisexual, and Jewish Peter Parker! (also he actually acts like a teenager and not a fucking child, the fuck writers and fans)

In fact, all of the characters that should be Jewish are actually Jewish (Wanda and Peitro, Kate Bishop, Bucky, Moon Knight, etc etc), because we all know how terrible the MCU is at respecting the source material

No romanticizing Tony’s shitty behavior and getting called out on said behavior multiple times

Civil War is actually about Steve Rogers and not just Iron Man 4 :) (also Tony being proven very very wrong)

Actually addressing how bad the Sokovia Accords are and how awfully they treat people with superpowers (and how it’s really just the US gov. trying to have their own little superhero army and how that’s fucked up)

Fixing this issue the MCU has where they reduce characters to a few traits and take away what’s at the core (especially with newly introduced characters)

Fixing Age of Ultron and Endgame (because AoU was a trash fire and Endgame was a good concept but terrible execution)

Did you know Peggy’s character was based on a character from the comics named Cynthia Glass who was a Nazi Spy? “Based on” as in the writers took Cynthia’s character and just slapped Peggy’s name on her? Yeah so, Peggy’s actually gonna be a Nazi spy in this fic and her sus behavior (shooting at Cap, Operation Paperclip, etc) won’t be ignored or brushed off

^^^ in fact she manipulates Steve into letting her have his and Bucky’s daughter so that HYDRA could have their own little supersoldier lab rat and also Peggy not being a good mom and handing Stacy over to HYDRA like it’s nothing

The ending to Endgame actually makes sense (and no Steve undoing his entire arc because WTF WAS THAT-)

More time saying fuck you to the US government because we hate them in this house, and we stan Stacy for doing everything she can to be the bane of it’s existence. Everyone but Tony is right behind her :) 

All the Young Avengers are closer in age because they should be, also they’re all younger than 20 because that should be happening they’re not supposed to be adults

Lots of trauma and mental health issues for everyone, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety and more!

More time with Nat and Yelena BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T GET ENOUGH T-T

[spacejellycreates]

Meet my Avengers OC

Einar is a 10-year-old Light Elf (these picrews are of a slightly older version of them lol)

Light Elves have only one biological sex, so Einar uses they/them pronouns!

Light Elves have a long history. They, along with the Dark Elves, evolved from Elves, originating on Alfheim. They have been at war with the Dark Elves since the dawn of time itself, and Einar is the last survivor of that war.

When Einar lost their parents in the final battle of the Elvish Civil War, Thor took them to his friends, the Avengers, to recover. Director Fury offered them a place to stay in return for helping him defend the Earth, and they accepted.

Einar's powers are elemental magic and flight.

They can be quite stubborn and prideful at times, but they are a deeply compassionate individual, and very protective of those they care about. They've been through a lot of trauma, which can make them act quite mature for their age, but at the end of the day, they're still just a kid. They love to draw and play games, and they're quite affectionate once they get comfortable with you.

If you would like to read Einar's story, I am currently posting a fic about them! I update once a week, on Sundays.

I also have a collection of one-shots featuring them, that I am adding to pretty frequently. I currently have a few of these lined up to post over the next few days!

Feel free to send me an ask or a comment if you would like to be tagged when new chapters drop :)

[characterworkshoppe]

Just wanted to introduce my Marvel Oc :D

This isn't a fic or story, it's mainly just like a little show and tell thingy mingy or something like that XD

Anyways, Hihi! Felt like introducing my marvel oc! I'm so glad that there's a multiverse so that fanfic writers and artists and content creators can have thier own little canon slice of Marvel! Since there are tons of different versions of earth! Who's to say yours isn't there *somewhere* in the vast multiverse? :3

Everything is canon now! Well in your own version of Marvel that is! Mine is pretty tame! Sure there *are* threats but no one dies :D

I guess for the most part...my marvel au here is mostly domestic stuff because fluff makes brain go brrrr! And I just love having Stephen, Tony, and the siblings of the Supreme fam as my found family :3 Anyways! I'd be glad to meet your ocs as well!

FEEL FREE TO REBLOG AND SHOW ME YOUR OC TOO! I'D BE EXCITED TO MEET THEM! SO WOULD MY OC! :D

Anyways! Marvel Earth-616 is great! Beloved! Muah! Love it! I just like having an au for funsies! I wonder what I'd call the earth of this au 😅 I'll have to think about that! Anyways, my oc!

Her name is Savannah Anthea Stark-Strange! Sav is what her family and friends call her!

Let me explain her name in a sec after I tell you how she was born! Basically Sav was born from a wish, specifically the wishes of Tony and Stephen who wanted to know what a biological child between them would be like!

they never really spoke about it to one another they both just silently wished to know what it would be like to have a biological child!

And that wish was given life in space and eventually Sav was formed, with memories of her family and a basic understanding of the world and at the physical age of 18.

She got her name since in that wish Stephen was thinking "awww I would want to name the kid after my Anthony, if it's a girl I'd go with Anthea, if it's a guy..."

And Tony was thinking "I would name the kid after Stephen, however we really don't need another name that starts with Ste so I'll go with Savannah since it starts with an S and has that air of importance he has! If it's a guy..."

And so that's how she got her name! :3

She loves her family very much!

Oh oh! Let me tell you about her superpower! She can manipulate her dna to be biologically related to whomever she wants! So like if she thinks of the avengers as her family, which she does! She's formed a biological attachment to them! Which gives her a watered down version of any powers like hulk or super soldier powers!

:3

As for superheroing...Sav...isn't exactly a front-liner so to speak like Tony or Stephen or Steve or any avenger is...she's more like...support for them!

Her dad, Stephen, taught her the mystic arts to a really good level as a way he bonds with her! I occasionally refer to him as "doctor-dad"

And her dad, Tony, taught her tech stuff to a really good level of understanding as a good way to bond with her! I occasionally refer to him as "Iron-dad"

So she mainly helps out as backup and support! Due to the skills her dads taught her she made herself a magical relic! :)

Technically it's a supersuit, similar concept but vastly different then Iron-dad's! So written within the code are mystic arts spells that give this supersuit a soul and a personality (Cloakie has a personality! Idk if it has a soul but 🤔 I'd like to headcanon it does!) So it's a sentient AI supersuit named Sunday (Because Sunday is way more fun then Friday XD) that takes the form of a Blue Balloon dog when she's not wearing it! :3

It's basically a fun lil' companion!

It can fight with some spells that Sav programmed into it, it can heal wounds, and it can contain stuff like in a magical cage!

Sunday can talk! But she only talks to people she cares about and trusts! Like Sav, Sav's family, Sav's close friends! If it doesn't trust you, it'll just woof and pretend to be completely useless at anything like a cheap toy dog.

Anyways Sav helps out during fights by either quickly healing some wounds of anyone or by containing threats so the avengers can think about what to do with it...

She gets along pretty well with her siblings! She's the same age as Peter, but her other siblings are Morgan, Harley, And America!

(Parker, Stark, Keener, and Chavez)

Her superhero name is Cryptex as a nod to her dna being ever-changing due to her magical abilities :)

Like the code to a Cryptex that can be changed and stuff :D

But she's not that gung-ho about fighting...she'll do it...occasionally enjoy training...but she's got stuff she'd much rather do...

Some stuff she finds interesting and random facts:

• She loves magical relics and wants to make more since it's been ✨️forever✨️since new magical relics have been made and she makes stuff that really reflects the current times, for the sanctum to use ofc! (She's made just one other sentient AI with a personality and everything a little similar to how she made Sunday for someone but I'm not going to mention for who, it's a little AI Balloon Bat!)

• She's always been fascinated with the concept of childhood since she's literally never had one, being formed already as a teenager with thoughts, memories, knowledge, of any teenager!

So she likes buying toys and plushies and stuff just for the fun of it sometimes! And she'd totally be down for riding attractions at fairs and stuff!

• She's playful but isn't really sarcastic and teasing as most of the family is for some reason so she likes sweet things like talking in a more sweet manner I guess instead of a snarky sarcastic one

• Sav is really pansexual, and ambiamorous, people are nice and pretty, her prounouns are She/her but occasionally He/him! :3

She does have a male form she can sometimes shift into, in that form her name is Savion!

Anyways!

Wow, can't believe people actually read this far! Hi! :D

Hugs!

I have a question if you don't mind!

I really want to give her sort of an adversary, frenemy, something to spice up her life in some sort of way...but I'm just not connecting with any villains :/

Does anyone know of any antihero or morally grey Villian that might be easy to empathize with so perhaps I can make another oc and give Sav an adversary?

Thanks for the help and suggestions! I appreciate it! Hugs!!!

...huh...not sure what to say now...

More potential Balloon pals :3

And Sav would be delighted to make you one! :D

If I post about her I'll call her # Marvel Sav

And if I talk about my ocs I'll put it under # Nori's ocs

[savemewattpad]

Snow On the Beach Chapter One

"did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen?"

Summary:

Former Avenger Leila Whittaker lost everything in the snap–her chosen family, her reputation, and the love of her life. Three years later, she’s keeping a low profile in New York when Natasha, the de facto leader of the intelligence community, calls her back into the field for some undercover work. Leila finds herself paired with Scott Lang, known to the public as Ant-Man and known to Leila as some guy she met on the Raft six years ago.

This is fine. Leila is content with sticking with what remains of her team, and keeping the rest of the world at arm’s length. Most of them want to be there, now, anyway. And that’s fine. 

It’s fine, except that Scott Lang turns out to have a way of getting under her skin, in a way she can’t quite shake off. 

Chapter Summary: Scott and Leila both agree to get back in the game.

Warnings: None

Pairings: Scott Lang/OFC, past Steve Rogers/OFC

Tags: @ocappreciation @arrthurpendragon @suethor @notaboutcat (let me know if you'd like to be added or removed from this list!)

FF.Net | AO3 | Masterlist

Out of all the recurring nightmares Leila’s had over the course of her life–and there have been many–this one might be the most versatile. 

Sometimes it starts differently, but it always leads to the same place. She's on a stage, being controlled by puppet strings, and she looks up and finds the person controlling the strings, and it's always different, but pulling from the same pool of people. Everyone who’s ever interfered with her autonomy. Thanos, David, Johnny. Iain Warner, one time. Her past self, with blank, emotionless eyes, a few times. Occasionally more than one person, even if the people in question never met in real life. 

It’s Thanos, this time. She locks eyes with him, and as always, she wakes up. 

Leila isn't a shrink, but it's not hard to figure out what the dream means. What's trickier, and what she hasn't quite figured out yet, is what to do about it. 

She sighs and drags herself out of bed, and tries to shake the nightmare off. Sometimes she can't; sometimes it haunts her all day. A few times she's woken up into a panic attack. Today, though, is one of her better days; she can already feel it slipping out of her mind like sand through her fingers. 

She’s on her third chai latte when her phone rings. “I'm on my way,” she lies. 

“Hello to you too.” Natasha sounds amused. 

“Thought you were Tony,” Leila replies, stirring her latte absently. “I'm heading up there today. It's Morgan’s birthday.”

“Be sure to enjoy it, because I need you to come in tomorrow.” 

Leila pauses. “So this isn't a social call,” she says, hiding her unease under a layer of snark. 

“'Fraid not, Princess.” Despite being out of the field for years, Leila’s nickname, derived from her codename–Snow White–lives on. Old habits die hard, she supposes. Natasha has been calling her that for…almost a decade, now. 

“I'm retired, Nat.”

“No, you're clinically depressed. There's a difference.”

“Thanks, Doctor Romanoff, I'll keep that in mind.”

“You can ponder it more tomorrow when you come in.”

“Make someone else do it.”

“We need someone with your specific skill set.”

“Make Talos do it.”

“He's busy.”

“Then make Gravik do it.”

“Also busy.”

“Then make–”

“Stop naming skrulls. Besides, we need someone with your experience with organized crime.”

“You have that experience, too.”

“I've got a lot on my plate, as I’m sure you can imagine.” 

And Leila can. The responsibility Nat took on in the aftermath of the snap is extraordinary. Sometimes Leila feels bad about rejecting her offer to be her right hand. Then she remembers why she did. 

It's funny, in a way, that the thing that's made her more trouble than she's worth is the one thing that wasn't even her fault. (It wasn't, right?)

“Organized criminals lost people, too. They're not gonna want to talk to me.”

“They won’t be talking to you. They’ll be talking to each other. Or so they think.”

“Yes, I understand how shapeshifting works.”

“Leila,” Nat says, suddenly serious in a way that makes Leila sit up straight. “It’s about the Trust. That’s why we need it to be you.”

Leila takes several moments to process this, making a point to take deep breaths. 

“Fine. I’m in.”

“Good. Meet me at the compound tomorrow at 8.”

“I’ll be there.” 

“Lei–by the way, just so you aren’t taken off guard–you’ll be working with someone.”

Leila tenses reflexively, and tries not to let that tension into her voice. “Who? Anyone I know?”

“You might remember him. His name is Scott Lang.”

It’s early mornings like this that Scott starts to have reservations about X-Con. He comes into his office, and something about the morning light reminds him of the single office they’d inhabited years prior, lit almost entirely by fluorescents, four desks crowded into the space. Him, Kurt, Luis and Dave. It’s him, Kurt, Luis, and a small number of employees now. 

(He wonders sometimes, which office Dave would’ve taken, and if he would’ve liked it.) 

The success of the business is great, of course. It’s great to be able to help support Cassie. It’s great to be able to keep people employed that would otherwise be exactly where Scott was when he got out of prison. And it’s great to help keep people safe. 

The only problem is that the business didn’t start growing to this level until right after the snap. Scott doesn’t have, like, hard data to prove it, but he can never shake the idea that there’s a cause-and-effect there. People, now more than ever, want to feel safe. X-Con can’t protect people against genocidal aliens, unfortunately, but it can help them feel protected. Scott knows he isn’t doing anything wrong, technically–why people give him their business is their own prerogative–but sometimes it feels opportunistic, anyway. 

He’s at his desk, going over his schedule for the day, when the door to his office swings open. “You have a visitor,” Jez announces. 

“You could’ve used the phone,” Scott says without looking up. 

“But then I wouldn’t get to spend this quality time with my favorite brother,” she replies, leaning in the doorway. 

“I’ll be sure and let Matt know you said that.”

“He knows what he did.”

If Scott had more time, he’d probably take the bait, but he doesn’t. “Can you send the client in? It’s a tight schedule today.” 

Jez gives a lazy salute and heads back to the front desk. Weeks ago, their usual secretary had resigned, and Jez has been “filling in” ever since. She’s not an ex-convict, and she didn't have secretarial experience, which makes her a nepotism hire by any definition, but she needs the work, and Scott’s been watching out for her since she was nine years old. He’s not going to stop now. Besides which, she’s done enough free babysitting for him over the years to have earned it, anyway. 

He’s also pretty sure that nobody here–outside of Luis and Kurt, who knew her pre-X-Con–has figured out that she’s never been to prison. Not that it’s a secret, but still. She’s young, but even on her best behavior, she still has roughly the same personal energy as the Tasmanian Devil from Looney Toons. 

(He remembers her first visit to him in San Quentin. “It’s weird, because I always thought I’d be the first one of us to go to prison,” she’d told him.

“Sorry, first?” he’d asked. 

“Yeah. Me, then you, then Matt.”

“Why would Matt go to prison?”

“Wrong place, wrong time. I’d be locked up on drug charges, obviously.”

“Of course.”)

The door opens. He looks up and smiles. “Hi, I’m Scott, thanks for–” he pauses, and then tries not to sputter. “Hawkeye?”

Clint Barton gives him a half-smile, the kind where Scott can’t quite tell if he’s happy or not. “Scott,” he greets. “Good to see you again.”

Leila always forgets how beautiful the sky above Tony’s home is until she’s there. It’s one of those summer nights where the twilight seems to last forever, and she knows that once the sun is finally down, the stars in the sky will be actually visible, unlike the city. She can even see a few of them now, faintly. 

It’s the lakeside that ties it all together, though. Isabella had wanted to live somewhere by water, and Tony had, as he did to any and all requests or mild whims that Isabella made, obliged.  

Isabella is some ways ahead of them, maybe ten yards, holding a toddling Morgan’s hand. Still clearly in sight, but far enough away for Leila and Tony to talk, which Leila knows is coming–otherwise they would’ve had Leila take Morgan for a walk by herself while they cleaned up the house. 

“So,” Tony says, “why’re you crashing on our couch tonight, again?”

Leila knows what he’s actually asking. Are you okay? Do you need to not be alone? Are you about to go off the deep end again? Are you trying not to relapse? She kicks a rock into the lake. 

“I’m just saying, it’s an expensive couch,” Tony continues. “I feel like I at least deserve to know. Not that you aren’t always welcome.”

“I know,” she says, and she does, both about the couch and the welcomeness. Leila could ask to move in tomorrow and Tony would have the guest bedroom decorated for her within the hour. Her friendship with him is possibly the one thing in her life that she’s never questioned. 

“I’m going to the compound tomorrow,” she says finally. “Nat wants me back in the field. It’s just easier to stay here than go home and come back up.”

Tony whistles lowly. “You sure you’re up for that?”

“No. But apparently I’m the only woman for the job.” She pauses. “It’s about the Trust.”

“The Trust? That crime ring we took down back in…” Tony runs the numbers in his head. “2012?”

“Apparently we didn’t take it down far enough. Or someone decided to reboot it.”

Tony nods. “Are you working alone? I imagine it’s hard to build trust, given…well, you know.”

“Given that half of the world hates me.” Leila can handle innuendo from anyone else, but she doesn’t like dancing around things with Tony. His straightforwardness is one of the things that first drew her to him. 

“That’s the one, yeah.”

She smiles a little despite herself and kicks another rock. “Apparently I’m going in with someone named Scott Lang. Nat said I might remember him, from the Raft back during the whole Accords thing.” Leila had only spent a few hours on the Raft, and she doesn’t remember a lot of it. Frankly, the entire debacle is somewhat blurred in her mind. “I don’t, though. Do you?”

Tony thinks. “Right. Ant-Man. He was in Munich with Cap.”

There’s that straightforwardness she loves. Tony is one of the only people who doesn’t hesitate to mention Steve around her. The good, the bad, all of–

“Sorry, did you say Ant-Man?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Why the fuck is he called Ant-Man?”

“Cause he shrinks. He can also grow, but I guess ‘Giant-Man’ didn’t have the same ring to it.”

“I dunno, I might take it over Ant-Man.”

“Because you’re the expert on code names.”

“Snow White is a perfectly respectable code name, thank you.”

“Sorry.” He gives an exaggerated bow. “Please forgive me, your highness.”

Leila laughs. “How do you even know all this?”

“I have a vested interest in knowing the names of people who may or may not hold grudges against me.”

“That’s healthy.”

“That’s precaution.” Tony takes a few quick strides and then steps in front of her to face her. “I’m serious. Are you okay with this? It’s been years.”

“It’s only been three years. Not even that, actually,” she waves a hand. “As long as this doesn’t become a recurring thing…I’m fine. I can handle it.”

Tony watches her for a long moment, looking for any sign of indecision on her face. Finally, he nods. 

“Alright. As long as you stay up long enough to watch Tangled. It’s Morgan’s favorite right now, and she wanted to watch it with you.”

Leila smiles. “Traitor,” she mutters. “But yeah. I can do that.”

Scott clears an hour from his schedule (he makes a note to thank Kurt and Luis both for taking on his meetings that day), and makes three phone calls. 

The first one is to Hope. 

He explains the situation: Clint Barton (yes, that Clint Barton) showed up at his work asking him, on behalf of Natasha Romanoff (yes, that Natasha Romanoff) to get involved in some kind of espionage-related, superpower-related mission-type-thing. He said he wouldn’t do it without Hope (nobody can say he doesn’t learn from his mistakes.) Barton said they wanted him for his security and heist experience more than for his Ant-Man activity. Scott said he’d think about it. 

“So now I’m asking you,” Scott says. 

“Asking me what?”

That’s actually a good question. “I’m asking if you think I should agree to help,” he says, “and if you think I should do it without you.”

“I mean, you’re always better off with me there,” Hope replies easily. “But if they’re trying to keep the team small, and you trust them…I think you should at least consider it.”

If you trust them. He supposes he does. The Munich incident had involved a lot of mistakes on Scott’s part, but that hadn’t been either of their fault. Neither had the way it ended. 

“Have you told Maggie?” Hope continues. 

“That’s the next call I’m making.”

“Make it. And think about it. But if you say no, just don’t do it because of me.”

The second call is, as promised, to Maggie. 

“Hey, Scott, is this important?”

“Uhhhhh….yes. I’d say so.” He clears his throat. “I need some advice.”

“Okay, but can you make it quick? I’m on my lunch break.”

I can try? “Yeah. Totally. It’ll be quick.”

“Okay. What’s up?”

He tells her the same thing he told Hope, and then tells her what Hope said. “So now I’m asking you. Do you think I should do it?”

“No, I don’t, but that’s not the question you’re actually asking.”

“Okay, what am I asking?”

“You’re asking me if you’d be a bad person if you said no. And you’re asking me if you’d be a bad father if you said yes.”

Maggie’s ability to cut to the heart of the issue is not a quality Scott remembers her possessing during their admittedly short-lived marriage. He wonders idly if, given enough time and thought, he could pinpoint exactly when it started. 

“Okay. So what do you think?”

“I think nobody could blame you if you chose to stay out of it. And I think you’re going to do it anyway.”

Scott stays silent for a long moment, and Maggie takes it as an invitation to continue. 

“It’s who you are, Scott. Since the day I met you. You see a chance to be useful, to help someone, and you can’t resist.”

Scott sighs. “And Cassie?” he asks hesitantly. 

It’s Maggie’s turn to stay silent for a moment. Then, finally: “I can’t ask you to be someone you’re not. But Cassie’s already lost one father. If things get too dangerous, do you think you can back out?”

Scott looks at the photo on his desk. Him, Matt, Jez and Cassie. 

“Yeah. I can do that.”

The third call is to Clint Barton.

“Barton,” he answers. There’s a sort of lazy quality to his voice. 

“Hey, it’s, uh, it’s Scott. Lang. Ant-Man.” 

“Name rings a bell. Made your decision yet?”

“Yeah.” He takes a deep breath. “I’m in.”

[saiilorstars]

OC HALLOWEEN CHALLENGE 2024. Day Twenty-Five: HORROR LOCATION

This is an easier throwback to one of the week long challenges we've done for this event. Make something that tells a horror story of your oc at a certain location such as a Hospital/Asylum, Summer Camp, Place of Worship, Cemetery/Tomb, House/Apartment, Hotel/Cabin, or Farm/Ranch.

As Citlalli constantly travels to return lost/stolen artifacts, she often comes across dangerous places. Many of her destinations are secluded communities which lead her through less-traveled forests. As a mediator between humans and animals, she feels a little more secure when she ventures through these uncharted territories.

Citlalli's Masterlist

Taglist: @ocappreciationtag @arthurpendragonns @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @lenonizi @foxesandmagic @kmc1989 @caplanbuckybarnes

[buckyssoldat]

Chapter 64: 2012

Warnings: major character death, grief and emotional distress, strong language, angst, violence, mild suggestive content, mental anguish

A/N: This is part of my series, Forsaken - The Fallen Soldier. If you wanna be tagged in this, just send me an ask or a message. Feedback is always appreciated, don’t be shy to share your thoughts on this :)

'Cause you brought out the best of me

A part of me I'd never seen

Alice, Steve, Tony, Bruce, and Scott materialized in the middle of a side street, the air thick with the bustling energy of 2012 New York City. As soon as their feet hit the pavement, the chaos of that time came rushing back: the distant sounds of sirens, the screeching of cars, and the hum of a city that hadn’t yet seen the words of the war ahead. Alice’s heart skipped a beat, remembering how much this place had changed – how much they had changed.

Steve’s voice cut through the familiar noise, his voice steady. “All right, we all have our assignments. Two Stones uptown, one Stone, down. Stay low. Keep an eye on the clock.”

Alice stood to the side for a moment, glancing around. She could see the familiar shadows of the city, the parts that hadn’t been scarred by the war, and the ones that had. The streets were full of life, unaware of what was to come. She knew what she had to do, but a nagging thought clung to the back of her mind: Loki.

For a brief moment, Alice though about finding him. It would be easy enough. She knew his tricks, his charm. She knew how to play his games, how to talk him down from the insanity he had planned. A small part of her even wondered if it would be good to see him again, to face the past with him. But then she shook the thought away. Loki wasn’t a part of her life anymore, and she had already accepted that a long time ago.

Her mission was clear, and she couldn’t afford any distractions. Besides, there was something far more important waiting for her. Something she’d already promised herself she wouldn’t lose again.

With a deep breath, she pushed the thought of Loki aside, focusing on the team. Steve was already taking the lead, his eyes scanning the area. Tony was adjusting his suit, a smirk on his face as always, while Scott looked both excited and nervous. Bruce, on the other hand, seemed to shrink a little as the 2012 Hulk rampaged through the city.

“Feel free to smash a few things along the way,” Steve said, giving Bruce a knowing look.

Bruce’s hand came up to his face, a look of embarrassment crossing his features. “I think it’s gratuitous, but whatever.”

Alice let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “Well, if anyone deserves to smash things, it’s probably you,” she teased, her voice light but her eyes sharp. “Just make sure you don’t do anything too catastrophic, Bruce. We don’t need another timeline getting messed up.”

Bruce tore his shirt off, walking over to a car as he lightly punched it, making a small dent, all the while making growling noises.

Steve gave a short nod, taking in their banter but staying focused on the task. “Stay low. We’ll cover ground fast. Let’s move.”

As the team split up to cover their respective areas, Alice’s thoughts were momentarily drawn back to Loki, but she immediately pushed them away. She couldn’t afford the distraction. Loki would be there, but she had her own fight to win. And this time, it was for something far more important.

With a final glance at her team, Alice pulled her mind back into the present. She had a mission. And this time, she wasn’t going to let anything get in the way.

The team split quickly, Steve and ALICE heading toward the elevator while Tony kept an eye on the chaos unfolding around them. The weight of the mission was heavy, but Alice couldn’t help but feel a small flicker of nostalgia as they moved through Stark Tower. That place had seen its fair share of battles, but not it felt oddly calm, as if history itself was holding its breath.

As they neared the elevator, Steve’s voice was steady. “Got it, Tony. We’re approaching the elevator now.”

Alice gave him a quick nod, her expression more serious now. She was used to focusing under pressure, but there was something about being there, in that moment, that felt… different. Loki wasn’t the only thing weighing on her mind. She had more to lose now, and she wasn’t going to let any distractions get in her way.

The elevator doors opened, and Alice stepped in right behind Steve, her hand resting on the side as they both prepared for what was to come. The sound of Loki’s voice echoed out just before the doors closed. “If it’s all the same to you… I’ll have that drink now.”

As the elevator ascended, Tony’s voice came through again, his usual teasing tone making Alice roll her eyes. “Uh, Mr Rogers. I almost forgot that that suit did nothing for your ass.”

Alice smirked, glancing sideways at Steve, who kept his eyes forward, his jaw clenching ever so slightly at Tony’s jabs. “No one asked you to look, Tony,” Steve replied, his voice laced with a familiar calm, though Alice could see the faintest blush creeping up on his neck.

Tony’s voice dropped into a whisper. “It’s ridiculous.”

Alice leaned toward Steve, her smile mischievous. “Don’t listen to him, Cap. You’ve got all the assets you need.”

Steve shot her a sidelong glance, shaking his head with a grin. “You’re a menace.”

She shrugged nonchalantly, the tension between them easing for a moment. “I’m just saying,” she teased. “You really have America’s ass, remember?”

A laugh escaped Steve despite himself, but before he could respond, Scott’s voice piped up over the comms. “I think you look great, Cap. As far as I’m concerned, that’s America’s ass,” he said, complete with a patriotic salute.

Alice smirked, her lips curling at the ridiculousness of the moment. “See? You’ve got a fan club, Steve.”

“Stop encouraging him,” Steve muttered, though there was a warmth in his voice. “Focus, please, Alice.”

The tension in the air was thick as Steve and Alice stood in the hallway, waiting for the elevator to arrive with the sceptre. Alice couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu, her mind wandering to moments from her past. It had been a long time since she’d been this close to Hydra agents, but here she was, in a place where everything felt strangely familiar.

As they waited, Steve kept his gaze sharp, assessing every move. Alice, standing slightly behind him, stayed quiet for a moment, her mind racing through the plan. When she spoke, it was in a soft, almost detached tone. “You know, if we don’t get this sceptre, I’m gonna be really disappointed in you,” she muttered, her voice laced with a teasing challenge, though her eyes never wavered.

Steve shot her a glance, a small smirk tugging at his lips, but his focus never wavered from the task at hand. “I’m doing my best to make sure you don’t have to be,” he said, his voice low and steady, just as it always was before a mission.

“All right, Cap, Onyx,” Tony’s voice echoed through the comms. “I got our sceptre in the elevator just passing the 80th floor.”

“We’re on it,” Steve responded while clicking on the elevator button. “Head to the lobby.”

“Alright, I’ll see you there,” Tony answered back.

Then, the elevator doors opened, revealing a group of Hydra agents. Steve stepped forward with an air of confidence, walking into the elevator as if he belonged there. Alice followed him closely, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp, scanning each person.

As the door slid shut, Sitwell looked up from his position and immediately furrowed his brow. “Captain, Onyx. I thought you were coordinating search and rescue?”

Steve’s face was unreadable as he responded smoothly, “Change of plans.” He reached out and pressed the button to continue their descent, his body language casual but every muscle tense, prepared for whatever came next.

Rumlow, ever the sceptic, turned his attention to the pair. “Hey, Cap, Onyx.”

Steve’s gaze met his briefly, and Alice could feel the shift in the air as everyone in the elevator grew cautious. “Rumlow,” Steve replied flatly, his tone neutral, but Alice could see the underlying tension beneath it. Alice nodded at Rumlow, trying to look less suspicious. “I just got a call from the Secretary. Onyx and I are gonna be running point on the sceptre.”

Sitwell’s eyes narrowed. “Sir? I don’t understand.”

“We got word there may be an attempt to steal it,” Steve answered.

“I’m gonna have to call the Director,” Sitwell announced as the grabbed his phone from his pocket.

“That’s okay. Trust me,” Steve leaned over Sitwell’s ear. “Hail Hydra.”

Alice, who had been silent the whole trip, leaned forward as well, her voice as cool and calm as it had been all those years ago. Her lips quirked into a brief smile, remembering the words she’d spoken when she’d been in Hydra’s grip, the words she used to repeat with chilling ease – ready to comply.

“я готов отвечать,” she said softly, the words flowing out in Russian, the same way Forsaken used to say them when carrying out orders. Steve turned his head toward her just as she spoke, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he focused back on the situation at hand.

Alice’s heart skipped a beat as she saw the shift in the agents around them, their expressions shifting from suspicion to confusion and fear. After all, being in the same room as Forsaken was scary, even for those who thought had some control over her.

The elevator doors opened, and Steve walked out with the sceptre in hand, a victorious grin on his face. Alice followed close behind, her steps measured, eyes scanning the hallway. She glanced at Steve, a small, almost imperceptible nod of approval. “Well played, Captain.” Her tone was light, but her eyes conveyed the seriousness of their task.

“Thanks, he said, the grin never leaving his face as he looked at her. “Just don’t get used to it.”

Alice smirked, her response quick and playful. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

They headed toward the stairwell, the mission far from over, but for now, they had the sceptre in hand, and that was one step closer to winning the fight of their lives.

The chaos unfolded quickly. Alice and Steve could hear Tony saying something through the comms, but they didn’t understand what was happening.

“Tony, what happened?” Alice asked, but with no answers.

Steve looked up, only to see the one person he was hoping not to encounter – himself. “Oh, you gotta be shitting me.”

“I have eyes on Loki,” 2012 Steve spoke to his comms. “14th floor. And he has kidnapped Onyx.”

“Nope, I’m out of here,” Alice announced as she bolted to try and save the mission. “Going for the Stone, Steve!”

Alice could hear the clanging of shields and the grunts of both Steve Rogers’ as they battled it out in the stairwell. She was momentarily distracted, watching the two versions of Captain America, both locked in a fierce duel. The past and future versions of Steve were relentless, neither willing to give an inch, their fight a mirror of the stubbornness they both shared. She was glad she didn’t find her 2012 self. That would be a nasty fight.

But she had no time to dwell on the fight.

Alice moved swiftly through the corridors of Stark Tower, her heart racing as she tried to find Loki. She wasn’t sure what to expect from if she found him, but she knew she had to be careful. If she was going to retrieve the Tesseract, she had to be convincing – and quick.

As she turned the corner, she spotted him standing in front of a table, staring at the Tesseract. His back was to her, and for a moment, the silence was thick between them. Then, Loki turned his head slightly, as if he had sensed her presence before she even spoke.

He didn’t seem startled. In fact, there was an almost knowing look in his eyes as he studied her.

“You’re not her, are you?” Loki’s voice was calm, almost amused. “Not the Alice I know from this time.”

Alice froze for a split second, her breath catching in her throat. How did he know?

Loki’s smirk was slow, deliberate. He turned fully toward her, his eyes narrowing with an unsettling familiarity.

“You’re not her,” he repeated, his gaze sweeping over her like he was examining a puzzle. “But you are.”

Before Alice could respond, before she could even react, the air around Loki seemed to shimmer, and with a sudden whoosh, he vanished, leaving nothing behind but the faint echo of his laughter.

Alice stood still for a moment, stunned. He had vanished before she could even blink. She cursed under her breath, her frustration building. She had no idea how he knew, but she had lost the opportunity. Loki was gone, and so was the Tesseract.

Turning sharply on her heel, Alice made her way back to the rendezvous point, frustration bubbling within her. She couldn’t waste time. The team needed to regroup, figure out the next step. She couldn’t afford distractions, especially ones like Loki. The mission wasn’t about him, it was about getting back what had been lost.

Once Alice arrived at the rendezvous, Steve, Scott, and Tony were already there, waiting for her.

Steve’s shoulder’s stiffened as he stood tall, the weight of their failure pressing down on him. “Well, what are we gonna go now?”

Tony’s tone was short and strained. “You know what? Give me a break, Steve. I just got hit in the head with the Hulk.”

Scott wasn’t about to let it go. “You said that we had one shot. This-this was our shot. We shot it. It’s shot. Six stones or nothing. Six stones or nothing-”

Tony threw his hands up, exasperated. “You’re repeating yourself, you know that? You’re repeating yourself.”

Scott shot back, equally irritated. “You’re repeating yourself. You know–No.”

Tony sighed. “Dude, come on.”

Scott wasn’t backing down. “You never wanted a time heist, you went on boar with the time heist–”

Tony’s voice rose defensively. “I dropped the ball.”

Scott’s tone dripped with frustration. “You ruined the time heist.”

Tony crossed his arms. “Is that what I did?”

Scott’s glare was unrelenting. “Yeah!”

Steve interjected, trying to find a way forward. “Are there any other options with the Tesseract?”

Scott gestured desperately. “No, no, no. There are no other options. There’s no do-overs. We’re not going anywhere else. We have one particle left. Each. That’s it, alright? We use that – Bye, bye. You’re not going home.”

Alice stepped forward, her voice tense. “Wait, so you’re saying we’re down to our last shots? We can’t screw this up again.”

Steve set his jaw, resolute. “Yeh, well if we don’t try, then no one else is going home, either.”

Tony paused, a spark of an idea forming. “I got it. There’s another way. To retake the Tesseract and acquire new particles. We’ll stroll down memory lane. Military installation, Garden State.”

Alice folded her arms, her brow furrowing. “When were the Tesseract and Pym Particles there?”

Tony’s eyes lit up with hope. “They were there at a–I’ve a vaguely exact idea.”

Steve pressed. “How vague?”

Alice raised an eyebrow, worried about their chances. “You sure you’re not just winging it, Tony?”

Scott was still confused. “What are you talking about? Where are we going?”

Tony started piercing it together. “I know for a fact they were there–”

Scott interrupted, waving his arms. “Who’s they? What are we doing?”

Alice turned to Scott, trying to steady him. “Trust him, it might sound crazy, but when doesn’t it?” she said, adding a touch of humour to ease the tension.

Tony snapped back into the moment. “And I know how I know.”

Scott, clearly still frustrated, demanded, “Guys, what’s up? What is it?”

Tony took a breath. “Well, it looks like we’re improvising.”

Scott threw up his hands. “Right. What are we improvising?”

Tony gave the instruction. “Scott, Alice, get this back to the compound.” He then turned to Steve. “Suit up.”

Alice, angry that she wasn’t included in the plan, insisted, “Wait, why are you two going? I wanna go too!”

Tony started, “0-4,” and Steve picked up, “0-4–”

“Guys, I don’t like this!” Alice exclaimed, annoyed that Tony and Steve were ignoring her plea to go with them.

Tony continued, “0-7,” and Steve echoed, “0-7.”

Scott tried to speak, “Excuse us…”

Tony finished, “1-9-7-0.”

Steve asked, concerned, “Are you sure?”

Scott stepped forward, desperation in his voice. “Cap. Captain. Steve, sorry, America. Rogers. Look, if you do this, and this doesn’t work, you’re not coming back.”

Tony’s voice was dry. “Thanks for the pep talk, pissant.” He looked at Steve, his expression softening. “Do you trust me?”

Steve answered with conviction, “I do.”

Tony nodded. “Your call.”

At that moment, Alice stepped in, her eyes narrowing. “No way. If you’re going back, I’m coming with you.”

Steve shook his head, immediately bracing for the argument. “Alice, you can’t. It’s too risky.”

“Too risky?” she fired back, her voice rising. “Everything about this mission is risky! I’m not just gonna sit here while you two go back to 1970.”

Tony sighed, trying to mediate. “Look, Alice, it’s not about that. It’s about minimizing risk. Two people are easier to manage than three.”

Alice glared at him, then turned her full force on Steve. “You’re really going to leave me behind? After everything?”

Steve’s gaze softened, but he held his ground. “We need someone here. Someone strong. If we don’t make it back, the team needs someone to lead them.”

Her voice broke, but her resolve didn’t. “You think I care about leading a team if it means losing you?”

Steve stepped closer, his expression full of unspoken emotion. “I know you don’t. But if somethings goes wrong… someone has to make sure this isn’t the end. Someone has to keep fighting.”

Alice’s jaw clenched, her hands balling into fists. “That’s not fair, Steve.”

He reached out, touching her arm gently. “I know. But it’s necessary.”

She pulled back, struggling to hold back tears. “Fine. But you two better come back. Or I swear, I will find a way to drag you back from wherever you end up.”

Tony offered her a small, almost affectionate smile. “We’ll do our best, boss.”

Alice shook her head, voice thick with emotion. “You better. Or I’ll never forgive you.”

Steve looked at her one last time, his eyes filled with meaning. “We’ll be back,” he promised.

Alice stepped back, her heart pounding. “You better be.”

“Here we go,” Steve announced before him and Tony disappeared, going back to 1970.

After Tony and Steve vanished into the swirling energy of time, Alice stood there, arms crossed and jaw clenched, trying to swallow the worry knotting her stomach. The emptiness left behind seemed heavier than she expected. Beside her, Scott shuffled awkwardly with Loki’s sceptre on his left hand, tapping his helmed as if trying to make sense of it all.

“So,” Scott began, breaking the silence, “you and Captain America, huh? Makes sense. Two super soldiers and all.”

Alice’s head whipped toward him, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “Excuse me?” she asked, her tone hovering between disbelief and irritation.

Scott raised his hands defensively, his eyes wide. “Sorry! It’s just… I mean, that’s what Thor was saying to Rocket. Something about you and Cap having… history? Not that it’s any of my business!” he quickly added, backpedalling. “But, you know, when Thor talks, it’s kinda hard not to hear.”

Alice’s eyes narrowed, and she let out a humourless laugh. “Of course. Thor and Rocket gossiping. That makes sense,” she muttered, rubbing her temples.

Scott grimaced. “Sorry if I overstepped. I wasn’t trying to pry or anything. It’s just-” He shrugged, looking sheepish. “This whole time heist thing is nerve-wracking, and I figured maybe talking would distract us.”

Alice studied him for a moment before her expression softened slightly, though her voice was still weary. “It’s fine, Scott. It’s just… not exactly a topic I wanna discuss right now.”

Scott nodded fervently. “Got it. No more past relationship gossip, promise.”

Alice sighed, the tension in her shoulders not quite easing. “Thanks,” she said quietly, looking back at where Tony and Steve had disappeared. “And for the record… there’s a lot more to that story than just two super soldiers.”

Scott offered her a small, apologetic smile. “Fair enough,” he replied. “If you ever feel like sharing the ‘more’ part… I’ll be right here. Until we, you know, zap back home.”

Alice’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she replied. “But for now, let’s just focus on getting back in one piece.”

Scott gave a mock salute, trying to lighten the mood. “One piece. Got it.”

A few minutes of awkward silence later, Scott got up from the car he was sitting on. He clapped his hands together, as if shaking off the lingering tension. “Alright, well, it’s time to go back to the present,” he said, turning toward the device that would send them back to their timeline.

Alice let out a deep breath, relief washing over her. “Thank God,” she muttered under her breath, finally feeling the weight of everything start to lift. “I don’t think I could stand much more of this time-travelling chaos.”

Scott chuckled, tapping a few buttons on the device. “Yeah, I’m right there with you. This whole ‘jumping around time’ thing is… a lot.”

Alice gave a wry smile, glancing around one last time at the chaotic remnants of 2012. “Let’s just get back before I lose my mind.”

With that, Scott hit the button, and the world around them started to blur, pulling them back to their present, to their reality.

As the team materialized back in the compound, the first thing Alice did was scan the room, her heart racing as she searched for the familiar faces of Steve and Tony. Her eyes landed on them almost instantly. She smiled, relief flooding her as she took in the sight of them safe and sound, but the smile faltered as she quickly realized there was someone else missing.

Her gaze darted around, a frown starting to tug at her lips. “Wait, where’s Natasha?” she asked, her voice quiet, barely more than a whisper.

Bruce, standing near Clint, looked around as well, his brow furrowing. “Clint, where’s Nat?”

The silence that followed from Clint was enough to make Alice’s stomach drop. She stared at him, waiting for him to say something, anything. But when he didn’t answer, the realization hit like a gut punch. Her breath caught in her throat.

No.

Her heart pounded in her chest as the pieces fell into place. Natasha was gone.

Alice took a step back, her legs trembling beneath her, as the grief began to overwhelm her. Her hands shook, her chest tight, and before she could catch herself, she collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. The tears came in waves, each one heavier than the last, each one carrying the weight of the loss she hadn’t expected. Natasha was gone. Her sister. Her friend.

“Alice…” Steve’s voice was soft as he rushed to her sided, dropping to his knees beside her, but Alice barely registered it. Her whole world felt like it was unravelling. She gasped for breath between sobs, trying to cling to something, anything, that would keep her grounded.

Tony was there too, hovering nearby, helpless. Steve, ever the steady presence, gently placed a hand on Alice’s shoulder. “Ali, hey… Look at me,” he urged, his voice low, soothing. “Come on, Ali, you’ve got to breathe.”

But Alice couldn’t stop. Her chest heaved as she struggled to find the words, her mind spinning with memories of Natasha – of the times they’d fought side by side, of the laughs they’d shared, of how she’d always been there for her. Now, she was gone.

Steve gently cupped her face with his hands, his grip firm yet tender. “Alice, look at me,” he said again, his voice a lifeline in the storm. “We’ll get through this. We’ll do it together, okay?”

Alice finally met his gaze, her tear-filled eyes locking with his. “I-I can’t… I can’t lose her, Steve,” she sobbed, her voice breaking with the weight of her grief.

Clint knelt on the other side of her, his expression broken, but his presence comforting in its own way. “We all lost her,” he said quietly. “But we’re still here. And we’ll make sure she’s remembered.”

Steve helped Alice to her feet, his hand steady on her arm as he guided her up. She felt like she was being pulled from a nightmare, but the reality of Natasha’s absence was still there, sharp and cold.

Alice clung to Steve’s arm, her body still shaking, but she tried to steady herself, focusing on the warmth of his touch. She couldn’t bring herself to speak again, not yet, but she nodded slowly, as if to reassure herself that they were all in this together. But deep down, she knew nothing would ever feel the same again.

Steve let Alice back to her room, his presence a steadying force as she walked, still lost in the shock of what had happened. When they reached her door, Steve paused, glancing at her with concern in his eyes.

“Do you need help?” he asked gently, his voice soft.

Alice shook her head, her heart still aching with the weight of Natasha’s death. “No… I just need a few minutes, Steve,” she whispered, her voice raw. “I need to be alone.”

Steve nodded, his expression sympathetic but understanding. “Okay. Take your time,” he said, before turning and leaving her to her space.

Alice stood there for a moment, her hands trembling at her sides as she tried to steady her breath. The tears were still there, waiting just beneath the surface, but she needed this moment. She needed to remember Natasha, to mourn her in her own way.

After a few minutes of silence, Alice changed into her own clothes and made her way to the outside of the compound, her feet carrying her toward the lake. She needed to feel the cool breeze against her skin, to hear the quiet lapping of the water against the shore, to ground herself.

As she neared the lake, she saw Steve, Tony, Thor, Clint, and Bruce were already there. She saw Bruce standing by the edge, his face twisted in rage and grief. Without warning, he grabbed a nearby bench and threw it with all his might across the lake. The sound of it hitting the water was sharp, but it did nothing to quiet the turmoil inside him.

Bruce stood there for a moment, panting, before his shoulders slumped with exhaustion, and the anger drained out of him. He turned to the other, a resigned expression on his face.

“She’s not coming back,” Bruce said, his voice rough. “We have to make it worth it. We have to.”

Steve, standing a few paces aways, gave him a nod. “We will.”

Alice walked toward them, her eyes red and puffy from the tears, but her resolve clear. She took a deep breath, gathering herself, and finally spoke.

“Natasha wasn’t just a teammate,” Alice began, her voice shaking but growing stronger with each word. “She wasn’t just an Avenger. She was my sister. She… she was the one who always had my back. In every fight, in every mission, in every breakdown, she was right there with me, and I knew I could trust her with my life. I remember the first time I met her. I didn’t trust her at all,” Alice continued, her voice thick with emotion as she glanced down at the ground. “I had just escaped Hydra, and I didn’t know who I could trust. Natasha was a mystery to me, and I was wary of everyone. But over time, she proved herself. She showed me what loyalty really meant. She was patient with me, never rushing me to open up, but always there when I needed someone to talk to.”

Alice paused, her tears falling freely now, and she wiped them away quickly, her hands trembling. “Eventually, we became really close. She became my family, in every sense of the word. And now… now she’s gone. And I don’t know how to do this without her.”

Her knees buckled slightly, and Steve was there, his arm around her instantly, steadying her as she clutched his arm for support. Alice rested her forehead against his arm, drawing strength from him as she fought to finish what she started.

“I didn’t get to say goodbye, none of us did,” Alice whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “But she’ll always be with me, with us. We’ll carry her with us every day. And we’ll make it worth it. We’ll make sure her sacrifice meant something. She deserves that.”

Steve squeezed her hand gently, his eyes filled with sympathy and understanding, but he said nothing. No one did. They didn’t need to. The silence between the team spoke volumes, all grieving in their own way, but united in their shared love for Natasha.

Alice pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting Clint’s. “She was my sister,” she repeated, more quietly this time, as if trying to convince herself.

Clint nodded solemnly. “She was,” he said, his voice low but full of emotion.

Alice took another deep breath, her tears slowing but not entirely gone. She knew this pain wouldn’t fade overnight, but standing there, with the team by her side, she felt a little less alone in it. Together, they’d carry Natasha’s memory forward, and that was something. Something to hold onto, at least.

tags: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​@capswife

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masterlist

[dangerousangerissue]

New Hero suit design

Liz Banner-Ross

[rosieshipper]

YALL

I just watched Nimona and if I ever needed a perfect reference for how Rose’s powers work in my marvel canon, I would use Nimona because her shapeshifting powers are just like Rose’s

(Although she doesn’t become completely purple when using her powers although her eye color always stays the same when shapeshifting)

Tags: @astralshipper @arickaandherfictionalothers @shibasparklez @wolfofthedead

[winter-clue-heart]

Loki: *impressed and amused*

OB: *considering consulting the guidebook about these two trouble making variants*

[jackiequick]

—Character Study (Part 2)

Click here to check out part one - Amelia Parker 

— Stella Strange 📞

Warning: There is some sadness, death, miscarriage, bullying, and etc. in her life. Don’t like, don’t read or just skip a few parts. :-) 

Full Name: Estella Sophia Romano-Strange

Nicknames: Stella, Ella, Elle, Dr Romano, Cruella, Miss Strange

Date of birth: May 27, 1988

Nationally: America

Ethnicity: Half Latina - Cuban with a mix of Columbian and PR in her family.

Place of Origin: Manhattan, New York

Age depending on the year: 26–32

Gender: Female

Height: 5’4

Sexuality if anyone cares: Straight

Specie: Human with some magic 

Jobs: Doctor, Hairdresser, Baker and Mom (cause being a parent is a full time-job!)

Any Heath Conditions & such: Estella has stress, anxiety and struggles with her self image a lot. She also has Tremor, which is a neurological disorder that causes shaking movements in one or more parts of your body, most often in your hands. It’s usually triggered by her stress, hate, anger, certain events and etc.

Relationship status: Has been engaged before and dated in the past but never was truly joyful. Currently she’s in a pretty nice stable relationship (2015- now 2018) 

The Family 

Dad: Stephen Strange  🩺

Mom: Elizabeth Romano 🧁

Brother: Leonardo Romano-Strange 📖

Half Brother: Thiego Carlos Strange 🪄

~~~~

Early Years 🗽

Estella grow up in a household that leaned towards both American and Latin America. She loved being able to embrace both cultures every once in a while. She loved being Puerto Rican because it allowed for plenty of opportunities in the future!

Estella grow up eating plenty of meals, listens to different music and dancing Salsa and Bachata, exploring the streets of Washington Heights with her brother, visiting her country once or twice and much more. The girl enjoyed it a lot!

She learned English first with her brother Leo, since her mother feared that with Spanish, they will get make fun of like she was or possibly get confused a lot. When in reality it could’ve help a lot. Elizabeth and Stephen didn’t care at the time, as long as they were happy and healthy, and they were for the most part. 

As years went on, the parents became more busy with work and life. Once Estella’s teenage years hit, she was mad fun of a lot. Due to her stress, height, looks, being her in brother’s shadow cause she wasn’t as smart as him and her anxiety levels not allowing for her socialize every often. 

It even went far to be bullied for how she looked and it’s something she still faces. Estella knew she’s Puerto Rican and be proud of it when she possibly can, but outside of her home, she wasn’t showed the respect for it. Because to the world, she wasn’t the true Latina...

They had no respect because she was Half Latina. It was stupid. They told Stella to her face, that her mother married a white man for privilege reasons. 

Saying that she had a lighter skin tone and a more of “America accent”, that her fizzy curly hair was a mess, bullying for not knowing Spanish that well has peers, quizzing the poor girl to see if she “knows her stuff”, not having the curves and or fiery stereotypical passion one would have. The list went on!

She was faced with being too latino for her America friends and too white for Hispanic ones. Every time she had to fill out paperwork or was asked her nationally or background, it felt like it always a battle to prove herself. It wasn’t really acceptable back then, and sometimes she stay late nights crying because of the simple fact that she didn’t fit into society’s eye of being Latina. 

What made it worse was that no one helped truly helped. Her parents were busy. Leo was always off doing his own thing, being a lawyer, going on dates and or trying to one up his little sisters in academics, cause for a lot of men in the world, you were always fine. 

But for a woman of her background, it was always a consent fight! When she tried to play it off cool or snarky slightly rude comments to protect herself, she ended up with the rude nickname Cruella. 

It made her feel worse, wanting to change herself. So in result, Estella stayed having to try and prove her worth. Academically and ethically. She wasn’t the smartest one her classes or the one brightest for certain activities because her stress and anxiety would take over. But she always good with people! So she tried studying harder and grow her network with people in the city. Estella worked at her Tia’s Hair Salon, spending afternoons studying and grew her connects with everyone she met at that very salon. 

She loved it for the most part, but Estella’s parents said she needed a strong career that would pay the bills and she wanted to help people. Estella was so focused on making parents proud, she would later on forget to actually make herself happy and proud! Never got a moment to actually fully love herself, putting that aside to go into the medical field. 

~~~

Doctor Love Years 🥼

Estella Romano Strange decide to go into the medical field, to help people, make families smile and explore her surroundings. It took years of studying, stressful nights and choosing which filed to go into, finally focusing on GENERAL, while also dabbling in PEDS and OB/GYN. Because she loved children, especially the new parents faces when they meet their babies. It was a always sight to see.

Yes, she was once again in another family member’s shadow, not just her brother. Her father’s shadow, because he was a genius Nero-Surgeon who tend to sometime use magic to heal as the years went on. Always being recognized because of her dad or being told off, because of something else that happened. 

It annoyed the hell out of her, sometimes being taken advantage as well by doctors, nurse and even by patents. At least she had her moments because of some peers actually were nice people, helping each other and of course seeing the babies in the NICU. 

One day after a long night shift in late 2011, the paramedic's wheeled in a blonde man who was injured after saving a few families during a fire. It was pretty brave of him, Stella along with a few doctors took care of him quickly. 

Her and the others worked fast on getting him cleaned up and stitched up, knowing they would have to keep him 2 days or so. It was a rush, that made her feel like a hero..

The blonde man was asleep and woke up in a hospital bed confused with a headache, seeing his arms wrapped in bandages. His vision was a little blurry as he pressed a button to alert the doctors. One of doctors, Dr. Ross, made Stella on call to check on him for rounds. Estella walked in with her low bun and  blue scrubs, having removed her white coat earlier that day due to the heat of the hospital. 

“Hi.” She said softly, putting her clipboard on the bench and check up on her patent’s vials, “How are you feeling?”

It took the blue eyed blonde man a moment to speak, “I’m alright..I think?”

“Headache?”

“Yeah..”

“Thought so, we’ll get you meds for that.”

“..what happened?”

He watched Dr. Romano take a seat nearby a stool to explain to him, that he was hero saving those people from the fire. His eyes watched the way she pushed her brown hair back, her sweetly gentle smile and the ways her eyes wondered every so often retelling the tale. He found it cute and said, “I was a hero?”

“Yeah, you were.” She replied with a smile, “Do you remember you name and anything related?”

“Riley..Overstreet. Riley Overstreet.”

She smiled, watching the way he made a silly face, as if it was obvious that he knew what his name was. His blonde hair was long and messy, his soft blue eyes wondered around the room trying to figure out what to say next. 

“Good. Okay good, why were you saving those people? Is that job? Sounds cool..” She asked with a soft smile.

Riley chuckled, “I was a firefighter but I decide to go into the Air Force. I was supposed to meet a friend of mine but got distracted with the fire..”

“We tried contacting yours closes contact, no one answered..but someone named Sam Wilson picked up and said he will be here shortly.”

“That’s my wingman, Sam. Yeah, he’s a friend..”

“Okay good.”

Estella got up and got him the medication, examining his wounds and cleaning up a few bandages. She smiled and enjoying how nice he during the whole process, she found him adorable and charming. Riley watched in glee on being taken care of so well, finding her sweet and cute. “What’s your name?” He spilled out blushing and grinning softly. 

“Huh?” She said, before leaving the room as it hit her blushing, “Oh! Sorry I forgot that about that..”

“It’s alright, I couldn’t read your name on the clipboard so...”

“Doctor Estella Romano..Strange..?”

“Sorry to a bit sound rude but..you don’t like your name very much, do you?”

“Not at all..not really...but you know how you never get a choice for that..”

“I like it.”

Riley had a small smile on his face thinking of a nickname or two for the doctor who helped saved him. Then he said, “Stella..Ella..”

“Ella?” She asked repeating the nickname, liking that it was simple and cute.

“Yeah..Dr. Ella.”

“Okay..Lt. Riley “Timeless” Overstreet..I like Riri..” 

She walked out with a smile as he played against the pillow with a goofy grin. Little did Stella know, she just get her angel that day. Riley was a blushing happy guy with a love for music, determined, caring, fearless, friendly, easy on the eyes and saw the person for their true colors. The light inside of them, the good in their eyes. 

When Sam Wilson, The Falcon, came in see his friend, he met Stella and soon enough started a friendship with her while he was there. The two grew close over a week of seeing each other in the hospital. He took her out to brunch after seeing Riley. 

Sooner or later, Sam noticed the look on Riley’s face and encouraged him to ask Stella out. And ofc course, she said yes to that date.

-> We love and fall but we eventually get back up again. 

The two dated for a very long time. Date nights, morning cuddles, gifts, walks on the beach, jumping out of a airplane together, meeting the parents, having fun with Sam and the list goes on. Riley made Stella feel loved, smart  and way smarter than she seem. Stella made Riley feel brave, loved and as if he was on top of the world. Most of all they were comforting each other, til the end of the line. 

They fought and made up, that’s normal part of being a couple. And, of course Riley had long deployments but they made it work perfectly, and one day after he returned home..he proposed.  

And Stella said, yes. The two planned on good size wedding with Sam being there as Best Man, buying a huge house with a dog, a piano and guitar in the living room, and a move up in their careers. 

Then the fallout happened...

--> Warning some sadness, mention of miscarriage & death 

They found that Stella was pregnant, they were happy, brought toys, clothes and planning everything out. Sam, Leo and both of their parents were excited! But she miscarried after a few weeks or more, she blamed herself crying into Riley’s arms for weeks. 

They both cried. Riley didn’t blame her or anything, he didn’t put the blame on anyone. He knew what it felt to lose a loved one and it hurt losing a child, but life happens. He loved his soon-to-be-wife and knew they can try again one day and or adopt a child. 

They got better and felt a lot stronger, yes it still hurt at times but had each other’s backs. 

It was good until Sam and Riley went on another deployment. And only one one of them came back...Riley was a pararescueman working with the 58th rescue squadron alongside with Sam Wilson until he was tragically killed during a mission. Sam lost his wingman and best friend, while Stella got lost her soon-to-be-husband that day...the two grew closer as they could over that lose. They were heartbroken but rise up again soon enough even if it still hurt sometimes. 

Months past, she still had episodes where she fell horrible and cried. She didn’t even go to therapy as much as Sam and her mother, tried to push her to go. She only went to two session then never returned back to the office. Stella pushed a lot it down and kept working at the hospital, becoming cruel, sad and a bit mean in the process..

The years that changed her life forever 💥

Time past, 2014 hit. Everything was fine, the family was working around the clock and disagreed on plenty of things, even if they seemed to be perfectly fine. They still loved each other, but one night flipping everything upside down. Stephen Strange and his family were invited to a party nearby one of the highest hills on New York City to wine and dine, to even see him possibly win an award.

So they went, Leo was excited meanwhile Stella was overthinking it all but their mother settled both children down. At the party, they met The Felton family, Miss Rochelle Felton caught the siblings eye, mostly Leo’s as the pair spoke on the balcony for a while. Stella stayed chatting with her mother and or Rochelle’s adopted mother, who critiqued strongly the girl, asked confusing questions that annoyed her and or completely complimented her outfit. She looked over shoulder to see her mother and father on the dance floor most of the night.

Stephen had to leave early due to issue at The Hospital and to meet a friend of his (Wong). Elizabeth decided afterwards that they should head home as well, Leo tossed his little sister the keys to the other car and the three drove off. The siblings sat in the front discussing that party, their social life and their careers as their mother stop them, they settled down a bit. The radio was also playing, everything seemed alright as a strange feeling hit Stella but before she can voice her concerns, a huge truck came out of nowhere…

The truck crashed into their car, sending them off course and into the large lake nearby, the impact was so bad it left the family unconscious in a state of pain and sorrow. Cuts, bruises, glass, gashes and more laced the trio’s bodies. Sadly the impact of the accident occurred in a matter of minutes, it must’ve been hours until they were found and taken to the hospital. One only heart stayed beating and broke that night…

—> Warning: Some sadness, a bit depression mentioned, no self esteem, injures and lose

Stella wake up the next morning in a hospital bed in confusion, pain and tears. She was told everything by the doctors and nurses, that she was the only one that sadly survived the crash, that her heart rate dropped plenty of times and they almost lost her but due to a miracle she lived to see another day. Her injuries were damaging mainly to her hands and arms. The girl sobbed wishing it was her brother and mother that survived, not her. She wished they didn’t go to that party in the first place but it was too late…

She fell once again into a state of madness, high anxiety and misery, a bit depressed more often then not. Stephen comforted his daughter when he wasn’t working and noticed her self esteem downgraded. Stella’s self image fell down a rabbit hole, while attending some physical therapy for her hands.

A few surgeries, some physical therapy appointments and self esteem issues grew. Every time, Stella thought she was getting better, she fell a few steps back. Time past and she stopped going, she got annoyed..

Sam arrived in New York, before leaving for Washington D.C. and spoke to her. He held her and gave her as much encouragement and comfort that she needed. 

His last words were to keep fighting because everything happens for a reason, whether we know it or not. 

And that’s exactly what Estella needed cause that night, she left her house after less than a few weeks of being alone, finding Wong and a few other sorcerers to try and heal herself. 

Due to Stella being a time crunch, wanting to return back home in time to back to her life and be alongside the only family she had left, she didn’t waste much time. She spent time, effort and pain training to work up her strength. Pushing herself despite Wong’s best efforts to watch her heath, she eventually listened to him as her hands very slowly healed, scars closing but plenty of cuts remained as she trained with him. 

Eventually Estella discovered a few rooms in The Sanctum Sanctorum, that peaked her interest and Wong told her stories about them. The girl was in awe, she even smiled a bit after plenty weeks of frowns. Estella had ideas but kept them to herself for the time being. After a couple of nights, she seemed much better health wise to say the least but still closed off. Stephen noticed sitting down across from her, “You need to get out.”

“Wait what? Why?” Stella said practiced a mini trick using a few pin pong balls. 

“You need friends, a life outside these four walls.”

“No I don’t, I have you and your buddy, Wong...besides, my only friend is working and the others never existed.”

“I’m serious, Estella. You need to get out of here, find a few things to do, explore the city, fall in love again and-”

“Daddy, no. I don’t want to! My life after that night fell over, my career is down the drain, my fiancé less than died a year ago, the city bores me, my hands are…and...I hate how I look, feel now..”

Stephen kneeled down wiping his daughter’s fallen tears and kisses her forehead, noticing how she hide her face, arms and hands. Her self esteem wasn’t the same and she needed a change. 

“My daughter is smart, kind and beautiful. I’m sorry for everything that has happened. You deserve to be happy and explore your surroundings.” He said softly. 

“But I..what if I hate it?” She asked.

“You won’t.”

“And what about..”  

Before she had a second to even finished her sentence, a portal opened behind her chair, pushing her out and into the streets of Washington DC. She tried opening the previous portal but it was locked and she realized she forgot her ring. “Damn it!” She yelled, then walked down the streets mumbling, “..I've haven’t here in a while..” 

~~~~~~

With time, she found herself at SHIELD headquarters, meeting Maria Hill, Agent Parker and a few other faces. Estella met The Avengers one by one, finding herself introduced to The Young Avengers at the time. She grew fond of all them, keeping to herself. 

Over the weeks, she grew friendships with the older Avengers. Tony, Bruce, Natasha, Clint, and Steve. Thor was off world. She was able to use her skills to the test discovering Rochelle’s mutation with Nat, training with the group, meeting Sam again, discovering The Winter Solider and fight Hydra.  

~~~~~

A lot happened, they all moved to New York City remodeling Avengers Tower, growing together as a family. They made friends along the way, love was in the air, they lost a few members and gains some new ones. Especially Stella. 

It was during the late summer after getting settled in The Tower, she tried to return back to work as a doctor. Even if she lost plenty of strength with her time off and recking her life’s work in the fire during her depressive episodes, yet she deicide to return. Everything was good until a week later she met him. 

Her half brother. Thiego Carlos Strange. 

Neither one of the siblings knew that they existed due to Stephen not wanting anyone to know. Until Melissa Wallace spited out the facts. She wondered if her mother knew or was it before her parents got together? Stella wouldn’t get that answer and for some reason, she wasn’t mad at Thiego. Upset with not knowing earlier, hell yes but mad? No. You can’t blame the children for their parents wrong doings. She just needed time and with that time, she grew to truly love her brother. She became his number one fan and loving but annoying little sister.

Stella noticed how careful, protective, humorous and curious her brother was toward a lot of people. She saw how much Thiego looked like their father depending one how he act, other times she spotted differences.

The girl was very closed off, questioning herself and considering a lot things during that time in her life, but around Thiego she felt, safe and loved, she returned it whenever she could! They encouraged one another as well.

No one was fighting for attention, running off to do something else, proving who’s the better sibling and such like her relationship with Leo was. Yeah sure Thiego and Stella argue, become annoyed and get into trouble that’s normal sibling do.

Remember when I talked about The Older Avengers becoming like family to her as well? Well at first glance you wouldn’t think it but she grew a close relationship with some of them.

She grew closer to mostly the girls. Rochelle, Liane, Amelia, Luna, Hill and Natasha became very good friends with her. Eventually so would Cassie, with the young girl seeing her not just as a friend but a mother figure. They all grew together as people when the time came, learning and showing one another a few things.

Another being Bruce Banner, she adored how he worked, so focused and gentle, the love he has in his heart, the perfect level of patience and his humor was just as great. Honestly Estella was inspired to be like him in some way.

Love Again? 💞

Like any grieving person in society, it hurts like hell, you feel empty and like you lost a part of you. Well that’s how Stella felt after her fiancé and half of her family died, it left her heartbroken. It felt like one thing fell on top of the next, the memories are sometimes still fresh in her mind depending on the day or dream like state she would be in…

Until Stephen push her though that portal to where she meet The Avengers young and old. Like I said beforehand, Stella’s heart softened around them and eventually started letting her guard down as time went on. As from her friendship and family she made, her heart wasn’t still emotionally involved when it came to romance of it.

Estella Romano didn’t care for it or didn’t even tried searching knowing nothing will truly replace her former lover, until certain blonde and brunette came along. Steve Rogers and Logan Howlett. 

Firstly she met Steven Grant Rogers week one of her trip of Washington D.C. back in 2014. Within the second half of that same week, she found herself opening up to a man that she didn’t think twice of. She didn’t care for Steve Rogers one bit thinking he was some blonde patriot cheeky smile and a strong history if she wasn’t prepared to learn about. Oh sure he was hella cute, she would give him that but she saw Steve as a friend just like Sam. They got along very nicely, two were practically near each other’s eye-line every once in a while and talked for more than a hour together each day.

Eventually within time feelings towards each other started to grow. She was smile brightly, laugh at some of his jokes and tease him every chance she got. Rogers made her feel safe, loved and there was someone looking out for every once in a while. For Steve, it’s like he was given a second chance to be happy, he felt cared for and drawn to her like he wanted to keep her, loved from this horrible world.  but sadly the two were so dumb and afraid to notice what everyone else was saying. Until one night…

Stella set a promise to help Steve find Bucky with Sam’s help. Sam decided to searched in other locations and then headed home to rest, however the two decided to stay up instead. The two were in the lower level of The Tower alone, it was dark inside the room and the only light was the computer as they tried finding the locations.

Steve was pacing the room as the pair talked frustrated and annoyed. Eventually he sat down next to her, resting his hands on the table and said, “We spend days doing it Sam’s way…we can just do it the old fashion way of searching for someone instead..”

Stella was typing away and hushed him, “Shhh I’m working, it settling..it say he’s in New York now, so he’s close.”

“Okay, he can be anywhere..I’m sorry, it’s just—I’m just inpatient. I spent weeks searching for a friend who I thought died, i just want to make sure he’s alright…”

“I get it that you’re impatient about this and so am I gonna tell you right now you’re gonna see him again. I know how it is, to lose someone you love very much..or to just worry that you’re not gonna see him again. But you’re given a second chance here.” 

He smiled at her kind words. Being a soldier, I’m going for one fight to the next, sometimes he can get very impatient and needs someone to keep him grounded at times. Steve couldn’t be happier with Stella and Sam’s help with finding his friend, the man couldn’t thank them enough. Moments like this, he didn’t see the same Stella who’s either annoyed and worried about a situation. The blue light from the computer screen and the gentle rain outside made her look calm, understanding and focused on the task at hand.

She looked over at him every now and then smiling softly as they discuss the possibilities of the circumstances their in. The woman could be doing so many things at the moment and procrastinate her work, but instead she decided to help him out. Stella didn’t see the uptight and confused super soldier but instead a gentle man who just wanted to see his old buddy again. He was seemed relaxed, understanding and clearly agreeing to the tasks but his muscles were tensed, underneath everything Steve Rogers was just a simple guy who wanted to do the right things.

—

It was getting late and the two were getting tired, but it can definitely be shown on their faces how determined they really.

Stella kept searching up the location of where The Winter Solider could be until she find it. She grinned and said, “Oh my god-I got it! I got his location. We got it.”

“Really?!” Steve sat up after reading the files to see the pin on Bucky and smiles* “You really did find him..wow! This is-this is..”

His epic excitement, relief and pride washed over him, Steve Rogers didn’t think as leaned down and press his lips onto hers. It was a a shock and she hesitated for a quick moment then smiled pecking his lips. It lasted a couple of seconds before breaks off the kiss.

“W-what was that for..?” Stella asked taking a breath, noticing a light lipstick stain on his lip. She felt a rush within her, blushing a bright rosy red, very embarrassed.

Steve chuckled and blushed embarrassed. He hesitated realizing what happened and simply shrugged, “I-I don’t know..just overwhelmed with all these emotions…I’m sorry.”

“N-no, it’s alright, I get it. But uh, we’re not gonna make this a thing right?”

“What? No! No, I wouldn’t dream it off. It just happened, right? Unless you..”

“Unless I feel like..you know what towards you? That’s ridiculous, it just happened..”

“We should uh, forwarded this to Sam..”

“Y-yeah! Exactly then straight to bed...s-separate rooms and stuff..my bad. Was that your first kiss since 1940s?”

“Not exactly no, I kissed Natasha for a mission once but I wouldn’t count it truly. Was I your first kiss since 2012?”

“..maybe? I mean, I went on a date or two, but it wasn’t anything major.“

Steve smiled softly and nodded, slightly blushing a bit however thankfully to the darkness of the room, no one can see. Stella chuckled softly and blushed a bit forwarding the email to Sam. Afterwards the two headed upstairs agreeing that the kiss mean nothing else but purely tiredness and excitement from getting one step closer to the case. Because it was nothing.

Time went on, fighting robots, aliens and plenty of other stuff. Domestic life with The Avengers, plenty of their friends noticed the way they slowly became closer and how life was flipped upside down. Thiego HATED that Cap looked at his sister sometimes, Stella joked that he wanted to date him as he would roll his eye jokingly. No one was good enough for his sister!

Steve went on to date Sharon Carter, while Stella had a short lived relationship with James Logan Howlett. The two met at a bar one night and hit it off rather quickly, seeming to having a mutual understanding of the past, present and future. Just wanting a break from it all and live in the moment.

Logan was the bad guy in a leather jacket and bad reputation with a kind heart and complicated life. Behind the rage and stubbornness, she saw a man running around and trying to figure out his life. Logan saw something in her, a woman with too much patience and some cruelty within her from being put down in the past.

The two would go on dates by meeting up at the park, drinking and partying a bit, cuddles in bed and late night talks. Nothing serious, more or less causal.

It was funny actually, the same time Stella was dating Logan Howlett, her brother Thiego dating Scott Summers. When the siblings and their friends found out, it was hilarious and awkward for everyone. But like i said, it was short lived as Logan admitted to cheated on Stella as she returned home in tears. Thiego comforted her saying she didn’t need a man and should try to focus once again on her studies.

—

Time kept moving forwarded, Stella forgot about trying to search for love once again and return to studying, being in the medical field. Steve ended his relationship with Sharon Carter, deciding to stay as friends, focusing on The Avengers and his works at the super solider leader.

The two grew up a bit as people, comforting each other when the worse hit, fighting aliens, supernatural beings, robots. Hell, even The government officials and SHIELD when The Accords hit on everyone. Maria Hill caused The Avengers to pick a side, it broke them apart. Steve and a few others refused to sign the paperwork ending up on the run from SHIELD. Stella signed the paperwork to cover Team Cap’s ass and provide them from being caught.

Steve and Stella fought long and hard over The Accords, the placement of the team and the reason behind everything. A few kisses were stolen and screams were heard. Team Cap ran and hide, while Team Iron Man search and ran themselves into tunnels becoming separated from each other. They all missed each other, noticing how everyone fell and practically almost killed themselves to prove who’s right.

Eventually The Avengers and SHIELD found out who was truly behind all of this mess however, it wasn’t the same after that. People grew apart, families cried, betrayal between friends, couples broke up while also stayed together. Slowly everyone got better, it hurt but they got there.

He found her one morning in the elevator after not seeing each other for a while. Stella didn’t want to see him, afraid of the risks of their relationship and the future, Steve however was willing to risk it and love her no what matter. It was

It was hard, annoying and slightly heartbreaking speech of emotions between the pair, Stella crumbled as her walls fell as Steve poured his heart to her, feeling sorry that they were drifted apart and didn’t take a chance earlier. She admitted how she feared if she fell in love again, the world would hear and she would be crying all over again. She felt like she wasn’t enough for the super solider...

“If I did anything right in my life it was to find you. It was when I gave you my heart and didn’t even know it. But when I see you smiling and standing in that door all the feelings come rushing back...” She said wiping a few tears that ran down her face. 

Steve smiled softly, bring her in close, “If one thing I know now, your the person I didn’t know I needed in my life. If I said once, I will say it again, you will be the death of me. And also be the very few lights in my life..”

"And you are mine. How did I end up with someone who will deal with me now matter what, I will never know? But I do know is that I love you..”

“Now i got one question. Can I kiss you?” 

"Thought you never ask.” 

Steven Grant Roger brought his lips up to the girl, gently pressing them onto her in such awe and relief. Estella Romano Strange leaned in, returning the kiss without a doubt, resting both hands on his chest. The warmth of their bodies and the heat rise causing the pair to remember they were still in an elevator. 

The two started to finally date after that, enjoying their time together. Hugs, kisses, cuddles, cheering the other on and supporting each other, embracing the craziness of their lives. Late night talks, acting like an old married couple at times, wondering about their future in heroes, and so on.

Friendship and motherhood 

Was all of this in the cards for Estella? Maybe? Maybe not? She wouldn’t get the answer to that for a while. She was never given a chance to wonder what she wanted for herself, it was always do this and do that, remember to make your family proud. It was always the question, if she was doing the right thing, for that she let fate decide. 

But she knew the things that she loved to do, spend time with friends and wanting to give her love to other people. Simple as that. Even if it meant doing one of the girls hair, making lunch to everyone and or just giving the person attention. That’s how she built friendships with the ladies and gentlemen of the household. 

Plenty would say that Stella has a “feminine touch” or “motherly vibe” to her, like she knew that to say or do, sometimes. Making The Avengers Compound feel like home. It just came naturally to the girl, seeing her mother and some of tias treat everyone, somehow she embraced it without knowing.

Plus it helped that she tend to sometimes follow Bruce Banner’s lead with how much of a caring, patience, loving and quick on his feet of a father he tended to be. Him and Hulk set the sweet example, she admired it. Dad Bruce, Papa Hulk and Mama Stella. Somehow the one plenty of parents in the household. However, she wasn’t a mom or even a aunt exactly to the group. 

Until one month, it was like Stella saw a rather quick shift in the air. The warm weather, sweet treats, cuddly sweaters, couples walking left and right, and the kids playing in the park. Girl got baby fever, it finally hit her...

She didn’t know how it happened, but it did! Stella thought it was a phase, she’ll get it over it. But the more babies she saw in the hospital, the kids with their parents and young teenagers in the malls walking past her. As well as the Young Avengers running down the halls everyday. She decided it was settled. 

One morning after breakfast, she sat next to the man who practically was her husband at this point. “..how do you feel about kids?” Stella asked, scrolling on her phone.

Steve looked up from his notebook and paused doodling, taking him a moment to process the question. “Uh, I love them. Why?” He asked with a smile.

“How do you feel about us having some?”

“I like that idea. Wait would we like have our own biologically? Or foster care and adopt? Cause honey, that waiting list is long.”

“What I'm hearing is a yes.”

He scoffed and chuckled, “Yes. Honey, how long have you been thinking about this?”

“Two weeks..?”

“Two weeks?! Please tell me, you didn’t file for adoption without my permission and we have a kid coming here today?”

“N-no! I’m not crazy!”

He gave her a pointed look, “Stella.”

“I didn’t!” She replied crossing her heart, promising that she didn’t. 

“Okay, just checking. This is a rather big commitment and I'm here it.” 

 The two spend days discussing the matter and how they would like to go about it. Stella even went to Bruce for his advice and hoping he could sign some paperwork. Luckily after a talk, he was on board. Little did Bruce Banner know that Stella’s future kids would see him as their amazing uncle. 

Weeks past and nothing from the adoption agency. Stella wanted for the call and wondered if she was too late to file for kids. All she wanted was to give a child a nice life and plenty of love, hell even be the embarrassing mom. 

Until one afternoon, she found a kid trying to steal from her shopping cart as he ran out of the store. She tried to stop him, but she was too late. That same teenager would be brought into the police department and such to be question. Stella was called in to watch over the teen who glared at her, but she made it work. 

She asked, “What’s your name?” The brunette finally looked up and said his name, “Bradley James...”

Stella gave him space while they were at the police department to talk to her, as she signed paperwork for him and finally after a while he did, cracking a few jokes. He smiled and she told him the plan for the week, he listened thankfully.

The first few days were hard, having not took him to The Avengers Compound right away, more to her spare apartment in the city. Steve was out for a business trip during the time. Bradley was tricky, not eating healthily, staying up late and tried sneaking out once or twice. He even made a mess of the living room, Stella had enough and decided to sit him down for a talk. 

The two talked for a least an hour, Bradley explaining what was going on and how they ended up here. Stella even admitted, “I’m here because I care..and I'm not here to replace your mother, but just so you know I will make sure you’re alright.” He hesitated before he cried into her arms as she hushed his sorrows. It was a long night and the following days were something else. But Stella knew, “I want him.”

Sooner or later the rest of the kids started popping up. Such as Kendall, who came one day after a small accident downtown, resulting in a few people getting and one of them being him. He was already an lost boy who needed a home and got hurt that day, so Stella and Steve brought him home a few days later. The couple may have some annoying teenagers boys now in their hands but they love them nonetheless.

Stella even became a auntie (or Tia as she’s called) in the result of Riley Banner-Marsh and Gia & George Romanoff being born. Her and Steve were more than happy to become aunts & uncles to those children, even if they drive them crazy sometimes.

—-

As of right now, Estella Romano Strange is happy and healthy for the most part. Girl needs therapy for some reasonable days. Aside from the stressful days and nights that happen every once in a while, she is doing alright.

—

That’s all for now, I wish I could write more but my brain is tired haha. Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoy it! ☀️

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