#like in some ways i wish i'd gotten closer seats but at least i wasn't on the floor forced to stand the whole time

[my5hiningstars]

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[uswntfics]

Mates?

Hi everyone! I hoped you enjoyed this! I tried to combine my loves of soulmate/mate stories and the USWNT. I hope you enjoyed it! I'm considering continuing this, I'd love your thoughts. Also any feedback and requests for plots and/or mated pairs will be welcomed!

Y/N sighed as she pulled on her #4 Becky Sauerbruun USWNT jersey. She shouldn't be so anxious and upset as she was. She had great seats to see the USWNT for crying out loud!!

But as an omega that still hadn't found her mate/mates yet she wasn't excited about all of the pheromones, especially since her social anxiety was going to be through the roof with the crowd and seeing some of my heroes and celebrity crushes. She just wishes her Best Friend Jen would have been able to come with me as planned, but she had gotten a call about a family emergency last minute. Jen had given Y/N a pep talk and talked her into going by herself.

Y/N took a deep breath and walked through the stadium, finding her section. She did her best to take deep breaths and try to ignore the overpowering pheromones. Luckily it was a little windy today which helped dispel some of the smells enough not to send her into a panic attack. She walked all the way down and was shocked to see that she was in the first row, right beside Team USAs bench. She looked at the ticket and the row again and again to make sure she wasn't reading the ticket wrong.

"Holy shit how did Jen pull this off?" She mumbled to myself, walking to where my seat was on the way end. Right to the edge of the tunnel that the players would walk out of.

Y/N made sure that she left the seat that Jen was going to sit in between her and the rest of the row, easing her anxiety just a little bit. She pulled out her phone and texted Jen.

Y/N: How the hell did you pull this off? You didn't kill anyone did you?!

Jen: Lol no you dork! My friend's Dad manages the stadium and he knew that you and I are big fans of the USWNT so he offered me these seats.

Y/N: Omg that's amazing! I'm so sorry you can't come. 😭😭 How's everything going? I hope everything is okay.

Jen: Everything is okay right now. My brother was in a car accident. He's in surgery now but he's stable thankfully.

Y/N: Oh no! I'm so sorry! I'm so glad he's okay! Tell everyone I wish my best!

Jen: I will and have fun! Get lots of pics for me and maybe even meet your mate! 😜

Y/N: Oh shush you dumb alpha or I'll get Amy on your ass if you tease me again.

Jen: Oh come on! Don't threaten me with my mate! Anyway I should get going. Have fun and you'll be okay I promise. Call me if you have problems with your anxiety okay?

Y/N: I will.

By the time she looked up from her phone the stadium was starting to fill up. Y/N shuffled feeling her anxiety starting to amp up. She took a few deep breaths and was able to calm down just as the team started to pour out of the tunnel right past her. People pushed heragainst the side of the tunnel to get closer as the goalkeepers passed by and she started to panic slightly. "Hey be careful guys, we don't want anyone crushed." Ashlyn Harris called causing people to calm down a little.

Y/N sighed in relief and smiled gratefully at Ashlyn who just winked at her and waved making me blush slightly. Soon the whole team was out on the field and most of the seats in the stadium were filled.

She looked up as a group of obnoxious men who were of course all alphas. One of them wolf whistled at her with a stupid grin on his face making her roll her eyes.

Before she could worry too much about the dumb alphas causing problems the walkout video started and she cheered with the crowd as the 2 teams walked out. She felt a little weird as the first few USA players passed her, but brushed it off as excitement and anxiety.

The game seemed to fly by, Y/N had been able to push back her anxiety and enjoy the game, cheering on the women she has looked up to forever.

However the alpha male who had wolf whistled her before the game has gotten closer and closer to her as he seemed to drink more and more of the overpriced beer that the stadium was selling.

"Come on little omega I can show you a good time." the guy slurred again, moving even closer. His friends just laughed and cheered him on making Y/N even more uncomfortable.

The final whistle of the game had blown a while ago and the team was doing a cool down. The guy took this as his cue to sit next to Y/N in what would have been Jen's seat throwing his sweaty arm around her.

"Um no thanks." she stammered out, her eyes scaning around desperately trying to find someone to help her as the group had her blocked into the row. But everyone was focused on the players who were now walking around signing autographs.

"Come on omega you know you want me." He slurred with a sick smirk on his face, he moved his arm down to try to grope her chest. Y/N smacked his arm away out of instinct.

The alpha's eyes filled with rage. He smacked Y/N in the face and put his hands around her throat.

"How dare you you dumb omega bitch!" The alpha screamed.

"Stop please!" YN sobs. The alpha just snarled and goes to tighten his hands. Y/N claws at the hands around her neck and kicks out flailing her elbows to try to hit her attacker but his hold just gets tighter and Y/N feels her muscles give in as they slowly go limp. Y/N waits for the world to turn black as she starts to weaken, unable to fight back; her strength gone.

Y/N waited for her world to turn black. However she felt the hands around her neck be ripped off and feels herself lifted up. She fights to open her eyes as her breath speeds up as her panic finally reaches her.

"Shhhh it's okay, we got you."  Y/N blinked her eyes and saw that Ashlyn Harris was holding her up and  Ali Krieger putting her hand on her shoulder.

"Try to copy my breathing." Ali Krieger said, her tone soft, as if talking to a wounded animal.

Ashlyn gritted her teeth as she held the omega between her and Ali,, trying to stay calm and not go after the dumbass alpha she had ripped the poor girl away from. But it looked like Tobin, Hope and Pinoe had that covered as Hope growled at the cowering Alpha as the 3 held him down, waiting for security to arrive.

"Hey do you.." She started to ask Ali, wondering if they should look at the omega's phone to see if they could find a mate or at least some sort of emergency contact.

However Ashlyn was cut off by a ferocious growl coming closer to them. Ashlyn and Ali turned to see Becky of all people marching toward them her growl becoming louder.

"Whaaaa?" Ali started to ask before Becky gently scooped the panicking omega up in her arms. The omega looked up, scared it was her attacker again but froze when she looked into the alpha's blue eyes. Y/N felt the mate bond click into place, her breathing starting to settle slightly.

"Just copy my breathing little one, we won't let anyone hurt you."

We? Y/N was trying to calm down enough to ask her newfound mate what she meant when a tall alpha quickly walked up to the pair making Y/N freeze in terror.

Becky's growl trailed off at the sight of her alpha mate walking toward them. "What's wrong Becks?" Alyssa quietly asked her mate. Her mate was normally calm so she knew it must be something big.

"I found her. Well Ash and Ali found her after some asshole hurt her" Becky uncharacteristically babbled, absentmindedly soothingly running her fingers through Y/N's hair, making the omega settle even more.

"You found who?" Alyssa asked, not wanting to get her hopes up.

"Our omega." Becky smiled. Alyssa looked at the young omega cowering in Becky's arms. There was no way, they had looked for so long...

The keeper's thoughts were cut off when her older alpha mate softy said "Look up baby girl, she won't hurt you."

Becky gently tipped Y/N's chin up. Y/N's anxious eyes met those of the deceivingly gentle keeper's and froze as she felt the mating bond again.

She had finally found her mates?! Y/N's mind whirred even as Becky carried her and Alyssa's omega mate to the tunnel toward the locker room.

Alyssa released a warning growl at any of her teammates that tried to get close to her girls until the triad disappeared into the locker room.

The team stood, frozen, trying to understand what the hell just happened.

"Well I'll be damned." Tobin muttered, only to be smacked by the hands of her fellow new kids, the mated pair giving their friend disapproving glares.

"Well this will be interesting, that's for sure.” Christie muttered since she was done helping Hope and the other veterans deal with security.

The rest of the team nodded, hesitatingly heading toward the locker room, not wanting to be attacked by their alpha teammates for interrupting their meeting with their mate.

[bumbershots]

A CERTAIN ROMANCE

CHAPTER FOUR: SILENCE COMES AND GOES

Author’s note: Hello! We continue with this, I would like to thank everyone once again for all the likes and reblogs the story has gotten so far, couldn’t be happier! Enjoy (:

Story masterlist ** Word count: 2.9K **

It is possible that Harry is ignoring the big elephant in the room, as he spreads some jam in his crumpet, well aware of Fernando and Jack exchanging knowing looks. He takes a bite of the savoury treat and hopes none of them dare to confront him, at the same time he wants to be questioned about why he hasn't called Alma yet.

Harry spent the last two weeks grumpy and frustrated.

He's called his therapist way too many times. He has no idea where he went wrong in his healing process. They were back to square one, whispered his tired heart.

Jack is surprised too, his friend got on so well with Alma at the party and apparently even went the extra mile asking for her number then he spent the following fourteen days acting as if she didn’t exist. Didn't even text her like Gemma suggested. He sips his coffee and sighs for the millionth time that day.

The musician is infuriated at himself and desperate that he wants to have Fernando demand an explanation for his behaviour towards his sister. Harry's not a confrontational guy, but he's going mad. Might be losing it. He wanted to scream at the two men before him that he did plan on calling Alma, but then he got so sad. Now he's afraid it's too late.

"Do you want another one?" Fernando holds the plate with crumpets in front of Harry who takes one more and thanks him before grabbing the jam. "Do you reckon you'll be man enough to call my sister within the next couple of days?" Harry chokes on his food while Jack's laughter booms through their home.

Nobody has ever called him out like that. Harry's still unsure whether to be grateful or scared. Maybe a bit of both he thinks after composing himself again from the fit of coughs, he knows Fernando is still waiting for an answer.

"Is she upset about it?" A hint of relief and pride linger on Harry's voice. Jack shakes his head, knowing that he's avoiding the question. Something he's very good at.

"That's not what I asked." Fernando's clipped tone leaves no room for the musician to beat around the bush anymore.

"I was really nervous about calling her, kept putting it off until days turned into weeks... I'm not sure how to go about it," he plays with his rings and looks away from the inquisitive gaze of his companions.

"How did you get Taylor to go out with you?"

"What?" Harry and Jack ask at the same time.

"You must've asked her I guess," Fernando shrugs. "What is so scary about Alma that puts you off? Are you interested in just a shag and you're worried she'll decline or tell the media about it?" Harry is shaking his head vigorously and the dark haired architect leans a bit closer towards him, "you're so full of sh-”

"Alright let's take a break," Jack's soothing tone brings his house mate back from the rage path he was following. But Harry knew that he was right.

It had been a year already, he moved to a new house, one where his ex never set foot into and still her ghost was everywhere. He has this crazy need to destroy everything that can relate to her. Her favourite cardigan is kept away in a box full of Polaroids and books that are all her.

The real reason why he didn't dare to call Alma is because whatever he felt at the beginning of his previous relationship, or any other one, was at least ten times less intense, than what he was feeling now. Seeing the menace before them, his heart and mind decided to leave him courage-less towards the situation. It's less painful to think what could've been than to know it and see it being taken away from you. Again.

But he deserves to be happy, that's what Gemma reminded him the other day.

"I gotta go," Fernando announces before rising from his seat, walking inside the house and upstairs to his room. Jack tries to tidy up the table a bit, not daring to look at his apparently mute friend. When Fernando comes back down he steps outside to the patio where they had brunch, one last glance to a very ashamed Harry and he sighs. "Brigit's Bakery Classic Afternoon Tea Bus. Alma’s been dying to get tickets but never has the time to actually book it," he explains adjusting his jacket's collar. "It's not too late." With that he turns on his heel and leaves the house.

Harry takes their mugs and places them in the sink, he notices Jack is going around the kitchen putting away the butter and milk in the fridge.

"What are you waiting for Romeo?" The blue eyed man asks, stopping in front of a blushing Harry.

They're both quiet for a minute. Harry's heart is racing and can feel his hands get clammy. He hasn't felt someone's faith in a long time, and he's not sure if he's happy or pressured that Fernando and Jack are pushing him to call Alma, he doesn’t even know if she will give him a chance. Harry's wishing to be the kind of guy to take out his mobile and make the call, maybe even crack a witty joke that will have Alma laughing in that loud way he remembers and not be awkward with asking her out on a date. As if he wasn't completely mortified by being rejected.

Harry was sure he would ruin it, not just the call but the date and everything else that was actually going to happen between them without even trying first.

"Hello?" She answers after the third ring, confused at the unknown number calling her.

"Yeah it's me," Harry nods to Jack who urges him to finish whatever sentence he's trying to form, "I believe I owe you some coffee."

"Harry?" Alma tries to fight back a laugh. A wide smile splitting her face after recognising who is the mystery caller.

"Yes! Sorry I forgot you didn't have my number." Jack is red with second hand embarrassment for his friend and decides to start the dishwasher just to keep his eyes from the train wreck happening in his kitchen. "I'm sorry for not calling sooner."

"You're calling now, 's all that matters... I'd love to get that coffee. Next Thursday works for you?" He nods feverishly and remembers he's on the phone.

"Of course, I'll pick you up at five if that's alright."

"Make it half past five please, that's when my shift ends. I'll text you the address." She throws the latter smoothly as an excuse to initiate conversation until they meet again and Harry is oblivious about it.

"Sure great, perfect I'm... really looking forward to seeing you," he plays with the tea towel on the counter, his back turned to Jack, a million butterflies fluttering in his stomach when he hears the coy chuckle his confession got out of her. "Have a good day, see you later."

"See you later, Harry" Alma's goodbye is full of hope and endearment, just like the one he got before she walked away from him that morning after Freddie’s birthday party.

After ending the call, he mentally scolds himself for dreading it so much. It went so much better than expected, even got a laugh out of her. Perhaps Harry needed to stop making decisions based upon his fears and more taking in consideration the other person. He always thought he knew best, it's what he's been told for so many years and although he needs to be making big choices most of the time, perhaps now he could share that responsibility. Felt dead nice for a change.

"That wasn't so bad." He admits to Jack before drying the now clean dishes with a towel.

"I'm proud of you, now tell me, where are you guys going for that coffee?" Jack's eyes are full of curiosity and excitement, it's impossible for Harry not to feel a chill go down his spine at the prospect of planning the date. He thinks about what Fernando suggested, but it would be too obvious that it wasn't his idea entirely.

Alma deserves something exclusively planned by him.

"Don't know yet, perhaps somewhere nice and quiet" he ponders and his friend agrees.

Last time Harry had a proper first date was about two years ago or so. He cooked aubergine parmigiana following Jamie Oliver's recipe and baked some biscuits for dessert that he enjoyed with his companion overlooking the Pacific Ocean from his home's balcony. Back then it seemed to be the right choice to keep it low-key, a simple dinner at his, no risk at all to be bothered or watched. But Harry knew that at some point it got old, being overly discreet was easily mistaken for being ashamed of the relationship. That kind of thing can do a lot to someone's confidence, little by little until it's all too much to bear.

If he could only learn not to care about the world's prying eyes.

Harry doesn't want to drag anyone into the scrutiny of the media until he knows it's an incorruptible bond. The inevitable thought of forever, something he believes might not exist for him, at times. He did think Taylor was it, even Kendall for a while, which is why he dated more publicly back then, until she came along and the love Harry felt was so grand it made him overly protective of them. Countless times he tried to explain that this was the first time something was working in spite of all the circumstances that came with his life and he was trying to cherish it, keep it to himself. Nurture it until it was as tough as old boots.

That night was spent writing down ideas for that first date. Number one was The river café, near Putney Bridge, a place free of paparazzi. Number two, Rail house café, lovely spot to share dinner. Number three The sanctuary café, located in a beautiful building with a quirky environment. Number four and his personal favourite Lola's bakery, their service was so warm and intimate, he remembers the cinnamon Chelsea bun and his mouth waters instantly. So, drawing a big circle around the fourth option he smiles before going to bed that night.

Saturday morning finds Harry at his grandparents’ old home, carrying a bag full of ingredients for a vegetarian lasagna he is planning to cook for his grandfather and his mum. He immediately banishes Anne from helping in the kitchen. She observed him follow the recipe, cooking for no longer than ten minutes the garlic, thyme and aubergine, and then crumble over the chilli carefully. He lets her grate the Parmesan when the sauce isn’t thickening and reducing like it was supposed to. With a bump of her hip, she nodded towards a couple of tomatoes, Harry smiled before tipping them in, breaking them with a spoon and five minutes later, the sauce was ready.

His mother is a marvellous woman, like the good son he is, Harry doesn't want to make her sad, ever. The last time he visited her, recently broken hearted, they spent it baking, cooking, eating sweets and drinking hot chocolate at the rear terrace. Once he had enough of moping around, he decided to make it up to her and create good memories from that visit. They explored the local parklands as if it was the first time, shared ice cream, got tipsy on cheap red wine and chatted from dusk till dawn.

A few hours later, after eating the delicious meal and tidying up the kitchen afterwards, Harry watches his mum talking to his grandad, holding his shaky hand in hers and caressing it in a soothing way. The elder man’s Parkinson is getting worse with time, he feels so useless, specially because it affects his favourite people. He wants to know what his mother is thinking when she joins him back in the kitchen. There is some anguish dancing in her kind eyes, but Harry knows better than to push her to share something she is not ready to.

"I have a date next Thursday," he chokes out, in hopes of distracting her, and it works. Anne's head whips towards her youngest child, evidently shocked and yet proud. It's been years since Harry shared that kind of information with her.

"A proper date?"

"Yes," he wants to add how nervous it makes him. "I dunno how serious it'll get... just met her once, properly I mean, we saw each other on the tube's carriage three times prior to it. Coincidentally of course, Gem said it is something straight out of a film."

"Who is she?" His mother is giving him that look, the one that says how giddy she is to know absolutely everything about the person that got her son so skittish, that he started to rearrange the containing of the cupboards entirely.

"Her name is Alma," he doesn't know where to start, if he spills all the ways in which he thinks she is wonderful, they'll end up pulling an all-nighter.

"And she's a...?"

"Cashier during the week, Spanish teacher on the weekends and occasional interviewer for her Youtube channel." Anne raises her eyebrows, impressed and wondering why such a busy girl agreed to go on a date. Must like him a lot of course, she thinks watching her son pour hot water on a mug, and dunking a tea bag in it afterwards.

"Where did you meet her if not on the tube?'' She is curious and weary. This wouldn't be the first time her youngest spawn overlooked certain things from strangers. Very little things in Harry's life were coincidences nowadays.

"Remember Jack Robinson?" his mum nodded, how could she forget the cheeky chap that helped Harry escape almost every night from his dad's house in the summer, just to go skate in Southbank's center until midnight. Anne admitted to not liking the bloke for a while, but gave him another chance after watching him grow into a responsible adult. "He's in charge of my home renovation, extension whatever it is called. Invited me to Freddie's birthday party and she was there." The dreamy look on his eyes when reminiscing the moment brought out a wide smile on his mum's face followed by her loud laughter.

"Oh Harry, you've got that look." it was the truth. He looked completely gobsmacked by his mother's reaction, but he couldn’t deny the peace he felt when knowing that she was already fond of the girl that he couldn’t get out of his mind.

"It’s too soon to tell!” He doesn’t want to dive into it, not yet. 

"How did you really meet? I want all the details." Anne asked, taking a seat at the coffee table and Harry told her everything.

From the first glance he stole her way to the last phone call he had yesterday at Jack and Fernando's house, his hands flew several times to tussle his hair and the dimple on his left cheek was exquisite, when telling his mother, how she asked him to dance with her. He spared no detail, from her intoxicating Moschino perfume to her raspy accented voice. By the time he finished, his mum's mug was empty but her heart was full. For so long she wondered if she would ever witness the beauty of Harry in love again and enjoy first-hand the way he spoke about that person in the sweetest manner, the high-pitched tone of his voice when finally admitting how nervous he actually was about this first date.

"Right, well in that case, stop thinking about how everything is going to go wrong." Easier said than done, Harry thinks but nods. "I'm sure whatever you planned will sweep her off her feet." Anne knew how much of a romantic her boy was, he went all out in that department. His best quality and Achilles heel.

"If the cupcakes from that place don't... I could literally do it." Harry plucks a banana from the fruit bowl before them and narrows his eyes when his mum rolls her eyes at him playfully.

His mother's reassurance made him feel less hopeless, the next day when they went to Sheffield's city center, she even picked out a couple of new mugs. 'Just in case we have new visitors at home.' Harry groaned but failed to hide the dreamy look in his eyes, he even crossed his fingers behind his back as he watched her pay for the cups. The thought of Alma meeting his mother in the near future —and the rest of his loved ones— excited him to an unfamiliar degree, like the first time he saw the seaside with his own eyes at a very young age, like that time he sang in front of a considerable amount of people, like a warm hug of his late grandmother. The idea that she may like him enough to agree to a second date is stuck on his brain, despite that they haven't even survived the first one.

Anne saw him enjoy himself the rest of that afternoon and the next morning before he had to go back to London. She sighed and watched him drive away, standing in her front door for a few more minutes, rejoicing on the memory of Harry's toothy grin. Usually she was careful and waiting for the other shoe to drop, but not this time. There was a bit of certainty in the unfamiliar situation, something she couldn't quite put her finger on, she decided to patiently wait and see. She hummed a familiar tune while putting away the new additions to her crockery. The same song her son decided to play on his journey back home.

Qué será, será. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. Qué será, será.

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[existing-on-cloral]

Brooklyn's Night Terrors

A Steve Rogers X Reader Fanfiction

The pretty scientist working to eradicate a vigilante villain catches the eye of the former Captain America. He jumps back into the time machine, becoming young again in order to live out a new life with his best friends, and perhaps her.

Paradise has a price, however.

The tracked vigilante kidnaps Sam Wilson and leaves the shield for Steve to take up one last time. Reluctantly, Steve takes on the mantle of Captain America once more as he teams up with his old pal Bucky Barnes and the beautiful and deadly smart scientist.

"Lust can cloud the mind, but love makes it clear as day."

Chapter Three: Hero's Duty

Steve takes up the shield again. His scientist isn't impressed. Nevertheless, he instructs her to pick up his backup soldier.

The room he had been escorted to was tiny, with only a couch and a coffee table. Steve assumed it was some sort of break room for employees. He definitely needed a break after hearing the news on Sam.

"Mr. Rogers?"

Steve jumped, spinning around to see you standing in the door way. "Oh, hello," he said. "What can I do for you?"

You held out the package you had been carrying. "Agent Carter asked me to bring these to you." Your eyes shone in the lights of the room, giving off an almost magical feel to them. When Steve stepped closer, however, he saw that your eyes were brimming over with tears.

"What's the matter?" he asked, digging around in his pocket for a handkerchief.

At this, you dropped the package and burst into tears, hiding your face in your hands. Steve stopped his search immediately and tilted your chin up. "Don't hide your face," he whispered. "Tell me what's wrong."

You sniffed, dropping your hands to your sides. "It's just... Sam and I went out for coffee and we stayed out all afternoon. When we were... when we decided to leave, Sam... Sam offered to take me back to the compound." You looked Steve dead in the eye, stepping closer to him. "Then she appeared."

Steve tugged you over to the couch and sat, pulling you next to him. He put his arm around your shoulders and, finally finding his handkerchief, wiped away your tears. "Who appeared?"

"The Blue Reaper," you choked out, clutching at Steve's hand like it was a lifeline. "She was after me, I know it. She shot at me but Sam took the dart instead." You sobbed into the handkerchief. "Typical. The first guy Sharon sets me up with that I actually might like, and he gets kidnapped."

Steve's heart dropped into his stomach. "Oh, I'm so sorry," he managed, even though his throat was constricting and he feared that he may never be able to show his face to Sam again. You liked Sam.

You liked Sam.

Still, Sam was his best friend, and he couldn't just let him stay kidnapped for the purpose of keeping you close. "I promise," he started, then remembered how easily he had broken a promise to a woman before. But he couldn't turn back now. "I promise that I will do my best to get Sam back."

You threw your arms around him and your cries quieted. "I believe you," you whispered.

Steve relaxed, stroking your hair. "Oh, I almost forgot. What's in the package?"

You laughed. Steve loved your laugh. "Open it," you said, retrieving it from the floor and handing it to him.

"It's not gonna jump at me or anything, right?" he joked, taking it and tearing off the brown paper. He pulled open the flaps of the box and froze. Inside was his old uniform, not the one from the 40s, but the one he'd been wearing when he went into the past.

"If you're gonna wield the shield again, you need a proper suit." You patted the box's side, smiling down at it fondly. "You probably don't remember this, but before S.H.I.E.D. collapsed, Tony asked me to help him design some upgrades for the team. I added the magnets to your suit, as well as Natasha's."

Steve pulled the suit out of the box. "Well, if I'm gonna find Sam, I gotta get to it. New York is a big place." A thought began to form. "Maybe I'll need some help."

You crossed your arms, staring him down. "I appreciate your promise... and your bravery and loyalty towards your friends... but don't you think you deserve a break? Give Bucky the shield, and he can work on the red in his ledger."

He gave you a look. "Sam's my friend, and I chose him to take the shield. If I have to use it to get him back, I'm perfectly fine with taking it up one last time." You still weren't convinced. "Besides, Bucky's done so much for me. It would be wrong to ask him to fight again when he's just gotten an opportunity for a break."

"So then, who's your backup?" You fingered the fabric of the suit, refusing to meet his eye.

"Well, I was hoping you'd come with to look for clues, DNA samples and the like." Your head snapped up and you stared at him, eyes wide. "It'll be okay. I'll protect you."

You shook your head. "It's a good idea, and I'd be happy to, but I meant, like, people with super stuff who can actually fight." You stared down at yourself, wishing you were a little stronger so you could at least use a gun or something.

"Don't worry." Steve gave you a smile. Not a Captain America smile, a Steve smile. Your heart warmed immediately. Steve patted you on the shoulder. "I'll give you an address, you go pick him up. Can you do that for me?"

Could you do that for Steve? Um, yes you could.

"Any way I can help," you promised. "Just know, I'm worried. You deserve a lifetime of rest since you spent a lifetime fighting for the world."

Steve sighed and stood, fingers moving to the buttons on his shirt. "I know. I also know my friend's in danger." He undid the top button and slowly worked his way down.

"What... What are you doing?" you blurted. Steve turned, realizing what he was doing.

"I was going to put the suit back on," he said, shirt hanging open, revealing more of his chest than you ever thought you'd see. Captain America indeed...

"Oh." You turned your head away. "I'll just... I'll just go." You stood, scrambling for the door.

"Wait," Steve said. He tore off some of the brown paper and pulled a pen out of his shirt pocket. (So he was one of those men.) "Here." He scribbled an address on the sheet and handed it to you. "Go pick him up, and call me when you've got him and he's safe."

You took the sheet, but your brow furrowed. "I don't have your phone number."

Steve nodded to the paper. You looked it over, and noted that he'd scribbled his number at the bottom. "Thank you."

Before he could actually take his shirt off, you left, slamming the door behind you. Everything that had just happened hit as you hurried to pick up one of the company cars. Steve had a. Partially undressed in front of you and b. Given you his phone number. You shook the feeling of excitement off, reminding yourself that it wasn't fair to Sam.

Find the backup, call Steve in a business-like manner, and save Sam. Easy enough.

You drove into the heart of New York City, passing through different neighborhoods as your GPS beeped out directions. It began to turn you further and further into strange neighborhoods, ones for people that had been displaced by "The Blip" as the news was calling it. You stopped outside of an apartment building and headed in, making sure to double lock the car. Paranoia was a part of being an agent and a scientist, but locking the car until it beeped was, to you, common sense.

The building had no security, no front desk, just a list of people that lived there. You found the name you were looking for and headed to the second floor. The actual apartment took a little longer to find, but you had experiences with apartment buildings, having lived in one yourself after college. Finally, you were knocking on the door of what you hoped was the correct apartment.

A woman opened the door, propping it open with her hip as she leaned against it. "Can I help you?" she asked.

You pulled out your badge from S.P.E.C.I.A.L. and introduced yourself. "I'm looking for your nephew."

She sighed, pushing her hair out of her eyes. Her face twisted in concentration, but she finally turned back and called out, "Peter? There's someone here to see you."

Behind the living room, a door opened and a young man stepped out. He carefully closed the door behind him, but not before you saw the legendary Spider-Man suit laying on his bed. He came over to the door, clearly in no hurry. "Hi," he said, voice timid. "I'm Peter."

You extended your hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Peter." You said your name in return, and he shook your hand.

"Are you going to arrest me?" he asked. For a second, you thought he was joking, but then you saw the fear in your eyes. He reminded you of yourself when you were his age. Scared to leave your house for fear of failing.

"No, Peter, I'm here to help." You held out your badge once again. "A friend of mine is in trouble, and... Well, let's just say Captain America wanted some backup."

Peter's eyes widened. "Can I go?" he asked his aunt, tone changing from scared to excited, just like that.

She sighed, ruffled her nephew's hair, and said, "Go get your suit. And be careful."

He ran to his room, throwing the door open and stuffing his suit into a backpack. Within seconds, he was back at the door. "I'm ready."

You thanked his aunt and led Peter to the car, opening the shotgun door for him. Once you got in the car, you locked the doors and started the engine. "I'm sorry for what happened in London," you said. "For what it's worth, I don't think you're a bad guy."

"That means a lot," Peter said, reaching for his seat belt. "I really appreciate it."

Then you remembered your promise to Steve and picked up your phone, inputting his phone number quickly and then hitting the call button. Realizing you didn't want to kill Peter because you weren't paying attention to the road, you put the phone on speaker. He picked up just as you were pulling out of your parking spot. "Hey, Steve," you greeted him.

Steve immediately asked, "Did you get him?"

"That's Steve Rogers!" Peter interrupted. "I thought he was old and that Mr. Wilson was the new-"

You cut Peter off quickly. "Yeah, I got him. He's excited to be back in the game." Glancing at Peter, you watching him bounce in his seat, clearly eager to talk to Steve again.

Steve laughed. "I can tell. Get him back to the compound and we'll get started searching." His tone warmed. "Be careful."

"I will," you promised. "Bye, Steve." He told you goodbye, and Peter hit the end call button for you.

"So he's back? Is he Captain America again?" Peter fired off questions one after the other, not giving you any time to answer. "Are you guys dating?" He stopped. "Sorry, that was probably really personal. It's just nice to be trusted for once."

You smiled. Peter was the most enthusiastic superhero you'd ever encountered. And he was nice, too. "Um, he's back to normal, but he's just Cap for a while, until we get Sam back. Sam's been kidnapped," you added, the fact that you hadn't even told Peter what was going on hitting you. "And, um, no, Steve and I are not dating."

Peter giggled. "Okay," he sang, turning to the radio. "Can I play some music?"

"Have at it," you said. Peter immediately pressed the on button. A beautiful melody played through the speakers.

"I want some rock," he muttered, messing with the tuning dial. "Where-" he stopped on a news station that was releasing the "newest information on the whereabouts of Mr. Peter Parker, accused of being the murderous vigilante Spider-Man". Immediately, he shut off the radio and slumped back in his seat. "They get closer every day," he mumbled.

Your heart swelled with sympathy for the young man. He had been through so much already and he wasn't even (technically) eighteen.

"Well, we'll just have to move you for a little while, then," you said, turning your head to smile at Peter. He smiled back, but then his eyes widened and his shorter hairs actually stuck up.

"Watch out!" he called, pointing to the road. You turned and almost screamed. Standing in the middle of the road was a soldier with a mask on, but his bleach-blond gave him away. Even worse was the symbol painted on the leather harness crossing his chest. It was a skull surrounded by snake heads.

"Hydra," you choked, just before Quicksilver shot out your tires and you skidded to a stop. Quickly, you pulled out your phone and, slamming on the gas even though that would screw over the wheels even more, you called Steve.

"Steve!" you screamed when he picked up. "Steve, I'm pulling out of Queens, a soldier just shot out my tires but I have to keep driving."

You could hear the clink of the shield as he ran. "I'm on my way! Tracking your car. Who was the soldier, do you know?" Smoke began to leak out of your engine and you coughed, doing your best not to inhale it, but Steve needed to know.

"Our fears have been confirmed," you panted, gesturing for Peter to put on his mask and get ready to fight if need be. "The Blue Reaper figured out the time machine and-" you broke down into coughs as your body fought the smoke filling the cabin, "-she's wasting no time. She brought back Quicksilver. Even worse, I was right."

"What do you mean?"

Taking a second to steady the car, even though it was about to crash, you finally got out. "The Blue Reaper works for Hydra."

In the split second before the car hit the building up ahead, Peter grabbed your waist, punched through the car ceiling, and swung you up to the top of the nearest safe building.

Down below you, the car burst into flames, but Quicksilver hadn't noticed Peter's rapid ascent. He ran up to the car, stopping before the flames could touch him. After a moment, long enough for you to open the sound magnification tech on your phone, he turned and said, "Targets are both dead. I'll go after Rogers next."

Your heart stopped.

Steve.

With trembling fingers, you send the audio to both Steve and Director Fury.

"What are we going to do?" Peter asked, fear apparent in his eyes even behind the mask.

You squinted into the street, watching Quicksilver disappear at top speeds. Though you had never had the personal pleasure of meeting the Sokovian speedster, you did know his sister, and you were one of the only people unafraid to approach her after his death.

"Call Wanda. We need to get through to him and sway him to our side if possible. And we need to stop the Blue Reaper from bringing... back... anyone else..."

With these brave words, the smoke you'd inhaled overtook your adrenaline and you passed out.

[roxxythebirbrps]

After Meal Clubbing 2

Jessica: finds a nice little corner on the dance floor putting him on the outer side and herself on the inside so he doesn't have to worry about him touching other people*

Sol: *He tries not to let his nervousness show - he was raised better, after all - as he watches the others dance. He looks back to her, feeling more awkward than he'd ever felt*

Jessica: *chuckles and takes his hands doing that little shake and sway dance that you do with little kids who don't know what to do*

Sol: *He huffs at this, but goes along with it, attempting to relax into the beat of the music and go with it*

Jessica: *laughs and lets go of one of his hands lifting the one she still had over her head and twirls herself*

Sol: *Smiles a little as he watches her do so, hand drifting to her hip to keep her steady as she twirled; it was the type of thing that happened in the dances he knew, after all*

Jessica: *laughs clearing having fun wanting him to have as much fun as she was but doesn't really know how*

Sol: *He smiles as he watches her; hers was contagious. He rocks a little to the music now. Still awkward and unsure, but a small part of him wanted to try it out properly, to see if it was as fun as it seemed to be*

Jessica: thats it! do what you feel like! *so happy he was getting it giggling to herself she twirls again then starts doing some solo dancing to see what he was going to do*

Sol: Oh please don't patronise. *He manages an awkward laugh, watching her as he attempts to do the same. He was drunk enough, at least, that he could attempt to copy the other men near him without feeling -too- foolish*

Jessica: *a song she knows comes on and she starts singing along with and decides to go back to dancing with Sol rather than leave him to dance on his own*

Sol: *He lets his hands drift to her hips as she dances closer, mimicking her movements as he had been taught to do in more conventional dances when the partner varied on purpose*

Jessica: *smiles* see this isn't so bad, right?

Sol: It .. isn't too bad, I suppose. *He smiles softly, continuing to dance, slightly more easier now*

Jessica: *loosely wraps her arms around his neck smiling* gooooood~ It's always good to try new things.

Sol: *Rolls his eyes at her, smiling as he watches her* You are much more beautiful when you are so happy. *He was taught always to compliment a woman when the need arose, and the alcohol made it less forced*

Jessica: *blushes lightly and smiles* well I do prefer to be happy than sad *chuckles but enjoys the compliment nonetheless*

Sol: *He chuckles as they dance, very briefly admiring the blush on her cheeks. He decided the alcohol had definitely affected him now; she was still a commoner, after all.* As do we all.

Jessica: it's good to see you smiling for the first time this whole night. guess that means your finally having fun or I've gotten you just the right amount of drunk *laughs*

Sol: *He smiles almost cheekily as he shrugs* I think it's a bit of both~

Jessica: you? Having fun? in a commoner way?! *fains being shocked* Never~ *laughs*

Sol: *He chuckles and rolls his eyes* One day, I will have to show you fun that I regularly partake in. It is quieter than this though, I'm afraid.

Jessica: well Now I know I'm not going to have any fun *smirks trying to emulate him and his skepticism*

Sol: *He nudges her playfully with his hip, an easy feat given their proximity* Have you ever been horse riding? I know my mother, and most females in our extended family, are partial to it. I'm efficient at it myself, so I could take you one time, if you wished. *He wasn't so against marrying this woman now, though he still had various points he disagreed with. At the moment, they were pushed to the back of his mind*

Jessica: *laughs at the nudge but smiles at the offer to take her out again* I'd love to go out horse back riding with you, though i will warn you, it's been a really long time since i've been on a horse *chuckles, learned when she was 7 but after that nothing*

Sol: We can ride one one together and I can teach you before I entrust you with one of my horses. I'm quite fond of them, you see. *Teasing slightly*

Jessica: oh yes because we both know that I'm skilled enough to run a horse into a tree *rolls her eyes but smiles none the less enjoying the teasing*

Sol: *He smiles softly, though his tone remains light* I wouldn't put it past you

Jessica: *laughs* well aren't you Mr. Mean *obviously doesn't mean it...too much*

Sol: I just have .. high expectation. *Smiles, shrugging, though the music picks up briefly and he pushes her into a spin, though he guides her to make sure she won't fall or even stumble*

Jessica: *squeeks slightly at the sudden unexpected spin but laughs as she comes full circle, now thiiiis was a date*

Sol: *He smiles as he watches her. He was getting used to the music now, and when it changes tempo, he alters his dance, this time lowering her into a dip. He was being -slightly- over-extravagant. But he had no reason not to be. These commoners had no class, so he was just showing that he did*

Jessica: *clutches her his arms as he puts her in a dip not wanting to fall* showing off are we? *laughs throwing her head back in the dip and kicking her leg up having never been dipped before*

Sol: *He chuckles and pulls her back to both feet and into a spin that would land her close against him* It's better than following their horrible lead. *He briefly indicates the other dancers*

Jessica: *laughs* oh yeah like there is much leading involved with that. You could be dancing by yourself then all of a sudden you have a guy dancing behind you like that.

Sol: It was sarcasm. *He smiles, releasing her so she could right herself as he continues to dance comfortably now*

Jessica: I know~ *she straightens herself out and goes back to dancing enjoying this greatly*

Sol: *After many other songs, and him artfully showing off at some point in each one, he lets out a breath* I don't suppose we could sit for some more drinks? I fear I'll collapse otherwise. *He wasn't used to doing so much and in a room filled with other hot bodies, he was slightly tired and hot, but he found himself unable to keep a light smile from his lips*

Jessica: of course, wouldn't want you passing out and getting your expensive clothes dirty~ *teasing him lightly taking his hand and walks him back to her booth*

Sol: They're very high quality, so of course I want to keep them clean.*Only half serious, he clutches at her hand as he carefully weaves between people. He hastily moves closer to her when he -swore- someone grabbed his ass.*

Jessica: *moves back to the booth and scoots in laughing breathing slightly hard from her dress being a little too tight for all the dancing she did* I'm thinking two ice waters before we go back to the booze *chuckles*

Sol: *He sits next to her* That sounds like a good idea. *Looks out into the crowd a little, feeling utterly violated* Some one groped me- What on earth makes someone do that to a stranger? *He huffs, blowing hair from his face as he removes his blazer, wearing a thin silk shirt beneath it; one that clung to him slightly by now to reveal his thin, and slightly lean, but mostly muscled torso - he ate healthily and on good food, but did little in the way of physical exercise*

Jessica: try being a woman in a crowd like that, it's crazy hard not to get groped if there is a creep in the bunch. *she fans herself with the drinks menu before she fans him chuckles waving over someone to take their drinks* two ice waters *the guy goes off and she goes back to fanning herself*

Sol: I'll stand close behind you. *He couldn't have his wife-to-be getting felt up by random strangers. He closes his eyes briefly as she fans him, slouching comfortably in his seat. Briefly, he wondered what time it was, and until what time they would be out*

Jessica: are you having fun? *smiling going back to fanning him since he was in long sleeves, really hoping he was having fun*

Sol: *He smiles lightly and closes his eyes for the fanning* I .. think I am, yes.

Jessica: then tonight has been a success *still fanning him, then moves in nice and close leaning up against him fanning them both so she can cool down too*

Sol: *Chuckles, cracking an eye open to watch her* Indeed it has.

Jessica: careful your mom my throw you a party to celebrate *laughs a bit since it was all his mom's idea to get him out here with her*

Sol: *He chuckles* In which case, she won't know. *He was surprised by how quickly he'd eased into her company, though he supposed, in part, that was due to the alcohol*

Jessica: *sits up and away from him when the water arrives taking the glasses from the waiter and sets Sol's glass down in front of him* salvation~ *starts drinking her water*

Sol: *He chuckles once more and takes his, drinking it gratefully, leaning comfortably into his seat*

Jessica: *after a few gulps she leans back and smiles* aaaah~ much better *she dips her fingers into the water and dabs her chest and the back of her neck*

Sol: *He smiles as she speaks and looks to her, only to find himself unable to tear his gaze away as he watches her dabbing the water on her bare skin, and watching the tiny drops trickle downwards. He swallows hard, it was ungentlemanly to have such thoughts, surely*

Jessica: so much better *she starts fanning herself again the water now supercooling her skin *she holds her hair to her head showing off the back of her neck and keeps fanning*

Sol: *He continues to watch her, almost fascinated. His eyes drift down her neck, and he finds himself beginning to lean in to put his lips there. He stops himself hastily, and tears his gaze away, cheeks flushed* I-I think it's time for our next alcoholic drink. *Curse this commoner.*

Jessica: *totally catches him leaning in the corner of her eyes blushing lightly* okay uh here *hands him the menu which she was using as the fan* wanna try something other than a -tini?

Sol: *He takes it, and spends an unnecessarily long amount of time picking out a drink, reading through each ingredient to keep himself from thinking too much about the woman beside him* I.. think I'll try a White Russian..?

Jessica: okay um I think i'll get a pink lady this time around *she finishes her water and waves the waiter over and orders the drink playing with her empty glasses*

Sol: *He grabs the menu and leans his head back on the seat, fanning himself now. He lets his eyes drift shut as the cool air hits them, but it was better than staring at Jessica*

Jessica: *decides to apply her lipstick while his eyes were closed and then goes back to playing with her glass crossing her legs wondering if he will actually go through with marrying her or just blame every bit of fun they had today on the booze*

Sol: *He fans himself idly while they wait for the next drinks, deciding that this marriage probably wouldn't be so bad. she was beautiful, and her personality wasn't too loathsome. Her background wouldn't change, but he could better civilise her in his world surely. He stops fanning himself to look to her for a moment, and then glance back over the throngs of people. He was attracted to her, definitely, and he didn't even need the alcohol to get him to admit that to himself*

Jessica: *leans back tucking her hair behind her ear lightly holding the glass with both hands watching the people in the crowd a lightly smile plays on her lips looking up when the waiter comes back with their drinks*

Sol: *He takes his drink and sips it experimentally. After a moment, he blinks* I'm impressed. *He looks into the drink briefly, before he smiles and continues drinking. It had a straw, but he frowns a little in confusion when he somehow manages to get some of the cream from the drink on his nose*

Jessica: *she sees the bit of cream on his nose and laughs wiping his nose smiling she goes to her drink lightly sucking on the cherry garnish*

Sol: *Smiles at her, glancing to her briefly. He averts his gaze once more* Why must you be so tempting when it is rude to have such thoughts about another. *He speaks quietly, not expecting her to hear over the loud music, though he would've liked to hear what answer she could come up with*

Jessica: what did you say? tempting? *looks a little confused at him*

Sol: *He blinks, flushing lightly* Ah- Pay me no mind. I'm just talking to myself. >>;

Jessica: hmmm sounds pretty important to me *smiles leaning closer wanting to know what he said*

Sol: *He pushes a few strands of hair off his face as he glances to, and away, from her a few times* I- .. You, with your cooling yourself, and then sucking.. like that. Among other things. I apologise profusely; it's rude of me. I'm only speaking such thoughts because of the alcohol, I'm sure. But- you are, truly, very beautiful..

Jessica: *blushes, she wasn't expecting that, she was expecting something like 'it's tempting to stay longer' or 'its so tempting to leave but not that* oh uh... *a bit speechless* thank you...

Sol: *He flushes at that, averting his gaze as he drinks his cocktail.* You don't need to thank me, I'm only speaking truth..

Jessica: s-still *looks down at her drink still blushing feeling so flustered like she was back in highschool it was quite silly*

Sol: *Watches her through the corner of his eye, unable to help but feel slightly smug. He finishes his drink unintentionally quickly, and looks into it, before he glances to her* Do you know the time?

Jessica: ah no but i can find out *she pulls out her cell phone and looks at the time* its..midnight..

Sol: *He blinks* Really? Ah- Perhaps I should return you home. *He wasn't used to nightclubs, after all, and had no idea they were usually busy until the early hours of the morning*

Jessica: are you not having fun? *blinks a few times before she realizes* oh um nightclubs stay open to the early morning hours.

Sol: Really? .. *That was an odd concept.* .. Oh, well- Is there a time your parents are expecting you home?

Jessica: no I can come and go as I please but they are expecting me to check in by the time they wake up tomorrow. well I guess i should say today *chuckles*

Sol: Oh, good. *He, of course, wasn't used to being up so late, and this meant his most recent drink was affecting him quicker than the previous few, and his words were slightly slurred* You'll be home by then, I'm sure. *He smiles at her*

Jessica: good, I wouldn't want them to think i got kidnapped *laughs sipping her drink lightly*

Sol: If the need arose that you couldn't go home, though, I'd make sure they knew beforehand. *He smiles, this time waving the guy over to order his next drink himself* I was raised as a gentleman, remember~

Jessica: of course of course *giggles and sips her drink having so much fun but that could just be the booze getting to her*

Sol: *He chuckles and orders her another drink too, too comfortable where he sat for now to think about dancing some more. He was enjoying himself profusely, much more than he'd anticipated, and he blamed that, in part, on his company*