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olsenmyolsen · 4 months ago

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Chapter Twelve: A Weekend Away Pt. 2 - Black and Brusied

The Farmer's Daughter - (A WandaNat Story)

Masterlist . Tag list: @xenaizogie

Summary: Natasha calls Wanda just to hear her voice. Later on, Natasha gets what she signed up for when she agrees to box with Maya Lopez.

Word Count: 4.2K

Content: Feelings, Sam Wilson embarrassing Wanda, Yelena (r.i.p), Mayaz Lopez Vs Natasha Romanoff

"Tomorrow night for sure."

Natasha sent back and closed out her phone as Kate knocked on the guest room door. "Natasha, can I come in?"

Natasha rose from the bed and saved her breath by opening the door.

Kate stood in the hall wearing a completely different suit from the one prior. "Okay, be honest. How does this look?" Kate asked as she looked Natasha up and down. Her eyes widened a tad as she loved how the dress fit Natasha.

"I think it looks great, Kate!" Natasha was being supportive as she brushed Kate's shoulder. Kate looked down at Natasha's arm scars before looking at her own suit. "You sure?" Natasha laughed through her nose. "Trust me. You look amazing."

Kate looked at her friend. "You too." She didn't mean to, but she flickered her eyes to the scars Natasha had once again. Natasha saw. She lifted her arm up and looked at it, too.

Kate spoke up as she moved her eyes to Natasha's face. "Sometimes I find it hard to look at mine..." Kate's hand rubbed the side of her stomach. Natasha noticed. She then smiled. "We're still badass." She still had troubled days with her own body, but she didn't want her and Kate to dwell on it before the big night.

Kate laughed and flicked Natasha's arms. "Clearly. Come on, we should get going before I change my suit again."

Natasha picked up her phone and matching clutch. "I think the color purple suits you. Even if it is just a tie!"

They arrived at the event slightly earlier than the scheduled time, which was perfectly fine with Natasha. It allowed her to see everything before the majority of the public did.

However, as the two exited the elevator to the studio space for the event, they ran into an old buddy, Kate had forgotten that she had invited.

An older man with a beard, short, muscular stature, and thick brown hair.

"Oh my goodness!" Kate opened her arms wide as the man pulled his cigar away from his mouth and reluctantly accepted Kate's warm nature. "Logan!" Kate said as she exited the hug. "I didn't think you make it."

"You forgot you invited me, didn't you?" He asked as the cigar went right back into his mouth. Kate smiled as she spoke honestly. "Yep." She said, making Natasha chuckle slightly.

Natasha could tell Kate's nerves for tonight were starting to rise rapidly.

Logan moved his eyes from Kate to Natasha. "Nat, good to see you." Logan extended his hand. Natasha took it and shook it. "See, you still got that grip." The man spoke.

"See, you still have that bad habit of yours." Natasha pointed with her eyes to the cigar. Logan grumbled and rolled his eyes before taking the cigar from his mouth and putting it out on his left hand.

Dead nerves.

"Didn't know you were around," Logan spoke to Natasha as Kate looked between the two. "In the city?" Logan asked. Natasha shook her head. "Found work not far in a small town." Natasha lightly bumped Kate on the shoulder. "I actually ran into Kate this past week while out with some friends."

Kate flicked her eyes to Natasha at the word friends.

"It's been nice catching up." Kate smiled and playfully bumped Natasha back. "It really has been nice." Logan slightly tilted the corners of his mouth up at that.

"What about you?" Natasha asked. "How have you and Kate contacted each other recently?"

Logan's eyes went from Natasha to Kate. Almost as if he was asking permission. Natasha briefly looked at Kate.

Kate took the lead. "Logan owns a few gyms around the state..." Natasha slowly nodded. "Okay..?"

"And so one day I was in the gym- not by myself, no I was-"

This process was going to take too long, especially with Kate's nerves. "Her girl goes to my gym," Logan spoke. Kate closed her mouth and turned to Natasha, who raised an eyebrow. Kate exhaled. "I was with Maya at the gym a couple of weeks ago, and in walked Logan. It was nice. It had been years since I had really seen anyone. We caught up briefly, and then I blinked, and he and Maya were in the ring."

Natasha tipped her head with enthusiasm. "Oh really?" She looked to Logan, who had crossed his arms—a sour look on his face.

Kate smiled, making Natasha smile. "Rusty in your age huh?" Natasha teased. "Alright, come on, Nat, have you seen her girl?" Logan kept explaining his reasonings for his ass hitting the floor in the ring, but Natasha just loved it. "I'd like to see you try." Logan sneered at Natasha.

"Oh, is that right?" Natasha looked from Kate to Logan, who nodded. "I can take her," Natasha said, making Logan smirk, but a figure joined the group before anyone could stop this idea from tumbling anymore.

They tapped Kate on the shoulder, making them turn around.

It was Maya.

Logan smirked. "I'll see you inside." Logan pointed to the event at Natasha and waved at Maya before walking away with a smile.

Natasha moved her eyes from Logan's back to greet Maya. She extended her hand and gave a large, friendly smile. Maya took her hand for the second time today and shook it with her own smile as her eyes looked up and down both Kate and Natasha.

Maya hugged and signed to Kate, making the younger one blush with a smile. Her eyes darted up Natasha's dress as well. "She says your dress is beautiful, and she didn't think you had those muscles hiding."

Natasha moved her eyes from Kate to Maya, who smirked at the redhead. She must've read Logan's lips. Natasha liked the challenge.

Kate could see where this was. "Oh boy,"

"You can see what they can do, let's say... tomorrow?" Kate didn't even have to sign. Maya read lips and smiled wide. She then nodded and looked at Kate, who rolled her eyes.

However, to both of the women, this was one to get to know the other one. Plus, if they could beat a friend of Logan's, all the more reason.

Kate could sense a friendship slowly blossoming, and she adored it.

Shortly after that part of the conversation passed, the trio moved into the art space, and immediately Natasha found herself stunned at the photograph her friend had achieved.

Black and white pictures hung from the ceiling scattered throughout the room. Natasha quickly recognized some of the many places Kate had traveled to, some of them from the military.

It was the perfect combination of living in two worlds.

Natasha glanced back to her friend, who was too busy with Maya, which was no problem. Natasha watched as the two of them started to walk off in a different direction. Maya's hand on Kate's back, moving it up and down. She was bringing comfort to Kate, and it made Natasha happy to see.

So Natasha quietly walked her own way around. She stopped and read the paragraphs below for a lot of them. She watched people walk by and listened to them murmur Kate's praises.

Slowly, the night progressed, and eventually, Natasha came to the end of a row and froze. In front of her green eyes were twenty or more hanging pictures, each one of a whole picture, and when Natasha moved just slightly to the left, she could see that it was her sister.

Yelena Belova, in black and white, was nude and wrapped in a beaten and tattered American flag. Her scars from her tours were on display and immediately Natasha understood the symbolism as she looked at Yelena's eyes full of tears.

Natasha took a step forward to examine the work closely. Yelena's dog tags were shown below a rip in the stars. Yelena's left thigh was exposed and pushed through the stripes.

Natasha was taken aback.

Natasha looked down at the photos and saw Yelena's left wrist lying open in the sand where the picture was taken, and as Natasha's eyes looked, that's when she noticed the only color in the whole art piece.

Yelena's red hourglass tattoo.

The same Black Widows wore—Yelena's callsign.

Natasha found herself gasping, her eyes watering. Natasha always knew Yelena would live on, but seeing it done so beautifully and with care, in a way only Kate could manage, struck Natasha.

Natasha heard footsteps cautiously walk up next to her before a hand worked its way around Natasha's body and pulled her close. It was Kate.

Natasha sniffled and threw an arm around Kate as they held each other. "I don't know what to say..." Natasha admitted. Kate understood and just allowed the two to settle in this moment. It wasn't until multiple minutes passed that Kate spoke up. "We spent hours on that beach.."

Natasha smiled at the idea of Yelena complaining about the sand. "She was a lobster for a week." Natasha wiped her eyes and laughed. "I bet. Even as a kid, she refused sunscreen." Kate smiled before patting Natasha's side and gesturing to the explanation of the art piece.

At the very bottom were five words.

In Dedication to Yelena Belova.

That night, Natasha cried into Kate's arms as the younger woman did the same. It was interesting to think... Kate and Natasha had on-and-off contact since the loss of Yelena but nothing concrete for a long while now.

And just by chance, Natasha ran into the Bishop girl days ago, and now they are back in each other's life, as if nothing had happened. It was comforting and brought a smile to Natasha's face because she knew it wouldn't have happened without Wanda.

"Excuse me," Natasha said as she left the group of Kate's city friends after freshening up. Natasha exited the space where the event was being held and pulled out her phone.

She ignored the text from Wanda sitting on her lock screen and instead called the girl.

Wanda wasn't expecting to hear back from Natasha for the rest of the night, so when her phone buzzed on Sam Wilson's coffee table, she left it alone.

"You gonna get that?" Sam asked from his spot closest to it on the floor. Wanda shook her head at Sam before focusing back on Carol and Bucky playing a fighting game.

What was it called Civil War? No Meele? Smash? Wanda could never remember the name of it.

Sam looked away from his friend and picked up her phone. "Uh, Wanda, you might want to get this." Sam smiled widely and spoke loudly, drawing everybody's attention.

Sam turned Wanda's phone over to show her the caller ID: Nat 🫡

Wanda quickly reached for it and yanked it out of Sam's before he even thought about answering for himself.

"Oh, come on, Wanda, don't leave!" Followed by laughter was the first thing Natasha heard once the ringing stopped. She recognized the voice belonging to Sam. Natasha listened as Wanda breathed down the phone until the background noise faded, and Wanda found herself in the garage.

The smell of rubber filled her nose.

"Wanda?"Natasha asked quietly. "Natasha?" Wanda answered.

Natasha smiled at her gentle voice. "Hi." Natasha smiled down the phone like a dork with a crush. Because she was. But so was Wanda. "Hi." The brunette beamed. "What's up?" Wanda asked as she began walking around the Wilson's garage.

"I was just at Kate's event- I mean, I'm still at it- I'm outside of it right now-" Natasha stopped herself and chuckled. She was getting flustered. "I... I.." Natasha was struggling to formulate what she wanted to say.

Wanda leaned against Sam's jeep. "Natasha, what's going on?" She had never genuinely heard Natasha be this lost for words. Natasha chewed on her bottom lip as Wanda's concern wormed its way through her before speaking again. "Kate made this stunning piece for Yelena..."

Wanda could hear the lump in Natasha's throat.

"Kate allowed me to take some pictures, so I'll have to show you. Like on the phone, not physically." Natasha once again laughed to herself, making Wanda smile.

Natasha really was coming back.

"I can't wait." Wanda softly said as she listened to Natasha's breathing. "I guess it just made me think about these last couple of days..." Wanda nodded even if Natasha couldn't see it. "How I never would've met Kate again if it wasn't for you being in my life. It might seem ridiculous to say, but it's true."

Wanda held her breath as Natasha kept speaking. Wanda loved her voice.

"I miss you, Wanda," Natasha said as she was sitting on the top step of the stairwell in the building. Her voice echoed off the empty walls.

Wanda froze at the words but melted all the same, but before Wanda could say anything back, the garage door to the house opened. "Found her!" Natasha loudly heard Sam call out on the other side. "Sam!" Wanda yelled back as her secret moment was ruined.

Carol and Bucky squeezed themselves into the doorway with Sam as they watched Wanda flip them off before she turned her body away. "Still there?" Wanda asked.

"I am."

Wanda held the phone closer to her if possible. "I have an audience now." She spoke in an annoyed tone, but Natasha didn't mind. "I can let you go." Natasha politely offered, but Wanda rapidly shut that down. "No... I- Nat I... I miss you too." Wanda's face broke out with giddiness. The words left her mouth before cheers and claps annoyingly happened behind her back. "I'm sorry if you can hear them." Wanda offered with a happy laugh, but Natasha loved it.

"It's okay." A pause as each woman thought about the other. "I guess I just wanted to call and tell you." Natasha shook her head, a little embarrassed. "Okay." Wanda smiled. "Talk to you tomorrow?" Wanda questioned.

"Talk to you tomorrow," Natasha said as a yes.

"K-I-S-"

Wanda ended the phone call, and if looks could kill Sam Wilson would be dead.

Natasha woke up the next morning with her legs being crushed by Fanny Longbottom. She didn't remember the dog coming into her room, but at the same time, she wasn't surprised.

Natasha moved her legs out from under the dog, making Fanny look back because, somehow, Fanny was comfortable that way.

Fanny laid back down and huffed.

Natasha couldn't help but laugh as she got up. "Morning," Natasha said as she found Kate lying on the couch. Kate waved without lifting her head. "I ordered breakfast, and it should be here soon," Kate said as her voice sounded rough.

Mainly because the first thing Kate did this morning was puke.

Natasha came out of the kitchen with water and tea for Kate. Coffee for herself. Kate peered her eyes at the mugs as they hit the coffee table. "I don't remember drinking that much."

"You were trying to calm your nerves a lot last night."

"That makes sense." Kate hummed. "Maya tried to get you to stop, but that didn't work." Kate sat up slightly. "That also makes sense." Kate adjusted herself as Fanny came into the room. "At least I'm not you today." Natasha nodded before hearing Kate's words. "Wait, why?" She looked genuinely confused.

Kate smirked. "You have your spar with Maya."

"You're not scared, are you?" Natasha looked at Kate as they walked side by side into the back area of the gym where the boxing ring was. Natasha raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Not a chance."

Kate loved Natasha's confidence, but she was going to support Maya a tad more today.

As Kate and Natasha walked closer to the ring, they noticed a group gathered around. "Logan!" Kate called out as she spotted their old friend chatting with the referee for the spar, Happy Hogan—a former wrestler.

Logan gave Happy a pat on his shoulder before making his way to the girls. "Got quite a crowd, huh?" Natasha questioned Logan. "Don't look at me. When Maya fights, it's a spectacle."

Okay, maybe now Natasha was starting to get a little worried.

"Where's Maya?" Kate asked. Logan pointed to a speed bag she was working with to the left. Maya turned around as she saw Kate approaching in the gym's mirrors. With a glow of sweat and a smile, Maya leaned down and kissed Kate on the cheeks before signing to her.

Kate pointed towards Natasha. Maya looked up with a smile and waved. Natasha smiled and waved back. Eyes around the room looked from one to the other.

Natasha briefly looked around before walking towards Maya. Her head high but her eyes wandered over her competition. Just as she was doing that, Natasha discovered something she didn't know about Maya.

Maya was an amputee.

Starting halfway up Maya's right thigh was the beginning of Maya's prosthetic. Black and looking like carbon, Natasha couldn't yank her eyes away until the leg stuck itself out.

Natasha looked up, slightly embarrassed. Maya was looking at her curiously. "I think it looks badass," Natasha said honestly before Kate or Maya could say anything.

Kate didn't have to sign; Maya understood. She then pointed at Natasha's exposed arms and flexed.

"You too." She signed.

Natasha smiled and saw how similar they were dressed. Dark-colored sports crop tops. Natasha's grey. Maya's black. Along with black athletic legging shorts. Natasha wore black leggings as well.

Maya smirked at Natasha and signed again, making Kate slap Maya on the arm. "What?" Natasha asked. "She's being cocky." Kate turned to Natasha. "She'd said if you want to stretch, do it now. She would hate to break anything once you're in the ring."

Natasha loved it.

"We'll see," Natasha said before doing a 180 and walking away with eyes on her. She smirked.

Today was going to be fun.

"You good?" Logan asked as Natasha re-tied her hair up into a ponytail. It had been half an hour since Natasha had gone to her corner of the gym to stretch and get a quick workout.

"Yeah?" She questioned, looking up at Logan from the floor mat. "Just making sure." He softened as Natasha looked at him. He was the definition of a big softie. Hard exterior but a profoundly caring man. "I'm good, James." She said before winking and giggling to herself.

Natasha knew how the man hated to go by James.

"Well, excuse me for caring." Logan playfully rolled his eyes before sticking his arm out for Natasha. She smiled and took his hand, helping her up.

Natasha walked to the ring, and the closer, the better view she had of Maya jumping in place, swinging her arms.

She was ready and wearing purple boxing gloves.

"Wait, we're using gloves?" Natasha asked Logan as she stopped at her corner of the ring. Logan looked at her, confused. "Yeah, Natasha, this is a sparring match, not a fight on base."

Natasha softly jabbed Logan's arm and laughed. "I'm just teasing. Jeez, Kate was right. You really did lose your sense of humor." She made a face before jumping up into the ropes and hopping into the ring.

"Did Kate say that?" Logan asked as he climbed onto the ropes behind Natasha.

Natasha turned around and shook her head. Logan rolled his eyes and tossed Natasha her gloves. Red.

She smiled.

"Alright, ladies, are we ready?" Happy Hogan asked after putting the headgear on each lady as they stood shoulder to shoulder.

They nodded before turning to face one another.

Happy looked around at the faces of friends and strangers alike before addressing Natasha and Maya.

"Alright, I want a clean fight—no cheap shots. If a person is down, you do not engage. If a fighter is down for ten seconds or longer, the match is over. Remember, we're here for fun. If I call stop, that's it. There is no timer, just until someone wants to stop. We good?"

Maya knew the rules. This was mainly for Natasha, who listened to every word and took in the rules. Like Happy said, she was here for fun and didn't want anything to get out of hand.

"Are we good?" Happy asked again. Natasha And Maya nodded. "Alright, back up, touch gloves, and we'll start."

Kate cheered the loudest as Natasha and Maya touched gloves before the bell rang.

And briefly, for a moment, as Maya and Natasha started to circle one another, did Natasha think about Wanda and what she would do if she were here? Natasha thinks she would cheer louder than Kate and swear like a sailor at the action. Especially the drunker she got, the more her accent would come out like it did last week.

Should I have told her I was fighting today?

No, that's silly, right?

Natasha thought before she felt a force hit her in the stomach. She let her guard down. Natasha bit down on her mouthguard and brought her focus back to Maya.

Quickly, she backed away and swung, making fragile contact with Maya's right arm. The distance between the two widened once again.

Maya stepped closer to Natasha and landed another shot against Natasha's glove. Natasha watched Maya's stance as she moved.

Maya took a swing towards Natasha, but the redhead was able to dodge and readjust herself before Maya missed another swing. And another.

Everyone was quickly realizing that Natasha was faster. More nimble.

Maya knitted her eyebrows closer and tucked her shoulders in, expecting a hit from Natasha, but it didn't come. Instead, Natasha took a step back and cracked her neck.

She was studying.

Maya stepped forward again and watched how Natasha moved her feet. It was delicate, like a ballerina.

Somehow, Maya needed to get Natasha off balance to win this.

However, Natasha was watching Maya's eyes, and while Maya wasn't wrong in her assumptions, it left her unable to see the split-second Natasha went to punch with her right after faking with her left.

It sounded like a crack. The blow landed on Maya's ribs, making her stumble back. But Natasha was fast and ran forward with another blow to the chest and to the hip before Maya pushed Natasha away.

Natasha smiled, showing her mouthguard. Was it lousy sportsmanship? Who's to say? Maya liked it and let it fuel her as she raised her arms to cover her face.

"Do you think Natasha would use her spin move if we let her?" Logan asked Kate as they watched sweat fall to the mat as Natasha and Maya landed hits on one another.

Kate made an are you serious face. "She would've had Maya's head between her legs so fast." Kate paused. "Wait! That sounded wrong! What I meant was...!"

Logan tuned her out and went back to watching the match.

Natasha hooked right and landed a blow onto the side of Maya's head, but Maya leaned into it as she had readied herself, so as Natasha made contact, she swung upwards and nailed Natasha in the face.

Immediately, the redhead stumbled back as her left eye clenched close, and she tasted copper.

Natasha got a dose of what everyone knew. Maya could pack a punch. Still, she would never back down from a fight. Natasha raised her arms as blood fell to the middle of the ring.

With one eye already bruising and her nose bleeding, Natasha nodded to Happy and let him know she was good to go.

Maya grinned at Natasha's spirit. It reminded her of stories Kate would tell of Yelena.

A fire always burned in them.

Maya let Natasha get close, thinking the redhead would swing, but she was wrong. Natasha was backing Maya up into the ropes. The second she got there, Natasha stepped forward and swung to Maya's left, but she blocked it, leaving Natasha open to hit her in the chest, which Natasha took advantage of.

As Maya braced herself and took a hit after hit, her eyes found Kate's. With a face fit for an angel, Kate lifted her hands up and started signing.

Amongst phrases of encouragement, one stuck out.

I love you.

Three words pulled Maya off the ropes, making Natasha fall back as her speed wasn't enough for the strength of Maya Lopez.

Quickly, Maya went to work; her hits became faster. Natasha couldn't block them quick enough. Natasha could land hits but was taking more than she could. Soon, Natasha found herself taking a hit to her scarred shoulder before enduring another one on her face.

It was as if it was happening in slow motion. Natasha's body hit the ground. Blood splattered off her lips next to her. Maya watched as Happy stepped in and started counting to 10.

Natasha rolled onto her back, which made her wince as a jolt of pain shot throughout her body. As Natasha stared at the ceiling, she knew she needed to get back up.

Everyone watched as Maya raised her hands, cheering as Happy got to 6...7...8... Logan looked from Maya to Natasha. He bumped Kate on the shoulder as their stubborn friend started to get up.

Happy slowly backed away as he got to 9 before Natasha returned to her feet.

Natasha stood before Maya, who raised her arms, ready to keep going, but Natasha smiled wide, stopping her.

Maya watched as the redhead turned to Happy. He leaned forward as Natasha tried to speak through her mouthguard. He asked her a question, making her nod. Happy then turned to Maya, gently placing his hand on her right arm before lifting it.

Stating that she won.

Maya Lopez won.

Natasha knew she could've kept going and maybe won, but honestly, she had a job and someone special to get back to.

It was time to return to the farm.

dividers by @/benkeibear

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swan-of-sunrise · 10 months ago

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Hawkeye (Part III)

Summary: On Christmas Eve, (Y/N) and Steve receive some shocking updates from Clint and after the archers’ fight against Kingpin, the Tracksuits and a Black Widow assassin out for blood at Rockefeller Center, the exhausted duo accepts their hospitality.

Pairing: Steve Rogers X Fem!Reader

Word Count: 4.5k

Warnings/Disclaimers: None

A/N: Hi guys! I'm feeling a bit better now, so I've returned with a longer chapter filled with holiday fluffiness! Thank you for reading, I hope you all enjoy!

Hawkeye (Part III) December 24th, 2024 Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn (Previous Chapter)

“I still can’t believe that people really used to decorate their Christmas trees – their very dead, very dried-out Christmas trees – with lit candles.” (Y/N) shook her head in amazement as they slowly walked past the crumbling gravestones and carefully avoided the piles of snow resting atop the frozen grass on the way down the slope to their parked car. “I mean, weren’t they afraid that they’d accidentally burn their houses down in exchange for a little holiday cheer?”

Steve nonchalantly shrugged and hitched Carina higher up on his waist. “Arsenic was in practically everything, cocaine was prescribed by doctors as medicine, and people guzzled down pure wood alcohol throughout the entirety of Prohibition; trust me, candles on Christmas trees were the least of our worries. Our tree caught fire once when I was ten or eleven and after Ma put it out, she scraped together enough money to buy a secondhand strand of lights and we never put candles on our tree again.” After taking note of her stunned silence, a mischievous smile broke out across Steve’s face. “If you think that sounds crazy, then you probably don’t wanna know why we had to stop putting strings of popcorn and cranberries on the tree…”

“And you’d be absolutely, positively, one-hundred percent correct, sweetheart.”

The morning of Christmas Eve saw the Rogers-(Y/L/N) family visiting the graves of Sarah and Joseph Rogers at Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn’s sole Catholic cemetery; they’d brushed clumps of snow and wayward leaves off the two weathered gravestones, laid bouquets of red and white poinsettias and recounted stories of Christmases past in a continuation of Steve and Sarah’s old yuletide tradition. Typically, Steve never cried or showed much outward emotion whenever they’d visited his mother and father’s gravesite, but that morning he couldn’t seem to keep the happy grin off his face as he held his infant daughter in his arms and explained to his parents that they would soon be giving them a second grandchild. Seeing her husband so happy about having another child and being able to experience the entire pregnancy alongside her always succeeded in causing her heart to warm in her chest, but there was something special about watching him tell his parents about the life that so many people believed – including himself – he’d never be able to live. It’s also given me several ideas of what to do with him after we put Cari down for her nap, she thought with a sultry inward smile, ideas that are a little too risqué to voice in the middle of a Catholic cemetery.

(Y/N) was in the middle of strapping a squirming Carina into her car seat when her cell phone rang. “Sweetheart, could you get that for me?”

“Of course.” He jogged around the car and climbed into the passenger’s seat, grabbing her phone out of her purse and humming in interest when he noticed the name on the screen. “It’s Clint.”

Glancing up from the buckle, (Y/N) shot her husband a knowing look and slowly replied, “That can’t be good…”

Steve nodded in agreement before swiping a thumb across the screen and putting the call on speakerphone. “Hey, Clint; (Y/N)’s hands are a little busy, so I’ve got you on speakerphone. What’s up?”

“Are you guys home right now?”

“We spent the morning laying flowers at Steve’s parents’ graves, and we’re just about ready to head home,” (Y/N) explained, a knot of apprehension beginning to fill the pit of her stomach as she detected the uncharacteristic unease in the archer’s voice. “Why do you ask?”

“We got it wrong, (Y/L/N); it was Eleanor Bishop the whole time. Kate’s mom killed Armand, framed Jack for the murder and forged his connection to Sloan Limited. She’s been working for Kingpin for well over a decade, and Kate only just found out.”

(Y/N), who’d just given Carina her pacifier and a kiss on her forehead, sat back and watched her daughter for a moment before sighing to herself, imagining the overwhelming anger, confusion and hurt that the twenty-two-year-old must’ve felt in reaction to the devastating news. “Poor Kate…how’s she holding up?”

“Better than I thought she would,” Clint replied, and there was a hint of pride in his words as he continued. “Eleanor’s turned on Kingpin and he’s gonna send a message to the city by attacking her company’s Christmas Eve gala, so Kate’s focusing on prepping for tonight’s fight. Those LARPers I told you about are giving us a hand, since most of ‘em are first responders when they’re not dressed up in costumes and pretend-fighting each other with fake weapons, and we’re gonna build as many trick arrows as we’ll need to take out an army of Tracksuits.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Steve’s hand twitch towards the glove box, where they both agreed to stash several weapons in the event that they were ever attacked by any new or former enemies. “Something else is wrong, isn’t it? Did Kingpin find out about-?”

“-No, no, it’s not that. Eleanor hired a Black Widow assassin to kill me; we had a scuffle last night but they retreated before they could finish their assignment. I just learned this morning that the assassin…it’s Yelena.” (Y/N) and Steve’s gazes met and their eyes widened in identical shock. “And this isn’t just an assignment for her. She’s here to avenge Nat’s death by taking out the one person she thinks is responsible.”

“…Clint, you aren’t responsible for the choices that Nat made. You know that, right?”

There was a slight pause on the other end of the call. “I know, Steve. But chances are she’s gonna show up tonight to complete her assignment, so I wanted to give you a heads-up in case she decides to go after you guys next.”

(Y/N) frowned. “You don’t really think that Yelena would-?”

“Nat told her about you, about how you were one of her best friends; if she’s targeting me, then there’s a chance she’ll target you, too. Just be ready for anything, okay? Booby trap the house Home Alone style if you have to, but don’t let your guards down.” The archer cleared his throat. “I’ve lost enough people in my life, and I don’t wanna lose any more of ‘em. You two read me?”

Although Clint couldn’t see them, a stoic-looking Steve nodded once. “Loud and clear. Good luck out there tonight, Clint.”

“And watch each other’s backs,” (Y/N) added, the barest hint of a smile beginning to play on her lips at the thought of the Tracksuits attempting to take on two skilled archers armed with the deadliest and most imaginative arrows in the world. “I’ve only heard stories from Nat about your plethora of trick arrows, so I look forward to seeing their aftermath on tonight’s newscast…but for Scott’s sake, maybe try and avoid using any Pym Particles.”

The archer chuckled. “Yeah, we wouldn’t want Hank to blow another fuse. I’ll be sure to call you guys after the firefight, okay?”

They bid one another goodbye and after Steve ended the call, he looked up at (Y/N) with a glint of determination in his azure eyes. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Biting her lip, (Y/N) backed out of the car’s backseat and closed the door before slipping into the driver’s seat and sighing. “Unfortunately, yes.”

“Brienne,” They both recited at the same time.

Brienne, named for the popular character from Game of Thrones, was an A.I. home defense system that Tony bequeathed to them after his death; according to Pepper, he created it shortly after their engagement announcement as a wedding present but after the Accords and what happened in Siberia, he stowed it away in his archives. It was a thoughtful gift that provided them both with a sense of security, but the A.I. – similar to J.A.R.V.I.S. and E.D.I.T.H. – came with not only a distinct voice, but a distinct and booming yell that was triggered by any movement around the perimeter of their home. The one and only time they’d activated Brienne was when they resided in Maine, and the A.I.’s defensive techniques frightened a passing black bear so badly that it scurried up a pine tree and stayed there for hours. But while (Y/N) was still unconvinced that Yelena Belova would target her in revenge for her sister’s death, she was wary of Kingpin and his considerable forces uncovering her family’s involvement in Clint’s latest mission. I suppose that the annoying A.I. is better than nothing, (Y/N) thought to herself as she switched on the ignition and her husband’s hand moved to rest on her knee, the warmth of his touch working to comfort her as they both silently contemplated their friend’s imminent fight against Kingpin, the Tracksuits and a vengeful Black Widow.

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

“-considerable damage to Rockefeller Center, namely its ice public skating rink and the world-famous Christmas tree. But thanks to the bravery and heroism of Avenger Clint Barton, JOAD Olympian Achievement Award recipient Kate Bishop and a group of off-duty first responders, several dozen members of the organized crime syndicate called the Tracksuit Mafia were apprehended by the NYPD and no injuries were reported by any of the gala’s attendees. Additionally, Eleanor Bishop, CEO of Bishop Security and mother of Kate Bishop, was arrested for the murder of Armand Duquesne the Third, and notorious businessman and crime lord Wilson Fisk was rushed to the Rockefeller University Hospital with life-threatening injuries. After the break, we’ll talk with an eyewitness who claims to have spotted the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man swinging near the scene-”

“All’s well that ends well, I suppose.” (Y/N) remarked with a content sigh, reaching for the remote on the empty couch cushion beside her and switching the channel, settling on a broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas before continuing. “I just wish that Kate didn’t have to go through the pain of losing her mother on Christmas Eve.”

Steve, who was sitting behind her and gently massaging circles across her baby bump, pressed a comforting kiss onto her shoulder and rested his cheek on the top of her head as she nuzzled closer to him. “Eleanor chose Kingpin over her own daughter, and now she’s gotta answer for that choice. But Kate’s strong, and if she had the strength to throw herself into danger to do the right thing, then she’ll have the strength to recover from this.”

Something in Steve’s tone of voice made (Y/N) crane her neck to meet his gaze. When she saw the conflicted emotions written across his face and the faraway look in his azure eyes as he watched the cartoon playing on television screen before them, she moved her arm back and softly brushed her fingers through his cropped blonde hair to coax him into looking at her; he blinked and after his eyes finally met hers, she smiled but continued to twirl her fingers around the longer strands of his hair. “What’s on your mind, sweetheart?”

Her husband remained silent for a long moment, only answering after (Y/N)’s free hand moved to rest atop one of the hands that was cradling her bump. “Christmas Eve, 2017. Wanda was off visiting Vision and I was alone in a run-down hotel room in Tunis, just waiting for Sam and Nat to come back from a meeting with one of her contacts. While I waited, I was watching this special dubbed in Arabic. I remember sitting there in that room just wishing with everything I had that I could’ve been here with you, and sometimes…sometimes, I try to imagine how different things would’ve been for us if I’d ignored the risks and the mission and come home for Christmas.”

(Y/N)’s smile faltered a little as she realized what he was tentatively referring to; late into December of 2017 was when she’d discovered that she was three months pregnant, and Steve wouldn’t find out about his daughter’s existence until the summer of 2018, when the Black Order invaded and they fought in the Battle of Wakanda. Steve met his daughter that day, only to tragically lose her several hours later in the Snap, and he’d suffered with the grief of her sudden loss alongside (Y/N) for five long years until Bruce’s Snap brought all the Vanished back. “Steve…”

“I know, sunshine, I try not to but I can’t help it-”

“Sweetheart, it’s okay,” (Y/N) gently reassured him and when Steve took a shaky breath, she cupped his cheek and traced the smile lines around his eye with the feather-light pad of her thumb. “You know that I don’t blame you for not being there, and you know that I’ll never judge you for wondering how different things might’ve been if you were.” Her hand repositioned his to cradle the top of her bump where the baby was currently shifting about, and she couldn’t help but smile at the tender look in her husband’s azure eyes when he felt their unborn child’s faint movements. “But can you feel that? The universe gave us a second chance, Steve; the important thing is that you’re here now, being a fantastic father to Carina and doing everything a loving, loyal husband is supposed to do for his pregnant wife, and every single day, I wake up and I thank the universe for giving us this second chance.”

The worry line between his brows smoothed out as his expression relaxed and he moved one of his hands to rest on the side of her neck, softly stroking her jawline with his thumb before asking, “Have I told you how much I love you today?”

“Twice, but I could always use another reminder.”

Steve’s lips quirked upwards in amusement at her words. “I love you, baby, with everything I am and more.”

(Y/N) smiled happily up at him. “And I love you too, sweetheart.” Her eyes fluttered closed as she pulled Steve’s face down and he bent around her to capture her lips in a languid yet passionate kiss.

“Lucky, do you really have to go and invade Indy’s personal space like that? I mean, c’mon, you literally just met the guy and you’re already sniffing his business! Boundaries, dude, c’mon.”

Pulling apart, (Y/N) leaned her forehead against Steve’s and let out a breathless chuckle. “I suppose we should be good hosts and check in with our guests. We’ll continue this later, Mr. Rogers.”

Eyes darkening with desire, Steve smirked and lowered his voice before replying, “I look forward to it, Professor (Y/L/N).”

They both stood up from the couch, with (Y/N) doing her best to mask just how much her husband’s use of her title had affected her and with Steve biting back the knowing smile that threatened to break out across his face, and held each other’s hand while they left the living room and strolled into the dining room; Kate Bishop, sporting fresh facial wounds and damp hair from her quick shower, was finishing up her bowl of Kraft Mac & Cheese at the table and giggling to herself while her Golden Retriever and their German Shepard lounged together on the floor by the food and water bowl. The young archer appeared to be in good spirits, despite her near deadly fight with Kingpin himself and aiding the police in arresting her mother for murder, but (Y/N) knew all too well that her cheerful mood would steadily dissipate once the post-battle adrenaline wore off and the reality of her situation set in.

“Did you want some more mac and cheese, Kate, or anything else to drink?”

Glancing up and over at them, Kate adamantly shook her head and flashed them a bright smile. “I’m good, but thank you so much for the offer! Seriously, you guys have already done so much for me and Lucky; you made us a midnight snack, I got a post-battle shower and a fresh change of clothes, and I even got some Grade-A first aid.” The young archer beamed as she gestured to the bandage that stretched across the bridge of her nose. “I mean, who knew that Steve Rogers was good at first aid? I certainly didn’t! You must’ve learned during the war, right?”

“My mother, actually,” Steve corrected, tucking his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants and giving a surprised Kate an offhand shrug. “I picked a lot of fights with bullies when I was growing up and she was the one who patched me up after each loss.”

“And that never stopped you from confronting the bullies…” Kate looked between them both and shook her head in amazement. “I’m beginning to see why you two get along so well. I, um, I also just want you guys to know that I’m not gonna tell anyone about all this.” Her dark brown eyes met (Y/N)’s, her gaze filled with understanding and an earnest respect. “You were right when you said that there’s things you’ll lose living the life of a superhero; a couple of hours ago, I helped the cops arrest my mom for murder and now I officially have no family. I can’t even imagine the sort of things you two’ve lost along the way, but what you’ve got now? I sure as hell won’t be the one to take this away from you.”

(Y/N) gave the young archer a thankful smile. “We trust you, Kate. And since you’re now privy to some top-secret Avengers intel, I should probably share with you one of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a superhero.” Kate’s brow rose in interest and (Y/N) nodded towards the cluster of framed photographs that were hung above the dining room’s antique sideboard; there was one that showed (Y/N), Steve, Sam and Nat hanging out at a bar, another with (Y/N) and Steve posing next to Tony and Pepper at their engagement party, and one that was taken of the Avengers as they dined on Chinese food takeout and planned their time heist. The last picture was of Sam and Bucky with the Rogers-(Y/L/N) family on the day they broke the news of her second pregnancy to their best friends; Sam was holding Carina on his hip and Bucky tickled her sides to get her to smile for the camera while Steve’s arm was slung around the super-soldier’s shoulders, his other arm wrapped around (Y/N)’s waist and his hand joining hers in cradling her barely-there baby bump. “A family doesn’t always have to be the one you’re born into. Sometimes, it’s something you get to create for yourself.” Kate’s eyes started to prickle with unshed tears, and she immediately began to blink them away and mask her emotional response with a bright smile, which only made (Y/N)’s sympathy for the upset twenty-two-year-old grow. “This little gumball feels a little restless, so I’m gonna make some hot coca. I’d be more than happy to make enough for everyone…”

Steve, instantly catching on to her line of thinking, lifted their joined hands up and gave her knuckles an exaggerated kiss while subtly winking for just her to see. “Mmm, you know how much I love your famous hot coca, sunshine. You use real milk and imported Belgian chocolate, don’t you?”

“Of course, that’s how it becomes so rich and creamy. I even sprinkle a pinch of gingerbread over the whipped cream to give it that seasonal flair.”

“Gosh, I’d just hate for anyone to miss out on the experience of enjoying such a special beverage…”

Watching their staged exchange with a growing smirk, Kate burst into laughter and raised her hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, I get the hint! I’d love some of your famous hot coca, (Y/N).”

(Y/N) beamed in triumph, giving Steve a chaste kiss on the cheek before releasing his hand and striding into the kitchen; as she assembled her ingredients and put the saucepan of milk on the stove to boil, she listened in on Kate and Steve’s conversation about archery, smiling to herself as she imagined her husband comforting their own children in a similar manner. Steve often doubted himself as a father, a habit he’d once confessed partially stemmed from never having known his own father, but (Y/N) never once doubted that the man who was patiently listening to an impassioned rant about the possibilities of various trick arrows in combat situations and even injecting his own opinions for Kate’s benefit was meant to be a father.

“Oooo, (Y/L/N)’s famous hot coca!” (Y/N), who was mixing the chocolate into the simmering milk, glanced over to see Clint enter the kitchen; the archer was toweling his hair dry, mindful of the steri-strips and bruises that littered his face, and the sight of his fluffed-up hair and eager grin forced her to stifle her chuckles. “Need any help with that?”

“Not with this, but could you grab some mugs from the cabinet for me?” He did as she asked, setting four mugs down onto the counter and nodding when she murmured her thanks. Seeing that he was preoccupied with examining the ‘America’s Ass’ mug that Scott sent Steve for his birthday, she took the opportunity to inspect his many visible wounds and winced in sympathy. “I’m looking at Yelena’s handiwork, aren’t I?”

Clint huffed out a humorless chuckle and nodded. “Yep. Not my first time having my ass kicked by a Black Widow, but I don’t remember it hurting as much as it does now.” He sobered when he caught sight of her concerned frown, slinging the towel he’d been using over his shoulder and giving hers a reassuring pat. “I got through to her in the end, and that’s all that matters. And for what it’s worth, she only really seemed pissed at me, so it’s safe to say that you and Steve are in the clear.”

Switching the burner off, (Y/N) took the saucepan off the stove and carefully began pouring the liquid into each mug. “I know that she just tried to kill you a couple of hours ago, but I still can’t help but hope that I’ll get the chance to meet Yelena someday. I spoke with Alexei and Melina over FaceTime after the Battle of Earth and I helped them arrange for Nat’s plot in Ohio…”

“But you haven’t been able to pass along the holographic puck she recorded Yelena’s message on,” Clint finished and pursed his lips in contemplation. “You told Alexei and Melina about the puck, right?” (Y/N) nodded as she reached into the refrigerator for a can of whipped cream. “It’s safe to say that before tonight, Yelena wasn’t ready to accept that Nat’s gone, but now? It’s possible that she’ll be ready for some closure, so don’t be surprised when you open your door to see her standing on your porch one day.”

While she added a sizable swirl of whipped cream to each mug of hot coca and finished them off with a sprinkle of gingerbread, (Y/N) smiled to herself and snuck a brief glance at Clint. “You know, Nat told me once that she counted herself lucky to have the three best siblings in the world; I’ll never forget just how happy that made me, because that was around the time I finally decided to go no contact with my family. She was my sister, in every sense of the word.”

“I know how you feel; back before Laura and the kids, Nat was the only family I had.” The archer’s voice cracked but he managed to muster up a reassuring smile for her. “I know that I wasn’t there for her when she needed me and that that’s something I’m gonna have to live with…” He peered out into the nearby dining room and watched Kate enthusiastically mime firing trick arrows as she talked to Steve, his smile softening and his blue-grey eyes filling with parental pride. “But I think that she’d be proud of what I accomplished with Kate.”

(Y/N) leaned over and pressed a chaste kiss onto Clint’s cheek before giving him a smile of understanding. “I think she would, too. Now c’mon, Hawkeye, let’s go deliver a little Christmas cheer and learn about all the possible applications of boomerang arrows before your guys’ ride to JFK gets here.”

Loading the mugs onto a tray, (Y/N) and Clint joined Steve and Kate at the dining room table, where they enjoyed their hot coca and engaged in a lively debate about the sort of trick arrows that the archers believed could work in a battle; (Y/N)’s hand absentmindedly rubbed across her bump as she watched Clint and Kate’s playful argument, her lips curving into an amused grin that only widened when she caught Steve’s azure eyes and he scooted his chair closer to hers so that he could drape an arm over her shoulders. Not quite how I pictured our little Rogers-(Y/L/N) Family Christmas going, she silently admitted to herself as she contently rested her head against her husband’s shoulder, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You still haven’t convinced me that boomerang arrows aren’t an excellent idea, Clint.” Kate stubbornly crossed her arms and turned to (Y/N) and Steve with an expectant look on her face. “Be honest, guys, doesn’t it sound like one of the best ideas you’ve ever heard?”

Ever the diplomat, Steve masked his chuckles with a contemplative hum and shrugged. “I’m not too sure how you’d be able to apply it, but it’s not a half-bad idea.”

Kate fist-pumped the air in triumph while an indignant Clint’s jaw dropped and he whipped his head around to stare at Steve. “Seriously, Rogers? You think it’s a good idea that an arrow should be able to fly back at you after you’ve fired it?”

“To be fair, he never said it was good,” (Y/N) pointed out. “What he said was that it wasn’t a half-bad idea.”

“Thank you, sunshine.” The archer rolled his eyes when Steve leaned over to plant a soft kiss onto her cheek and shot him a mischievous smirk. “All I know is that you could’ve taken out a helluva lot more Chitauri during the Battle of New York if your thirty-two arrows could’ve boomeranged back to you, Barton.”

Kate’s hand quickly moved to clamp over her mouth to muffle her laughter and (Y/N) masked hers with an unconvincing cough as Clint gasped in exaggerated outrage and made a rude hand gesture towards a chuckling Steve. “Damn, Clint, need some aloe for that burn?” Kate snickered and reached across the table to fist-bump Steve. “Thanks for the support, man!” The young archer leapt up from the table and hurried over to the duffel bag she’d deposited in the entryway. “And here, I’ve already thought of how I’d design the arrow!”

“Wait, Kate, you’re gonna trip the-”

“UNAUTHORIZED WEAPONRY DRAWN ON THE PREMISES, MY LORD AND LADY!”

Clint’s hand flew towards his hearing aid and Kate yelped in surprise, poking her head back into the dining room with a shell-shocked expression written across her face. “What the hell was that?!”

With a sigh, (Y/N) set her empty mug down onto her coaster and smiled despite herself. “Brienne.”

“Or as I like to call her, the posthumous revenge of Tony Stark,” Steve added, his own grin dimming a little as a wistful gleam filled his azure eyes. “Wherever he is, he’s gotta be laughing his ass off right now…”

“Language!” (Y/N), Clint and Kate’s exclamation broke the tension and even Steve couldn’t stop himself from laughing along with them.

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

A/N: Only one more chapter left, guys! (And don't worry, we'll soon find out who was watching (Y/N) in the last chapter) Thank you all so much for reading and commenting! I’ve created a Spotify playlist inspired by this series, and I’ll be updating it every time I upload a new chapter. Enjoy!

Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ziGMhEsAw833GQ9eV44nR?si=6dfead09c76848d5

Hawkeye (Part IV)

Stumblin’ In Book VII: “Superhero Snapshots” Masterlist

Tagging: @mrs-obrien @lahoete @awkward117 @cminr @natdrunk @momc95 @savedbystyle @miraculouscloud @awkwardnesshabitat @marinettepotterandplagg @mangosandmimosas @supersouthy @benakenalove @brooke0297 @hufflepeople @becausewelie @outoftheregular @junipermurdock @ladydmalfoy @mads-weasley @username23345@crist1216 @capswife @lilmschild @avngrsinitiative @crowleysqueenofhell @y-napotat @mary1raven @groovyqueer @ljej95 @innersublimefury @prettysbliss

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