#ofc when he get noticed by the avengers they are immediately alarmed

[tales-of-magic-and-chaos]

The probability of Loki having a gigantic crush on Stephen upon meeting him is 100%.

[fullmarvelheart]

Wakanda

Pairing: Avengers x Enhanced!OFC

Word Count: 3,000

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of violence, mentions of past trama

A/N: Welcome to Chapter 5 of Blue Starlight. I hope you all enjoy the story as well as the way I wrote the characters! The gif is not my own. All rights to the original creator. I hope you guys enjoy!

Series Masterlist

The plane lands and I'm almost blinded by the bright sunlight that reflects in off the tarmac as the ramp is lowered down.

Waiting for us is whom I'm assuming is the King, based on what Cap briefed us over, along with his personal guards. When Cap told us about the Dora Milaje, to say I was impressed is a gross understatement. I knew they were the fiercest warriors in Wakanda but seeing them up close, they're almost as intimidating as Natasha is. Even the Kingsguard looks exceptionally deadly.

"Should we bow?" Banner asks Rhodey as they exit the jet before me.

"Yeah, he's a king." Rhodey responds in an almost serious tone. Which apparently Banner doesn't catch onto.

As the Captain greets King T'Challa, Banner clears his throat and starts to bow.

"What are you doing?" Rhodey questions loudly enough to catch the King's attention.

"Uh, we- we don't do that here." The King says, somewhat awkwardly.

I chuckle to myself as the group begins to walk.

"So how big of an assault should we expect?" I go to answer the king but am cut off.

"Uh sir-sir, I think you should expect quite a big assault." Banner says pushing his way to the front while I roll my eyes.

Shut up. You don't even have the slightest idea.

"Thanos will most likely send one of his support ships, like the one that was in New York not too long ago. He calls them Q-Ships. He won't send his full army here, just what is deemed to be enough to overwhelm the forces on Earth, so the stone can be retrieved." I explain loudly but lower my voice as I get closer to the King, who looks at me curiously.

"How are we looking?" Natasha asks softly, diverting attention away from me, thankfully.

"You will have my Kingsguard, the Border Tribe, the Dora Milaje, and..."

"A semi-stable 100-year-old man." A new voice says walking up to us.

I take in a sharp breath and freeze. The Winter Soldier. Please don't let him still be with HYDRA! That's not something else I want to deal with today. But, he's smiling and doesn't look anything like the last time I saw him. He's not glaring at anything and he has plenty of emotions that I notice, just with one glance. He outwardly looks happy, healthy, but I can see pain and guilt still present in his steel blue eyes.

I can see it because I recognize it in myself.

As both Cap and him share a friendly embrace, I see Sam move into my periphery, though I don't acknowledge him.

"Are you alright?" He asks in a whisper.

I blink out of my frozen state and give him a tight smile and nod. As I'm turning back around, I see Natasha give me a curious look before turning back towards the Captain.

"How you been Buck?"

"Uh, not bad, for the end of the world." He says solemnly, yet with a small smile

I swear, this is the most I've ever heard him speak in one go. His voice isn't raspy from misuse anymore either. Maybe he's-

As if he can feel my eyes burning holes into the side of his head, he turns to face me. His eyes widen in recognition as his face changes from shock, to confusion, to anger, to regret, and then suspicion, all within a second.

"It's good to see you again, Blue." He says skeptically.

"You too, Soldier." I say in the same tone, brushing my fingertips over the hilt of a dagger on my thigh.

He glances down, catching my movements which freeze immediately.

"You remember...?" I ask softly, not knowing if I need the confirmation for his sake,... or mine.

"I remember everything." His piercing gaze moves back to me, his features stiff and cautious, waiting for me to make a move.

"Blue?" Natasha inquires, trying to lessen the tension.

"My ability..." My explanation comes out more timid than I would like as I move my hand away from the blade and give her a shrug.

Come on! Surely he's not more terrifying than Thanos! At least this one I know I can stop.

"There won't be any problems, right?" Cap asks seriously, after clearing his throat.

The Winter Soldier, or Buck I guess, says no. I can only shake my head.

"Good. Coms on and Rhodey, suit up. Saddie, I want you out here while we go in with Vision, incase anything happens." I nod in understanding as he, Natasha, and Dr. Banner follow the King and his men inside where Wanda and Vision had disappeared earlier.

I watch them trek inside while a knot forms in my stomach.

"You're nervous."

"Huh?" I turn to find Buck staring at me curiously.

"You used to make that face whenever the men were in the room. Whenever he was in the room." He explains.

I sigh and wrap my arms around my stomach while letting my head hang over.

"Can you blame me? This whole situation is something I was hoping to avoid. Plus, I wasn't exactly expecting to see you and when I did... I didn't know what would happen, or what to expect." I keep my gaze fixated on the pavement below me as I hear him take in a deep breath. Though, I know he was thinking the same thing as I was. "But I'm terrified. Like I was then." I admit with a whisper, looking up at him.

He hums, walking closer to me.

"What should I call you?" I ask suddenly causing him to snap his eyes to mine and stop.

He hesitates looking at the ground before back at me.

"Bucky please, Saddie." He says teasingly.

I roll my eyes but crack a small smile. So Buck is a nickname then. Didn't know he knew the Captain that way...

"Your arm is different." I note as I look at the black metal appendage edged with gold markings. Much different from the previous silver one with the infamous red star.

He hums thoughtfully, looking down at it with a small nervous smile.

"I like it, it suits you." I tell him sincerely as I turn away from him, not waiting for his reaction.

I walk over to Sam and begin to talk to him while Bucky joins us with a rifle one of the Kingsguard gave to him. Rhodey appears in his armor and things begin to click in my head as I remember Sam and Rhodey's hero names. Falcon and War Machine. Definitely not who I'd expect to be next to at a time like this.

At one point, I decide to sit crisscross on the tarmac with my fingertips pressed into the pavement and my eyes closed. It's almost like I'm in a meditative state. I feel the energy running through this city, running under it. There's an endless supply far below me, that I manage to tap into.

It's immensely powerful!

"What ya doing there, Saddie?" Sam calls out. I realize there's probably blue wisps circling around my hands or even arms.

"Recharging and resting." I say, distantly.

"Meditating." Bucky answers at the same time, causing me to huff and send him, where I think he is, a playful glare.

"Are you already tired, kid?" Rhodey jabs humorously through the ear piece.

"I'm a creature that relies on energy for power. If my stored supply runs out and I can't tap into a source fast enough, I have to rely on the power my body holds. Meaning, I'd lose consciousness soon after I'd start pulling from my own life-force. Thanos has an army coming for Earth, and I want as much power as I can hold." I tell them, still in my meditative state. "Plus, relaxing like this allows me to extend my powers beyond Earth."

"Creature?" Sam mumbles in question to himself.

"What does that mean?" Bucky asks curiously in reference to my abilities while talking over Sam. He still doesn't know the full extent.

"It means that I can sense when they arrive." I tell them, ignoring Sam's notice of my slip. Though, with that and what I said in the aircraft, he should be piecing it together soon, if he allows his mind to focus on it.

They don't ask anymore questions after that, and leave me to myself. After what feels like several minutes later, I feel a very strong hum of power moving towards Earth, and quickly. I call my power back to me and absorb as much of the energy as I can from below me, I can see the bright blue growing brighter from behind my eyelids.

"Saddie?" Bucky sounds worried.

My eyes shoot open as I jump to my feet, looking towards the sky.

"Saddie!" Sam calls, trying to get my attention.

"They're here." I say fearfully, not moving my eyes.

I summon an energy ball as I see one of their ships quickly descending straight for us.

"Hey, Cap, we got a situation here." Sam says while looking to where I am.

That wasn't enough time to get the stone out safely!

I prepare to launch the ball in my hands when the dropship pings off the shield, exploding instantly. The force of the strike is absorbed back into the shield.

"God, I love this place." Bucky says in stark amusement while I reabsorb the power in my hand.

"Yeah, don't start celebrating yet, guys. We got more incoming outside the dome." Rhodey warns as the rest fall fast, impacting the Earth.

I feel the vibrations from the impact rattling though my bones and my breathing becomes harsher. The shockwaves bounce off the dome, making me feel only the tiniest bit safer.

"Is this what you were expecting?" Sam asks, looking at me.

I nod slowly with wide and fearful eyes, unable to speak. Though, how do you speak when one of your worst nightmares is occurring before your very eyes and is becoming reality?

Alarms blare through the city and the dread I have been feeling for some time now, grows in the pit of my stomach to the point it becomes nauseating. Unfortunately for me, I joined this fight, so I can't back out now. I swallow back whatever fear I can and focus on the chaos around me.

After several minutes, the Captain, Natasha, Dr. Banner, King T'Challa, and his warriors come running out of where they led Vision and Wanda. Dr. Banner goes straight to where a big red and gold suit had been laid out as warriors rush out to the tarmac.

"You two," Nat gestures to me and Bucky. "Come with me."

We chase after her into a transport ship that is filling up with other warriors of the Kingsguard. I see Cap and T'Challa board theirs with half of the Dora Milaje. When we get in, Natasha stands up front with Bucky right behind her, and me on his right, like it used to be. As much as I hate the memories, the familiarity of a fight and his presence is comforting.

Sam and Rhodey take off and fly above us as we all head towards the front line while we begin to merge with other ships on the way.

"How we looking, Bruce?" Natasha asks through the coms.

"Yeah, I think I'm getting the hang of it." I hear what sounds like rockets through my ear piece and cringe at the loudness "Wow! This is amazing man. It's like being the Hulk without actually..." His loud enthusiastic voice is cut short as I hear him fall.

I try to stop myself from giggling at him but can't help but slightly laugh out loud when I hear Bucky's chuckles beside me.

"I'm ok, I'm ok." I hear, but before I smile again, I actually notice just how many of the dropships there are... and just how big they look from here. I've never seen them in person, just heard stories.

My stomach lurches at the sight. There will be so many. Can we even win this?

"I've got two heat signatures breaking through the tree line." Rhodey calls out.

I move forward slightly, in hopes of recognizing which two of the puppets Thanos sent here. Bucky gently grabs my arm, snapping me out of my head, and gives me a questioning look. I move back to his side but keep my eyes set on the edge of the dome in front of me, not looking at Bucky. I'm not sure if I'd be able to hide my fear if I do. Rhodey and Sam do a fly over as they begin to circle back around.

The Captain, King T'Challa, and the Dora Milaje pile out of a transport. My transport group follows and Natasha, Bucky, and I merge with them. One of the legions begins to chant as we move forward. Though I can't distinguish the words over the sound of my blood pumping in my ears. Natasha comes up next to me and gives me a small assuring smile. I try my best to do the same, though I'm sure it's more of a grimace. We form a line and I finally spot the two of the Black Order that Thanos sent. I scowl and clench my fists at the sight and memory of those two.

"Do you think there's any chance of surrender?" Natasha muses.

"No, it's not the way of the Black Order." I say with a slight growl.

"Well, there's always a chance." Captain says, but it's not reassuring.

He looks at me and motions for me to follow as him, Natasha, and King T'Challa start to walk in the direction of the dome's edge. I swallow the lump in my throat and proceed to fall into line with them.

Cull Obsidian and Proxima Midnight become clearer the closer we move to them, and I try to push back my fear again. While Cull stands several feet tall than the other, with a much broader stance and deadlier appearing body and weapon, it's Proxima I fear the most. This sight of the midnight blue and black hair, brown horns, black and blue war paint, and lifeless grey eyes that make me tremble slightly. Proxima drags her sword along the dome's edge, almost hypnotized by it, watching the power crackle along her blade. She finally stops when we're at the edge, only separated by the dome.

Cull and Proxima snarl once they set their eyes on me and my lip twitches up in annoyance.

"Where's your other friend?" Natasha quips, and I have no idea which other one she's referring to.

"You will pay for his life with yours." Proxima says in the most emotionless tone I've heard her use. Her mechanical voice sends an unpleasant shiver down my spine. "Thanos will have that stone." She moves closer, as to intimidate. But so do I.

"That's not going to happen." Captain says, seemingly unbothered but determined.

"I will make sure of it." I growl.

Proxima directs her gaze to me.

"The traitor... or at least, one of them." She muses, a gleam flashes in those deadly eyes as she smirks at me. "You are nothing without your other half. A child in regards to your abilities. Weak." I know she's trying to get a rise out of me, I know it, but it's working.

Her words stroke the grief and self-doubt I had buried for this fight, making it rear it's ugly head. Before I get the chance to even move, King T'Challa speaks as Natasha moves me back.

"You are in Wakanda now. Thanos will have nothing but dust and blood." I look at the King with wide eyes, knowing he doesn't realize just who the Mad Titan is.

"We have blood to spare." Proxima states before striking her sword up into the air.

I scowl at her, but that falls into a frown when the drop ships begin to whirl and extend. We quickly make our way back to the frontlines.

"Are you ok?" Natasha asks as me move back towards the group.

"No, not really. But I'll be able to fight." I tell her, gathering what courage I can. She gives me a hesitant nod, but says nothing else. "I really hate her." I grumble, which earns me a small chuckle from Nat

I try to clear my mind and focus on my powers on the rest of the way back. I focus on what I feel, where it is, and how I can use that to my advantage, like I was taught. We get back to our forces as Bucky looks on edge but doesn't look away from the ships.

"They surrender?" He asks sardonically, knowing the answer.

"Not exactly." Captain breathes as I move to Natasha's side.

I feel the ship release the army that lurches inside.

"Here we go." I nervously breathe.

Falcon flies along the edge, circling as a scout, but I can already feel the pounding of their sharp and deadly paws vibrating against the ground. As they get closer, the thunderous pounding reaches my ears over the sound of my own heartbeat. I absorb the little bits of kinetic energy from them as they run. I feel Natasha's stare on my loose fingers which begin to glow a slight blue.

King T'Challa begins a battle chant as I feel the army slow at the edge of the tree line. Proxima strikes her sword down, letting it fall out of the air, and the army begins their charge forwards. There's more of them, more than I imagined. And they spill out of the tree line like a tidal wave of death, charging towards the dome.

[samthemarvelfan]

I Won’t Say: Chapter Eight

-The Truth-

Summary: Ellaria Stark is the daughter of a king. When she is unwittingly betrothed to the King of a neighboring city, she isn’t sure how to feel. More importantly, she isn’t sure how the King will feel if he finds out the truth about her.

Pairing: James Barnes x OFC, Ellaria Stark. (Stark!Reader.)

Warnings: Royal!AU, ANGST, mentions of kidnapping, small male on female violence, general calamity

A/N: THE SECRET IS REVEALED. Oh man, yall. This is just the set up for the big drama in the next chapter, but it DRAMATIC nonetheless.

James threw his desk chair at the wall with such force, it shattered like glass. His hand—the flesh one, was bruised and bloodied from striking his oak bed posts over and over.

The anger coursing though his veins ate at his heart like a poison.

How could this be happening?

A woman he’d trusted and allowed into his home—and heart, had turned out to be a thief and a liar.

The notion vexed James enormously. Ellaria was so kind, and true. Though her temper was one that could rival his own, he knew her heart was double—no, triple the size of his.

James couldn’t stop seeing her eyes. How happy they’d been to see him, and how frightened they were when he tore her dress so violently. He hadn’t meant to put his hands on her in that way, and even now in his rage, he regretted it.

He was embarrassed and ashamed and felt a fool.

The study doors creaked open swiftly, without so much as a knock. “Your Majesty.” Steve called.

“Not now, Steve. For God’s sake, not now.” James pleaded, running his hands down his face.

“Bucky, you need to hear this.”

The King looked to his friend, and took in his appearance. Steve was irate—this man was ordinarily level headed and rational, so the sight before him worried James more than he cared to admit.

“Bring her in.” Steve called into the hall.

Suddenly, Sharon walked through his door. Her hands were shackled and Sam was right on her heels.

“What are you doing, Steve?!” Bucky called in horror.

Sam pushed Sharon down to her knees. “Speak, coward. Now.”

Sharon refused. She simply smiled at the King; a delusional, alarming sort of grin.

“One of you had better start talking...” James warned.

“Ellaria is innocent, James.” Steve said. “The events that transpired this evening were entirely Miss Carters doing.”

“Majesty, look,” Sam reached out, handing him the letter found in your room. “It is written in this snake’s hand. She’s conspired to destroy your betrothal to Ellaria.”

As Bucky’s eyes skimmed the page, he felt a boulder drop to his stomach. A forgery; a letter given to the Princess to lull her into contentment.

“The broach,” he seethed, “how did you get it?”

Sharon again stayed silent, keeping her gaze locked on the King’s feet.

“I believe when you dined with Ellaria, she’d snuck into your parent’s quarters. The Princess had noticed the East Wing lock was unlatched, and she wanted to alert you immediately. I told her it was the maids, as I surely never thought something like this could happen.” Steve said somberly.

James put a hand in his friend’s shoulder. “You did not know, my friend.”

Sharon began laughing, “Oh James, don’t you see? Our problems have been solved!”

She jumped quickly to her feet, grabbing the King’s lapel. “We can be together again. I can be Queen! Rumlow promised if I gave him The Iron Kingdom that I would be—“

“Rumlow?” James cut her off, pushing her back, “What do you mean Rumlow?”

Sharon smiled, “Lord Rumlow, of course. He rules Hydralia. When Shieldian fell, he told me I’d be Queen, I just had to help him get what he wanted.”

“What does he want?” Steve growled.

Her eyes didn’t more from the King’s, “He wants revenge. Revenge for what your father did to his, he means to avenge his death with your own; a life for a life.”

“Sir...” Sam said worriedly, “The man from the farm, he was right.”

James’ mind was going a mile a minute. Shieldian has fallen, Rumlow is alive, but none of that mattered.

She mattered.

“The Princess. Steve, where is Ellaria?” The King said fretfully.

“James!” Natasha yelled. He heard her before he saw her. She ran into the room in a panic, her eyes on the brink of tears.

This worried Bucky, because as anyone who knows her will tell you: Natasha Romanoff does not cry.

She walked to him, putting her body between his and Sharon’s.

“Nat?” James pleaded, searching her eyes for answers.

She shook her head. “Ellaria...she’s gone.”

The smell of mildew and rust churned your stomach as you woke.

Black walls surrounded you. It was cold—so cold you could see your breath as you chattered; attempting to keep yourself warm. There was but one window and when you glanced out of it, all you could see was forest.

Where am I?

“Hello?” You call.

Nothing.

“Hello?” You shout.

Suddenly the doors unlatched and is scraped open along the stone floor.

A man with tanned skin and dark featured walked in, flanked by two guards. The colors they wore were the same as the ones the men who took you wore

The men from the castle.

“Look who’s awake...” His voice was sickeningly taunting; it made you shiver.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Your voice is strong—stronger than you expected.

The man chuckled, “We’ll get to that, for now, I want to talk about you, Ellaria Stark.”

You hesitate, he knows you?

“You seem surprised,” he said, walking deeper into the room. The light from the doorway cast him in an ominous shadow as he got closer to you. “Did you think I didn’t know who I was after?”

You freeze again, this time he’s mere inches from you. You watch in horror as his hand finds your arm, he trails two fingers up the length of it.

It disgusts you.

“What do you want with me?” You ask through gritted teeth.

The man sighs, and brushed a piece of hair behind your ear. “Unfortunately, you’re just a stepping stone. I needed you to get to Barnes.”

At the mention of James’ name, your heart plummets.

“The future Queen of Buchanan holds more power in this country than I think even you’re aware of. You’re also the heir to the Iron Kingdom, the first born daughter of Anthony Stark....”

He steps back and laughs a moment, “But then again, that’s not exactly true, is it?”

The only sound you hear is your heart as it starts pounding. The air in the room feels like it’s getting thinner and thinner by the moment.

Suddenly he lunges at you and grabs you chin harshly in his hand, “Is it?!” He shouts.

Tears spring to your eyes, and before you can speak another guard enters the room. “Lord Rumlow, the troops are awaiting your command. Are we to move on Buchanan this evening?”

Rumlow kept the grip on your jaw tight, before tossing you to the floor effortlessly. “No. Not until Barnes leaves the city,” he spared you one last look. “He’ll come, and he’ll come for her.”

Tears sprung to your eyes. “You’re wrong.” You mumble.

He froze, turning back to you. “Am I now? Why’s that?”

Palms flat on the stone floor, your push yourself up. “James cares not for me. Ask your spy, Sitwell. He saw what the King did to me at the ball, he saw the hatred in his eyes...”

You drift off when Rumlow starts laughing. “You stupid girl. They told me you were smart—that I should tread lightly around you. I guess they got that wrong. James is easily manipulated, Sitwell wasn’t the only spy I had inside the walls of that castle.”

It takes a moment—just a moment for you to put the pieces together.

“Sharon Carter.” It comes out as barely a whisper. All of the events suddenly making sense in your eyes.

“Well, well. You’re not as daft as you seem.”

He laughed. “Get comfortable, Princess. Once I kill your fiancé, you’ll have a purpose to serve. I’ll need an heir of my own, after all.”

His words struck your stomach like a sword. “W-What?”

He smiled darkly and walked towards the door, “I told you already—you’ve more power than you know. The perfect woman to give me an heir to not one kingdom, but two.”

Then he was gone. He took with him your hope of ever seeing the light of day again.

“Answer me!” Natasha shouted, landing another slap across Sharon’s face. Nat had tied her to a chair and began questioning her, but she refused to answer anything without the King there.

“You think James loves you? You delusional radge, be thankful the King hasn’t ordered your hanging already.”

Sharon was empty; no fear or cares. “I want my James! I need to see my Husband!” She shouted.

Natasha shook her head, moving to speak to Steve, who was just outside the door.

“She’s gone mad, Steve. She’s a nutjob.” Nat said, crossing her arms.

Steve looked through the crack in the door, watching as she hummed and swayed in her shackles. “So I see. What do we do? Bucky is with Tony in the war room.”

Nat pauses, allowing the gears in her mind to turn, and create a plan.

“Let me try something. It may work...”

She walked back into the room, and stood in front of Sharon, shrinking herself to her knees, and softening her once hard gaze.

Nat cleated her throat, “Your husband is on his way, he was simply held up.” She glanced at Steve, who watched in understanding.

Sharon smiled, dazed. “He loves me, you know. He always has.”

Nat nodded, playing into her hands. “I know he does. That’s why you had to save him right? You had to give Ellaria to Rumlow?”

She swayed in her seat and giggled, “Of course! Besides, how would James react if he found out her secret? He’d have killed her,” her eyes lit up. “I saved them both!”

Natasha realized in that moment that Sharon knew something. It took her only a moment to connect the dots between the handwriting on the forged not, and the threatening ones Ellaria had been receiving. 

“Yes the secret, the terrible secret. The King doesn’t know?”

Sharon shook her head, “No, but I will tell him. He’ll thank me! Imagine marrying the daughter of a servant? The Great Lie of the Iron Kingdom!”

Natasha’s blood ran cold. She looked to Steve, who was just as perturbed as she was. “What did you say?” Steve asked.

Sharon turned her head to look at him, “The Princess is anything but that. She’s the daughter of a servant, adopted by the Starks at birth. There’s not an ounce of noble blood in that trollop’s veins.”

“Steve...” Nat whispered.

He nodded, running down the corridor. He needed to get to James and he needed to get to him now.

James rounded the table in the war room. The map of the realm affixed in the center of the table.

The strategy was simple; invade Shieldian, kill Rumlow, save Ellaria.

By any means necessary.

“You’ll have my full army; any of my men will be at your disposal. I want my daughter found.” Tony said, his palms pressed flat to the map on the table top.

James nodded, “You have my word, I will bring her home to you.”

“To me?” Tony asked.

“To you.”

He didn’t look at Tony. The disgust in his eyes was something he didn’t think his heart could bear.

Tony scoffed. “So you’re still ending the betrothal? After all you’ve learned...”

The King’s eyes snapped up. “Tony, after what I did to her, what I’ve put her through...” he paused, swallowing the emotion he felt down. “I do not deserve such treasure in my life. Your daughter is far too precious to be tainted by my soul.”

King Stark nodded, “I would love nothing more than to watch you hang for what you’ve done to her, believe me.” A sigh left the veteran king’s mouth, “But I must tell you, my daughter is as stubborn as she is strong. She is fierce and she has the wisdom of a woman thrice her age. She will not yield or give up as easily as it seems you do.”

James nodded.

He didn’t want to give her up. He wanted all of her—heart, body, and soul.

James didn’t deserve her, but he could not let her die because of his own ignorance. The misdeeds in his kingdom were his responsibility, and he would see that they were undone.

“I love you daughter, your majesty. I love her, but I’ve been keeping her in darkness for too long. She is light, and I’ve drowned her out. I would do anything, anything to undo the mistakes I’ve made, but I cannot.”

James is grateful when Steve walks in, it distracts him from himself for a moment.

“Steve, any news?” James asked.

He doesn’t respond to his friend, instead he turned to Tony.

“Your highness, my apologies for my frankness, but I need to ask you...”

Tony’s befuddled, “Sir Steven?”

Steve was clearly nervous, but persisted. “Your daughter, Ellaria, is she of your blood, your majesty?”

The room fell silent.

“I mean no disrespect. Whilst Ellaria was here she became a great friend to me, but she was threatened. A secret was used to manipulate the Princess, and I believe it will come to light and be used against you as well.” Steve stepped forward to the still silent king, “Is she adopted?”

Anthony Stark isn’t a man of few words, but now he cannot speak.

James merely looked at his friend, someone whom he respects and looks up to. He saw the battle of truth and protecting his daughter in his eyes. “Tony, is it true?”

King Anthony’s eyes are glassy as he clears his throat. “She is mine. My daughter, the love of my life. How she came to be so doesn’t matter.”

The room stays still and silent, waiting for either man to make the first move. James is overwhelmed, and now more determined than ever.

“We must go. Ready my horse.”

She was scared to admit this to him? Jame’s heart broke for her; for the fear and shame she kept hidden away.

if only she knew.

...

Taglist:  @iheartsebastianstan @jjlizz @stuckysbabe @sk493494 @lefoutoir @nickangel13 @marvelismysafezone @lilulo-12 @warmvanillafeels @star-spangled-beard-burn @ravenesque @pinknerdpanda @wintersoldierissucharide @snapcapquartet @ellen-reincarnated1967 @unlistedpond @my-drowning-in-time @supernaturalwintersoldier @kimvmarvel @roseboho @winterboobear11 @choicesloversstuff @disaffectedbarnes @igothroughphasesalot (strikethrough means the tag didn’t work! I’m sorry!)

[imamotherfuckingstar-lord]

Unexpected Arrival

Sam Wilson x OFC

Word count: 6071

A/N: Commisson for the awesome @minimoose23 There will be a part 2!

Summary: Juniper Davis is coming from on military approved leave; the only thing is, she isn’t coming home alone. Now she has to introduce her friends to Kix Davis, her three month old son and one Avenger isn’t so happy.

The airplane was quiet, except for the sound of a man two rows up snoring; I felt bad for the people sitting next to him, but from my seat, the noise sounded soothing in an odd way. Leaning into the large seat, business class, courtesy of a certain Tony Stark, I cradled the little bundle of joy against my chest. He had turned three months a week ago and it was his first airplane ride, I was proud and deeply grateful that he had spent most of the trip sleeping. That was my boy, though. He was like his father, quiet and relaxed, and I was thankful for that, because God knew how stubborn and loud, I could be. Kix, he had his daddy’s personality, but he looked just like me; big brown eyes and soft brown hair, he was going to kill it with the ladies one day.

Sighing contently, my hand lifted to his head and stroked the top of it, smiling when he moved a bit from my touch. There was only two hours left before landing back into the great city of New York, where Tony  would be waiting; I had missed him, all of them – Sam, Steve, Natasha, Bruce, and even Clint, who always liked to annoy the hell out of me with the sailor talk. The last two years on Navy deployment had been tough without my friends and team, working as an information systems technician, but it was a job I loved. I signed up two years prior to this last deployment, even when I was not entirely sure I could handle the sea. Luckily, the ocean had nothing on me, and things had gone wildly perfect and fun, if I was being completely honest, I loved it. Then Nick Fury got in contact with me, had learned through the grapevine (not really sure how and never really wanted to know) that I was a pretty accomplished and gifted code breaker – it had not been something I intentionally  gotten into, it sort of fell into my lap and I went with it. I must have been good enough because Fury asked me to join SHIELD when I was not on active duty and that was when I met the Avengers.

A saucy group of individuals that I had no business being in the same room as, they fought aliens and avenged the World, I was in the Navy and worked mostly on a computer. For the first few months, I never even worked in the same building as the team, mostly working on intel solo missions doing code work and earning a nice little bank account while I was at it. Then I was called to the big leagues and joined the team on a mission in Germany; it was weird at first, being in a quin-jet with Captain America, but after a few hours it felt like I was back with my Navy crew and after that, things just got easier.

Eventually, I moved into the facility with everyone and it had made me feel normal – especially with Sam Wilson. The Falcon, as he was known, was extremely charming and snarky, but kind. He immediately had taken me under his wing, figuratively, and the two of us hit it off pretty well. We went to basketball games on our down time, binged watched a lot of Netflix, but mostly, we bonded on our common service time. He was military like me, and understood the life, the way it felt to be back home and around civilians. Sam often invited to me to go down to the VA with him and he became this link to my service life in this new Avenging world. If I was being truly honest, I had a major crush on him but knowing I would be going back to the Navy eventually, I just did not want that long distance relationship. I did not want to miss Sam more than needed and I did not want to make him wait around for me, because life was made to live, and I could not hold him back. So, I slowed my roll, pulled back a bit and made it clear I was ready to go back to duty and that was my main focused. I knew Sam would get it, he had to and that was it. Except, I still missed him.

“Hey Kix,” I whispered to my son, his eyes fluttering open as I shifted him in my arms. He was light and when he yawned, my heart soared; he was the best thing that happened to me and I was anxious to get home and to introduce him to everyone, to Sam. “Everyone is going to be so surprised to meet you, but I know they’re going to love you.”

It was true, no one knew except Fury, that Kix even existed. To be frank, I was surprised to see the pink positive sign on the pregnancy test a year ago. It was shocking and mind blowing, I think I even laughed a little – but that might have been more hysterics -induced laughter. Children were far from my mind, I was busy being a SHIELD agent, but it happened. It happened with Joel Holt, he worked IT with me; I had trained him when he first arrived, he was cute and funny. Sweet and kind, and one night, a collective day off, the two of us went to get a drink or two with a group of sailors from our rank. It was a rowdy night, everyone was letting lose after a week of a shit workload and the music was flowing, drinks never ending, and Joel was really, really hot in his blue jeans and black tee shirt. What can I say, I was a sucker that night. He had me from the moment he stared across the bar, his eyes meeting mine with this lightness that made my head dizzy and before I knew it, the two of us were walking back to the off-base apartment I shared with another female sailor. The sex was sloppy and frenzy, we laughed a lot and then it lasted no longer than an hour before Joel and I passed out smelling like booze. The next morning, I woke up to my alarm screaming at six in the morning, even though it was my day off. That was when I noticed a naked Joel in my bed; a month went by after the hook-up and neither of us wanted anything from it until I found out I was pregnant. We decided that being together was not an option, it wasn’t something we wanted and agreed that co-parenting would be best. Joel was with me when I reported to my rank officer that I was indeed pregnant, and we made a plan; I was to stay on duty until I reached my twentieth week in my pregnancy and after that I was to take a leave to wait to deliver. Joel had been every bit there for me and even held my hand during the delivery, but then he was to be deployed for a full year, and my leave was extended for a few more months after Kix was born, giving me time to make arrangements for when I would eventually go back. It was a lot to think about, but the first place I immediately thought of to go, was home.

“Uncle Tony’s going to pick us up from the airport,” I whispered to Kix, rocking him gently. He was staring at me, his little fingers grasping at the soft mint green blanket. It was a tough delivery but the two of us had made it through, Joel and I could not take our eyes off Kix. I watched Joel cry as he held his son for the first time and I knew we had made the right choice, he was going to be a wonderful father, but we were never meant to be together. “We’re going to ride in a fancy car, your first. Isn’t that awesome? Man, he’s going to love you, kiddo.”

….

And he did; Tony Stark was hardly shocked, but when he saw me walking out of the terminal with Kix in my arms, his jaw nearly touched the floor.

“June, tell me you didn’t steal that baby,” he asked, reaching an arm around my shoulder for a light hug as to not disturb the sleeping infant.

“This is my son, Tony,” I chastised him with a smile and pulled back the blanket to show Kix’s face. He was awake and alert as Tony whistled, touching the side of his face. “This is Kix, he’s happy to meet you. He would love a scholarship in his name for college.”

The Tony smirked and asked if he could hold him. I said yes and slowly handed over my son, watching as the man grinned and cooed at the little boy. “Wow, kid, you’ve been gone for two years and this is what the Navy has you doing?”

Laughing, I shrugged and leaned down to kiss Kix’s forehead. “Something like that. So, you know what I’m dying for?”

Barely taking his eyes off the baby, Tony looked over to me and smiled. “A burger?”

…..

I had two burgers while Tony held Kix, munching on fries himself as he cooed over the little boy; asking me a million questions concerning the pregnancy and whether I was going back to my duty, and if I was when and what my plan was for the baby. Most importantly, he asked who the father was and I just smiled.

“He’s a fellow sailor and that’s all I have to say about that.”

“Okay, Forrest Gump.”

He laughed then I did. “He’s a good man, Tony, that’s all anyone needs to know.”

Tony’s face relaxed and he smiled down at Kix, leaning forward to kiss him on the forehead. “I get it, privacy granted. The others are going to flip out, you do know this, right?”

The others.

Yeah, Tony was easier to deal with – he never prodded when it came to people’s personal lives, but there was Natasha and Sam, when those two wanted answers, they always found a way to get them. That was what you were afraid of, knowing they would hound to know who Joel was and why he wasn’t around, especially Sam.

“You worried about Wilson?”

“Why would I be worried about Sam?”

Tony’s eyebrow rose in judgement and I pretended to be invested in the shake in front of me, taking a long sip until it was emptied out, the noise of the straw sucking air making him wince a bit. He dramatically begged me to stop and I obeyed, falling back into my chair.

“Sam and I never really had anything,” I explained, throat drenched with thirst from the chocolatey shake. “So why am I anxious to see him? To know what he thinks about Kix?”

Tony gave out a sigh and again, gazed down at the baby; he looked good holding a kid and I wondered if Pepper knew this. I told him this and he grinned ear to ear.  “Wilson’s a big boy, it’s not like the two of you had this fifth-grade pinky promise to stay pure.”

“So, he’s been dating around?” He said yes and I felt relieved; we never really talked about taking our friendship to another level, but yeah, we both knew there was something there. But I was not thinking of him the night I slept with Joel and hadn’t for a while, so consumed with a newborn. I was happy to hear he was seeing people and having fun, he had every right to live his life while I lived mine.

“Oh, look,” Tony cooed to Kix, caressing his thumb against his little chin. “Mommy looks mighty jealous.”

Ignoring his poke, I asked for his cell – he handed over without a question and even posed when I snapped a photo of the pair. “What do you say we send this photo to Pepper and tell her you bought a baby?”

Tony’s eyes lit up in mischievous delight and he smiled. “Please do.”

…..

The living room  was rowdy, people calling dibs on various soft spots around the TV; Sam had two bowls of popcorn perched in each hand, declaring everyone to shut the hell up as he moved around Clint, who decided being on the floor provided the best view. Steve and Natasha sat next to each other on the couch, her back against his side as her feet stretched out to the other end of the sofa. Bucky was on the leather recliner, looking a bit sad but what was new? He did manage a smile when Sam handed over a bowl of popcorn, ordering him to share it with Clint, who crawled over to be closer to the recliner. Sam then took his place next to the couch, on the oversized and comfortable lean back lounger next to the couch. Steve held the remote in his hand and asked if everyone was ready to begin the binge watching of the new of Stranger Things. There was a collective answer of yes and the show began, and everyone settled down.

Sam’s body was in Heaven as he relaxed and took a handful of popcorn before passing it off to Steve, who then shared it with Natasha. He loved down time from missions and all the hero agenda, when everyone could just be normal for a while and zombie out on shows and food. It was nice but as he watched contently as few of the kids appeared on screen, Sam could not help but think of June. He often did that, when things got quiet around the facility; wonder how she was doing and when the noise in his head got too loud, he would email her. He knew, from what she had said, that she lived off base and it never failed – every time he emailed, she’d write back within hours. Except, lately, in the last few months, he hadn’t received much. Knowing first-hand how the military life went, Sam chalked it off to busyness. She would write eventually, a long email about what’s being going on and how her return date was coming soon. Sam thought of the plans the two of them had made; a few ball games with Steve and lots of drinking and bar hopping; plus, a little downtime to just to hang out. That’s what Sam was looking most forward to, being able to have June to himself and possibly feel the waters of taking things to another level. There was something there, had been since day one when June was introduced to the team; she was stubborn but playful as hell, could hold her own against Sam’s snarky personality. It was fun and he had been counting down the months for her return – June was due three months from now and he was excited to see her.

“Has anyone heard from Juniper?”

Sam’s eyes glanced over to Natasha, who was stuffing her mouth with popcorn, eyes glued to the television. She wondered out loud why she hadn’t emailed her back and Sam felt relieved to know he was not the only one not getting replies. Steve chimed in that she must be busy, and Clint scoffed and said how hard was it to send an email back. Getting a bit defensive by Barton’s remarks, Sam acknowledged that fact that June was fulfilling a service important to the country and that he should have some damn respect.

“Touchy, touchy,” Clint jokes. His head fell back down to the ground and he waved a hand in the air to apologize, then everyone settled down again, but Sam could only watch the show with a loud mind. He couldn’t focus and eventually excused himself, claiming he was not in the mood to watch – he promised to catch up but needed to go work out. No one protested, but as soon as he left the room, Natasha took a handful of popcorn and belted it at Clint.

“You had to go open your dumb mouth.”

“I forget how sensitive he is when it comes to June – she’s been gone for a long time.”

“She’ll be back in a few months,” Steve explained. He asked everyone to just keep the June talk down until then. “Sam misses her more than anyone of us, let’s not make it harder, got it?”

Clint threw a thumbs up in the air and the room got quiet again as the show went on.

….

The facility elevator was filled with shopping bags, among them a few of my own bags I had brought on the trip; Tony had insisted on stopping by the nearest baby store to pick things up for our stay at the facility. I had planned to stay only for two weeks and then take a flight to my folks’ home, where we would stay until I had to report for duty for my final deployment. My parents would care for Kix until I would come back, six months later, when my military contract ended– it was going to be hard, being away from my little boy, but that was how it had to be.

“Everyone’s going to lose their shit.”

I glanced over at Tony, who was carrying Kix in his car seat. “I hope they don’t mind a baby in their quarters, he’s much of a crier.”

“Who cares, let him scream his lungs out, they can deal with it.”

Smiling, I thanked him just as the elevator dinged opened to the hall that leads to the main living quarters for the Avengers. I looked down at all the bags and Tony said to leave them for now, waving his free hand to tell me to lead the way. I did grab my suitcase and backpack, which was filled with Kix’s diapers and such, before exiting the elevator. The two of us walked to the doors and Tony told me to open the door. I did and it felt like coming home again, I could remember all the times I would bring groceries in with Natasha, screaming for someone to help just so we could ditch the groceries for the ice cream we bought. We hated putting everything away and usually Sam was the one that came around, rolling his eyes but giving me two spoons and waving us out of the communal kitchen. He was a good roommate, they all were, although Clint was the messiest and it was funny to see Sam bitch and moan about it.

“FRIDAY, where are the degenerates?”

“Living room.”

We looked at each other and smiled, this time I told Tony to lead the way. I followed behind him, leaving my suitcase by the door but strapping on the backpack. As we drew closer to the living room and kitchen, I could hear the television on, and I felt a bit nervous as we approached – how would they all react to Kix? What would they say? What would Sam say? It was all happening fast but I calmed myself before we reached the living room, because these were my friends and I knew they would be excited to meet Kix.

Tony walked in first, announcing himself like the King he believed himself to be, everyone turning to say hi and double taking when they saw the baby in his arms. Clint was the first to jump up when he saw me lingering behind Tony. He shouted my name and smiled, moving around the coffee table and couch to give me a hug. He said he was glad to see me and gave me a tight squeeze before getting a look at the baby Tony was carrying. His eyes gazed down at him with a smile before looking over to me and gesturing to ask if that was my baby.

I nodded. “His name is Kix.”

That’s when everyone else had gotten up from their seats and came over, giving me hugs and kisses before turning their attention to my son. I was delighted to see how responsive they all were, Natasha being the first to ask to hold him. Tony, with a frown, gave the baby up and asked Bucky and Steve to retrieve the bags from the elevator.

“He bought out a baby store on the way here,” I explained, following Natasha as she moved back to the couch. She sat down carefully as I took up the space next to her, watching as she rocked Kix against her chest.

“You have a baby,” she said, and I laughed.

“It sorta just happened, but I’m glad it did.”

Natasha gave me a warm smile and held a handout to my shoulder. “I am too. Is this why you’re home so early?”

I answered yes, explaining about my approved leave and how I must be back in a few months for my last deployment. Her face fell and she looked sad for me, but I told her it was okay. It was only six months and then I would have the rest of my life to be with my son. She asked where Kix would be during that time and I said with my parents, which made her even sadder.

“My parents love you, Nat. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind you visiting.”

Pleased with that answer, her face lit up again and she said she could watch him if I was tired from the trip. I hadn’t felt tired until she said it and my body slouched against the couch cushions as I listened to her cooing over Kix and telling him she was Auntie Natasha while giving him kisses. It was sweet and I was happy to be home, but I hadn’t seen one face.

“Where’s Sam? Is he out on a mission?”

She said the gym and when I asked if she could watch Kix while I pop in to say hello, she practically shooed me away, her eyes glued to the baby. Laughing, I left and first went to find Steve and Bucky. I went back to the main doors and found Tony on his cell, he removed the phone from his ear and said Pepper got the photo. We laughed and I asked if he had seen the boys.

“They took your stuff to your old room.”

I nodded and left him to his call, hoping Pepper would consider having a baby with Tony, because that man would be an excellent one. Moving down the hall, I passed everyone’s room until I got to my old one – it was across from Sam’s but next to Nat’s and it was the last door to the right. The door was flung open and I poked my head in to see Steve and Bucky, arranging all the bags in one corner.

“Thanks, guys. It’s a lot, sorry.”

“Not a problem, these are the last of the things,” Steve said, walking over to me. He gave me a warm hug and told me it was nice to have me home. “Even with the new edition.”

“We could use another person on the team,” Bucky teased, and I grinned, as I let go of Steve.  Telling him maybe one day, I moved down to all the bags and started rummaging through all the things Tony had brought. It was enough to sustain Kix for a few months before taking to my parents. Bucky sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Steve said he’d go pick up some lunch for everyone. I watched as he left before asking Bucky to help me take everything out of the bags. He did, without saying much, but I saw a small smile on his face that said enough. We made several piles – one for clothing, bottles, diapers, toys, and other accessories.

“That’s a lot of stuff for one baby.”

“Tony went a little overboard.”

Bucky nodded and mentioned that Sam had missed me, and that’s when I remembered I left Kix with Natasha to find him. Laughing at my forgetfulness, it happened a lot when all I had on the brain was Kix.  I started to get up off the floor to go find him, when his forceful voice came belting down the hall. He shouted to whoever heard as to why my bedroom door was opened and when he reached the doorway, his eyes widened in surprise.

“June!”

“Sam!”

My face was bright and happy, stumbling over the bags and Bucky, to his open arms. Sam hugged me tightly and kissed my hair, asking why I was home. “I thought you weren’t due for a few more months. They finally got sick of you?”

Pulling from him, I shook my head and moved out of the way so he could look at what Bucky was doing; he was arranging a bountiful of onesies in a neat pile and Sam snorted, not connecting the dots. It had taken him a moment as his eyes roamed from item to item surrounding Bucky, whose brows scrunched in confusion at the breast pump in his hand. That’s when Sam gazed down at my stomach and noticed that it was a bit softer than last time, but even then, he wasn’t sure if I was expecting or had a baby. His questions were answered a few seconds later when Natasha came bouncing in, declaring that Kix needed a diaper change.

“Surprise,” I announced quietly, unsure of his reaction. “I had a baby, a little boy – Kix.”

“Like the cereal?” was all he could manage until I just laughed and asked Natasha to hand him over. She insisted she wanted to try her hand at diaper changing, even when I warned her that she had to be quick – joking about a golden shower. She grinned and asked Bucky to find her a diaper and wipes, which he did as Sam stood in front of me.

“Sorry I didn’t tell you; I didn’t tell anyone – well, except Fury.”

“You have a baby,” Sam said, and I nodded, giving him a smile. He finally returned the gesture and hugged me again, excusing himself. “I’m sweaty, I should go shower.”

“Oh, yeah, okay,” I nodded, feeling a bit disappointed. I guess I thought he would be happy, but he seemed distant. “Well, Steve went to get lunch, it should be back before you get out.”

Sam smiled and gave me another quick hug, but leaving the room, not even a glance at Kix. I waited until I heard his bedroom door open and closed, before turning to Bucky and Natasha. They both gave me sympathetic smiles and Natasha confessed she might need help. I grinned and told Bucky to observe.

“No one is escaping diaper duty.”

….

Only Sam escaped diaper duty, because he stayed far away from Kix and me; after that initial hello, I barely saw him over the next two weeks. At first, I figured he’d come around after a few days, that maybe it was weird having a baby at the facility, had to take some time getting used to. Then after a few days had gone by, and everyone else grew to love Kix in that short time, Sam was still acting aloof, and it hurt. He couldn’t even be in the same room as Kix without making an excuse to leave, the only time he even talked more than a few words to me was when Steve and Natasha had taken Kix out to the little pond near the facility for a walk in his stroller. Sam had walked into the kitchen to find me making lunch, he smiled and asked me to leave the stuff out.

“Making a famous Wilson sandwich?”

“You know it,” he laughed and then I laughed, because it was nice. He promptly told me to step aside as he took over the lunch making and I sat on the counter, watching and answering his questions about my deployment. I talked but noted that any time Kix came up, he changed the subject or asked if I wanted a certain item in my sandwich. I didn’t push the subject, but it was upsetting and later that night I found myself crying to Steve, asking him why Sam was being this way.

“It was obviously he liked you, right?”

“I know,” I cried, wiping tears. I hated feeling this way, because Sam had been my best friend but now, he could barely look me in the eye, let alone acknowledge my child. “But Kix is my son, and he’s just gonna have to swallow that pill. What was I supposed to do? Stay celibate?”

Steve laughed and said no, that Sam would have never asked that of me. “He knew that you didn’t want any type of relationship with anyone while you were serving, and maybe he’s hurt because you came home with a child.”

“But I’m not with Joel.” It was the first time I had said his name out loud to any of my friends, of course Natasha had prodded to know who Kix’s father was, but I stayed mummed. So there never was a real confirmation of Joel’s role in my life besides him having a parenting role. Sighing, I thanked Steve and decided that night, during dinner, I would answer all the questions anyone had.

…..

Everyone was seated at the table, Kix was sleeping in the bassinet Natasha had brought from my room and put it next to her. She was attached to say the least and it was nice, seeing that light in her eyes. I sat next to her and served her while she gave Kix his pacifier, it was Chinese night and there were to-go cartons being passed around. I laughed when Clint, who sat across from me, threw a fortune cookie at me and said maybe I’d have better luck next time finding a good man.

“Rude,” Natasha scolded but I flipped him off and laughed.

“Joel’s a great guy,” I declared, knowing what I was doing by name dropping his name. Sam, who was seated next to Clint, looked down at his plate before engaging in a conversation with Bucky and Steve. Natasha glanced over at me and smiled, saying she didn’t totally hate the name Joel and asking how we met.

“He’s an IT tech too.”

“So, he’s still on active duty?”

I said yes and explained that he sadly still had a year left on his contract with the military, but that he was excited to finish up and come see Kix. “He wants to relocate to New York; he’s going to buy a small place outside the city. I think he was talking about New Jersey, I’m not sure.”

I eyed Sam, who seemed to be listening but also pretending he wasn’t.

“New Jersey isn’t too far, you’ll still be close to us,” Clint shrugged, and I gave him a confused look, and he squinted his eyes. “Wait, you’re not moving to Jersey?”

“No.”  The noise around the table seemed to quiet down as I elaborated, saying that Joel and I were not together. Natasha asked why not, and I shrugged. “He’s going to be an amazing father, but I barely know him. “

“You had a baby with him,” Clint pointed out and I smirked.

“I mean, he was a good friend of mine and we get along great, but there wasn’t any real chemistry between us.” Again, Clint pushed the agenda that I had a baby with Joel, and I laughed, rolling my eyes. “It was a one-night stand, Barton.”

Natasha chuckled and leaned down to touch Kix’s head. “Did you hear that? You’re a one-night stand baby.”

Ignoring her comment, I looked over to Sam and smiled at him before addressing the group. “If no one else has any more questions about Joel, can we eat now?”

Steve grinned and held up his drink. “To one-night stands.”

….

It was nearly two in the morning; my eyes were glossy from tiredness and Kix was crying as I attempted to rock him back to sleep. He had awakened forty minutes prior, and I feed him, but it was not enough. He was having a bad night; I was so exhausted and worried that he would wake everyone up – even though Tony had said who cares. I cared, because I didn’t want to put anyone out. Moving up from the rocking chair, I started pacing the room.

“It’s okay, sweetheart.” I attempted to soothe him, but Kix was having known of it, his brown eyes closing and opening with each cry. He had never had a night like this before and I was on the verge of my own tears when a soft knock came from my bedroom door. Feeling embarrassed, I tried to hush Kix before answering it, surprised to find Sam.

He was wearing dark gray sweats and a white tee, his eyes tired and droopy.

“I’m so sorry, Sam,” I apologized, rocking Kix a bit faster. “I’m sure he’ll be asleep soon.”

Sam stared at me for what seemed like forever, but was always a few seconds before his face softened and he asked to come in. I moved aside and he did, closing the door behind him. I bounced Kix and watched as Sam turned to me and held out his hands. I was confused at first, so I just stood there, delirious with the lack of sleep.

He laughed. “Give me the kid.”

I said what. He repeated himself and stepped closer. “Are…are you sure?”

“Yeah, come on. I’ve held a baby before.”

My son’s cries were ringing in my ear, so I gave him up and watched as Sam held him gently. I was amazed to see how natural he took to it and it hit me this was the first time Sam was holding Kix – they looked good together. I felt warmth shoot through my body and got so lost in the joy that I hadn’t noticed that the crying at subsided.

“That’s right, little guy,” Sam whispered, his arms swayed back and forth as Kix fell back to sleep. “You need to get some sleep, cause your mom needs her rest. I have to take her to lunch tomorrow, to apologize for being such a jack-ass.”

I grinned and shook my head, moving closer to the pair. I peeked down at Kix and saw that he was asleep, face soft and pudgy. My eyes lingered to Sam, our bodies so close I could almost feel the warmth radiating off him. “I like lunch.”

Sam shrugged, eyes lowering a bit in shame. “I’m sorry for the way I had been acting, I hate to admit it, but I was jealous.”

“Sam – “

“– no, it’s just, they way we left things,” he whispered. “You said you hadn’t wanted a relationship while you were away and then you came home with this fella. I -I just thought that it was me then, that you didn’t want a relationship with me.”

Admiring his vulnerability, I smiled and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “It was never not you, Sam. I just – it got lonely.”

“I get it, believe me,” he insisted with a snort. “Military life, am I right?”

“Yeah,” I smiled, yawning.  He motioned for the crib and I followed as he walked over to it, giving me a glance. I said for him to go on and watched as he placed Kix down on the crib mattress, stilling for a moment to make sure he wouldn’t stir. Kix didn’t and Sam sighed in relief, turning back to me with a kind smile. He reached out for my arm and squeezed it, before leaning in to kiss my forehead.

“So, lunch, tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” I said, walking to the door. The two of us stood at the doorway for a moment before Sam kissed me light on the lips; it was nice, and it felt right. He said goodnight but stopped when he turned to leave. His eyes found the crib before meeting mine and he winked at me.

“Bring Kix tomorrow, I’d like to get to know him better.”

“It’s a date,” I proclaimed in a quiet voice. “Goodnight, Sam.”

“Goodnight, June.”

[meowmeow-motherfucker]

New York, New York Chapter 2

Summary: After a chance meeting at an interview, Tom becomes involved with a woman while in New York filming the Avengers. 

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston/OFC

Read it on AO3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/1504970/chapters/3178469

        A quick cab ride later, Tom and Anna entered the famous eatery. After getting their food, they sat in a corner booth hoping to stay under the radar. As they sat, the sun came out from behind the clouds and graced their table with warmth.

      “So how are you enjoying the city?” Anna asked, trying to seem casual as she took a bite of her sub. Yes, because I always invite handsome men to lunch.

      “-been here for over a year. I haven’t had much time to reacquaint myself.” Tom said before taking a bite himself. Anna nodded politely, pretending she hadn’t been off in her own little world.

      “That’s no fun. There are so many amazing things here. I’d be happy to show you around a bit if you like.” She offered kindly.

      “That would be lovely, thank you,” Tom said from behind his napkin, smiling widely as he looked back up at her. “I don’t imagine there would be a better guide than a native.”

      “Well there’s always Dora the explorer, but somehow I think she’d be rather useless in this case.” Anna joked, giggling with Tom.

      “No, she wouldn’t be very helpful. I don’t much fancy singing ‘backpack, backpack’ whilst walking around Manhattan.” Tom laughed.

      “Oh but you’d fit in so well!” Anna giggled. “Downright normal compared to some. Us New Yorkers are…odd, to put it politely.”

      “Not to mention your famous tempers.” Tom grinned. “Yeah…I’m probably the nicest tour guide you’re gonna find in this city.”

      “And for that I am grateful,” Tom inclined his head before taking a drink. “So tell me about you. I have to say I’m immensely curious about what it is you actually do.”

      “Oh,” Anna grinned. “Mostly I work with couples that are dealing with intimacy issues, but I do liaison with the prison facilities on time to time.”

      “The prisons?” Tom asked incredulously. “What exactly do you do there?”

      “Nothing too terrifying. I interview the inmates when they arrive, throughout their sentences and before they’re released.”

      “I’m assuming the ones guilty of sex crimes.” Tom said grimly.

      “Correct. I’m only called in as a specialist when there are certain…behaviors exhibited by the perp.”

      “Doesn’t that frighten you?” Tom asked. “I know I would be uncomfortable at the very least.”

      “Not really no,” Anna shook her head. “There are two guards outside the room at all times, and the inmates are always handcuffed. It’s all in how you present yourself. If you show fear they will try to intimidate you.” She explained. Tom nodded wordlessly, lost in thought.

      “What exactly do you mean by intimacy issues? I’m sorry to ask so many questions but it’s a profession I know very little about.”

      “It’s alright, people are always curious. My main focus is on people involved in the BDSM lifestyle but I have clients with issues ranging from erectile dysfunction to sex addiction. Some of them are recovering from sexual assault,” Anna replied casually. She paused when Tom didn’t say anything. “I’m not making you uncomfortable am I? I’m so used to talking about these things with my colleagues that it doesn’t occur to me sometimes that others might be extremely shy in this area.”

      “No, no, it’s fine,” Tom gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m not sure I could do that. Not just the prison part but all of it. Does it ever get under your skin? I mean-actually, don’t answer that. That was very rude of me. It’s none of my business.”

      “It’s fine; people ask me that more than you’d think,” Anna smiled. “No, it doesn’t ‘get under my skin’, but I will say that things get…interesting when a surrogate is brought in.”

      “A surrogate?” Tom asked hesitantly. “Do I want to know?” he asked dubiously.

      “It’s not as bad as everyone thinks!” Anna laughed. “Surrogates typically only work with couples that are having intimacy issues like non-consummation. They act as a third party with me and a client to help them achieve a number of intimacy goals.”

      “How so?” Tom asked.

      “It varies,” Anna shrugged. “A surrogate’s interaction with a client is typically only talking them through a certain act, but it can include intimate contact or even sex.” Tom stared at her blankly, eyes wide and disbelieving, and she had to fight back a chuckle.

      “And you…watch?” he asked quietly, hesitation dripping from every syllable.

      “Yes.” Tom groaned, running a hand over his face.

      “How do you consider that ‘not that bad’? Good God woman, how does it not get to you?”

      “It’s my job!” Anna laughed. “I can’t very well help someone get over their problems if I’m not observing them. Besides, it wouldn’t be very ethical to fantasize about my patients.”

      “Well no, of course not, but…do you not have a sex drive at all?” Tom laughed, taking another drink of his water.

      “Of course I do. That’s what vibrators are for.” Anna said calmly, glancing at Tom in alarm when he spat out his water. “Shit I’m so sorry! I told you, I literally have no filter. I always forget most people aren’t as open as I am.”

      “It’s fine,” Tom croaked, coughing awkwardly to clear his throat. “Maybe we should talk about something else.” He coughed hoarsely.

      “Right. Sorry again, I have no tact. How on earth did we get on this topic anyway?” Anna chortled. “Jeez, we only met a few hours ago and here we are talking about sex.”

      “I’m not sure,” Tom shook his head, grinning lightly. “I have one more question, and then we’re changing the subject.”

      “Deal.” Anna laughed. “I’ll let you pick the next one.”

      “Actually, I’m the cause of all this,” Tom smiled apologetically. “For the sake of sanity I think you should pick next.”Anna laughed.

      “Fine. Question?” She asked, waiting patiently as Tom debated asking his question.

      “I hope you don’t think me too forward, but I am extremely curious…did you truly enjoy me pulling your hair?” Tom asked and Anna chuckled nervously, glancing away for a moment before turning her eyes on him.

      “You have no idea.” she admitted, a blush creeping along her cheek bones, much to his enjoyment.

      “Enlighten me.” he requested with a sassy smirk and Anna blanched, curling her lips inward before giving a small laugh. “It’s just one of those things…let me put it this way: if I was guy…instant boner,” she said and Tom couldn’t help but laugh at her boldness. To think he’d put this lovely woman in such a state…he was enthralled. “And since we’re being honest I’m just gonna lay it out there…I think you’re incredibly sexy.” It was Tom’s turn to choke on his drink (again); he’d not been expecting that in the least.

      “Thank you for that,” he chuckled nervously. “You’re quite lovely.” he replied safely.

      “Are you trying to tell me I’m sexy?” Anna teased.

      “Only if you want me to.” Tom smiled cheekily and Anna laughed at his charm.

      “Yes please.” she asked sweetly with a smile of her own.

      “Well since you asked so nicely…you are very sexy Anna.” Tom said, and Anna thought she could die happily at that very instant.

                                                                                                                                  ~~~~

      “This is me.” Anna said as the cabbie pulled over to let her out.

      “I’ll walk you up.” Tom offered, climbing out of the cab first to open the door for her.

      “Thank you,” Anna smiled as she stepped out onto the street. “Oh!” she pulled her purse off her shoulder, rooting around for her wallet. She fished out several bills and offered them to Tom. “For my part of the cab.” Tom shook his head with a grin.

      “No thank you.”

      “But you already paid for lunch,” Anna objected. “And the cab ride there.”

      “And?” Tom laughed. “Put your money away Anna.”

      “Will I offend you if I don’t?” Anna asked teasingly.

      “Yes.” Tom replied, grinning when Anna huffed and replaced the wallet in her purse. She unzipped a compartment and pulled out her house key, leading him up the stairs to her door. She put the key in the lock and paused. She didn’t want her time with Tom to end.

      “Would you like to come in?” she offered. “You’ll give me an excuse to open the wine I’ve had sitting in my fridge.” Great, now he’ll think I’m a lush. It’s not even one o’clock yet. Tom smiled, and Anna was sure he was going to refuse.

      “One moment.” he said, making his way back down the steps to pay the cab driver. He’s staying! Holy shit! Thank God I cleaned my house… Tom bounded back up the steps as she unlocked the door, following her inside as the cab took off.

      “I’m gonna run these upstairs really quick, I’ll be right back,” Anna said after he’d shut the door, pulling her boots off. “Just make yourself at home.” she offered a small smile and disappeared around the corner, walking through the living room to the staircase at the back of the space. The living room was open and airy, spilling into the kitchen around a floor to ceiling divider with a pass-through window and bar. In the middle of the room sat a large dark blue couch, pops of orange and pink splashing off the decorative pillows. A cherry wood coffee table sat in front of it, dotted by a stack of starry coasters and a ceramic basin filled with rocks and candles. Tom let his eyes drift from the bay window on the far wall, immediately noticing her book shelves. An entire wall had been devoted to shelving, her TV in the center with a media cabinet below, the lights from the devices glowing at him through the glass panes. The rest of the shelves, floor to ceiling on either side of the TV, were filled with books. He gave a toothy grin as he moved to look at her collection, feeling akin to a child on Christmas morning.

      Anna put her boots back in their cubby, trying to calm her racing heart. Tom Hiddleston is in my house! Oh my god, oh my god, OH MY GOD! She bit her knuckles, hard, and choked back the scream lodged in her throat. She needed to calm down before she went back downstairs. Flirting with the man was one thing, but now he was in her house! She’d offered him wine for fuck’s sake! And everybody knew what that really meant. I think I’m having a heart attack. Jesus Christ on a cracker, if he touches me I’ll keel over. Ok Anna, just breathe. Don’t leave the man standing in your house forever while you coach yourself in the closet like a loony. Go. Go. GO! Anna steeled herself and left the closet, walking back downstairs to find Tom eyeing her library. Anna smiled fondly, wondering if he’d gotten to the Shakespeare yet.

      “Find something you like?” she asked as she walked up behind him. He turned to look at her, smiling affectionately as she joined him in front of the shelves.

      “This is fantastic Anna,” he praised, his eyes straying over the many shelves in front of them. “And yes, I did find something I like.” he said, glancing down at her. Anna grinned, looking away shyly. She couldn’t tell if he meant her or the books.

      “Thank you,” she replied coolly. “Not exactly the setup I’ve always dreamed of, but I love it nonetheless.” she reached out to run her fingertips along a lacquered shelf appreciatively.

      “What’s your favorite?” Tom asked, smiling when Anna’s eyes lit up.

      “My favorite?” she gaped at him, biting her lip. “Oh geez, that’s a terrible question; you’ll be stuck listening to me for hours.” she joked, scanning the shelves.

      “Top five then,” Tom chuckled, enjoying her enthusiasm. “Does that help?” he asked teasingly when she turned her liquid gold orbs on him.

      “A little,” Anna smiled as she turned to peruse the shelves. “Top five…top five…” Why does he have to be distracting? Tom had removed his jacket, leaving him in his vest and dress shirt. He’d rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, exposing his muscular forearms and it was torture being so close to him. She could smell his cologne, and he smelled amazing. It wasn’t fair. “Fuck me.” she muttered sharply when she banged her elbow on the corner of a shelf.

      “Beg your pardon?” Tom asked doubtfully, pinning her with an almost scandalized stare. Way to go Anna, now he’s gonna think you’re a pervert!

      “I whacked my elbow. Sorry, I swear like a sailor.” Anna explained as she rubbed her elbow.

      “It’s alright,” Tom laughed. “I’ve heard far worse, I promise. Are you alright?” he asked, reaching out to grasp her elbow, his fingers soothing the flared nerves almost instantly.

      “Yeah,” Anna said, nerves making her voice higher than usual. “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked steadily, getting control of her nerves. Tom seemed to sense her need for distraction and let go of her arm. Anna immediately felt guilty; he probably thought he’d crossed a line. “I’d hate to be rude.” she said in explanation and Tom smiled kindly.

      “You’re not,” he assured her, following her to the kitchen. “So the setup you’ve always dreamed of…for your books,” he said, glancing back into the living room when she looked at him over her shoulder. “Tell me about it.” he requested as Anna opened the fridge.

      “Shiraz or Riesling?” she asked.

      “Either one is fine with me.” Tom watched as she plucked the bottle of Shiraz from its place in the back of the fridge, his eyes fixed on her backside as she straightened and closed the fridge before crossing to the opposite counter and pulling a wine opener from a drawer.

      “I’ve always wanted a library like the one in Beauty and the Beast,” Anna said as she uncorked the bottle. “Not quite as big of course, but with floor to ceiling bookshelves full to bursting and rolling ladders. Maybe a spiral staircase in there somewhere.” she smiled fondly, opening a cabinet and reaching for glasses, her shirt riding up to reveal her taut stomach and lean hips.

      “That sounds lovely,” Tom agreed, smirking when Anna cursed. “Need something?” he asked as she strained to grab glasses from the top shelf. She huffed good-naturedly before turning to look at him.

      “I can’t reach the top shelf,” she giggled. Tom smiled cheekily and walked over to her, making a show of reaching up for two glasses as she glared at him affably. He set them on the counter in front of her with a soft plink, grinning when he met her eyes. Anna rolled her eyes and smiled, shaking her head as she shut the cabinet. “Thank you.”

      “You’re welcome.” he replied, tucking his hands in his pockets.

      “Oh crap, I forgot this needs to breathe.” Anna said with a frown.

      “You never did tell me your top five.” Tom reminded her, grinning when she laughed.

      “Really?” she giggled. Tom shrugged.

      “I’m curious what a sex therapist reads for fun.” he said. Anna smiled, abandoning the wine and making her way back to the bookshelves.

      “Harry Potter, hands down,” she tapped a shelf as he joined her, watching with mild amusement as she scanned the shelves eagerly. “I love Voldemort, he’s so deliciously evil,” she cackled, bouncing with excitement and making Tom laugh. “I’m sorry, I don’t know where that came from.” she apologized with an embarrassed laugh.

      “It’s alright.” Tom chuckled. He liked this woman; she was funny and vivacious. And an avid reader; there wasn’t a single shelf along the wall with an empty space. She even had Shakespeare!

      “Ooh, here’s a good one: The China Garden,” Anna announced. “Ender’s Game is really good too. The Notebook is one of my top five, but I haven’t read it in ages.”

      “Why not?” Tom asked.

      “It’s so beautiful, it always makes me cry…not that I need a book for that,” Anna said offhandedly, and Tom saw a deep well of pain in her eyes as she turned away. What could be so painful for someone like her? She seemed so carefree and open. “Anyway!” Anna’s voice snapped him to attention as she turned back to look at him eagerly. “Did you make it to the Shakespeare?” she asked giddily, all trace of sadness gone from her face.

      “Yes I did,” he replied with a grin. “I’m very impressed; you have all of his work.”

      “I adore him,” Anna sighed. “It’s impossible for me to pick a favorite; but lately I’ve been partial to A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

      “It’s excellent,” Tom agreed. “I would have to say Othello is my personal favorite.”

      “Othello? Oh, but it’s so depressing!” Anna laughed.

      “You’re right, it is,” Tom smiled sheepishly. “I love it though. Cymbeline is another favorite.”

      “What about the Tempest?” Anna asked. “I loved seeing it on stage; it was fantastic!” she gushed, sparking a lively conversation about theatre that lasted well over twenty minutes before either of them remembered the wine. Anna poured them each a glass, bringing the bottle into the living room as they sat on the couch, still talking spiritedly. The discussion turned to movies well into their first glass, both too busy either talking or laughing to remember to drink. Tom finished his first, lazily spinning the glass between his fingertips and laughing at Anna’s description of a foreign film he hadn’t seen. They were seated face to face, mirror opposites, reclined against the back of the couch; Tom with his head propped up on one arm. His face was warm, but whether from the wine or his proximity to Anna he couldn’t tell. He watched as she drained the dregs from her glass, his eyes rapt on her lips. He desperately wanted a taste of her. “Would you like another?” she offered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as he placed his glass on the coffee table.

      “No thank you,” he shook his head, his eyes following her as she leaned forward to set her glass down as well. “Anna.” he said as she sat back, her face inches from his. She turned her amber eyes on him and he was lost; reaching for her before he could stop himself. He pressed his lips to hers softly, reaching behind her neck to cradle her head after a moment. He felt her hands, light and hesitant, on his shoulders. One drifted to his neck as the kiss deepened, her fingers twining in his hair as her other hand splayed over his collarbone, gripping his shirt collar and her thumb and forefinger ghosting over his skin. Anna went limp, letting Tom press her against the back of the couch as his kisses grew more insistent. He abandoned her lips and dipped his head down to her neck, inhaling her scent as he enjoyed the way she clutched at him.

      “You smell amazing.” Anna sighed into his hair, biting her lip softly as he pressed a kiss to the hollow of her throat.

      “So do you,” Tom murmured against her skin, pulling her chest against his. He ghosted a hand up her side, the heel of his hands just grazing her breasts, and pulled away when Anna chortled, squirming against him slightly. “Everything okay?” he asked.

      “Yeah, I’m just ticklish,” Anna giggled. “Sorry.” Tom smiled, relieved he hadn’t done something wrong.

      “It’s alright.” he said, gazing at her fondly. She looked simply delectable; eyes sparkling, hair tousled, her lips full and reddened. He could easily get used to seeing her like this. She gave a chipper smile, reaching up to run her fingers over his short stubble affectionately.

      “I like your beard.” she said shyly, giggling when he grinned.

      “It’ll be gone soon.” he answered, almost apologetically.

      “So I should enjoy it while I can?” Anna teased with a glint of mischief in her eyes.

      “Definitely.” Tom nodded and they both laughed as Anna pulled him down to kiss him again.

      “I like the way you think.” she murmured against his lips and he chuckled, threading his fingers through her hair again as he took her lower lip between his teeth, breathing her in when she exhaled. This woman was so alluring; she enticed him with the smallest of touches. He could easily become addicted if he wasn’t careful. He moved his hand, intent on wrapping his arm around her waist, when Anna hissed sharply. “Ow-ow-ow-hair-in-watch!” she winced as she pulled back.

      “I’m so sorry!” Tom apologized urgently. “I should have thought to take my watch off. Here, let me get it, just hold still…” He reached up with his other hand, grabbing the strand of hair caught in his watch band, grimacing when Anna hissed again as he untangled it from his watch. “There. You’re free. I’m so sorry.” he said again, slipping the watch off immediately, reaching over to deposit it on the coffee table.

      “It’s fine.” Anna soothed him as she rubbed her tender scalp.

      “You’re sure?” Tom asked nervously, ready to retreat even as he reached for her again. Anna surprised him by grabbing his tie and pulling him in for a kiss, giggling when he grabbed her. His hands once again grazed her breasts through her shirt, and something inside him snapped. With a growl, Tom pulled her onto his lap and attacked her neck, peppering her skin with kisses and small nips as his hands worked the buttons on her blouse, opening her shirt just enough to let him see the sides of her breasts. Anna whined above him, grazing his hardened cock as she moved and making him gasp. Taking the initiative, Anna pulled him up for a kiss as she shifted on his lap again. Tom growled into her mouth, holding her hips in place as he bucked up into her. Anna gasped, clutching his shoulders tightly as he buried his face in her chest, holding her upright with his large hands as he explored her skin with his tongue. Anna twitched slightly when he gave her breast a quick nip, both of them groaning in frustration when he came across the sleek material of her bra. Tom paused, unsure how to go from here. He wanted to keep going of course; wanted to throw that damn bra out the window. But he also didn’t want Anna to think he was using her for her body, even if hers was amazing. He didn’t want her to think he’d come here for this purpose only; he’d come because he genuinely enjoyed being around her and wanted to know her better. Well I certainly know her better now… He glanced up at Anna looking for some kind of direction, knowing full well he’d do anything she asked. Anna seemed to sense his hesitation and swooped down to capture his lips with hers, running a hand under his collar to grasp the side of his neck. Tom returned the kiss fervently, reaching up to cup her face in his hands.

      *beep beep* *beep beep* Tom groaned as his watch went off, screeching at them from the coffee table. Damn.

      “I’m afraid I have to go.” He whispered against Anna’s lips.

      “Duty calls, huh? It’s okay, I understand.” She replied begrudgingly, placing her hands atop his on her face and grinning when he laced their fingers together. He pulled away from her slowly, reluctantly, and sat up straight so Anna could fix her shirt. His eyes flickered to the swells of her breasts quickly disappearing behind the blue fabric as Anna’s fingers deftly redid the buttons. Her eyes were fixed on the coffee table as she worked mechanically, and Tom briefly wondered if he had crossed a line, but the thought was banished when Anna turned her gaze toward him and smiled brightly.

      “I’ve had an amazing time with you Anna; I wish I could stay.” he said, bringing her hands to his lips to kiss them both. Anna couldn’t help but blush; he made the gesture seem so intimate.

      “I have too,” she smiled. “I think your fans would be a little disappointed if you stayed too long though.” she joked with a small laugh. Tom chortled, releasing her hands gently.

      “You’re probably right. I won’t be back until next week but…I’d like to take you to a proper dinner when I get back, if you’re available.” Tom said hopefully.

      “I’d love to,” Anna smiled. “Can I ask where you’re going?” she asked he slipped his watch back onto his wrist.

      “London,” Tom said as he got to his feet. “I’m visiting my family for the week before shooting starts.” he explained.

      “That sounds like fun,” Anna replied. “I haven’t been to London in ages.” she mused, and Tom grinned. Maybe someday you’ll come with me. Whoa, Tom, don’t go jumping the gun; you just met this woman a few hours ago!

      “It’s not much different from New York, truth be told.” he said as he slipped on his shoes.

      “Still,” Anna shrugged. “I didn’t get to see much. I imagine it would be fascinating.” she said as she handed him his tie.

      “Parts of it; thank you,” Tom conceded, quickly slipping the tie into place and tying it deftly. “Could I call you while I’m gone?” he asked hopefully, fixing her with a puppy dog look.

      “Sure.” Anna smiled, typing her number into his phone when he handed it to her. She put a smiley face next to her name, feeling the need to pinch herself. Who would have thought I’d meet my favorite actor, have him dominate me (on TV!), make out with him and trade numbers, all in the same day! I made out with Tom fucking Hiddleston!!!! And he asked me out!! Tom’s watch beeped, impatiently reminding him he had other things to do.

      “I’m so sorry, I really need to get going…thank you for lunch and…everything else.” Tom smiled shyly and Anna felt like a balloon about to burst.

      “Why are you thanking me?” she laughed. “If you hadn’t offered to…you know,” she smiled nervously. “We wouldn’t have ended up here.”

      “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Tom admonished playfully, and Anna gave a mocking scoff.

      “Tis a far, far cry from a bad thing.” she replied and Tom smiled, giving a quiet sigh when his watch beeped again.

      “I should go.” he said, pinning her with an amused look. Anna opened the front door for him, wrapping her arms around him for a farewell hug.

      “Be safe.” she said.

      “You too.” he pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth and left, walking down the street toward the subway station. Anna watched him go for a few seconds before heaving a swooning sigh and going back inside to polish off the wine. If this is a dream, for god’s sake don’t let me wake up.

      Five minutes later, she’d downed her second solitary glass when a knock came on her door. Anna set her glass down on the coffee table, her eyes lingering on Tom’s glass for a moment before she crossed to the foyer and opened the door.

      “Tom, what are you doing here?” she asked incredulously.

      “I don’t know, actually,” he laughed. “But I think I forgot something.”

      “What’s that?” Anna asked, jumping in surprise when he leaned in and kissed her.

      “That.” Tom answered boldly as he pulled back, letting his hands fall to her hips.

      “You came all the way back here to give me a kiss?” Anna teased as she wound her arms around his shoulders.

      “I didn’t make it very far, I’m afraid. I spent a good three minutes debating whether or not to knock,” Tom admitted with a shy smile. “I’m sorry, I’m not usually like this.” he apologized.

      “I don’t mind,” Anna teased with a small smile as she cupped the back of his neck, her fingertips grazing his hair. “But you’ll miss your flight if you don’t go.”

      “One more.” Tom didn’t wait for an answer before swooping down to kiss her again, his hands holding her body to his as she gripped him tightly.

      “You’ll be late.” she smiled against his lips. Tom groaned, shifting his weight impatiently.

      “One more.” he said again, making Anna laugh as he kissed her again.

      “That’s two!” she cried indignantly. She reached between them to flick his nipple, causing Tom to cry out in surprise.

      “Did you just flick my nipple?” he asked dramatically.

      “Yes I did,” Anna quipped, sticking her tongue out at him. “What are you going to do about it? Oh no!” she chided as he made to flick her back, covering her breasts with her hands.

      “Why not?” Tom asked pitifully. “It’s only fair.”

      “Because if you do I’ll never let you leave.” Anna argued.

      “Let me? Remind me who the dominant here is?” Tom joked, laughing when Anna paled slightly.

      “Don’t be a tease. Last one.” she raised up on her tiptoes and kissed him firmly, smiling when he wrapped his arms around her waist to crush her against him. “Now go!” she laughed, placing a kiss on his cheek before letting her hands fall away from him.

      “As you wish,” Tom smiled, releasing her from his grip. “I’ll be in touch.” he promised, kissing her cheek before leaving a second time.

[fanfictionized]

Help Me Help You - The New Weapon (14/?)

Character: Bucky Barnes x Enhanced!Reader / OFC

Chapter summary: Thanks to Bruce, the Avengers and Annabelle finally find out what influence the serum has had on her blood and body.

Wanda decides to give Anna lessons, trying to make it easier for her to control her powers the way she can.

Warnings: Mentions of death, scientific shit going on oh boi I have no idea if that even makes sense

Words: 4k

A/N: This thing down there is supposed to be a GIF I made but it somehow only plays on the mobile version (if at all). Either that or my laptop is crap. Welp. Enjoy.

Previous Chapter // Help Me Help You - Masterlist

Annabelle confined herself to exploring her room. That included trying to work the stereo, listening to new albums she had never heard of before, watching TV to catch up with the news of the past weeks and reading into a few books that had also been laying around. She loved how the room’s interior was already really cozy. Almost made her feel like home.

Hm. Home.

Tears had sprung to her eyes at the thought of her mother, probably dying with worry while crying herself to sleep at night. She wouldn’t know what had happened to her only daughter. Her worst fear was that she believed she had run away. She knew she needed to tell her somehow, she had missed her so fucking much over the course of her disappearance.

Asking Friday for directions, she got up at one-fifty to walk upstairs somewhere. She replayed Friday’s voice inside her head. Go to the elevator, drive up three stories, end of the hallway, right turn.

And she did exactly that.

She turned right at the end of the hallway and there she could see through the glass walls that separated her from the conference room. And sitting there, alone in a seat while running a hand through his hair, was no other than Bucky Barnes.

She chuckled to herself. Of cause he was. She entered through the sliding door and he only looked up at the sound of it, keeping his surprised gaze on her until she was standing beside him, her hands grasping the black leather-backrest of the chair next to him.

“Do you mind?” She asked timidly and as if she had pulled him out of a trance, he suddenly shook his head rapidly. “No. Y-You can sit there.” He stammered and cleared his throat as he sat up straighter in his chair. She pulled it out from under the long glass table and let herself slump into it, a deep breath rushing past her lips.

“You okay?” He asked her. Her head was leaning against the headrest, turning slowly to face him. “Sure. Why not.” She didn’t seem pleased with the whole situation and Bucky didn’t know how to respond to that. He fidgeted in his seat uncomfortably, his leg bouncing underneath the table, she could see it.

“I’m sorry, that’s a stupid answer.” “It was a stupid question.” Her brows drew together in surprise and confusion. “No it wasn’t, don’t worry. I guess I’m just not as exited as I should be. I mean… should I even be exited?” She shrugged her shoulders “I think so.”

“You don’t have to pretend.” He mumbled, looking down to his bouncing leg. “It’s a strange situation to be in.” “Hm.” She answered and turned her head to look at the ceiling again. “I am the, uh… what is it again? The thing you do tests on?” He turned his head in confusion. “Guinea pig?” “Yes. I am the guinea pig. People get to look at me to see what their tests have done to me.” She sighed deeply. “I guess it’s not the best metaphor, but I hope I’m still that old guinea pig I used to be, you know?” He nodded. He did know.

“Well, hello there.” Sam said suggestively, wiggling his eyebrows as he entered the room along with Natasha. He looked back into his lap at Sam’s expression.

“Who do have we here? Beauty and the beast.” “Oh, fuck off.” Bucky hissed and sent him a glare. “Don’t worry, you’re not the beauty. Belle over here is.” “Oh my god, that’s actually perfect. She even has the same name!” Wanda squealed as she entered the room behind them, slinging her arms around Sam’s shoulders, making him tumble backwards.

She winked at Bucky as Sam yelled in protest and a tiny smirk appeared on his lips. “See, I can literally take you down without my powers, point proven.” She let go of him and quickly grabbed the other seat next to Annabelle. “Hey, that was mine!” He whined, but Wanda only stuck out her tongue at him. He grumbled as he sat down at the other end, next to Natasha who had sat down next to Bucky.

Even though they had all proven themselves to be very amusing, in that moment she didn’t feel joy. Her heart was pounding. She was on edge from what Bruce had found out and what he was about to say. She nibbled on the nail of her right thumb as her left fingers thrummed on the armrest.

They were sitting so close, the others, lost in their own conversations, didn’t even notice Bucky’s hand moving over to take a gentle hold of her wrist, immediately stopping her actions as she looked down at his flesh hand on hers and then up to his face with big eyes.

“It’s gonna be fine.” He said quietly so that only she could hear it and she nodded slowly until he smiled fleetingly at her and let go as soon as Tony entered the room along with Steve, Bruce and Vision.

Her expression was still that of a deer in the headlights, but she managed a smile as Tony send her one.

“Gather ‘round, children!” He said as he walked up to the end of the long-ish table. “And let the doctor speak.”

Bruce stepped beside him and pushed his glasses up his nose.

She tried to tell anything from the look on his face, her cheeks blushing with anxiousness.

“I, I think I’ll start right away.” He stammered and called up an invisible screen floating in the middle of the table and Annabelle leaned back as if it could actually touch her.

“Anna, I’m glad to see you here.” Bruce said and smiled faintly at her. She did the same. “I just… I want to know.” She hesitated and she hoped the others couldn’t hear the shake in her voice. She needed to know.

He nodded back at her. “Well, we’re not going to push you away. We’ll include you in all the knowledge we have on this case.”

Her heart was racing.

“I… I think maybe it’s better if you start with, uh, the enemy we’re dealing with.” Bruce looked at Steve and he just nodded, turning to face her.

“The ones that took you are part of a terrorist-criminal organization called Hydra.” He had a concerned look on his face, as if he didn’t really want to expose Annabelle to the ugly truth. But the only unknown truth there was, was that she, out of all of them, could handle it the best.

“They were the ones we fought in the second world war and they’re the ones that experimented not only on Bucky, but also on Wanda.”

“They gave us our powers.” She spoke up and when she looked at her, a reddish glow – one that she had only seen on TV before – emerged between her fingers.

“And they wanted them to use it for Hydra’s plans. Control them how they wanted to force their will onto the world.”

The puzzle-pieces started to align and match up. Not about her abductors but also about Bucky’s past.

“And you would’ve been their next toy to play with.” Tony said and sat down.

“Nicely put, Tony.” Steve glared at him and Tony shrugged, shaking his head “Tell me I’m wrong.” Steve sighed and continued.

“Hydra has been getting S.H.I.E.L.D’s attention for the past six months. Since they have started…” He seemed like he was hoping to get a little help from the others, but they looked like they felt just as awkward as him.

“…since they have started to scatter dead bodies with a chemical compound in their bloodstream we had never seen before.”

She didn’t know how to answer. There had been others before her. But she always believed that there was a plan behind all those injections, all the brain-shocking… Why would they go through it only to kill them? It made her realize that if she had been there for just a little longer, she would’ve wound up dead as well.

“They have been working on a way to combine both the serum that made Bucky and I so strong with the one that gave Wanda enhanced abilities.”

“And they have succeeded.” Bruce finally chimed in and the room got quiet once more.

He swiped to the next page with a movement of his hand and in front of them appeared a hemogram of dark purple blood cells with even darker centers, vibrating across the screen.

She has had enough years of biology in school to say that whatever that was, was not normal. Blood cells were red, most likely unmoving, but not quivering like they had a will of their own.

“Your blood sample from earlier matches with the ones they took from the other victims.” Bruce explained, but she couldn’t get her eyes off the moving picture. Goosebumps crawled over her skin at the sight. At the sheer thought of that filling her veins.

“I don’t know if you saw it when I extracted the blood from you” Her head cocked to the side in confusion. No. She had not. She had been trying to focus on not puking with her eyes squeezed shut.

“But it was various shades darker than regular blood. And my theory is that the discoloration of your blood cells is the cause of it.”

Her brows drew together. She was more than just confused at that point.

“But… that’s not the only thing I saw under the microscope.”

Swipe to the right.

“The minute I tried to poke them with a microscopic needle to extract their contents for further research…”

The animation showed the same twitching blood cells with a pointed head approaching one of them. They all watched curiously as the needle tried to breach the cell wall, she had seen this procedure a few times before, but the breach never came.

Instead, the blood cell suddenly stained darkly, carbon black, spreading from the inside out and tiny bumps formed on the exterior which formed into tentacle-like arms, starting to wiggle. The movement touched the cells surrounding it and within a fraction of a second it had alarmed the rest as well, turning into the same defensive mess.

Annabelle’s mouth hung open, along with all the other’s. Her scalp prickled with shock and her chest constricted.

That was floating inside of her. She had an own, built-in defense mechanism. Or whatever that shit was supposed to be demonstrating here.

“What the hell?” Sam blurted out.

“Seriously, Bruce. What is that?” Natasha added, equally shocked.

“This” He said and swiped right once more as the video started to replay itself “Is Hydra’s newest weapon.”

“I’m what?” Panic rose up inside Annabelle’s chest. She clearly looked like it as well.

“You’re not.” Tony interrupted and held up a stopping hand “You’re not a weapon. It’s what Hydra has been trying to change those people into. You’re just the first person to survive it.”

“Yes, of cause.” Bruce added, looking a little ashamed. “You- You’re not. They would’ve turned you into a, a weapon, but you’re still yourself.”

“Well, obviously I’m not!” She couldn’t breathe.

“Kid, you need to calm down.” Tony said slowly, cautiously. Realization hit everyone at the tone of his voice. This meeting could go another way if she wouldn’t.

All eyes were on her.

Her face was beet red. She didn’t know what to do.

“You’re enhanced, is what Bruce is trying to say.” Bucky said as he turned around to look her in the eyes. “You’re both like Steve, Wanda and I, but also you aren’t.” She seemed so frightened. “You’re something new and we don’t know what it is yet, but we will. Right, doctor?”

“I, uhm, yes. Of cause.”

He didn’t break eye contact with her once. “They would have turned you into a weapon if they had gotten the chance. But they didn’t. You’re here now and that won’t change if you don’t want it to.”

He looked at her, his eyes both calming and piercing with the depth of the blue in them. Like the ocean on a stormy day, she thought. It did in fact make her calm down. The tingling in her fingertips subsiding and the beat of her heart no longer throbbing in her head.

“Okay.” She whispered and nodded. He smiled at her softly before she looked back at Tony and the rest who were all staring at the two of them.

“I want to help. Whatever I have to do, I will. I want to control… whatever this is.”

“And we’ll help you with that.” Steve said and nodded back at her.

“From what I could tell, your… self… has an own awareness of your surroundings and instinctively wants to protect you from any harm” He scratched his neck. “My assumption is that this defense mechanism activates itself through your bloodstream, as we could see as an example from the reaction of your blood cells. Whichever Neurochemicals and hormones are released activate the serum.”

“And now in English, please.” Sam raised an impatient eyebrow. Bruce sighed.

“Extreme emotions trigger extreme response.”

The lab. She remembered what she felt back then. Pure fright and panic and just fear for her life. There must’ve been so much adrenaline rushing through her blood that her body consequently reacted.

“We still don’t know for certain what exactly includes said response, but doctor Cho and I will try our best finding that out as well.” Bruce assured her.

Well. That was insightful. More than she had hoped for for sure. In the back of her head she had already dabbled with that idea of what could’ve caused the outbreak, but here it was. Her answer served on a silver plate.

“Will she be okay?” Steve asked him.

“I think so. I mean, I – all of the exposed dangers in her bloodstream that the, uhm, serum has caused have either vanished or manifested themselves. There don’t seem to be any major genetic changes except for the mutation… the alteration of what was already there.” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “What I mean is I don’t see you growing extra limbs… although the treatment did involve a certain level of radiation. Of cause we’ll have to see what the long-term effects are, but despite all your immune system is being very adaptive and your health is recovering incredibly fast.”

His smile seemed earnest this time.

“Could be the influence of the Super-Soldier Serum.”

“Okay.” She mumbled, staring onto the see-through table. That was a lot to process. But all in all… good news, right?

“I can help you figuring out your powers.” Wanda suddenly spoke up from next to Annabelle. She looked at Bruce, then at her.

“I know what it’s like being in your position and I had to figure it out by myself, but you don’t have to. I know all the tricks on that department.” She winked at her and Tony agreed.

“Sounds like a plan.”

***

Her current state had been discussed, further theories on Hydra’s position and plans reviewed and with that, the meeting had ended. Class dismissed.

“Hey, we can start right away if you want to…?” Wanda asked before she stood up, laying a hand on her shoulder. “I, uhm… okay. I mean, I don’t have anything else to do.” She shrugged and stood up as well.

“Great! We can practice in the gym, if you feel comfortable enough. Do you, uh, maybe want to put some gym clothes on?” She asked. Annabelle shook her head.

“No. I mean, I don’t know. Should I?” “Whatever you feel comfortable in.” She shrugged again. “I guess I’ll just… stay like this.” She looked down at herself. Oversized shirt and jeans with socks. “I’ll probably need a belt, though.” She groaned as she tugged on the loose fabric around her waist. “Don’t worry” Wanda grinned and leaned in to whisper “You can borrow my clothes; I’ve gained too much weight for them anyway.”

They both laughed as they exited the room along with the others.

Bucky stayed behind, watching the two of them.

“Are you okay?” Bruce asked the soldier and he turned his head around. The doctor was collecting the piles of paper he had brought in.

“I’m fine.” He said and stood up as some of the pages glided to the ground, bending down to pick them back up.

“Oh, thank you.” He mumbled as Bucky handed them over.

“Will she be okay, though?” Bucky asked sheepishly and looked back at the doctor.

He stared at him for a few seconds before he decided to response. “Well, I- I surely think so. She really is doing well, all things considered…” He hesitated, looking at the papers. “We will have to see how it develops.”

“The serum?”

Bruce shook his head, correcting himself. “Yes, sure. Of cause. I think, we’ll have to see how she develops as well. I believe the serum and her well-being are very closely related.”

Bucky stood there and listened.

“If, I mean, if she feels bad or, just anything in that manner… unhappy, frustrated, unwelcome… I believe it will show.”

“And what if it’s the opposite?”

“Well… I mean that could surely have an influence as well. Although I’m not quite sure what- how it would manifest itself.”

Bucky nodded.

“Then we’ll have to make sure she feels at home.”

***

“Relax.” Wanda assured her as she went to close the door behind her. The gym was big with high ceilings, long and even parquet dance floor with mirrors on the walls and lots of room to work with.

“I can put on some whale songs...?”

She turned around to her, furrowing her brows. “Why on earth would I want that?” Wanda let out a chuckle. “What do I know.”

She realized it was very silent there. Wanda grabbed a mat she rolled down in front of their feet. She figured that all the training equipment and weights must have been located in another gym.

“Come on. Sit with me.” She crossed her legs as she sat down, patting the seat in front of her. Annabelle did as she was told.

“Are… we going to meditate?” She asked, clearly confused. “No.” Wanda answered and closed her eyes. Annabelle continued to stare at her. “I want you to close your eyes.” She rolled them first, but did the same. “What are you feeling right now?” She heard her gentle voice, the low whir of the fluorescent light above their heads, a car speeding somewhere on the streets.

“I don’t know. Confused?”

She heard her gentle giggle. “If you have to ask me then I don’t think that’s what you’re truly feeling.” Annabelle breathed deeply and went into her train of thoughts.

“I feel…” Her head cocked to the side “relieved.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I finally know who did this to me and what it was that they did.”

“What else do you feel?”

“Tense. I feel tense.”

“Why?” This was beginning to feel pointless. She sighed, starting to be on edge.

“I don’t know. Maybe because the people that have done this to me are still running around somewhere? Because I can’t do anything about it? Because I don’t want what happened when I woke up here to be happening again?”

“That’s why we’re here. To turn those reasons into productivity. Because you can do something about it.” Her words resonated in her head. “Because you can control it if you want to.”

“What are you feeling now?”

She looked deep inside herself. Her heart was pounding. Either with Wanda’s hopeful promises or the building hatred for what she was yet powerless.

“Rage.”

A pause.

“Go on.”

Her breathing got quicker, already audible to the both of them.

“I want them to pay.”

“For all that they’ve done to you.”

A pang to her heart as it contracted. She felt it, the sting in her chest and the pull in the back of her throat where a lump was building.

“Yes.” She hissed.

“Good. Stay there. Right where you are now. What do you see?”

Her voice was no longer in front of her, but inside her head. She knew what she asked for and Annabelle kept digging, everything else faded down. Her hands balled up to fists as her subconsciousness dug deeper; The tips of her fingers had begun to tingle.

She dug her nails into her palms, leaving small, moon-shaped imprints. She felt it. The same rush in her veins she had felt back there in the lab, the same that had wanted so badly to creep back up this morning, but this time she let it. Welcomed it inside with no fear.

It spread through her chest and she could see it before her closed eyelids. Even darker shades of black winding through her already dark vision. Not like a movement she could compare. Not a snake, no kraken could wind their way through her self that way. It felt like a simultaneous tug at her insides, a quivering worm, one tortured with a burning lens. The motions were visceral, out of control.

And it settled in the pores of her skin, gushing out and pooling in the palms of her hands. She had to control that haunted creature and it gave in the second she let it in, still moving on its own, but not fighting its occupier. This was one vicious parasite.

“Anna!”

Her eyes shot open and she was looking through the eyes of said demon. That was until she felt something else yanking on her brain and she gasped with the sudden sharpness of a headache, clasping her hands above her head and hissing.

“I’m sorry, I had to.” She heard Wanda’s voice, it was so much closer than before. She turned around to understand what she was talking about and saw the girl crouched next to her, one hand held close to her temple and in the corner of her eye she noticed a red glow finding its origin from the tips of her fingers.

“What are you doing?” Her voice sounded raspy and her eyes were burning. Everything looked different. She got her old vision back for some reason.

“You were in it too deep.” Was her only response as the red glow faded away. She knew what this girl was capable of. America had made her stay in said country; a difficult and very public thing to handle. Why? Because of what she was able to do with her gifts.

That’s what they called them, but she knew damn well that it was a burden. One she had been blessed with as well.

“What do you mean?” She rubbed her head, the pain had gone but the question stayed.

“You got to it, Anna. You did it, but…”

She leaned back and sat down. “You couldn’t hear me anymore. I saw it dripping down your hands and I warned you, but you didn’t listen. I didn’t want to touch you I, I didn’t know… how you’d react. So I gave you a little kick.”

“In the brain?” Annabelle gasped.

“Just enough to pull you out.”

She looked around. There was nothing left. Staring down at her palm she only saw the imprints of her nails into her skin there.

“I’m sorry.” She croaked out.

“No! Don’t be.” She let out a chuckle, her eyes wide with amusement and enthusiasm. “That was- well, I thought we’d go easy, but that’s not a problem.” She laughed.

“See” She said and gripped Annabelle’s shoulders “You can call it up if you want to. That’s the first step of controlling your powers.”

The first, she thought, The first of how many?

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