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#avengers civil war
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Number Neighbors Pt.27
Natasha Romanoff x Fem! Reader
Natasha Masterlist Series Masterlist
Word Count: 1.2k
Summary:  When you catch sight of the newest trend going around you know you’re all but bound to at least try it, it was harmless anyway. What could possibly stem from something so little?
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Nat’s been more than exhausted these past few weeks as she drafts up argument after argument that she can use against the government to justify why she and her fellow Avengers shouldn't be put on a leash. She knows it’s a long shot and she doesn’t have enough witness accounts or evidence yet but she’s been hearing about the crime rate spike through the rumor mill and she hopes that soon enough she’ll have enough to come back.
She can bring her family back and finally have you. If you’ll still have her after all of this is over. She knows you’d have every right to be mad but she hopes you’ll understand enough to at least let her take you on one date.
The rain pelts outside of her window as it has been for the last three days and she sighs as she lies back on her pull-out bed. If it were under different circumstances she might’ve been able to appreciate the break from the city and the pressure. Maybe she could even come back to these woods with Clint, or Wanda, or…You.
She’s working hard to make sure her family is safe, yes, but she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t working this hard to also see you again. To finally know what it feels like to hold you, to run her fingers through your hair, and hear you laugh again. The thought of you has been the only thing that’s brought her comfort these past few weeks.
Her computer dings with an email and she shoots up immediately, grabbing the shiny object from the side table next to her and pulling it onto her lap. She wasn’t expecting any emails while she was out here and her mind jumped to the worst-case scenario: they’d found her location.
The email is from an unknown sender which only makes her more uneasy and she’s more frustrated than anything that she’ll have to find a new place to hide when she recognizes the encrypted link hidden in the email's coding.
It was a website Clint had created just for the two of them to communicate in case there was ever a situation similar to this. She’s afraid to admit just how comforting it was to hear from someone close to her after weeks of no contact. She quickly opens the website and reads the messages.
Clint-
Hey Natty, hope you’re having fun wherever you’ve parked that trailer of yours, Tony’s been a real pain in the butt but we’re trying to negotiate some better terms with some government officials. I know you’re probably working on a solution of your own but I’ve got to at least pretend like I contribute to this group-
She snorts at the self-jab, knowing her fellow Avenger couldn’t care less about the insults people say about him being the least skilled Avenger. She always admired that about him.
Clint-
Anyway, your phone’s been blowing up. I think Tony is getting suspicious so I took it and hid it in my room. I think you’re gonna be in deep shit with your girlfriend when you get back haha. 
I attached the voicemails you’ve been getting, I didn’t listen to them but I saw who they were from. Thought they might be important.  
Nat’s heart pounded as she stared at the attached files, there were at least 30 voicemails from you varying in different lengths and part of her was scared to open them. There was no doubt a few of them were just you yelling at her but even then she’d missed the sound of your voice so much that she’d take your irritation over anything else.
She hesitates over the first voicemail with her cursor but clicks it before she can sike herself out. There’s a little bit of silence and she wonders if you’re going to talk before she hears a small sniffle and her heart breaks. She swore to herself she’d never make you cry and now she’d failed, the sound of your quiet crying echoing throughout her trailer only amplifying her defeat.
It's another thirty seconds before your voice finally breaks through. It’s rough and raw and she can tell you’d probably been crying for a while.
“Nat? Where did you go? Why’d you leave? Listen- we don’t have to meet if you don’t want to. We can keep texting forever just don’t ghost me like this. Please.” It’s short and by how broken your last word sounded she can tell you were probably thrown into another fit of sobs after you ended the message. 
Nat doesn’t know what to do with herself, her body feels frozen and her heart won’t stop sinking further into her stomach. She’s never heard you sound so unsure of yourself before and it tears her apart that she’s the one who made you that way. It takes her a few minutes to muster up the courage to click on another one.
“What kind of person just says ‘I’m sorry?’ I deserve a better explanation than that! You couldn’t have at least lied to me about going to save baby animals in Africa where there’s no cell service? At least then when you stopped responding I could’ve felt better!” She’s not surprised that you’re mad at her, you deserve to be, but it doesn’t stop the guilt from gnawing at her chest when she hears how irked you are.
The next few are similar in the fact that they’re either angry or spoken through tears but they slowly begin transitioning into something else. Eventually, you stop talking about her leaving and start talking about yourself. What you did that day, what you’re making for dinner, the cat you’ve been visiting at the cat cafe. There’s still a hint of sadness in your tone but she can tell the calls are a form of therapy for you. A way for Nat to be there when she’s not really there.
She wants to be there. She wants to be the one you’re talking about your day with, wants to cook you dinner while you sit on the counter and visit the cat cafe with you. It hurts that she can’t do that and as she’s listening she feels her eyes burn with tears. She refuses to let them fall. She’s not the one who gets to cry in this scenario and yet her eyes refuse to give up their unshed tears.
There’s one last voicemail from a day ago and she clicks on it expecting it to be like the others but much to her surprise you’re talking about her again.
“I think I’m mad because I can’t even bring myself to hate you for it. I know you’ve probably got some shit going on. I understand that, trust me. But- I don't know you could’ve… maybe it’s too much of me to ask you to fill me in on the situation- or let me know when you’d be back… Is this goodbye?” 
 Your static voice rings out into the silence and Nat hates how you sound. Reserved- almost accepting. Like you’ve convinced yourself she’s never going to respond again and she hates it. She hates that she made you so insecure that you think she isn't spending every hour thinking of you and how to get back to you. 
The sound of your voice fills her with even more determination as she begins redrafting her court argument. She was going to come back to you, you just had to wait for her a little longer.
Pt.28
A/n: Aww Nat :( ~ Starry
---Taglist--
@marvelwomen-simp @cd-4848 @wandanatlov3r @rebeltombraider @ctrlamira @fxckmiup @aliherreraaa @natsxwife @la-douler-ne-finite-jamais @romanoffsgal @moistblobfish @natashaswife4125 @elenimoris @how-to-disappearrr @screechcat @toouncreativeforausername @ordelixx @autorasexy @blacklightsposts @vmpnano @jono723 @sylencr @saraaahsstuff @autorasexy @gay4hotmilfs @tofu9162 @dyslexic-dreamer @graniairish @colettehope @kosmichs1 @nmhlver @natblidaclexa @skittlebum @dorabledewdroop @nothanksbye07 @mrsrushman @midastouch013 @thalia-is-not-ok @tessalah @annab3113 @officialnighttime
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i-like-superheros · 14 days
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"CARNIVAL"
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marishoodie7 · 8 months
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the girls in season 3 when Shauna challenges Nat for aq:
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cece693 · 2 months
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Talk it Out (Steve Rogers x Gender Neutral Reader)
This is inspired by the Tony vs. Steve debates arising when Civil War premiered. I believe both were at fault—but what if there was a voice of reason who diffused the situation?
Summary: Being related to the genius Tony Stark had many benefits, but being stuck in an argument between him and your fiance, Steve Rogers, was never anticipated.
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Being a Stark had its fair share of perks: a hefty bank account, influential power, looks that turn heads. But what the public was unaware of was the messy family drama, courtesy of Howard Stark. Despite the world applauding him as a genius inventor, at home, he was anything but wonderful. Work seemed to be his one true love, leaving little room for the whole parenting gig. Affection and care for his kids, especially name, were as rare as a unicorn. And when the Stark siblings were paid attention, it was mostly due to the public image Howard wanted to construct as a loving father.
So, when Tony decided to start flying around New York as Iron Man, name wanted nothing to do with it. Don't get them wrong, they loved their brother, but staying out of the limelight gave name the peace they longed for since childhood. No image they had to uphold nor expectations they needed to live up to, name was content spending their remaining days working on the numerous charities and foundations Stark Industries supported. Name wasn't interested in the media at all, but they guessed being related to Tony Stark and dating fellow Avenger, Captain America aka Steve Rogers would throw that plan out the window.
Their relationship with the Captain had been a surprise to all; meant to be kept a secret from the public, with only the Avengers and Tony (obviously) knowing. However, when a picture leaked of them holding hands, the world went crazy. With everyone, even news channels, speculating the nature of their relationship, it was name who ultimately decided to clear up rumors. Yes, they were dating Captain America, and what about it? The world had bigger problems than worrying about stranger's love affairs. So, even if the public knew about their romance, name withheld that they were also engaged.
But as name said, the world had bigger problems. And indeed they had. After a failed attempt by Loki to take over the world, alongside Ultron's failed destruction of said world, their plate was full. It didn't need unnecessary drama thrown into it: like Steve and Tony bickering due to the recently written Sokovia Accords.
"You're being irrational!"
"Sue me Rogers for wanting to protect the world."
Rolling their eyes, name didn't understand how a friendship like Steve and Tony's was being destroyed over something as stupid as the Accords. If they were being honest, both men were acting like children.
"Can't you guys just talk it out?" Name spoke, sitting up from their seat to glare at their brother and fiance. "I know Tony's a drama queen—"
"Hey!"
"But I expect better from you, Steve. Now, I'm going out with Pepper for lunch. When I return, you better have resolved this or else." Kissing both men's cheeks, name left the room. Looking at each other, Tony and Steve thought the same thing.
'Name is scary when they want to be.'
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wixabear · 3 months
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Ship Steve and Tony for like two seconds (if you don't already) and then look at Civil War through the lense of some petty relationship argument and it's suddenly a lot funnier.
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yeedmylasthaw · 3 months
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I need a what if episode where team cap gets what they fucking deserve cause MCU seems to be a team cap fan boy who refuses to hold them accountable for anything.
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astromechdroida5z5 · 11 months
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REMNANT WARRIORS: CIVIL WAR (Part 1) (A RWBY X Avengers: Civil War AU)
Things were supposed to be different.
~Jau-~
They were supposed to be heroes.
~Jaune~
But right now? Staring into the watery abyss off the cliff’s edge?
~Jaune!~
He couldn’t see anything heroic about this.
~Jaune!!!~
But there was no turning back now. Not this time.
“JAUNE!!!”
His eyes turned back to Blake and her friends.
His friends.
She looked worried. Her facade of calm having long since been abandoned.
Not that he could blame her.
Cornered as he was with one shot at escape, he was feeling pretty worried himself.
He just hoped it wouldn’t hurt so much…
“You don’t have to do this, Jaune! Just turn yourself in and we’ll set things right.”
Trust her to be straight to the point. He always did appreciate that about her.
That she was stalling him was obvious, but it didn’t make it any easier to find a way out.
“No.”
“That wasn’t a question, Vomit Boy.”
The yellow-haired beauty herself. He was honestly still surprised Yang hadn’t just tackled him on the spot by now. It was good to know she still cared.
Just not enough.
“Please Jaune.”
Hearing Weiss hurt.
Seeing her hurting? Even more so.
If anybody understood what the war with Salem had cost them, and why he was fighting against them so hard in the first place, it would be Weiss.
“I promise you’ll have a fair hearing. Perhaps I can even lighten your sentence; a few years, maybe five at most? You don’t need to keep suffering…”
He hated being a disappointment.
Almost as much as living a lie.
And he just couldn’t bring himself to do that.
“We both know that’s not an option for me, Weiss.”
He just needed to hold out a little longer before he could jump...
“She’s trying Jaune. Just like the rest of us. Can’t you see that?”
Ozpin had long since passed in their battle against Salem, but it seemed his lessons on negotiations had left it’s mark on good ol’ Oscar. If anything Jaune was impressed.
To come so far and with so little training?
It was like looking into a mirror.
So why couldn’t he see what he did?
About the memorandum? What it really meant…
“The Mantle Memorandum is a good thing, Jaune. No more forgotten villages or unchecked crooks. What more can we ask for?”
Freedom. The right to live life on your own terms. To be more than just a number.
To come home to your friends and family without having someone looking over your shoulder.
Telling you whether or not your choices were worth it.
He didn’t think Ren would understand that though.
For him safety came first, and after all his good friend had lost? Jaune could hardly blame him.
But perhaps there was someone else who could…
“Nora, look at me...are you really okay with this…? With what’s happening to all of us?”
Even now, backed into a corner by those he called friends, Nora’s normally fierce gaze looked lost; small even.
Everything he knew their Tiny Titan wasn’t.
In the end, she couldn’t even meet his gaze.
“….I don’t… I don’t know Jaune. Just...j-just turn over the drive. We can...we can figure the rest out later.”
His left hand tightened.
The Refuge Protocol.
Ironwood’s last gambit at remaining hidden from Salem.
And his only hope of staying off the grid.
That WASN'T an option.
Inching himself backwards towards the cliff’s edge, Jaune knew it was almost time.
Subtly lowering what few smoke pellets he had from his right sleeve, he braced himself for the hard part.
But the rest? The rest was easy.
“Don’t you trust us Jaune?”
Until it wasn’t…
“Ruby...”
“I always believed in the goodness of Remnant, Jaune. For people to stand up and do the right thing. Even when I felt so small. And... and I believe you believe that too.”
Leave it to Ruby – selfless, brave, heroic Ruby – to make things so simple and be the shining hero she thought others could be.
It was probably why they became best friends in the first place.
He just hoped they could continue to be friends, even now.
“Just come home with us, and you’ll see that we’ll never leave your side.”
Never had an outstretched hand look as inviting. Never had the hope in his friends’ eyes hurt so much.
Never did he wish so much that they could all change their choice.
The soft buzzing of his scroll broke the silence, as his friends’ confusion grew.
“….Jaune?”
It was time.
With smoke suddenly spewing out of the ground between them, Jaune pushed his legs to their upper limits as the sounds of sharp coughing and heavy footsteps followed right behind him.
The harsh sound of braided metal flying through the air was the only warning he got before the chain of Gambol Shroud nearly enveloped his legs.
A foot or two to the right and Jaune’s hope of freedom would have stumbled down with him.
It was now or never.
Leaping headfirst over the cliff’s granite edge, the last thing Jaune heard was a cacophony of voices calling out his name in distress as the murky, blue waves rose up to greet him...
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Shoutout to @howlingday for giving me some IMPRESSIVE worldbuilding to get me started!!! 👍
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lynngifs909 · 1 year
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Wanda + her hand gesture 👏
Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in the MCU.
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ghostedshe3p · 5 months
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Hello I draw Marvel shit now , deal with it (i still love Pokémon though)
Context on why I drew these specific characters Uhhm I decided I wanted to draw every Marvel character with my MBTI - the INTJs.
I am not done yet and I know there are others that people say are INTJs but like.. dude.. they’re not. I’m drawing the ones I’m 99% sure are INTJs (I am not drawing fucking Thanos dude)
Characters drawn so far:
Doctor Stephan Strange
Baron Helmut Zemo
Xu Xialang
Taneleer Tivan (the collector)
Characters still in progress of being drawn:
Otto Octavius
Gorr the God Butcherer
Uhhhh give me suggestions of what MBTI you’d wanna see next, I’ll probably do INFJs but I’ll make a list of you decide to request any.
Ill try to post frequently with these :p
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beasblogsposts · 25 days
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so yk the chicken paprikash Wanda talks abt in civil war that vision tries to make for her? Well I made it today and it is DELICIOUS I’m 100% gonna make it again, bby Wanda got good taste 🥹
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i-like-superheros · 3 months
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*Thanos lays everyone out* … Cap standing on business with a half broken shield.
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September 30th October 1st
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chronical-ly · 1 year
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Unapologetically You
Bucky Barnes x f!reader
Warnings: Cursing, sexual themes(Later on), killing, brainwashing, death, anxiety, mentions of attempted suicide, drug usage (weed).
Summary: She was never supposed to be pulled into this. But they needed help.
Disclaimer: This follows the movies, a marvel podcast, and also my own story for them.
Chapter 13
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Bucky rolled over and self consciously reached out for her, expecting to feel the warmth of her body instead of cold bedsheets he quickly shot up and looked around the room, as fatigue finally started to disappear he realized that there was no need to worry. They were still in Wakanda and whatever threat that was supposed to be coming hadn’t arrived yet, still giving them enough time to prepare.
He could hear her loudly curse outside followed by the calls of many goats before one bursted through the door, Warren the goat stared him dead in the eyes and began to holler as if he was trying to tell (Y,n) that Bucky was now awake, making him flinch at the noise.
“Okay! Okay! Get the hell out!” With a wave of her hand the goat slide across the hardwood floor and outside with the door shutting behind him. Bucky let out a boastful laugh as he laid back in bed, he covered his face with both hands as he sighed contently, for the first time in a long time he felt at peace. He felt like he found somewhere he could possibly call home, like he found someone he could call home.
Speaking of that person, she laid herself on top of him; resting her head on her arms that were folded on top of his chest as she looked up at him. After a minute or two of neither of them speaking Bucky uncovered his face and let his hands drop to her lower back. “Good morning, old man.” He snorted.
“Good morning, Lil Barton.” (Y,n) playfully groaned and buried her face in his shirt.
“No one calls me that anymore.” It’s been years since someone’s called her that childish nickname, she was sure if it was anyone else calling her that she’d cringe but Bucky could say it all day if he wanted to to. When he did it made her feel loved, made her feel at home.
“No one calls me old! Does this looks like the face of an old man?” He pouted his lips and gave his best smoulder causing her to laugh and agree with him. A silly battle of ‘oh really?’ And ‘yes, really.’ Went back and forth until Bucky gripped her waist and suddenly flipped her over with a grin.
“Hopefully, this old man still knows what he’s doing.” He flipped her over as she laughed, wasting no time tugging her pants off.
“Everything good?” A knock at the door followed by Logan’s strangely quiet voice brought her back to reality. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been standing in front of the mirror with water running but it was long enough to make him check in,
“Yeah, uh… I’ll be right out. Just gimmie a sec.” Once he walked away (Y,n) shut off the water and took one last look at the fading scars on her face, she sucked in a sharp breath; as if it pained her to remember how she got them in the first place. She sauntered out the bathroom, passing through the short aisles outside to Logan and Marcus who waiting for her by the gas pump, tangled in their own conversation.
“What happened at the club was about a hundid miles from ‘help’. You straight up betrayed me, both of you! And I still came back for y’all.”
“Whoa, hey, I didn’t even know we were doing that.” Logan frowned at her for trying to shift all the blame towards him.
“But you didn’t do anything to stop it, either. You could’ve gotten Flamingo and all those other people killed back there, I ain’t no child you guys have’ta take care-”
“You know what, kid? You did a good job, is that you wanted to hear from me?” Logan stopped the pump and put the hose back into its spot before pausing to look him in the eyes. “You did good back there at the house, you did good back there at the club, your heart is in the right place; you’re smart but you could’ve gotten yourself killed fifty different ways back there.”
That speech would make any other powerless teenage human be ready to go back home, just being in a shoot out would make anyone want to go home but Marcus sent a harsh glare back to Logan as he fished the necklace from around his neck that was hiding beneath his shirt and pointed to it.
“Look it here, see this? This is my mama’s necklace, I’m keeping it close to my heart could I’m gon’ find her. That’s probably too many feelings for ya but me I don’t care! Cause I’ll say it; I love my mama! I love her and without her, I’ve got nothing.” It something she could understand, (Y,n) would give just about anything to get her mom back, her whole family back. She knew what it meant to have them in your arms one second and the next they were gone without a trace, half of the world knew what that felt like.
“You going to Green Haven? So am I, with you I prefer; I’ll go further but without you betta believe Marcus Baptiste will do the same thing but I’ll use my backyard. You mighta been to all these places- Bangkok, Tokyo, Palestine, and I know you think you can go anywhere and do anything you like but there’s no place like this. And I’ve been looking at Maureen’s book and I’ve got some theories, bet you could use a guide.”
Marcus was ready to go on another rant, ready to fight just to stay with them because the lord knows he didn’t want to do this alone. What was he supposed to do when more of them hill billies show up and decided that they weren’t going to take any prisoners? He was a sixteen year old boy with little to none physical strength and the only thing he had going for him was that he was smart and observant and knew this place better than them. Something they could use.
“I hope your done talking cause I’m done listening.” Logan leaned against the gas pump, folding his arms across his chest. “Now it’s your turn kid… Back at the club, those bikers, the cold blooded they’re working for Weapon X. You know what that means don’t you? It means we got Green Haven and Windgard and whatever the hell else in front of us but we’ve also got a war machine breathing down our backs.”
“Logan, I-I don’t understand what you’re talking-”
“Well, you never listen!”
“Then enlighten me! Tell me why all of this shit is happening!”
“Because of people like us.” (Y,n) was going to try to get him to understand better, if he wanted to keep Marcus in the dark and safe he should’ve never let the kid tag along in the first place. The only way to make sure he didn’t get into trouble was to make him understand what the trouble was. “They’re part of the government the DoD doesn’t even know about. Deniable operations and they play dirty, the stuff they get into you’ll never hear about it ‘cause they kill everyone involved. Oh, and they loveee mutants.”
She couldn’t help but put some blame on Logan, maybe if they never met she wouldn’t have to worry about being hunted down and turned into a emotionless weapon or maybe (Y,n) was already on their radar without anyone realizing it. “Love to turn them into soldiers, killing machines rerouted to do their bidding. A living arsenal, and that’s what they want to do me and do to Logan… Again.” Marcus looked over at the man, his face becoming softer as anger wholly dissipated.
“Is that true?” Came out in almost a whisper as Logan nodded.
“That was me, but not anymore.” There wasn’t any need for them to say more, no one was going anywhere without the other person. Logan stared at a man in front of the gas station lighting his cigar before turning back Marcus. “What size shoes you wear?”
“Uh… Elevens, why?”
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Marcus sat on the motel bed staring down at his new pair of worn cowboy boots, even though he was never the kind of person to wear those every chance he got Marcus would never admit to Logan that he was glad to be wearing a different pair of shoes that didn’t squish with every step he took, it’d just make his ego bigger than it already was.
He gently kicked them off before scooting back on the bed, resting against the headboard as he looked over at the two adults standing on the patio with the door shut. Marcus wasn’t sure what they were discussing but it seemed to be serious, he just hoped they weren’t coming up with a way to get rid of him.
“Holy shit, this is what I was looking for…” (Y,n) passed the blunt back to Logan with a smirk matching his. On rare occasions like this, she went outside to smoke a cigarette, hoping the nicotine would make her feel better but he had approached her with an offer she couldn’t refuse.
“Seemed like you needed it.” He glanced back at Marcus who was now laying in bed, the lamp on his side of the room turned off. Logan took a long drag, holding it in for a few seconds before blowing it out of his nose. “Been a little quiet since the club, unlike that kid. Can’t stop wining and complaining about shit.”
He passed it back to her with the lighter as it started to go out. She shrugged, rolling it between her fingers in thought. “If you think I was startled by getting gang beat, I’m not. Believe it or not that wasn’t the first time that’s happened to me before.” (Y,n) relit the blunt and leaned against the railing. “But having a group of people all look at me as if I was some kind of monster… I’ve only seen mutant hate on TV, never up close so it was kind of scary, I guess. Seeing all that hate in their eyes.” She couldn’t but wonder if this how Bucky felt being reintroduced to the world as hero after hurting so many.
Everyone loved Captain Magnitude, none of her fans would ever dare to call her some cruel name like those cold blooded people. But Logan was no stranger to that, he had a lifetime of stories of people yelling and spitting his way just because of who he was while (Y,n) had a lifetime of being loved and accepted by everyone around her, of course everyone besides General Ross. Even though he pardoned her he still kept an close eye, just waiting for her to slip up so he could arrest her.
“Wish I could tell you it’s going to get easier but it’s not. Hell, things may never get better but as long as there’s people like you out there, shit might change.”
(Y,n) looked over at him and smiled, bringing the blunt up to her lips. “Never knew lumberjack’s could be so sentimental.” He groaned in fake annoyance at her words, physically wiping a smirk off his face.
“And you’re smiling? Who knew the great, mean, Wolverine could be so soft? I think it’s a good look-“
“Okay, I’m heading to bed.” He left her on the patio laughing at her own jokes, after a few seconds she calmed down and leaned her weight on the railing with a sigh. She wasn’t sure if it was the weed or the company but (Y,n) felt… Okay. She didn’t feel like waking up in the morning would be a chore, for a good while everything was okay.
“Everything is okay…” The wind blew a whisper her way, going in one ear and out the other as she held the roach with her finger tips.
“Everything is not fucking okay.” Another gust of wind, this time it was harder; causing her head to jerk back as her vision started to get blurry. (Y,n) flicked the roach away, worrying that it was starting to mess with her head.
“What if he doesn’t want us to find him? What if he’ll leave again?”
“Tomorrow morning is going to be a good morning, I can tell.”
“What if I don’t come back? They’re gonna be so disappointed.”
Her eyes had glossed over and became stark white it was longer her who was in control of her own body. Her consciousness was lured to sleep as she walked mindlessly to her next destination. Logan stood in front of woman with his hands on her shoulders, lightly shaking to try and snap her out of whatever trance she was in.
With his panicked pleas and her mumbles of things he didn’t quite understand it woke Marcus up from his slumber. “Logan? What-what’s goin’ on?”
“Fucking Wingard, he’s trying to take her again. Help me get her in the bathroom.” Now, Logan was a big man; he’s never not in his prime but whatever mind games that prick was playing with (Y,n) was making her use her strength to push against him.
He quickly wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground as Marcus opened the bathroom door, Logan placed inside before shutting the door but keeping his body pressed against it. “Give me that chair.” Marcus did has he said, giving him the wooden chair so he could press it underneath the doorknob, locking her in. They just hoped she wouldn’t use her abilities to knock the door down.
“You might get mad at me for sayin’ this, might even think it stupid…” Logan squinted his eyes at the teen, “but wouldn’t it be smart to just… Let her go to Wingard?”
“Are you fucking serious right now?”
“Hear me out-”
“No! You don’t him like I do kid, he’s collecting mutants and humans like they’re just toys to play with. Can you imagine what he can do with (Y,n) and Erik in his possession?” Marcus never thought about that, about how Wingard could make all those people do evil things, how he could make his mama do those same things as well. “She’s an Omega class mutant, you know what that means?”
Marcus shook his head.
“It mean he’d have the power to destroy the world.”
°•°•°•°•°•°•°
Bonnie and the Cold Blooded gathered their wounded and left the dead before retreating back to their side of the swamp, they cleared off a table and placed the whining man on top while a tourniquet was placed on the missing stump he once called his leg.
Sally Pierce came in a few minutes later earning mean mugs and insults thrown her way as they heated up a steel slate preparing to burn the open wound closed. ”Bonnie, I can help.” The short woman ignored her, giving the man, Judson a sip from a bottle of whiskey to calm him down so she said it again,
“Really? What can you do? Call nine one one, file some paper work. Judson got two warrants out for some serious shit so it’s steel surgery or nothing for this boy.” Bonnie patted his shoulders as he continued to cry and thrash around the table as he started to get to septic shock.
“I understand you’re upset, believe me Bonnie I’m upset too but I can do better than a home made tourniquet and a hot plate.”
“You stop right there. Frank, Jackson, and Mary are in the ER and the others are dead all because you wanted to put a leash on a couple of muties. These were some of my best men.” Judson shouted out in pain, claiming that once he was able to stand again he was going to get that bastard Logan and that bitch.
“I told you to use tranquilizers and you didn’t now please move out the way he is close to septic shock.” Pierce practically pushed her out of the way, Bonnie was about fight back but paused once she pulled out a needle and stabbed it into his neck. Almost immediately, Judson’s movement halted to a stop as he let out a sigh of pleasure. “Packs a lot more of a punch than whiskey don’t it, Judson?”
He moaned in agreement, revelling in the high the medicine was giving him. “Now I’m gonna dress the wound.”
“That sure don’t look like no bandaid.” They all watched as she pulled out some kind patch and unfolded it in front of them,
“Nanite patch. Take it off in a hour and the wound will have scarred over.” Now, the cold blooded wasn’t known for being to smart but Bonnie Roach was. She knew that everyday people don’t just walk around with needles and nanotechnology in their pockets, even if they worked for some kind mutant hunting company.
Not only that but Bonnie was observant causing her to want a side bar with Pierce in the garage. They needed to have this conversation away from prying ears, if she was right about this her men would tear her apart piece by piece. “Yes, what is it?”
Bonnie shut the door behind letting out an disgusted hum. “That’s what I’m wondering… What is it? Back at that sissy bar; Judson weighs three hundred at least but I saw you scoop him up, load him into the truck as he weighed no more than a carton of cigs… Then there’s the back of your suit.”
“What about it?” Pierce was quick to respond.
“The bullet hole, Sally. In your suit.” She tried to play it off but the angry red head was not eating her bullshit any longer. “Oh I know you’re fine, you ain’t even bleeding! That drag queen was a good shot you shouldn’t even be okay, but you sure leaking something all the way to the garage.” Bonnie took a second to circle and sniff the air around the agent just as a dog would, “what are you?”
“You ain’t human, you’re just like them freaks trying to pass as one of us but you’re a machine! A goddamn robot!”
Her mission was the same as before and as it always is. And just like Alaska, things went sour and her cover was blown, now history is trying to repeat itself. Pierce could only think about what Weapon X would do to her, tear her apart while she was operational before picking her ‘brain’ to find out what went wrong then replace her with another version.
Watching Bonnie flip a near by table Pierce quickly made a new plan while advising her to take a breath but that only made her angrier. “Don’t think I won’t open you up, pop your hood, rip out your spark plugs and piss in your gas tank, Sally.”
She physically cringed at the thought of that happening. “That would be… Inadvisable. We’re on the same side, Bonnie.” The shorter woman scoffed, “I would like for us to be, there’s no reason I should be a threat to you. Our goal here is the same, eliminating the mutant problem-”
“That so?”
“That’s why we hired you. I told you (Y,n) and Logan were a special case.” And somehow that seemed to go right over her head.
“We hit them with everything we had and barely made a scratch, I saw the girl heal just like him. Who are they exactly?” Bonnie figured if she was going to get revenge on what they did to her men then she’s have to learn more information about those bastards.
“He used to go by Wolverine, he’s a weapon. Our most valuable asset to date. And he’s gone rouge. I met (Y,n) when she was just a teen, Weapon X had gotten word of a powerful mutant fighting with the Avengers and wanted her for themselves. My mission is to bring both in.”
But Bonnie wasn’t having any of the last part. “Nah uh! Me and my crew gotta score to settle na’. We’re gonna kill them dead.” Pierce told her that there was no way she could, only for the hot headed woman to snap back saying she couldn’t be told what to do and that Pierce was nothing but a tool.
She walked around the garage searching for something then stopped once she spotted a crow bar. “You see this?” Pierce bent it in half without a strain before throwing at the ground in front of Bonnie’s feet. “I’m not anyones tool.” She had lost her southern accent for moment, “trust me you want me on your side. And I’m telling you- you can’t kill Wolverine because he’s unkillable. He’s got an adamantium skeleton and he heals, so does (Y,n) and unfortunately we haven’t found anything that can kill her so we can only subdue them then turn them into Weapon X for reprogramming.”
Bonnie now knew Pierce wasn’t the one to take on, for now. She’d have to play along first, once they sedated the muties her men would lure Pierce away while the rest of them had their fun. “Is that really your plan?”
“We both them gone and off the streets, together we can take them down. You get another check, I get my ass at home, the world is safer place. All we have to do now is wait.”
But there was something else, if the tracker was still on Marcus and they were all in one place why wait when they could attack when they’re guard was down? “What aren’t you telling me? There’s another reason we’re not going after them right now, you need something from them… Don’t you?”
Pierce shook her head, there was no room for lying anymore. “It’s called Green Haven.”
°•°•°•°•°•°•°
She woke up in the bed the next morning, delirious as Marcus explained at a fast how she was under Wingards spell again and how they were forced to lock her in the bathroom until she suddenly passed out before bringing to bed then how Logan figured out their next while she was sleeping.
It took her a minute to process all the information as he urged her to go change her clothes because they were on a time limit. At nine twenty in the morning they rushed out the hotel room and headed down to the nearest dock where they were to wait for the man who owned the boats, time ticked on and became ten forty as hunger started to strike both Marcus and (Y,n).
Luckily for them there a small shop just a block away. “Where the hell is this guy? He said to meet him at ten thirty.”
“‘Ey there no problem in being late, he’s just giving me time to finish eating.” Marcus hummed happily while devouring his second hotdog as if it was the best he’s had to eat in days.
“We’ll, if he isn’t here by eleven we’re stealing a boat.” (Y,n) wasn’t going to say it aloud but she agreed with Logan, they arrived early just for him to be late.
“Whoa, you gotta chill. He gon’ be we here, and we gon’ buy it.” He smacked his lips as he spoke, a small smile on his lips as he sat in between the adults.
“I’ve never seen someone so happy to eat gas station hotdogs.” There was a hint of disgust as Marcus raised it up to him offering to share, she smiled down at him causing him to shoot her a raised eyebrow.
“It’s just, you remind me of my brothers. Every family barbecue had to have hotdogs and they had to eat it with mayo.” The smile turned sad as she remembered what was lost. Cooper would’ve been around his age by now, she had already missed so much of his childhood from being on the run and now she would never get the chance to watch him finish growing.
Marcus unwrapped his third and last hotdog with a smile forming on his lips. “Mama used to say- mama used to say I had three stomachs and a hollow leg, keeping me feed was a full time job.” He chuckled as he thought back to the good old days.
“And how’d she manage that?”
“I told you before, Logan. She had the green touch, mmm- she could touch a branch and make it swell with apples. And she could walk around barefoot and wherever she stepped mushrooms would just pop-pop-pop!”
They chuckled at the noise he made while balling his trash together and tossing it into the bin not too far away, it was eleven o’clock now and the man was no where to be found, the only one not bothered by that was Marcus. “But y’know man, it was just the two of us really. We used to have dinners together er’night. I used to be asking for a phone or new kicks or whateva… Yeah, she’s say, ‘Family and food is all ya ever need’.”
That reminded of her of a conversation she had with Laura, she wanted to be to do more with her life and be hero at such a young age and her mother told her that family and being safe is more important than becoming some hero.
“As time passed more and more mutants lost their jobs, got ran out of town, out of the neighborhood. Ya’know… Everybody down on that lot, tryna escape the hate.” She remembered what Bucky had said about Wakanda, how it made him feel safe from all the bad things the outside had for him. It was his safe haven for a long time.
“Mama said we had to offer whatever we could, food and family, that’s what we had so that’s what we gave. Helping, gettin‘em settled in and meanwhile all these people asking me, ‘you a mutant, right? What’s your special power?’.” He chuckled at voice he mocking used. “I got nothing… I got to thinking, like maybe RawVille wasn’t just for me anymo’. Before mama vanished I said some terrible things, really nasty things, she didn’t deserve that. And I just… I just wish I could take them back.”
“We will find her, kid. But first we need a goddamn boat.” (Y,n) agreed, she may have been there for Erik but he wasn’t the only person who needed help. “Bingo, this better be the guy.” A truck pulled into the parking lot and out came a aged black man with a heavy gray beard walking straight towards them.
“You all the one who called for that ‘der boat?”
“Where is it? You’re almost an hour late.” Logan was tired of waiting around, he knew they had a long day ahead of them and this old man was taking his sweet time.
“You ain’t gone be angry at ol’ Bo for long. Offerin’ ya a good boat.” Logan grunted in response as the trio followed him around the shack where a few sat waiting. “Y’all goin’ fishin? Cause this here a good-”
“You said two hundred?” He didn’t care for the theatrics and story of what a good fishing boat it is, he just wanted to get moving.
“Oh, two hundred? Oh nah, you heard Ol’ Bo wrong. I said five hundred.” They argued back and forth for minute before the old man turned to (Y,n) and pointed a finger between them. “Talk some since into your man, lady.”
“Even if you did say five hundred you had us waiting for close to an hour, I think we deserve a discount for that. And I’m not saying this will happen but if we stand here any longer he might knock you on your ass and steal the boat without paying you a dime.” He nervously looked glanced towards Marcus then to Logan before giving an unsure smile.
“You wouldn’t do that to Ol’ Bo would ya?”
Logan said nothing and placed the money in his hands, Bo thanked him silently before walking off back to his truck. They heard stories about the part of the river they were traveling to, if you past the fishing line there was a chance you’d never come back. Locals said things strange would start to happen around them, hands would crawl up the side of the boat as voices whispered and called for you to join them.
Only a lucky few seemed to make it back to tell their haunting tells, warning others not to go that way. It would take a day and a half to reach the suspected location of Green Haven, well beyond the fishing line, none of them knew what would face out there.
They were no more than an hour or two on the water when Marcus suddenly stopped the motor and dropped anchor. “Before we go any further, I need to know what I’m getting myself into. You haven’t really told me anything about Winguard.” (Y,n) turned her attention to Logan as well, he knew the mysterious man best.
“Like how he is able to keep that part of the lake while controlling hundreds of people?”
“You wanna know what I know? Alright, his code name is MasterMind. That pretty much says it all. They call it psionic influence, he gets into your skull same as a psychic but it’s more about controlling what you see, what you hear, he creates illusions; he can make you punch yourself while thinking you were punching somebody else.”
(Y,n) only had a small taste of his power and that was enough for her, being mindlessly controlled to walk to an unknown location is not very fun. How were they supposed to fight this guy without succumbing to his spell again?
“So… The faces in the water folk keep seeing… Why do you think that’s happenin’?” Marcus piped up.
“Winguard’s hiding somewhere in the bayou. He don’t wanna be found, guessing those people got a little too close to Green Haven.”
“Well, are they more like psionic booby traps?” She was sure there was no way that he was just standing by the water waiting for fishermen to show up.
“I don’t know, maybe more like a security fence. But I don’t think he was ever that powerful. I think he needs to be nearby to influence someone.”
“Then he was there last night? He followed us or some shit?” If that was true, then Winguard probably knows they’re coming and is setting up a cage just for them.
“No, no, he wasn’t anywhere close I would’ve smelled him. He knows better, was most likely just out of reach.”
“He must’ve visited Marueen then. And all those people back home…” Marcus thought out loud, looking out to cam waters.
“I don’t know, I just know that something is not adding up.”
Silence fell over them for a few seconds before (Y,n) turned towards the man. “So, how do you know Winguard, anyway?”
“I’m telling you I can’t remember-”
“Okay, seriously? All of these ‘I don’t knows’ and ‘I don’t remember’, what’s going on with you?” (Y,n) was getting frustrated, how the hell were they supposed to beat this guy if the person who knew him keeps saying he doesn’t remember.
“I’m not keeping you guys in the dark, I’m in the dark… What you saw happen to your boss, that happened to me.” Logan was now talking to Marcus, she wasn’t there when the two first met.
“Hold up, you told me he was never come back. You got mind wiped?”
Logan nodded. “Yeah, except over and over and over again. I can’t tell you how many times because I can’t remember, there’s just so much that I can’t remember.” For some reason, this made (Y,n) determined to stop Weapon X. They got rid of Hydra, who’s to say they shouldn’t do the same to to them? This time, she could be more of use, protect other mutants from a life of misery.
“But you remember some things, when your claws come out you heal, you get stabbed you heal, so it’s not the same for your brain?” She asked, a little worried that if she were to ever get mind wiped, would her brain heal?
“It’s the same and not the same, more and more has been coming back to me but there’s still some… Hidden. I remember Weapon X and Marueen, maybe because they’re one in the same.”
They gave him a look, wanting him to explain what he meant by that. “She worked for Weapon X, we both did. And then we escaped together. And I remember… Hate. For Winguard, but I don’t know what he did.”
This gave Marcus an idea, he started up the boat again with a small smile. “We gone take a little detour, I know just the place that can help you remember. We gone to see Miss Eyestone.” Both adults glanced at other, wondering if they knew who that was. “Karla Eyestone! Voodoo, tea leaves, throwing the bones, séances, that of thing.”
“No, hell no.” Logan protested, reaching over to control the boat. They bickered back and forth a short while before (Y,n) placed a hand on his arm to sit him back down.
“I’m not too sure about all that voodoo stuff either but you have to give it a try.”
“(Y,n)-”
“Do you know what it feels like to be controlled by him? It’s fucking terrible, every worry and wish I had was arguing with itself and it felt like I was stuck. My body was moving on its own but my mind was stuck, forced to listen to myself ramble so if Marcus says Miss Eyebone-”
“Miss Eyestone.” Marcus corrected.
“Miss Eyestone, can help. You have to try, because I know how every single person who he has under his control feels and we need to stop him.” She watched his jaw flex before he mumbled something under his breath.
“Fine, but if shit starts to get weird, we’re out of there.” Marcus chuckled before steering the boat again only for it to sputter and slow down to a stop. “Are you serious? That bastard didn’t top it off.”
°•°•°•°•°•°•°
Taglist (still open)
@criminalyetminimal @blackxwidowsxwife
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@redgetawaycar89-blog @just-anotherstan
@lemonsuponlemons
Logan looked to (Y,n) and raised his eyebrow in question. With a huff, she moved to sit at the end and stuck out her hand, seconds later the boat began to move forward. “You’re not about to sit back and relax, give me directions.”
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sjsmith56 · 11 days
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Decisions, Chapter 8 - Eyes of the Father
Summary: The fight between the different Avengers over Bucky upsets Lacey but her emotions are tempered by a phone call.
Length: 4 K
Characters: Lacey, Clint, Laura, Steve, Bucky, OMC Agent Jones.
Warnings: none
Author notes: Set during and after Avengers: Civil War. Told from Lacey’s POV.
<<Chapter 7
👩🏼‍🍼 📺 📱
As Lacey was out on the tractor moving some deadwood trees she noticed Laura and Clint on the porch of their home.  It looked like they were having an argument which was unusual because they were so attuned to each other they rarely raised their voices when disagreeing.   She hopped off and unhitched the chain that dragged the dead tree, then rode the tractor to the barn.  As she drove past the other two they lowered their voices and watched her park the ancient vehicle.  She came out of the barn and stared at both of them.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Clint found something out and I think he should tell you," said Laura.  "He thinks it's need to know and you don't need to know yet.”
Lacey turned her gaze on him until he finally swore.  "They found Bucky," he said.  "In Bucharest, Romania, like we thought.  The authorities have accused him of bombing a UN meeting in Vienna that killed 12 and injured 70.  He's been taken into custody and they're transporting him to the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre in Berlin.  They're connected to the CIA, so you know how this is going to go down."
"You're thinking death penalty, aren't you?" she asked steadily.
"Yeah," he admitted.  "They'll go through the motions of giving him a psychiatric assessment and assign him a lawyer but they've been itching to throw the book at him ever since they found out the Winter Soldier's identity.  I'm sorry."
"Have you heard from Steve or Tony?" she asked.
"That's the thing," said Clint.  "Steve went to warn him and try to get him to give himself up to him.  They ended up in a pretty intense fight with the elite squad that was sent.  No deaths but Bucky hurt quite a few of them.  Steve and Sam are both in custody.  Tony wants them to support the CIA taking Bucky."
"What?" asked Lacey, upset.  "When did Tony start believing them?"
"Since Secretary Ross threatened to prosecute Steve and Sam for helping Bucky," replied Clint.  "Tony thinks he's walking a middle line, being reasonable.  I don't think Steve agrees with him on this.  Neither do I for that matter.  It all boils down to these Sokovia Accords and how they're being used."
There was the sound of a baby crying and both Lacey and Laura tilted their heads listening.  "That's mine," said Lacey, checking her watch.  "He's probably hungry."
She turned around and went up to her room where 8 month old Tommy was crying.  Picking him up she held him closely, then checked his diaper.  It was wet so she changed him first before sitting down in the rocking chair, lifting her T-shirt up and helping him latch on.  She offered him her fingers to hold and he grasped them firmly as he nursed hungrily.  She had wondered if all babies were this hungry or just this one but Laura assured her all three of her children were voracious feeders until they began eating solids.   It just hadn't happened with Tommy yet, even though he had been taking solids for several months.  With her free hand she turned on the TV in her room and found a news alert on all the channels.  The Winter Soldier had been activated while in custody, went on a rampage, then escaped.  It was believed Captain America/ Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson were helping him.  The authorities were looking for all three.  It had just gone from bad to worse.  She carried Tommy in her arms as she came down the stairs to see Clint and Laura watching the same news reports.
"They'll shoot him on sight now, won't they?" she asked openly. 
"It doesn't look good," agreed Clint, whose cell phone went off at that moment. 
Looking at the call display, he answered it while walking outside.  Laura kept looking at him through the window, her face concerned, until he walked back in.  His face was set in grim determination and she knew he had made an important decision.
"How soon?" asked Laura.
"Right away," he replied.  "Lacey, that was Sam.  Bucky was triggered by the UN psychiatrist sent to assess him.  They think he was a HYDRA mole that set up the Vienna bombing.  Bucky was knocked out while fighting with Steve but when he came to he remembered the man asked about a set of winter soldiers still in hibernation in Siberia.  They think he's gone to activate them.  They want my help to get out of Germany.  There are a couple of other people I need to get first then I'm going to help them.  We're going after the doctor."
"Won't that put you in jeopardy if you're caught?" she asked.
"Wouldn't be the first time," he replied, looking intently at Laura.  "Tell the kids I'm sorry about the water skiing.  Now I have to go break Wanda out of the compound."
He and Laura went to their bedroom leaving Lacey in the living room holding Tommy, feeling helpless.  He came down in his gear, walked out to the barn, then exited carrying his bow and arrows.  They followed him out to a second barn which he opened to reveal a quinjet.  Lacey looked at him with amazement.
"Permanent loan," he joked. 
After kissing Laura firmly he got into the quinjet and started it up while the two women went out into the farmyard.  Slowly he guided it out of the structure then raised it up into the air before applying the throttle.  Lacey put her arms around Laura's shoulders and the two women bent their heads together.
"I wondered how long it would take for him to leave retirement," admitted Laura. 
They both went about their farm duties, then made dinner for the kids.  As expected they were disappointed about their dad having to leave but it wasn't the first time it had happened.  The following morning Tommy woke up at his usual time and as Lacey fed him she turned the TV on.  There was another special report on TV about the Avengers fighting amongst themselves at the Leipzig airport.  Holding Tommy she opened the door and called to Laura who was feeding Nathaniel in her room.  She brought him into Lacey's room and they watched together as they fed their boys.
"This isn't good," Lacey said to Laura.  "It's going to split the team apart completely."
Laura watched intently then looked stricken at Lacey.  "They're changing their tactics," she said.  "Clint said they were all going to try to get out of there but it looks like they're taking on more of the fight to give Steve and Bucky the opportunity to escape.  It could mean they're expecting to be arrested."
Sure enough, as soon as Steve and Bucky escaped in the quinjet the other Avengers who had sided with them were taken into custody.  Laura phoned a number on her phone and by the sound of it the person who answered was Nick Fury.  It was hard listening to a one-sided phone conversation but when Laura hung up she wasn't as upset as she had been.
"Fury will do what he can," said Laura. 
They heard nothing until the next day when Fury confirmed that Clint, Sam, Wanda and a man unknown to them named Scott Lang had been placed into custody in an ultra secure facility called The Raft.  Fury admitted there wasn't much he could do for them while they were in that facility.  He also told them Natasha had helped Steve and Bucky escape.  Authorities were looking for her.
"Looks like we'll have to wait this out," said Laura, after hanging up. 
Although Laura refused to show anything but a positive face to her older two children Lacey knew how worried she was when she heard a knock on her door while she was nursing Tommy later that night. 
"Come in," she said, to the door opening and Laura entering.  "Are you okay?"
"No," she replied, her voice strained.  "Can I cry in here?  The kids won't hear me.  I can't keep it in any longer."
"Go for it," said Lacey, who was almost finished.  "Get under the covers, pull them over your head and let it rip."
Tommy was almost asleep so Lacey stopped feeding him, put him in the cradle and moved it to her bathroom, closing the door.  Then she got on top of the bed and put her arm around Laura.  As soon as she did the tears began to flow.  She held her friend, stroking her hair and just being there for her.  Laura cried for some time then composed herself, blew her nose and hugged Lacey.
"Thank you," she whispered.  "I had to get it out somehow.  I'll be alright now.  I'm glad you were here."
"Hey, you've been here for me this whole time," replied Lacey.  "I owe so much more to you."
They hugged and Laura left for her own room.  Lacey got under the covers, breathing deeply to centre herself.  Then she remembered something and went to the bathroom, opening the door.  Tommy was still asleep in his cradle.
"Sorry, little man," she whispered.  "Let's bring you back out here."
She sat looking at him, gently touching his dark hair.  His face was so beautiful and she could see the rapid eye movement behind his eyelids.
"What's going through your mind right now?" she asked him softly. 
He gave a little laugh in his sleep and she smiled.  No matter what happened to his dad she would always be there for him.  Always.
The sound of her phone on vibrate wakened Lacey and she looked at the call display.  It was Steve.  She answered it quickly.
"You know it's barely sunrise here," she said by way of greeting.
"I could always phone back," said a voice she hadn't heard for so long.
"Bucky?" she questioned, her voice trembling.  She was fully awake now.  "Is it really you?"
"Yeah, it's me," he confirmed.  "I had it all set up in my head what I would say to you and now I find my mind has gone blank."
"Where are you?" she asked.
"Someplace safe," he replied.  "They're going to treat me.  I lost my titanium arm when Stark blasted it off so they're going to remove what's left of it and maybe give me a new one.  They're also going to find a way to get HYDRA out of my head.  I'll have to go into cryostasis until they figure it out so you won't hear from me for a while.  That's why I wanted to talk to you now."
"Did Steve tell you anything?" she asked hesitantly.
"About the baby?  Yeah, Steve told me."   His voice sounded like he was ready to cry.  "I wish I had known.  I would have come back for you and made it right.  He's really my son."
It was said as a statement not a question.  "He looks just like you and he's such a good baby," replied Lacey.  "I didn't know who else to turn to when I approached Steve."
"You did good," he said warmly.  "Steve's family.  He wants to talk to you so I'll give him his phone.  Will you wait for me?  I never did find anyone else and I hope we have something worth waiting for, especially now."
"As long as it takes," she replied enthusiastically.  "I never found anyone either.  Those eyes captured me from the start.  You call me when you can.  Oh, and Bucky?  I got your letter.  Thank you for that."
"The CIA has your book that I took from you and the one I bought," he said hesitantly.  "Sorry for losing them.  Hopefully they don't come looking for you."
"I'm in a safe location," she replied. "Don't worry about the books.  Just be safe."
She felt a joy in her that made her feel giddy inside.  When Steve started talking to her she had to ask him to repeat what he said.
"I'm going underground," he said.  "This might be the last you hear from me for a while.  But I have the location of where Clint and the others are.  I'll get them out.  There's a good chance Clint can make a deal for house arrest.  He'll be stuck on the farm but he'll be with his family."
"Steve, why did Tony blast Bucky's arm off?" asked Lacey.
There was a long pause.  "Bucky killed Tony's parents when he was the Winter Soldier," he replied.  "Zemo had traffic cam footage.  It sent Tony into a rage.  Bucky and I had to team up and fight him together to stop him.  I don't think he'll come after you but if he shows up at the farm he probably won't be friendly."
"So much hurt," commented Lacey.  "The Avengers are finished then?"
"For now," answered Steve.  "I sent him an olive branch but it will be up to him to accept it."
"You told Bucky about the baby," she stated.
"Yeah," he admitted, and she could picture him looking down as he answered.  "It was important for him to know the truth and now he has something to come home to."
"Not if the CIA has their way," said Lacey.  "They want him dead."
"Well, they're complicit in his captivity and torture," he replied.  "Those HYDRA files Natasha released?  The man who framed Bucky was able to crack the encryption on a number of them.  The CIA knew about him in the late 1940s, early 1950s.  They knew and did nothing to rescue him because they had aspirations for their own Winter Soldier program, soldiers they could control, unlike me.  Fury knows a very good lawyer who has agreed to represent Bucky.  He thinks he can get Bucky a pardon."
Lacey couldn't help it as a sob escaped her throat, then another and another.  Her cries were loud enough to wake Tommy and he started to cry.  She put the phone on speaker as she lifted Tommy out of the cradle trying to soothe him and herself at the same time.  Bucky's voice came back on.
"Is that the baby crying?" he asked.  "Is he okay?"
"He's fine," replied Lacey, opening her nightgown to nurse Tommy.  "He's just hungry, always hungry this one."
"That might be the super soldier in him," said Bucky.  "We need a lot of calories to function.  Give him lots of bottles."
"No bottle for this baby, it's Mommy and solid foods," replied Lacey.  "Every four hours, like clockwork."
"I'll bet you look beautiful nursing him," said Bucky wistfully.  "I wish I was there right now."
"My phone has video capability," said Lacey.  "Next time you call use the video call on your end."
"He will," said Steve, interrupting.  "Look, tell Laura that I'll get Clint home.  You take care of yourself and Tommy.  Somehow Bucky will come back to you, I promise."
"Okay, goodbye Steve, goodbye Bucky," said Lacey softly.  "You take care of yourselves as well."
She hung up and looked lovingly at Tommy.  "That was your Dad," she said.  "He knows about you and he wants us to be a family."  Tommy smiled at her as he nursed.  "You like that, don't you?  I don't know when he can come home but I'll tell you everything I know about him.  Then he won't be a stranger to you when he does finally return."
When Lacey heard Laura get up she told her about the phone call and what Steve said.  It was hard to temper their expectations but they did, working the farm together.  About ten days after the phone call a large black SUV drove up to the farm and FBI Agent Jones stepped out from the driver's seat.   Lacey could barely disguise her hostility but he wasn't there just to see her.  He opened the passenger door of the SUV and Clint stepped out.  Both men walked to where Lacey and Laura were sitting on the steps holding their babies.
"Hi honey, I'm home," said Clint, smiling in that understated way he had.  "I'm retired for good this time."  He lifted the cuff of his pant leg revealing an ankle monitor.  "Agent Jones of the FBI is the only one who knows about the farm and will come looking if I step outside a 10 mile radius from it.  It means I can still pick up your mail Lacey."
She glared at the agent and Jones looked frustrated.  "I'm not your enemy, Lacey," he said.  "I suspected you had other reasons for asking for the Avengers help and I can see by that little guy exactly what that was.  I'm not judging.  Take a walk with me, please."
Clint nodded his agreement and Lacey stood up, still carrying Tommy.  She and Agent Jones walked towards a small hill that overlooked most of the farm's crop land. 
"How come you are on Clint's file?" she asked.  "You were based in Delaware."
"I got transferred," he replied.  "We closed your file.  The Russians don't seem to be as interested in you anymore.  All the same, if you can keep a low profile, which isn't easy considering your book is selling well, I would be happier.  I received a phone call from a Nick Fury, very persuasive man, who suggested I keep an eye on Clint and you at the same time.  He sent me a digital file with some decrypted HYDRA files on it.  Those HYDRA files prove that the CIA left Barnes in the hands of an enemy willingly.  As far as I'm concerned they're the guilty party in most of this.  Barnes was a victim and I truly hope he gets the help he needs."
She stopped and looked at him almost in disbelief.  "You're on Bucky's side now?" she asked.
"Although I was looking for Barnes as a law man there was a lot about him that didn't add up," he admitted.  "The CIA painted him as this monster who was out of control.  Yet he spent time with you, helping you with your repairs, then took on four very dangerous Russian heavies without killing them.  Until he was framed for the Vienna bombing there was no sign of him, no word of him hurting or killing anyone.  That didn't seem like a killer out of control.  It did seem like a man rejecting his past and trying to be better."
"Do you know where he is?" asked Lacey.
"I have an idea," replied Jones.  "Truthfully there isn't any place here in the States that can treat him for what HYDRA did to him.  The brainwashing is so deeply embedded it will require some new thinking to treat it.  There is one place in the world that may, just may, have that technology.  Wakanda.  Prince T'Challa was all for hunting Barnes down and killing him himself in retaliation for the death of his father.  Then he suddenly appeared with another man, a Colonel Zemo, and said he was the man who set up Barnes.  I suspect he feels guilty about how he viewed Barnes and he wants to make amends."
"Then you know more than I do," replied Lacey, at first wondering if she should say more.  "I heard from Bucky.  He wouldn't tell me where he was.  Old habits die hard, I guess.  He did say they were going to treat him for the HYDRA brainwashing, and replace his arm."
"Good," said Jones bluntly.  "It's a beginning anyways.  As for you and this little guy, no one will hear about him from me.  He looks just like Barnes, doesn't he?"
Jones tickled Tommy under his chin and the little boy giggled, making the FBI agent smile.  They walked back to where Clint was holding Nathaniel.
"I'll come out to see you on an irregular basis," said Jones.  "If you have to go outside of the 10 mile radius for any reason call me and I will escort you.   Otherwise enjoy your retirement."
"Agent Jones?" called Lacey, remembering one more thing.  "Did you ever find out if there was a leak at your end?  You know, about the flash drive?"
"Yeah, there was," replied the agent.  "The same person who ordered me to bug your home.  He owed money to the Russian mob, got in over his head during an underground poker game.  One of the Russian heavies recognized him and I saw it on his face.  We checked him out and found the evidence.  Thanks to you we found an informant for the Russian mafia high up in the FBI."
He returned to his vehicle and left.  Laura looked at Clint.  "Lacey had a phone call from Bucky," she said.  "Steve told him about the baby."
"Good," said Clint.  "He's a good fighter and he handled himself well."
"But what did you think of him?" asked his wife.
"He's okay?" asked Clint.  "It's not like I was able to have a long conversation with him."  The two women giggled and he looked exasperated at first then shook his head.  "I'm going to shower and change.  Then you can tell me everything you know and I'll tell you everything I know."
When Clint came back he held Nathaniel while he described everything that happened at Leipzig Airport, including the serious injury suffered by Colonel Rhodes.  He briefly described being imprisoned on the Raft, refusing to go too much into detail about how they were treated there.  Then he described how Steve Rogers broke into the prison and released them, transporting them to a safe location. 
"Scott Lang, a new guy from San Francisco, also turned himself in and agreed to house arrest," said Clint.  "He has a little girl and didn't want to miss out on her growing up.  Wanda has gone into hiding.  Sam and Steve went underground.  I can't believe Prince T'Challa gave sanctuary to Barnes.  He blamed Barnes for his father's death until they found out that Zemo set him up."
"Bucky wouldn't say if he was in Wakanda," said Lacey, "but he said that he would be treated for the activation words."
"Still have a thing for him?" asked Clint.
"He said if he had known about Tommy he would have returned right away and made it right," replied Lacey.  "To a 1940s guy that means marrying me, right?"  Clint nodded, smiling.  "He asked me to wait for him, so we could find out if we do have something.  I said I would."
"It could be a long time," cautioned Clint. 
"I know," replied Lacey, touching Tommy's hair.  "Agent Jones figured the Wakandans have to invent a whole new process to treat him.  Who knows how long it will take?"
"Well, I'm out of it now," said Clint, kissing Nathaniel on the head.  "My life is here, for good."  Laura put a hand on his.  "You're still welcome to stay with us, Lacey.  I think Laura and I kind of got used to having you around."
"Thanks," she replied.  "It does feel like home here.  I think when Bucky and I do figure out our relationship I'll buy a farm.  The life has kind of grown on me." She lifted Tommy up in the air.  "You like it here, don't you, little man?"
Both Clint and Laura smiled kindly at her and Tommy as he squealed.  His squeals set Nathaniel off and the two boys found an audience for their antics.  Laura went into the house and brought out a blanket for the two babies to lie on.  Nathaniel was already crawling and Tommy watched him intently as he laid on his back.  Rolling over he tried several times to raise himself onto his hands and knees.  When he finally did then stood up immediately both Clint and Laura expressed surprise but for Lacey it was confirmation that Tommy was special.  He had super soldier blood and that meant a whole new level of protection would be needed for him.  Until Bucky could be with them it would have to come from a bunch of Avengers that were scattered to the winds.  At least here on the farm he was isolated and for now that would have to do.
Chapter 9>>
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queer-alienbean · 5 months
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“i’m not a player i just shower a lot” - Anthony Mackey
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astromechdroida5z5 · 11 months
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REMNANT WARRIORS: CIVIL WAR (PART 2) (A RWBY X Avengers: Civil War AU)
Being on the brink of death changed you.
~...a...n...co...py…?~
Jaune learned that full well from his time in the Ever After; a place where every moment was just a hairsbreadth away from death.
~Ja...ca..ou...opy?~
And having crawled out of that Brother’s forsaken pit after so long?
~Jau...ca..ou...opy!?!~
Jaune wasn’t sure how deep that change went.
~Jaune...?~
What he did know was that he had a LOT of regrets.
~...do you…? ~
Regrets that he could almost feel and touch…
~...do you... believe in destiny? ~
...even hear.
~...Jaune?~
They just weren’t enough for him to turn back, apparently…
“JAUNE!!! CAN YOU COPY!?!? I’M COMING IN HOT!”
The shrill cry of panic finally overran the haze of death that was enveloping his mind.
Ugh! He didn’t have time for this!
Pushing that sense of dread right back down where it belonged, Jaune focused instead on calming his pounding heart.
Black Sheep was on their way!
And Jaune hadn’t been abandoned.
Not this time.
Straining to move his arms against the withering winds that blasted against him, Jaune promptly answered the urgent call.
“...Gaaahh! C-copy, Black Sheep! Package is on his way and flying down FAST!”
“Roger! Target inbound and smoking hot!”
Out in the distance, Jaune could already hear the telltale hum of an airship engine steadily growing as his body began tilting towards his hope on the horizon.
“T-Minus 5 seconds, Jaune! Make em’ COUNT!!!”
HA! Like he had any other choice!
“5!”
The pint-sized airship that had been sailing to his right just moments ago quickly grew as its nose began pitching down to greet him.
“4!”
Spreading his limbs out to catch what air he could, Jaune caught sight of a white blur diving past him as the heat of its engines washed over his skin. A little too close for comfort in his opinion, but he supposed falling beggars couldn’t be choosers.
“3!”
Having NOT been turned into a human-sized bug stain, Jaune quickly noticed the craft decelerating its speed to a steady crawl underneath him.
Hearing the whirring sound of the ship’s hydraulic servos, he tucked his arms in and braced himself for the final act.
“2!”
Plummeting towards the ship’s now open cargo bay door, Jaune stretched out his arms at the very last second; hoping against all hope that he’d manage to find some sort of handhold to anchor himself to.
“1!”
Tumbling face-first into the airship’s cluttered interior, Jaune’s first instincts were yelling at him to get a good grip on whatever he could find a hold of before the screaming winds could suck him back into the open void! Laying hold on what he felt was cargo netting, Jaune took no chances before firmly clenching the flailing fabric between his fingers and holding on TIGHT!
“GAAAAHHHH! I got it!!! I got in Black Sheep! You can close the bay doors!
No response. Jaune’s grip began to give ground against the straining cords…
“BLACK SHEEP! CLOSE. THE. BAY. DOOOORS!!!!”
After what felt like an eternity, the ramp began to lift just as the cargo bay was filled with a harsh, red light. Soon enough, a final hiss and metallic click signaled the end of the closing procedure while the red glare of the airship’s warning lights gradually gave way to a more soothing shade of white.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, Jaune got up slowly before making his way toward the cockpit just ahead. He hadn’t even make it halfway before a speeding figure slammed straight into his chest.
“Jaune?!? Are you okay? Are you HURT!?! I TRIED to close the ramp as soon as I could! I really, really did! B-but the airship was shooting all these warning signs, a-and the autopilot was acting all finicky at first, and I TRIED going through the manual faster but –”
Jaune placed his hand on the poor girl’s shoulder.
“Easy, Black Sheep. Easy. I… I was honestly a little shaken up, but you did good. REAL good. A lot better than I could have ever hoped for.”
Thankfully, that seemed enough to calm her down although now it revealed a much larger problem.
Namely that she was still clinging to him like a Koala stuck on a tree branch.
Scampering off before he could even blink, Black Sheep stood ramrod straight before him before bringing her arms up to an eager, if not rushed, salute.
“T-thank you, sir!”
It still felt weird for him to be treated like a war hero by so many after Salem’s defeat, but it felt weirder still not to salute back when so much hope and trust could be seen in the eyes of those who did so, misplaced though it was. Bringing his right arm in a salute of his own, Jaune just hoped he wasn’t ruining whatever expectations she had left of him.
“At ease, Black Sheep. And you don’t have to be so formal around me. Just Jaune is fine.”
Her face quickly turned the cutest shade of pink before more words began tumbling out of her mouth.
“Y-yes, sir – er, I mean - Jaune. A-and if it’s alright with you? You don’t have to keep calling me Black Sheep either.”
Jaune had no problem with that. They had long since left range of any CCT towers that could have been keeping tabs on them.
“Sure thing, Fiona. Sure thing.”
The peace that settled between them now was nice. Comfortable. Therapeutic, even.
"Jaune...?"
But he knew it wasn't made to last.
"...w-what do we do now?"
Jaune let out a breathe he didn't even know he was holding.
That was the question, wasn't it? Hunted and on the run? And with little to no help to be expected? This was definitely going to be difficult.
That didn't mean they were without options.
"First things first," Jaune said as he picked up the drive in his hand containing the Refuge Protocol, "we plug this thing into the ship and disappear. No loose ends. No unpleasant surprises."
Sitting himself down in the co-pilot's chair, Jaune plugged the stolen drive into the terminal as the now-captain Thyme switched off the autopilot and took hold of the wheel.
"And then?"
"Then we find out the truth Fiona. That data you stole back at Mantle showed that they were trying to delete something. Something they didn't want us to find out just as the Memorandum was being signed. I say we go and find out just what exactly they're trying to hide from us."
"... and if you're wrong? If... if we're both wrong?"
"Do you really believe that?"
Her answer was quick and absolute.
"No."
Jaune let out a silent sigh of relief.
"Then I'll make sure you get pulled out of the fire, Fiona. No matter what happens, I'll have your back. Arc's promise."
And just like that, Jaune felt like the start of something special had just been planted.
A trust.
A bond.
Looking at his faithful friend in arms beside him, Jaune felt a renewed sense of purpose inside him as the two flew off toward the darkening storm on the horizon.
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