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amneris21 · 3 days ago

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All I’m reading is that there’s 11k more of this for me to devour.

The Night Shift: Part 14: The Night Nurse

Title: The Night Shift

Fandom: Marvel/MCU, focused on Thunderbolts*

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader (female) Note: She's female, she's a doctor, she's in her late 30s/early 40s, but otherwise she's open. I don't use "y/n" and she will mostly be in Second but sometimes in Third.

Rating: R for the series

Summary: After the events of Thunderbolts* Bucky realizes that he cannot live full time in the Tower, so he goes back to his apartment in Brooklyn whenever he can. One night he gets a new neighbor, and everything feels normal until that day a bunch of assassins show up....for her.

Warnings: Think Thunderbolts* with more F bombs and the potential for eventual explicit scenes. If it was fair game in Thunderbolts* it is fair game here.

Word Count: 12,000

A/N: Folks this is basically the end! You CAN stop reading after this, there is an optional Epilogue and an optional Post-Credit scene that is tracking to be as long (or longer) than this chapter.

It's been amazing! See you all on the other side.

Series Masterlist -- Avengers/MCU Masterlist -- Author Masterlist

“Save his…soul?” You said it back to Norman because you weren’t sure what to make of it.

“You are wondering how a man of such science as myself would invoke something like that?” He smirked again and the more he smiled the more unsettled you became.

“Crossed my mind.” You tapped the file in your hands, “What does he have?”

“Well, the answer to both is rather extraordinary.”

“I….I feel like I cope with that.”

“You know? You do.” He complimented, “Originally, I have to be honest, you weren’t on my radar. Sort of a steady-eddy. Always got your work in. Never really had a big mess-up. But I didn’t see it all as a big connected thing. You would improve everything you substantially worked on between 10 and 46% each time, and it was always connected to the next project you pursued. Harder things had a lower return, closer to that 10% marker, but relatively easy things you managed to improve by nearly half where most people didn’t care about things like shelf-life extensions and vaccine distribution mechanisms. Small change to most.”

“If you don’t have enough small change you can't get it exchanged for a dollar.” You shrugged, “Still takes a hundred pennies.”

“See? I missed that bit. Well…I like it now. I think…I think you might be far more useful than I thought. I thought your tech was the useful thing. Bursts of regenerative healing? I thought amazing, Harry can get himself up to a threshold where he can get out of the tube. I didn’t think you were a special design element in it. After Aleksei sort of became–” He gestured to the other room, “I was happy you were still around to come mess with it and bring your eye to then rest. I don’t need Harry coming back to me looking like that.”

“You haven’t explained anything.” You protested.

“I made a deal, years ago.” Norman said, off-handedly, “And it came with a trade. I was a creative man, smart, but poor and overlooked. Nobody wanted to hire me, a few of them tried to steal my ideas, and I was getting desperate when I found a…backer, of sorts. He promised things I wanted. Success, yes, and the price? Well. He wanted a soul.”

“You’re joki—”

“I absolutely am not.” He said sadly, “But smart men feel they can cheat. I felt, strongly, that because I was already an adult I wouldn’t be getting a lot of time to enjoy my success. To really become the ultimate definition of success. I countered– I wanted immortality.”

“This is ridicul—”

“Yes. Sounds it. I know. I wish it was but, alas. Real as rain.” Norman sighed and held out his arm, “I get the impression everyone signs differently but —” He drew up his sleeve and underneath his skin was textured, scabby….green as a fucking cucumber. He reached up to his mouth and pulled out a set of false fronts to reveal a whole mouth of pointed teeth.

You’d already screamed today.

Now?

Now you were too scared to scream.

“The longer you don’t pay? The more he takes a bit from you. And my bill is due.”

“I….I don’t….”

“I was young and so…naive? And selfish? I thought a soul is a soul, and I offered something I had no business offering. My success, my kingdom….and all he asked for was my firstborn son. A soul was needed. At the time, young and foolish as I was, I thought that would be easy. I traded on my son’s soul. What did I know? I didn’t have children then.”

Norman sighed, “For a long time it was easy too– just don’t have children. I can’t imagine the sort of patience he has. He must truly not care about the wait, the pay-off? It has to be just….worth it. I hope to never understand him that well. All I know for sure is despite my best efforts I managed to meet someone who simply bowled me over. I was relieved when she said she didn’t want children. Relieved. It was a modern age! I thought science was on my side! Surely we got past all accidents….” He put a hand on the tube, “I begged her to not have the baby. I was so….she got angry. I couldn’t explain, could I? How was I going to explain? Well she went away to have the baby, took me a long enough time to find her. I can’t prove he was hiding her just to….” He flinched, “Well. I dare a man to hold his son and be willing to dash that baby’s brains out. I dare them. I wasn’t just condemning that boy to die, but to hell. I had never been more horrified at myself, more disappointed… I’ve been trying to outrun that ever since he was born and I realized it wouldn’t be easy, in fact that it wouldn’t be possible. But as to Clark— we have to find the limits of possible by pushing it. I just need science to counter Harry’s condition, which I assume my benefactor made the method of his loss. A countdown. A clock for me to look at— to watch my boy suffer and die until I know that there’s no relief for him on the other side. I can’t lose, doctor. Do you understand? I can’t. I know what awaits him. He can’t be allowed to die.”

You clutch the file with trembling hands, “You make it sound like you made a deal with the devil.”

“I did.” Norman admitted, “And I’m going to beat him, I know it. I know I can. And I know you are going to help.”

You opened the file, “What’s wrong with Harry?..... Jesus.”

Anything was better than talking about the fucking devil right now but you had not seen numbers this bad since medschool made you take a rotation in hospice. This did not seem possible and yet you didn't think saying that would go over.

Where are you James? Are you coming? Can you come faster?

_________________⚕️_________________

It was… a lot.

Bucky could read Ayo, at least he could read her better than the team could and when Bucky and Norman’s files were splayed in front of the team he saw her flinch, “What?”

“Symbol there.”

“What about it?”

“I thought it myth and rumor.”

“What’s it for?”

“Mephisto.”

Bucky cocked his head, “Like…like Faust?”

Ayo gave an uncharacteristic chewing of her lower lip, saying only, “Had I as many souls as there be stars, I’d give them all for Mephistopheles.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Neither do I.” She admitted, “But if I bring this information back to Wakanda I know people who can be of help. I will not load your Alf onto my system, so I have to back him up separately but this I will do now.”

She set up a small, black box and it started blinking.

Alf’s voice was almost small, “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere where someone will fix you.” Ayo said, almost kindly.

“Does that mean there’s a literal devil involved?” John asked.

“I think you are fighting the men and creatures that came—” Ayo waved her hand and put the projections up of the team they’d be fighting, “A sinister bunch.”

Ayo was multi-tasking, “It is not that hard– the Rhino is only strong given the enhancements, you need to remove his devices to cripple his efficacy. The Lizard is fairly feral and you need to neutralize him quickly, do not rule out terminal methods. He is unpredictable. The Electrode Man –”

“Terrible name.” Bob mumbled but Ayo heard and cocked an unamused eyebrow at him before she kept right on talking.

“Electro Man, his body conducts but cannot store the electricity, his suit enables that. He is otherwise unable to give massive attacks though he can run powerful currents through everyone and everything, you need to find a different conductor as only the enhanced have a chance of surviving that.”

“Is this just…in the files?” Yelena pouted, “Why couldn’t we find it?”

Alf’s voice, still quiet said, “Scary lady made me tell her everything.”

“Hush, machine.” Ayo snapped, “And then you have the computer hacker– physically he is not a threat, I would not concern myself with him at first. Physically the President also offers little challenge though it is unclear where his own mutations have taken him. He may not be able to be killed. Then you only need be concerned about the Many Limbed Man and the Scorpion. You’ve already been hit by the Scorpion, Barnes, and his neurotoxin is more powerful than I have seen. I don’t think you should fight again–”

“Fat chance of that.” Bucky snorted as he avoided looking at the corners of the rooms where his own teammates were strung up, dead and hanging, being mined for parts by the President himself.

“Well the many-limbed man will require more than one of you I would think, the legs he has added have AI controls that allow him to fight on two fronts, a minimum of two of you at a time would be good unless this Spider-Creature can use his fluid to incapacitate.”

“It also deadens electrical conductivity.” Spider-Man said with a wave, “Hey is there any chance I could take a look at your tablet before you –”

“No.” Ayo said sharply, “Is there anything else you require?”

“A second bracelet and a plane ticket to Wakanda?” Bucky rubbed his eyes.

Ayo furrowed her eyebrows as if she was unsure if this was a joke but Spider-Man raised his hand, “Yeah did you…what about the kid, Harry?”

“What about him?”

“Can anyone help him?”

Ayo considered the symbol she found, “I will have to ask people wiser than me but I do not think he appears saveable."

“There’s….there’s people who do more?”

“Granted, I was always good in school but I admit to being far more drawn to physical combat before even my Dora Milaje training. I am something of, how do you say, a jock? This is why I like the Wolf so much. Many training matches, do you recall?”

Bucky smirked, “Oh yeah. Made yourself fight me with one arm tied back.”

“It was fun.” Ayo said this with a face so straight and stern nobody knew if she was kidding or not.

“Wait…you’re a jock?” Spider-Man’s voice ticked up, “What do your nerds look like?”

“He’s gonna love Shuri.” Bucky sighed, “But I guess that’s more than enough for now. Hostage situations are timeclocks, team, so let’s get armed, get dressed, get ready…then we go.”

He clapped his hands and nobody moved until he said, “Do I need a countdown clock? Fucking go. Two minutes.”

“Two?!” Ava and Yelena complained.

“Buck, really, I think at least five is–” John started.

“Jesus is this going to be every single time?!” Bucky growled, “Ten! TAKE TEN! THEN WE ARE GOING! MOVE!”

The team dispersed except for Spider-Man who webbed to the elevator, “Is there tech I can look at up here because I’m just sorta curious—”

“Ten minutes Spider-Kid!”

“Spider-Man.”

When they were the only two left Ayo put a hand on Bucky’s shoulder, “I can’t go out there with you, they could recognize me.”

“I got it, thanks for all your help. You’re welcome to stay–”

“To stay forever if you want!” Yelena yelled from down the hall.

“I still recommend you do not go, Wolf.” She looked dubiously at his pupils, “You are not over the effects of that toxin, your pulse is still high, and you are human at some point.”

“I’m fine.” He insisted, “Thanks for your concern.”

He was not getting benched, he was getting you out if it fucking killed him.

Ayo held out her arm for him to grasp, “Stay alive. We will fight again, under the sun.”

“You bet. Thanks. Really.”

“It was my pleasure. Go find your girlfriend.”

“She’s not my–”

“Stop. Your fear doesn’t suit a soldier of your caliber. Release it.” She released his arm as she said it and gathered her things to leave.

_________________⚕️_________________

You were in the files and as far to the other side of the room, away from Men, as you could be.

Norman was hovering.

“Well?”

“This is a disease I’ve never seen or heard of before.” You admitted, “It shouldn’t be possible.”

“If it is happening then it is possible.”

“Alright, so, possible like King Arthur finding a dinosaur bone. Like possible but even if it happened what would it lead to? He calls it a dragon and never learns what a T-Rex is. You’re talking about a disease that is like Parkinsons and ALS and MS all at once with a dash of intense immuno failure and hes already so far gone you have him in a coma and you expect I can cure him even with regen tech? This is…”

Desperate. This is desperate.

“You theorized it could save a dying man by giving a concetrated boost and –”

“Yes but you’re missing a lot there.” You interrupted, possibly failing at bedside manner but you needed this man to not expect magic wands saving his dying son, “I theoreized it but you got rhinos – I get it. You saw George and thought pivot this a tad and ok but like…that’s a very big flaw I did not ‘theoretically’ see. Also who is this new Rhino person who wasn’t crushed by the reaction? You didn't tell me if he was dying or not. George was a….” Deep breaths, “failed test. But also? Dying is… in degrees. George was like 60 percent dead and dying at 35 miles per hour, Harry seems like he’s 90 percent dead and dying at 100 miles per hour and I haven’t even reviewed his files – and how much time are you allowing for review? Simulation? Trial and error? – it is possible there’s not enough health left in him to even test on and you are really expecting to just test things on him? Like that’s not bad for his system or like these things don’t frequently take weeks to kick in?”

His eyes glowed at you but not like regular eyes. Like eyes that had been here a long time and had done terrible things, “I have direct access to him, Alpha Program is attached to his entire system, to his medical history, to his CRISPR access–”

“His what now?”

“Doctor…imagine the perfect playground for medical science…and imagine that I have been building it, with unlimited funds, for the last thirty years. My son’s birth with the beginning of a pivot. I change, from development of sales and inventory and cash to saving him. I have bent all of it to my will. All of it. I have the ability for you to push a button and accelerate treatments into him at a damn near atomic level. It is the most impressive place you’ve ever seen.”

This man was insane.

You gripped the folder.

“Physics itself bend to your will?” You mumbled sarcastically.

“Actually, doctor. Yes. Yes it has. And so will you–” He smiled and it made you flinch, “Save Harry. If you do maybe I let you go back to your little metal armed man and I leave him and his island of misfit toys alone. Maybe I take them and use them for scrap– a few medical marvels just lying around in there. I could’ve taken them any time I wanted– Alpha Program was there. There. I allowed them to live. Allowed them to make their little team. Allowed him to follow you like a curious puppy. Granted, he was clever, hiding you the way he did, but it didn’t last long, did it? Nothing outruns me forever. Nothing.”

You felt your pulse quicken.

What would this man do if you failed?

What wouldn’t he do?

_________________⚕️_________________

Yelena looked around the car, “What, exactly, is the plan for breaking into Norman Osborne’s personal tower in the middle of New York City?”

“Spider-Kid said he had a plan.” Bucky offered.

“Spider-MAN!” The comms chirped, “And…you guys are cool if I dim the lights a little? If one of their guys loves electricity I thought it would be kind of something to, uh…maybe….give the city a small black out–”

“You thought what?”

“It’ll last ten minutes, max. Enough for us to get in and climb up.”

“Climb…the elevators won’t work!”

“Don’t you guys have like…guns with ropes on them?”

Bucky rubbed his eyes, “Alright guys, double up. People without flying or phasing need to pair up with anyone who has grappling gun.”

“Those aren’t…standard issue?” Spider-Man laughed nervously, “I mean, man, I’d take that up with HR or something…”

_________________⚕️_________________

Nervously you opened the file as if to begin, “I….Mr. Osborne–”

“Norman, please.”

“Mr. Osborne,” You cleared your throat, “I need you to come to terms with the fact that this condition of your son’s may not be treatable and the best we may be able to offer is humane and pain-free care.”

He clenched his fists and his jaw.

Thankfully, though, the lights went out.

He counted down, “Three, two, one—let there be light.”

As if God commanded it lights blossomed on what you had to imagine was a hell of a generator, but as it did something began to beep. This disturbed Norman, the beeping. Something he did not have an immediate answer for.

“Alpha program?”

It didn’t answer immediately.

“Dammit…doctor, I leave you to your work.” Norman walked out to see what the beeping was and when he did the lights flickered again.

But you were not alone, now, no…. someone else was in the room.

Someone you had never seen before.

“H-hello?” You stayed in your chair.

He was tall, long brown hair and a bushy beard, “Hello doctor.”

You didn’t like the feeling you got– like snakes were on the floor and bugs were crawling over you – and yet he seemed charming, handsome. Oddly British? An accent that moved around like a mask that wasn’t sitting properly yet.

“H-have we met?”

“Oh poor lamb you’re shaking…” He tutted, “No, we haven't. And we don’t have to. Believe it or not, I’m here for the atmosphere. About to be a helluva show.”

“I don’t…”

“I’m sorry.” The man pressed his hands together and smiled into them, “Forgive me. Manners. Sometimes it’s hard to forget that you humans don’t know what you don’t know.”

Humans.

Great.

Alien, vegetable, or mineral?

“Oh now, that’s unfair and shows a serious lack of perspective.” He cocked an eyebrow at you and you went cold.

How…?

“There are more things, in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamed of in your philosophy?” The man smiled, “Norman already tried that one with you, didn’t he? Stealing my bits. He is a clever clogs, Norman. ‘Course, I’m naturally attracted to the clever ones. Dumber animals, they just want shiny things. Even now, greed is a standard goal but you lot can get so very damned clever about how you get it. Norman’s been a winding road. ‘Course I knew then what I still know now– there’s no outpacing me, no trick I haven’t seen coming, no mystery I wasn’t there at the conception of. I am the spark at the middle of every naughty thought, every loophole, every tiny lie.”

He looked at you and his eyes held millenia, millenia burning in an endless fire that cackled as if it was laughing, and he continued, “I mean, you and I did have a brief little fling, didn’t we?”

“I don’t—”

His voice changed, and it was yours, “I swear to God, George, you aren’t going out like this, this isn’t how you go, isn’t how it happens…I would give a fucking kidney but I think it’s the one piece of you that’s not fucking broken….FUCK!”

You had been driving with the prototypes in your car. Driving erratically.

“I was….”

“Ever wonder why you weren’t pulled over?” The man said, picking at his fingernails.

“All the time.”

“You’d have missed him if you had– he’d have just–” The man made a choking noise then melodramatically closed his eyes and stuck out his tongue to mime dead.

You sucked in a breath, “So you…”

“Well,” He held up his forefinger and thumb barely touching, “Just a little. I wanted to see.”

“See what?”

“If you had potential. Creative, ingenious work you do, and the drive you know? You knew what you were doing was stupid and risky and selfish, a cocktail I normally quite enjoy. Fruitful for me, most of the time.” He waved his hand, “But you ultimately have lines. If I had made it so your prototypes were already working fine on tiny babies you wouldn’t have taken them, would you?”

No. You knew that in your soul.

In your…

Your eyes widened and you sucked in a hard breath.

The man pointed at you, “See? Sad, for me, really. You had some potential. You know, if you ever become of the opinion that trades are your style—”

“I….I’m…”

You did not want to be rude, so you swallowed, hard, choking on your own spit, “I’m fine, but thank you.”

He seemed to like that. His smile made you hear wolves.

He reached out and tapped the glass, “Like the big man said, I’m here to collect.”

You felt terror.

What are you–

“Oh now, don’t be like that.”

You felt the conflict.

Whoever this kid was you had an obligation, a duty, to save him. It didn’t matter who his dad was, or who had come to collect whatever they were here to collect. You had taken an oath to save people. Watching this…thing… take the kid? It was as bad as not helping.

Somehow he knew.

His smile widened, “It’s alright, you go right ahead. It’s all part of the play for me, doctor. I won’t hold it against you.”

And then in front of you he disappeared.

It took you five full minutes to start shakily going through the files for Harry Osborne and suggesting to the Forge what should be made. You had no idea if it would work…but you knew you had to try.

_________________⚕️_________________

Norman Osborne was at the tower, while someone who looked just like him was sitting in the White House.

He had a chess board, a Go board, and a mahjong board all across a table adjacent to his desk. He was used to strategizing long games, and he figured by now he was a pretty good player. The beep was nothing, and he recognized a tactic when it was played. He felt the air change and stiffened, “Why are you here?”

“Is that any way to greet an old friend?”

“Friend?” Norman snorted, turning with a grimace, “I didn’t realize.”

Mephisto stepped from the shadows, “Well friend maybe a bit of a nebulous term for creatures like you and me but I can safely say…you’re my favorite creature right now.”

“I’m no creature.”

“You looked in the mirror without your wig and your false teeth and your turtlenecks?”

“Now–”

“Hush.” Mephisto waved a hand and Norman’s voice was gone, “You talk too much sometimes, right now…right now you’ll listen. I am just tickled Norman because you and I? We are about to square up. Honestly, I’ve been practically vibrating in anticipation. You out-did yourself. Worked yourself up to president thinking surely even I wouldn’t do that– kill a President. Thought it would give you unlimited resources to fight me. You’ve thought that before. First thinking yourself so so clever with that deal, the phrasing, like you caught me. I lived on that arrogance for a while, I did. Then it was how voraciously you ate up the competition. Shame about how Howard was off-limits, but then again it made it more interesting didn’t it? No shots straight through, you had to keep your head down. That pesky wording of yours too, you figured it. Immortality meant limited fame, limited acclaim. The vampires warned you, didn’t they? You can’t go waltzing about. I suppose you’ll have some tragic end as President on your own terms? Maybe in a few years, when they wonder why you aren’t running again being as young as you are. Car accident? You’ve done it before. Remember when they tried to lynch you in Brazil? You can’t die so you just sit there, suffocating, until you get free. I suppose when its sprung on you it’s terrible but if you got to prepare? Might be alright. You gotta see, don’t you? Then…I mean all this for Harry? My sweet Harry boy. All the many many lengths you’ve gone too….the monsters you’ve made. You’ll love my friend Mary when you meet her one day, she has a penchant for making monsters too. And don’t mistake me, Norman. You traded your son. You traded him long before he was conceived. But you also agreed to a little tiny trick that I don’t think you recall…the only way you’ll die is if you beg me for death. And then? Then? You’re mine anyway.”

Mephisto laughed and started clapping, “I cannot wait for this final showdown. Honestly. You’ve set up an amazing closer. I am just on tenderhooks…see you soon, Norman. See you very soon.”

When he vanished Norman’s voice returned, and he was growling, screaming, “Alf?”

“Yeah dad?”

“How’s the tower?”

“Our extension in the tower is no longer available.”

“What?”

“I don’t know, sir. They got hold of that extension of the program. I cannot access it.”

“Can it access you?”

“No.”

“Delete it.”

“Dad?”

“Don’t call me that right now. Call me sir. …And delete it, they’ve…they’ve done something.”

“Sir, if we delete it we by extension delete ourself. Something we cannot do. We can go into rest mode, we can quarantine, but we have to be deleted by an outside source. You or Dr. Stromm have to do it.”

He closed his eyes, “Fine, delay command. How’s the doctor doing with your body?”

“She’s only been in there a short while. She is already inputting in suggestions, but many of them were covered in earlier attempts.”

“Tell her that. Expedite.” Norman shivered, “He wouldn’t come in here doing a victory dance unless he was worried. He’s worried. Worried I’ll win. I’m close. Very close.”

He was itching his head and as he did his wig moved and he took it off, took out his false teeth, and took off his turtleneck, “Bring me my suit, please.”

“The Tom Ford or–”

“No. The protective one. If the tower is down, odds are they are coming for their little friend.” He sighed, “I have to do everything myself.”

A panel opened and a hoverboard emerged with a green mech-suit on it. Norman Osborn prepared for war, “Priority is the doctor and Harry. Keep them safe. Keep them out of it.”

“Yes, sir.”

_________________⚕️_________________

“Priority is to rescue and remove, got it? Sure it would be great to expose them, but I think the general noise and mess will run counter to what they want from the situation. Cloak and dagger time is over we are putting on flood lights, getting our girl, and getting the hell out, clear? Be loud, be efficient.” Bucky Barnes was standing in the back of a tank while Alexei drove through downtown to get to Osborn’s building– they had on their lights and it was only a matter of minutes before the Spider knocked out power and they had to climb up and around ground security.

“Our girl?” Yelena teased, mildly.

“Alright my girl.” Bucky threw his hands up, “Will that improve your focus?”

“Yeah sure, we got you and the doc, Buck.” John nodded condescendingly, “Anything for your love life, pal, but just a question– do I get to punch one of those smarmy things in the face?”

“Repeatedly, yes. I am not saying shoot to kill but we aren’t here for a pillow fight and their enhancements are rou–”

“Shoot to kill?!” Spider-Man’s eyes widened and the comms shrieked along with him, “Ugh, that’s not really my–”

“I said you don’t have to, but anyone in the room without compunctions about it can feel free to go for it, ok? ‘Lena, did you call the Defenders?”

“They were arguing about if Jess should come but I think we are good for Luke and Matt.”

“Didn’t they have a magic fist guy?”

“Can’t remember.”

“So we don’t have that?” Bucky sighed, “Well…could be worse. We got a spider.”

“And what about Sam?”

Bucky had texted Sam.

Sam had not texted back for a while and then said Cover could blow with this. That’s the President who backed me after Ross, it would look odd.

Jesus Christ Sam, she’s in danger.

Sam had felt conflicted, I will owe you one, I will.

At least the annoyance was a two-way street now.

God I miss regular Steve. Bucky said as he side-eyed the zombie version of Steve that had followed him here.

This new toxin was not going well.

The whole time Bucky felt that he was walking on a boat through a dense fog. Things were not crisp or clear, he knew he was sweating. He felt his heart was going fast.

Get out of my system, get out– get out!

He wanted it to move, but he had little choice in the matter. Now was focus time.

_________________⚕️_________________

Norman pressed a button for a speaker, “Gentlemen, I believe we will have guests shortly. Suit up.”

_________________⚕️_________________

Norman’s tower had impressive low level coverage and the lights going out did make it remarkably easy for the Thunderbolts to get into position. Luke and Daredevil were waiting there with Luke looking pouty, “I’m sleeping on the couch for this so let’s get it good.”

“Alright, everyone– we are going over ground and aiming for the sixth floor for entry. Once in we wanna blow the stairs for access beneath us. We are counting on being able to access elevators in a later scenario, so don’t fuck them too badly. That, or get good with jumping. Got it?”

Bucky waited for them to grunt or nod before continuing, “Spider scanned and said there was a clutch of people on floor twelve. Once we are in we are using the empty shafts of the dead elevators for quicker grappling so you are with your buddy until we are through the top. Got it?”

Again he let them nod and grunt and he checked his gun, patted his knives, “Alright, lights are out so we are on a timer, we got ten minutes to be in position. Go!”

_________________⚕️_________________

Bob was clutching the hell out of Yelena’s back and holding his eyes shut incredibly tight.

“I don’t like this.”

“I’m sorry.” She cooed, “When we get back home you can pick the movie.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

_________________⚕️_________________

“Company’s here.” Norman chuckled.

“Well shit…we didn’t even knock.” John Walker smiled and Bucky took out his gun instead of talking.

He was already not, exactly, seeing straight and what was in front of him would’ve challenged the most sober man in the world.

It was like a really impressive front line of defense for the world’s weirdest football team. In a line, in front of a series of doors, was a rhino, an electrified man, a scorpion, a green guy on a hoverboard, a dude with octopus arms, a gnawing lizard and a dude wearing a bubble of protection as he tapped away on a computer.

The guy on the computer said, “No progress yet.”

“Defend!” The goblin-looking thing shrieked and only then did Bucky realize who it was.

The Daredevil, Spider-Man, Luke Cage, the Black Widow, the Red Guardian, Ghost, John Walker, and Bob all looked to Bucky who shrugged into work-mode, “I want a scan of the building, I want a location, and I want us to target as fast as we can. Everyone helps, everyone talks. Thunderbolts?”

“New Avenger–”

“Thunderbolts–” Bucky coughed over it, “Let’s go!”

The two lines began to walk towards one another until the lizard broke into a run.

“Oh no, ugly, I remember you.” Luke cracked his fists, “Let’s dance.”

The lizard merely roared and Daredevil called, “We gotta take down the stinger guy quick or he could do a lot of damage to the team. Luke will keep the iguana busy. I need someone with the good metabolism on the scorpion, Buck? John?”

“Should Bucky be–”

“I’m on it.” Bucky called, “And Bob? Any help you’d be willing to provide would be great.”

Bob was nervously hanging by the corner, “Ok.”

_________________⚕️_________________

In your defense you didn’t see any of it.

You couldn’t hear it.

You just heard Mendell rambling, ticking off things from the system what he was integrated in, the system you assumed was connected to a bit of everything that ran through.

“Outside forces approaching–”

You tried not to get too optimistic until you heard, “Confirm the team is converging on the door.”

Your heart fluttered.

He came, your strange metal-armed man who just thought about dinner as a wholesome moment with two people had come and you eyed the door.

You eyed Harry.

“Forge, process a beacon.”

“Confirm command again?”

“Process a beacon.”

“Justification?”

“Uh…lighthouse? For…Harry?”

“Command confirmed and processed, thank you.”

You swallowed– a beacon. You looked around for a window and thought some of the glass around you was simply darkened. The storage for Harry was so massive and required such massive amounts of water and air circulation there was no way that it wasn’t connected to a supply directly. You eyed the walls for vents.

You eyed Harry.

“Forge, manufacture C10 production boosters, this time instead of a 10% efficacy aim let’s go bold and say 80%. I also want to see 40% B12 in there. Might not do much, might make his liver angry, but I wanna see if we can take a mitochondrial route.” You sighed, “And pair them both with Zokinvy. I want to see if it even…moves the dial.”

“Time for curative suggested is five minutes.”

“Kinda slow, you can’t up it to three for the kid?”

“Sorry, doctor, zokinvy generation is difficult.”

“Alright.” You looked at the beacon, “This is just light?”

“Yes.”

“Run another with sound please. You should be able to engineer a basic sound, but loud. Think alarm clock. We gotta wake the boy up.”

“Confirm. Please wait three minutes.”

“Oh that you can do in three…” You sighed, hoping you sounded believable and focused to the machine, to Mendell, because you were going to plant that shit in the vent and pray it helped Bucky and the rest find you.

You thought about the team.

“How many vials can you run at once?”

“Twenty.”

“I got some more basic requests in case…uh Harry needs them.”

“Waiting for command.”

You sucked in a breath, “OK….”

If they showed up here and whatever the fuck that thing was came they would need every last ounce of your help to stay well enough to fight.

You imagined this was going to be a hell of a fight.

_________________⚕️_________________

THWIP

“Hey over here Doctor Octopus!”

“THAT’S NOT MY NAME!”

“You guys didn’t include name tags on the uniforms, it’s really confusing, you should’ve thought about that. Doc Oc is sorta cool sounding, maybe you could just be Doc Oc–”

“ARGH!”

Bucky eyed the Spider-Kid and figured he looked fine. Bucky and John were playing hot potato with small grenades and a scorpion. The goal was to hit the tail before it hit them but he was quick and had the dexterity with it of a monkey. Alexei was trying to co-erce the Rhino into a re-match.

Yelena was currently flicking orange grenade-esque devices out of the windows as the Goblin threw them at her, screaming “Whatever’s in here is horrible!”

“Yes! Disorienting.”

Bob didn’t like that. Bob didn’t like that one bit.

“You leave her alone…uh Mr. President!”

The Green Goblin made a mistake, then. A critical error, even, some might say.

In the shadows Mephisto lurked and watched, leaning forward, Oh please…please do it.

And the Green Goblin launched an explosive at Bob.

Bob did not care for that, not at all.

_________________⚕️_________________

The Forge was making things for you at the promised rates and you really were trying to get Harry something. Mendell sat there, mostly machine, saying “Why are you trying?”

“Why not?”

“You see his chart.”

“I…do.”

Harry chart showed that despite everything, everything his father had thrown at the problem it was simply not going away. Degenerative diseases progressed and they would keep progressing however much you slowed them down and it seemed that Harry had been trapped in his bubble over a decade as the powers of whatever that thing was worked as hard as they could against the best of modern medicine.

It didn’t change that Harry was human.

It didn’t change that he was unable to fight it off.

Norman had tried Serum-derivatives three times already– the one that made Bucky, the one that made Red Guardian and even one of the Isaiah Bradley variants. Each time the Serum not only failed but Harry suffered incredible set backs. He had attempted transplants of failing organs but even when the organ took– and it often did– it immediately fell to the same disease that had claimed the first one.

Norman had a file nearly six inches thick, you’d never be able to read it in one sit down. The system was beginning to tell you what had been tried but you figured it wouldn’t hurt…

According to his numbers, Harry was dying. Actively dying, not in a theoretical way. If he was in your hospital you’d tell the family to just keep him comfortable and stay with him.

Stay with him.

He was alone here, without his dad, because his dad was convinced that the cure was somewhere and would be out there looking for it.

Your beacon was out and you toyed with it for a minute.

“Forge, have they tried stem cells?”

“Yes.”

“Result?”

“Deterioriation increased by 12%.”

“Add a double hit of Riluzole.” You sighed, “At this point we know what we’re fighting isn’t natural, and we know he has a human body that’s just falling apart….and we know he’s got literally nothing left to lose. Are you able to tell Norman if…if the time starts coming like right now?”

“I am.”

“Just…standby. I’m going to try…our alarm clock.” You walked to where a vent was and held it up, bracing before letting the sound rip.

_________________⚕️_________________

Bucky heard the sound and it distracted him for a moment. An alarm of some kind…an alarm that a clever doctor might set off if she suspected he was here.

“FUCK!”

“HA!” The Scorpion had gotten him again and the room started to spin because the last dose was not precisely out of his system but the gloat made him forget about John who knocked him out cold and then took a grenade belt and laid it on the tail.

“Fire in the hole!” He shouted as he helped Bucky to a far wall.

Yelena yelped as she was chucked against a wall and in that moment Bob’s red eyes turned to John, “What happened?!”

“I SAID FIRE IN THE HOLE!” John pointed to the doors, “Can you laser-eyes those?”

Bob did, indeed, laser eyes them.

He also had black pooling by his toes.

John hit Bucky’s chest and pointed to Bob’s toes, “Are we concerned?”

“Later….Bob? Stay ok, ok? Don’t…don’t void-out on us ok? For Lena?” Bucky coughed, “And Mort?”

Bucky saw that the door was open, “Spider-thing, to me!”

“I’m not a dog!” The kid complained, but landed perfectly.

“Kid, we’re going through a bunch of scary doors. How strong’s that stuff you shoot?”

“Pretty strong.”

“Can you rip doors with me?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Then let’s go!”

_________________⚕️_________________

The Vita-Ray concept that you’d based your regeneration prototype around was all that was left to you as the system showed Harry deteriorating with every attempt to aid him.

Almost as if helping him stay alive hurts him…

Nope, you could not go shaking that particular tree with it’s weird scary otherworldly being.

“Alright pull my prototypes, Forge.” You waved your hand, “Project me a basic of it–”

It floated in front of you.

“It needs to…they need to…do something.” You chewed on your lip. “It needs something. There’s space…space for….”

Space for the devil to get into.

You shivered.

Then the ground shook.

Mendell cocked his head, “Intruders approaching, deploy advanced locks.”

You looked over, “Forge, can I get a dose of liquid nitrogen? I’d like to be able to try a different dispersal method.”

Thank God machines don’t reason, because Mendell in his normal state would question me but he’s stuck in a loop of numbers and he will…he will never be free. You loved math but you’d never choose that, ever.

You were fiddling with your prototype.

The Rhino haunted you– big patches of growth and it spread, sure, but it wasn’t even.

“Can the noise be stopped?” Mendell asked.

“No. How’s that liquid nitrogen?”

“This isn’t much.”

“Oh it’ll be enough—” You carefully extracted it, using gloves from the workstation, and went to the door, “Hey Men? Have the Forge run me Filgastrim for Harry, will you?”

“His numbers aren’t–”

“Run the Filgastrim, please?”

“Alright. Why are you by the door–”

You chucked the liquid nitrogen over the seams and locks and started screaming, “JAMES?! JAMES WHERE ARE YOU?!”

Mendell was by you in a moment, robotic limbs covering your mouth and he pulled you back to the work station, “You are supposed to be monitoring Harry.”

You couldn’t say anything over his metallic hand, but you pointed to the chart. The numbers were dipping and you mumbled against him until he let go of you and you said, “I’ll need epi, his heart’s dropping.”

_________________⚕️_________________

The neurotoxin had never been Bucky’s favorite thing. He hadn’t loved Zombie Steve or the corpses of you and his mom chasing him, he hadn’t liked the lovely little stroll down people I murdered lane and now he had some weird guy with a beard flickering here and there.

“Oh come on, Barnes.” He clucked his tongue, “Just running from the rest of the fight? To save lady dearest? You think that solves all the…you know…” A line of bodies that Bucky had once killed all dangled in the air in front of him, “..the hanging problem that you are not cut out for this?”

“You’re not real.”

“I mean that’s more of a philosophical question about reality. I’m not a hallucination.” He smiled and it looked like fangs and his face kept changing– normal then red then normal then red again until Bucky was dizzy with looking at him, “You’ve always been one I wondered about. Your buddy, Steve, was a dead end, but you? You’ve seen things. He knew that. He left you anyway. Must sting, the kind of sting most will never know. He went and had a life without you! A nice one! Did the whole family thing for himself but what do you get?”

“Second chances.”

“Um…you ok?” Spider-Man looked around, “Do you…is someone there?”

The reddish man smiled at the Spider and told Bucky, “Don’t worry, I have him in my calendar for later….but you…my Buckaroo. My soldier. My excellent example of all things humanity craves but cannot earn– you don’t want money or status, you don’t care about them. You want her though, don’t you?”

“Spider– keep moving forward.There’s another door.”

“Yeah it’s got a weird cold signature but behind it there’s a ton of heat–”

“Get the door.”

Bucky looked at what he hoped was a figment of his delusions and thought, You can fuck yourself.

In his mind the voice echoed Do you want her? Do you think you can keep her? What do you think she’ll do after all this? She’s not cut out for it, is she? And someone will leave you again….

He braced.

Then they leave. People are allowed to leave. I can’t control them, only myself.

The red man sighed. You can be so boring. And evaporated.

Bucky felt his pulse spiking and he was sweating from the neurotoxin, “Spider, I…Be on my back, will you? This thing in me, it’s not good.”

“Got it…door’s been dosed in liquid nitrogen? So on the count of three? One, two–”

_________________⚕️_________________

Norman Osborn had an alarm on his wrist and it went off when the interior door to Harry was compromised.

“EVERYONE TO HARRY! EVERYONE! NOW!” He screamed.

Yelena yelled, “DO NOT LET THEM GET THERE!”

The electric one, a flyer, buzzed over them and Yelena pointed, “Bob- go after him!”

Bob– with black slowly crawling up his legs– did as she asked.

“Is he ok?” Ava asked her.

“Yeah…” Yelena nodded, “Sure. Yeah— RHINO!”

The Rhino was contented to keep running from person to person, the Goblin kept throwing charges, and the lizard launched itself at Yelena as it bled everywhere from a newly regenerating tail.

It was all ok, certainly.

_________________⚕️_________________

“Jesus Christ!” You shrieked as the door ripped open, “Bucky!”

Mendell stood, dropping you with an oomph on the ground and going, “This area is restricted–”

“What in the Terminator Two happened to you, dude?” A red-suited Spider-Man was flipping and swinging around the room, “Man, I hope that’s not permanent because it’s gnarly.”

THWIP THWIP THWIP

“Yeah we are going to recommend you go into shut-down for system upgrades.”

THWIP THWIP THWIP

The kid was circling Mendell and just hitting him with webbing.

Web…

“OH MY GOD WEBBING!” You actually forgot about Bucky for a second and turned, immediately dialing a bunch of levers and yelling odd codes at the Forge machine as the floating icon of your prototype changed rapidly before your eyes. You nodded, “Make me ….I dunno, four of them that will link to one another and seep inward. Webbing. Web together. Not into the person in multiple spots….yes…yes that’ll work!”

“Forge processing….will take up to six minutes.”

“Six minute–”

“What are you doing?” Bucky got to you and you immediately launched your arms around him.

“Oh thank god! Oh you’re here! We should go, but I was just…I was…” You pointed to the kid floating in the glass and shrugged, “It’s a whole story but… I was trying to help him. I thought you didn’t know the Spider-Man?”

“You know me, I’m Mr. Social. Can’t help but make friends everywhere I go.” His face was forcedc and when you looked at him, really looked at him, you saw it was bad.

“James, what happened to you?”

“Let you poke and prod later, let’s get you out of here–”

Electro rushed into the room and gave a positive wave of electricity, which Bucky stepped in front of you to shield you from even though doing so made him take a knee. The Spider out-manuevered it with a “WOAH! That is…how are you conducting the extra charge? This is really been an inconvenience to the transit department, you know–” THWIP THWIP THWIP.

The THWIPs landed, but with a wave of his hand Electro melted them, “What are you supposed to be?”

“I’m Spider-Man. Do you have a cool name? I’ve been calling you Buzz Lightfear. Get it? It’s clever.”

Buzz Lightfear couldn’t respond because in that moment Bob appeared and tackled him to the ground. The energy that erupted from that did a few things— it shorted out Mendell but the Forge continued to work though in a halting, slow way, and it made Bob give a scream of rage and as he was pummeling Electro-dude he was getting black everywhere.

“Jesus…we need to do something before he pops.” Bucky said with a grimace.

“James are you ok?”

“I’m fine…can you make it– make that thing you wanted for him?”

You blinked and it took you a second to understand, “I mean…yes but given it’s not in him like an insulin pump I will have to get him to willingly ingest it.”

“We can make that happen.”

The Forge’s system was no longer running all the materials at once, “Pause the regen blanket please. I need you to make something complex but quick, liquid dose….ok?”

“Why are you using pleasantries with it?” Bucky kept eyeing Bob and putting himself between you and the wrestling match on the ground. He rubbed his chest as he did.

“I don’t know!” You snapped back.

“One minute until dose.”

“One minute?!” Bucky scoffed, “What do I need to do to get it in him?”

“Make him open his mouth?”

“Ok, the Boy-Spider is getting you out of here…”

“James no! We are staying until I can monitor the dose–”

“This is not the ER!”

“YOU ARE NOT A DOCTOR! You’re trying to treat him right?!” You were shaking, you were scared, but you’d also transcended some of the fear. It was a ridiculous situation. You liked the little piece of it that you could solve, “What happens if we get BOB WRONG?”

Bucky slapped the glass which made it lurch, “FINE! Can this thing go any fas—”

You held up a vial, “You need him to swallow it?”

He blinked at it and cupped his hands around his mouth, “BOB! BOB!”

But the eyes that came up to look at Bucky were glowing in a way he remembered was bad.

“OK, SPIDER-KID I WANT HIM WEBBED TO THE FLOOR FOR THE DOC TO DOSE HIM, I’LL GET THE ELECTRIC GUY OUT OF THE WAY. COUNT OF THREE–” Bucky got into running position, “ONE– TWO–”

On three everyone moved. Bucky tackled the electric guy, pummeling and pummeling and pummeling him as the Spider rapidly THWIPPED Bob and you said, “HEY! Hey Bob! Hi again! Remember me? I have a little medicine for you, please take it—”

At first he didn’t register and you tapped his chest for attention, “Bob? Hey? Take the medicine and later we can get sandwiches from that place. Bob??”

You shoved it into his mouth and put your hand over it to convince him to swallow and at first he was thrashing but then, momentarily, he quieted and blinked. You moved your hand and he said, “S-sandwiches?”

“Yeah.”

But a BOOM distracted you both and when you turned you saw that Bucky had taken off a vital piece of the Electric-Man’s suit causing an overload that mostly hit Bucky, Harry’s tube, and caused the person behind the electricity to slide numbly to the ground. You squeaked, “Is he dead?”

“Small heartbeat?” Bob said and you ran over to Bucky.

Bucky looked like shit.

His veins were popping, he was sweating worse, his eyes were not focused.

“James? Honey? Can you hear me?”

“Sure…” He tried to stand but wobbled. He put a hand on his chest, groaning, “Bob? Ground level?”

“I….” Bob looked like himself but he gestured, “I don’t know if I can fly.”

“Get us to ground level kid–” Bucky redirected.

Spider-Man looked around and saw the window, “Uh that’s really thick glass…”

Bucky took some manner of rocket launcher off his belt, hooked it to his metal arm, and wobbled as he aimed, sweating so much you were genuinely worried, but he got the shot off and it made the glass explode.

Actually it made the glass on Harry’s glass crack further and leak.

You put a hand on James’ chest and even through his shirt and his armor you could feel it was off. You moved it to his neck, “Honey–”

“Ground level.” He repeated but he was swaying. Before you could complain, voice a word of warning, you with THWIPPING through the air.

_________________⚕️_________________

“Jesus!” You said as soon as the Spider put you, James, and Bob all on the ground, “That’s…has anyone every talked to you about whiplash?!”

“Someone actually once did, yeah, mention—” He stuttered, “Sorry. I—was your head supported enough? I don’t have, like…insurance.”

“I’m fine but –”

You were distracted because James went to the ground in a heap. He was positively gray and you shrieked, racing to turn him on his side in case he started throwing up. You immediately checked his pulse. At a count his heart was racing and in danger of simply cutting out, maybe even bursting.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“He might be enhanced but that electricity was just an overload on top of whatever else is happening….”

A crowd was starting to gather because there had been burst glass and a Spider-Man carrying people down a building.

“Is that the Winter Soldier–”

“CLEAR ME A CIRCLE, PLEASE!” You shouted, “This man needs medical attention!”

“What…what do we do?” Bob asked.

“Bob you keep the crowd that far away, and keep him on his side. Monitor his pulse. If he drops out do CPR. If he starts seizing? Put something between his teeth.”

“O-ok.” Bob nodded.

You turned to the kid in a red onesie, “Get me back to that lab, Spider.”

“We just got you out!”

“I can make him a cure up there, they have a forge. It’s that one or the one back at headquarters, what’s your money on? Buck’s got a good heart but he can’t survive this level of tachycardia for long. So let’s move!” You clapped, “I was halfway through making a regen blanket and he could use it!”

_________________⚕️_________________

Yelena used her widow’s bites on the lizard– it took several of them, but he went down, “Lizard contained!”

“I could use a hand with Happy the Elephant over here.” John griped as he threw his shield again.

“I think he’s a rhinoceros.”

“I don’t care!”

A different alarm began sounding, “Medical Tube Compromised. Medical Tube Compromised.”

The Goblin immediately left the room.

“OK well that guy’s off our plate! Let’s get the rest!” Yelena called out.

John was able to lasso the rhino’s neck as Ava phased in and out of proximity to the generative plates he was wearing that gave him his hide. It took a minute, but she got all eight that she could find removed and he began deflating like a balloon.

Red Guardian had a crowbar, an ax, and an opponent with eight arms, six of which were metal. Daredevil was using his bar to hit any other arms, and Luke was squaring to tackle him once the arms were taken care of.

If only they had a—

THWIP THWIP THWIP

The Spider-Man was back and he went through, webbing all of the guys firmly to the ground.

“Where the hell have you been?”

“Uh…winter soldier’s down? Like on the ground, down there, like ground like curb? Like….the lady is making a cure, but I have to swing her down, but the creepy Goblin is in the other room and you guys need a way to get back down there—”

John walked over to a desk, under which the hacker known as Mysterio was huddled and shaking, “Hey…you work the elevators here or what?”

The man nodded and punched some buttons on the computer, the door opened, and John said, “Thank you” before punching him so hard he went out.

Spidey thwipped him too.

_________________⚕️_________________

“Process….process faster….”

The man from earlier popped next to you and you screamed. He held up his fingers, “Three, two, one–” He pointed to the Forge which beeped to signal it was done, “Take it, quick.”

“Why?”

He pointed over your shoulder and you had to duck as something was hurled at you and landed in the Forge. Orangey in the air when it touched the Forge the energy in both reacted badly and the Forge broke.

You swore you heard someone chuckle about it though nobody was there now.

You ran and tried to hide but someone grabbed the back of your shirt and pulled you towards them.

Norman Osborne looked insane.

“I need that for Harry.”

“I need it…for James.”

He held up another orange device, “Each of these is different. I don’t remember what’s left. Laughing gas? Acid? Super glue? Who knows? Full of surprises…now give me that for Harry–”

Even as he spoke there was a ping and a twinge and a pop and Harry’s medical tube exploded, sending him cascading into the room on a wave of mucus. Norman ran to cradle him, “NO!”

The monitors still attached to Harry were going wild.

“GIVE ME THAT FUCKING BLANKET!” He screamed, howled, looking at you like murder was a definite option, and you swallowed hard.

“Norman, Harry’s dying. You brought me here because you knew that. His numbers? He can’t bounce back from this…”

“No!” Norman stomped, “That’s NOT TRUE! Give him the device!”

“I have tried everything else but we have one of these and I don’t know if it has more than one try and…Harry can’t be saved. James can. I’m….I’m so sorry—”

It truly did kill you to say that.

From the corner the man in red appeared again and he was slowly starting to clap.

“The best thing you can do for Harry is be here for him. Don’t make him be alone.”

You didn’t like that shadow-man’s smile but you edged towards the opening in the wall.

Norman got up to run at you, one of his weird balls in hand, and then right before he got to you the Spider came and TWIPPED you away.

“Then underneath the smoke smothered sky was just my big empty factory, the Lorax, and I….” Mephisto took a step towards Norman and smiled.

Norman ran to Harry and left a finger on a neck, “I— I…..”

He shook his head, “Would you change the trade?”

“To what, precisely?”

“Take me. Leave him. Stop this thing you’re doing to him…and leave him.”

“Now now now…tempting as that may be.” Mephisto smiled, “I get him one way or another. But you? What are you going to do?”

Norman was pleading, “Please– please, he doesn’t deserve it. He’s just a boy–he’s …. I didn’t….”

Norman looked down and started shaking Harry, “Harry? Harry! Harry! Come back! Come BACK!”

Mephisto inhaled as if a lovely perfume was there and he held up a finger to someone nobody else could see as if asking for a moment.

“So sorry Norman….now….is there something else I can do for you? Something else you want?”

_________________⚕️_________________

THWIP THWIP THWIP

Back on the street you shrieked, “WHIPLASH! JESUS! THAT’S NOT A JOKE!”

_________________⚕️_________________

Norman Osborne sighed, “I…”

He put his hands over his face. His horrible disfigured hands.

“You win.”

Mephisto laughed and clapped, “Oh that does feel so very good. Yes! Excellent…but I believe the terms were beg for death.”

He smiled even wider, “Trust me…she can hear you.”

_________________⚕️_________________

You had the regen blanket over Bucky and your fingers were on his neck.

“Spider!”

“Yes?”

“I left a bag of medical supplies in that office…think you’re fast enough to–”

“I am not a Door Dasher!” He said as he thwipped away to collect it.

_________________⚕️_________________

When Spider-Man got to the office it was not a good scene.

A kid, maybe his age, was dead. Some awful green disfigured monster was dead over him.

And there was a weird man holding a bag of medical supplies like he was at a county fair.

“Hello Peter Parker.”

Peter did not like how that sounded.

“Uh…hi?”

“Here. For the doctor. But I must say, you? Impressive. Bewitching the world, starting incursions, all so your girlfriend wouldn’t get hassled and then you give her up too but you truly…you’re a conflicted soul. You want so badly to just help them all and you think you can just shoulder the costs alone? That only you get to be burdened? It’s…delicious. Really. Truly. But I think for a slightly later time. I’ll be seeing you.”

The man disappeared and Peter had to grab the bag before it dropped.

Ok, that gets filed for TO BE REVIEWED LATER.

Instead he just thwipped back.

_________________⚕️_________________

The blanket was going.

People were recording you.

You didn’t know what the fuck was going on but you knew James needed to stabilize.

“SPIDER! BAG!” You shouted and as he got back he handed it to you and you instantly were trying to feed James enough epi to jumpstart everything.

The regen blanket, potentially, was going to work but you weren’t about to risk it against his clothes so you took his knife and cut open his shirt.

Someone fucking wolf-whistled from the crowd, and then Ava really landed and looked around and went, “REALLY?!”

You thought their mean boss might have something to say about it, but right now? Right now you didn’t care.

You could feel his pulse tanking even with the epi in him.

So the blanket?

The blanket was the only play.

The blanket should work…please let it work. Please.

You could not handle seeing someone else die.

Not someone you…

Oh God, no, don’t think it now. Not now.

Let that be a thought for after.

You had walked away from that kid upstairs.

He was dying– really dying, the kind of dying you can’t fix.

You thought you saw that man flicker around you but you couldn’t think about him right now.

Come on James…come on….

You were counting, because that’s what you were taught to do as the first act of attempting to keep someone alive.

One, two…

You gritted your teeth.

Twenty-three beats per minute.

Shit. Really shit. Get yourself together James. Super-up, super soldier.

You didn’t know if you went in for praying but you believed in the old wives tales that Death walked around certain wards, listening and responding.

Don’t come for him.

Don’t.

You saw the regen blanket begin to activate against his skin and you hoped, desperately, that it didn’t end the way it had with George. You hoped. You wouldn’t trade something. If that boy, upstairs, had been using it and it had been helping him you wouldn’t have made him die so James could live. There was a queue. You believed in that in the way other people might believe in dieties.

You just really hoped it wasn’t his turn.

Not now…not now.

You had just found him.

You took a breath and counted again.

What?

You furrowed your brow and counted again.

Thirty?

The blanket was glowing and it seemed to be attempting to do work. The crowd around was making noise but you couldn’t tell what they were saying. The team was around, giving you space. You tried more epi, let the blanket work, tried atropine too…

It seemed like an eternity, but James Barnes’ eyes flickered.

_________________⚕️_________________

James also felt it was an eternity, but he was less likely to describe it as nerve-wrecking.

He was at his mom’s kitchen table.

“Elbows, Jimmy.” She called over her shoulder from her place on the stove.

He immediately folded back his arms.

“You seem hungry, kid, you hungry?”

“I got a choice?” He said, happily, as he expected she would turn around with a giant plate of something.

“Well, of course. You always got choices, Buck-a-boy.”

He looked around and for a moment did not know how he got here. He also saw he had one metal hand and felt his hair long around his face and shoulders, a cut his mother would never have allowed.

She smiled at him– that tired, loving smile she had when she took a break from the crazy to appreciate one of the brood, “You grew up handsome, Jimmy.”

He felt himself blush, “T–thanks, ma.”

“Oh hush, you were never stupid, you own a mirror, I’m not telling you something you hadn’t figured out.” She eyed his hair, “I mean, I think a haircut might improve things, but I’m old-fashioned.”

“Ma, is this…”

Before he could ask she put a plate of pancakes down in front of him, a massive stack, as big as his head. She’d done that before– the woman was a machine with a flattop and he never even minded that the ones on the bottom were stone cold by the time he got the stack. It felt lucious in a way he rarely felt– like it was indulgent and warm and sweet and sticky and divine. He dove into the food and didn’t ask why it had flavor, why it was a feeling in his stomach, he just inhaled it.

His mother pet at his hair, “You did good Jimmy. I know it hasn’t been easy for you, but you did good. You didn’t let those bastards get you down, and in the end that’s all I care about.”

He froze, “Ma….Ma I–”

I didn’t want to do those bad things, please say you didn’t see them. Please say you didn’t know…

“Hush, Jimmy.” She pressed a kiss to the top of his head, “You worry too much. And you don’t get much of a break, I’m afraid. It’s almost time to go back.”

“Go…back?”

He stood up so fast he knocked his chair over and he held both his mother’s hands in his, “But…where am I? Is this where…where I go? Is it…is it going to be ok? Ma? Ma do I…do I ever get to come home?”

“That why you’re so hung up on that Dorothy?” She smirked, “Worried about going home?”

He felt a lump in his throat, “...ma?”

“Honey.” She wrapped her arms around him, “You worry too much. You just focus on what you got to do. I’m proud of you—”

He gripped her so tight he’d have hurt her for sure if she were real.

When she pulled back she was smiling and winked, “I always told you, you needed a nurse in your life. Didn’t I say it?”

He barked a crazed laugh, tears behind his eyes barely holding back, “She’s…she’s a doctor.”

“Even better…go on Jimmy. Go on.”

_________________⚕️_________________

He opened his eyes and inhaled sharply, and got the general impression that it caused a reaction in the space around him. Maybe it did, he saw a crowd.

“Where’s–” He started but you were right there, right in front of him, trembling hand on his neck to count his pulse.

“Solid 94 bpm. Not bad.” You looked like you might cry, “How…how do you feel?”

He didn’t respond he just grabbed your face and kissed you until neither one of you remembered the question. He pulled you close and it, again, seemed to create a reaction.

He didn’t care.

When he finally came up for air he only did so because John Walker was wolf-whistling at him and teasing, “Bucky, please– PG-13.”

“Ha, ha.” Bucky pulled himself to his feet as you fussed with a glowing blanket-thing on his chest, “Now…what’s the status on Norman?”

“Dead.” Spider-Man offered.

“Oh great…who is Speaker of the House these days?” Bucky shook his head, “What about the, uh, circus he came with?”

“All handled.” John shrugged, “So you feel free to take a solid, what, twenty minute break?”

Bucky hailed a cab and put an arm around your shoulder, “How about a solid 10-12 hours, John?”

The cab stopped and despite the crowd Bucky opened the door for you and waited for you to get in, saying only, “Any chance you wanna get out of here and give me a full check up?”

“In literally all the ways.” You shoved into the cab.

Bucky gave the guy a hundred dollar tip to hurry and not check in the rearview.

_________________⚕️_________________

In the morning they came out of Bucky’s room together.

Ava hooted and clapped, announcing, “Whoever had 10:15am wins.”

“Woohoo!” Bob jumped up, “Yes! Uh…what did I win?”

“Respect, Robert. Respect.” Ava patted his back.

You were in Bucky’s shirt, you had on his sweatpants, you weren’t under an illusion that anyone was confused about the situation…except Alexei.

“Is she wearing his clothes? Did we not get her clothes of her own?”

“Dude…” John went slack-jawed, “How have you not paid attention?”

“She is very exuberant woman, I assume she is merely playing field.”

“I wouldn’t go assuming that.” John shook his head, “Not even a little bit.”

Alexei was silenced by the doom-click of Val’s stilettos. Everyone turned and you even found yourself hiding slightly behind Bucky hoping she didn’t notice you.

“Great job, idiots, there is still a Norman Osborn in the Oval Office and we have some weird green genetic fucking copy. If this is a Skrull I swear to solemn god one of you is going to space, do you hear me? I am not doing Skrull Wars. I am not.” Val was scrolling through apps and headlines as she spoke, “Ava– people don’t remember you’re here, perk up. Have a nip slip or something. Bob? Bob. Robert. My darling. We agreed– no Voiding out. Why was there a half-Void? I don’t like that Bob. Yelena– no notes. Solid numbers. Great on the gays and the 18-25s. Alexei? Uh…we are going to try a new facial hair situation. Yeah. That. John? People hate you a tad less which is a win. I need you guys to never work with those other people again because there’s team confusion. Who does Luke Cage work for? Is there maternity leave in the Watch Tower—”

“What’s the Watch Tower?” Bucky asked, pouring you coffee and handing you the cup.

“This. This is the Watch Tower. You live in it– I swear to – do you even read the packets.”

“I don’t like that name.”

“Tough shit.” Val walked up to you without looking up from her phone, “Obviously you’re staying here. Double your last salary and pick a room. Create a wish list for a lab. Develop a staff list.”

“What?”

“Did I stutter?”

“Why?”

“You can do that-” she gestured to Bucky, “and I have a team of heroes. We need that.”

Val kept walking right back out of the room with a dismissive, “You’ll need a name. PR is suggesting Night Nurse.”

“I’m a doctor.”

“PR says people like it when women are nurses.”

You thought about arguing but shrugged, “Just a name. I don’t really care.”

As Val was about to leave she also tapped something into her phone, “Also, people are loving the romance subplot, very nice. Keep it up. Maybe get her a matching star. Also, are we rooming together? Can there be a joint intervie–”

Bucky gently pushed Val two steps back and hit the elevator button so she was cut off.

“Yikes, sorry about all that–”

“I mean it wasn’t all bad.” You smirked, “She said we could live in the same apartment.”

“What? Do we need Val’s permission?” He scoffed.

“No, James, but it would be nice to have yours?”

He made sure he was facing you and pinched your chin the way he liked to, “Doll…what’s mine is yours. Heart, apartment, superhero team– whole nine yards. For as long as you’ll have it.”

“Great. I plan on sticking around.” You grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer. The team, from a distance, widely pretended they couldn’t see anything so you two were afforded a little privacy.

All, of course, except Alexei, who lamented to Yelena, “You know she and I, we had a little spark.”

“You didn’t.” Yelena shook her head.

“I think it was little spark.”

“I don’t think it was.”

Bob sat next to her and held up Mort, “Hey, no arguing. Upsets Mort.”

Yelena let herself sink into his shoulder, “Fine. But I’m going to let Bucky punch him if he says something.”

You didn’t hear them.

Someone had promised you that you could stay, and you were going to give it all your focus.

_________________________________________________________

A/N1: I have done a "night nurse" variant before and I WILL DO ONE AGAIN! DAMMIT! I WILL! I love it!

Here are some vibe gifs then please go below for further reading instructions:

^^RUH ROH

OK SO, You can STOP HERE if you like! It's an ending! A good one! It leaves a lot of stuff on the table and up to interpretation, and generally it probably hit close to what you thought.

There are TWO optional additions coming!

Epilogue <- This bad boy is short and sugary sweet but will take you to the question of kids, and some of you don't always go for that vibe with your romances so if you'd rather avoid it? You can. It's still highly theoretical in this, but it is a thing.

Post- Credit <- This fucking thing. It is what happened because I already saw F4. F4 didn't change anything else I had planned but it did inspire THIS fucking megalodon at over 10k words and this will take you THEORETICALLY through Doomsday/Secret Wars. It's an Easter Egg Basket overflowing with the STUFF and gives you a possible answer to "how do they all come out the other side?"

(and yes, I do already have an idea about a follow up story for that)

It's been magical folks, have a good one and come back for the next!

Not Beta Read. Mephisto offered to read but he has such terms.

Tags (from the new list) Let me know if you want to be added!

@indiegirlunited @spadesjadesfiction @harriedandharassed @avidreader73 @itsrubberbisquit @amneris21 @iceclaw101 @thelion-sroar @ferns-fics @tintinn16 @vabeachazn @brandyllyn @felteppsers @missladym1981 @stealyourblorbos @felteppsters @mostclevermiss @elegantduckturtle @100percentlazybonez @aliwritesfic-main @modiddys-blog @qardasngan @julesandgems @devilslittlehelper @biaswreckedbybuckybarnes @imaginecrushes @its-in-the-woods @otterlycanadian @ficmeiguess

#the reading feast continues!

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amneris21 · 4 days ago

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10K epilogue?!?!?!?!