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arlana-likes-to-write · 10 months

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Rescue by Lauren Daigle

Summary: Natasha doesn’t have a lot of regrets, everything she’s done in her life has gotten her to where she is now. An Avenger, a hero to young girls, and trying to remove some red from her ledger. But the one thing she does regret is giving you up. But when a word gets out that you are in trouble, she will come to rescue you.

Pairings: Natasha x Maria, Natasha x Maria x daughter!reader, past Natasha x Bucky

Warning: gun shot violence, implied rape, death, cannon typical violence, gambling, the reader needs a hug but so does Natasha

Word count: 7.1 k

“Mail call,” Wanda said, walking into the common area with a few pieces of mail in her hand.

“Who the hell gets paper mail?” Tony asked, pouring coffee into his mug.

“Some of us like to do things without technology,” Steve said as Wanda handed him the newspaper. Tony looked at the super soldier with disbelief. It was rare that the Avengers got mail but each one had specific memberships. Vision received a copy of the newest National Geographic and Pietro got Sports Illustrated. Sometimes Sam received a letter from his service buddies and Steve always got the newspaper, he did take the comics out for Peter. As Wanda handed out the mail, Natasha waited with bated breath to see if she received a letter. It was rare but she was excited nonetheless. The Sokovian smiled at the Black Widow and handed her a letter. It was addressed the same way, her name and her current address with no return.

“Thank you,” the Black Widow said, leaving her unfinished lunch on the table and heading for her room. She barely heard Tony question her odd behavior but she didn’t care. When she was safe behind her bedroom door, she opened the envelope. There was a single picture of a young girl with fiery red hair standing at a picnic table. A birthday cake was lit and presents stayed unwrapped around you. Natasha smiled, moving her finger across your face. Her daughter, whom she only got to hold once on the day she was born. When she defected to SHIELD, she gave up for you to live a normal and safe life. But she was promised that you would go to a good family and on birthdays Natasha would receive a photo. The most important thing was if there was any sign of trouble she would be called in.

“It’s about that time of year,” Maria appeared at her door. “Did you get a photo?” Natasha nodded as her girlfriend sat down next to her. Not counting the agent, four other people knew of your existence. Maria was one of them but not even the Deputy Direction knew of your true location to keep you safe. The agent gently took the picture and smiled.

“She’s spoiled rotten,” Maria teased. The Black Widow chuckled, letting her head fall onto Maria’s shoulder. It was times like this that Natasha questioned if she made the right choice. She wished she could be there for birthdays and every school accomplishment. Maria kissed her head. “I know, baby, I know.”

“Miss. Romanoff,” FRIDAY said. Natasha stopped her assault on the sandbag. “Your presence is being requested in the conference room.”

“Do I have time to shower?”

“No, Director Fury said it’s urgent,” it was never a good sign when Fury was involved. She quickly grabbed her water off the floor and headed for the conference room. When she entered, Fury and Maria were standing by a screen and her sister and Clint were sitting at the table. Oh, she did not have a good feeling about this.

“What’s going on?” She asked, not bothering to sit down.

“Does the Winter Soldier mean anything to you?” Of course, it did. He was one of her trainers in the Red Room but also the father of her daughter. In hindsight it was the perfect companionship; one of the Red Room’s best assassins and HYDRA’s most feared weapon. Their child would be the ultimate fighter but they didn’t need to know that.

“Yeah,” Natasha said, crossing her arms. “He’s credited for over two dozen assassinations in the last 50 years.”

“So, he’s a ghost story?” Clint questioned. She shook her head.

“I was escorting a nuclear engineer out of Iran, somebody shot at my tires near Odessa. We lost control, went straight over a cliff,” she said, remembering every part of that day. “I pulled us out, but the Winter Soldier was there. I covered my engineer, so he shot him straight through me,” it was heartbreaking as she stared into the eyes of a man she once knew but there was no recognition in his eyes. She lifted her shirt, revealing a bullet wound on her stomach. “A Soviet slug, no rifling. Bye-bye bikinis.”

“Yeah, I bet you look terrible in them now,” Maria sarcastically said. Natasha smirked.

“Ew,” Yelena said. “He was also a trainer in the Red Room. Before my time but the guards would talk.”

“Why are we here, Fury?” Clint asked. Natasha was wondering the same thing.

“We picked up chatter that was concerning,” he nodded to Maria, who pulled up a recording and played it. The audio was all static and it was hard to hear but Natasha could make out two distinct voices and they said your name and the Winter Soldier.

“Send me there now,” she said. The audio was still playing and Maria quickly stopped it.

“Nat..”

“Don’t ‘Na’t me,” Natasha cut her girlfriend off. “When I gave her up I asked for two things; a picture once or twice a year and to be notified if she’s in danger. In return, I’d never reach out to her.”

“We need you here to run point and we are going to send Belova and Barton to look after her,” Fury instructed.

“Like hell, you are,” Natasha was slowly losing her composure. “She’s my daughter.”

“You don’t have any claim to her,” Natasha’s jaw clenched. Fury sighed. “Can I please speak with Romanoff alone?” Each one of her closest acquaintances left the room and tried to reassure her in their way but she ignored everyone. Her eyes never left the man. When the door closed, Fury sighed again.

“Natasha..”

“Don’t Nick,” she said, walking over to the man. “Don’t say another word because I’m very close to throwing you through a wall,” Fury smirked.

“I’m trying to look after you,” he said. “Your name was mentioned. It could be a trap.”

“I don’t care,” she said. “She’s my daughter even if you don’t think she is,” she saw the smallest clench of his jaw. “I hear her SOS. I will never stop marching toward her. So I’m going. You can’t stop me.” He thought about it.

“Fine,” he relented. “But Maria is coming with you as your backup.”

“Clint will run point and I want Yelena on standby if we need it.” He nodded.

“What do we tell the team?” She wasn’t sure. For the longest time, she’s kept your existence a secret to ensure your safety. But now it may have been all for tonight. No, she couldn’t think like that. You were going to be fine.

“The truth,” she said. “It’s time they know.”

“Hurry up,” your best friend called out. You giggled, running over to her. She climbed up to do the monkey bars.

“You got this Sarah,” you cheered as her arms began to shake when she reached halfway. She fell to the ground unable to go the entire way. “Nice try,” you smiled, beginning your turn. You liked the challenge of the monkey bars, the burn of your arms and hands. Unlike Sarah, you didn’t feel your arms shake and you made it all the way across. Sarah rolled her eyes.

“No fair,” she pouted. “How are you so strong?” You shrugged. It was a mystery to you and something you attributed to your biological parents. In PE class, you learned to hold yourself back even though you could beat all the kids in your class. No one wanted to be friends with the abnormally strong girl.

“I don’t know,” you said.

“Come push me on the swings,” Well besides Sarah, she didn’t care that you were stronger than her and she used it to her advantage. You smiled, running after her. She jumped onto the empty swing and you began to push her. It wasn’t long before your mind began to wander as you looked around the park. There was a small party at the pavilion and a small-sided soccer game. A few black vans were parked on the far side. You found your parents sitting at a bench speaking with a man you knew well. Agent Cruise. He was present at every birthday party and family gathering. According to your mom, he was the one that found you when your birth mother abandoned you. Why was he here?

“I’ll be right back,” you told Sarah and walked over to the trio. Agent Cruise saw you right away, a smile on his face.

“Hi firecracker,” he held out his fist and you pumped it three times then gave him a side hug.

“What are you doing here?” You asked him.

“I was in the area and I thought I’d say hi to the family.” That was a lie but you didn’t question it. If he was lying for a reason, it had to be a good one.

“Everything is fine, sweetheart,” your mom said. “Go back and play with Sarah.”

“Okay, love you guys,” you turned around to go back to the playground but a gunshot froze you in your spot. It was a sound you heard on TV and in movies and never expected to hear it in real life. A body crashed into yours pushing you into the ground as another shot went off.

“W-Will,” you stuttered.

“Eyes on me, okay?” You nodded, staring into his brown eyes. “My car isn’t far. I need you to run and I’ll cover you.”

“What about -” Your eyes found your parents, slumped against each other and blood pouring from a single shot in their head. “No,” you whispered, tears pooling at the corner of your eyes but you didn’t let them fall.

“Firecracker, run,” he got off of you and began to fire. You scrambled to your feet as he shot at a man walking towards you. His bullets made him take cover but you locked eyes with him. They were blue, similar to the color of your own eyes. His brown hair was shoulder length and half of his face was covered with a mask. But the most striking feature about him was his metal arm that shone under the California sun.

Finding his car wasn’t hard and it was unlocked when you opened the backseat. You slammed the doors closed and tried to calm your racing heart. You mimicked the breathing technique your dad would do. Breathe in for 5 seconds and hold it for 5. In for 5 seconds and out for 5. Soon your heart rate calmed down but your eyes burned with unshed tears. They died, killed right in front of you. You heard voices outside the car and you covered your mouth to keep quiet. His windows were tinted so they couldn’t see in but they would be able to hear you.

More gunshots and yelling made you yelp and the silhouettes of the men outside disappeared. You removed your hand and listened outside. Soon the car door swung open. You bite back a scream that almost left your lips. “Hey, it’s okay,” you weren’t expecting a woman with red hair and green eyes wearing a black tactical suit. You knew her. Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, and Avenger. “You're safe but I need you to come with me,” you stayed frozen, staring at the woman in front of you. “Look, we are running out of time. Please come with me.” She held out her hand and you took it, hoping you could trust her.

This wasn’t how Natasha wanted to meet you. She had so many other ways that didn’t involve your adoptive parents murdered and an assassin who happens to be your biological father hunting you. Nothing was easy for the Black Widow. “Put this on,” she handed you a helmet. “Get on,” she got on the motorcycle and she felt you get on behind her, hesitant arms wrapping around her waist. Natasha kicked up the kickstand and the engine came to life. “I got her,” she said over the comms.

“Well, you got company,” Maria said. Natasha looked behind her and saw 3 vans turning down the street; they were one and the Winter Soldier handing out the window with an AK-47. “Stick to the side streets,” she continued. “I’ll get you both back safely.” Natasha trusted Maria to do just that and started to drive.

“You have to trust me, okay? When I lean, you lean,” Natasha said over the wind. “If you don’t, they will catch us and kill you.” She wasn’t sure if you heard her until she felt your head and squeezed her waist.

“Take your next right,” Natasha let out a shaky breath and turned right. Your body leaned with hers. Okay, the Black Widow thought, maybe they’d get through this.

The motorcycle stopped and you took off the helmet. You were in an alley between 2 apartment buildings. The Black Widow got off and helped you down, your legs shook and were a little unsteady. “Come on,” she said, leading you to a door. “We can rest soon.” She opened the door and led you up 2 flights of stairs. The redhead stopped at a door, room 324, and knocked three times. It took a minute for the door to open. In front of you was a woman with black hair, pulled back into a bun. Her brown eyes were sharp but they landed on Natasha and they softened.

“Glad you're alive,” she said, stepping out of the way. You hesitated but followed the Black Widow inside the apartment.

“Did you have that little faith?” Natasha teased sitting on the couch. You could see the tension leave her body.

“What the heck is going on?” You asked. “I just watched my parents die in front of me, a mystery man with a metal man was chasing me, and an Avenger shows up,” you looked at the other woman. “I have no idea who you are or what is going on.”

“I’m Maria,” she waved, sitting down next to Natasha. It was nice to have her name but that did not answer any of your questions.

“We can’t tell you everything right now but you're safe here,” Natasha said. You stared at the redhead, the color so similar to your own. Now that you looked at the Avenger you saw a lot of your features in her.

“How can I feel safe when you won’t tell me the truth?” Her green eyes locked onto your blue ones and she looked away.

“We can’t,” she said. “Not right now.” Your jaw clenched.

“We may be here for a while,” Maria said, standing up. “I’ll show you to your room.” You continued to stare at the Black Widow, wanting her to look at you or wanting to grab her by her shoulders and yell - ‘are you my mother?’ but she wouldn’t look at you. You sighed, following Maria.

“Here you go,” it was a simple room. A bed pushed up in the corner, no TV or posters of any kind. It was a stark contrast to your room. “I know this isn’t ideal,” you skimmed your hand over the bedsheets. “But we will keep you safe.” You looked at Maria.

“She’s my mom, right?” Maria had an excellent poker face but it was a game you’ve been playing since you could talk. She was surprised by your statement so there were a few ways she could go about this; lie, tell the truth, or deflect. You were leaning towards deflection.

“There are take-out menus on the fridge, figure out what you want to eat.” Deflection. It was the easiest way, to tell the truth without betraying someone’s trust.

“Right,” you sat down on the bed. “Thanks.” She nodded.

“Come find us if you need anything,” you didn’t respond as she closed the door. You leaned against the wall, looking out the window to the street down below. People were going about their day unaware of how your life was altered forever.

“How is she?” Clint asked over the computer. They just finished a meeting with the rest of the team back in New York to come up with the next phase of the plan. She ignored Tony's thousand and one questions regarding you. Overall he seemed hurt she never told him, since ‘we’ve been through so much together.’ Natasha felt bad, they were her team, her family but sometimes the thought of you hurt too much. But a plan was made which consisted of you, Maria, and Natasha to head to Norway to lay low while the rest of the teams tracked and captured the Winter Soldier. Easier said than done. Now she was only talking with Yelena and Clint while Maria tried to get you to eat.

“She’s quiet,” Natasha knew that was to be expected. “She hasn’t said anything since Maria showed her to her room.”

“Does she know?” Yelena asked. Natasha sighed, nodding her head.

“Yeah, she asked Maria but she didn’t give her a yes or now,” You were smart, maybe a little too smart. “But I haven’t told her.”

“Are you going to?”

“Do we know how they found her?” Natasha deflected. She didn’t have an answer to Yelena’s question. Clint nodded.

“Her adoptive father got into some gambling debts,” he said. “Ripped off the wrong people.”

“But why go after her?” Yelena questioned. “Why do they want her alive?” Now Natasha knew that answer. She pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Her biological father is the Winter Soldier,” she told them. “That is why they are after her. If she falls into the wrong hands, she could be an unstoppable weapon.”

You couldn’t sleep. Every time you close your eyes, you saw the metal man with a gun and your parents dead at your feet. Natasha came into your room to tell you that all three of you would be leaving bright and early and to try to get some sleep. You didn’t respond as she left saying goodnight. So you lay awake, staring up at the ceiling. Finally, you sighed and stood up leaving your small room to venture into the rest of the apartment. The other bedroom was on the opposite side of the apartment but you tried to be quiet as you went through the bare kitchen. In the last drawer you opened, you found what you were looking for. A single deck of cards. You grabbed it and sat down at the dining room table. Game night was common practice that took place with you and your parents almost every night. At a young age, they taught you poker, blackjack, pitch, rummy, and spades. You never left home without a deck of cards as a simple game of poker square or solitaire could calm your racing mind. So, you set up a poker square game. It was a game of strategy, patience, and a little bit of luck unless you could count cards. Another skill your parents taught you. “Couldn’t sleep?” The Black Widow questioned. You didn’t answer, glancing up at the redhead as she got two bottles of water and sat across from you. “What are you playing?”

“Poker,” you answered.

“Poker? Aren’t you a little young to know how to play poker?” You rolled your eyes. It was the same thing said to you by every adult when they found out you could play.

“Poker isn’t just a way to gamble all the money in your pocket,” you didn’t look away from the cards. “It can teach you emotional stability in changing situations, to think analytically, and how to read people. But also how to be deceptive, you have to make everyone believe you have something in your hand when in reality you have something else,” Finally, you looked up at the Black Widow. “You’d be good at it. Your poker face is shit though.”

“Excuse me?”

“You know I thought about you all the time,” you went back to your game. “It kept me up some nights questioning why my mother gave me up. Maybe I wasn’t good enough or a mistake or she didn’t love me,” a glance up and you saw everything you needed in her eyes. They softened as her other facial features stayed stoic.

“Not your mom, kid,” she lied.

“From an emotional standpoint, sure, you aren’t. But biologically, I know I share your DNA,” you flipped the last card, placing it in the final spot. Taking a moment to look over how you did, you gathered up the cards again. “Shit poker face remember. It’s all in your eyes, they give too much away,” you shuffled the cards and began to play again. “Not that it’s a bad thing,” you added quickly, not wanting to offend the woman sitting across from you. “Just surprising,” you took a sip of water she gave you. “Can I ask you something?”

“Go for it,” she said. “You can ask but that doesn’t mean I’ll answer.” Her smirk mirrored your own.

“Say we don’t share any biological relation, why would the Avengers come and save me?” You began to play again. “I'm nobody,” you said. “It would probably cost less to have them kill me,” you saw her flinch slightly at your blunt comment.

“You're not the only one he’s after,” you looked up at her.

“Why?” You questioned.

“I don’t know,” she answered. You hummed, nodding your head.

“First time you were honest with me,” you cleaned up the cards. “Goodnight, Natasha,” you took the cards and the water bottle.

“Night, kid,” her voice followed you to the room. When the door closed, you rested your back against it. Your poker face was failing. You felt the cracks. Letting out a shaky breath, you pulled back the covers and climbed in. You were surprised at how quickly you fell asleep.

Norway was beautiful. It was your first time leaving the country. You sat in the backseat of the white car with Maria in the passenger seat and Natasha was driving. You stayed quiet, playing with the charm around your neck. It was a turtle dove, a Christmas gift from Agent Cruise, who had a matching charm. You wondered if he was okay. Maria tried to make conversation asking about your likes and dislikes. You kept your answers short. Natasha drove through a dirt road through the woods and when the car emerged you saw a camper in the middle of a clearing. The driver's side window was down and you heard water. There was nothing for miles around. “It’s not much but we’ll stay safe,” Natasha said, parking the car. Maria got out and opened your door for you to get out. The wind caused goosebumps to form on your skin as you followed the couple.

The camper was simple, a couch that faced a small TV and a kitchen. Natasha walked towards the main bedroom, passing a bathroom. When she opened the bedroom door, there was a man fast asleep on top of the bed. The Black Widow hit the man on his foot, who jerked awake. “You're in our bed.”

“I’m..I’m not even under the covers,” he sat up, looking at Maria then you. “You're new. Who are you?” His voice was laced with a British accent.

“I’m not telling you,” you said, not missing the way Natasha smiled at you.

“Did you get everything on my list?” Natasha asked, walking back into the main part of the camper. You sat down on the couch as the three adults stood around the kitchen countertop.

“Got passports, entry visas, and a couple of local driver’s licenses,” he handed the couple a white envelope. “There is a generator outside. It’s petrol-powered and the septic tank will need a flush in a couple of weeks,” he spun around, leaning against the counter. He was looking at you. “You’ll have to haul your rubbish into town. It’s about a 20-minute drive,” he continued. Finally, you couldn’t help but stare at him.

“Can I help you?” You questioned. He smiled.

“No, just looking,” you rolled your eyes.

“Take a picture and it’ll last longer,” you mumbled, standing up and leaving the camper. You followed the sound of running water to a small stream. You sat on the bank and got lost in the water.

“She’s a spitfire,” Mason said, turning to face the couple. Maria picked up the envelope on the counter and hit his arm. “Ow, what was that for?” He rubbed the spot that was just hit.

“Leave her alone,” Maria said. “You're lucky I hit you and she didn’t.” Mason rolled his eyes.

“Does she know?’ He questioned. “She must, right?” Natasha walked over to the window and watched you. You were kneeling by the steam’s edge. “I mean it’s like I’m seeing double.” Mason continued.

“She does,” Natasha whispered. “Not sure how she feels about it.”

“Have you asked?” He asked, standing behind her. The Black Widow shook her head.

“She’s been through a lot. I don’t want to add more to it.”

The three of you fell into a routine. You slept on the pullout couch while Maria and Natasha were in the main bedroom. By the time the Black Widow was up for her morning run, you were up playing with the deck of cards you brought from the apartment. Maria would cook breakfast and the two Avengers spent the majority of the day doing Avenger duties, trying to help their teammates in any way. While they were doing that, you explored the surrounding woods and walked up and down the creek. When they needed to go into town, you went with them and a movie to end the night. Repeat. Repeat. And repeat. The repetition of the days wasn’t bothering you but the lack of conversation with the Black Widow was driving you insane. Maria was making an effort and you enjoyed talking and playing cards with her. Every time Maria invited Natasha but she would turn her down, coming up with a bullshit excuse. You knew what she was doing. She was building a wall between you and her. It would be fine if you didn’t catch her longing looks at you or hear Maria and Natasha fight one night when they thought you were asleep. Maria called her girlfriend out on her stand-offish behavior and Natasha claimed it was better off this way, it was only temporary.

Temporary. You were only a mission. Once the metal-armed man was dealt with you would go back home. But where was home? The only parents you knew were dead, no one spoke about Agent Cruise, and you were beginning to feel safe with the couple. Even though Natasha’s behavior was upsetting you. You wanted her to acknowledge you so were going to push her buttons.

She just got off a meeting with the other Avengers and you heard the last of it as you came back into the camper for some water. The man disappeared. There were no signs of him. Natasha sighed, closing her laptop. You stared at the Black Widow from the kitchen, finished the glass of water, and placed it on the counter. “I want to go home,” you suddenly said. Her head snapped to you, you thought she was going to give herself whiplash. “They said he’s gone so it’s safe for me to go home.”

“And where are you going to go?” She questioned. Your jaw clenched.

“Anywhere is better than here,” you mumbled, ignoring the flash of hurt across Natasha’s face and walking back outside. You heard Natasha behind you.

“You know if you go back to the States he’ll kill you,” you stopped. “That is what he’s waiting for you. He will find you and kill you.”

“Then use me as bait,” you turned to face her. “Have the Avengers stand guard, he’ll come, you’ll play hero, and we’ll go our separate ways.”

“That’s not happening,” her face was hard to read, not even you could read her eyes. She had been practicing. Shit. “Even if I thought that was a good idea, which it isn’t. You aren’t ready,” you heard a car pull up as Maria returned from a quick trip to the store. “You have no idea how to survive in this world. It will chew you up and spit you out.”

“I hate you,” you said, tears swelling in her eyes. You couldn’t help it. Natasha shook her head.

“No, you don’t. Shit poker face. Your eyes give away too much,” repeated the same thing you said to her. “Not that it’s bad, just surprising.”

“Screw you,” you snapped and ran towards the woods, ignoring Maria calling your name.

“Do I even want to know what happened?” Maria asked. Natasha put her hands on her hips and looked down at the grass.

“She wants to go home and I told her that as soon as she sets foot into the States he’ll kill her,” she sighed. “She said we could use her as bait and I may have said some other hurtful things.” Natasha heard her girlfriend sigh and walk over to her. With gentle hands, she lifted Natasha’s head to force her to look up. Green eyes stared into warm brown ones.

“Why are you pushing her away, my love?” Maria whispered, gently pushing away a tear. Natasha didn’t realize she was crying.

“This won’t last,” Natasha whispered. “Once she’s safe she’ll go back to a new family and I’ll never see her again. I can’t,” she cleared her throat. “I can’t handle growing close to her and then having her ripped away from me,” Maria brought her into a hug, cradling her head. Natasha felt her fingers run through her hair. Maria’s steady heartbeat helped the Black Widow’s heart calm down. Maria smelt like sandalwood and rain but it reminded Natasha of home. Maria stepped back, keeping her arms wrapped around her.

“But wouldn’t a little pain be worth it so you experience having her now as you’ve always dreamt about,” Maria pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. “Love her now because you have the chance to.” Natasha let out a shaky breath.

“I love you,” the Russian whispered. “I don’t think I could do this without you.” Maria kissed her softly.

“I’m not going anywhere, baby, I’m right here.”

“Kid,” you spun around to see the Black Widow behind you. You weren’t surprised she found you on a small rock near the stream’s edge. “You said you want to go home fine but I’m going to train you.”

“Train?” You questioned.

“Yes,” she crossed her arms. “Once word gets out who you are, that man won’t be the only one after you. I was right when I said you won’t survive this world so I’m going to make sure you can. I won’t always be around to save you,” she added on quickly. Her statement made your stomach drop but there was a crack in her pocket face. She was lying.

“Okay,” you whispered, instead of calling her out on it.

“Okay,” Natasha repeated. “Come on, Maria is cooking enchiladas.” You stood up, wiping the dirt off your pants, and followed the Black Widow back to the camper.

Training started the following morning. You were up when Natasha went for her run and you joined her. It's been a while since you had to use your full speed to catch up with someone. Natasha was a lot faster than your 5th-grade classmates. After you ran, it was a quick breakfast then strength training and hand-to-hand combat. Maria would stop the two of you for lunch then it was weapon training. That was your favorite. Instead of nightly movies, you spent your time watching fight sequences and going over old mission reports to enhance your battle strategy.

It has hard and back-breaking work but you loved it. It reminded you of when your dad would take you to his poker games and gave you the job of reading his opponents. No one expected a little girl to have a better poker face than a 40-year-old man. Even though Natasha was yelling orders at you, it was the closest you felt to the Black Widow. Was it the healthiest way to bond with the mother that abandoned you? No, but she and Maria were all you had. You liked the proud smile Natasha tried to hide when you did something well or Maria’s gentle hands to help clean the cuts and bruises you received from the day’s training. It was nice, you felt like a family no matter how grueling the training sessions were.

“You're holding back,” Natasha said. You were sparing with the Black Widow with Maria off to the side, watching. You were exhausted. The couple already put you through a 5-mile run and intense strength training. Natasha promised this was the last thing for the day if you managed to pin her. Easier said than done. “Come on, kid, push.”

“I’m trying,” you said, putting your hands over your head, trying to get more air in your lungs.

“When you're tired this is how you grow and learn. Now come get me,” you rushed her but Natasha grabbed your arm and threw you back to the ground. You groaned, staring up at the blue sky. “Come on get up. Do you think he’ll or anyone will let you have a break?” You huffed and stood back up. “This is how you survive. You get knocked down 100 times and you keep getting up because if you don’t you will die.” You sighed, wiping the sweat off your forehead. Think and breathe. Think and breathe. It was like a game of poker. You had to make her think you were going to do something then change your attack. Who knew your parents were training you to be an Avenger? Natasha said you were holding back so you weren’t going to. You sighed, bouncing on your toes, and sprinted towards her. She expected it since it was the same move you went for prior but when she went to grab your arm, you grabbed her and twisted it behind her back. She was quick to escape and you jumped back, creating distance between you and her. There was a smile dancing on her lips but you ignored it. You had to focus.

She made the first move and punched with her right but you blocked it with your forearm. You blocked a few of her blows and hit her a few times in the stomach. She stumbled backward and you surged forward. You grabbed one of her arms and the other went behind her neck. You turned into her, sticking your right foot into her leg, and used the momentum to fling her over your body and onto the ground. You put your knee into her chest and stared down at her. You stared at your reflection in her green eyes. You didn’t recognize the look in your blue eyes but you’ve seen it before. The man with the metal arm had the same look in his blue eyes. It scared you, seeing your eyes void of all emotions and mimicking the glare of that man. Your eyes were dark, losing the light that your parents loved so much. They were void of the color so many people envied. You were terrified of yourself.

With shaky legs, you stepped away from Natasha and Maria was already walking over. “That man who's after me, what’s his name?” You asked, trying to keep your voice from shaking. Natasha stood up and the couple had a silent conversation with one another.

“He’s called the Winter Soldier,” Maria said. “HYDRA’s deadliest assassin.” You recognized the name HYDRA, a name said in passing at one of your dad’s poker games. You looked at Natasha.

“Who is he to me?” You questioned. Her jaw clenched. “Tell me!” You demanded.

“He’s your father,” she said simply. You weren’t sure if it made it worse or better. “The Red Room decided to work along with HYDRA to create the perfect weapon,” there was a deep sadness edged in every one of her words. She looked away from you and towards the woods. Your stomach turned. You were a product of a forced relationship.

“Does he know?” Natasha shrugged.

“I don’t know,” her voice shook. “They did this horrible thing to reset him and wipe his memory. I don’t even think he remembers me,” Maria gently took her girlfriend’s hand in hers. You felt cold all of a sudden. Every one of the weird quirks that made you different now had an explanation.

“Uh okay,” you nodded your head. “I need a minute.” You turned around and walked into the camper, making a beeline for the bathroom and closing the door behind you. Your hands shook as you turned on the water and splashed water on your face. You tried to regulate your breathing; in for 5, out for 5, in for 5, and out for 5 but it wasn’t helping. Bile was rising in your throat. Did Natasha have a choice? Did they have a relationship together or was it forced? You closed the toilet seat and you sat down, your legs finally gave out.

HYDRA was a name whispered once or twice at your dad’s poker game. Your parents must have known who your biological parents were. Did they care? Did they realize the mistake they made before it was too late? You sighed, biting down on a towel and letting out a scream. You hoped the towel would muffle it.

Maria found you sitting on the couch with one of Natasha’s pistols and a timer. Like playing poker or another card game, you found that dismantling a gun and putting it back together calmed your racing mind. You glanced at the agent. “Where’s Nat?” You asked.

“Ran to the store,” you nodded. Maria sat down next to you, taking the gun from your hands. “Maybe we should talk instead of playing with a gun.”

“There is nothing to talk about,” you stared at the TV. “I mean I find out my biological mother is an Avenger and my father is a feared assassin who is trying to kill me,” you felt your throat burn as tears threatened to escape. “My adoptive parents are dead and I’m pretty sure they were the reason he found me,” you folded your hands together, squeezing them. “I finally have answers to so many questions but now I don’t want them because I feel so alone,” you sighed, angrily whipping your face. “But I’m so fucking fine.”

“Language,” she gasped. You looked at the woman and laughed at the teasing smile on her face. “I want to show you something,” she stood up and grabbed a small box next to the TV. She handed it to you. “It was part of the arrangement,” you opened the box and saw pictures of you at all stages of your life. “Natasha agreed to give you up in return she got pictures of you and was notified if you were in trouble.” Maria sighed, picking up one of the pictures. “I know it’s very hard to see but she loves you very much even if she doesn’t say it,” you closed the box, whipping away a tear that fell. “And you aren’t alone. You have us.”

“But when the mission is over, what happens to me then?” You asked.

“What do you want?” You weren’t expecting the question, not thinking you had a choice in the matter.

“I know what I want,” you answered. “But I don’t think I can have it.”

Natasha didn’t join you and Maria for dinner. She was outside, drinking from a bottle of vodka when you joined her. The only light was from the stars and the small camping light. You sat down next to her on the top of the picnic table. “Are you hungry?” You asked. “I can go get you something.” She smiled.

“Not hungry, kid, but thank you.” You nodded, watching her take another sip from the bottle.

“I’m sorry,” you told her, looking up at the stars so you couldn’t see her face. “This probably hasn’t been easy for you since I’m a constant reminder of everything. Plus I know I haven’t made it easy for you.”

“This is not your fault. I should have been honest with you from the beginning. It just,” Natasha sighed. “Hurt too much.” You nodded, that you understood. Silence fell between you and her.

“I asked Maria what was going to happen to me once the Winter Soldier situation was over. She asked what I wanted,” you looked at her. “Do you know what I want?” You asked. She shook her head. “I want to go live with you and Maria and meet the other Avengers.” The shock was evident on her face.

“Why?” She whispered.

“Because you're my mom,” you whispered back. “And I know I’ll be safe as long as I’m with you.” Natasha let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head.

“Your innocence was stolen because of all this,” she whispered, pushing some of your red hair behind your ear. “I will send out an army to find you even in the middle of the darkest nights. I will rescue you,” she whipped away a few of your tears that fell. You didn’t realize you were crying. “There is no distance that cannot be covered. I’ll be your shelter and armor. There was never a moment you were forgotten or I wasn’t thinking about you.”

“I can’t,” your voice shook. “I can’t lose any more people in my life. I think it will break me.” She pulled you into a hug and something inside you snapped. You cried. You finally cried against her.

“Sh, dorogoy (sweetheart),” Natasha whispered, rubbing soothing circles on your back. “I’m right here. I won’t go anywhere.” You heard the camper door open but you didn’t move from the Black Widow’s arms. You felt the table move as Maria sat down on your other side. Without looking you intertwined your fingers with Maria. She squeezed your hand. “We won’t leave you. We are right here.” You nodded your head against Natasha. You so wanted to believe them but there was a theme of people coming into your life and leaving. Maybe you were the problem.

“Come on, sweetheart,” Maria whispered. “Let’s go to bed. We have a long day tomorrow.” You nodded, removing yourself from Natasha. ‘Along the day,’ you thought, ‘It’s been the longest few weeks of your life. What’s one more long day?’

Part 2

#inspired by music #marvel one shot #natasha romanoff x maria hiill #Maria Hill x Natasha Romanoff #blackhill #natasha romanoff x daughter!reader #natasha romanoff x you #maria hill x you #maria hill x daughter!reader #blackhill x reader #blackhill x daughter!reader #blackhill x you #natasha romanoff x winter solider #black widow one shot #black widow fanfiction

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bi-ss · 4 months

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~ Ties that bind ~

Bucky x reader- arranged marriage.

Summary: You agreed to arrange marriage when you were little, after seeing who you are to marry. You wish you could go back.

WARNINGS: mentions of boobs lol, James trying to flirt if you squint, Sharon being a bitch, swearing..

(Spelling may be bad as I'm very dyslexic sorry in advance)

2:15. That's the time James said he'll pick you up, and he asked you to be ready. It's 2:53, and you've decided to go for a shower instead.

Slipping your hand into the shower you turn it on trying not to get wet, which you succeed in doing, you lay the shower mat on the floor and look at your self in the mirror before undressing, you step into the now steamy hot shower wetting your hair completely before grabbing your shampoo and washing the roots of your hair. You like shampooing twice before leaving in your conditioner just a smudge so your hair soft, you take a comb but just as you about to start you hear voices come from your room, which is strange as noone really comes in bar you so you were a little confused until you hear them, a deep scruffy voice then you think you hear your bed moving, Is someone laying on it? You thought, you were slowly combing the conditioner in the ends of your hair when you hear a grunt but a deep grunt, you wondered who could be bothering you as it hit you, James motherfucking Barnes. It's been a couple of days since the meeting, and you don't have a James number, but you do have natashas. You were aware that James, Sam and Steve, who ever they may be were talking about all this as Nat over heard but all she said was he were tied, you didn't really care but you do know they Sharon has moved into a spare room on almost the opposite side from the master bedroom, and that one of James few rules were that we were to sleep in the same bed ect ect...

You finish your shower, putting your hair up in a towel, drying yourself and putting on a silk robe, you smirk to yourself as you remembered the last time you saw James were when he ran in to sign a couple papers at the front door and you heard shanon call you a attention seeking where and a man stealing slut, but now here's her man on your bed, without her knowledge, you giggle and unlock the door, breathing quickly and walking out calmly.

You glance over at James and around your room, you see his black blazer hanger on your beauty chair, him laying on your bed, shoes thrown next to it, in an look black shirt and trousers look, shirt slightly unbuttoned, with a shit eating grin on his face. While you, on the other hand, were in a short red silk robe and damp hair wrapped in a black towel, you pull the towel from your head, letting your damp hair, which is slowly shrinking flow free.

James grin slowly falters as his eyes seductively graze across your wet freshly waxed legs and the little bit of cleavage showing, once back to your face he study it like a text book, "if I'd had known you were showering, I would have ran here myself" he speaking proudly like he won a race, a race he ran by himself.

You giggle, slowly making your way to one of the bed posts making sure to sway your hips a little, leaning on the post you pout slowly, "if you were here faster I wouldn't have showered here, maybe at yours but as your late" you check the clock and see its 3:35 "I had to shower here" you continue pout but you weren't sad or annoyed he was late, or he was on your bed, you were more annoyed that hw aas flirting with you becuase he has a girlfriend, you disliked Sharon but no woman should have to know her boyfriend is flirting with another girl, and that he will marry her, no no no no.

Smirking at James as you yourself off the post and walk round the bed next to James, pushing the double doors to enter your closet humming as the smell of diffrent fabrics and soft smells enter your nose, you jump slightly as you feel you large hand on your hip, looking up to see James with a shocked expression on his face. You get an idea in your head, slowly turning to the broad man behind you, grabbing his chin gently with one hand, pulling him down to look at you.

"Go on, mister you get free range" you laugh to yourself as you walk back into your main bed room almost to your bed when you look behind you, still walking, to see James even more confused still standing in the door way, getting to the side of your bed you quickly start explaining before you lose confidence. "You said you wanted to atleast look like a happy couple, so I want you to go mad and dress me" you smile happily as you slowly start sliding down on your side, praying your still atleast a little covered but it didn't take James long to smile like a teenage boy looking at boobs for the first time and disappear into your walk in closet.

Once he's gone, you breathe and wonder where your confidence came from, then you feel bad for Sharon bit then remember she called you a whole and slut multiple times so feel less bad. You grab your phone and see nat texted you 3 times, and the one you can see from your unlocked screen says 'don't feel bad' so when you unlock and see that rest you feel less bad for Sharon as her messages are about how they were fighting because bucky admitted that he'd seen you years earlier at one of your fundraising events but at that time you were dating John so he didn't introduce himself and how he knew for ages she was using him for money but she was shit at hiding it and some other stuff, you replied saying you guessed so and how it was pretty obvious.

Nat: ngl you should probably start making him fall for you

You: why?

He knows she's using him

Nat: yeah but this has happened before, she'll say sorry and how she's change she'll change for a month then slowly change back.

You: oml why don't they don't break up

Like srsly it's kinda embarrassing

Nat: I've been by his side for almost 20 years, they have been together for 3 and at first she was a darling but money changes people

Also, he really loved the person she was and still thinks she's in there

Love does weird shit to us, man

You: fairs, he's picking out an outfit for me rn so I'll see 😛

What do I do just kiss him or something? I've never had to really try it. It's easy when they are already swooning

Nat: I guess, make him feel love for the rest of his life. I doubt he'll let you go

And I'll make sure of it x

You: sound

OK Nat, we met a couple of days ago, lol

Nat did send you another text, but you were by James calling your name while smiling proudly again, throwing your phone on the bed, getting up to see what he's layed out for you, walking past him you see a all black suit with some heels you turn to him nodding with a pleased expression "you did good James, but now I will be changing and you haven't gotten to the stage yet" you wink as you closed the doors but you still see the annoyed just playful gace he pulled, you turn to the suit and pick it up, seeing one of your favourite black lace lingerie sets underneath, you should be upset that he went to fair but you just giggle and started getting dressed and doing very light makeup. Once mascara, lip liner, and lip gloss were applied, you reopened the doors to see his amused, then blank expression, you walk out with your jacket folded over your arm and your shirt undone all the way to expose your bra which for being lingerie with quite covering for the most part, you smile, picking up the bag you had earlier and open your doors making your way to the front hall to where your stuff is to see all of it was gone and with James closely behind you, walking outside to the now only blacked out car there, which wasn't your fathers.

James rushed ahead to open the door for you, climbing in and you watched him walk round and open his door, your bag at your feet with your door closed and seat belt on you were ready, you knew you'd come back home sooner then later so if wasn't emotional.

"James stop staring at my boobs and driving" rolling you eyes as he starts the door and slowly pulling out, you hope it's an short ride that's not to awkward, so you look out the window as the trees go by.

TAGS: @learis @unaxv @cjand10 @pattiemac1 @coffee-winter-and-silence @scott-loki-barnes

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mjolnirswriststrap · 7 months

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Mjolnir’s Masterlist

🐻=fluff 🔪=angst 💚=smut 18+ ✔️=finished

Bucky Barnes

• Love In The Dark 🔪✔️

• Texture 💚✔️

• Scared 🔪💚✔️

• Silver Bullet 🔪💚

-Pt. One

• You’re The Reason I Smoke 🔪✔️

-Pt. One, Two

• Trying To Derail My One Track Mind 🔪💚✔️

-Pt. One, Two

• Haunted 🐻🔪

-Pt. One, Two, Three, Four, Five

• Christmas Countdown Request 🐻✔️

• It Was Never Gonna Happen, Doll | X-Men Au 🐻🔪💚 (coming soon)

Natasha Romanoff

• Executioner | Renaissance AU 💚✔️

Yelena Belova

• Pickpocket 🐻✔️

Clint Barton

• Christmas Countdown Request 🐻✔️

Multicharacter

• I Know You Liked It Steve/Loki🔪💚 ✔️

• Not My Type Part 2 Bucky/Steve 🔪✔️

Aegon Targaryen II

• Aegon’s Shadow 🐻🔪 (on hold)

-Ch. One, Two, Three, Four

Daemon Targaryen

• Christmas Countdown Request 🔪✔️

• Christmas Countdown Request 🐻 ✔️

Logan Howlett

• It Was Never Gonna Happen, Doll 🐻🔪💚 (coming soon)

Homelander

• Super Hearing ✔️

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kahuunknown · 8 months

Text

Fate is a strange thing - MCU Bucky Barnes fanfic

!NOTE!: ABO universe/themes, inspiration from MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE franchise, Bucky Barnes x OC (Theo) male character x potentially others

~~~

Theo sighed for the hundredth time that day, they were out in public and Bucky had the balls to expose their relationship by burying that nose of his against Theo’s scent gland, the sun had long since fallen and people scattered back into their homes, but that didn’t mean no one was watching. Theo gives the cheeky Alpha a brief glare while pushing his face away, but Bucky only responds to him with the characteristic ‘charming’ smile, the very same one which usually wooed all the ladies near his person. However, Theo was not only a man, but he was more than used to Bucky’s flirtatious methods and clingy attachment to his person.

And it was all for good reason. Bucky knew since the day he met Theo when they were kids, that this man with the honey golden eyes littered with orange specks (an eye colour unique to Theo alone), with the smell just shy of the typical overbearing sweetness of an Omega, and a heart of gold behind a frankly transparent uncaring attitude- this boy needed to be his in any way that was possible. It didn’t matter that the both of the were men, but it was a difficult secret to hide from the rest of the world.

“Focus.” Theo reminds, snapping Bucky from his lovestruck expression and earning a nod, still adorning that charming smile on the sergeant’s face.

Coming to an abbrupt stop, Theo scrunches his nose a little, a sharp inhale following as a particular scent invaded Theo’s rather sensitive nose, he looked to his partner and gave Bucky a knowing look.

“Let me guess…Steve?” Bucky sighs, the smile finally leaving his face at the thought of the troublesome Alpha-dud. “That guy, I swear.” Bucky grumbles, “Lead the way.”

Theo rolled his eyes at Bucky’s change of attitude, but followed his sensitive Omega nose down a few streets and to the right- into a dark alleyway. Bucky instinctually moved in front of Theo in an attempt to protect him and make him feel secure and safe, but it didn’t have much of an affect when Theo himself was of the same muscle mass, though he appreciated the effort despite being the tallest between the two. Though in saying that, the hidden claiming mark between his shoulder blades throbbed at Bucky’s action in a lower purr.

He’d be able to fight just as well as Bucky, but a small smile still grew on his face at the funny Alpha’s move to protect him. It was a nice thought, Theo supposed.

“You just don’t know when to give up, do you?” An unknown voice chimed, confidence radiating from his words alone. He was no doubt an arrogant drunk Alpha just by the man’s tone, yet alone the disgusting smell of his drunk scent.

“I can do this all day.” Steve mutters, taking another solid hit to the face as the stranger attacks him.

“Hey! Pick on someone your own size.” Bucky voices, standing tall and proud, the embodiment of an Alpha.

The stranger clicks his tongue in aggravation, forgetting Steve in seconds to instead swing his fist toward Bucky. Bucky however, twists the man around skilfully before kicking him to the ground and motioning for the now frightened drunk to leave.

He does so without a moment’s hesitation, earning a low chuckle from Theo.

Theo then quickly approaches Steve’s side in seconds, fingers delicately brushing against Steve’s wounded and bruised face, Theo frowns at the damage, a saddened sigh leaving his lips. Steve glanced away, ashamed of being the cause to the disappointed sigh, much less from his packmates (even if not technically true, Bucky and Theo made it abundantly clear that the dud was stuck with them).

“Sometimes, I think you like getting punched.” Bucky comments, swinging his arm over Steve’s shoulder.

“I had him on the ropes.” Steve states with confidence, holding his head high. Moving away from Steve, Bucky picks up a discarded parchment from the cold and wet concrete of the alley. It was an enlistment form.

“How many times is this?” Bucky questions, raising an eyebrow. He then reads over the paper in his hands, snorting at the information. “Oh, you’re from Paramus now? You know it’s illegal to lie on the enlistment form.” Bucky rambles with a sigh.

“And seriously, Jersey?” Theo adds, a frown on his face.

“You two get your orders?” Steve changes the subject, looking at both their uniforms.

“The one-o-seventh. Sergeant James Barnes and Medical Officer Theo King. Shipping out for England first thing tomorrow.” Bucky chimed with a grin, pulling Theo back to his side, in-between Steve and himself. Steve gave them a tight smile, they looked so perfect and happy, ready to serve their country in war.

“I should be going.” Steve grumbles.

Bucky shakes his head, “Come on, man. It’s our last night! Gotta get you cleaned up.”

“Why? Where are we going?” Steve asks, confusion on his face.

“The future.” Bucky answers, handing Steve a newspaper article, on it is the ad for the World Exposition Of Tomorrow.

“Come on, Stevie. Let’s get you cleaned up back at the nest.” Theo suggested, a rare but charming smile of his own on display for the dud.

The ‘nest’ as Theo called it was more like an assortment of blanket’s and pillows on the ground, two thin-cheap mattresses underneath. All Omega’s have a nest, it brings them comfort and security as it’s their most sacred place. It’s where they raise their pups. But for this rag-tag group, it works just fine as a regular bed to sleep in.

Although it smelt mostly of subtle Theo’s Vanilla bean scent, there was still the faint smell of Bucky’s cinnamon as well. Steve often found himself wondering what his own scent would of smelt like if he wasn’t an Alpha-dud. Strong and powerful? Seductive and safe like leather? Or warm and calm, like apple pie?

Dressing Steve up, Bucky didn’t waste time in grabbing the two and dragging them all the way to the Stark Expo. The child-like wonder Bucky had on his face had Theo show that small smile again, Steve however just looked uncomfortable. Most people weren’t as accepting of duds as Theo and Bucky were, to some they smelt rotten and to others it was a curse.

Theo gave the odd Alpha a reassuring smile, placing an arm around his shoulder and pulling the small man to his side. Bucky smiled at the two as he returned from the food vendor with a carton of popcorn.

“Shall we?” Bucky inquired with an excited glint in his eyes as he led the two toward the Expo’s stage.

Music began playing as the stage lights up, an Announcer introduces the show with an unnatural energy in his voice. He seemed a little fed up with introducing the same show over and over.

“Welcome to the Modern Marvels Pavilion and the World of Tomorrow. A greater world. A better world.”

Bouncing on the balls of his feet, Steve felt himself being pushed backwards as the crowd squeezed themselves closer to the stage with excitement and uncaring for those around them. However, without warning the sudden pressure was gone and Theo draped his arms over Steve’s shoulders, looking up at the stage with a similar excitement in his unique almost electric blue orbs.

Steve let out a small breath of relief as Theo shuffled him to stand at the front, sacrificing his own body to be on the receiving end of all the pushes and shoves.

Most would probably just assume Theo was an Alpha anyway, all the mixing of scents made it incredibly hard to identify anyone’s sub-gender- Theo’s unusual body build just made stranger’s have a harder time trying to categorise him. Besides, Theo’s scent was so subtle that it was only if your nose was against his skin, that you could detect that addicting smell identifying him as Omega. Though of course, Bucky was incredibly sensitive to Theo’s smell as his Alpha- a connection Steve would never understand as a dud.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Howard Stark!” A woman cheers, ushering the famous Stark onto the stage. Howard enters with a wide obnoxious smile, kissing the female announcer before pushing her away. Very old-school Alpha.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, what if I told you that in just a few short years, your automobile won’t even have to touch the ground at all.” Howard inquires, and a few female Beta’s wearing velvet blue, red and white American coloured dresses help take the wheels from a car on stage.

“Yes. Thanks, Ladies.” Howard tips his head at the lady helpers, “With Stark robotic reversion technology, you’ll be able to do just that.” He turns on the switch to his machine and the car starts to magically hover off the ground. Everyone is silent and wide-eyed at the display.

“Holy cow.” Bucky murmurs in amazement.

Without warning the mechanisms holding the car in the air start to malfunction and the car falls back onto the stage.

“I did say a few years, didn’t I?” Howard chuckles, the crowd laughs.

“Hey, Steve, what do you say we…” Bucky pauses as he sees the empty space in front of Theo. Theo follows his gaze, a surprised expression on his face as he realises Steve managed to slip from Theo’s arms without him noticing.

Looking around, the two of them push against the flow of the crowd in order to reach the recruitment/ enlisting office, where no doubt Steve had wandered off to. Theo’s keen sense of smell only confirmed their suspicions as they escaped from the large crowd, making it easier to track that almost rotten scent of Steve’s.

With their uniforms still on, Bucky and Theo received a few head nods and smiles as they moved around the recruitment centre with ease. Bucky sighed as he saw Steve standing on the height measurement scale. Standing in front of a mirror but he’s far too short to fill out the body projected.

“Come on.” Bucky ushered, guiding Steve toward the exit of the centre. “You’re kind of missing the point of a pack activity. We were going to go dancing.”

Steve shakes his head, “You two go ahead. I’ll catch up with you.” Steve states, his eyes drifting back to the centre.

“You’re really gonna do this again?” Bucky sighed.

“Well, it’s a fair. I’m gonna try my luck.” Steve shrugs.

“As who?” Bucky lightly snaps, “Steve from Ohio? They’ll catch you. Or worse, they’ll actually take you.” Bucky ends, his voice softening as Steve’s eyes drift to the ground.

“Look, I know you two don’t think I can do this.” Steve states, his quiet voice cracking slightly.

“This isn’t a back alley, Steve.” Theo adds, his eyes sympathetic.

“It war!” Bucky corrects.

“I know it’s a war. You don’t have to tell me.” Steve states.

“Why are you so keen to fight? There are so many important jobs.” Bucky inquires, raising an accusing eyebrow.

“What am I gonna do? Collect scrap metal…” Steve trails off.

“Yes!” Bucky exclaims, throwing his hands in the air. His frustration was beginning to effect the strangers around him as he unknowingly was emitting his scent in strong waves- trying to get Steve to submit to his ideals.

“…in my little red wagon.” Steve finishes his sentence.

“Why not?” Bucky asks, worry in his expression.

“I’m not gonna sit in a factory, Bucky.” Steve mumbles.

“I don’t…” Bucky trails off as Theo gives his shoulder a squeeze, Bucky looks around him, noticing the wary strangers walking around their small pack. He sighs, reaching up to squeeze Theo’s hand in reassurance. Calming him also in the process, his scent thinning out.

“Buck, come on!” Steve pleads, “There are men laying down their lives. I got no right to do any less than them. That’s what you don’t understand. This isn’t about me.” Steve states with strong conviction. A sad smile makes its way onto Theo’s face.

“Right. Cause you got nothing to prove.” Bucky mumbles.

“Come on, Sarge. Aren’t we going dancing?” Theo voices, giving a nod to Steve. Steve’s eyes widen in surprise at Theo’s sudden change of thought, he returns the nod discretely while Bucky looks Theo’s way.

“Yeah, yeah.” Bucky rolls his eyes, “Don't do anything stupid until we get back.” Bucky orders Steve.

Steve grins, “How can I? You’re taking all the stupid with you.”

“You’re a punk.” Bucky states shaking his head, leading himself and Theo away from the centre.

“Jerk.” Steve mutters, “Be careful. Don’t win the war till I get there!” He calls out to them. Theo looks back at Steve, waving him off, Steve rolls his eyes returning to the recruitment centre’s entrance.

“Sounds like they’re playing our song.” Bucky comments with a cheeky smile. Theo hits his shoulder lightly.

“You say that all the time.” Theo retorts, pressing his lips to Bucky’s before the Alpha could respond. Bucky smiled into the kiss, rocking them side-to-side as the music guided his steps. Lost in a little corner of the dancing hall, away from prying eyes.

“You know…” Bucky starts, “I’m beginning to think you’re not on my side anymore.”

Theo hums, allowing the Alpha to finally dig his nose against Theo’s neck and draw in as much of that vanilla scent as the sergeant wanted.

“I’m sorry…” Theo trailed off, “I know it’s a bad idea- it’s just…”

Bucky pulls away, a concerned expression littering his face, “What? What is it?”

Theo shakes his head, “I know it sounds crazy, but- I swore I saw Sarah right besides him.”

Bucky blinks at the unexpected answer before chuckling, “You are crazy.”

Theo scowls playfully, “Careful choosing your next words, Barnes, I’m not above giving you a concussion.”

Bucky hums, hugging the tall Omega even closer to his person, “That must make me even crazier for loving you.”

Blinking his eyes sluggishly open, Theo groaned at the throbbing of his skull, trying to rub his forehead which seemed to be the source of his irritation. However, his arms did nothing of the sort- instead it sent Theo into panic as he took in his surroundings. Arm and legs strapped to a metal table, Theo’s memory snapped into place as he remembered the mission his squadron was sent on.

“Awake, I see?” A voice chimed. “You know, I’ve never come across someone an Omega as extraordinary as you. You’re quite the anomaly.”

Theo’s head snapped toward the direction the voice emitted from and he glared at the short Beta speaking to him. “Let me out of here!” Theo hissed, pulling at the restrains tying him down.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. You’re far too intriguing for me to simply throw away.” The Dr. stated, “For whatever reason, you were born bigger and stronger than the average Omega. Thankfully for me- it means you are far more resistant than all the others. Your body has already accepted the serum-“

“Where’s Bucky?!” Theo interrupted.

The Dr. hummed, “Sergeant Barnes. Your Alpha?” Zola inquired. Theo snarled at the short man.

“If you hurt a hair on his head-“

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’.” Zola stated, adding to the notebook in his hands.

“Sedate him. Let’s move him to the main lab, there seems to be something else inside him which-“ An explosion goes off, shaking the building and Zola cuts himself short before pressing his lips together. “Get him out of here. Evacuate him now. I need him.”

“Did it hurt?” Bucky voices randomly, stumbling behind Steve on his own. Slowly regaining his consciousness, but his focus was mainly on the fact Steve was so damn tall all of a sudden, and smelling like apple pie.

“A little.” Steve shrugged, looking down the hallway and checking the coast.

“Is it permanent?” Bucky asks.

“So far.” Steve answers, motioning for Bucky to follow.

At the sight of Zola, Bucky growls, unable to stop himself as rage filled his person. “Where is he?” He yells.

Zola gives him a crooked smirk, “Alive.” Was all he said.

“Captain America! How Exciting! I’m a great fan of your films. So Dr. Erskine managed it after all. Not exactly an improvement, but still impressive.” Johann rants, head of Hydra.

Steve punches him in the face without hesitation. “You’ve got no idea”

“Haven’t I?” Johann leaps forward, aiming a punch at Steve but the Captain protects himself with his shield. As they fight, Zola pulls a leaver and the catwalk they are standing on retracts to either side, separating them both.

“No matter what lies Erskine told you, you see I was his greatest success!” Johann exclaims, peeling off the skin on his face to reveal that he is the Red Skull.

“You don’t have one of those, do you?” Bucky asks quietly.

“You are deluded, Captain. You pretend to be a simple soldier, but in reality you are just afraid to admit that we have left humanity behind. Unlike you, I embrace it proudly. Without fear!” The Red Skull states, stepping into an elevator with Zola at his side.

Despite Johann’s words, one major difference between them was Steve’s Apple Pie scent. The Red Skull smelt like nothing. He was no longer an Alpha. He indeed, like he said, had left his humanity behind.

“Then how come you’re running?” Steve argues as the elevator door closes. Sighing, the Captain directs Bucky to the stairs, “Come on, let’s go. Up.”

Steve and Bucky find a beam that’d get them to the other side of the Hydra base, toward the way out. If they want to escape, they had no other option but to cross.

“Let’s go. One at a time.” Steve advises, letting Bucky go first. Bucky reaches the other side but the metal beam collapses afterward, leaving Steve stranded.

“Gotta be a rope or something!” Bucky yells to Steve over the sound of the roaring fire of explosions beneath them.

“Just go! Get out of here!” Steve shouts back.

“No! Not without you!” Bucky states, and Steve sprints to the edge, jumping over the chasm of flames.

Returning to camp, cheers surrounded the survivors of the one-o-seven. It should be a time to celebrate, and for Steve’s sake it definitely was, but Bucky could only hope he’d be able to return Steve’s smile when he faced him next, despite how fake it would be.

But when Steve did, when Steve turned his head to his side, looking down at the now shorter Alpha- his smile vanished in seconds. Bucky had lost Theo, obviously there was still hope for the Omega. He was alive, Zola had said so himself. But what did that mean? What did that mean for Theo?

Bucky’s expression was dull, he looked like he barely had a will to continue. Bucky’s bright blue eyes, Theo often described them as diamonds- had shattered, they were now a shadowed grey, lifeless.

Steve felt conflicted. As a Alpha-dud, his pack was with Bucky and Theo. Normally he’s consider Theo his Omega as well, but with his sudden development into an Alpha- Steve felt that Peggy was now his Omega, his pack.

Although he never claimed Theo, the Omega’s neck still had Bucky’s bite. They had a connection Steve never understood. They could read each other and speak without words. Even feel each other’s pain to an extent.

Steve didn’t know what to do, Bucky would never return to his previous self unless they found Theo alive and returned to the camp, Steve had heard of stories about Alpha who’d lost their counterpart- none of them ended well.

Steve joins Bucky at the bar counter, the background was filled with everyone’s singing of joy. Bucky however looked like death himself, skin pale and with more than his usual stack of alcoholic beverages in front of him.

“See?” Bucky slurred, a smile on his face as he looked at Steve. But it didn’t reach his eyes. “I told you. They’re all idiots.”

“How about you?” Steve asked softly, still not used to acting or behaving like an Alpha. “You ready to follow Captain America into the jaws of death?”

Bucky snorts as he chugs another glass empty. “Hell no. That little guy from Brooklyn who was too dumb to run away from a fight. I’m following him.” Bucky stated, leaning heavily against the table top. “But you’re keeping the outfit, right?”

“You know what? It’s kind of growing on me.” Steve replies.

The singing in the bar stops as Peggy rounds the bar in a tight fitting, deep-red dress heading straight toward Steve. Both Steve and Bucky stand up in acknowledgement.

“Captain.” Peggy greets, Bucky sniffles his nose at her scent. After bonding with Theo, all the other Omega’s smelt too sweet or not sweet enough.

“Agent Carter.” Steve responds with a small smile.

“Ma’am.” Bucky nods.

“Howard has some equipment for you to try. Tomorrow morning?” Peggy suggests.

“Sounds good.” Steve agrees.

“I see your top squad is prepping for duty.” Peggy comments, looking over briefly at the drunk group of men singing to their hearts content. She frowns a little.

“You don’t like music?” Bucky voices.

“I do, actually. I might even when this is all over, go dancing.” She shrugs.

“Then what are you waiting for?” Bucky snorts turning back to face the bar.

“The right partner.” Carter answers without hesitation. “0800, Captain.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be there.” Steve nods, waving goodbye as the agent walked off. Bucky grumbled under his breath as the agent left.

“We’re not going to give up, Buck. We’ll find him.” Steve promised

“You are failing!” The Red Skull screamed in Zola’s face, his expression was of nothing but pure rage. Practically roaring at the scientist with unhinged emotion.

Captain America and the Howling Commando’s had destroyed many of Hydra’s bases. Fuelled by winning the war and finding their lost Omega friend.

“We are close to an offensive network that will shake the plant. And yet we are continually delayed, because you cannot outwit a simpleton with a shield!” Red Skull growls. And Zola’s short stature shrunk even further at the intimidating and threatening stance the Red skull was loaming over him with.

“This is hardly my area of expertise. I… I merely develop the weapons. I… I cannot fire them.” Zola explains quickly, looking for any excuse to save his life and the continuation of his beloved work/ experimentations.

“And your experiment, Doctor? What of the Omega?” Johann asks.

“It will take more time. But I believe he’ll be a great asset.” Zola assures. “I haven’t an answer yet, but his blood has fused with some sort of power source, something that he looks to have been born with. I believe I can harness that power, given more time. Something is obstructing its full release and capabilities-”

Johann interrupts with a sigh, “Finish your mission, Doctor. Before the American finishes his. And make sure your little experiment is safe from his hands. Move the Omega to our more… secluded bases of operation.”

“Yes, sir.” Zola bows, glee in his eyes at the thought of his most upcoming experiment.

1953.

“Wake him.” The head doctor and scientist of Hydra orders, “The soldier’s having another fit.”

A low hissing noise fills the room as the ice-cold chamber melts in seconds, releasing a wave of steam into the room which blinded the group of anxious scientists for mere moments before exposing the resting form waiting within.

“Asset?” The doctor calls, standing a clear distance from the cylinder.

Not a second later and a black combat boot slams onto the ground, hands at the edge of the cyro-freezing chamber for support.

“Ready to comply.” The monotone voice of Theo whisks into the air, sending shivers down the doctor’s spines, Alpha or not- He was intimidating, that was a fact. The Alpha’s in the room stared at him wide-eyed, he was not the typical Omega at all. There was no doubt in their minds why he was paired with the Winter Soldier.

He was tall for an Omega; taller than most Beta’s and even Alpha’s- his height grew more as the serum began it’s work. Moving him from barely 5’10, to 6 foot. His body was fit, muscles spread across his entire body from years of training and discipline.

A quite apparent/obvious change in the Omega however was his hair, what was once midnight black strands of hair are now as white as freshly fallen snow. His electric honey golden eyes now a unnaturally glowing orange.

A blood red tattoo was branded onto the side of his neck, the symbol Hydra had also printed onto the Soldier’s metal arm. On the Asset’s neck was the recognisable red star of their cause, large and covering the majority of skin like a virus.

The head scientist nodded to the few soldiers’ in the room, and they wordlessly pulled Theo’s arms in front him and placed reinforced cuffs around his wrists. Without warning the shoved him forward, he stumbled just very slightly, easily able to catch himself and shift to walking in any direction they wished for him to go.

The walk was mostly a silent one, but everyone was rigid and tense with anticipation. While the Omega was restrained, he could, if he so wished, overpower many of the soldiers escorting him- even with the inhibitors restricting that uncontrolled power of his. Something which years ago, the Red Skull was becoming obsessed in finding the true source of.

Opening the door, random to the many lining the hallway, there inside was an empty confined room, the Asset was directed to a chair. Which he obediently took a seat upon, and as instructed- he simply waited. The mixture of doctor’s, scientist’s and soldiers hurriedly left the room, and Theo was left with his arms still stuck together in front of him by those specialised cuffs as the room delved into a darkness at the slamming of the cell door.

But he didn’t have to wait very long before loud shouts, orders and shuffled movement filled the end of the hall before approaching closer and closer with the sound of a struggle, then a body was thrown into the room, tossed harshly to the concrete before Theo’s feet as the door slamming after this stranger.

The man looked wild, his eyes flickering all over the place and his hair matted due to lack of grooming. His eyes pierced Theo’s causing his body to freeze in alert, but at the simple smell of Theo’s scent, the Soldier approached the cuffed Omega more confidently- more needy.

The soldier buried his nose to the Omega’s neck, finding the vanilla scent addictive, familiar and safe, despite missing all the memories associated with this person. The Asset’s eyes remained staring ahead, unfocused and dull like a robot. His posture was slumped and mouldable as the Soldier roughly pushed his head to the side, trying to gain as much access as possible to the gland before biting down on it.

Orange orbs narrowed at the pain and flickered over to meet the Alpha’s, earning a low growl from him. The soldier was animalistic, practically drooling as he sucked desperately at the taste of vanilla, it acted as a sort of medicine and calming agent.

The serum had increased the Soldier’s height as well, from 5’10 to 6 foot 2. His build overall was a lot bigger and more combat ready than the Asset’s muscular but lean one. Even with the enhancement of his body, Theo’s Omega genes still made his bones more brittle, light and fragile- physically stronger than an average Alpha but weaker than someone like the Soldier, especially when the Alpha had the aid of a vibranium man.

The Soldier’s metal fingers tightened their hold on Theo’s head of white hair, warning the Omega to back down; Theo reluctantly shifted his gaze back to the wall behind the Alpha.

Pulling at the Asset’s like a rag doll, the Soldier knocked over the wooden chair and dragged the Omega onto the concrete floor before shifting his body over Theo’s, trapping him to the ground.

The Asset couldn’t do anything to move, his hands were restrained and his legs were stuck on either side of the Alpha’s waist, he couldn’t kick the Soldier even if he wanted to. A low purring-like sound left the Alpha’s lips as he rested his ear against Theo’s chest, listening to the relaxing sound of the Omega’s steady and slow heartbeat.

He was stuck there for an hour before the Hydra soldiers waiting outside deemed it safe enough to quickly shoot a sedative at the Winter Soldier and remove the Alpha from the cell and back to his cyro-chamber.

Men rushed into the room upon noting the Soldier had been lured into deep and rare rest, most likely he’d be dragged first to the brainwashing chair the Asset knew all too well.

Theo was then hauled to his feet and ushered back into the Doctors lab. He was told to lie against the metal table, and without hesitation, Theo did as told. Robotically slipping onto the table and allowing his cuffs to be removed cautiously, before immediately being replaced with the inbuilt restraints into the table itself.

All precautionary, as Theo would guess he’d lashed out in the past, though he couldn’t recall ever doing so thanks to that memory-wiping chair.

The Doctor shuffled through his notebook and lab report before addressing the additional staff, they carefully cut away at the replaceable Hydra uniform Theo was wearing. Pulling the thin shirt from his body, the staff examined the long cut running down the lower half of Theo’s stomach.

“Good. No issues with healing the incision.” The head doctor commented. “Asset. We have a mission for you.”

2014.

The white-haired assassin fiddled with the familiar cuffs around his wrists, flexing his hands open and closed mindlessly. The Hydra agents seated around in in the van watched him warily as he become more impatient. Theo’s orange orbs flickering lowly around the van as it drove at high speeds, dodging and weaving traffic at the command for reinforcement, Theo was careful not to meet anyone’s eyes, that’d only result in punishment for displaying rebellious tendencies.

Skidding to a very fast stop, one of the many Hydra agents wearing a fake SWAT uniform comes to stand in front of the Asset, he fumbles hurriedly with a small electronic key before unlocking the assassin’s cuffs with a quick scan. The inhibitors were deactivated.

The Asset stands without hesitation and follows the agents out of the back of the van as it’s doors are kicked open, his mask was locked tightly into place and couldn’t be taken off without a similar mechanism to the electronic key that had previously been used by that Hydra agent earlier. It kept the Asset’s identity hidden from people that could identify him as Theo King. But it’s true use was as a muzzle, keeping the Asset from lashing out when they tested on him. Keeping his mouth shut until they wanted otherwise.

Marching up to the black government issued SUV, reinforced no doubt as it was littered with unsuccessful shots at the windows. Nick Fury glanced out the window in fright as the Asset’s form marched closer to his window, quickly he slid over to the passenger’s seat. He was expecting a battering ram. Not some juiced up mercenary with hauntingly orange glowing eyes.

The Assassin pulled his fist back-

“Warning! Window integrity compromised.” Fury’s car system warned, red lights flashing all over the place.

Theo’s forearm erupted into black flame and smoke, which soon died to reveal blackened skin and claw-like nails- it was something demonic looking for sure.

The window shatters as a fist meets it, but it doesn’t brake. Fury looks at the white-haired male with surprise and horror. He had no idea of what he was. But he needed to know who he was. No normal human could smash a reinforced SHEILD SUV with just their fists.

“You think?” Fury panic’s, “How long to propulsion?” He inquires the AI.

“Calculating-“ Another hit to the window, “Window integrity thirty-one percent. Deploying countermeasures-“

“Hold that order!” Fury quickly interrupts. Another hit to the window.

“Window integrity nineteen percent. Offensive measures advised-“

“Wait!” Fury growls. Another hit.

“Window integrity one percent.”

“Now!” Fury orders and without delay a small mini-gun pulls up from the inside of the car and Fury wastes no time using it to return fire on the mercenaries.

The Asset shields his face with his arms. Bullets ripped through the skin on his arms, but never got past the bulletproof armour he had covering his chest. The force of the attack sent him to the ground and by the time the bullets were pushed from his arms as his skin healed- the target was racing away in his car.

“Target on the move.” One of the surviving agents said, speaking into the device on his wrist. “Moving Asset to the Soldier’s location.”

The agent waved over a passing Hydra van, and the Asset took himself a seat. Skin regaining it’s naturally pale tone, it revealed Theo’s arms coated in blood, but incredibly the wounds were already halfway through its healing process.

When the van came to its stop, the doors were opened and Theo jumped from the vehicle, landing effortlessly on the road just as the Soldier detonated the remote explosive he’d shot underneath the target’s SUV.

Fury’s vision was blurry as he recomposed himself, he glanced at his attackers, eyes wide at the new masked threat. And he was shocked to see the white-haired male still alive at all and without indicating pain or injury.

Unclipping his pistol from his belt, the Asset stayed back while the Soldier approached the vehicle, ready for any surprise escape attempts on foot.

Trapped inside his upside down car, Fury watches as the mysterious new threat walked slowly toward him, reloading his gun as he did so. Fury however manages to escape just in time by using a pencil-sized laser to burn open a sewage entrance.

The Soldier rips the damaged door off its hinges with his metal arm, there is however no one inside, prompting him to clip his weapon back into place and return to the Asset’s side as they waited for a pick up.

Not a second later and the same van Theo was on previously pulled up to a stop and the back doors swung open for both of them.

The Asset was promptly ushered back into the van, the Soldier pushing him forward with a hand at the back of his neck. The Asset glared back at the Soldier and his small display of dominance. Entering the van and taking a seat, Theo’s hands were quickly cuffed once more (inhibitors activated) before returning to base.

Mission was a failure.

At his home Alexander Pierce goes to his kitchen, and opens his fridge to pull out a carton of milk. He pauses as he sees the Winter Soldier seated at his table, just barely visible within the shadows, a gun however was very visible as the light shined and reflected off of it, the Soldier pulls it out as Pierce’s Housekeeper calls out to him from the other side of the wall.

“I’m going to go, Mr. Pierce. You need anything before I leave?” She calls out.

“No. Uh…” Pierce pauses as from behind the Solder, and Theo comes into view. “…it’s fine, Renata, you can go home.” He replies.

“Okay, night-night.” She calls in farewell.

“Good night.” Pierce responds, his eyes never leaving the two in front of him. “Want some milk?” He offers as Renata closes the door behind her. The Soldier doesn’t reply, and Pierce certainly doesn’t expect the Asset to either. His mask-like muzzle restricted him physically from saying a word.

“The timetable has moved. Our window is limited. Two targets, Level Six” Piece picks up his glass of milk and joins the Soldier at the table. He stills slightly as he sniffs the air, “Seems like your suppressants are fading, Omega.” Pierce hums, a smile on his face as he shifts his gaze to the Asset. Pierce could feel his inner Alpha groan at the smell and he'll admit that he had a struggle to remain composed in front of the two assassin’s. Theo’s sweet scent of vanilla bean, typically you’d never think to use suppressants on an Omega. It can become incredibly damaging to the body. But it didn’t take long for Doctor’s and Hydra agents alike to realise the serum had altered the smell of his scent.

Zola theorised that because Theo’s body had been changed further, more masculine and Alpha, overall less Omega- his hormones were trying to counteract the imbalance by making his scent more potent. It got to the point where Hydra had no choice but to place the Omega on suppressants in order to stop other Alpha’s from trying to breed with him.

Technically his scent shouldn’t even be as strong as a normal Omega, because he bonded with Bucky. He has an Alpha, so his body no longer has the need to try ‘seduce’ other Alpha’s.

Yet something in the serum made his inner Omega feel un-bonded, the scent was a problem even for mated/ bonded Alpha’s whom should be repulsed by the smell of another Omega- yet this again was not the case.

While on suppressants, only the Soldier was able to still smell Theo’s scent. And that again, was just because they were bonded. Hydra used it to their advantage of course, when either the Asset or Soldier became unstable- it was a simple as putting the two together in the same space.

Swallowing his mouthful of milk, Pierce continued, “They already cost me Zola. I want a confirmed death in ten hours-“ Renata (the housekeeper) walks back into the room, cutting Pierce off.

“Sorry, Mr. Pierce, I… I forgot my phone.” She stammers noticing the two figures in the dark.

Pierce clicks his tongue in annoyance, “Oh, Renata. I wish you would have knocked.” He grumbles, picking up the gun the Winter Soldier had placed on the table and shooting at her without hesitation, killing her in seconds with an experience shot centre of her head.

“Get him some suppressants immediately and be on your way.” Pierce orders the Soldier, Winter nods his head, standing up and disappearing without a trace, Theo following his example.

Reaching HQ, the Hydra agents had a hard time separating the Soldier from the Asset, Winter was snarling, growling and snapping at those that got too close. Theo kept his gaze to the ground, letting the agents drag the Soldier away, much to Theo’s regret as every instinct in his body is screaming at him to stay by the Soldier’s side.

The Asset returned to the Lab, his usual destination within Hydra as the Doctor injects a large dose of suppressants, distributing the shots around Theo’s body. Before examining his body once over before the mission early tomorrow morning.

Inside a bank vault, many Hydra agents move around the chair the Soldier is confined to, fixing his broken arm. The Soldier looks in front of him, eyes blank, mind empty.

“Sir, he’s… he’s unstable. Erratic.” A Hydra scientist warns Pierce as he storms into the bank vault. Rumlow is by his side as they make their way in front of the dazed Winter Soldier.

“Mission report.” Pierce demands. “Mission report, now.” He repeats, a frustrated sigh leaves mouth as the Soldier remains stubbornly silent. Something was obviously plaguing the weapon.

“Where’s the Omega?” Pierce growls, eyes looking around him and daring someone to speak.

“The Asset is still under- it takes time for his body to adjust to the suppressants.” One of the scientists answer.

Pierce growls at the answer, it meant harder control over the Soldier when he became like this.

“The man on the bridge… Who was he?” The Soldier voices, catching Pierce’s attention.

“You met him earlier this week on another assignment.” Pierce answers quickly.

“I knew him.” Winter mumbles.

“Your work has been a gift to mankind. You shaped the century, and I need you to do it one more time. Society is at a tipping point between order and chaos. Tomorrow morning we’re gonna give it a push. But, if you don’t do your part, I can’t do mine, and Hydra can’t give the world the freedom it deserves.” Pierce states, like reading a script said a thousand times previously.

“But I knew him.” The soldier pushed.

“Prep him.” Pierce orders.

“He’s been out of cryo-freeze too long.” A scientist voices.

“Then wipe him and start over.” Pierce hisses, “And while you’re at it, keep the Omega under and send him to Siberia. The Soldier will follow after the mission.” Pierce states.

2016.

Bucky groaned as his eyes open and he regained consciousness, blinking sluggishly for his vision to focus before realising his metal arm was trapped in a huge vice. He tugged at the restraint but his arm didn’t move an inch. Eyes flickering about the place, he concluded quickly that he’d been brought to a warehouse of some kind- Bucky flinched as a helicopter flew overhead, and worry filled him at the thought of being caught yet again.

But then his attention was brought elsewhere when he heard shuffling steps, and in his line of vision was Sam Wilson, leaning against a pillar.

“Hey, Cap!” Sam called out, the raise in volume had Bucky subtly duck down instinctually to hide, were they trying to be caught?

Steve no sooner rounded the corner past Sam and eyed Bucky cautiously as he approached.

“Steve.” Bucky recalled in an exhausted drawl.

Steve clenched his jaw, “Which Bucky am I talking to?”

Bucky paused, face displaying a blank expression as he realised he did remember, or he remembered more than he did before, in fact he remembered that-

“Your mom’s name is Sarah.” Bucky blurted, before chuckling at another memory, “You used to wear newspapers in your shoes…”

Steve almost smiled, “You can’t read that in a museum.”

“And just like that we’re supposed to be cool?” Sam huffed, narrowing his eyes at Bucky but directing the question to Steve.

Bucky frowned, “What did I do?”

“Enough.” Steve stated.

Bucky sighed, lowing his gaze further, “I knew this would happen... Everything Hydra put inside of me is still there. All he had to do was say the goddamn words.”

“Who was he?” Steve inquired.

“I don’t know.” Bucky admitted.

Steve shook his head, “People are dead- the bombing, the set-up- the doctor did all that just to get 10 minutes with you. I need you to do better than ‘I don’t know’.”

Bucky frowned, looking at his feet as he racked through his muddled memory for an answer that would be of actual help, and like a switch he begun remembering.

“He wanted to know about Siberia… Where I was kept. He wanted to know exactly where…” Bucky trailed off, just as confused as the Steve and Sam were.

“Why would he need to know that?” Steve pushed.

Bucky instantly slumped at the answer which came into his head, “Because I’m not the only Winter Soldier.”

Steve and Sam followed Bucky’s action and slumped their shoulders in mild defeat at such an undesirable response, containing Bucky had been difficult on its own- for there to be more…

“Who were they?” Steve eventually asked, taking Sam’s approach to lean against one of the warehouse pillars.

“The most elite death squad, more kills than anyone in Hydra history, and that was before the serum.” Bucky spilled robotically, the information drilled into the depth of his brain.

“They all turn out like you?” Sam voiced.

“Worse.” Bucky whispered, but was still heard.

“The doctor, could he control them?” Steve questioned.

“Enough.”

“(The doctor) Said he wanted to see an empire fall.” Steve quoted.

“With these guys he could do it. They speak 30 languages, can hide in plain sight, infiltrate, assassinate, destabilise- they can take a whole country down in one night and you’d never see them coming.” Bucky spoke in a monotone, cringing at the information popping up into his head as he spoke.

Sam ushered Steve closer to him for a private conversation, Bucky wasn’t bothered to listen to them, more so his head was flashing quickly with random memories that didn’t seem to be in any order, it wasn’t until one in particular enter his head that Bucky jolted at his instincts flaring to life, he still had an Omega to find.

Theo awoke with a sharp gasp of air, as pain radiated from his chest, he reached quickly to place pressure upon the wound, a gunshot through-

“You know, you should be dead.” Someone drawled in an exhausted tone. “That went right through your heart.”

Theo’s eyes flashed to the source, seeing an familiar face looking right back at him, someone he’d seen and read about in Hydra files, but had yet to ever meet in person (in a likely assassination). Eyes drifting to the environment around them, Theo concluded that the Hydra base was no longer in function, a sigh of relief almost left his lips as he spotted the dead bodies still within their cryo-chambers, that elite death squad scared him- the stories of their strength even against someone like his Alpha, the Winter Soldier.

“Hey-“ Theo’s eyes darted back to the wounded man, “What’s your name?”

“I’m the Asset.” Theo responded cautiously in a low robotic tone as he pushed himself out of his own cryo-chamber, landing with stumbling unsteady feet thanks to that blood-loss.

“You’re Hydra.” The stranger realised, “You look so young…”

Theo said nothing to the man, deciding instead to stumble in the direction of the other cryo-chambers around the corner, needing to confirm they were permanently gone to the world.

“They’re dead.”

“I know.” Theo responds, eyes lingering over the bodies without glowing orange souls.

“Hydra’s gone, kid.” The man shares, “They’ve been gone a while.”

“Did the Soldier survive?” Theo asks.

Tony Stark goes rigid at the question, rage fuels him quickly before leaving just as fast- “I’m not sure.”

Theo nods with a sigh that caught Tony off guard, “Why?” He blurted, curiosity getting the better of him.

Theo frowns, crossing his arms tightly to his chest, “That’s my Alpha.”

Tony was shocked, “You’re Omega?”

“Yes.” Theo confirmed.

Tony clears his throat, pushing away the many questions swarming in his head, “What’re you going to do now?”

Theo thought about the question, knowing that the Stark was only asking to make sure Theo didn’t intend on continuing Hydra’s legacy, Theo didn’t have much to say, he didn’t even know where to start- his only memories were of Hydra and nothing but.

“I don’t know.” Theo admitted, the Winter Soldier needed him more than Theo needed to see the Soldier, Alpha’s relied on Omega once bonded- whereas Theo could last a lifetime without his Alpha- especially considering he didn’t have any feelings for the brute, or at least, none that he remembered.

Tony bit his lip in thought, “Do you know where they kept their research files? I might be able to find more on you that way…”

Theo hesitated before nodding and guiding the limping billionaire through the facility.

“You are a lot less hostile than, Barnes.” Tony commented, spotting Theo’s confused expression he corrected himself, “Sorry, the Soldier I mean.”

Theo eyed the man before continuing down a narrow hallway.

“Just as quiet though.” Tony sighed.

Tony frowned, “Why haven’t you killed me?”

“I haven’t been assigned a mission or given orders.” Theo stated, “And you do not pose any threat to me.”

Tony scrunched his face up in offense, but silently agreed with the Hydra weapon whom he just now noticed, was no longer clutching at the bullet wound- that would certainly give the Omega an advantage. Added with the fact that Tony had discarded his broken suit back in the control room. Theo also had a good height and muscle advantage as well.

Entering the filing room, Tony darted to the old computer running on fumes. Fingers dancing across the keys, Tony seemed to find the code for the file he wanted- or two, considering he first went to the cabinets to the left before collecting another file to the right.

Dragging a stool over to a desk, which Tony cleared with the sweep of his arm, he opened the first file.

“Theodore King, a medical officer in one-o-seven squadron. Class: Omega. 18 years old upon capture- seems like someone lied about their enlistment age…” Tony mumbled. “… You’re enhanced.”

Tony turned to face the assassin, “Mind telling me what you can do?”

Theo frowned but released the sensitive information after reminding himself that Hydra was compromised if not completely destroyed, “I’m not sure how to explain it.”

“Try for me, kid.” Tony insisted.

Theo sighed, leaning against the edge of the desk Tony was occupying, “Imagine there are two… worlds on top of each other- both existing at the same time.”

“Like alternate dimensions?”

“No. Most people can either be in one world or the other-“

“Most?”

“Well that’s my enhancement. I walk on both.”

“Okay, tell me more about this other world, is it dangerous?”

“It can be, if I let it.” Theo frowned.

“Ok, and can you take anyone there?” Tony asked.

“Well yes, sort of.” Theo mumbled, “I’d have to kill you.”

Tony froze at such words, but relaxed at Theo’s lack of movement, he then put together all the pieces Theo had given him, “Wait- you’re telling me, you can interact the with dead?”

Theo grimaced at the description but nodded, “Yes.”

Tony pursed his lips before looking to Theo with a rather serious expression.

“I want you to prove it.”

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b3ans0up · 1 year

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Bi energy♡

#black widow #natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff smut #natasha romanoff x reader #the winter soldier #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes #bucky barns x reader #black widow smut #the winter solider smut #marvel mcu #marveledit #marvel smut #marvel #mcu edit #mcu smut

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lovebugspots · 7 months

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welcome to the helicarrier, barnes

this is my own sort of timeline, a mix of the MCU and the concept of Marvels Avengers (the game) so instead of the compound they are in a helicarrier with Tony, Steve, Bruce, Clint, Wanda, Vision, Natasha, Bucky, Sam, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ Y/n Irina Agapov

Other Aliases; Widow 18, Winter Widow, La mujer de la muerte, Reaper.

Age; 29

Sex; Female

Height; 5'4

Past: Y/n Irina Agapov was born in 1987 in Oslo Norway to two Russian parents, who eventually leave her on the streets of Siberia, Russia in 1991. To which the Red room finds her and takes her in. HYDRA and The Red Room selected her to become the first super soldier widow. Her and Natalia Alinovna Romanova became close friends during their rigorous training with both the Red Room and the Winter Soldier. Eventually years pass, and Natasha had found Y/n in Washington DC. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ James Buchanan Barnes

Other Aliases; Sergeant James Barnes, The Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes

Age; 99

Sex; Male

Height; 6'0

Past; James Buchanan Barnes was born in Brooklyn New York in 1917. He became best friends with Steve Rodgers and all throughout their life they have been close friends, and they both enlisted in the army. Bucky fell off the train during a raid on Arnim Zola's train and sadly was KIA. But HYDRA had found him alive due to the super soldier serum they had given to him when he was kidnapped earlier in the war. They had given him a metal arm and brainwashed him for years. When he was taken out of CRYO he had trained some of the widows at the Red Room. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ plot;

Natasha had found and recruited Y/n while she was in DC for a week on a mission, and reluctantly, she agreed. So, after the mission Natasha in the Quinjet brought Y/n, but she was brought in so Fury can arrest her. The only person who helps Y/n get her name cleared, is Bucky. A man of her past whom she will always love. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ songs will be listed instead of a playlist :) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★★

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yn-barnes · 5 months

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Exploring explosions ~

Bucky x reader *no use of Y/N*

Part 1 part 2 series

:⚠️warnings: use of russain throught google translate as your gurl aint russain, SHARON, 1 naughty word ⚠️:

【This is probably bad, but I've changed it already, so oops】

Summary - While on a mission, something happens to bucky. On his journey to recovery, he fines something he wants more than life.

You've been by buckys bed like you promised steve almost 24/7, it's not so bad as you get to catch up on paper work you've been ignoring like the plague and its also helped you de-stress, somehow. The only issue is Sharon... FUCKING SHARON, she keeps trying to get in here but for what? She said because she misses him but everyone knows he didn't like her, but you were able to get her on a mission saying Nat still wasn't fit for the job due to explosion but since Sharon used to tell everyone she was better than her you volunteered her.

Your sitting at the your desk you moved into the room, you've been avoiding buckys paper work for the failed mission, but as Steve didn't see why the building explosioned it makes the report almost impossible. You scoff and throw the papers on your table and lean back in your chair. You rub your eyes with your finger and thum, groaning while doing so. You slowly looked up at the clock on the other wall, sighing you, looking over to James hospital bed. You were shocked to see him laying there, staring right back at you.

Grabbing your chart, you write down the time and all his vitals on the machine he's hooked up to, slowly pushing your chair closer. You analyse his features like his cheekbones, eyebrows, and his eyes.. you couldn't admit that you found bucky slightly - okay, maybe more than slightly attractive, but how could you not with that arm and his hair and those muscles... what? You think to yourself as you stare at him in disbelief that you caught yourself even thinking like that. You looked at him properly this time, and he just looked blank with a smidge on confused, barely noticeable. "Hello Barnes, im the head of medical.. can you tell me where you are?"

He doesn't reply, just hyper focused on you and nothing else, but then he slowly shakes his head, maybe to himself, but you think you saw it. "Barnes, do you know where you are?" You say more firmly, hoping you will get some sort of answer but just stares. Your mind is going blank on what to do. For a first in a while, you're stuck. You got an idea and slowly took out your phone, turning it on you sent a text to Steve asking if you could try the winter soldier way, doing this extra slowly so you didn't startle him. You just kinda stared at him, breaking into a soft smile once or twice, but his face was set in stone.

Your phone vibrating twice before you look at it, again slowly bringing it up and checking to see Steve's reaction giving you the go ahead, you didn't need his approval or didn't really care but you wanted to keep him in the loop, so you thought of a game play while he's secretly look round the room, here goes nothing. "солдат, ты знаешь, где ты?" You tried speaking with authority.

"меня поймали" he mumbled not look at you but the ground. You're not proud of this, but you took off your coat and showed him your collar bone with: SC-837-152 tattooed into your flesh. He looked up at you and straightened his back at the new knowledge, "это не база ГИДРЫ.. где я? почему ты на них работаешь.. " He scoffed at you slightly before he looked at the door as the door handle rattled and shook. You smiled as you just thought of a great way to welcome him.

"женщина не знает личного пространства, тебе нравится личное пространство, не так ли? самое лучшее, что она не знает русский язык." She snickered as you added the built-in restraints walking to the door. You saw him thrash around and try to get his arms out, but they were built for him. "они были созданы специально для вас, получайте удовольствие" you unlocked the door and opened in swiftly to see Sharon on her knees with a lock picking tool, "hes all your" you say walking away to get lunch, which is now upgraded from 39 mins to 2 hours, which were your normal lunch hours.

@unaxv @sapphirebarnes (just lemme know if yall want added (don't think the first one worked)

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burninblood · 2 years

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#buckynat #winterwidow #bucky x natasha #bucky x nat #i think i love you james buchanan barnes #james and natalia #black widow #winter solider #warm up sketch #marvel ships #fanart #mine #miss them #burninbloodart

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purplehalnw · 1 year

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So I just saw that stupid fucking post saying that Yelena and Bucky will have a romantic relationship in Thunderbolts and... you have got to be fucking kidding me. Like even if Yelena wasn't aroace I would still hate it. Like even though they haven't met yet I still see them as having more of a sibling dynamic. And I knew that SamBucky was never gonna happen but wtf you gotta drag Yelena into this Marvel? Like if you need Bucky in a relationship with a woman you still got Sam's sister, Sarah.

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writersblockiskillingme · 1 year

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Younger Romanoff | Bucky Barnes

Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier x widow!Romanoff!reader

Summary: Natasha's sister has to train with none other than the Hydra's most precious soldier as a part of the Black Widow Program.

Warning/s: fighting, blood, wounds, death, maybe a curse word?? I guess? Think that's it?

Author's note: Hii! :) This is my first Tumblr post (new to this). So please go easy on me. Enjoy!

You could literally feel the sweat running down your back underneath your suit as you took the seat next to your older sister Natasha. You knew that you should have no reason to be nervous at all, but you couldn't stop the bad feeling creeping in since the moment you opened your eyes that very morning.

Today was the day when the Windows were supposed to have a rather brutal training. But that wasn't the worst or unusual part. That training was supposed to be held not only by the Red Room, but by Hydra, too. The trainers in the Red Room had gathered all of the Widows to train with the Hydra's strongest soldier. The Winter Soldier. Just the thought of his name made you shiver.

You had a very bad feeling that even your status as the Widow couldn't push away. You were proven right the moment that the door of the training room slammed open, and your sister, the rest of the Widows in the waiting room and you looked up. One of the trainers was walking out of the room. But she wasn't alone. Behind her, she was dragging a poor beaten up Widow. She seemed like she was barely breathing. All of the Widows watched in silence as the first Widow of this training was dragged away God knows where. Natasha and you shared a look. You didn't say anything, but you both agreed that this was going to be a long day.

It was already dark outside as you watched the Widows go inside the training room. Some of them coming out of it alive, but badly beaten. Some of them weren't so lucky. Pretty soon you watched as Natasha got out of the training room, took her towel, pressed it into her bruised face, exchanged a few words with you and leave to go to her room. A few second passed and you heard your name being called out with a sharp, but clear voice.

"Y/N Romanoff!"

You stood up like a robot, wiped your hands with your training suit and started to walk over towards the training room door. This was it. Either you come out alive or you die trying. One or the other. As you walked into the room and the door closed behind you, you took in your surroundings. In front of you was placed a boxing ring, only you knew the two of you wouldn't be boxing. That one was for sure. You looked to your right and saw a bunch of your trainers and Hydra agents murmuring among themselves.

"Y/N, step in the middle of the ring." Anastassia, your own trainer said as she handed you a small pocket knife. As you did so you heard them talk behind you.

"Y/N Romanoff. Her sister is Natasha Romanoff. A girl that was here before her. The two of them have the highest score in the Black Widow Program."

"We shall see in a moment."

You felt a shiver going down your spine as one of the Hydra's agents uttered those words.

"Y/N Romanoff. Meet The Winter Soldier."

You looked to your left and that's when you saw him. His piercing black eyes full of hatred were looking at the Hydra's agent as he sat on a chair in the dark corner of the room. He suddenly stood up as the agent ordered him to do so. He started to walk up to you towards the ring, however, he still didn't look you in the eyes. That's why you still couldn't really see his eyes properly. Your hard gaze followed him around the room as he got closer to you. When he finally stepped over the wire and into the ring, you noticed that he was given the same little pocket knife as you were.

"Y/N Romanoff. Winter Soldier. Fight."

That's when he looked you back in the eyes. For a moment you were frozen in shock, you could tell that he was, too. Your knees buckled as you watched soldier's eyes soften a little as a small frown was placed on his oddly perfect face without the mask this time. You somehow were charmed by him. You couldn't help but feel like your breath was stolen away from you as his piercing eyes were looking at you with some kind of interest. Interest in what? You could easily tell that he was, too, shocked by his sudden capability to experience any sort of emotion other than emptiness and hatred whatsoever. But you knew that you had to snap out of it before he got into his normal self. So you did.

You landed the first punch and that's when he came to. He started to throw punches back as the Red Room trainers and the Hydra's agents were watching your every single move closely. Just as you were about to throw the next hit, the Winter Soldier, cut your cheek with the knife. You hissed a little and glared angrily at him. If he wanted to play dirty, so could you.

At the end of the training you got your ticket out of the training room, that much was clear. You had to admit, he was a rough opponent. He was quick, clever and very strong. This fight was a big challenge and you just know fully understood why some of the Widows didn't make it. As you gave the pocket knife back to your trainer you could truly feel the soreness in your whole body. You had a few bruises and a big cut on your cheek ashoulderder, but you feltsensence of accomplishment as you knew that you got the Hydra's soldier pretty good, too.

He was hissing angrily as he took the towel from some Hydra's agent. He had a giant slush over his chest, a bruised jaw and a little cut on his chin. You turned around, away from his gaze, as you continued to speak to the Hydra's agents and The Red Room trainers that were asking you all sorts of questions. You felt piercing eyes on the back of your head the entire time. You knew were well to whom they belonged to. But you couldn't make yourself turn around. After you were dismissed you turned around and practically ran out of the training room. You just couldn't wait to escape the torture you just went through. But not only physical torture, but emotional torture, too.

You found yourself all alone as you walked out of the room whose door was slammed shut behind you. You looked out of the small window of the waiting room and you saw that it was pure dark outside. You quietly sighed to yourself as you made your way to the showers. As you relaxed in the shower, put on some fresh clothes and took care of the bruises and cuts you made your way over to your dorm room.

But what you didn't expect was to be showed in the dark corner of the hallway. You couldn't even let out a quiet gasp as your mouth was suddenly covered by a cold metal arm. You felt yourself freeze in shock as you realized who it was.

"Успокойся, вдова." (Calm down, Widow.) He hissed at you quietly, his breath hot on your face.

You nodded, not saying a word because you knew that there was no way out of this one. You didn't know why you were acting like this. You were a Widow for crying out loud. You are strong, intelligent and full of undying fire in your heart. You couldn't understand why you were letting yourself be ordered around by the Winter Soldier like some rag doll. But at the same time you had to admit that he was very intimidating at the moment since his other arm was placed on the wall next to your head.

This position made him look twice taller than you. He slowly put his metal hand away from your mouth as you took s breath in. You leaned yourself against the wall, one foot placed on the wall behind you, crossing your arms as you looked at the soldier's a little bit soft and confused eyes. You looked him straight in the eyes, your gaze, trying to be strong and full of confidence.

"Чего ты хочешь, Солдат?" (What do you want, Soldier?)

TAGLIST:

@hellonheels-x

JOIN THE TAGLIST HERE!!

#mcu #reading #bucky barnes #winter solider imagine #winter soldier #bucky x female reader #bucky barnes imagine #winter soldier x reader #marvel #the red room #hail hydra #black widow #natasha romonova #sebastian stan #marvel imagine #new to tumblr

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ariasfandom · 1 year

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Title: BuckyNat Origins Pairing: BuckyNat Rating: SFW Description: Moodboard of the Comic book versions of bucky barnes and natasha romanoff A/N: Comicverse ftw Image Credits: Google/WeHeartIt/Pinterest Created for @badbitchesbingo I2 Natasha Romanoff

#marvel #buckynat #winterwidow #moodboard #aesthetic #marvel aesthetic #bucky barnes #captain america #mood board #bucky x natasha #natasha romanova #winter solider #the winter soilder #natasha romanoff #black widow

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swan-of-sunrise · 1 year

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Endgame (Chapter Ten)

Summary: Following the funeral to honor Tony and Natasha, Steve volunteers to return all six Infinity Stones to their original timelines and makes a surprising decision.

Pairing: Steve Rogers X Reader

Word Count: 6.3k

Warnings/Disclaimers: None

A/N: This is sad, ya’ll, there’s no way to sugar-coat that lol but things will lighten up a little towards the end of the chapter so hang in there! Thank you for reading, I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter Ten One Week Later… (Previous Chapter)

The funeral was held on a beautiful autumn afternoon, on the banks of the lake bordering the Stark family’s eco-compound. There were only thirty-eight people in attendance, as per Pepper’s insistence; she only trusted the small number of people who knew Tony best to be around Morgan, who was understandably distraught and confused by the sudden loss of her father. Following the instructions given to her by Natasha, (Y/N) reached out to her best friend’s adoptive family and informed them of her death, but Alexei and Melina informed her that they wouldn’t come without Yelena, who was inconsolable with grief and unable to face her sister’s funeral. All across the world, people were celebrating the return of their loved ones and mourning the loss of Iron Man and Black Widow but there on the secluded eco-compound, friends, teammates and allies came together to mourn Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff.

While the other funeral attendees stood outside in the crisp October sunshine and distracted themselves with stilted small talk, a small gathering was taking place inside the farmhouse. Thor was leaning a shoulder against one of the living room support columns, Bruce was hunched over near the kitchen to avoid hitting his head on the low ceiling and (Y/N) stood between Steve and Clint while Pepper, Morgan, Happy and Rhodes were seated around the coffee table, upon which an Iron Man helmet sat and projected a recorded hologram of its inventor; before the time heist, Tony had seemingly taken the same precaution that Natasha had and recorded a final message to his family and close friends, and Pepper wanted to wait and watch it until they were all gathered together.

(Y/N)’s eyes welled with tears as Tony’s message began to play. She still couldn’t quite believe that she’d never hear her friend call her ‘Austen’ again, the silly but inexplicably heartwarming nickname he’d bestowed upon her the moment they first met, or have a chance to fully reconnect with him in the wake of Siberia and Thanos’ Snap. With that being said, the brief time she’d known the billionaire was time that she’d treasure and never forget, and she was truly honored to have known the man behind the hero.

“Everybody wants a happy ending, right? But it doesn’t always roll that way…maybe this time. I’m hoping if you play this back, it’s in celebration. I hope families are reunited-” (Y/N)’s eyes briefly flicked over to Carina, napping peacefully near the window in her floating pram. “-I hope we get it back, and something of a normal version of the planet is restored. If there ever was such a thing…” The hologram of Tony shook his head in amazement and smiled. “God, what a world. Universe, now. If you told me ten years ago that we weren’t alone, let alone, you know, to this extent? I mean, I wouldn’t have been surprised, but come on, you know? The epic forces of darkness and light that have come to play…and, for better or worse, that’s the reality Morgan’s gonna have to find a way to grow up in. So, I thought I’d probably better record a little greeting in the case of an untimely death – on my part – I mean, not that death at any time isn’t untimely. This time travel thing that we’re gonna try and pull off tomorrow, it’s got me scratching my head about the survivability of it all. That’s the thing. Then again, that’s the hero gig; part of the journey is the end.” He scoffed at himself before standing from his chair and moving towards the camera. “What am I even trippin’ for? Everything’s gonna work out exactly the way it’s supposed to.” The hologram of Tony leaned down to stop the recording, his sudden smile seemingly aimed at his red-eyed daughter cuddled up to his wife’s side. “I love you 3,000.”

The message suddenly ended and the hologram faded away into nothing as the farmhouse full of mourners took a moment to wipe their tears away and compose themselves. (Y/N) took a steadying breath before turning towards Steve and adjusting the crooked knot of his black tie for him, murmuring under her breath so that only he could hear her words. “Are you okay, Steve?”

Her husband nodded but remained silent, wiping away some of the tears that managed to escape his eyes while she gently smoothed out the nonexistent wrinkles of his suit’s lapels. (Y/N) witnessed Steve mourn far too many losses over the years, but the loss of Tony and Natasha seemed to affect him on an entirely different level; she wondered if it was because they were among the first people he’d befriended after coming out of the ice into an unrecognizable world, or if it was because he somehow found a way to blame himself for their loss, but it was clear to her that he wasn’t ready to talk about it yet. Distractions helped – the super-soldier was more than busy organizing the secure clean-up of the Avengers Facility wreckage and spending his spare time finally bonding with their infant daughter – but Tony and Natasha’s losses remained constant on his mind. Hopefully today will bring him a sense of closure, (Y/N) thought as she slipped her hand into his and gave it a comforting squeeze, will bring us all a sense of closure.

“Pepper’s ready to begin.” She turned to see Clint, who was holding the wreath they’d worked on together in Natasha’s memory; it was an arrangement made from the wildflowers that grew in the field behind the Barton’s barn, and at its center were the spy’s crossed batons they’d retrieved from the battlefield. The archer’s eyes were rimmed in red but he mustered up a small smile for them both as he offered her the wreath. “I know I said I’d lay it with you, (Y/L/N), but I…I-I just…”

(Y/N) nodded in understanding and accepted the wreath with her free hand. “It’s okay, Clint. I’ll do it for the both of us.” He swallowed thickly, giving her a chaste kiss on the forehead and exiting the farmhouse to stand with his family outside. As Rhodes and Happy followed Pepper and Morgan out onto the wraparound porch, (Y/N) brought hers and Steve’s joined hands up and gave his knuckles a reassuring kiss before following after them.

Walking down the porch steps and along the path that led to the dock, (Y/N) took the opportunity to study the impressive gathering of heroes around her. Clint and Laura Barton’s arms were wrapped around Cooper and Lila’s shoulders, and Laura’s fingers soothingly carded through little Nathaniel’s shaggy brown hair; Peter Parker’s eyes were red with grief and he was trying in vain not to cry as his Aunt May rested a consoling hand on his arm; Stephen Strange and Wong stood together, but the doctor’s gaze was diligently trained on his polished dress shoes and there was something almost akin to guilt written across his face; Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne stood alongside their daughter Hope and Scott, the former rival of Howard Stark putting aside their personal history to pay respect to his fallen son; the Guardians of the Galaxy looked slightly out of place amongst the other attendees, but they – particularly Rocket and Nebula – appeared genuinely sorrowful for the loss of Tony and Natasha; T’Challa, Shuri and Okoye watched their procession with saddened eyes, the three of them all too familiar with the pain of loss; Sam and Wanda stood beside Bucky, who only came after (Y/N) and Steve convinced him that he deserved to attend despite what the Winter Soldier had done to Tony’s parents; a teenage boy around Peter’s age hovered near the back of the gathering – according to Pepper, Tony had been his mentor from a young age and even provided him with a scholarship so he could attend MIT – and behind him stood Carol, the captain’s hands clasped together as she gave the procession a nod of respect; Secretary Ross, Maria Hill and Nick Fury stood the farthest away, with the Secretary of State avoiding the pointed glares that the other two were giving him.

The attendees gathered along the grassy shore of the lake and watched as (Y/N) and Steve followed Pepper and Morgan onto the dock. When they reached its end, the older woman crouched down beside her daughter and they both gently placed their wildflower wreath onto the calm water; the first iteration of Tony’s arc reactor was affixed to its center and the sun reflected off its metal, which was etched with the playful words ‘Proof That Tony Stark Has A Heart.’ With Steve’s assistance, (Y/N) lowered herself and – ignoring the twinges of pain caused by the pull on her many stitches – laid Natasha’s wreath onto the water beside Tony’s. The four of them stood at the end of the dock and watched the wreaths slowly drift away and as (Y/N)’s free hand fiddled with the black fabric of her dress, a random memory of Natasha forcing her to wear her Boyz II Men shirt to the U.N. instead of her mourning dress came to mind and she couldn’t help but smile fondly to herself. Her eyes remained trained on the two floating wreaths as she quietly hummed one of the R&B group’s more emotional ballads under her breath and thought about all those they’d lost in the years-long fight against Thanos.

“How do I say goodbye to what we had? The good times that made us laugh outweigh the bad…”

When they first met, Tony welcomed her into the Avengers Tower with open arms and from then on, he always treated her as a friend, even during the complicated events revolving around the Sokovia Accords. His laughter was infectious, his constant jokes and nicknames were accepted with loving exasperation, and his loyalty to his friends and family was something that (Y/N) always admired greatly about the self-proclaimed genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropist.

“I thought we’d get to see forever, but forever’s gone away. It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday…”

Vision was a gentle soul and while the other Avengers found it difficult to converse with the thoughtful android, (Y/N) loved hearing his thoughts on history and literature. They bonded over their shared worry for Steve and Wanda whenever they’d embark on missions together, and Vision trusted her enough to begin asking her about how human emotions – specifically, the ones centering around romance – worked. He was brave in the face of overwhelming danger, his capacity for kindness was second to none, and (Y/N) hated that Wanda was suffering under the loss of such a wonderful person.

“I don’t know where this road is going to lead. All I know is where we’ve been and what we’ve been through…”

(Y/N)’s friendship with Loki was as unexpected as it was exceptional. Not only had they been forced to work together to survive on a hostile alien planet, but the God of Mischief helped her give birth to Carina and protected them both from harm, showing (Y/N) a softer side of him that few others had ever had the privilege of seeing. Beneath the dark façade he used to scare others away, he was truly heroic and for as long as she lived, she would never forget how he saved her daughter’s life and lost his own in a desperate but brave attempt to save the universe from a threat he knew all too well.

“And if we get to see tomorrow, I hope it’s worth all the wait. It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday…”

Although she’d never had the opportunity to meet Gamora, (Y/N) knew enough about the Daughter of Thanos from Rocket and Nebula’s stories to form an understanding of her. Gamora’s life before joining the Guardians of the Galaxy was filled with trauma and pain, but she proved that she possessed an empathetic heart when she abandoned her adoptive father and devoted her life to protecting the universe from him, a life that she’d come to lose in exchange for the Soul Stone. By a trick of fate, however, 2014 Gamora was with Thanos when he transported his army through their Quantum Tunnel and she was seen fleeing the battlefield shortly after helping them defeat Thanos for good; nothing could ever replace what Nebula and the other Guardians lost that day on Vormir, but (Y/N) hoped that finding that version of Gamora would help them cope.

“And I’ll take with me the memories, to be my sunshine after the rain. It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday…”

To (Y/N), losing Natasha was like losing a sister and she knew that for the rest of her life, she’d never stop missing the spy. But because Natasha wouldn’t want her to wallow in grief, she focused on all the happy memories they shared, from the first time they met in the National Mall and she smirked as (Y/N) teased Sam to the last smile they shared before embarking on the time heist. The night before the funeral, as she cuddled up to Steve and was soothed to sleep by his warm embrace, she decided that the best way she could honor Natasha – and everyone else who died in the fight against Thanos – was to put her skills as a writer to good use and write a book; people deserved to know the woman who sacrificed her life to save the world, and (Y/N) needed to ensure that her name would never be forgotten.

“And I’ll take with me the memories, to be my sunshine after the rain. It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday…”

As they watched the wreaths glide atop the lake’s steady water, (Y/N) closed her tear-filled eyes and sadly smiled.

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

The funeral was followed by a quiet outdoor reception and while the others chatted amongst themselves as they sampled hors d’oevres, (Y/N) sat on the porch and waited for her Tylenol pill to start kicking in; as a result of the Battle of Earth, she needed twelve stitches for the gash along her stomach, eight stitches to close the cut along her collar and two for the small wound on her right temple, and she was becoming increasingly annoyed by her slow-healing body and how weak her injuries made her feel. She kept her mind off her injuries by watching Steve interact with Morgan, Nathaniel and Lila; the super-soldier was feeding Carina her bottle and smiling as all three children fawned over the infant, and (Y/N) was pleased to see Morgan crack a tiny smile for the first time that day when their daughter’s tiny fingers wrapped around one of hers.

“Pepper sent me up here to give you this, and she said to make sure you ate all of it,” Maria remarked as she walked up the porch steps and offered her a paper plate of cheddar and broccoli mini-quiche. “I think there was some talk of ‘by any means necessary,’ but I can’t be too sure.”

(Y/N) chuckled. “I guess it’s a good thing I’m hungry.” Thanking the agent, she took the plate of food and placed it on her lap. “In a few minutes, you’ll be able to report back to your boss that your mission was an overwhelming success.”

“And here I thought that I was your only boss.” Both women turned to see Nick Fury approaching them, his hands in his pockets and a pensive expression on his face. “You mind giving us a minute, Hill?” Maria nodded and patted (Y/N)’s shoulder before heading off to join Clint and Wanda standing near the dock. Fury took a seat in the empty wicker chair beside hers and while she nibbled on a quiche, he looked out at the glassy lake and sighed. “I can see why Stark moved his family up here. It’s peaceful…but one thing I’ve learned about certain kinds of people is that no matter how peaceful their surroundings are, they’ll never find satisfaction in it so long as there’s someone out there in trouble. Those are the real heroes; the ones in the position to fight the battles that most could never dream of fighting, the ones who choose to become something more…” The corner of his lips curved into a smile as he glanced sideways at her. “The ones who help save the world in any way they can and who don’t need anyone’s permission to do it.”

(Y/N) couldn’t help but snort in amusement as she recognized her own words being spoken back to her; she’d said the exact same thing to Fury over eight years earlier, right before he allowed her to join the Theta Protocol and travel to Sokovia to save its citizens from Ultron’s attack. “You’ve got a long memory, I’ll give you that. This isn’t some sort of recruitment speech, is it? Because I have to say, this is kind of an inappropriate place for one…although, you did once try and recruit me in the middle of a cemetery, so this is sort of on-par for us.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mrs. (Y/L/N), but today’s my day off.” Fury’s chuckles died off and his expression shifted into a more somber emotion. “To tell you the truth, my days of recruiting heroes might already be behind me; I always thought that finding them is the hard part, but today’s shown me that losing them for good is even harder.” (Y/N) pursed her lips and nodded as the former director watched Steve cradle a giggling Carina in his arms. “No, I’m here to offer you and Rogers the same set-up I offered the Barton’s when they decided to get married and settle down.”

Her brows shot up in surprise. “You want to give us a farm so we could live off the grid?”

“Doesn’t have to be a farm and it doesn’t have to be off the grid, just someplace far away from prying eyes where you can raise your daughter together in peace.” Reaching into his pocket, Fury withdrew a business card and placed it on the arm of her chair and stood. “Take all the time you need to talk it over with Rogers, then give me a call with your answer. It was good to see you again, Mrs. (Y/L/N).”

Fury turned and started to walk away, but didn’t make it far until (Y/N) called out, “Did you know? When we first met in that hideout in D.C., did you know what was going to happen?”

He stopped and turned back around to face her, his eye twinkling with an unknown emotion as he smiled to himself. “Natasha asked me that same question once, so I’ll tell you what I told her: you never know, you hope for the best and make do with what you get. And that’s remained constant, for the most part, but in this specific instance? I may know a lot and see even more, but not even I could predict what an unpublished historical-fiction novelist would end up bringing to the table.”

With a final nod, the former director stepped off the porch and strode across the grassy bank towards Rhodes and Pepper, leaving (Y/N) alone with her thoughts. A quiet life with Steve and Carina sounded like a dream come true, but she couldn’t quite picture what that might entail for them; after all, she was an award-winning novelist and a college professor and he was still Captain America, the Star-Spangled-Man-With-A-Plan. A quiet life wouldn’t quite come as easy to them as it had Clint and Laura Barton. And that’s without considering what Steve might be picturing for our future as a family, she thought as she slowly finished her mini-quiche and stared off at the lake.

“I think someone might be missing you, sunshine.” (Y/N) tore her gaze away from the glistening water to see Steve settling himself onto the unoccupied wicker seat beside her; Carina was beginning to fuss in his arms and (Y/N)’s arms itched to hold her, but her stitches made it difficult and she didn’t want to risk accidentally dropping her. “See, angel? Your ma’s right here.”

(Y/N) adjusted her daughter’s blanket and gave her a smile as she began to calm down. “Aw, are you getting sleepy again, lemon drop?” Carina yawned, snuggling further into Steve’s arms while her parents shared a quiet chuckle. “Must be all the fresh air here. Back before we fought Hela and saved the Asgardians from Ragnarok, I promised Cari that the three of us would go someplace warm and sunny where she could see the sky. I started out feeling terrible that she’d spent the first month of her life trapped on a literal garbage planet, but then we were in space and on Asgard and then Thanos…well, you know the rest. All that matters now is that we’re finally together as a family again.”

Steve nodded in agreement and jutted his chin out towards the business card resting on the arm of her chair. “Is that Fury’s phone number?”

“He offered us a similar set-up to Clint and Laura’s.” (Y/N)’s fingertips thoughtfully caressed her daughter’s soft cheek as she continued. “He wants us to give him a call once we’ve decided where we want to go from here.”

The super-soldier was silent for several moments, and it wasn’t until Carina had fallen back asleep that he finally spoke. “Yeah, I’ve been giving that a lot of thought lately, since even before the time heist. But it wasn’t until Tony and I traveled to 1970 and I saw Peggy again that I finally knew what I wanted.” (Y/N) quickly looked up at him as he took a deep breath and reluctantly met her gaze. “(Y/N), there’s something I need to tell you…”

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

The following week was filled with tearful goodbyes and promises to keep in touch. Thor was set to make a brief visit to New Asgard before departing Earth with the Guardians of the Galaxy; (Y/N) understood the Asgardian’s desire for change and wished him luck on his search to find himself, tearfully reminding her friend that if he needed anything at all, their door would always be open for him. Rocket and Nebula surprised her when they presented her with her own Volkswagen Bug, miraculously and inexplicably restored to its former glory; she suspected that the mechanical geniuses might’ve obtained some replacement parts through illegal means but she kept her thoughts to herself and accepted their thoughtful gift, giving the normally-reserved pair large hugs and standing alongside Steve as they watched the Benatar take to the skies.

Clint, Laura and their three children returned to their farm; the Barton’s were kind enough to offer Wanda a place to stay, but the younger woman politely declined their invitation and claimed that she had something to take care of. (Y/N), who suspected that Wanda would try to track down Vision’s body and demand its return from whichever federal agency claimed it after the Snap, hugged her tight and wished her luck. The loss of yet another person in Wanda’s life was obviously hitting her hard, and (Y/N) silently hoped that she would reach out to her old friends and teammates for help or support if she needed it. Rhodes was reinstated by Secretary Ross – albeit reluctantly – as an officer within the Air Force, while Happy continued his work as head of security for Stark Industries and Pepper returned as its CEO.

Scott traveled back to San Francisco with the Pym-Van Dyne family, eagerly looking forward to reconnecting with his daughter Cassie and catching up on the five years he’d lost while trapped in the Quantum Realm. Stephen Strange returned to the New York Sanctum Sanctorum and resumed his post as its protector while Wong, the new Sorcerer Supreme, moved into Kamar-Taj to continue training the young sorcerers who lived there. Peter Parker was re-enrolled in his old high school, with his aunt and friends there to support him as he tried to return to some semblance of normalcy. And T’Challa, Shuri and Okoye returned to Wakanda, with the Black Panther resuming his rule as the King of Wakanda and working out how his nation could provide relief to the millions of displaced and struggling people scattered across the world.

While construction crews worked to remove rubble and debris from the former site of the Avengers Facility, Bruce built a new Quantum Tunnel in the woods near the lake and the day after it was completed, the few remaining Avengers gathered for one final mission: to return the Infinity Stones back to their original timelines. But this time, it was a mission that Steve and Steve alone would be embarking on, and no amount of arguments from Sam and Bucky could convince him otherwise.

“Now, remember, you have to return the stones to the exact moment you got them,” Bruce explained, opening the locked case resting on his makeshift desk to reveal the stones resting in their own individual settings. “Or else you’re gonna open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities.”

Steve nodded and closed its lid before activating the locking mechanism. “Don’t worry, Bruce. Clip all the branches.”

The scientist watched him take the case before averting his saddened gaze. “You know, I tried. When I had the gauntlet, I really tried to bring her back.” (Y/N) and Sam exchanged a saddened look, and her hand slipped into her pocket to touch the red hourglass-shaped buckle she’d carried with her since Natasha’s death. “I miss her, man.”

“Me, too.” Steve gave Bruce’s uninjured forearm a comforting pat and fell into step between (Y/N) and Sam as they walked towards the illuminated Quantum Tunnel.

“You know, it’s not too late for me to come with you.” Sam offered the super-soldier a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Seriously, Steve, my wings are in the trunk. Just say the word and I’ll go put ‘em on.”

“You’re a good man, Sam,” Steve grinned but shook his head. “This one’s on me, though.”

While Bruce continued to make last-minute adjustments to his equipment, Steve approached Bucky, who was standing guard beside Carina’s floating pram and letting her hold onto the index finger of his vibranium hand. “Don’t do anything stupid ‘till I get back.”

“How can I? You’re takin’ all the stupid with you.” Both men shared matching smirks of amusement before hugging; Bucky’s eyes briefly met (Y/N)’s over Steve’s shoulder and she gave him a reassuring smile, understanding exactly why he was so worried for his old friend. She and Steve only told him of his plan the night before, after all, so it was a miracle that the super-soldier was handling the news as well as he was. They separated after a moment, and Bucky gave him a forced smile. “Gonna miss you, buddy.”

“It’s gonna be okay, Buck.” He clapped Bucky on the shoulder before bending down to kiss Carina on her forehead. “I’ll be back before you know it, okay? Be good for your mom, angel.” The infant babbled and wriggled around as Steve gave her another kiss and when he straightened, he turned to face (Y/N); his azure eyes were filled with determination but as they took her in, they softened and he gave her a tender smile. “I love you, (Y/N). I always have, and I always will.”

“I love you too, Steve.” Her husband’s hand cradled her cheek and their lips met in a gentle but passionate good-bye kiss. When they finally pulled away, she held his face between her hands and smiled up at him as she forced herself not to cry. “Go get ‘em, sweetheart, and come home safe.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Steve winked and gave her another kiss before ascending the steps and standing at the center of the new Quantum Tunnel.

Sam’s brow was furrowed in confusion as the super-soldier tapped his wrist to activate his Quantum suit into covering his red-white-and blue uniform. “Wait a sec, how long is this gonna take?”

“For him? As long as he needs. For us? Five seconds,” Bruce replied from his control booth, waiting until Steve picked up Mjolnir to hover a hand over a lever to continue. “Ready, Cap?” Steve took a deep breath and gave the scientist a nod, and Bucky’s hand slipped into (Y/N)’s and gave it a gentle squeeze. “All right. We’ll meet you back here, okay?”

“You bet.” The Quantum suit’s helmet enveloped his head and the machinery surrounding him began to hum.

(Y/N)’s hand gripped Bucky’s tight and she anxiously bit her lip as Bruce started his count-down. “Going Quantum in three…two…one!” In the blink of an eye, Steve shrank into nothing and the three of them watched the vacant platform with bated breath while Bruce began his next countdown. “And returning in five…four…three…two…one!”

There was a blinding flash of light and a figure appeared on the platform, hunching over as if catching their breath; the Quantum suit deactivated to reveal their small frame, old-fashioned clothing and a large circular leather case slung over his shoulders. Chaos erupted all around (Y/N), with Sam ordering the figure to stay still and protectively putting himself in front of her and Carina while Bruce frantically checked to make sure his equipment hadn’t malfunctioned, but all she could do was release a shaky breath and quickly sidestep her best friend to ascend the Quantum Tunnel’s steps.

“(Y/N), what the hell are you doing?!” Sam’s hand latched around her wrist to halt her. “We don’t know who the hell this guy is or-”

“Easy, Sam.” Bucky stepped forward and rested his flesh hand on Sam’s shoulder. “She knows what she’s doing.”

Giving the super-soldier a grateful look, (Y/N) turned and continued up the steps while one of her hands slipped into her pocket to grip a stun disc. “Steve?” Her husband, nearly a foot shorter and a hundred pounds lighter, raised his head and met her gaze; the instant his azure eyes found hers, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was her Steve standing before her but after 2014 Nebula’s effortless deception and the heavy price they’d paid for it, they agreed to take precautions on the off-chance that history would repeat itself. “Steve, what’s the special nickname you gave me when we first started dating? The one that you’ve never used unless we’re entirely alone?”

Steve’s lips curved into a wide smile. “Tiny Dancer, because you always reminded me of the woman that Elton John was singing about in the song.” (Y/N) surged forward and pulled him into a hug that he was eager to reciprocate. “God, I missed you, sunshine. Doctor Erskine worked as quickly as he could but all I could think about was getting back home to you and Carina, and I-”

“It’s okay, sweetheart, you did it, you made it back to us just like I knew you would.” They pulled away only for Steve to hold her face between his hands and soundly kiss her, sighing happily against her lips when she returned his passion-filled kiss. When they eventually separated, she couldn’t keep herself from smiling widely as she took in his altered appearance. “My handsome husband. I take it that there weren’t any complications?”

Before Steve could answer, the sound of a throat loudly clearing caused them both to look over at Sam, who was standing by the platform steps with his hands on his hips and a brow arched in shock. “Cap?”

“Hi, Sam.” With a sheepish expression on his face, Steve followed (Y/N) down the steps and stood before their two friends, his eyes briefly flicking over to Carina’s pram before turning his attention back to Sam.

A knowing smile began to play on Sam’s lips as he slowly pieced everything together. “So, did something go wrong, or did something go right?”

“Right, definitely right.” A loud sigh of relief escaped Bruce and he immediately stopped fiddling with the switches on his control booth, and Steve chuckled. “Sorry, Bruce. Before I volunteered to put the stones back, I thought that maybe I’ll try some of that life Tony was telling me to get. So, I paid a visit to an old friend and managed to have most of the serum’s enhancements reversed; I’m in mostly better health than I was in 1943, since a reversal of the serum can’t just un-cure medical conditions, but other than that, I’m still just a kid from Brooklyn.” Muscles and super-soldier serum or no muscles and super-soldier serum, (Y/N) silently agreed with her husband, recalling their frank conversation the week earlier right after the funeral…

“Yeah, I’ve been giving that a lot of thought lately, since even before the time heist. But it wasn’t until Tony and I traveled to 1970 and I saw Peggy again that I finally knew what I wanted.” (Y/N) quickly looked up at him as he took a deep breath and reluctantly met her gaze. “(Y/N), there’s something I need to tell you…”

“What is it, Steve?”

“Seeing the life that Peggy led after I went into the ice and that old photograph of me on her desk got me thinking, about what our future could look like depending on the choices we make now while we still can. It’s time for me to hang up the shield and finally live my life as Steve Rogers,” Steve explained, leaning forward in his wicker chair and adjusting his hold on Carina so that he could rest a hand on one of hers. “I never thought I’d feel guiltless at the idea of stopping, but I don’t. All that matters to me now is you and Carina, sunshine, and to make sure that it stays that way, I have an idea…”

Bruce walked over to their group and smiled. “Good for you, Steve. Tony, he…he’d really be proud of you.”

Sam nodded. “I’m happy for you. Truly.” Steve’s azure eyes shone with gratitude at their friends’ acceptance, but (Y/N) saw a flicker of sadness cross her best friend’s features. “Only thing bummin’ me out is the fact I have to live in a world without Captain America.”

“Oh, that reminds me…” With (Y/N)’s help, Steve shrugged off the leather case off his shoulders and leaned it against the steps before unzipping it to reveal an undamaged red-white-and blue vibranium shield. “Try it on.”

The smirk on Sam’s face vanished as the implications of Steve’s invitation settled in. He looked over at Bucky, who gave him a firm nod, and then at (Y/N), who beamed in happiness for him; the night before, Steve told her and Bucky what he was intending on doing with the mantle he’d carried for eighty years and while a part of her was wary of the pressure her best friend might feel, she knew in her heart that there was no one better suited to be Captain America than Sam Wilson.

Still looking a little uncertain, Sam picked up the shield and carefully slipped the leather straps onto his left arm; he stared down at the shield in silence, and (Y/N) and Bucky shared a smile as Steve quietly asked, “How does it feel?”

“…Like it’s someone else’s.”

Steve shook his head and waited until Sam met his gaze to speak. “It’s not.”

(Y/N)’s eyes prickled with unshed tears as she watched her best friend struggle to hold back his own; he took a deep breath and looked out through the trees at the nearby lake before looking back at Steve with an earnest smile on his face. “Thank you. I’ll do my best.”

“That’s why it’s yours,” Steve answered with a grin and both men shook hands, Sam’s large hand enveloping Steve’s newly-smaller one.

(Y/N), making sure to mind her stitches, practically launched herself into her best friend’s open arm and gave him the tightest hug she could manage. “I’m really proud of you, Sam. This doesn’t mean I’ll stop calling you ‘Birdbrain,’ though; that nickname’s for life and not even Captain America can change that.”

Sam laughed. “I read you loud and clear, Booksmart.” He kissed the top of her head and wiped a stray tear away as they pulled away. “So, what’re you three gonna do now? Settle down on a farm like the Barton’s and make a half dozen more of these cutie-pies?” Carina, who was now contentedly nestled in her father’s thin arms, giggled as Sam tickled the patch of skin under her chin.

“Steve Rogers living on a farm?” Bucky scoffed with a twinkle of amusement in his blue eyes. “This punk’s a born-and-raised Brooklynite; all that farm-fresh air might finally do him in.”

Steve rolled his eyes as he rocked Carina. “A hundred and six years old and still a mother hen.”

“Punk.”

“Jerk.”

“Are you gonna keep on writing, (Y/N), or are you gonna go back to teaching at Brooklyn College?” Bruce asked. “My fans absolutely love your books, and I hear that your students are really missing their favorite professor.”

With a mischievous smile, (Y/N) looped her arm around Steve’s narrow shoulders and shared a loving look with him before turning her attention back to the three men standing before her. “We have a plan that sort of includes a little of all of the above, actually. What’s say we explain it to you guys over some lunch at that diner down the road? Our treat.”

“Thanks, doll. I could really go for a cheeseburger.”

“Wait a sec, how do you know what a cheeseburger is?”

“Because I ate my first cheeseburger in 1935, Birdbrain, the same year that they were invented.”

Sam and Bucky continued bickering as they walked along the makeshift path to where they all parked and while an amused Bruce egged their argument on, (Y/N) and Steve trailed behind the boisterous trio, lost in their own little world and the long-awaited promise of a peaceful life together with their beloved daughter.

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

A/N: Did anyone see that coming?! I hope that you guys like the deviation from canon, it’s the ending that I always thought they’d go for with Steve lol thank you all so much for reading and commenting! I’ve created a Spotify playlist inspired by this series, and I’ll be updating it every time I upload a new chapter. Enjoy!

Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5L6MERx3PIydW3FyNPqYvl?si=ad6c46de8e954c11

Epilogue

“Endgame” Masterlist

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