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deathbyathousandspiders · 1 year ago

Note

hey! could you write something where tony accidentally finds out the reader, his daughter, and peter are dating? they’re both scared for his reaction but then he’s actually super cool about it :)

I LOVE STARK!READER !!

i got saucy w this one :,) my b

!!! 18+ MDNI !!!

content warnings — steamy peter make outs, light swearing, sexual content, suggestive dialogue.

✨masterlist✨.

2.1k.

Nothing could beat lazy Sundays at the compound. The whole team was either MIA, on a mission, or training, so every room fell still with serenity. It was the perfect time for you to stick your nose in a book, and lounge around the empty estate. Your father was off somewhere across the complex working on some gadget, which left you free to roam around wherever you wanted.

Your hair gently tickled your bare shoulders as you tied it up, laying your book face–open on the kitchen island so that you could keep reading and grab a snack. The air conditioning nipped at the skin exposed from your minimal clothing; your black–cropped tank top and favorite pair of shorts didn’t protect you from the artificial frost in the air, but it certainly helped with the heat when you stepped outside.

Just before your hands fell back to your book, arms wrapped around your waist from behind. Their shape and placement was something so familiar, the touch brought you more comfort than startle. Cedarwood and bergamot were quick to fill your nose whilst your boyfriend’s head craned into the base of your neck. His fingers locked to the belt loops of your shorts, tugging you back into him so that he could feel more of you.

“I’ve been looking for you..” His voice was throaty. Needy. The pads of his thumbs traced tiny circles into either of your hips, gently pressing further into your skin when your hand stretched up to comb through his fluffy brown curls. His affection and body heat were a welcomed company in the cold of the kitchen.

A smile found your face, even though Peter couldn’t see it from where he was. “I missed you too, baby.” Humming, your fingers scratched his scalp. “D’you know who’s here right now?” Your voice grew hushed, heart racing with the small adrenaline rush infiltrated your system.

“Your dad’s in his lab, Steve and Natasha are in the gym, and Vision’s with Wanda in the meeting room, but otherwise.. Everyone else’s out..” Peter’s voice dropped an octave as he spoke just above a whisper, his lips finding your collarbone. “Sam, Bucky, Thor..” In between each name, he placed another kiss on your neck, only inching higher. The more skin he nipped at, the more your fingers curled around his hair, curving your neck so that he had more access to you. “Bruce, Clint, Rhodey, Pepper…” His whispers sent shivers down your spine, especially as his left hand slid under the fabric of your shirt.

As Peter trailed kissed up to your jaw, a shuttered moan caught between your lips. You fought the urge to roll your hips back into his, knowing that you couldn’t finish what you were starting. If anybody found you two, your secret relationship would be out, and your dad would give you hell for it. “Peter.. We can’t…” You spoke breathlessly, tugging at his hair; it was an attempt to pull him from your body, but you didn’t try too hard.

His lips hovered over his favorite soft spot in the crevasse of your jawline, brushing his teeth along the surface of it just to rile you. It certainly didn’t help that he aimed his breathy chuckle right at it, but god did it feel good. “Why not?”

You huffed impatiently, eyes half lidded whilst your entire body anticipated the gentle brushing of his lips against your neck. His cooling fingers teased at the bottom of your left breast, testing waters you two hadn’t touched before. Sure, you’d let Peter Parker touch you like this plenty of times before, but never in the open like this. Never in the open where your secret could be outed.

“Cause I–” You felt the tug of Peter’s smirk against your skin at how worked up you were already getting. “I’m reading…” You knew that Peter was well aware of how secretive you needed to be. ‘Reading’ was merely just to give him a hard time.

He let out a quiet sigh, pressing a lingered kiss to your cheek. His thumb lightly rubbed at your rib cage beneath your shirt, but otherwise, he gave up his attempt. “You’re sure I can’t even get one kiss?” He asked, pouty even in his tone of voice.

You turned your head to look at him. Your eyes glanced at his lips just to tease him, “Over my dead body, Parker.” Your voice still sang out low, wanting nothing more than to taste him right then and there.

Peter’s face inched closer to yours, snickering quietly at your stubborn response. “Not if your dad kills me first..” He mused, voice still just as groveled as before. His lips nearly brushed against yours, but the sound of the floorboards outside of the kitchen made you both add three feet between you.

“Why would I kill you?” Your dad’s voice hummed nonchalant, as if he wasn’t interrupting such an intimate moment. He walked right through the thickening tension like it wasn’t the weight that it was. Tony’s focus seemed to be glued to his holographic wrist watch, completely oblivious to Peter’s hand slyly slipping out from under your black camisole.

You and Peter glanced at each other, astonished that he seemed so unfazed and unaware. Perhaps, your father didn’t hear as much of the conversation as you assumed he did. Maybe he truly was clueless to the blush coating your cheeks, and the timid bulge poking at the fly of Peter’s jeans.

“Uhh..” Peter lost every thought that occupied his brian. “Because I ate the last Pop Tart. I–I just figured you’d be upset.” Even he didn’t sound convinced about the excuse.

Finally, Tony looked up from his watch, eyeing you first, then Peter. This was the closest you two were to getting caught, and even though the AC was cranked fairly high, it felt like the air suddenly ran much cooler. Your heart was in your throat, easing a little when your father walked over and placed a gentle kiss on your cheek.

Tony leaned back on the kitchen island beside you, crossing his arms over his Nirvana band–tee. “Lucky for you, kid, I’ve got a whole secret stash in my lab.” He spoke with his typical Tony tone, “I’ll let you off the hook this time.”

Little did you or Peter know that your father actually heard most of your conversation. How much of it? He’d never tell you. Tony Stark knew that you and Peter had the hots for each other for a long time. He was just waiting for both of you to come clean about the relationship, or for the perfect time for him to address it. He’d known for a while, but the longer it took, the more entertaining it was to act like he was oblivious to it. Now, how he found out about the relationship, he’d never tell that to you either.

“Are you calling my daughter a liar, Rogers?” Tony asked the blonde from across the pool table, watching as the captain missed the shot with no reaction.

Steve stood upright, stepping back so that Tony had room to make his turn. “No. No, Tony.” He started, “All I’m saying is that if Peter were chivalrous, he would ask you for your permission first. That’s all.”

The topic of the evening was why you and Peter both flaked out of game night. Ever since Sam joked that you could’ve been bailing to go out together, every conversation Tony had was directed on how likely the possibility truly was.

His eyes squinted at Steve, readjusting his cue and stance in one swift movement. He knew Steve was traditional, but sometimes, Tony forgot just how traditional he really was. “They don’t need my permission. They’re teenagers.” Tony creased his hips, focusing on the pool table for a second. “Besides,” with a faint clank, Tony knocked two balls in with one hit, “Maybe she asked him out. It’s the twenty–first century.”

Steve sighed with a slight twinge of annoyance, both at Tony’s coyness and his success in their game. He leaned on his cue like a cane, watching the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist walk around the table again. “Alright, fine.” Steve huffed. “But if they are out canoodling tonight, what are you going to do about it?”

A focused glare glistened in Tony’s eyes as he bent over to take the shot. He pulled the cue back a few times, pondering on both his turn and the question. If he made this shot correctly, he could win the whole game; if you and Peter were really out on a date, what would he do?

Tony shoved the wooden rod in his hand, acing the shot just like he calculated. He subtly smirked to himself, looking back at Steve to answer his question. “I’ll find a way to give them hell for it.”

And that, he was. Ever since he caught you and Peter getting frisky on the security system later that night. That conversation happened months ago, and Tony still managed to make both of you incredibly jittery. He wasn’t entirely sure why it was such a big deal to tell him, or why you’d kept it a secret for so long, but he knew sooner than later you’d find a way to tell him.

Little did he know, Peter Parker was finding his way onto your bedroom in the thick of night after patrols.

You unlocked the door to your balcony, welcoming him in with the kiss you meant to give him hours earlier. Hungrily, your lips clasped with his, getting drunk on his taste, and lacing your fingers in his hair. “God, I missed you..” You spoke between kisses.

“Missed you too, baby..” Peter let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, finally able to relax in your presence.

Both of you took steps towards your bed, slow and steady to avoid the lack of contact. Peter’s mask was lost somewhere on your bedroom floor, and you wasted no time to press the button on his chest and strip him from the suit he’d been wearing.

Peter got to your bed first, sitting back on it and quickly helping you climb on top of him. His hands grasped every inch of you that they could — grazing your neck, squeezing at your hips, grabbing your ass, and now inching up your inner thigh as you straddled his lap. His hips arched up to meet yours, pressing up against you in a delicious way.

Tongues greeting each other, you both moaned into each other’s mouth. You couldn’t get enough of each other, and the foreplay only reminded you of how little patience you had for it. You didn’t just want Peter right now, you needed him. Inside you. The ache in your lower stomach felt throbbing, and you were confident that your arousal was already coating the fingers Peter had at your upper thigh.

Just as you both parted the kiss to catch your breath, your bedroom door abruptly opened, light invading the room. Your blood ran cold as your head snapped toward the door in time with Peter’s; you both met the casual stare of your father. Tony Stark stood in the doorframe, unfazed, in pajamas, toothbrush in his mouth.

The room fell quiet, apart from the sounds of the bristles cleaning Tony’s pearly whites, and the faint heavy breaths that you and Peter tried to catch.

Taking the toothbrush out of his mouth, Tony was the first to break the awkward, deafening, silence. “Hey, Kid.” Tony’s head nodded upwards, as though he were greeting Peter in public. Not like he was speaking nonchalantly to Peter, flushed, in boxers, sat beneath his daughter’s thighs. “Next time, can you use the front door so that I don’t have to disarm the security system?” Even if little he knew, little was still more than nothing.

Peter stared blankly at him, sure as hell that this had to be some nightmare he just hadn’t woken up from yet. He glanced at you, then swallowed the frog stuck in his throat. “Uh– uh, yep! Yeah, I–uh, I can do that!” He wasn’t sure why his voice always raised two octaves when he was nervous, but it definitely made this moment that much more amusing for Tony.

With a small smile, your dad grabbed the doorknob with his freehand. “Thanks.” He then put the toothbrush back in his mouth, slowly shutting the door. “Have fun! Use protection.” His words were muffled and spat due to having his mouth full, but he shut the door after that.

As awkward as it must’ve been for you and Peter, Tony found that moment to be as satisfying as he pictured it to be. Boy, he would give Peter the talking to of a lifetime in the morning, but it thrilled him to know that you’d found someone who made you so happy.

He didn’t see need to kill Peter either, after all.

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realtalkswithfinn · 11 months ago

Text

Christmas at the Compound

Avengers x reader

Summary: Avengers x reader Christmas head cannons because I am a sucker for the found family trope.

a/n: I tried to get this up before christmas but totally spaced it, so… tale it as a christmas morning gift! I tried to make it as age neutral as possible, so it could totally be teen!reader or not.

The holidays are a tough time for the Avengers.

Most of them have lost family members or friends, and the idea of celebrating anything is extremely difficult.

Tony especially - he always gets gloomy around the Holidays.

He always says something along the lines of, "I don't actually care about this, but its social convention."

But secretly he cares a lot.

He overcompensates for his lack of affection throughout the year by buying everyone the expensive gifts he knows they want but could never justify spending on themselves.

At surface level, it just seems like “oh rich guy is spending rich guy money”

But they’re actually really thoughtful gifts

Like last year, he got Peter a new laptop for school.

He bought Bucky new and thick clothes since all of his were old and worn.

He upgraded Clints cellular data so he could talk to his family anywhere.

Things like that.

Sam and Rhodey take one for the team and string the christmas lights on the tower

“It’s too cold for this.” Sam would complain, the sharp wind nipping at his cheeks as he flew from one end of the building to the other, lights in tow.

“Come one man, where’s your christmas spirit?” Rhodey would laugh

“I’m just doing this so stark’s power bill goes up.”

it really was worth it seeing the tower lit up top to bottom though

Wanda LIVES for commercialized American Christmas

"We have to make gingerbread houses and go to Rockefeller to see the Christmas tree and we have to go out to the snow and go sledding-"

She demands family Christmas photos be taken, even though you don't really have anyone to send them to.

This years theme was christmas pjs

Which lead to a few very interesting viral videos of the avengers in an Old Navy

“Tony come on the reindeer ones are cute!”

“Bruce. A man can not hold onto his masculinity while wearing pjs with dancing reindeer.”

Natasha gets tired of the bellyaching and bickering and makes the final decision

She grabs everyone’s size in the Reindeer pjs and marches to the front of the store

After snagging Tony’s credit card, of course.

Actually taking the picture is a whole other ball game, but that’s a story for another day

Thor has a hard time with the idea of Santa

You try to explain it to him, but it doesn’t seem to help

“So a fat man breaks into the safety of your home late into the night… and you let it happen because he comes baring gifts?”

“Well… yeah.”

“But only to nice children. That he stalks throughout the year.”

“He doesn’t stalk the children he just…”

“Hm.” He squints. “what about the naughty children?”

“They don’t get any presents.”

“OR,” Wanda interjects, “Krampus comes to get them.”

“Is that another fat man in a red disguise?”

“No. He’s a demon sent from hell to eat them.”

Thor nods in approval. “Ah. That’s much more asgardian. A fair reward system for the youth!”

You stare at him. “So… you’re okay with Krampus but not Santa?”

“Well I think they work together well, like a team. Like us!”

“I… I guess…”

Decorating the tree was an all night event

You would help happy bring up what felt like hundreds of boxes of christmas decorations

The tree itself was about 15 feet tall, because it wouldn’t be a holiday at the compound if you guys weren’t extra

It was placed in the living space, right next to a huge wall of windows so all of New York could see your festivity

it had to be decorated to the nines to pass Wanda’s inspection

Not a bare branch

Theres tinsel, ribbons, colorful lights, and hundreds of ornaments

But of course, ladders were a no go

You guys liked a challenge

To reach the higher branches, you and Natasha would stand on Steve and Buckys shoulders

And I mean stand

Not sit

It was a thrilling balancing game

You trusted them to catch you if you fell, but you still had to try to avoid it at all costs to save the tree from certain destruction

Peter would dangle from the ceiling, crawling around to hang ornaments toward the very top

Both of these acts nearly gave Bruce and Vision a heart attack

“CAP, you’re moving to fast shes gunna lose balance-“

“Bruce, please take a breath.”

Meanwhile Thor is getting distracted by all the ornaments and forgetting to actually hang them up

“This one’s a little man of snow! How silly!”

Speaking of ornaments

You all have an ornament of yourself on the tree

Or, your super hero alias at least

There’s a tiny black widow, a little iron man, a bity baby hulk, so on and so forth

Tony always demands his be the highest up on the tree to fuel his god complex

Drawing names out of a hat to see who got to put the star on top of the tree

(except you guys would always rig it behind Wanda’s back, only putting her name in the hat)

She would always protest, insisting to let someone else do it this year, but you guys never relented

So with a big cheesy grin on her face, she would use her magic to delicately place the star on the tippy top

You would think Natasha wouldn’t want to see the Nutcracker Ballet after her time in the red room

But it makes her so happy to see dancing as an art form instead of a way to brainwash young girls

She drags you, Clint, Wanda, and whoever else wants to tag along every year

She even splurges on front row seats

You look over and see her eyes glittering while she watches every turn, leap, and stunt intently

Leaving the theater, she’ll walk on her toes and do a few turns, encouraging you to try as well.

She ends up cackling watching you trip and stumble

“We’ll work on it.”

Can you IMAGINE the ginger bread making contest???

You’re all huddled around the long dining room table with christmas music playing

Theres Clint and Natasha, who just make the classic gingerbread house, no fancy bells or whistles.

Then there’s Bruce,Tony, and Peter who are going absolutely wild building gingerbread sky scrapers and gingerbread hotels.

“Mr. Stark look, I made a working elevator!”

Bruce puts an electric system (fairy lights) through his

Steve and Bucky rebuild their childhood homes

Wanda is going all out, delicately hand placing every candy and covering the whole thing in edible glitter

Visions is pretty similar, but more sleek and modern than Wanda’s

And then there’s Thor, who’s totally missing the point and just DUMPING everything on top

“Hey Peter, I think yours is missing something.”

You string a long thread of white rope candy from his structure to yours.

“Webs!”

“You know… we can probably make a web-like consistency with some starch and frosting…”

That becomes a whole sticky project, but you eventually get it to work, connecting everyone’s gingerbread houses with icing webs

Steve and Bucky are TOTALLY participating in the classic christmas traditions they grew up on.

They sit quietly together in the living room, making paper chains and stringing popcorn

“Do you mind if I join you guys?”

they smile gently. “Of course not.”

You sit crisscross in front of the couch while they teach you

They tell you stories of christmases long, long ago, which feels kinda silly considering they’re talking like grandpas while not appearing much older than you

On Christmas eve, you’re all there except for Clint, who went home to his family

Youre all dressed in your pajamas from the christmas card

You make hot coco and cider

Wanda pops in some old vhs tapes and you watch the classics late into the night

“Alright you nutcrackers,” tony would say around midnight. “I know you want to stay up and catch Santa, but he’s not coming if you all stay awake.”

he really just wanted to go to bed

He sauntered off, calling for lights out.

Most of the boys wandered away to their rooms, leaving you, Wanda, Nat and Thor not quite ready for sleep.

“So,” you ask, taking a sip of coco, “Do you guys think we’re on the naughty list?”

Natasha Chuckled. “I’m not sure. Does beating people up count as naughty if you’re taking down the bad guys?”

Thor set his mug down on the coffee table, the bells on his sweater jingling. “Do not fear ladies, I will catch that nasty Krampus if he comes in to devour your soul. I believe you were doing the right thing.”

You all laughed, thinking he was joking. But he just stared at you.

“Thor… you realize Krampus and Santa aren’t… real?” Wanda asked.

He had a hard time swallowing that.

He ended up sleeping on the couch “just in case”

you woke up at 3 am to a loud clattering coming from the living room

You decided to check it out against your better judgement

There was Thor. Hammer in one hand, cookie in another.

Down the hall toward the elevator was a completely destroyed life-size nutcracker.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“I thought I heard something by the elevator.”

“Congratulations. You murdered the Nutcracker.”

“I feared he was an accomplice of the holiday demon.”

“He’s been there for weeks!”

“He could have been a spy. Or possessed.”

“Goodnight Thor.”

Christmas Morning finally arrived

Everyone was sleeping soundly in their beds

Until Sam decided to be a little shit and wake everyone up at 7 am

He pounded on every. single. bedroom door.

“Y/NNNN. SANTA CAME TO TOWNNNNN.” he sing-songed

“No he didn’t.” You grumbled. “Thor killed him.”

“… I don’t know what that means.”

You all stumble out into the living room

Natasha took the time to actually run a brush through her hair and do her morning skincare

You and wanda were far too excited and skipped over that completely, barely remembering to brush your teeth

Tony looked the roughest - he had a silk robe draped over his pjs and looked like he was just awakened from a coma

Essentially, everyone was a little disheveled

Vision made everyone coffee before you started the gift exchange

You all sat around the coffee table in a circle so everyone could see each other

Bruce and Steve passed out the gifts from under the tree

it took a solid few minutes, there was a MOUNTAIN of presents

You went one at a time opening gifts

Some people think this is awkward, but you felt it was more genuine

this way, everyone can see the gift and the joy on the receivers face

as well as a million “thank you”s

It also gave time for the giver to explain why they chose the gift they did, whether it be something they remembered you said you wanted, something they knew you needed, or even just a simple “this made me think of you”

In the end, you loved all your gifts

And everyone loved what you got for them

But mostly, you were just happy to spend the holiday with your family

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gunsandspaceships · 9 months ago

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Proof that Tony Stark is a Sub

(Or at least a bottom) in the MCU.

Iron Man (2008):

Sex scene with Christine Everhart (0:09:00): Tony on his back, Christine is sitting on him, leading.

Deleted scene (supposed to be at 0:14:00) “Tony and Rhodey on Stark Jet” (1:25): a «flight attendant» blindfolds Tony before taking him to the bedroom.

Iron Man 2:

Alternate Opening (Deleted Scene – that moment is not on the Disney+ version of the opening, so check on YouTube): so Tony likes spanking, huh… That’s not the only “spanking” moment, read further.

The Avengers:

0:27:25 – Pepper is whispering something in Tony's ear, and we can tell by the look on Tony's face that she will do this to him in the bedroom after the job is done. If we check Gag Reel video for the movie in the first scene we can hear Tony commenting “Dirty, filthy. Fine, suits me” to Pepper’s promises.

Iron Man 3:

0:03:35 - Maya takes off glasses from Tony and pulls him by his scarf into a kiss.

1:18:50 - Tony is tied to a bed in Killian’s lab. Maya says “It’s just like old times, huh?”. Tony replies “Oh, yeah. With zip ties. It’s a ball.”

Avengers: Infinity War:

0:14:35 - Cloak of Levitation smacks Tony for leaning on the Cauldron of Cosmos. Tony turns around and looks at Strange and his hand, thinking that it was him. He replies with “I’m… going to allow that”.

#tony stark #iron man #mcu #marvel #the avengers #pepper potts #iron man 2 #iron man 3 #avengers infinity war #doctor stephen strange #maya hansen #cloak of levitation #bi #lgbtq #sub tony #bottom tony

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ussgallifrey · 6 months ago

Text

(She Moves With) Shameless Wonder | 22

✦ Summary: Your badge clearly said SHIELD consultant, so you weren’t entirely sure where Fury was getting this whole make you an Avenger idea from. But you had a feeling it might have something to do with the recent discovery of an artifact at the bottom of the Arctic Sea.

✦ Pairing: Steve Rogers x Female Reader

✦ Warnings: Canon divergence, dialogue taken directly from Avengers: Age of Ultron, language, mild violence, minor medical episode (seizure-esque), Steve Rogers definitely not being jealous.

✦ Word Count: 11k

✦ Playlist: Here

[Master List]

There’s a physical weight settling into Steve’s stomach as he stands there in the aftermath of the fight. A nasty mix of guilt and bruised egos permeates the room as his attention falls on you and your blazing golden eyes, chest heaving and hands clenched. A trickle of blood falls from your ear down the curve of your chin, landing with small plops on the ivory draping of your dress.

In a moment that should be a victory, all he can taste is the bitter sting of defeat.

Though a drone lays unmoving at their feet, there is no sense of battles won at this moment, as all eyes seem to round on the sole owner of said robot.

Someone says his name then with a warning tone that verges on the blossoms of bristling rage:

“Stark - ”

But Tony is already scrambling off the floor and bounding up the stairs to his lab, with nearly the entire team following after him just a beat later.

“Quinjet people, let’s move it.”

“Stark!” Thor bellows.

Driven by an invisible motor, however, the man in question ignores them all entirely in favor of jamming the elevator button repeatedly.

And just when Steve is ready to confront him, a million questions coming to mind, the lab plunges into pitch darkness.

“Oh, that’s just great. JARVIS, talk to me here - ”

Seemingly at once, the majority of the team pulls out their phones - using the built-in flashlight feature to light the eleven of them up in an awkward switching of straight-beam lights.

“Not the eyes, Jesus, man - ” Clint flinches, throwing a hand over his face as someone across from him quickly lowers their phone down to a reasonable level.

In the chaos of the room, Steve seeks you out.

But he doesn’t have to look long because there you are, already at his side, eyes searching his face.

Perhaps due to the adrenaline still rushing through his system, he entwines your hands together - squeezing a sense of reassurance across the connection. A steady breath releases from your lips and he can even feel himself relaxing as an invisible teether keeps the two of you from drifting into the madness of the situation.

You had taken on an alien invasion together and fought the likes of HYDRA side-by-side. A few drones controlled by Stark couldn’t be that bad.

“Okay, JARVIS is down,” Tony announces a moment later, tangible frustration lacing his words as he rubs his free hand over his face.

“Which means the quinjet is out of commission until reboot,” Nat supplies.

“Bingo.”

Your fingers pull from his hold and Steve releases your hand as you move toward the center of the lab, your index finger being the last to loosen from his grip. And it’s foolish how reluctant his heart is to fully let it escape his reach. Priorities, he tries to convince himself.

“At least three drones escaped. If they’re rogue or their AI is corrupted, they’re considered a risk.”

Steve watches as your eyes briefly land on him before your attention returns to the billionaire.

“We need to go after them, now.”

Rhodey slaps Tony’s arm, “Let’s suit up, man.”

“Out of the question.”

Steve turns, eyes landing on Maria who’s sat on the edge of a workbench, seemingly pulling shards of glass from the sole of her foot.

“She’s right,” Tony nods, reluctantly. “Suits could be equally corrupted and unstable.”

“We need fliers then,” you realize.

Everyone seems to turn toward Thor at that moment, but Steve and the goddess of old find their attention landing firmly on Sam.

Someone’s phone light illuminates your body then, still dressed in your elegant white dress. But behind you, a table is finally put into view.

“Stark. Where is the scepter?”

Thor, in all his towering power, crosses the lab in three giant steps before he stands in front of the man in question - backed into a workbench - a violent shimmer of ice-blue lightning flashing across his body. In the blackout, you had all failed to notice the most glaring difference in the lab. The lack of light had obscured your attention away from the now empty table where the scepter had previously been secured.

Sensing the ensuing chaos, Steve clears his throat, “Sam. Do you have your wings?”

“Course I do,” he huffs.

“Take the stairs, hurry,” you implore.

With a nod and slightly confused eyes, Sam takes off for the nearest emergency exit door - his phone’s light guiding the way.

With that set in motion, Steve watches as you move toward the shattered windows. He’s a few steps behind when you give a sharp high-pitched whistle. Coming to stand by your right side, he crosses his arms as he looks out at the darkened skies. He says nothing, but after a moment, he can spot the shimmering blue trail as a jet of bursting light comes hurtling toward the two of you.

Pallas swoops down through the archway, his talons circling your arm as he comes to perch. You coo at your avian friend.

“Hey, buddy,” Steve greets.

The owl immediately leans toward him and Steve can’t help but brush his index finger over the bird’s head.

“You seriously have an animal sidekick?”

Clint, who has pulled away from Nat and Bruce immediately rounds on you - voice filled with genuine disbelief.

“Something like that,” you reply, brushing your finger over your companion’s plumage.

Tilting your head in the direction of the others, Steve and the archer part for you as you stride over toward Tony - who remains on the receiving end of a god’s fury.

Your voice cuts through their building argument with clear precision, “Thor, you need to follow their trail - now.”

Steve returns to the conversation, staring down the other god as Thor’s golden eyes fall upon your face. They ease out, after a second, returning to the more familiar blue hues, causing Steve to relax his shoulders and clenched fists a fraction.

“As I was trying to say - ” Tony begins.

“Ah!” Your fingers snap in the direction of his mouth - effectively silencing the billionaire as he forces his lips back together, “Not now, Anthony.”

“Noted.”

The man pulls away, crossing his arms as he leans against an adjacent workbench next to Rhodey, who shoots him a particularly heated look. The supersoldier's fingers dig into his own forearms.

Steve watches as you command the situation with ease, turning toward Thor with a plan already in place.

“We have no jet. You can fly and we both know your vision is superior to just about everyone here. Now, go. I��ll send Pallas on as well.”

“A bird?”

“An owl who tracks foes across dimensions and worlds, with eyes better than anyone else in this room - even you, God of Thunder.”

He bristles back, eyes hardening.

Sam comes bounding in just a moment later, chest heaving, his hands gripping his wingpack.

“Got it.”

“Another set of eyes, particularly at night, can’t hurt. Without access to the quinjet yet and Stark’s legion, we need someone to follow their trail.”

Steve nods, picking up on the plan immediately without a single word shared between the two of you.

“There were three of them that shot out of here. Follow their trails as far as you can. Sam, get redwing on it too if you have to. Find out where the hell they’re taking it.”

“Now, the three of you - go!”

Thor gives a petulant look at the owl before he summons his hammer to his hand and heads for the window. Sam slings the pack on, eyeing Steve as he does so.

You whisper something then to Pallas, though above the readying of Sam’s wings, he can’t make out what exactly you say. With a squawk of acknowledgment, Pallas leaps from your arm and soars out the window, with Thor and Sam on his tail just a moment later.

He watches you then, as you move toward the open windows of the tower. Hands gripping your bare arms as a brewing sea of troubles flits across your features at a disturbing rate.

Maybe it was similar to the things that were crossing his mind.

The hows and whys. The what-ifs and should-haves.

Had it been foolish - naive - of them all to bring the scepter back here? To let it sit, relatively unsecured, in the lab for three days. The same weapon, Steve recalls, that caused the entire team to turn upon one another three years prior. The tool that had turned Barton against his teammate, that had swayed several brilliant minds into helping Loki, of all beings.

He should have known better.

That thing should have been handed over to Thor and sent back to Asgard the minute they cleared Sokovian air space three days back.

And then his attention falls back on the woman beside him. Her gaze is despondent as she stares out into the emptiness of the night air. Steve takes a steadying breath before nudging your shoulder with his arm.

“You okay?”

Your face turns then, a grimace forced into a tight smile as you nod.

The lights flicker back to life, nearly blinding you both as you shield your eyes from the sudden brightness overhead.

“Hey, look at that,” someone proclaims.

You look more assured now, ready to stride forward once again, and Steve is determined to stay by your side as you do.

“Okay,” you start, returning to the group. “We need to know everything that happened in this lab tonight. Can you pull up JARVIS?”

Tony looks up with slightly widened eyes before he glances back down at his phone in dismay.

“That’s gonna be a no-go, Wonder Woman.”

Steve takes a step forward, curiosity mixing with his already heightened frustration, “And why’s that?”

With a flick of his wrist, a hologram shoots out from the billionaire’s phone. Fragments of orange and blue light, scattered apart from a central sphere, hover in the open space of the lab - illuminating the entire room.

It’s Bruce who takes a step forward then, pulling his glasses on as he stares into the depths of the image, “This is insane.”

With a shake of his head, Steve says what everyone else was also likely thinking, “Jarvis was the first line of defense.”

“But this doesn’t make sense,” Bruce responds, looking to Steve, then Tony. “Ultron could have assimilated Jarvis into its system. They’re different AIs, but this… this isn’t strategy.”

“It looks like the hole Thor would have left in Tony’s head if he had the chance,” Clint adds with nearly no amusement.

You nod in agreement, “It’s rage.”

“Lucky he didn’t kill you tonight then,” Rhodey clips.

Tony actually rolls his eyes at that, pushing away from the table and pulling the hologram with him.

“That was never going to happen.”

“Oh, yeah? Why’s that then? The system was too bonded to you, its creator?”

“Something like that,” you add.

A few curious eyes meet your gaze - Steve’s included - and Tony gives a little nod in return.

With a sigh, you elaborate, “The three laws of robotics. Number One: a robot can not harm or injure a human, or, through inaction, allow a human to be harmed.”

At that, Rhodey pushes up, anger flaring across his usually composed features.

“Oh, was that what that was? Cause I thought that thing was dangling him by the goddamn neck sixty stories above the street? Or maybe I’m just blind. What exactly would you call that?”

Tony puts a hand on his friend’s shoulder just as Steve moves to stand beside you.

“That’s enough.”

The billionaire rolls his eyes, turning instead to address Rhodes.

“He couldn’t do anything more than that. I wasn’t being choked and I was never going to be dropped. It’s exactly what it was; a threat. And… a promise, from the sounds of it.”

“A promise to do what?” Clint questions, hands on his hips and brows raised in clear confusion.

“If I had to take a guess,” Maria speaks up from behind you and Steve. “I’d say your drone thinks he can do a better job of keeping the peace than he thinks you guys can.”

Tony points his phone at him, “Right on the money.”

“And now we have a rogue robot running around with a scepter that allowed Loki to bring an alien army to Manhattan. Imagine the possibilities,” Natasha intones with a shake of her red curls.

“Uhm… guys?”

Steve, and the rest of the team, are pulled by the sound of Helen Cho’s voice.

Standing near the shattered window frames, overlooking the city, they all wander over to the doctor. Laid out before them is complete and utter darkness from the business district, and the street lights, and the countless restaurants and apartments. Only directly down on the street itself, do the headlights of the cars remain to illuminate the blackout.

“What the hell?” Clint murmurs with a hand over his jaw.

“So… this is bad,” Bruce adds, eyes wide as he glances from Tony to you to the window once again.

As Steve’s mind comes up empty for an explanation, he looks over to see you with a look on your face that seems to say you have already pieced the puzzle together. Leaning into his side, you explain:

“The drones disabled the arc reactor that supplies the tower… and the local grid.”

Right. In the years following the dismantling of his suits, Tony had focused his efforts on expanding the arc reactor’s reach. Moving from just supplying the Tower, eventually, the entire city was switched over to the “clean energy” route, with plans to move to a country-wide operation in the near future.

Steve had picked that up one early morning when Tony had been working through calculations when the supersoldier returned from his 5 AM run.

But the only thought that comes to mind is simply, “Why?”

You shake your head, hands clutching your crossed arms, “Distraction maybe - keep us from following after right away. The whole tower was shut down, meaning the jet was too. I’m not sure. Only he could answer that, honestly.”

Pointing your chin in the direction of Stark, he follows your gaze.

“I don’t have a read on the system,” you continue. “But vengeance isn’t typically embedded into a robot’s coding.”

“But these aren’t usual circumstances,” Steve concludes.

You nod in return.

“And with ours back on and working, the city goes into blackout, and chaos reins,” Nat smirks.

“Yeah, and the Terminator gets to fly off and do hell knows what while we’re stuck here,” Clint finishes his statement with a swift kick to a cabinet.

Tony pushes away from the workbench, pocketing his phone, “Well, fun as this is. I need to go secure the rest of these fuckers before we have a mass break-out. Banner?”

Bruce’s head pops up at the call of his name, “Yeah? Yup, coming.”

The archer watches them go, holding out a hand in clear incredulousness.

“And we just… what, exactly?”

Your eyes find Steve’s furrowed expression for a moment before you both look toward the shattered window frames once again.

While Sam and Thor were in the wind, following a trail that would hopefully lead you all to the scepter, the rest of you formulated a plan.

With some minor begrudging and hesitation, Rhodey was suited up and sent to work on fixing the line to the arc reactor in the bay. The entire legion was a no-go, currently on full lockdown in the tower, thankfully. And without JARVIS, Tony couldn’t access his standby suit which Pepper definitely didn’t know about. And he was about 99% sure that Rhodes' suit would be fine as it operated on a different system.

“What about the other 1%?” he had questioned.

“I’ll be with you the entire time,” Tony had promised.

From what Maria was able to tell you, with her access to both SHIELD’s information and the news outside of the city, panic was beginning to pulse across the island. Local news networks were unable to broadcast and the national news was only just starting to pick up on the situation - not that the majority of Manhattan could see that: the whole power outage, and all.

“Ouch.”

You glance up from your position on the floor, Maria’s foot in your hand as you carefully remove the last few pieces of glass with the medical tweezers.

“Sorry, I promise it’s almost all out.”

“No,” she shakes her head, turning her tablet around for you to see. “I was referring to this coverage.”

Your eyes squint to read the article in front of you, published all of two minutes ago by The Daily Bugle.

Party at Stark Tower Causes Mass Outages; Mayor Marino Asks for Public to Remain Patient

“Oh, that’s reassuring,” you bite, shaking your head as you return to the task at hand.

“Yeah, public opinion, that’s all we need to help the situation right now.”

“No mention of the rogue drones though, right? Just Tony and his excessive electric bill?”

“Of course,” Maria grins.

While you remained at the tower with Helen and Maria to resume order and keep an eye on the possibly impending situation out in the city, the others had gotten the quinjet up and running. Steve, Natasha, and Clint had blazed out of the lab as soon as Tony gave the all-clear.

About fifteen minutes behind Thor and Sam (and Pallas, of course), the likelihood of them actually tracking one of the bots down was nearly zero. At best, they could assist the others if they actually managed to find the one wielding the scepter. But even those odds were becoming lower and lower as the minutes ticked by.

With her foot properly bandaged, Maria begins setting up a pseudo-command station at one of the cleared workbenches in the lab. She was the only access point to the outside world right now.

Diverting your attention to the only other person in the room, you make your way over to Dr. Cho.

Standing near the stairs overlooking the main atrium where the party had been broken up, she holds Steve’s leather jacket even closer to her frame. It practically engulfs her entire upper body and, as you draw near, you can make out the faint fragrance of the supersoldier’s musky cologne.

“Hi,” she greets, darting a quick look in your direction as you come to a stop.

“How are you doing? Anything need tending to?”

“Wha- oh, no. No, I’m fine.”

You give a nod, crossing your arms as you look out at the destruction.

In the morning, no doubt, Tony would have cleaning crews up here to deal with the mess. And there was a good amount of it. Between the shattered glass, shards of broken furniture, and dented walls and floors.

But where your attention falls, is on the mangled drone still lying at the base of the stairs.

Without another word, you make your way down the steps before you drop to your knee, staring down into the unlit visual optics of the robot. You turn its head from side to side as if expecting to find an answer to one of the many questions you had brewing around in your mind after the attack.

Now, human vengeance you understood all too well. Centuries of first-hand experience to the fact, actually. But this? Corrupted software? That was an entirely different playing field.

Steve had told you all about the likes of the supercomputer that housed the remnants of Arnim Zola. But even that coding had elements of humanity in it. Ultron wasn’t nearly comparable. Apples and oranges, someone might say. But the rage and destruction that had occurred tonight… you couldn’t ignore that.

Releasing the robot from your grip, your fingers instead reach up and wrap around the silver locket.

Perhaps this is what Hermes and Dionysus had been sent to warn you about. Something large and unforgiving was heading your way. But, as your eyes fall back upon the lifeless drone, you can’t help but wonder if something so easily overtaken was truly that great of a threat.

Prying the lock free, you stare at the flickering flame held within the pendant.

Surely not dangerous enough to warrant a direct link to the Promethean Flame?

An hour passes, yet you receive no word from the away teams. Bruce pops his head in at one point to check on Helen. He offhandedly comments on the state of Rhodes and Tony, and their progress on repairing the Arc Reactor’s main lines, but otherwise has little to contribute.

It was a total feeling of helplessness.

While the others were at least chasing down the threat that the rogue Ultron bots posed, you were stuck in the tower. Waiting for the tides to turn, or for the masses to revolt in full.

Maria had been keeping you in the loop, relaying intel from SHIELD and other groups your way.

The majority of Manhattan remained where they were, patiently waiting for the return of their electricity. But others were taking the lack of surveillance as a free pass to do what they pleased.

Perched behind Maria, your arms crossed and eyes focused on the screen in front of the agent, you try to listen as notifications continue to pop up on her main video feed.

“NYPD is spread thin, but nothing truly alarming yet. Break-ins and looting for the most part. No mention of killer bots, thankfully,” she reports with a long sigh.

“How much longer until we’re at an escalation level though?” You ponder pushing away from her command station to pace the length of the lab.

“Well, it’s just after midnight on a weekend,” she shrugs. “I give it another hour.”

“Honestly, last of my worries right now.”

The two of you look up as Tony makes his entrance. His usually-kept hair is tousled and wild as if his fingers have been raking through it for the past two hours. The three-piece suit is dismantled down to his button-up shirt, hastily rolled up to his elbows, with signs of grease and oil present upon his forearms and hands.

“What is it?” you question, rising to your full height as the billionaire draws near.

“He cleared out. Dumped everything I had. Basically used the internet as an escape hatch before he flew the coop. Everything downstairs is worthless.”

You shake your head, disbelief rattling through your body, “One giant distraction to get what he really wanted.”

“Had his fingers in everything,” Tony continues, perching on the edge of one of his lab’s tables. “Files, surveillance, pretty much everything that got dropped by Agent Carter after the whole SHIELD / HYDRA mess courtesy of Cap.”

Even though you shoot him a look then, he plows forward.

“Big question I’m wondering here though is… what’s his endgame? Access to everything we go now, what’s step two?”

Maria scoffs, barely looking up from her computer, “He’s got our files, but let’s say he’s feeling even more bold. Nuclear codes or something like that.”

“Nukes?”

Your eyes meet Helen’s from across the room when she enters with Bruce at her side. Maria blinks, mouth opening and closing for just a moment longer before she swipes up her phone and pulls away from the table.

“I’m gonna make some more calls. While we still can.”

The four of you watch as she makes a hasty exit, already speaking to someone before she’s even fully out of the room. But then you look upon Tony and Bruce. A weight seems to settle onto your shoulders as the gravity of the situation sinks further into place.

Banner tugs off his glasses, rubbing his forehead for a second before the words come out.

“It said it wanted us dead.”

Tony shakes his head, “Not us as in the whole human race, mind you. Just… us.”

“No,” you retort, dropping down into the chair Maria had previously occupied. “Not dead… extinct.”

“Po-ta-toe, po-ta-toh,” Stark waves dismissively.

Your brows arch, but you remain silent as your eyes fall upon the sudden clap of thunder outside the tower.

Thor’s feet slam against the floor as he strides toward the four of you, gaze focused on only one person. Before you can even move from the chair, Thor wraps his hand around Tony’s neck and successfully lifts him from the ground.

“Come on, use your words, buddy.”

“Odinson,” you warn, moving to step between the two.

“I have more than enough words to describe you, Stark,” he bites.

“Thor. The drone?”

Your fellow god spares you but a look before he drops Tony with little fanfare. As the man stumbles backward, gasping as he holds his reddened throat, Thor lets out a long breath.

“I followed it across the ocean, one hundred miles out, before it lost its head.”

Bruce steps into view, “Did it… did it have the scepter?”

“Nay.”

You share a nod of understanding with the doctor.

It was down to Sam, the team on the quinjet, and Pallas to locate and track down the remaining two.

When the away team returned a near half-hour later, they too reported engaging with a bot. While the drone was successfully defeated and its body returned to the tower, the scepter was nowhere to be found.

Steve runs a hand through his hair, his helmet resting on the table beside him.

The others had cleared out of the lab, yet the two of you chose to remain.

Perhaps under the intention of feeling useful while you truly had nothing else to offer in the matter. Energies exhausted and options limited, yet neither one of you could simply call it quits just yet.

Your eyes travel down to the still-open laptop that Maria had left behind. Coverage from CNN showed minor instances of looting, arson, and a group of people just outside of the tower’s entrance - shouting inaudibly as the anchors covered the strange power outage.

It wasn’t anything that required your assistance yet. And, honestly, you hoped it wouldn’t. That was the last thing these people needed. Seeing the group of you out there trying to break up the madness after you inadvertently caused the blackout in the first place.

“We tried,” he explains, yet again. “Nothing was coming up on our systems though.”

You offer him a small smile, looking away from the computer, “It makes sense that they would shoot off in three different directions. Ultron had to be expecting to be followed.”

Sam had even sent Redwing out after Pallas, but the drone had returned with nothing of use.

Steve’s tired eyes meet yours as he stares up at you from his seated position.

“Will he be…?”

You understand his line of questioning and immediately shake your head, “He’ll be more than fine. Trust me. The fool won’t try and engage a robot, I assure you. He’ll just return to my side when he’s sure of a location. He knows how to keep his distance.”

The blonde gives a reluctant nod.

After a beat of silence, you move to stand beside him, resting your hip against the edge of the table. His gaze travels down your side, landing on the hem of your dress where a small splatter of your blood remains, staining the soft fabric.

You watch as his fingers gently tug on the material, smoothing over the already-dried splotch. A breath catches in your throat and you quickly cough to recover from it. Steve’s eyes meet yours once again.

“I - this is why I don’t do parties,” you settle on.

His brows raise, but a curious smile tugs at his lips.

“Is that right?”

“Mhmm, and let me tell, you that is quite a feat to accomplish back on Olympus.”

“I imagine so.”

“Between Dion and Apollo, you could barely sleep at night,” you smile at the memory of ages past. Absently, your hand clutches at the pendant around your neck once again. Your finger drags over the raised engraving on the cover clasp.

And then Steve’s standing up. One hand comes to rest on the table beside your left hip, though his added height makes him have to bend his head down to keep your gaze level.

“You know,” he starts, eyes dipping down for just a second. “If we can’t locate the scepter right away, we’ll need to go back to raid missions.”

“Yeah.”

The thought had occurred to you. After all, you had only been planning to stay around long enough to wrap up the business with the scepter before returning to Fury’s side. But the prospect of working alongside a team to hunt down the remnants of HYDRA certainly sounded more favorable now.

“And it’d probably be easier having you here at the tower than trying to track you across Europe.”

“Is that right?” you smile in return.

He shrugs, “Just a thought.”

With him this close, you can feel the heat radiating off his body, and smell the bitter Asgardian ale on his breath. Sweat that beaded up on his hair makes his usually soft blonde hues look darker. You can even feel the sudden sensation of his thumb rubbing against your clothed outer thigh.

You clear your throat, pulling yourself further back on the table. Steve immediately takes a step back as well - hands returning to his sides.

“Hey, Stark says the reactor’s back on.”

The two of you whip your heads in the direction of Clint who enters the lab, gaze firmly set on his phone. He looks up a beat later, when he’s met with silence, and immediately grins.

“I wasn’t interrupting something, was I?”

Your face scrunches in confusion, looking from him to the supersoldier and back again.

“No? Steve was just saying that I should remain here if we need to go on more raids.”

“Did he?” Barton sounds almost gleeful as he rocks up on his heels.

You look toward Steve again, but his eyes remain on the archer.

Clint stops, mouth closing as he jerks his thumb back in the direction of which he had just came from, “Yeah. I’m just gonna…”

He walks backward for a moment before he turns and heads down the stairs and out of the lab. You watch him go and then you turn your attention back to the man standing in front of you. He shakes his head, letting out a huff of unamused laughter.

“Well,” you brush the draping of your dress that rests below your knees. “Until Pallas returns, it looks like you’re stuck with me, Rogers.”

His radiant blue eyes meet your soft expression as you hop up from your place on the edge of the table. He lends you a hand as you steady yourself.

“That’s not so bad,” he replies with a gentle tone.

You give him a smile in return.

One last glance at the laptop shows updated images of the lit New York skyline before you close the lid. At least a riot wasn’t on the agenda for tonight.

As you make your way down the stairs, toward the elevator to the residence floor, Steve’s hand comes to rest on your lower back as you side-step a large pile of broken glass.

“I don’t think I mentioned earlier,” he starts, gazing down at your face as you wait for the elevator to reach your floor.

“What?”

He takes a breath, darkened eyes focused on your own, “You look beautiful tonight.”

You look away, feeling a strange rush of heat to your cheeks and ears, as a surprising smile graces your features at the compliment.

Steve rocks back on his heels for a moment, also looking up toward the floor indicator light before his fingers tighten briefly on your back.

Natasha’s in the kitchen when he returns to the tower. She has a steaming mug of black coffee in one hand when she looks up from her phone to greet him.

“Good run?”

When she's given no reply, she looks up, green eyes hardening as she sees right through him. He shakes his head, moving his attention to the fridge where he seeks out a bottle of water.

“Should have kept it to the gym.”

Her sculpted brow arches in question.

Taking a moment to unscrew the lid and have a gulp of the much-needed cold drink, Steve brushes his lips dry with the back of his hand, head thudding against the door of the refrigerator.

“Rogers. What happened?”

He gives a small shake of his head, hardly believing the events of the morning himself.

“People on the street weren’t in the best of moods today.”

“Wow. New York on a Sunday, who would have guessed?” she laughs, returning to her coffee.

“It’s not…” he sighs, rubbing his hand over his sweatpants. “Not people being people. I mean, they were shouting at me. Things about last night and where my priorities lie. There was genuine hate there.”

She deposits her drink back down on the counter.

“Are they honestly still mad about that? The power was restored in less than five hours.”

“Yeah, well,” he shrugs, pushing off from the fridge. “Apparently there’s some distaste in their mouths after the news was all over the party last night.”

Nat gives a nod of understanding.

“Tony, extravagance, using up the entire grid for his party, of course.”

“What’s the point in public servants if that’s what we’re doing in our free time?” Steve says, recalling the words of a young woman who had crossed his path near the coffee shop by Grand Central.

“Well, I’m sure you’re all too used to that at this point. Wasn’t WHiH claiming you were hellbent on destroying D.C. because you were… what was it?”

“Demanding a pay increase,” he snaps, cooly remembering the headlines that graced the media two years prior.

She snorts, taking a sip of her beverage once again.

“Look, when you’re in this business long enough, with a public image, you’re going to get bad press every now and then. As far as they know, there were no Ultron drones tearing up the tower. Better to have them know less of the truth and deal with a little public fallout than mass panic, don’t you think?”

Steve sighs, holding the bottle against his cheek for a moment as his emotions rattle their way through his system.

“I guess.”

She gives him a pointed look then.

“Anyway, Tony’s prepping to give an address at ten. Calm general worry and all that jazz.”

“Good.”

Steve was not a stranger in the realm of negative press. The days of wearing blue-knit tights and holding a wooden shield hadn’t strayed that far from his mind. He knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of dislike and general disgust. To be booed and have tomatoes thrown at you and generally feel like a piece of crap, to put it lightly.

But this was the modern era, news traveled faster than he could have ever believed. And one negative story could easily spiral out of control until public opinion was permanently changed.

It was only two years after D.C., and three since the Battle of New York. When, even after saving the city from an alien invasion and their own government trying to bomb them out of existence, the public was still up in arms over the concept of them.

The assassin stares at him for a moment more, before she changes her tone entirely.

“So… how were things last night?”

He rolls his eyes, “Come on.”

“No, I’m genuinely asking. Barton was all doe-eyed when he reenacted it to us. Something about walking in before a big declaration of love?”

“I’ll see you later, Nat,” he announces, striding out of the kitchen with a quickened pace as her laughter follows after him.

While he had allowed himself to spend a portion of his morning recalling everything about you from the party, the run had largely soured Steve’s mood. And it had refocused his attention back on the rather pressing issue that was a missing and corrupted robot with an alien-based scepter.

He hadn’t been able to sleep after he dropped you off at your room. Tossing and turning on his bed for a solid two hours before he just threw his hands up and decided to go for his usual morning run. Half of the team was still out for the moment - too exhausted from the events of the late night to be awake before eight - though he had a feeling that no one would be getting particularly restful sleep.

And while you had reassured him that you were confident in Pallas’ situation, Steve could still see the hint of worry in your eyes.

Maybe that’s why Steve isn’t entirely surprised to see you when he rounds the corner to the living quarters. With your arms resting on the window ledge, your attention is focused on the city down below. He clears his throat, giving you a moment to acknowledge his approach before he comes to rest on your left side, mirroring your pose.

“Hey,” you greet, voice soft but strained with a lingering sense of tiredness. “Get any sleep?”

He snorts, “Not a wink.”

You offer him a look, lips barely able to reach up into a proper smile.

As the silence stretches for a minute longer, Steve looks down at your hands whereupon he notices a small scrap of paper held tightly between your fingers. You twiddle with it as the seconds pass, but he can see nothing on it. Drawing his eyes back to your face, the supersoldier lets out a sigh.

“It’s the worst, feeling stationary, isn’t it?”

That makes your gaze pull up, curiosity piqued.

“Never was very good at waiting around while things went on around me that felt… out of my control.”

“You were never a proper soldier,” you smirk.

He can feel his smile grow.

“Do you want to spar?”

When your eyes meet his, he feels the need to elaborate. “I have all this tension from last night and I think I’ve wrecked just about every one of Stark’s punching bags at this point.”

“Oh, am I the replacement for your usual punching bag? Is that it?”

Though it’s teasing in nature, your smile overpowers the harshness of it.

Steve inclines his head in the direction of the gym before he shakes his head and adds, “Never.”

Steve’s head slams onto the mat as all of the breath is pushed from his lungs. You’re securely sat on top of him, holding his wrists together in one of your hands as you lean down - your chests pressed together.

“You’re getting better at this, honestly.”

He huffs out a sound of laughter as you gently release him and pull back, resting on your haunches.

“It doesn’t feel like it,” he grunts with just a hint of playfulness behind his ocean-blue eyes.

You give him a little shrug.

“What, like it’s easy to take down a god? Honestly, Rogers.”

This had been your routine for the past two days. While public outcry died down and Stark began cleaning up the tower and securing his current systems, the two of you found yourselves in the gym more often than not.

Sometimes the others would join you. Feeling equally stuck in the waiting game that you and the supersoldier did.

There had been no word from Pallas, nor sightings of a silver robot wandering around with a deadly alien scepter. So, you used your time in the only way that seemed appropriate.

Steve sits up, hands resting on either side of your hips, catching you somewhat off guard as the heated breath from his lips meets the tip of your nose.

You wriggle against him, feeling slightly caged by his positioning.

But then his fingers are digging into your sides, tickling you, and the shocking gasps of laughter surprise even you as you find yourself being rolled over onto the mat.

“Ste-Eve! Cronusss, mercy! Mercy!”

It lasts a minute more before Steve stops his attack, chuckling at your exposed position. While it wasn’t a well-known fact, goddesses could also feel the effects of tickling. When his hands retreat and your breathing calms, you find yourself staring up into those darkened blue eyes as he straddles you.

There’s a glint of a smile on his lips as he leans forward, gaze moving from your eyes down to your lips.

“First time for everything,” you whisper.

There’s a strange dichotomy draping over you as he tilts forward. The blanket of heat that lays across your body mixes with the screaming anxiety in the pit of your stomach that commands you to move, to pull away. And like an ice bath, that feeling tips over until your body begins to shake involuntarily and your vision blurs.

You can hear his voice, but it’s far away, drifting toward you through muddied waters.

And while you lose sight of the gym, of Steve’s face above yours, your eyes blink open to the sight of reddish-orange bricks.

You force another harsh blink of your eyes, trying to see more of what lies in front of you.

Distantly, someone is shouting your name and it takes all your energy to yell back shut up, but even that sound never reaches your ears.

You can feel the rustle of the breeze in the tree you’re perched within, light dim in the late afternoon sky, as the white words finally come into sharper clarity for you. Grasping everything in front of you like a sponge sucking up knowledge, you try to retain it all down to the last detail.

Bodies are strewn across the ground, ripped apart with careless blasts, the large metal doors are destroyed, and a siren rings out. And you can see a silver drone, and a man being pulled along, muttering something, something… his arm is missing, blood gushing down his side as he is pulled away, red eyes land on you and panic rises in your throat as a hole is blasted into the trunk just an inch from your head.

And then, at last -

“Daughter of Zeus. Return to me. Athena. My Lady, Athena. Return to me.”

It takes a second, but a punch of air pushes out from your lungs as the sight of the gym comes back into view, nausea rising to a volatile level. You shield your eyes against the light as someone is quick to block out the remaining fluorescents from your sight. A hand presses down on your shuddering chest, holding you steady against the sticky mat.

“Her eyes,” someone says. “They were silver, like she had film over them or - ”

“A vision,” a deeper tone replies.

With another breath, you finally look up to see the curious eyes of Thor. A braided strand of his blonde hair rests upon your clavicle as he peers down at you, searching your eyes for something.

“Where is it?”

A hand cradles your cheek and your stomach sloshes.

Letters and images flash by your inner mind until, at last, a location comes forward and a word is spat out:

“Netherlands.”

You can feel Steve’s gaze upon you as you sit on the cream-colored couch in the central living space of the tower. Knees bent and pulled up to your chest as your body tries to recover from the experience.

It had taken the strength of the supersoldier and the other god to get you here as your own feet had been reluctant to function in the aftermath. Even now, an involuntary shudder wracks your body.

While the experience had lasted only seconds for you, Steve said you were out for several minutes. With your eyes glazed over and your body convulsing so hard he thought the worst. Thor had merely been passing by the gym when he found the two of you.

Of course, your fellow god knew exactly what had happened.

“I have a link to Pallas when necessary,” you explain to the team. “When he was sure of Ultron’s location, he connected with me. Sorry, by the way - ” you direct this part to Steve.

He waves his hand in dismissal, but his face clearly gives away his discomfort with what had just transpired.

“Great. Where’s the bastard?” Clint claps his hands together.

Giving yourself a moment to breathe, you answer at last, “The Hague Penitentiary.”

Tony’s head snaps up, pointing a finger as if he wants to say something before he grabs his phone instead.

“A prison?” Sam questions.

“Not just a prison,” Natasha continues for you.

From across the room, the billionaire pulls up a hologram of the location, alongside a map and a 3D globe.

“It’s the main detention unit for NATO.”

Clint blinks, “Seriously?”

“And wouldn’t you know it, there was a breakout less than an hour ago,” Stark snaps.

A holographic list of prisoners is thrown into the center of the room before it lands on a single name. Pulling up the accompanying image, your memory of the vision suddenly connects with the portrait in front of you.

“Strucker.”

Someone’s hand slams onto a table behind you, but you can barely hear it over the sound of anger pulsing through your own ears.

“That fucker,” Clint spits.

Thor stalks off across the room to stare out the windows, you can see his shoulders visibly shaking as he clenches his fists. Shocks of electric blue travel along his frame.

“Why?”

When you feel the gaze of the team fall upon you, you reiterate, “Why him?”

“Strucker was working with the scepter before this; days before literally,” Tony suggests.

Steve shakes his head, “Access to everything online - HYDRA included, why would Ultron need him?”

At that, Tony opens and closes his mouth, perplexed into silence.

Steve had a point, of course. What use was Strucker to Ultron when the drone knew anything and everything? Probably even more than the Baron did about the scepter. For a supposed superior peacekeeper it was surely strange for the bot to take a man like Strucker hostage. No, he needed him for something. But what?

Thor snorts, turning back toward the team.

“Personally, I care not for the why.”

“Same, actually,” Clint cracks his knuckles. “We put him away once, maybe we should make it permanent.”

Nat places a silent hand on his forearm.

“Yeah,” Tony nods, pocketing his phone. “Let’s get the bastard.”

That’s how you find yourselves in the air, barely ten minutes later. While Tony and Bruce chose to remain at the Tower, the rest of you hopped on the jet with a course set for the Hague district.

Clint drums his hands upon his knees, sitting across from you on the benches, while Thor continues to pace the length of the jet. Twisting and turning his hammer around in his grip. Everyone has the sense to steer clear of the God of Thunder.

When Natasha comes back to sit beside the archer, you push up from your own seat to move toward the controls at the front of the plane where Sam and Steve reside.

“See, this is what’s pissing me off.”

You arch a brow at the supersoldier when you come to stand beside his chair. He has a fist drawn to his mouth, gaze drawn in thought as Tony’s voice comes over the speakers.

“Think I can get footage of these two? No. Think I can find any functioning camera in a fifty-mile radius of this place? No. I’m serious, Cap. I’m off the robotics market after this. I can’t have my projects trying to outsmart me.”

“We’ll do it the old-fashioned way then,” Steve sighs, trying to placate the situation.

There’s a beat of crackling static before Tony responds.

“Yeah. Let me know how that works out.”

The comm link switches off and Sam lets out a low whistle.

Steve stares at the controls for a long moment before he finally meets your gaze.

“They’re in the wind, aren’t they?”

He nods.

It’s another twenty minutes of flying before the quinjet crosses Dutch borders. The team, while rattled by the revelation that they were basically back at square one with the scepter, got to work on their last-minute preparations. Across the ocean, back in New York, Tony and Bruce were working to get a signal on the rogue bot. Still technically connected to the original Ultron AI network, there was a large possibility of finding it.

Perhaps if the drone hadn’t rearranged Tony’s schematics and software before he left, it would already be up and running. But, as it was, Stark was stuck working around his own systems to get to what he needed.

“Damn.”

You look up from your spot behind Steve, craning your neck to see out the windshield.

At Sam’s exclamation, you finally see the large coverage of agents outside the penitentiary, followed by camera crews and vans held behind barriers on the streets. There’s a handful of them, in the center of the yard, frantically waving their hands in an X motion at the jet.

The two men share a look between themselves, before pulling the lever on the panel that would allow the ship to remain in the air.

“What’s the hold-up?” Natasha questions, the smirk on her face falling by a fraction as she joins the three of you at the front of the jet.

Clint’s a step behind her, “What the hell?”

“Are they denying us permission to land?”

Steve flips a switch, static ringing out for a moment, before he speaks, “Tony. We’re not cleared to land.”

There’s a long sigh that follows across the comm.

“Yeah, okay. Let me make a call.”

You press forward, looking down at the masses. Black body bags covered the entrance path, just like your vision had shown you. The doors to the main center of the unit were barely hanging on their hinges now. On instinct alone, you begin searching the outlying trees and perches - seeking out the one who had brought you all here in the first place.

“Any sign?” Steve intones, leaning into your side.

You shake your head, “Not yet. But he’s out there.”

The blonde takes a moment to scan the ground below, but also seems to come up empty.

“Okay. Fantastic news,” Tony announces. “They’re denying you entry and want you to vacate the area, immediately.”

“That’s… that’s not good news,” Clint states.

Nat gives the archer a little shove, moving closer to the speaker.

“Did they give you a reason why?”

You can imagine Tony rolling his eyes, shrugging, and fiddling with a screwdriver all at once when he replies.

“Something about not needing extra hands getting into their mess, press coverage, international borders, a polite thanks, but fuck off sort of vibe. Oh! And for an extra sprinkle of fun, the Dutch Customs and Border Office is trying to deny you permanent entry into the country.”

“You’re kidding me,” Steve deadpans.

A crackle of thunder makes you turn, eyes falling upon Thor as he tosses his hammer up and back down into his hand.

“You know,” you start, turning toward the microphone. “Technically speaking, international law only really applies to… well, humans.”

A deep chuckle reaches your ears.

“Always the clever one, my dear Lady.”

“Pardon! Je kunt hier niet zijn - ”

Thor pushes the agent out of the way by simply pressing his hammer into the man’s chest.

“This won’t take long,” you placate as you pass.

The two of you move past the working agents who all remain too stunned to do much more than stare at you both. Dressed in your usual battle regalias, you appear indomitable and all too similar to the legends that were born in your wake.

A screech rings across the busy courtyard as a pair of sharp talons bears down onto your right shoulder. Thor gives you a curious look as you quickly wrap your hand around Pallas’ head.

“Well done. Now, don’t scare me like that again.”

The tawny owl gives you a light nip on your finger in apology.

“Hey, love the energy,” someone says, trying to cross your path. “But this is a secure area, and I’m afraid, Mr. Odison and Miss…”

“Parthenos,” you supply.

“Miss Parthenos,” the man nods, looking from your face to Pallas and back again. “I’m afraid you’re currently in violation of local ordinances and I have strict orders to have you escorted from the premises.”

Thor genuinely chortles at that, staring up at the quinjet still hovering overhead.

“That’s unfortunate,” you say, drawing closer to the man. “For we do not work within the bounds of human law. Now, I believe you have something we require.”

Without a further word, Thor pushes the man thoroughly out of your way as the pair of you move into the NATO unit. You can hear the man make a sound of distaste, barking orders and demanding the head of their agency be called immediately.

The interior of the detention center is quartered off with yellow caution tape, while extra security remains on hand to deal with the breach.

“Pathetic,” Thor snorts, staring down at the armed guards as you pass unburdened.

You tilt your head toward the left hall, “Tony said it should be down here.”

The central office is a mess of people when you enter, two calls are happening simultaneously in both Dutch and English while men shout over each other. The two gods merely stand in the doorway, watching on with the amused sense of a child with a magnifying glass staring down an ant hill.

“Hey! You can’t be here!”

Your head tilts to the side, Pallas ruffles his feathers, and Thor crosses his arms as someone, at last, notices your presence.

“I’ll have you arrested! No Avengers! No superheroes, no meddling, thank you! Good day!”

The God of Thunder looks down at you, then back toward the man. Silence rings out for a long stretched moment before the man takes a step back, posture shrinking slightly.

“We have rights,” someone else decides to perk up. “Our country has laws, you know. Who can come in and mess about and those who can’t.”

“Laws?” you question, voice pitched and brow raised. “Laws that keep assistance from reaching you, helping to stop an armed criminal from further terrorizing this world?”

“It is under control.”

Thor huffs, “Your laws do not pertain to us.”

“Perhaps if you got in touch with Themis,” you joke, tone sharp and biting. “Or… who was it again?”

“Forsetti,” Thor answers, tilting his head down toward you. “Occassionally Tyr if you get him in the right mood.”

“Of course.”

“I’m sorry,” a third man stands, hands held wide. “What is happening here?”

“Apologies,” you schmooze. “You have information on the man who was taken from this unit, do you not?”

He balks, mustache twitching as he looks away, “It’s being handled by the appropriate authorities.”

“Not fast enough.”

Thor leans over again, “This is drawing too long.”

You give him an acknowledging nod, “I’m asking nicely only once. After that, I can’t be held responsible for what he does.”

The hulking blonde tosses his hammer up once, for added show. The men visibly gulp as you move forward, leaning your arms upon the nearest desk.

“So… what do you have for me?”

Steve can’t help but stare at the way you and Thor interact upon your return to the tower. The team had been given the breakdown of what had transpired inside the detention unit, but he had this nagging feeling that certain things were being left unsaid.

The blonde god places his hand on your shoulder, leaning down to speak more words Steve can’t hear into your ear. He has to physically look away before his emotions get the better of him. As if tensions weren’t already high.

“Okay,” Tony claps his hands together, gathering the team’s attention.

They’re centered in the lab again, standing in a sort of circle around the central hub.

“Here’s what we got to work with, people. Strucker,” the man’s image appears in holographic form in the middle of the lab. “ - was placed with an internal tracker the minute he entered custody. Unfortunately… it looks like that tracker was picked up just outside of his cell.”

“His arm was chopped off,” you supply from behind him.

Steve whips his head around to look at you, but you merely shrug, as if it wasn’t that big of a deal to you. Perhaps it wasn’t. It was Strucker after all.

Tony grimaces, “Yikes. Now, this thorn in my side has been sidestepping us whenever it comes to tracking them down. A little Bonnie and Clyde scenario.”

Bruce coughs, managing to redirect the billionaire’s train of thought.

“Anyway, good news is we might have a lock on Ultron in the next few hours. The system’s… getting there. Not-so-great news… everything we had on Strucker has been erased. Bastard still has a backdoor into my stuff.”

“Fantastic. And you want us to, what? Wait?” Clint clarifies. “While the T-800 pairs up with HYDRA?”

Stark rolls his eyes, “What do you take me for? Actually, don’t answer that.”

The archer closes his mouth, holding back the insult he so clearly wanted to say.

“When technology fails you, go old school,” Tony drops a large brown catalog box down onto the workbench, giving it a gentle smack.

Steve stares at the SHIELD emblem on the side of the container before he meets the billionaire’s eye, brow raising. Maria enters a beat later, a trolley cart stacked with even more boxes.

“Awesome,” Clint groans.

“What are we looking for exactly?” Sam questions.

“Look, there’s something Strucker knows that Ultron needs. We’re just gonna have to connect the dots in between.”

Sam gives a small nod, looking entirely unassured by the prospect.

Everyone grabs a box for themselves, sorting through near decades of files on Wolfgang von Strucker. The archer and Natasha occupy a corner of the lab for themselves, while Tony and Bruce spread out over a series of workbenches - with the former tossing papers left and right and the latter neatly stacking everything he goes through.

You’re on the bottom step of the stairs, flipping through manilla folders and papers. Pallas is comfortably perched on the railing above you, eyes nearly shut.

Steve drops his second box down on the floor beside you and you immediately offer him a sheepish smile as he takes a seat across from you, mindful of your own pile.

“Anything?” he questions.

“Known associates mostly,” you sigh, closing yet another folder and filing it back into the catalog box.

“He have a lot of friends?” Steve can’t help but snort.

You roll your eyes, “A few. One name’s popped up a few times, but I can’t for the life of me remember where I heard it from.”

He lifts his brows, waiting as you turn a particular file around for him to see.

Ophelia Sarkissian.

Humming in thought, he takes hold of the paper and stands up, moving across the lab to where Tony is seated on a stool, raking his hands through his hair.

“This name ring a bell?” he asks.

With an annoyed sigh from being interrupted, Stark grabs it with a slight flourish and squints at the name.

“Sarkissian. Sarkissian. We know a Sarkissian, right?” he peers over at Bruce.

The Doctor blinks, “That was… that was the other name, wasn’t it?”

Tucking his hands onto his belt, Steve asks, “What name?”

The paper is shoved back against his chest as Tony rolls off the stool and saunters across the room. Clint and Nat watch him as he passes.

“There were four other people in Strucker’s block that took a break for it when Ultron came knocking.”

He pulls out his phone, scrolling for a moment until he finds what he’s searching for. Steve looks over at Banner before he follows after Tony.

“A. Burgos, G. Van der Berg, M. Gbadamoshi, and… yeah, there it is, O. Sarkissian. All otherwise unnoteworthy criminals of international repute. Everyone was found and rounded up within three hours, but Miss Sarkissian is still missing.”

The billionaire shrugs, “Might be worth looking into.”

Another two hours pass, looking through old catalogs of information collected by the previous SHIELD organization.

Natasha went on a coffee run while Clint took a temporary nap on one of the tables, a folder covering his eyes. Thor remains by the window, slamming file after file when he finds nothing of actual use. Bruce was pinning images on a physical map that Tony had wheeled into the lab. A pencil between his teeth as he stares at two separate points located in Eastern Asia.

Pallas has fully drifted off to sleep on the railing now, and even you, the goddess who claimed required no sleep, looked fully exhausted. Steve had to admit that the words were beginning to blur together now too, as he skimmed through years of HYDRA experiments and SHIELD intel logs.

With yet another file to discard, Steve drops the folder into his pile and looks up at you.

You have your hair tied back and a thumb pressed between your teeth as you flick through another outdated report. And though there is so much going on around him right now, he can’t help but allow himself this small moment to watch you.

He knew his feelings were growing by the day, bursting to a point of no return whenever you were around. But he didn’t know how to approach it yet. Nat’s words had truly struck a cord in him. You were two centuries old and a relationship had never once been mentioned in the history or mythology books, and definitely never by you.

And maybe that was why he was constantly reaching out to you, but equally hesitant to let the words spill out. You had become far too important in his life for him to recklessly rush forward and mess this up. No… he was going to take his time with this. Do it right.

As you shut your folder, your bleary eyes glance up and find his gaze. You give a little sigh of discontent as the file slips from your lap.

“Hey! I know that guy.”

The two of you turn as Tony reaches across the workbench to nab one of the files Bruce had been browsing through. Feeling like a breakthrough might actually be happening, you both drop your folders to the side and move to where the two scientists are stationed.

“From back in the day. He operates off the African coast, black market arms.”

Steve can’t help the immediate look of distrust that crosses his face, choice words rising to his lips. But he’s quickly silenced by Tony who gives him a pointed expression.

“There are conventions, all right? You meet people. I didn’t sell him anything.”

You’re holding onto the file that Tony had discovered when Thor wanders over. The other god pushes in between the two of you as he peers over your shoulder to stare at the image of the man in question.

“What’s this?” Thor questions, pointing at the man’s neck.

The billionaire shrugs, “A tattoo. I don’t think he had it when we met.”

“No,” Thor continues. “Those are tattoos, this is a brand.”

You pull the picture closer, also studying the image before holding it for Steve to examine as well.

“Great, he’s branded, so what? We know he’s slimy if he’s working with anyone dealing with HYDRA,” Tony digs through the box where Banner had first found the file.

“No, no. I know that dialect,” you clarify, pulling the photo away from the group as you move toward the windows into more direct sunlight.

“It’s similar to Swahili, but… no, that’s not it.”

Steve watches you pace, eyes closed as you try to recall the exact language.

“Bast! Of course,” you exclaim, striding over to the stationary map, swiping up a pin, and dropping it down into a tiny African country. “It’s Wakandan. Klaue received that brand in Wakanda, I’m sure of it.”

He watches your bright expression seek him out as the others begin moving around you.

“It means thief, essentially. But with some less friendly connotations,” you elaborate.

But that’s not where his attention immediately falls. Instead, he looks toward Tony.

“If this guy got out of Wakanda with some of their trade goods - ”

Steve feels an eerie sensation traveling along his spine as the implications become more and more terrifying.

“I thought you said your father got the last of it.”

“I’m sorry,” Bruce clears his throat, looking at each of them for a moment. “I’m not following. What comes out of Wakanda?”

You give a little gasp, understanding drawing clear across your face as you look toward the map once again. Steve crosses his arms, fingers digging rivets into his flesh as he looks down, unwilling to even try to process the thought.

Tony supplements in his steed, “The strongest metal on Earth. Vibranium.”

“Shit,” Clint groans.

Sam drags a hand over his jaw, “So, Ultron breaks out Strucker, gets the intel he needs, and what? Goes after this guy?”

Nat moves beside Steve, peering over at the mess on the workbench, “It’s a lead.”

“I mean, realistically,” Tony intones. “They keep a pretty big lock and key on the whole secret mineral. Not many people are gonna know about it. And if Strucker or Ultron gets their hands on vibranium…”

He trails off, but the implications are fairly apparent.

“And where is this Klaue now?” Thor questions, tone sharp.

There’s an immediate flurry of papers as Tony begins yanking folders out of the box, flipping through pages of intel.

“Ran out of the Congo, spotted in Kenya… yikes, Madagascar too. And… yeah.”

It takes a minute, but he blinks and steps toward the map, grabbing a final red pin and bullseying the coast of South Africa.

“Best guess, really,” he clarifies, stepping back to look at his handiwork.

“Better be sure,” you quip, arms crossing as you look over at Stark.

Previous Chapter || Next Chapter

#steve rogers x female reader #steve rogers x reader #marvel fan fic #series: shameless wonder #my fic

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stark-ironman · 5 months ago

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Firefighter AU, Part 2

Warnings: Semi-public sex (in an ambulance), making out in an office, smut, sort of name calling, hair-pulling, praise kink

A/N: Tony is a Firefighter Captain, Reader is an EMT Captain. All Marvel characters are also part of this universe. Also Tony and Reader are more of friends with benefits but with a bit more romantic feelings than normal.

Hello to all my new followers! I wasn't expecting the reaction I received yesterday on part 1 so I'm so excited to get started on this journey. Honestly, I love this series and if anyone has any ideas for future installments then just let me know! Thank you to everyone! Also photo creds go to @tonysfarts

"What's a pretty thing like yourself doing in this office all alone?" Tony asks from the doorway. You turn your chair and look at him, noticing that he's gripping the top of the door with both hands and leaning inside the door. "I had some paperwork to fill out from that last call we went on to explain why we had to do a field tracheotomy on our patient. The usual fun stuff." You say filing the paperwork away. He moves from the doorway and walks over behind your chair, placing his hands on your shoulders and massages gently.

You moan softly as he moves his hands and notice how he pays special attention to your shoulders. A comfortable silence falls over the two of you, with the occasional moan falling from your lips. Tony leans down and kisses your forehead so you lay your head back to steal a kiss. He chuckles against your lips and kisses you again.

"If anybody walks in, they're going to have a field day with this one." You laugh. "Well then let's give them a show, honey." He stands you up, pushing your chair to the side and kisses you deeply. Your arms wrap around his shoulders as he lifts you up and sits you on the desk as his tongue swipes across your bottom lip and you open slightly, letting him attack your mouth. You grind your hips against his, feeling his erection as he moans in your mouth.

"You're such a dirty girl, honey. Getting me all hard knowing anybody could walk in right now." His kisses trail down your jaw and neck. "I should punish you for being such a naughty girl." He nips your skin just above your t-shirt. A moan escapes your lips as you pull him closer. "Does my dirty little slut want that? To be punished for being so naughty and impatient?" He asks. "Fuck, yes sir. I want you to punish me." You moan as you pull on his hair.

Tony comes back up and kisses you again, unbuckling your pants to pull your shirt out but a loud ring fills the fire station. "Shit!" You both exclaim, standing up and fixing your clothes as fast as you can. "Catch you later?" Tony asks mid way down the stairs. "You know it, baby." You smile running over to the ambulance and getting in while he gets in the firetruck.

------

"Rhodey, Romanoff, take a well deserved break. I'll finish up here." You tell them as they finish organizing everything in the back of the ambulance. "Alright, captain. Thank you." Rhodey says as they walk upstairs. You start spraying everything down, smirking when you feel someone's presence. "You know it's rude to stare at people, right?" You ask. "I'm sorry, can't help but admire you sometimes." Tony flirts as he steps inside the ambulance. He takes the spray from your hands and sets it aside. "Remember that idea you had a while back? That involved us and this ambulance?" Tony asks as he pushes your hair out of the way, leaning down to kiss your neck.

"You really are trying to get us caught by everyone." You chuckle. "Everybody here knows we're messing around, darling. Luckily they like us so they won't expose us to the higher ups." He mumbles as he trails kisses up to your ear. A moan escapes your lips and you feel his hand sliding up your thigh. "At least shut the-" He shuts the doors quietly before you can finish your sentence. "Where do you keep the extra sheets at?" He asks looking around. You reach across and grab one, handing it to him.

Tony spreads out the sheet on the floor, crawling over to you and helps takes your boots off. "Come here, honey." He says helping you to the floor. "I guess it's a good thing I took the stretcher out of here, huh." You chuckle. He laughs and kisses you deeply, unbuckling your pants and slowly pulls your pants off. Biting his lip, he leans down and trails kisses up your leg before taking your underwear off. "Look at you all ready for me, darling." He moans as he slides his tongue up your slit. "Taste so sweet for me.." You moan as he starts to praise you and you tug on his hair.

"What do you want, hon? Hm?" He looks up at you with those sinful, lust filled doe eyes. "I want you, baby." You moan. "Yeah? How do you want me?" His tongue slides across your clit. "Your tongue. Please." You whimper. He smirks and lowers his head, using his tongue to tease your clit while he slips a finger inside of you. "Fuck.. Tony." You moan as he slides another finger in and starts moving them. He sucks and licks on you, using his other arm to move up your body and squeeze your breast softly.

You moan, knowing you won't last much longer especially after what happened earlier in the day, and you start moving with his fingers trying to chase your orgasm but he pulls them out and sits up. "What the fuck, Tony!" You exclaim sitting up. "What? You think I forgot about earlier when I told you that you needed to be punished for being naughty?" He says innocently. You look at him, shocked but knowing why he did it.

Tony leans down and kisses you again, laying you back down. "You'll be able to cum soon, I promise," He unbuckles his pants and pushes them down to free his cock, "I always take care of my baby." His hand moves down and grips his base as he teases your entrance with his head before sliding in. "Shit, Tones." You moan as he bottoms out. He starts moving at a medium pace, placing his hands behind your knees and pushes them down so your knees¹ are by your ears.

"Such a pretty little slut for me. Letting me do whatever I want to you." Tony moans as he leans down to kiss you. Your arms wrap around his shoulders, holding him close as he pounds into you. You hiss as you feel your orgasm getting close again. "Can I cum, please?" You beg. "Yeah, cum on my dick, darling." He moans as he feels your walls clenching around him.

You pull his hair as you cum, feeling his movements stutter as he releases inside of you. "Shit, I wasn't expecting to cum yet." He says pulling out of you. "I have that effect on you." You smirk as you sit up, hearing his chuckle while you grab some wipes. He cleans the both of you off and kisses you deeply before helping you get dressed. You fix your hair and start cleaning up, throwing the sheet by the door as he opens it.

"See you later, okay?" He kisses you softly. "I'll be here." You chuckle as he walks off. "Hey, Y/N." He calls from the steps, making you turn towards him. "Do you want to go out on a date tomorrow? I know this great restaurant a few towns over if you're interested." Tony asks, shyly. "Yeah, I would like that." You smile as he smiles. "It's about time you two asked each other out. Maybe then you can stop having sex in our ambulance." Natasha calls and you cover your face in embarrassment. "Or make us want to do it more." Tony says laughing as he heads to his office.

#tony stark #tony stark fluff #tony stark imagine #tony stark smut #tony stark x fem!reader

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eccentricgrace · 1 month ago

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Howl, Talk, Scream || IronDad

summary: tony rescues him, he does, he always will. but he's never quick enough, and this time-- someone has sewn his kid's lips shut.

tags: peter parker whump, hurt/comfort, mentions of kidnapping, protective tony stark, peter is okay!!

wc: 1953

⚠️tw: needles, sutures/stitches, gross medical stuff

cross-posted to wattpad by the same name!

Tony doesn't think this part of the job ever gets easier.

He gets used to most of it, see; the racing heart, the ache in his bones that never seems to go away, the threats he sees in very dark corner of a room. A rush of adrenaline that fades to crushing lungs. You'd think that was the biggest hurdle. Tony thought that would be the biggest hurdle, too, back in 2007, back when the sound of his phone going off had him choking in gulps of air between bile, back when the dark of his room after a nightmare would have him stop breathing all together.

Miraculously, he did get used to it, and then he got used to it all over again, but this time it was worse. It was worse because then Pepper's right there holding his hand after every nightmare, and Rhodey's visiting almost every day to bully him into taking his stupid SSRIs, and Happy's dropping by with some five dollar cheeseburger every other week "just because", and suddenly— suddenly he realizes. For the first time in his life, he has something worse to lose than himself.

Nobody ever comes out of a life like this without getting used to it. There's no other way to survive.

And yet. And yet.

Moments like these.

The part of the job that never gets easier.

The aftermath, of course. Tony's never prepared for the aftermath of it. He's never had to be, before all of this. He's had to take a stabilizing breath before entering a room before, but never because he was afraid to see—

Well.

The kid got himself into some hot water again. These days, this has proven to be the number one cause of Tony's tachycardiac increase. It was horrible, the whole process of it, like it always was— realizing he never made it home, scrambling to find him, praying when they found him he wouldn't be...

But they did find him, because Tony wouldn't let himself fail with something so colossally as important as keeping Peter Parker safe and be able to live with himself afterwards, the only issue is that he just— he just wasn't fast enough.

On a paper passed in the quinjet, he wrote in shaky writing:

they didn't like how much i talked

Peter's in the med bay, and he's bruised to high heavens, a wild look in his eyes that sets all the nurses on high alert. He hasn't spoken in hours. This doesn't mean he hasn't tried.

He clearly has tried, actually. Torn skin and dried blood coating the entire bottom half of his face, all the way down his neck. Tony feels sick at the thought.

"We just need to remove the stitches," the doctor says calmly. Gloved hands hold scissors in one, tweezers in the other. She stands a safe distance away. "Okay? Nod yes if you can understand me."

Peter— Peter's shaking. His eyes don't leave the doctor's hands, and his whole body is strung as tight as a bow. His fists clench.

"Peter," Tony's voice cracks. He clears his throat, avoiding his eyes. Takes another deep breath, and then summons all his courage to look his kid in the eyes. He's already looking back, holding so much trust and terror in his panicked gaze.

Tony swallows thickly and shifts his chair closer. He'd been trying to give the doctors the space they need to fix this, to make it better where he couldn't, but he doesn't give a shit now. He can't, not when Peter's looking at him like that.

"We need to get those off your mouth," Tony says, wincing, because just the acknowledgement of the current situation feels so heavy. He feels like he's being crushed. "We need to know happened, if you're okay, we can't do that if you can't talk to us."

Peter looks like he wants to open his mouth. His lips twitch, but are firmly held in place by the shoddy sutures. He shudders, looks back at the doctor, then back at Tony.

The doctor takes a step forward, and immediately Peter's neck snaps back over to her. His breathing becomes frantic, his nostrils flaring to compensate for the lack of oxygen. A panicked series of muffled noises comes tumbling from his lips, and blood drips down his chin as the slight movement tears further at the stitched skin.

"Hey, woah," Tony stands up, putting himself between Peter and the doctor. She has already taken several steps back, her arms raised in the air, her expression soaked in guilt. "Okay, easy. Let's take it easy."

He turns to Peter, bending his knees to look at him better. Reflexively, a hand reaches for Peter's knee, and he pats it in comfort. "You're okay, right? I won't let anyone hurt you, I've got you now. I'm not letting you out of my sight. You can trust me, can't you? Breathe, kiddo."

Peter nods quickly, forcing himself to slow the breaths his nose was rushing to take. He blinks furiously, and tears trail down and wash lines of blood away. It's horrific. Tony wants to sit very quietly and cry for a very long time. He wants different blood to be on his hands.

"Mr. Stark," the doctor says meekly. "Might I suggest you remove the stitches instead? It should be fairly simple to remove, it doesn't look like they even did it properly..."

"Yes. Thank God for that," Tony grits out dangerously. He exhales shakily and looks back at his kid. "What do you say, kid? Can you nod, if that's alright with you?"

Peter looks at him for a long moment, his teary eyes glassy in the white lights of the medical bay. He slowly, cautiously, nods.

"Okay," Tony says. He takes a moment to solidify himself, his arms, his legs, all the parts that have been more or less liquid since he's carried Peter in here, since he's stopped carding a hand through his sweaty, blood-matter hair.

He locks away the wildness in his chest, the paternal beast that cringes and cries at the thought of touching Peter's wounds with his own hands, being the reason he winces, being the source of his pain if even for a moment.

Peter's trusting him. He keeps that running through him like saline on an IV drip. Peter's trusting him. He's in pain, he's trusting you to fix it, so fix it.

Tony pulls gloves on, takes the tools from the doctor. He approaches Peter carefully, and keeps his face neutral. He hopes it's more comforting than the look of a doctor who keeps glancing at clenched fists with sweat on her brow.

Peter's still shaking. Marvelously, he blinks a few times, and then closes his eyes tightly, and Tony feels his entire heart clench in his chest. It seems like such a simple thing. So, so, simple. But Tony's been on the other side of the room, watching needles or what have you with that kind of terror, and the last thing he could think of doing would be to sacrifice his most valuable sensory input.

Tony doesn't know how, doesn't know what he did to deserve this kind of innocent all-forward trust, but he looks at Peter, trembling in his fear, his eyes clenched shut and his chin jutted out, and Tony swears by everything holy that he'll protect it with his life.

"Do you want me to talk to you while I work?" Tony says quietly, sitting down in front of him.

Peter takes a second, and then nods.

"Okay." Tony steels his gaze, taking in the work. Fishing line, maybe, or something just as crude, sewn in one uneven, messy, tight line of stitches across his kid's bloodied lips. His stomach turns. "I'm gonna start on the left, your left, and I'm going to use tweezers, okay? You feel metal, that's just tweezers. Nothing sharp."

Peter nods once, just to show he understands, and goes still. Tony takes it as permission. He moves carefully, picking at the loosest bit of the stitch he can find, which ironically is a knot tied at the edge of his mouth. He pokes at it with the tweezers and Peter flinches.

"Just tweezers," Tony reminds him, keeping his voice level. It's a miracle he isn't shaking like a leaf. "Little cold, nothing scary."

He pulls it up a little, and grimaces at the sight of it, the whole grisly thing. "Alright, Peter, you're going to hear the scissors, but they're not anywhere near you. I just want you to hear the sound."

Tony waits for another nod, and then lifts the scissors up. He snips them once, twice, a few more times, until Peter's flinches become less as jolting.

"Are you okay?" Tony checks in. Peter nods.

"Okay, I'm going to snip the thread," Tony says. "It'll be just like last time. You won't feel anything. You're just gonna hear the scissors, remember? Do you want me to count down?"

Peter hesitates, and then shakes his head.

"Alright." Tony pulls back again at the stitch. He holds his breath, and then snips it with the scissors. With the knot gone, tension goes immediately lack, and Peter's shoulders drop.

"We're almost done," Tony cheers weakly. His eyes are misty, and it's so, so hard to keep the cracks out of his voice. He's trying. He's trying, for Peter. "Good boy. We're almost done. Few more snips. It'll be way easier now."

He tugs at the middle of the line, it easily becoming loose. Peter shivers, his face curling in displeasure.

"Yeah, I bet that doesn't feel good," Tony tries lightly. "Okay, you're gonna hear the scissors again."

He pulls up the line with the tweezers, and another snip. With that, he's able to pull half of the thread out of his goddamn mouth. Halfway there. Halfway. Blood trickles from the open wounds.

"Okay, other side now," Tony continues. There's a waver in his tone this time, sneaking out before he can calm it. "You okay still?"

Peter doesn't move. He keeps his jaw clenched and just breathes, and Tony remains still until he's ready. After a minute, Peter nods again.

Tony pulls at the other knot, and snips it, and then quickly pulls the thread completely out, and drops both the tweezers and the scissors to the side with a shaky breath of relief.

He blinks and he has an armful of teenager, Peter's arms wrapped around his waist so tightly Tony struggles to breathe in. Tony welcomes the feeling, just grateful that Peter is feeling strong enough to do so in the first place.

All the while, Tony's smoothing out his hair, he's petting at his back, squeezing his shoulders, saying, "I've got you. Jesus. Never again. You're okay. You're okay. We're okay."

Tears drip down his cheek, fine, he wasn't strong enough to keep them at bay. None of it matters anymore. The only thing that matters is the kid, and he's right here, and Tony's right here, and it's all going to be fine.

"I knew you'd save me," is the first thing Peter says, all blubbery and snot-covered all over Tony's nice shirt, and he really shouldn't be speaking yet at all. Blood is trickling from his mouth. His voice is very clearly hoarse.

"Of course," Tony repeats, over and over and over. "Always. Every time. Any time. God, kid."

Because yes, he'll save Peter for as long as he can still breathe. Longer, if he's able. He's done it countless times already.

It's always the hardest part of a job that matters the most, even if it never gets easier.

#irondad and spiderson #irondad fanfiction #tumblr fanfic #peter parker fanfiction #fanfiction #peter parker #needles #tw stitches #hurt/comfort #tw blood #whump writing #whump #peter parker whump #tony stark #irondad

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mochie85 · 2 years ago

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Man of The Month part 3: February & March

Series Masterlist My Masterlist @muddyorbsblr Masterlist

Summary: You continue to work on the calendar and corral the expectations of the 'models' you would be shooting. Pairing: Loki x Reader (eventually) Word Count: 2.1k Warnings: Fluff

You woke up later than usual. The sun greeted you through the slip of your curtains, and you languidly lay in bed, stretching with a worried gaze on your face.

You couldn’t help but fuss when you’re thinking of this game you found yourself a player in. You could just imagine Tony setting everything up like a deranged gamemaster. Placing all the pieces where they needed to be, and letting them play their positions. Laughing maniacally as we all make a fool of ourselves in front of one another. No one more than you.

You wondered who would show their hand. There were only twelve of them. And if what Tony said about Clint, Rhodey, and Bruce were true, then that left eight other men vying for your attention.

That couldn’t be right.

You hung out with these guys. Fought with them. Ate and laughed with them. You’ve never gotten that feeling of attraction from anyone of them. Especially Loki. He was always so cavalier and posh that he’d never bat an eyelash in your direction.

You took your time dressing and getting ready knowing full well that you weren’t needed to do anything but work on this promiscuous publication.

You grabbed a banana in the kitchen and filled your favorite travel mug with rich coffee. Walking down the stairs, you sipped on your coffee enjoying the warm glow surrounding you in a halo of comfort. Your thoughts cycling through the remaining eight men who supposedly wanted to keep you company.

That bubble shattered with loud murmurs of eleven men surrounding the front entrance to your studio.

“What the hell is going on?” You yelled over all of them. You stopped just before you reached the bottom step. Your heightened position making everyone look up at you.

“What does ‘Heckers and Salutations’ mean?” Thor asked tilting his head as he read your mug.

“Hell and Hello.” You answered giving him a narrow look. “What are you all doing here?” You asked looking into each of their eyes.

“Morning babes, some of us wanted to see if we could do our shoots with you today.” Bucky offered with a smile on his face. Loki took an intake of breath to try and stifle the growl that came out when he heard Barnes call you, babes.

“Oh. I thought we all agreed to go in order by month. At least that’s what I thought,” you said to yourself.

“See!” Sam yelled. “Y’all thought you could jump the line?! Now get yo’ asses back upstairs!” he laughed and pointed, trying to usher disappointed soldiers and gods alike.

“I just wanna get this over with,” Rhodey said scratching his head.

“Ya, me too.” Bruce concurred.

“Ok, but we really do need a set schedule, Scopes. What if we go on a mission or something?” Strange asked.

“Good point as always, Doc.” You smiled in his direction making him beam. Oh, Stephen too? How had I not noticed before? “Um…” you sounded, lost in thought.

Loki felt uncomfortable watching your interactions. Jealous of the fact that the vain doctor could make you lose your words with a simple smile. Is Strange the one that you fancy? Is he the one you think of at night, holding you in bed the way I think of you?

Loki only accompanied these buffoons to make sure no one got the upper hand on him. If someone were to extend their time with you, it would be no one but himself.

He couldn’t stand it any longer. He needed to get away from it. He strode past you on the steps and growled in his frustration, “Just ask for me when you want me.”

His irritation was palpable. You could feel it sink into your heart causing you to step back. Of all the smiles you received this morning, you wanted Loki’s the most.

Thor saw your eyes soften, for a fraction of a second then return to the task at hand. His answering smile at your little altercation goading him to continue with his matchmaking plan.

“Okay. I can handle one, maybe two, a day – with all the shots and editing. Since I shot Tony yesterday, I’ll go in order and have February today and March on standby. That’s you, Agent Barton, and Rhodey.” You announced to the eager eyes watching you. “I’ll shoot April tomorrow.” You said smiling at Shaun as he crossed his arms and smiled back. “And I’ll give everyone else a heads up the day before when they’ll be shooting so you guys can prepare. How’s that?”

“Sounds fair,” Steve said smiling. “I look forward to my shoot.” As Steve sauntered back up the stairs, he smiled that glittering smile that’ll make anyone weak in the knees. Everyone started marching up behind the captain, leaving you to continue your day.

“I told them you were going to go in order, Tweets,” Sam said.

“Ya, ya. I bet you loved this chaos, don’t you? You’re just as bad as Laufeyson sometimes.” You joked at him.

“Hey, it gets so boring here when we’re not on a mission. I need something to do.”

“So whatever I’m comfortable with?” Clint asked with his eyebrows raised.

“That’s right Agent Barton.” You reassured him.

“Y/N, we’ve been working together for years now. I think you can just call me Clint.”

“OK, Agent…Clint.”

“God, you’re worse than Kate.” He mumbled under his breath. You chuckled.

You’d never hung out with Clint alone before. It was always a group outing. Whenever you were out in the field, you addressed each other by your alter egos. Besides death and taxes, trust that one of these evil whack jobs will find information about your personal life and make it a living hell. So ‘Hawkeye’ and ‘Scopes’ it was out on the field.

“This is a weird enough situation, Clint. I didn’t know how to address you. We’d never really hung out before and now I’m about to shoot ‘tasteful nudes’ of you.” You declared as you set up your angles.

“No! Not nudes. My wife would kill me.” Clint said taking off his jacket. “Plus, I don’t want my kids to die of embarrassment that their dad posed naked in the Avengers Calendar.” You both laughed.

“Like I said, whatever you’re comfortable with.”

Clint looked around your setup. There were different backdrops set in one corner of the massive studio. A makeshift kitchen and workout area, as well as a bed. Clint did not want to know what ideas you might have for the other men.

He found a guitar and sat by the wall. He strummed it a few times waiting for you to finish whatever you needed to prep.

Unbeknownst to him, you had already finished prepping and were just waiting for him to feel comfortable. You took a few candids of Clint playing the guitar. When he finally realized what you were doing, he blushed and stopped.

“Awe. Come on, Clint. I was just getting the good stuff.” You proceeded to take a few more shots. He started feeling uncomfortable, knowing that the camera was on him. His body became stiff and his movements became jerky and robotic.

“Ok, how ‘bout this? Go ahead and play the guitar one more time. And I’ll try to be discreet about it. Pretend like I’m not even here. Okay?” you tried to calm Clint.

“Ya, sure. Okay.” Clint instantly felt relief once he picked up the guitar again. Maybe it was having the familiar feeling of plucking a string. Or just having something occupy his hands in general.

“Man, I’m glad Tony didn’t greenlight that reality show project. I would hate for cameras to follow me around everywhere.”

“Seriously.” You agreed. “Those things are mostly scripted anyway. You never get the ‘reality’ of it.”

“Living here would be more like Survivor than The Real World.” He joked.

“It’s starting to feel more like The Bachelorette, to tell you the truth.”

“Who’d you give your rose to, Scopes?” he probed, getting more comfortable with the topic at hand.

“Spoilers, Clint. Spoilers.” You deflected.

The two of you started talking about your favorite TV shows, putting Clint at ease. You both found a common love for suspense and comedy.

You took a few more shots of him sitting down and some standing up before you said, “Okay finished. I think I got enough. Do you wanna see?”

You led him to your workstation and plugged in your camera. The page was filled with close-ups and body shots in a matter of seconds.

“Do you have a particular favorite?” you asked him, scrolling down. He picked a couple of shots where he was leaning by the wall. His muscular arms showing off his tattoo. “I like that one too,” you said to him.

“Hey, these are great, Scopes. If you ever quit the hero business, you should definitely consider doing this full-time.”

“Thanks, Clint. That means a lot actually.”

“Hey…uh, can you send me some of these. You know, for Laura.” He asked lowering his voice.

“Sure,” you smiled as you made a copy of all the pictures on a memory card and handed it to him.

“Thanks, Scopes,” he said mussing your hair.

“Anytime, Clint,” you laughed. “Do you think you could send Rhodey down for his shoot?”

“Sure thing.”

Rhodey was sitting on the sofa in the common room awaiting his turn with you. You had told him to be on standby and he hated waiting, not knowing when he would get called down. Clint could take up the whole day, he thought. He had a very important off-world call coming up soon and he didn’t want to miss it.

It was always like this with Tony. His whims were always met. No matter what other people had to sacrifice. And for Rhodey, that would mean sacrificing his only time to get to see his Captain. Clint interrupted his thoughts by walking up the stairs to the team hollering and whooping.

“Ya, ya. Shut your traps.” Clint said to everyone around him.

“So, tell us everything. Did you take off your shirt?” Nat asked.

“Did you go full frontal?” Wanda snickered.

“Did you un-quiver your special arrow?” Tony added in on the fun. Loki sat quietly observing the interrogation. It made him ponder what he would do when his opportunity came up. In truth, he had no qualms about being bare and exposed. Asgard’s societal norms when it came to sexuality and nudity weren’t as repressed as it is here in Midgard.

“No. No. And definitely NO. Laura would kill me.” Clint said pointing to each of them in turn. “It’s your turn, Rhodes. She asked me to send you down when you were ready.” Clint said to Rhodey.

“Finally” Rhodey muttered under his breath. He quickly took off his shirt, exposing his taut muscles underneath. Aside from the two Asgardians and Tony, the team took a collective gasp. Shock ran through them. Not that they were surprised by his peak physical fitness. But by his cavalier attitude of just disrobing in front of the team and committing to the scheme at hand.

“I better not miss this call, Stank. You know we don’t get to talk very often.” Rhodey said annoyed. As if he conjured it from midair, he procured a Stetson that was placed on the sofa next to him and posited it on his head.

A catcall whistle came out from Natasha and asked, “Did anyone know that that’s what the colonel looked like underneath?” she giggled as they all watched Rhodey descend the stairs into your studio.

“I did!” Tony said. “Go get’em, tiger!” He yelled to Rhodey and he answered back by giving him the middle finger.

“Since when did he have a tattoo?” Clint wondered.

“Where did he get the hat?” Thor asked amused.

“Well, gentlemen. The stakes have been raised.” Tony announced to everyone in the room.

Rhodey came in with a flurry, ready to start. And ready to finish. “Hey, Colonel– daamn Rhodes…” You stopped midway through your greeting shocked to find Rhodey in position and set with an impressive Stetson on his head.

“Scopes.” He nodded in greeting. “Look, I’ve had to deal with Tony’s cockamamie schemes for over thirty years. I’ve learned to just be ready to do anything. So that I can continue with the rest of my life. So, with all due respect, just take the dang pictures.”

“Yes, Colonel.”

“Call me Rhodey!” he commanded as he got into different modeling positions. You must’ve taken a dozen more pictures compared to Clint. Unlike Barton, Rhodey was comfortable in front of the camera, making it easier for you to get certain shots you wanted to try.

“Ok, I think I have enough to start with. Would you like to see?” you asked leading him to your computer. “If you don’t like any of the shots, we can try again. With different backdrops perhaps?” you placated.

Rhodey’s phone rang in his back pocket. He quickly took it out to see that it was Danvers.

“I gotta get this call. I like this one.” He said pointing to a picture with his finger suggestively in his mouth. “Run it! Print it! I gotta go.” And with that Rhodey left you pondering what hidden sexual prowess you had just witnessed.

“Ok. See ya later Rhodey,” you yelled out. He waved at you without looking back toward you, eager to get somewhere private. “Say hi to Carol for me!”

Loki watched the Colonel leave your studio, passing by him as he spoke with his beloved. A fantasy forming in his mind of how he wanted his shoot to go with you.

@alexs1200 @a-witch-with-words @athalialaufeyson @britishserpent @cakesandtom @crimson25 @el-zef @fictive-sl0th @gigglingtigger @glitterylokislut @goldencherriess @holymultiplefandomsbatman @huntress-artemiss @ijuststareatstuffhereok89 @immersed-in-mischief @kellatron55 @kikster606 @kkdvkyya @lokidbadguy @lokiprompts @lokisasgardianvampirequeen @lokisgoodgirl @lokisninerealms @lokischambermaid @lokyxryss @loopsisloops @lucylaufeyson3 @luvlady-writes @michelleleewise @mischief2sarawr @muddyorbs @nopenottodayson @one-oblivious-nerd @ozymdias @peaches1958 @salempoe @sarahscribbles @silverfire475 @springdandelixn @theaudacitytowrite @thedistractedagglomeration @thomase1 @user13cabs @vickie5446 @vbecker10 @wheredafandomat @xorpsbane

#man of the month #loki fanfic #loki smut #loki x reader #loki x you #marvel fanfic #men of marvel #calendar #marvel calendar #collaboration

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roleplayfinder · 4 months ago

Note

Hi, I'm 30F so please be over 21 preferably! Minors DNI

♡ I have some AUs saved but would prefer brainstorm

♡I live in Europe so there can be a time difference and my schedule is irregular

♡I respect triggers and limits and reply delays, real life comes first

♡I prefer to RP in Discord my user is disneyprincesssebby

♡I prefer a private server, it's easier for worldbuilding and ooc chatting

♡I mirror length if it's reasonable and I can. No one liners, no novellas, no counting words. I do this for fun

♡I do not want to do OCs. I just don't. I have bad experiences, I'm sure youre not the same and I'm sure your OC is lovely and very skillfully made but I'm not a fan. Please respect that.

♡Don't control my character

♡NSFW-wise my characters are bottoms and it won't change

Fandoms (my preferred characer in italic) :

Red, White, and Royal Blue: Henry x Alex

Witcher: Geralt x Jaskier / Geralt x Yennefer

Sherlock: Sherlock x John / Sherlock x Greg / John x Mycroft /Jim x Sebastian / John x Sebastian

Marvel: Steve x Tony / Steve x Bucky / Steve x Thor/ Loki x Steve/ Loki x Tony / Sam x Bucky / Sam x Steve / Bucky x Zemo / Tony x Bucky / Stephen x Tony / Venom x Eddie / Steve x Rumlow / Wanda x Steve / Steve x Zemo / Loki x Steve / Sam x Zemo / Bucky x Clint / Pepper x Tony / Tony x Rhodey / Tony x Bruce Wayne / Wanda x Tony / Wanda x Stephen/ Bucky x Wanda / Bruce x Natasha / Clint x Natasha / Tony x Natasha / Natasha x Steve / Natasha x Bucky / Clint x Matt / Clint x Pietro / Joaquin x Bucky / Joaquin x Sam / Bruce x Tony / Thor x Bruce/ Foggy x Matt/ Matt x Karen + MANY OTHERS

DC Diana x Bruce / Diana x Clark / Harley x Bruce / Barry x Oliver / Felicity x Oliver / Bruce x Clark

Shadowhunters Magnus x Alec / Simon x Jace

Lucifer Lucifer x Chloe

Grimm Nick x Monroe

Hawaii 5-0 Danny x Steve

Supernatural Dean x Castiel/ Sam x Lucifer /Gabriel x Sam

9-1-1 Buck x Eddie / Buck x Tommy

Star Wars Rey x Kylo / Hux x Kylo

Star Trek Jim x Spock / Bones x Spock / Uhura x Spock

Merlin Merlin x Arthur

React to this post or message me here or Discord!

#twenty-two and over #rwarb #rwarb roleplay #rwarb rp #witcher #witcher roleplay #witcher rp #sherlock #sherlock roleplay #sherlock rp #marvel #dc #shadowhunters #lucifer #grimm

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kandisheek · 3 months ago

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FIC REC WEEK 32 - EPISTOLARY

The Impossible Return by Goodnightsammy

Pairing: Steve/Bucky Rating: M Words: 25,935 Tags: Winter Soldier Steve, Love Letters, Identity Porn

Summary: In 1996, the wreckage of the Valkyrie was found off the coast of Greenland. The cockpit was empty. There was no body and no shield. There was, however, a leather-bound journal filled with letters to a man long dead. In 2011, that same man is found frozen at the bottom of the Alps, still very much alive. Or: The Winter Soldier Steve AU I never thought I'd write.

Reasons why I love it: Okay, so I already love fics that twist canon on its head, but when it's done as skillfully as this? It's on a whole other level. Steve's letters are so raw and incredibly written, and I love Bucky's relationship with the rest of the Avengers. Also, Steve as the Winter Soldier is fantastically characterized, god, I want to give him a hug so bad. Definitely check this one out, it's amazing!

Do Not Reply by FestiveFerret

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: E Words: 33,159 Tags: Wrong Number AU, Secret Identity, Confessions

Summary: When Tony starts replying to a "daily deals" donotreply email address from some random security supply company, he finds shouting into the void soothingly cathartic. Less so when the void answers back.

Reasons why I love it: This fic is like sunshine on a cloudy day. Like a cup of warm tea on a cold night. Like a whole bunch of other poetic descriptions of heart-warming, tooth-rotting fluff. I love how real their relationship feels, their first meeting in the real world, Steve's backstory with Pierce, all of it. It's definitely one of my favorites, and if you haven't read it yet, I highly encourage you to do so, because it's excellent!

Long Distance by NotEvenCloseToStraight

Pairing: Steve/Bucky/Tony Rating: E Words: 44,017 Tags: Long Distance Relationship, Wrong Number, Polyamory Negotiations

Summary: At the end of a bad day, Tony gets drunk and texts Rhodey all his woes. Except he typed the wrong number, and has been texting someone named Steve– who is blond, 28, teaches art and somehow charmed by Tonys drunk rambles. One conversation turns into another, and soon they are texting and talking and flirting every day for weeks until Tony finally takes a chance and asks Steve to meet in person. Steve replies that he and his boyfriend Bucky would be thrilled to meet. Devastated, and feeling betrayed, Tony stops talking to Steve all together, and their budding relationship comes to a screeching halt. But Bucky has been eavesdropping on their conversations and texts and is halfway in love with Tony too, so he takes it upon himself to fix the rift between Steve and Tony. Tony isn’t sure about it at first, but after some cute videos, sexy selfies, several date nights, Tony starts to think that the three of them may actually work. Can Bucky and Steve convince Tony there is enough room in their bed and their arms for each other AND him? Will this Long Distance texting and phone call relationship ever make it into the same zip code?

Reasons why I love it: The progression of their relationship in this is so much fun. From Steve and Tony bonding to the betrayal of Tony's trust to the reconciliation with Bucky in the mix this time – it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. The texting is super engaging, and I love the flirting (and eventual sexting, hehe). Plus, the trials and tribulations of long distance relationships are super well explored here. I love this fic, and I bet you will too!

#marvel #fanfic #a year in fanfic recs #fic rec #fanfic rec #stony #stuckony #ficrec #epistolary

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themculibrary · 3 months ago

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Fics With Christine Everhart Masterlist

Acquaintances (ao3) - d_aia T, 2k

Summary: Moments in the lives of Christine and Tony.

break loose of loss and longing (ao3) - victoria_p (musesfool) steve/bucky G, 3k

Summary: "What do you think of the speculation that you and Steve Rogers were lovers?"

"What? Who thinks that? I don't think about that. Why would I think about that?"

Concession (ao3) - obsession_inc pepper/tony M, 26k

Summary: An AU diverging from canon after the first movie: Christine Everhart investigates the disappearance of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. No warnings, no guarantees.

Exclusive (ao3) - megamatt09 christine/tony E, 1k

Summary: Tony Stark helps Christine Everhart get to the bottom of the story. Or the bottom of something.

Eyes Only (ao3) - Meatball42 G, 819

Summary: While on an international assignment, an investigative journalist makes a dangerous discovery about someone who shaped a century.

Honey, I'm Home (ao3) - DobbyRocksSocks tony/rhodey T, 1k

Summary: Tony really hates walking the red carpet. Thankfully, Natasha is there to help him deal with the press, and there’s a surprise waiting for him that will make his night a million times better.

Humanity's Unlikely Ambassador? (ao3) - Rozilla jane/thor G, 4k

Summary: An article for Vanity Fair written by Christine Everhart profiling Jane Foster, with Darcy making sure no one a) slips up and over shares or b) makes her boss look bad.

I am Iron Dad (ao3) - cpt_winniethepooh pepper/tony, steve/bucky T, 2k

Summary: Let's put all the canon nonsense aside and imagine Tony going back to 2008 and having to do the "I am Iron Man" speech... but because he basically became the (un)official Dad(TM) in the MCU, he accidentally reveals more than he had planned.

I Came to Win (ao3) - Philyra T, 13k

Summary: Pepper Potts inherits a failing hockey team at 25. She builds her staff and team her way, screw what anyone else thinks. She wants a Stanley Cup.

Interviews (ao3) - HIAParker phil/tony G, 866

Summary: The first thing Christine notices is he looks much better since Stane and Afghanistan. The second thing is that there is now a wedding ring on his finger, an abundance of ink on his skin, and he’s smirking.

Iron Man (ao3) - mcsquared789 minor pepper/tony T, 72k

Summary: "Welcome Tony Stark, the most famous mass murderer in the history of America." Stark’s eyes widened, but he said nothing.

The leader continued, sneering. Yinsen spoke up over him. "He is honored. He has a request of you… to build the missile. The one that you demonstrated."

Stark turned to look back at the leader, who seemed to be growing impatient — but now, so was he. He had already made up his mind… and if he was about to die, it was time to show a little dignity.

Stark glared at him. "I refuse."

Tony Stark — genius billionaire, eccentric playboy, CEO of a global company specializing in production and distribution of smart weapons. But when he is kidnapped and forced to rebuild his ‘magnum opus’ against his will, he is forced to reckon with the consequences of letting them be put in the wrong hands, and his place in the world. But by donning the armor of Iron Man, will he be able to change his world for the better — while he still has time?

A canon rewrite of the original movie: bigger, longer, uncut. Fully completed.

OUT EXCLUSIVES (ao3) - 17826 steve/bucky G, 3k

Summary: OUT EXCLUSIVES

Oh Captain, My Captain

War hero turned terrorist scapegoat turned Avenger: James ‘Bucky’ Barnes on history, legacy, and the new Captain America.

BY CHRISTINE EVERHART

TUE, 2020-10-06 11:00

Public Perception (ao3) - TenSpencerRiedPlease bucky/tony N/R, 6k

Summary: Christine, since she was a child, has always been interested in the truth. She’s made it her business to track down the facts and to tell people about them even before she was a reporter. Some people didn’t take their jobs very seriously, reporting half-baked stories before they had every angle and that was their stupidity.

Rumor Has It (ao3) - Faustess tony/rhodey, pepper/steve G, 1k

Summary: Rhodey wakes up to find Tony reading aloud to Pepper and Steve about his (supposed) wild, playboy lifestyle and their respective roles in it. Jim Rhodes is not caffeinated enough for this kind of hilarity.

Stark: Solving the Energy Crisis? (ao3) - Starfire (kalypsobean) N/R, 1k

Summary: Stark Industries came under a cloud after Tony Stark announced his company would be taking a new direction. In an exclusive interview, our reporter gains an insight as to the personal reasons for this change and what impact it might have.

the other eight (ao3) - closingdoors pepper/tony T, 6k

Summary: IM1. A kiss on a balcony.

The Vanko debacle (ao3) - Mitsuky christine/tony T, 14k

Summary: Stark Tower opens its doors in New York. A spy appears. Tony takes down a gangster. SHIELD gets on his nerves some more. Oh, and someone tries to kill him, again!

Two Vodka Martinis: Extra Dry, Extra Olives, Extra Fast (ao3) - PinkEasterEggspepper/tony G, 5k

Summary: “Well, Tony Stark, fancy seeing you here.”

Tony’s expression went blank as he searched the woman’s face, a hand moving out as he took a guess at her name. “. . . Karen.”

“Christine,” she spoke over him. “You have a lot of nerve showing up here tonight. Can i at least get a reaction from you?”

“Panic,” Tony supplied, looking to the side and trying his best not to look at his young son’s confused face. “I would say panic . . .”

Tony takes his son, Peter, to the Stark Industries' Annual Benefit for the Firefighter's Family Fund where they run into a face Tony would rather forget.

Unrepentant Flirt (The Lois Lane Remix) (ao3) - Prinzenhasserin christine/tony T, 1k

Summary: Christine Everheart knows how to get her way with men in particular, and nothing is going to stand in her way.

What happens in Vegas...We'll discuss later (ao3) - RaccoonCati pepper/tony T, 8k

Summary: Between too many drinks, gambling and running from the busy schedule, Tony and Pepper forgot for a second that they are to maintain a professional relationship between the two of them. The result: a marriage certificate.

But the playboy billionaire has to leave in a couple of days and his PA won't deal with anything until he's back.

#themculibrary #masterlists #marvel #mcu #christine everhart #christine everhart masterlist

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buckybarnesfanfiction · 4 months ago

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'Such Sweet Revenge' by ali_aliska

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15146219/chapters/35123417

This is one of the best fanfictions I've ever read. ali_aliska is one of the best WinterIron/Marvel fanfiction writers ever.

As always, all credit goes to ali_aliska. I OWN NOTHING. THIS IS NOT MY WORK!!!!

I am just premoting it because it is so, so good!

Author's Summary:

When the Rogues are back in the States after being pardoned, the New Avengers want nothing to do with them and as far as Tony is concerned, if he never speaks to them again, it'll be too soon. After all, he didn't spend the last year putting himself (and his family) back together only for his former co-workers to ruin all of his hard work.

But then he gets a hand-written letter from the Winter Soldier himself, apologizing for the events that transpired and an off-handed comment from Rhodey about Rogers failing to take care of an obviously miserable Bucky Barnes sets in motion Tony's new, oh-so-evil plan to get some payback.

After all, what better revenge than to steal the Winter Soldier away from his best friend?

The only problem: Tony sucks at being vengeful, but apparently he's an expert at inadvertently falling in love.

Excerpt from chapter 1:

Tony admired the bright doodles of Iron Man, Spider-Man, and a very Picasso-esque rendition of the Wasp one last time and placed the last letter on top of new pile next to him. With nothing else left to read, he studied the damn white envelope still sitting innocuously on the other end of the bed.

He should burn it. He should take the damn thing down to the lab and burn it in the incinerator, scatter the ashes from the top of Stark Tower, and maybe invoke Loki’s name in an incantation or something. Tony was not ashamed to admit that he was petty enough to sic the Trickster god on Rogers.

He should do all those things, but already he resigned himself to the fact that curiosity would get the best of him. It was both one of his best and most reckless personality traits.

Kudos to Rogers for using snail mail (again) to get a direct line of communication to Tony.

Alright, let’s see what kind of half-assed apologies and passive aggressive nonsense he came up with this time. At least there’s no insulting, out-of-date tech to go along with this letter.

He reached for the envelope, tore it open, unfolded the paper, and promptly realized that this wasn’t Rogers’ tidy scrawl (he hated that he had the man’s handwriting memorized). A glance at signature towards the bottom of the letter confirmed his suspicions.

Huh.

With a raised eyebrow and renewed curiosity, Tony leaned back and began to read.

Mr. Stark,

I wasn’t sure this letter would get to you, but I had to try. I thought about meeting you in person (you’re too easy to track down for someone of your importance), but that would have been both imposing and selfish.

Even this is selfish. I know no apology will fix what I’ve done. It won’t bring your parents back, it won’t bring anyone I killed back to life. It won’t fix what happened between you, Steve and the others either. Might not help you at all, so this apology, it’s selfish then, isn’t it? Just to help me sleep better at night. If it makes a difference, I still won’t be able to sleep.

But for whatever it’s worth, I am sorry. I’m so sorry. For your parents, for fighting you in Germany without knowing anymore than what Steve had told me. I’m sorry for fighting you in Siberia, for leaving you behind when you were hurt.

I wish you would’ve taken more than just my arm back in that bunker.

I’m not sure if there’s something I can do to make up for what happened. I don’t have money and most of my skillsets are frowned upon, but if there is any way I can help, or if you just want to shoot me between the eyes to even out the score, just say so.

Being back in the States, I’ve had a lot of time to think. Can’t sleep with that damn witch across the hall, so I got nothing but time. I made mistakes, hurt people who weren’t my enemies. First time I was free of Hydra’s control and all I did was do more damage.

I’ve been reading up on your work. Green energy, technology, the new Accords. All of you are doing amazing work and I’m sorry Steve and the others are getting in the way of that. They shouldn’t have ambushed Rhodes and Danvers like that. A damn charity event for sick kids. I don’t know what they were thinking. Rhodes and Danvers held their own though. Soldiers through and through.

Steve is also thinking about coming to that green energy conference next month. Thinks he can get a moment with you because you’re one of the speakers and the security isn’t as strict. No idea if this letter gets to you in time, and knowing you, you probably already know, but thought I should warn you.

They used some of your tech to help with the triggers, by the way. Thank you for that too. T’Challa’s sister didn’t want to be involved though and I don’t blame her, but the other doctors did well enough with the tech. My brain feels like it’s been scrubbed raw, but at least some lunatic won’t be able to control me anymore. Thank you for giving me that freedom. Again, I have nothing to give back but empty words.

You seem like a good man. I wish I got the chance to know you under different circumstances, but I guess that’s selfish too.

Wherever life takes you, I wish you well.

Sincerely,

James Buchanan Barnes

“Huh…” Tony exhaled and kept staring at the letter in his hands.

Not what I expected. At all.

#winteriron #tony x bucky #bucky barnes #bucky barnes fanfiction #not my fanfic #not mine #buckybarnes #fanfic #tony stark fanfiction #NOT MINE!!!#ao3 #ao3 fanfic #ao3 link #captain america civil war #mcu fanfic #marvel au

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darthbloodorange · 1 month ago

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There in Spirit [Comic]

For the: ✦ @tonystarkbingo Round 8 - Ghosts [Adopt] (Card: 8050)

Word count: N/a - Art Title: There in Spirit Rating: Explicit Universe: Marvel Cinematic Universe Pairings: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark Characters: Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, James "Bucky" Barnes, Pepper Potts, (brief) Happy Hogan, (brief) Bruce Banner, (brief) Clint Barton, (brief) Natasha Romanov, (brief) Jane Foster, (brief) Thor, (brief) Darcy Lewis, (brief) James "Rhodey" Rhodes, (brief) Sam Wilson, (brief) Vision Warnings: Explicit Sexual Content Major Tags: Humor, Established Relationship, Clothed Sex, Closet Sex, Halloween Costumes, Costume Parties & Masquerades, Being Walked In On, Avengers Tower, Shy Steve Rogers, Tony Stark is So Done, Top Bucky Barnes, Bottom Steve Rogers ~ Summery: Tony hosts a Halloween party for the Avengers. He tries inviting Steve…

Character's Costumes (in order of appearance): Tony Stark ⮕ Johannes Vermeer (artist) - Part of a couples costume with Pepper inspired by Pepper's interest in art. Pepper Potts ⮕ Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer Happy Hogan ⮕ Mime - Just thought the idea or joke of Happy, head of security, apprehending a intruder with mime powers. Bruce Banner ⮕ Plague Doctor - because 'Doctor' + Gamma/Hulk Clint Barton ⮕ Werewolf - Because Clint likes dogs. And because of the idea, I couldn't dress Steve as a werewolf or Capwolf. Natasha Romanov ⮕ Vampire Spider Queen - Started off as a vampire, thought it would be cool to add spiders to it too. Jane Foster ⮕ Angel Thor ⮕ Pop Tart Darcy Lewis ⮕ Devil Rhodey ⮕ Han Solo - I think he likes Star Wars? Unsure. Sam Wilson ⮕ Big Bird - Play on the idea that he's the falcon. Vision ⮕ Frankenstein's Monster. - The idea of Vision correction everyone at the party that he's "Frankenstein's Monster" not "Dr Frankenstein himself" was really funny to me. Steve Rogers ⮕ Poltergeist/Ghost Bucky ⮕ Ghost

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ussgallifrey · 4 months ago

Text

(She Moves With) Shameless Wonder | 29

✦ Pairing: Steve Rogers x Female Reader

✦ Warnings: Canon divergence, dialogue taken directly from Captain America: Civil War and the Marvel Civil War comic, domestic Avengers, language, official team movie nights, political discourse, references to human trafficking and kidnapping, violence.

✦ Word Count: 7.7k

✦ Playlist: Here

✦ Cinematic Soundtrack: Here

[Master List]

Grabbing a handful of M&M's from Pietro’s offered bag, you hum in consideration, giving your answer at last, “No, I think I see what you’re saying.”

“Thank you!” Natasha sighs in relief.

Tony scoffs from his position on the loveseat. He’s got one leg hanging off the side and the other bent at the knee as he tries to balance a half-finished smoothie on his chest.

“No, I’m clearly a Will-type.”

You can’t help the immediate retching sound that escapes your lips as you sputter, “You are so not.”

“I mean, I can kinda see it?” Rhodey suggests from the armest beside Tony. He just happened to be in the area today and who could say no to Chinese takeout and a movie when Stark was footing the bill?

Beside you, Steve tilts his head. His eyes, darkened in the low light, squint at the screen across the room.

“No, no. We have to be honest with ourselves here,” Natasha placates. “If Tony is anyone, it’s Jack. I mean - ”

As if to explain herself, you all find yourselves watching as Jack performs his daring escape from Norrington and the redcoats. Your eyes follow the pirate captain as he goes sailing on the rope.

“Yeah, I see it,” Steve agrees as the pirate runs across the bridge, getting shot at by Norrington’s men.

Which is followed by a rumbling agreement amongst your fellow movie-watchers.

“Fine, fine,” Tony grumbles, sitting up to run a hand through his hair as he glances around at the rest of the team. “Then tell me this, who else is supposedly dashing young Mr. Turner if not moi?”

You, Clint, Natasha, Rhodey, and Sam almost unanimously say: “Steve.”

With a groan of exasperation, Tony raises his hands in defeat, “Come on!”

“Okay, hear me out,” Natasha points with her drink at the TV. “Boyish charm, protective of the girl he’s had a crush on for ages - ”

This is met with a general hum of approval, though you don’t entirely see how that fits the bill for Steve. The supersoldier in question has his face turned away, occupied with his phone from the looks of it as the bluish-white light of the screen has his face lit up in odd angles in the otherwise darkened room.

“- jumping into a fight he may or may not be able to handle.”

“Total misunderstanding of how the world around him works - you know, with the pirates and shit,” Clint adds with a laugh.

“Awww, come on,” you call out, wrapping your hand around Steve’s left arm, giving him a squeeze of reassurance. “Lay off the guy. He’s nearly a centenarian!”

At last, he turns to look down at you, a smile blooming across his features, as he turns off his phone.

“That’s rich coming from the thirty-five-hundred-year-old sitting next to me.”

“Hey!” you accuse, removing your hand to smack him across the shoulder instead before your eyes travel across the room to the source of your disdain. “Romanoff, I thought I swore you to secrecy on that!”

“Beggars and choosers, Seven,” she grins with a wolfish smile as she tosses a piece of popcorn into her mouth.

Damn spies. She had pulled that little tidbit out of Dionysus when he was into his fifth glass of wine during your birthday party last year.

“Captain Rogers would take on a new meaning entirely,” Vision contemplates from the island counter.

Wanda nods in agreement beside him as she finishes decorating the sugar cookies she has been working on for the better part of the afternoon.

“If Steve were to grow a beard and wield a cutlass, he would look the part.”

“A beard?” you question as you glance up at the supersoldier. “I can’t picture you with a beard.”

Steve absently rubs at his chin, smooth and stubble-free as always.

While Will begins dueling with Jack in the blacksmith’s shop, the lights in the living room suddenly brighten - leading to several groans of annoyance - and a sharp alarm rings out twice before FRIDAY jumps in.

“You have a Priority Three from Agent Hill, sir.”

The otherwise carefree expressions of the team seem to sober at once as Tony hits the pause button and stands.

“Right, conference room A, FRI. Patch her in.”

Wordlessly, the rest of you deposit your snacks and drinks and get up to follow Stark down the hall to the designated meeting area. Pietro moves to join you, but you put a hand on his shoulder and push him down.

“It’s okay. Stay here.”

He has that look on his face again, but Steve has his hand on your right elbow and he’s gently tugging you along, “We gotta go.”

Offering the teen a final look, you join the rest of the team. Wanda glances up from the cooling racks of cookies, while Vision merely watches the team disappear around the corner.

Though you enjoyed the carefree days at the Compound, you were all too aware of the fact that it was not the norm.

FRIDAY's alarm interrupted many dinner nights, training sessions, and otherwise obligation-free evenings. Whether it was sightings of an ex-HYDRA operative shooting up a mall in Virginia or the mention of a scientist experimenting with old Chitari weaponry, you were all too used to the call for the Avengers coming in.

Hill’s already on the screen when you enter the room behind Steve. Tony has a holographic map up and two videos running on a loop. You study the city names and the topographical blue-lit mountains to get your bearings.

“This seems like a SHIELD thing, co-director. Not really an avenging thing.”

“Well,” Hill balks. “I thought this one might be of particular interest to you. This operation is just another in the latest stings we’ve conducted across the Midwest this past month.”

Taking a seat at the table, between Sam and Clint, you stare up at the flashing array of pictures from previous sting operations. There’s images of weapon cases, shootouts with masked gunmen, women. A lot of women in various states of well-being.

Tony taps on one picture in particular, enlarging it.

“Not to mention, we’ve been picking up on this more and more frequently.”

It’s an emblem of a snake. Coiled at the tail, standing upright with two visible fangs. You tilt your head to the side, studying it. Trying to remember where exactly you’ve seen this before.

Steve shares a pointed look with Sam before his gaze shifts over to you.

Oh, that’s where.

“Looks like a HYDRA knock-off,” Clint comments.

Steve nods, voice low as he says, “I was thinking the same thing.”

After their two-week-long mission in Texas, Steve had become very well acquainted with that symbol. Though it hadn’t been as graphically pleasing as this new emblem was. When he had discovered a trove of weapons caches in an abandoned storage warehouse, that image had been spray-painted onto the pallets.

Looks like whoever this group was had seriously upgraded since their last encounter with the Avengers.

“It very well could be,” Hill agrees. “Wasn’t their motto about lobbing off one head and another appearing? This could be a branch of some sort. Either way, the reason we’re calling you in tonight - ”

There’s a security feed of a hotel entrance, black and white, typical grainy quality. A woman, maybe early 20s at most, exits the building, says something to the doorman, and moves to the backseat of a waiting car.

“That’s Olivia Nichols, daughter of Jeffery Nichols - CEO of Horizon Global, a multinational corporation that has dealings all over the world. She was supposed to be en route to the airport to meet up with her friends for some kind of bachelorette party. The fact is, she never arrived. And this showed up two hours later in her father’s inbox.”

A cellphone video of a young girl, Olivia, tied to a chair, screaming into the camera appears in the hovering hologram above the conference table.

“Ransom?”

“None.”

Sharing a weary look with Natasha, you both stare at the girl’s panicked face.

“And we’re being asked to handle it because… she’s someone of importance?” Tony questions, voice calm as he flips through Hill’s transferred files.

“Well, that’s part of it,” Hill admits. “We’ve had eyes on a group operating about forty miles south of Las Vegas. Tonight, two truckloads were brought in. One might have had Olivia Nichols on it. The other…”

A final video pops up.

Two faceless guards have their hands on some boxy-looking gun. On the security camera, they aim it at a stack of wooden pallets. But instead of a simple bullet being discharged, a sharp white wave of energy shoots out from the muzzle.

“That’s Hammer tech. Son-of-a-bitch,” Tony grunts, scrubbing a hand across his chin. “Okay, so… kidnapping, illegal arms with extreme military-grade components in the hands of two-bit criminals. Is that about the gist of it?”

“Our insider says they have plans to cross the border tonight. And that they’ll have help.”

A final video appears. In it, a handful of SHIELD special ops agents are knocked out by a man in a dark combat suit. His face is obscured by a mask. The bullets do nothing to stop him as he surges forward and squeezes the neck of an agent to the point of decapitation.

“And one superpowered individual to wrap it out. Wonderful,” Rhodey comments.

Steve drums his knuckles on the table for a moment, a pensive look in his eyes as he studies the multiple videos and pictures.

“Do we have any more information on that individual?”

Hill shakes her head, “This is all I’ve got for you, Captain.”

With a nod, he glances over at Tony who remains silent for a moment as he also looks over the images.

“Right. Wheels up in ten. Hill, send the coordinates over to FRIDAY, we’ll talk when we’re up in the air.”

As you all exit the conference room, headed down to the armory to equip yourselves and suit up, you’re immediately met by both Wanda and Pietro.

“Uh…”

You shoot Steve a look as he goes to leave. He’s immediately at your side, arms crossed as he looks down at the two teenagers.

“Where are we headed?” Pietro asks brightly, bouncing on his heels.

“You? Nowhere.”

“Come on,” the boy groans. “It’s been over a year, we have been training every day. We can help. Let us come this time.”

“You know we can’t do that,” you settle.

Wanda’s eyes flash from you to Steve.

“We fought Ultron, for fuck’s sake - ” Steve flinches as the boy pushes forward with his speech. “We can handle ourselves.”

Placing a hand on the supersoldier’s shoulder, you take his place. This was not the first time you had heard this argument and you sincerely doubted it would be the last.

“We understand that. But you both know it should have never happened. You two were too young and untrained to be anywhere near a threat like that. It’s on us. Your safety is our responsibility. And, I’m sorry, but that’s one thing we’re not willing to risk.”

Pietro glares up at you with a dark look in his eyes, rage bristling along his fingertips.

“You’re going to keep training and you’re going to get better each day. And one day, you will join us in the field. But that day is not today. Now please, we need to go. Vision will stay here with you.”

“We don’t need a babysitter,” Wanda bites as she turns on her heel and walks away.

Pietro stares at you both for a moment more before he disappears in a flash, back down the hall toward the kitchen. Though you doubted that was his final destination.

Turning to look up at the supersoldier, you sigh and give a roll of your eyes.

“Let’s go.”

Steve rolls to the side, using the shield to cover his head as an electrically charged coil comes slamming down on top of him. He can feel the currents surging across the vibranium, but it’s muted compared to the wave of pain Natasha had just suffered.

Sweat soaks his uniform as the unnaturally hot temperatures of the Mojave make him swelter, even in the late-night hour.

“Tell me you got a bright idea up there, Tony.”

Stark soars past, blasting his repulsors at the masked criminal. The man merely turns around and sends his nearly thirty-foot-long coils up at the Iron Man who just barely avoids them.

“Uh, working on that.”

He chances a glance over in your direction. While they maintained the man’s attention, you and Clint had slithered away to deal with the cargo containers. One of which likely contained the missing woman.

Standing back onto his feet, he sends the shield flying at the silent fighter. It slams into his chest but seems to only send him back a foot or so before he’s slinging his electrical whips at the supersoldier once again.

One manages to coil its way around his arm and it burns. The surge of voltage ignites his blood - tears sparking at the corners of his eyes, a scream retching itself from his throat as he tries to fight it.

And then it’s gone in a breath as Steve collapses to his knees.

Sam slams into the masked man, feet first, knocking him completely off-balance.

“Got you, Cap,” he calls as he flies past for a second run at the guy.

Shoving his fist into the ground, Steve pushes himself back up once again.

“Okay, think I might have something here,” Tony calls over the comms. “It’s going to require a live bait for it to work though.”

With a sigh, Steve straightens his posture before asking, “What do you need me to do?”

When the fight is done with, and the supersoldier is sitting on the metal bench on the back of the quinjet, he finds relief in your worried eyes.

“Seriously, Rogers,” you chastise as you dab an alcohol-soaked cloth at the nasty cut above his left eye. “I leave you alone for one minute - ”

“About twenty, really.”

Your hand pauses as you fix him with a particularly heated look.

Steve offers you a crooked smile in return. With a shake of your head, you get back to cleaning him up.

“Twenty minutes, then. And look what happens to you. Were you always this reckless?”

Unable to stop the chuckle from happening, Steve looks away with a sheepish expression.

“Worse, probably.”

You make a humming noise as you go to grab one of the bandages created by the combined efforts of Stark Industries and Dr. Cho that can stitch together lacerations in the span of thirty minutes. They had been truly handy these past few missions out on the field. Mostly with Steve being the one in need of them.

“I’d believe it,” you murmur as you press down on the edge of the dressing to seal it to his skin.

When you back away to return the medical kit to its rightful organization, Steve sits up on the bench, watching your meticulous handiwork.

“How are they?” he questions.

Your body tenses for just a moment before you place the kit back in the cabinet next to the bench.

“They’ve all seen better days,” you admit.

While the team handled the guards and masked criminal - who had managed to get away, though Sam and Tony were currently flying after him - you and Clint had uncovered not a single container of weapons. Instead, you found thirty terrified women huddled together in the back of one of the shipping containers.

“The agents are getting their statements now. Most of them said they signed on to do a cash-under-the-table make-up trial. I’m sure there’s more to it than that, but that’s what I overheard.”

Based on the vacant expression on your face, Steve knows there’s far more to it than what you’re willing to say.

You had both dealt with your fair share of trafficking rings, prisoners, and HYDRA hostages before today. Steve didn’t have to ask to know what things you had likely seen when discovering the women.

When the hostages are safely secured in SHIELD’s hands and the quinjet is back in the air, they get a comm in from Tony. The masked man, apparently, disappeared about ten miles north near Mountain Pass - likely hiding out in one of the old mine shafts until the area was clear.

“Okay, we’ll get the word out,” he says from behind the controls.

A gentle hand on his shoulder has him glancing up to see you, your face already in your phone.

“I’m letting Agent 47 know now. They’ll get teams to set up a perimeter around the town. He won’t get far.”

As you continue typing, Steve gives you a nod before returning his attention to the open skies ahead of them.

Natasha subtly leans her head over in his direction, her eyes never leaving the match in front of them both, as she says,

“Twenty on Seven?”

Steve scoffs, watching as you gather Clint’s wrists together in one hand and pull him up and over your shoulder before bodyslamming him into the mats.

“It’s not really proper betting if we’re both betting on the same person, Nat.”

She hums in return as if to say fair enough, as the pair continue to watch the two of you spar.

He’s leaning on the edge of the mat, peering between the ropes as Clint uses his folded bow like a spear, slamming it onto your shoulder before going for a close-quarters jab to your abdomen.

Steve knows you’re holding back for Barton’s sake. Likely Natasha and the archer also know this fact. But you’re acting like you’re giving it your all.

His eyes become transfixed on the flexing of your biceps, the heaving of your chest as sweat rolls down your neck - dangling on your pendant before falling into the sweet divet of your breasts. It’s not very often that you dress in such a way - a dark sports bra and leggings, similar to what Natasha dones during training - but today it’s your outfit of choice. And Steve is definitely noticing.

He can feel the flush of heat near his ears and cheeks, as well as the rapid beat of his heart as you move around the ring like a gladiator. You flash him a smile as you charge at Clint, tackling him around the torso as you slam him into the ropes.

“OH!” Steve cheers.

“You got this, Clint,” Natasha calls out behind the clap of her hands. Though she immediately leans back over to the supersoldier and mutters, “He’s going to whine about this for days.”

With a laugh, he returns to singing your praises. Cheering you on as you corner the archer once again.

“Come on, we’re buddies, right?” Clint plays, eyeing an escape near your right side as he wipes the sweat from his brow.

“Co-workers at best,” you return with a wild smile as you capture his left forearm in your hand, twisting him around your back.

“That hurts, Seven.”

You let out a breathless chuckle as your hands find purchase on your bare hips.

“No, that actually hurts. What the hell did you do?”

At his concerned voice, your body language changes in an instant as you lean down to look at his wrist, “Are you okay? I swear I didn’t - ”

Clint lets out a triumphant hah as he latches his hands around your neck and physically pulls you up and over his body, slamming your back into the mats behind him. You’re on your feet in a second, crouching down low as you fix him with a predatory look.

“Ooh,” Natasha whistles. “Now you’ve awoken the God.”

“Oh shit,” he stumbles back.

You’re on top of the archer, pinning him down with your thighs and hands. Steve can’t make his gaze move away from the arch of your back before his eyes slowly travel down lower and lower.

“Sorry, Captain Rogers. Miss Romanoff. Mr. Barton. The Goddess Athena.”

Steve pulls away from the ring as he looks up at the ceiling where FRIDAY’s voice has come from. You’re off of Clint, offering him a hand as Natasha joins the supersoldier’s side.

“What is it, FRIDAY?”

“Uh… sir is requesting the team’s presence in Conference Room 2B. He says to tell you that Secretary… Dickless is here, Captain Rogers.”

His eyes move over to Nat.

He hears Clint’s wheezing laugh behind him, followed by your soft chuckle, as the archer manages out, “It’s true sir. This man has no dick.”

“No more Ghostbusters for you,” you say.

“Come on, it’s a classic.”

As Clint and Nat move ahead together - Steve hears her murmur something about needing to work on his footwork - you linger behind with the supersoldier. He turns his gaze on you, but you seem to be focused on the hallway ahead.

“What do you think this is about?” he inquires as the others move ahead through the double set of doors leading up to the stairs.

You pause for a moment, working over your thoughts.

“The SRA if I had to hazard a guess.”

His brows furrow as he stares down at you, “I thought Stark said those were dead on arrival?”

“Nothing in politics is ever truly guaranteed. Best case scenario, it’s an intimidation tactic. I mean…” you resume walking, Steve’s just a step behind you. “The guy’s been after Bruce ever since New York - before New York actually. He might be trying to pull a power move to make us give up his location.”

Steve lets that thought mull over for a moment as you head up the stairs, side-by-side.

Tony’s set up the meeting in the room furthest away from the main living space - right near the entrance to the residence building. And when he enters behind you, he lets out an internal breath of relief when he notices that the twins are not in attendance.

They shouldn’t - would never - be anywhere near the Secretary of State.

Ross is speaking with one of his aides as everyone finds a seat at the conference table. He wedges in next to Sam, while you find a spot between Natasha and Tony. You lean back to say something to the billionaire, careful to keep your words low - too low for even Steve to hear.

“Should I be worried?” Sam asks.

Steve turns to look back at his friend.

“Why? Do anything illegal lately?” he attempts a smile.

Sam shakes his head, “Man, our whole existence has basically been one act of defiance after the other.”

When Ross steps up, silence settles across the room. Steve immediately fixes his expression to be one of unmoving stoicness. He had faced down drill sergeants and SHIELD directors before. He knew how to school his features.

“Five years ago,” the Secretary starts. “I had a heart attack and dropped right in the middle of my backswing. Turns out it was the best round of my life because, after thirteen hours of surgery and a triple bypass, I found something forty years in the army had never taught me. Perspective.”

Steve catches your eye from across the table.

“The world owes the Avengers an unpayable debt.”

He immediately senses the but to that sentence as he crosses his arms.

“You have fought for us, protected us, risked your lives but while a great many people see you as heroes…”

There it is.

“There are some… who would prefer the word vigilantes.”

Natasha, never missing a beat, asks, “What word would you use, Mr. Secretary?”

He looks up, fixing the woman with a look, “How about dangerous?”

The man takes a moment to stare each of them down with his gaze. Steve can sense the physically unrestrained disdain he has for them all. Prejudice was not so easily hidden.

“What would you call a group of US-based, enhanced individuals who routinely ignore sovereign borders and inflict their will wherever they choose and who, frankly, seem unconcerned about what they leave behind?”

As the Secretary moves to the side of the table, the projector behind him lights up with a display. Steve has to restrain the roll of his eyes as he prepares himself. The man made a presentation. God help them all.

A black and white map appears with yellow labels. Without even reading them, Steve knows exactly where this is headed before a clip of Tony flying away from a Leviathan appears.

“New York.”

Rhodes looks away as a cellphone video of the Hulk jumping from a tall building down to the street - near the cameraperson - takes over.

“Washington D.C.”

Sam’s posture is rigid as a video of one of the hellicarriers crashing into the Potomac plays.

“Johannesburg.”

The Hulkbuster suit slams into the ground before the Hulk knocks it off-screen.

“London.”

A surge of Iron Legion bots swarms down upon the city as you slam the Abomination into the side of a museum building, fire sparking in the background.

“Sokovia.”

The city is ablaze. Dark black smoke chokes out the sky as drones of silver bots attack the civilian populace. A woman’s decapitated head -

“Okay,” he bites. “That’s enough.”

Ross, looking entirely pleased, nods at his aide to turn off the presentation.

“For the past four years, you’ve operated with unlimited power and no supervision - ”

“FRIDAY,” Steve turns in his seat as your voice, calm and steady, calls out, “Play archival clip A7 Rio de Janeiro 8.”

Without a word in return, a video appears on the projector behind Ross - who, if looks could kill, Steve assumes the entire room, the projector included, would be in flames.

A security camera quality video shows a team of armed guards outside of a building, firing at a creature. There’s an explosion before the screen goes dark.

“And A7 Culver 4,” your voice has the bristles of rage stemming from it now as you cross your arms over your chest.

Another security camera. A long glass hallway, smoke grenades.

“And Culver 5.”

An exterior shot of armed men on a grass lawn, firing at a college campus. Large sonic cannons and tanks.

As you settle back in your seat, Tony perks up from the end of the table.

“And hey, FRI, while we’re at it, do you have anything from Harlem on the night of… oh, let’s say… June 4, 2010?”

Ross’ face turns so incredibly red that Steve almost believes a second heart attack is imminent as clips from the Dual of Harlem play out behind him. You had told him all about that particular mission; the clean-up process of securing the Abomination.

As you share a smile with Tony, Ross slowly attempts to gather his composure - straightening his tie.

“You know, since we’re playing out this trip down memory lane,” Tony smirks. “Figured fair was only fair since you and the SOCC were operating within sovereign borders, correct?”

“That was a military operation sanctioned by the US Government,” Ross warbles.

“Oh?” you question, straightening in your seat as you rise to the occasion. “Shall I have FRIDAY bring up the files for Operation: Buster as well?”

“Also a sanctioned operation. Whereas this team is not.”

“By the way, who exactly invited you here? I’m not in the habit of giving out invites to government officials who enjoy sniping my armor from me,” Tony questions with a tilt of his head.

“I did.”

Steve and the rest of the team turn toward the door as Hill walks in. Dressed in her usual tactical suit, but with her hair down, the co-director of SHIELD moves into the conference room. Standing opposite Ross near the front of the table, she keeps her hands behind her back and her chin high as she refuses to meet even one person’s gaze.

Settling his hands on the edge of the table, Ross regains his previous speech back from your hands.

“Unless you would like to bring up videos of you and the god Thor destroying this great city…” your silence lingers for a moment too long, allowing the Secretary to continue. “As I was saying, this is an arrangement that the government and many governments around the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have the solution.”

Steve stares at the heavy booklet that his aide hands over to Ross.

“The SRA; the Superhuman Registration Act.”

The legislation is passed from Clint to Rhodes then Natasha. Down the table, it goes before it lands in front of Steve.

114-23: The Superhuman Registration Act stares back at him.

“Approved by fifty-four Congressmen and women it states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organization.”

Steve’s gaze lands on Tony. That was more than what the billionaire had claimed. Apparently, the Democrats were more than willing to jump the aisle.

“Instead, they’ll operate under the supervision of a government panel. Anyone wishing to use their powers in an official capacity will register with the government. They’ll go through the proper avenues of training and testing before they can be allowed out in the field to defend the people of this country.”

“Just this country?” Steve questions as he raps his knuckles against the book before passing it along to Tony.

“Allied nations, of course,” Ross supplements.

Steve, unable to keep his mouth closed now that he’s opened it stares up at the Secretary as he says, “The Avengers were formed to make this world a safer place. I feel we’ve done that.”

Ross immediately counters, “Tell me, Captain. Do you know where Thor and Banner are right now? If I misplaced a couple of thirty-ton megaton nukes - ”

Before he can respond, you chime in, “The Virgin Islands.”

With the man’s attention turned on you, you offer him your sneeriest smile.

“I just spoke to them yesterday. They’ve been enjoying a thoroughly wonderful vacation in one of your territories.”

The Secretary clears his throat, signaling to his aide.

Your secretive smile curves further as Steve catches your eye. Clever girl is what he wishes he could say to you.

“Compromise,” he restarts as he moves back to the head of the table. “Reassurance. That’s how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground.”

Rhodes looks down at Tony before he addresses the Secretary, “So, there are contingencies.”

“Three days from now, this piece of legislation will be up for a vote in the Senate. After that, the House. Talk it over.”

Having apparently said his fill, Ross and his aide move to leave.

Clint looks back at the Secretary as he retreats, “And what if we come to a decision you don’t like?”

Ross pauses near the door, by Tony’s chair.

“Then you retire.”

Nodding at his aide, the two disappear into the hallway.

“Don’t let the door… smack your stupid ass on the way out,” Tony mutters to himself, dragging a hand down his face.

“How’s it going, Maria?” Clint chatters as he kicks his feet up onto the edge of the table.

Steve turns his attention back to the co-director as she saunters over to the table.

“It was necessary.”

“Inviting Thunderbolt Ross to our house? That was necessary?” Tony questions with a biting tone. “Thanks for the memo, by the way. Minutes before it happened.”

He feels his fingers tightening into a fist on the table before he forces himself to relax his hand.

“While you guys have been galavanting around the world, mission to mission, I’ve been trying to rebuild SHIELD from the ground up. Do you know what kind of measures I’ve had to implement to get the government to trust us as an official entity once again?”

“Once Insight went to shit, you had the country in an uproar - screaming at their senators and representatives, demanding we get disbanded. But then I’d just be handing over control to the Army. And… I think we all know how well that went over…”

Her gaze moves from the table to the door in which Ross had just exited.

“A little compromise with them is going to lead to us still being able to function in any real capacity. The next time aliens decide to attack New York, we’ll actually be able to handle it instead of having a higher government panel choose to nuke the city. That’s why I brought Ross in.”

“So… instead of us getting to decide when and where we need to be, we’ll have... who exactly doing the deciding?”

With a sigh, Hill looks from Tony to Steve, trying to maintain their gaze.

“This is a way to get your foot in the door to negotiate your terms. Stark, you know all about that.”

Seeing that she’s still not garnered an inch of trust, she pushes on, “I did this to give Ross the impression that he’s got the power here. But, come on, you guys have two Gods on your side. That’s more than enough to sway things in your favor.”

“Our favor, or SHIELD’s?”

Steve raises his head as you fix Hill with a bristling look.

The co-director straightens her posture, smoothing out the imaginary wrinkles on her suit.

“Both. It’s mutually beneficial legislation.”

Movement from across the table catches the supersoldier’s eye. You push yourself away from the table, ignoring Natasha’s worried eyes and Tony’s words of complaint.

“Agent Seven,” Hill uses her commanding tone to gain your attention like you were just another soldier who would just fall in line at the snap of her fingers.

While your brow is raised in question, you merely cross your arms and stare at the co-director.

“I’m sorry. I thought these were human affairs. As someone who is in fact in-human, I don’t think it’s necessary for me to sit here any longer and hear bull spew from your lips.”

Hill recoils before schooling her features, “You might not be human, but you do choose to live here amongst us and work with us.”

You shrug your head to the side, “That can always change.”

And then you’re out of the room before the woman can even form a rebuttal.

“Smooth,” Rhodey grimaces as he turns in his chair to look at the rest of the team.

Steve watches your retreating form, your steps hurried as you disappear down the hallway. Without much more thought, he’s up and out of his chair.

“Captain Rogers.”

He turns, offering her an equally neutral look, “Yes, co-director?”

“Steve,” she attempts instead, trying to play to his humanity like it wasn’t the oldest trick in the book.

“Hill. Don’t try and play politics with me. We need to stay above this stuff or we get Washington telling us who the villains are. I’ve seen it happen before and I’m not interested. If you’ll excuse me,” and then he’s out the door, going in the same direction you had.

He can hear someone call his name, Natasha he thinks, but he’s at a half-jog now, trying to catch up to you.

But Tony’s faster as he speeds around the corner - a hand reaching out to stop the supersoldier before he can get much farther than the end of the corridor.

“Hey, look - ”

Steve turns around, gaze sharp and posture rigid.

“Whoa, at ease. What I was going to say,” Tony sighs, raking a hand through his hair, “before you decided to run off was… we’re all on the same page here, Rogers. Fuck Ross, fuck the SRA. We’re not gonna have Yoko come in and try to split up the band.”

Steve blinks, “What?”

“Yoko… as in Ono? Oh, for fucks sake I thought you already covered this. Beatles, circa ‘69. The Let It Be album. Trust me, you’ll get the reference eventually. Point is! We’re sticking together in telling Hill to suck it, alright?”

“Got it,” he mutters, gazing down the opposite end of the hallway.

“Right, just wanted to…” Tony reaches out, lightly tapping his shoulder once, twice, before he backs off. “Go and find your girl, or whatever.”

“She’s not my - ”

But the amused look on the billionaire’s face keeps him from finishing the sentence.

Because while you might not technically be Steve’s, most people would assume that wherever you were he likely wasn’t far behind. In every sense but the literal, you were Steve’s girl. Even he acknowledges that now.

The hallways filter off into three directions: the stairs to the lower levels - your quarters, the hall that leads to the living space and kitchen, and the third which splits off toward more empty meeting rooms and offices.

You were too worked up to go where the twins might be located, which nixed the first two halls. He ducks down the third instead. Glancing into each room he passes, but finds them to all be darkened and notably empty.

“FRIDAY?” he calls out. “Do you have a location on Athena?”

“The Goddess Athena is not inside the Compound at this time, Captain Rogers.”

“Not inside the…” Steve mulls, glancing around the hall.

But then his eyes land on a final set of doors that lead out to a small garden area. It was a part of the building that had seen little to no use since Tony opened the Compound up to them all.

But Steve pushes open the door anyway. The stone-lined patio is also devoid of one particular goddess. However, his eyes travel over to a dark-stone-lined path that wraps around the corner of the fenced-in patio space. Having never ventured out this way himself, he’s actually sort of surprised to see you sitting on the edge of the covered dock along the river.

He doesn’t keep his approach quiet, giving you time to tell him off - to tell him to go away. But you don’t say a word.

You’ve got your leggings pushed up to your knees as you dangle your bare feet into the water. Tiny goosebumps cover your arms and neck as he draws near, dropping down beside you on the wooden deck.

“You have an uncanny habit of finding me, Rogers.”

Your voice is soft and lithe in the cool air of the early summer day. The clouds overhead are a subdued gray, thick rolling waves against an equally dull sky. The right kind of weather to match the conversation they had all been dragged into, he surmises.

“More of a hobby.”

Your eyes meet his and a half-smile graces the curve of your lips as you briefly take him in.

Removing his own shoes and socks, Steve slowly rolls the cuffs of his pant legs up high enough before he too eases his feet into the cool murky waters of the Hudson. With his hands folded in his lap, he watches the river flow past, allowing that lingering bit of silence to last a few minutes more.

But, eventually, he can’t help himself.

“What do you make of it?”

Your wary eyes meet his before you focus your attention back to the river.

“Whether they’ll happen or not?”

He gives a half-hearted shrug, “I suppose.”

You lean back, your hands splaying out against the wooden boards behind you, “I suppose there’s a higher chance now than there was before. If it gets through the Senate and eventually the House, you’ll just have to hope that Tony works his way with Ellis to dispel disaster before it hits.”

“We will?”

Your expression seems to say oh, caught that, did you? While Steve’s own brow furrows.

“Like I said, I’m not a permanent resident of this country. I could come and go and never be truly affected by any law they put in place.”

“Leave the team? Just like that?”

Before annoyance can cloud his mind, your left shoulder bumps into his right.

“I never said I wanted to. Just stating a fact. This whole bill… it’s a human issue, Steve,” your eyes meet his gaze. “It’s none of my business, really.”

Heaving a sigh, he drops his hands on either side of his body, feeling the smooth grain of the wood beneath his fingertips.

“And if I asked you what your true opinion on the SRA is?”

“I would say…” your hand seems to move to the pendant around your neck as your fingers draw circles over the locket itself for a few quiet beats. “That I could see some merits with it, in all honesty.”

Drawing one foot out of the water, you bend your leg at the knee as you turn to face him.

“Don’t get me wrong, with the right administration behind the wheel this could be a genuine good thing to enact. But the wrong government… well, then you get things like Insight.”

With a sigh, you twist your fingers together. Steve can’t help himself from reaching out a hand to stop the motion.

A bubble of laughter escapes your lips as you allow him to entwine your left hand with his right. Despite the amount of work you do, the fighting and sparring, your hands are smooth beneath his touch. Warm, despite the chilly air.

“I think… it wouldn’t hurt to have some sort of oversight, to keep things in check at times. I mean, there’s the entire Iron Legion debacle. Or… if we were to send Wanda and Pietro out now. You and I both know they need more training. If there are more people out there like them… I can’t imagine if they were just allowed to be out in the world with whatever powers they might possess with little to no combat training. It’d be like…”

Your free hand gestures outward as you try to think of the right analogy. Steve gets lost in the exasperated curl of your lips.

“Like… sending out your boot camp cadet for D-Day, you know? And honestly,” your voice grows soft, more somber in tone as your fingers tighten in his hold. “Ross had a point. Thor, Bruce, me - we are like nuclear warheads in the wrong place. We’re a destructive force never meant for the likes of humanity.”

“Please don’t say that,” Steve implores as he forces you to meet his eyes. “I mean it.”

With a nod, your eyes remaining on his, your hands tightening into an enclosed grip, you say, “Sometimes, it would be good to have someone keeping things in check. Even on a small scale, like… deciding who would be best equipped to handle a mission and who would be better to have on standby. Or, god, I don’t know. Not having two Gods entering a foreign country to threaten security guards for intel might be a good idea.”

Yeah, even Steve will admit that wasn’t the height of their crowning achievements. He lets the cool water rippling around his calves and feet settle him down to a point that his thoughts won’t be construed as angry.

“While I understand that,” he begins. “I just can’t see this working in our favor, at all.”

Giving a solemn nod, your hand slips from his hold.

“Even in a liberally-minded president’s hands, anything can be turned in the blink of an eye. Freedom disappearing overnight in the name of national security.”

Images of Project Insight play out in his mind. SHIELD had targeted millions across the country with their play at securing public safety. Every member of the team, the President, and millions of civilians of varying ages and creeds. Though it had been taken over by HYDRA, Fury had originally green-lit the project. That had been his solution for the attack on New York.

And now, after four years, this was the government’s solution to, well, them. The Avengers Initiative.

No, Steve wasn’t going to sit by the wayside and let the team be touched by the same people who had tried to nuke Manhattan, who had chased Bruce across the world, or who had tried to take the suit from Tony.

“You’ve got that face again.”

The supersoldier blinks, taking in your smile. Your eyes seem more radiant in the sunlight now as you begin to laugh.

“What face?” he questions with a quiet chuckle.

“The face you get whenever you plan to do something incredibly stupid.”

Steve shoves at your shoulder and you actually allow him to push you back. But then your right hand dips into the river and suddenly he’s got a spray of water in his face. And then he’s drawing his own legs out of the water and he’s crawling after your retreating form as you kick back at him with a high-pitched series of giggles, but he wraps his arms around your knees. And then he’s dragging you toward him, your body prone and your chest heaving as you recline against the deck.

Your hair is splayed outward around your head and your cheeks are tight with laughter as you settle him with a warm look and god he should just do it, just lean his lips down and capture your lips finally, fucking finally after all of these years.

“Oh, Rogers,” you sigh - your hand lifting up to ruffle his hair.

Steve ducks his head into your touch, eyelids fluttering as your fingers dig in.

“What am I going to do with you?”

Leaning his head down, his lips almost coming in contact with your very close and very warm chest, Steve mutters, “I could think of a few things.”

Your hand stalls and he wants to kick himself for saying anything at all, but as he lifts his head, he finds your easy smile, and all other thoughts seem to fade away as you huff out a breath, your knee shoving into his abdomen.

“God, you’re heavy.”

Knowing the moment for anything has long since passed him by once again, he plays the usual teasing card as he winces at your sharp kneecap.

“Okay, okay, I’m going. I’m going.”

As you sit up, smoothing your hair away from your face, and as he stands back up to offer you a hand of help, your sparkling eyes meet his gaze.

“Not too far, hopefully.”

As he clutches your hand, helping to pull you up to your feet, your body just a breath apart from his, he mutters, “Never. That’s a promise.”

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#steve rogers x female reader #steve rogers x reader #marvel fan fic #series: shameless wonder #my fic

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braveclementine · 4 months ago

Text

Party

Warnings: None

Copyright: I do not own any Marvel characters or locations. However, I do own my OC Elizabeth Lightwood. I do not condone any copying of this.

You smiled, wearing a blue dress and holding Everleigh, hanging out at the pool table, watching Steve and Sam play.

Sam whooped as he pocketed a ball and Steve grinned, biting his bottom lip.

Thor was talking with a bunch of soldiers while Bruce awkwardly darted around, avoiding everyone. Nat and Rhodey were talking on the couch and Clint was talking to Cho in the corner of the room, the two of them holding drinks.

The two of them finished their game and walked off together.

You were mostly avoiding everyone as well, like Bruce. At these sorts of things, Tony had to entertain everyone, though he tried to get as much time with you as possible. You didn't really mind.

At the moment, he was talking with Rhodey, Thor, and a woman in a red dress. Thor and Tony seemed unimpressed as Rhodey was talking.

Thor corralled you eventually and you found yourself standing with an old man and Steve, along with Thor.

"I gotta have some of that." The old man said, pointing to the liquor that Thor was pouring.

"No, no no." Thor chuckled, "See this, This was aged for one thousand years." Thor said impressively, handing it over to Steve. "in the barrels built from the wreck of Grunhel's fleet. It is not meant for mortal men."

"Neither was Omaha beach, blondie." The old man said as Thor poured himself a cup. Steve smelt his with skepticism. "Stop trying to scare us. C'mon."

"All right." Thor said and not only did he pour the man one, but he poured you one as well.

You took it, knowing you didn't really like alcohol, but figured you might as well try a small sip. It probably couldn't hurt.

Steve immediately took the shot from you. "Absolutely not."

You pouted at him, hoisting Everleigh on your hip because she wanted down.

Steve just shook his head and it was probably a good thing too, because the older gentlemen were absolutely shell shocked after having it. One of them stood so still, like a mannequin, the other was asleep at the table, and the one that had asked for it was being led out gently by two men.

You decided to leave the party a little, going out to the balcony. The weather was nice tonight, the wind flowing along your skin. You sighed in a bit of relief, realizing how much you hated crowds. Not that this necessarily constituted as a crowd, but it was a small space with a lot of people in it.

You wondered where the Maximoff twins were. Had they gone back to what remained of HYDRA? Or were they one their own?

Why would two young kids, who were only sixteen and could barely drive here in the states, volunteer for HYDRA test trials? What were they hoping to do? Or change? Sokovia was a mess. Were they really hoping that HYDRA would help them save it?

After all, visiting the base, Tony's robots had gone to help the civilians so they didn't get hurt and the robots had come back in pretty bad shape. Voice recordings heard they had been shouting for the Avengers to go home.

Maybe in these parts, HYDRA was friend and not foe.

"Hey." Sam's voice interrupted your thoughts.

"Oh hey." You said, startled. You'd thought he'd left. "I thought you were leaving?"

"I am in a minute." Sam admitted, "But I saw you come up here. Tony do you wrong? I can punch him for you."

You laughed, "No, everythings fine. I get a little claustrophobic in crowds. I just came out here for some air. Tony's fine."

Sam nodded, "Well that's good."

"How's your soulmate? The doctor?" You asked.

Sam sighed, looking less cheerful now, "He's. . . I mean I love him, you know? But he can be such a dick. And I mean, he's perfectly loving towards me. I just. . . he thinks he's better than other people since he's ranked number one in the country. And yeah, sure, he is. Fuck, I mean, he's amazing, you know? But the way he treats the nurses and the guys at work and the people around him. . . it's unflattering, you know?"

"Gosh Sam, I'm sorry." You apologized. "I guess it's an ego thing with being successful, right? Tony's still sort've got that, although he's toned it down just a little bit."

Sam shrugged, sitting down next to you. "Nah, I mean, it's fine. He's wonderful to me at least. I just don't know what it'll take for him to realize he's wrong for treating these people like they're less than him, that they're. . . less important? Do I bring it up? Or do I wait?"

You squeezed his hand gently. "That's up to you. But, I would think, that if you can't bring it up because you're afraid of how he'll react, maybe rethink the relationship. That's all I suggest."

"Thanks." Sam sighed and then changed the subject, "You got anything new for me?"

🎃 ::::: 🧡 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🧡 ::::: 🎃

Steve was walking through the upstairs, and caught sight of Sam and Y/N talking on the balcony. He paused, seeing Y/N take Sam's hand into hers and looked around for Tony, hoping he didn't see the two of them and assume anything bad.

"That's up to you. But, I would think, that if you can't bring it up because you're afraid of how he'll react, maybe rethink the relationship. That's all I suggest." Y/N said, letting go of his hand now.

"Thanks." Sam sighed and then changed the subject, "You got anything new for me?"

"I have a few new locations." Y/N said, and then said, "Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Bulgaria, Turkey. He did quite a few missions in Romania, so I feel like it would be familiar territory for him. I just feel that it would be a risky move since HYDRA would know that. Not to mention, we don't even have proof he left the country. No IDs, no fake IDs, no airport scans, no boats, nothing. I don't know how he got out of the country, if he did."

"Maybe a hidden HYDRA warehouse." Sam suggested as Steve held onto every word. "This is so frustrating. He's a literal ghost."

"I was thinking of talking to Thor." Y/N said slowly. "He's got a guardian in Asgard, by the name of Heimdall. Apparently he can see the future, which is why he's the guardian- so that they are never attacked without warning. I want to see if he can see Earth future and maybe can tell us where Bucky is. Or at least, tell us if we ever find him."

"Why are you so invested in this?" Sam asked suddenly. "Like, I understand Steve is your friend but the way you are. . . I mean do you love him?"

Steve jolted. That was illegal. There was no way you could be with another person's soulmate. And there was no way that he would ever betray Tony like that.

"I mean. . ." Y/N said hesitantly. "I love him, but not in the sense of like. . . I would leave Tony for him, you know? Like, it's not romantic love, but it's not quite like 'I love him like a brother' love. I don't know how to describe it. I guess I just. . ."

Y/N sighed and said, "When I was growing up, everyone hated me. Like my parents always abused me and my brother ignored me. I only had about one friend. I mean, fuck, even the dog hated me. So being here, and everyone loves me or at least likes me. . ."

"Do you feel like you have to repay that kindness?" Sam asked, kicking into therapist mode.

"I don't know." Y/N said uncertainly. "I mean, I feel that I would be helping him anyways, even if I hadn't had that background. And I know he would do the same for me. But I could really ask you the same question Sam. You've got a soulmate. Why aren't you spending every waking hour with him? Why are you helping Steve find Bucky?"

Sam sighed, putting his face in his hands, "Don't think to badly of me when I say this but. . . I look at Steve and I go, 'That's how my soulmate should be.' And for Steve, I would do just about anything so if he wants help finding his soulmate, I'll help him because this Bucky dude really deserves Steve. And even better, Steve deserves Bucky. He deserves that love. Because if there's one person who doesn't deserve to spend the rest of his life alone, it's Steve."

Steve felt warm inside and slowly backed away from the doorway, heading back into the building, feeling lucky that he had two wonderful friends.

🎃 ::::: 🧡 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🧡 ::::: 🎃

"But it's a trick." Clint complained, twirling a pair of random drumsticks that he found somewhere. He was lounging on the couch across from Thor who was sitting next to Steve, laughing and pouring more of his Asgardian liquor.

"No, no, it's much more than that." Thor said with a chuckle, handing Steve the shot of Asgardian liquor to go with his bottle of beer.

Bruce was sitting on the other side of Clint, leaning over the arm of the couch to talk to Natasha. Maria sat on the other side of Clint.

You were sitting on the floor by Steve's feet, your back against the couch. You were mostly minding your own business, playing with dolls with Everleigh.

"Ah, whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power!" Clint declared in a random, deep dramatic voice, before saying in his normal voice, "Whatever man! It's a trick."

"Please, be my guest." Thor said, gesturing towards the hammer that was sitting on the coffee table. It even looked inviting, just waiting to be picked up. The metal square hammer resting on the table, the leather bound handle sticking straight up into the air.

Rhodey and Tony were sitting on the couch that was almost between the two others, talking, but immediately stopped when Thor offered.

"Really?" Clint asked and even you looked up to see how it was going.

"Yeah." Thor said nonchalantly.

Clint clinked the drumsticks together with a thud as he put both of them in one hand, getting to his feet.

"Oh this is gonne be beautiful." Rhodey said with a bit of a smirk in his voice.

"Clint, you've had a tough week." Tony said. "We won't hold it against you if you can't get it up."

You rolled your eyes at Tony's joke, half-tempted to cover Everleighs ears, but it wasn't like she understood what was going on anyways. She wasn't even paying attention, undressing the barbie doll from her day clothes into pajamas.

"You know I've seen this before, right?" Clint asked in a condescending tone to Thor. He wrapped his hand around the hammer and pulled, grunted, and then grumbled, "I still don't know how you do it!"

"Smell the silent judgement?" Tony asked.

"Please, Stark, by all means." Clint said, gesturing to Tony.

You held in your laughter as Tony stood up, dramatically flicking open the button on his suit.

"Okay."

"Uh huh."

"Never one to shrink from an honest challenge." Tony said, swaggering over to the hammer.

"Get after it."

"It's physics." Tony declared.

"Physics?"

Tony wrapped his hand through the loop and grasped the hammer before asking, "Right, so, if I lift it, I then rule Asgard?"

"Yes, of course." Thor said. You watched as Thor rolled his eyes at the ceiling.

"I will be reinstating prima notca." Tony declared. You rolled your eyes again and tried not to laugh as you heard Steve's small scoff behind you. Rhodey also rolled his eyes.

Tony placed his hand against the coffee table, attempting to lift the hammer. Then he let go of it. "I'll be right back."

Things escalated to the point where Tony got his Iron man gauntlet. And when that worked, Rhodey also put on his war machine gauntlet.

"Are you even pulling?" Rhodey asked.

"Are you on my team?" Tony retorted.

"Just represent. Pull!" Rhodey retorted right back.

"Daddy being weird." Everleigh finally laughed, but no one but you heard her as the boosters on the gauntlets fired. You laughed.

Bruce then got on the table, pulling with all his might, roaring. He continued to roar, perhaps trying to get laughs. You kept your head down in second hand embarrassment. Thor however, looked at Bruce with a loving expression on his face and Steve hid a smile behind his hand.

"Go ahead, Steve, no pressure." Clint muttered and Steve got up off the couch.

You smirked as Dr. Cho, who was leaning on her arm, curled up in a chair, admired the way that Steve rolled up the sleeves of his blue button down shirt. He did look really good tonight- if you could admire him that way. Tony, of course, topped the handsome chart. But Steve's muscles were hard to compete with.

"Come on Cap." Tony said, cheering him on.

You watched as it looked like the hammer almost moved. You didn't think anyone else saw it, so you looked over at Thor, whose smile had fallen off his face. You smiled to yourself.

Yes. If there was someone worthy enough to lift the hammer and rule Asgard, it would be Steve.

You could tell that Steve knew as well. You watched his arms. His muscles didn't go taunt and even though he looked like he was pulling, his grip was to loose. He wasn't trying at all.

He didn't want to rule.

That was what made him worthy.

Steve pulled his hands off, sighing. Thor's smile came back, though he quickly swallowed liquor, the both of them laughing if off. You could tell it was nervous laughter on both sides though.

"And, Widow?" Thor asked.

"Oh, no no. That's not a question I need answered." Natasha said.

"Lady Stark?"

"Nope. I'm with Nat on this." You said softly, watching as Everleigh tottered to her feet, clutching a doll in her hand. She showed it to Steve, who bent over in his seat to talk to her under his breath.

"All deference to the Man Who Wouldn't be King, but it's rigged." Tony said nonchalantly.

"You bet chur ass." Clint drawled.

"Steve, he said a bad language word." Maria pointed to Clint who was standing with Tony and Rhodey.

"Did you tell everyone about that?" Steve groaned.

"The handles imprinted, right?" Tony asked, but you continued to look over at Thor who was looking at the hammer with almost a look of sadness. "Like a security code. 'Whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints' I think, the literal translation."

"Yes. It's a very, very interesting theory." Thor said, getting to his feet. "I have a simpler one, you're all not worthy." He went to reach for his hammer at the same time Everleigh toddled past him. He waited for her to pass by, but she reached up, grabbing the hammer in her tiny hand. She wobbled around from its weight, but she was still holding it.

The room was dead silent, until she giggled, pointed the hammer at you. Before you knew it, white lightning had hit you and you went flying.

"Y/N!" Several voices shouted and then Everleigh started screaming and crying.

You blinked and when you could actually see, Bruce, Tony, and Steve were all kneeling over you.

You hadn't actually flown that far, having landed right by the end of the couch. You gingerly sat up, looking over to see that Natasha was comforting the little girl and Thor had his hammer in his hand, looking troubled.

"Are you alright?" Bruce asked for the second time.

"Yeah. Ow." You winced, grabbing onto both Tony and Steve, standing up. "What? No jokes about how our daughter is worthy?" You asked Tony.

"Well, I'm more worried about you." Tony admitted, brushing your hair down.

Suddenly, a high pitched noise broke through the air. You clapped your hands to both ears, crouching down. At first, you thought it was just you, being hurt by the noise, but you saw Rhodey wince as well, putting his bottle of beer down.

"Worthy. . . " A growl that sounded like something in a horror movie said. You immediately stumbled over, picking Everleigh up in your arms, holding her tightly to your chest.

There, standing in the dark was some sort of robot thing. "No." It growled. "How could you be worthy? You're all killers."

"Stark." Steve said.

"Jarvis." Tony commanded.

"I'm sorry, I was asleep. Or I was a d-dream."

"Reboot Legionnaire OS. We got a buggy suit." Tony muttered.

"There was this terrible noise." The robot was moving around, its arms and head mostly, as though it was human, trying to ward something off. "And I was tangled in. . . in. . . strings." It looked down at its body. "I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy."

"You killed someone?" Steve asked.

"Wouldn't have been my first call. But, down in the real world, we're faced with ugly choices."

You quickly scanned where everyone was. Tony was on the outside of the group on your left, with Rhodey next and then Steve. You were next to Steve and on your immediate right was a large space before Thor, with Dr. Cho standing slightly behind him. Bruce and Natasha stood in front of the two of them. Maria and Clint were sitting on the couch, looking at the robot over their shoulders.

"Who sent you?" Thor demanded.

Suddenly, Tony's voice emitted from the robot. "I see a suit of armor around the world."

"Ultron." Bruce was the one to answer.

"In the flesh. Or, no, not yet. Not this chrysalis. But I'm ready."

Chrysalis. Not yet.

It wanted a human body? But how was it going to manage that?

You watched Maria stand from where she was sitting on the couch.

"I'm on a mission."

"What mission?" Natasha asked.

"Peace in our time." It said, before robots exploded through the wall.

Steve kicked up the coffee table, crashing into the robot, but it was just sent flying back, knocking both you and Steve off your feet. You wrapped your body around Everleigh as you crashed to the floor, crying out in pain.

You could hear shooting and you got to your feet, looking for somewhere to hide Everleigh, something to be used as a weapon.

You watched a robot approach Dr. Cho, who was crouching behind the grand piano, but suddenly it turned dark and was going to turn away from her when Steve jumped on it, sending it sliding to Thor who smashed it with his hammer.

Suddenly, metallic arms grabbed you from behind and you found yourself skyrocketing towards the ceiling. You tightened your arms around your daughter as you flew higher into the air. One arm around your waist, the other around your neck.

You couldn't struggled, watching. "Thor!" You called out and as he looked up, you let yourself believe and dropped Everleigh. You watched with relief as Thor caught your daughter, protecting her from the glass as he rolled.

You slid your hands under the arm that was choking you, trying to push the arm away. You could see Tony on the back of another flying robot, trying to kill it with some sort of tool.

"Steve!" You heard Clint shout and watched the beautiful American decal shield go flying through the air. Steve caught the shield, spun, and tossed it straight at you. You caught the shield, lowering your head, and shoved the shield backwards. You felt the satisfying release as the head was disconnected from the body.

You started to free fall back to the ground and braced, before Steve caught you, putting you back on your feet.

"You alright?" Steve asked, taking his shield back.

"Fine." You said, massaging your throat and holding your arms out for Everleigh, who was crying again.

"That was dramatic." Ultron hissed. "I'm sorry, I know you mean well. You just didn't think it through. You want to protect the world but you don't want it to change. How is humanity saved if it's not allowed to evolve?"

It bent down, grabbing the head of one of the robots. "With these? These puppets." It crushed the metallic skull in his hand before tossing it forward, "There's only one path to peace. The Avenger's extinction."

Thor tossed his hammer, crushing the robot into pieces. They clattered to the ground and were still, as the hammer returned to his hand.

"I had strings. But now I'm free."

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