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beananacake · 2 years ago

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My Crown Upon Your Head

Ch. 1

Prince!Bucky Barnes x Reader

Synopsis: When an arranged engagement between Prince James of Brookland and Princess Natasha ushers the discovery of the existence of a marriage contract between you and said prince, you readily agree to a divorce for the sake of the kingdom. At first, you had been willing to be separated from Prince James but as you spend more time with your husband, you begin to feel things that are forbidden. It does not help your case when James shares the same sentiments. As you combat the emotions that excite and scare you, the discoveries you make of the people that surround you make you suspect there is something else at play...

WC: 3.9k

Warnings: period-typical misogyny, 18+ for delicate issues, typos, not beta'd

A/N: Hi! Welcome to my first Bucky fic! If you think you've read this before... uh, no you didn't ;) Likes, comments, and reblogs makes beananacake a happy writer lol

Once upon a time, there was a girl who accidentally married the prince.

That would have been a story to be told for ages, you thought ironically to yourself. It would have made for an everlasting tale by the Brothers Grimm; storytellers whom you had met during one of your travels to the distant land of Prussia with your diplomat father. They were an odd sort; old men whom you would never have thought to have been the authors to the short tales you loved reading as a child. Their stories were rather macabre despite the hopeful beginnings. After all, not every Once Upon A Time ended with a happy ever after.

I wonder how they would have written my story, you mused rather distractedly as you stood before the King of Brookland.

You had been summoned to the palace the moment your ship had docked into the kingdom’s port. There was no preamble as to why you were wanted; they had only loaded you unto the carriage and had been presented to the monarch without so much as a change of clothing. You were not vain but it would have been more preferable to be wearing the proper attire when meeting with the king. Instead, you met him in your leather breeches, a silk dress shirt, and a waistcoat that you had fashioned from your father’s old vest—all of these articles of clothing were scandalous by themselves, but not as scandalous as knowing the reason why you had been summoned.

“You see, my son is set to marry the Grand Duke’s niece but we find ourselves in an unusual predicament,” said King George II of Brookland as he stood from his throne.

You had no voluminous skirt to tuck your hands into when you were nervous. Instead, you only clenched them at your sides, clutched into fists to calm the nervous quake about you.

“My secretary has found a marriage certificate binding you and my son in matrimony.” The king said disdainfully as he looked down on you. He was a classically handsome man if a bit gaunt and pale. His blue eyes were kind yet piercing. His jaw was strong and covered with a beard that was white as it was thick. His voice rasped with every words as though he labored them out. He was an old man, stooping because of his many years but it did not dampen the regal, commanding aura he had about him.

“You had been married to my son for two decades.”

Twenty years? You would have been but six years! Surely, there must have been a mistake.

You took a discreet step back, afraid of the silent fury in his voice. You had no idea of this marriage to the prince but your lapse in memory only seemed to make the blaze of anger in the king's eyes grow.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I have no idea of this certificate of which you speak.”

A harsh scoff sounded from the man who stood beside the throne. Your eyes flitted to the Grand Duke and the cruel severity from him made you step further back. His features told you he did not belong to Brookland; rather than possessing the strong jaws and high cheekbones of the Brooks, he appeared more foreign. The Grand Duke—an honorable title reserved only for the king’s advisers—had his lips drawn tight, his brown eyes beady as he regarded you.

“His Majesty will not tolerate insolence, child. I suggest you answer in truth.” His words, while spoken calmly and simply, chilled you. His eyes betrayed nothing nefarious but there was an air about him, of something that made him unfriendly to you. Then again, it was his niece the prince was promised to and you had unknowingly married said prince.

“My apologies, Grand Duke,” you bowed your head as you lowered into a curtsy. You could not bear to look him in the eye for one more time.

“Tell me your name again,” commanded King George.

You kept your head low as you said your name.

“If you are who you say you are, then it must be you who signed this contract.” The soft unraveling of the scroll drew your attention and you looked up as the king thrust it before you.

There it was. Your name, written by the hand of a six-year-old child. It was a mess of letters but it was discernible enough for anyone to read your name. Beside it was Prince James’s inscription, no better than yours but still enough to be recognized as the name of the kingdom’s future monarch.

The royal seal of the Barnes of Brookland—a crowned lion standing atop a shield that bore the coat of arms of the family—brought about a memory that had long been buried until that moment.

You watched closely as your father, a scholar and one of Brookland’s diplomats, poured hot wax on the space between where he and another had signed. It was a rich blue with gold flecks, the colors and symbol of your country’s opulence. You were always curious as to why he did the ritual of laying his ring on top of the molten wax after signing the papers. You asked him.

“It is a promise, Y/N,” your father had replied as he took of his signet ring and placed it sigil-down on the paper.

“Like friendship, papa?” you had asked in your small, excitable voice.

He chuckled fondly, caressing your cheek as he watched you in the candlelight. “Of a sort. This paper is a memory of that friendship with our country and this country’s king.”

“Can I do it with my friends?” You watched with curious eyes, taking note of where he had written his name and the fact that it must be sealed with wax and his ring.

“Of course, little one. I shall have to teach you how to write your name so you can sign your promise.”

You beamed, eager to employ this newfound knowledge and practice of sealing your promises of friendship.

You were unable to read as well but it was no matter, your papa will teach you. It was your memory that was prodigious and you remembered his process. First, he took parchment from his sheaf of papers. He signed his name on the first empty space, then the other man did as your father had. They shook hands. Your father poured hot wax and placed the sigil on the promise and placed it on different sheaf of papers.

It was simple enough for you to do.

You recalled that moment you had done it. You had visited the palace with your father and he had let you play around the grounds while he conducted business with the other diplomats of the kingdom. Prince James had been but a boy then, a little older than you were but not old enough to talk affairs of the kingdom. He had been in the garden alone and you approached him with the idea of trying your newfound way of sealing friendships. You had not realized that you had plucked a marriage certificate from the Great Study because, truly, all of your father’s contracts appeared one and the same to you and you had assumed as much for all the papers. You innocently scrawled your name, taking good care in spelling it right as your father had told you. The prince had done the same and with your father’s ring, you sealed your—and the prince’s—fate.

“You recognize it then,” asked the king as he snatched the offending paper away.

“Your Majesty—” The apology did not slip past your lips.

“You may look innocent but I sense ambition in you, girl,” remarked the adviser. There was a hint of malice in his words and you flinched.

“Grand Duke.” There was a warning edge to King George’s tone. He turned to you once more. “You recognize this certificate?”

You steeled yourself, standing erect as you drawled out slowly. “It was not my intention to bind myself in marriage to the prince, Sir.” You swallowed. “My father introduced contracts to me as a way of keeping friendships. As a child of six, I did not know of diplomacy or the legitimacies of binding contracts nor the numerous different kinds of it. I only took the paper as I had assumed all were one and the same. I signed my name and had the prince sign his and stamped it the ring my father had me hold for safekeeping. I did not know that any agreement signed by the prince and sealed with the royal stamp would be legally binding even at so young an age.”

The silence that followed echoed in the throne room. Your boots scraped against the marble floor and you were once again reminded that you were unfit to be meeting with the king in such a state. Women, even common folk, were expected to be in dresses and long skirts. You shunned those articles of clothing whenever you were traveling the waters, finding breeches, shirts, and practical boots better than the full hoops of the skirt that often got in the way whenever you walked about the ship. The sailors were used to seeing you in this garb and did not find it offending at all that you were not dressed like a lady but to the eyes of the king and the Grand Duke and perhaps the many a footman you had passed before entering the throne room, you looked downright scandalous.

“We will keep you in the palace, Y/N.” proclaimed the king, which made you turn to him once more.

Evidently, the news shocked the Grand Duke as well because he turned to the monarch with his question plain on his face. King George held up a hand to his adviser and sat on his throne before answering.

“We will keep you in the palace until we find a solution to this impasse.”

“Of course, Sir,” you replied because what else was there to say?

“Surely, you understand the delicacy of this matter. I would not have you proclaiming to the people that you are the new princess—or rather, had been their princess for near two decades already.”

You were offended at his insinuation but did not show it. You had no right to show indignation towards the king.

“In here, you are contained. You shall still be free to roam the palace grounds as you please but we will not have you out of it. If so, you shall have a chaperone and we would be informed of your itinerary.”

You only nodded. You were a creature of adventure; the very notion of being confined within the palace grounds was comparable to have your wings clipped. But I had started this problem and I must pay for my childish ignorance, you thought to yourself.

You were set to sail with your father once again to the return to the distant land of Wakanda. It had been your life; traveling from one kingdom to another. You had learned of cultures and languages, of food and dance, and everything it was that you could ever beheld. Your home kingdom might be tiny and beautiful but the world beyond held more possibilities that you never once thought was within your grasp.

Oh, how you would have wanted to walk your father’s footsteps as Brookland’s new diplomat. You learned from all the travels you have done; your father had made you his apprentice and had taught you everything he knew of his trade. People still underestimated you. It was unheard of for someone of the fairer sex to be an ambassador, so you had never tried. You only acted as an adviser to your father within the confines of his office walls, honing your innate talent of persuasion and diplomacy.

Sadly, your dreams were once again stalled.

“Your Majesty, since I am common folk, my presence in the palace will arouse suspicion.”

The king nodded. “It is all being taken care of. My son's cousin will be arriving soon and you shall pose as a guest with him. You are merely early in your arrival.”

“Of course, Sir.” You paused and looked down to your clothes before turning back to the monarch “There is also a matter of my trunks, Your Majesty. I have arrived empty-handed.”

King George looked at you from your head to your boots. “Are all your clothes thus?”

You shook your head. “No, Sir. This is what I wear when I am traveling the seas. I do not find it practical to wear a skirt whilst I am on deck and the tides are high.”

“Ah, yes. You travel with your father.”

“Yes, Sir.”

He nodded. “I cannot allow you to leave the palace so soon after we have talked. Write him a missive for your trunks but do not mention your business here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You may go.”

“My King,” you genuflected at the monarch before doing the same to the Grand Duke. “Your Grace.”

You stepped backwards, keeping the front of your body towards the king as you slowly went out of the throne room. Once the doors had closed, you heaved a great sigh and straightened, only to knock against someone behind you. You turned and gasped, rooted in place, at the sight of the man before you.

It was the prince. Prince James Buchanan Barnes. Prince James with his dark hair and fiercely blue eyes and features that told you he truly was the son of Brookland. He had grown handsome over the years, which shouldn’t come as a surprise as his father was a handsome man as well. James—were you allowed to address him as James?—had a firm look on his face, a bit reminiscent of his father’s gaze as he watched you. Broad of the shoulders and fit of the body, his muscled legs were encased in tight white breeches and his coat brought out the color of his eyes. They were as blue as the sea and as clear as the sky.

Your husband. What an absurd notion!

“Careful,” he said as he held you by your arms. His voice was deep and smooth and it caressed you in places that you never thought were possible.

You ogled at the prince. As much as you wanted to look away, you cannot. His gaze held you, searching your eyes and quite frankly, perhaps even your soul. Even if you had nothing to hide, you were scared of the things he would find there. Like the matter of your being bound to him in marriage.

Your heart skipped a beat. It had nothing to do with your being nervous of him finding out about your accidental ploy of being married to him but more of the fact that you had never been looked at like how he was looking at you. Your appearance was unkempt and you had not been able to properly tie your hair but something about his stare made you feel like you were much more beautiful than you truly look. He made you feel emotions not even the best of the world could offer and for the life of you, you had no idea why.

Your knees buckled and you bent down in an ungraceful curtsy. It did not escape your notice that your arms were still caged by his fingers. The heat from his hands seeped through the soft cotton of your shirt into your skin and you gave a shaky breath. “Your Highness, my apologies. I did not see you—”

“James. I thought the hunt would have run you ragged.” You heard the king say as the doors open behind you.

Princes James gave you curious smile and you realized he had no idea of who you were or why you were there. Would it change if he knew? You wondered absently. Your eyes still lingered on his lips.

“It is all right. No need to apologize.” he said.

You turned to his eyes as you rose to your full height. His hands left your arms and the imprints that he left warmed you as you were ushered away.

…

Prince James Buchanan Barnes was, for all intents and purposes, an apprentice. His whole life he was schooled to be the next king of Brookland. He was taught to be a soldier to know of battle strategies. He had masters who taught him philosophies and history. He was knowledgeable in three languages because his parents had insisted he learn two more so he can converse with more people. He was, essentially, an apprentice monarch. And a king, even one still learning the trade, needed a queen.

Which brought him to the matter at hand. His father had promised his hand to the Grand Duke Zemo’s niece. He had never set eyes on her before and was only sent a portrait that he and his father had looked at and had deemed her beautiful. Her country was powerful and Brookland—albeit teeming with natural and mineral resources—needed to ally with a kingdom for its protection. Marrying a princess from a rich and powerful country was the correct step in ensuring the best for the kingdom. It was what his father had done with his mother. It was fortunate that his parents had fallen in love despite the circumstances.

“I was not aware Princess Natasha was arriving today,” James said as he pried his eyes away from your retreating figure.

It was unusual for him to see a princess not in their finest clothes, either, especially one from a country that was advertised to him as bountiful and rich. He had no qualms, however, about seeing you in such a state. Clad in what was commonly considered as undergarments, you were a small person than what the portrait had let on. You came only until his chin and even then, you still seemed tinier. Your legs were enclosed in buckskin leather, much like his own when he went hunting, and it made him wonder if maybe you hunted as well. You wore a dress shirt beneath a curious piece of waistcoat that you had tucked in the waistband of your breeches and it accentuated your rounded hips and ample bottom. You wore none of those heeled shoes he knew ladies favored. Instead, your feet were clad in flat boots that went up to your knees and showcased your perfect calves. Albeit you were dressed inappropriately, it did not escape him that you were dressed practically. And sensually, he thought to himself.

You were beautiful in the portrait but in person, you were exquisite. The painter failed to capture the smattering of freckles across your nose or the hint of lightness on your hair. There was a small scar on the side of your cheek that he did not notice when he beheld your picture; perhaps the painter found it wise to not include the blemish lest it deterred him from making an offer of marriage to you, even if it was not his idea to be wed to you. Be that as it may, the scar endeared him to you. It made you appear more tangible, more… real, and nothing like the uptight version your uncle had painted you to be.

“Heavens, no. I would never associate myself with that—that thing.” Zemo said, looking at your back in what could only be termed as disgust.

James raised a brow. So you were not the princess. “I would assume that thing has a name and a purpose?” When his question was met with silence, he turned to the king. “Father?”

“Walk with me, boy.” was all the king said. He waved his hand away to his adviser. “Thank you, Grand Duke. We do not need you in this talk.”

“Your Majesty. Your Highness.” Zemo bowed as King George led James away.

He followed his father down the Hall of Portraits. He remembered his lessons of his family’s history, of the important people who had changed the laws and the lives of many. King Alphonse. Queen Mariam. Queen Winnifred, his mother. He knew it best not to dwell on his mother’s untimely death around his father, whom he knew was still mourning her. She had left them so suddenly and they both had not been the same ever since. It did, however, brought them even closer.

“James,” his father started as they arrived in the garden. “There is a matter I wish for you to know.”

Rarely did his father venture this far into the gardens. Queen Winnifred had kept a small alcove for her personal use, locked away but still kept clean by the royal gardener. James often went there when he needed time for himself. His father did not.

“Yes, father?” James asked, watching his father closely as he sat.

Since his wife’s death, the king’s health had deteriorated rapidly. The doctors had deemed it a great depression, one the king will brave in a few months’ time, but James knew his father would never recover from the death of his beloved. Every day he feared his father would leave him so soon after his mother had. The mere idea frightened him.

“You are promised to Princess Natasha,” King George said, to which James nodded. “But there is a small matter we must address before you wed her.”

He raised an inquiring brow. “Does she not want to be wed?”

“She wishes to be wed to you, James. However, we find ourselves at a loss for something you have done some twenty years ago.” He patted the space beside him on the bench and the prince sat.

Twenty years ago? What could he have done at eight years old for his father to remark on now?

“Are we bringing up old sins, father? Because if we are, I do not remember what I had done at eight years old that would bear remembering.”

“My boy,” the king clasped his son on the shoulder. It was a fatherly touch but also that of a king, a touch that brooked no argument.

“You are already married.”

James frowned. Married? Surely, he would have remembered the festivities that came with the union.

“Married? I don’t remember meeting my bride or signing a marriage contract.” He turned to his father. “Are you well, father? Perhaps we should return inside. The sun—” The sun had killed his mother. He did not wish the same for his father.

The king waved his hand away. “I am well, son. Do not worry about my health.” He looked sternly at the young prince. “You are not married to the Princess Natasha but you have been married for two decades now.”

“Father, I must ask you to speak plainly. I had been married for two decades? And not to the princess I was promised? Then who am I married to?”

“Do you know anyone by the name of Y/N Y/L/N?”

James’s frown deepened. He readily denied but stopped short.

Y/N. The name sounded familiar to him. And then he knew. He remembered; the girl he had invited inside is mother’s secret garden and had played with under his favorite tree. Familiar eyes that lit up as they smiled at him, the same ones who had looked upon him just a few moments before. You had brought a paper to him—a promise of friendship, you had said—and he signed it with no hesitation.

“She is that girl you thought was the Princess Natasha, my boy.”

James looked back to the door they had came through, as though he would see you appear if he called your name out loud.

“She is your wife.”

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes royal au #bucky x reader #bucky barnes fic #prince bucky barnes x reader #prince!bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes #bucky barnes au #bucky x female reader #bucky barnes x female reader #bucky barnes x you #james bucky barnes #james buchanan barnes #marvel royal au #marvel historical au #prince!bucky #bucky barnes x y/n #my crown upon your head fic #beananacake writes

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wandamyconfort · 2 years ago

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if I were you.. | CH.1

wanda Maximoff x fem!reader

CH.2

summary: y/n is best friends with vision, who ironically, is the boyfriend of his worst enemy, wanda maximoff. until one night, when the clock struck midnight, they are both struck by something mysterious that completely changes the fate of their best friends, including a certain redhead… be careful what you wish for.

note: this is an adaptation, all credits to my star allyszoka. ☆

sorry for any translation errors, english is not my first language

(...)

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" you murmured at the entrance to the room, slightly startled by the thunder that collapsed into the sky with a noise that echoed throughout the house.

Of course, my love. - Scott responded by giving her a space in the bed for her daughter.

Despite being a teenager, you was still scared to death of lightning and the rumble of thunder terrified her. The girl cracked a beautiful childish smile, showing off her nasal muscles, and snuggled between her parents.

You are considered unpopular by most students as you seemed to be very "self-centered and impatient." You are known to be very competitive and always want to get the role you thought was right. And not forgetting: you're best known for getting cold scratch cards on your face.

Wanda Maximoff is their card-carrying enemy: the popular cheerleading captain, the kind of girl they die of envy and love for. Girlfriend of Vision Stark, the newest member of the popular group, and who ironically is his best friend.

Obviously, much to Maximoff's chagrin, you and Vision became best friends when he came two years ago to attend Harbor High School in another all-boys boarding school town. He didn't have much of a knack for girls. And with dyslexia, the grades weren't as good, but you always tried to help him with these problems.

He also had his nerdy side, he loved Star Wars, Harry Potter and Avatar, At first he got a lot of scratch cards for being a joke, but that changed about a year ago, when he decided to join the football team and when he started dating Maximoff to become more popular. Because he was new there he was afraid of being socially excluded, but gradually he fell in love with Wanda, and vice versa.

But not for these reasons did he abandon his friendship with you; Raised in a lower-middle-class place. was mocked for being poor and not having the conditions like most students, and for the way she dressed badly, in an infantilized way.

Such a trait given by one of her classmates, Natasha, "as a grandmother and at the same time a five-year-old." you was a virgin and wasn't shy about admitting it. and was also a vegetarian.

The day was born you got a yellow star plush from your parents. To them, you was a star. At least, that's what you been telling herself since you won her first dance contest at the age of three.

You loves stars, and her signature is always followed by a golden one, because metaphors are important.

It's a metaphor, and metaphors are important. My golden stars are a metaphor for me being a star.

Though some — the vast majority — don't agree with the things you does.

You was the essential voice in the Choral Club.

- Comes... Let me help you. - Vision said with a friendly smile on his face.

He opened the cupboard next to his and grabbed a blue towel that read, "Best friends forever." A gift you gave him, having an equal, only in lilac color. The boy helped clean himself up

"These brutes will never leave me alone. - She grumbled. - They'll regret it when they're the drivers of my expensive limousines.

Vision laughed in agreement.

- But look on the bright side... At least it's strawberry. Your favorite.

- Tried to force a smile and got a simple one back.

- Idiot. - Punched his arm weakly.

- Already filling my boyfriend again, homeless? You rolled her eyes at hearing that queasy voice.

- Good to see you too, hunchback. - you said in a sarcastic tone and still rolling his eyes in boredom.

"Who do you think you are, imbecile?"

The two shot each other with their eyes and Vision stared from one to the other in fright, not knowing exactly what to do. Wanda was already about to open her mouth when she was interrupted.

- Shall we stop? - Asked the boy.

- I don't know how you handle this... thing. - Kept teasing.

- I don't know how you handle this sour barbie project! -Retorted.

- Oh, please. Go to the garbage can that is your place. Enjoy and take the rest of your family. That which you call father and mother!

- That's enough! - The boy said firmly.

- I'm not going to stand here listening to your shit. See you later, Vision. - After that, you left a little upset.

you couldn't stand Wanda maximoff! The most annoying girl. you didn't understand what Vision had in her head to date something like... that! And then she was popular and beautiful? It was just that! She was shy, cold, calculating. A bitch. That's what you thought

"You shouldn't have talked to her like that. - Reproached the boy realizing how sad his friend had been.

-What? Are you going to be defending your weird friend now? - Replied in the same tone

Vision looked at her completely seriously.

- It's not about defending or which side I'm on. I'm just tired of my best friend and my girlfriend fighting like dog and cat!

Wanda rolled her eyes and the boy sighed giving up on talking about it.

- Let's not talk about that now... Is the invitation to spend the night at your house still standing? - He tried to change the subject.

"But don't you think you're only going because my parents won't be home, that there's going to be something else besides sleeping.

-Calm. That didn't even cross my mind. - Smiled mischievously.

"Mom, are you home yet?" - Shouted looking at the rooms of his house while locking the front door.

Vision lived only with his mother. A woman who liked to occupy her time with work. Especially after the death of her husband five years ago, after that she never left or fell in love with anyone. She worked as a nurse in one of the best hospitals in Miami, where she occupied all her time. And since she had to deal with it alone, she always tried to work as many overtime hours as possible, coming home late and already tired. Although Vision understood his mother's necessary absence, that didn't mean he didn't miss her company. But whenever she had free time she did not hesitate to spend with her only child.

The boy realized his mother wasn't home, but found a note attached to the fridge.

"I'm sorry, son, but I'll be back later today. I'll have to stay on duty. Lunch is in the fridge, just need to heat in the microwave. Mom loves you!"

"I love you too, Mom," he whispered in a thread of voice in that quiet kitchen.

But what made him happy was that he, today, would not spend his night alone...

(...)

The plan was to sleep in a shell but a series of warm kisses began between the two young men. He was already on top of Wanda kissing her, he was panting and tried to take off the girl's blouse but was stopped.

-No... I'm not ready yet. - Murmured composing himself.

Whenever he had a little loophole, he would try to go beyond kissing Wanda. I couldn't help it, they had been together for almost a year and nothing was happening but kneading and kissing. He also never forced anything, Vision respected her.

- Alright, I'm sorry. - Said sympathetically coming out of it.

- How about we just sleep in shells? - The girl asked for candy looking into his eyes. He nodded with a smile.

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff x you #wanda x reader #wanda x y/n #wanda imagine #wanda maximoff #wanda x you #wanda maximoff fluff #my fic #wanda maximoff imagine #elizabeth olsen #elizabeth olsen x reader #the scarlet witch #marvel fanfiction

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thenatashamaximoff · 2 years ago

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Broken Love; Ch. 8

Summary: You and Natasha break up after finding out about her secret affair. Wanda’s there to comfort you.

Pairing: Natasha x Reader; Wanda x Reader

Warnings: mentions of cheating, mentions of death

Words: 8,951

✎ | ❦

Please keep in mind that this is a reimagined version of Dangerous Love and it goes a completely different route. Please do not expect anything to be the same aside from the love triangle aspect. I hope you enjoy!

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“You’re not going to win,” you claimed, breathing out heavily. He stared down at you from his spot at the top of the hill, rocks crumbling around you as the ground shook. The lava pooling around you nipped at your heels, but you held no concern for the molten liquid as your hands clenched into fists by your sides. “This world… It’s going to crash and burn. And it’s too late for you to save it, Iron Man.”

He lifted his arm up, his gauntlet as bright as the eyes of his helmet. “I didn’t want to do this,” he declared, shaking his head softly, “but you left me no choice.” The high-pitched squeal of his repulsors reached your ears, and your eyes widened as he jumped off of the hill…

You were pulled back into reality, your arms stretched wide to bring the little boy into your arms as his giggles echoed through the room. You huffed as you looked at him through his little toy helmet, cradling him against your hip as you used your free hand to move the mask off of his face.

“You caught me, mommy!” he laughed, wrapping his arms around your neck to steady himself. “I knew you would.” He flashed you a toothy grin, and you couldn’t help but chuckle softly as you shook your head.

“Of course, sweetie,” you stated. “I’ll always catch you.” You plopped him onto the ground, taking the toy off of his head gently as you sent him a warm smile. “But let’s not jump off the top of the stairs again, okay? It’s dangerous.”

“But I’m Iron Man!” he expressed. “I live for danger!”

“Oh, yeah?” He nodded with a proud smile, large swoops of his chin up and down with smug confidence. You pulled the elastic band around your head, positioning the mask over your face as you looked down at him through the slim eye holes. “I’m Iron Man now.”

“No!” he squealed, laughing as he started to run away from you. Your movements were instinct, chasing after him into the other room, zipping around the corner only to come to a halt when you saw a pair of legs through the mask. You cleared your throat, ripping the toy off of your head as you met her green gaze, an amused smile tugging the corner of her lips with her arms crossed over her chest. The little boy hid behind her legs, looking at you with a grin of victory.

“I hope the two of you are having fun,” she said, raising an eyebrow with mock curiosity, “because we’re late.” She looked down at the boy, running a hand through his short hair as she said, “Go get cleaned up, T.”

“Yes, mama.” He stepped away from her, sending you that smug grin once more as he left the room. You laughed softly as you placed the toy down, running a hand down your face and around your neck to grip the back of it, looking down as you chewed the inside of your cheek.

“Hey…” She stepped towards you, bringing your face into the palms of her hands gently. Your head lifted at her touch, meeting her warm gaze as she smiled lightly at you. A thin layer of tears covered your eyes, biting your cheek harder to fight against the urge to cry.

“I don’t think I can do it,” you said, your voice a low whisper.

“I know it’s hard. Just because so much time has passed doesn't make it any easier, but I’m here for you, okay? And I’m not going anywhere.”

You nodded against her hands, breathing in softly as you said, “Promise?”

“I promise.” Her smile was warm and kind, it caused your stomach to twist as you stepped closer to her.

“I love you, Nat.”

“I love you, Y/N.”

You leaned forward, your lips just mere centimeters away from hers to the point where you could feel them brush against each other, but the moment was quickly interrupted when a small human squeezed himself in between the two of you, cutting you off from her as he expressed his readiness to leave. Natasha laughed when you rolled your eyes, ruffling the boy’s hair as you said, “Alright.” You reached for Natasha’s hand, meeting her loving gaze once more as she accepted it. “Let’s get this over with.”

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You peeked through the curtain, eyes wide as you looked at the number of people in attendance. Reporters mainly filled the first two or three rows, while everybody else was simply there for the service. Monitors hanging around the room held the Avengers logo. What was once a symbol of hope was now only a memory of loss.

You felt your stomach twist uncomfortably, nausea working its way through your body as you swallowed your mouthful of saliva harshly. But when you saw your little boy at the front of the crowd, talking Dr. Woods’s ear off, you felt a bit better. Even so, you had to force yourself away from the view, turning your back as the curtain swished close behind you. You ran your hands down your thighs in an attempt to rid the sweat building on your palms, but it didn’t seem to work no matter how many times you wiped them.

“Are you okay?” Steve stepped up to you, his arms crossed tautly over his chest as he raised an eyebrow at you. His face was filled with concern. Was it that obvious you weren’t?

“I am fine,” you lied, nodding as you shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s just, y’know… the one-year anniversary of the day we lost everything.”

He pursed his lips together, moving his arms to grip his hips as he said, “To lose everything you had grants you everything you need.” You couldn’t help but scoff, yet you did manage to fight the urge to roll your eyes at his fortune cookie quote. He was only trying to help ease your nerves, and - though it wasn’t doing anything to make you feel better - you were grateful for his attempt.

A woman stepped up to you before you could make a comment. “You’re all up.” She gestured towards the curtain, sending you both a soft, pitiful smile as you turned back around to face the music. “Good luck.”

You sucked in a deep breath, shaking your hands as the curtain parted in front of you. Natasha was already on the stage, sitting in one of the three seats lined up behind the podium. Her eyes were that same loving warmth she displayed earlier, and it helped ease your stomach as you made your way to her. She reached for your hand, giving you a comforting squeeze when you met her as the flashes of the cameras started going off the moment you stepped into view. “We’re just going to say some things and then we can go,” she whispered into your ear. She, too, was trying to ease your nerves, but the judging gaze of everybody in the crowd seemed to lock onto you.

Your stomach started doing nauseating flips once more.

You sat down next to Natasha, refusing to release her hand as Steve took a spot at the podium. He cleared his throat, tapping his finger gently against the microphone as he laughed nervously. All eyes were on him now, giving you a moment of reprieve as you leaned against the Russian, listening carefully as the patriot began his speech.

“One year.” You chewed the inside of your cheek, averting your gaze to your occupied hands. “On this very day one year ago, we were unfortunate to witness the fall of the Avengers. Today will be known as Avengers Day.” Pictures of the people you had always felt privileged to call family illuminated the monitors as Steve continued, “Clint Barton. Tony Stark. Bruce Banner. Pepper Potts. Wanda Maximoff. These are just a few names of the many lives lost that day.” Your breath caught in your throat as you stared at the screen displaying Wanda’s photograph. Her big smile, her shining eyes. Your best friend, how close the two of you had gotten throughout the years.

You were so transfixed by the image that you hadn’t realized Steve’s speech was finished until Natasha released your hand. You looked at her, distress glinting in your irises, but it was ultimately subsided by the small smile she was sending you. She was gesturing for you to step up to the podium as it was your turn to give a speech, and you were hesitant to do such a thing. Though you had practiced your speech a million times in the mirror after hearing about the event, all of it managed to disappear in your mind as you cleared your throat into the microphone.

“Hello,” you expressed softly, squeezing the edge of the wooden podium. Yet the next time you opened your mouth, not a single word could be heard. You could see everybody’s eyes piercing through you as if you were just… nothing. But you looked over, meeting the bright, hopeful gaze of your little boy, watching his face stretch out into a smile as he held up a thumb. You returned his grin before looking back to the crowd, feeling a bit more confident than you did five seconds ago. “Today’s just a grave reminder of all the people we’ve lost. And we’re here to honor the lives of-”

“May I interrupt?” Your eyes landed on the source of the voice - a young woman had stood up, holding a pen and paper as she flashed you a cocky smirk. “Hello, Mrs. Romanoff.” Your gaze averted down to your left hand, staring at the ring as the reporter continued, “Karen Delroy from the Times. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?” You picked your head up at her question, eyebrows furrowed with confusion. You weren’t informed that you were going to be interviewed, that you were just coming in to make a speech on behalf of the fallen and then you were more than welcome to leave. But, considering you couldn’t really recollect your entire speech to begin with, you figured this was your way out of making yourself look like a fool in trying to remember.

“I don’t see why not,” you expressed softly, nodding as you gestured for her to carry on with a hand.

“What do you remember?” She held her pen poised over the notepad, prepared to write down whatever words came out of your mouth.

“Oh, well… I-I remember all of it,” you claimed. “I remember the…” But you trailed off, eyebrows pinching together with confusion once more as you looked down. Your eyes squeezed shut, nerves causing your body to shiver. You had to think. Remember. You had to remember.

“Y/N?” Natasha’s voice was low behind you, a soft whisper so the rest of the room wouldn’t hear, but you chose to ignore her calls.

Remember.

“Maybe we should put an end to this,” Steve suggested just as quietly.

Just remember.

“Just think, detka, it’s okay.”

I don’t remember.

“Why don’t I remember?” you asked faintly, eyes wide as you looked back at the woman. Dread struck you when you saw the brown in her eyes glow an ominous purple as she seemingly stared right through you. But, within the next blink, her eyes went back to normal yet the fear that floated in your veins remained. Everything in your brain told you to move, to walk away, but nothing in your body was listening. You were frozen to your spot at the podium, a ball forming in your throat threatening to take away your ability to breathe. Your grip on the podium tightened, causing your knuckles to turn bone white. You can’t remember…

“How did you defeat the Matriarch?” Your eyes snapped onto another person - it seemed to be the only part of your body that was capable of moving - to witness an older man standing up with a microphone aimed towards you. “Lyle Davies, Channel 6. Wanda Maximoff had converted to the Church of Truth as their Matriarch when the Avengers Tower collapsed. You had a pretty close relationship with her according to my sources. Even got to the point of intimacy.” He grinned smugly, proud to have known that much information. “So, how did you manage to take her down?”

You could feel the knot in your stomach tightening.

“You seem to be having difficulty recollecting the downfall of the Avengers, Mrs. Romanoff.” Another reporter stood up, not even bothering with the introductions at this point.

You shook your head, soft, subtle movements that could only be seen if one was paying close attention and, surely, everybody in the room was.

“Do you even remember how they died?” It was another reporter, another question, yet the voice was familiar. You could pinpoint that Sokovian accent at a concert if you were so inclined to. Your eyes scanned the crowd, searching for her face. Searching for any sign that she was here, in the same room as you, living and breathing and not lying six feet under the surface. But you couldn’t find her. And it only seemed to overwhelm you, the combination of flashing lights from snapping cameras and reporters who seemed to have no more room for manners as they started overlapping each other to ask their own questions. You couldn’t even make out what they were asking, and her voice was no longer ringing in your ears.

“Come on.” Natasha’s breath fanned across the side of your cheek as she whispered into your ear, feeling her hands fall onto your shoulders as she started to guide you away from the interrogation. Steve didn’t hesitate to take your place, his hands in the air in an attempt to calm the crowd as you disappeared behind the curtain.

“I can’t remember, Nat,” you expressed, panic only causing that knot in your gut to tighten. You stopped walking to turn around, eyes wide with fright. Was this a dream? You could only hope it is, interlocking your fingers behind your neck as you tried to control your breathing. “Why can’t I remember!”

“Y/N-”

“What happened to Wanda?” Your eyes snapped onto hers within an instant.

“She was the Matriarch, Y/N,” Natasha explained calmly. She stepped closer to you, bringing your face gently into her hands as you moved to grip her wrists softly. “The Church got to her. And her powers combined with theirs… It made her a worthy candidate to become the Matriarch.” She sighed, a breath full of sorrow as her thumbs made gentle circles across your cheekbones.

You could feel the knot in your stomach tightening one last time, causing you to break out of Natasha’s comforting hold to get to the nearest trashcan to dispose of whatever was in your gut. Sickness drove through you like a river, goosebumps crawling up your body as you sank to your knees. Sobs wracked your chest, fingers clenched at your head.

It didn’t feel like much time has passed before you were staring at the ceiling in the comfort of your own home. Whatever happened between the event to now was all a blur. But the queasiness that lingered in you remained to the point where Natasha made you keep a bucket next to you.

The door creaked open slowly after what felt like an eternity of being stuck in your thoughts. You didn’t find the energy to pick your head up to look at whoever was entering the room, the footsteps were quiet as they made their way to you. “Mommy?” It was an instinct, ignoring the fatigue plaguing your body to give your child the attention he demanded.

“Yes, T?”

“Mama said you needed some alone time because you’re not feeling good,” he claimed, standing at the edge of your bed as his fingers twiddled together nervously. “But when I get sick… You’re always there to hold me and that makes me feel better.” You couldn’t stop the smile from twitching your lips, lifting an arm up to signal that he was more than welcome to join you on the bed. And he didn’t hesitate to do so, climbing onto the mattress and crawling over to you so he could cuddle into your side. Though as much as you enjoyed the silence and cuddling, his voice was always music to your ears. “You named me after Iron Man, right?”

“And Hawkeye,” you confirmed. “Anthony Barton Romanoff.” You smiled, staring up at the ceiling as his eyes trained on you. “Some of the most amazing people me and mama have ever known.” You tilted your head down to meet his gaze.

He ran a finger up and down the sleeve of your shirt, chewing the inside of his cheek for a moment before he asked, “How did they die?”

“They were in the Avengers Tower when it fell, sweetheart,” you answered, your voice a soft whisper as if you were fearful to speak any louder than that.

“Why did the tower fall?”

“That-” Your voice caught in your throat as memories flashed through your mind, how terrified the woman looked as you held up a small device, the vision shrouded in a faint, purple glow. Your eyebrows pinched together, head tilting to the side as you blinked yourself back to the present. “That was the Church’s doing.”

“You survived the fall,” he claimed, beaming brightly. “You and mama.” You nodded, smiling sadly as you looked back at him. “I’m glad you did. I don’t want a different family.” You breathed out slowly, your stomach lurching in your chest when that ominous, purple glow returned to color your boy’s eyes.

Panic took over your body, causing you to quickly climb out of the bed and stagger away from him as confusion painted his features. “I… I don’t…”

“Mommy?” He sat up on his knees, his bottom lip quivering as you shook your head. He watched you carefully, no trace of purple remained in his eyes. But you weren’t willing to take the risk, keeping your distance from him as you pressed your back against the wall.

Laughter emitted from your throat in a humorless tone, realization dawning on you as your eyes snapped onto Anthony’s. You didn’t win. No. No, the Church was still alive. They were laying low, poisoning the world one person at a time. You should’ve caught onto it earlier, seeing the reporter’s eyes glow the color that’ll forever haunt your dreams. How quick the moment was, how smooth and undercover. Nobody would be the wiser as they all carried on with their day. But your mind didn’t make the connection at the time. Now… They have control of him. Your boy. “Let him go,” you pleaded softly, your head moving side to side very subtly.

“Mommy, you’re scaring me.”

You moved forward, pointing a finger at him. “Why are you here?” Your voice came out low, dangerous through clenched teeth. Your pupils narrowed with an anger Anthony has never seen on you before, your steps quiet and steady like a predator stalking its prey.

“It’s me!” he cried, his face red with tears as you gripped his shoulders. “It’s me, mommy! It’s your T!”

“Leave him alone!”

“You’re hurting me!” Sobs erupted from his throat, and it was in that instance that a force pushed you away.

Natasha stood in front of him protectively, her green eyes narrowed onto you as you staggered backward, still reeling from the strength of her push. “What are you doing?” Her voice, just like yours, was low and dangerous. Only hers was a lot more threatening than you could ever dream of being. “That is our child.” She was eerily calm, yet you weren’t oblivious to the hidden tone in her words.

“No,” you claimed, shaking your head. “They’re still out there. They- They got to him. They’re taking our child away from us! That” - you pointed at the kid who looked like your boy, but you knew better - “is not Anthony.”

The Russian crossed her arms over her chest, her jaw tight, her stance set. “What is going on with you, Y/N?”

“Please, Nat.” Your voice was still low, but it was pleading now. You needed her to see the truth before they won this silent war. “The Church is alive.”

“The Church has been gone for a year,” she said. “We got rid of them. They’re not possessing anybody. And they’re certainly not taking our boy. He is still T.” She was calmer now than she was five seconds ago after seeing the genuine fear in your eyes. Her shoulders relaxed, and her protective stance crumbled as she took a small step toward you. “Don’t you remember how happy we were the day we brought him home?”

You blinked at her question, eyebrows furrowed tightly together as you straightened your form. “I…” You tried to convince yourself to recall the day you had adopted the little boy, even if it was made up, yet the memory of what should be a joyous, memorable day was lost on you. Any good parent could tell you the story of their child coming into their life - adopted or not - but you were finding difficulty in doing just that. Your heart started playing drums on your ribcage as you stared at Natasha. “I don’t remember,” you whispered, shaking your head. “Why can’t I remember?”

The memories of important events were nothing but black holes in your mind. Avengers Day, Anthony’s adoption, your… wedding. Natasha in a wedding gown surely would’ve made a permanent home in your brain, yet you got nothing.

It was during your mental battle in trying to remember that Natasha turned to whisper something to Anthony before he ran out of the room as fast as his little legs could carry him. But you couldn’t care about whatever it was she sent him to do as you made eye contact with her once again, pupils wide with panic. “I can’t remember, Nat,” you whispered, your nose burning as tears threatened your vision. Her face softened as she took one more step to you, bringing your hands into hers as she breathed out softly. “I can’t remember. I can’t remember. Why-”

“You’re just tired, detka,” she said gently, a warm smile tugging her lips as she moved one of her hands to rest against your cheek. You leaned into her touch, your eyes fluttering close allowed you to feel just how truly exhausted you were. “This day was very stressful, I know. It brought back so many memories that we all just wished to forget.”

“I’m sorry,” you murmured, shaking your head against her palm as a tear slipped through your eyelid to crawl down your cheek. “I’m so sorry.”

“Come on.” She used the hold on one of your hands to tug you back to the bed. “I’ll take T out for dinner and you can apologize to him when we get back.” She smiled at you as your eyes fluttered open, nodding your head as you sat down. “But, in the meantime, you get some rest.” She planted a soft, warm kiss against your forehead, giving your hand a squeeze before slowly walking out of the room, flicking the light off as she closed the door behind her.

But, instead of doing as she said and closing your eyes to get some much-needed sleep, you waited. You held your breath, straining your ears to listen to the front door open and close. Followed by the sound of the car starting and driving off. You were on your feet in an instant, leaving the bedroom and stepping into the living room. You eyed the framed photos lined up on the fireplace, but none of them triggered any memories for you. No, they all just felt as if they were planted here. As if they were… fake. Just photos of you, Natasha, and Anthony at a studio with different backgrounds and different clothes.

They could’ve been taken on the same day.

You found yourself making your way to a closet sitting next to the kitchen, only used mostly for storing cleaning supplies such as brooms and vacuums, but lingering at the top of the small cubicle was a photo album sitting on top of the shelf. After moving the necessary things to achieve your goal, you had the book in your hands within a few minutes. But flipping through the pages only caused the panic that had settled at the pit of your stomach to grow once more. No photos of your wedding. No photos of your friends. Not even any photos of your days as an Avenger. Just the same type of pictures that sat on your fireplace mantel. Different backgrounds. Different clothes. Yet the same smile in every single one.

“Hello?” You had a broom in your hand within mere seconds, aiming the point of it at whoever entered your home unannounced. You huffed when you met Dr. Woods’s eye, his hands in the air as the pole of the cleaning supply dug into his throat. “A little on edge, are we?” He laughed, though it was a nervous sound as you returned everything to the closet, including the photo album.

“Why are you here, Woods?” you questioned, turning away from him to make your way into the kitchen.

“Tony called me,” he answered. “He was pretty hysterical on the phone, I barely understood him.” He let out a long, hefty breath as you grabbed a cup from the cabinet. “Do you want to-”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” you claimed, running the faucet to fill up your glass. “I was tired. That’s all there is to know.”

“You think the Church is back.” It wasn’t a question, you knew that. And your grip on the edge of the counter only tightened as you turned the faucet off a bit too harshly. “What’d you do yesterday?” You turned around to look at him, leaning against the counter and ultimately ignoring your glass of water left in the sink. “I’m not here as your shrink, Y/N. Just consider it two friends catching up.”

You crossed your arms over your chest, your eyes staring at him as you thought about yesterday. It was a simple question, one that should hold an even simpler answer… So why were you having so much trouble giving him one? Even going as far as making something up would please the doctor. You chewed the inside of your cheek, your shoulders falling as you were forced to face the issue at hand.

“Okay,” you stated, stepping towards him. “I don’t remember.”

“What’s the last thing you remember?” he questioned.

“This morning,” you answered. “I played with Tony-”

“Before that,” he interrupted.

You sighed, shrugging your shoulders carelessly as you worked your brain. “Uh…” You blew air out between your lips, sounding a bit like a motorboat before finally confessing the truth. “I remember watching the news,” you said.

“That’s good,” he expressed, nodding in approval.

“Wanda revealed herself to be the Matriarch.”

“O-kay… Not good.” He watched you carefully, resting his hands on his hips as you raised an eyebrow at him.

“Nothing is making sense, Woods,” you claimed. “Why are there no actual pictures? W-Why can’t I remember key dates like my own wedding? It’s like I was just… planted here. Like I’m… I’m living someone else’s life.”

“What do you remember before that?” he asked, and he shrugged when you met his gaze. “I’m curious.”

“Waking up in your house after the collapse.”

“Before that.”

You huffed, turning away from him and furrowing your eyebrows as you rubbed the back of your neck. Your eyes fluttered close, sucking in a deep breath and giving yourself a moment to actually think. There was the explosion, traces of purple floating through your memories as you watched Natasha’s eyes change, succumbing to the Promise once again. “Natasha stabbed me.”

“During your fight with the Church,” he claimed, nodding as you turned back to look at him. “She told me about that. Honestly, I thought you were a goner, but, damn.” He laughed lightly, causing you to raise a curious brow at him, silently questioning what he found so humorous. “You’re like a boomerang, Y/N. You keep coming back…”

“You’re like my boomerang, Y/N.” You turned your head to look at her, meeting her gaze with curiosity. Her dazzling green eyes shined brighter than any light that has ever existed, causing your stomach to twist with warmth and fuzziness. “You keep coming back to me.”

You laughed softly, leaning forward slightly as you asked, “What do you mean?”

“I tried to move on. Many times.” Her smile held a hint of sadness, and you fought the urge to reach out to her. “Maybe I’m just bad at letting you go. Maybe because, every time you leave, I lose a little piece of me.”

There was a heavy fist coming from the front door, pulling you out of her mesmerizing gaze to look up at the ceiling. You said nothing, but you felt an uncomfortable pressure against your chest as his voice seemed to echo through the house, reaching the bedroom, begging the woman laying next to you for a second chance. Yet you both ignored it as she rolled over, draping her arm gently across your shoulders as you instinctively wrapped your hand around hers.

“Y/N?” You blinked yourself out of the past, furrowing your eyebrows to see Woods snapping his fingers in front of your face. He took a respectful step back as he cleared his throat, though his gaze held interest as his eyes lingered on you. “Where’d you go?”

“I…” You huffed, replaying that moment in your head over and over again. The moment felt real, genuine. You could remember the feeling of the heat radiating from her body as if it had just happened yesterday. The kisses, the touches, the way she whispered your name in your ear breathlessly. Wanda… You’re not dead, are you? “I don’t know…”

Why was the memory so much different than the others? Why did it feel more authentic?

“I don’t need a shrink,” you claimed, pulling yourself out of your mind before you spiraled even further in front of the doctor. “I just need something to eat and some sleep.” You turned away from him, pulling open the refrigerator as you stared at the contents inside. Yet, you didn’t move to grab anything.

“I can’t help you if you won’t let me,” Woods claimed, but you didn’t look at him as you continued to stand in front of the opened fridge, chewing the inside of your cheek. You could hear him sigh, defeated. “You know my number if you decide to want my help.”

You listened to his footsteps depart, and then released your hold on the refrigerator, allowing the door to swing shut.

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Laughter could be heard throughout the house, drawing you out of your dreamless slumber. You released a soft sigh, allowing your eyes to flutter close once more. Though you knew there was no more sleep you were going to get today, you were going to allow yourself to lay in this comfort for a bit longer.

Yet the more you stayed there, the more your mind wandered. Trying to decipher the memories your brain was conjuring up, stuck in this endless loop of uncertainty. And you were half-expecting to see Wanda when you rolled over, huffing as you run your hands down your face. You could hear her voice, a distant whisper in the back of your mind. Her warm laugh echoing in your head. Her death - though so long ago - felt as if it were fresh.

Just like everything else.

It took you a moment, but you finally managed to force yourself out of bed to follow the heartwarming giggling to the kitchen. There you could find your family sitting at the kitchen table, a couple of mugs and a plate of cookies sitting in front of them. Natasha met your gaze the second you appeared at the doorway, her smile slightly fading away as she watched you with wariness. You didn’t blame her. You held a sense of caution with yourself. Especially around Anthony.

“Hey.” Your voice was soft as you entered the room, yet it earned Anthony’s attention either way. He shot you a wide smile from his seat, his legs kicking underneath the table as he showed you the same love he always does... As if your whole episode last night didn’t happen at all.

“Hi, mommy,” he said. “Mama’s letting me have Oreos for breakfast.” He chuckled happily as he reached for another cookie, and you smiled lightly as he popped the entire thing into his mouth.

“I don’t think we raised him right, Y/N,” Natasha claimed, earning a muffled giggle from Anthony. “He’s just eating the entire Oreo at once…”

“Did you just eat an entire Oreo at once like a heathen?” Her light laughter echoed in your head.

“I’ve been eating Oreos for a long time, Y/N, I would think I know how they should be eaten.” She was happy. Despite everything, you were happy. How did it ever come to an end?

“Show me how you eat it, mama,” the little boy challenged, his voice pulling you out of your head. He picked up a cookie and wiggled it at her. Natasha wasn’t really the type to turn down a challenge, whether it be against a child or not, so she didn’t hesitate to snatch it out of his tiny fingers, quickly dunking it into his milk and laughing in victory while biting half the cookie off into her mouth. Anthony’s mouth formed an O as he looked down into his cup.

“Look at all the little crumbs floating around.” Your chest tightened uneasily.

“He’s your child,” she declared with a playful grin, earning another giggle from the child as he grabbed more Oreos. “How’re you feeling, detka?”

You pursed your lips together tightly, nodding at her question as you quickly averted your gaze to Anthony, who had now resorted to taking the cookie apart so he could get to the cream in the middle. “Hey, buddy,” you expressed, making your way to the table to sit in the empty chair next to him. “How about we do something fun today? We can go to the movies. Maybe get ice cream later.”

“He’s got school,” Natasha pointed out.

“After, then,” you suggested.

“Uncle Steve is taking me to the park,” Anthony expressed, and you sighed softly as you leaned back into the chair, crossing your arms over your chest and chewing the inside of your cheek. You watched the little boy bite into the cookie, flashing you a wide, proud grin. But you could only laugh when you noticed the bits of chocolate stuck in his teeth.

“C’mon, T,” Natasha started, “it’s time to get ready.” She pulled the plate of Oreos towards her, preventing him from snatching another cookie as he hopped off the chair.

He started walking away as you rested your elbow against the table, placing your chin in your palm, but he stopped abruptly to turn around. “Can we go tomorrow?” You turned your head to look at him, smiling softly at his offer.

“Of course, sweetheart,” you promised. “Now go on. You don’t want to be late.” You straightened your form when he ran off, leaving you alone with Natasha. You could feel her eyes boring a hole in the side of your face, drawing circles with your nails on the surface of the table. You wondered how long she was willing to sit here in silence before she broke it, but you also knew the Russian was more than ready to go as long as she needed until you were the one to break first. “I’ll clean-”

“I got it.” She stood up before you could beat her to it, a sigh passing your lips as she collected the dishes on the table and walked away. “Is there a reason why you ignored my question?”

“I am feeling great,” you said, getting up and slowly making your way to her. “Refreshed. Energized.” You looped an arm around her waist, spinning her around and pulling her flush against your body. You swayed back and forth to invisible music, sending her a mischievous smirk as you added, “Since Tony’s going to be gone, we’ll have the entire house to ourselves.”

She laughed lightly, her breath fanning across your face as your lips brushed across hers. “As fun as that would be, you know I have to go to work.” You stopped swaying, blinking as you stared at her. Your eyebrows pinched together slightly, your head tilting to the side, and you allowed her to step away from you so she could finish cleaning the dishes.

“Work?” Honestly, you didn’t even think about that. You can’t really even imagine Natasha having a job that isn’t being an Avenger, or something of that extent. It was reasonable for her words to catch you off guard… if you were hearing it for the first time. And it felt like you were.

She hummed in agreement, nodding as she turned the faucet on. “The house doesn’t pay for itself, Y/N,” she pointed out, chuckling under her breath. “And we got the bills, and we need to get food, and-”

“Alright, alright. I get it,” you claimed, and she laughed once more as she turned the sink off, turning to look at you once more. “I have errands to run today anyway.”

“Are you not going to work?” You blinked at her, her question echoing in your mind as if it was the worst thing she has ever said to you in your entire life. You have a job?

And a job you did have. It wasn’t the best job considering the last job you had was saving the world from threats nobody else dared to face, but it was something that - apparently - paid the bills. No, this job just had you saving parents from having to work with a babysitter. A daycare was the last place you expected to be, but it wasn’t the worst.

All the children knew you, shouting your name with excitement when they entered the building, running up to wrap their arms around your legs in a hug as their mom or dad snuck out of the room unseen. You were loved here as if you weren’t a complete stranger to all these kids. But that’s what you felt like. These kids knew you, but you didn’t know them.

“Miss Y/N?” You turned your head to look at the little girl, crouching down to her level so you could make eye contact with her. She smiled widely, her fingers pinching the hem of her shirt as she said, “I built something and I wanna show you. Follow me!” She ran off, and a soft laugh slipped through your nose as you ultimately followed her command.

She guided you across the foam floor, standing in front of a pillow fort that towered against the corner.

“Do you like it?” She beamed brightly, turning away from you before you could answer her question to pull open the blanket door. “You can come in! But you have to tell me the password.” She stepped forward, holding her free hand around her mouth to whisper the password in your direction before she disappeared into the fort.

You cleared your throat before asking, “May I enter?”

“What’s the password?”

“I’m pretty sure you won’t be sitting underneath an impressive pillow fort if nothing happened.” You chewed the inside of your cheek, eyebrows furrowed tightly.

“You think my fort’s impressive?”

You walked away, and the little girl’s voice calling your name from behind was just a distant echo as the reminiscent feeling of all the pillows collapsing onto you overtook your body, the sound of her fading laughter filling your mind. Your vision was clouded with memories of Wanda’s smile, of her nose scrunch, of her sparkling eyes. But they were ultimately replaced with her frown, the sorrow in her eyes, a purple tint to the memories as she glanced at you sadly from the other side of the room. You could feel your chest tighten once again, suffocating your heart as you stumbled to your car.

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It was hard reading her name engraved into a stone used to mark a grave. It made all those questionable thoughts about her death disappear as it became more real, crouching down to wipe away the loose dirt that built up at the bottom of the tombstone. You couldn’t stop the tear from crawling down your cheek, but you managed to run your arm across your face to prevent it from getting much further.

“I’m not sure when the last time I visited you was,” you confessed, pursing your lips into a thin line as your hands lingered on the headstone, “but I bet you’re still watching me from wherever you are. You’re always keeping an eye on me.” You sucked in a shaky breath, running a hand across the engravement. “And I bet you’re just absolutely floored to see where I am right now.” You laughed, though the sound was humorless as you looked down at the grass. “I married Nat. And we have a kid now.” A soft smile tugged the corners of your lips. “I know what you’d say. You’d probably call me all different types of names in Sokovian.” Tears fell from your eyes as your nose burned, and the next thing you said came out uneven, “But I forgave you, huh, so why not forgive…”

The feeling of realization hit you so fast, it brought a nauseating twist to your gut as you looked up at her name once more. Your eyebrows pinched together, and the tears that poured from your eyes turned hot with anger as your jaw locked dangerously tight. You climbed to your feet, your hands balled into fists, and fury formed a tight knot in your chest as you turned to walk away once more.

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“We��re home!” Her voice nearly echoed through the dark house, followed by the door closing shut behind them. It was always an instinct to flicker the light on whenever entering a room, and that’s what she did. She turned on the light and instantly found you sitting on the couch, a cup of amber liquid dangling from the tips of your fingers. Her face contorted into confusion as she sent Anthony to get ready for bed before making her way to you in slow, calculated movements. “Y/N?” She stopped at the doorway of the living room, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I figured it out,” you expressed, your voice monotone as you snorted out a humorless chuckle. You shook your head, lifting the glass in the air as you continued to stare at the blank TV. “It’s all coming together quite nicely now.”

“What are you talking about?” She took a few more steps toward you. “Are you drunk?”

“Not drunk enough,” you countered, turning your head to look at her. You made eye contact as you took another sip of your drink, and she released a heft breath as she sat down on the other end of the couch.

“Y/N…” She cleared her throat. “Maybe you should get some rest.”

“What did you do that made me forgive you so fast?” you questioned, your tongue flicking out to lick your lips as you awaited an answer. She could only seem to stare at you with an unchanged expression.

“I don’t know what you’re-”

“That’s the thing, Nat,” you interrupted, leaning forward to place your drink on the coffee table. “I didn’t forgive you.”

She scoffed, shaking her head. “Of course you did,” she argued. “We wouldn’t be married if you didn’t.”

“We’re not married.”

“Our certificate says otherwise.”

“So show me,” you challenged, raising an eyebrow at her.

“What?”

“Show me the certificate, Nat.” But she just sat there, unmoving. As if your demand wasn’t to be taken seriously. You could feel your heart speed up the longer she didn’t say anything. “You can’t, can you?”

“I shouldn’t have to,” she claimed defensively.

“It’s too bad Bruce is dead,” you expressed with a casual shrug. “You would’ve married him instead.”

“What has gotten into you?” she demanded, standing up. “It’s been over a year since I-”

“No, it wasn’t!” Your voice was loud, you couldn’t control it. The anger unraveled in your chest, bringing you to your feet as your eyes grew red with unshed tears. You couldn’t bare to look at her, but you couldn’t find it in yourself to turn away. Her pupils were wide, wrapping her arms around you as she maintained eye contact. “It wasn’t to me,” you sneered.

“Y/N-”

“It hasn’t been a year since you broke my heart. It hasn’t been a year since you destroyed my trust. It’s been a month since you ruined my life!”

“You need to calm down right now.” Her tone was serious, a warning just as it had been last night. You refused to cower away from this. No, you had to get to the truth. You had to know why you couldn’t remember anything that led up to this life. Though you knew you shouldn’t. It was a happy life. You had a family; a kid and a wife. You had taken that next step with Natasha, the step you had always wanted to take long before. But not like this. Not anymore.

“I stopped wanting to marry you the second I caught you in that bed with him,” you said. “That was the day I realized that we had very different meanings of love.” You rubbed your forehead as your eyes fluttered close, smirking. “When I said I loved you, I meant forever. When you said you loved me, you meant temporarily.”

“I do love you,” she expressed defensively. “I loved you then and I love you now, Y/N.”

You shook your head, opening your eyes to look at her once more. “Our love is broken, Nat. And we need to stop pretending it isn’t.”

“We can fix it.” She stepped forward, ignoring the anger still boiling in your veins as she reached up to bring your face between her hands. Her touch was gentle, warm, and you had to fight everything in your body to stop yourself from leaning into it. “Y/N, detka… We can fix it.” Her voice was much softer now, and her eyes… Her eyes were shimmering with hope, sparkling like you were looking at the night sky. She had a light smile on her face, and her thumbs were running smooth circles against your skin. You could feel yourself giving in, your hands twitching as you resisted the urge to feel her. But your shoulders fell, your muscles easing out of their tense state as you slowly succumbed to her touch.

“Please fix it,” you whispered, feeling her swipe her thumb quickly to catch a stray tear.

“I will.” She nodded, her small smile growing very slightly as you stepped forward to close the distance, wrapping your arms around her to bring her into a tight hug. You rested your chin on her shoulder, your eyes closing as she pulled you flushed against her. “I promise.”

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“I’m glad you called me.” You placed a steaming cup in front of him, smiling as he accepted the offering. You watched as he blew on the liquid for a moment before taking a timid sip. “Actually, I’m more shocked than anything.” Woods laughed lightly as he looked back up at you, meeting your gaze.

You nodded, crossing your arms over your chest. “I want to talk,” you said. “Something hasn’t been sitting right with me and I was hoping you’d fill in the blanks.”

“Well, I’ll do my best to ease the uneasiness.” He laughed softly once more, and you pursed your lips and raised your eyebrows briefly before turning away from him to sit down. “What’s been on your mind?”

“Everything that happened between now and Avengers Day is just… blank. But I keep getting overwhelmed by all these memories,” you started, rubbing your hands together. “Some are just normal. Others have, like, this… sickly purple tint to them.” You picked your head up to meet his eye once again, catching him in deep thought as he listened. “I just want to understand why.”

“Do you still believe the Church is alive?” You stared at him for a bit longer, wondering if he was trying to lead you into a trap. Natasha had practically looked at you as if you were absolutely insane for suggesting the Church was still around. Was he trying to do the same? “Because, if you do, that could lead to the delusion that you’re seeing purple in your memories.” He cleared his throat, picking his hand up as he added, “It’s like someone thinking they’re being followed. Allowing yourself to strongly believe such a thing is causing you to become paranoid.”

“When Steve succumbed to the Church, they went to the Avengers Tower. How much of a coincidence could it have been that the only survivors of that entire battle were Vision and Bruce?” Two people you most definitely didn’t want to deal with amongst everything else at the time.

“Well, I wasn’t there, so I wouldn’t really be able to calculate that math,” he confessed, though the smile he was fighting to hide showed he was joking.

“And Wanda…” You remembered pulling open that front door; the way he was kissing her, and the way she was kissing back. The feelings you experienced at the time. “She kissed Vision when I thought that we… But she wouldn’t ever do anything like that to me, right?”

“But she did,” he claimed, furrowing his eyebrows, tilting his head slightly.

“I got Nat, I got Tony. I…” You huffed. “I love them. They are my… my family.” Despite the doubts that were placed in your brain, Natasha was the one you wanted… right? “And I want to enjoy this time I have with them. I want to… live this life like I always wanted.”

“What are you getting at, Y/N?”

“It’s like my-my brain is fighting something and I...”

“Y/N-”

“Maybe I never beat the Church. Maybe… I never got out of the Promise.”

He sighed, scratching his chin.

“I think I’m still in it, Woods,” you explained, leaning forward, “and I need you to help me believe I’m not.”

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She was lost in thought, her eyes distant as she chewed the inside of her cheek. She wasn’t focused on the conversation going on around her, racking her brain for a solution to the problem at hand. But nothing she could think of provided the answer she wanted. They all only led to unwelcoming conclusions.

“Nat.” She was pulled out of her daze by the gentle call of her name, focusing her gaze on the patriot sitting across from her. “You okay?” His stare was soft, sympathetic, with his arms crossed over his chest in a casual manner. He was in no rush at the moment, taking the time now to relax before getting to work. “She’s going to be okay. We’ll figure this out, we always do.”

“I suggest locking her up in a cell and throwing away the key.” She looked towards Tony, who was sitting against the wall, coddling his left arm. Her pupils were narrowed with annoyance, but he was never one to cower away from her glares. “She’s the reason for-”

“Stark is right.” The Russian huffed, her eyes snapping on Bruce. “She should be punished for what she did.”

Natasha scoffed, crossing her arms across her chest in a much more defensive way than Steve. “We all did things we’re not proud of.”

“She’s done a lot worse, Nat,” Bruce expressed, his voice filled with a worry that only irritated her more.

“We didn’t blow up the tower,” Stark countered.

“Once she snaps out of it-”

“If,” Tony corrected, but the scientist continued as if he didn’t.

“-then we have to prepare ourselves for whatever happens afterward.”

Natasha turned to Steve, who had been staring at her with calculating eyes the entire time. “You’re not going to arrest her,” she stated. It wasn’t a question, he knew that, but he wasn’t going to delve into a problem that was set in the future. He needed to return the focus to the now.

“We’ll talk about that after,” Steve assured, bringing sadness to Natasha as she looked down at her hands. “For now, we have to figure out a way to help her. She’s the only one who can fix this problem.”

“She’s not the only one who can fix it,” Tony announced, causing the patriot to roll his eyes.

“We don’t need any more deaths, Tony,” Steve declared. “Wanda thinks she died in the fall, but if we manage to pull her out-”

Natasha picked her head up to look at you once more, and it made her sick to her stomach to see you tied to that chair. But she was nearly certain you weren’t aware of your surroundings at the moment. With your posture straight, your stare unblinking, and the purple aura surrounding your body, you were lost in a paradise formed by your own mind.

“-we can save everybody.”

192 notes · View notes

ereardon · 1 year ago

Text

Golden Hour || Ch. 2 [Bob Floyd x Bradley Bradshaw x OC]

A Bob Floyd & Bradley Bradshaw AU [Hart of Dixie inspired]

Synopsis: Willow, Georgia. Barely even a town, just a speck on a map that you tried to wipe off, mistaking it for a crumb. You’re the outsider: a fancy New York doctor, fresh out of a failed engagement, with zero primary care experience. You’re also the new town doctor, taking over for a recent retiree who was beloved. His son, Bob Floyd, is the other physician at the practice, and takes an immediate dislike to you. But you were looking for a fresh start, and Willow doesn’t seem all that bad if you can get past the fact that there's only one restaurant in town. It helps that you've caught the eye of Bradley Bradshaw, the town attorney, despite the fact that you vowed to take a break from dating. How long until you start to make friends in a town where social circles have been set in stone since elementary school? And what will it take to make Bob Floyd see you’re not as bad as he wants to believe you are?

Pairing: Bob Floyd x OC; Bradley Bradshaw x OC

Tropes: Love triangle, enemies to lovers

Warnings: Cursing, mention of vomit, alcohol

Chapter summary: Olive settles into her new home; the town comes down with the flu; Olive has a run in with Bradley at the grocery store; Bob is suspiciously absent during the flu pandemic and Olive arrives at his doorstep to confront him

WC: 3K

Masterlist here; first chapter here; next chapter here

You showed up at quarter to seven, double checking the address Phoenix had written down on the scrap of receipt paper.

This couldn’t be right.

The house was palatial. It was practically a plantation, if you could still call houses plantations. A sweeping iron gate out front, with a long driveway that ran straight back to an enormous white house with blue shutters and a round driveway out front.

You got out of the car, starting up the stairs. Just when you lifted your hand in a knock, the door swung open.

Phoenix stood with her hair dripping wet, a towel bunched up in her hands as she squeezed it dry. She had changed out of the overalls from earlier and now wore a pair of running shorts and a cropped t-shirt. “Olive!” she said. “You made it!”

You nodded. “Is now an OK time?”

“It’s perfect.” Phoenix slid out of the way. “Come on in.”

You stepped inside. The house was even more beautiful on the inside than the exterior, if that was possible. The foyer had a black and white tile flooring that led to a curved white staircase that hugged the left side of the room and rounded out gently on the second floor. An antique wood table sat beneath the curved staircase with the largest arrangement of flowers you had ever seen in one person’s home before.

Phoenix tracked your eyes. “It’s a lot, I know.”

“It’s fucking beautiful,” you said and her jaw dropped a little. You blushed. “Sorry, force of habit. It’s beautiful.”

She shook her head. “Doesn’t bother me, but trust me when I say some of the folks around here are a lot less welcoming than I am.”

You let out a sigh. “Tell me about it. Dr. Floyd has me on his shit list.” There you went again, cursing up a storm.

Phoenix frowned. “Bob? Really? He’s so nice.”

You cackled. “Nice? He’s been cold to me since the moment we met.”

She led you down a large main hallway which opened up at the back of the house to a large living room and kitchen. “Cold? That’s new,” she said. “What happened?”

You gave her the rundown of everything that had happened the second time you went to the clinic, including bumping into Bradley.

Natasha’s eyes lit up. “So you met Bradshaw, huh?”

You nodded.

She gave a knowing look. “He’s single,” she added.

“I’m not looking for a relationship right now.”

Phoenix opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of white wine. “And why not?”

You debated not telling her. You had made it approximately eight hours in Willow before divulging your past. But it was bound to come out anyway. And there was something about Phoenix that made you want to tell her things. Probably why she was a good bartender. You held out your left hand, the faint indentations of a ring still visible on the bare digit.

She nodded knowingly. “When did it happen?”

“Last week,” you said. “I came home from the hospital and he was already there, which was rare. Just sitting on the couch, head in his hands, and the minute I walked through the door he looked up and said it was over. I stormed out and threw the ring in the East River.”

Her mouth fell open. “You did not.”

You nodded. “Three carats, too. But I lost my shit and it was the first thing I could think to do.”

“Did he ask for it back?”

You shook your head. “No. But Peter has enough money, I don’t think it’ll make too big of a dent.” You winced and then added, “He was my attending.”

“Attending?”

“My boss,” you clarified. “He was the senior attending for fetal surgery. I was the fellow. Let’s just say that our relationship never went over well with the surgery group.”

Phoenix let out a whistle. “Hot damn, drama. I love it.”

You liked her immediately. There was something charming about the way she immediately poured you a drink even though she was off the clock, and the way her brown eyes locked on yours, like you were the only person in the room. Which you were, but that wasn’t the point. You knew that even in a room full of people, Phoenix had the ability to make it feel like she only had eyes for you.

And you needed a friend. More, now than ever.

You sighed. “Anyway, that’s why I left New York. And that is why I am definitely not ready to start dating.”

Phoenix smirked. “Honey, this is Willow. You’re going to get caught up with someone faster than sweat piling up on your upper lip in August. I mean, look at you.” Her eyes trailed over your slim skirt, tight cowl neck shell top, coiffed brown locks. “No wonder Bob was so angry with you showing up. You’re about to steal all his male patients.”

“Tell me about him,” you said, leaning both elbows on the counter. “I need to know about my competition.”

“Bob?” she asked. “I don’t know what to say. I’ve known him for years, since we were kids. All three of us: me, Bob, Bradley. He’s always been a little shy. He was the smart one. We all knew he’d follow in his daddy’s footsteps. He went to Emory for medical school, Bradshaw went to New York for law school, and I stayed here. But I always knew they’d come back.” She smiled ruefully. “Men always do.”

“Wait, Bradley went to New York?”

She nodded. “Columbia Law.”

You frowned. “How old is he?”

“Thirty one.”

You two were probably there at the same time. Him in the law school, you at the medical school.

“Bob is a good guy,” she added. “He’s a bit of a grouch. But it’s only because Dr. Robert retired and he’s been busier than ever.”

“He doesn’t seem to like me much.”

“We don’t get a lot of newcomers,” Phoenix said. “And the ones we do, most people tend not to like.”

“So I’m at an automatic disadvantage.”

“Yup.”

You sighed. “Great.”

Phoenix laughed, setting down her glass of wine. “Let me show you the guest house.”

The guest house was out back. Way out back. You couldn’t even see the main house anymore when Phoenix rounded a corner and stopped in front of a slightly dilapidated green two-story house. The front porch of the house sagged slightly and the door was a little off kilter.

Phoenix scooted up the steps and unlocked the door, holding it open. You quickly followed her inside. “It’s a little dusty, sorry about that,” she said. “And a little run down. But I think it should work.”

Inside there was a small entryway that led to a living room on one side and a bedroom on the other. Everything was covered in a thin layer of dust, and the furniture had sheets flung over it. Phoenix opened the blinds, letting light filter into the room, and put her hands on your hips.

“Ain’t much,” she said. “But it’s something.”

“I’ll take it.” What other options did you have? Besides, you liked Phoenix. She was the first and only person to be nice to you in Willow.

***

Your second day went just about as well as your first.

You showed up at the office at nine, to find it bustling with patients. A frazzled Molly sat at the front desk, hair askew.

“Where have you been?” she demanded as you walked through the door. “People been lining up this morning.” She handed you a stack of charts. “The flu.”

You grimaced. “The flu? In September?”

“When it rains it pours.”

You groaned. “Alright, give me two minutes to get a cup of coffee.”

“No time,” Molly said, steering you toward the dusty office at the front of the building. “Mr. Schwartz has been waiting for forty minutes and he’s just about the most impatient man I’ve ever met.” She turned around, faking a smile. “Mr. Schwartz? The doctor will see you now.”

A grisly looking man stood up, face pale and sweaty. You smiled delicately. “Hi, I’m Dr. James—”

He waved a hand in your face. “Don’t care, sweetheart. Gonna be sick so get out of the way.”

You winced as he barged into the exam room and unloaded his stomach in the trash. Molly scampered away as you closed the door and pulled on a pair of gloves.

The rest of the day was no better. Patient after patient sick with a mysterious flu that was going around. There was nothing you could do for them besides check their vitals, remind them to hydrate, explain proper hygiene to minimize getting other family members sick, and send them home to rest. But yet they came in droves.

By three o’clock, you had seen countless patients, and Bob’s door had never been opened. You frowned. “Where is he?” you asked Molly.

She looked up from a cup of tea. “The doctor is not in.”

You rolled your eyes. “I know that, it’s why I’m up to my elbows in puke. Where is he? When is he coming in?”

“He’s not. It’s his day off.”

“Day off?” you scoffed as the door opened and three more people shuffled into the waiting room. “Fuck,” you muttered under your breath.

“Dr. James!” Molly scolded. “This is a family town.”

“You’re right,” you said, squaring your shoulders and turning around, gesturing to the taller man slumped against the wall. “Sir? I can take you back now.”

Finally, it was dark out and you made your way back to the guest house to shower. But halfway through the shower the water ran cold and you realized you were out of shampoo.

“Fuck!” you shouted, this time not caring if anyone could hear.

At the market, you stood with sopping wet hair, staring at two bottles of Suave shampoo. So much for your Oribe hair products that were probably in the trash already back in New York. Peter never cared much for their scent.

You sighed, grabbing the green bottle.

“Didn’t think I’d have to fight someone for my favorite shampoo tonight.”

You whipped around. Bradley Bradshaw stood two feet away wearing a pair of chinos and a polo, looking way too fresh for the end of a hot Georgia day. He grinned, taking in your short denim shorts and cropped tank, wet hair and bare face.

“Long day, doc?” he asked.

You rolled your eyes. “You have no idea. I’ve got a hot tip for you. Wash your hands when you get home. Whole town has the flu.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I heard. Sounds like a bad day.”

“Understatement.”

“Then you need ice cream,” Bradley said, moving over to the freezer section. “Are you a chocolate girl?”

“Is there any other kind of girl?” you asked and he chuckled.

“Here, this should solve anything.” He waved a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked in the air.

You sighed in relief. “Thank God there’s ice cream here. I thought maybe it would be a churn your own butter kind of place.”

Bradley laughed, holding out his hand. “Here. Let me buy that for you.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “I insist. A girl shouldn’t have to buy her own ice cream at the end of a long day.”

You handed him the shampoo bottle and bottle of wine that was under one arm and he grinned, carrying them alongside the ice cream to the counter. He paid, chatting with the cashier briefly, before accepting the bag and ushering you out of the store. The hot summer air hit your skin and you felt immediately filthy again. “God, is it always this humid? Feels like I’m walking through a room filled with Jell-O.”

“Pretty much,” Bradley said. Under the glow of the street lamp, you saw no sweat on his brow. Was he even human? “Just wait until November though. Winter is perfect.”

You groaned. “Will I make it to November? Will I make it to next week even?”

“I hope so.” There was something leading in his words. “Heard you’re staying out at the Wilkes plantation.”

Wilkes. That must be Phoenix’s family name. You nodded. “Yeah. Phoenix offered me a place. It’ll do.”

“She’s a nice girl.”

“Pretty much the only friend I have,” you admitted.

Bradley flashed his bright white smile. “Looking for another?”

You squinted. “What are you getting at, Bradshaw?”

“Go on a date with me, doc,” he said.

You grabbed the plastic bag from his hand. “Or else?”

He put his hands up. “Or else nothing. I’m not threatening you, Olive. I don’t badger witnesses. Just wanted to take the pretty new doctor out for dinner sometime.”

“That sounds nice,” you said. “But I’m a mess right now. I just got out of a big relationship and it’s complicated.” You looked up. “I know that sounds like a cop out, but it’s the truth.”

“Fair enough.” Bradley fiddled with his keys. “Well, goodnight then, Olive.”

You turned, headed back to your car. “Goodnight, Bradley.”

You unlocked the car, before his voice carried across the town square. “Hey, Olive?”

Turning, you spotted Bradley with both hands in his pockets. “Yeah?”

“Messes are kind of my specialty,” he said and you laughed. “Being a lawyer and all. Just thought you should know that.”

You shook your head. “You’re trouble, aren’t you?”

He grinned. “It’s called small town charm, Olive.”

You slipped into the front seat of the car and turned it on, audibly sighing as the air conditioning wafted over your sweaty skin. Up ahead, Bradley turned the corner, disappearing down a darkened street. You leaned back against the headrest and closed your eyes.

***

Where the fuck was Bob?

It had been three days of the flu and he hadn’t bothered to show up to work. Molly was no help either.

“Call him again,” you demanded.

She gave you a sour look. “If he didn’t pick up earlier, why would he pick up now?”

You huffed, strutting away in your Jimmy Choos.

Add buying new, Willow-friendly shoes to your to-do list. Right behind kill Dr. Bob Floyd.

Finally, one the last patient emptied out of the waiting room, you grabbed your purse and keys, over Molly’s cries of protest. Your rental car barreled down Bob’s suburban street, just off the main square, skidding to a loud stop in front of his house.

It was cute. That was the first thing you noticed. The second was that his car, an old Audi sedan, was in the driveway, which meant that he was home.

You sighed, stepping out and ringing the doorbell, foot tapping in your heels. No answer. You rang it again, impatiently, straining over the edge of the door to look through the small window at the top. Ringing it one more time, you started to knock when you heard the lock unclick, the door swinging open slowly.

Bob Floyd stood in the doorway wearing a hoodie and a pair of pajama pants, his face pale, glasses sitting perfectly on his tiny button nose, hair combed back neatly. “Dr. James,” he said gruffly.

You squinted. “Where have you been? I’ve been up to my ears in vomit and ear exams and dramamine and not a fucking peep about where you were or when you were coming back. Just a constant stream of sick people.”

“You’re a doctor, Olive,” he said and his voice was more than gruff, it was scratchy. “You should be used to sick people by now.”

“Are you?” Oh fuck. “Are you sick?”

He raised an eyebrow. “What gave you that idea?”

“Hoarse voice, pale pallor, heavy clothes in the summer heat.”

“It’s like you went to medical school or something.”

You folded your arms over your chest. “Well come on, let me examine you.”

As you started to step inside, the cool air beckoning you, Bob held out a hand, only inches from your chest. You looked down and he removed it. “No thank you.”

“But you’re sick,” you countered.

“I know that,” he replied. “Do you know how I know that? I went to medical school, just like you did. I am more than qualified to take care of myself, Dr. James.”

You frowned. “I’m just trying to help.”

“I am one patient who really does not need your help,” he said. “Now if you don’t mind, I was enjoying a rather nice nap.”

You took a step back, practically frozen. In New York, such bluntness would have been standard. Expected. But in Willow, Bob’s shun felt like a dig that would never stop hurting. “Are you sure?” you asked.

His blue eyes softened a miniscule amount. If you hadn’t been watching him so closely you wouldn’t have noticed. His bottom lip dropped an inch, as if he was about to say something. But then he decided against it, mouth turned back into a fine, tight line. “Yes.”

You nodded. “OK. Just call Molly when you think you’re ready to come back and I’ll handle the patients in the meantime.”

“That is why my father hired you,” Bob said.

“Yeah. It is.” You lingered. “I, um, I guess I’ll see you around.”

You climbed down the front stairs of Bob’s ivory house, stuffing yourself back into the driver’s seat.

Why was it that you could feel the heat of his gaze burning the back of your head as you drove away? And why did it, for just a second, feel like he was about to cave when you asked if he was sure?

You were going to crack him. Buy new shoes, order hair products online, and make Bob Floyd stop hating you.

Your to-do list just kept on growing.

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darsynia · 2 years ago

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Just Right | Ch 8 (complete)

(Steve Rogers x F!Reader, post-Ultron Multichapter)

Summary:

You’ve been in love with Steve Rogers for at least a year, but he treats you the same way he treats every other member of the team– with respect, but nothing more. It takes an inter-dimensional mistake and a whole second, more assertive, actually interested Steve for you to realize that you don’t want just any version of Steve Rogers– you want the one you’ve been pining for all this time.

Length: 4,546 (with epilogue)

FIC MASTERLIST | PREVIOUS CHAPTER

Tags: @ronearoundblindly @munstysmind @tiny-anne @themaradaniels @starryeyes2000 @chickensarentcheap @isasalom @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @deepbatched @qvnthesia @ekoannie-chan

Excerpt:

“You look great,” he says, holding out a hand. You blink at him for a second, speechless at how good he looks in his crisp blue button-down and ironed khakis. You have a sneaking suspicion he shined his shoes, and there are wet comb marks in his freshly-washed hair. “‘Dine?” he prompts.

“I wasn’t saying all of those complimentary things I’m thinking out loud, was I?” you tease. Steve shakes his head, amused, and you add, “You look handsome as heck, we’ll go with that.”

His sheepish smile is appreciative, but he nods down at his hand.

“Shoot, sorry--” you say, clapping your hand down on his. You’re expecting him to maybe guide you to the car, but after a second of surprise, Steve shifts his grip and bends down to kiss the back of your hand. “Oh god, I flubbed that,” you breathe, embarrassed.

Chapter Eight

“He finally asked you. Finally! And he spent more time on the periodic table gimmick than giving you a time and place?”

“Good morning, Nat.” You’re kind of proud of your cool, not at all extremely-excited-by-her-implications tone.

“And you!” Natasha gets up from your desk with the kind of feline grace you’ll never manage. “He says you’ve liked him for a while. Even getting that out of him was like pulling teeth.”

“It’s worse,” you smile. “I told him I love him.”

Nat just looks at you. “Okay, I was going to let you pick which out of the two of you needs the most slapping around, but it’s definitely him.” She shifts her tone to one that’s more cheerful. “Do you want me to suggest something fancy to Steve?”

You shake your head.

“Good.” Natasha starts for the door, stops, and turns around. “Sam and I are going to plan a send-off for Rogers. Tony’s idea. You two are invited, but…”

“It’s not about us. I get it,” you tell her, pleased. Steve had clearly talked to Tony, and for once, Tony had subsumed his ego enough to do the exact right thing. You’ve earned yourself a nod, and with that, Natasha’s out of the room. You do your best to get on with your job for the rest of the day, but there’s a constant hum of excitement about your date that permeates everything.

You’d gotten a brief message from Steve (Will you do me the honor of meeting me out front at 6:30 this evening? Natasha says to tell you ‘business casual, no suit.’ ~Steve), so you put on something elegant and flowy. It’s a lovely evening with a slight breeze, and you step outside at 6:28. As soon as you do, you hear a car start up in the parking lot. It pulls up three feet away, and Steve gets out and comes over.

“I wasn’t saying all of those complimentary things I’m thinking out loud, was I?” you tease. Steve shakes his head, amused, and you add, “You look handsome as heck, we’ll go with that.”

His sheepish smile is appreciative, but he nods down at his hand.

“Not at all,” he promises, letting go to jog to the car to open the door. “You didn’t expect me to do that, which made it more special.”

“In that spirit--” You arch up to kiss his cheek before you get in the car.

Once both of you are buckled in and he starts driving, Steve glances over at you briefly. “I hope you don’t mind, it’ll be a bit of a drive. When we go to the little town nearby, the staff get stressed out. Sometimes a patron will post on social media, and they get a bunch of customers who post bad reviews if we’re gone already, that kind of thing.”

“Oh wow, I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah, we like to do the takeout thing, so they don’t miss out on our business.” He shoots a look over. “Natasha says you should go out more.”

“You don’t go out either,” you point out. “I think I’ve only seen you dressed up for interviews or one of Tony’s fancy parties.”

“That’s part of the fun though, isn’t it? The longer you’re with someone, the longer you know them, the more you fill in all the different outfits.”

You love that viewpoint, but there’s a little bit of traffic as he shifts to an interstate, so you make an ‘attentive listening noise’ and let yourself just watch Steve as he handles the car. There’s a small splotch of red on his cheeks. You’d like to think it’s because he said ‘with someone’ before actually defining whether the two of you are 'with' each other.

The restaurant is perfect, a little Italian place with delicious food and high separators between the tables, so your candle-lit table feels private and cozy. You and Steve talk mostly about the movies he’s been watching, but when he sees you stiffen a little after he brings up a love declaration in one of them, his expression sobers.

“I wanted to tell you-- I know you said you were doing everything backwards, and I don’t want you to think that I’m ignoring what you said. It means the world to me,” Steve says, looking you straight in the eyes. There’s something powerful about how he says ‘means’ instead of ‘meant,’ like to him your words are active, vital. He isn’t leaving them in the past. “The thing is, I don’t think I--”

He breaks off and takes a big drink of his water glass, and you hold yourself as steady as possible without trying to look impatient in your anticipation. You remind yourself of the expression he’d worn on his face while carrying you back to your quarters. That adoring look happened before you’d said anything, and it was real. It was this Steve.

“How do you tell a woman that you love her before you even have a first date? I wanted to. I feel it, but I have to do this right.”

It’s like the truth of his heart is brushing past you in a crowded Regency ballroom, close but just separate enough for decency’s sake. You don’t think Steve Rogers has watched many period dramas, so explaining that would probably fall flat. You decide to go with something else.

“Well, this is just like the clothes thing, right? We fill in those feelings, those first times, as we go.”

His relief is endearing. “Yes. Yes.” Steve reaches out his hand and takes yours, squeezing it a little too tightly, which is just perfect, in your opinion.

On the drive back, you remember the thing you’d wanted to bring up at dinner. It’s dark out, and maybe that’s better than bringing up Gold Steve where he can see your expression across the table and make assumptions.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you if you could do me a favor? About Rogers.”

“What do you need?”

“I want to save his life, Steve. I want to have a hand in making that possible-- but I was thinking about what it might feel like for him if he figures out that armor is altered before the fall.” You’re getting emotional, but you tell yourself it’s a mission, that it’s too important to get sidetracked. With a harsh swallow against your suddenly sore throat, you go on. “If it doesn’t work, his last moments with a version of me will be deceptive. I can’t do that to him.”

You’re so caught up in trying to fight back the images of Gold Steve realizing you’d lied to him that you don’t realize that the car is stopped until Steve turns his whole upper body toward you, something he wouldn’t do while driving.

“Hey, c’mere,” Steve says, leaning over, wrapping you in his warm, sturdy arms for a hug. “I’ll do what you’re asking because it’s important to you, but I’d like to think I’d understand and forgive you, if it were me.”

You’re in tears, and they’re going to soak into his shirt. “It is you, Steve! He’s another you. I’m sending a you to maybe die, and I hate it, I hate it! I can’t even give him hope in case he decides not to wear the armor and for sure dies-- and I’m crying on you again! Do not let me mess up your shirt, Steve Rogers!”

“You’re really making it hard for me not to say it, sweetheart,” Steve says, pulling back to steal a kiss. You can tell that he’d meant it to be brief, but as soon as your lips touch, your hands grasp his shirt in delight, keeping him in place. Steve likes that, enough to deepen the kiss for a few seconds before he makes a little growling sound and drags himself away.

He shakes his hands out over the dash like he’s shedding excess energy (which you get, you really get, because you'll be energized until the end of time on ‘sweetheart’ alone), sets them on the steering wheel, and puts the car back into gear. As Steve pulls out of the empty parking lot he’d stopped in, he says, “You’re saying you don’t want to run point, yes? That knowing some of the plan is bad enough?”

“Yes, exactly. It’s just enough plausible deniability if I don’t know what exactly Tony changes-- Oh, but I shouldn’t even know abou--”

“‘Dine, you’re worrying too much,” Steve interrupts. “All we can do is our best. You’re doing your best, and it’s in service of saving his life. If he loves you, and I think he does, he’ll appreciate that.”

You sniffle defensively. “I’m counting that, you know.”

The light turns green, but Steve looks over at you and doesn’t start driving until you meet his eyes. “Good.”

He suggests you look in the glove compartment for tissues, and you find some. As you clean yourself up, Steve puts on some jazz, and you fall into a companionable silence for the rest of the drive. It wouldn’t help to bring it up, but you think Steve’s glad he’s found a way around his own prohibition on saying he loves you.

In a way, it’s kind of a lesson about your dilemma about Gold Steve, too. The more you think about it, the more proud you are-- Captain America is an icon, standing for truth, moral certitude, and strength, but he’s smart, too. That gets overlooked by the public at large, and you’re glad you’re privileged enough to know it.

It’s three more days before Tony’s finished with his dual project, which you find out about because he petulantly stomps in to grab breakfast on the morning of the third day, Pepper at his heels.

“I’m not allowed to celebrate being a complete overlooked genius because my stomach growls too loudly,” he grumbles, slamming down a gallon of milk beside a bowl and spoon. “I’m having Captain Crunch PEANUT BUTTER. See if you like how that tastes in bed later.”

“You’re more than welcome to celebrate alone,” Pepper says mildly.

You’re finished with your food, so you get up and excuse yourself as quickly as possible, catching Steve’s eye as you slip through the door. He nods; you’re on the same wavelength.

According to FRIDAY, Gold Steve is in the Bumble, and he has been for eighteen hours. You know there’s a bathroom in there, and a fridge with energy-replenishing foods, but you can’t help but think he’s hiding from you in particular.

With that in mind, you’re actually surprised when the door opens to let you in-- but then you remember FRIDAY’s ‘interpersonal protocol.’ You slip off your shoes to cover the sound of your footfalls, and on a hunch, you go looking for the side room with the punching bags. Sure enough, Gold Steve is sitting up against the wall reading a book, his legs stretched out in front of him on a bedroll.

Impulsively, you dash into the room, positioning yourself so you’re standing over his legs. Gold Steve is startled, and it’s awkward and uncomfortable, but he can’t get up without pushing you out of the way. That means he’s going to have to listen to you.

“‘Dine,” he starts, but you interrupt him.

“Why the hell are you hiding in here? What are you living on, protein bars? It’s been days!”

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t think I’ve gotten to spend this much time to myself since the serum. It’s been a gift.”

“You shouldn’t have to contemplate your death during that time,” you shoot back, but your anger has lost its bite.

“I don’t know. It would be a shame to waste that privilege. Not many people have that,” he says-- and you can see it. Gold Steve has gone through the stages of grief, all of them, and you’re stuck on anger.

Instead of just collapsing onto your knees and screaming, you cast your mind around for something, anything to explain to him that his loss means something. You come up with something, but it’ll probably hurt him, which is the last thing you want to do.

The anger takes over anyway.

“Maybe I could go to your universe?” you say, the words tumbling out in a rush. “Your Tony could send me back early, so one of me can go with you. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if you didn’t have to do it alone? You don’t deserve to do it alone!”

Gold Steve scrambles to his feet, frantic horror in his eyes.

“Promise me. Promise me you will not do that.” He looks down at both of his hands, as if lamenting that he only has his strength to fight with. “Dine-- if I let you do that, I wouldn’t deserve to love you.”

It’s so close to the words your Steve said to you that you feel all the fury drain away, and with it, your ability to stand. You end up in a heap on his bedroll, and Steve kneels beside you, hands held near but apart. It’s not his place to comfort you, and both of you know it.

It’s only his place to hurt you, no matter how much he wishes differently.

“There’s a thing for you tonight.”

“I know.”

“I can stay away. I can--”

“Please don’t.”

You reach out and squeeze his hand, crossing the boundary the two of you have set. He doesn’t turn his hand to take yours, but his thumb swipes a brief caress before he holds still.

“I don’t want you to remember me like this,” you whimper, swiping at your face with your other sleeve. “I think you’re the best man to ever live. You need to know that.” Your one comfort is that if your plan succeeds, his Brigandine will absolutely know that. God, you hope it works. “That’s why I’m not trying to make you stay. I couldn’t do that to you. But please, Steve. Please understand that if there was any way this situation could be different--”

Gold Steve’s voice is gentle, kind, and sad, but he doesn’t pull away, and neither do you. “I understand.”

You dress to stun for the party, but you’re planning to show up late, drink a toast to Gold Steve, give him a kiss on the cheek, and get the hell out of there. He deserves a last glimpse of you glowing, happy, smiling, and twenty minutes is just about all you have in you.

Right when you arrive, you see that Gold Steve is standing in front of a table covered in small gifts and one of those ridiculous backpacks they make for school kids, the kind that is basically just one big sequin-covered Captain America shield with shoulder straps.

As you walk over, Tony gives Gold Steve a wrapped gift. “This is my last attempt to bribe you into telling me more about this calamity you’re trying to fix,” he jokes.

“What would your father say about you trying to change history, Tony?” Gold Steve teases as he opens the package.

You can’t hear what the response is, because inside the wrapping is the alcohol Tony had planned to buy with the $50 from the name bet you lost.

You have to walk over to the window to collect yourself, or you’re going to be all runny mascara and smudged lipstick, and Gold Steve deserves better than that as a ‘last look.’ It’s already been agreed that he’ll leave first thing in the morning, with only Steve, Sam, and Tony in attendance. You’ve just about mastered your emotions when you hear Tony calling out your name.

“I wrapped up your thing, come hand it over!”

You paste on as genuine a smile as you can and turn around. Tony’s halfway to you, and he’s holding out a package, mouthing the word ‘armor.’ You want to yell at him-- it wasn’t supposed to be you that gives it to Gold Steve, but Tony has neatly maneuvered you into getting the credit. Any reticence on your part is going to give away the game.

“Tony’s the one who fixed it,” you say reluctantly, when you get over to the table. Gold Steve’s appreciative reaction to your outfit is good for your ego, at least.

“I don’t think this is going to fit with everything else in here,” he jokes, holding the package up against the backpack.

“You’re supposed to wear it,” Steve says, coming over to stand behind you. He’s just a little closer than maybe he ought to be, and it’s exactly right-- both a claim and a pillar of support.

“Oh!” Gold Steve holds the armor up when he gets the package open, and that’s when you realize that Tony and Steve had set you up, in a way only two people who genuinely care about you could manage.

The armor looks completely unaltered. You won’t spend months tossing and turning in your sleep worrying about Gold Steve learning about your deception, agonizing over him figuring out your Hail Mary pass.

“You didn’t have to do this,” he says to you, holding the mass of engineering and fabric up to his chest.

“Yes I did,” you tell him.

You don’t sleep that night. You also don’t go anywhere; you and Steve had persuaded Gold Steve to sleep in his quarters instead of on the bedroll, and your concession to that is to stay in your room.

There’s a small part of you that wonders if Gold Steve couldn’t bear to picture you and Steve having any kind of romantic moment on his last night on a planet that has a ‘you’ on it. That’s… fair, honestly.

You skip breakfast so you can get to your desk early, and your one concession to what’s happening in Tony’s lab right now is to ask FRIDAY to hide all of the clocks, even the ones on your computer. The last time Steve and Gold Steve were out on a mission, you’d been deep in Howard Stark’s notes, so you open up the main file, scanning through to see if there’s something you haven’t read yet. There isn’t, of course, but it doesn’t hurt to--

Your breath catches.

There’s a new file, but you’re so surprised to see it that you scroll past, and then when you move back up, you aren’t sure where to look. You’re sure you saw it, though, because the date notation had been so different from the others in there that…

“FRIDAY, can you sort these by date?”

As soon as the files shuffle up, you scroll all the way down, and there it is. The ‘last edited’ date on the file is from the night before.

With your heart in your throat and suspicion replacing some of your blood volume, you open the file. It’s written like a diary entry, talking about a time when Howard ran into a strange scientist at the research installation installed in Camp Lehigh. The narrative is unexpectedly exciting; two strange men had been seen, and Stark speaks about some missing materials at Dr. Pym’s lab that seemed to miraculously reappear later in the day.

It’s ‘miraculously reappear’ that has you scrolling to the bottom of the entry to see an additional note.

It’s signed by ‘Gold Steve.’

You shiver, staring at the words, at the apology right before his signature.

I would never be able to forgive myself, nor could I die with a clear conscience, if I didn’t tell you how to prevent the same disaster from happening here.

“FRIDAY what time is it?” you gasp out.

“It is 8:15 AM.”

You throw yourself out of your chair and sprint to the door. Never in your life have you ever run this fast, and FRIDAY is right there with you, opening the elevator doors so you don’t even have to slow down.

The doors open into Stark’s lab, and you skid out, causing the ring of men facing a glowing blue column to turn toward you in surprise. Behind them is the fading image of Gold Steve, and all you can do is mouth the words ‘thank you’ and blow him a kiss as he dematerializes.

“Okay, not to fuck up a phenomenal last-minute goodbye, but if you were hoping to hop in there with him, I’m going to have to design some sort of detention anklet for you,” Tony says sternly.

“He told us how to avoid it! The thing that killed everyone. He left it in your father’s diary. In the notes,” you say between desperate gulps of air. Steve’s already there, pulling you close, stroking your back, kissing your hair. You know exactly what he’s doing, because you’ve felt a Steve Rogers kiss you like that before. The thought makes you cling to him more tightly.

“Son of a bitch,” Tony says admiringly. “That’s what he meant, last night!”

“Hey now!” Steve objects loudly, as Sam doubles over in laughter.

The End

Epilogue

It’s probably the hottest day of the summer, but for once, it’s not storming. You secretly wonder if Tony’s got some kind of weather-altering machine that he’s employed to make this party of his a success. You’re wearing a black polka-dot vintage swimsuit under your electric blue sundress, and you’re very much hoping your loving boyfriend Steve Rogers will appreciate the embroidered Captain America shields you had sewn onto your shoulder straps. You’d be standing with him, but he’s over near the grill in the sun, and you love him, but maybe not that much.

The drinks are already flowing under the tent Tony’s had erected poolside, but as you grab an ice cube to press to your pulse points, you see a new car drive up and park in the private lot Tony has rented for the occasion. As far as you know, everyone’s already here, so--

As soon as the sole occupant starts walking toward your pavilion with a puppy on a leash, Tony’s already tipsy and in rare form. “Carl, please don’t tell me that is your new baby! I think I would have remembered if your wife was a dog.”

There’s a murmur of shocked, amused voices, but when Carl walks up, he’s grinning. “New baby is at home and doing just fine. I’m just a delivery boy today.” He leans down and picks up the puppy, who you now see is wearing an adorable miniature backpack that looks a lot like the one Sam and Nat had bought for Gold Steve’s keepsakes. “This little guy appeared in our house a day ago.”

You rush over right as Carl calls out your name. “I think this is for you?” he says, and pushes the puppy into your arms. It immediately starts squirming and licking your face, so much so that you can’t get ahold of the backpack.

“There’s a note pinned--” someone says, but Steve’s already there. He gently tugs the backpack off and holds it up to show you.

For ‘Stine’

“Is that a ‘ship’ name? Pepper, come look!” Tony crows. In a quieter voice, he says, “She’ll never forgive me for letting slip the word ‘Pepperony’ in an interview. I was, of course, so hurt that she had to make it up to me. Repeatedly. Pepper?”

Tony runs off to find his girlfriend, and you and Steve look at each other, deeply shaken.

“You read that, and I’ll take the puppy, okay?” Natasha says, not waiting for a response as she scoops the dog from your nerveless fingers.

Inside the backpack is a folded note, and the two of you crowd together to read it.

Dear Steve and Dine,

Obviously I can’t tell you everything that happened, but I couldn’t let you wonder, not after I realized what you’d done.

First of all: You saved my life. Thank you. I imagine it was hard to keep the armor’s secret from me, but I have an idea of why you did it, and I don’t think I would have done anything differently, if I’d been in your position.

Second of all: I suspect that Dine won’t be able to rest until she knows what happened, so I’ll tell you this much: Steve and I both went to the planet. We decided that the most fair thing to do would be to fight each other. We figured one of us would end up falling and the other would go home, but that’s not what happened. We both fell. I woke up with the stone.

Steve, I understand now that I was asking you to bear this terrible weight of survival, when I told you what I was planning. I only hope that you can come up with a way to prevent this before it happens, so you don’t have to feel like this. My only consolation is that I had every intention of dying, if need be, and I will use the life I’ve been given to make the world a better place for everyone we’ve brought back.

I can’t tell you much else, because everything’s just happened, and I have some wooing to do, thanks to you two and Tony.

Love,

‘Gold’ Steve

Ps. ‘my’ Tony would like you to know that I rejected his, and I quote, ‘perfectly good nickname: ‘Brigandogers’’ or ‘Dodger’ for short.

Sounds like a great name for a dog, no?

“It worked,” Steve breathes. You nod, feeling numb. “Dine?”

“I didn’t-- I could have sent two armors. We could have waited and made--”

“Hey, no. Stop that. You can only do what you can do. You couldn’t have known.” He cups your face with his hands and forces you to look at him. “He’s trusting you, and so am I. He didn’t have to tell us. It’s the truth, sweetheart. The unvarnished truth. Sometimes the truth hurts.”

You rest both hands on his wrists and nod, fighting back your tears. “I love you. That’s the truth.”

“I love you too,” Steve says. You’ve lost count of how many times he's said it by now, but that’s the point. You two have moved on to filling in other things, other firsts, and thanks to Gold Steve, you have more time to do that. Thanks to Gold Steve, one of your ‘firsts’ might be defeating the villain that brought him to your universe in the first place.

“Tony says this puppy came from another universe?” Sam says, coming over with the enthusiastic little dog in his arms. “You gonna call it Goldie?”

“Dodger,” Steve says confidently beside you.

#avengersbingo #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x f!reader #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers fic #captain america x f!reader #captain america x reader #captain america #steve rogers #mcu #mcu fanfiction #marvel #steve rogers imagine #steve rogers x you #captain america x you #romance #pining

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jellyfishxxi · 1 year ago

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Spidergirl - Far From Home CH 1

Miguel O'Hara x Child!Spider!Reader

Summary: An anomaly got into Earth 199999. You and Miguel go to fix it. However neither of you are expecting to get stuck there....

My name is ______ _____.

🕷️-------🕷️

Alright, let's do this one last time. I promise.

I was bitten by a radioactive spider, and for the last 3 years, I've been the one and only,

Spidergirl.

I think you know the rest.

Saved my city, saved my school (not that I wanted to.), Lost my dad, and saved the city some more.

Then this weird version of Doc Oc shows up, and this cool spider-lady with a motorcycle and this really buff spider-man show up and invite me to join this society.

Tldr: I have a new dad now.

And I'm not the only one.

🕷️---------------🕷️

It should have been business as usual. An anomaly got into another dimension, spiders get dispatched to retrieve it, business as usual, right?

Yeah, that's what I thought too.

Earth - 199999

New York City

"Kid, you know this guy?" Tony asked Peter, as they fought a version of The Green Goblin, who looked more like he belonged in ancient Greece than 2014.

"No, Mr. Stark!" Peter replied, launching the ancient greek goblin into a nearby wall. "He looks like Green Goblin, but not the one I've fought, which technically doesn't make any sense cause-"

"We get it." Clint chimed in, trying to pin the greek goblin into the wall with his arrows, only for the greek goblin to rip them out and resume attacking, flinging Peter into a wall.

Every Avenger was fighting the variant of Green Goblin, from Tony in his Iron Man suit to Hulk as... Well, himself. The Green Goblin glitched out, stopping fighting for a moment.

"What the hell..." Natasha spoke, looking at the goblin in suspicion and confusion. "J.A.R.V.I.S, gimme the rundown." Tony said, looking at the glitching goblin.

"It appears this Green Goblin is not from this universe."

J.A.R.V.I.S spoke in Tony's suit. "This thing knows how to traverse dimensions?" Tony spoke, Bewildered. Nobody else was able to get a word in before the Goblin stopped glitching. He grabbed Peter by his webs and stuck him to a building, slamming Thor and Hulk with his tail and flicking Tony, Steve, Natasha and Clint like they were nothing but bugs.

That's when the portal opened up.

The glowing, hexagonal portal appeared in the sky, surprising every Avenger. "What is that??" Thor both exclaimed and asked.

Two strands of flaming webs shot out of the portal, latching onto Green Goblin's arms. Goblin grabbed the webs and yanked them hard, only to be kicked in the face by... A kid who really couldn't be any older than 13.

As the goblin landed with a thud against the concrete, you dropped down, breathing heavily as you dusted off your costume. "Who-" Tony started to say, before another person came through the portal. He was clearly much older, and landed next to you.

"Did you see it Miguel? I was all tough and I kicked his stupid face!" You exclaimed, jumping excitedly. Miguel didn't react outwardly, but on behind his mask he was looking at you like a proud father.

"Focus, ______. Take care of the anomaly before celebrating." Miguel said to you, causing you to nod. "Right! Right." You said, focusing.

"I'll take the left arm if you take the right." Miguel spoke. You nodded, shooting towards Green Goblin's right arm and webbing it to the concrete, Miguel doing the same for the left. The two of you continued to web up Green Goblin, before finally he was completely tied up.

"Getting this guy back is gonna be a nightmare." You commented. Miguel hummed in agreement, going to open another portal back to the Spider Society HQ. But nothing happened.

"Qué..." Miguel said in confusion. "What? Open the portal already." You said, getting frustrated. You had a test tomorrow. Staying overnight in an alternate dimension was not in your plans.

"I'm trying, niña, it's not working. You do it." Miguel sounded just as frustrated as you. You tried opening a portal with your 'gizmo', but nothing happened. "It's not working for me either!" You shouted.

You looked at Miguel with a slightly scared expression. "Miguel, are we stuck here.?" You asked. Miguel sighed. "We're not stuck." He said. "LYLA, reboot the system." He spoke to the holographic AI as she popped up.

"What?" She said, teasingly. "Reboot the system." Miguel repeated. "Couldn't catch that." She said. Miguel groaned. "Reboot. The system." He repeated again, angrier.

"Ooh. Yeah, on it." She said, much to Miguel's chagrin. She appeared moments later. "Uh, something's up with the portal generation system. In fact, you and ______ can't actually do anything with your Gizmo's but make calls and check the time." LYLA spoke.

Both you and Miguel looked at her. "But... We're not gonna glitch, right?" You asked. "No, the protection against that's still running. But until they get fixed, you're stuck in Earth-199999." Miguel groaned, rolling his eyes. You looked nervous.

"Stuck? In an alternate dimension?!" You exclaimed. "I can't be stuck here, I have a test tomorrow! And if I'm not back by morning my guardians will kill me!" You began to freak out.

"Breathe, niña." Miguel spoke, kneeling down and placing a hand on your shoulder. "We'll get home."

Your moment was interrupted.

"Uh, excuse me?" Tony asked, suddenly standing in front of the two of you. That's right, there's other people here. You thought to yourself. "Who the hell are you two?"

You looked at Miguel. Miguel looked at you.

"I'm Spiderman." Miguel said.

"I'm Spidergirl." You said.

Peter pried himself off of the building, looking at you and Miguel in shock.

"More Spider-people?"

🕷️--------🕷️

TO BE CONTINUED

#miguel o'hara #miguel o hara x reader #astv #spiderman atsv #earth 199999 #mcu marvel #avengers #father figure miguel #before civil war

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skyler10fic · 2 months ago

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Lightning Strikes Twice: Ch. 13

Summary: Time to gear up and put the new plan in motion as Saber launches its first mission, but Skye running into Pierce and Yon-Rogg wasn't what they anticipated!

Notes: Next to last chapter, so it's a longer one!

Read on Ao3

---------------------

Using Carol’s recovered escape pod, the Shield scientists had secretly been working on the final missing pieces to develop Saber, the space division of Shield. Technically, Saber was more akin to NASA, focused on research, rather than military aims. Its older sister, Sword, had been requisitioned by the Special Forces of the U.S. military and joint operations with other Shield-affiliated nations. While Sword sent armed satellites up to monitor and protect the earth from extraterrestrial and foreign aerospace threats, funded by Pentagon dollars and international equivalent budgets, Saber stayed a dream within Shield until now.

“Ironic,” Carol quipped, hearing this explanation. “It’s supposed to be for research instead of action, and its first mission is tactical?”

“Convenient,” Natasha corrected. “We need space tech we have complete control over. Pierce is heavily involved with Sword.”

“Of course he is.” Melinda rolled her eyes at how predictable the man could be. “Skye—”

“Already on it.” Skye opened her laptop and set it on her crisscrossed legs. As she worked on preparing distractions to divert the attention of the Sword satellites, the Marias took turns explaining the spaceship to Carol, Melinda, Natasha, and Phil.

Jemma and Fitz arrived again, with first aid and survival kits in case anything went wrong and they couldn’t get home for a few days. Skye looked up at the couple’s earnest, cheery faces as they held the bags out like they were delivering the day’s lunch order.

“Wait, sorry, is that typical with space travel?” Skye eyed the bags skeptically. “We might just be stuck out there?”

Jemma sighed and set her bag down at Skye’s side. “The ship is untested. Maiden voyage, remember? But historically in the industry, yes, it’s something to be aware of and prepared for. Like so.” Jemma gestured to the bag again, expecting a little more gratitude than the anxiety she was met with.

“Thank you,” Melinda said genuinely. “Preparation is what we’re here for. We don’t know what we’ll be dealing with out there.”

They ended the hour with a revised plan: Carol and Natasha would play along with Yon-Rogg and Pierce. Maria Rambeau, Melinda, and Skye would follow, flying the Saber spaceship to the Kree base to take out as many guards as they could to clear the way for Carol and Natasha to sneak away and rejoin them on the Saber ship before anyone noticed.

“In a perfect world, at least.” Maria Hill shrugged. “In reality, we know you’re going to need Kree-level icers, and Fitz has helped us add cloaking to the ship that will work in space.”

Fitz let out an “ah!” as if that was his cue. He opened a case on the conference room table and distributed the upgraded handguns to Maria Rambeau, Melinda, Natasha, and Skye.

“Given what we know about Kree skin, normal bullets are useless, as are our current icers. These work the same as standard issue but the toxins are powerful enough to be absorbed into Kree bodies. That said, if you accidentally hit a human, they will be out for days, not hours. So be careful with these.”

Skye opened her mouth, but before she could protest that she didn’t need one, Melinda chimed in. “Yes. Because from what Carol’s said about the inhumans there, it’s safer if the Kree think you’re just a normal human. No powers unless you have to.”

“Good point.” Skye accepted the gun and returned to her laptop. She already had a job besides enhanced agent. She was the only one who could make this plan work so they could even get out of the Earth’s atmosphere undetected.

Carol knew Skye and Melinda could grate on each other’s nerves, but it made her heart twinge to see a mother-daughter pair so close that they knew exactly what the other would say. They were so similar, from little mannerisms to their stubbornness and courage. Inherent in their banter was the unspoken understanding that Melinda was Skye’s idol, and Skye was Melinda’s pride and joy.

“Carol.” Maria Hill brought her back from her thoughts about the family she loved already and the family bonds she’d never had. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

“More than, ma’am.” Carol raised her chin in confidence. “I’ve escaped from that base before. And this time, it’s even planned in advance.”

She winked at Skye’s nervous expression to reassure her.

“I’ll be there the whole time,” Natasha promised, seeing through Carol’s bravado as few could. “I’ll have to play my part until I get the signal from Rambeau though, so sorry in advance.”

Maria Rambeau chuckled, “We’ll make it as quick as possible, I promise.”

Melinda nodded. “In and out, just to damage as much of their systems as we can and keep them from coming back.”

All eyes turned to Skye who smiled devilishly from behind her laptop. “I’ve got a virus made especially for their nav systems, built using the code from the pod. They won’t even know how to get back here if they wanted to.”

Fitz tossed her a USB drive with a dongle adapter made especially for the ports on the pod, which Carol said were their universal connectors and would work anywhere in the Kree systems. Hardware wasn’t the problem; access to the system once it was plugged in was a complication only a coding magician like Skye could handle.

Natasha noticed the hour was up and stood. “We need to get back to the training center, and then Carol and I will take the elevator up to Pierce’s office. Phil, comms?”

Everyone gathered by the door for Phil to hand out the clear micro communicators that would fit so invisibly and deeply in their ears that no one would notice. “I’ll be with Hill, quarterbacking from our hidden command center. I want regular updates when you can, and I’ll be monitoring the ship the entire time.”

He paused at Skye and Melinda. “You’ve got this.”

Skye put in her comms and hugged him tight while Melinda put hers in. Melinda and Phil kissed, and Carol considered whether she could sneak in a goodbye kiss to Skye. It was too late though; her opportunity was lost as Natasha rushed her out the door. Carol looked back at Skye one final time, and Skye sent her a tentative go-get-em smile meant to reassure her.

Hurrying along the hallways of Shield with Natasha, Carol reminded herself to trust their team. With any luck, they’d be reunited in no time.

—-------------------

Skye held it together until she got to the roof, metal stairs trembling under her. She let the door slam shut behind her and shouted into the cloudy sky. She balled up her fear in tense fists and yelled again as she released the pressure with arms outstretched. To anyone watching, it might have looked like her voice had the power to split the clouds, but it was the power channeled through her hands. Just like Dr. Garner had taught her when the storm inside her grew too strong. She came up here where she couldn’t hurt anyone or anything. She could even jump from and land on the helipad without destroying the roof. But it had the obvious advantage of being out of sight as well. Here, she could let it out without scaring anyone, literally parting the grey hanging over her to see the light again. She panted in exertion and gathered herself. A plastic bag floated over the roof and Skye used the remainder of her fear and anger at the situation to blast it into oblivion.

A slow clap startled her, and she turned to see a ship being decloaked.

She outstretched a hand in warning and demanded, “Who are you?”

But she knew as soon as she asked.

The man smirked. “You can call me master or sir. After all, you’re the inhuman girl lost all those years ago, aren’t you? Well, Daisy Johnson, all grown up. I’m here to take you home.”

“I’m not who you think,” she lied. Before she could even fire a warning quake in his direction, he raised his fist in her direction and a painful jolt shot through her. Inhibitor wires surrounded her with a power so strong, she struggled to remain alert.

As she slumped to the ground, Pierce emerged on the rooftop with Natasha and Carol.

“No!” Carol shouted. “You’ve got me. Don’t hurt her.”

Pierce ran to Skye with a concern that surprised Natasha and Carol, though they could only exchange worried glances. He ensured she was alive and pulled her to her feet, but Skye could still barely think or keep her eyes open through the pain.

“You FOOL!” Pierce scolded and grabbed Yon-Rogg by the neck, shoving him against the Kree ship. “That’s the daughter of some very powerful people around here, and the prodigy of the director himself!”

Yon-Rogg remained unbothered despite being trapped in Pierce’s grasp. He patted Pierce’s arm patronizingly. “There, there, brother. I was only recovering our stolen property. Are you to tell me that you knew the inhuman girl was here and you weren’t planning on bringing her along? Or did she escape your notice right under your nose this whole time? The Supreme Intelligence will want to know.”

Pierce grunted but relented and let Yon-Rogg go. He adjusted his tie and commanded, “In.”

“C’mon!” Natasha said harshly, playing her role. She pushed Carol forward and then grabbed Skye by the shoulders to shove her up the ramp to the ship.

Yon-Rogg took over Skye-steering duties and threw her into a cage in the cargo section at the back. He commanded to Natasha as he passed back toward the cockpit, “Stay here and watch her.”

Carol tried to stay too, but Yon-Rogg grabbed her by the bicep and pulled her to the front. When he turned to face her, she wanted to spit with anger. Right on his smug, cocky, fucking—

“You know, I never understood why you asked so many questions,” he said, a tone of empathy now coating his sneer. “Poor girl, needed to get a taste of the Terran base desires, is that it? Sample a little of the hometown fare, hm?”

Carol stole a glance toward the back of the ship to check on Skye, but he grabbed Carol’s chin and held her attention on him. “You could have been so much more. And you will be. I haven’t given up on you, Captain. And I’m sorry.”

He dropped his hold on her as they took off, hovering off the roof of the Shield building. They sat down on opposing jump seats and strapped in, trapped in this together now.

“Sorry? For what? Stealing me from my home, my family? Kidnapping me again now!? Raising me to think I was doing noble heroic things, but all the time you were filling my head with LIES!” Carol lashed out as the ship launched, jerking them against the multipoint seatbelts.

Yon-Rogg laughed, “Carol, be serious, this Shield has been the one lying to you. Your true home is with us. Who taught you to use your powers, to reach your potential far beyond these humble origins? Who was there for you every day and night, teaching you to fight with honor?”

Carol shook her head and gritted her teeth. “You know nothing about honor.”

Their silent stares, waiting for the other to break, ended in a stalemate as Pierce summoned Yon-Rogg to the cockpit. He patted her on the head as he passed, and she tried to trip him with her boot. He then turned on a dime and shot her with the same inhibitor wires he’d wrapped Skye in. He sighed. “I didn’t want to have to do this, but you’ve made it necessary.”

He opened a pouch at his side to retrieve handcuffs. He clicked them on Carol’s now-immobile wrists and flicked a switch. “There. You could have come back and pled your case by my side. You were young, naive, bewitched by that which you did not know. You could have repented and begged for mercy. But I see you’ve made your choice.”

He retracted the wires with the press of a button on his gauntlets. She didn’t need them anymore. The handcuffs were enough to rob her of her powers and even some of her natural strength. Satisfied, Yon-Rogg joined Pierce in the cockpit, leaving the women alone in the back. Carol scrambled to check on Skye, who was still slipping in and our of consciousness on the floor of the cage.

They reached the hyperspace jump point, and the high-pitched noise from the ship was enough to mask their voices.

“Romanov!” Maria Hill called through the comms. “What the hell happened up there?”

“We have Skye,” Natasha said. “She’s in some sort of net that is keeping her sedated. That’s the best way I have to describe it.”

“Inhibitor,” Carol mumbled, settling into a jumpseat across from Natasha. “Turns off our powers, but it drains our energy too.”

Skye stirred but whimpered when she moved.

“It’s hurting her,” Natasha said. “But I don’t have a way to turn it off and they locked her up where I can’t remove it.”

“It’s like,” Carol slurred, “tiny pricks of pins? Needles, not too bad, but no fun.”

Natasha softened her gaze at Carol. “Why don’t you get some sleep? I’ll keep watch.”

“Mmmkay.” Carol nodded. Without the wires on her, the only thing she had to fight was the inhibiting power of the handcuffs, so a nap would help her regain her strength. She was going to need it if they were walking into a battle with an entire base of Kree warriors.

—----------

Skye startled awake in a cold, sterile white prison cell. Outside the window, she saw only stars in every direction.

“Good morning, princess,” a smooth voice greeted her in amusement. It belonged to her cellmate, a ruggedly handsome blond with scruffy facial hair and captivating, kind eyes, the type that made Skye want to trust him.

“Where are we?” Skye rasped out. She looked out the window again, but no planets provided a point of orientation.

“Thought that’d be obvious,” the young man chuckled. “Prison. I’m Dr. Lincoln Campbell, by the way. But you can call me Lincoln.”

Skye stuck out a hand, unsure if handshakes were something they did here. He looked at it carefully but didn’t reciprocate. “I’m Skye. I was kidnapped by a guy named Alexander Pierce. Know him?”

Lincoln furrowed his brow and sat on his bed, attached to the plain white wall. “That doesn’t sound like a Kree name. And he’s not inhuman, or any of the other species I’ve seen around here.”

Skye sighed. “Right. Yon-Rogg was the other guy?”

Lincoln was intrigued now. “Yeah, Starforce commander. Wait, how did you know him?”

Skye decided he was trustworthy enough, and besides, she didn’t have anything to lose at this point. “I don’t. He came to my planet and tried to take my girlfriend. When he saw me too, he decided two for the price of one.”

Lincoln put the pieces together. “But you’re in here and she isn’t. You’re in here… in the inhuman holding area for rehabilitation. You’re inhuman.”

Skye hesitated but nodded. “I’d prove it to you, but they seem to have drained my powers on the flight in.”

Lincoln pointed up to the metal plates next to the lights. “These work as broad inhibitors. Without our powers or energy, we can’t make trouble. So, really, what’d you do? Destroy something with your powers in public? Pick a fight with a Starforce guard? Had to be something big for this level of detainment.”

Skye paced the cell, looking for weak points or exposed electronics she could exploit to her advantage. “Not really anything I did so much as who I am.”

“Because of your girlfriend, who is still being questioned?” Lincoln guessed.

“Her name’s Carol, and no. Well, sort of. I got caught because they were looking to bring her back here.”

Lincoln stood and approached, forcing Skye to stop pacing. The hope in his eyes surprised her. “Carol Danvers?”

“Yeah, how? She said she didn’t know many inhumans.”

Lincoln smiled. “She made it home to C-53, then? She’s why I’m in here, you know.”

“Wait, you’re the inhuman doctor that helped her? Dr. Campbell?”

Lincoln winked and laid down on the bed, tossing up a ball of wrapped bandage fabric like a human man might play idly with a baseball. “And now I’m the inhuman prison doctor. No good deed goes unpunished here.”

Skye wanted to say thank you, to express how much his help had changed her life and saved Carol’s, but the words died in her throat. He was in prison—no, “inhuman holding and rehabilitation,” which sounded like a fancy word for torture. And now, at least from his perspective and potentially truly if things didn’t go according to plan, his sacrifice was for nothing. Carol was facing judgment somewhere else on this ship.

A ringing and then static filled Skye’s ear. “Ow!”

“Skye,” Melinda came in over the comm, “can you hear me?”

“Mom? I hear you,” Skye said. Lincoln caught his bandage ball and glanced over at her. She pointed to her ear.

“You’re alive. Are you okay?” Melinda exhaled in relief, possibly the first deep breath she’d taken in hours.

“Yeah, I’m in inhuman prison, which isn’t great, but my cellmate is the doctor who helped Carol escape.”

Lincoln pressed a finger to his lips in the universal sign for shhh.

Melinda asked what floor of the space base, or any identifying markers that would help them find her, but a guard walked by so Skye couldn’t answer.

The guard pressed a button at the end of the hall that beeped. “Reporting floor 47 clear. Requesting access to door 32.”

When the door shut automatically behind the guard, Skye repeated these numbers to the team listening on comms.

“Let’s hope that’s a sign luck’s with us tonight,” Maria Rambeau quipped. “Wait, without Skye to do her coding thing to make the docking bay doors open, how are we going to get in?”

There was some background noise as they consulted with those in the common center back on Earth, and then Melinda, with a smile in her voice, repeated, “Sniper style. I can handle that.”

“Please be careful!” Skye begged. The transmission cut out, and Skye met Lincoln’s waiting gaze.

Skye shrugged. “Okay so the whole thing wasn’t an accident. Me getting caught was defiinitely not in the plan and is going to make this harder. But if you can help me get out of here, I can get you and as many inhumans as we can to safety on Earth, uh, I mean C-53. I’m an agent with an organization called Shield. Keeping people safe from alien threats is our main thing.”

Lincoln raised an eyebrow. “Alien threats? Like you and me? Do they know what you are?”

“Yeah,” Skye defended. “And the people who don’t, it’s more because I’m beyond their clearance level. We have a whole team of people like us, the enhanced division.”

Lincoln laid back on the bed and began tossing his stupid ball again. “And if you weren’t using your powers for your job, but just because you wanted to, would people in public freak out about that?”

Skye approached his bed and caught the ball. “Hey! I’m offering to get you out of this place. From what I’ve heard, it’s not great for people like us here either. Maybe we can’t go around with alien pride flags or something, but you’d be free to make your own choices, not anyone’s weapon or toy or clown or whatever.”

Lincoln sighed and sat up. “You’re right. Sorry. I’ve just heard stories. Inhumans like you from colonies who get sold or traded or win a fight and then end up back here with a reality check for the rest of us. Here, at least no one’s surprised when I use my hands to restart someone’s heart.”

“Electrical powers,” Skye recalled. “You can turn off the lights.”

“Yeah, I was really hoping the saving lives part of that sentence would be the impressive one.”

Skye considered him for a minute. “You haven’t asked what mine are.”

“It’s considered rude, in our culture.”

“Oh.” She tossed back his ball. “Well, I can use the vibrations that objects give off to manipulate them.”

“Huh.” Lincoln turned the ball in his hands. “Every inhuman power fills a void, where there’s a need in our kind. Of course, I’m guessing the inhuman population on C-53 is still pretty small. From what I know, there’s only a hundred or so families who have ever made it there.”

Skye blinked at him. “There are other inhumans on Earth? I’m not the only one?”

He watched Skye carefully. “Yeah… Did your parents tell you much about us when you went through terrigenesis?”

The secure door at the end of the hallway beeped again and the guard appeared. The cell across from them opened, and a muscular young man was pushed in. On Earth, he would have been assumed to play football, but here, Skye guessed his powers had something to do with feats of strength unthinkable for the average human man.

“Joey!” Lincoln called out when the automatic door had shut again, leaving them alone. “You alright, man?”

“Hey, yeah, they just needed me for some metal bending upstairs. On purpose this time, and no one got hurt.” His laugh was self-deprecating and sheepish, and Skye assumed that’s what he was in prison for. “Who’s this?”

“Hi,” Skye stepped up to the cell door. “I’m Skye. New arrival from C-53. Terran, or well, inhuman, but raised just as a normal human. I was just about to tell Lincoln here that I’m adopted. I never learned inhuman culture, and frankly, you two are the first other inhumans I’ve ever met. At least as far back as I can remember. From what I know, I was born here, but when I was really little, I ended up on Earth, sorry, C-53, and got adopted by the people who found me. I actually didn’t know I was inhuman or get my powers—terrigenesis?—until pretty recently. Anyway, how about you guys?”

“You’re…” Joey stared at her and paled like she was a ghost. “You’re her. The kid who got away.”

Lincoln shook his head. “Hey, no, man, she doesn’t need all that. I’m sure Skye’s had a long day…”

Skye remembered, right before she fell, Yon-Rogg had called her something else. “You knew about her? Daisy Johnson, is that right?”

She turned to Lincoln, who was avoiding meeting her eyes. “Carol said my parents were killed. That you would have heard about me, in stories and warnings? Even if you were just kids too, you’d have known about them. Please, all I know is how they died because they tried to save me.”

Joey sighed in sympathy. “I’m so sorry. That’s all we were told too. After you disappeared, things got worse for a while, but now it’s just normal for us. It’s not your fault. My parents were killed too. I try to honor their memory every day. That’s how we survive here.”

“I’m sorry.” Skye pressed a hand to the bars. “Joey, we’re going to get out of here, and I want you to come too.”

Joey’s eyes widened. “You can’t talk like that! If they hear you—”

“You’ll see.” Skye said simply.

Lincoln shook his head at her delusion and went back to tossing his bandage ball. The guard passed by again and called lights out, and they settled into their beds, Skye on her side with her hand over her ear so she wouldn’t miss even a whisper of an incoming transmission.

#daisy johnson #carol danvers #aos #agents of shield #captain marvel #daisy x carol #carol x daisy #wlw #sapphic fic #femslash #lesbian carol danvers #bisexual daisy johnson #skywriting #inhuman whump #alexander pierce #maria rambeau #yon-rogg #lincoln campbell

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beefromanoff · 9 months ago

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Project Mockingbird Ch. 11

summary: the team leaves for a mission, Charlotte keeps training, a new friend is introduced.

pairing: Bucky Barnes x OC

author's note: hiiii, finally returning to this story since my other one is wrapping up - go read it here (masterlist)! this one is somewhat uneventful, but I wanted to set things up for the next few chapters I have planned. there's a lot coming that I can't wait to write! let me know what you think - I am easily persuaded to write faster with positive affirmation LOL

tag list: @bangtanxberm @scott-loki-barnes (let me know if you want to be added <3)

chapter list

_______________________________________

It was the ass crack of dawn.

The hot coffee cup burned her hand as Charlotte stood in the Quinjet hangar, preparing to see her friends off for their mission. It was the first live action they’d seen in quite some time, the result of significant seismic activity from the other world tripping some of the sensors at the compound and piquing the team’s attention enough for them to want to check it out. After a day of heavy intelligence vetting and briefings, they were ready to take to the skies.

The sun’s earliest rays weren’t even close to breaching the horizon at this hour. Charlotte wasn’t even sure why she woke up to see them off. She hadn’t gone to any of the mission intelligence meetings all week, despite the open invitation. After insisting she didn’t want to be a member of the team, it seemed counterintuitive. The lines were admittedly blurred, seeing as she trained with them in combat simulations almost every day of the week. The SHIELD agents weren’t nearly a challenge for her, and the team was almost…too much of one. Over the past few weeks, she’d obliged Bucky. She’d been working with him on the side, learning skills she couldn’t just mimic.

He’d taught her everything he knew about weaponry, dating back to the first war he fought in. Charlotte wasn’t sure why they had antiques like that on the property at all, but she supposed it was helpful to know. After a week, she knew how to load, unload, clean, and fire just about every weapon on the entire compound. Bucky’s favorite had been the long range sniper arsenal, something she wouldn’t have guessed. Someone who was so skilled at hand to hand combat, preferring to take his shot from being hidden in the woods. Ironically, that would probably end up being her position should she ever go into a live mission. It would allow her to use her precision and heightened senses without putting her body at the same risk as hand to hand would. They both seemed to acknowledge that, so they spent extra time on sniper training. When it was all said and done, she could shoot an apple out of Peter’s hand while he swung across the lake from half a mile away. Even Bucky looked impressed.

They’d gone over other languages, he taught her the three he knew. She took it upon herself to learn a fourth, pulling an all-nighter out of spite after their lesson the previous day ended in an argument. While that wasn’t uncommon for them, it still filled her with rage and a bitter desire to tell him to go to hell. Which she did, by showing up the following day having perfected the three languages he was teaching her and an additional one, making her the second most fluent on the team behind Natasha. No one really even knew all the languages she spoke.

Lately, it had been a mix of strategy and intelligence. They’d go through mission plans and “intercepted” intelligence, and work through coming up with a team strategy. For someone who never seemed to want a leadership role on the team, it was clear that it came naturally to him. There was more to it than she ever thought, this type of training made her feel the most naive. She’d come up with an entire strategy, only for Bucky to immediately point out the flaw that would get half her team killed. She always thought she was smart, but when it boiled down to it, she’d always been able to memorize or mimic her way through difficult situations. Even back in the casino, she wasn’t Rainman. She just memorized the rules and executed basic strategy, increasing her bets when it was favorable. In battle or mission strategy, there was no one to copy. Nothing to memorize. No rules or guidelines or anything to help her along the way. She had to learn to reason, to think through every outcome in a split second, to understand how an enemy might think and head them off. It was grueling, frustrating, and led her nearly to blows with Bucky at the end of every session.

It wasn’t that they didn’t get along, necessarily…it was more that his teaching style didn’t align with her learning style. He was direct, intense, no-nonsense. She was used to picking things up perfectly on the first try, leaving her frustrated from the jump with things that didn’t follow that rule. His intensity and her agitation usually led to her feeling like he was talking down to her, making her hostile and him annoyed. But they stuck with it, showing up day after day.

This week had been the first in nearly a month that they hadn’t met multiple times, with Bucky being occupied with briefings for this specific mission. Maybe that’s why she showed up this morning to see them off. It had felt surprisingly quiet and solitary without being in training with them all every day. So here she was, coffee in hand and eyes still heavy, waiting to say goodbye for a few days.

The entire compound hummed with a sense of purpose as everyone geared up for departure, their first mission in a while. The hangar was a flurry of activity as engineers prepped the jet for takeoff and triple checked the arsenal onboard. The team stood in their locker-room of sorts, finishing their own prep. Charlotte stood in the doorway, watching them prepare. Steve slung his shield over his shoulder, clicking it into place on his back. Nat was doing a quick check on her Widow’s Bite wrist packs, ensuring maximum destructive potential. Sam and Wanda were both already dressed, but seated on the bench beside each other, looking less than awake at this hour. To her right, Bucky moved slowly. Not due to fatigue or lack of caffeine, but some haunting sense of deja vu that seemed to plague him in the moments he suited up. Sliding a gun into his thigh holster and another into the strap on his back, he turned. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were glazed. Like he was somewhere far, far away from the locker room. She knew the feeling.

“Earth to Barnes,” She quipped, raising an eyebrow. His gaze met hers and seemed to snap back to the present moment.

“Good morning sunshine.” His tone was dry.

“I guess this means I’m off the hook for training today, huh?” Her tone was light, baiting him.

“You could practice on your own, you know.” He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Yes, but I could also not do that and spend the day basking in the sunshine on the dock instead.” She pretended to weigh her hands. “Tough call.”

He looked her disapprovingly but said nothing, not acknowledging that she was fully dressed in her training uniform, and stepped around her to head to the Quinjet. She tried not to take it personally that he wasn’t in the mood today. He was probably getting in the zone, or whatever they did before missions. Although she initially declared her disinterest in this when she joined the team, a subtle feeling of exclusion gnawed at her.

"Hey, Cap," Charlotte said, a small smile playing on her lips as she shook it off and approached Steve. "Bring me back a souvenir, okay?"

Steve grinned. "Count on it, Charlotte. You take care of things here."

The banter between them felt easy, familiar. The team had never pressured her or questioned her decision to stay out of active duty. Yet a seed of doubt lingered in her mind. As Natasha passed by, loading a small handgun, Charlotte followed her out.

"Don’t have too much fun without me." Charlotte remarked.

Natasha smirked. "Yeah, it’ll be a real rager. I should be saying that to you."

“Yeah, me and all the agents who are so fond of me. Things’ll really get crazy around here.” She rolled her eyes.

“We’ll be back before you know it.” Nat paused at the foot of the ramp, hair blowing as the engines began to roar to life. She gently bumped Charlotte’s shoe with her own. “See you in three days.”

“Go kick some ass.” Charlotte forced a grin.

The other team members filed up the ramp after her, murmuring various goodbyes and patting her on the back. It was only three days. An intelligence mission. She wasn’t sure why it felt like she was sending them off on a years’ long voyage.

As the ramp began to ascend with a hiss, she caught a flash of dark hair walking inside the jet. Bucky locked eyes with her, pausing briefly. Charlotte gave a half-hearted salute to him, hoping to elicit a grin. He simply nodded and continued on.

The engines flared and the jet soared out of the hangar. The silence that followed was deafening. Around her, SHIELD agents began to return to their posts now that the jet had taken off. She could see small groups of early risers beginning to arrive at the compound, reliving those who’d worked the night shift. The sky had only just turned from black to a dark blue-gray, sunrise still an hour or so away.

Knowing she wouldn’t be able to sleep anyways, Charlotte decided to go for a run. She downed the rest of the coffee, still hot enough that she felt it all the way down to her empty stomach. She was already dressed in training gear, but another thought crossed her mind. Turning on her booted heel, she headed back for the locker room.

Just about anything the team would need for any mission ever lived in this room. It was a long room, with alcoves built into the sleek walls every few feet for a new team member. In each person’s equipment bay, they had 2-3 training suits, and 1-2 combat suits hanging. Several drawers near the bottom housed various bits of gear specific to each person. Nat had ample supplies to restock her Widow’s Bite, while Bucky’s was full of ammunition. Of course, there was an entirely separate wing of the engineering building dedicated to housing the massive amounts of weapons manufactured here, as well as developing new tech. This was just where the most commonly used things got to go.

Standing in front of her own locker, Charlotte crossed her arms. Just like everyone else, she had two training suits hanging, the third on her body. A second pair of lightweight combat boots sat at the base. She tugged open the drawer and found a few holsters she’d worn for a training exercise, but nothing else. Why would she need her own artillery if she wasn’t going on missions? The only reason she was given a locker here was because she no longer trained with the SHIELD agents.

Taking a deep breath, she stalked to the back of the room where she knew extra equipment would be kept. Right where she knew it to be, a thick tactical vest hung in an empty bay. She pulled it on and pinched a button down by her ribcage, the tech immediately cinching it to her body. In a few moments, the lightweight vest was full of at least twenty pounds of firepower and ammunition. Several more were strapped to her legs. The one thing she’d forgotten…shit. A hairtie.

I’ll bring it back later. She thought to herself as she plucked one out of Wanda’s drawer and pulled her hair into a tight bun at the base of her head. It was early enough that no one was around to notice her armed to the teeth before sunrise. Good. She didn’t need anyone asking questions or pressing her for this silly urge. She looked left and right before breaking into a light jog towards the trailhead into the forest.

She might not be an Avenger, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t train like one.

_________

Charlotte walked with purpose through the compound, her mind still focused on the training session she had just completed, notes with things she could improve running through her mind. It was mid-morning, the compound cafe a flurry of activity as the day picked up. She barely paid attention as she made her way to the coffee machine.

“Didn’t get called up to the Major Leagues?” A voice sneered from behind her. Charlotte didn’t have to look to identify the agent taunting her.

Charlotte shot back, "Someone had to stay here to babysit."

“Whatever helps you sleep at night. We’ve all heard about your defects.” She taunted. “I guess HYDRA lost their touch after Barnes. A one-hit wonder.”

She grit her teeth but ignored them, not wanting to get baited.

Another agent chimed in, "Yeah, we've got Captain America and the Winter Soldier, and they still felt like we needed another lab experiment. Maybe it’s part of some charitable outreach program?"

It was all Charlotte could do to keep from crushing the cardboard cup in her hands. In through your nose, out through your mouth.

“At least her collar is cute.” One of the agents boldly leaned against the counter next to her and flicked her bracelet.

Fuck it.

In a split second, Charlotte had the agent by the throat, pinned to the cabinets behind her. With her free right arm, she swung an elbow back, hitting the agent she knew was standing there. He cried out as his nose crunched and began to gush blood. Shifting her weight, she kicked backwards with her right foot and caught the final agent square in the abdomen, spilling her coffee and knocking her on her ass as she struggled to catch her breath. Charlotte’s eyes flicked to the agent she still had pinned to the wall, now kicking her feet as her eyes turned red.

Her right fist curled, ready to strike, but a commanding female voice cut through the noise. "Enough!"

A woman with a no-nonsense demeanor emerged from the crowd that had gathered. She wore a white coat, indicating her role in the science department. Charlotte recognized her from the lab, but couldn’t recall ever interacting with her. The agents that stood gawking dispersed and scurried back to their duties. She was pretty, her tan skin and dark hair striking. She was smaller than Charlotte, but had a don’t-fuck-with-me attitude that stood six feet tall.

"I suggest you all remember where you are and who you're speaking to. Disrespect towards a fellow agent won't be tolerated," she warned, her tone sharp. “By us, or by the fellow agent.” Her eyes flicked to Charlotte’s, the slightest smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

Charlotte slowly lowered the female agent to the ground, releasing her grip on the woman’s throat. She collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath.

“You should be thankful you were at Ms. Rossi’s discretion today. If I were in charge of your discipline, my recommendation would be dismissal from the program altogether.” Their eyes widened at her threat, one of them still trying to staunch the flow of blood from his nose. The woman looked at Charlotte inquisitively. “Unless Ms. Rossi still feels that recommendation is warranted?”

Three sets of eyes, simultaneously fuming and pleading, flicked to Charlotte.

“They can stay.” She picked up her coffee cup, completely undisturbed by the scene. “Consider it charitable outreach.”

“Very well.” She fought back a grin again. “Now, I suggest you get cleaned up and get to training before Agent Hill starts asking questions.”

The agents clamored to their feet and dispersed, shooting one last glare at Charlotte. As they walked away, Charlotte took a breath, willing the rage to cool down.

The woman who had intervened approached her. She offered a sympathetic smile. "Sorry about that. Some people here forget their manners. I'm Calla, from the science division."

Charlotte nodded appreciatively. "Thanks, Calla. I'm Charlotte."

"I know who you are," Calla replied coolly.

"Right," Charlotte said, a mix of gratitude and wariness in her eyes. “I’ve seen you in the lab. Sorry I haven’t said hello, I’m usually there so Bruce can talk me out of decking someone.”

Calla waved her off. "Mind if I join you for coffee? Now that it’s quieted down around here.” She gestured to the oddly empty room.

Charlotte smirked. "It’d be a shame not to enjoy it."

They settled into a table outside, the spring sun warming their skin as it rose higher in the sky.

Calla took a sip of her coffee before diving into her background. "So, like I said, I'm Calla. I've been working with Dr. Banner for a while now."

"Bruce?" Charlotte asked, her curiosity evident. Clearly she hadn’t been paying close enough attention when she barged into the lab before.

"Yeah, the big green guy. We've been researching superhuman enhancements, trying to have an understanding so that medical technology can serve the enhanced community as well as the human community. My specialty is in genetics, neurology, cell mutation, the whole shebang," Calla explained.

Impressed, Charlotte nodded. "That's... intense."

Calla chuckled. "Yeah, you could say that. I was recruited by Bruce himself after I graduated from MIT. But before that, I served in the military for a few years. Did my first contract and left because I felt I couldn't innovate the way I wanted to. Found a home here, though. I’ve been living on the compound for the past two years."

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "You live here? There are other residential quarters?"

Calla nodded. "Yep. Not many people know, they don’t want agents thinking they can just move in. There’s a small set of units above the lab. Bruce stays there sometimes, a few of the engineers live there. Maria has a room but she refuses to stay in it. Says she needs a break from this place.”

"I can see that," Charlotte chuckled.

The conversation flowed seamlessly, talking about the quirks of the team and life on the compound, her time in the military. She didn’t seem to be in any particular hurry to get back to the lap. It was Charlotte who checked the time, realizing she was late to a flight simulation. She’d made a personal goal of learning to fly a Quinjet before the team returned and a brave agent from the hangar that morning had offered to help her.

As they finished their coffee, Calla hesitated for a moment before blurting. "Oh, and I'm engaged to Sam Wilson."

Charlotte's eyes widened. "Wait, what? Sam as in the Falcon? He’s engaged?"

Calla grinned. "Guilty as charged. We met when he came in a couple weeks after I arrived and needed stitches, but the doctor on call wasn’t around. I helped him out, we talked about our experience serving, and we just never really stopped talking."

Stunned, Charlotte stared at her slack-jawed. “This whole time, Sam, Sam has had a whole fiance?” She thought through all the time they’d spent together, all the evenings she’d seen him in the common room. “So, when do you…?”

“I’m kind of a workaholic.” She shrugged. “We have breakfast together every day, he pops in between training sessions, we alternate between who shacks up with whom. Most of the time I make him come to me.”

“I guess chivalry isn’t dead after all.” Charlotte still gaped at her. “But he eats dinner with us every night…does that bother you?”

“He eats two dinners.” Calla laughed. “I think he honestly prefers it that way. That man is a bottomless pit.”

“So why keep it a secret?” Charlotte furrowed her brows. “And why tell me now?”

Calla toyed with the empty cup in her hand. “I was the one who wanted to keep it a secret. I was new here, and young, and didn’t want to get a reputation for being the new girl sleeping with an Avenger. I wanted to make a name for myself first. Sam wanted to shout it from the rooftops, literally, but he respected me. So we kept it a secret for almost two years now, although I’m pretty certain Natasha figured it out immediately. I told Bruce a while back. Other than that, you’re the first person to know.” She smiled. “To answer your question, I just figured it was time. What fun would a wedding be without any wedding guests.”

“Well, I’m honored.” Charlotte lifted up her empty cup. “To the future Mrs. Wilson.”

Calla lifted hers and grinned. “To those punk agents finally getting what was coming to them.”

#bucky barnes #avengers #james bucky barnes #bucky barnes x oc #bucky fanfic #bucky fluff #winter soldier #sebastian stan #winter soldier fluff

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sapphicomics · 1 month ago

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natasha irons on the cover of power girl (2023) #17

#p: dc comics #c: power girl (2023)#t: cover #ch: natasha irons #lesbian

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tonystarkbingo · 1 year ago

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TSB Round 7 - Weeks 17, 18, 19

We have a few weeks in one this roundup, which means extra fills for you to read!

And with a new month we have a new block party theme! The theme for November is Family, and while family can mean whatever you want it to, we also have some prompts to get you started:

Kid fic Family dinner Holiday/party Bedtime routine Outing

Happy creating!

Collaborator: hereandnowwearealive Card Number: 7036 Square Filled: R2 - Metallurgy Title: Metallurgy Link: Tumblr Pairings: n/a Word Count: n/a Rating: Gen Major Tags/Triggers: art fill Summary: an image of Tony under a stream of molten metal

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Collaborator: endlesstwanted Card Number: 7010 Square Filled: Adopted - New team Title: Of Darkness And Solace Link: AO3 Pairings: Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov/Tony Stark Word Count: 991 Rating: Teen Major Tags/Triggers: Afterlife, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Angst and Feels Summary: A year after the events of Endgame, old and new friends gather to visit Natasha’s grave. Tony, Steve and her are happy to see them again.

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Collaborator: rebelmeg Card Number: 7001 Square Filled: T4 - shared trauma Title: I Want You Back Link: Tumblr Pairings: Pepperony Word Count: 2692 Rating: Gen Major Tags/Triggers: whump, hurt/comfort, working on their relationship, meeting each other halfway, post-cacw Summary: Pepper asked for the separation when Tony couldn't let go of Iron Man. Then, when she got what she asked for, she realized just how much she was giving up. And found a way to own up to her own shortcomings, and meet the love of her life halfway.

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Collaborator: deehellcat Card Number: 7014 Square Filled: K3 - ironstrange Title: Broken Shadows Link: AO3 Pairings: pre-ironstrange Word Count: 5663 Rating: Gen Major Tags/Triggers: Chose not to warn, AU-Horror, Ghosts, Haunted Houses, Autopsies Summary: The new Sorcerer Supreme and his right hand move into their new Sanctum only to find it might already be occupied…by the ghost of one Anthony Stark.

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Collaborator: tinystark616 Card Number: 7008 Square Filled: R3 - Angst Title: Repeat Until Death Link: AO3 Pairings: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark Word Count: 3474 Rating: Explicit Major Tags/Triggers: Angst, unhappy ending, frottage, iron man/captain america: casualties of war (2006) Summary: In the midst of Civil War, Steve and Tony meet in the Avengers Mansion to talk, because Tony hopes he can change Steve's mind. As it turns out, there isn't a lot of talking.

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Collaborator: hereandnowwearealive Card Number: 7036 Square Filled: K5 - AU: wings Title: A Deal with the Devil Link: Tumblr Pairings: Morgan Stark & Tony Stark Word Count: n/a Rating: Gen Major Tags/Triggers: art fill Summary: Morgan, dressed as an angel, trick-or-treating and asking Tony, dressed as a demon, for candy

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Collaborator: CaptainJimothyCarter Card Number: 1058 Square Filled: K2 - Peggy Carter Title: A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow: Ch 5: A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow Link: Tumblr Pairings: Peggy Carter & Tony Stark Word Count: 2k Rating: Gen Major Tags/Triggers: None Summary: Tony rides a giant teacup.

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Collaborator: Faustess Card Number: 7022 Square Filled: S5 - Science Boyfriends Title: Tony Stark Bingo Mark VII - September Round Robin Link: AO3 Pairings: Bruce Banner/Tony Stark Word Count: 1913 total, my part was about 300 Rating: Gen Major Tags/Triggers: No Archive Warnings Apply, Avengers Tower, Only One Bed, Cuddling & Snuggling Summary: Bruce comes back to New York City to stay at Avengers Tower -- and keep his new teammate company.

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Collaborator: Faustess Card Number: 7022 Square Filled: T3 - Anticipation Title: Tony Stark Bingo Mark VII - August Round Robin Link: AO3 Pairings: Avengers Team Members & Tony Stark Word Count: 400+ , 1860 total Rating: Gen Major Tags/Triggers: No Archive Warnings Apply, Wedding Planning, Tony Stark-centric, Surprise Party, Crushes Summary: Tony's been holed up in his workshop... planning a wedding for his friend... the President of the United States. He knows from personal experience that the planning is officially the worst part of any wedding and he doesn't want to inflict that on his friends. There's only one detail left... getting a date with his crush.

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Collaborator: Faustess Card Number: 7022 Square Filled: T5 - Psychological Torture Title: You Gotta Pay the Troll Toll Link: AO3 Pairings: Tony Stark/Bucky Barnes Word Count: 5883 Rating: Teen Major Tags/Triggers: No Archive Warnings Apply, Bucky Barnes Remembers, Bucky Barnes Needs a Hug, Fanfiction Writer Bucky Barnes, Protective Tony Stark, Fanfiction Writer Tony Stark, Mutual Pining, Getting Together Summary: Bucky Barnes writes stories about his life with the Howlies, some before the war, and others about his life after he'd escaped from Hydra. He publishes them under a fan fic site alias and makes a few friends online. Then the trolls come for him. It doesn't feel better to him than it does for anyone else. Fortunately, like the rest of us, his friends rally around him to boost his spirits and come to his defense. And maybe - at least in this case - all that (and the help of some giant slugs - Thanks AIM!) leads to something a little bit more.

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Collaborator: Faustess Card Number: 7022 Square Filled: R5 - "Wake up!" Title: Too Good to Be True (Chapter 25) Link: AO3 Pairings: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Word Count: chapter: 4716; 62,982 total Rating: Mature Major Tags/Triggers: No Archive Warnings Apply, Dreams vs. Reality, Domestic Fluff, Cuddling & Snuggling, Pancakes, Slow Romance, Pepper Potts Is a Good Bro, Communication Summary: Chapter Summary: A few more years have gone by and it's college graduation season! James has another of his recurring dreams and then grudgingly wakes up to spend the day with the family he and Tony have found together.

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Collaborator: illogicalkat Card Number: 7009 Square Filled: K1 - image of Tony Stark with speech bubble, "I'm off the market" Title: You, Me, and Bucky makes 3 (chapter 1) Link: AO3 Pairings: Emma Frost/Tony Stark, Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark, Bucky Barnes/Emma Frost/Tony Stark Word Count: 1555 Rating: Gen Major Tags/Triggers: Relationship negotiations Summary: The very last thing Tony expected on his honeymoon was a run-in with Revolution

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Collaborator: illogicalkat Card Number: 7009 Square Filled: S3 - Canon: Marvel 616 Title: You, Me, and Bucky makes 3 (chapter 2) Link: AO3 Pairings: Emma Frost/Tony Stark, Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark, Bucky Barnes/Emma Frost/Tony Stark Word Count: 1062 Rating: Gen Major Tags/Triggers: relationship negotiations Summary: The last thing Tony expected on his honeymoon was a run-in with Revolution

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Collaborator: deehellcat Card Number: 7014 Square Filled: R1 - abducted Title: All eyes on you, my magician (all eyes on us) Link: AO3 Pairings: DrPepperony (Tony/Pepper/Strange) Word Count: 4730 Rating: Gen Major Tags/Triggers: Kidnapping, Magic, Polycule, Bisexual Tony Stark, Bisexual Stephen Strange, BAMF Pepper Potts, Tony Stark Is Not Iron Man, (well not yet), AU—Canon Divergence Summary: Stephen Strange discovers Pepper Potts has a knack for magic, and takes on the task of training her, while pining for both her and her boyfriend Tony Stark.

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Collaborator: rebelmeg Card Number: 7001 Square Filled: A3 - free space Title: Tony's New Cars Link: Tumblr Pairings: Pepperony Word Count: 1900 Rating: Gen Major Tags/Triggers: the makeup after the breakup, whump, hurt/comfort, happy ending, Tony handles his emotional issues by throwing money at them Summary: Tony seems to have replaced all his cars. Pepper finds out why.

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Collaborator: rebelmeg Card Number: 7001 Square Filled: T1 - diner/restaurant Title: Wingmen and Airmen, Flirting and Flying - Chapter 1: Two Drink Limit (Limits Were Made To Be Tested) Link: Tumblr Pairings: Tony & Rhodey, Carol & Maria, Rhodey/Carol, Tony/Maria Word Count: 1752 Rating: Teen Major Tags/Triggers: first meeting, flirting Summary: Rhodey lays down the law, Tony scoffs at the very idea, Carol is considering hijinks, and Maria is up for the challenge.

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Collaborator: rebelmeg Card Number: 7001 Square Filled: A5 - charming Title: Wingmen and Airmen, Flirting and Flying - Chapter 2: Darts and Tequila and Pairing Up Link: Tumblr Pairings: MIT Bros, Carol & Maria, Rhodey/Carol, Tony/Maria Rambeau Word Count: 2093 Rating: Teen Major Tags/Triggers: flirting, drunken shenanigans, kissing Summary: Rhodey braces himself to make his move, Tony makes his, and last call comes as a surprise to everyone.

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Collaborator: rebelmeg Card Number: 7001 Square Filled: K4 - dares/bets Title: Wingmen and Airmen, Flirting and Flying - Chapter 3: I'll See Your Hangover, and Raise You Another Link: Tumblr Pairings: Rhodey/Carol, Tony/Maria Rambeau, MIT Bros, Carol & Maria Word Count: 2068 Rating: Teen Major Tags/Triggers: hangovers, slightly secret identities revealed, embarrassment, plans for a second date Summary: The boys are having just as miserable a morning as could be expected after their night out, but when they finally do show up at the demonstration, a couple of familiar faces are there to greet them.

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Collaborator: deehellcat Card Number: 7014 Square Filled: R4 - new team Title: Esprit de Corps Link: AO3 Pairings: pre-ironstrange Word Count: 1258 Rating: Gen Major Tags/Triggers: PTSD, Misuse of Magic, Grumpy Stephen Strange, Canon Divergence—post CACW, New Team Summary: Strange isn’t sold on this whole ‘new Avengers’ thing he’s gotten sucked into, and especially not on the idea of having to work with the most annoying person on this plane of existence, Tony Stark.

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#tony stark bingo round 7 #tsb 7 #tsb weekly roundup #tsb week 17 #tsb week 18 #tsb week 19

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ronearoundblindly · 2 years ago

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The Stark Legacy (9)

Ghosts, part of Book 1: Reality (see previous or series)

Summary: A fight leaves team members wounded.

Warnings: Short chapter of quick action fighting a slightly disturbing enemy. Paranormal horror for like three seconds. Rated Teen/Mature, so 15+ only, please.

CHAPTER NINE—June 2038

“This is some real Game of Thrones sh—” Tony was interrupted by a dirt zombie, as he dubbed them, lunging to eat his face. “Fresh out of brains. Please come back tomorrow for salisbury steak.”

“Only you could look at these things and think of food,” Falcon mumbled into his comms, flying high across the battlefield assessing the movements of hundreds, now thousands of temporarily animated bodies.

“Maximoff, you got any dragons?”

“Stark, you’re a child,” Wanda replied, ripping apart an entire group of demons with her mind and a graceful gesture.

Iron Man flew over to hover in front of her. “It’s so nice to be noticed.”

Bucky lifted his gun after reloading, back to back with Natasha. “Can I retire yet? I can’t take another twenty years of this.”

“I swear, Barnes, if you leave me with him…” Nat jumped headlong into a cluster of the evil dirt clods. The bodies broke apart easily enough, but the noise—their howling cries from hell—it was very disturbing. “Oh, god, it got in my mouth,” Nat spat.

“This feels like a video-game,” Peter Parker exclaimed joyously. “They’re not even scary.”

“Coming in hot,” Rhodes warned, peppering the flank with machine gun fire.

It all seemed so standard and even comfortable. This was their element, sass-fighting, and it made Tony almost happy to relinquish his considerable brain power entirely to wiping out these pitiful foes in the Siberian tundra.

“Anyone else feel that?” Wanda’s voice dropped. “Is that an earthquake?”

“Get ready,” Nat warned solemnly.

Now he could see it in flight, a visibly rolling, barren field beneath him, and a great hole collapsing in its center, glowing like lava.

“Falcon,” Tony yelled, launching to get Wanda out of the way.

“I’ve got him.” Sam Wilson swooped down to grab Spider-Man before the ground fell.

A massive blood-red body emerged from the crevice, thin and stretched to four times the size of a man. A starving form of bone and sinew that rose higher and higher as the earth fell away from the demons he commanded. They all had faces, souls of those who had left this world.

Surrounding Bucky and Nat were the ghostly victims of their assassinations. Men and women staring blankly at them while closing in. People they had already watched die, people daring them to do it again. Problematic politicians, clinging mistresses, rival businessmen, and one small figure Bucky didn’t recognize: a child, maybe a teenager. He heard Nat whisper beside him.

“It can’t be.”

Tony set Wanda down at a safe distance. He turned and began to say “what is that thing—” Then he saw his mother, gossamer and despairing. “Mom,” he breathed.

A flash of blue circled Wanda, slowing to stand in front of her and wink. “It’s not real, Stark. They’re not real.”

The great fiery figure let out a roar, flailing his gangly arms and spiked tail into the air. A hand clipped the EXO-7’s wing, crashing Sam and Peter into the ground among a crowd of souls. The mouths of every wraith unhinged to resonate the horrible shriek of their master.

Lightning struck.

“MEPHISTO,” Thor called, “you will leave this world and its people alone!”

Satan and his hoard replied with a cry, the specters all turned to attack the God of Thunder.

“I do not ask twice,” Thor threatened as the sparks began to dance around his body. The air turned electric, and no sooner had the ghosts sailed into the air to meet him than the field exploded with light and death.

[Ch 10: Wedding]

[Main Masterlist]

#tony stark fanfiction #tony stark fic #tony stark angst #tony stark feels #alternate universe #avengers endgame #slow build #slow burn #tony stark's daughter #original female character #marvel fanfiction #mcu fanfiction #avengers fanfiction #action/adventure

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wandamyconfort · 2 years ago

Text

if I were you.. | CH.2

wanda Maximoff x fem!reader

CH.1

sorry for any translation errors, english is not my first language

You woke up at 6:00 a.m. sharp as usual. I did this every day even on weekends so as not to lose the habit. Soon went to the bathroom to do his facial skin cleanse followed by 30 minutes of elliptical bike. a relaxing shower to soon after get dressed. a black blouse, jeans and white sneakers. you went downstairs quickly and ate breakfast.

Punctually at 8:00 a.m. you was at school, ready for another day that was already promptly scheduled; First class in history, Biology, Physics II and Mathematics. Then about 10 minutes to clear yourself of the likely scratch cards that were yet to come from Wanda, Valkyrie, Sam or Bucky. Then would perform his solo at the club leaving everyone else dumbfounded and dying of envy of his talent. Not to forget, of course, Mrs. Miller who would try to ruin his life. And later after school would go home to Vision to help him with his subjects which he was still struggling.

Vision left his girlfriend's house before the sun came up. Wanda's parents liked her boyfriend, but didn't find it at all pleasant for the boy to enjoy the moment. Since they had to spend the night out for work reasons.

Natalya and Erik worked together because they were two successful entrepreneurs. They had to always be traveling to conferences, meetings, outreaches, and partnerships with other companies. The trips were sometimes to cities closer but also distant, requiring them to stay up to four days away. That was one thing Wanda and vision had in common: the absence of her parents.

But Mrs. Agnes was the one who rescued the girl's parents. A very nice lady who bordered on 70 years old, gray hair and expressive blue eyes.

Wanda had her as a grandmother, or rather a second mother.

The lady who lived alone, despite having a granddaughter who lived in New York with her father, had been caring for Wanda since the frauds. She had a huge affection for the girl that only tended to increase.

Her house was close by, next to her own. To be sure. In her room, the girl was near the window that facilitated communication between them without having to go to the other's house.

- Banana and... Bacon? - asked moving closer to his bedroom window.

The woman nodded with her infectious smile as she stirred the pot.

- Are you coming for coffee or need a formal invitation? - Agnes asked, raising her gaze.

Wanda didn't think twice about running to her grandmother's house. she would never turn down bananas and a good bacon.

(...)

- Your clothes... I don't know what classification to put them in. - She said, as she analyzed you from head to toe.You just rolled your eyes.

- Y/N, l mean it... I've offered you a redesign but I don't know why it costs to refuse... Look at me. - Took a turn for you to analyze the look. - I'm from Celine today. - she said with a proud smile referring to the brand of your clothing as you looked at it as if it had three heads.

- Get out of the way, freak. - Insulted Bucky followed by a scratch card by one of his friends.

-Thug! - she let go as he took a deep breath covered by the newly scratched card.

- I think your Celine outfit is a lot better now. - You can't help it, trying your best to hold back the laughter.

Natasha ignored it.

"My eyes are burning," she paused for a moment and went back to talking still static. - My clothes will stain and my hair that took me hours to tidy up... And now see how it is! - She let out a scream tapping her foot angrily.

-Comes... Let's go to the bathroom. I help you.

(...)

It was exactly 7:30 p.m. when you arrived at the vision house. The boy opened the door and made a funny grimace.

- Punctual, huh? - Smiled letting you walk past him.

- As always. - she added and smiled when saw his mother in sight there.

- Good evening, Mrs. Stark.

- Hey, good night, Y/n! - Smiled friendly at the girl. - I already told you it's just pepper. Without that Mrs.

you blushed in agreement.

"Son, I'm going to have to be on call again today. It was an unforeseen event, Patricia asked me to replace her and I could not deny it... But I've already prepared dinner. - Argued for vision while fiddling with something inside the bag.

The boy sighed shaking his head in agreement.

- Feel at home, honey. - she said goodbye to the two of them by placing a kiss on each other's foreheads. Already near the door she looks at the vision and smiles.

- Mom Loves You.

Vision just gave a half smile listening to the door of the house closing.

- You should tell her. - You filled the silence that had become.

- Say what?

- Vision... Don't make a fool of yourself. To say that you miss her, her company. Saying you wanted her to spend more time with you. Who loves her!

- I don't know what you're talking about. - He tried to disguise himself while looking at the ground.

-Let's go... Stop. I know you very well. - Got close to him stroking the boy's arm.

"I'm your soul sister, remember?" I know you like the back of my hand.

"So let's go, my soul sister, take my math questions because I'm completely lost. Since the teacher arrives saying "Good morning, class!" I get lost. - he tried to change the subject by making her friend laugh.

He led you into the living room where there were several books on the table.

"And there we go," - you whispered.

(...)

The night quickly followed. You tried to help him with all the doubts without realizing that the hours were passing. He looked at the time on his cell phone and almost had a heart attack when he realized it was 11:27 p.m.

- My parents must already be worried, I have to go.

- Yes, of course. I accompany you. - He said already getting up and screwing up his whole body making a grimace appear on his face when he heard several streaks that to you, were agonizing.

- No need. I'm walking and it's not even that far, just a few blocks...

- I'm not crazy about letting you go alone, especially at this time. Not even thinking. - Grabbed his coat that was on the couch and put it on.

"Okay," rolled his eyes. - I'd really be scared to death of going it alone.

-I know. I know you like the back of my hand. - Smiled repeating the same phrase she had used hours ago.

(...)

It was cold and You ran his hands over his arms to try and warm himself in vain. When he realized it, he instantly took off his coat and gave it to you, who smiled thankfully. You both traced the path by talking about trivial things without being able to avoid spontaneous laughter until you stood on your feet staring at something. The boy frowned looking at you and followed gaze. There was a fountain with a large gray statue in the center, very beautiful. you who adorned that huge almost empty square. had never noticed that source there, so you assumed it had been placed recently. Without holding back, they came closer, exploring her.

They just watched her for a while until her voice broke the silence.

- Vision... Why are you with wanda? I swear I don't understand. - It's been a while since you've wanted to ask that.

-Why not? I like it, simple. - Said friendly.

- I honestly don't understand how anyone can like wanda maximoff. She's so... urg. - He shook his head in disgust.

- You say that because you don't really know her. -Retorted. You snorted looking at him.

- I also don't understand how I can be friends with Sam and Bucky's idiots. They're disgusting!

- I'm not friends with them! We're just teammates on the same football team and that's it. You don't see me talking to them, do you? - He shrugged. - And it wouldn't go down well either, since they threw scratch cards in my face when I was a rookie.

- You said it. - Retorted sarcastically

- I don't know what you're complaining about so much, Y/n. Your life is perfect! - you laughed incredulously hearing that.

- No kidding, right, Stark.

- i'm serious. You are decisive, you don't care what others think of you. You know where you came from, where you're going, you have two parents who love you and who will always be by your side. you has an amazing voice for just a seventeen-year-old girl. you has a bright future as a singer, always knew what you wanted and fights to achieve it tooth and nail... And me. He looked at himself letting out a nosey laugh. - I'm a guy who has no idea what he's going to do after high school, I don't know where I'm going... What good is this 'popularity' now, if in a few years it will be worth nothing?

- What are you talking about? - She asked incredulously. - My life sucks! Everyone sees me as a loser and deep down I really feel that way. I'm not as determined as you think, I try to show myself like this to camouflage my insecurities and not feel like garbage like everyone makes me feel. You are the Quarterback of the team, handsome, popular, all the girls die of love for you. Date the most beautiful and popular girl there, everyone loves you there and... - You rambled and Vision rolled his eyes.

- that's enough!. - He snorted, interrupting his speech. - Don't fuck, Y/n...

- Your life that's perfect here! - You finished by tapping your foot.

- It's yours. -Insisted.

They began a discussion about the perfect life monologue between them. you turned your back on him crossing your arms with a frown ending the argument, Vision did the same. Their breaths were flawed from the debate. They stayed like that for a few seconds, not knowing each other's next move, they both turned forward screaming together:

- I wish I had your life! - They shouted in coincidence, actually ending the discussion.

The pole light flashed instantly and shattered startling you who took a step back. All the lights in the square began to flicker as they broke soon after, leaving the two of them staring at each other in the total darkness of the night.

(...)

you woke up early, at the usual time, slowly opening your eyes, still sleepy you headed for the bathroom when you stopped on your way looking at the bedroom.

What the hell am I doing in the vision's house? -you thought out loud looking around recognizing he friend's room.

- I remember going home and... - Murmured thoughtfully to herself. - Oh, shit! My parents are going to kill me... Sleeping here unannounced, they'll have the marine guard after me by now! - You raised your voice.

- You frowned. - Damn, I've gone hoarse. - This time you whispered, and choked, noticing that your voice was thick.

You didn't think twice and left the room, stunned and sleepy. You went down the stairs looking for the exit, you had to leave urgently and you would get out of there without waking anyone.

It was then that her reflection caught her attention in the mirror that adorned the wall in the large room. you frowned more and took a few steps back. The first thing she did was to widen her eyes, petrified, and cautiously observe if what her eyes stubbornly showed her was just a dream.

Slowly you moved hands up to his face, feeling it, now was sure that this was not a dream? It was a nightmare! You opened your mouth in horror and began to scream sterilely. Your eyes were still on the mirror that showed you the reflection of your friend Vision.

You screamed, screaming louder and louder.

- Son, what happened? Are you okay? - Questioned Pepper, newly awakened by the screaming, walking down the stairs in her pajamas, almost tripping over her own feet, totally frightened.you still had your eyes wide open. you didn't answer, just stared at your reflection in the mirror.- Son? Why are you screaming?

- she approached me, evidently concerned, touching the shoulder that was supposed to be your son. There were no answers to your questions.

- This can't be happening? - you hissed almost inaudibly. Hearing that thick voice, which was not her own, made her even more terrified. - If I'm here then vision is... - you whispered thoughtfully, and without finishing reasoning, walked quickly to the door with quick steps. you just didn't expect to fall. you wasn't used to those long legs.

you stood up again, grabbing the first pair of pants saw on the way. pepper stared at the scene in confusion.

- Where do you think you're going at this hour? - The woman asked as she saw him open the door.

- Don't worry, Mrs. Pepper, everything is fine! - you replied at last unconvincingly, his voice shaking terribly. you tried to calm himself by walking out the door, leaving the stunned and even more confused woman in the middle of the room.

- Mrs. Pepper? - she murmured confused.

(...)

every evening after dinner, scott and hope would sit in the living room in front of the fireplace and talk about banal things, accompanied by a good wine, which always made them go to bed later, which resulted in: they always woke up later the next morning.

you always reproached them for this. always saying that we should all get at least eight hours of sleep. But today you were grateful for that. You entered the house very easily with the extra keys that your parents left hidden in one of the flower pots in the garden.

she closed the door, trying not to make a sound. Her parents were completely unconscious on the living room floor. She walked cautiously up the stairs on her new long legs. If they woke up, she would be dead because she had been caught in the act. After all, what was the boy doing there at that time? She arrived in front of her door and began to knock, trying to make as little noise as possible.

- vision, open this door. - She whispered and knocked again.

You cursed yourself for always sleeping with the bedroom door locked, since you liked privacy, but at this moment you really wanted to break the damn door down and you were sure you could.

- Vision… Damn it, vision, wake up! - You increased the frequency of your knocking, realizing that you wouldn't wake the other one up.

The boy frowned, his eyes still closed.

- Y/n? - he asked lazily, still getting out of bed.

- Open the damn door! - Despair was already taking over his body when he heard a pair of footsteps downstairs.

- What are you doing here? - He didn't finish his sentence after opening his eyes and observing the place.

- Hey… What am I doing in your room?

- Vision, will you please open this fucking door?! - I was getting more and more nervous, impatient, scared, and afraid of what was going to happen behind that door.

- Hey, calm down, I'll be right there… - He speech died after opening the wooden door, now the two were face to face looking at each other in terror.

- You… but I… what?

Vision couldn't formulate a sentence so he limited himself to screaming. you entered, locking the door behind you and covering the boy's mouth to stop the screaming.

- Damn it, don't scream. You'll get my parents' attention! - you whispered.

- Will you be quiet? - vision shook his head frantically.

- W-what happened? - He managed to speak in a stutter, his eyes opening wider and wider as if it were still possible.

- I don't know. I have no idea, when I woke up I was like this. - She spoke quickly, apprehensive, looking at her body.

- If you are me and I am you, then… - He looked stunned at his new body and his eyes widened. - damn y/n… I HAVE BREASTS! - The boy shouted hysterically, running his hands over his body.

You, who hadn't stopped to notice this derealization, turned red, and became hysterical again.

- Oh, holy shit, I have too much volume between my legs.

Unlike Vision, you didn't dare to put your hand on the new body, you just looked down and even though you were wearing sweatpants you could feel it.

- Y/n, honey, is everything okay? - Scott's voice made itself present, knocking on the door, and you widened your eyes.

- Answer! - you whispered to vision remembering that you couldn't do it with that man's voice.

- Yes... Everything's fine baby! - The boy murmured in a shaky voice, trying to sound natural with that feminine voice. He scratched the back of his neck nervously at the girl's gaze on him.

- Everything's fine baby? - mumbled Scott, confused by his daughter's slang, but shrugged. - Come down, coffee is ready. - He said as he walked down the stairs to the kitchen.

slapped Vision on the head, who was now smaller than you.- Everything's fine, baby? Everything's fine, baby?

- I didn't mean it. I was nervous!- It's okay... - He sighed, running his hand through his hair and soon missed his long hair.

- Y/n, what are we going to do? I can't go home like this... - He spoke angrily on the edge of the bed.

- Calm down ... First let's think about what could have caused this. - Reasoned a little trying to keep calm walking from side to side with his hands in his hair.- Maybe it was something we ate...

- Don't be an idiot. No food, no matter how bad it was, couldn't have done such damage.

- Sorry, I'm nervous... - He stood up, tapping his foot on the floor at every moment without taking his eyes off the body he now occupied.

- Or maybe... - You looked at him who now occupied your body.

- Last night... When we came from your house... - You said thoughtfully pausing the words and Vision seemed to understand.

- In the square... - He followed your reasoning.

- The fountain...

- We wished...

- To have each other's lives! - They concluded together.

- No, no, not this! This can't be happening… I didn't mean it, and how is that possible? I was happy with my life, I want my body back! - The young man spoke in agony pacing back and forth in the middle of the room.

- I didn't mean it either, I was just trying to be nice. And this is all your fault, if you hadn't started with the 'Your life is perfect, y/n, blah blah blah' talk, none of this would have happened.

- My fault? It's your fault that you came up with all that monologue about the perfect life and 'Your life is perfect here, Vision'. - he imitated in annoying little Y/N voice, a perfect imitation, by the way, since the voice was her own.

You looked at him with a frown and went on. A small fight started between the two of you, who were now rolling on the floor of the room.

- Give me my body back! Give it back! - Vision shouted, his small body on top of the other as he squeezed what had been his face the night before as if he wanted to get her off him.

- No! You give me back my body! - you shouted, now taking control of the fight and standing over the other, pulling the brown hair that used to be his.

- Ouch, ouch, enough! - he pushed her. - This way we won't get anywhere! - Vision put an end to the fight.

- You're right... Instead of fighting let's try to find solutions to solve this. - she stood up and helped the other soon after. - And I think I already know where we start...

The two went out the back door without being seen by Scott who was watching TV. Hope was still asleep, now lying on the sofa. You, who now occupied the boy's body, were dressed in a blue tank top that made the blonde's statuesque body clearly visible. A pair of black sweatpants and sandals. Vision who occupied your body was wearing his pink pajamas and put only a jacket on top, they drove to the square where everything started.

When they arrived at the place they were surprised, for there was no fountain anywhere. But there was a huge hole where it used to be, with pipes in sight and some bricklayers assessing the place.

- What happened here? - Vision asked, approaching one of the bricklayers involved in the work.

The same one stopped his work looking at the two young people, immediately looked at Vision drying him, seeing that the unknown girl was wearing a baggy pink shorts leaving her legs showing. You, who was behind Vision, noticed this and made a face of disgust, clearing his throat.

- Ah, there was a problem with the plumbing, some pipes burst, that is, a disaster! We'll have to replace everything.

- And the fountain... where is it? - You in the friend's body asked, checking all around without any trace of it.

- It had to be removed while we fixed everything.

- But you don't know where they took it?

- Um... No. But if you go to the city hall, I think someone can tell you. - The youngsters didn't waste any time. The town hall was right in front of the square.

- Can you give us some information? - The person who occupied the Y/N body turned to the old receptionist, with a face that said 'I hate my job'.

- It's about the fountain that used to be in the square. We want to know where it is. - You who occupied the boy's body asked, already impatient.

- I don't know. - answered automatically while you were messing with the computer.

- What do you mean you don't know? For God's sake, it's a fountain with a huge statue right in the center.

- Calm down. - interrupted the boy next to her. - You'll have to excuse her... I mean, he! - He corrected himself when he noticed the confused look on the woman's face, who was now looking at them with an arched eyebrow. - It's just that that fountain was of great sentimental value to us... So if you would be so kind, could you help us, please?

- she rolled his eyes at the girl's plea. - not in town, I don't know exactly where are. There's no information here. - she said while his dark eyes checked the computer screen. - But it says here that he will be back. Well, let me see…

Your eyes scanned the screen and you started tapping your foot on the floor impatient with the delay.

- Ah... Here it is. In a month it will be back.

- ONE MONTH? - You shouted and some people who worked there looked at him. Vision, occupying her friend's body, elbowed her in the rib.

- Okay. Thanks! - Vision resigned himself. he knew she had nothing else to do but wait. He pulled his friend's strong arm and left the place to spare themselves from further humiliation from the stares and whispers of several people who were in the place stared at them for not being dressed appropriately. Especially you, who was now him and tentatively wearing pink pajamas.

- What are we going to do now? - You groaned, putting your hands through your hair. You were visibly worried as you stared at the road in the passenger seat and at the driver's seat occupied by the body that now didn't belong to you.

- I don't know. - You looked at her and saw your own worried brown eyes. - I guess we'll have to wait... I still don't understand how that fountain could have caused us this. I mean, what kind of fountain was it? Fountain of desires? - he exclaimed sarcastically, making quotation marks with your fingers without looking away from the road.

- I don't understand it either. But now that you told me that, I remembered something… - you was trying to remember. - Just below the central statue of the fountain there was a small metal plate with some words… Do you remember?

- I think so… - he wrinkled his forehead, thoughtful. - Yes, there was but it wasn't in English so it didn't hold my attention much. It seemed to be in Italian, or Russian or German… I don't know. - He was also trying to remember.

A brief silence flooded the car and Vision decided to go home, and as the clock was eight o'clock he assumed that his mother would already be in the hospital.

- Wait... Fare Attenzione a ciò che si desidera! - you tried to pronounce the words that were now invading his mind.

- What? Speak our language, Y/n! - That was the phrase. - And what does it mean? - he asked confused.

- I have no idea? but we can find out. - You answered, getting out of the car and following the boy who had already opened the front door. They confirmed that the boy's mother had already left for work with the typical notes that they used to leave her, this time on the coffee table in the living room.

"Son, I won't be on call today, Patricia is already better and will be taking over my shift as a thank you, I was worried about how you were this morning. You looked dazed. I'll be early, don't be late for school.... Mommy loves you."

Vision was reading that note as You already took hold of the small laptop, which was sitting on top of the couch. To search for those unknown words that now could not get out of your head.

- Be careful what you wish for... - You whispered, seeing the meaning of that phrase, still keeping your eyes fixed on the computer screen in your lap.

- So... That's it. I guess we'll just have to live each other's lives. - murmured the boy, coming closer.

- Are you crazy? - you asked incredulously. - We have no other way, you heard that lady. The damned fountain won't be back for another month, what are we supposed to do between now and then?

- Let's tell someone what happened. - Maybe someone can help us. - You said.

- Do you think that's a good idea?

- It costs nothing to try. - you frowned and remembered something, looked at the clock on one of the walls. - Damn, Vision, it's going to be almost nine o'clock, we're already late! - you whined, crying. Yes, you were crying, but not because you were going to be late, that was just a pretext. You were crying because you were terrified of everything that was happening.

- Stay calm. It's okay if we're a little late, everything will be fine. I'm here, we're in this together.

He knew you better than anyone else and knew you were afraid so he wrapped you in a tender embrace which resulted in you both feeling strange, embracing yourself was indescribable

- Besides, I'm horrible at crying, so stop. - He said in a humorous tone, separating from the hug and looking at the face that until yesterday belonged to him.

You couldn't help but draw a small smile at the comment.

- Have I ever said I have a nice smile? - Vision asked smugly, causing you to slap him. The boy looked at you with a pained expression, it had hurt.

you chose not to take a shower, you really weren't ready for that yet. You couldn't imagine cleaning a body that wasn't yours, even though you knew it would happen at some point. You still needed to assimilate all this, so you just changed clothes trying to keep your eyes closed with the help of Vision who showed you what to wear: a pair of beige jeans, a white tank top, and a green plaid shirt over it, and sports shoes.

- Y/n, I don't even think I'll need to go to your place to change. - You had slept a few days ago at your friend's house because of a double work and decided to stay there. you should have forgotten that sweater and a pair of jeans that had already been washed.

- Great. Then get dressed and let's go.

- I think I should take a shower first. - he said expectantly with a humorous sideways smile.

- Don't you dare! - You gave him a murderous look.

- Okay. The one who spoke is no longer here. - He laughed lightheartedly and started to change his clothes.

(...)

In less than ten minutes by car they arrived at the school. In the end neither of them had been late, because the first class was geography for both of them and it had been vacant. Then they walked, as if everyone in the hall knew it, towards the lockers to get the books for the next class.

- Are you ready? - sighed the boy with all his belongings in hand.

- I think so.... I mean, no! - She closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them, she was nervous.

- And you?

The image of Valkyrie and Sam appeared in the hallway with the usual scratch card in their hands. The tall girl smiled with amusement as she saw Loki picking up his books from the floor, freshly knocked over by a basketball player. As the boy stood up with everything in hand, the girl knocked the scratch card right into his face, who now dropped all the books again to wipe his eyes.

- You immediately closed your eyes tightly as you saw Sam come close. But the cold scratch never came.

- Damn... I had forgotten how it burns. Poor Loki. - muttered the boy, his eyes closed with anger.

At the same moment you opened yours and found your friend's face all soaked and squeezing his eyes, at that moment you mentally thanked for not being in your body.

- You'll have to get used to this. - You helped him clean himself up.

- This is supposed to be the moment when you are supposed to help me look on the bright side of things. - He opened a small smile still scratching his eyes. Vision quickly remembered something and opened his still red eyes and looked startled at you.

- What now?

- Damn, what are we going to do with Wanda? - You widened your eyes.

- Oh... Oh, shit! - You cursed.

- Vision, why didn't you call me yesterday?You said you would call me but I didn't get any call from you. Why didn't you call me? - questioned the redhead who had approached the two of them.

- I'm sorry... - She interrupted herself realizing the situation she was in. The girl who had her hands on her waist dropped them when she heard the other's voice. She turned her eyes away from Vision and looked at the girl, seeing how soaked she was, she tried to hold back her laughter.

- Your house ran out of water and the only way was to take a shower with a scratch pad?

- You hunchbacked ass...

You couldn't continue with the insult as Vision glared at you with his big brown eyes followed by an elbow in the arm subtly so that Wanda wouldn't notice.

wanda was surprised that Y/n didn't retort to her insults. But she paid no attention to it and turned her gaze back to the boy. He looked as if he was having an epileptic fit because he was so restless in his seat. Tension took over. Vision didn't know how to act in front of his girlfriend and you just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.

- Wanda I-I'm going to class now... - You tried to be as natural as possible in front of the other's attentive gaze on you. - Talk to you later, okay? - You improvised, slowly walking away taking Vision with you.

- Vision. - called him in a velvety voice making both of them stop their way. - Aren't you going to give me even a kiss?

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff x you #wanda maximoff #wanda x you #wanda x reader #wanda imagine #mcu fanfiction #marvel fanfiction #elizabeth olsen x reader #elizabeth olsen #wanda maximoff fluff #the scarlet witch

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sunnydaleherald · 1 year ago

Text

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Friday, September 29

VAMP WILLOW: (to Willow, sadly) This world's no fun. WILLOW: (surprised, empathetically) You noticed that, too?

~~Dopplegangland~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

California Sunshine by badly_knitted (Giles, PG)

California Sunshine by badly_knitted (Giles, G)

It Never Rains in Southern California by naoa-ao3 (Wesley, unrated)

Last Night by holetoledo (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Chaptered Fiction]

We Don't Know What's Around the Corner - Ch. 1-2 by the_widow_twankey (Angel/Spike, M)

streetlights in the dark blue - Ch. 2-3 by stargirltv (Buffy/Spike, Scoobies, Not Rated) COMPLETE!

Surprise, Surprise, the Unexpected Hits You Between the Eyes - Ch. 8 by the_widow_twankey (Angel/Spike, M) COMPLETE!

Forgetting Your Love - Ch. 3 by Jess_Ann_Perreault (Jenny, T)

The Bad Penny - Ch. 4 by OffYourBird (Buffy/Spike, E) COMPLETE!

A Marriage of Inconvenience - Ch. 2 by all_choseny (Buffy/Spike, R)

Destiny or Choices Made? - Ch. 4 by charmed4lifekaren (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Because I could not stop death - Ch. 19 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

A Place in the Sun - Ch. 31 by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

We're Going to be Friends - Ch. 11 by scratchmeout (Buffy/Spike, R)

The Neighbor's Point of View - Ch. 47 by the_big_bad (Buffy/Spike, PG)

From Hell with Love - Ch. 28 by temporarytitle (Buffy/Spike, R)

To All We Guard - Ch. 9 by Simmony (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

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marvelover-3000 · 2 years ago

Text

Wanda x Female Reader Ch. 3

My first few months at the compound flew by pretty quickly, I was becoming fast friends with a lot of the team. All except for Wanda, which I should have expected knowing that my dad was part of the cause for so much of her pain. I honestly wouldn't blame her for her coldness towards me but none the less things have been great around here. I have been sleeping on the couch in the lab most nights whenever I don't feel like making the trip home to my apartment.

This being one of those mornings that I'm in the kitchen getting breakfast, when Natasha walks in " You know Tony and Steve would be on board for you moving in to one of the spare rooms here."

I turn to her and smile " I know which is why I have a plan for moving in and getting to go on missions with you guys." She then arches an eyebrow curiously and asks " don't you think your jumping the gun a little with wanting to go on missions already. You have only been training for a month with me, Clint and Steve."

"Yeah, but since there going to say yes to me moving in I just figured what do I have to lose trying to prove my value to the team. Which is why I'm going to take my breakfast with me to the training room and start with my grand plan." I grab my smoothie and start walking to the training room determined. "Just remember to be careful and if you need anything me and Wanda weren't needed for the recon mission so were here for you." I give a wave of acknowledgment as I make my way to the training room.

Just then Wanda walks into the kitchen "Good I thought she would never leave, I've been waiting to make breakfast." Natasha then sighs "You really should stop blaming Y/N for Tony's mistakes, it's not her fault and she's just trying to figure out her life. I think you guys could just be friends if you just talked to her." Wanda then scoffs " I don't blame her for what happened but she's still part stark and that part of her I will never get along with."

Meanwhile I was currently training and programing the Iron Legion with some simple hand to hand combat training exercises. Which was going pretty well until it wasn't. "Alright let's kick it up a notch and have a 1 on 2. Legion 101 and 102, Commence advanced hand to hand combat." I got in my fighting stance ready for them, when they just stood there motionless. I stood there confused until one of them suddenly raised their arms ready to fire there propulsors at me.

"Umm Legion 102 stand down now." I said franticly. Only it didn't and now I found myself dodging beams left and right. Luckily, I found an opening and rushed out of the room with 2 Iron legion bots following me. I start to run to the armory needing a suit to help dismantle the terror bots I had somehow created. I arrived and got into the armory closing the door behind me. "Alright Y/N time to suit up, not really how I envisioned my first time in a suit, but I guess this is good practice." I get my dad's MK 6 since its one of my personal favorites. "Little tight in the chest area but I guess this is made for a guy so." Just then I see the bots outside the window. "Well guess my suit training begins now." With that said the face plate goes down and the suit Hud appears all around me.

"Hello Y/N, Mr. Stark said you wouldn't be practicing for another few months when your suit is complete." As I was processing the news Friday just told me about my future suit, the legion bots broke down the door to the lab. "Yeah, sorry Friday change of plans I'm practicing now." before the AI had time to respond the bots started running at me from across the room. "Dammit Y/N why didn't I think of this before." I say while somehow managing to avoid the bots punches. "Friday is there anyway, for you to shut them down." I then see an opening and deliver a satisfying punch to one of the bots knocking them down. "Alright I think I've got movement down at least. Friday how's it going shutting them down." "Working on it Ms. Stark, it should just take a moment." Before the other bot had a chance to fire a propulsor at me both the bots powered down and slumped over. "Both Legion bots have been shut down Ms. Stark, is there anything else I can do for you."

Before I could respond Natasha and Wanda came running in, looking around confused. "Hey guys, so don't mind the mess I've been doing some redecorating in the lab and maybe part of the training room as well." Natasha then shakes her head and smirks. "I can see that, you might want to take the suit off though. The rest of the team including your father will be back soon." I then step on the pad and not long after the suit is back in its case. I then turn to look at them "Thanks for the heads up Nat. So, what were you guys up to before I got your attention. Wanda then shot me a glare "I was enjoying my breakfast and watching tv before you had to ruin my morning." I then walked over to them with an apologetic look "Sorry about that Wanda, what were you watching." She turns around and starts to storm off with a frustrated growl. Natasha then turns to me "Just give her time, she'll come around eventually." I let out a sad sigh "I hope so, it's almost been 2 months and she still hate's me."

Before Natasha could respond an alarm goes off and Friday voice comes through the intercom. "Ms. Romanoff there's been an attack at a hospital downtown." Before Natasha could respond I started to panic. "Friday what Hospital downtown is being attacked." Just then the tv turned on in the lab with a live view of the hospital. In that moment my heart dropped, it was the same one my mom worked at as a nurse. "Friday where's my suit that my dad has been working on I need it now." Natasha then looked my way with a stern look on her face "Hold on Y/N, you aren't ready for missions yet. Wanda and I can handle things until the others get there." A case then opened up with my prototype suit. "I don't care my mom works there I have to go and make sure she's ok and help. Friday suit me up now." Natasha walked over to me with a soft expression "I know you want to help save your mom and people, but you can't go into a situation like this with no experience. You need to let Wanda and I handle this, you can help by helping people to safety away from the heavy fire." Just then Wanda walked in the room as soon as my suit was on. "I just saw the news, are we going to help." She looked at Nat waiting for an answer when the bay door opened for me to fly out. "See you guys there" with that I took off and flew towards the hospital. Natasha then turned to Wanda "We need to get there quick before she gets herself hurt."

Meanwhile with Y/N "I should tell you Ms. Stark your suit isn't fully combat ready and was only meant for training." Friday warned. "It's alright Friday as long as I can fly and shoot lasers from my hands I should manage. Also, could you just call me Y/N, my dad and I don't have the same last name." The AI quickly apologized, and we were then approaching the hospital. I flew up to the fifth floor knowing that was most likely where my mom was at since she mostly was on that floor. I entered through a broken window and into the hallway. "Friday, I need a full scan of the floor, I need to know how many civilians and bad guys are on this floor." Just then I could hear voices in a room not far away. As the scans came up confirming that the only people that were here were in the room, I started walking over. Before I could get there the door flew open revealing Rumlow the hydra double agent and his men.

They turned my way "Well and who do we have here, you're not Ironman." I then chuckled to myself "Yeah no shit sherlock I'm someone who you don't want to mess with right now." He then told his men to take the package to the truck. "If your here to save people try another floor, I just had to take care of a nurse. She did say over my dead body, so I had to oblige her and end her life." My face turned to rage "You're a monster, when I'm done with you and find my mom. The police and avengers will have you in cuffs." He laughed and said, "Yeah well see about that rookie."

With that he lunged at me and we began exchanging blows or in this case he was throwing punches at me and I was trying to dodge, knowing that I'm no match for a trained agent. "Y/N there's been multiple contusions." I then responded out of breath "Yeah I noticed Fri thanks." While I was responding to Friday and catching my breath Rumluw wasn't letting up throwing punch after punch a few connecting with my face. I then was knocked to the ground and picked up. I could feel my suit being broken down by all the fighting. Before I knew it I was against the wall taking punch after punch repeatedly to my midsection. "Friday, I don't know how much more the suit and I can take. I need countermeasures against this guy now."

Before the AI could respond I was being thrown up 3 floors onto the roof of the hospital. I managed to get up slowly while coughing. Rumlow then appeared "Figured you would like a good view of me escaping." I then turned around to see a helicopter was approaching. I turned back around just in time to be met with another punch to the gut. "Looks like stark didn't do to well in training you." I recovered and tried sending a punch his way but I was too tired and slow. He dodged to the side and grabbed me and said, "Maybe I'll see you again for round 2." With that he picked me up and threw me off the roof.

Next thing I know I'm falling trying frantically to use my thrusters, but they keep sputtering and failing, probably due to the suit taken serious damage and being a prototype. Before I know it, I hit the ground hard and see Rumlow escaping. I try and get up but fall back down defeated and in a lot of pain. I then look over to see Natasha running over to me looking concerned. "Y/N, are you ok, what happened up there." I couldn't respond though feeling lightheaded and out of breath. Natasha then knelt beside me and asked Friday to open my suit. When the AI did Natasha face fell. She could already tell I had a major concussion and broken ribs, probably some internal bleeding. "We need to get you to the med bay, the rest of the team should be here in the Quinjet soon." She then picked me up carefully and took me over to an ambulance. "Nat where's my mom I need to know she's ok." I said weakly. "I'm sure she's fine, there weren't to many casualties." Just then I heard an officer say there bringing down another body from the fifth floor. "Wait that's the nurse that rumlow killed before I got there, the one I couldn't save." I said with tears starting to form in my eyes. Wanda then came over to Natasha and I. "Nat all the civilians have been cleared and some of the men that attacked have been arrested." She turned to the younger women and nodded "Good work Wanda, I need to check in with the police. Can you keep Y/N company and make sure she stays put."

With that she walked away leaving Wanda and I alone. "You really should have just stayed behind and helped with civilians you know, maybe he wouldn't have escaped then." I then scoffed "Yeah well my mom works at the hospital so I wasn't thinking." She then turned to me with a sad expression "I didn't know, I'm sorry" Before I could respond to her shocking statement of sympathy. The officers had a body on a stretcher most likely the one person I couldn't save. I looked over at the body as they passed by, and I felt my world stop. I got to my feet and hobbled over to the stretcher as the police were putting the body into an ambulance. Ignoring Wanda voice calling my name. "Wait, I need to see the body, I think I know them." The police then turned my way and unzipped the bag revealing my worst fears. It was my mom, her neck was turned to the side, and she had bruises all over face. I stumbled back in disbelief and couldn't stop mumbling no over and over to myself. Natasha then came running over and caught me as I fell to the ground in a fit of sobs and screams. Natasha just held me while stroking my hair as I cried into her shoulder.

The Quinjet came shortly and took everyone back to the compound and me to the med bay. My mom's face never leaving my mind as I got scans from Bruce and bandages over my wounds. I wasn't listening to anything Bruce was saying just sitting there motionless. I looked up and met my dad's worried expression. The door opening brought me out of my thoughts as I looked up to see Bruce leaving the room, leaving me and my dad alone. "Guess you can yell at me and ban me from the lab now." I said not meeting his eyes. He walked over by my bed and looked down at me "Y/N I'm not mad, testing out suits and fighting legion bots. Its stuff I would do if I were in your place, hell I wouldn't be able to just sit and watch while everyone fights without me. I would want to train with suits and fight to." I then turned to look up at him "Yeah and how did going in without a plan and no training work out for me." I then slowly got up, "Woah there Y/N you need to take it easy and rest." I turned to him with a scowl, "No, what I need to do is help track down that monster." With that I made my way to the common area with my dad following closely behind.

Wanda was in the kitchen making something while Clint and Natasha were on the couch talking. They all looked over as I walked in with my dad. "Y/N just slow down, I have Friday searching for Rumlow as we speak. When she finds him well be ready." I turned to him clutching my side, with a cold look on my face "When we do find him, I need to be the first person you inform got it. Then we go and I can take out that monster for good." I made my way to the couch across from Clint and Natasha as my dad sat down in the chair next to me. "Y/N, I know your hurting right now but when we find Rumlow he will be taken in and serve time the right way." I turned to him with fury in my eyes "I don't care what any of you say. I'm not sparring him, not after what he did to me and all those people. I'm going to kill him even if I die trying." My dad then snapped "Kid you almost did die, so when we do find him, I'm not letting you go with us. Your to emotionally close to this and I wont let you make a mistake or get killed. Your mom would've wanted me to keep you safe." I then cut him off and got up "Don't you dare say that you didn't know her. You didn't even know I existed so don't act like your my dad cause the only father figure I had, my mom's fiancé, died when I was in high school." He got up and looked at me "Y/N, I know I made mistakes but I'm here for you now, if you'll just let me"

I scoffed and walked into the kitchen grabbing some vodka. "Don't walk away from me Y/N and put the vodka back now." Tony yelled from the living room. "I'm an adult and I can do whatever I want. Sorry for me wanting to take the edge off of seeing my mom dead." Wanda and the others just looked at me not sure what to do or say. I then took the vodka and made my way to the spare room that was cleared out for me and slammed the door, collapsing on the bed crying while actually taking sips of vodka hoping to take the pain away.

#wanda x reader #wanda x female reader #marvel

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