#someone who he created jarvis after

[winterspiderpurrs]

The post was getting a little long BUT @illogicalkat and @smidnite are so amazing for this!

Previous posts from the last addition done here:

And cause I loved it.... imma add a little more :D

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Steve went to get Sarah; his mom on the phone. She was always a voice of reason with him. He was hopefully she could shed some positive light in this situation.

"-That child has known you practically his whole life. You're his papa. Doesn’t matter what some... DNA test says A leanbh. " her Irish accent became more prominent, the more she talked.

" But a man has a right to his child. I know it's going to be hard. And poor Peter! Having to face that man again! I woulda hit him!"

Steve coughed a little and rubbed the back of his neck.

" Well, uuhh.. no problem there."

" Steve Grant Rogers Barnes! That temper of yours is always getting you in trouble!"

" Ma!"

" Could be making the situation worse."

" I know, Ma, I know..."

Steve could hear her sigh on the other side of the phone.

" Well. Was it at least a good hit?"

Steve laughs and moves back toward the dining room where Peter and Matt are still at.

" Yeah, it was a -"

Clatter.

The phone slipped from Steve's hand as he stared at Peter.

~

While Steve had wondered off to speak to him mom, Bucky had gone back up stares to check on Harley and May after seeing that Tony had gotten in the car and was a long ways away from the house.

Peter gathered up the paper they had, scanning it over to Matt's office for him so he could review it again in Braille once he got it to his special machine.

" I uuhh... have another question since it's just us."

" Of course. What is it?"

Matt tilted his head toward Peter, sensing that he was nervous again.

" I umm read before that you cannot uhh get divorced if your... pregnant?"

Matt blinks.

" Oh,"

Peter nervously gathers the papers and puts the extra copies in Matt's briefcase for him.

" It's not his. Obviously, but umm, I just wanted to be sure."

Matt smiles and shakes his head.

" You're fine. The state of New York lets you. And as he has no rights to you anymore... you're safe. Congratulations."

Peter smiled in relief and pressed a hand to his stomach. Laughing a little.

" Yeah... I just found out last week. Was gonna wait a few more weeks. Before saying anything to Steve and Bucky. This one definitely was an oops surprise pregnancy."

Clatter.

Peter and Matt turn toward the door to see Steve standing there staring. Cell phone on the floor.

" You're pregnant?!?"

Meanwhile, upstairs, Harley is pacing his room. Why would THE Tony Stark be here? Was it for Dads metal arm that Mom helped create? Was it the scholarship program his school had?

Was he coming to expand his art collection with one of Papa's paintings? Mom had gone back to school and gotten his degree and had written a couple of papers. But would that be enough to get Tony Stark's attention?

He looks at the magazines cut out he had of Tony Stark from a few years ago when he was on the cover of Time magazine. Dad had bought it for him while they were in line at the store. He frowns a little. Now recalling the wide-eyed stare his Mom had when he came into the room and saw it the first time. He seemed oddly nervous when he asked where that came from and why he had it.

The look on Tony Stark's face downstairs, he seemed scared, nervous, and hopeful?

He pulled his laptop up and hesitated a moment. Then he started typing away.

' Young Tony Stark photos'

The more he looked, the bigger the pit in his stomach grew.

He felt like he was going to throw up.

Across town, Tony was once again looking through the paperwork and looked at the copy of the birth certificate.

Father spot was blank on it.

But when he saw the name on the certificate, he rushed towards the trash can and threw up. It all just became too much. Everything that he was robbed of. And how much at least at the time of Harley birth that Peter obviously cared for him deeply.

Harley Edwin Anthony Parker.

[lowkeyerror]

Key to Your Flat

Wanda Maximoff x Reader

Word count: 4.9k

Notes: Fluff, a bit of angst, pining, lots of acts of service, friends to lovers, au no powers

Summary: Wanda ends her long term relationship with Jarvis after realizing she was a lesbian. You've been her best friend since college, it's only right for you to support her in any way you can.

An: So this was supposed to be a cute little 1-2k fic loosely based on the Doja Cat snippet that says "Does a key to your flat mean girlfriend?" But it has turned into something else lol.

Masterlist | Masterlist 2

From the first day that you met her, you knew that Wanda would be one of the most successful people that you had ever encountered. There was no one more determined to make something of themselves than her. It was more than hard work; it was the way she sacrificed for the things that she wanted to accomplish in life.

You admired her.

How could you not, especially with the lack of direction you had in your own life? When you became her roommate in your sophomore year in college, you were already on your 3rd major. From engineering, to English, to culinary arts; you were all over the place. Yet you didn’t care much about it figuring things would work out somehow.

You believed that the universe would grant you whatever fate you deserved. Until Wanda told you that was such a ridiculous notion. Who would wait for a handout from the universe when they could simply get what they wanted themselves?

She was a good influence on you. You started taking school and your future a little more seriously after that. You put a lot more stock into your culinary dreams, and they paid off. There was a beaming fulfillment in your chest when you opened your own restaurant. Something that probably wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t met Wanda.

While you can’t necessarily recall what Wanda does off of the top of your head. You know she’s got some long fancy title at some big industry company. She had taken an internship in college and because of how completely undeniable the woman was, she shot up in the ranks of the company within a 10-year period.

You were both busy people, but you never loss touch as you climb your respective ladders of success. It was second nature for you to keep in contact with Wanda. It’s not something you thought about as much as something that you did.

Other aspects of your life often slipped through your fingers. You weren’t proud to say you’d forgotten a birthday or two or missed family plans because of work. Even your dating life suffered immensely because of your hectic lifestyle.

You never understood just how Wanda could manage to create enough balance in her life to find someone like Jarvis. He was a good man, clean cut. A little more uptight than you’d thought Wanda would go for, but a charmer, nonetheless.

You remember being skeptical when you first met him. You were the first person that he’d met from Wanda’s life. It was an accident when you ran into him on the way out of Wanda’s flat. He was about to knock when you were exiting. The red head was a little embarrassed to explain as you stared at the tall blonde man. You looked between the two before you shook his hand and sent him a decent enough smile.

She had chased after you when you left, trying to explain herself, but there was nothing to explain. You congratulated her, said you were happy she found someone. She thought you’d be upset with her, but you weren’t. How could you be upset when she was happy?

You had assumed that they had a perfect relationship. That’s how it seemed when you saw them interact with each other. His hand on her waist, her eyes shining into his. They’d seem to complement each other like the ocean compliments the beach.

Which is why you were confused when Wanda called you in the middle of your shift at work. She hardly ever called, finding texting much more reliable. However, you picked up the phone on the first ring.

“Hey, I know you’re probably working right now but is there any way you can pick me up.”

It sounded like she had been crying.

You were taking your apron off as you spoke into the phone, “Always, just send me your location and I’ll be on my way.”

You hear the relieved sigh she lets out, “Thank you.”

You informed your staff of your departure and headed to your car.  Wanda sent her location, and you put it into your GPS, before driving off. She was closer than you had expected so getting to her was nothing.

She was at a park in the middle of the city. The day was cloudy, and the sun was preparing to set. It was a very grey day to be outdoors.

Once you were out of your car you scanned around for your friend. You found her almost instantly. She was sitting on a bench, her head in her hands.

You’d seen her stressed before, but this felt bigger than that. Her voice on the phone made that very evident to you.

You approached her cautiously and when you got close enough you called her name, “Wanda.”

Her head shot up when she heard you. She was off the bench and in your arms before you had time to react. Her arms were tightly wound around you. It caught you off guard and all you could do was stare down at her for a moment.

Soon you were holding her back just as tight. Your hand cradled the back of her hair, finger tenderly rubbing her scalp.

“What happened?” Your voice is soft when you ask, not trying to provoke her any more than she already is.

It takes her a minute to pull away enough to answer you, but eventually she does, “Jarvis, he proposed.”

Your eyes widen, “These don’t look like happy tears.”

“I was trying to break up with him,” she lets out a deep sigh. “I called him to talk in person, and then I tell him that I think we should break up. He gets on one knee and starts talking, and I- I just…”

“Oh Wands,” you pull her back into your embrace.

You readjust so that you have one arm over her shoulder. She doesn’t protest as you lead her to your car. She climbs in the passenger seat no questions asked as you pull off.

When you arrived at your destination she finally speaks up, “What’re we doing here?”

“Getting takeout,” you answered quickly getting out of the car. “You sit tight.”

You’re in and out of the Chinese food spot with a hefty bad of boxes in tow. When you re-enter the car with the food Wanda sends you a small smile.

“Did you-”

“Of course, I got our favorite and I asked for extra sweet and sour too. I was going to drive to yours, maybe we could eat and indulge in some sitcoms or talk, whatever you want. How does that sound?”

Your eyes raked over her features. She gave you a few small nods, “Sounds better than having an existential breakdown at the park.”

“Well, I guess it’s settled then,” you chuckled a little.

You drove to her house, glancing over at her every few minutes. Her head rested on the window and her eyes were closed, but you knee she wasn’t sleeping. Wanda often closed her eyes when she was trying to ground herself. It was something you had picked on back in college. You never knew where she went in her head, but it always seemed to help her refocus.

When you got to her flat. You handled the food and handled the tv, shooing Wanda away to put on some more comfortable clothes. When she came back in her sweatpants and robe the two of you ate as you watched I Dream of Jeannie.

It took about 2 episodes before she said anything to you.

“You’re not going to ask why I wanted to break up with him?”

You leaned back into the couch, “I’m curious, but it didn’t really seem like something I should be asking right now.”

She searched your eyes for something. If you had to guess, you say for security. She needed to know that start she said next was ok to tell you. In truth there was nothing she could say that would deter you from being there for her.

“I think I like women,” she said as she looked into her lap. There were more tears brewing behind her eyes, “Only women.”

There was no hesitation as you moved closer to her. Your thigh rested against hers, prompting her to meet your gaze.

“That’s not a bad thing Wanda.”

She shakes her head, “It is especially when you have a long-term boyfriend who loves you with everything that he has. You keep wondering when you’re going to love him the way he loves you. When will you stop hating the way he touches you? When will you be able to look at him, the way he looks at you. By the time you realize it can’t be him, it will never be a him… it’s too late. He shows you a ring while you’re trying to break up with him.”

You grab her hand, “You need to be kinder to yourself. This isn’t something you chose to do Wanda. It’s not like you knew the whole time. It sounds like you’re just coming to terms with your sexuality. You did the right thing by breaking up with him.”

“But-"

“Let me finish. If I’m being honest, getting on one knee and proposing to someone after they tried to break up with you sounds like a manipulation tactic.”

She ran her free hand through her hair, “Did you think we were a good couple? Jarvis and I.”

You thought about the question briefly, “I think it looked like you were the perfect couple, but sometimes I didn’t understand it. You’re both so different, not that it was a bad thing. I just… I’ve seen you soar to unimaginable heights. I’ve seen your ambitions become your reality. I just didn’t see that in him. You’re always striving to be the best, to improve. I always thought you’d want someone to do the same with you or someone who was okay with you doing that. It just seemed like all of that went over his head.”

“He was a very traditional man. He always talked about settling down in the future, with firm roots, and kids. He talked about me retiring and letting him take care of me. It was just- not what I wanted.”

“And that’s ok, people break up all the time Wanda. It’s a normal part of life. Yes, it sucks, but it's just a breakup. Think of it as one step closer to finding your person.”

She nods slightly, “When did you get so good at this?”

You smile at her, “I’m not good at this. I’m just good with you. That's what nearly a decade of friendship does to someone.”

She didn’t say anything else. Instead, she rested her head on your shoulder and turned her attention back to the tv. You wrapped your arm around her shoulder, pulling her firmly into you.

Wanda would get through this, just like she got through everything else. You’d make sure of it, because she'd do the same for you.

In the coming months, you found yourself carving out more time for Wanda. The busy nature of your schedule died down significantly when you started to entrust the general manager of your restaurant with some more responsibility. It made your workload lighter while allowing your GM to get some more experience.

You used the new free time to support her the best way you could. Sometimes that meant bringing her lunch when she was working. Other times it was coming over after to make sure the woman wasn’t neglecting her home. You’d go over and check if she had groceries or that she wasn’t letting the flat get too dirty.  She was the kind of woman that threw herself into work when she was trying to avoid something.

You’d even gone as far as helping her set up a dating profile when she was ready to put herself back out there.

“How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

You were once again in her flat. She stood in the kitchen, while you sat on a chair stationed at the island in the middle of the same room.

“Date women,” she was asking sincerely, but you couldn’t stop yourself from laughing.

“Well, I don’t really date, but it’s the same as any date. You’re trying to present your best self, get a good foot forward, but while maintaining an authenticity. It’s not like a job interview where only one person is doing the hiring; you both have a say in how it turns out.”

Wanda narrows her eyes, “Why don’t you date?”

You shrug, “Too busy running a very successful restaurant.”

“You’re not as busy as you used to be. Maybe you should set up a profile for yourself. I’m sure any girl would be lucky to have you.”

You shook your head, “Hard pass, but I appreciate the effort.”

“Come on, Y/nn. I know accomplishments can feel empty when you don’t have anyone to share them with,” she tried to persuade you.

“Well good thing I can share it with you then,” you countered.

She let out an irritated sigh, “You know that’s not what I meant.”

You smirk, “Why do you want me to sign up so badly anyway? You think we’re going to match?”

You were only joking, yet you can’t help but notice the slight color on your friend’s cheeks.

She scoffed like you expected her to, “Grow up.”

For a moment it feels like you’re back in your college dorm. The playful and flirty banter was always present between the two of you. It was easy for you to flirt with her, knowing you never really had a chance. However, now that there was even the slightest of possibility that this could escalate, it felt completely different.

“It’s alright Wanda, nothing to be ashamed of. I’m hot, successful, hardworking, and financially responsible. Hard to ignore the total package.”

She rolled her eyes, “I remember when Ms. ‘Total Package’ couldn’t even finish her college assignments without my help.”

You chuckle when you catch her eyes, “You’ve got me there. If it wasn’t for you, I have no idea where’d I be.”

“Probably still in college on your 95th major change,” she laughed at her own joke.

Now it was your turn to roll your eyes, “Very funny.”

 With a smile plastered on her face she strolled over to sit next to you. She spun on the barstool before grabbing your arms and looking into your eyes, “I have something for you actually.”

“What is it?”

She reached into her pocket and sat a key down on the island. You looked at her then the key with slight confusion.

“A key?”

Wanda nods, “You’re basically here all the time and I’m getting tired of opening the door for you.”

“I’m using this key to come over and cook in this beautiful kitchen, you hardly use.”

“Hey, I cook,” she defended.

You laugh, “I said hardly, didn’t I?”

When you got home that night, you felt a new weight on your shoulders. Your hand slipped into your pocket to pull out the key. You held it flat in your palm. The small piece of metal was cool against your skin. You stared at it for a long while.

It was just a key. There wasn't anything crazy about it. Your friend gave you a key to her house. Friends do that with each other. Your heart shouldn’t have been fluttering the way it was over such a simple gesture.

You closed your hand around the key trying to ground yourself. Your eyes shut, but as soon as they did her smile etched its way into your sight.

“Shit.”

It was like college all over again. You thought you had gotten over your crush on Wanda many years ago. She was straight, it was never going to happen. That was something you could deal with, something you could work through. However now, that wasn’t the case anymore. Wanda liked women, technically you had a chance.

You shouldn't be thinking like that. She needs you now, to be her friend. You were doing so well. Taking care of her had become an unconscious pattern as easy as breathing. You never thought about it too hard when she needed you. It’s like the moment she put the key in your hand, your mind finally started thinking.

Subconsciously you’d always known it. It’s why you didn't date. It was unfair to be with someone who’d never be able to prioritize over Wanda. She was one of the few people in your life that you’d drop everything for.

Sure, you were a busy woman, but you’d never be too busy for her. Her distress over Jarvis literally made you change the way you worked, just to make sure you were there when she needed you.

“Why would I make her a dating profile?” You asked yourself as you face-planted on to your mattress.

Just as you expected Wanda’s profile was gaining some traction. There were a lot of women interested in someone like her. Soon she was going on more dates than you had been on in years. Most of them weren’t serious, she often said she wouldn’t be seeing them again.

While you were sad that she wasn’t finding anyone suitable you were also happy for the same reason. You thought you’d attempt to cheer up her up after so many bad dates by cooking one of her favorite dishes from home.

You made a day of finding the freshest ingredients. You drove out to find markets that had authentic food from her home country. There wasn’t a lot locally, but you didn’t mind the hunt.

Once you had everything you needed you made your way over to Wanda’s. It was a struggle carrying everything up, but you managed with a little bit of a struggle.

While you were still conflicted about having a key to her flat, you still used it plenty of times. So just like you had done previously you let yourself into Wanda’s home.

“Oh, fuck sorry,” you said as you immediately saw Wanda straddling the lap of an older (an admittedly super attractive) woman on her living room couch.

Wanda looked like a deer in headlights. You were trying to comprehend if you were more mortified or heartbroken. No one spoke for a long while until the older woman cleared her throat.

“Right, uh I’ll just come back tomorrow or something. Enjoy your night, Wanda.”

With the groceries still in your hand, you turned around and closed the door. You only made it down a few steps before you heard someone calling after you.

“Y/n, wait!”

You closed your eyes and took in a deep breath trying to mask your feelings before you turned around.

“This stuff is a little heavy Wanda; I want to get it back to the car before the bags break.”

She took a few bags from your hands, “Let me help you.”

“You don’t have to; you looked pretty busy in there. Here I was, bringing stuff to cook for you in light of all your failed dates, but it seems like you’re not doing nearly as bad as I thought,” you tried to joke with her.

“Agatha is definitely the best of the dates I've had so far.”

You had to keep yourself from wincing, “Glad to hear it.”

Wanda helped you load the stuff back into the car.

“I’m really sorry about this. If I would’ve known you were coming-"

You shook your head, “It’s fine Wanda, go back to making out with a hot older woman. They don't like to wait for too long. I’ll just text you next time instead of just barging in.”

“I have you a key because you’re always welcome.”

You unhook the key from your key ring and hand it back to her, “I know that, but maybe it’s best if you let me in.”

“Y/n,” she looked at you with confusion.

You smile through the pain, “If you’re going to have women over, it’s not a good look for another woman to be coming in and out of your house whenever. We’re not related and we’re not roommates. There’s not really a reason for me to have access to you like that.”

“I don’t understand,” she looked between you and the key that was now in her hand.

“Usually, a key to your flat would mean I’m your girlfriend. Me coming over to cook for you as another woman who likes women is bad for your stock. It just doesn't feel like something that's easily explained. I would have a bunch of questions if I was in Agatha’s position, especially since you haven't gone back yet,” you hop into your car.

There was a conflicted look on her face, “You’ll stop by tomorrow?”

“I’ve got work, but I'll try to stop by after,” you told her that even though you knew you wouldn't be coming back tomorrow.

“I’ll see later then?” She was searching for something as she surveyed your features.

With what little control you had left, you tried to give her what she was looking for, “Definitely. Now forget about this and go back to your date.”

She looked like she wanted to say more, but with a small glance back at her flat, she walked away. You drove home.

The groceries felt eternally heavier when you were bringing them into your house. You wondered how carrying them upstairs to Wanda’s was even possible.

You hurriedly put the food away, showered, and then got in the bed. When your head hits the pillow, you let out a deep sigh. Your jaw started to tremble on its own.

You let out a bitter laugh as the tears fell down your face. You didn’t bother to wipe them away.  It felt like a part of you was ripped out of your chest.

This was bound to happen eventually. Wanda would move on from Jarvis and your silly fantasy would be crushed. You felt silly crying over a woman that was never yours.

Yet another part of you was screaming at you for feeling silly. You were doing a lot for Wanda. Even if it was all just friendly, sometimes it felt like more. All the dinners, all the cuddling on the couch, all the late-night talks. She was your better half, but she wasn’t your girl. She’d never be your girl.

It was something you had to accept. You didn’t go to work the next day. You rotted in your bed, not having the energy to get up. Scrolling on your phone was the only thing you wanted to do.

Wanda had texted you a few times, but you ignored the messages. Even the thought of her just made your entire chest burn.

You finally got out of bed when you had to pee. You took the opportunity to brush your teeth as well. On the way back to the bed your doorbell started to ring. Not just once either. Whoever was at the door pressed the button over and over again. It was impossible to ignore.

So, with your bed head, red eyes, and mismatched pajamas you yanked the front door open, “Look, I don’t know what you want but could you just go away and try again tomorrow or something.”

“Tomorrow’s not going to work for me.”

Your head shot up and you felt face heat. Wanda was standing at your front door with her arms crossed over her chest with an eyebrow raised.

“What’re you doing here?”

Your voice had a softness to it that you reserved for the red head in front of you.

She didn’t answer your question. Instead, she let herself into your home. You closed the door behind her. You followed her to your living room. She sat on your couch while you took a seat on a chair diagonal to it.

“I thought you had work today,” she says.

“I decided not to go.”

“I’ve been texting you.”

You shrugged, “Haven’t been on it sorry.”

Wanda stared at you, “I went to your restaurant looking for you.”

You were looking into your lap, “I’m sorry Wanda.”

She got up from the couch to come completely into your line of sight. She kneeled down in front of you, her hands resting on your knees.

“What’s going on with Y/nn?”

The concern in her voice broke you out of your trance. You tried your hardest to feign that you were alright.

“I’m fine. Since you’re here why don't you let me cook something for us?”

You stood from the chair quickly pushing down the rest of your emotions. She watched as you walked over to the kitchen pulling out some of the ingredients you had bought the day before.

“This is for paprikash,” Wanda watched as you began to prepare.

You nod, “Yeah, I got stuff for chicken paprikash, alivenci, and cholent too. The plan was to cook the paprikash and then the alivenci for dessert. I was going to set up the cholent for you before I left so you could have it fresh the next day because it’s got to cook for like 17 hours.”

“You got all of this for me?”

You answered her while chopping up the vegetables, “It was nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. You’re using Hungarian bell peppers, where did you even get those?”

You smiled a bit, “I do own a restaurant, Wanda. If there’s anything I’m an expert in, it’s food. I wanted it to be authentic as possible.”

As you began cooking you felt the weight of the situation lift off of your shoulders. Cooking had always been a stress reliever for you, and it wasn’t any different now. You could feel Wanda’s eyes on you, but you never looked away from the meal.

Only when the chicken was simmering in the pot did she attempt to grab your attention.

“After you came by yesterday, I asked Agatha to leave,” Wanda broke the silence.

You finally look at her, “Why would you do something like that?”

She simply placed a key on the counter, “I couldn't stop thinking about you giving me this key back.”

“Wanda,” you tried to stop her, but she cut you off.

“No, I need you to listen. When you put this key in my hand, it felt like you had handed me a live grenade. I didn’t understand why. It wasn’t until I went back inside, and Agatha asked me how we knew each other that it clicked. You’re my everything.”

“What are you saying?”

She hesitated, “I’m saying I’ve already found my person.”

“Wanda, you’re my best friend.”

She invaded your personal space, grabbing you gently by the wrist, “And you’re mine, but it’s more than that isn’t it? You’re the person I can rely on for anything at any time. You’re the woman that left her restaurant to put me back together when my ex left. You listened to me, you held me, you cooked for me, made sure I had groceries, and that my house was clean. Friends don't do as much as you've done for me.”

You slowly lifted your gaze to meet her’s, “I just know you appreciate acts of service.”

“Y/n if you don’t want this I’ll leave and we can pretend it never happened; but if you do want this, want me, I’m right here laying it all out for you.”

You drop your gaze again, “I cried myself to sleep last night. I thought I'd lost my chance. When I saw you on top of Agatha, something broke inside of me Wanda.  Back in college I had a crush on, but I thought you were straight, so it was easy to keep it down. When you came out to me, it was like I was at square one all over again.”

Wanda shook her head, “It’s not square one because here I am telling you that I’m in love with you. Please give us a chance Y/n.”

You wished the moment was more glamorous as you kissed the woman in front of you. You hadn’t denied her yet and you never planned to. Her hands locked behind your neck while yours rested on her waist.

Your breath was shaky when the kiss ended. Neither of you moved.

“I love you too,” you pecked her lips again.

Wanda blushed, but you were more focused on the way she looked at you. Her eyes were full of nothing but tenderness.

“Would you take the key back?”

You raised your eyebrow, “Why does it feel like you’re asking me for something else?”

She feigned innocence, “I’m not. Unless you think that what you said yesterday about keys is true.”

“Remind me what I said again?”

Her fingers played with the hairs at the base of your neck, “A key to my flat means girlfriend.”

You pretended to think about it, “Girlfriend?”

She nodded, “Girlfriend.”

“I guess I’ll have to get you a key too then,” you said softly.

This time Wanda leaned in for a kiss. It was supposed to be a peck, but you both got lost in that moment. Neither willingly to part with the other just yet. Lips fitting together to create a soft lullaby of security.

You never thought you’d be lucky enough to have Wanda in this way. She was your best friend, your person, and now your girlfriend. It may have taken years, but you wouldn’t have had it any other way. Wanda cherished you just as much. She felt like an idiot for not realizing her feelings sooner, but she was just happy to call you, her girl.

And one day, she would be ecstatic to call you, her wife.

[p-taryn-dactyl]

l'amour de ma vie

a/n: hi! it's been awhile since i've written for agatha but I though this was a fun idea! kind of an AU? everyone is alive and well, i've taken over. i tried to capture the same feeling of the avenger compound 2012 fanfics bc they have a special place in my heart, but also theres slight 🌶️ in this one than any of the fics i read in 2012

word count: 2.6k

warning(s): science written by someone who barely scrapped by in any type of science class - agatha being agatha - exes to lovers - discussion of a bad breakup - suggestiveness - slight jealous!agatha - top!agatha - slight 'knee thing' - mention of insecurity - slight manipulative!agatha - i love agath's hands, this isn't a warning but a confession -

pairing: agatha harkness x fem!reader, r is tony's younger sister

prompt: you thought being the sister of iron man, helping your brother not accidentally kill himself in the lab, was the hardest part of your life. turns out, it's keeping your mind objective when your ex is brought in on a mission

The lab was quiet, save the sound of Dummy bumping into tables while trying to feed you a smoothie made from bananas and motor oil, as you wandered around, your mind going over calculations and equations. Tony had mentioned wanting to create a new suit based off of the absorbent energy of the Black Panther and you, being the good sister you are, decided to try and create a prototype as a surprise. Turns out, it was a lot more complicated than you originally anticipated. While Tony was off on a well-earned vacation with Pepper, you spent your nights on the phone with Shuri as she excitedly discussed how she originally made her brother's suit. You thought it was hard to follow Tony when he went on his ramblings about new scientific breakthroughs. Now, it wasn’t as if you weren’t smart, you had a very high IQ, but sometimes it seemed as if Tony and Shuri just understood everything. As you stared at the white board against the wall, smudged questions and equations blurring together, you heard knocking against the windows of the lab. Turning, you saw Natasha and Yelena waving at you, the blonde holding a box of your favorite donuts. Sighing, you signaled JARVIS to let them in, leaning one hip against a table, arms crossed. 

“What happened?” You immediately asked, taking in the slight guilty expressions the sisters wore, super spies your ass. Natasha and Yelena shared a look before the red-head shrugged, plopping down on Tony’s swivel chair. 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” 

Yelena took a donut out of the box, sitting on the table you were leaning against, legs crossed as she handed the box out to you. Taking a donut, you raised an eyebrow, looking back and forth between your two friends. 

“Guys come on, these are bad news donuts. You only ever get these if it’s my birthday or something has happened? Did you set the laundry room on fire?” You asked Yelena pointedly, remembering the footage JARVIS had sent you two weeks earlier. She gasped, faux offense painting her face as Natasha snorted. 

“You can’t prove that was me,” yes you could, “and fine, yes, we do have news. News that Natasha is just so happy to tell you.” 

Natasha glared at her sister before she sighed, looking up at you. 

“Strange encountered something on one of his last missions, something that wasn’t sorcery but witchcraft.” 

You looked at Natasha, shrugging while slightly shaking your head.

“So? Did he call Wanda? Oh shit, is she hurt?” Worry for your friend clouded your mind before Natasha shook her head, looking away from you as she caught a donut Yelena chucked at her. 

“Wanda is powerful, yes, but she doesn’t have the knowledge required to fully take out this threat. He called in someone known for her magical expertise, after all she’s been around a while.” 

Your heart dropped to your stomach once you realized who Natasha was talking about. 

“No…” You whispered, now fully sitting on the table, eyes glued to the floor as Yelena continued where Natasha left off.

“Apparently, this threat is going to take awhile to understand and Strange has offered her a place at the compound until everything is over. He needs you or Tony to sign off on that and Tony is in Ibiza right now.” 

You just nodded wordlessly, not fully understanding what Yelena was saying. The blonde noticed this, placing a hand over yours. 

“She’s upstairs with him now.”

Your vision tunneled slightly, panic clawing at your throat. Taking a deep breath, you remembered what your job was. 

Protect the people. 

Even if that meant dealing with your ex-fiance, Agatha Harkness.

Your relationship with the infamous witch started out like every Hallmark movie Tony forces you to watch. It was a rainy morning when you ran inside a small cafe near the Avengers Tower, ran straight into Agatha herself. From there, everything was a blur. Now, you’ve pushed the memories away into a box in your mind, forbidden to open. But sometimes you find yourself thinking about the happiness that bloomed in your chest every time you were near Agatha, how your heart almost exploded when she proposed, how happy you were to finally use the wedding book you had made and continued to add to since you were six. Then you remember how Agatha, mere weeks after proposing, started growing distant. Any question about her wedding preferences were waved away with a perfectly manicured hand, claiming that she would be fine with whatever. Her response seemed romantic to you at first, thinking she would just be happy to marry you, no matter the color scheme or the flower arrangements. But then it quickly shifted to her not caring at all. Date nights got canceled, cake tasting was done solo, and you shrunk deeper and deeper into your insecurities. She was obsessed with her own power, constantly chasing leads of witches and wizards who could be easy targets. It all came to a head one night, silently. You remember sitting in the dim lighting of your shared apartment, an anniversary gift from Tony, fiddling with your ring. A glass of wine sat on the counter, untouched but tempting. Agatha had promised to come home at three in the afternoon so the two of you could design the wedding invitations, something you thought could bring her back to you. 

But she didn’t show. 

It was half past nine when you broke, tears pooling in your eyes, blurring your vision as they fell to the floor. You cried silently to yourself as you gathered up the markers and papers you had set out, ripping the designs you had happily scribbled down at sixteen. You left the pieces in the trash, glaring at them for a few moments before you wiped your eyes and took a deep breath. Then promptly burst into tears once more. You wish you had handled the situation with the grace and dignity of a Stark but no. You put all the wedding stuff in a bin, stuffing in it a closet, then you left your ring on the counter. You didn’t know when Agatha would be back, sometimes she was gone for days, but that gave you some sense of peace. If she showed up as you had finally decided to leave, you probably would have fallen for her spell once again. All your things in the apartment you just left, knowing that you hadn’t fully moved in and, not to sound too incredibly privileged, you could just replace everything you left behind. You still had that key to the apartment, probably rusting away in a drawer somewhere. Leaving should have felt like a weight being lifted but all you felt was pain. The week after you left was filled with silence, you spent it curled up in your room at the compound, being forced to watch movies sandwiched between Natasha and Yelena, Tony joining occasionally. Your brother showered you with gifts of candy and books, doing everything in his power to bring a smile back to your face. Eventually, it worked and now, a year later, you thought you had healed. 

You were wrong.

The elevator ride up to where Strange and Agatha waited felt like time was being stretched around you. Yelena stood protectively at your side, arms crossed as she glared at the elevator doors, Natasha had wrapped an arm around your waist as you had slightly stumbled from the shock. You felt both protected and exposed as the doors opened, Stephen smiling as he realized it was you, his expression growing concerned as he took in the positions of the two assassins flanking your sides. You didn’t blame him, he didn’t know, but some part of you was angry at the innocent gratefulness that was apparent in his eyes. You felt her eyes before you saw her, they pierced into you before moving down to where Natasha’s arm wrapped around your waist. Swallowing, you nodded at Nat, silently letting her know you were okay. The two sisters moved to sit on the couch across from where Agatha now stood, her eyes never leaving you despite the looks she was receiving. Clapping your hands together, you refused to look at her, instead smiling at Strange as you painted on the familiar Stark charm. 

“I heard you needed my signature?” It was more of a statement than a question as you held out your hand for the tablet Strange held. He nodded, relief painting his face as you signed the permission form, allowing JARVIS to assign your ex a room. 

“Normally we would stay in Kamar Taj but whatever it is we’re facing seems to target places of high magical energy.” 

Yelena scoffed, her eyes still boring into Agatha.

“That sounds familiar.” 

Agatha finally looked away from you, her expression almost confused until her face went blank as she raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes. Stephen rocked back and forth on his heels for a second once you had finished signing all the forms, obviously thrown off by the awkward atmosphere. He suddenly snapped his fingers as if he had remembered something, giving you an apologetic glance before explaining he had a meeting with Wong starting in a few minutes. Your eyes widened as he turned to Agatha, formally introducing you and explaining you would show her to her new room. At this, Natasha and Yelena shot up, both offering to instead be the guide. Strange looked both confused and scared, opting to just nod as he walked backwards into the portal he had summoned, quickly disappearing. 

“Guys, it’s fine. I’ll show Ms. Harkness to her room.” 

Your friends looked apprehensive, like they would rather swallow a wasps nest than let you be alone with the witch but thankfully they stood down. You closed your eyes as you turned around, heading back towards the elevator, beckoning for Agatha to follow you. 

Time to face the music.

Once the doors to the elevators shut, you focused all your attention onto the screen in your hands, hoping to ignore the way Agatha was staring at you. You heard her sigh before the elevator stopped suddenly. Thinking you were at the right floor, you took a step forward only to be face to face with very closed doors. Confused, you turned to finally face Agatha, finding her eyes slightly glowing purple, same as the emergency stop button. You opened your mouth to ask what was going on when suddenly you were pushed up against the wall, purple magic pinning you down as Agatha stood inches away from you, arms trapping you and one leg in between yours. Her eyes flickered down to your lips for a moment before they snapped up to yours, 

“Is this where you’ve been?” You heard a slight tremor in her voice, breaking her illusion of strength. You didn’t respond, your words stuck in your throat as your body reacted to being close to Agatha once more. She didn’t seem to care about your silence, continuing to speak. 

“You look very comfortable here, especially with that assassin.” She spoke with a sneer, her hands moving to now cradle your waist, her grip tight as her thumbs slipped under your shirt. You blinked, absorbing her words before you unwillingly let out a small laugh. She tightened her grip, her hips now practically flush with yours. 

“Natasha is just a friend, I’m not-” You cleared your throat, stopping yourself from justifying your personal life with the person who had torn apart your heart. Agatha leaned in close, her nose brushing against your jaw as she kissed your neck softly, causing you to gasp. 

“Not what?” She prodded, her breath hot against your skin as her tongue traced up your neck before she lightly bit your ear. 

“Agatha…” you sighed, your hands now resting on her shoulders, as if you were debating whether or not to push her away or pull her closer. Her teeth bit hard into your neck before she kissed over the spot, her knee now pressing up against your core. 

“Answer me, Y/N.” 

This was exactly why you didn’t wait for her to come back to the apartment that night, you crumbled too quickly under her hands. 

“I’m not with anyone, especially not Natasha, she’s like a sister to me.” 

Agatha nodded slightly before she leaned her forehead against yours, one of her hands fiddling with the elastic of your sweatpants. 

“Have you been with anyone since you left me?”

Her words were accusing yet tinged with slight fear, worried about your answer. You hesitated before you shook your head, embarrassed at how pathetic you had been after you ended the relationship. Sure, people offered and you tried a few times but always chickened out before anything could ever happen. 

No one was like Agatha. 

Your ex smiled, lightly bumping her nose against yours. You felt your own lips quirk slightly before you realized the position you were in. She was here for a mission, not to fuck you against the walls of an elevator. 

“Agatha-”

Before you could finish speaking, Agatha's lips crashed against yours, immediately establishing her dominance. The kiss was deep, her tongue battling yours before she pulled away, her teeth pulling at your bottom lip. Her hands left your waits, instead now cradling your face. She smirked at your expression, your eyes glassy and your mouth hanging slightly open. Her thumb rubbed your cheek as her other hand brushed a hair out of your eyes. You allowed yourself to bask in the peace of the moment, reminiscing about the time when Agatha sent butterflies ablaze in your stomach. It was quickly ruined, however, by Agatha’s next question which hit you like a bucket of ice water. 

“Why’d you leave me? No note, no explanations, just your ring on the counter and cancellations of our wedding vendors. I thought you loved me, Y/N.” Her last words were almost a whisper, like she hadn’t fully meant to say them outloud. You felt the sharp pin pricks of tears, hurriedly blinking them away, averting your eyes from Agatha. You shook your head, a dry, humorless laugh escaping from your lips. 

“Agatha, what’s done is done, we don’t need to-”

Her hand grasped your chin, forcing you to look at her, to take in the icy fury that was ablaze in her eyes. 

“No.” Her voice was firm, commanding, as you both examined each other’s expressions. “No, I need to know what I did.” 

You didn’t know why, but those words opened the floodgates, both of your tears and your words.  

“It’s what you didn’t do Agatha! You were never there, you didn’t give one shit about our wedding, about planning our life together. Power is your true love, Agatha, and I’ll be damned if I’m just a rebound,” You took a shaky breath, blinking away the tears that were blurring your vision and falling down your face, “You were bored of me, Agatha, I understand that now but by god, you could of just told me instead of stringing me along and single handedly crushing my dreams!”

Agatha looked shocked, the anger disappearing from her eyes, now replaced with something akin to despair. 

“Is that really what you thought? Still think?” 

You bit your lip as you nodded, heart about to explode in your chest at how intense this day had become. Agatha shook her head, leaning so her head now rested on your shoulder, arms wrapping around your waist, pulling you into a tight hug. It was silent for a moment before you felt the atmosphere shift, Agatha’s hands making their way into your pants, her experienced fingers rubbing your clothed clit as she whispered into your ear. 

“I guess I have to prove you wrong.”

a/n: plz don't hate me i wrote this in two hours and i have to get up early tomorrow or else this fic would be wayyy longer and would probably banish me to self isolation bc i think im ovulating. is that tmi? who cares. ik this wasn't the best but thank you for reading! im sleep deprived

[teekays]

hello! if memory serves you are the blog that talked about boy band pretty as a marketing tactic (or something to that effect? the search function does not work so if i’m wrong i’m terribly sorry) and i was wondering if you would be willing to find someone from each team (can include prospects if you want) to create the ultimate nhl boy band. this is not a necessary thing to do, solely shits and gigs and if you ever feel like it doing it. have a lovely day!

HIIIIIII that WAS me and you sent this at the perfect time because i am at the laundromat with time to kill and i LOVE to discuss this.... let's chop it up.... a few disclaimers: this is subjective so don't get mad at me and i will be including prospects and ahl players where i know its applicable BUT for most of these teams i will be going off the main roster + looks alone because if i did a full deep dive vibes analysis on every team's roster and prospects it would take me like two months to answer this ask... you understand. we are being SHALLOW here today in the true spirit of the boy band industry. let's go!!!

carolina hurricanes: i know everyone wants me to say sebastian aho but he is 1) too old 2) too unsettling looking. the elf on the shelf is not boy band pretty im sorry 😭 i do love him but he's just not the vibe here... i will say based on looks either scott morrow or jackson blake and his 90s heartthrob hair. i want to say seth jarvis because he's my special pop pop but that does contradict almost everything i have said previously so i will not be biased but know that if he was a pop star i would be his biggest fan i would kiss his poster. and that's my truth

columbus blue jackets: in the interest of journalistic integrity i went to their roster instead of just saying it's obviously kj as the intimidating aloof one in the boy ("boy") band but actually i do think it's cole sillinger.... teen heartthrob. also i didn't know that he was born in columbus because his dad was playing for the team and his brother is also on the team??? imagine having a whole destiny like that and its for COLUMBUS OHIO 😭

new jersey devils: jack hughes. open and shut case argue with the WALL

new york islanders: NOT MAT BARZAL. HE LOOKS 35. STAND UP LADIES!!! lowkey i do not know any of these dudes and this roster is kind of busted as fuck 😭😭😭 (NOT ANTHONY DUCLAIR who is too old to be a boy band boy but who i do love) bargain bin team... anyway isaiah george YOU! are the only cute person the new york islanders

new york rangers: matt rempe. those pictures of him lounging around on the phone??? wow. no words. diva heartthrob behavior. it's sad what they're doing to him what are we doing to our beautiful queens :(

philadelphia flyers: after much careful deliberation.... i think denver barkey is taking it. denver is such a deeply boy band name tbh he was born for this!!! i know everyone thinks it's jamie (who i still forget is a flyer 😭) but can you imagine him on a stage? singing a song? they are reinventing shoegaze for him. negative star quality (AFFECTIONATE!!!!!!! LOVING!!!!!!!!!!!!)

pittsburgh penguins: well NOW the obvious answer is rutger mcgroarty... not even worth going through that senior center roster when he's there tbh sorry pens

washington capitals: AGAIN. SENIOR CENTER ROSTER. i had to go to their prospects page to find someone suitable and my vote is patrick leonard he's a cutie!!! also im so sorry to say this but my jaw dropped when i got to this guy why are you playing hockey you need to make a children's album RIGHT NOW. i know he could do a banger cover of the We're going on a bear hunt song. but i digress...

boston bruins: matthew poitras is adorable and exudes star quality NEXTTTT. shoutout also brett harrison who looks like a long lost jonas brother

buffalo sabres: JACK QUINNN JQUIZZY HIMSELF partly for looks mostly for vibes... he has extreme "jack dylan grazer vape apology video" energy and also he has that boyish charm... either him or devon levi (hot) not miss owen power for the same reasons as jamie. she could never be a pop star 😔 ryan mcleod used to be the oilers popstar boy but now he's got too much competition he's a little niche for the title

detroit red wings: my gut tells me simon edvinsson but a look at the roster tells me there is some competition in the form of amadeus lombardi... if we were discussing this two years ago mo seider would be the obvious answer but he's too grizzled now 😔

florida panthers: 🙄 here comes another busted fucking roster... i guess denisenko??? panthers are not really representing here....

montreal canadiens: ARBER <3 he's like the bad boy hottie in the boy band. the one that makes your dad shake his head when he sees him on tv

ottawa senators: wow the atlantic division is fucking WACK this was another case of like. okay i guess ill pick one of yous but REALLY? so congratulations jorian donovan YOU are in the boy band

tampa bay lightning: seriously what is going on in this division. jack finley looks like he was the closeted one in a boy band from the early 2000s but he's aged past that now and he has a husband and a wine brand.... so we will bring him back for nostalgia points. welcome to the team. also i have to be honest i thought of myself as pretty well acquainted with the ahl but the SYRACUSE CRUNCH? that's crazy

leafs: JOSEPH WOLL! boyish charm out the ears on that one. a real cutie

chicago: obviously it's bedard. we all know it's bedard. on the surface he has no charisma but he does have a certain kind of shy boy charm and he IS adorable... he's the one in the boy band who makes your mom tut over him like "he seems like a nice boy"

colorado avalanche: wow huge props to matt stienburg for having maybe the single most boy band roster photo i have seen yet... THIS is the guy they get in the boy band because he's already had huge success with his hit single called like, Heart React Girlfriend or whatever. this is jacob sartorius if he played hockey. this is chase dreams. this kid is going places

dallas stars: it's obviously wyjo, joining the ranks with cbedard as The Nice One <3

minnesota wild: okay i was going to say brock faber because every group needs a kevin jonas (SORRY BROCK) but WHO is kyle masters and why does he look like knockoff brendan brisson. budget briss. diet briss. we have briss at home.

nashville predators: this just reminded me cody glass is a penguin now 💔 anyway the preds have some STRONG contenders here wow.... jeremy hanzel is taking it but i think luke evangelista could pull it off... now if you asked me to be really subjective it would be ozzy wiesblatt who would also be the subject of much poster kissing and rigged "which member of the nhl boy band should you date" tests so i get him as the result but that's just me....

st louis blues: jeremie biakabutuka your radiant smile has charmed me.... welcome to the band....

utah whatevers: MONTANA ONYEBUCHI I AM SO FUCKING SORRY THE SHARKS DIDNT APPRECIATE YOU. BUT WE WILL..... also matt villalta kinda giving off brand kj... you could build a whole off brand version of that umich team just with guys from other teams i bet

winnipeg jets: dylan coghlan you will always be famous to ME but i fear you are a little too old for our purposes here.... other than him they kinda don't have a lot going for them.... brayden yager it is your time to shine as off brand owen power ♥️

anaheim ducks: some strong competition here... tz is the obvious choice but i think we need to think bigger... olen zellwegger please step forward....

calgary flames: matt coronato i am free on thursday if you would like to hang out on thursday when i am free and also join this boy band

edmonton oilers: yet another old ass roster 😭 they're lucky they got so many sabres because matt savoie is saving their asses rn

los angeles kings: angus booth is smizing in every single photo i saw of him so. come on now

san jose sharks: it's so obviously will smith i don't even know what we're doing here tbh

seattle kraken: tye kartye looks like he would be into white water rafting so he can be the nature guy in the boy band.... strong competition from tucker robertson but he's just a touch too gay porn for this vibe

vancouver canucks: JETT WOO... HELLO.... but also shoutout cole mcward for having 2014 gay youtuber phenotype. a connor franta troye sivan type face if ive ever seen one

vegas golden knights: BRISS ‼️‼️‼️ my little tabloid queen... not only is he in the boy band but he's in the news and the media. he was born to be a star. natural ham. child actor energy. alex holtz is also a strong contender for this but i think he's off on his own doing his little pop star solo act thing

this took way longer than laundromat time but it was worth it i had so much fun!!!!! thank you!!!!!!

[keyboardsmashess]

The Siren, or The Heart of the Matter

Chapter Six: The Crystal, or Cleo's Mother is Right for the First Time in Recorded History

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x OFC

Warnings: language, eventual smut (but not in this chapter), fluff, eventual canon-typical violence (but not in this chapter) MINORS DNI. A/N: I'm still sticking with Marvel Mondays as the regular Update Day, but I've been writing so much lately that I may post random updates as well. This story has really taken off in my mind, and I hope you are all loving it as much as I do! I have a taglist now! Let me know if you want to be added to it!

Summary: Cleo and the Avengers start to learn more about her new abilities. Some of the changes are more unexpected than others.

Chapter Directory

After I spill a careful selection of my guts to the room at large, three of the four Avengers exchange a look and Natasha tells me they’ll be back in a bit. Barnes hangs back, but remains stoically silent. So much for getting any answers of my own.

My body is exhausted, but my mind won’t shut the hell up, so after trying and failing to sleep for a few minutes, I stand as smoothly as I can and grip the hospital gown tightly behind my back. I’m not a prude, but I still don’t want to show one of the world’s mightiest heroes my rainbow underwear. I watch him carefully, and he watches back, but he remains silent and still. I decide to largely ignore him for the time being - a decision I suspect he will appreciate.

The room is fairly sparse - my bed, one of those adjustable-height tables next to it with a cup of water and the wallet Captain America returned, plus a few folding chairs. No windows, just that one-way mirror with the little crack staring at me. There’s a single row of cabinets beneath a counter off to one side, so I make my way over there to snoop around. I venture a glance back to Barnes - he doesn’t move, but I detect the smallest bit of curiosity in his eyes so I give him a wide, toothy smile and keep exploring when he looks away.

In the first section, I find the requisite medical supplies one might expect in any doctor’s office. I resist the urge to steal a handful of rubber gloves.

I close the double doors gently, moving on to the other set. They start to give before snapping shut, a lock audibly clicking into place.

“I apologize, Miss Blake, but you do not have access to this storage area.” The British-sounding voice comes from nowhere and everywhere, and I stand up so quickly my head spins.

“What the fuck, who are you? Where are you?” I think Barnes huffs a laugh.

“I am Just a Rather Very Intelligent System, an artificial intelligence created by Mr. Stark.”

“For someone who loves a nickname, he sure gave you a mouthful,” I mumble.

“You may call me JARVIS.” Can AI chuckle? I swear to gods he - it? - chuckles.

“Got it, thanks. And your presence in my hospital room slash jail cell is because Stark asked you to keep an eye on me? Same as Grumpy Smurf over there?”

“That would be correct, Miss Blake, though I detect Sergeant Barnes may not approve of the nickname.” the AI says. 

It feels like talking to a human and it creeps me out a little if I’m being honest, but today has been incredibly exhausting and I don’t have the energy to wage an ethical war against AI right now, so I shut my mouth and nod. “Sure thing. Sorry, Grumpy Smurf.” Barnes’ stoic face twitches minutely.

I make my way back to my hospital bed for lack of anything else to do. I wonder what dad would make of all this? I think to myself. He’d probably be thrilled, honestly, to be discussing his life’s work with a handful of superheroes - he’d call it proof of some government conspiracy to cover up what he’s always known to be true. And despite my years on the wagon, so to speak, I can’t help but agree.

I think back to the book, trying to remember anything else I might have seen before falling asleep - if I even did simply fall asleep. The swirling golden letters spring easily into my mind’s eye, almost startling me with their vividness, and I start to feel short of breath. 

Come on, Blake, you can’t keep passing out, I tell myself. I try some box breathing and, when that does little to help, I press a hand to my chest to try to ground myself. I freeze.

“What the fuck?” I whisper, feeling the edges of something hard and geometric in the center of my chest - right around my heart chakra (according to Trudy, my yoga teacher). Barnes tenses next to me, but I ignore him.

I slowly pull back the neck of my hospital gown. Peering down, I spare a moment of gratitude that I’m still wearing my bra before I see this thing - this mass - sticking out of my skin.

“What the fuck.” I say a bit louder. It’s clear, with irregular and multifaceted edges, and I’m reminded of the quartz crystals Trudy liked to decorate her studio with. The only difference is that this one appears to have been cut down the middle before being stuck to my chest. That, or… I reach down and run a finger around its edges, pushing and pulling at it, but it doesn’t budge. It does, however, hurt a little when I try to move it. My hands are shaking. This thing has fused with my skin. The back of it is inside my chest.

As my panic rises, the crystal starts to glow faintly. “What the FUCK!” I shout, scooting backward. As if I can escape my own chest. Barnes rushes to my side, and I’m too distracted to think much of the concerned look on his face.

My expletive brings Natasha bursting back into my room, but she stills when Barnes puts a hand up - to reassure her or keep her back, I can’t tell. 

I look up at them, wide-eyed and white as a ghost. “I have - did you see - this thing is - I’m fucking GLOWING!” I sputter, pointing at my chest.

Barnes lowers his hand with an eye roll. I shoot him a glare while Natasha steps closer to me slowly. Cautiously, I realize. 

“Yes, I’ve seen it.” She raises her hands, palms facing me, like I’m the one with weapons. Hell, maybe I am - I don’t know what this thing does. “We’re still trying to figure out what it is, but until we do, you need to remain calm.”

“Calm. I need to be calm? Calm is for people who haven’t spontaneously turned into Troll dolls,” I half-shout, my voice much higher in pitch than I mean for it to be. My chest glows brighter, shining through my gown and into the room.

Natasha’s eyes widen by a millimeter. “If you can’t control yourself, we’re going to have to sedate you, and I get the feeling you’d like to avoid that if at all possible.” Her hands are still up, but she’s moving closer.

“No,” I choke out, looking back down at my chest. “Not a huge fan of sedation, now that you mention it.” I try some breathing techniques again, and apparently retaining consciousness is enough of a motivator that the glow fades. I tap my fingers to my forehead, my cheeks, my shoulders, my wrists, and it fades some more. Barnes watches me closely.

When Natasha lowers her arms, I relax enough that the glow completely subsides, leaving me with a regular crystal. Regular, that is, save for the fact that it’s stuck in my fucking chest.

Barnes finally returns to his spot by the door, apparently believing I’m not going to lose my shit any time soon, and leans against the wall. Natasha settles into a chair near my bed.

I wait a moment, but they are infinitely more comfortable with silence than I am, so I break quickly and look at Natasha. “Any chance you were having a fun little hallway meeting about letting me skedaddle on home?”

Her face softens a bit, but Barnes scoffs before she can reply. “No way in hell,” he says.

I want to argue - gods does this man make me want to argue - but I’m also quite concerned about the rock formation currently growing out of my chest, so I decide I’ll stay put if I have to. I meet his gaze, not backing down. “In that case… got any jello?” Barnes’ metal hand twitches, his face lined with annoyance. I should probably shut up. Then again, I’ve never really been great at that. 

Instead, I bat my eyelashes and grin widely. “Strawberry’s my favorite.” I try not to laugh as he storms out of the room. “But orange is fine, too!”

******

The next 24 hours pass by in a very stressful parade of doctors, scientists, and a rotating selection of superheroes. The only constant is Barnes, who stands stoically by the door regardless of who comes and goes. Clearly, he’s been appointed as my watch-dog, but he’s like the guards at Buckingham Palace - no matter what I try, I cannot get him to talk to me.

I get very little sleep, but that, at least, is something I’m used to. By the time I start wondering if Stark will let me use his phone to google how long it takes a person to develop bed sores, someone knocks on my door.

“Come on in,” I say with false positivity, looking up from the cootie catcher I made with one of my printed lab results. They haven’t let me have my phone yet, and a girl can only read unintelligible medical speak so many times. Barnes takes a few steps back to make room for the crowd. A handful of doctors trickle in, followed by Stark and a fresh face I recognize from real life, not TV.

“Dr. Banner!” I smile. “You probably don’t remember me, but I attended several of your guest lectures at Culver. They all went way over my head, of course, but my best friend says you have ‘the best ass in science’ so she made me come with her.”

“Uh, thanks,” he says, his ears turning faintly pink.

Stark flops down casually on the foot of my bed. “Sure, make yourself comfortable.” He ignores me, so I poke him with the cootie catcher. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m besties with Iron Man, but we’ve become friendly over the past day. It’s far better than the silent treatment I’ve been getting from the ever-present Soldier. “Want me to tell you your fortune? Fair warning, you probably have a higher-than-average white blood cell count. Good news is, it doesn’t seem to be terminal.”

Stark chuckles. “Maybe next time, kid. This isn’t a social visit.”

“I see.” I take in the group of doctors and drop the folded paper in my lap. “Well, let me have it, then. Why am I turning into a geode?”

A few of the doctors look uncomfortable, so Dr. Banner steps forward. He’s holding a very hefty folder. I suspect I will soon wish it was less hefty. “We’ve been running a pretty wide variety of tests, Miss Blake. I’ve looked at everything, down to your DNA, and…” he trails off. “Well, it seems that a very specific and very strong energy signature has found a way to… to merge with you, for lack of a better word. The size of the energy was large enough to flag as dangerous, which is what brought you to our attention in the first place.”

I’m too confused to respond, so Tony cuts in. “The energy he’s talking about has given you some interesting abilities, which is why you fell in our jurisdiction.”

I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose nervously. “What kind of abilities?”

Dr. Banner gestures to Tony, who sighs. “Well, don’t lose your cool again, but I mentioned your apartment building. Before we knew the thing we were looking for was, well, you, when the team was talking to you in your apartment, you kind of pulled a Hulk on them.” He turns to Dr. Banner. “No offense, buddy.” Banner just shrugs.

I shake my head. “I don’t remember that.”

Tony nods. “Yeah, we figured as much. They said you passed out, and then your bling there started to glow, and next thing they knew the entire building was shaking. They grabbed you and got the hell out of there, but not before it came apart like it was hit with an earthquake. Luckily, Barnes is a paranoid bastard and had already evacuated the building.”

He nods to Barnes, then. “When we got you here, we didn’t know what you were capable of, so I restrained you. Sorry about that, by the way - seemed like a good idea at the time. Anyway, according to Barnes, once you started to wake up and realized you were strapped down, you flipped your lid and passed out again. This time, you didn’t bring down the building, you… Well, according to JARVIS, you made the restraints vibrate until they reached a frequency that shattered them. Which, by the way, should not be possible.”

My voice is small when I finally find it to speak. “So I pass out and destroy shit?”

Dr. Banner speaks up then. “In your defense, it’s more like you pass out and defend yourself.”

I give him a small smile, then freeze. “When I screamed, I cracked that glass and you all covered your ears. Well, except Grumpy Smurf. ” Tony nods and Barnes shifts a bit on his feet, not meeting my eyes. 

“Exactly. And once again, that shouldn’t be possible,” Tony says.

My cheeks go pink. “I’m sorry, I don’t even know why I thought to do that in the first place - I’ve never done anything like that before.”

“Probably the same instinct to defend yourself, like the Doc said. No harm, no foul.”

I think for a moment, putting the pieces together as best I can. “So where did these… abilities, you called them - where did they come from?” And how do I get rid of them?

“I’m still working to identify the source of the energy - it’s nothing I’ve ever seen before - but based on what we know so far, and your medical records, we believe it wasn’t something you were born with. In all likelihood, this all started with the book you… encountered at the library.”

I’m silent for a moment. “Wait, you got my medical records? I don’t remember signing a consent form.”

Stark gives me a flat look. “Not the time, kid.”

I sigh. “Ugh, fine. So based on medical records that you definitely obtained in violation of HIPAA, this started in the library?” The doctors nod. “How can you tell?”

Banner opens the folder and rifles through a few papers. “There are some notable differences between our results and the record of your most recent physical. You’ve never had the kind of in-depth testing we run here, of course, so I can’t compare everything, but I can make some pretty good guesses. It also seems like the spikes we’re seeing in your white blood count and the changes in your lymph nodes are fairly recent - like the last day or two, recent. Your larynx, tensor tympani, and stapedius don’t appear to be within the normal range.”

“Sure, yeah, I know exactly what those are,” I say with an eye roll.

Stark pats my shoulder. “Your voice box and ear muscles.”

I nod faintly, so Banner keeps going. “And the most obvious change…” He finds the papers he’d been searching for and pulls them out, seeming to debate whether or not to give them to me.

“Come on, Jolly Green. Get to the heart of the issue,” Stark says. A few doctors pale considerably.

Banner looks almost pained as he hands the papers over. I stare blankly at the first few that are filled with lines of test results and blink up at him. “I may be getting my doctorate, but it’s not going to be the kind that tells me what to do with this.”

“Ignore those for now.” Stark reaches over and grabs the sheets of results, leaving me with a scan of my upper body. 

At first, I can’t tell what I’m supposed to be looking at, so I simply scan it. My eyes run over my intestines, my lungs, and - “Wait, where the flying fuck is my heart?” I choke out, voice strangled.

“We, ah, we believe it’s been replaced,” one of the other doctors pipes up helpfully.

“Last I checked, it wasn’t exactly exchangeable!”

Barnes’ metal fingers flex, so I follow his gaze to my chest and realize I’m glowing again. 

I’m glowing. From the crystal. The crystal in my chest.

I look up, eyes wide. “You’re telling me this - this thing - it’s just replaced my -” I take a deep breath and try to keep my voice level. “You’re telling me I have a crystal instead of a heart?”

Banner scratches the back of his neck, a tad sheepish. “That’s our best guess.”

I collapse back into the pillows, a hand over my chest. “I don’t have a heart. I’m heartless,” I say to nobody in particular. A giggle burbles up from somewhere deep inside me and I can’t hold it back, its sudden noise startling several of the doctors. It isn’t alone and, before I know it, I’ve collapsed into a fit of near-hysterical laughter. Stark watches me warily and Barnes tenses up, looking ready to spring into action at any moment.

“Well,” I choke out between laughs. “There’s a first time for everything.” Banner and Stark exchange nervous glances. 

I try to catch my breath and remove my glasses, wiping at tears that are leaking from the corners of my eyes. “My mother was right.”

[skwangmbyul]

rusted [pжавый] - iron man (2008) - bucky barnes x tony stark's daughter

summary: the life of the billionaire, genius, playboy, and philanthropist is a circus, but he has something worth living for, other than his work.

introducing hennessy stark.

rusted masterlist

cross posted on archive of our own, ongoing work

warnings: if sometimes the lines are not the exact ones of the movies, it is because i write this fic in portuguese and follow the pt script, then i just translate it, so a few words may be mismatched.

We'll be following the movies, and I'll do everything in my power to keep this story as faithful as possible to the main Earth-616 canon. The goal is to integrate the character convincingly, so in some movie scenes, she’ll only be mentioned.

Christine Everhart had every intention of staying longer at the house in Malibu, which was definitely the most luxurious of any place she had ever spent the night. And the man who made that possible also had his credits in the woman’s desire to stay there a bit longer.

The woman walked through some corridors, reaching a glass room that gave her a spectacular view of the Los Angeles hillside, and her gaze was drawn to a corner where various decorations were arranged. She recognized magazine article clippings, some business awards, and photos of the homeowner with important personalities. But that wasn’t the most striking thing in the shelf. In the center, there was a bulletin board with pictures of a girl in different stages of growth.

This piqued the journalist’s interest.

Hennessy Stark was a mystery to the world, and Stark Industries worked harder to keep it that way than they did to maintain Tony’s good image. Christine had information that the two were close and that the girl was one of the few things that sparked the billionaire’s commitment, even if only minimally. But seeing photos of Tony with a woman—yes, Hennessy Stark could already be considered a woman—fascinated her, as it made her imagine there was more to their relationship than people let on.

She took her mobile device from her robe pocket, about to snap a picture of the bulletin board, already imagining the story this would create, when a robotic voice made her drop the device and turn around, startled.

— You are not authorized to access this area, — was all she could distinguish from the voice before seeing a familiar redhead enter the room.

— This is JARVIS. He runs the house, — Pepper Potts addressed her, wearing the face of someone who wouldn’t be easily rattled. — I have your clothes here, — the redhead handed her a bag, while Christine bent down to pick up the device, which opened and scattered the battery in the process. — They’ve been dry-cleaned and pressed, and there’s a car waiting for you outside that will take you anywhere you want to go.

— You must be the famous Pepper Potts, — it wasn’t a question, so Pepper didn’t bother answering. — After all these years, Tony still makes you pick up his laundry.

— I do whatever Mr. Stark asks, including, occasionally, taking out the trash, — Tony’s assistant smiled. — And, please, Miss Everett, — she continued, — I wouldn’t go around commenting on what you saw here. Otherwise, you’ll find out that Stark Industries' destructive potential doesn’t just apply to war enemies.

***

— How did she react? — Tony Stark was in his garage and didn’t even turn to face his assistant while they spoke.— With class.

— And she didn’t leave here with anything about Henny?

— Do you think I’m an amateur? — Pepper lowered the clipboard indignantly. — I wouldn’t let that happen.

— Great. And why are you trying to get me out of here?

— Your flight was scheduled to leave an hour and a half ago, — she was nervous. Hennessy was the young one, but she felt like she actually had two children to take care of if you counted the girl’s father.

— And you made sure she’s settled in the dorm? I don’t want her near those MIT engineering fraternities. — This time, he turned to Pepper to make it clear with his face that he opposed the idea. — They can’t keep their hands to themselves.

— Tony, if you’d called your daughter, you’d know she arrived safely, is excited to start classes, and you could tell her yourself to stay away from the MIT engineers.

— Oh, Miss Potts, — he returned to the car parts. — And risk her throwing it in my face that I used to be one of those engineers? No, thank you.

Pepper stifled a laugh before hurrying the man again. Hennessy Stark was definitely her father’s thorn in the side. The man complained about the girl’s sarcastic personality because he didn’t want to admit she was his blatant copy. The only thing the redhead was thankful for was that Henny hadn’t inherited Tony’s party-loving and flirtatious spirit.

***

Water rushed up Tony’s nose, and his lungs burned, begging for air. The man struggled to breathe, but to no avail, as the terrorist’s men held him underwater, ensuring he stayed submerged.

“Dad” – a voice came into his head just before he was pulled up and escorted out of the cave with a bag over his head.

***

— Do you have family? — Tony Stark asked his fellow captive while they played a game, one of the few moments they weren’t being forced to work.

— Yes, — Yinsen adjusted his posture and smiled, memories flooding in. — And I’ll see them when I get out of here. What about you, Stark?

— A daughter. — He sighed. — But I’m not so sure I’ll see her again.

— I think you’ll do more than just see her, Stark. I believe this is your chance to give her a different legacy.

***

— Where to, sir? — Happy glanced at the couple in the rearview mirror, attentive to the instructions. The man hadn’t shown it, but a weight had lifted from his shoulders when he saw his boss alive and well.

— We’re going to the hospital, Happy, — Pepper requested, already fiddling with something on her phone. — I sent a plane to pick up Hennessy, and she’ll meet us there.

— No, — Tony Stark grabbed the woman’s wrist, his daughter’s name bringing a sense of urgency. — Call her. Tell her to stay in Massachusetts.

— Tony, — Pepper looked at the man’s hands on hers and met his tired eyes. — She’s worried. Your daughter wants to see you.

Stark took a deep breath but didn’t release his grip on the secretary or look away from her eyes. He couldn’t hesitate.

— Pepper, — he called seriously, and the redhead seemed to understand something in his tone. He almost never called her by her first name. Miss Potts had become a trademark in his treatment of her. — Things are going to get very, very ugly here — Tony emphasized the word “ugly.” — Hennessy needs to stay away from this. Do you understand me?

The woman’s eyes widened, and she nodded, feeling her boss’s hands release the pressure on her wrist.

— She’s going to be furious, — she couldn’t help but make what she imagined would be her final remark on the matter.

— I expected nothing less, — a half-smile found its place on Stark’s face as he remembered his daughter’s stubbornness. — Happy, — now he addressed the bodyguard. — A man who’s been captive for three months just wants to eat a hamburger and call a press conference.

*** Final Act: Post Post-Credit Scenes

It was lunchtime, and a girl in her 19s weaved through students on the campus dedicated to Brain and Cognitive Sciences in Massachusetts, trying to get to her next class on time.

The sneakers she wore were one of the indicators that, if she wanted, she could buy the whole campus, but the worn-out denim jacket made anyone who looked at her question that. It had been a gift from her father, and even though it wasn’t the most expensive, the girl had special memories tied to it.

Hennessy Stark saw some students carrying circuits to classes she assumed were physics, and smiled, remembering the look of disgust her father gave her when she admitted she wanted to study cognitive processes of the human brain. Tony had made it very clear that she was the family’s shame for that, but that he would support whatever she wanted to do.

Suddenly, something in the atmosphere around her changed. No one would have noticed, even if it had been less subtle, but Hennessy noticed. She had always perceived things that, when she told those around her, made them look at her as if she were crazy. The Stark there knew she had been spotted in the crowd, but not in the way she was used to—with fans or curious onlookers.

A spark of interest gripped her when she noticed someone approaching and turned just as she heard a voice calling her name.

— Hennessy Stark? — The man was her height, short for a male. He wore a suit and glasses, even though it was rainy season and overcast in Massachusetts.

The girl’s danger sensor, another thing she couldn’t explain about herself, didn’t go off as the man approached, otherwise, her response would have been very different.

— Can I help you?

— My name is Phill Coulson, — the man extended his hand to her with a card. — And I think you’ll like the offer I have for you.

[puck-luck]

*PLEASE READ THIS PAGE IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE REQUESTING A FIC!*

WHO

The players that I will certainly write for:

Trevor Zegras

Quinn Hughes

Jack Hughes

Luke Hughes

Cole Caufield

Mattias Samuelsson

Nico Hischier

The players that I am down to write for, but haven’t written much/anything yet:

Jamie Drysdale

Dawson Mercer

Jack Quinn

Seth Jarvis

Mat Barzal

Jack McBain

The players that I have never written for, but am willing to consider:

Nils Höglander

Arber Xhekaj

Kirby Dach

Alex Newhook

Juraj Slafkovsky

Johnny Beecher

Daemon Hunt

Wyatt Johnston

Luke Evangelista

Shane Pinto

William Nylander

Joseph Woll

Matt Boldy

I am willing to try and write for any player that you all request!

Players that I will not write for:

Auston Matthews

Connor McDavid

Matt Rempe

Jake Neighbours

Connor Bedard

Macklin Celebrini

Will Smith

John Marino (I used to write for him, but I don't really see him in That Way anymore. So I'd prefer not to write for him.)

Players who were born in or after the year 2004.

Players who were born in or before the year 1994.

Players who are married. For example, I think Mason Marchment on the Stars is sooooo… but he’s married and I feel weird writing fic about someone who is in a LEGALLY committed relationship.

WHAT

I enjoy writing both vanilla/fluffy sex AND dom/sub dynamics. I am a huge supporter of the daddy kink and a classic ‘unprotected p in v’ tag. I personally lean more into a sub dynamic, so I prefer writing men that are more dominant in bed, but I am not against writing sub!m. In fact, I have a few fics and blurbs that are sub!m and they are some of my favorites. I will also write threesomes, but it is a large undertaking, and I prefer to brainstorm that content on my own. You are more than welcome to request a threesome, but there are no guarantees I get to it.

I will not write anything with dark!characters. The closest thing to dark!characters that I will write is a bit of gaslighting, like in my frat fever and all roads fics. I love a situationship as much as the next person, but non-con content is not going to appear on this blog. That’s rape. That’s sexual assault. As someone who has experienced SA in my own life, I will not allow that content to taint my blog. We are all here to have a good time. Rape does not equal “a good time.”

I love the Hughes brothers as much as the next person, but I will not write incest. I do not support writers who do. 

In that vein, there is a limit to a lot of the content I will write. I am down to write about having sex while intoxicated, but I will not publish content where characters are so intoxicated that they cannot consent. I am down to write a bit of somnophilia, but it is always consensual and discussed beforehand. The same is true with choking, slapping, and spanking– it is consensual and, in the event that something happens in the heat of the moment, the characters stop and check in with each other. Because that’s how real life should work.

I also will not write inexperienced!reader x experienced!player fanfiction. I have a Trevor Zegras series that explored that dynamic and, while I respect the people who enjoy that sort of content, I feel like it glorifies the process of losing your virginity to a “good, caring, perfect” person in a “good, caring, perfect” time, and that is not always realistic. Most times, losing your virginity is something that you will giggle about or cringe at by the time you become regularly sexually active. I often feel like the people who request that content are the minors lurking on my account (see more on that in the next section) and I will not cater to that.

WHY

I refuse to create any content that will negatively affect people. I am a firm believer that, despite the fact that my blog is NOT safe for minors, there are certainly minors lurking on here. I was once a 14 year old on tumblr dot com. I’m not a fool. Because of that, I will not be creating content that fetishizes abuse, toxicity, power imbalance, or violence between partners. Everything that I write will be safe, sane, and consensual. I will not write anything that breaks the law or the general code of morals that 90% of people in the world follow.

All of the relationships in my fics are meant to represent normal, healthy relationships where the participants are equals (even if their dynamic in the bedroom is dom/sub).

HOW

Please use my inbox or my DMs to request! Thank you for reading this and happy requesting!

[quietlyimplode]

the language of flowers and silent things

Whumptober 2023: Day 21 - Found family

Warnings: child abandonment, grief

Word Count: 1.8k (gif not mine)

Summary: Clint leaves to find a person from his past, surrounded by the family he created.

A/N: <3

Masterlist

Whumptober Masterlist

.

2013

NEW YORK

“Can you find someone for me?” Clint asks Tony, looking around the room, and the technology it holds.

He can’t help but touch the screens and play with the holograms as he waits for Tony to reply.

“Can you pass me the copper wire?” Tony asks.

Clint hops up on the bench and throws it to him, his aim true.

“I can find anyone, if they want to be found, and even then, likely I can find them if they don’t want to be,” he answers distractedly.

“Can you hold this here?”

Clint hops down and pushes on the wire, analysing the circuitry and frowning.

“You’ve wired it wrong,” he surmises, pointing with his other hand.

Tony swears and rubs his face.

“How long have you been up for?” Clint asks, a pinch of worry for his friend and his insomniac ways.

Tony looks up and glances at the time.

Jarvis answers for him, “twenty six hours.”

Clint swears it’s sounds almost disapproving.

“What are you trying to do?” he asks, knowing that until the project has reached a satisfactory conclusion, there’s no way Tony will stop.

Rubbing his forehead, Tony shows him the circuit board connected to the towers alarm system, and automatic controls for system lockdown.

Clint frowns.

“Has there been any attempts to get in here?”

He doesn’t understand why Tony was upgrading the already functioning system.

He shakes his head.

“No, but I just..” he pauses.

“Who do you want me to find?”

Clint ignores him and without words helps, correcting the circuitry then placing the upgraded board into Tony’s hand.

“You know, if you get sleep, these things become easier,” he grins.

Tony rolls his eyes, the lower limbs of the suits attaching as he flies to the control box outside and installs the board quickly.

There’s a quick glow, and a light force field covers the tower before disappearing again.

Clint didn’t realise how big the project was, and smiles as Tony returns.

“Come get some food,” he prompts, holding the door open as the legs come away and he reaches ground again.

Tony obliges.

Heading to the kitchen, Clint explains about Gus.

The ex-carney, convenience store owner that stayed close to the circus and protected Clint from future foster homes and set him on the path of this life.

There’s some hesitation in the way Tony replies, and Clint doesn’t quite know if he should have trusted him with the story.

“Why do you want to see him again?” Tony asks, handing him a Stark-Pad.

Clint hesitates, feeling judged in the moment.

“I want to tell him about Barney, maybe just check that he’s okay. Thank him I suppose?”

He doesn’t know, not in any way he can put into words.

Tony is uncharacteristically quiet, before he takes the stark-pad off of Clint and opens up a data base, taking time, he seems to hack into some sort of data base.

It takes him a minute or so, before he hands the tablet back.

“He’s still in Iowa, Cedar Rapids, last known address was near the Prairie Park Fishery,” he pauses, “we can go now if you want?”

Clint stops in his tracks.

“What?”

Tony points upwards.

“Two hours, we can go there now if you want?”

Clint nods slowly.

“Yeah okay,” he says impulsively, “let me just send a message to Natasha, and let her know.”

Tony shrugs, “sure, I’ll be up at the hanger, if you ask Steve it will be a party.”

Clint decides on calling Natasha, feeling a slight urgency on getting going.

“Hey,” she picks up, after a beat.

“Hey,” he answers.

“I asked Tony to find Gus and he found him in like five seconds. He asked if we wanted to go visit, and I’ve said yes,” he says quickly.

“Doyouwannacome?”

Natasha takes a second before responding, and then tells him she’d meet him at the hanger.

He smiles. It’s like a road trip with his friends, something they’d do at the circus.

It’s seems somewhat fitting.

Picking up the phone again, he calls Steve.

“Hey man,” he says as the phone clicks over.

“Hey,” Steve replies.

“Natasha and Tony and I are going on a bit of trip to see an old friend I have in Iowa. Do you want to come?”

“When?” Steve asks.

“Now?”

Steve takes a moment and then agrees, Clint thinks he can hear the change in his tone, a small amount of pleasure at being invited.

“Come to the hanger when you can,” Clint tells him, “we’ll be waiting.”

.

The trip to Iowa is an exchange of stories. Clint starts by telling the story of Gus and how he taught him magic, he shows the others a trick and then produces a coin from Steve’s ear.

Much to his delight, Steve replicates the trick and produces two coins.

Tony, not to be outdone, produces two coins and a card.

Natasha bursts out laughing.

“You’re all magic nerds,” she says, joyfully.

The rest of the trip they try and outdo each other, Natasha taking the lead in flying the plane as they all show off random magic tricks, and teaching each other the ones they don’t know.

She gives them a ten minute warning and looks back to see Clint smiling, a true smile that had been so rare from the events of New York to learning of his brothers death.

She hopes this is positive and that Gus is the man Clint believes him to be.

Otherwise, she might kill him herself.

.

Clint knocks on the door.

Alone now, he wishes he hadn’t been so adamant to do this himself. He’d left Natasha with the others in the plane, promising to be back soon.

The anticipation feels heavy as he hears movement in the house and he hopes Tony was right in the address.

The door opens slowly, and Clint smiles lightly.

“Hello,” he opens, “I don’t know if you—“

“Clint?”

The door opens wider, revealing Gus, now older but still the same man.

“Hi,” he says shyly.

“Clint!”

He pulls him into a hug and Clint feels himself sink into it, feeling like a kid again.

“Come in,” Gus asks, ushering him through the door.

“Can I get you anything?

Clint doesn’t get a chance to answer as Gus disappears into the kitchen and returns with beer and a bottle opener.

He takes it and opens them both, offering it to cheers which Gus does with a smile.

“Clint,” he says, almost in reverence.

“How are you?”

“I’m good,” Clint replies, not sure what to say.

He came here to say that Barney was dead. To thank him for helping him when he was a child, to pointing him in the direction of the military.

“I — wanted to find you,” he starts.

Gus stands, finds an album on the bench and hands it to Clint.

“Open it,” he gestures.

The album has photos, some articles from the circus, pictures of Clint he’d never seen before, gently he turns the pages, emotion welling inside.

He can’t speak.

Gently touching the photos, he sees himself holding the bow and arrow as a young boy, stance strong and gaze focussed.

“That’s my favourite,” Gus says, watching Clint carefully, “you had such natural talent from the get go, and even if archery didn’t get you famous, I think you would have been a fantastic pickpocket.”

Clint huffs a laugh, turning the page.

“And now you’re an Avenger?”

There’s clippings from the paper from the last twelve months.

Of Tony, Steve and Thor, of him and Natasha. Articles and pictures.

Clint thinks it’s one of the kindest things someone has ever done.

He smiles.

“I’m just a human, amongst superhero’s, metal men and gods,” he laughs, starting at the start again to take the photos in.

“Maybe it’s what they need, to keep them in line,” Gus retorts.

Clint stops at a picture.

Barney stands arms crossed with a smile as Clint does a handstand.

He stares at it, and forces breath.

Barney.

“He’s dead,” he whispers, taking the photo out, he shows it Gus.

“He’s dead,” he repeats again.

Gus hobbles over to sit with Clint, taking the photo and then handing it back.

“I know,” he nods, and hugs Clint in a side hug.

“He came here, a couple of years ago, asking after you, I showed him and told him you had gone into the military.”

He turns the page and Clint finds the picture of himself in uniform.

“He was so proud of you,” Gus tells him.

“I think he wanted to tell you.”

Clint can’t help it; he cries.

For the loss of his brother, for all the words left unsaid and the time they’d never get back.

“Do you think he knew I loved him?” he asks, voice as small as a child’s.

“Of course he did,” Gus nods.

He closes the album, and motions for Clint to follow him.

“Barney stayed here, for a little while at least, and drew some pictures. I held onto them, as I hoped— I wished I would see you again.”

He opens the door and pulls out some pictures from a drawer.

The pictures are of Clint and Barney as children, their faces small and chubby.

Clint feels the tears on his face as he furiously wipes at them.

“Your brother, he was complicated and could be harsh and I think he wanted to protect you but didn’t know how… You were both so young.”

Gus looks down.

“I think I failed you both but I did the best I could,” he admits.

Clint shakes his head.

“No,” he refutes, “you saved my life, probably Barney’s too. I came to thank you.”

Gus waves him off.

“Take them,” he tells Clint, “they’re yours, the album too if you want anything from it.”

Clint nods, finding the album, knowing what pictures he wants and the ones he wants to show Natasha, maybe even the others.

He sits back down, not quite ready to leave yet.

“I’m going to get married,” he confesses.

Gus looks up, his smile wide.

“Will you come?”

The nod and laugh is infectious.

“Of course, of course I will,” he agrees.

He sits back and takes a sip of the still cold beer.

“Tell me about her,” he asks.

.

The plane home is in darkness, as Clint shares the chocolate and pictures that Gus sent with him.

He tells the stories behind the pictures, prompting Steve and Tony to tell their own.

Natasha holds onto the picture of Clint and Barney and stares at it for a long time.

“He looks like you,” she whispers later.

“Remind me,” he tells her, “remind me to tell you the story behind that one.”

Natasha hands it back to him, and nods, bringing her head to his and pushing it against his.

“I’m proud of you,” she whispers, so the others can’t hear.

“It’s hard facing our pasts, and I’m glad it went well.”

He regards Natasha and all the history she has with facing her past; the good and the bad.

He nods.

“Me too, Nat.”

.

[checkingoutforheroes]

B.A.B.Y PROTOCOL

Part 5.

Avengers x fem!reader

Words: 1029

Synopsis: This takes place in Avengers: Age of Ultron. When The Avengers were at the rock bottom, Nick Fury and advised by Maria Hill, to initiate the B.A.B.Y Protocol. Will a young, damaged and broke girl agree to this initiative and help a team to save this planet earth?

Part 4.

Main Materlist.

When you and Clint arrive at the lab, you see Steve and Wanda has come back. Thor is too and they were fighting among themselves. “Hey guy’s we found- Who the hell is that?!” Clint step in front of you. “Stay behind me.”

Steve voice out to Tony and Bruce. “You need to shut it down. You don’t know what you are doing?

Bruce voice is deeper than before. “And you do?” he’s pointing at Wanda. “She’s not in your head?” Wanda step next to Steve. “I know you’re angry.” Bruce is getting angry. Maybe someone should do something. “Oh, we’re past that. I could choke the life out of you and don’t change a shade.” You step in. “Okay, you don’t want that. Let’s talk this out, alright?”

And they talk. Loudly, shouting among them. Steve starts to point his perspective. “After everything that happen …” His words beat by Tony “There’s nothing compare to what happen!”

“You don’t know what’s in there!”

“This isn’t a game!”

“The creature in that…” That red thing moves to attack Thor and he push him away. He signs us to stop and not doing anything and its mean no harm. All of us gather behind Thor and Wanda stands next to you. That thing growing a cape by itself looking like Thor’s. “That’s odd.” You whisper.

 “Thor, you helped create this?” Steve ask him.

“I have had a vision. That is the mind stone.” Thor pointing at his head.

Bruce ask. “The gem?”

“It’s one of the six infinity stones, the greatest power in the universe.”

“And then why did you bring it back to life?” Steve recalled. “Because Stark is right.” Bruce now seems a little bit calm then before. “That’s definitely the end of time.”

“The Avengers can’t defeat Ultron.”

“Not alone.” That thing said. “Why did your thing sounds like Jarvis?” You ask. “We figured Jarvis’s nature and create something new.” Tony reasoned and he speaks again. “You think I’m a child of Ultron? I am not. I am not Ultron. I am not Jarvis, I am… I am…” he lost his words.

Wanda walking forward. “I looked in your head, saw an annihilation.” “Look again.” Put forth. “Are you on our side?” Steve exclaimed. “I’m on the side of life. Ultron isn’t. He will end it all.” He pondered and Tony ask “What is he waiting for?” “You.” That thing said. “Where?” Bruce turns to ask.

“Sokovia. He Got Nat there too.” Clint stated. “We have to act now. Captain?” You look at Steve.

“Three minutes. Get what you need.” Everybody moves to get ready. You contact Maria to inform the plan. Clint’s prepare his arrow, Tony is in his lab, doing his thing with his A.I. Thor, Banner, Rogers and Vision have a discussion.

While you’re on the way to Natasha’s room to get ready, you see Wanda standing pondering alone and you go talk to her. “Hey, you okay Wanda?”

“Yes. Where are you going?” Her thick accent asking you a question. “I’m going to get ready.”

“You are not going right? You’re not well enough.”

“My sister is alone in a country with tons of evil machine and I’m planning not to leave her.”

“We’re going to get her.”

“The more the merrier. Enough talking. Captain America will be on our ass if we’re late. Come on.” You pulling Wanda’s hand and she follows you. “Where are we going?” “Natasha’s room. We’re not combat ready.”

You wear one of her bomber jacket that is big enough for you. Damn this assassin is smaller than you think. “Hey, take of your cardigan. Put this on.” You throw a red jacket at her. “It match your power and size. Don’t worry, she won’t be mad. She got tons of those. She’ll not even notice is one missing.”

Steve give us last mission brief in the Quinn jet. “Ultron knows we’re coming. Odds are we’ll be riding heavy fire. That’s what we sign up for. But people in Sokovia, they didn’t so, it’s our priority to bring them out. Wanda, you on it. We do our best to protect them, we get our job done. We’ll find out what Ultron has been building. Y/n find Romanoff; we clear the field. Keep the fight between us.”

As soon the jet touch the ground, everyone rushes to do their part. “Wanda, you’ll be fine. This is your hometown. I see you after I found Nat, okay. Good luck.” She’s trying to smile at you. “You take care of yourself, Baby.”

You watch the map on the tablet that Tony gave you to find the exact location of Nat and you’re close enough. “Nat… Nat, where are you? Natasha?” She hears your whispering voice calling her name in the cell. “Baby? In here!” You turn to your right and see her behind the bar. You laugh at that scene. “Well, well. Look who’s behind the bar.”

“Not now Baby. What are you doing here?! You’re supposed to be in bed!”

“While you’ve been kidnapped by terminator? I don’t think I can sit at all. You alright? I bring this for you. You need to recharge.” You hand her a candy bar.

“Thanks. I suppose you find some keys lying down the somewhere.”

“Nah, I don’t need keys.” You motion her to move and shot the gate open.

“So, what’s your play?” She asking you about the plan.

“I’m here to get you to safety.”

“And miss all the fun? I don’t think so.” She wears the new headset piece that you gave her because you can’t wear one. Its messing with your device. “Put this on. I can’t wear that.”

“Where’s the jet?” You show her the map on the tablet. “Alright. Let’s get you there.”

“Which part of ‘getting you to safety’ that you didn’t understand? I have to get you to safety. Cap’s order.

“You stubborn!”

“You stubborn!”

Clint hear the banter and stop you guys. “Knock it off sisters. We could use some help out here before they attack us.” You and Natasha looking at each other “Fuck Captain’s order.” Both of you running out of that place.

[themculibrary]

Tony Stark & Avengers Team Masterlist

Affection (ao3) - MaidenofIron157 steve/tony T, 17k

Summary: Five times Tony Stark's exhaustion gets the better of him, and the one time someone decides it's time he use an actual bed.

Bonuses: Hulk, Tony's 'Bots, and Loki, as well as a chapter explaining the aftermaths of each cuddling session

And The World Moves On... It Has To (ao3) - Teamironmanforever natasha/tony T, 157k

Summary: This fic is set Five Years after the events of Civil War. ---------

The New Avengers, headed by Tony Stark, have finally established themselves in the world, working closely alongside the UN to maintain public trust. The team has managed to create a close-knit bond, working together to forget the past. However, when Thanos comes to threaten the earth, the Avengers will be forced to face some old ghosts when Steve Rogers and his team of renegades are called in to work with Tony's team.

The two teams will be forced to face their pasts to work together to save Earth.

Been There, Blown That Up (ao3) - GwendolynStacy T, 68k

Summary: After Loki’s defeat and his fall from the portal, Tony starts preaching about a murderous purple titan out to get them in the depths of space.

Wait. What?

On the other side of the universe, Nebula loses her cool approximately two seconds after laying eyes on Thanos and finds herself on a wild chase through the galaxy. Now, where exactly was that pathetic piece of rock Terra again?

Burning Candles (ao3) - kerravon T, 25k

Summary: A few months have passed since the Avengers fought the Chitauri, and the team is coming together, except for Tony, who seems to be coming apart. At first, Steve assumes that he’s just being irresponsible and annoying, but then JARVIS clues him in.

But I Haven't Thought of You Lately at All (ao3) - dls G, 4k

Summary: Tony Stark resigned from the Avengers post-Ultron. The superhero team believed his absence would not cause any lasting impact. After all, Tony was just a consultant, right?

Or: 5 Times Tony Stark was a Consultant and the 1 Time He was a Teammate

Endgame (ao3) - YunaYamiMouto tony/stephen T, 196k

Summary: The rouge Avengers are pardoned under the influence of King T'Challa and it is up to Tony to 'welcome' them back. But as he and his new team are at the private airport, an unexpected fight breaks loose and the fate of the whole universe is changed when a wizard places himself as Tony Stark's protector.

Forgive Us Our Trespasses (ao3) - rightsidethru T, 5k

Summary: After the now-pardoned ex-Avengers settled back into the Compound, Steve finally went looking for Tony to have a discussion that was long overdue.

The result of it wasn't what he was expecting--or wanting.

Gone (ao3) - nonna T, 57k

Summary: In the final fight scene of Captain America Civil War, Tony's helmet breaks off the armour after the relentless clashing it receives.

What if the harsh hits to his head create serious complications for Tony, and he loses his sight?

If They Knew All About You (ao3) - MsHermia pepper/tony T, 521k

Summary: Tony Stark had lost his son when he was only 2 years old, stolen away in broad daylight with nobody the wiser of what exactly happened. Years later, Tony has just made it through the disaster with Ultron. He is trying to keep himself and the team together but relationships are strained and tempers are running high. Then a random turn of events leads to his path crossing with that of a particular vigilante. They are strangers to each other, or so they think.

Peter Parker is on top of the world. After a few shitty years, losing his parents and then losing his Uncle, things are finally looking up. Sure he lives in a crappy little apartment with his Aunt but he might have just found his mission in life.

------

This is an AU story obvious by some of the tags. I'm starting out a few weeks after Age of Ultron took place. Civil War will be a thing.

It's All in the Mind (ao3) - inukagome15 steve/tony T, 22k

Summary: Fill for this prompt at Avengerkink. Tony is 100% normal. Tony is not a mutant. Tony is Iron Man. Tony is an Avenger. Tony...is just fooling himself.

That Bridge was Burnt (ao3) - Lp37451 (BirdieBats) tony/stephen, carol/rhodey, wanda/vision G, 27k

Summary: 6 months after the Avengers Civil War the Rogue Avengers have been pardoned and are back at the compound. They didn't expect to see Tony had already recruited a whole new team.

or

Tony Stark didn't want the Rogues back however with threat on the horizon he, sadly, needed them. But just because they're back doesn't mean he has to be happy about it.

or

The Rogues are back, Tony doesn't care for them anymore but Stephen Strange and Tony Stark have a surprising amount in common.

The Course of Reason (ao3) - Infie G, 12k

Summary: The UN has asked Tony to discuss their options with the Fugitive Avengers. It does not go the way they expect it to.

The (Not So) Great Pretender (ao3) - RayShippouUchiha bucky/tony T, 19k

Summary: “What,” Tony says softly but with a great depth of feeling, “the actual fuck just happened?”

“I believe, Sir,” JARVIS pipes up from the phone in his pocket, an unnecessary amount of what sounds like glee in his voice, “that you’ve once again managed to maintain your closely guarded secret identity. Truly your subterfuge skills know no bounds."

“You’re an asshole J,” Tony mutters back as he reaches up to rub at his temple. He either has a headache coming on or a blood clot. At this point he’s honestly not sure which he’d prefer.

"I did learn from the best, Sir,” JARVIS tells him sunnily.

The War is Far From Over Now (ao3) - Dont_call_me_Carrie T, 152k

Summary: In which Tony does not, in fact, intend to take over the world.

...unfortunately, everyone else missed that particular memo.

[gradual divergence from canon, starting at the end of Iron Man 3. In which it's Tony's self-awareness, rather than his support system, that becomes a cryptid sometime during Phase II.]

Tony’s Girl (ao3) - Crosshairs pepper/tony M, 130k

Summary: When Tony Stark finally opens his eyes after being rescued from Siberia, he isn’t the same man anymore. What happened in that abandoned Hydra base has broken him in ways that even Afghanistan hadn’t.

But Tony is famous for his innate ability to fix things, even himself. Slowly, with the help of friends old and new, he learns to deal with his new status quo, picks up the pieces of his destroyed existence and rebuilds it from the ground up.

Until an unusual accident puts a new, interesting spin to his already interesting life.

What Has Been Done (ao3) - Tahlruil bucky/tony T, 16k

Summary: Bucky has lived with the Avengers for a while now, and he's mostly settled in. During the process, he fell for Tony Stark - hard - but he can't quite bring himself to admit it to the brilliant engineer. So he just does what he can to take care of and protect him, hoping that maybe the other man will fall just as hard for him... and be the one to take their relationship to the next level. In the meantime, he's noticed that there's one member of the team that Tony seems afraid of, and he is definitely not pleased by the notion.

Once he finds out what Wanda did to cause that fear, she might wish she'd never left Hydra.

[vaguelyparker]

Im rewatching Tau and every time I watch this movie I have starker thoughts 😭. The movie is about a young rich inventor whose at the forefront of artificial intelligence technology and he’s abducting people installing chips into their heads and using that data in order to feed his ais. Well the main character comes in and destroys where he usually houses his abductees + his lab and so she has to be chained up in his living space. But he’s on a deadline and she’s his only viable test subject so the two strike a deal so she gets basic human amenities like showers clothes and food and she’ll complete puzzles for him so he can still mine her for data. In the movie she becomes friends with his ai and the two manage to kill him and escape before he kills her and if that isn’t the perfect set up for a starker fic idk what is.

Imagine Tony shortly after Jarvis dies doing everything in his power to perfect his AI tech, he has Dum-E and U but that’s not enough, J.A.R.V.I.S. isn’t working, and he’s fucking desperate so he starts kidnapping people and using them for data extraction. It’s still not enough. Enter Peter, poor and living in a shitty apartment being kidnapped by Tony Stark, someone who’s not that much older than him, probably his celebrity crush. And obviously he tries to escape but with Tonys AIs and his basically impenetrable/inescapable house he’s stuck. Agrees to help Tony with data collection in exchange for being given some comforts because he’s not an idiot he knows he won’t be alive for long but at least he’ll be comfortable while he’s still alive. He’s given infuriatingly easy brain teasers at first and he’s almost offended, finishing it all in an hour and then lounging around bored as hell for the rest of the time. Tony gets home to him snoozing or something and is about to freak before J informs him Peter was able to complete all task in an hour. Tasks that would have taken any one else in his shoes all day. So the tasks get harder until he’s basically analyzing work for Stark industries. All the while he’s becoming friends with J.A.R.V.I.S. And Tony thinks all the test are working, J’s beginning to feel more human. Things are going well.

In the movie there are a few scenes that would obviously have to come up like him buying the main character expensive clothes and skimpy lingerie and her pretending to seduce him in order to stab him. And obviously J and Peter friendship is imperative like Jarvis asking Peter what it means to be a human and if he’s a human, this cold machine that could end him in an instant but was created to emulate someone real, and Peter explaining about love and home and hopes and dreams. Tony nearly fucking tripping the first time J makes a witty remark at his expense or admonishes him for being rude to Peter. & Peter thinking he’s about to die for corrupting his AI because JARVIS had to initiate Tony’s calming protocol but really Tony is just in his room sobbing.

Idk how they end up together- probably a little stockholm syndrome but also best starker!Peter is Peter who ignores Tony’s more cruel proclivities but that’s just my opinion. Or alternatively JARVIS marries them in secret because Peter told him his parents were married and in love before they died and if JARVIS is a person then Peter and Tony are obviously his parents and Peter says one day he’d like to get married and have a love like that, so this was just the obvious solution. Tony going to kill Peter before JARVIS very matter of factly informs him there is a rather impressive paper trail tying the two of them together including but not limited to their marriage license and Tony is very betrayed but also so fucking proud.

[itzsephig5]

1.10 (B Me)

My Masterlist

This story on Wattpad

Intro - Age of Ultron 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.11 1.12 Intro - Civil War 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.3.5 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Intro - B Me 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 Updated Character Info 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 Final Character Info

Important info for the chapter:

Words in Slovak:

miláčik - darling

sestra - sister

Words in Russian:

сестра - sister

любовь - love

Y/n's POV:

I watched as Thor hit the cradle with his hammer. A lot of energy goes into the cradle before it burst open, and something flew out of it. I stood there anxiously next to Wanda and Pietro as we watched the thing. It stays floating at the window for a moment before it starts to put clothes on. "I'm sorry." It said. "That was odd. Thank you." It says at Thor as a cape appears behind him. "Thor, you helped create this?" Steve asked. As they were talking about the thing, I felt someone put their hand in mine. I looked down and saw it was Wanda's hand. I smiled slightly and let out a shaky breath. "Why does your Vision sound like Jarvis?" Steve asked. This thing... or whatever it is, he's meant to be Jarvis, but his name is Vision? "We reconfigured Jarvis' matrix. To create something new." Tony explains. "I think I had my fill of new." Steve says. I nodded my head in agreement. "You think I am a child of Ultron." Vision says in a matter-of-fact tone. "You're not?" Steve asked. "I'm not Ultron." He says while looking at Wanda, Pietro and I. Vision pauses and stares at Wanda and I for a moment. "I'm not Jarvis. I am. I am." He says while looking at Tony and Bruce confused. "I looked in your head and saw annihilation." Wanda says. I squeezed her hand. "Look again." Vision says before turning to me. "And you can sense that I'm not evil, can't you?" Vision says. I hesitated. I knew that was a new thing I was dealing with. Sensing people that were around me and who it was. Sensing what someone's intentions are. I hear Clint scoff. "First of all, her seal approval means jack to me." Clint says while pointing at Wanda. "Dad!" I say angrily. "And Y/n can't sense anything. That's not one of the things she can do." He added. I felt even more anxious. I feel a tug at my hand, and I looked up at Wanda. "It's okay miláčik." She says quietly. I nodded my head. "Their powers," Thor says while pointing directly at the twins and me. "The horrors in our heads, Ultron himself. They all came from the Mind Stone. And they're nothing compared to what it can unleash. But with it on our side..." Thor says before Steve cut him off. "Is it? Are you? On our side?" He asked Vision. "I don't think it's that simple." Vision said. "Well, it better get simple real soon." Clint says. I just shake my head at that. "I'm on the side of life. Ultron isn't. He will end it all." Vision says. "What's he waiting for?" Tony decided to ask him. "You." He said immediately. "Where?" Bruce asked next. "Sokovia." Clint says. "He's got Nat there too."

I turned to Wanda and Pietro. "Follow me." I say quietly before leading them to the room where we stored extra supplies. Once we got to the door, I opened it, and the lights turned on. "I wasn't too keen on listening to them go back and forth, and I'm sure you two probably felt uncomfortable." I say. "It was odd." Pietro said. "Believe me, I know." I say. "Anyways, I brought you two in here because I know Steve is going to want us to leave very soon, so it gives you two time to look through this room and find anything you might need." I explained. "Thank you." Wanda tells me. I nodded my head. I sat on a bench while the twins looked at the stuff. After a few minutes, Pietro came and sat next to me. "You know I can see you looking at my sister." He says. I blushed slightly at that. "Sorry." I mumbled. He laughs slightly. "Don't be sorry. It's nice to see her caring about someone other than me, and I can see that you care too." Pietro tells me. "Even before you two were on our side, before the Avengers and I came to Sokovia for the first time, I felt a connection. Like something or someone was pulling me in that direction. I couldn't explain why but that's what happened." I said. "But after I saw Wanda after she pushed Steve down the stairs, which arguably in hindsight was hilarious, I knew she was the reason that I felt it." I explained. "I had the same feeling." I hear Wanda say before she sat next to me. I smiled slightly and nodded my head. "I'm begging you two to get together because I want her in our family." Pietro tells Wanda while pointing at me. I hid my face in my hands and shook my head. "Pietro!" I hear Wanda scold him. "I'm still going to call her sestra." Pietro said. "Does that mean sister by any chance?" I asked. Both Pietro and Wanda look shocked. "How did you know that?" Wanda asked me. "It sounds similar as the Russian pronunciation." I explained. "You know Russian?" Pietro asked. I nodded my head. "Nat is Russian, so she taught me Russian. I'm more than less fluent in the language. Anyways, сестра is sister in Russian." I explained. Before I could say anything else, I heard a knock on the door. "Cap wants us in the hanger in 3 minutes. You three should hurry up and meet us there. Y/n can show you where it's at." I hear Clint say before leaving. "Pietro go outside for a second. Y/n and I will be out in a second." Wanda says. I see Pietro make faces before he left. I looked back over at Wanda. "What's wrong?" I asked. Wanda didn't say anything before quickly pecking my lips. I sat there in shock for a second. "Why so shocked miláčik?" She asked teasingly. I rolled my eyes. "That was barely a kiss любовь." I say. Without wasting another second. Wanda leans in and kisses more for a moment. She pulled back. "We should get to where we need to be before anyone comes looking for the three of us." She said. I nodded my head. "Let's head over to the hanger then." I say before walking Wanda and Pietro over. "There the three of you are." Steve said. "Sorry, I was making sure they had everything that they needed before we did this."

[mrs-johansson]

Chapter 5: Avengers: Age of Ultron - Two Ghosts

Katarina’s sign language will be bold.

Part 2:

Flying around the snowy forest was something else. HYDRA agents came from left and right, as we tried to get inside the base. “Shit!” Heard Dad’s voice, over comms. “Language,” Steve stepped in. He said what? “Oh wow, he is old,” I murmured before blasting the three guards in front of me and then landing on the ground. “JARVIS, what's the view from upstairs?” Cap continued. “The central building is protected by some kind of energy shield. Strucker's technology is well beyond any other HYDRA base we've taken,” said the AI. “I’m gonna get inside too, I’d like a talk with Strucker,” I flew back up and made my way toward the huge building. “You’re needed in the forest, Y/n you’re staying down here,” Steve instructed and I looked towards the base. “If anyone kills him before me, I’m gonna be really mad,” I sighed and flew back to the forest, landing on a tall stand. Grabbing a gun from one of the guards I quickly shot all of them and then with one move I burned down the stand. “See, you’re more useful here.”

“Loki's scepter must be here. Strucker couldn't mount this defense without it. At long last.” Thor spoke. “At long last” is lasting a little long, guys,” Natasha said as she came into my view also. “Yeah. I think we lost the element of surprise,” I just like Clint’s sarcastic comms responses. “You think?”

“Wait a second. No one else is going to deal with the fact that Cap just said "language?" Dad’s voice Rand in my ears and honestly I’m surprised nobody else mentioned it. “I know…” Steve said before a big crash. “It just slipped out,” he finished.

After getting through the HYDRA guards, Dad and Steve successfully entered the base. “We're locked down out here,” I said as the last soldier surrendered too. “Then get to Banner, time for a lullaby,” oh how much I hate to watch that. “I’m gonna go check on Clint,” with that, I walked off.

As the Quinjet door opened, I could hear the Hulk’s grumbles. Every time I know that Natasha helps him turn back, the blood stops flowing in my body. All I could see was when she was running away from him because he couldn’t control himself.

“Why are you just standing there?” Clint’s voice made me realize that the Quinjet had opened. “Just thinking,” I walked up the ramp, sitting by his side after grabbing a medical kit. “Tough fight?” He asked. “For you maybe,” I smirked down at him and he just scoffed. “Did something happen out there?” He asked on a more serious note. And I just kept patching his wound up. “Y/n?” “I just don’t trust him around her, okay? She is very much human and who knows when the green giant will tear her apart. It’s very dangerous and she doesn’t even consider the possibilities,” I said lowly and he didn’t say a word because everybody walked up to the Quinjet. “How’s it going?” Natasha walked up to us and after a shared look between Clint and I, I walked away.

After a little while, everyone was calmly talking and relaxing after the mission. Suddenly, Natasha stood up from her place and after a quick check on Clint, she sat down next to Banner.

“You’re so jealous,” Clint murmured and I hit his shoulder. “I bet she didn’t tell you about how she screamed at me because she found out that I was sleeping with someone. That is also jealousy,” I admitted but also gave him something to talk to her about. “With who?” He asked curiously. “None of your business. But this… that’s disgusting. Tell me she and I weren’t this cringe from the outside,” I looked at the man laying on the bed. “Nope, this is really bad.”

“Thor, report on the Hulk?” Natasha’s voice made us all look their way. “The gates of Hell are filled with the screams of his victims,” Romanoff glared at my brother. I chuckled as subtly as I could but of course, everyone noticed. But he tried to climb out of the hole he created. “Y/n liked what I said…” Thor murmured. “Because she’s an ass,” Natasha’s reply was something we all took as a shock, especially me. I mean yeah, we had arguments the past couple of days but not in front of everyone.

***

“Don’t get any new scars without me, Barton,” I spoke after him as they rolled his bed away. He put the middle finger up in the air and I just shook my head.

“What’s the word on Strucker?” I turned to Maria. “NATO’s got him.” “The two enhanced?” Steve stepped in. “Wanda and Pietro Maximoff. Twins. Orphaned at ten when a shell collapsed their apartment building. Sokovia's had a rough history. It's nowhere special but it's on the way to everywhere special,” Maria explained as we made our way inside. “Their abilities?” I questioned. “He's got increased metabolism and improved thermal homeostasis. Her thing is neural electric interfacing, telekinesis, mental manipulation,” Hill presented the scientific way. Steve’s face was just funny to look at, at that moment. “He's fast and she's weird,” I shortened for him. “You’re weird,” Maria said and I shrugged. “Yeah, I am.”

***

“There's no possibility of deterioration. The nano-molecular functionality is instantaneous. His cells don't know they're bonding with simulacrum,” I caught Dr. Cho’s explanation. “Dr. Cho they should shower you with awards…” I looked at Clint’s wound which was already getting better. “Creating tissue from nothing… Incredible.” “How long have you been interested in medical research?” Banner’s question made me look up. Is he serious? I glanced at Natasha and she glared at me like she already saw what I was gonna do. “Since I’ve been talking, that’s about the exact time, isn’t it Dad?” I turned towards him and he just spread his arms. “What can I say? Geniuses make geniuses.”

***

It was a rare Sunday when I was alone at home with Katarina, so I made sure to cherish the moment. I’ve been wanting to try her hearing aid but I was scared to see the device fail. But here we are, on the couch in the living room, with a box between the two of us.

“Okay, I’m gonna put this on you and if you hear anything, you tell me okay?” I signed to her and she nodded. With one big breath, I opened the box and gently placed the device in her ears, and pressed the button.

Quickly looked at her face and not gonna lie I was scared to speak. “Say something,” she signed and I blinked a couple of times and cleared my throat but when I opened my mouth to say something, Katarina jumped up on the couch. Her eyes were wide open and I could see her eyes tearing up. “It works? You can actually hear me?” I stumbled over my words, hands shaking and my eyes welled up as well. She nodded and jumped into my arms, her tears wetting my shirt. “I love you, malysh.”

***

“Are you coming to the party?” Asked Steve as we were going to the gym. “Yeah, Katarina will sleep at one of her friend’s house, so I’ll be good.” “I’m so excited to meet her by the way. I heard the hearing aid worked,” the big smile on his face was so rare these days. “Yeah, it did. She’s excited to meet all of you guys. I’ve been telling her about all of you.” “Really? What’s she like?” He asked as we entered the gym area, which was empty at the time. Not many people work out at 5 am.

“She’s a lot like me to be honest. She is very mischievous though, I think Clint taught her all that.” And James but he just can’t know that. “But she’s just full of love and affection. She likes to cuddle which I adore so much. The only thing I’m worried about is that she’s definitely going to follow in my footsteps, like workwise. In the beginning, she always asked Clint and Natasha too about their missions. She is so interested in all this already. Clint of course makes it all look fun and stuff, but you know… it’s scary.” “Does she get along with Romanoff? She doesn’t seem like a kid's person,” he cracked a smile as he lifted off a kettlebell from the floor. “Ugh they love each other, probably the most difficult part in all this breakup thing,” I sighed while getting on the bicycle. “Ever since we started having these arguments and tense moments, she obviously doesn’t visit much. And I only feel sad for Rina, because they always have so much fun together.” “Have you talked to her about it?” Asked Steve. “Nat? No. We’ve been caught up with being jealous of who the other person sleeps with so… I really just want to get over it. I just hope that when Katarina meets you guys she will forget her a little.”

***

The day has come. The team comes over to meet Katarina for the first time. She was so excited all day yesterday, telling me about how she can’t wait to meet Mama’s friends.

As the doorbell rang, she ran to the front door and did her best to reach the handle but she couldn’t. I picked her up and opened the door where our guests stood. Dad was obviously up front with bags in his hands and Pepper was next to him, also packed with bags. Steve and Thor were behind them, smiling like they were being awarded. I could see Clint and Bruce standing behind Steve, but Natasha was nowhere to be found. “Come on in,” I stepped aside and waited for everyone to flow into the flat.

Katarina was looking at all of them with wide eyes and her mouth was slightly open too. Once Clint closed the door behind them, I looked through all of them. “So… You want to introduce yourself?” I looked down at Rina and she nodded slowly.

“Hi. My name is Katarina Stark and I’m 3 but not really,” she signed and Clint translated for most of them. “She looks like me. She has the Stark charm, doesn’t she?” Dad smiled like an idiot and I just had to chuckle. “That funny-looking guy is your grandpa and the nice lady next to him is your grandma,” I pointed at Pepper and her face was everything. The pure smile and warmth this woman radiated were everything I wished for in a mom. “Am I?” She asked softly and I smiled. “If you’d like to be,” I said and she came over to hug me and Dad was quick to scoop Katarina out of my arms.

“You don’t know how much this means to me,” Pepper said and I hugged her close. “Thank you for always being there for me. And Dad too. We’re lucky to have you.” A single tear slid down my cheek. “I’m gonna call you mom,” I let go of her and she chuckled. “Whatever happens with you two, and I hope nothing bad, you’ll always be an important part of my life. And now Katarina’s too.” “Oh god, I love you, honey,” she brought me back into a hug. “I love you too.”

“This is Uncle Thor, Mama’s brother,” I pointed at the tall man and he was quick to sit on the floor, opening his big arms. “Come here, little infant. I hope you know, you have mighty blood in your veins,” he said and Rina chuckled while climbing into his arms, giving Thor a big hug.

After she had met with everyone properly, I started making lunch while they were hanging out in the living room. “She looks a lot like him,” heard Steve say as he entered the kitchen. I glanced at him and he had a sad smile on his face. “It’s scary how much they look alike. Every time I look at her, his face flashes in my mind,” I looked back at the cutting board.

“Have you talked?” He asked on a serious note. I stopped cutting and placed down the knife and turned to him.

“He came to me. Not long after the whole SHIELD thing. To my office, which was very surprising. We talked, and he specifically told me not to say anything… to anyone. He helped me find Katarina and he wanted to leave. Alone.” He listened very carefully. “I offered him that I will hide him. I lived far enough from everyone to have him here, so I didn’t see why not. He lived here up until last week. He left a note saying he won’t contact me. He just wants a picture of his daughter every month. He was miserable here. Couldn’t leave the house, couldn’t have human interaction other than me and Rina. He was scared to meet you, you know… He told me how much he was scared to look at you and see what he has become.” I explained and he looked down, shoulders dropping. “You could’ve told me not to look for him at least?” He said with a small smile. “You wouldn’t have stopped,” I shook my head with a knowing look. “No, I wouldn’t.”

[jackiequick]

— A trip to New Mexico, how fun right? Well, sorta! | Marvel Phase 1 FanFic

Timeline: Set during Iron Man 2 and in between Thor

Summary: Coulson was assigned to go see what the hell was happening in New Mexico and decided he might need, more like want, some assistance and who better to keep watch of the town than a blast from the past SHIELD agent?

Pairing: Coulson & Underwood, Darcy Lewis & Jason Underwood and etc.

Established uncle & nephew relationship: Tony Stark & Jason Underwood

Characters/mentioned: Clint Barton, Rei Stark, Jane Foster, Pepper Potts, Natasha Romanoff and etc.

Click here if you like to read the previous fic

—//—

The day was young and the sun was still shining among the city across Miami into the Stark Mansion. Pepper was off at Stark Industries with Natalie Rushman, who’s real name is Natasha Romanoff, meanwhile Jason took care of the business around the household. It’s been rather hectic lately so someone at least needed to make sure no one starved and everything was well taken care of.

He thanked god his grandnephew, Rei Stark, beautiful mother was taking care of the boy this week. Because then, they would have another mystery on their hands with how curious that child can secretly be.

He was answering a few questions about a financial calls in the living room and flipping across channels on the TV that involves news about the latest Stark Expo, stuff involving Dr. Bruce Banner, The Feltons daily news and information about The Strange Family son, Leonard Strange.

As well as a small crisis forming in New Mexico appeared on various news channels. He rolled his eyes knowing S.H.I.E.L.D. was probably getting word of it already and coming to—

Suddenly the floor started rumbling loudly underneath his feet and the other things started shaking. He quickly turned over to catch a lamp that almost tipped over and crashed.

His eyes widen and shouted into the phone, “I’ll have to call you back, Laura!”

He swiftly made his way down the stairs to see the basement turned open floor lab was being destroyed. And in the middle of it stood his only nephew holding back a jackhammer as AC/DC blasted into the headphones he was wearing. So he wasn’t actually listening or notice him standing there.

“HEY! BOB THE BUILDER CUT IT OUT!” Jason shouted stumbling through the rubble, deeply crackled opened walls and dirty floors that surrounded them.

If his eyes couldn’t widen even more, his eyes darted down to the 1970 model of Stark Expo he helped design decades ago laying on the ground. The model that both Stark siblings, were discussing on becoming something evolutionary different for the world. He wasn’t as smart as them to understand everything they studied and created but he understood it was far too important to not model the idea.

He reached forward lace his fingers crossed the model and questioned, “Jarvis?”

“Yes, sir?” Repiled the A.I.

“What is this? I mean, what is he building?”

“It’s to be believed Mr. Stark has discovered a New Element and is determined to use it to power his suit for a greater timeframe.”

“A new element? Damn. Alright, turn the music off.”

JARVIS did what was told as he unwired Tony’s music as the brunette genius shouted confused and insulted by the actions. Until his eyes fell on his uncle with a nod, “Hey.”

“Hey.” He replied removing his jacket and rolling up his sleeves.

“You’re creating a new element, i see.”

“Yup! After 20 years, dad is still taking me to school and I’m surprised I’ve haven’t seen it sooner.”

“Because it wasn’t time for you figure it out eariler. Need help?”

“Seriously?”

“You ruined my floor.”

“That’s means your helping!”

“But your cleaning up afterwards.”

“Damn it.”

The two got to work, opening walls, expanding wires, lengthened the tunnels across the room. Tony coined it ‘hardware mood’, using his hands to create the lengthy contraction instead of his machinery. ‘Going old school’ as Jason liked to call it, pulling apart drilling into the tunnels and adding placements to the sections.

It placed looked insanely messy but you knew where everything is.

By the time, Tony was drilling in something the door to the basement opened as Agent Phil Coulson walked in saying, “I heard you broke the perimeter.”

“Uh, yeah that was 3 years ago, where you’ve been?” Tony replied, walking over to the tunnels and vents they built. 

“Doing some stuff.”

“Yeah well, me too and it worked.”

Both men chatted, as Tony wondered around the room grabbing items as Coulson picked up a half built Shield that could’ve belong to Captain America. That was when Jason stepped into the picture returning with another box of tools, cables and basic hardware.

The blonde smirked snatching up the item, showing it to Tony who’s face light up, having Coulson help them put the Shield underneath the tunnels to level it. Perfectly leveled.

“I’m busy, what you want?” Tony said, receiving a light slap on the arm from Jason due to the attitude he gave Coulson, “Ow!”

Coulson held back a small chuckled, “Goodbye. I’ve been reassigned, director Fury wants me in New Mexico.”

“Fantastic. Land of enchantment.”

“Or so I’m told.”

Jason spoke up, “The small crisis in New Mexico, involving the decency sized craters with a hammer smacked in the middle of it?”

“Good, your informed.” Coulson added with a half smile.

“I saw the news.”

“I would like you to come, Stark seems to be handling things here perfectly well.”

“Yeahhh. Nope! I’m retired.”

“Never too late to jump back in the game.”

“And I’m busy.”

Tony gave his uncle a look to go do it and get out of the house, that he can handle everything from here. He weighted his options, not wanting to leave his house unsupervised and tired of going deep into SHIELD missions, he rather likes retirement.

“I don’t know, man. Again, I’ve been retired for more than 15 freaking years.” Jason exclaimed.

Coulson thought for a moment, he really wanted to have company for a couple of days and said, “You only need to scout the town and see what’s happening.”

“Undercover work?”

“Yes. Only for 4 days, i promise than you can come back.”

“2 days. I’m only doing simple work, let me remind you that i rather not mess with the others there.”

“Fine by me. Waiting for you in the car.”

Tony giggled at the speechless face his uncle made. It was priceless! He told him to go ahead with Coulson for a few short days, he promised he won’t reck the house, hopefully. Plus he knew the man had a suitcase still packed from their trip to France upstairs.

He sent a playful glare to his nephew, grabbing his things and met Phil outside.

The man drove them to New Mexico, taking stops to stretch their legs and eat on the way there. Both men chatted to keep the time at ease, having respect for one another and actually enjoying the company. Phil Coulson wasn’t a half bad, but that doesn’t mean he won’t heist to tease him.

“So, how’s the thing with May going?” Jason let out ever so causal, sipping a bottle of water.

Phil blinked hearing him and awkwardly blushed, “I—i-how did you know that?”

“I heard of the story that you were on a undercover mission with her and a few interactions were made.”

“It was completely professional.”

“Oh, so taking 2 minutes to unhook her bra was professional?”

“There were cameras! I was trying to sell that we were together.”

Jason snickered, “Oh yeah according to her, you sold it.”

“That was an act for the camera!” Coulson added trying to defend himself, “So you and May talk, huh?”

“Quite a bit. Her emails about you are hilarious.”

“Remind me to call her later. And i will have you know, I was being a gentleman.”

“Oh yeah, of course Phil. You were committed.”

“I think i did alright. You think i was committed?”

“Your one of a kind, Coulson. Don’t ever change.”

The rest of the ride meant a few jokes here and there, stopping for snack break and bringing up movies along with latest shows on TV. There were a few mishaps and things that needed to be taken care of during their stops.

They arrived soon enough to New Mexico, as an SHIELD base was already being formed around the outsets of the town nearby the crater that held the hammer. The moment they exist the car, Jason slid down darting to examine the hammer in awe. Plenty of people tried surrounding and lifting the metallic gray block from the ground but it didn’t seem to budge at all. 

“Wow..” muttered Jason, giving a once over to Phil who snapped pictures.

The carvings were immaculate, the lining was framed perfectly, the engraved symbols were placed in a fitting manner. The hammer looked one of a kind. Magical. Ungodly amount of time and effort was made into making it. Jason must admit he gave credit to the people who shaped such a glorified item.

Hell, the man stepped over looping the brown handled into his grip trying to lift it himself. He grunted and huffed, taking a couple of breaths trying his mightiest to lift the god damn hammer. But nothing! It didn’t even bother to slightly budge for him. He sighed, releasing the grip of the handle and stomped up to the previous stop he want in.

“Anything?” Coulson asked, humoring his attempt to lift the hammer.

“Nope.” He replied, huffing and massaging his grip, “That thing is stuck!”

“Yikes. Here’s the deal, your gonna get a change on clothes then scout the town.”

“How about you? Gonna try and lift it yourself?”

“Haha! No, I’m handling a few pressing matters and help set up the base of operations.” 

Jason nodded walking back to the car, he seemed out of breath from trying to lift the god damn hammer. It was super glued to the ground, not even trucks and machines with horsepower could even remove it from the ground.

He found himself a nicely fresh change of causal clothes. Being a brown jacket with a olive green t-shirt, dark jeans, and a pair of his favorite classic sneaker. Along with a pair of simple sunglasses that were gifted by Pepper last Christmas. He carried his old school SHIELD ID, walkie-talkie and a handheld gun in his pocket. Just in case.

The man wondered around town, taking notice of the simplicity of it all. The houses, buildings, stores that held the items needed to built a good foundation, a general grocery store, a diner that held the delicious smell of pies, a bar and plenty of other places to visit. It made him smile. He liked it a lot, especially since the afternoon sun shinned just right above the cloud, giving the waves a cozy breath of fresh air.

He enjoyed it.

He walked around, entertaining himself at a coffee shop nearby the gas station. He was waiting in line, reading the signs on the wall and giving small nods to older folk or pregnant women who walked past him, letting them go in front of him. He wasn’t in a hurry to get out or anything, his job was the scout the town and see what type of people they’re dealing with.

And so far? Everyone seemed to be general folk living their day to day lives, working 9-5 meanwhile the teenagers and children were out at school or something.

Everything was going good until he was accidentally bumped into by someone.

He didn’t see the person, only what dropped on the floor next to his feet. A older brunette doll, that was wearing a purple dress, a white lab coat, strapless heels and a ponytail. Alongside a pair of sunglasses on the doll. Looked more like an cool action figure than a doll, designed by wonderfully crafty people.

Little did he know that the young girl who this doll belonged to would be important to him later on. As well as the mother.

He chuckled as his eyes darted up to the person, “Hey sweetheart, I believe this is yours?”

The young girl turned around, her red skirt bouncing in the wind from the movement she was making and fixing her crafty jacket a bit, pushing up her bangs to face the man. Her big brown eyes were covered by square frames. Along with adorable dimples.

“Ohh? Oh! I’m sorry mister..” She repiled shyly with a smile, and gently taking the doll from him.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. You don’t want to lose her, she’s smart.” He replied with a smile.

“Yeah my doll is a scientist! She’s love coffee, dresses in purple and uh, stuff.

“Hahaha. That’s amazing, um sweetie?

“Hmm?”

“Sorry to ask, but um where’s your mama?”

“Uh, she’s getting extra coffee from her and a few friends.”

“And she left you alone?”

“I’m not that’s little, you know. I’m 15–16!…ish, very soon.”

“Child. You’re still a child.”

“I’m almost 16, sir.! Sorry for shouting.”

“Don’t be, it’s alright.”

He was just about to ask her name when..

“Mew Mew!”

Came a voice, sounding it belonged a women. She ran up to them, holding a box of donuts and a two cups of coffee. The women seemed to a short brunette with long curls, a beanie that bounced with her every step and glasses. She was pretty! Her features matched the young girl perfectly, it made him smile knowing that her mother returned quickly.

“Mew Mew, i told you to stay put, sweetie.” Said the mother with a smile pushing up her glasses, sounding sweetly protective of the girl.

“I’m sorry, i had to throw out my trash mom.” Apologized the young girl.

“At least tell me where you’re going next time. This place is sorta crowded. You almost gave me a huge fright!”

“I’m sorry. I will tell you next time. But I’m okay! I promise!”

The brunette noticed the man and said, “I’m so sorry about her! She just ran off and i had no idea what happened..i hope she wasn’t too much trouble or anything.”

That was when Jason spoke up with a politic tone replying, “Oh no! It’s completely alright, you know how kid—I mean, teens are. Just be lucky, it was me who found her and not some other guy.”

“You have kids? I mean no offense, your like a young and tall bachelor.”

He chuckled, “That i know of, I have one. He’s at home with family.”

“You’re new around here, huh?” She questioned with a smile.

“It’s obvious isn’t it?”

“YUP! I mean the jacket means your suitable and out of town, no offense.”

“None taken. I’m just here for two days, I needed some rest from a long trip.”

She smiled, “Well you pick a odd place to stop. Oh well, welcome to New Mexico. I’m Darcy and you already met Mew Mew.”

“Melissa!” Cut in the young girl, with a grin.

Jason nodded with a small laugh and decided to use a nickname of his, “Nice to meet both of you. I’m JJ.”

“JJ, huh?” Darcy challenge with a smile, raising an eyebrow.

“You’ll find out my real name later, if your lucky.”

“Well i like it! It’s cute. Oh I’m sorry again for taking up your time.”

“It’s okay, doll. No one was breaking any bylaws or anything. You seem like your in a hurry as well?”

“Oh yes! Meeting up a fews friends of mine for breakfast and stuff. Oh shit, we’re running late. Thanks again, JJ!”

“No problem! Be careful and stay safe out there.”

The women walked away with a smile, glancing back at him thinking about something as her daughter waved at the man. He chuckled, waving goodbye to the pair noticing he was finally next in line and made a quiet order. He thanked the sweet barista with a charming smile, who giggled softly at his politeness, as he made his way around town. 

His thought went back to the women he met earlier, Darcy, and her grinning daughter. They seemed like kind folk, but a part of him felt like he seen something in Darcy’s face before. Like he met a version of her in the past. Maybe her mother or an older sister? He didn’t know what it was, but he felt calm and a bit like himself around her aura.

He smiled.

Moments like that made him feel good. He has seen and met plenty of faces beforehand in his life. People on missions, dates he was dragged into going on, parties he danced at, walks in the park and just faces that made him feel a sense of déjà vu. A charming old feeling, per say.

As he scout the town, he scanned the area and the people, when suddenly he heard it. A loud banging tune. A righteous voice that could sent a smile to any man or women who met them. His face whipped around to hiding across the corner of a store, noticing the group.

A short light haired brunette with a beauty mark, an older man dressed in a patterned shirt and a tall blonde wearing a brownish jacket. And next to them stood Darcy, along with her daughter. But his eyes bounced back to the voice.

The mannerisms of the blonde haired man held such strong attitude towards the others around him. Tall and muscular like he was meant to do business with someone. The voice was righteously kind and oddly enough to seem like he lost his footing. His young facial features made him look like he was sculpture by…

A god.

Jason smirked. Pulling out his phone, he called Coulson, simply saying, “I think I found your sources, Phil…”

——

He returned back to the base of operations.

It was jarring scurrying up the step, having not been in a SHIELD makeshift office for more or less 15 years. Practically 20 years! A heat wave hit him. The man would’ve shivered at the thoughts and memories that had the option to wash over him.

He snapped back towards Coulson watching the man work, watching scanners and scouts shouting loudly across the room. He even noticed a blonde man dressed in black in the corner, tightening his arrowheads giving him a small nod, acknowledging him.

“Phil. We have your guy.” Jason spoke with a clear voice, catching the people in the room’s attention.

He explains to Coulson to try getting into contact with a Dr. Jane Foster and her little group of misfits, collecting as much information they can. Coulson was impressed by hearing this, already on the same page before he showed up finding information about Dr. Foster, calling orders to everyone who was in the area.

Jason nodded, about to walk out when somebody tossed a gun at him. He caught it and examined the weapon. A position for a sharp shooter.

“Hey—wait, no! Coulson, we had a deal. I ain’t doing this. I did the light work you asked for.” Yelled out the blonde following the agent across the halls.

“Yeah well, I had other plans. I figured you’ll like to get a front row seat on the action, high up.” Coulson said, with a small smile, “If he shows up.”

“Whatever you plan on doing, you better keep an eye on them and make sure no harm comes to them. Their group had a child with them.”

“Relax Wood—”

“Underwood.”

“Sorry, Underwood. I won’t harm anyone, we just need to speak to that one guy. I promise we’ll try to play it safe, but we don’t know who we’re dealing with.”

“You’re window with me will be closing very soon, Coulson. So make it quick, then I’m out.”

“Crystal clear, Underwood. But I do have a question, why did you come?”

He blinked and just shrugged, he really didn’t know the true answer to that question. He thought about it, trying to word it in his mind the best he can, leaving out a few details for himself.

“Because my nephew wanted me out of the house..and I-I had no other choice but to make sure SHIELD that knows what they’re doing…I’ve seen the records and it’s utter chaos.” He answered softly.

Coulson nodded and pressed, “We’re trying to fix it as we go along, I promise. Why did you retire? You know either way, it won’t last. You will always have a part of you that wants to come back to this..I mean look at your life now.”

Jason didn’t answer him this time, just walked away with a grip on the rifle. He knew the plenty of reasons why he retired and honestly he enjoyed retirement, hoping to get this job done. But it won’t say most of it out loud himself.

———

This time, we was perched on a high level outside with the archer he saw earlier. Clint Barton.

The man wasn’t half bad. Snarky, has a murder stare he can appreciate, very knowledgeable about stuff and honestly a pretty chill guy. Along with a bit grumpy due to the rain.

In the New Mexico, it was raining again. The last two days have on and off again rain with sun and wind. Mother Nature didn’t seem too happy. Some agents didn’t mind it meanwhile the others were annoyed by it.

He doesn’t mind the rain too much.

“So, you’re the guy Nat was telling me about?” Clint said after a few minutes of silence between them.

Jason was hunched over readjusting his gun, and looked over his shoulder heading him, “What?”

“Natasha. She told me about you.”

“Uh, Clint, I don’t know a Natasha, buddy.”

He chuckled, “Ohhhh! You don’t know? Your women from legal, Natalie Rushman, is actually an agent of ours..”

“The fuck?” Jason let out, taking a moment to connect the dots and groaned, “God damn it! Pepper hired her, and didn’t even notice the clues.”

“Ah, well, she’s good at her job! Could fool anyone. She’s a widow for gods sakes!”

‘So was my big sister..’ He thought to himself, before adding, “Yeah, she fooled me. Uh, what did she say about me?”

“That you’re agile, smart, kind.” Clint snorted, “And bit of a grump. No offense! She likes to tell me about her missions and the people she meets, but she doesn’t know much about you..”

“And I like to keep it that way. For your knowledge and hers, I’m uh, just a family friend of Stark’s.”

“A very close one it seems. You didn’t seem like you wanted to leave the house.”

“Yeah well, someone needs to keep an eye on them. Enough about me, Clint, what about you?”

“Simple man like you, i guess. I remember wanting to work with SHIELD for a long time and I’ve been working 9-5 for some time now, trying to perfect my craft.  Oh, I have a beautiful fiancé not a lot of people know that.”

Anyone can see the soft grin on Clint’s face mentioning the last part. He seemed very proud of it, as if he was planning on starting a family with whoever this fiancé was. In result, it had Jason smiling.

“Treat her right, Barton.” Jason told him with a smile.

“I try.” Clint replied, “You got anyone?”

“Uh..um, it’s complicated.”

“How complicated?”

“I take girls out on dates but it never last.”

“Hmm! You need to try finding a girl outside of your usual spots.”

They waited. Wait long hours of the day, Clint on his leveled perched up with his bow and arrow. Jason on the other side, underneath an umbrella, his gun in hand, eyes narrow. It was dark, rainy, quiet, you couldn’t hear much. Only the ruffle of trees, wet sand being slouch around and machines working.

Until they heard it. The grunts, groans, yells and pure shouting that started picking up pace. The running from starts perked Jason and Clint up in positions.

Then the pair saw it, the situation of a tall, blonde man with full on muscles over his body. His wet hair and pissed off look that made him look like Zeus. Clint got a clean shot at him and Jason narrowed, his gun able to get a closer look.

“Damn he’s uh, good looking..” Jason muttered, couldn’t lie and thanked god his old friends weren’t here to make heart eye at him.

“Yeah he is..” Clint muttered back then started asking Coulson to fire, who ordered him to wait.

The tall blonde man raised growled and roared like a large monster of rage, his hands gripping onto the handle of the hammer. He smirked as he pulled and grunted waiting for a result, but nothing came. Just like when Jason pulled it earlier. No result.

However, this man looked upset, screaming and his knees fell to the ground. He looked defeated. Like dialing back on doing a simple task, like he meant to lift it. Jason blinked, trying to think onto what this god was trying to achieve!

‘God of what?’ He asked himself, watching the man to see if he would do anything else. A part of him might’ve been empathetic toward him, if he wasn’t standing the freaking rain roaring in defeat and annoyance.

He snapped out of this thoughts when Coulson called it. Jason ran down with other agents cuffing Thor wrists together. Clint lowers his bow and arrow. They brought him into a room to be interrogated by Phil Coulson, the blonde man stayed quiet the whole time…

—————

Coulson paced back and forth, he just wanted a name. He bite his nails. Proof that this man has something to hide for he can report back to Fury. Phil kept glancing at the monitors, watching this man’s movements. It wasn’t moving, just looking defeated.

Clint was doing research measures for this case, Jason watched the scanners. His eyes stayed on the blonde, wishing he heard his name earlier when he was scouting the town, but he didn’t. Darcy nor Jane Foster said his name. Jason narrowed in on the tall blonde recognizing something, trying to connect the dots.

He seems to be a strong man. Maybe we he brought to Earth due to a punishment? Did he screw up with somebody? Who made him this way? So many questions were running across his head, watching the clock.

Again, he recognized the look, the same one his nephew shared two years ago before announcing himself as Iron Man.

He’s in need of finding himself, grounding himself in humanity.

Coulson locked eyes with Jason, knowing his time was almost up. Less than 12 hours and he’ll be gone back to Miami. 

“You talk to him.” Phil remarked.

“What? No.” Jason rejected the request.

“We just need his name. He said he’s a god compared to the men here.”

“Every man thinks he’s a god. I’ve been near it, he’s just bluffing.”

“Exactly why you should go! Please, i just need it and we can focus our research with the equipment we stole from Foster.”

“You stole from Dr. Foster. Not me.”

Jason grumbled underneath his breath, reminding himself he’ll be gone soon. He walked away, removing his jacket and took a long sigh, sucking his teeth before entering the room.

~~~~

He entered the clear room, holding a glass of water for the man and a snack. A bag of chips he stole from the vending machines.

He sat down in the chair across from him, handing him the items.

“What’s this?” Asked the blonde, holding the glass of water and small bag.

“Water. I can promise you it’s not drugged or anything. You need it after taking out those men.” Jason explained, with a kindness in his tone.

“Why? Are you with them? Theses men. Son of Col and his soldiers.”

“Not exactly, your highness. I was just sent to scout the town and keep an eye on the people, especially after the ruckus at the moment.”

“You mean to cause me and theses humans harm then…?”

“No. I didn’t, that was Coulson’s doing. I didn’t know his intentions until now. He know he’s on a time crunch with me and he just ask one thing of you.”

“And what is that?”

Thor stayed silent, looking down after asking that question. He leaned against his chair, inching forward to drink the water and bag of the chips he was given. He was hungry and very much appreciated the small offering. He watched the man, sitting in front of him. He held such kindness, honesty and plenty of gruff to himself. As if he had a lot of trouble in his mind.

“Who are you?” Thor asked him, sipping his glass.

“Why would you like to know? He asked, rather intrigued by his eyes.

“You offered to show me a far cry of kindness.”

“Because, if you live long enough, you see the same eyes in different people…”

Thor was honestly taking back by his words. Those were powerful enough just to be written in stone. He wondered if this man was playing a role or actually meant every word in that sentence. As if he lived plenty of lives, such as himself. A part of him choose to highly respect it.

“What’s your game, mortal?” He asked, leaning forward in his chair.

“No, no game your highness. You have your secrets and so do i. And i can tell you don’t want to be here.” Jason told him honestly, “I’ll just like to know your name. Please?”

“..I’m Thor. Son Of Odin.”

“Your a god..?”

“Yes. What do you mean by the question?”

“A man of your status must’ve been sent here for a reason, my lord.”

“I was casted out of my home for being a ruckus and disobeying my orders…but i can assure you, I didn’t mean to cause you harm..”

“I can tell. Thor, i don’t know how long you’ve been here on Earth but what I’m about to say might ease your thoughts.”

“Hm?”

“You were sent here to learn a lesson. I can only imagine what it might be, however that’s for you figure out.”

“A lesson?”

“There’s always trials and errors to overcome. And I believe you might have to learn something from being among us humans..”

The god of thunder stayed silent simply nodded, listening to him as his mind ran with billions of thoughts. Jason stood up from his chair thanking him for that small information and he’ll request for Thor to be released soon enough.

He was about to leave the room when the god of thunder stop him.

“What’s your name?” He asked, his blue eyes pooling and twirling in curiosity.

He looked over his shoulder with a simple half smile, “Jason Underwood, your majesty.”

With that last comment he left, telling Clint what he found from his conversation with the blonde. It wasn’t much, he wasn’t going to tell Barton about what exactly happened in that room. Keeping that information private until further notice. He only said that his name was ‘Thor’ and that he’s a god.

Clint nodded taking note of what was said to tell Coulson later. Jason nodded, snatching up his keys. His work here was done. He hoped.

He took the first chance he got, returning back to his motel to pack his things and head back home.

The man was driving to Miami turning back the radio, when he received a call from James Rhodes. Rhodey was telling him what recently happened with Tony, the fight with Pepper, the issue with his suits and whatnot. Along with the fact that Tony decided to take off in his suit and sat on a giant freaking donut. It was a rather long list.

“He did what?!”

Was all Jason yelled out the phone, as he reached a red light.

As if he week couldn’t get any weirder…

—//—

Thanks for reading this story! Also is this my soft reboot of a cooler sweeter MCU? Yes. Yes it is.

Did you catch the two pop culture references? ;)

Pls reblog, like, share and comment for more

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[larcenywrites]

I have it as a personal headcanon that Tony's like such good boyfriend/husband material cause like this man would treat his girl like a princess everyday. He tries to "win you over" everyday, doesn't matter that y'all have been together for 20 years, he makes you fall in love with him again and again everyday. He genuinely compliments you all the time, loves pampering you, gives you flowers regularly - even when it's not a special date - and he often makes sure to deliver the flowers himself! He asks you on date nights and still gets a shy smile when asking you for a date night just like the first time he did it. Says the cheesiest lines and says the most romantic thing all of a sudden, always surprising you. Loves taking his time during sex to give you all the pleasure he can - and loves to create a romantic atmosphere and spice things up every now and then! Always a charming gentleman overall (Maria did a good job raising him!). I want a Tony of my own so bad 😫🥺

Need me a Tony rn 😠😠😠😠 While he may have his flaws, he really does love his person! He probably still can’t believe that someone else wants to be in his house all the time and love him all the time?? Maybe it’s part of why he’s always wooing them over everyday and gives all he can. Is it his way of being grateful or still worried he needs to peacock his way around? Maybe a bit of both, but even so, he adores them and they deserve everything— which he can give! And he enjoys the pride in his chest when he can still get them flustered or when they hug him after he’s been gone. He loves to love, but now that he finally has it he wants nothing more than to keep it safe in a quiet and soft life where he can keep them pampered and pleased and hopefully as happy and loved as he is! He’s definitely a gentleman, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t manage to be nasty is a classy way 😉

Also I feel like Maria did manage to teach him manners, but he probably pick and chose when to act right, and only when acting one way or another would make his father mad tbh 🤧 he probably also thought Jarvis was just ✨cool✨ and probably learned from his interactions with the environment and people around him. And Jarvis was nice, so of course a small Tony was not only going to be nice back, but probably picked up on all the different ways and reasons he was nice. Tony wanted to be like him! And at a young age, didn’t necessarily understand who or what Jarvis really was.

And while he may not have ever liked his dad very much, Howard did treat Maria good and they seemed to love each other a lot! That was probably his only (admittedly high) standard of how love worked. Besides maybe Jarvis and his wife, and how, even though a younger Tony was sometimes scared of her 🤧, his love was always soft and unconditional.

[thedocholliday]

Keanu Reeves didn’t know how to surf when he signed on for "Point Break" (1991). That didn't stop director Kathryn Bigelow from throwing him into intensive training sessions with surf legend Dennis Jarvis. Within weeks, Keanu had gone from a complete novice to confidently riding waves on California beaches, determined to embody the spirit of undercover FBI agent Johnny Utah. Meanwhile, Patrick Swayze, cast as the enigmatic Bodhi, already had skydiving experience and insisted on doing many of his own stunts even after producers warned him not to. Their commitment transformed the movie into more than an action spectacle; it became a collision of two wildly different actor energies that fueled the story on and off screen.

Patrick Swayze was known in Hollywood for pushing physical limits, and "Point Break" gave him the perfect arena. He completed over 55 real skydives during production, even after studio insurance providers tried to bar him from further jumps. The most iconic skydiving scene where Bodhi jumps out of the plane without a parachute wasn’t all green screen and trick editing. It was Swayze performing his own dive, freefalling through the sky with controlled calm. The adrenaline rush on screen reflected his real thrill-seeking personality. Swayze explained in interviews that his love for skydiving came from a deep need to feel the moment without hesitation. His stunts weren't showboating; they were personal challenges.

Keanu’s intensity came from a different place. He had recently wrapped "My Own Private Idaho" (1991) and dove into "Point Break" with an all-consuming focus. He approached Johnny Utah with an analytical mind, breaking down the character’s internal conflict. He spent time with real FBI agents and criminal psychologists to understand how someone like Utah would operate in a world where danger constantly blurred with temptation. According to producer Peter Abrams, “Keanu would come in with these detailed notes about Utah’s backstory, stuff that wasn’t even in the script. He wanted to understand why he ran, why he surfed, why he couldn’t look away from Bodhi.”

Their chemistry wasn’t instant. On set, Reeves was quiet, introspective, focused. Swayze was magnetic, confident, always in motion. Crew members recalled that the contrast sometimes created real tension, especially in early takes when their characters were meant to size each other up. During one beach scene, when Bodhi saves Johnny from an aggressive group of surfers, Bigelow let the camera keep rolling after the scene ended. Keanu stayed in character, soaking wet and barely speaking, while Patrick kept circling him, slapping his back and laughing in character. That natural friction became the emotional undercurrent of their onscreen relationship.

One of the most unforgettable shoot days involved the foot chase scene where Utah runs after Bodhi through alleyways, homes, and fences. The entire sequence was filmed using a steadicam operator running full-speed behind Keanu, no stunt doubles, no special camera rigs. Reeves had twisted his ankle earlier that week but didn’t want to delay production. He iced his foot between takes and insisted on running the full course. Bigelow later praised it as one of the most authentic performances she had ever seen in an action sequence.

Swayze also brought an unexpected spiritual edge to Bodhi. Between takes, he shared Zen and Taoist philosophy books with cast members and spoke about living in harmony with nature. Lori Petty, who played Tyler, said in one interview, “Patrick didn’t treat it like an action film. He treated Bodhi like a wave, always moving, sometimes violent, sometimes still.” This mindset helped shape Bodhi into more than a villain or thrill-seeker; he became a philosophical rebel.

After the final skydiving scene was shot, Swayze took a camcorder with him during one of his solo jumps and recorded footage from thousands of feet in the air. He gave the tape to Kathryn Bigelow as a gift, saying, “You gave me the reason to fly again.”

Their performances in "Point Break" remain unforgettable not because of the explosions or chases, but because the actors disappeared into their roles through sweat, obsession, and risk. The collision of their energies turned every scene into a quiet showdown, one built not on dialogue, but instinct.

The bond they formed through physical extremes made the onscreen conflict feel brutally authentic, where every glance and motion carried unspoken history.