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geeky-politics-46 · 1 year

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Sacrifices - Part 1

Pairing: Doctor Stephen Strange x Reader, Steve Rogers x Reader

Summary: Stephen gave up the time stone to save you & your son, but how can you possibly go on without him?

Warnings: Heavy angst & some smut (NSFW) - 18+ ONLY - language, reference to injuries, death, mental illness, complicated feelings about cheating, general sadness, vaginal sex, unprotected sex

This piece may go through some small edits over time as I work on part 2. Some slight canon divergence. Based on a request from @magnificentfurybluebird. Not necessarily my best work, but I'm happy with it.

GIF by wetiredofthis

When the spacecraft landed at the compound, thanks to Carol, you all scrambled to see who or what it was. You prayed to every God you knew that Stephen was somehow, someway, on board. That he had come back to you. Knowing that Tony and Peter had been with him when that creature, that thing took him.

Your heart shattered even further when you saw Tony near death stumble out. No one else followed except for Nebula. You knew deep down Stephen wouldn't be there. You already knew he was gone.

Nat and Steve were the ones who stayed outside with you as you sobbed and wailed. One hand on your pregnant belly, the other over your chest clutching at the cassum where your heart had once been. Nat rocking you back and forth, trying to calm you down and slow your breathing. Steve simply trying to keep you upright and holding your hair when your sobbing inevitably turned to dry heaving.

You don't remember how you got back inside. The next thing you remember was Tony having a little breakdown of his own. Understandably. You were swaddled in blankets staring blankly at the table. They had hooked both you and Tony up to IV drips. His anger didn't even phase you. Perhaps because it felt like an outlet for your own.

You vaguely remember Tony saying that Stephen gave up the time stone when Thanos threatened your life and the life of your unborn child. Stephen's son. You had only found out you were having a little boy a few days before Bruce crashed through the Sanctum's ceiling. It went from being the best week of your life to being the worst week of your life.

He said that Thanos threatened to find and torture you in front of him if Stephen didn't surrender the stone. That for the first time during the fight, he saw fear on Stephen's face. He knew Thanos would keep his word. So he did what he had to to save you and your son. Not knowing or not caring that Thanos' snap may as well have blipped you, too. Tony said that the last words Stephen said were, "There was no other way."

You were sure part of your soul turned to ash at the same time Stephen did. Even though you were safely ensconced in the Wakandan palace, you still felt it as if you had seen it with your own eyes. It was like someone had reached into your chest and pulled out your heart. You had stayed near catatonic on the trip back to regroup at the compound with all of the heroes who remained.

Since then, Nat had not let you out of her sight. Bruce and Steve were never far behind. Rhodey constantly brought you food and water, even though you refused to touch most of it. Pepper did what she could, but since Tony was in such bad shape, you couldn't blame her for focusing on him. Even Nebula and Rocket took turns sitting with you in those first few weeks.

You felt like a mental patient under constant observation for fear you would hurt yourself. Maybe that's what you were. Maybe that's why they didn't want to leave Tony and Thor alone for long either. Tony still had a long recovery ahead, and Thor already appeared to be spiraling into deep depression.

For a long time, you refused to speak to Wong directly. It hurt too much. The first words you spoke to him were to tell him that you couldn't go back to the Sanctum. He understood what you couldn't say out loud, so he let you keep your distance. Telling you that all you had to evet so was call and he would be there. Guarding over the Sanctum and the home you and Stephen had been building together. Promising to leave everything untouched unless you said otherwise.

For the next few months, the world around you felt like it was on fast forward. Perhaps it was just that you were moving in slow motion. You ate only when someone forced you to. Walked around the outside of the compound, but you had no interest in leaving the grounds. Preferring to spend most of your time curled up in bed, in the generic blank walled bedroom they gave you at the compound. You took care of yourself just enough to make sure your son would be born healthy, and he was.

A thick head of dark brown hair and bright blue eyes that matched Stephen's. You nearly gave him up for adoption because how could you care for and love this perfect little being when it hurt so badly to even just look at him? You couldn't though. You could never give up your one remaining tether to your husband. To Stephen. Instead, you sunk every ounce of energy you had into caring for him.

Your perfect little Vincent. The only silver lining you could find in a world without the man you loved. The reason you made yourself keep going. His sweet little smile was what kept you alive.

One by one, the remaining Avengers and Guardians started to leave. Rhodey had to help keep the US government and military functioning. Ayo literally had a whole country to run. Carol, Nebula, and Rocket were busy trying to keep other planets from falling apart. Pepper and Tony pretty much dropped off the grid during Tony's recovery. Val took over the responsibilities of New Asgard as Thor continued his own struggles, taking his solace in food and alcohol. Bruce left to try and find a way to peacefully coexist with the big green guy. Wong fell into the role of Sorcerer Supreme, putting the Kamar-Taj and the rest of the mystical arts power structure back into a working order.

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Eventually it was basically just Nat, Steve, you, and little Vincent. Nat was absolutely smitten with your little man. Stealing him away any chance she got, and encouraging you to focus on yourself. That it would be better for both you and Vincent, who she had taken to calling Vinny, if you found ways to take care of yourself too. Both mentally and physically.

To pacify her, you agreed. Starting small with things you always used to love. Taking nice long baths or showers. Indulging in body care and fragrances that didn't smell like a mix of baby powder and lavender. You started reading books again that didn't have pictures or a rhyme scheme to them. Quickly working through everything in the compound.

Soon your favorite thing to do was to have Steve take you into the city to visit your favorite little used bookstore, which was luckily still there. You went with Nat a couple times too, but going with Steve always felt better. Something about the white noise of his bike mixed with the wind whipping past you or the soothing sounds of 40's music in his car. Showing him you favorite books and ones that you thought he needed to read. He was content to just quietly wander through the shelves with you,

Nat was always trying to get you further out of your shell. Like you were her own little pet project. Trying to get you to go to lunch after or go shopping for clothes. She even pitched going lingerie shopping one day. You practically ran back to the compound on foot after that. You were nowhere near ready for that. To be or be seen as a sexual or sensual being again. To move on. Your heart still belonged to and longed for Stephen. Even after it had been years. You still wore your wedding rings for Christ sake.

At night, you still even dreamed of him. Almost every night, Stephen would find you. You didn't know where you were, but the landscape was barren and cold until Stephen would use his magic to cast an image of one of your favorite places. The park near the Sanctum or even the rooftop of the old building. The two of you reminiscing about the times you snuck up there to get away from everything, listening to the sounds of the city. A moment of fleeting happiness in those dreams only to wake up to the cold reality that he was gone and that you had to go on without him. You hated your own mind for torturing you with such vivid dreams.

That was another reason you liked being with Steve on your outings. He didn't treat you like just a mom, but he never pressured you to try to move on. He certainly hadn't either, despite what he told everyone else. You could see it in his eyes. You both simply chose to exist in that moment. No talk of the future or the past. Eventually, you two did start staying out together longer. Expanding your adventures to include things like walks in the park, museums, an occasional movie, and meals.

It was even with Steve that you decided it was time to pick up some of your stuff from the Sanctum. You didn't get much. Some of the things you had bought for Vincent before he was born, some of your clothes and toiletries, and a few photos of you and Stephen that you wanted Vincent to have. You wanted him to know his father, even if you weren't ready to talk about him much. Other than say how much Stephen would have adored him.

By the time you left, you were shaking like a leaf, even though you ran out of tears to cry a long time ago. After piling everything into the trunk of his car, Steve assumed you would want to go right home. Instead, you wanted to get drunk, telling him to go to the little Mexican restaurant you two frequented. Taking your normal table in the corner of the patio. It was a great spot for people watching.

Luckily, Steve talked you into stopping after two margaritas and a shot of tequila. Also making sure you ate plenty to absorb the alcohol. You were actually feeling better by the time you went to leave. Still telling Steve to take the long way back to the compound.

"Can I take you somewhere I really like to go? When I just want quiet or want to think?"

"Sure, Steve. Quiet sounds nice. I love Vincent so much, but he reminds me so much of Stephen. I don't know that I'm quite ready for that. I'll just shoot Nat a text saying she's in charge of bedtime."

You ended up parked out in the most beautiful field at the edge of an apple orchard. As soon as you got out of the car, the sweet scent of the ripening fruit enveloped you. Paired with the remaining heat from the sun sitting low on the horizon and the cool breeze slowly moving in, it felt perfect. It was breathtaking.

Your breath hitched a little when Steve's hands found his way to your hips as he helped you climb up on the hood of the sports car. Finding yourself extra self-concious when you turned to get comfy and inevitably ended up with your ass in his face. Noticing the blush you both wore when he went around to the other side and effortlessly pulled himself up next to you.

He quickly folded up his leather jacket to place under your head. Holding it in place until you were laid back and settled before following you and laying down beside you. His strong arm pressed against you, the warmth of his body radiating off of him. The scent from his jacket, the leather mixed with his cologne, filling your nostrils. Suddenly, you felt drunker on Steve than even the tequila had made you feel.

He noticed you shiver and the goosebumps forming on your arms. Without even thinking, he put one arm around you and pulled you so your head was resting on his shoulder. Moving his jacket so it draped over the two of you like a blanket. You fought the urge to bury your nose into his neck.

Had he always smelled so intoxicating?

Suddenly, you were feeling things you hadn't felt in literal years. Your body felt nearly electric. Even on those nights when you couldn't sleep and tried to sate an itch that you wanted to deny still existed, or when you dreamed of the passion filled nights you spent with Stephen, it didn't feel like this. It didn't feel like hunger. Like you were starving only to be plopped down in front of a big juicy Thanksgiving feast. It was too much and nowhere near enough.

You felt Steve's heart start to race as his enhanced sense of smell began to pick up what was surely the scent of your growing arousal. As the sun sank lower in the sky and the sound of crickets grew louder, the tension between you continued to grow thicker. In a moment of bravery, you let your hand come to rest on Steve's abdomen. He let his hand that was wrapped around you start drawing shapes on your hip.

You both knew you had reached the point of no return when his movements caused the shirt you were wearing to rise, and his fingers finally made contact with your bare skin. Your head tilted upward against his jaw as a needy moan feel from your lips as they pressed gently against his neck. Your teasing breath illiciting a hungry growl from the captain.

Time seemed to slow as he tilted his head down and gazed into your eyes. Seeming to seek confirmation that this wasn't in his head or that you weren't just drunk beyond all reason. The haze of lust in your eyes pushed him to place his lips softly over yours. It was comforting and sweet, and oh so different from the way Stephen used to kiss you.

That was the reason why you deepened the kiss. Letting your tongue lick across Steve's lips until he reflexively thrust his tongue into your mouth. For the first time since Stephen left, you weren't thinking about how his touch or his kiss used to feel. How much you missed everything about him. You were relishing in the unfamiliar. You stopped thinking and let yourself be taken.

Pulling Steve's large form on top of yours and spreading your legs so he could slot his hips between them. Arching your body up into his at the way his weight felt on top of you. It felt so good. You couldn't stop yourself from wrapping your legs around his legs and dragging your fingernails down his back until you got to his ass. Digging your fingers into his flesh and pulling his pelvis to grind against you.

The feel of his bulge grinding against you making you hungrier for him. You quickly reached up and moved to pull your shirt off. Finally getting your first good look at Steve's face after throwing your shirt to the side. Strands of his dark blonde hair falling forward into his now clouded blue eyes. His cheeks were flushed, and his lips swollen.

"God, you look so beautiful. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about this. I like being with you. Are you sure you want this? I don't want to pressure you."

It was sweet, and you were very happy that Steve cared about your feelings and your wants. You liked being with him, too. Right now, though, you didn't want to think. You just wanted to feel. You desperately wanted to feel something good. If that good feeling was having Captain America pound you stupid on the hood of his car, then so be it. You would deal with the consequences afterward.

You quickly began unbuttoning his shirt as you spoke. Looking into his pretty blue eyes only for a moment before focusing again in the expanse of his bare chest coming into view. All smooth skin and a few freckles against thick muscle.

"Just don't talk, Steve, just touch me, please. I just need you to touch me and kiss me. Okay? Right now, I just need you to take off your pants. Talk later."

He hesitated for a minute, then gave in. Nodding quickly and whispering, "Okay. Okay." Moving to unbutton and unzip his own jeans before moving over to yours as you pushed his shirt back off of his strong shoulders. Dragging your nails back down his newly bare chest before reaching back and bracing yourself on the cool metal of the car hood to help him lift your hips so he could shimmy your own pants down.

The heat of Steve's gaze ratcheting up even more now that you were down to just your bra and panties. You didn't feel self-conscious or focus on the flaws you always saw in the mirror. For the first time since Stephen, you felt beautiful in someone else's eyes. Steve was seeing you bor just as a mother. Not just as a friend, but as a woman.

Steve descended back on you with the same hunger you showed him. Quickly tearing apart the rest of your clothing and exposing your most intimate places. His eyes darkened and a deep groan came from his chest. Before either of you could speak you wrapped your arms around his waist and pulled him down to kiss you. Both of you letting yourself succumb to your desires.

Your hands slowly moved to his hips, catching both his jeans and his boxer briefs and pushing them down in one go. Finally feeling Steve completely bare against you. Skin on skin. The weight of his big thick cock sliding against your wet cunt making you needy.

You needed to feel him inside you. Needed to feel that delicious stretch. His fingers toying with your nipples already had you starting to tingle. It had been so long, and you didn't realize how much you missed being touched and kissed. How much you missed the feeling of being well fucked.

That's exactly what Steve Rogers made sure you were that night. Not stopping until he had made you cum at least 3 times before you went home to the compound. Of course you were so sensitive that he had you cumming with his first full thrust into you.

By the time the sun was starting to rise, you and Steve had been at it for hours before finally succumbing to a few hours of sleep in each other's arms. Your alarm, thankfully, making sure you still woke up before Vincent. Until you figured out whether this was a one-time thing you didn't want to get him involved. As far as he needed to know, Uncle Steve was still just Uncle Steve.

However, by the time the next evening rolled around, after showing Vincent all the photos and things you had picked up from the Sanctum, you hated yourself for what you had done. Even if he was gone, you still felt like you betrayed Stephen. So why did you want to do it again if you felt so terrible? Why was it all you could think of that night when you tried to sleep? Or what you found yourself daydreaming about it the shower?

You still loved Stephen with all of your heart and would give anything to have him back, but Steve had reawakened a part of you thought had died with Stephen. Up until that day, you had never even fantasized about anyone else. Just Stephen. It had been years since the blip. You had been pregnant when you lost Stephen. Now you had a dark-haired little toddler running around. He adored his Auntie Nat and Uncle Steve. He was happy even if he didn't have his real father.

You wanted him to have a fully rounded life, and now that he was almost 5, it wouldn't hurt for him to have a father figure. To see his mother happy and loved. There would never be another Stephen, but maybe you could be happy with Steve. Stephen would want you to be happy, right? Maybe you could be a little family unit together. Even though your whole heart could never belong to Steve, you could give him part of it. Maybe that was all you could ask for.

You found yourself confiding in Nat. Needing to share the guilt you felt and hear everything you were thinking said out loud. Of course, you would take into account whatever advice she had to offer, but it was more that you desperately needed to share the thoughts that were eating at you.

After spilling everything, you noticed her face was unchanged. Your brows furrowed as you saw the mischievous glint in her eyes and her biting at her bottom lip to keep from smiling. As you figured out exactly why she was holding back a grin, you buried your face in your hands.

"Ugh… Steve already told you we slept together, didn't he?"

A snort came from the redhead, well half redhead half blonde. Already confirming your suspicions.

"I caught him sneaking out of your bedroom the other day, and you know how terrible he is at lying. It wasn't exactly hard to connect the dots."

Her smile faded when she saw the tears forming in your eyes. She came over to where you were sitting and pulled you into a tight hug. Starting to rock you back and forth when she heard your soft cries.

"I know how much you still love Stephen, and so does Steve. He's not expecting you to just forget about him. He knows how important he was to you. Stephen knew how much you loved him, and he would want you to feel love even without him. For yourself just as much as for Vincent. He wouldn't have sacrificed himself if he didn't. We all lost people, and we are all still hurting, but you deserve good things in your life. You deserve to feel happy and even find love again. Whether or not that is with Steve is between the two of you. You can't keep punishing yourself for what happened. None of us can. Maybe we all just need to finally move on. "

You both sat in silence, holding each other close. Thanking the powers that be that even after losing the love of your life, you had found a best friend to help keep you sane. Both of you slowly sinking to the edge of sleep, drifting between the present world and the dreamworld where Stephen still visited you. Only for you to be snapped awake by the sound of knocking and a vaguely familiar voice.

You cracked one eye open and found the security camera for the front door to be the cause of the disturbance. What you saw made your heart jump into your throat. Sticking his face right up into the camera was a man you knew only from his picture, the one that was displayed on the same board as Stephen's after the snap. It was the face of Scott Lang, who had supposedly been blipped 5 years ago along with the others.

Without looking away from the screen you shook Nat awake. Sure that if you looked away from the screen he would disappear, either as a figment of your own imagination or a hallucination. You couldn't even form words to communicate properly until Nat realized what you were seeing.

"Oh my god! Is that… Scott?"

"Nat, is that live? That's not video, right? How is that real?"

She bolted up from the couch and over to the monitors. Double checking the feed to make sure it was, in fact, live and that everything checked out. Making sure she followed all safety protocols before opening the door.

"I have no idea, but go get Steve, and you may want to put some coffee on. If this is real, it's gonna be a long night."

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Vincent loved having Scott there, and Scott was great with him. Showing him all sorts of card tricks and close-up magic. He was almost more goofy, big brother than anything. Even as the rest of the group started to trickle back into the compound, brought back together by Scott's time heist plan, Scott was still the cool one. With the exception of Rocket, because even close-up magic can't beat talking raccoon.

You listened from the dining area at your son and his new friends gathered in the living room. All eyes on the toddler as he colored. Various coloring books and crayons scattered on the table being used by Scott, Rocket, Bruce, and Nebula. You and Steve were busy setting out plates and silverware while Nat and Clint had begun retrieving enough take out food to feed an army. Thor was asleep on the couch.

"Mommy says my daddy could do magic. He's not here to show me though, he disappeared with lots of other people. Maybe you and my uncle Wong could teach me how to do magic, and I can bring them all back? Then mommy won't be sad anymore."

You could see Scott glance at you over Vincent's shoulder. Trying not to draw attention to the fact that he knew you were listening. The tears quickly blurred your vision before you moved to wipe them away. Scott didn't want to overstep his boundaries, not having known you or Vincent very long, but he knew he needed to say something to comfort the boy. He continued before Scott could say anything.

"I know mommy has me and Auntie Nat and Uncle Steve. She says her and Uncle Steve are special friends now, and sometimes he stays with her at night, but I know she still misses Daddy. Sometimes at night I hear her crying and it makes me sad that she's sad. I want to help make her feel better. Plus, I wanna meet Daddy. He sounds really cool."

Well now that your son had outed you and Steve to all of the other Avengers in the room. You felt very much on display, like an exposed raw nerve. No one wanting to make eye contact with you except Steve and Nat. All feeling a little guilty at having left you knowing now that you still cried yourself to sleep most nights, at least the ones you weren't taking solace in Captain America's arms.

From the living room once more, you catch Scott trying to communicate silently with you. After some eyebrow wiggles and hand gestures, you figured out he wants to tell Vincent about the time heist plan. You assume not everything as Vincent is only 4, but just the fact that they have a plan to try. You figure what the hell, he's bound to notice all the commotion starting around the compoundanyways.

Maybe it would be best to tell him, especially since it had already been decided the two of you would go to the Sanctum while the heist and ensuing fight was happening. It would be the safest place physically for you to be. Even if mentally, you weren't so sure. If it worked and Stephen did come back, you would have a lot less to explain. If it didn't work though, would your son's heart be broken just like yours? You weren't sure you could handle that.

After a few more seconds of thinking, you give Scott a little nod. Giving him the go-ahead to share the plan with Vincent. Who is he gonna tell anyway?

"Can you keep a secret? It's an Avengers only secret. So if I tell you it means you're an official Avenger, okay? We have a plan to try and bring everyone back, but we need someone to make sure your mom stays safe while we do. So maybe we can put you in charge of protecting your mom for us? Nat says she's always getting into trouble, and we have to make sure to keep her safe for your dad. Plus, I wanna meet your dad too. He does sound cool. If he's anything like you, then he'll be really cool."

"I've met him. Not that cool. Right Banner? Now, what's this you were saying about your mom and uncle Steve?"

Tony Stark was always one to make an entrance, Rhodey not far behind him, and ultimately you were happy to have his sarcasm change the energy in the room back to a more playful one. Tony tilted his sunglasses down and gave your son a little 6 show him he was teasing. The same look he always gave Steve when he was giving him shit, which he had managed to do oh so quickly. Your son's giggle breaking the tense air around you as Tony clutched his chest and exaggeratedly gasped at the scandalous reveal.

You had to laugh at the way Steve rolled his eyes. You knew he wasn't one to kiss and tell, let alone when you were still another man's wife. Even if that other man had been blipped years ago by a mad titan. You weren't officially a thing, but you weren't not a thing either. Truthfully, you both had yet to figure out exactly what you were for each other.

You were surprised when you felt a hand on your shoulder and looked ovet to see Clint. A shell of who he had been. Deep black circles under his eyes, a mohawk, and a plethora of new tattoos. Having lost his wife and his kids you knew he had struggled to make it this far. He offered you a tight lipped half smile. A smile that said I know your pain, and in the case you knew that he really did know.

"I know it's not exactly the same, but speaking as someone who also lost a spouse you still seem to handling it much better than me. I know everyone lost people, but you really got a raw deal. You're doing a great job, mom."

You hadn't realized Nebula had left the living room until she chimed in as well. Her monotone voice doing nothing to hide her feelings as she spoke.

"He is right. You are a good mother. Even if his father is dead. He is happy and loved. That's all I ever wanted… to be loved."

You knew she meant it nicer than it sounded. She was just very blunt. You wanted to say something back to her. To tell her that she is loved. You wanted to hug her, but knew that probably wasn't the best thing. Instead settling for reaching out to put your hand on hers as she went to grab a plate. Her breath hitching and her body jumping lightly at even that friendly gesture.

You squeezed her hand in yours and gave her a little smile and a nod whispering a silent thank you. Letting go before she had the chance to return the nod, not wanting to pressure her into responding further. Your smile growing when a soft "You are welcome" fell from her lips. Excusing yourself so you could go get Vincent as well as wake up Thor, and she could start plating her food.

After everyone got their food and the plotting of how and where to find all the infinity stones began, you and Vincent began planning for your own adventure. Packing all that you would need for an extended stay at the Sanctum. Making sure you had everything important accounted for. The time heist and potential following battle could go any number of ways, you and Vincent had to be prepared for anything. No matter what happened.

So you packed your belongings and started the process of moving yourselves back to the place that for years had been your home. The Sanctum Sanctorum. Now, it just felt haunted and empty. Moving yourself and Vincent into new bedrooms and not daring to even open the door to the master bedroom you and Stephen once shared.

Vincent was enjoying helping build the time machine however he could. Even just carrying tools or supervising. The time passed quicker than you would have hoped, and before long, the big day was staring down at you. Wong had made sure you were all settled in by then.

You and Steve had spent what, if all went according to plan, would be your final night together. He promised you that they would succeed, whatever it took. They would set the world right. That they would do it for you and for Vincent.

It would be your job to throw the switches and start the time machine that would scatter the Avengers throughout time and across all corners of the universe. Then Wong would take you and Vincent to the Sanctum before leaving to gather the forces of the Kamar-Taj and the other Sanctums.

One by one all of them gave Vincent a high five, a fist bump, or a hug as they climbed up onto the platform. Nat was the last one up, other than Bruce who checked all the settings one last time.

You noticed an odd look in her eyes as she hugged you so tight you could hardly breathe. From the corner of your eye, you saw her slip two sealed envelopes into Vincent's Captain America backpack. Kneeling down at eye level and making him promise to keep you safe. Telling him how proud she was of him before kissing the top of his head and joining the others.

After Steve finished his signature Captain America speech, you told Vincent to go stand back on the other side of the room with Wong. To make sure if anything went wrong, he would be protected. Starting your countdown once he was at a safe distance.

"Three… two… one… God speed."

As soon as the shockwave had cleared and all of them had disappeared, you checked the machine's settings against the paper Bruce and Scott had given you. Making sure everything looked stable and the platform was ready for their return. Starting the countdown clock ticking. It should only be five minutes in your time before they all returned.

Wong had already opened the portal to the Sanctum and sent Vincent through as you looked around at the Avengers compound one more time. On some level you knew that it was the last time you would see it. You didn't know what was coming next, but you knew there was no turning back now.

And so you stepped through the gold glimmering portal into the grand foyer of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Once again your home. For better or for worse. Giving Wong a hug and a thank you before sending him off to ready the other sorcerers for battle.

For now, your job was just to take care of your son. The only job you had really cared about for the last five years. Taking his small hand in yours and leading him into the dining room. While the others searched for the stones that could bring your husband back, dinner was the top priority on your list. For Vincent, you had to keep up a semblance of normalcy, even if every fiber in your body felt like it wanted to go hide under the bed.

All you could do was wait and hope…

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ircn-dad · 2 years

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Sometimes I think about Tony's life before Iron Man and I just feel bad for that man.

He spent his entire childhoods in a house where he wasn't loved for who he was. His dad didn't payed attention to him and mentally abused him (idk if in the MCU he was physically abused too, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was), his Mother- even if she wasn't bad and was lovely- always tried to justify Howard's action towards him (during the BARF scene we can see an example of her actions). Living in a house like this, where you feel no one is at your side is exhausting. Where everyone expect from you the best, and even if you try it, you won't ever be enough for your parents.

He entered at MIT at only fourteen, so that means (I guess) he never went to school with his peers. At seven years old he enters at the Philips Academy and it's a secondary school. Despite his outgoing behaviour, I don't think a little kid is comfortable around people much older. I don't think he even had real friends before going to MIT because even if he was more mature than his age, I don't believe a lot of teenagers or pre teens were ready to befriend with a kid.

So, no friends at school and not a good relationship with his family. He must have felt lonely for 14 years, and when he goes to MIT he decides to change. He puts a mask on and begins his new behaviour. He starts going to parties, to drink and to act cool around people to be liked and appreciated. I remember reading some fake testimonials that Marvel made to honorate the release of Iron Man 3, testimonials about how some ex students remembered Tony at MIT and two of them said:

“No one really knew him, he was just a rich kid. Everyone wanted him around, though, because he'd always bring something fun for the party.”

“I remember him at after-parties on Thayer Street. He was up later than anyone else. But you could always get a ride home with him, because he always had a car.”

No one knows the real him because that's what he does: he hides him self behind parties, fun and this kind of stuff to just be noticed by someone. Some people might say that he just wants to be at the centre of the attention, and yes that's true and it is a bad thing, but ever wondered why? Imagine being a kid, who has no friends, who's father hates you and you feel like no one will ever love you, until you find a way to be finally appreciated. You found a way to have someone who notices you after years of loneliness. I can't speak for everyone, but I would have done the same thing.

He keeps doing this for years and years. He lost his parents, he lost Jarvis and he has to take responsibility for his father's company at 21. He doesn't want that, he just wants to have fun and to distract him self from the reality because half of his life, at the time, was just empty, with no one taking care of him. So he practically leaves the company to Obadiah and he just spends more than 10 years trying to fill that void.

Why do you think he was a playboy?

Now... I don't know if that could be possible in the MCU, but in the comics he was assaulted at fourteen by a woman who was way older thank him That was the first time ever he was touched by someone like that, and even if he was a genius I wouldn't be too surprised (again) to find out he was taking refuge from his problems in s*x. He probably thought that was love, that the only reason someone could really love him was to make s*x with them and to make them feel pleasured (we could apply this logic even if he wasn't assaulted). I can think of other fictional characters who are Playboys (Barney Stinson from "how I met your mother" for example) in which is heavily implied that the only reason they act that way is because they need to feel loved.

Ten years of doing this, and you think he would be able to recover? Ofc no.

He has Rhodey, He has Pepper, He has Happy (and he has Obadiah but we don't talk about that man in this house), He has moneys, fame, he can finally have fun, he can drink and have all the women he wants. His life seems perfect, but we all know that's a lie.

He has everything, but he still has nothing, as Yinsen said.

And Tony, after being kidnapped for three months knows that. He knows his whole life was empty at that point. He said it him self when Yinsen asked him if he had a family out the cave. He just said no, he thinks no one is waiting for him to come back. For 38 years of his life he had nothing to live for, and even though we know how much his friends cared about him, he's not aware of that because he thinks they care for the mask he created for him self when he was young. At the age of 38, he still thinks no one could ever love the real him, because he doesn't love him self.

That's why I hate when people says he's immature, narcissistic and egocentric. Is he aware he is a genius? Yes. It's not bad to know that, especially when everyone expected him to be one since he was born. But that doesn't mean he's narcissistic. He acts like he's better than everyone else, but in reality he feels like the worst person ever. How can a narcissistic person think how their girlfriend deserves so much better than him? (As he said in Iron man 3). How can someone be egocentric and then puts other's life before him every single time, or when he's one of the few who cared for everyone, and who was ready to sacrifice himself for a world who never loved him? How can people even assume he thinks he's better than everyone when he admits himself he's just a man in a tin can?

If you can't see that during all the movies that he covers him self with an armour- not iron man, an INVISIBLE ARMOUR made of humour, sarcasm and fake self-esteem- to protect him self from further pain, then I suggest you to rewatch the movies.

Tony Stark is one of the most human and well written characters in the MCU, it's sad that not a lot of fans (and almost everyone in the marvel universe as well) can't see that.

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clintbartonswife · 6 months

Text

it takes a village

Pairings: Peter Parker & irondad!Tony Stark Summary: tony gets a message from peter's kidnappers and makes a call. read part one first Whumptober prompt #6 : recording / 'it should've been me' Whumptober prompt #20 : 'you will regret touching them' Notes: brief descriptions of torture masterlist || whumptober2023

"Sir, you have a message."

Tony wiped the sweat from his forehead, pushing his chair back and looking up to the roof of his lab. "Can it wait? I think I'm close to fixing the lagging issue in Rhodey's leg brace."

"You ignored their last message sir. This time they attached a video."

"FRIDAY, is that a yes or no?"

A few seconds passed as FRIDAY inspected the file, Tony stretching and wincing as his back made a loud cracking noise. DUM-E whirred at him with concern, going back to dusting when he shooed it away.

"No sir. It can't wait."

He sighed, twirling in his chair to face the nearest screen, grabbing his coffee from the table. "Put it up."

The mug fell to the floor, smashing and spilling the coffee all over the floor of the lab.

He was looking at Peter being thrown into a room, body limp and bruised. The angle suggested it was from a CCTV feed, though the resolution was surprisingly high. His heart dropped as the video skipped, showing the kid hammering at the door, yelling and screaming.

Tony couldn't tear his eyes away, tears gathering in his eyes as the video skipped forwards once more. Peter was curled in on himself in the corner of the room, rocking slightly back and forth in an attempt to self-soothe. Text popped up on the screen, stating that instructions would be sent in the next two hours.

As the screen switched to black he ran out of the room, grabbing the flip phone he had vowed to never use, dialling the only number saved on it.

"I need your help."

Tony paced across the tarmac, fiddling with the flip phone in his hands.

"They'll be here." Rhodey reassured, moving to place a hand on his shoulder, "Cap - Steve reached out first. He won't go back on his word."

Tony huffed, "I know it's just - they took the kid. I was so busy I didn't even think to -" He ran his hands across his face. "He's been there for three days already."

"We're going to get him."

Tony couldn't speak, settling instead for a tight nod.

His thoughts were stuck on the image of Peter. He was alone and afraid, curled up in the corner with bruised hands hugged in to his chest.

"How did May -"

"She's with Pepper now, at the tower."

"Pepper?"

Tony let out a self deprecating laugh. "No matter how she feels about me right now, she loves the kid almost as much as I do. May needs someone with her so..."

Rhodey just hummed, stepping back at the noise of an approaching quinjet. "We'll get him back. We just... need to get through this first."

Tony nodded, shaking his shoulders in an attempt to shake off some of the anxiety that threatened to choke him. Any dread that he had been feeling over this reunion was nothing compared to the last 8 hours, and with it came hope.

Hope was a dangerous thing, but goddamn did he need all he could get.

Tony cleared his throat, doing his best to appear put-together. It failed, horrifically, but he hoped that they wouldnt be cruel enough to point it out.

The quinjet door opened, revealing almost all of the old team. "Welcome back to the States."

Steve nodded in greeting, bearded jaw clenched and hands protectively crossed over his chest.

They stared at each other for a moment, unspoken words thick in the air. Rhodey broke it, stepping forwards.

"Thank you for coming. I'm sure we all... have a lot to say, but now is not the time."

Steve's eyes darkened with guilt as they passed over Rhodey's leg braces, offering another curt nod in response.

Natasha was the first to step off of the platform, offering Tony a tight smile. "Agreed."

"Just -" Tony's fist clenched by his side, "Please. I can't get him on my own."

"We wouldn't let you, man." Sam replied, "You got coordinates?"

"FRIDAY's working on it right now. So far she's narrowed it to Chicago."

"Then lets go."

Steve turned around, heading straight to the controls of the jet. Tony took a deep breath, looking at Rhodey for reassurance before following, door closing behind them.

The awkwardness of the jet was almost suffocating, Tony checking his phone every few seconds for any sort of update. Rhodey had positioned himself protectively in front of him, though not in a way that he was completely blocked from the view of the others.

Steve's body language was tight and guarded, eyes flitting over to Tony every few seconds before diverting to the floor, restraining himself from saying the words he had been sitting on for the past few months.

Tony's phone pinged, the man's face whitening as another video appeared on his screen. "They sent another one."

"Tony... you don't have to-"

He brushed Rhodey's concern off, jaw tightening. "No. I do." He clicked play with shaking hands, spare hand reaching up to cover his mouth in an attempt to withhold his shout of shock.

Peter was tied to a chair, head hung low. A woman was stood by a metal tray, picking up a cattleprod and jamming it into his stomach. A tear fell down his cheek at Peter's yell of pain, the other people in the jet jumping to their feet at the realisation of the nature of the video.

Natasha was the first to approach. "Tony -"

"Don't. I need to -"

The abuse continued, though Peter remained strong, refusing to let out another noise despite the attacks. Despite this, the pain was written clearly across his face, guilt eating at Tony like a disease.

"It should've been me" he whispered, throat tight.

Rhodey placed a comforting hand on his shoulder once again, grounding him and saving him from the anxiety spiral that was threatening to drag him down. He spoke in a low tone, attempting to hide his words from the rest of the group. "Breathe. You can't panic now. He needs you at 100%"

Tony choked out an agreement, placing his phone down on the seat and placing his head in his hands, willing himself to get it together. He had to be strong for Peter.

As his phone pinged again, he froze. Sam approached him carefully, picking up the phone and opening it when there was no argument.

"FRIDAY has a location," he said, "warehouse in Chicago, West Chatham. I'll give Steve the full address."

Natasha stood by Tony, close enough for him to feel her body heat, but keeping distance. "We'll get him. He's going to be okay. I promise."

The last twenty minutes of the journey felt like forever, Tony's mind racing with a million different possibilities. None of them were good.

As the quinjet began its descent, Rhodey moved closer to Tony, voice quiet. "You know I want to go in with you ..."

"I know. He - Peter will understand."

"Legs don't work the way they used to," Rhodey smiled, "But I'll get the meds out, ready for him."

"I appreciate it, Platypus. I mean it."

"I know its been a while since you've been alone with them, but they've still got your back. They won't let anything happen to Parker."

Tony nodded, fists clenching and unclenching as he pushed down the anxiety, willing himself to be strong. He wasn't allowed to be Tony Stark right now. His kid needed Ironman.

As he stood, he activated his armour, allowing the metal to give him courage.

"We go in quick and do this cleanly." Steve said, authoritative tone bringing Tony back to the prime of the Avengers. "We're still technically on the run. If we stay too long then -"

"They won't arrest you." Tony interrupted, keeping his eyes set on the door. "I've been negotiating since you went off the radar. I'm close to fixing it. Getting a pardon for your boy as well."

There was silence for a moment, uneasy and uncertain.

"Tony..."

He just waved them off. "Yeah, whatever. We don't have time to waste." Clearing his throat awkwardly, he pressed the release on the door.

The alarm blared through the building, Tony not stopping as he fought his way down the corridor, visor scanning for any sign of Peter.

"North east quadrant clear" Natasha announced through coms, "I found a map and am on my way to the control room."

Steve's voice sounded a few moments later. "North west quadrant clear. I'm heading towards you Sam."

"There's a lot of them here - I think they're guarding something."

Tony slammed his fist into the last man's face, kicking open another door and swearing as it turned up empty. "I've got nothing. He's got to be with you, Sam."

"The control room is barred from the inside," Natasha reported, exertion clear in her voice, "Door won't budge. The woman's gotta be in here."

Tony's footsteps faltered, not sure where to go. As if sensing this, Steve spoke.

"We're still making our way through this quadrant, we've got it under control. Go to Nat, Tony."

Pushing down the need to rebel, Tony followed the instructions, each step increasing with determination the closer he got.

"Stand to the side." He said, raising his hand and sending a powerful blast through the door once Natasha was safely out of the way.

Shouts of panic from the other side were ignored as he blasted away the rest of the door, barging in and hitting the first person he saw. Natasha was right behind him, carefully controlled fury powering her every move as she tore through the group of men.

Tony used this distraction to corner the woman, kicking her in the knees and sending her tumbling to the floor. "You will regret touching them" he growled, looking down on her in disgust, "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

She laughed, an obnoxious laugh, and attempted to sit up straight. "You know who I am."

He held himself back from hurting her further, the sane part of him knowing that Peter would never forgive him for lashing out in a rage.

Instead, he disengaged his helmet, looking her up and down with disinterest. "I've never seen you before in my life."

At her outraged shout, he stepped back, motioning for Natasha to incapacitate her. "You're going to jail now, where no one will ever know or care who you are. You are nothing."

"You cant - They'll never arrest me! You have nothing -"

"Shut up." Natasha sneered, hitting her once cleanly in the temple, and huffing as she crumpled. Sparing a kind look at Tony, she nodded towards the door. "Go get him - I'll make sure she's tied up and ready for the cops."

He nodded, hoping his gratitude was clear as he raced out of the room. "Cap? Do you have him?"

"We have him - on our way to the jet."

Relief rushed through him, speeding up even more in his desperation to see his kid. He burst out of the building, disengaging the suit as he stumbled up the quinjet ramp, colliding with Sam's chest.

"He's okay - he's okay." Sam reassured, "Take a breath, Tony."

He took a shuddering breath, eyes fluttering closed as he did his best to regulate himself. "Thank you."

"Of course."

Sam stepped aside, letting Tony rush to Peter's side.

"Mr Stark?"

His voice was weak and small, but so so alive.

Tony let out a tearful laugh, cupping Peter's cheek in his hand. "It's me, bud. I'm here."

"Knew you'd come" Peter smiled, blinking weakly, "Knew it."

"Always."

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3mcwriting · 1 year

Text

Any Fan's Dream, Part 5

Any Fan's Dream Masterlist

Synopsis:

When you look around and see Avengers Tower in front of you and Peter Parker beside you, you wonder how the hell you managed to get into the MCU.

Taglist: @secretly-sirens, @zeeader, @imdoingathingmom, @x-theolivia, @ainsley-official, @huntress-artemiss

"You look weirdly tired and excited," Tony commented as you entered the workroom. "Interesting combination."

You had bags around your eyes, and you were walking slowly and stiffly. However, your eyes were alight with excitement and you had a large grin on your face. You had pulled an all-nighter with Peter, well, you weren't actually with him. "Your" mom had told you that you had been away from home a lot and she wouldn't let you leave the house or let you have him over. So, instead you had spent the night sprawled on "your" bed, phone plugged to the charger while you talked to Peter over the phone.

Your body was berating you for that, but you couldn't bring yourself to regret your choices. Even with the way all your limbs were both stiff and sore and you looked like a zombie, you weren't sorry for the night.

"You look fabulous," you retorted, "and- oh shit I forgot all of my insults. Sorry, I'm a little drowsy right now."

"You're lucky that Capsicle is busy training Rhodey and the rest of them, otherwise, he would've had something to say about that language of yours." Tony looked at you, an unimpressed expression on his face. "And, kid, you don't look 'a little drowsy', you look like you're about to fall asleep standing up. There is no way we're working on your suit-"

You protested, "but-"

"Uh uh, no 'buts'. You're either gonna end up drilling through the table or your hand, or you're gonna eventually wear the suit and mid-flight something fails and you plummet to your death. Neither is ideal, so no suit today."

"Fine," you agreed. You were sad that you were slowing down the finish of your very own Iron Man suit(holy shit your very own Iron Man suit!!) but you didn't want your stay in the MCU to ever end. Although, ngl dying in an Iron Man suit would be so cool. Wait a- wtf I'm tired.

"What are we going to do then?" you asked.

"Whatever you wanna do, I guess."

"Can we hack Area 51?"

Tony teared up, "yes, yes we can."

Two hours later and the two of you had discovered some of the nation's biggest secrets. And you had to say, there was some crazy ass shit going down.

"-holy alienfucking shit! So they knew!!"

"I fucking knew it." Tony said, "I knew they knew it."

"The government has been lying to us for decades," you stated.

"Kid, they're the government. Of course they lied. You've met Fury."

"I met Fury?"

Tony looked at you. "Yeah, remember on the first week of your internship he was here?"

"Uh huh." You nodded. "Now I remember."

Dammit I met Fury except not really! I wanna meet Fury. Hmph.

"(y/n)! Where you at, babe? Time to train!"

You felt the blood drain from your face, you pleaded with Tony. "Help me."

He shook his head grimly. "No one can save you now. She's already here."

"Found you!"

You screeched.

"I hope you know that when I pull every muscle in my body, you and Steve are paying for my hospital bill."

"We would never push you that hard." Natasha told you. "We would never give you the satisfaction of going to the hospital and relaxing in a bed for days doing nothing. We'll just push you as hard as you can go before the hospital is warranted."

"You fucking sadist."

"Tch, I don't think Steve would approve of that language."

"Who said I give a single flying fuck about what Steve approves of?"

Natasha laughed. "You know that all this training is for your own good, right?"

You scoffed, massaging your tired legs.

"Really," she reaffirmed, "everybody was worried when you didn't come for your internship. Especially when that 5-year-old burst through the lobby yelling about you being taken. We worry about you."

You looked down, "I didn't know I had scared everyone so much."

You really didn't. Which may have been stupid considering how serious Peter was about you getting kidnapped. You knew that in a normal situation being kidnapped was horrible, but you had been far too star-struck to be rational. Plus, you were new to people being concerned about you. You never had the invested parents, the protective ones, not even the strict ones. You had the cold, emotionally-distant parents that you rarely ever saw. The ones that weren't mean, or abusive, they just weren't there.

As pathetic as it sounded, you had gotten used to people not giving a shit about you.

You forgot that people cared about you here.

"Yeah," Natasha spoke, "so me and Steve are helping you learn how to protect yourself."

You weren't sure what you should say, did you thank them? That was probably what you should do. "Um, thank you- I mean, you guys are really busy and you make the time to train me. Like- I- you don't have to do this, but you choose to so thank you."

You fidgeted with your hands, not sure where to look. Here you were with your heroes, people who had saved the world multiple times. And they cared about you, they worried about you, and you were complaining.

Natasha's eyes softened as she saw how guilty you felt. "Of course we have to, we care about you. So, no thanks required."

"I'm sorry."

Natasha looked surprised. "For what?"

"I'm being ungrateful."

You hated this feeling. The feeling of being a burden.

You remembered when you were younger, probably 9.

You had aced your spelling test, you were so proud of yourself. When you got home, you couldn't help the grin on your face. You were so excited to tell your parents about how you had done, you stayed waiting up past your bedtime for hours, hoping to see your parents.

You fell asleep, but you had left your graded spelling test with the 100% on it on the kitchen table. You had fallen asleep at some point, and when you woke up, you went to go find your mother and father. It was a Saturday, they were asleep in their bed. You dragged them out of bed to show them the paper.

Your dad had looked at the paper on the table. "What have we told you about leaving trash everywhere?"

Your mom crumpled up the paper and threw it in the trash. "You have to clean up after yourself, we're not always going to be here to pick up after you."

A burden.

That's what you had felt like your entire life.

And here you were being nothing but a bother to your heroes. You were complaining and whining, being ungrateful about what they were doing.

"You have nothing to be sorry about-" Natasha was perplexed, "-you didn't do anything."

You nodded, still feeling guilty. "I won't complain anymore."

"What?" Natasha shook her head. "What are you talking about?"

"When you train me, I'll stop whining."

Natasha put a hand on your shoulder. "What are you- you know it's okay to have complaints? It's a hard training regimen, nobody expects you to take it like a vacation. It's hard, and you're sticking with it. A couple grumbles and jokes are normal. You know that, right?"

You were unconvinced, too used to the feeling of being a burden. But, you had managed to hide it most of your life, you could hide it now. "I know, I think I'm just a little tired. I stayed up all night so I'm just a little sleep deprived."

Natasha's expression showed that she believed you about the same amount you believed yourself, so not a lot. She figured you could use a bit of relaxation. "You should go take a shower, and after you get out I'll give you a massage. Your muscles are unused to this exercise so we have to make sure they don't get really tight and you end up pulling something."

"Massage?"

Your thoughts stopped. A massage from Natasha fucking Romanoff? Just so that you wouldn't get injured? Why was she so awesome? Your simp-heart couldn't handle such amazingness.

Unfortunately, that sentence only distracted you from your thoughts, and once you were in the shower, they all came flooding back. Standing in the bathroom, alone, you looked at yourself. You weren't sure what you were looking for, but whatever it was, you didn't find it because you stopped with a sense of defeat.

You stepped out of the bathroom, seeing Natasha seated on her bed. Her hair was wet and she was in new clothes, indicative of her also taking a shower whilst you were.

She was scrolling through her phone but looked up when you opened the door. You were wearing loose shorts that fell halfway down your thighs, and another one of her worn t-shirts.

"Ok, come sit down." Natasha said, patting the spot on the bed next to her.

You did so, looking at her curiously. "Where are you going to massage me?"

"Your legs." She gestured to your mostly bare legs. "That's why I got you shorts this time instead of sweats."

"Oh," you were having trouble finding words, "um, how do you want me to sit?"

"Just lay down on your stomach," she answered, "I'll massage your calves, not your thighs. You're probably unused to massages so if I start massaging further up your legs, it'll make you tense because of how unused you are to it and the whole point of this is to relax your muscles.

You nodded and laid down on your stomach, the feeling of her kneading your calf muscles was slightly painful at first but it felt good after a while.

"You feel how I'm pressing with the heel of my palm?" she asked.

You nodded, her comments asking about how it felt and the technique popping up throughout the massage.

When she was done, you sat up and looked at her. "Thank you, it felt good."

She smiled, winking at you. "My pleasure, babe."

You grabbed your phone, turning it on and seeing the time.

Your eyes went wide. "Oh shit! I have to go, I was supposed to leave half an hour ago."

"Calm down, you don't have to leave."

"No, I- Peter's waiting for me, shit!"

You grabbed your stuff. "Thank you, Nat! See ya!"

You ran out of the room, unlocking your phone as you ran. You pulled up your contact list and right when you were about to call him-

You got pulled into a closet.

Your phone was snatched out of your hand by someone. You had a suspicion of who it was before you saw the person.

Your suspicions were confirmed when you hit the light switch beside the closed door and Loki stood in front of you.

"Can't have you calling anybody," Loki pocketed your phone, he looked at you. "You don't seem that surprised to see me."

"Well, you did break into my apartment two days ago and kidnap me the day before that," you commented dryly, "I figured it was coming sooner or later."

He smiled. "You are an interesting human."

"Thanks, Hotstuff. What am I doing in the closet? I came out of it years ago."

"I just came to bid you goodbye, I have business to attend to. Although, with your knowledge-" he smirked, "-I'm sure you already knew that."

No way, there is no way he knows. He can't know.

You smiled humorously, trying to hide your nerves. "I'm pretty awesome but I'm not a fortune teller."

"Is that so? You obviously know more than you should."

You remembered something, an idea sparking in you.

Maybe you could change something.

"You're right about that, and I have some advice. One day, there's going to be a big, purple, man with a nut-sack chin. When he approaches your spaceship, you need to get the Asgardians out of there. Otherwise, a lot of people are going to die." You included. Please listen, Loki.

He looked at you, uneasy at your sincerity but not being fully convinced either. "Alright, I'll remember that when the time comes. For somebody who claims not to be a fortune teller, you seem to have a significant awareness of future events. Care to explain, darling?"

"I've already given you enough information, why would I give you more?"

"Hmm, you're right about that. Knowledge is valuable." He fixed you with a piercing stare, "I suppose I should thank you."

His words made you all too aware of the small amount of space in the closet, of how close he was to you. His face moved closer to you, hovering mere inches from yours.

"Tell me, darling," he whispered in your ear, "do I have permission to thank you?"

"I-" you couldn't think. He was so close and he smelled really good and holy shit his voice was sexy-

"Well?" he murmured, "do I?"

You could only nod, wondering where the hell your voice had gone.

His face moved closer, the inches disappearing as his lips brushed against your cheek gently, tenderly. He pulled away, smirking at your flustered state.

You didn't enjoy his amusement, and resolved to make him the more flustered person there.

You moved forward, caging Loki between you and the wall behind him. He couldn't quite hide the shock at your boldness, simultaneously surprised and attracted to the change.

"Are you alright with me this close?"

As much as you wanted to appear suave and confident, the most important thing was that both of you were comfortable with the situation.

Loki had absolutely no problem with the situation. "Darling, I am more than alright."

You looked at him, admiring his beauty. His eyes were intense, piercing, and mischievous, looking at you in a way that was unbelievably tempting. His hair fell a little above his shoulders, dark and alluring.

Damn send the haircare routine-

You tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear, fingertips grazing his cheekbone when you moved it. You smirked when you heard the way his breath caught. If you were honest, you really, really, really, wanted to one-up him. There was a short strand of hair falling over his forehead, your eyes locked on it. You pressed your lips gently over it, then moved backwards and brushed the strand to the side.

He stared at you, strangely silent. His expression was one of shock, but not for the reason you thought. He was surprised that you had expressed affection so kindly and softly as if you worried your adoration would bruise.

The two of you stared at each other, neither willing to break the moment.

But your phone buzzed somewhere in Loki's outfit and the two of you snapped back to reality.

"Ah shit! I need my phone, Loki."

He handed it to you, that odd silence still with him.

You hesitated for a moment, wondering if you should say something but your phone buzzed again and you ran out of the closet. You answered your phone as you ran. "Gah, I'm so sorry, Peter. I'll be down right now."

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aurumacadicus · 1 year

Note

Crime writer Tony actual assassin bucky,

I am so bad at crime rest in pieces Tony lmao.

Tony sort of... falls into writing accidentally. Rhodey joins a book club in college and Tony joins with him because he's codependent and after the first three books, they read a frankly abysmal adaption of the Black Dahlia murder. Unfortunately, Tony is the best at working out of spite, so as soon as 'man, even I could write a better and more respectful novel than this,' it just sort of... happens. Rhodey is the first person he shows, nervous and antsy. Rhodey has the best poker face Tony's ever seen, even better than Howard and Obie's. He had no idea what Rhodey thinks of it. Finally, Rhodey looks up at him, and he says, "This was really good, but it could be better. I'm giving it to the book club." Tony wails in dismay because he's a perfectionist when it comes to showing things off, but Rhodey drags him to book club kicking and screaming, because they're mostly English majors and they'll have more insight than he does. The book club rips it to shreds, but they tell him exactly why, and his second draft barely has any red marks on it at all when they read it. While Tony's in college, he publishes his novels under a pen name, and his book club are his editors. Once he graduates, he starts publishing under his own name, with part of the proceeds going into two non-profits--a book club and a writers workshop for underprivileged youth.

Bucky's descent into serial killing is not an accident at all. One of his sisters is beaten almost to death by her boyfriend, and when the guy only gets a slap on the wrist by the courts because it's his first offense, Bucky makes him disappear. The only other person who knows is Steve, mostly because they're so close he would have found out anyway. Luckily, the most Steve ever says about it is, "Don't tell me anything. I'm a bad liar." He figures part of it is because Steve had been with him when they'd found his sister bleeding and unconscious on her apartment floor. He'd seen Steve's jaw clench at the hearing when the guy was let off on probation. His rage that the system was failing someone who had almost been murdered by an intimate partner. Steve had decided to throw himself into getting laws changed, harsher sentences. It was slow going. It was probably the only reason he turned a blind eye when Bucky decided to take a more... hands on approach.

Tony and Bucky, miraculously, meet when Bucky sneaks into his apartment. Or, well, "meet." Tiberius had just been let off assault charges simply because he was rich, and Tony hadn't gotten a chance to change the locks because he was in the hospital recovering from being strangled. Bucky had meant to sneak in and kill Tiberius while Tony was still at the hospital, so he'd have an alibi. But apparently Tony had signed out of the hospital against medical advice to avoid the press, and Bucky had snuck into his apartment to find Tiberius backhanding him to the ground. So he simply stepped further into the apartment and snapped Tiberius's neck. Clean. Efficient. Fast enough that Tony, dazed and bleeding from a head wound again, wouldn't realize it. "Let's get you cleaned up," Bucky says gently, helping Tony to his feet. "But Tiberius--" Tony starts, lip bleeding as well. "He's sleeping," Bucky assures him, and helps Tony to the bathroom to clean him up. Calls a friend to come sit with him because he's adamant he's not going to the hospital. Gets him tucked onto the couch with a milkshake and an old sci-fi movie in the background. Grabs Tiberius by the scruff to drag him out. "So dinner? Tomorrow? With me?" Tony slurs, blinking doe eyes at him. "Sure," Bucky agrees, good-natured, and expects to never see him again.

"So," Tony says, tablet and stylus in hand. "What's the easiest way to kill somebody." "We are at my job," Bucky complains immediately, grabbing him by the arm to drag him over to the antique book section. "How did you find me?" "I'm Tony Stark," Tony says, and then, "Also I follow Steve on Instagram and there are pictures of you with him. I asked where you worked and he's a bad liar." "He really isn't, he just panics," Bucky says. He sighs, crossing his arms over his chest, and does not mention that the way Tony is checking out his biceps are not subtle. "Why do you follow Steve?" "I like the work he's doing to get more stringent laws for domestic violence," Tony tells him seriously, and Bucky throws his hands up in frustration. "Anyway. Do you wanna go get lunch?" "You watched me k--" Bucky begins, outraged, then swallows it back and takes a deep breath. He glances around to make sure they're still alone, then whispers, "You watched me kill your ex-boyfriend." "He was going to kill me," Tony says, shrugging. "The bar is on the floor." "Jesus Christ," Bucky moans, dragging his hands down his face.

Tony has the self-preservation of a gnat and keeps inviting Bucky out. Bucky is absolutely appalled. He's dangerous. Tony has seen him kill somebody. And he still wants to have dinner? "And raunchy sex that makes me blush when I remember it maybe," Tony offers, shrugging. "Tiberius didn't usually even get me to come." Somehow Bucky is not surprised and yet still incredibly offended on Tony's behalf. "Well, I'm pretty good in bed," he says mulishly, because it's not fair that Tony hasn't had a partner that cared about his pleasure in bed recently. And then somehow he gets locked down into a long-term relationship. He is absolutely stunned. "Tony's like that," Steve tells him, and then, "Actually I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner. Please tell Tony to stop telling me how good you are in bed." "You tell Tony to stop asking me to show him how to kill people for his books," Bucky retorts, and then they both stare at each other, stone faced, as they realize oh. So this is just what Tony's like then.

Bonus: Tony goes back to his old pen name so he can write self-published raunchy romance novels of a writer and his serial killer boyfriend. Bucky is mortified but also aroused. Tony coyly asks him what he'd do in the killer character's position in the bedroom and Bucky is FURIOUS that it gets him horny. It doesn't stop him from showing Tony, though.

#aurumacadicus answers #ask meme #5 headcanons meme #winteriron #tw: domestic violence #tw: domestic abuse #not between tony and bucky tho

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muddyorbsblr · 1 year

Text

man of the month part 5: may

Series Masterlist @mochie85's Series Masterlist See my full list of works here!

Summary: Scott's shoot is up and apparently the man is quite comfortable with nakedness

Pairing: Loki x Reader (eventually)

Word Count: 4.3k

Warnings: nudity; handful of bad language words Steve wouldn't approve of [let me know if i missed anything!]

Things to be aware of: mutual pining; idiots in love

You stayed up so far into the early morning finishing up the color grading of both Rhodey's and Shaun's pictures, as well as meticulously doing and redoing the lettering for their months to get everything just the way you pictured it in your head, that you decided you'd spend the night in the studio. Fortunately, there was an unused bedroom setup that was practically calling your name.

Though if you were being honest, even if there wasn't, you'd have probably been content curling up on the couch with how exhausted you were.

As you were combing through the tangles of your bedhead, you practically jumped in your seat as the door to the studio opened, and you stupidly wielded your comb as a weapon against whoever was about to walk through the door. Was it foolish? For sure. But it was better than nothing in case it was a genuine intruder.

You sighed in relief as you saw Scott come into view. "Dammit Scott, I was about to—"

"What, Scopes? Beat me with a comb?" he retorted with a hearty laugh. "You can put the weapon down, I was just stopping by to see the studio. Make a decision on where I wanted my shoot so I didn't waste minutes on our appointment later."

"That's…that's really smart," you commended him, earning you a friendly grin.

You couldn't quite place him yet. Was he one of the men Tony talked about? He never struck you as someone who would be interested in you; you were a far cry from the women he'd been involved with before. But then again, you'd been surprised with Shaun because…

Well, if you were being honest with yourself, you never looked at anyone else. It never occurred to you to look for signs of interest in someone else; you were too caught up in your one-sided attraction with Loki.

"But you shouldn't be here this early," he spoke into the otherwise empty studio, the soft light of the dawn breaking casting a glow over the space that made it seem almost…whimsical.

Maybe if you were with the right person, you'd even dare say it was romantic.

"I'm not here early. I'm still here," you explained. "I slept here. You literally caught me in my 'I woke up like this' era." He chuckled at your words as you waved your hand, motioning toward the various sets. "Just let me fix up the bedroom set and--"

"Actually I have an idea for that. Leave it as is. I'll see you after lunch?"

You simply answered him with a thumbs up before you put your hair up in a ponytail and sat down in front of your computer to finalize March and April…perhaps experiment on the lettering for May while you were at it. That way you could knock out some of the more minor tasks for the calendar and just have to color grade and plug the pictures in once the shoots were done.

When you heard a steady knock on your studio door, you became painfully aware of the hour. The now harsh sunlight casting a stark, nearly blinding glow over the entire space. You quickly rushed to the windows and drew the blinds in order to bathe the studio in a softer light from your equipment that would be used during Scott's shoot afterward.

"Come in!" you hollered as you pulled on the string that brought the blinds downward. A fond smile pulled at the corners of your mouth as the door opened to reveal Shaun on the other side. "Hey there, Ten Rings. Did you come over to see what the final look for April is? I could pull it up real quick after I bring down these blinds."

"Oh, I could help you. I'll start on the other end and meet you in the middle?" You nodded at him and he went off to work. "So when I exited your studio yesterday a bunch of the guys were waiting to see if I was the lucky lad you've decided to grace with your love and devotion."

"God, you're a cheese ball, you know that?"

"Anyway," he stressed as you both moved to your next window. "Loki was there."

"Shaun--"

"You should've seen the relief on his face when I told them all that it wasn't me." You gave him a look that clearly said you didn't believe him. "You can choose not to believe me, Scopes, I'm just telling you what I saw."

"Alright alright, whatever, Xu," you huffed as you took some deep breaths after drawing the blinds on half the floor on an empty stomach. "Hey when you're done on that last one, could you hit the lights? You're closer." He nodded before walking over to the light switch, a crisp white glow now washing over the studio. "Thanks. So you wanna see your finished page now?"

"Nah, I know it turned out great. You've got a great eye, amazing attention to detail, and have you seen me?" he finished as he flexed, making you chortle at his antics. "With that killer combination, there's no way that turned out bad."

"So why are you here, then?"

"Come to check if you've eaten," he answered with a playfully stern tone. "You barely ate anything yesterday and last night when I went down for a midnight snack, I saw a certain Asgardian in the common area poised outside the door to this studio."

"Okay now I know you're absolutely seeing things, because there's no way on this or any other universe that I'm going to believe that--"

"Again, Scopes, I'm just telling you what I saw. Now assuming that he was there because you hadn't come out of your studio for the night, and also the fact that that bedroom setup looks like it's been slept in, I'm going out on a limb here and guessing that you spent the night in here. And because I know for a fact that that fridge has nothing in it except bougie wine, it's very safe to assume you haven't eaten a goddamn thing."

Your stomach grumbled before you could form words. "You would be correct."

He put his palm to his face. "You're going to pass out on us one of these days and it's all gonna be over men in varying degrees of nakedness. For a calendar." You chuckled at the comical impression that passing out over the guys being different types of naked around you placed in your head. "Come on. Let's go get some lunch together at least."

Shaun held out his arm for you to take as you walked out of the studio, but you shook your head slowly. "I don't do the whole arm in arm thing. Unless it's Wanda. Or Nat. Sorry, bud." He made a show of putting his head down in feigned sadness before pepping right back up with an unreasonably bright smile, making you chortle again.

"Ah, Brother, I see you've set aside a plate for me. Thank you that's rather considerate of you," Thor greeted with a bright smile as he sat down next to Loki at the kitchen island. He grabbed a fork and made a motion as if he were about to dig in, before he stopped himself. "This isn't poisoned, is it, Brother? A prank for me at the sake of your entertainment?"

"I can assure you it is not poisoned."

"Potioned, then? It would turn me into a frog. No, that would be old tricks for you. A dog? Or…Norns, would this turn me into a woman?"

"'Potioned' is not a real word, Thor," the god of mischief droned.

"But is it? The food, I mean?"

"The food is simply food and it wasn't meant for you." The god had set the second plate beside him, his eyes trained on the door to your studio since he sat himself down by the island half an hour ago. He didn't hear the door to your apartment open nor close the previous night, so he assumed that you'd slept in there amongst the sets and the equipment.

"Ah, so I presume that this was meant for Lady Y/N, then?" his brother asked with a teasing lilt. "She may appreciate it more if you just told her how you felt up front, Brother."

"I know not what you're talking about," he hissed. "I simply set it aside so that she need not trouble herself further. Stark already overworks her with this…date keeper project of his."

"Loki if you care for her, might I suggest just…telling--"

His words were cut off by the sound of your studio door opening, and the god felt a heavy weight on his chest as he saw you walk out with Xu following close behind and closing the door behind him. "Look who I've retrieved from the calendar dungeon, everybody," he said with a gratingly jovial tone.

"Hello hello," you said with haphazard circular waves of your hands as you addressed everyone. "I'm alive and I need a shower and food. Not necessarily in that order." Loki felt his skin chill over and begin to prickle as he noticed Barnes begin to get up and grab an empty plate for you.

"Shall I vacate this seat then, Brother?" Thor goaded. "Worry not. I'll decide for you." He quickly hopped off his stool and stalked over to you, placing a hand at your upper back and whispering something in your ear, and motioning for you to take his formerly occupied seat.

A strange warmth washed over him as he watched you walk over to the island and he positioned his arm to steady you in case you were to stumble as you perched yourself on the elevated seat. He could have sworn his heart became lodged in his throat as you looked up at him with your kind, visibly tired eyes, as you softly said, "Thank you" before picking up the fork that his brother had been holding prior and slowly making your way through the plate of bolognese.

The other members of the team kept on asking you about how the date keeper was coming along and you so graciously answered every question in between bites, and confirming your appointment with Lang for later in the evening. He had questions for you, too. Mainly if you were alright, if you felt overworked. If you needed to take a break from this.

And when the last time you had a proper night's sleep was.

Instead his mind wandered down a path he did not tread often: the possibility of him having been wrong. Why would his brother so willingly push you in his direction if he, too, was interested in you? Why keep his actions respectable and dare not breach boundaries with how he addresses you the way that Barnes did with his insistence on calling you "Babes"?

Had the god truly been wrong? Or perhaps…Had he underestimated the level of thought and care that his brother could put into hatching a plan? Perhaps it wasn't that he was pushing you in his direction, but merely creating the illusion of doing so.

Ensuring that he'd keep his brother's guard down, and having you believe that he only feels for you in a friendly manner. And then sweeping the rug from both your feet in one move by asking if he could court you when his appointment comes up tomorrow.

Oh, Brother, I underestimated you, he thought to himself. I assure you I will not make that mistake again.

You'd felt a bit more like yourself again once you were able to set aside a good hour and a half just taking your time as you showered, using your favorite, most luxurious products on hand. When you emerged from your bathroom you smelled like a mix of lemons and strawberries, finally feeling a semblance of human again.

Now you were back in your studio, triple checking that your camera was sufficiently charged and the memory card was plugged in. All that was missing was Scott.

"Heeeey Scopes," he greeted as he strutted into the studio, walking past you and straight to the bedroom setup that you'd slept in the night before. "Thanks for leaving the bed as it was this morning." You didn't turn around to look at him yet, hearing the rustling of fabric consistent with the unbuttoning of a shirt. "So it's as naked as I'm comfortable with, right?"

"Yup," you answered, popping the p. "Just holler at me when you're ready."

A bit more rustling, this time sounding like the comforter, and then a few seconds later, you heard him say, "Alright, Scopes! I'm ready."

You fiddled with your camera, making sure you've got the correct settings that you'd preset for the bedroom setup, looking up into the set and seeing Scott laying on the bed with nothing on, the rumpled sheet placed strategically to cover just his pelvic area.

"Dammit Scott, now I have to change the sheets," you grumbled with false annoyance.

"You said as naked as I'm comfortable with, so--"

"No no, it's fine. Good, even, because that means we actually have at least one person doing a 'Tasteful Nude' in this calendar." You chuckled at the words. "Mark would be so proud," you commented, motioning toward Scott and his current predicament.

"So what is the deal with you and that plier guy? You ever talk to him after that weird FaceTime where he kept apologizing to tall, dark, and meany?" You shook your head at him, giving him a rueful smile. "Why not? He seemed into you."

"Well, he's cute but…not my type." You clicked your tongue as you tried to remember the call with the man all those weeks ago. "Seems too clean. Too innocent. Definitely intrigued by our way of life but ultimately it'll lead to him leaving because he's not cut out to live around this."

"Well at least there's always the team," he quipped as you tried taking another shot. "The serum boys have it bad for you."

That made you break out into a fit of laughter. "Se—Serum boys?" you asked in between laughs. "What in the actual fuck, Scott?"

"Well, you know--super soldier serum, couple of veteran soldier boys…Serum Boys!" he explained between chuckles. "But uhh…you know. There are guys here interested in…being more."

"And where exactly do you fall in that list, Scott?" you asked, looking at him with a single raised brow.

"Somewhere in the middle, I gotta admit. If I'm the guy? Then you're gorgeous and I wanna see if we can make something out of this. If I'm not? No hard feelings, I'd still want to be your friend even if you are a friend who's seen me next to naked, laying on a bed that you just slept in the night before."

You both looked at each other for a while in complete silence, before once again breaking out into hearty laughter. "It's not you, Scott," you said truthfully. "Now, lemme get something to stand on because I think a pose like this requires an overhead shot, you know? Flat lay that shit."

"I like it, but also…I don't know. It feels a bit like I'm missing something."

"You're not wearing clothes, Scott. You're missing a lot of somethings." He sputtered into laughter again, making sure to clutch the sheet so he didn't accidentally flash you. "But I might have an idea. Gimme a few seconds to get a chair…and a prop for you."

You rummaged through the bathroom set and found a handheld mirror, which you brought back to the bedroom set along with your chair, ultimately deciding against balancing yourself on one of the stools because it seemed too unstable for you to stand up on it on the tips of your toes.

"Okay now hold this, pointed to the headboard and then make a face at the camera. Like…goofy sexy. Make sure it's giving…duck face but hot."

"I have no idea what you just said but I'll give it a shot. Just tell me when," he responded with furrowed brows as he took the mirror from you, letting you perch yourself on the chair, rising to the very tips of your toes.

"You're scarily strong if you can do that on something as unstable as a swivel chair, Scopes. How the--?"

"I did ballet," you explained, the amusement rife on his face. "If any word of this ever gets out to the team, I will fuck with your suit so bad even Tony can't fix it." He held up a Scout's Honor salute with his free hand in response. "And honestly I've balanced myself on way more unstable surfaces…for kill shots."

"Hey Babes just checking in to see if you're gonna be done soon, Nat and I wanna go out for dinner--WHOA sweet Jesus what a view," you heard Wanda speaking from somewhere behind you. "We're leaving in an hour if you wanna come with. And Scott?" He craned his head to look towards the door. "Nice."

You chuckled with your eye against the viewfinder, frustrated that the elevation still wasn't enough, so you hopped off the chair and went over to the study set to pull out a few volumes of the encyclopedia. You stacked three on top of one another and balanced yourself, feet flat, on the tomes.

"Scopes that looks a bit more dangerous…"

"Don't focus on where I'm standing, Lang, focus on the camera. Now just like we talked about. Duck face smirk. You got this. And I wanna actually make it to dinner with my friends so I'm hoping you really got this."

It had been over an hour since Lang's appointment with you began when Loki noticed that the Scarlet Witch waltzed into your studio, inviting you to dinner with her and Romanoff, and that they'd be leaving in an hour if you were free by then.

What had the god feeling uneasy, however, was the Sokovian's comment of 'what a view'. What exactly had she seen to warrant such a comment?

He kept his gaze on the door as she walked out, a visibly impressed look on her face as she addressed Stark, who was currently in the kitchen with his little girl, taking out one of those artificially flavored treats out of the freezer. "You better be paying our babes Scopes in there some serious money, Tony. She's not half-assing anything. Perched up on her tip toes, on a chair, just to get—"

He'd heard enough. He was up on his feet and striding into your studio, bracing himself to be greeted by the sight of something similar to what he saw the day before with Xu. It couldn't be any worse than seeing you in another man's arms. Not possibly.

Except it was. For some unknown inane reason, the knowledge that you had been in here with Lang being completely naked, with only a rumpled bedsheet covering his undoubtedly inferior manhood from your unsullied eyes, was so much worse than what he witnessed yesterday.

And then there was you. Perched on a stack of books situated atop your swiveling chair, your feet constantly making minute adjustments in order to keep steady. Suddenly the only thing he could think about was you somehow losing your balance and landing right into the mattress, and he despised the image that that thought conjured into his head. He couldn't have that.

Without giving it much thought he began to stride over to the set at the far end of your studio.

"Uuuuh Scopes?" Lang said in a shaky warning tone. "We got company."

"Wanda I swear I will be there before you and Nat—hey!!" Your words had been cut off by the god hoisting you over his shoulder, an arm wrapped around your upper thighs while the other went around your calves. "What gives?"

"That was too precarious, Y/N," he answered you simply.

"Wait hold up. Loki?" You squirmed in his hold, keeping your back straight as you refused to release your grip on your camera, letting out a soft gasp as if you'd realized something. "Wait. Don't put me down yet, just stay still."

"Darling?" He bit his tongue again as he'd forgotten that while it wasn't quite the main conference room with the rest of the team present, Lang was still in the room, witnessing a quite evident display of exactly how much the god truly cared for you.

"Just--please." There was a tremble to your voice as you said it, and he wanted to smack himself for making you so clearly uncomfortable again. He simply wanted to keep you safe, make sure that you didn't injure yourself all due to your dedication to this project of Stark's. He stayed still, holding you steady as best he could. "Thank you. Now Scott? Look at the camera and gimme the duck face smirk." He heard the shutter of your camera go off several times before you spoke again. "Okay I got it. Thanks, Mischief. You uhh…you can put me down now. And Lang? Put your clothes back on."

Loki set you down gently back on your feet, making sure that he angled you both in a way where his body blocked your eyes from being witness to Lang's nakedness. "You could have injured yourself," he said softly.

"I get injured all the time. Occupational hazard," you answered with a casual shrug as you tinkered with your camera to extract a small chip from the inside. "But thank you, Loki." His heart jumped at the sound of his name from your lips, making him long to be in such a position that he'd be able to hear it more often. "Don't let me get used to it, though, or I might call you every time my height betrays me," you finished with an audibly nervous chuckle.

"Whatever I may do to assist you, da--Y/N." He quickly righted himself as he realized he held your hand in his. "I'll--I'll leave you to your duties." He gave your hand a quick squeeze before letting go, committing the feel of holding you to memory, before then proceeding to walk out of your studio.

When an actual god from Norse Mythology walks in to your photoshoot? In the nude? That could make any average man shrink where they stood. Or laid.

And Scott Lang didn't just shrink. No. He fucking cowered. The look on the Asgardian's face as he saw the current layout of the photoshoot, the undeniable irritation and anger in his eyes had him wishing he could just wrap the sheet around him and waddle away from the studio without a single glance back.

But then that irritation morphed so quickly into concern as he saw how you were perched on the books, and that alone made Scott want to stay for the show. And he was glad he did because getting to see that entire scene play out made him realize two things:

First, the one from the team that you had feelings for was none other than Mr Tall, Dark, and Meany himself. That alone made him realize why you never pursued anything with that Mark guy. You wouldn't divert your attention to anyone else when the one who held it was literally in the league of the gods.

Second? Your feelings were most definitely not one-sided. That was painfully obvious, he couldn't figure out how youcouldn't see it.

Scott walked out of your studio, satisfied at the rough draft you showed him of what his page would look like. When he saw that most of the remaining guys with pending shoots, Loki included and in the front of the group, were waiting with bated breath in the common area, he did a big flourish toward himself with the proudest smile on his face. Most of their eyes widened at the action.

"Relax, gentlemen, it's not me. Don't everyone hug me at once." He spotted Shaun at the kitchen island, giving out a smug look as if he already knew that that was the answer, which had him walking toward the fellow newbie from San Fransisco.

"What's up, Frisco Bro?"

"Sorry what?" Shaun began to laugh at the absurdity of the name. "I mean I like it. Frisco because of where we're from. Anyway, what's up?"

"I think you know who it is, and I think I know who it is, too."

"Oh I definitely know who it is," he said smugly. "I have confirmation and everything."

"Tall, dark, scary, and green?"

"No, it's not Banner."

"I'm not talking about the Hulk, dummy! I'm talking about the god."

"Ohh. Then yeah, we're on the same page. I'm assuming you also know that he definitely likes her, too."

"Dude, it's so obvious! He really went in and grabbed her because he was scared she was gonna fall off her tiny ass makeshift platform of books on top of her swivel chair. I don't even know how she doesn't see it herself by now."

"I don't know, either. Kinda wanna smack their heads together. Tell them hey, they like you back, save yourselves the misery."

The sound of the boys from San Fransisco talking about his brother made Thor realize that Loki's affections towards you were becoming painfully obvious to more members of the group.

Tomorrow was his appointment with you, and he had every intention to steer your attention toward his brother, what ever may happen. He knew that you two would be good together, for you tamed the otherwise irritable nature of the god of mischief, and even now while you weren't in courtship quite yet, he made efforts to anticipate your needs. Helping you before you even realized you were in need of it.

If your affections were not directed toward his brother, by tomorrow, Thor was determined to make it so.

A/N: Idk about you but I have a feeling that some chaos is about to go down during Thor's shoot…

Everything taglist: @lokisgoodgirl @lokischambermaid @imalovernotahater @mygfloki @lucylaufeyson3 @thomase1 @springdandelixn @fictive-sl0th @mochie85 @laliceee @xorpsbane @gigglingtigger @silverfire475 @cabingrlandrandomcrap @vickie5446 @salempoe @lokixryss @sinsandguilt @lokidbadguy @alexakeyloveloki @glitterylokislut @arch-venus25 @freefrommars @littlemortals @cakesandtom @girl-of-multi-fandoms @mischief2sarawr @thedistractedagglomeration @five-miles-over @goblingirlsarah @peaches1958 @huntress-artemiss @lilibet261 @iobsessoverfictionalmen @holymultiplefandomsbatman @lovingchoices14 @avoliax @devilsadvocactus @purplegrrl27 @lokiprompts @sititran @imherefortomhiddleston @ladyjames78 @stupidthoughtsinwriting @kikster606 @evelyn-kingsley @kats72 @ronnieissupermegafoxyawesomehot @creationsbyme

Loki taglist: @calumance @severuslovebot @moonlightreader649 @ozymdias @i-stand-with-loki @eleniblue

#loki x reader #loki x female reader #loki fanfiction #loki fanfic #marvel fanfiction #marvel fanfic #mcu fanfiction #loki laufeyson fanfic #muddyorbs writes #mochie85

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thelovelylolly · 2 years

Note

What about a Natasha x reader where they have a special code word to let the other know the need a little extra loving when they are with other people?

Signal

Summary : You and Natasha have a certain sign for when you need some extra love :) Warnings : none (i just didn't proof read it) Notes : this is adorable! i changed it from a word to like a sign just to make it a little bit easier to write :)

A touch to the tip of your nose. That was your signal for Nat whenever you just needed, or wanted, some extra love. You two could be at a party, or just lounging around the tower, and you'd do the sign and Nat would immediately notice. A perk of dating a trained assassin and spy.

One time, Tony was throwing a party to celebrate another victory for the Avengers and Nat invited you as her plus one. You got all dolled up for the party and when you arrived, Nat was immediately by your side and complimented you.

"You look gorgeous, babe," she whispered as she guided you to her superhero friends.

You blushed and gave her a quick kiss before Thor and Bruce walked up to you two. Bruce handed you a drink, saying you'd need it to survive Tony's party. As you continued to talk to Thor and Bruce, Nat got pulled away by Tony to go talk to other people.

Once you caught up with Bruce and Thor, you continued to make your rounds to say hello to your friends. Steve, Tony, Rhodey, Clint, Maria Hill.

You hadn't seen Nat since you arrived, probably because people wanted to talk to her. You always teased her about being the famous Avengers, but she always argued Tony was the famous one. She just wouldn't admit it.

You found a seat at the bar, taking slow sips of your drink. Your eyes roamed around the party, trying to find Nat in the crowd of people. Finally, your eyes landed on your beautiful girlfriend and you gave her the sign.

A touch to the tip of your nose.

She immediately excused herself and went to you, wrapping her arms around your waist and pressing a kiss to your forehead. "I feel like you're abusing the signal," she joked.

"Maybe, or I just want to see you," you replied, smiling.

You leaned your head on her shoulder, the two of you watching the party. It was just a sweet moment, one that you wanted to savor.

Then Tony walked up. "How's my favorite spy and her girlfriend doing?"

"Hey Tony," you and Nat answered at the same time.

"Is she treating you well?" Tony asked you, sarcastic as always. "You two spend enough time together? I can take her off some missions if you want more time together."

"Everything is fine, Tony. We're doing great, thank you," you answered, trying to hide your smile.

He gave you a little nudge before walking away. You looked at Nat and said, "does he always bother couples like that?"

"Meh, you get used to it."

---

Another time, you were in the lounge room at the tower, hanging out with the Avengers and their friends. Nat was in the kitchen that was connected to the lounge area. You were just chatting with Steve and Sam when you did the sign, like it was second nature.

Almost instantly, Nat was sitting beside you on the couch and wrapping an arm around your shoulders. She pulled you closer and you leaned your head against her shoulder.

"Hang on a second, she just rushed over here from the kitchen out of nowhere, what?" Sam asked, interuppting Steve

"They have this not-so-secret signal they use," Steve answered.

"No we don't," Nat answered.

"Then what was that?"

"I just wanted to be next to my girl, is that so hard to believe?

"I- whatever, as I was saying..."

---

It was late at night and you were staying with Nat at the tower. You were sitting on her comfy bed while she got ready for bed. Nat stood at her dresser, finishing her night rountine.

"Hey Nat," you said. She turned around to face you with a 'hm'.

You gave her the sign with a soft smile.

Nat rolled her eyes but her lips quickly formed a smile. She walked over to you, crawling into bed and pulling you close. She pulled the covers over you two and her arms were safely wrapped around you.

"Now I'm sure you're abusing the signal," she muttered, her eyes closed as the tiredness hit her.

"You love it though," you replied, your breathing matching hers as you two slowly fell asleep.

"Yeah, I do."

#natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff x you #natasha romanoff fanfiction #natasha romanov x reader #natasha romanov x you #natasha romanov fanfiction

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formerheroeswhoquittoolate · 10 months

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why I'm unhappy with secret invasion: an accidental essay that turned out WAY more aggressive than I wanted it to (sorry about that)

I'm furious about how Secret Invasion is going. It feels like Marvel just went ahead with a Samuel L. Jackson vanity project, but and it's barely interesting and it's fucking with canon characterization. And it's fucking Secret Invasion! This could be meaningful! But instead it feels like it's trying to redo what TFATWS already did and did better. We already HAD a show about a global terrorist movement and the evils of white privilege, and it was actually really good, so what is this show supposed to be again? Oh. I see. It's different because Nick Fury is in it. Gotcha.

Oh, and [spoilers for ep 1 and 2]

They killed Maria Hill in the first episode. Not only did they kill her (which is bad enough from this studio, considering they've also killed Gamora, Natasha, and Wanda), but they fridged her. And not even kind-of-fridged, like with the aforementioned characters, where the death was required and mostly reasonable by in-universe circumstances, even if it was an easy out. No. Maria was literally, actually, to-the-letter fridged. They even confirm that in the dialogue of the second episode. Fury actually says that Gravik killed her to hurt him. She didn't have to die -- hell, if she wasn't going to be relevant to the rest of the show, she didn't even need to be in it in the first place! (More on that in a minute.)

And the thing is. The thing is. I would be so much happier with the show if the roles were reversed. Canon Fury is all "I still believe in heroes! There's good in people! Befriend the aliens!" He's a badass spymaster, yeah, sure, but he's also pretty optimistic about people. And then there's Maria Hill.

[Image description: Maria Hill, saying "Best advice you'll ever get from me, a dedicated law enforcement officer, to you, an amateur looking to go pro: 'Assume everyone is a broken, nightmare, garbage person and then be pleasantly surprised if it ends up not the case.' It'll save you a lifetime of disappointments."] [Image credits: Bendis and Pichelli's Spider-Man #12 (2017)]

That seems to have carried over into the MCU fairly well. And to see her? Struggling to fulfill Fury's goal after his death, operating without her mentor for the first time, trying to figure out how to reconcile his faith in the Skrulls with her natural instinct that everyone is lying all the time? To see her actually doing the work, speaking to the security committee and telling them to piss off, because Fury was in Moscow to do a hero's work and he died a hero, no further questions? To see her, the character who has long been reduced to the sidekick of male characters with a much shorter stint in Marvel's canon, fully come into her own as the protagonist of this series? It would have been perfect. We could have actually gotten a show full of espionage and intrigue instead of a hamfisted... racism metaphor? I'm not even sure at this point. This could have actually been something besides a Samuel L. Jackson vanity project. I know I said that already, but I am going to say it again. This show is here so Jackson can look cool and badass and also be a funny old man. And I wouldn't care if they weren't reducing every other meaningful character in the series to a Skrull, a corpse, or a realpolitik adversary. Like, fuck this false advertising. Maria Hill, Everett Ross, and Rhodey were all in the trailer like they were going to be relevant. As if this was going to be an interesting web of an ensemble cast. Instead, it's the Nick Fury show with a few redeeming scenes from the terrifyingly cheery British spymaster lady.

It's almost like Marvel knew no one would want to watch the show if they just straight-up said it was going to be all Nick Fury. And I haven't even started on the bullshit that was the train conversation (a whole monologue about sitting in the colored section on trains and then straight-up telling Talos there's not enough room for his people on the train? Was I the only one thrown off by that?) or the dialogue between him and Rhodey in the bar ("even when I'm out, I'm in.") or the Skrull wife reveal (which felt like it wanted to be some big important twist but it also had exactly zero setup) or... whatever is happening with Talos and Gaea. The next episode comes out in two days, and I'm still crossing my fingers that a miracle of plot will happen and it will get better. But it's going to take a miracle.

#marvel #mcu #secret invasion #nick fury #maria hill #skrulls #marvel cinematic universe #talos #everett ross #james rhodes #comics #fridging #rant post #except I have evidence #so it's really more of an essay

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ph1lsimpmcu · 25 days

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Alright guys, guys, hear me out.

Pirates.

Like, Stephen, before his accident, was a royal doctor and best of the best. Stephen’s most frequent patients were Tony and Pepper because Tony was (is) a reckless doufus and Pepper all the time had to drag him somewhere to patch him up. The couple (yeah they were already a couple before meeting Stephen) were visiting so often that they both started to have a crush on a certain badass, handsome, snarky royal doctor (who wouldn't?).

(Tony and Pepper, like 100%, had nights where they were squealing into pillows, babbling about how perfect Stephen was, and telling Rhodey how badass and cool Stephen was. And yea, Rhodey is their therapist and adviser on how to woo Stephen into a relationship and, hopefully, their bed.)

But then Stephen’s accident happened, he left, became a sorcerer, and started to travel and sail across the world. After Stephen left, “civil war” happened, Tony and Pepper left and became pirates.

And so, many years later, Pepper and Tony hear about some wizard who tried, with his “evil” tricks, to get his place as a royal doctor back but failed. Rumors say that the wizard is sailing across the sea and the couple decides that they would like to pay a “visit” (kidnap him *cough*) to their doctor, especially since their crew needs a doctor.

In Stephen’s doctor days, he didn't really remember them, all he remembered was a very annoying couple that visited him too often. But when the said pair kidnapped him, well, it's not like he has a chance to say no because 1. They'll just put him in a cage or something and he would rather prefer to patch up a couple of people and a normal room than to sit in a cage and rot. 2. His past crew was boring and he wanted some adventures because in his doctor days, the pair was known for their tendency to attract trouble. 3. From what he remembered, they weren't bad people and they didn't like violence (if there was a peaceful way). Also, the fact that Tony was the captain of this ship and Pepper was his right hand, he would be relatively fine. 4. Tony and Pepper (from his previous interaction where they attacked his previous crew) became absolutely different people, that were worth his time. The pair was absolutely in their element, from being awkward and awestruck, they became badass and snarky, commanding and snarking at everyone on this ship.

So Stephen decided to hang around for some time, but before, he made sure that everyone treated him respectfully by leaving the captain and his right hand awestruck. (the truth is, the couple didn't really change, they were always like this. On people they were in their “persona”, with someone who they could trust they were adorable gremlins. Stephen never really bothered to look at them when they were working, not sitting in his workroom and awkwardly joking.) Tony and Pepper remembered their days before becoming pirates and Rhodey started to suffer again ( yes Rhodey is with them whenever he can go sailing with them).

(after such a long time of simping, Stephen was devoured ;) ).

#drpepperony #pirates #I’LL GO DOWN WITH THIS SHIP #doctor strange #tony stark #ironstrange #pepperony #i’m a dumbass #pepper potts #dramatic bisexuals #ot3 #how do i tag this

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romanoffsbish · 2 years

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Everything Comes at a Cost

Natasha Romanoff x Fem!GoddessReader

SMUT featured in flashback blurb.

Quickie—Fingering, Marking, Cursing

Wanda Maximoff x Fem!GoddessReader

No SMUT because…

Wanda Maximoff x Vision

Y/N, Goddess of Life, is faced with a daunting choice as the lives of the people—women—she’s grown to love hangs in the balance. Will she willing pay the ultimate price, or will she let fate run its course?

Angst with sprinkled in fluff 🥺❤️

9,746 Words

•~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~• (Past)

An inconsolable ache had settled deep within your chest and had remained steadfast for the last week since you'd received the news, which only worked to add to your already heavy heart. Feeling the immense loss of your dearest cousin Loki, while listening to the impending doom the broken shell of a man—Thor—prophesied to the "entirety" of your team remaining on Earth.

Rhodey, and you were all that had remained at the compound most days after the Sokovia Accords aftermath, as you essentially were Switzerland in the whole debacle. That stupid disagreement nearly broke you, as you lost the majority of your found family, and had to say goodbye to the only women you'd ever loved.

Neither one of them ever truly belonging to you, but somehow your heart was theirs.

"Thor, you need to get some rest, if what you say is true then it would be best—."

"No, I must be preparing for the war that's headed our way, round up the team while I'm away Y/N!" He boasts, completely ignoring your logic in favor of some cryptic preparation.

You watched as he left almost nearly as fast as he'd arrived, so you instead turn to your closest adversary as of late.

"Alrighty then, looks like it's just the two of us once more." Rhodey humorlessly chuckles, and you turn to him with a guilty, scrunched up expression.

"Spoke too soon did I?" He questions as he realizes what's likely to come from your lips.

"Round up the team, you have the most pull anyways."

"I wouldn't say that..." He lightheartedly interrupts, and you playfully roll your eyes.

"While you do so I'm going to go visit an old friend of mine, one who could possibly provide me with some clarity on what's to come, and how best to stop it." You continue, and he nods.

Then within a snap you're traveling the limited remains of the bifrost, as you seek out your mother—Freyr. Traveling through the bifrost is rather exhausting, as you're beamed through, having never truly grown accustomed to it no matter how many times you've traveled through it.

"Ahh, if it isn't my dearest daughter, to what do I owe the pleasure of your spontaneous visit? Shouldn't you be with your equally as clueless cousins on that wretched planet Earth. Tragedy really, that you willing dedicate your lives to the feeble existence that is mankind."

"Good to see you too mother, now, on to business. Asgard, as I'm sure you know, has been obliterated, and Loki's life was valiantly lost in said battle. I wish to avenge him, as well as to prevent any further catastrophe if at all possible. So, you're going to provide me with visions of the proposed future, and then I'll be on my way."

"What? No time for tea?" She jests, beckoning you to sit before her as she prepares her station for your desired rituals.

You scoff, then move to sit before your mother, freeing your mind of its stressors in an attempt to allow her in completely.

—

Natasha enters the compound with swift steps, followed closely by Steve, Sam, Wanda, and an obviously injured Vision. First thing she does is tightly hug Rhodey, but truthfully her heart, much like the Sokovian's, aches to see you.

"Where's Y/N?" The former assassin immediately asks, and Wanda's attention shifts to Rhodey as both of them look at him expectantly.

"She's not here, left a couple of hours ago actually, said she needed to visit an old friend of hers in search of answers to fix this mess."

"When will she be back?" Wanda asks, and Steve clears his throat to try to reroute the conversation back to the synthezoid.

"I'm quite certain Y/N would want our sole focus to be on the crisis at hand. She'll be more than okay, so let's figure out a plan."

—

Nimble fingers light the match, then with a wave of her hand the flame spreads across the candles surrounding the both of you.

"Like my party trick?" She teases, with an infuriating smirk upon her face.

"Mother..." You groan, and she sighs while cupping your cheeks.

"Darling, can you please act like you don't detest me for at least one moment?"

"I do not detest you mother, I'm just a bit pressed for time, I apologize if it seems as if it's something else, but please can we just get this show on the road?"

Her reply comes in the form of a gentle kiss to your forehead before her forehead takes the place of her lips, and gentle fingers tap at your temple. A sudden rush of energy courses through your head, then swiftly travels through the expanse of your body, and suddenly your thrown into a flash of prophetic imagery.

—

Vision is forced to be lying flat on a table, even though he believes it best for Wanda to just destroy the stone. The team shuts him down, then prepares for battle as Shuri confirms that she can handle the stone, but she just needs ample time. Within a moments time the image shifts to the battlefield where you see Natasha, and Okoye in trouble before Wanda saves them. Then it moves to them fighting off a rather odd looking alien who was going for Wanda specifically.

Your heart twinges with fear at the notion of either of your girls being in danger.

The scene shifts to Vision kneeled before a trembling Wanda, and every ounce of her grief is present on her face as she is forced to kill the love of her life all in the name of the greater good. It appeared to have all been for not, as they were obviously too late as the scene shifts to Thanos—the mad titan Thor described—using one of the infinity stones to undo all that was done.

The scene swiftly fades into a splattering of dust, as the faces of your friends—beloved—begin to become no more. Fading into another scene where Tony's cradling the disappearing form of the spider-"man" that you've grown to cherish as if he were your own.

Your blood runs cold as this man seems to have taken everything from you in a matter of seconds, as you see all of your friends fading away, but what shocks you most is the lack of sight of yourself.

All too suddenly your thrown through a collection of years, viewing the ways in which everyone's world crumbles, and for the seldom few it actually comes together. Natasha's dull existence breaks your heart, as you feel the weight of the world resting on her shoulders. Her grief is immense, as is Clint's as it shows you what becomes of him without his family.

A fleeting moment of hope flashes before your eyes, warming your heart once you see that Tony had pulled his head out his ass and at the sight of Natasha's following smile. Smiles fade as you watch the two best friends fight to the death for an orange stone, and you're forced to watch as the love of your life dies thinking she is destined to do so in repentance.

All you felt is nauseous when you heard the thud, and have to hear her attempt to explain this away as okay repeating in your mind. Nothing about the situation would be okay... No time is left for you to react before you are witnessing Tony meeting a similar ending.

Everyone seems to move on as best they can, but then a scene shows a very distraught, and more disturbingly alone Wanda. The grief is radiating off of her, a boom of her powers erupts, then before you could see where it leads you felt yourself forcefully being pushed from the visions.

Your mom's hands fall from your temples, and you crumble to your knees as the reality of it all begins to set in. Tears fall freely as you try and process what you just bore witness to, and the sickness in your body spreads throughout as you realize what it is you must do.

"My darling, you're not written into this sequence of events, whatever you do to interfere could be catastrophic." Your mother announces, placing a firm hand to your shoulder, and with that you're mind is settled.

"Well, I'd like to think that what I'm about to do is actually going to prove the opposite mother." You boast, quickly jumping to your feet and moving to wrap her in a tight hug.

"Oh, my sweet girl, interfering with the problems of men has rarely ever worked in our favor, and judging by the nature of your hug, I'm going to conclude this is our last..."

"Always the intuitive one mother, take care of yourself, I love you..."

"Yeah, it's a gift that is more so a burden really. So there's really nothing I can say to sway you in staying here with me where it's safe?"

"Oh mom, safe's never been a route I follow, you know that. Plus, the people I have been blessed to love, and the fate of millions sort of depends on my plan." You conclude, nodding her way with a sad smile to match her own before beaming yourself back to the compound, and then racing off towards the hangar as you hear the jet being started up.

"Friday! Tell them to wait!"

"Of course Miss Y/L/N."

Sprinting leaves you winded, but that's a small price to pay as you barely make it into the jet. The eyes on you hold a slurry of different emotions, but before you can even speak you're being tackled into a hug.

"Y/N... Oh how I've missed you..."

Wanda... The woman of your dreams, partial holder of your heart, who—sadly for you, had handed hers over to the synthezoid.

•~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~•

Wanda and her brother had just arrived at the compound after the battle of Sokovia had destroyed her home, and her gaze had remained on you ever since as you traipsed around the compound healing everyone.

"Hello there, may I help you?" You tease, and her cheeks tint red at being caught.

"Uh- I-I just really wanted to say thank you..."

"Oh. For what?" You feign cluelessness.

"Pietro—you saved his life, and I can't thank you enough."

"Well, you most certainly don't have to thank me sweet girl. I'm a natural healer, it's just my job."

"Still, what you did was nothing short of a miracle, and it deserves immense thanks..."

"Well, in that case, you can thank me by fixing me a nice dinner." You playfully respond, winking her way, and walking off towards your room at the compound before she could even respond.

"Wow sestra, you got it bad..." Pietro mumbles as he approaches her from behind, then she trips him with her red tendrils as he evades her head slap with his fast feet.

—

"Ello love." You greet the Sokovian in an offensively bad British accent while plopping down beside her and causing her bed to shake.

Her giggles warmed your heart, even if they were uttered to make fun of you. She quickly moved to bookmark her story before she then laid down beside you and you both adjusted until you were face to face.

"Dorogoy, that accent was just horrible." She laughs out after a straight minute of silent eye contact.

"How would you even know?" You grumble, then roll to your back, crossing your arms over your chest, and pouting.

"I watch the Great British Bake Off whenever I'm bored, and even without it I don't live under a rock Y/N/N, plus Vis has a British accent." Wanda playfully relays, nose scrunching up at the way your face contorts so intensely, and she uses her thumb to massage at your furrowed brows.

"Fair enough..." You concede in a tired mumble, sighing as the circling of her thumb works to ease your tensions.

Wanda watches as you slowly drift off to sleep in her bed, she places a lingering kiss to your forehead before picking her book back up, and using her powers to lay a blanket over your body. With every mission that's happened as of late your powers have been in high demand, and you've barely had a chance to recuperate. She'd known you were here to distract her, possibly even help her to destress since Pietro's off on a mission, but she also knew you were exhausted so this outcome truly makes her the happiest.

—

Ever since the twins arrival a year ago you'd been training with the young witch. Volunteering as such in an attempt to help her to learn how to gain control of her powers. Emotions seemed to have a major play in how her powers surge, and you were trying to find a way to help her temper that.

"Breathe sweet girl, stressing out will just get you nowhere, we'll go again." You gently instruct, as you set up another simulation for her to run through, locking her in with a reassuring smile.

The highly advanced tech is actually able to manifest scenarios that are rooted within one's deepest fears, for Wanda it's almost as if her powers were being used against her.

A scene plays out of her on a mission at a Hydra base with the entirety of the team. Everything had been going well up until she was faced with an ungodly scene of you being tortured. Her objective was to free the hostages, take out Hydra's men, then get back to the jet without losing control. Something in her snapped though when she heard your heart wrenching screams as she tried to wander by.

"Stop it! No!!! No! Please!" She sobs, as your simulated form slumps forward, appearing to her as if you weren't going to survive, and she just loses all semblances of reality at the sight.

The screams were apparent to you from outside the glass she'd been safely encased in. Before you could interfere by pulling her out of the simulation she's already falling to her knees, screaming and shaking while her body becomes encased in red, then she falls over, hitting the ground as her powers burst out and into the glass. Against all common sense you instruct Friday to allow you in, and she reluctantly does so.

"Wanda, darling, come back to me..." You coo, as you pull her sobbing form against you.

Her fists clutch at your shirt, bunching it up, and your heart practically breaks at the sound of her pained sobs.

"Whatever happened, it wasn't real Wanda, you're okay, I promise that you're safe with me love."

Your words seemed to work as her shaking slowly subsided, but her hold on you remained just as tight.

"I-I..." She struggled to speak, as her eyes moved to look directly into yours, and to your complete shock her lips pressed to yours.

A loud clearing of another's throat led to your lips eventually parting, and while you looked at her in a complete daze, her gaze met that of an apparently irate ex-assassin.

"If you two are done, Wanda's got less than sixty seconds until our training starts." Natasha calmly states, but the fire behind her eyes paints a different picture for her feelings.

Wanda jumps up from your lap, leaving you stunned on the ground, and takes off to get to the gym, attempting her best to block out Natasha's murderous thoughts.

—

Wanda avoided you like the plague for the remainder of the week, you felt hurt, but you completely understood that what happened could've been due to the heat of the moment. Seeing her locking lips with the synthezoid only four days later though essentially shattered your heart.

Your gasp alerted her to your presence, and her legs traveled at an inhumane speed trying to reach you, but your slammed door told her this wouldn't be a good time. Not that she cared though, so she sat in front of your door, remaining there until you'd finally went to leave your room nearly four hours later.

"Y/N/N.." She whimpers, jumping to her feet, and literally stumbling into you because her legs had long since fallen asleep.

You obviously catch her, locking your bloodshot eyes on her glazed over pair, then you sigh as you work to peel her off of you as she tries to have her hands on you in some form.

"Wanda, I need time, that's all... I understand that it wasn't your intention to hurt me, but it doesn't make the end result any less painful. Vision is a nice —uh— guy, and I hope that he makes you as happy as can be. I've known for awhile now that you'd liked him, I just kinda wish you didn't kiss me first, giving me this false hope. We'll be okay eventually though, training is obviously postponed though as I'm leaving for an undecided amount of time."

You finish your ramblings with a gentle caress of her cheeks, wiping away at the stray tears before you walk away with your duffle slung over your shoulder, and unbeknownst to you—half of her heart. Once you're out of sight she crumbles to her knees, tightly hugging herself as she feels the regret wash over her.

—

—Lagos—

You were off in Asgard helping Thor with his mishaps, helping to break him and Loki out of their intergalactic prison when you got the call that Wanda apparently needed you. Hearing her name after months of being away still stung, but the ways in which your heart had slowly healed helped to ease the pain.

"Steve, what do you mean she won't come out of her room?"

"Look, Y/N, it's been a horrible few months without you here, both women have been rather moody, and Tony's honestly been insufferable."

"Why? Did his bruises have to heal naturally?" You giggle, then make your way to your pod.

"Please say you'll come home, even just for a little bit?" He pleads, your heart warms as he says 'home' so naturally, and you bid him farewell with the promises of your return.

"Oy, where you headed? Are you really leaving me alone with the big oaf?"

"Oh Loki, I envy yours and Thor's relationship, I can just feel the love radiating." You muse with a roll of your eyes before hugging him goodbye.

"Take care of yourself little one." He playfully coos, and you lightly shove him.

"I'm not little.." You groan, and he laughs boisterously at your tantrum.

"Take care Loki, you too Thor! Until we meet again cousins." You say as you enter your pod and set off for Earth.

—

Once you'd arrived Steve was waiting for you, then he escorted you through the compound, and your heart clenched at the sight of your distraught looking teammates, more specifically the redhead.

You smiled gently at her, feeling lighter once you saw her lips upturning in passing, then the mood drastically dropped the closer you got to Wanda's door.

"Y/N, thank God you're here." Vision whisper shouts, pulling you in for an awkward hug, and you kindly smile at him as he pulls back.

"I'm not sure how much help I'm going to be here, but it can't hurt to try." You humorlessly chuckle out, and he places a firm hand to your shoulder.

"She's in immense pain, and has been ever since you left. I actually believe the only one who can help her is you." He solemnly states, furthering your guilty feelings, but you shake yourself clear of the thoughts.

Everyone clears out of the hallway to give you space, but you run to the kitchen first, making her a heaping pile of pancakes as you assume she hadn't eaten in days.

"Wands..." You say as you knock on the door, barely tapping it three times before it's thrown open.

The sight of the tiny Sokovian woman surrounded by blankets and tissues is honestly heartbreaking. Stepping over the scattered clothes across the floor you eventually make your way to her. Placing the plate of food down on her tray first before you climb into her bed, and simply pull her close.

"Sweet, sweet Wanda, what is this I hear about you not leaving your room?"

She burrows further into you, wrapping her arms tightly around your waist, and you just continue talking.

"That just won't do honey, you need to take care of yourself, and you can start by eating the pancakes I made you."

She nods in the negatory against your chest, you feel her tears soaking through your shirt, and her grip on you somehow tightens.

"Lovebug, I'm not going anywhere, I'm here for you, and apparently the entire team. I heard it's become quite a mess with me gone." You coo, running your hands through her hair, then lightly chuckle when you feel her nod in agreement against your chest.

You aided her shaky body into a seated position, then brought the plate over to her. Leaning against the headboard, you pressed play on the boxset of Bewitched you'd purchased her last Christmas, then spread your legs so that she could sit between them, and lean into you while eating her pancakes.

That night you'd gotten her to take a shower, then she even cuddled up to you on the couch during movie night with the entire team. When you'd gone to place her sleeping form down in her bed she clung to you, so you reluctantly stayed, attempting to apologize to Vision for the intrusion but he waved you off with an appreciative smile.

"Y/N, there's no need to apologize. I knew how much she loved you when we got together, it was a rather long talk actually. I'm not jealous, really, she deserves all the love she can find. I'm just grateful that you'd been able to get through to her... " He genuinely whispers, then places a kiss to her forehead before phasing out of the room.

See, helping Wanda out of her bed was easy, loving her in whatever capacity you were allowed to was honestly like second nature. Losing her once more within the span of forty eight hours though, was unexpected, and more so devastating for your already fragile heart.

•~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~•

"I missed you too Wands.." You relay, with a peck to the crown of her head as you move the both of you back to your feet.

Wanda reluctantly lets you go before moving back to Vision's side, leaving you to lock eyes with the original redhead.

Natasha... The other half of your heart, who's had and cherished the most intimate parts of you, while in turn sharing the barest of hers with you.

•~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~•

"Natasha Romanoff, and you are?" The Avenger asks, as she hasn't been able to pull her eyes off of you since the moment you'd entered the Stark party with Thor.

"Y/N, Goddess of Healing, daughter of Freyr, and cousin to Thor." You greet, taking Natasha's extended hand and lifting it to your lips to place a tender kiss to her knuckles.

She giggles at your elongated introduction, and internally celebrates that you're in fact Thor's cousin, and not his date.

"Well, Y/N, would you like to heal my broken heart?" She jests with a playful laugh to follow, your features immediately soften, and your hands hover over her chest.

"Your heart is definitely in pain, my powers can't heal that though, but maybe a hug can." You offer, immediately pulling her into your warm embrace, and the former assassin shockingly melts into it.

She's never been one for physical affection with strangers, but something about your innocence, and pure intentions thwarts her bodies natural hesitancy.

"Would you like to dance with me?"

Your question follows after you release her, and she happily accepts your extended hand. Natasha spins you around, beaming at the sight of your carefree smile, and she wonders what could come of this if she wasn't so afraid. Sure, you're a stranger, but as every minute passed she found she wanted that to be a statement of the past.

A slow song began to play over the speakers, and Natasha then pulled you closer to her. Hands on your hips guided you until you were flush against her, her lips were ghosting over yours, suddenly her plans for you were clouded by insatiable desire, and her lips promptly pressed against yours.

She giggled at your awestruck face as she pulled back from you, her hand linked to yours before she pulled your innocent form off to her room, excitement flooded her system at the prospects of bringing a pretty thing such as yourself to ruin.

—

Getting to know you was becoming her favorite past time, picking up on the tiniest of your quirks. Like, how you had to fold your napkins in thirds, or the way you'd only eat a sandwich if it was cut into triangles, or finding out that you hated coffee and would only drink it with a "pound" of sugar in it.

Observing you from afar led her to finding out that you were a very expressive person. Much like Thor, you'd talked with your hands, the gentleness in your words, and the way your face moved always kept her attention. Intimate moments with you always had her immensely aroused when you'd released the simplest of sounds, or your face contorted in pleasure.

Cuddling was another thing you loved that she found through a bit more than observation. You did it with just about anyone in the compound, but the way you cuddled her was always special. Never once did she allude to you that she enjoyed it, but if she was ever willing to be honest with herself, she'd admit to you that being within your embrace is something she craves. That whenever she sees you laying with another it makes her insanely jealous, but she can't do that, she has no right.

—

Casual, that's what she'd established your relationship as, even if all she wanted was to make you hers. It hurt at first, but having been alive for as long as you'd been, it wasn't all that hard for you to eventually accept it. Love had always evaded you, so for your heart to suddenly be drawn to two women who'd both thrown you the most mixed up signals was a bit alarming.

Natasha watched as Wanda's legs sprawled across your lap as everyone was settling in for movie night. The Sokovian had only just arrived but was stealing all your attention, and it was doing nothing but pissing her off.

"Careful, if you stare any harder you might burn a hole in little miss Sunshine's head."

Natasha lowly growled at Clint for even muttering a word to her when her anger was obviously justified. That was her spot, every movie night up until now she'd sit beside you, tease you relentlessly from beneath a blanket, then later that night she'd worship your body and 'accidentally' fall asleep beside you. Everyone in the compound knew that in unofficial terms, you were Natasha's, but Wanda seemingly didn't care enough to notice.

—

Natasha walked into the common room with a book and bowl of grapes in her hand having expected it to be empty, but instead she walked in to see you doing a backbend on a yoga mat. She smiled at the sight of your oblivious form, and at the light sound of the playlist she'd made you playing in the background.

"Taking up yoga now are we?"

Startled would be an understatement, as you shriek and collapse to the ground, groaning loudly as your back hit the mat.

"Natty..." You whine, and her giggles just further your pouting expression.

"What have I told you about being aware of your surroundings?" She tuts, then settled her items down before moving to straddle your grounded form.

"And here I thought you were going to help me up." You sarcastically quip with an exaggerated eye roll.

"Where's the fun in that dorogoy?" She asks with a devious smirk, and a playful jab to your ribs.

Your fixed glare in response would honestly be intimidating to most, but to her it's just adorable. She leans down to peck your lips, which you use to your benefit, hooking your legs around her and flipping the both of you over.

"Detka, be careful what you—."

You cut her warning off as you lift her shirt up and blow raspberries against her abdomen, tightening your thighs around her legs, and using your hands to hold her upper body down. Her squeals of enjoyment make your heart flutter, knowing that she's only ever really like this with you.

"You're going to pay for this..." She groans through her laughter, then before she can get the upper hand you distract her with a firm kiss, then jump up to run out of the room.

"I look forward to it." You teasingly shout before slamming your door shut and locking it.

Natasha smiles to herself as she regains her breath, then she takes off towards your room to make good on her promise.

—

Training with Wanda was grating on the Russian's nerves, since she'd almost always walk in with a wide smile on her face after spending her time with you beforehand. This time the girl was late, not just by sixty seconds either, but it'd been ten minutes she'd been left standing there.

Granted, Wanda wasn't actually late, she just wasn't early and to the assassin that was late. So she marched off in search of the two of you, watching in horror from the doorway as she kissed you. Natasha swiftly interrupted the moment, not even sparing you a glance because the last thing she wanted was to take her anger out on you. She'd instead settled on pummeling the witch in her training, no longer restraining herself, and thinking the most violent of thoughts knowing that the witch would be hearing them.

When she returned to the safety of her room though, all she could do was to break down as she thought about the prospects of you eventually moving on. Vowing right then and there that she'd work towards exclusivity with you, but by the time she'd wanted to broach the subject with you, you'd taken off with Thor.

—

Wanda and Natasha walked on eggshells around each other for the months that you were gone. Training had halted all together for the witch, and it showed on the Lagos mission. The moment Steve was in danger, Wanda was quick to save him, but without reigning in her emotions she'd tragically blown a floor of a building to smithereens.

Natasha truly felt bad for her, even attempted to pull her from the confines of her room, but it proved pointless as she didn't budge. Vision has the luxury of phasing through the walls, but even he couldn't pull her out of her funk. Finally, the Russian convinced Steve to call you, as you'd left him with your emergency contact information.

Selfishly she'd wanted you back, wanted to see you once more, and to confess to you her feelings, but it was not necessarily in the cards, because shit hit the fan not even a day after you'd returned.

— 🥵

"Natasha, let me come with!" You pleaded, but she just cupped your cheeks, and placed her forehead to yours while letting the proximity soothe her cracking heart.

"Oh detka, I so wish this was just a cute excursion, but I'm going to be on the run and I just can't do that to you."

"Nat, you wouldn't be doing anything to me.. Let me be there with you, we can be on the run together..."

Natasha wants to say yes, God does she want to, but she would never put you through that. She's lived many a life on the run, and she'd genuinely hate for your start together in life to be like this, it simply couldn't be.

"The world needs a hero Y/N/N, for now that's going to have to be you, and boy are they lucky... I promise I'll be alright, and that we'll be together again one day sweetheart..."

Natasha's time for escaping is limited, knowing all too well that Tony's already given her location up to Ross, but she's never been afraid of risk, and she won't let them stop her from saying a proper goodbye.

All too suddenly your rebuttal is silenced as her lips slam against yours, her hands making quick work of your clothes as she's gently moving your body to the bed. A bittersweet smile takes over her features as she recommits the entirety of your bare body to her memory. Anticipation distracts your mind long enough that you don't hear the snap of a camera, or see the slipping of a polaroid photo into her jeans pocket. Then a second later she's crawling atop you, smiling tenderly as her lips peck yours and begin to trail down your neck.

"Let me show you just how much you mean to me detka..." She mumbles against your collarbones, nipping and sucking harshly at your exposed skin, while her hand slides between your parted legs and her fingers run through your folds.

"Shit... If I wasn't pressed for time I'd simply cherish you for hours my sweetest girl, we'd make up for lost time..." She groans, while moving her mouth back up until her lips are hovering over yours again.

Timing it perfectly, smashing her lips to yours at the exact same moment that her fingers thrust into your pulsing entrance, perfectly catching the languid moan that bellows from your throat.

"Fuck, detka you're so tight." She groans into your mouth, and her pace increases as your walls seem to be doing their best to restrict her movements.

Sloshing sounds, and the smell of sex consume the space around you both, Natasha's sole focus is on just seeing you crumble beneath her one more time. Prayers die on her lips as she listens to your moans, the ones where she's pleading with the world that this won't be it, that this is just another bump in the road of your epic love story.

"You're so fucking hot when you're making all those beautiful noises for me..." She mutters, voice low and dripping with need, as she curls her fingers just right, desperate to see you come undone.

Scraping deliciously against your spongey walls, while her thumb works wonders against your bundle of nerves, successfully pushing you over into the edge of bliss. As your form writhes, and you splutter beneath her, she can't help but to admire your beauty as she hovers above you, and slowly thrusts into you to guide you through your high.

Sweat layers over your skin, glistening just right under her dimly lit room; the rise and fall of your chest moving in sync with your erratic breaths; lips swollen and eyes tightly shut as you work to regain your composure.

Natasha gently removes her fingers from you, groaning as she sees the fruits of her labor coating her fingers, and palm. Eventually, your eyes flutter open to meet hers, and the tenderness that lies beneath her own nearly cracks the suppressed floodgates open.

Natasha retains eye contact with you as she licks her palm clean, then sucks her fingers into her mouth, moaning loudly as your taste finally hits her.

"So sweet... So perfect..." She coos, then traces her pointer finger down your face before lightly gripping your chin, and pushing her lips back on yours for a sweet kiss.

"Until we meet again my beautiful angel..." She whispers into your ear, rising up to place a firm kiss to your temple, and then all too suddenly she's climbing out of the bed.

"Please, don't go alone, I could go with you..." You weakly plead in a final attempt, walls completely lowered, while your vulnerability is rising to the surface as you watch her moving towards the window.

"Ya lyublyu tebya." She sadly whispers while throwing her bag out before her, then she's climbing out of her bedroom window.

(I love you)

Tears stream down your cheeks as your exhausted, and broken form drifts in and out of sleep in her bed. Surrounded by the memories of your tumultuous string of affairs, her whispered confession continues to ring in your mind; the same one you'd waited all these years to hear, just for it to somehow break your heart instead and leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

•~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~•

"Nata—."

Your greeting is cut off as your face is forcefully pulled into her chest, and though she's silent, you know she's crying by the way your suit has a forming wet spot on your shoulder.

"I missed you so much detka..." She whispers against the shell of your ear, you tighten your hold on her to offer her the necessary support.

"And I you..." You coo, then place a kiss to her cheek, finding yourself rather shocked as she turns her face and passionately moves her lips against yours with no intentions of stopping.

Wanda's stomach twists at the sight, but she quickly shakes away the unjust bouts of jealousy, turning her attention back to the Captain who clears his throat once more. Natasha reluctantly releases her grip on you, and places one final peck to your lips before stepping to the side.

"Nice of you to join us." Steve teases, and you make your way over to his open arms.

"So, where were you? Figure anything out that could help us?"

Your mind works in overdrive to ensure Wanda's unable to hear your thoughts, but it doesn't matter all that much when Natasha's gaze fixes in on your sudden tensed state.

"Well, this is going to sound crazy, but Wanda needs to kill Vision." You start, but the Sokovian jumps to her feet, taking up a defensive stance before you can continue.

"That's not exactly what we were looking for Y/N." Steve sighs indignantly, and you steady yourself for the next part.

"Am I allowed to finish, or are we just assuming the worst now?" You groan, and Vision gently smiles your way.

"I told them Y/N, but they just don't seem to understand the bigger picture." He quietly states, clearly drained from the gnarly wound.

You place your hands over him, closing him up, but without draining too much of your power, leaving him still somewhat weakened.

"Oh no Vis, you won't be remaining dead, I'll just use my powers to heal you."

"Y/N, I'm not entirely sure that you'd have the ability to do so, it seems as if it would be too complex since I'm not entirely human." He states, and Bruce adds on:

"Yeah, he's a culmination of Tony, Jarvis, Ultron, and myself all seemingly powered by the mind stone, not exactly your normal flesh and bones."

"Please, do not question me on my own abilities as I am most aware of what I'm capable of." You bite back, unintentionally giving away your irritation, internally cringing at your inability to reel your emotions in.

"I'm not comfortable with it, seems far too unpredictable." Natasha suddenly says, making her way over to you, and protectively wrapping her arms around you.

"Yeah.. I'm with Natasha." Wanda meekly states, and judging by the red in her eyes she'd clearly tried to peer into your blocked off mind.

A long exhale is released from your mouth as you decide it's best to allow them the opportunity to try it their way. Pushing too hard in this moment will only further their suspicions, and if anyone knew the truth you know that they'd shut you down immediately.

"Fine, but if shit hits the fan, as it tends to to when we get together, then promise me that you'll follow my plan as a secondary option." You playfully plead, and the resounding sounds of 'yes' does wonders for the fear in your heart.

"It's settled then." Cap says before settling besides Sam.

Natasha pulls you down to sit beside her, with her head falling against your shoulder and you lay your head atop hers with closed eyes. Uneasiness seeps in your bones as you can feel eyes on you, and you open yours to see the couple both looking to you. Vision's all too knowing gaze locks with yours, and Wanda's worried one patiently waits for your eyes to meet hers.

"Excuse me." You abruptly say, standing to head off to the restroom, Natasha huffs as her body slightly falls, and the team watches you with worried expressions.

Once you enter the bathroom your overwhelming grief came flooding out of you, and you allowed yourself the moment to break.

"It's what's best..." You croak out, once again convincing yourself that the less they know, the better off they all are.

You stand from the toilet, lightly splashing your face with water, then return with a somber smile, taking your place besides Natasha once more.

"Sorry about that sweetheart..." You apologize, placing a chaste kiss to her lips, and Natasha's stomach twists uncomfortably at the salty remnants on your lips.

"Are you okay?"

"Peachy." You quip with an exaggerated wink, and nudge to her side and she just shakes her head at your actions before settling against you once more.

"I love the blonde..." You whisper, and notice the slight smirk on her face.

"I figured you would." She mutters, and your heart flutters as she lifts your arm over her shoulder and genuinely cuddles up to you.

This time your forward focused eyes lock on Wanda's, and if you're not mistaken, you can an almost see a sense of longing behind them before she shakes herself free of your gaze.

—

As expected, the battlefield is flooded with bloodthirsty aliens, and you're just patiently waiting for your time to come. For a moment it seemed everything was for not until you looked to the sky with an eye roll to follow. Thor, in all his eye patched glory, comes crashing down with a new weapon you can only assume was forged by Eitri.

"Nice entrance cousin." You tease while effortlessly slicing at an incoming alien's jugular, and he smirks your way before trodding forward with a raccoon, and tree trailing behind him.

"Well. At least I can say I've seen it all before I die." You bitterly muse before heading off to the prophesied rendezvous spot, and await Vision to come falling your way.

Without much time spared, Vision comes falling at record speed, fighting off an alien and you graciously step to the side to avoid being crushed. Then with one swift movement you're now swiping alien guts off of your sword.

"Y/N, whatever it is you're planning, there has to be another way..." Vis groans, and you smile sadly at the soon to be man, while helping him to his feet.

"We both know there isn't Vis, I saw what's coming, and if I'm not the one to end this, a lot more catastrophe is to follow..."

"They will be more than distraught, I'm not the best with understanding the complexities of human emotions, but I know you're cherished. I'm for sure more than a fan of your presence."

"I've lived many a millennia my dear friend, and it will always come with losses. Sadly, Wanda's no stranger to it, but yours will quite literally fracture her spirit, so if my sacrifice saves her even a sliver of pain then it's what's best. Also, I love you too buddy..."

Wanda makes her way over with the rest of your team hot on her trails, perplexed expression as she notices your hushed arguing with her partner, tragically a branch beneath her feet halts her from being able to listen in.

"There she is." You beam, then usher her over.

"We're out of time darling." Vision reluctantly goes along with the plan, and you nod from behind her in thanks.

A loud thundering comes from your right, and the speed at which you must move just increased tenfold.

"If this is going to work, everyone needs to be prepared to hold the titan off!" You command into the comms, and without fail the team begins to work tirelessly to do as such.

Natasha goes to run passed you, but suddenly squeals as she is pulled into your body for a brief, yet passionate kiss.

"Not that I'm complaining detka, but we're kinda mid battle." She breathes against your lips, a ghost of a smirk clearly present, and you lightly chuckle.

"Well, the kiss was for good luck." You relay, and she leans forward to kiss you once more.

"I love you Natty.." You whisper against her lips, she gasps lightly before pressing her lips firmly against yours in silent admittance, then she runs away from you with a wide smile.

You turn to see Wanda's powers are surging from her hands, using what appears to be all of her energy to blast a hole into the head of the man she loves. Trembling lip, accompanied by her shaking hands, is all you need to affirm your decision here. Vision's body hits the ground, and your movements are rather swift. Wrapping your arms around her waist, you pull her close, then gently place a kiss to her cheek.

"I love you Wands." You whisper before dropping to your knees, and shielding yourselves while focusing all of your energy on Vision's body, as you breathe your life into him.

Wanda's body is frozen as she let's your ominous confession wash over her. Immense rage consumes her as she understands that you're not coming home with her, and she turns to face the mad titan who'd finally arrived before her.

"You're taking everything from me!" She seethes, then begins throwing her energy balls at the man.

"It's for the best." He condescends while waving his hand around to turn them into nothing more than bubbles.

He clearly underestimated her determination though, as his words further fuel her rage. Then she swiftly throws him back, and the sheer force of her power renders his access to the stones rather useless.

Everything is fading into black rather quickly for you, but you persevere until you finally hear the man below you gasp. His eyes immediately line with tears as he sees your nearly lifeless eyes, then your body collapses and the protective sphere around you falls.

"No!" Vision shouts as he jumps to his knees and makes his way to your side, lightly shaking you but it's to no avail as you slowly blink, and your breaths remain shallow.

Wanda's focus drops from the titan as she turns to see you lying still beneath him, a broken sob falls from her and she collapses to the ground. The faint sounds of feet stomping the ground doesn't even seem to register in her mind as she begins to mourn your life.

"I understand your grief child." Thanos proclaims with a light grip to her head, then he raises his hand in an attempt to reconfigure the stone, but his attempts prove fruitless.

"What did you do?" He seethes, anger falling to you, lifting your nearly dead form from the ground he holds you up by your throat, and you weakly smile his way.

"Simply put, I rewrote history with my own life. In doing so I made the reversal of time, and the obtaining of the mind stone impossible... You'll never win Thanos, and you'll never be a God." You weakly monologue, coughing ensuing as he starts to squeeze what little life remained in you, but your body quickly falls, as Thanos's head rolls.

Wanda catches you with her powers, then scoots over to lay her head on your abdomen, while she just sobs her apologies against you. Natasha's hand clutches at her stomach as the nausea sets in, not understanding how she didn't register your whispered confession as a cheap attempt at a goodbye.

"No.. You can't go, we were just getting started Y/N/N, we have so much life left to live together... I spent so much time being scared, but I'm here now! I'm here... I-I love you too.. Please, I need you. Don't leave me..." She sobs, then places her tear stained lips to your cracked set, and you weakly pout to meet her kiss.

"I'll always be with you Natty... Surely we'll meet again my loves, find me in the afterlife..." You whisper against her face, with your limp hand falling atop Wanda's head as it falls from Nat's cheek.

The entirety of the people on the battlefield take a knee, and your closest teammates faces are shining with fresh hot tears. Vision's first to pull Wanda from you, and directly against his chest, and she desperately clings to him. Steve steps in a few minutes later to pull Natasha away, but her response is pure resistance, as she thrashes in his hold, and her pained screams just don't stop.

"No! I'm not leaving her! Put me down Rogers! She needs me... Please! This can't be it for us!"

Thor approaches you last, cupping your average sized face between his monster sized hands, and he just takes a moment to silently cry before he scoops your limp body up to place down in the jet.

"Always had to be the best of us didn't you little one... Please say hello to Loki for me..." He chokes out, then works to pull himself together as he enters the eerily quiet jet.

—

Tony's booming voice is heard in the common room as he's shouting praises, followed by the wizard, and your precious Spiderling.

"Why so glum, did we not just win?" He beams, looking around the room as he naturally takes a silent roll call.

"Where's the walking hospital?"

The continued silence, and sight of Natasha is more of an answer than any words would've been, and he stumbles backwards as it hits him.

"Y/N's—, she—, you said it was the only way!" He shouts, while jabbing his pointer finger into the sorcerer's chest, while Peter's now sobbing form gets pulled into Natasha's embrace.

"I can assure you all, this isn't how it was meant to go... None of the timelines I saw ever included the one you speak of as Y/N. My handing over of the time stone was pivotal to defeating Thanos in the long run, and let's not forget, saving you from an untimely death."

"You, you just gave him the time stone?!" Wanda growls, hands immediately encased in a layer of red as she stands to face the outsider, and no one's making a move to stop her, not even Vision.

"Sir, it appears that Y/N had sent me an encrypted file, I've worked through the codes to see it's a video, would you like me to play it?" Friday cuts through, timing rather perfectly, as if she'd just been sitting on the file while she waited for a tumultuous moment.

"Play it." Natasha immediately croaks out, shocking the entire room as she'd been eerily silent since Steve had to carry her off the jet.

"As you wish Miss Romanoff."

—

"Ello there my darlings... You're all currently sat in the jet unaware of what's to come, well most of you... I'm certain a couple of you've figured it out. Anywho, this is my final bouts of wisdom, so listen up. All of you've done your job, so if you wish to retire, do it. I'm actually begging you to, your bodies are aging, at this rate you're going you'll all have arthritis soon, and I'm not there to heal you..."

"Now, Tony, please congratulate Pepper for me on the bundle of joy. Oh yeah, spoiler alert, you're going to be a dad! Kiss that pretty baby on the cheeks for me, and hold them close. Thanks for allowing me a place to stay, and affording me my found family, and for playing the part of annoying brother so well."

"Steve, Buck—Confess your love for one another, and go live a life you were always meant to. I know a thing or two about unrequited love, and it's absolutely insane for you two to continue on the way you are."

"Peter, I love you, go be great kid... Just please learn a lesson from the rest of us, and don't let the superhero gig hold you back from living a fulfilling life. Protect your innocence, and love with everything in you."

"Thor, my beautiful man-child of a cousin. You've more than paid your dues, so please, pass on the title to Valkyrie, and set off on a journey of discovery. You're more than the hero you'd been prophesied to be, find a new purpose, and live for me please. Also, yes, I'll tell Loki you said hi."

"Wanda, we never got our chance to shine together—I hold no regrets, because yours and Vision's love story is truly one for the books. Love is hard to come by, and just being able to feel it has the power to be enough for some of us, I promise loving you was one of the greatest joys of my life. Seeing you smile was always enough, and I'm hopeful that in due time your smile will burn just as brightly as it once did.... Vision, take care of our girl, and thank you for never holding my love for her against me, it was truly an honor to know you."

"Natasha, my first ever Earthly friend, whom I'd initially mistaken for an angel—rightfully so too, because that's what you truly are. Your beauty knows no bounds, and your heart, though you won't agree, is as pure as can be. Most importantly to me though Natasha, is that you're the derzhatel' moyego serdtsa.

—

Ty pokazal mne zhizn', dostoynuyu zhizni, Net. Khotya ty byl napugan, ty vse zhe pozvolil mne lyubit' tebya, i ya khochu poblagodarit' tebya. Lyubit' tebya, dazhe izdaleka, sdelalo menya samym schastlivym, kakim ya kogda-libo byl, i ya prozhil dovol'no dolgoye vremya, milaya devochka. Bud'te schastlivy, potomu chto vy etogo dostoyny.

Vse v poryadke, milaya. Vy svobodny i zasluzhivayete togo, chtoby byt'. YA tebya lyublyu. Be great, and please tell Yelena I'm sorry I never got to meet her..."

(... holder of my heart. —

You showed me a life worth living Nat. Though you were scared, you still allowed me to love you, and I want to thank you. Loving you, even from afar, made me the happiest I've ever been, and I've lived quite a long time sweet girl. Be happy, because you deserve it.

It's okay sweetheart. You're free, and deserve to be. I love you.)

I'm not going to tell you guys what I saw, that would just be unfair to burden any of your souls with the guilt, because in the end this was my choice, and my sacrifice to make. Just know it was so much bigger than Vision, your sorcerer friend knows what I'm talking about. Until we meet again my compadres, take care of yourselves, and please remember, you all deserve to be happy!

Tata for now...

You finish your video off with a tip of your invisible hat, a kiss blown, and a trail of tears wiped away.

—

Not a face in the room was dry as the video had concluded, and slowly the occupants of the room filtered out on their journeys to grieve.

That same night Natasha stumbles into your room with a bottle of vodka in her hand, and she's slightly startled—not shocked—at the sight of Wanda's slumped form sat upon your bed.

"I-I can go if you want." Wanda stutters, but Natasha just waves her off, instead of replying she simply passes over the bottle and Wanda immediately takes a swig.

As she violently coughs, having never been much of a drinker, she can't help but to bittersweetly imagine your laughing form there to mock her. Curiously, she observes the stumbling woman stood before her. Natasha stands on her tippy toes, having to do so since you'd apparently placed your hoodies out of reach. Sloppily she tosses one over to the witch, before slipping herself into your most used one, and she chokes back a sob as your scent surrounds her.

Wanda graciously throws it over her body as she closes her eyes, vividly imagining your warm embrace, and crying once more. Honestly, she's not even sure if it's been long enough since her last set of tears to classify this as a repeat offense instead of just a continuing one.

"I loved her so much..." Natasha whispers over their collective sobs into the otherwise silent room.

Wanda's hand immediately moves across the bed to link with hers, and squeezes it tightly. They might've always been at odds over you, but in the end they both loved you to no end. Wholeheartedly so, and in a moment like this there's no more rivalry, just a shared grief.

"Me too Nat, she was truly the best of us, just a perfect culmination of all that was right in the world, and she somehow loved me..." Wanda chokes out, as her sobs just seemingly intensify.

"She loved us enough to give her life up... I cornered the wizard before he left, turns out I was going to die, Tony too, and you were going to lose your entire mind..."

"Bold of her to assume I wouldn't lose it over her..."

"I just want to go back, to be selfish and say yes, and let her come with me on the run... I came home excited to finally have my chance with her, and now I've lost it once again."

"Tell me about it... I got to experience an everlasting love, while she just got left behind. I'm grateful she saved Vis, but part of me wishes she'd just been selfish just this once..."

Natasha hums in agreement, no longer able to contain the entirety of her emotions, and Wanda's quick to follow in her lead. So, the redheads cry themselves to sleep while wrapped up in your hoodies, hands securely intertwined, and a shared dream of just being able to see you again.

———

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marvelstarker-mha98 · 5 months

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The Runaway Distance Life Of A Little Stark chapter 26: Coping Mechanisms

Pairing: Tony Stark & daughter!Reader, Tony stark x Pepper Potts & Reader, Happy Hogan, Tony Stark & Reader, Rhodey, tony stark & Reader, Bruce banner, reader & tony stark, Dr. cho, Tony Stark & reader, Sam Wilson & Steve rogers, Clint barton x Laura Barton & his kids, Natasha romanoff, Tony x Madeline (past), Tony Stark, Obadiah Stane (past) & Reader Summary: How Tony copes with his daughter's eader's death Warning: Death, Dreams and past Co author with: callikc Tag: @venomsvl @geeksareunique The recovery room was haunting.

The ambience was uncomfortable, the lights on and yet too dark, the flatline of the machine shattering the silence. But it wasn't the only thing.

The room was filled with Tony's sobs as he cradled your lifeless body. It was the worst anyone had ever seen him, pleading for you to wake up. It wasn't fair that he had so much time with you during your childhood and yet he barely knew anything. He didn't even know your favorite color or your favorite foods, he didn't know a single thing.

People say that losing someone you love when you know everything about them is the worst thing, but really it was losing someone when you knew nothing. It filled a person with regret and guilt and left them wishing they could do anything to bring someone back.

Tony would've traded his life in a second to swap places. He'd accept his redeemer even if it meant he'd only see your face for one more second. It wasn't fair.

"Please, babygirl." He whispered, rocking back and forth. "Come on, you don't deserve this. Wake up."

Dr. Cho and the others had come in by that time, their faces racked with sorrow and sadness at the scene before them.

"You're strong. You're strong, (Y/n), you're gonna make it."

Pepper was at Tony's side in an instant, her cheeks wet with tears as she hugged him from the side, trying to offer what comfort she could.

"No." His voice was breaking as he cried harder. "No. No, come on. Come back, sweetheart."

Rhodey joined them also, his eyes shut tight so he wouldn't have to see your body.

"S-She's gone." Tony mumbled, trembling.

"I know." Pepper said, kissing the top of his head. "I know..."

He looked up at her, utterly heartbroken. "What do I do? I-I don't know what to do."

Dr. Cho came forward, her movements hesitant. "Let me take her. I'll look after her."

It took him a while to process what she was saying but with reassurance from Pepper he very reluctantly laid your body back on the bed. Dr. Cho offered a gentle and sad smile as she carefully reached for the blanket, pulling it over your face and hiding the body from view.

Even that simple action was too much for him and he turned back to Pepper and Rhodey, crying in their arms once again. Happy watched with a vexing emotion of moral culpability hanging over him as Bruce bowed his head in respect.

Clint had been watching everything from behind the room's window and turned away after finding himself saddened. Whether it was seeing his friends hurting, the loss of you, or just the general aura of the moment getting to him, he couldn't wait there much longer.

He walked to the end of the corridor and thought for a moment before taking out his phone. He sent a quick message to Fury about what had happened before going to his other contacts until he found a familiar name.

He pressed the call button and waited for a moment until the line picked up.

"Hey, babe." Laura's sweet voice answered.

Clint relaxed significantly after hearing her voice. "Hey."

"What's up? Everything okay?"

There was a slight crack in his voice as he replied. "Yeah, I'm good. How are you? How are the kids?"

"They're doing great, they miss you, though."

"I know. I'll try to visit again soon. Work's just... Busy."

There was a pause and he could practically see her frowning on the other side of the phone.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Clint looked down at his feet and wasn't really sure about how to answer. It was strange how you hadn't spent much time together and yet he felt like he'd known you for ages.

"We lost someone today." He admitted. "She was special to a friend of mine. Meant a lot to him."

"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry." Laura said with genuine remorse. "Did you know her well?"

"A little. She was exactly like him so it was easy to just talk, you know?"

"Yeah. When did it happen?"

"Today, it... It was expected, but... But still sudden."

Just then he heard the sounds of his kids. It sounded like they were arguing over something because he heard Lila claiming that something Cooper took was hers.

"Hey, can I talk to the kids?" He asked softly. "It'll be nice to hear them."

"Of course." Laura said. "Hold on."

She called for Lila and Cooper and after a brief rustling sound, he heard their voices.

"Dad, are you there?"

"Daddy!"

Already Clint was smiling again. "Hey, trouble."

"We miss you." Lila said. "When are you coming home?"

"Soon, I promise. It's just been a rough couple of days."

"Can we make it better?"

"I'm sure you can, kiddo. Tell me what's been going on."

"You'll never guess what happened at school." Cooper said. "It started when that quiet kid at the back of French finally snapped."

Clint chuckled. "Go on. What happened?"

Two days had passed since the big fiasco in New York and DC.

Sam Wilson was sitting in Steve's hospital room, still waiting for him to wake up. He was making a good recovery thanks to the whole super soldier thing but it didn't make the days any easier.

Sam was dozing off now as the Trouble Man soundtrack played from his phone. He was exhausted and hadn't really eaten much due to the anxiety of everything.

"On your left."

He woke with a light startle, turning his head to see that Steve was finally awake.

"Sleeping Beauty rises." He teased, relieved.

Steve managed a laugh and they shared a smile.

"What happened?" He asked.

Sam shrugged lightly. "A lot."

"Got any specifics?"

"Well, you've been out two days. It's mostly just the cleanups."

The final events started coming back to Steve in flashes.

"Where's Bucky?" He asked eagerly.

Sam looked away for a moment. "He disappeared. When we found you at the Potomac there was no sign of him. He saved your life, though."

Steve nodded but he was also disappointed. To be so close to his best friend after all these years only to have him taken away was worse than any of the injuries he was currently suffering from. He was hopeful, on the other hand, because Bucky had saved his life. It meant that even though he was a slave to HYDRA, he held some semblance of the past.

"What happened to SHIELD?" He then asked. "Fury? Nat?"

"They're okay. They're hiding." Sam reassured him. "As for SHIELD? It's messy. We lost a lot of good people. Too many of them. The Triskelion is a bunch of rubble and they're still searching."

"The Triskelion." He remembered what happened after he revealed the truth. "What... What happened to Ellen? (Y/n)? Did she get the scepter out?"

"That's an even longer story." Sam joked.

Steve shrugged. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Good point." He thought about how best to describe the events before continuing to explain. "I talked to her before the building collapsed, she said she was going to find Stark, and disappeared in this fancy ass car."

He trailed off and Steve noticed that he looked conflicted. "Did she do it?"

"Sort of. She got to New York, saw Stark again, but there was some kind of shooting. They haven't released much, but (Y/n) didn't make it. It was fatal. She died the same day. The scepter is missing as far as I know."

Steve didn't say anything, trying to understand in silence. He had no idea what those who knew the real you were feeling but he did know it was in no way easy to deal with these things.

"How's Tony handling it?" He asked quietly.

Sam shook his head. "It's not good."

Another two days passed.

Natasha had volunteered herself to explain the course of events that had unfolded at the Triskelion. She was doing so in front of the senate committee, their judging selves and poisoned views desperate to find a way to incriminate anyone but themselves.

"Why haven't we yet heard from Captain Rogers?" One of the committee asked.

Natasha, her arms crossed, shrugged lightly. "I don't know what there is left for him to say. I think the wreck in the middle of the Potomac made his point fairly eloquently."

"Well, he could explain how this country is expected to maintain its national security now that he and you have laid waste to our intelligence apparatus."

"HYDRA was selling you lies, not intelligence."

"Many of which you seemed to have had a personal hand in telling. And there are other concerns."

"Such as?"

"The fiasco that occurred in New York City mere hours after the Triskelion fell. The shooting involving the Starks."

Her jaw clenched. "I fail to see what concern that is of yours."

"The damage was exponential, Agent Romanoff. We want to know if Tony Stark, your fellow Avenger, will be paying for it since it occurred at his tower. Furthermore, we haven't heard from him either."

"Mr. Stark is not available at this moment because he's mourning the loss of his daughter."

"I still don't-"

"He needs time." She told them defiantly. "Do you have children?"

The committee member who had done all the speaking so far finally shut up, sharing a glance with the rest of the men.

Eventually, he spoke up again. "I have a son, yes."

Natasha nodded. "Now imagine if you lost your son. Don't you think you would want some time to grieve before being forced to explain every little detail to the press despite it being no concern of theirs?" Another member of the committee leaned forward. "Agent, you should know that there are some on this committee who feel, given your service record, both for this country and against it, that you belong in a penitentiary. Not mouthing off on Capitol Hill." She remained emotionless as she replied.

"You're not going to put me in a prison." She stated. "You're not going to put any of us in a prison. You know why?"

"Do enlighten us." The first member chimed in again.

"Because you need us. Yes, the world is a vulnerable place, and yes, we help make it that way. But we're also the ones best qualified to defend it. So, if you want to arrest me, arrest me. You'll know where to find me."

After basically telling the government to kiss her ass, Natasha rose from her seat and left the room. The overlapping questions and camera flashes from the reporters followed her all the way to the exit.

Although she wasn't exactly Tony's best friend, she couldn't help but hope he was okay.

That same day, back in New York, Tony was still in the recovery room you had died in.

He hadn't moved, barely ate or drank, and hadn't been able to say a word since they took you away. His eyes were red from the tears he had spared for your loss and it was only with the help of a minor sedative that he managed to get any sleep at all.

Pepper had stayed with him every day and every night, coaxing him into eating and drinking so he wouldn't waste away into nothing. She was trying to let herself mourn you quietly so she could be there for Tony instead. She couldn't even begin to imagine the pain he was feeling.

Tony himself was pretty much still passed out from the effects of the sedative. He needed it after an outburst when the funeral director arrived.

The funeral director organizing your last rites was a close friend of Stark Industries.

That same day they had taken your body to clean you up and keep your body in a visibly comforting state while the funeral preparations were to be made.

Tony wasn't himself, acting out of character as the angry stage of grief took its toll on his mind.

"What if they hurt her?" He was asking, his head running wild with irrational possibilities. "What if they don't take care of her properly? What if they're the same ones who wanted her dead? What if I never see her again?"

"Tony-" Rhodey interrupted, holding him steady. "Hey, man, they're not gonna hurt her, okay?"

"But we don't know them!"

"Yes, we do. Pepper called them, remember? She knows what she's doing."

"They aren't the bad guys." Happy said. "They're just going to clean her up, alright? They're here to keep her safe while we... While we make arrangements."

"No!" Tony continued to argue, ready to march over and take you back.

Pepper stepped in front of him and took his hands in her own before he could do something he regretted.

"Tony, look at me." She begged. "Please, come on."

He stared at the small group wheeling your covered body away and closed his eyes tightly when he couldn't bear it any more.

"You're angry, I know." Pepper said softly. "But you haven't slept in days. And you're still injured. You need a break. She's gone and we need to-"

"She's not gone!" He snapped, vision slowly getting more blurry as tears built up yet again. "She's... She's not. Okay? She's just... She's okay! But we can't let them hurt her! What if I never see her again, Pep?! What if they-"

While he went on another tangent about all the negative possibilities, Rhodey looked over his shoulder and reluctantly nodded to Dr. Cho. Tony didn't know what was happening until he felt a slight prick at his neck.

Dr. Cho pulled back the needle, apologizing quietly as Tony stumbled backwards and felt a drowsiness overtake him. Happy, Rhodey, and Bruce worked together to keep him upright as he almost collapsed again.

Pepper looked at Dr. Cho, confused and surprised. "What's that?"

"Lorazepam and some others." Dr. Cho answered, placing the needle in the sink. "It's a healthy dose."

"It's not dangerous." Bruce quickly added, seeing the look of horror on Pepper's features. "It's a benzodiazepine, used most frequently for anxiety, insomnia, and severe agitation."

"It'll take effect over the next few hours, give Tony time to heal."

As Rhodey and Happy half-walked and half-carried Tony to the empty bed, Pepper watched with torn feelings. She knew it was best in the end, but it didn't mean she had to like it.

Back in the present, Tony was whimpering your name in his sleep.

Pepper held his hand and rubbed soothing shapes on the back in an attempt to keep him calm. It wasn't much, but it was the best she could do at that time.

"Oh, Tony..." She whispered, kissing the top of his head.

Happy stood in the corner of the room as his regrets kept leaving him in doubt. He was still stuck in the mindset that if he had just told someone the truth about you, he could have somehow prevented all of this and saved your life. Perhaps part of him knew that the outcome was inevitable, but he didn't want to believe it.

Rhodey walked in soon enough with a guilty look on his face. "Hey."

Pepper looked over. "Hi. Is everything okay?"

He nodded, although it seemed to pain him emotionally. "I have to go. They want me in Washington for a conference. I wish I could stay, but-"

"No, it's okay. I understand. Do what you have to."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. We'll be alright."

"Okay." He glanced at Tony for a moment. "I'll be back for the funeral. Just let me know."

Pepper nodded that time. "Of course."

"Keep me updated on him. He's not gonna be the same. He hasn't been like this since his parents' accident."

If Rhodey had the option to stay without receiving severe backlash for it, he would have done so with no hesitation. Unfortunately, his superiors weren't the most lenient kind of people. He wanted to do more.

"It's worse." Pepper admitted, looking back at Tony. "Bruce said the Lorazepam will help keep him calm but I don't know."

Tony was dreaming.

While some dream the most brilliant and confusing and random of things, he was stuck in flashbacks, reliving twisted versions of memories he had. One such dream was when he held you for the first time.

Unlike you had been led to believe, Tony's relationship with your mother wasn't just a one night stand of drunken improv. They had known each other for years, and had been friends with benefits the entire time.

Madeline was her name, and she was absolutely gorgeous in Tony's eyes. Her eyes were electric in color and her hair perfectly styled even as she lay in the hospital bed, weak and defeated. He was, however, unaware that his close friend - Obadiah Stane - vehemently opposed the relationship between him and Madeline. In fact, Stane had even gone as far as to threaten to destroy Madeline's life if she didn't give up the baby because it would simply ruin Tony's image.

But Madeline would never. She loved Tony, and she loved her baby even more. As she watched Tony stare at you in awe, she couldn't help smiling too.

She knew she didn't have long left. There was a hemorrhage after the delivery and she had lost too much blood. She didn't know how long, but she knew it wasn't enough to say all she wanted to say.

"She's beautiful." She said.

Tony couldn't look away from you, laughing to himself as you tried to grab his entire hand with your tiny little fist.

"She's perfect." He said.

Madeline struggled to raise her arm enough to brush down some of your hair which was already as messy as your dad's.

"She'll do great things." She said. "She is going to be amazing, especially with a dad as awesome as you."

Tony, who also knew that they didn't have long together, struggled to meet her eyes. "You're the awesome one, Mads."

"No... It's all you." Madeline confessed, looking down. "I want you to raise her right. Keep her safe and love her as much as you love yourself. And give her this."

She struggled to remove a necklace that hung over her chest. When she finally managed it, she placed it in the hand that wasn't holding your head.

"This has been in my family for years. Centuries, even. It's an old thing, but it's as much hers as it is mine. As soon as she's old enough, let her wear it."

"I promise." He said.

Tony was filled with regret and guilt as he watched the scene play out in his mind. He hadn't thought about Madeline in over a decade. In fact, the ever more frequent one night stands were his coping mechanism in getting over her loss. He had never fulfilled the promise he made to her that day and it haunted him now, like a swift vengeance or karma.

The next dream/memory he found himself watching all over again was about five years later.

He was discussing a new weapon with Stane when all of a sudden a tiny girl - you - had burst through the doors with a big, stupid grin on your face.

"Daddy!" You exclaimed, clutching a stuffed bear close to your chest. "Can we play?"

Stane looked less than amused and Tony pinched the bridge of his nose, annoyed.

"Happy!" He called.

He waited until his bodyguard ran into the room with a bright red face. He was breathless, scanning the room for a possible threat until suddenly his eyes landed on you. You just smiled innocently and giggled at the state of him.

"Get her out." Tony ordered.

"But Da-" You said with a frown.

"Now, Happy."

"Yes, sir." Happy nodded, scooping you up into his arms. "Come on, rascal."

"Keep her on a leash or something." Tony added. "I'll be out in five."

"I only wanted to play." You mumbled, tearing up in confusion.

"It's okay, kid." Happy said as he carried you into the hallway. "He's a little busy, but your dad can play later."

"Promise?"

"Pinky. And afterwards we can get you ice cream. How does that sound?"

Your eyes lit up again and you nodded feverishly, hugging him. "Yes!"

The modern Tony watched painfully as a few minutes later his younger self came out and started yelling at you for interrupting. He said his meetings were more important than a child's play time. He was wrong. He should've known that every second with you was the most precious of his life.

He should have known that back then he was just doing what his own father did to him. He should have known how it made a child feel, how it hurt them. He also hated how much Stane was involved in your lives. If he had known back then what the bastard would go on to do, he probably would have killed him years early.

Another dream.

A few years later.

You were about thirteen or fourteen now, and eagerly going on about your latest collection of A+ scores. Tony back then hadn't been at all interested, far more focused on working away in his lab than listening to you talk about school.

"I'm busy, (Y/n)." He stated, not even bothering to look up. "Tell me later."

Your smile had dropped. "But you always say that."

"And you always fail to listen."

"Because later never comes."

"Life is full of disappointments, kid."

And that was it on the matter.

You looked down at the brilliant test scores and noticed your hand shaking in anger and annoyance. You worked hard to try and give him something to be proud of but it was for nothing. He didn't care.

Present Tony hated himself as he watched the anger in your eyes be replaced with hurt. He was proud, he always had been, but he was too stupid to show it. Would it have killed him to just once say it aloud for you?

The next memory was even more painful.

The day he left for Afghanistan.

"Shouldn't you say goodbye to (Y/n)?" Pepper asked.

"Just tell her I'll be back eventually." He had said in response.

That hurt like a punch to the gut. Why didn't he say goodbye?

"Tony, she's your daughter."

"I'm aware."

"Don't you think-"

"Trust me, she knows how to look after herself. She'll survive a day or two alone."

Tony watched his past self leave and slam the door. The only difference to this point of view was that he could see your sixteen-year-old self hiding behind the wall upstairs.

You had heard it all.

The next moment threw Tony off completely.

It wasn't his memory, but one of your own. He watched you march into Stark Industries, the perfect embodiment of poise and determination, and threaten your way past security guards. He couldn't help laughing as you waltzed on past them and into one of the offices.

Stane's office.

The smile dropped from his face as he watched the scene unfold. He had no idea you were so worried. He didn't realize that even after years of resentment, you cared enough to try and find out if he was okay even back then. It made it all the more painful as he watched Stane snap and threaten you.

"No!" He yelled.

His voice sounded like nothing but an echo as he ran forward to intervene, only to hit an invisible wall or window that blocked him.

"And who's going to believe you?" Obadiah growled as he pinned you against the wall. "It's the word of Tony's mistake against his best friend. Who do you think the media will flock to?"

"Don't listen to him!" Tony begged, hitting the invisible window with all the strength he could muster. "(Y/n)!"

"You can't do this!" You yelled, oblivious to the shouts.

Obadiah tightened his grip. "If you tell anyone about this, I'll kill you. If you don't do what I say, I'll sell you off. You won't be able to walk out of these doors fast enough to save your life."

"Get your damn hands off of her!" Tony warned, only for his warnings to fall on deaf ears.

"You can't do this." You gasped out when Obadiah finally let you go.

Obadiah looked down at you, not a hint of sympathy in his voice. "You won't tell anyone. You won't go to the police, or Ms. Potts. Or Rhodes. You will shut up and go home or I will find a way to get rid of you."

"No!" Tony repeated, hitting harder. "No, (Y/n)! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

He watched helplessly as you turned tail and ran through the office door in tears. He tried calling your name and then threatening Obadiah again but he was merely a spectator, his words and actions meaningless.

He slid against the invisible barrier until he was on the floor, regretting pretty much every life choice he ever made.

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ircn-dad · 2 years

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One thing I love about Irondad is that Tony -despite his past with Howard- is not cold with Peter, and is not ashamed to admit how much he cares for the kid (in his way, ofc).

People always judge Tony's character is Homecoming because "Hah!! Stark doesn't care about him! He ignored for two months!! He's the worst!"

Can I Start saying that that man right here wasn't in the right mood to mentor a kid right after civil war? He saw his parents die, he saw his friend almost killing him in rage and then had to deal with the breakup of the Avengers and the whole Rhodey's situation. He probably thought it would be better for both to not be in contact, because while Tony wants to heal, he also want Peter to not be like him.

Think about it: After civil war, Tony was a disaster and all of this because he was an Avenger. Of course the man wouldn't want Peter to be like him, not when Tony's life went down hill since the first day as Iron Man. He doesn't want that life for a fifteen years old kid, so he leaves Peter with Happy and everyone is safe.

Not because he doesn't want the kid around, but because he thinks it's the best for the kid to not be around a billionaire with severe anxiety and a little bit narcissistic.

Tony never showed any discomfort around Peter, since their first scene together. He has always been interested in the kid, and was the one one who understood Peter, as Peter said him self in the infinity War novelization.

(I won't start saying how everyone blames Tony for "manipulating" Peter and bringing him into a war. Just know that is incorrect, and Tony would never bring a kid in a war, because that wasn't meant to be a fight. Tony brought Peter so that -his words, not mine- he could web them up if they tried to escape. He never thought about ending up with a broken arm and with Rhodey who can't walk anymore)

Anyway, returning to the subject, I think we can all agree on one thing: Peter is not aware of how Tony actually cares about him. But not because Tony is an asshole and hates him, but because of one reason:

1. Peter in homecoming only wanted to prove himself. He desperately wanted Tony to see the potential in him, so during all the movie he he acted so that Tony could be proud of him, but at the same time when Tony complimented him he didn't even showed gratitude. He was blinded by wanting to show the man what he was worth for that he didn't notice Tony was always proud until the very end.

I don't think the main problem is in fact Tony because as we see, and Peter can't, he actually already invested in Peter's life.

He listens to the voicemails, remembers them and always kept an eye on him, even during his journey to India (TO RECOVER HIM SELF FROM CIVIL WAR Y'ALL).

And can I say something more? Tony isn't afraid to think Peter as his son. Often, in the Fanfics, we always see Tony panics because him and Peter became closer and he's scared how he could be like Howard to the kid. The second part is right, but he would never panic about thinking Peter as his son. Actually, he doesn't mind and already thinks the kid as his responsibility.

It's actually funny and cute how he says "My father never really gave me a lot of support and I'm just trying to break the cycle of shame" because all I see is a man who was neglected and abused by his father, and hated the idea of having a child because of this (remember that scene in IM3 where he flinches at the only thought of having one) until he met Peter. He decided to be better because of him, he wanted to change because of him.

When he says "I sound like my father" my heart broke because no, YOU DON'T YOU SILLY.

These two phrases demonstrate how he's not afraid to tell the kid he sees himself like a father for him. Ofc he's scared because he doesn't want to end up as his own father, but he is ready to be a good role for Peter when he will finally be healed from civil war.

He's not cold, he's not distant towards Peter and even though he's afraid of ruining the kid and his childhood, he already loves him.

Homecoming was a new start for both of them and I believe that in the two years between Infinity war and Homecoming they were not afraid to tell each other how much they cared (again, on their way because even I think it's pretty weird imagining tony saying "I love you you're my son" to Peter or Peter saying "Yes you're my dad adopt me" because that's so out of character).

Every interaction they had in infinity war screamed that. You can clearly see how much the kid is now comfortable with the man, is not shy around him, and is not scared to talk to him; you can also see how Tony has become more protective of Peter. Literally everything he says or does screams "don't touch this kid or I will kill everyone in this room and then my self" (I mean, that's what he did in endgame, no?)

at last, I want to appreciate this scene because it's not appreciated enough:

Strange is literally assuming Tony is Peter's guardian, and the way Tony crosses his arm, assuming this defensive pose to protect him self when he said "I'm confused as to the relationship here" because he wants to know what Strange has to say about them, ready to answer and to kick his ass out of the flying donut if he says something bad about Peter or about their relationship. Or the fact he always has something to answer to Strange, but this time he stays silent and doesn't even try to explain who is Peter when he asks he is his ward because that's his kid and so many other things he doesn't know how to explain.

Also, Peter saying an awkward and quick no while staring at Tony will never not be cute for me. It's like this already happened before and someone already pointed out how they look father and son together, and Peter is not even that embarrassed. He's just confused why everyone keeps thinking they are father and son (but not unhappy)

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stark---contrast · 9 months

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Take a Chance on Me

After wielding the Infinity Stones, time seemed to move differently for Tony.

Maybe it was because of the snap that nearly killed him. Maybe it was a residue of time warping to different decades. Maybe it was elation due to the fact that they'd actually succeeded.

Or maybe Tony was just getting old.

The world was safe again and he could finally rest. And so time ticked away, seasons came and went, and before Tony knew it, Morgan was already seven and three years had passed in what felt only like months.

During that time, Pepper had moved back to the city: first merely for weekdays and then one day permanently. At least the divorce was a smooth, relatively painless process—not that Tony had expected anything else where Pepper was concerned.

Tony had debated on leaving the lakehouse but found he couldn't. Morgan deserved to keep her childhood home during the weeks that she was his, and Tony liked being near the rebuilt Avengers compound. The occasional winged figure soaring in the skies or the muted explosions of a new superhero generation being trained were tangible proof that he'd actually made a difference.

It was a somewhat solitary life. Even with Morgan, the bots and the damn alpaca scurrying about, Tony's social circle had been drastically reduced in the last decade. Conferences and extravagant parties had given way for a workshop in the garage and falling asleep to cartoons at 8 PM. Tony didn't even have to wear a disguise in public anymore: he'd simply fallen out of the general population's perception.

It was a blessing and a curse. On one hand, Morgan wouldn't have to grow up in Tony's shadow like he had in Howard's. In fact, most of Morgan's classmates were much more awestruck over Pepper, the renowned CEO of Stark Industries, than Morgan's dad with the weird arm who picked her up from soccer practice and sometimes built robots.

On the other hand, Tony was alone a lot of the time. And after years of first living with the Avengers and then with his wife and child, he didn't do so well with loneliness anymore.

Sometimes when it got particularly bad, he'd put on the armor's helmet and play a 360 degree recording of the latest Avengers meeting at the Compound and, yes, he knew full well how sad that was. Tony had retired of his own free will and had a new family now, a daughter who required his full attention and who he loved more than anything else in the world.

But if Tony's eyes still started misting inside the helmet whenever he saw Natasha's empty chair in the meetings, that was nobody's business but his own.

Still, it wasn't like the house was empty even on the weeks Morgan was with Pepper. Rhodey visited almost every weekend, marathoning LotR with Morgan or having beers with Tony on the porch, reminiscing about the good old days like the two old geezers that they were. Happy didn't come by as often now that he no longer had to drive Tony places, but when he did, he usually brought very welcome cheeseburgers and wholly unwelcome dating advice with him.

"You know, Pepper works fifty hours a week and still has time to date," Happy said.

"Well, anyone would fall for Pepper," Tony said around a bite of beef patty and cheddar cheese. "She just has to show up on a date and say one sentence and bam, boyfriend acquired. Not very time-consuming."

"At least she's putting herself out there," Happy insisted. "But if you want to keep being a hermit, there are a bunch of apps—"

"Yeah, because surely I'd be a hit on those," Tony huffed. "Not so much genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist these days; more like single dad, amputee in chronic pain, lost half of my assets in the divorce and spent the remainder rebuilding the Compound. What a catch!"

"The right person won't care about any of that," Happy said. "You just have to take the plunge. Don't you wish you had someone to share your life with?"

"I have Morgan," Tony simply replied, though that wasn't the entire truth.

Because there was also Steve.

Steve was the reason Tony had only lost an arm instead of his life, leaping across what felt like half of the battlefield and flinging himself at Tony to share the burden of the stones. Realistically, probably most of the burden; they knew from the Guardians that even just one stone could give five enhanced individuals a nasty zap when using its power. And nanotech armor or not, Tony was only a baseline human.

After Thanos' army faded away, Steve was the last thing Tony saw before he passed out and the first thing he saw when he woke up. Tony had stared at Steve's dumbstruck face hovering near the hospital bed, rasped "Please tell me nobody kissed me," and Steve had laughed. Just like back in New York.

Except this time, Steve didn't go on a fuck-you-all roadtrip after and leave Tony to deal with the collateral (and emotional) damage. Instead, he'd decided he was personally responsible for the upkeep of Tony and Pepper's lakehouse, and also picking up Morgan from kindergarten when Pepper was busy and going grocery shopping as long as Tony couldn't drive and feeding Gerald the moody alpaca that had already kicked him in the shin—twice. Steve would show up every few days and Tony would pretend to be annoyed even as Morgan squealed and ran out into the driveway to greet him. Clearly, Steve was bored after passing on the shield to Sam, and helping Tony "Designated Charity Case" Stark was either his way of feeling useful or apologizing to Pepper for crippling her husband.

Probably both.

To his credit, Tony did try to fight Steve on it the first few months, but he really should have learned by then that there was no out-stubborning Steve Rogers when it came to doing the right thing. Tony had fully expected Steve's wellness checks to stop as soon as he received his prosthetic arm and finished his physical therapy, but that was almost two years ago and Tony still had leftovers in the fridge from when Steve cooked dinner for him and Morgan last weekend.

If anything, Steve's visits had only become more frequent over the years, which had made some sense after the divorce, but not so much now that Tony had almost full mobility of his arm back. Still, Steve was a big help and Morgan obviously loved him, so Tony had grown kind of fond of their weird little routine and wasn't about to ruin it by demanding Steve's motivations.

Of course, other people weren't as willing to ignore the subject.

"So… you and Steve," Bruce said when he was visiting for his semi-regular science talks with Tony—which more often than not ended in tea and Avengers gossip and raiding Morgan's cookie stash. The Hulk's personality might lie dormant, but his appetite did not.

"There is no me and Steve," Tony huffed. "There's just Steve and Steve's guilt complex. He likes collecting sad people missing an arm; it's kind of his thing, if you hadn't noticed."

"Uh-huh," Bruce said.

"I'm telling you, that guy sees someone with a prosthetic and immediately whips out the adoption papers," Tony kept going. "But hey, if he wants to waste his life mowing my lawn and washing my dishes, I'm not about to complain. Having your personal supersoldier is a lot cheaper than paying for a gardener or cleaning service—and much more efficient when it comes to chopping firewood, too."

"Right," Bruce said. "So who are the flowers from, Tony?"

Tony kept his face carefully neutral and resisted the urge to glance at the bouquet he knew was sitting in a vase on the coffee table. Steve had brought the flowers a week ago and they were starting to wilt, but Tony kept "forgetting" to throw them away.

"Morgan likes flowers," Tony said in explanation.

"I doubt Steve would bring your kid flowers that mean 'Please give me a chance'," Bruce said, because of course he happened to be fluent in flower language. "Have you ever considered he might be sticking around for some other reason than guilt?"

"Jesus, Bruce, let the man bring some platonic flowers!" Tony exclaimed. "You know you're perpetuating toxic masculinity, right? I'll file a complaint to Avengers HR and sic Carol on you."

Bruce rolled his eyes so hard Tony thought he saw a flash of green in them. At least the Hulk would have laughed at the absurd notion of Steve trying to court Tony.

"Anyway, as I was saying about the particle collider…" Tony started, then went quiet as he heard the familiar sound of a motorcycle pulling up in the driveway.

"Oh look, Steve's home," Bruce deadpanned.

"Ha ha, very funny," Tony said. He checked the calendar on the fridge only to confirm what he already knew; it was indeed Tuesday, and Steve wasn't supposed to come by until Friday to help Tony unload the hay bales he'd ordered for his ungrateful alpaca. "He probably just broke his phone or something and wants me to fix it. Sit tight, I'll be right back."

Tony didn't wait for Bruce's reply before walking out on the porch. Steve was already getting off his bike, but rather than the dirt-stained jeans or a sinfully tight t-shirt Tony was used to seeing him in while he did his handiwork around the property, Steve was dressed in a leather jacket and had even styled his hair.

Oh, and on top of looking unfairly good he was also carrying a bouquet of red tulips.

"Tony!" Steve's face lit up and he practically jogged up to meet Tony. "How was your day?"

Tony blinked. "It's Tuesday."

"Yeah, uh…" Steve's smile turned sheepish. "I just thought I'd swing by to see if you wanted to grab dinner together? Oh, and I drove past a florist on the way—here, these are…I mean, you can have them. If you want."

Steve shoved the flowers at Tony and he grabbed them more out of reflex than anything else.

"...Thanks?" Tony said, regarding Steve skeptically. "I'll have to say no on the dinner, though."

"Oh," Steve said, his face falling like Tony had kicked a puppy instead of declining to eat with him.

"I have a week's worth of leftovers to get through because you made enough to feed a small army. Remember?"

Steve frowned. "You didn't throw them away?"

"Well, somebody who grew up during the great depression has taught me not to waste food." Tony smirked. "But hey, you guys have a good time."

"...What?"

"Oh come on, you're clearly dressed up," Tony said, gesturing to all of Steve. "It's obviously some kind of group outing that you wanted to invite the resident hermit to. No need to keep up the act."

Steve was quiet for a beat—probably embarrassed Tony had seen through his white lies—before he seemed to deflate.

"Yeah," Steve said. "Sorry. It was a dumb idea. Have a good night, Ton—Bruce!?"

Tony heard the doorframe creak as Bruce squeezed himself through it.

"Hiya, Steve!" Bruce chirped way too cheerfully. "Funny seeing you here."

Tony glared at Bruce. Bruce resolutely ignored it.

"Yeah, you too," Steve said and, geez, he even pulled out the fake Captain America smile. "Sorry for intruding, I didn't see your car. Weren't you two supposed to be meeting next week?"

"Oh, yeah, Tony just rescheduled a few days ago," Bruce said, the traitor. Thankfully, he didn't know that the reason for Tony's urgent change of plans was because the five days without both Morgan and Steve would have been miserable otherwise.

"And it's no biggie, I was just leaving anyway—Jen's picking me up from the main road," Bruce had the audacity to lie, because Tony was supposed to drop him off later in the evening. "There's a few cups of coffee left in the machine if you want it."

"Actually, I was just…" Steve nodded awkwardly at his bike.

"Yes, see, he's leaving," Tony said. "You both were, but somehow you're still right here—"

"Oh, speaking of Jen," Bruce interrupted, "she keeps bugging me for your number," Bruce told Steve, then grimaced. "In…not so child-friendly terms."

Tony bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from commenting on that delightful bit of information. He'd only met Jennifer once, but she was an absolutely stunning woman, not to mention could match even Steve's strength. If Steve took her up on that offer, they'd make one hell of a couple. She'd be lucky—Steve would be lucky to be with her, of course.

"Sorry." Steve gave a little half-smile. "Not interested in some one-time thing."

"Yeah, I thought so," Bruce said, then looked at the bouquet Tony was now clutching a little too forcefully. "Nice flowers, by the way. Red for undying love, right?"

"Oh, here we go again," Tony groaned.

"Uh," Steve said, his face steadily approaching the color of the flowers. "I just thought they…looked nice."

"I'm sure," Bruce said. "I assume they were out of flowers that said 'Tony, you idiot, there is no group outing, I was asking you out on a date'?"

"Oh my god, Bruce, get in the damn car and I'll drive you—wait, what?" Tony said, the words only now registering.

"Have fun!" Bruce said and—Tony could only describe it as fled—the scene.

And so Tony stood there on his porch like an idiot, with the offending tulips in his hand and a dolled-up, fidgeting and completely silent Steve in front of him.

"That's the last time I let Bruce into the cookie stash," Tony finally said.

That seemed to snap Steve out of his stupor. "Yeah, I…didn't expect that. At least not from Bruce."

"Sorry about him," Tony said. He held out the bouquet. "You should probably take these back, huh? With the 'undying love' and whatnot."

Tony tried for a grin. If he just didn't think about Bruce's words, he might survive this conversation with his dignity intact. Steve would laugh and sheepishly take the flowers and leave, and Tony could back inside and casually scream into a pillow. As you do.

But because Tony's life was never easy, Steve didn't accept the flowers. He just stared at them, then at Tony, then flushed all the way up to his ears and cleared his throat.

"No," Steve said, stubbornly keeping eye contact even though he was clearly dying inside. "No, I don't think I will."

"O-kaaay," Tony drawled, slowly withdrawing the bouquet. What the hell was up with Steve today?

"Unless…unless you're actually rejecting me," Steve soldiered on through his visible discomfort. "And I've been too dense to notice it all this time."

Tony opened his mouth to ask if Steve was having a stroke and promptly closed it. There was clearly something going on here that went deeper than Tony saying no to getting pizza or whatever with Steve, but like so many times before, they were just talking past each other.

"Steve," Tony said levelly. "Why are you really here?"

Steve stood up a little straighter even though he was still ugly blushing.

"Because I thought you were free and wanted to take you out to dinner," Steve said.

Tony squinted at him. "And you…dressed up and brought flowers—"

"Clearly should've picked the 'I'm asking you out on a date, you goddamn idiot' flowers instead," Steve huffed.

Tony blinked. He stared. He tried to process the earth-shattering discovery that Steve actually wanted to court him.

It didn't make sense. Tony had questions. He also still wanted to scream into that pillow. There was so much to talk about.

Of course, what came out of Tony's mouth was, "Language, Cap."

Steve's face did something funny at that: like his body couldn't decide whether to laugh or cringe. Smooth, Tony.

Eventually, Steve did burst out laughing, though it had a hysteric edge to it. Tony could relate wholeheartedly.

Tony cleared his throat and Steve stopped laughing. "What I meant was: hi, my name is Tony Stark, single dad missing an arm and owning the world's rudest alpaca," Tony rambled. "And you're Steve Rogers, literal human perfection, standing on my porch and expecting me to believe that you being here is anything more than pity."

"What?" Steve said. "C'mon, Tony, you can't really believe that. It's been over three years." Tony shrugged, and Steve's eyes went wide. "You mean…all this time you thought—"

"Yes? No? In my defense, I tried not to think about it at all, because I liked having you around and the idea of being your good deed of the day kinda put a damper on that."

"How…" Steve said, then shook his head. "Doesn't matter. You're wrong. I started helping you because you're my friend, and then I stuck around because…well, I liked being here."

"And now you want to go on a date. With me. Romantically," Tony clarified.

Steve nodded. "Yes."

"Why?" Tony asked.

"Why do people usually go on dates?" Steve shrugged. "I wanna be with you, and I really think we could be good together."

"But you're…this," Tony, again, gestured to all of Steve. "And I'm…" He glanced down at his workshop tee and grease-stained sweatpants; a far cry from the suits and booty jeans he'd worn in his prime. "Well, I definitely put the 'dad' in 'dad bod'."

Steve just kept looking at him. "And?"

"And you don't want someone like me!" Tony exclaimed. "I'm irresponsible and frankly terrible at relationships, always have been, and I miss being Iron Man and don't know what to do with myself the weeks Morgan's at Pep's." Steve didn't seem phased, so Tony took a shallow breath and quickly continued, "Sometimes I spy on Avengers meetings and cry, and my shoulder still hurts from the stones and the burn scars look hideous and I have nightmares from the wormhole and—and, oh, okay, we're kissing now—"

Steve, apparently done with Tony's pity party, took the liberty of cupping Tony's cheek and leaning in to kiss him. Which, all things considered, was probably the most effective way he'd ever managed to shut Tony up.

Tony's brain was too fried for him to do much more than stand there and let himself be kissed. To be fair, this was the most action he'd gotten in almost three years and he'd never realized how much he'd missed it. The kiss was little more than a soft press of their lips but the simple intimacy of it was enough to flood Tony's body with happy chemicals.

Eventually, he did manage to kiss back, but Steve still pulled away much too soon.

"Are you done?" Steve asked, and it really was quite persuasive when murmured against Tony's lips.

"...With the self-loathing or the kissing?" Tony asked. "Because I was kinda just getting started with the latter."

Steve chuckled and pressed their lips together again and, okay, wow, it really was that easy.

They were both much more confident this time. Steve kissed with meaning, Tony pulled him closer by his stupidly sexy leather jacket, Steve rubbed his thumb over Tony's five o' clock shadow and Tony tilted his head to make the slide of their lips easier. He might not have kissed anyone in years, but he could totally do this—it was like riding a bike, right? He just had to play it cool.

And then Steve lapped at the seam of his lips, and, really, how was Tony supposed to not clutch his jacket and let out a pathetic moan?

That was apparently the cue for Steve to break the kiss, but luckily he didn't look weirded out by Tony's desperation; in fact, he was blushing again and even panting a little, which was a pretty nice ego boost considering how much it took for Steve to get winded.

"Sorry, I, uh." Steve cleared his throat and took a step back and Tony bravely resisted his body's urge to scream no, no, no, come back! "I got a little too into that," Steve said.

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Did it look like I was complaining?"

"Well, I still have some things I need to make clear," Steve said.

Oh, boy. Tony straightened his back and steeled himself for the good ol' "Tony, you're so great—except for those five hundred flaws of yours that mean we'll never work out" spiel.

Steve took a deep breath and started, "You're the bravest, most heroic man I've ever met and I'm sorry it took me over ten years to realize that."

Tony blinked. That was a weird start to friendzone someone.

"You have a brilliant mind but more than that, you have a big heart," Steve said. "You care so much about everyone around you, even if they hurt you—"

Steve winced and Tony felt the phantom sensation of Siberian snow on his face and something heavy pressing down on the suit's arc reactor.

"When I came here three years ago, I expected you to scream in my face, and I wouldn't have blamed you," Steve said. "Instead, you helped me. You trusted me. You forgave me. And then you saved the world—again." Steve smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners; Tony had never noticed the wrinkles before. "And after, you let me be a part of your new life. You let me be a part of Morgan's. And, god, Tony the way you are with her… How could I not fall in love with you?"

Okay, well, that was just unfair. Tony had been just about ready to accept that Steve wasn't about to dump him before they'd even gotten started, but now he had to process the fact that Steve apparently loved him too. Despite all of the bright red, painfully obvious warning signs.

Maybe Happy was right. Maybe the right person wouldn't care.

"I can't even describe how much the last three years have meant to me. How much you mean to me," Steve said, his pretty blue eyes staring deep into Tony's. "And if you'll have me, I promise I'll do my damndest to make you happy."

Tony still wasn't quite sure if this was real. Maybe he was dreaming or Bruce's tea had a little extra something.

But hallucination or not, there was no reality where he'd ever be able to resist Steve Rogers spilling his heart and asking to date Tony.

"Okay," Tony said.

Steve blinked, then gave him a hesitant smile. "Really?"

"Well, my kid already loves you, and that's like 90% of my dating criteria these days," Tony said. "I also might have been planning on exploding the workshop roof on purpose so I could get you to come back before Friday, because not having you around freaks me out and five days is way too long."

Steve's smile widened and he stepped closer again. "I know the feeling. I barely managed two before I needed to see you."

Tony's heart did funny things at that and since Steve was already right there, Tony figured he might as well steal another kiss.

Steve made a happy little sigh when their lips met and Tony felt like an absolute idiot for not pulling on this thread sooner. There had just been too much at stake, with their rocky history and Tony's injuries and the divorce and Morgan—

Shit. What if Steve didn't understand how important Morgan was in all this?

"Full disclosure," Tony said, pulling away. "Morgan still has complete veto rights. She says no, this ends right away."

Rather than nod grimly like Tony expected, Steve smiled sheepishly. "Well, actually…I don't think Morgan's opinion will be a problem."

Tony stared. "Please say you didn't tell my kid you wanna bang me."

Steve took a moment to look at Tony like he was an idiot. "Your child," Steve started, "was the one who came up to me two weeks ago and said 'Daddy still doesn't know you love him. You should bring him flowers'."

Some kind of noise escaped Tony's throat; a quiet wheeze in the spirit of Holy shit my seven-year-old daughter tried to set me up with Captain America.

Steve chuckled. "Yeah, that was my reaction too."

"Why…what…how?" Tony managed.

"I've heard from multiple sources that I'm not as subtle with my feelings as I think I am," Steve said, then got a mischievous glint in his eye and added, "and Morgan's always been smarter than her old man, anyway."

Tony barked out a surprised laugh at the unexpected sass.

"Oh, really?" Tony said around a grin. "That's how it's gonna be with you, huh?"

Steve smirked. "Maybe."

"I can already tell you're going to be a menace," Tony teased. "You're lucky you're cute."

"I thought I was 'human perfection'."

Tony snorted a surprised—and extremely unattractive—laugh. Steve merely grinned, and, god, when was the last time anyone but Morgan had made Tony laugh like this?

"Well, mister Human Perfection," Tony said, brushing his hand against Steve's. "Still wanna have dinner with me? I've got cold coffee and leftover casserole."

Steve smiled and laced his fingers with Tony's. "Sounds like a plan."

That was when Steve pulled him close and kissed him again, and Tony decided he could definitely get used to this.

#stony #tony stark #steve rogers #starkfic #mcu #stevetony games 2023

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