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averagewriter-inthedark · 2 years

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5 Long Years 💔 | Everett Ross Imagine

Takes place during Avengers: Endgame

Marvel Masterlist

Characters & Pairings: Everett Ross x female avenger!reader (romantic), Avengers x reader (platonic)

Content Warnings: angst, profanity, fluff at the end, mentions of death & violence | Female reader (she/her) | wc: 3k

Premise: Five years has gone by since Thanos erased half the universe. Among the fallen was CIA agent Everett Ross, friend & ally of King T’Challa as well as longtime partner of Avenger Y/n L/n. Having met after the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D and Hydra, Everett and Y/n’s relationship was bound to have conflicts of interest yet they somehow managed to keep it going for nearly four years. Then the call to action against Thanos caused what little of the strands holding them together to shred. And when five years of grief and torture over regret pass, Y/n takes the opportunity to get her love back—even if it means she may never see him again.

Note: I freaking love Martin Freeman & I’m so excited to see him again in the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Secret Invasion. There’s not many works for Everett Ross, so expect to see him a lot on my list of works.

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“We can’t keep doing this, Y/n.” The one sentence shatters the very last piece of hope Y/n had. Though Everett looked just as tortured as her, it didn’t bring an ounce of solace.

“You’re giving up?” She spits at him, anger flaring up inside her. “Just like that? After everything we’ve been through the past three years you’re going to throw it away like trash—!”

“What more do you want me to say?” He shouts back aggravated, hand coming up to his forehead. “We knew this could happen—and now it has, so if you want to avoid going to prison I suggest you make your escape now.”

“And you want to make sure I won’t come back,” Her accusation proved true by the look he was giving her. Tears threatened her eyes, but she would not cry. “So, you’re breaking my heart to ensure it. You want this—,” her finger motions between the two of them, “To end on this note, Everett? Seriously? I thought you were better than that.”

All the man does is sigh, turning away from her. It made Y/n scoff, “You can’t even look me in the fucking eyes.” The sound of her moving closer to him echoes across the floorboard, but Everett remains still. Gulping, her eyes bore into the back of his skull as her voice goes low, “Did you even love me, Ev?”

That gets him to turn, and Y/n could see the conflict in his eyes, like he didn’t want to give an answer. “Don’t make me answer that, Y/n.” He heard her make a sound, breath catching in her throat. It pained him to know he was making her feel this way, but he had to. Secretary Ross caught onto them and would be banging on the door any second. Everett needed to get Y/n out by any means possible.

Even if it meant she hated him forever.

“Because you can’t or because you won’t?”

“It doesn't matter why,” he snaps, causing her to flinch. Immediately he wanted to apologize and explain why he was hurting her. But Everett could not—for the sake of her safety. “It’s over, Y/n, and you need to leave. Now. Because I won’t stop them when they come.”

“So that’s it then,” the laugh she gave was void of any humor. Waving hands,Y/n steps away from him, no longer saddened and instead looks at him with anger. “This is all because of Mr. Secretary, isn’t it? Gotta keep your ps and qs so you don’t lose your job. How typical—just when I thought you were not like the rest of those government dogs on a leash.”

“Last I checked, you were once one of those dogs,” he bit back, now glaring at the woman. “We were not so different, you and I, it’s how we fucking met, Y/n. Before you decided to run and be a goddamn criminal.”

There it was. The word that hung over the air and poisoned it like carbon monoxide.

Y/n stood frozen, mouth slightly agape. Even Everett felt the blood drain from him. He fucked up. Neither one couldn’t believe he called her that after two years of assuring Y/n he never thought of her as one. That what she did was the right thing—even if the government thought otherwise. He could already tell what she was thinking. ‘It was always a lie.’

The lone tear finally fell from her eye, shattering Everett’s heart. When he tried to step forward saying, “Y/n—,” a beep from her burner phone went off. Taking her eyes off him, Y/n removed the flip phone and opened it to reveal a message from a number she recognized as Steve’s.

‘Banner called. Something’s happened in New York, Tony is MIA. Need to find Vision & Wanda—will explain on the jet.’ It ended with the address she was to meet them at.

Closing the phone, Y/n took a deep breath before exhaling. “Well,” she whispered, not letting the emotion get to her. It took everything in her to not look at Everett. “I guess this is it then. Have a nice life, Agent Ross.”

But he didn’t have a nice life, because three days later Everett Ross was among the billions of people who vanished from existence the day Thanos came to Earth. Taking Y/n’s heart with him.

Every second of every day was filled with regret and shame. Regret at how things ended that day. If she had known it would be the last time she’d ever seen Everett, Y/n would’ve never said the things she did. Of course he said some messed up things too, but the situation they were in was a difficult one. Both were in the wrong, but now Y/n was having to deal with the consequences.

Five long years later and the feeling of anguish still lingered like it did when she discovered Everett was gone. Dusted. Just like Sam, Wanda, and Bucky. She didn’t know where he vanished from until she managed to get a hold of one of the CIA agents he worked with who hadn’t been dusted. The news had Y/n bolting into a storage closet to hide away as she sobbed into the darkness. “I’m sorry,” the agent said to her, with sadness in his eyes, “One second he was next to me. Then the screaming started and when I turned back all I saw was dust and the files on the floor.”

“I’m sorry, Ev,” she cried, falling against the wall and letting her body slide to the floor. “I’m so sorry.” People passed the door, hearing her sobs but paid no mind. Just continued walking to their destination while also trying to keep it together. They were going through the same and in need of their own storage closet to cry in.

It took a month before Y/n had the courage to go to his apartment—where thankfully, no one had taken claim to it yet. The world was in shambles with people scrambling to seek refuge. Y/n couldn’t blame them. Finally there were homes and shelter available, but there was always the hope something would happen. An opportunity. And Y/n was going to make sure Everett had his home when that happened.

The first few months consisted of sleeping on the couch before migrating to the guest room. Not once did Y/n enter his bedroom—she couldn’t bring herself to go into it even after years passed. The memories were too much. All Y/n could think about were the nights she would sneak in through his window. It would be on average a weekend every couple months to get Secretary Ross off their backs since the old man didn’t trust Everett when he said they’d broken off after Y/n backed up Cap during the Accords drama. If she closed her eyes, Y/n could feel his arms wrap around her as lips grazed her ear, “No trouble I see.” And she would smirk in return, “You really think I would bring trouble to your door, Ev?”

While time passed, Y/n went through a major change not only in appearance but how she viewed life. In the beginning there was alcohol, but drowning away in the substance would only worsen her state. It made her feel sick. Like it was doing a disservice to her friends by loosing herself in such a way. Instead she focused on training day to day and helping Nat whenever the Avenger needed her. It kept her busy. Y/n liked that, having some sense of normalcy despite the her world being far from it. Several tattoos now adorned her body as well as piercings all along her right ear.

The only appearance she ever made in the public eye which hadn’t been Avenger business was attending Tony & Pepper’s wedding. It surprised her to even have an invite, but was grateful nonetheless. There was a forced smile every time someone asked how she was doing and Y/n’s reply was always the same, “Taking it one day at a time.” Once the toast to the happy couple was over, Y/n handed them their gift with hugs and promises to keep in touch before making her leave. The second she was safe in her car Y/n broke down.

Then one sunny day in 2023, there was a knock at the door. With Steve Rogers on the opposite side. “We’ve found something. You got time to talk?” He didn’t even have to explain, Y/n was out the door with Everett’s leather jacket hanging on her arm, “I’ve got all the time in the world, Cap.”

After test runs and developing a plan of action, the time came for the Avengers to attempt the impossible. In the blink of an eye Y/n was back in 2014 on the planet Morag alongside Rhodey and Nebula. It seemed to go smoothly for the three, although they could’ve gone without having to watch Peter Quill dance his way to the Power Stone. “So he’s an idiot?” Rhodey voiced what they were all thinking. The woman sighed, letting her head drop onto the rock in front of her, “I don’t get paid enough for this.”

Once the stone was secured, Rhodey instructed the two to set their navigators. “This better have been worth it,” she muttered, scanning the device until it was on the correct course. The helmet encased her head before she was zooming through the Quantum realm for the second time that day.

Landing back on the platform, it didn’t strike the woman that the Nebula standing next to her was not the same one she left with. Although she noticed the dazed look on her face, scanning the facility like it was the first time she saw it, Y/n simply brushed it off. They just did a time heist—all of the Avengers were relishing in the feeling they pulled it off. Thor pulled her into a hug laughing, but the happiness is short lived when they realize they are missing a certain redhead. “Clint, where’s Nat?”

As much as they wanted to take the rest of the day to mourn the loss of their Black Widow, the team had a mission to finish. They gave themselves an hour at the dock before returning inside to put their own gauntlet together. Y/n handed Tony the Power Stone, happy to be rid of it knowing it was going to help bring Everett back. “You okay, pipsqueak?” Tony asked, putting the gem in the compartment with the others.

Placing the cup of water on the table beside her, Y/n nodded with a small smile. “I think I’ll finally be able to rest once we finish this.”

“Me too, kid.” He said with a sigh. “Me too.” It didn’t bother her Tony called her a kid. Until Wanda, Y/n was the youngest of the Avengers and therefore was known as the kid of the group. Even when she was pushing 30 during the Accords. Now she was nearly 40 and at the point where nothing surprised her.

With the gauntlet in hand, the team—minus Nebula—circled Banner as he attempted to put the glove on. “You got this, Bruce!” She shouted from behind Steve. The brightness caused her to look away and the second Banner fell after snapping they all rushed him. “Bruce!” Y/n crouched beside his head while Clint clicked the glove away. “Hey buddy we got ya.”

In the midst of her friend's state, Y/n hadn’t realized her phone tucked in the pocket of her suit was going off. When she looked up to see Clint was speaking into his with tears in her eyes, that’s when it hit her. She backed away from Bruce, instantly retrieving the device and unlocking it to see a missed call. The name on the screen nearly caused her knees to buckle. 1 missed call from ‘Ev’.

“Oh my God,” Y/n whispered, more to herself. Tears poured out of her eyes before she could stop them—filled with crippling relief. They did it. They actually did it. With her thumb hovering over the call button, Y/n was seconds away from hearing his voice, but the horrifying sound of explosions ruined it. The phone fell from her hands as she gasped, glancing around to see dust. The ground shook and before she knew it Y/n was falling.

“Ahhh!!!” Her scream echoed, attempting to catch something to hang onto. She didn’t know where she landed, all Y/n could feel was the pain. “Steve!!” She coughed at the end, “Tony!!” Miraculously, the phone she dropped was right in front of her with an illuminating screen bearing Everetts contact photo.

He was calling her.

Not even caring about the pain in her side or the fact she didn’t know where the hell the others were, Y/n hurriedly answered the phone. The trembling in her hands migrated throughout her body. Y/n did her best to not sob into the receiver, “Ev?”

“Y/n?” Just hearing his voice after five years made her break.

“Oh my God,” she cried, hand going to her chest. The tears spilled down her cheeks, albeit happy ones. “Oh my God, Ev.”

He sounded like he was out of breath. There was commotion in the background indicating the chaos happening all around the world now that billions of people were returning after five years. “W-where are you? I—I—,” Y/n could just picture the look on his face while hearing his tone. It sounded scared, full of worry and anxiety. “I—I don’t know what the hell is happening.”

“Ev,” she tried to keep her voice steady, glancing to find an exit or any source of light. Her own anxiety rose at the thought of being trapped below rubble. “Everett, listen to me okay—I need you to stay calm.” It was comical, her telling him to be calm when she herself couldn’t even reckon that. “You’ve been gone for five years.”

There was silence on his end. She heard his breath catch and then, “What? What are you talking about? Th-that can’t be possible—I was standing next to Dickens and now—,” Ev cuts himself off, as though something caught his attention. “—and now he’s across the room looking at me like I’m a ghost.”

“Ev,” her voice went low, “it’s twenty-twenty-three. Y-you were among the billions on earth and across the universe to disappear when—.” She bit her lip, feeling another wave of tears surface. Fuck how was she supposed to explain everything to him over the phone. “When Thanos wiped away half of the population.”

“Five years?” He whispered, not wanting to believe what he was hearing. The shouts in the background were more frantic, and Y/n heard them fade out indicating Everett was trying to get away. “I—I—,” Y/n jumped at the sound of a loud *bang*, followed by rushing water.

“Shit,” she cursed when she realized the area she was in was starting to flood. Her feet were the first to submerge. “Shit!! BRUCE!! RHODEY!!” For a moment Y/n forgot she was still on the phone with Everett.

“What’s happening?!” He shouted with worry. “Y/n?!” On the other end all that could be heard was her pounding against whatever surface she was trapped in. It sent a flood of emotion through Everett, mostly helplessness at the fact he couldn’t help her.

“Is anyone there!” She screamed, voice cracking at the end. Everett was still screaming into the phone, demanding to know what was wrong but before Y/n could explain the device slipped from her hand. It splashed into the water—now up to her calves, and disappeared into the darkness. “No!” She bent down in an attempt to find it, “Goddammit—Ev!!” With no luck the woman could only let out a cry of defeat. She was alone. Water continued to pour in and fill at a rapid rate. There was no saying whether or not someone would find her.

Meanwhile, on the other end Everett was left frozen when he heard the rush of water before dead silence when the call cut out. “Shit,” he wiped the sweat from his forehead, bringing the phone away to see it had disconnected. The feeling of worry suffocated him.

Against protocol, Everett did the necessary means to track the location of the Y/n’s phone. Each second felt like a lifetime with Everett moving at a fast pace to the elevators. Finally he pinged the last cell tower Y/n was near, putting her at the Avengers Compound. Clutching his fist in victory, Everett dialed anyone and everyone he could, “Get everyone you know—I need EMS and all personnel at Avengers Compound stat.”

When hours passed and the chaos ended, Y/n felt like the weight was still on her shoulders. Yeah, they defeated the 2014 version of Thanos. Yeah, they won. But at what cost? Joining Natasha in the afterlife was none other than Iron Man himself. Tony did the unthinkable—he sacrificed himself.

Strange was right when their only chance was one in fifteen million. The one chance which took another friend.

Y/n didn’t even have the energy to flinch or wipe her tears as a medic tended to her wounds. There was a deep cut to her forehead—most definitely would need stitches, her side was on fire from the broken rip she stained. Blood coated her bottom lip and her left ear when a creature had ripped some of her piercings out. She was thankful none of her tattoos got messed up—even the one behind her right ear.

“Thank you,” she murmured with a hoarse voice when the medic handed her a water bottle. The cold liquid was refreshing and relieving against her throat. Y/n downed it in just a few large gulps.

“I just need to stitch this up,” they waved a finger around the gash to her temple, “then we’ll get you on the next truck out to the hospital.”

Y/n protested with a shake of the head, “No, I don’t need a hospital.” The medic looked at her with disapproval.

“You could possibly have a concussion. And a broken rib—.”

“Oh it’s broken I can tell you that,” the woman winced when she adjusted her position. Yeah, it was broken—or slightly fractured. The amount of times Y/n had broken a rib was not uncommon for the job she had, but the number was starting to become a concern. Being a superhero came with its flaws. “Don’t need x-rays because I sure as hell feel it.”

The medic tsked, “see. But you need X-rays, Miss. L/n.” They began to clean and stitch the wound.

“I’ll go tomorrow,” Y/n insisted, but they weren’t having it. They went to open their mouth, but were cut off by another voice entering the picture.

“I’ll make sure she gets to a hospital. Tonight.”

The whole world around Y/n froze. It was one thing to hear him on the phone after five years, but to know he was standing right next to her, Y/n was glad she was sitting. Otherwise she’d be on the ground.

Slowly, Y/n turned her head—a sob leaving her at the sight of Everett standing in his usual grey suit and silver hair. Not caring the medic was in the middle of stitching her, Y/n leaped from her position into his open arms. Head going to his neck, Y/n tightened her arms around Everett and cried. There was no stopping the tears.

“You’re really here.” Pulling away, Y/n cupped his face in her hands. Her tears mixed with the dried blood, but she didn’t care. Hiccuping, Y/n let her thumb brush over his cheek. “Oh, God, Ev—I can’t believe it.”

Everett’s own eyes shined, and a lone tear fell which she wiped away. He took one of her hands in his, pressing it to his lips. “I’m here, darling. I’m right here.”

The smile she wore was so wide. “You don’t know how happy I am, Ev. It’s been—.”

“I know,” he gently cut her off, bringing her closer to him. “Too damn long.” Y/n leaned into his touch, feeling another wave of emotion as their last conversation replayed in her head. As much as she wanted to forget it it continued to haunt her.

“I’m so sorry about that day,” there was a waver in her tone as she tried to keep it together. “I never meant what I said—I was angry and I regretted it every day. For five long years I wished I could take it back if it meant you never left.”

“I’m sorry too, Y/n,” another tear rolled down his cheek. Like the Avenger, Everett was feeling immense guilt and regret. For the entire time he was dusted Y/n had to live with the memory of their argument and knowing the last thing he called her was a criminal. What had been three days for Everett, was five long years for Y/n. “I should’ve never called you that—I was an asshole and you didn’t deserve my anger being taken out on you. I have never thought of you as—.”

“Ev,” she caressed his face again and touched their foreheads. “I forgive you. We were both angry and scared. Ross was pressuring you and I chose my path—knowing the consequences. The things we said are meaningless now. Jesus Christ, I don’t want to go another day with either of us feeling this way.”

“Me too, baby,” he agreed with a smile. The warmth and love filling Y/n was the best feeling she had in five years. As the two leaned in to finally kiss, a cough interrupted them.

“I’m sorry to break this happy reunion,” the medic sheepishly tapped the Avengers shoulder, causing Y/n to pull away. “But I need to finish stitching you up.” It was then Y/n’s vision caught the thin piece of thread hanging from her temple.

Everett blushed while the woman smiled shyly at the medic, “Sorry.” Sitting back down, Y/n leaned against Everett’s side as the EMT continued their work. It only took a few minutes before they were done and reminded her to go to the hospital. “Alright, boss,” she caved in. “I’ll go. Get it over and done with.”

“I’ll take her, don’t worry,” Everett assured, making Y/n roll her eyes. He gave her a pointed look, taking her hand and guiding her away from the ambulance. A few words between the agent and his colleagues were exchanged before they stopped by Steve to let him know they were heading to the hospital.

The captain nodded, bringing Y/n into a hug and replied, “I’ll meet you there once things settle.” They said their goodbyes, waving to the others as they passed until they finally reached Everetts SUV.

“I can do it myself, Ev,” Y/n groaned when he tried to help her into the passenger seat. It didn’t help that she was grimacing from the pain in her side. When she finally got her ass in the seat, the Avenger let out a huff.

The man glared, bringing the seatbelt around to buckle her in. “You’re hurt and I’m not blind.” His lips pressed to her cheek when she pouted. “Just sit tight, Y/n. Before you know it we’ll get you checked out and back home.” The one word sent a flood of euphoria to her veins.

“Home?” The softness of her voice had Everett pause when he went to shut the door. Gazing into her eyes, Everett could see how happy Y/n was just by the implication. It was enough to make her cry.

That his home was hers and vice versa.

Bringing his palm to her cheek, the woman instinctively leaning into it, Everett kissed Y/n and poured all his love into it. Her nose bumped with his, responding with the same affection. Hell, Y/n could literally feel her heart skip the second their lips touched.

“Home. Where we belong.”

#everett ross x reader #everett ross imagine #everett ross #everett ross x yn #everett k. ross #martin freeman #marvel imagine #marvel #avengers #avengers!reader #avenger imagine #endgame imagine #marvel fanfiction

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imaginethatbitches · 2 years

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TONY STARK (DAD) IMAGINE

‘Y/N?’ I heard a voice question from the hallway. I closed the front door behind me and started toward the voice.

‘Yeah Vis, its just me,’ I grimaced at my phones choice in music shuffle, and reached for my pocket.

I skipped through multiple various artists until my favourite song made is way to the screen.

‘Mr Stark has been extremely concerned about your whereabouts-‘

‘I’m 19 he doesn’t need to freak out every two minutes,’ I rolled my eyes and begin to mumble the chorus of The Neighbourhood.

I made my way through the hall past vision, and into my room.

I pulled out my headphone and chucked my phone onto my bed. As I learnt down to untie my dr martens, the door slammed open.

‘Where the hell have you been?’

‘Calm down, I-‘

‘Don’t give me any bullshit,’ Tony pushed, ‘it’s past midnight and you couldn’t even send me a text. Do you know how dangerous it is for you to be running around at this time?’ His arms flailing around in anger, I rolled my eyes and lift my head up towards him.

‘Dad, I was just out with Peter, Swinging around and all, you know the deal, it’s nothing to stress-‘

His brows furrowed and you could practically see the steam that leaked from his nose like a raging bull.

‘What the fuck is that?’ He stepped over to me and tilted his head to inspect my nose.

‘Have you never heard of a septum piercing,’ he swiftly turned his back to me and scrunched his fists.

‘Are you kidding me, Y/N?!’ He turned to face me once again. I rolled my eyes at him and dropped myself onto the edge of my bed.

‘You don’t like it?’ A smirk grew on my face as his just grew more red.

He opened his mouth and let out an imaginary scream, whilst pulling the sides of his hair.

He reached out with his pointer finger and aimed right at my nose.

‘Tomorrow. It better be gone by the time vision wakes up.’ He stormed out of my room before I could even yell back that Vision, does not, in fact, sleep.

#iron man #Ironman imagine #tony stark #tony stark imagine #marvel #marvel imagine #vision #x reader #endgame imagine #infinity war #peter parker

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once-upon-a-fanfic · 2 years

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What if...

You were Steve’s longtime partner? During the battle in Wakanda, you were tragically killed. Steve deeply mourned you over the next several years. After the Blip, he went back in time not to find Peggy... but to rescue you?

#steve rogers #steve rogers imagine #captain america #captain america imagine #infinity war imagine #endgame imagine

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hothammies · 2 months

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are friends electric?

#byler #byler fanart #mike wheeler #will byers #stranger things #i always imagine their first kiss in s5 being in the basement for them idk ab yall #endgame couples got all their first kisses in dimly lit rooms w a lamp in btwn them or to the side ik thats right #also i headcanon will giving mike the jaws poster and mike giving him the thing poster that is all #sammi's art

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temeyes · 19 days

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met my godson for the first time yesterday, and he shares a name with a certain character,,,,

#no literally.. imagine my shock when my cousin said he named his kid vladimir SGHAHSAHSAH #dont worry guys im gonna avengers endgame MWIII #might take me a few years tho #LMAO BUT FR THO!! MY GODSON'S SO CUTE.. HE'S SO ROUND #I WANTED TO SQUISH HIMMMM #anyway good morning!! gonna play stardew valley teehee #my art #2024 #tim rambles #call of duty #cod #makarov cod #vladimir makarov

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whywoulditho · 7 days

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someone on reddit said DC comics have separate authors for each run so like superman's authors are probably not allowed to write things that affect batman's story and that's why they couldn't make conner and tim kiss even though tim is a canon male kisser and vice versa for damian and jon. suddenly everything on the planet earth makes sense

#i imagine superman writers being like. 'PLEASE THE FANS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS LET THEM HAVE THIS'#and batfam writers were just like '..yeah no.'#they kinda ruined damian and jon with the whole aging up shenanigans tbh #not just as a ship either i mean they killed that duo #but there was absolutely no reason for tim and kon to not be endgame i will die on that hill #timkon #tim drake #conner kent #damijon #jondami #damian wayne #jon kent #DC comics #young justice #super sons #dc

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tashasolar · 10 days

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I KNOW THIS SCENE WAS SO SAD TO FILM😭

#the avengers #marvel #marvel fandom #natasha romanov #clint barton #marvel mcu #mcu loki #mcu #mcu fandom #mcu imagine #mcufam #avengers endgame #avengers family #avengers fandom

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jeonthoughts · 4 days

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el: *is upset with mike*

mike: tf she want me to do?? women these days....

will: *is upset with mike*

mike: omg no will please bbg take me back i realize i was wrong you're right i'll change for the better for you sweetie pie please take me back

well.

#imagine giving zero fucks when your gf is upset but losing your shit when your best friend is upset #best friend who youre totally not in love with ofc #sike #byler #will byers #mike wheeler #mike wheeler i know what you are #stranger things s4 #stranger things #byler canon #byler endgame

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donkey-art · 4 months

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thinking about how mike wheeler went to wherever they sell cards and SEARCHED to find one that says “i like you”

the dedication goes further than words with this man

#i can imagine he would ask the store person like #“i need a card that says anything but “i love you’’#store person would be like ‘um sir it’s valentines day’#mike would be like ‘GIMME THE GODDAMM CARD’#byler #stranger things #byler endgame #mike wheeler #dumbass mike !

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olsenmyolsen · 4 months

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I'm Free Tonight

master list

dark master list

MCU Compliant (Female Reader X Carol Danvers)

Summary: A lovely stranger saves you from a boring Christmas Gala.

Word Count: 2.8K

Content: Just Fluff

"You alone?"

You looked up from your seat at the round table and saw the blue eyes of a blonde you'd never seen before.

She wore a beautiful maroon and blue dress with a gold chest piece. Your dress looked silly in comparison, no matter how much your girlfr- ex girlfriend(?) paid for it.

And she wasn't cheap.

An heiress, some would call her.

Others used the word bitch.

You tore your eyes away from the blonde and gestured to a woman at the bar. Clearly drunk and openly flirting with one of the groomsmen. "Supposed to be with her."

The blonde looked where you pointed, and the curiosity on her face turned into one of disappointment.

Followed by a smirk.

"Well, I'm Carol. Carol Danvers." The blon- Carol switched her champagne flute from her right to her left hand. She extended the right to you when you looked up to her.

"Y/N. Y/N Y/L/N." You shook her hand and were surprised to feel a tight grip. You quickly realized how strong Carol was as you checked out the definition and muscles on her arms. "May I?" Carol pointed to the seat to the left of you. "Go ahead." You said with a smile that Carol reciprocated.

Carol also chose this seat so you'd be facing away from the bitch that left you alone.

You turned away from the bar and towards Carol. "How do you know the couple hosting?" Carol asked. "I don't. My date does."

That made sense. Since Carol noticed you hours earlier, she couldn't figure out how you wound up at a place like this. Surrounded by people whose hands were never clean. Politicians and models. Wall Street bros and CEO's. You stuck out—a ray of innocence and good radiated from you. Kind hearted.

Carol knew it to be true when she saw how awful your date treated you.

"Ah," Carol said as she lifted the glass and took a sip of the golden bubbles. "I hope you don't mind me asking... Who is she? Your date?" Carol set her glass down and looked at you in the eyes. "Oh, her name is-"

"Oh no, I'm sorry." Carol stopped you as she reached a hand out to your arm. "I meant, who is she to you."

It felt like a trick question, like Carol knew the truth.

Carol kept her fingers resting on your arm while waiting for your eyes to meet hers. "She's..."

You sighed.

Carol patted your arm. "Think about it." She removed her touch from you, and you missed her warm fingers.

You watched as they wrapped around the glass of champagne. "If it makes you feel better, I'm not supposed to be here," Carol spoke up with a shrug.

"You're not?" Carol watched your forehead crease when you didn't believe her. "No. I'm here doing a favor for a friend." You looked around the room, and like Carol did with you earlier, you couldn't believe someone like her could be here. "What friend?" You asked, making Carol smile.

"The King of Asgard, Valkyrie." She said casually without hesitation.

"Oh!" You said, surprised and bewildered. "I still have yet to visit New Asgard.." You really have been meaning to, but it's not like money grows on trees for you. "I hear it's lovely."

"It is," Carol replies. "So.." Carol leans closer. "Are you done thinking about my question from earlier? What is she..." Carol gestures to the woman you came here with. "..to you. Because she sure as hell isn't your girlfriend."

You followed Carol's eyes and saw the woman kissing the neck of a man you wouldn't give the time of day.

You turned back and looked at Carol.

You sighed and put both arms on the table in a defeated position. "I was her date for tonight, but no, I've never met her until two days prior when I was introduced by her team. I was hired to help clean up her image, but..." You looked back. "Looks like that's not happening."

Carol hummed. "So you're an escort?"

"Blunt, but yes... that's one word for it." You replied. Carol leaned back into her chair and appreciated the honesty coming from you.

"How much did she pay you?"

You certainly weren't expecting that question, and you couldn't tell by the smirk Carol was hiding behind her glass if she was serious or not.

So you decided to forget about the girl you came with and play the game Carol was hopefully playing.

"Why? Think you can afford me?"

That made the blonde laugh. "I know I can." Her voice was lower as she spoke to you. "But I'm not looking to pay. I want you if you want to come along."

That made something in your stomach twirl.

"And where would we go?"

"Wherever you want. But hopefully far away from here."

You peeled your eyes away from the blonde and looked around the room. It was dreadful and boring. This was presented as a Christmas gala, but it was nothing more than a night to fuck and make business deals to everyone else but you.

You were here for a job, but you were clearly left to your own devices.

Until Carol showed up.

"Okay." You said as you turned back to the blonde and nodded. "Let's get out of here."

Carol's eyes lit up. She watched you stand up and down your glass of champagne before extending your hand to her. Carol did the same with her glass before taking your hand. "Thank you." She smiled as she rose to her feet. "No, thank you!"

Carol led you out of the grand mansion you couldn't for the life of you remember the name of and to the valet kiosk. Carol handed the greying man a ticket stub and wrapped her arm around you as you two waited for his return.

"Is this okay?" She asked, forcing you to look up to her eyes. "Me... touching you? Holding you?" You nodded. "It's great." Carol smiled. "Good to know."

Carol felt your skin become scattered with goosebumps. She thought it might've been from the cold wind in the air, but if asked, you would've been honest and told her it was because of her—the blonde with her hand moving up and down your arm.

She smiled.

You two stood in silence, accepting the comfort the other one brought when the valet pulled up in a black sports car that would never be in your tax bracket.

"What a beautiful car, Miss. Please enjoy your evening." The man said to Caol as he handed her the keys before scurrying away.

She simply smirked and moved her arm from around you to your arm closest to her. "Shall we?" You nodded and let Carol lead you to the passenger door. She opened it for you and let go of you as you entered.

She watched the slit of your dress rise as you sat down in the brown leather seat. Her eyes then traveled down to your legs and the heels that went perfectly with your dress. "Good?" She then asked. "Good." You replied before Carol smiled and closed the door.

You watched her move around the front of the car and slide into the driver's seat. The seat adjusted to her, and you watched the steering wheel move to compliment her. "Wow." Carol turned to your voice.

"Kind of a lot, right?" You shrugged and looked into her blue eyes. "It's kinda cool." You tried to be nonchalant, but you were in awe of everything, and Carol knew it.

Carol hit some buttons on the display in the middle and found a radio station playing a pop hit.

Olivia Rodrigo specifically.

The music was kept at a lower volume as Carol waited for you to buckle up. "Safety first, sweetheart." She said, making your stomach flip at the pet name. "Sorry." You mumbled as your cheeks grew red, and Carol buckled herself up before turning up the heat and placing the car in drive.

"You hungry?" Carol hadn't eaten any of the fancy shit the gala was offering. It was all themed around the holiday, and she knew for a fact that you hadn't had a single bite.

You wanted to lie, but with Carol asking in a honey-dripping tone, and one look at her made you nod. "Starving." You said.

However, food wasn't the first thing you were thinking about eating.

Carol smirked as if she could read your mind.

She removed her right hand from the steering wheel and placed it on your thigh as she kept her eyes on the road. The speed of the car picking up.

Her palms on your skin burned with waves of pleasure. "I'll find somewhere for us," Carol said, making you nod. Carol briefly looked over at you and smiled.

She was loving the game that was being played.

In addition, she loved the touch of you. The feeling of your goosebumps spreading across your body every time her fingers lifted up and down your soft, ample skin.

She was also enjoying you—your company.

Carol never got to do stuff like this.

But she was making the most of tonight.

"Is this still okay?" Carol asked as her hand moved slightly up your thigh. Pushing your dress up. "Yes." You said as you buried a moan in your throat.

"Do I feel good? My touch against your body?" Carol asked as she turned her head to you. She watched your side profile nod and swallow before you parted your pink lips. "You feel so good, Carol."

Her blue eyes found the road again.

"Good, sweetheart." Carol patted your thigh and kept you wanting more. "You're doing so well for me."

You whimpered upon hearing the praises of a woman you just met. "Ah, here we go," Carol said, making you do your best to focus on what was worth pulling off the side of the road.

Surprised, you looked at Carol as she put the car in park.

Carol turned to you.

"What's wrong?" She unbuckled her seatbelt and brought a hand up to your face. Moving a hair behind your ear. "You said you were starving." You leaned into her touch ever so slightly and nodded. "I am."

"Then let's eat." Carol smiled and removed her touch from you again as she climbed out of the car.

You kept your eyes on Carol as she closed the door. You watched her pass in front of the neon 24/7 Diner sign before she made it to your passenger door. She opened it and quickly helped you out. "It's somehow gotten colder. Come on." Her hand and fingers became intertwined with yours as she pulled you to the front of the restaurant.

You two seated yourselves in a booth once you entered like a bunch of giggly teenagers.

There was only the waitstaff and three other patrons inside. You and Carol were obviously dressed the best.

"This definitely beats the Gala," Carol said, making you look up from your menu with a smile. "It does."

Carol placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hand. "Tell me something," Carol said with a teasing smirk. "Are you enjoying how the night has gone?"

You dropped your menu onto the table. "I'm loving it. Thank you."

Carol shook her head. "No, thank you." Her leg rubbed up against yours in a gentle manner. "Now, what are you thinking about having?" Carol's eyes found the menu again, but you stared straight ahead.

Carol knew it.

"They don't have me on the menu." You brushed your leg higher against Carol. "Shame. Because I'd love a taste."

You were bold, and you didn't know where it was coming from, but tonight, with Carol, you felt free. You weren't being paid to be someone else. You felt like a new person. Or maybe it was just you being yourself? Regardless, you loved it.

After a waitress came by, you and Carol Danvers ordered cheeseburgers with a basket of fries and a shake, to split, obviously.

The food was wonderful, and the flirting mixed in with conversation was even better.

The highlight might have been when you showed Carol that you could, in fact, tie a cherry stem into a knot in your mouth. You held it between your teeth with pride as Carol smirked at you and, without warning, connected your lips together. Her tongue swiping the stem out of your mouth and into hers.

When she smiled a few seconds later, the knot was undone, and Carol couldn't help but wink at you.

You felt your stomach flip again.

"Whenever you're ready to leave, we can," Carol said to you, only to earn a nod.

Carol laughed at that and stood up as she placed a stack of uncounted bills from her clutch.

"Okay, so maybe you could afford me for the night." You said, taking Carols' hand as you slid out of the booth. "I told you." She smugly replied as she led you out of the diner.

The cold air catching you off guard, but your grip on Carols' hand remained strong. "Come on." She squeezed your hand and bit back a smile before you two ended up on the driver's side of the car.

Carol held the key in her other hand.

"What?" You asked as Carol looked at your eyes. "You're just beautiful." The blonde said, moving her body to be pressed up against yours.

You stumbled a step back as you found your back up against Carols car.

"Is this still okay?" Carols breath was shaky as she held her lips dangerously close to yours.

In the neon glow of the diner sign, you nodded. "Just kiss me again." Carol held in a moan as she did what you asked. The softness of her lips landed on yours.

You pulled her body closer.

Her hands found your hips and squeezed them, making you squeal in delight. "Fuck Carol!" You laughed into Carols mouth.

"Oh, you're such a pretty girl," Carol replied in a hushed tone as she pushed her front up against you more. Feeling the tremble in your legs and warmth from your pussy.

But the sweetest bit was the taste of chocolate on your lips.

"I want you." You moaned into Carols ear.

Carol couldn't be happier. "I want you too." She kissed your neck, jaw, and lips again.

You bit your lips and looked up at her. "Let's go then." You turned around and pressed your ass against Carol and made a gesture for the car keys, but Carol smiled before laughing. "Oh, no, baby. I don't think so."

You tilted your head as you were still catching your breath. "And why is that?" You opened the car door and waited for Carol's answer.

That's when you watched Carol's hand curl and close around the key. Suddenly, her hand began to glow bright and orange. You couldn't believe what you were seeing, and when she opened her hand again, the key was nothing but a pile.

You waited for an answer.

"Remember that story I told you? About the pilot?"

Carol tilted her hand, and you both watched the remnants of the key fall to the asphalt.

You looked up to Carol and thought back to the story she told you across the booth earlier. "So it was you? You have powers?" Carol nodded and made her hands glow again. "What about your car?" You asked honestly.

"The car and cash were never mine." The glow from her hands faded as she stepped into space between your legs. "It was your awful heiress of a date."

Carol touched the top of your head and ran her hand down the side of your face. "I think you and I had a better time than you would with her." She purrs as she kisses your cheek. "Don't you think?"

You nod and move your lips to brush hers. "I do." You find Carol's hands and hold them. "I can work with this."

"Are you sure?"

Carol asks, even though both want this.

"Yes."

Carol kisses you and pulls you close. "Hold on to me." You wrap your arms tightly around Carol's body, and slowly, you feel your feet leave the ground. "Keep your eyes on me," Carol said, and when you looked at her, you saw that her dress had changed into a suit.

One a superhero would wear.

"You brought us back..." You whispered into the space between the two of you. She heard you.

You watched as Carol glowed brighter, and the speed at which you two were flying increased.

You and Carol slept together that night, and you remember the feeling of warmth when you woke up next to her and a cat named Goose in the bed on her spaceship.

That was five months ago, and as you watch Carol fly down to a planet below, you can't help but smile.

You weren't alone.

dividers by @/benkeibear

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averagewriter-inthedark · 2 years

Text

Endgame I | Dark Phoenix Series P.3

Takes place during the first act of Avengers: Endgame

Read parts 1 & 2 -> Series Masterlist | Marvel Masterlist

Characters & Pairings: Dr. Evelyn Alice Stark (OC)/The Eagle/Host of the Phoenix Force, Wanda Maximoff/The Scarlet Witch (platonic), Doctor Stephen Strange (implied romance), Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier (implied romance), Tony Stark (platonic/Nephew), Howard Stark (Platonic/brother), Steve Rogers (platonic/best friend)—a lot of the marvel characters will be involved in this series since it take place during phase 3 & 4.

Content Warnings: angst, aftermath of near-death experience, profanity | Female OC (she/her) | Read time: roughly 15 minutes

Premise: Following the defeat against Thanos, Evelyn Stark is stuck in a coma after absorbing an unknown entity on Titan when she was on the brink of death. 22 days pass of being stranded before they are safely brought to Earth, where they face the catastrophic aftermath of Thanos’ victory. The remaining Avengers are at a loss, unsure of how to go forward, and the only one who can give some insight of what may have happened to Eve, is the God of Thunder.

—————————————

Space. The ‘final frontier’ as Star Trek would say. The endless void of darkness and silence. Where the light one sees from the neighboring stars and galaxies are actually glimpses of the past.

There, thousands of light years from Earth, a lone spaceship glides away after losing the last bit of power it had.

“This thing on?” A whirring sound of the helmet powering up gives Tony some satisfaction. “Hey. Miss Potts. Pep. If you find this recording, don’t post it on social media. It’s gonna be a real tear jerker.” He leans against the wall of the ship, groaning a bit. “I don't know if you're ever gonna see these. I don’t even know if you’re still……..Oh, God, I hope so. Today is day twenty-one—no, uh, twenty-two. You know, if it wasn’t for the existential terror of staring into the literal void of space, I’d say I’m feeling a little better today.

Tony thinks back to earlier in the day when Nebula helped him patch up the stab wound on his side. “Infection’s run its course. Thanks to the Blue Meanie back there. Oh, you’d love her. Very practical. Only a tiny bit sadistic.”

He then relays the update on their situation, grimacing and glancing briefly to his right out the window. “So, the fuel cells were cracked during battle and we figured out a way to reverse the ion charge and bought ourselves about forty-eight hours of flight time.” He pauses to sigh, “Uh, but it’s now dead in the water. Thousand light years from the nearest 7-Eleven.”

“Oxygen will run out tomorrow morning and that’ll be it,” Tony doesn’t mention how they’ve also run out of food. Nebula refused to have her half of the last bag and encouraged Tony to finish it. The man turns his gaze to his left, eyes falling on the figure laying still on a table. A shaky breath leaves him, “Eve is….Eve’s still comatose. I’ve had to shock her a few times with what little power I still have. She’s still breathing—which is a relief, but I honest to God don’t know how. Whatever she absorbed—whatever went in her, is keeping her alive.”

The image of Eve on Titan flashes in his mind. The sight of her bruised and bloody body impaled on a rock by her own wing. The horrified look on her face when she realized the flare-like force was coming at her. The explosion that shook the ground.

And her screams. The gut-wrenching screams.

Tony could still hear them, often waking up at night in a sweat because they would ring in his ear. “When she wakes up—,” he brings his hand to his face, rubbing the scruff along his jaw. “If she wakes up, I-I don’t know what we’ll find. If she'll still be our Eve.” He casts another look in her direction, “But then again, I don’t think at this rate we’ll ever know.”

“Pep, I know I said no more surprises but I gotta say I was really hoping to pull off one last one. But it looks like.. well, you know what it looks like.” He leans forward, looking into the eyes of the helmet. “Don’t feel bad about this. I mean, actually, if you grovel for a couple weeks and then move on with enormous guilt….” The words fall flat as exhaustion overtakes him. “I should probably lie down for a minute. Go rest my eyes.”

Tony rubs his face before glancing back at the helmet, “Please know, when I drift off, it’ll be like every night lately. I’m fine. Totally fine,” he assures, as if she were right in front of him. His fingers then tap the helmet right between the eyes, “I dream about you. Because it’s always you.”

Reluctantly, Tony brings his hand around the device to power it off. It clicks, the eyes dimming to signal the recording ended. Pulling his around his arms and bidding Eve one last glance, Tony leans onto his side before slowly letting the exhaustion take over. He almost feels a sense of peace.

That if this was his last night breathing, at least it would be in his sleep.

Some time later when Tony finally succumbed to sleep, Nebula approaches to check on him. She nudges him onto his back before gently helping the man into a chair. The action makes him shift, and Nebula give a light squeeze his shoulder. She made no sound as she walked away, passing by Eve with a solemn expression.

It was unreal how Nebula could literally feel the heat radiating off the woman. It made her flinch, remembering the burning sensation she felt when she and Tony attempted to move Eve onto the ship. Her one flesh palm was badly burned and Tony had to use what little juice he had in his iron glove to give to her.

They eventually had to skid Eve onto the broken wing of her suit in order to carry her. They feared the metal would melt, but luckily it held. Then there was the matter of getting her on the table. So far it was withstanding the woman star-like temperature—no sign of the steel weakening. Tony had run one last thermal scan and it appeared by the day it was slowly decreasing.

It was as though Eve was adapting to it.

Some time had passed before a brightness pooled behind Tony’s eyes. The sleepiness faded away at the sound of a distant boom, Tony lifting a hand to shield his face. The glow grew stronger causing the man to become fully awake. That’s when he saw something approaching the ship.

At first fear consumed him. It looked very similar to the orange flare on Titan, though this was visibly smaller. The bright light came closer until it was directly in front of Tony and the only thing separating them was the glass windshield of the ship.

Tony stayed frozen as the light began to fade before the form of a woman took over. She had glowing eyes which then dimmed to human-like and blonde hair fell down to her shoulders. There was a golden diamond-like star on the chest of her suit.

Within seconds that fear and dread of an untimely end disappeared when from Tony when she smiled at him. Hope replaced it, and he let out an exhale full of immense relief.

They were going home.

The mood at Avengers compound was a mix of grief and unease. The world as they knew was it shambles and the total of missing persons was still counting. Bucky, Wanda, Sam, T’Challa, Shuri, Vision, and many many more. Their worst nightmare had came true.

Thanos wiped out half of the universe.

Steve Rogers stood in front of the mirror of his old room, towel in his hand to wipe away the moisture and residue of shaving cream. There was a haunted look in his eyes. That’s what came with being a soldier. A soldier stuck in time that is.

A movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. The small side mirror attached to the main one was shaking, and Steve brought his hand up to stop the movement. But when he pulled away it continued, and that’s when he heard the sound of rumbling throughout the compound.

He dropped the towel onto the counter, racing out of the room and down to the main level. He found Natasha, Rhodey, and Bruce all huddled. All three were look around with worried gazes. “What’s happening?”

Natasha shook her head, “I-I don’t know.” Rhodey pulled up a projection of the outside perimeter. In the corner of the screen, he saw a very large object flying down with a glowing source at the bottom.

“Something’s landing outside,” he announced causing all eyes to widen. Together they all ran out to the front lawn where they found Pepper standing with clasped hands as she watched the ship descend from the sky.

They’re running slowed to a walk, all eyes drawn up before they stopped behind pepper. The woman they recognized as Carol Danvers, who had arrived to Earth demanding to know where Nick Fury was a week prior, was holding the ship and safety brought onto the grass.

The glow around her faded, and she turned to greet the group just as the latch of the ship opened to reveal a stair case. Steve rushed forward the second he saw Tony limping down, holding onto a blue lady for support. But a sense of dread filled him when he saw no sign of Eve.

Tony takes his arm, bidding a look of gratitude to Nebula before stumbling down the remaining steps. He panted, “Couldn’t stop him.”

“Neither could I,” Steve replied, holding tightly to Tony’s arm.

“Hand on,” Tony stopped them from walking, catching his breath. He locked eyes with the Captain, tears filling at the brim, “I lost the kid.” Steve makes a sound of defeat, his expression mirroring the older man.

“Tony, we lost.”

Nothing they could do would change that. Strange saw nearly 15 million possibilities and all of them ended with them losing. All but one. It was bound to happen.

Tony swallows hard, licking his lip before glancing at his savior. “H-Hey!” He called out causing her to look at him. “There’s one more of us inside,” he ignores the look Steve was giving him. It was a mix of shock and hope. “—you may be the only one who can carry her without burning to death.”

“What?” Steve asked, glancing between the two for an answer. Carol nodded to Tony before entering the ship. They all waited with concern, the others moving closer to see what was happening. In the mix, Pepper runs up to Tony causing him to let out a sound of relief, “Oh, good.”

“Oh my God!” She cried before embracing him. “Oh my God.” He hugged her close to him, relishing in her warmth and patted her back gently. When she pulled away his lips pressed to her cheek.

A sound from the ship drew back their attention. Behind him, Tony could hear the others gasp at the sight of Carol walking down the steps with an unconscious Eve Stark in her arms.

Steve starts to move, but Tony lightly pushes against his chest. “Don’t,” he warns. “You can’t touch her.” At Steve’s confused expression, Tony pulls his hand away to reveal the state of his palm. It was scared with light redness to it. The blisters had went away, but the damage was done. Tony would need to get a doctor to look at it, but he already accepted there was some nerve damage to his hand. It still felt numb even 22 days later.

Steve gazes at Tony’s hand, shock filling his eyes and Pepper gasps. Behind him, Natasha leans over to see and her hand comes up to her mouth. They both glance to Nebula, noticing how her one hand was similar. Steve looks back to the man, “What happened?”

He doesn’t answer initially, his attention on his aunt who was unmoving in Carol’s arms save for the slow pace of her breathing. Eyes closing, the memory once again playing in his mind, Tony let’s out a shaky breath. “It—it’s hard to explain,” he pauses to open his eyes to see everyone was watching him, “but I can show you.”

The remaining Avengers and their new allies all gathered in the main room of the compound. Tony sat in a wheelchair, IV drip attached to his side while Eve laid in the next room over hooked up to a variety of machines. It was a sore sight to see the once strong and willed woman so helpless. Her brain waves and vitals were still alarmingly abnormal, but relief came with the knowledge her heart rate was slowing and body temperature had decreased.

She was still hotter than all of them except Carol—the blonde being the only one who could physically touch Eve without any harm. She had to be the one to attach the tubes and machines with Bruce instructing her. As they worked, Steve watched from the doorway with his arms crossed.

“Is she going to be okay?” He asked Bruce, glancing up to see the doctor looked worried.

“It’s hard to say, Cap,” he spoke with unease. Stress coated his expression. “I’ve never seen anyone with readings like this. I-I don’t even know what’s wrong with her—do you?” Bruce turned the former Kree. She shook her head, moving to place the last syringe in Eve’s arm.

“I can’t determine anything until we see what Tony has to show us.” With that the three leave the room, giving one last glance to the Avenger before making their way to where everyone else was. When every one was settled, taking their place on various corners of the area, Tony weakly called out to F.R.I.D.A.Y, “Pull up Mark L footage from twenty-two days ago.”

“Right away, sir.” Within seconds a projection appeared and their eyes locked on the reddish-orange hue of Titan. Tony has F.R.I.D.A.Y skim through bit where Quill snapped, focusing it on the moment Eve was incapacitated.

Everyone was rendered speechless when the witnessed the Avenger impaled by her own wing. It was so graphic Pepper had to look away, her hand coming to her mouth to cover the gasp she let out. Rhodey also had to turn away, the image of his friend too painful to see. Both Natasha and Steve flinched, the soldier clenching his jaw.

The next thing they saw was the glowing orange flare. It blasted Eve through her chest before the rest swarmed around her. They saw her lift off the ground, the metal pieces disintegrating and the look of horror on the Avenger as the flare consumed her. She was screaming and in that moment they were grateful Tony had muted the recording.

Seconds ticked by before Eve was no longer visible and a bright light erupted from the force of the explosion. They lived it through the eyes of Tony. Dust filled the air and rocks rained from the sky. The anxiety Tony must have felt was swarming through all of them. The last thing the recording showed was Eve lying still in the middle of the crater.

“And you said she’s been unconscious ever since?” Steve asked after a minute of silence passed. He was rubbing his jaw, a habit of his when things became tense. There was a mixture of emotion flooding him. He wasn’t the only one however, everyone had to take a moment to process what they had seen.

“Twenty-three days and counting,” Tony replied, “I’ve had to play doctor and shock her because he heart rate is beating too fast for a human to withstand—even with that super juice.” Tony winces, adjusting in his chair. “There’s also the concerning matter she’s taking on a body temp enough to rival our own sun yet somehow manages to not melt and become Freddy Krugers long lost sister.”

“It was like—like that thing,” Natasha shakes her head, “was targeting her. Why would that be?”

“Beats me,” Rhodey sighs, letting his hands fall to his side. “My question is why didn’t it blow up Thanos. He was right there—could’ve saved us a whole lot of trouble.”

Steve clutches the back of the chair in front of him, his head dropping to glance at the floor. “Whatever it was and why Eve was targeted…,” he paused before looking back up,. “We’ll get that answer when she wakes.”

“If,” Tony corrected, grimacing at the thought. “If she wakes up you mean.”

“Tony—.” Nat tries, but he holds a hand up.

“No need for optimism, Romanoff. We’ve got more important matters while we wait for whatever fate has planned for my aunt.” He sniffs, ignoring the looks he was receiving. “Give me the stats.”

Though hesitant to change the subject, Steve sighed and pulled up all they had currently on the situation. Images of those vanished took up the screen, most notably their friends and allies. Rhodey was the one to start, “It’s been twenty-three days since Thanos came to Earth.” Stephen Strange and Bucky Barnes’ face appeared, followed by Sam Wilson and Erik Selvig.

“World governments are in pieces,” Natasha continued, the images of Hope Van Dyne and Wanda Maximoff taking over. “The parts are still working are trying to take a census and it looks like he did,” she paused, noticing the broken look of Tony when Peter Parker stared back at him. He had to look away, chest constricting at another wave of emotion.

“He did exactly what he said he was gonna do. Thanos wiped out fifty percent of all living creatures.” The room fell silent once again, everyone taking in the information. Sadness was evident on all of them. Carol, who’d been very serious and stoic since the moment she arrived, even showed emotion at the sight of Nick Fury’s face.

“Where is now?” Tony asked suddenly. “Where?”

“We don’t know.” Steve replied, leaning on the table with his arms crossed. “He just opened a portal and walked through.” His answer makes Tony sigh, wheeling his chair a tad forward.

“What’s wrong with him,” He pointed to Thor seated far away from the group, looking just as bad as him.

“Oh, he’s pissed,” an unfamiliar voice sounded. When Tony turned in it’s direction, the man was in complete shock when the voice belonged to a raccoon. “He thinks he failed. Which of course he did, but you know there’s a lot of that going around, ain’t there?”

Tony was at a lost for words, but somehow found them. “Honesty, until this exact second I thought you were a Build-A-Bear.”

“Maybe I am,” Rocket fired back, his body slumping in defeat.

Steve brought the conversation back before it got sidetracked. “We’ve been hunting Thanos for three weeks now. Deep space scans and satellites, and we got nothing. Tony, you fought him.”

“Who told you that?” he tilted his head, finding humor in the assumption. “I didn’t fight him. No, he wiped my face with a planet while a solar flare inhabited my aunt and the Bleecker Street magician gave away the store. That’s what happened. There was no fight—.”

“Tony—.”

“—‘Cause he’s not beatable.”

“Did he give you any clues, any coordinates, anything?”

“Uh..” Tony sputters out, making a motion of his hand against his head. Steve and Natasha exchange looks of distress. “I saw this coming a few years back. I had a vision-I didn’t want to believe it. Thought I was dreaming.”

Steve starts to stand, “Tony, I’m gonna need you to focus.”

“And I needed you,” Tony cuts with off harshly. “As in, past tense. That trumps what you need. It’s too late, buddy. Sorry.” The last thing Tony felt was sympathy for the soldier and Steve knew that. The thin line of friendship they had at the beginning of the Accords fiasco had snapped.

The older man sniffs, moving to stand from his chair. “You know what I need?” He pushes the bowls on the table away, making the contents spill. “I need to shave. And I believe I remember telling all yourselves—.”

“Tony, Tony!” Rhodey moves forward when Tony removes his IV from his arm.

“—alive and otherwise, that what we needed was a suit of armor around the world. Remember that? Whether it impacted our precious freedoms or not. That’s what we needed.”

“Well, that didn’t work out, did it?” Steve’s words only anger Tony more.

“I said we’d lose. You said, ‘We’ll do that together, too.’ And guess what, Cap? We lost. And you weren’t there.” Tony pauses, pointing his finger at the room where Eve was laid. “And now the only family I have left is fighting for her life and may never wake up. Your so called best friend,” he emphasized with malice, aware how Steve flinched. “You weren’t there to save her.”

The super-soldier tried not to react. He didn’t want Tony to know how badly the words were affecting him. Guilt had flooded him knowing the state Eve was in. It pained him at the thought she could never wake up. All he could do was pray she did so they could finally resolve everything. So Eve would know he was sorry.

Steve remained silent as Tony continued his rant. “But that’s what we do, right? Our best work after the face? We’re the ‘Avengers,’” Rhodey had to help steady Tony when he started to stumble. “We’re the ‘Avengers,’ not the ‘Pre-vengers.’”

“Okay,” Rhodey calmly said.

“Right?”

“You made your point. Just sit down, okay?”

“Okay. No, no,” Tony tugged away from his friend. “Here’s my point, you know what?” He pointed to Carol, “she’s great by the way.”

“Tony, you’re sick,” Rhodey said with more force, trying to push him back into the wheelchair. “Sit down.”

“We need you. You’re new blood.” When he successfully broke away from Rhodey, Tony marched straight up to Steve. “Bunch of tired ole mules. I got nothing for you, Cap.” He stood before him with only only an arms length between then. “I got no coordinates, no clues, no strategies, no options. Zero. Zip. Nada. No trust, liar.”

The word cuts into Steve and leaves a lasting effect. Pain fills his expression as Tony removes the device from his hallowed chest. With shaky breath, he takes Steve’s hand and places it firmly in his palm. “Here, take this. You find him, you put that on….” His starts to stutter, the air becoming hard to inhale. “You hide.” His knees give out causing Steve to rush forward.

“Tony!”

“I’m fine,” he pants. He pushes him and Rhodey away, “Let me…” The words fall as darkness overtakes him. He falls on his side, head nearly hitting Carol’s feet and everyone moves to the rescue. Together they get him in one of the rooms close to Eve. Pepper, who had been in the kitchen making tea, rushes in and moves to Tony’s bedside.

Rhodey, the caring friend he is, practically tucks Tony in and hooks him back up to an IV drip. He gives Pepper one last nod after placing Tony’s glasses on the table and exits. Steve, Nat, and Carol are waiting for him. “Bruce gave him a sedative. He’s gonna probable be out for the rest of the day. And I feel it’s safe to assume the same goes for Eve.” Like clockwork, the four all move their heads to glance into the room where the woman laid.

“You guys take care of them,” Carol says causing them to turn to her. “And I’ll bring him a Xorrian elixir when I come back.” She uncrosses her arms and begins walking away.

“Where are you going?” Steve asks curiously.

“To kill Thanos.” Both Nat and Steve exchange looks, before hastily chasing after her.

“Hey,” Nat calls, making Carol stop and turn around. “You know, we usually work as a team here. And, uh, between you and I, morale’s a little fragile.”

“We realize up there is more your territory,” Steve says from behind Nat, “but this is our fight, too.”

“You even know where he is?” Rhodey asks, leaning against the entryway with his arms crossed.

“I know people who might.”

“Don’t bother,” Nebula cuts in, drawing everyone’s attention. “I can tell you where Thanos is.” Her revelation had everyone on edge. They gathered in the conference room, focused on what Nebula had to offer. “Thanos spent a long time trying to perfect me,” she begins, trying to ignore the anger in her as the painful memories resurfaced. “And when he worked, he talked about his Great Plan. Even disassembled, I wanted to please him. I’d ask, ‘where would we go once his plan was complete?’ And his answer was always the same.” The woman pushed off the wall and approached the table, letting her head drop between her shoulders. “‘To the Garden.’”

Rhodey raises his eyebrows, not really impressed with the name. “That’s cute. Thanos has a retirement plan.”

“So where is he?” Steve walked over and around the table so he was in front of Rocket. The raccoon pulls up a projection of the Earth.

“When Thanos snapped his fingers Earth became ground zero for a power surge of ridiculous cosmic proportions. Something similar happened just before on Titan which we can assume involved your friend,” They all stiffen at the mention of Eve. “No one’s ever seen anything like it. Although the type of cosmic energy on Titan was different than Thanos snapping.”

“How so?” Steve asked, tilting his head.

“Not really sure. Haven’t seen anything like it my travels of our universe. But then two days ago,” the image changed from Earth to another planet. “On this planet, the same power surge occurred.”

“Thanos is there,” Nebula confirmed.

Natasha leaned foward, the glow of the projection illuminating her face. “He used the stones again.”

“Hey, hey, hey,” Bruce nervously chuckles. “We’d be going in short handed, you know.”

“Look, he’s still got the stones so—.” Carol cuts Rhodey off.

“So, let’s get ‘em.” She nods at the potential plan. “Use them to bring everyone back.”

“Just like that?” Bruce doesn’t look convinced. He was right to feel hesitant. They already lost one battle, why repeat that so soon.

“Yeah,” Steve agrees with the woman. “Just like that.”

Natasha adds in on the topic. “Even if there’s a small chance that we can undo this, I mean, we owe it to everyone who’s not in this room to try.”

“If we do this, how do we know it’s gonna end any differently than it did before?” Bruce finally asks what he’d been thinking the entire time.

Carol places her hands on her hips, “Because before you didn’t have me.”

“Hey, new girl?” Rhodey gets her attention, not really enjoying how she’s taking full change on the matter. “Everybody in this room is about that superhero life. And if you don’t mind my asking, where the hell have you been all this time?”

“There are a lot of other planets in the universe,” she tells him. “And unfortunately, they didn’t have you guys.” Steve’s lips curl up and the look on Rhodey’s face. She just owned him big time.

The sound of Thor skidding his chair back to stand has Carol turning. The two lock eyes and he comes to stand right in front of her. Keeping their eyes locked, Thor raises his hand—just inches from Carol’s face. Blonde hair flies and falls back in place by the force of Stormbreaker flying past her and into his grip. She gives no reaction, remaining stoic at the God.

Thor brings the ax down in front of him, before slightly nodding in approval. It makes Carol smirk. “I like this one,” he tells the others. They share another look, one of mutual respect.

Steve turns back to the image of The Garden. Determination in his eyes as he says the words everyone was thinking. They were gonna find him, and they were gonna bring everyone back. “Let’s go get this son of a bitch.”

After everyone suited up they piled back into the room. Thor was the first to enter. And when the rest arrived they found him replaying the footage of Eve. When Tony had showed them earlier, Thor had paid no mind. Now the God’s eyes were concentrated.

When the recording replayed, this time focusing on the moment where the flare swarmed Eve, Steve approached. “Thor,” he called, eyes shifting back and forth. “What do you know?”

Behind him everyone’s ears perked, all thinking the same. The footage played for a third time before the man finally spoke.

“On Asgard,” he started, voice lowering as a feeling of emotion swarmed him. “My father once spoke of immortal and immutable manifestation of the universal force of life and passion.” Mix matched eyes trained on the screen. “A ‘cosmic entity’ he called it. The spark which gave life to the universe and all it’s creation. And the flame that will ultimately end it.”

By now everyone had gathered closer to the God. “This entity then traveled the cosmos. It would create and destroy all in it’s path—not even a Celestial could tame it.” The recording was now on auto reply, once again showing Eve’s bloody figure moments before the flare. “It’s said to be powerful than the Celestials.” The eyes of those who knew of Celestials widen in surprise. Thor didn’t add the fact the Infinity stones fell into the category.

He didn’t want to tarnish any last bit of hope for the team if his theory of Eve was proven false.

Thor thinks back to the conversation on Asgard. The memory of a young Loki and him sitting by the fire as Odin relayed the story while Frigga conjured illusions of a solar-like flare moving through the universe. Awe and wonder in their eyes. The thought of a being so powerful it was hard to believe. “My father said it was a myth. A legend passed down from generation to generation. Many civilizations worship this entity—they see it as a God.” He pauses the video on Eve moments before the explosion. Before the ball of light took form.

“Why are you telling us this?” Rhodey asks suspiciously when Thor finishes. Thor rubs his jaw, but doesn’t face the group. His attention remains on the screen.

“There’s never been proof said being exists. Although, it’s believed it takes the manifestation of a flare,” he zooms in on the projection. Eve was hovered over the ground with her arms spread out. Her head slightly tilted up and they could make out that her mouth was parted. All around her was glowing orange. If one looked closely, they could see tiny cracks in her skin.

It was almost a beautiful sight…..If not for the fact she was now laying in a coma because of it.

“Sort of like what we see here,” Thor trails off. The words bring a silence so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Steve steps closer, understanding what Thor was implying. His eyes move between the God and the image.

“What are you saying, Thor?”

He turns to Steve, a flicker of realization in his eyes. “I’m saying, if my theory is correct, our Lady Stark may never be the woman we once had.”

The conversation ends there with no explanation to follow. Steve remains frozen as Thor takes his leave, Stormbreaker in his grip and exits the compound. The others followed after him, many with expressions of worry and unease. Rocket, Nebula, and Carol were just as anxious despite not knowing Eve well. Just the thought of it being true was enough to spark an eerie feeling.

That their friend, ally, and teammate, who was unresponsive, had been targeted by a cosmic entity. ‘What did it want with her?’ was the million dollar question. They wouldn’t until Eve awoke.

If she awoke.

Seconds passed in silence until Steve eventually spun on his heel and joined everyone. The only ones who remained in the compound were Tony, Pepper, Eve. Happy had been called and would arrive shortly to give them company.

The projection still showed the paused image of Eve. Trapped in a fiery swarm of energy. In all the times they played the video—even freezing it, no one noticed how the flare, just seconds before conforming into a ball of light, was in the shape of a bird.

It had been roughly a week after the team returned to Earth following the mission to The Garden. Another failure had dawned them. This one the worst because it sealed the deal for the fate of their universe.

Half of all living creatures were gone forever.

Thanos had destroyed the stones, making his snap irreversible. He must have known they would try to come for them, so the Titan made sure they’d never get the chance. And then Thor cut his head off.

The second the returned everyone had scattered. They needed to deal with the hard loss in their own way. Thor went off to help his people find a new home. The guardians and Carol were back in space. Bruce and Steve took off to God knows where, although they remained in touch with Natasha.

And the former Widow? She settled in the only home she knew. The Avengers compound.

The elixir Carol gifted Tony helped tremendously. He was back on his feet the next morning feeling refreshed, but nothing new from Eve. Becase of this, Tony stayed longer at the facility than planned. Pepper was in the process of making arrangements for them, the two debating if they wanted to even stay in the city or find someplace quiet. It was common sense to push back the wedding—neither wanting to go through with it until they knew Eve was okay.

So here they were stuck in the compound with Happy, Rhodey, and Nat. It was almost comical how the atmosphere was. The last time all six were together like this was 2010. Natasha busied herself with the idea she could continue the Avengers, even if it only made up of herself, the Guardians, Okoye, and Carol. Rhodey did agree to help which relieved a lot of stress for the redhead.

She was the first to hear the choked gasp and beeping sound coming from the monitors. The chair she was sitting hit the floor from how hard she pushed off it. Natasha was running, calling out to F.R.I.D.A.Y to alert the others when Eve’s screams started. She wasn’t the only one to have heard the monitors, Rhodey was cutting the corner of the opposite direction at the same moment.

“Is she awake?” He said, oblivious to the ear-piercing scream.

Natasha gave a small glare, yelling over the screams, “What do you think?” They both entered the room to find Eve covered in a layer of sweat, hunched over the bed and holding her head in her hands. “Eve!!” Natasha ran up to grab her arms, but then remembered she couldn’t touch her. “Eve, look at me!”

“My head,” the woman whimpered, eyes squeezed shut. “It’s in my head!” She let out another scream as the pain pierced her.

“What’s in your head, Eve?” Nat asked, then turned to Rhodey, “Get Tony, now!” He spun on his heel and ran out. When she turned back to Eve, Nat could hear here mumbling in a frantic speed, “It’s too loud—it’s too loud. I-I-I can’t—-I can’t—AH!” Eve’s ears were ringing, her head pounding.

The monitors were beeping so loud it drew Nat’s attention—her eyes widening by the numbers showing. “Eve,” she calmly said, looking away from the deathly high heart rate showing. “Eve, you need to calm down—listen to my voice. It’s me, Natasha.”

But Eve couldn’t hear the redhead. Fire was consuming her. Her body, her mind, all of it. The voice in her head was almost like an echo. It was breaking apart the walls in her mind, with Eve unable to hide. A constant pressure to let her know it was there. “Evelyn.”

New voices entered the room, and Eve’s eyes snapped open when cold metal hands grabbed her shoulder. Her vision was blurry at first, but then it cleared. Tony was kneeling in front of her in a state of shock and relief. “Eve,” he said, but his voice shouted afar.

“T-Tony,” she whispered. That’s when Eve finally looked around the room and realized she was in the compound. “This—this is the compound. W-what, what happened?” Her eyes landed on Nat standing behind Tony, the drifting to the doorway where Rhodey was. Finally she could see Pepper and Happy behind the glass window. They all were wearing the same expressions.

Shock, relief, and worry all in one.

“T-Thanos,” Eve turned back to her nephew, noticing how he was gripping her with just the hand portions of his suit. “Thanos. Titan. The others— where are the others?”

“Eve, what was the last thing you remember?” Tony asked hesitantly. It was a good sign she remembered the fight on Titan, but now the questioned remained on whether she could recall what happened after.

“I—,” she swallowed, thinking back despite the constant pounding in her head. “Thanos he—I was on the rock. My wing—,” she gasped, hand coming to her stomach only to find there was no bandage or visible wound. “I was dying. I was dying And then, there—there was a bright light coming from the sky.”

When she didn’t add on, Tony thought, “Okay, that’s a start,” glancing at the floor. Eve, who was looking at the wall and didn’t see his mouth not move instantly said, “What’s a start?”

Tony’s head snapped up so fast it made her flinch and turn back to him. “What?” The expression he was giving worried her.

“I-I didn’t—,” he stuttered, eyes slightly wide. “Eve, I didn’t say that.”

“Yes you did. I heard you.”

Tony shook his head, loosening his grip on her. “I didn’t say it aloud, Eve.”

“What?” As the ringing in her ears stopped, more voices filled the silence. “Did she just—.” Nat’s tone rang out, despite Eve looking straight at her and no movement from her lips. “That’s impossible,” Rhodey was next. Faintly she could hear Pepper and Happy, but they weren’t in conversation either.

There was a spike in her heart rate as the realization filled her. She pushed away from Tony, inching further onto the bed. “Eve,” he tried to say calmly, but it just scared her more. “Eve, you need to calm down.”

“I—I can hear you—all of you,” she felt her lungs constrict. “Evelyn,” the echo called to her again. It made her whimper, tears brimming her eyes as she looked around her to find the voice, but nothing was there. She could feel everyone’s eyes on hers, unsure of what to do. “What’s happening to me?”

“You’re gonna be okay,” Tony leans forward. “Now that you’re awake, we’re gonna do everything to figure out what—-.”

“How long?” She cuts him off with a gulp. “How long ago was Titan?” Tony clenches his jaw, not wanting to reveal the truth. But the number of days flickered in his mind and it was enough for Eve to catch it. He hadn’t even realized it happened until she gasped. “No…”

“They’re gone, Evelyn.” The voice told her and the pounding returned. It was strong, making her clutch her head again and wince. “He won. Your friends failed.”

“No,” she cried. “No!” Lights began to flicker, causing everyone to freeze as fear filled them. Eve could hear their thoughts among the echoed voice. ‘What the hell?’ “What is she doing?’ “Oh my God.’

“Get out of my head,” she hunched over in a whisper. The flickering continued, becoming more and more frantic. The monitors were going crazy, the sound sending her into a frenzy. “It’s too loud—It’s too loud.” Her words had Tony and Rhodey moving to unplug the monitors, but it did nothing for the woman.

Just the sound of their thoughts were becoming too much. Eve didn’t know how to stop listening. And she was slowly starting to lose control of whatever was flowing through her. “Get out of my head.”

“I’m part of you now, Evelyn.”

“What are you?”

“You’ll know soon.”

“Eve!” Tony shouted, but it got lost amongst the wave of noise. Happy moved Pepper away from the room despite her protests, worried for her friend and fiancé. Natasha was slowly backing away, coming to stand by the door with Rhodey. Neither could form words at what they were witnessing.

“Get out of my head.”

“Evelyn.”

“Stop.”

“Evel—.”

“No!” She cried out and a light fixture exploded. A tear escaped her right eye. The others flinched and fear pooled at the sight. The whispering echo continued—a mental battle in the Avengers mind. And then all hell broke loose, when Eve’s voice took a tone none of them had ever heard of. “Get out of my head!”

The monitors closest to the window flew into the glass window—shattering it causing everyone to react. Tony nearly tripped on his own feet when he jumped back, avoiding the one nearly hitting him. Nat let out a gasp, hand clapping over her mouth. All the lights exploded causing them to run out to avoid being hit by the fluorescent glass.

When it was over, Tony ran back in to find Eve laying unconscious on the bed. This time, he could see the glowing orange cracks in her skin. They covered her hairline—going down her jaw and onto her neck. He didn’t dare touch her. If those cracks were visible then it surely implied her body temperature was high.

“Are those..is her skin cracked?” Rhodey said from over his shoulder.

Tony lets out a defeated sigh, not answering. The last thing they wanted was to be back at square one. It gave him hope she would wake up again, but now they had a new battle in their wake.

And if Tony was being honest with himself, he didn’t want anyone other than the people in that room to know.

“No one else knows about this, understood?” He says and waits for a response. When it doesn’t come he turns around. Both Rhodey and Natasha look hesitant at the idea. He narrows his eyes, “I don’t need her having any more stress added on to whatever the hell is going on. You heard her didn’t you?” They both nod and he swallows hard. “There’s something inside her—in her head, that we don’t know and it’s scaring her. This stays between us. I mean it.”

Nat rubs her arms, frowning as she glances to her friend. It didn’t feel right leaving the others in the dark, but understood it would be better for Eve. “Okay.” Rhodey shakes his head, but agrees anyway. Tony didn’t need to convince Pepper or Happy, they would support whatever he had felt was right.

After a few seconds Nat asks, “What do you want me to tell him?” The ‘him’ being Steve, “If he asks why she’s gone?” Tony didn’t know how Natasha knew he was planning on taking Eve away from the compound, but didn’t speak on it. He gives a shrug, looking over his shoulder to his aunt. The cracks had faded and her skin was back to normal.

“As far as Steve Rogers is concerned, Eve’s still in a coma—I know what you’re thinking,” he lifts a hand when Nat looks like she’s about to protest. “but give me another month to figure this out. She needs to be somewhere away from the chaos where it’s quiet. That should relieve some of the strain this new…power is putting on her.” The man was having trouble coming to terms with this new reality. It worried him to the point he was starting to feel a headache by what the future for his aunt had in store for them.

“She can read our minds now, Tony,” Rhodey couldn’t believe what he was saying.

“I know,” the man replied, scratching his chin. “We’ll take it one day at a time.” He moved to the bed, hands covered and brought Eve’s body more to the middle. He didn’t bother with the blanket since she was still drenched in sweat. He made a mental note to have the AC turned up in hopes of bringing her body temperature back down.

Part of him felt he needed to shock her, convinced her heart rate was high, but felt it would do nothing. All he could do now was wait again until she awoke. In the meantime, he and Pepper would find somewhere quiet and out of the city for them to settle.

Just when he was about to leave the room, something on Eve caught his attention. It was so small he almost didn’t notice if not for the little light coming in from the window. He leaned closer, his face directly over Eve’s—focused on the hairs framing her face.

“What is it?” Natasha asked, tilting her head around him to see what he was looking at.

“Get me a magnifying glass—or better yet,” he places his glasses on and shines a light on Eve’s forehead. Squinting, he makes out the discolor at the root of her scalp. “What in the hell?” It couldn’t be possible—there was no way. Even after blinking several times to see if his mind was playing ticks on him, it was still there clear as day.

The roots of Eve’s dark—almost black hair, so small one could miss it if they weren’t looking with a magnifying glass,

was a deep blood red.

……………………………

Tag list: @todaywasafairytale07, @ohholyaphrodite

#Spotify #tony stark imagine #endgame imagine #dark phoenix imagine #dark phoenix #stephen strange imagine #wanda maximoff imagine #avenger imagine #avengers au #marvel imagine #tony stark #original character #marvel fanfiction #avengers endgame #Thor #black widow #natasha romanoff

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starrynightsxo · 1 month

Text

I AM 50% THROUGH SHATTER ME.

respectfully, who tf is adam and why have I not heard anything about him. ever.

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bvtbxtch · 3 months

Text

Stephen | Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

“You’re my object of affection, my drug of choice, my sick obsession.”

Summary: 5 years since graduation, 5 years since you ran your way through Hawkins High, leaving boys in your wake…. Except one. Steve Harrington, apparent untouchable due to his infatuation with Nancy Wheeler. What happens when you see a worn out, former heartthrob with his fizzled high school flame stuck to him? Unhappy, feeling unloved and in a bind, you thought Steve could be the conquest of the night… or so you thought.

Pairings: King!Steve (Kinda) x Toxic!Fem!Reader

Content warnings: smut, angst, fluff. Non canon au. Steve and Nancy are together from Steve’s senior year to the time of the story. Cheating (emotional and sexual), p in v sex, oral (m and f receiving), Reader defs isn’t a girls girl but I couldn’t help it, alcohol consumption, one night stands, stealing, public sex. This is definitely 18+ MDNI!!!!!

WC:

A/N: Hi babies I have returned with something a little bit different from my little hiatus and am super excited to try something new! This fic is inspired by the song Stephen by Ke$sha! I hope you like it!! I love you all!

The pounding in your head mirrored that in your heart as you remembered the burn of alcohol down your throat from last night. Your makeup had been smudged off onto your pillow, some still remaining on your swollen, hungover face. The day after drinking anxiety had reared its head, but a wave of nerves hit you like a ton of bricks when a vision of you writing your phone number on Steve Harrington’s arm - more or less in front of his girlfriend - faded into view.

You cupped your hands over your face and your shoulders shook. You couldn’t help but giggle at the picture of her porcelain face twisted into a bout of jealous rage. You could fully admit to yourself that you lived on the side of delusion, but there was a piece of you that wholeheartedly believed that your former king of Hawkins High would call you.

And yet, you sat and stared at the phone perched silently on your nightstand while you nursed your hangover all day. The bright afternoon light evolved into an evening glow and still you hadn’t heard the shrill ring. You put on records and VCRs. You flicked through magazines and tried to pick up the new Danielle Steele book you had pocketed from the bookstore on main street. But the soundtrack of your thoughts was the hope that the telephone would ring and that you would hear a smooth baritone voice calling you. You fought to keep your eyes open while the blue light of your TV laughed back at you. You finally surrendered to the sleep your body had been pleading for, the blur of the night previous finally making itself clear in your dreams…

The music at the dive bar had been blaring. You were on your upteenth drink courtesy of Eddie Munson. The first time you had come to the Hideout it was your senior year, freshly 18 and ready for an adventure. You had snuck in with a fake ID and eyed up the curly haired 21 year old behind the bar. His eyes had been glued on you since you had walked in. Well, you worked your charm and lo and behold, Eddie had you bent over the chipped porcelain sink in the staff bathroom. After the orgasm you gave him, he knew he would owe you for a while - and free drinks you received ever since. You flashed him a wink as you downed the third tequila shot of the night. Your plump glossed lips twisted into a smile after looking at the winces of Heather and Chrissy. The three of you had moved a half an hour outside of Hawkins to the bigg(er) city of Indianapolis, but you felt the need to parade your luxurious city life to the hasbeen jocks of Hawkins High that frequent the only legit bar in town. You couldn't count on both hands the number of guys you had toyed with that now loitered around the musty pool tables and bar tops. By the time you graduated and got a job, you thought of yourself as a big fish in a small pond. You were ready to break big city hearts and leave the lame Hawkins lifers behind. That couldn’t be you. But there was always one that got away - one that you hated to admit was one guy that scared you, solely because you would let him domesticate you if he asked.

The girls beside you let out a small woo as another shot was sent your way, this time courtesy of Jason Carver who had fastened himself a seat on the other side of the bar with yet another Hawkins Hasbeen, Andy Robinson. You raised the small glass to your lips with a devilish smile across the bar. Jason still had his abs like he did when you graduated. Owning the small weightlifting gym on the outskirts of town had its perks, you guess. You looked at Chrissy and rolled your eyes with a snicker as the burning liquid slid down your throat. At least if you didn’t get lucky with someone else tonight, he would be there and more than willing to give you a half assed orgasm in the back seat of his beat up jeep cherokee - better than ending the night alone in your books (and probably his). You scrunched your eyes closed and a flash of stars lit up the darkness behind your eyes. You opened them to blurry vision, the feelings in your fingers were being replaced with warm fuzz. You knew that if you were to get off your barstool your knees would raise hell. You let out a euphoric giggle. This is just what you needed.

You heard a small “well, well, well,” slur out of Heather’s bowed lips as two new figures emerged through the metallic doors of the bar. “Surprised to see Harrington out here. Isn’t his past his bedtime? You know I remember…” Heather’s voice faded away as you honed in your focus to the pair at the door.

Nancy Wheeler - her obnoxious perm and housewife dresses… You couldn’t help but hate her. She was everything you weren’t: safe, boring, square. Her manicured hand rested in a much larger hand, and that hand was attached to toned arms in a light cotton crewneck. You couldn’t help but feel the saliva pool in your mouth. Nancy looked up to her beautiful brunette with her stupid doe eyes and he flashed her a small cautious smile. They stuck out like sore thumbs. She didn’t belong here, but Steve Harrington was too good looking to be in this shitty bar. It’s like your friends could read your mind. Chrissy pinched you in the side and Heather let out a childish giggle.

“Don’t even think about it, Y/L/N. Nancy’s had him on lock since, like, junior year.” You were well aware.

“Don’t even worry about it. I’ll be smart…” You challenged. Your friends were very aware of your determination. If you wanted something, you got it. And Steve Harrington was on the menu. You watched the handsome couple stalk to one of the tall bar tables across the room from your seats. Steve’s eyes locked with yours and you licked your lips. No matter how hard he tried, like a magnet, your gaze kept him locked on you. The man felt a tug on his arm as Nancy shuffled him to the table. As their conversation lulled on, you couldn’t help but attract Steve’s eyes again. You waved your arm to Eddie for another shot.

“I think it’s time to have some water, doll” the mophead behind cooed. For the first time tonight you ruffled through your purse to find a folded 20 dollar bill. You placed it in the hem of your bustier and flashed your sultry eyes at Eddie.

“You want a tip or not, Munson? I think I have already shown you how much I appreciate your customer service.” The man’s cheeks grew flushed as he grabbed the bill out of your chest with nimble fingers - hoping that his hands didn’t slip. Another tiny glass full of liquid in front of you. Before you put it to your mouth, you raised your eyes to Steve, his mouth slightly agape, having seen the performance you had just put on at the bar. You raised the shot glass to him in salute, he blushed and turned his eyes back to his girlfriend. God, his fucking girlfriend.

He watched your neck tilt back as the burning liquid slid down your throat. He had to stifle a small chuckle at your scrunched face at the reaction to your shot. Steve always thought you were effortlessly beautiful. But you were dangerous. A junior when he was a senior, he knew about the boys you had left in your wake. He made sure to stay away, betrothed to the girl sitting across from him at the bar. He sighed a choked breath of relief when Nancy coldly told him she was going to the bathroom then to get them some drinks. He let his shoulders shrug and rearranged his pants, which were a bit tighter than when he walked in. He wasn’t left in his silence for long. His shoulders shifted back up to his ears and his cheeks grew hot when he saw you saunter from the bar in his direction. His heart was in his throat and beating harder than ever. What the fuck was happening to him?

Your moment to strike happened when you saw Nancy’s pleated dress slither out of her barstool and towards the bathroom. You mirrored her and pushed your wobbling legs one in front of the other. You carried two glasses of brown liquor with you. Your face was calm and cool, but your hands were shaking as you crossed the dingy hardwood over to a beautiful head of hair.

“So, what is King Steve doing in a place like this?” You didn’t dare take Nancy Wheeler’s spot. You wouldn’t want to be compared to the likes. You leaned your torso over the table, edging closer to the man than you would be on a stool. You preferred it that way, and you had a sense that Steve does as well.

“I could ask the same thing to you, Y/N.” He mumbled, but you can tell his confidence was growing. “What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?”

“Who told you I’m a nice girl?” You purred. “You looked thirsty over here, and I thought, since you’re in my domain, I could show you some hospitality.” You slid the drink over to him with a black painted fingernail and picked yours up and stirred it suggestively.

“Bottoms up then.” Steve grabbed the glass and clinked it to yours. Your heart stopped as you watched the beautiful man’s neck strain upwards to take his drink in one gulp. It took all of the drunken strength you could muster to not sink your teeth into his strong neck. His Adams apple bobbed in strain and the liquor made his cheeks bloom a darker red than they already were. You sipped half of your drink, desperate to relieve some of the tension running through your body, but you felt like you would completely crumble if you downed it all in one go.

“So.. you and Nancy… That’s pretty… serious?” You couldn’t help the venom that seethed out of your lips. Steve cleared his throat and stared into the bottom of his empty glass. He shrugged his shoulders. You couldn’t help but laugh.

“Trouble in paradise, King Steve?” you jest.

“Nah, It’s just… it's been a few years I guess.” Steve’s voice was cold. You sighed audibly. The alcohol and the pure lust was getting to you, and you could barely contain yourself.

“Too bad… the word on the street is I could treat you much better.” You could barely bring yourself to look into his eyes, but when you did, you were met with an intense stare. You couldn’t read all of the emotions behind his eyes, but it made your core quiver.

“Word on the street is you know how to treat a lot of people.” Steve scoffed. His defenses were up. Why in the world were you coming to him now? He had always stolen looks at you. He knew how magnetic you were. He wished he knew you in high school. Maybe then he wouldn’t be stuck working at his dad’s law firm. With a girlfriend who he felt stuck with; no sense of adventure, no true love in sight. But then you sauntered up to him and made his heart believe in life again.

“Well you aren’t wrong. But I only have eyes for one right now.” You winked.

“Wish we could have had this conversation three years ago…” Steve whispered, hoping that you didn’t hear him. You were delectable, and laid out in front of him; and he knows that if he were to have a few more drinks, he would have forgotten all about the girl that he had come here with - his… girlfriend. Fuck, his girlfriend. You flashed him a pout and a disappointed smile. You had him eating right out of your hand.

“Well… Let me give you this.” You pulled out a sharpie from your purse and pulled his wrist towards you, pulling up his sweater sleeve. You began to scribble your phone number onto his olive skin. You had to breathe slowly to keep yourself from shaking. “Call me tomorrow if you want to pretend it was three years ago.” A look of need flashed on your face. You had been absorbed by Steve Harrington. It had felt like all of the bar had disappeared and it was just the two of you. Steve could feel that too, he had you right where he wanted you, totally absorbed and infatuated. You couldn’t help but think of Nancy and it made you shiver. You couldn’t have her invade this. Fuck his stupid girlfriend. You were determined to make Steve Harrington yours.

The two of you stayed transfixed on each other for a moment more. Steve fixed his gaze between your face and the new ink that you had given him. He wanted to nurture it like it was a real tattoo. You couldn’t help but take mental pictures of Steve’s face, so you could imagine whatever meathead you ended up taking home that night was him. You wondered what he would look like underneath you, gasping and panting for breath. What his skin would taste like: sweaty and sweet and musky. You wished that you could take his fingers and put them in your mouth right now. You were thirsty, parched for his lips on yours. You wanted to show him what you looked like underneath him, you wanted him to hear you moan his name. You wanted to fuck his brains out, the way you knew Nancy “White Bread” Wheeler doesn’t. You were connected, and it scared you because for the first time in forever, you wanted to fuck, but you also wanted him to hold you, to tell you that you’re beautiful. You wanted him to hold your hand and buy you flowers and take you out. You wanted to cook for him and play with his hair and rub his back.

You were torn from your world when you heard a small ‘ahem’ from behind you. Steve quickly adjusted his posture and pulled his sweater sleeve over his new love mark. You stood up straight and turned to see the frizzy haired brunette tapping her pleather pumps at you… tacky, you thought.

“Can I help you with something?” She peeped. “Or is there another reason why you’re over here talking to my boyfriend?” Nancy’s angry eyes flicked between the two of you and her brow was furrowed. Your gaze had hardened and you couldn’t help but chuckle; she looked like a toddler and an old woman at the same time. Steve’s cheeks remained a rosy pink. He had found whatever was on the floor oddly interesting. You took a step towards the girl.

“Nothing at all, darling. Just thought I would say hello to an old friend and grab him a drink.” You breezed past her, knocking her lightly on the shoulder.

“See you around, Harrington.” You sang behind you. You couldn’t see her anymore, but you assumed that if looks could kill, you would be on the floor. You strutted back to Chrissy and Heather and slumped back to your stool. You exchanged mischievous glances with the girls, and then turned proudly to Eddie, who was flashing you a disappointed look. A victory for you, a loss for Nancy Wheeler - or at least you hoped.

Steve continued to stare at the ground while Nancy eyed him suspiciously.

“What the hell did she want, Steve?” she pried. Steve huffed before looking up at her. Her eyes didn’t glimmer at him like yours did.

“She just came over to say hi…. I hadn’t seen her since Senior year.”

“Did you even talk to her senior year? You know the reputation she has…I don’t like her, and I don’t like her talking to you, Steve,” within the past year, he had thought of Nancy more like his mother than his girlfriend. He had been growing more and more confused lately. The love seemed to be lacking and he had caught himself wondering what his life would be like if he left it all behind, left her behind and started over. You made the idea of abandonment way more appealing. He felt himself growing unreasonably angry with the blue eyed girl sitting across the bar from her. He needed to defend you. You were the only thing on his mind.

“Who the hell cares, Nancy? What do you think that she was going to do? Fucking make out with me in front of everyone? She asked how we were doing. She asked about you and me. Chill out and have fun or let’s just get out of here.” He scowled. Nancy was taken aback and slid a chilled PBR across the table to Steve with a scoff. She drank her vodka cran in silence. Steve couldn’t help but let his eyes wander to your figure laughing and smiling with your friends. He wanted to laugh with you. He downed his drink, took Nancy's hand silently and pulled her towards the door. She had a permanent frown on her face as Steve pushed her through the door. Before his body disappeared from the door, he took one more glimpse at you. Your eyes locked one last time and you sent him a wave as he disappeared into the Hawkins night. If he couldn’t have you, he’d fuck Nancy until he forgot about you.

It was 3 am and your body literally couldn’t peel itself off of the plastic bar stool. Chrissy and Heather had gone home with Jason and Andy - your appetite spoiled when you watched the only person you wanted to be with leave the bar without you. You heard the stomps of old reeboks and the jingle of keys come up behind you. The lights had suddenly gone out.

“Come on, doll. Let’s get you home okay?” Eddie pulled you off the stool and wrapped your arm around his shoulder.

“Can you stay over, Teddie?”

“Not this time, honey. You need sleep and you need water. You aren’t thinking straight.”

You pouted quietly, but you decided to finally take no for an answer. The thought of sinking into your bed and hoping - praying - that Steve would call you.

Steve had pulled Nancy into his bedroom of his parents’ empty house. He feverishly pulled at Nancy’s belt as she fumbled with the zipper at the side of her dress. Steve’s mouth didn’t leave her skin, and his eyes remained shut, save to navigate himself around his house. A flurry of clothes, soft sighs and sweaty skin. Steve had only had two drinks, but he felt drunk thinking of your encounter at the bar. He pressed his eyes closed as he mouthed at Nancy’s chest, wishing it was yours. He slid down her torso pondering what sounds you would make if he was kissing towards your sweet center. He pulled Nancy’s panties to the side and swiped his tongue along her heat, thinking about how delicious you would taste. He then flipped Nancy over on all fours and slid into her with a grunt. He couldn’t stand to look at her, wishing her body was yours, wishing her sounds were yours, wanting to hold you in his arms after. Steve finished quickly, his perversions towards you spurring him on.

The couple collapsed into Steve’s king bed. Nancy traced small circles on his chest while they caught their breath. Steve felt satiated, his hunger for you ebbed, for now.

“Steve! What’s on your arm?” Nancy yelped. Steve’s heart dropped into his chest. He frantically turned himself away from his girlfriend. Nancy’s small hands grabbed Steve’s shoulder to turn him back to her. Her nails drug down to the tattoo you had given her boyfriend and her face began to heat up.

“What the fuck is this, Steve?”

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brookheimer · 1 year

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looking at the 'midseason trailer' and seeing roman fighting his siblings, roman shitting on gerri, roman working for fascists, roman walking proudly through ATN like logan did just two days prior... it's not surprising, but it is fucking sad.

logan's death will not free roman. instead, it will reforge the chains he's worn all his life, casting them in iron -- that's what roman deserves for thinking, for the first time in his life, that maybe he wants the chains off. that's what roman deserves for killing his father by not loving him enough, by not loving him correctly or at the right times. logan's death will not free roman at all. if anything, it will imprison him.

(as always, this got very long, so keep reading under the cut!)

this was the worst case scenario for roman. not just logan dying, but the exact way everything played out. he betrayed his siblings, he fired gerri -- for nothing. he could have been on the plane with his father in his last moments -- he refused. his last interaction with his father was leaving logan a voice message that called him a cunt -- the first time roman has ever, ever, questioned or stood up to his father, and also the last. we don't know what killed logan. we probably never will. but god if it won't feel awfully coincidental to roman: the one time he fought back against his father or even showed the slightest hint of doing so, his father died. is it likely that logan heard roman's voice memo and keeled over because he called him a cunt? no. but is it just as possible as anything else? entirely. roman might have killed his dad. roman murdered logan when he could've been on the plane with him holding his hand, if he were a good son. he didn't even tell logan he loved him. not that he needed to, it fucking oozed from his every pore and the desperate nature of that love was one of the reasons logan could never quite stand him -- but that's not the point. roman's one attempt at agency, at setting boundaries, at standing up for himself killed his fucking father.

logan dying would never have been good for roman, at least in his current state, no matter how the actual death came to pass. people often talk about abusive relationships as if the end-all-be-all fixer to abuse is independence, and it's not. independence isn't always enough to heal, especially not when it's forced upon you rather than something you choose. this is especially true for roman, i think. what roman needed was not just to gain his own independence, but to realize that independence and love are not mutually exclusive, that gaining one does not mean losing the other. logan's always hammered in roman's weakness, his wrongness; roman was never someone who deserved to be loved on his own terms. roman's never considered himself to be someone with agency and authority in his relationships -- he's been told over and over again that he isn't a real person, that there's something deeply wrong and unfixable in him, and he believes it. he's never set boundaries with his father or even his siblings because i don't think he really realizes he has the power to do that. he's simply there until people decide they no longer have use for him or want him around, and he'll always come crawling back after a kick because he doesn't realize he's not on a leash -- that he doesn't need to be on a leash. independence has been unreachable all his life, he isn't normal or real enough to be a real normal independent capable person, but if he grovels and shows his use enough, then maybe he can be loved. but his dependence and loyalty is all he's good for. independence means no love, no family, no relationships. and roman desperately wants, needs, those relationships in a way that none of the other characters do (or at least can admit to) -- he wants his father in his life, no matter what; he wants his siblings in his life, no matter what. but independence, being his own person, separating himself from logan's side means he'd lose everything else, everyone else. he's not good for anything anyways. it's not like he has other options.

...until the start of season four. that's why this is all so tragic -- more than anyone else, it seemed like roman was on the road to healing. it seemed like he was finally realizing that independence and love might not be as mutually exclusive as he's been made to think: maybe he could be independent while still having a relationship with his siblings and even his father. maybe he could have his cake and eat it too. he's realized that he's capable, that he has his own worth, and that he can be successful without living under logan's thumb -- and, more importantly, could still text him on his birthday and try to rebuild a relationship, this time outside of business. outside of "that room" in waystar royco. an actual fucking family relationship. that's what escaping the cycle would look like for roman — not complete separation, not a metaphorical killing of his father, but the ability to live alongside him, to have a life outside of him, to love his father without living for him. so simply removing logan from the equation wouldn’t help roman, not when what he needs most is to realize that self-respect is not mutually exclusive with love, that being your own person isn’t a betrayal, that family and love aren’t dependent on how low you can kneel and won’t be whisked away the moment you stand up. and for the first time in his life, it seemed like he was on track to discovering this. maybe he and the siblings could have the hundred, logan could keep going with atn, and in a few years down the line they'd all get together to talk shop and joke around and coexist -- for the first time, he had started to think of himself as enough of a real, okay person to be allowed to coexist with his family, rather than naturally subordinating himself in every interaction.

roman could’ve been his own person, could’ve escaped the cycle, could’ve started a business with his siblings and tried to heal, but now he won’t. he can’t. roman can’t become his own person now, not when his first attempt to do so is exactly what killed logan. it’s his fault. he fucked up and now there’s no dad. he gained his independence, but at what cost? love. that’s the cost. it always has been and always will be. nothing could be more detrimental to roman roy than the exact series of events that occurred in this episode, because just as he started to see a world beyond his father, logan dies -- proving once and for all that the only world beyond logan is one without him in it at all. that’s been roman’s fear all along and why he’s stuck so close to his side: roman loves and loves and loves and is terrified, terrified, of death. of loss. but in a moment of 'weakness,' roman wobbled (he tried to stand up to logan rather than just taking the kicks as he's supposed to, as he always has), and his father paid the ultimate price. there’s no more dad. there’s no reviving him.

…unless, of course, there is. unless roman can undo his error by choosing his father again, and again, and again. becoming logan is the closest roman can get to resurrecting him, after all. and besides, doesn’t he owe it to dad after killing him? after calling him a cunt, choosing not to be with him on that plane he ended up dying on? after forgetting to even say “i love you dad” before the end? roman needs to fix things. needs to make it like dad's still here. needs to make it like he didn't kill his own father by refusing him for the first time in his life. so roman will be the firebreather logan wanted -- he'll do ATN, he'll push for mencken, he'll do whatever it fucking takes to try and make things right. if it's his fault logan's no longer here, then he needs to do everything he possibly can to fulfill his dying wishes, to do what logan would've done, were he alive.

"dad can't die, he's dad." he can't ever die. he's immortal, and his immortality was solidified by the circumstances of his death -- logan will not die. he’ll live on in roman, as roman.

roman will make sure of it.

#to clarify -- i do not think this is roman's endgame. i Hope it is not his endgame. i just think based on the previews and everything we #know about both him and the upcoming episodes... i think this is where his arc is heading for now. and it will be UNBEARABLE to watch #i'm hoping things get better by the end. that there's reconciliation and an ending open enough to allow for a slim possibility of future #healing. but as of right now... i think things are going to get a lot - a LOT - fucking worse before they get better (if they get better..)#k it's 1:30 am i haven't read over this at all so fair warning there. but yeah. told yall i had a lot of thoughts re: what this might do to #roman. hats off to jesse armstrong for creating the literal worst situation imaginable for him. fucking ingenious. i too love putting this #sad little man in situations! but yeah. gonna be watching thru my hands but eating it up while weeping etc etc etc #succession #succession spoilers #roman roy #succession meta #succession s4 #connor's wedding #logan roy #casey shut the fuck up about roman roy #100 #500 #succession speculation

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