Warning: guilt, form of self-harm, swearing, mention of death, Bucky needs a hug, mention of nightmares and past abuse
Relationships: Wandanat x daughter!reader, Maria x reader (platonic), Sam x reader (platonic), Bucky x reader (platonic), Rhodey x reader (platonic)
Word count: 3.5k
You were exhausted right down to your bones as you sat at the counter with a cup of tea in your hands and stared into the green liquid. There was no way you were falling asleep with those images moving in your head. “Hey kid,” Sam said suddenly. You jumped at the unexpected voice. “Are you okay? Your bagel has been done for a few minutes.” You forgot you put one in there. You stood up to grab it but Rhodey held out his hand to stop you. He grabbed a plate and placed the bagel on it then spread on it that you must have gotten out. Gods, you were beginning to lose it. You smiled as he sat in front of you.
“I didn’t sleep well last night.” You answered Sam.
“Nightmares?” Rhodey guessed.
“More like a memory,” you took a bite of your bagel, hoping they wouldn’t ask more questions.
“Rhodes and I haven’t gone to the batting cage in a while. Do you want to join us?” Sam asked. You stared at him, slowly chewing on the bagel. You had no idea what a batting cage was. “It’s a baseball thing. You go and hit baseballs and pretend to be a pro athlete.”
“Ohhh,” you said, standing up to throw the other half of your bagel away. “You could have just said that.” Sam sighed, shaking his head. “Sure I have nothing planned for today.” Plus it would be nice to get out of the tower. “FRIDAY, can you tell Natasha and Wanda where I’m going to be?” You made a mental note to ask Tony for a new phone.
“Of course, Miss. Y/n,” the AI said. “Have fun you three.” It was a 45-minute drive from the tower in a part of town you had never been to. ‘Caesar’s Bat and Pizzeria.
“Can we get pizza after?” You asked as Rhodey parked the car and you unblocked your seat belt.
“We can get whatever you want,” he said. The three of you got out of the car and walked over to the building. Sam held open the door for you. The sound of loud arcade machines and laughter made you jump.
“My favorite Avengers!” A man said from behind a counter. “Where the hell have you two been? Thought you forgot about ol'Casear.” Sam chuckled.
“Hard to forget you, big man,” Caesar glared at him.
“Are you calling me fat?” You tried to cover your laugh with a cough but Caesar glanced at you. “You guys adopt a kid or something.”
“Eh kind of,” Rhodey shrugged. “You got a spot open for us.” The man continued to stare at you but you smiled and gave him a small wave.
“Yeah, same spot as always,” he said. “Come find me if you need anything.” You followed the two Avengers to a stall in the corner, there was no one next to you, and you were grateful to look like an idiot in front of some strangers. The space reminded you of the shooting range at the tower but instead of targets at the end, there was a screen.
“Wait,” you said, sitting down. “How is any of this safe with it being inside and this close to one another?” Sam smiled.
“It’s all VR,” he pulled out his wallet and pulled out his wallet, took out a car with the shop’s logo, and scanned it at the table you were sitting at. The table changed to a TV screen and it showed a baseball stadium. “You can change the stadium where you are hitting. We’ll keep it at Yankee for now.” Rhodey appeared with a bat and goggles. “Watch this.” You watched Rhodey put on the goggles and stepped into the open space. The screen changed to a character stepping up to bat. “You can change the speed of the ball pitched, complete challenges, and set up tournaments.” He began and he hit the first ball pitched to him. It sounded like you were at a baseball game.
“This is cool,” you said. “Is this place new?”
“Sort of,” Sam looked around to make sure no one was near and leaned closer. “Caesar isn’t from here.” What the hell did that mean?
“Come again? Like he’s not American.” He glared at you before rolling his eyes.
“No, like not from Earth.”
“He’s an alien?!” You half shouted in surprise. Sam put his hand over your mouth, still glaring at you. You pulled his hand off. “You just told me a man isn’t from Earth, how did you expect me to react?”
“With a little more respect and dignity,” you punched him playfully. “Besides he’s not an alien, he’s a Skrull,” you stared at him, head tilted to the side. “Oh my god,” he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Skrulls are shapeshifters and their planet was destroyed so until Fury and Carol can find them a new home, they are living here,” you frowned.
“Why can’t they just live here?” You asked.
“Because humans aren’t known to accept those who are different,” Rhodey said, taking off the googles. Well, you knew that firsthand. “Do you want a turn?” He asked you.
“Uh maybe I’ll watch Sam then I’ll go.” While Sam was taking his turn, you went to get drinks from Caesar’s daughter. Her name was Jasmine and you liked her, her smile was infectious but you couldn’t help but watch the father-daughter duo. If anyone but Sam told you they weren’t human, you would think they were crazy. You guessed that was the problem with the world you lived in, some people had to hide their true selves just to survive.
“Alright, kid, batter up,” Sam said, handing you the VR set. You smiled, taking it from him. Oh, you wished you could make the world a better place.
*
While Sam and Rhodey were waiting to get their pizza from Jasmine, you were sitting at one of the empty high tops and eating away at one of the cheese slices. You tried to wait for the two Avengers but the smell was making your stomach growl. “I know you,” Caesar said, walking over to you as you sipped on your blue Gatorade. You stared at the man as he sat in the empty chair next to you. You hopped he knew you, you spent like 2 hours at his fine establishment. “Hey,” he stuck his finger at you. “Your that teenager that can cast spells and shit.” You blinked at him.
“You mean conduct electricity.” He snapped his fingers.
“That’s the one,” he tapped his fingers against the table and looked at you then to the Avengers. “People are talking about you.”
“Me?” You questioned. “Whose talking about me?”
“The type of people you ain’t want talking,” Oh. Well, that sort of answered your question. “Look, kid, something ain’t right. People are talking, then disappearing, and ol’Caesar is just trying to run a business, you hear?”
“Why are you telling me this and not the two Avengers behind you?” You hissed, leaning closer to him.
“Hey, watch the attitude, short stuff,” you leaned back in your chair, mouth slightly open. “Just because I listen don’t mean I know what’s going on,” you rolled your eyes. “My advice is keep your ears open and listen. Maybe you can figure out what’s going on before everything goes to shit.” He mumbled the last part and left before Sam and Rhodey joined you.
“Don’t listen to anything that nut job rambles about,” Rhodey said. “He’s got a few screws loose.” You smiled, giggling slightly. But what he said rattled you to your bones. What the hell was going on?
*
Caesar was saying goodbye to Sam and told him to not be a stranger. Your eyes wandered to the small arcade they had. There was a crane game filled with small rubber ducks. You walked over to it and looked at all the different duck variations - one was dressed like a police officer, and another had a book. But one that caught your eye was a duck wearing a green jersey with a soccer ball. It looked familiar. There was a memory deep within you but everything you tried to grab onto it slipped out of your fingers like water or smoke, the longer you stared at the dumb duck. “Hey, kid,” Rhodey said. “Are you ready?” You nodded, walking over to him.
“Bye Caesar,” you waved as Rhodey held open the door for you.
“See you around, short stuff,” you rolled your eyes and walked to the car.
“Short stuff, eh?” Rhodey teased. He got into the driver’s seat. You huffed, buckling into the back.
“Don’t even start,” he laughed as Sam finally got into the passenger seat.
“Sorry about that. Caesar likes to talk,” you giggled and Rhodey started the drive back home.
*
“That was a lot of fun,” you said to Sam as you exited the elevator to the common floor. “We should do that again.” Your smile faltered as Bucky turned around from his conversation with Maria. The color drained from his face as if he were looking at a ghost. He left without another word to you, Sam, or Maria.
“Okay,” Maria slowly said. “I wasn’t done talking to him.” You sighed.
“Not your fault, kid,” Sam smiled, resting his hand on your shoulder. “He just needs to get out of his head. I’ll go talk to him.” Before he turned to leave, he reached into this pocket and handed you a rubber duck. The same one you were looking at. Before you could say anything, he smiled and left.
“What was that about?” She questioned. You looked at the duck and put it in your pocket.
“It’s a long story,” you said. “Do you want the spark-notes version of the story?” She nodded. So, you gave her a short-handed version of the story you gave to the other Avengers. It was surprisingly easier.
“Shit,” you said. “I missed one hell of a party.” You rolled your eyes with a smile. “So,” she leaned back in her chair. “A little spider told me that I’m going to be training you. Are you thinking about joining this ragtag group? Fury said you did well in Overwatch .” You shrugged, tracing the random designs on the table.
“I don’t know,” you said. You weren’t against being an Avenger, maybe in a year or two but right now you weren’t ready. “I just want to get my powers under control so I don’t hurt myself or anyone else.” Maria smiled.
“I can help with that but I’m not gonna go easy on you just because you are Romanoff’s kid,” it wasn’t the first time someone at the tower referred to you as Natasha’s or Wanda’s kid but every time a warm feeling spread across your body. Your parents were never proud of you. They barely gave you enough to survive.
“I expect nothing less,” you said. “Can you teach me how to shoot a gun?”
“Stop asking people that,” Natasha said before Maria could answer. The Black Widow appeared behind you. You pouted which caused her to roll her eyes.
“Awe come on Nat,” Maria said. “Let the kid learn how to shoot. Are you afraid she’ll be better than you?” Natasha ruffled your hair.
“Yeah,” she deadpanned. “That’s exactly why I don’t want her shooting a gun,” you pushed her hand away and fixed your hair. “But we can teach her how to be safe around one.”
“How about we stop talking about me like I’m not here?” Maria hushed you.
“I’m wheeling and dealing for your benefit so hush,” she teased. You stuck out your tongue at her. Maria gasped. “Do you want to start training right now?”
“Children,” Natasha warned. “No fighting on the common floor. The last time a fight broke out we needed a new TV and a couch,” you giggled. “Come on, kid. Tony wants to have a meeting about your schooling.” You nodded. “We’ll figure out a training schedule that won’t conflict with her classes.” She said to Maria.
“Aye, aye captain,” she gave the Black Widow a salute. You smiled at the interaction.
“See you around, Maria,” you said and followed Natasha to Tony’s lab where Wanda was already there. You weren’t nervous. The test was the hard part of all of this and they were proud of how you did. But it was nice having the couple on either side of you as Tony rattled off a plan. The textbooks you needed were already ordered, minus a math textbook that he already had, and if you needed additional books for essays or projects he gave you a debit card to buy them. You didn’t bother putting up a fight with that. As for your ‘teachers’, Vision was going to help you with history, Bruce and Tony were for math and science, and your training with Maria counted as your physical education credit. The extracurricular would be business with Pepper and art with Steve, the two agreed to shadow you during those times. It seemed like a lot of work but you were ready to finally go to school and learn.
*
You had to get out of the tower. Every room you entered and Bucky so happened to be there, he left. It was a little maddening. So, you sat on the balcony with a textbook in your lap and the rubber duck in your hand. There was a part of you that was associating this duck with Bucky. But that couldn’t be correct. “Hi,” you spun around to see Steve walking over to you and hiding the duck underneath the book. You smiled at the blonde and looked at the book. You figured he was here to talk about Bucky. God, it felt like when you first moved to the tower. Instead of you running away, it was him. Steve sighed and sat down next to you. “Beautiful view,” he said, looking towards the city. “What are you doing up here?”
“Just reading,” you gestured to the book in your lap. It wasn’t the full truth but it got the point across.
“It’s about Buck, right?”
“I just don’t want him to be uncomfortable in his home,” you shrugged.
“It’s your home too,” he sat down next to you. That was true. You tapped your fingers on the page you were reading.
“He was here first,” Steve nodded and put his arms on the back of the chair. He didn’t continue the conversation so you went back to reading about ration language and how it was used to describe the association between two or more qualities. You were learning that you did not like math.
“Do you blame him for what he did to you?” Steve broke the silence. The question made you look up at the city. “It’s okay if do. The whole situation is so complicated. Complicated. That was one word that barely touched the surface to describe the relationship you had with Bucky Barnes.
“I don’t,” you softly said. You saw the super solider look away from the city but you kept your eyes trained on the skyline. “At first I did but we were both just trying to survive. It’s not our fault that some of the world is evil and we were subjected to it.” Steve chuckled and you looked at him.
“You’ve changed so much from that little girl that Wanda and Natasha brought to the tower,” he said while standing up.
“Wait, is that a good thing?” You asked.
“Yeah,” he kissed the top of your head. “A very good thing.”
*
As night fell on the tower, everyone seemed to be asleep except you and the former Winter Solider. His back was to you so he didn’t see you, which didn’t give him a chance to run away. “Do you want some hot chocolate?” The soldier jumped and spun around to look at you. “Don’t run from me, please,” you pleaded. You heard him sigh and stand up to join you in the kitchen. He sat on the island with his hands folded on the counter. You began the process of making the hot chocolate in silence. But you noticed he wasn’t looking at you, he stared at his hands as if he was afraid he was going to snap and hurt you. When the hot chocolate was done and topped with marshmallows and cinnamon, you pushed his mug over to him. He wouldn’t take it. You sipped on yours. “Are you okay, Bucky?” You asked. “I want to help but I can’t if you don’t tell me what I can do.”
“How can you be in the same room as me?” He softly asked. “After everything, I did to you.”
“That wasn’t you,” you simply said, sipping on your hot chocolate.
“I could have killed you,” he finally looked at you. Since last night, Bucky wouldn’t allow you to get this close to him. His eyes were bloodshot.
“No,” you firmly said. “The Winter Solider almost killed me. Bucky Barnes would never.” You held his stare, blue eyes locked onto yours until he looked away. “How much do you remember about our time together?” You asked. Bucky sighed.
“It comes and goes,” he said. “Like waves, crashing into me and I’m drowning.” You smiled, tracing the rim of your mug. The marshmallows were melted and stuck to your finger.
“Me too,” you admitted. “It wasn’t all bad.” You licked the marshmallow off your finger and put your hand in your pocket. “My brain clouded all the good with the bad. Do you want to hear one of the good ones?”
“Yes,” he whispered. “Please.” You smiled.
“I hadn’t seen you for a few days and I knew better than to ask about you because that resulted in a punishment,” he chuckled slightly. “One day I was brought into a room and you were there. I think they wanted you to train me and you did but I hurt my shoulder. I tried to hide my tears but you knelt at my level, whipped away my tears, and reached into your pocket,” you mimicked this part of your story and held out your hand. “And when you opened it, there was a little rubber duck.” You showed him the duck.
“What?” He questioned. “A rubber duck?” You smiled as the confusion was all over his face. “You’re making this up.”
“I’m not,” you laughed at the deadpanned look he was giving you. “I swear! Look I was equally confused when you handed it to me. It was a rubbed duck just like this one,” you placed it on the counter between you and him. When your laughter died down, your smile became sad. “When I destroyed the faculty, I tried to find it but it was destroyed in the fire.” Finally, he took a sip of his no longer hot chocolate and picked up the duck with his flesh hand.
“I need time to process the new memories,” you nodded.
“I got nothing but time,” you said. “I’ll be here when you’re ready.”
“Thank you,” he smiled. “For the talk and the hot chocolate.”
“Of course,” you cleaned your mug. “Try to get some sleep. Good night.”
“Night, doll,” he said. But you knew sleep wasn’t going to be an option for you. Every time you closed your eyes, your past played out in front of you. It was like Yelena said, there was a scab over a wound you had and although it was healing every time you rubbed against it it hurt more. Your feet led you to the training area, and the sound of your footsteps echoed against the quiet room. It was weird being here when no one else was here. You could do anything without the watchful eyes of the Avengers. You could train, lift some weights, or go for a run. Instead, you walked over to the machine Tony and Bruce built you.
It was in the corner of the room, a white sheet over it that you took off and stared at the machine. Fingertips tracing every part of it. With a sigh, you took a few steps from it and faced the machine. You closed your eyes and let out a few deep breaths. When you open your eyes, you let out of stream of electricity towards the target. You only cut it off when the batteries were full but it wasn’t enough. So you replaced the full batteries with empty ones and did it again. And again. And again. Until your chest was heaving and your legs felt like jello. A yawn escaped your lips and you took it as your sign to be done. You recovered the machine and took a long walk back to your room.
As soon as your head hit the pillow, you fell into a dreamless sleep.
Characters: Rhodey X Daughter!Reader, Peter Parker X Fem!Reader
Universe: Marvel, Avengers
Warnings: None
Request: Could you do a Rhodey x daughter!reader who’s dating peter? Just some protective fluff please!
Tony’s phone ringing had all eyes on him during the meeting, most eyes being glaring, though Tony just rolled his eyes and excused himself, standing and leaving the room to take the call. He pulled his phone from his pocket, seeing the name of the caller, and accepted the call. “Rhodey? I’m in a meeting, what’s going on?” He asked over the phone.
“Is the kid with you?” Rhodey immediately asked.
“What?”
“Parker. Peter Parker, is he with you? Do you know where he is?” Rhodey asked in an impatient tone, Tony being able to imagine his best friend pacing back and forth. For a split second Tony was baffled as to why Rhodey would be asking about Peter- the two rarely interacted- had something happened to the kid? However, as he thought more about it, he realised what had happened, and he got a grin on his face.
“He’s probably with Y/N.” He answered, holding back his laughter as he heard his friend groan loudly. “I can picture it now- walking hand in hand, planning their future together, probably stealing kisses-”
“Tony I swear to god!” Rhodey complained, and Tony couldn’t help his laughter. “It isn’t funny! I don’t know where Y/N is and if your kid is taking her for a swing 5,000 feet in the air and he could drop her, I’ll kill him!”
“Okay, I know you’re gonna hate what I’m gonna say- but you’re being over protective.” Tony told him, hearing an annoyed sigh over the phone. “I know Peter, and I know how much that kid loves Y/N. He has literally had a panic attack about hugging her too tight because of his spidey strength, there’s no way he’s gonna take her for a swing, and if it makes you feel any better…” Tony paused, checking his watch. “They should be on the train right now. They’re going to that Festival an hour away- do not ruin it for them, Rhodey, you know that if you rock up Y/N will get mad at you.” He warned. Tony understood Rhodey’s protectiveness over you- he was your godfather afterall, and he’d been there since you were born and helped his friend raise you. He understood why Rhodey was scared about his baby growing up and dating people- he knew that people could be cruel and that people could manipulate you- he’d been a victim of it himself, but he knew Peter, and he knew that while dating a superhero has it’s risks, he knew that Peter would rather die then put you in danger or hurt you. However, Rhodey didn’t know Peter like Tony, and he understood he apprehension on you two dating, leaving Tony to be the mediator to try and keep everyone happy.
“...Alright, alright… I’m just upset she didn’t tell me where she was going.”
“I know, but you’ve got to think about why. She knows you’re looking for a reason to get between her and Peter, so she’s probably romanticising the idea of sneaking out to see him. Open up to her, and maybe actually get to know Peter? I’ll be there as well if you want, we’ll go and do something where there’s no tension, you can have a talk with Peter, and when Y/N sees you two not at each other’s throat, she’ll probably relax and tell you about what’s happening in the relationship and where she’s going with him.” Tony suggested.
“Good point… there’s that convention for technology coming up next week that we’re booked to go to, how about we let them tag along… they can have their time alone while we do a panel and then I can probably have a moment with Peter… does that sound fair?”
“Yeah, more than fair. I’m sure Y/N will be thrilled to see you two finally getting along.”
“Alright. One last thing Tony- how come you knew about them going to the festival?” Rhodey asked his friend. Tony realised his mistake- he hadn’t told Rhodey about it earlier and had kept it a secret until now, presumably being told about the date by either you or Peter beforehand.
“Sorry- you’re breaking up, I didn’t catch that. “
“Tony don’t you dare-”
“It’s just static, I’ll call you ba-” He quickly ended the call, shoving his phone back into his pocket and going back into the meeting room. “Sorry about that- what have I missed?”
Hope you like it! If you have any questions, please send them in!
James Rhodes x Female!Reader: Part of the Package Deal
Summary: When you got married, people warned you that you wouldn’t just be marrying your husband, you’d be marrying into his family. Too bad no one ever warned you you’d be marrying into his friendships, too.
Rating/Warnings: All (Post-Captain America: Civil War; Captain America: Civil War Compliant; Hurt!James “Rhodey” Rhodes; Married!James “Rhodey” Rhodes; Vitriolic Best Buds; Mild Swearing; Avengers Compound)
Challenge: “100 Little Drabbles” by Wingu on Lunaescence Archives
Prompt: Break
Tag List: @imaginesfire
Notes: This is my first go at writing Rhodey outside of his occasional appearances in longer Tony-centric works. It’s long overdue, and I might have gone a little overboard with Tony just because I feel bad that I always focus on his friendship with Bruce instead.
Part of the Package Deal
Gravel crunched beneath your feet as you stepped of your sensibly-sized and -colored rental car onto the Avengers Compound’s sweeping grounds. Several huge buildings rose up around you high enough to block out the sun crawling westward toward the horizon. You pulled your sunglasses off to get a better look at your surroundings. So this was where Jim had been spending so much time for the past year. And how could you blame him? This place blew your modest home in Malibu out of the water.
No, no, no! Pinching the bridge of your nose, you shook your head back and forth until it cleared of the usual Stark razzle-dazzle. You refused to let anything here impress you. Tony thought modern architecture and flashy tech were enough to make up for the fact you never heard about your husband unless he’d been involved in an accident? Well, not anymore.
With one sharp exhale, you squared your shoulders and snapped your attention to the nearby doors. According to the map you’d printed off the internet, these led into the living quarters for the Avengers. You took one handle and yanked to no avail. Locked. Yes, you decided as you took a step back to look for any obtrusive security cameras, you were definitely in the right place.
“Tony!” You banged on the glass. “Tony, let me in!”
Peering inside revealed nothing but an empty room filled with exercise equipment. You knocked again.
“Tony, I did not fly all the way here from California for you to ignore me!”
“Mr. Stark is currently tied up in other matters. May I have your name, please?”
The cool, Irish-accented voice of a woman seemed to come from nowhere. You jumped about a foot away from the door. A minute or two of pulse-pounding shock later, you realized this must be yet another of Tony’s AIs. What had happened to JARVIS, you wondered. He never had to ask for your name.
“Your [Name], please,” the new AI insisted.
“[F Name] Rhodes,” you answered as you stepped back to the door.
“I have no such name on the approved visitor list for today. Please contact our publicity office to arrange for an appointment at a later date. Goodbye.”
“Hold it!”
No reply came forth. For all the good it would do, you smashed your fist against the door once more. Then you held your breath. Still nothing moved behind the glass. Had Tony’s artificial bouncer really just left you here alone?
“Ma'am, I’m afraid that if you do not vacate the facility premises in the next ten minutes, I will be forced to call in the authorities.”
Apparently not.
“Listen,” you said, still unsure of exactly where to look to get your point across. “You tell Tony that [F Name] Rhodes is here. If he still won’t let me in, I’ll gladly talk to whatever authorities you’re required to summon. If he wants the extra publicity, I don’t mind giving it to him.”
The woman didn’t answer. You wondered again what had become of JARVIS. JARVIS knew you. He would never have left you standing outside, listening for the sound of approaching sirens or Iron Man drones. Heck, he’d probably have opened the door without waiting to get permission from his precious boss.
Movement flashed somewhere in the back of the room a quarter of an inch away from you. A figure made its rapid way in your direction. Soon it was close enough for you to identify: Tony Stark had made an appearance at last. He looked uncharacteristically pale as he unlocked the door and pushed it open to allow you inside.
“Where’s Jim?” you asked after you dumped your purse on a nearby plastic chair—the only flat surface you could fine that wasn’t tile floor.
“Hello to you, too, [Name],” Tony said. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Don’t play dumb with me..”
“You’re a long way from California. It never occurred to you to call first?”
“The line was busy.” You folded your arms across your chest and asked again calmly, “Where’s Jim?”
Tony pushed his hair from his forehead with a sigh. You noticed he was having trouble meeting your eyes. “Resting.”
“Resting where?”
“Can we not do this right now? Let me show you to a room. We’ve got plenty available. When Rhodey’s ready, we’ll all have dinner together. I might even be able to dig Vision up from wherever he got to. We can talk then.”
As though Tony could weasel out of a conversation you wanted to have with him. You’d known him far too long for any of his usual stalling tactics to work.
“Tony, I’ll tell you this one time before I start pulling this place apart with my bare hands: Give me. My husband.”
Your eyes locked with his. A long pause ensued. You could practically see the gears (or suitably high-tech equivalent) turning inside Tony’s skull as he struggled to come with some comeback witty enough to distract you. Too late. Before he could utter another word, you turned on your heel to follow the dim hallway leading from the room.
“Wait!” he called after you.
You stopped and look at him over your shoulder.
“I…I can’t.”
“Why not?” You could barely keep the anger from your voice.
“Because he isn’t ready yet.”
“He isn’t ready for what?”
“Ready for you to see him!”
Gritting your teeth in a silent snarl, you marched right back up to Tony and jabbed a finger into his chest where his arc reactor used to sit. “You have no right to keep me from him.”
“I know.” He took the hand still prodding him, but instead of shoving it away, he wrapped his own hand around yours. “[Name], I promise, as soon as he’s okay, I’ll take you right to him.”
“‘Okay’? ’Okay’? Why is he not okay? Did something else happen to him?”
“No, not exactly.”
“What is he doing here anyway? He should be at the VA!”
“Trust me. This the best place for him. I’ve got one of the best neurosurgeons in the country on speed dial. Admittedly not the best, because he wouldn’t take my calls—but this one is excellent, too, and she’s keeping a good eye on him! I’m doing the best with what I’ve got, all right?”
He probably thought you’d drop the point of your husband being kept at Avengers HQ instead of a medical facility. After all, Tony was the man that built the greatest technical innovation the world had seen in decades while being kept prisoner in a cave with a box of scraps. But this wasn’t the fate of Tony’s reputation or his company at stake here. It was the man you loved’s life.
“Not good enough,” you said.
Tony pulled you back as you attempted a second break for the hall. “[Name], would you listen to me? Rhodey is as physically and emotionally fine as he can be. All I’m asking for is a little more time.”
Something about that request broke the dam inside you. Every horrible feeling you had experienced over the last few days crashed over you—the fear, the anger, the stress, the worry, all of it. Despite your best efforts to keep yourself upright and strong, tears filled your eyes. You ripped your arm free of Tony’s grip so that you could wipe your face dry with your sleeve and level a dry glare at him.
“I have given you time, Tony. It’s been days. I should have heard it from you, not from CNN.”
“I admit, when you put it that way, I could probably have handled the reveal a bit better.”
“How do you think I feel, knowing Jim is out there putting his life on the line for you, only to hear he’s been seriously injured while I’m listening to the news over dinner?”
“Things have just been a little hectic around here since Steve decided to play Dirty Harry, okay? I swear, I was going to call you just as soon as—”
“As soon as what? I am his wife, Tony! I deserve—”
“[Name]?”
Both you and Tony looked toward the hall to see a familiar man creeping up it, his hands pressed against the white wall to help him stand.
“Jim!” you gasped at the exact same time that Tony said, “Rhodey?”
For one shining moment, you remained so stunned to see your husband again that you failed to notice anything different about him. All you could do was stare at him in happy wonder—until he reached the end of the wall and nearly tumbled to the floor without further support. He would have fallen, had Tony not been quick enough to see what was happening and leap to fill the place the wall once had.
“Thanks,” Jim said.
“Don’t mention it. What are you doing out of bed?”
The two of them made their slow, staggering way across the room. You watched with one hand over your mouth. Could this really be the same man that had stood at the end of the aisle at your wedding? He looked the same and sounded the same, but, oh, Jim. Thankfully, you noticed where the men were headed before you gave yourself over to more tears. Your purse was unceremoniously dumped to the floor just as Jim collapsed into it. A few seconds went by as he caught his breath.
“I thought I heard the two of you arguing,” he answered Tony at last.
“We weren't—” But the cutting look you shot Tony prevented him finishing his protest.
“Sure,” Jim said, then he looked at you. “When did you get here?”
“About fifteen minutes ago,” you replied.
“Well, it’s good to see you. I was beginning to wonder when Tony would allow me to have visitors.”
“He didn’t.”
Jim frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I’m only here because I found out what happened on the news. Tony has nothing to do with it.”
“Oh. Oh. I’m sorry, [Name]. I should have called you. Between the media blitz and all the physical therapy, it never even crossed my mind.”
You put your hand gingerly on his shoulder and were relieved that he didn’t collapse under the added weight. “It’s okay, Jim. I don’t blame you for my finding out this way.”
“It isn’t Tony’s fault.”
You snorted, causing Jim’s faint eyebrows to lift.
“It’s not.”
“Jim.” Now your hand moved to cup his cheek. “This happened because you were cleaning up one of Tony’s messes again.”
Admittedly, you didn’t have all the details lined up just yet. One never could trust the news to tell the whole or entire truth about something, but this fiasco smelled strongly of one of Tony’s harebrained world-protection schemes. His role in keeping Jim away from for months at a time was a well-worn subject of argument between you and your husband; bringing it up now when Jim was so weak wasn’t exactly fair. But you couldn’t stand seeing him like this, and the knowledge that Tony had something to do with his injuries again only aggravated you further.
“I swear, you got hurt less often back when you only worked for the Air Force,” you said throatily.
Jim pressed one of his hands over the one you had on his face, then waited to speak until you could control yourself enough to look him in the eye:
“[Name], you know I make my own decisions.”
“And those decisions change if you think Tony’s going to get himself killed,” you grumbled.
“And you know I’m willing to call Tony out when I think he’s being an idiot.”
“Which doesn’t matter when he doesn’t listen.”
“And you knew that when you and I got married, Tony was part of that package deal.”
Another glare in Tony’s direction met with an odd expression on his part. Before it had felt like he couldn’t look straight at you. Now it felt like he’d forgotten you were even there, so focused was he on Jim. Could that be guilt you read on Tony’s face? Surely not. You turned back to your husband with a sharp breath.
“At the time, I didn’t realize the deal would involve so much of you two flying around in metal suits.”
Jim let out a soft, low chuckle. His eyelids slid shut. When he dropped his arm to his side, you reluctantly pulled your hand away from him. Tony knelt beside him to put his hand on the shoulder you had so recently held.
“You had a rough morning. You should be in bed,” he said.
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Jim tried to wave him off, but Tony stayed put.
“I mean it. You want to backslide? All that progress we made this morning? Gone, because your stubborn ass has to come running whenever I get in a fight.”
“You’re not in any condition to go toe to toe with [Name] right now.”
“When am I ever?”
The two of them grinned at each other in that infuriating way that only a couple of guys making a private joke could. Seeing as you were the butt of that private joke, you did not crack a smile. You allowed them to continue smiling, though, until their little “bromance” moment stretched on a little too long. Both men started when you cleared throat. Maybe they had forgotten you were still standing there with your arms crossed over your chest.
“And what, exactly, about this morning was so rough?” you asked frostily.
The look Jim and Tony exchanged that time was different—more raised eyebrows and frowning—but equally infuriating.
“What aren’t you telling me?” This question you directed at your husband. “I came out all this way to find out what’s been going on, so one of you had better spit it out.”
“Or what?” asked Tony.
“Tony, I think she’s serious,” Jim said.
“So am I. Is not knowing really grounds for a divorce? I’m just weighing our options here.”
With an aggrieved sigh, Jim shoved Tony out of his immediate personal bubble. Tony must not have wanted to keep their shared secret too badly, because he did nothing to prevent Jim from taking a deep breath and saying:
“Tony’s got me doing some…experimental physical therapy.”
Well, that wasn’t a comforting explanation. “So you’re a physical therapist now?” you asked.
“Among other things,” Tony said.
“Look.”
You could not ignore Jim’s soft request. Instead of firing back at Tony as you so badly wanted to, you returned your attention to your husband. He tapped at a glowing blue circle about halfway down his thigh. From that light sprouted a complicated system of pulleys and joints and even more lights that sprawled across Jim’s legs and hips. So eager had you been to see him alive and moving that you hadn’t even noticed this addition to his body.
“Tony made these for me,” he said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be able to walk at all.”
Your mouth opened. Your mouth closed. Again. Again. Again. Still unable to think of any way to express your thoughts on the matter, you raised your head to look at Tony. You were surprised to find his brown eyes shining when they met your gaze.
“We’re still working out the kinks. Rhodey is—” Tony coughed a few times, then went on, “Rhodey is amazing. He’s doing great. Really great. I’m just trying to get the braces up to his speed.”
“We’re both getting there. Together.”
Tony shook his head, unwilling to accept Jim’s encouragement. His eyes and yours were trained on each other like magnets. “You weren’t supposed to show up until he was perfect. That’s why I didn’t call. I wanted to give him back to you good as new.”
“Tony…” Jim began, but once more Tony waved him off.
“I owe you both at least that much.”
Neither you nor Tony seemed able to figure out what to say to each other after that. At least you finally managed to break eye contact. He looked back at Jim, tried to smile, failed, and awkwardly stuck his hands in the front pockets of his pants. You turned your head to blink rapidly at the wall, cleared your throat again, and tried not to cry. After struggling to find words to say to Tony for another minute or so, you gave up and went back to Jim instead.
“You really think this is what you need? Not rehab at an actual hospital?” you asked.
He didn’t miss a beat. “I trust Tony. This is what I want to do.”
Normally, Tony would have taken this compliment and rubbed it in your face until it ground to dust. That day he didn’t react at all. Didn’t blink. Didn’t grin. Didn’t so much as offer a single quip. He seemed to be waiting for you to make the next move. His behavior threw you off, and the more you thought about it, the more you realized just how little Tony was acting like himself at all. The whole catastrophe with Steve—and Jim’s injury—must have really rattled him.
Then it hit you: Jim wasn’t just staying here for his own sake; he could never be that selfish. Tony needed Jim just then just as badly as Jim needed Tony. You couldn’t tear him away.
“Fine,” you said.
“Fine?” Tony echoed.
“What’s fine?” Jim asked.
“You can stay. I won’t drag you off to the nearest VA like I was planning to.”
“You won’t?” A hopeful note crept into Tony’s voice.
“Really?” said Jim.
“Really,” you answered.
They both cheered. If you’d given them the time, you suspected they might have actually embraced. You did not give them the time, however. Tony could change his mind just as quickly as you, so you needed to get things arranged as soon as possible. Neither he nor Jim noticed you taking a step away from them, but they couldn’t fail to hear you say:
“Just let me go get my bags out of the car.”
You made a beeline for the door you’d come through before either of them could register what you said. Such ringing silence could not last. No sooner had you placed your hand on the door handle than did Tony shake off the lingering shock.
“Wait. No one said anything about you staying,” he said as he came after you. “No, no. This is a secure facility! I’m sure we can find you a nice hotel nearby if you really feel you need to—”
“Tony,” said Jim.
“She’s not an Avenger!”
“Yeah, and neither are we much these days.”
Then Jim tried to get to his feet. It looked more to you like he was having a seizure. His feet scuffed against the floor while his fingers grasped the edge of the chair he sat on. Very slowly and very arduously, he finally managed to stand. You held everything you had inside you very, very still to prevent yourself from running over to him and helping him over to Tony’s side. He got there all on his own several agonizing minutes later. There he clapped Tony on the shoulder and shot him a tired smile.
“Besides, you knew when [Name] and I got married, she’d always be part of the package deal,” he said.
Tony’s lips pursed together at that. They squirmed for a long time. At last, without bothering to so much as look in your direction, he said, “Fine. She can stay.”
“Thanks, Tony.”
“But you have to say in the wing where we house the orphaned SHIELD agents!” Tony’s call followed you out of the compound and back onto the lot where your rental car sat waiting.
“Tony—” Jim began in a warning tone.
The door shutting behind you prevented you from hearing the quarrel that surely followed. Those two were always like that, especially when it came to you. As you hefted your two suitcases from the car’s trunk, though, you found you didn’t care. You didn’t care about having to listen to Jim and Tony argue until they were blue in the faces or drunk. You didn’t care about the fights you and Tony would get into when he inevitably got bored and started picking on you. You didn’t even care that it looked as though you and your husband would not be returning to your home in California soon or ever at all.
No, all you felt in that moment was grateful. Tony Stark might have put a lot of stock into the work of his own hands, modern architecture, and flashy tech—but he put more stock into his friendship with you and with Jim.
Summary: After a mission that brings back the ghosts of your former life, you are uncertain about the future. You are struggling to keep the past where it belongs and desperately hope for a new beginning. Ultimately, you come to question the very fabric of who you are.
Settled amongst pillows and sheets, you give in to the unsettling stillness of your bedroom. Your tossing and turning ended hours ago but your body still vibrates with echoes of your mission. The heaviness of your extremities is only outweighed by the anxiety plaguing your mind.
Within the darkness behind your eyelids, you find the doorway to your past and present transgressions; ones you cannot seem to escape no matter how many years have passed, names you’ve taken, or miles you traveled.
Looking left. Looking right. More darkness.
There is no end. Was there ever a beginning? Perhaps at one time.
Your dreams had not always been like this. No aimless wandering. No endless void. The time you spend here, before the waking hour, used to be filled with smiling faces and the fixtures of family life you had never known until that point. The dreams were a loop of your collective memories, the good ones. The ones where you ran through the halls with a pair of smaller feet chasing after you. Your combined laughter bouncing off the perfectly decorated walls as you ducked and weaved through the thicket of unsuspecting maids. Those dreams were a replica of the first home you had ever known; the haven where safety smelled of grapes and fresh rainwater.
Gone are those treasures. Their luster has been worn away, leaving behind an unwanted truth. Fallacies, all of it.
It’s been so long since you have visited the mausoleum of your memories but still, you feel their haunting presence. For as much as you try to separate yourself from them, they are the fabric of who you are today. Too full that grave is, so you tend to a different place.
The next burial plot is waiting, not too far from your consciousness. It is ready to swallow all that will be placed within it.
Even you.
Mournful.
You’ve given up on trying to claw your way out of despair’s grave. The dirt beneath your nails in the collection of your own anguish.
What if she comes back for me?
What if they get hurt because of me?
What if I can’t save them?
I couldn’t help then.
And I can’t save myself now.
I wasn’t enough.
It’s never enough.
Each new thought is a shovel full of dirt being cast upon you by the reaper himself. Yet even as it becomes hard to breathe, you allow yourself to be buried alive.
It’s better this way.
Alone.
Not burdening others.
Fully buried with your grief, you find a perverted sense of solace.
It is a pain that is all too familiar and too welcomed by you.
Observant.
The party is in full swing by the time you exit the elevator. Upbeat music plays in the background, luring you from the confines of your mind. Taking the flute of champagne offered by a passing waiter, your eyes scan the room. Individuals glide about, wrapped in expensive suits and dresses. Heels and shined shoes click against the hardwood flooring. Heads tip back in laughter and conversations, in various languages, meld together into one solid stream of noise.
Steve, Sam, and Bucky stand with a group of military officers. Most are older gentlemen. They come from generations that know all too well that casualties of war are not always the ones left buried in foreign lands or returning home in pine boxes. They seem to be reminiscing, finding comfort in tales that most will never understand.
Your eyes trace their figures, calibrating their posture. Bucky stands rigid but still fidgets. The metal digits of his left-hand twitch, curling and uncurling as he listens. You’ve come to recognize that tick as it happens quite frequently. Although his tenure on the team has been much longer than yours, he still must find himself in uncomfortable situations. A frown hides behind the rim of your glass. You know all too well the feeling of being just at the edge of everything. It’s difficult not to sympathize with the man.
He’s suffering. Still suffering.
You move on, finding Tony and Bruce locked in a heated debate. There’s no telling what they’re discussing. Their mouths move too quickly and surely even if you could hear, you would still be lost. Big brains and big words. Too smart for their own good. Tony’s hands flail, gesturing the enormity of what he is saying. Overly excited that one always is and confident. That’s how you would describe him if anyone were to ask. The other scientist is more cautious, more calculated. Bruce’s shoulders deflate, sinking low as they usually do when certain situations frustrate him. With a shake of his head, he begins a rebuttal with fervor much akin to Tony’s.
The pair make a good team. Fearless curiosity and balanced restraint.
By the bar, Rhodey and Natasha enchant a group of people with a story. Instinctively, your fingers trace the medallion sitting in your pocket. The two are very much like the sun. Beaming, bright, and luring people to look upon them with awe. Even from across the room, the warmth of their combined presence is comforting. There's something else. While it may be easy to miss for most, you can still see the stormy darkness in Nat’s eyes. It’s a glimmer that makes her more human; a vulnerability that you feel connected to. The two of them are endearing and enduring. How you wish you could find those qualities in yourself.
Hesitant.
As the party dwindles and guests take their leave, the Avengers migrate towards couches. The laughter and stories continue, becoming more intimate and personal and once again, you feel as if you are encroaching.
“(Y/N)! Where are you going?” A voice calls out as you slink from your secluded corner towards the elevator, “C’mon. There’s enough room for one more.”
Clint. Though not one to make himself the center of attention, he stands out when needed. He is covert and deliberate in most things but there’s underlying humanity in his actions.
Even across the room, he has his hand out to you, again waiting for you to make the next move. The smile he wears is warm, quelling your nervous jitters. Following his initiative, the others call out to you, urging you to join. It’s a change, scary and new but an offer you take.
Witty.
“Hey. Excuse me,” Tony accusingly points a finger causing you to tense. “That’s not one of the options I sent up.”
“Oh. Well, while the dresses you chose were absolutely beautiful, they weren't necessarily functional.”
“(Y/N), (Y/N), (Y/N).” Each sigh of your name is laced with exasperation. “I'll let it slide that you lied when you told us you had nothing nice to wear. I knew you had to have something impressive in that wardrobe of yours.” His hand gestures to the stunning suit you wear. Head to toe, you project poised confidence but underneath it all, you are still a bundle of nerves. "And just for your information, fashion isn’t meant to be functional."
“Well, you never know when I might need to save your ass again, Tony.”
The laughter picks up again with hoots and hollers from the others. Tony stutters before lamenting that Ironman can get out of any situation only if his suit is working properly. The calls for more details come from those that had not been present. And most are on the edge of their seats as Natasha and a somewhat inebriated Tony begin to reenact the takedown scene. It’s only when she flings him over her shoulder and he lets out a high-pitched squeal that you join the others in raucous laughter.
...
Over the years, you and your desires have been described in many ways. You’ve taken on numerous faces throughout your life for a plethora of causes and yet there are only four words that have rung true through each of your lives. And now, there is one more. It’s the one you have decided upon for yourself. For the first time, you know it to be the most accurate.
Yearning...To stay. To belong. To call this home. To call them family.
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Avengers Masterlist • Temporary Translucence Tag List
A/N: I know. I know. This is a more introspective chapter. But I felt this was the right place to go before the next few. Parts 5 & 6 have more interactions and drama. They are fairly long so prepare yourselves. We needed a quiet one before I hit ya with the action.
Parts 5 & 6 will be posted on Friday (4.23.21). They will go up at 6:30pm & 7:00pm.
Avengers(+Black Panther and Peter Quill) x Male!Reader
Note: I may add more if I get any ideas or if requested...
Marvel Preferences: When They Get Protective Of You (Part 2)
---------------------------
T'Challa will become protective of you when someone is threatening you. No matter how much you protest, he will have special protection with you for possibly for about a week. He visits you more often, to check on your health and if you need anything. T'Challa will also have atleast Shuri to come see you if he's not there.
Erik is protective of you in general...There's not one time where he isn't sending threatening glares at people who eye you for too long or flirt with you. He always has either his arm around you or holding your hand when you two go in public.
Quill just gets protective when he feels left out. He won't hestitate to confront them and ask questions that are irrelevant, thinking he's proving a point. He'll then tell you what he thinks that person is without any proof at all...making you facepalm.
Quentin is already possessive, so you're not really going to have anyone near you; he has no problem using his technology to scare off anyone who he thinks is going to take you away from him, especially since you're the only person who he can feel no stress around and one of the few people who warms his heart.
Rhodey becomes protective of you when he feels like you're going to screw up or lose focus. He's usually the one who puts you back on track if you're ever distracted. He wants to get the job done, and he can't finish it if your safety is endangered.
Stretched out between her two husband's Lottie lays awake, unable to fall asleep despite the past few exhausting nights...for many reasons. Rhodes is on leave for the time being but could be called back into action at any moment, Tony is getting more threats than usual, government accusations now turned to press vultures harassing the throuple at any moment they could- since the announcement of his superhero status' life has changed.
Everyone is under more government scrutiny and the anti-mutant legislation constantly being brought to court would be enough to distress her on a normal day, but now... A personally mailed letter requesting an audience with "Lenora Azzam-Stark", Nicholas J.Fury, and Thaddeus Ross of S.H.I.E.L.D had her incredibly frustrated. Inside her own head too much that's what their platypus calls it, she's barely talked all day- just thinking and overthinking. Tony and James respect her boundaries enough to not force conversation out of her, something she's great full for but she knows it can't last forever.
"I can hear yuh thinkin'" comes groggy and raspy out of her soulmates mouth, his arms moving to tighten further around her, whispering hoping not to wake up Tony, he doesn't get enough sleep as it is, it's best to let him catch up on rest while he can.
"'m sorry. Just worried." She turns to lay her head on his chest, engulfed in his warmth. "You don't gotta be sorry, just tell me how you're feelin', what's eating at you?"
"I'm just stressed about tomorrow, you've seen the news, being asked to meet the government agency that puts people like me in jail for just living our lives isn't exactly somethin' I'm excited about." She mumbles out, burying her face into his shoulder. Unable to make eye contact just needing to be physically acknowledged. "Well... There's always a risk something could go wrong' he further comforts her rubbing his hands up and down her arms; a loving act." but we are here for you, and we'd never let that happen to you, okay? You have us behind your back."
"And an army of lawyers."
The laugh can almost be heard in his voice, "Yes, Tony. And an army of lawyers." The three of them take a moment to bask in the silence, comfortable, needed. "The two of you try and get some sleep okay? I need my insomniacs functional."
"Yes, Papa Bear." His fellow soulmates’ voices are heard, low and tired- already drifting off into the sleepy abyss.
"Mrs. Azzam, they'll be seeing you now."
Lottie can feel her blood running cold at the words, raising herself up onto shaky legs, "the monkey suit" (business attire) itching, and rubbing at every sect of her skin it manages to touch.
She enters through the set of double doors before her, to see director Fury and senator Ross already waiting, both men motion for her to sit down, agent Hill. Maria. The one who escorted her inside shuts the door, placing her body in front of it as a barrier, trapping the other woman inside.
"Lenora." The name makes her cringe coming out of his mouth, there were few people privileged to call her that, and Ross, the crypt keeper who walks his way around politics: looking like he's on the brink of death’s door is definitely not one of those people. "I believe you're aware of what you've been invited here to discuss?"
"Yes, sir." It takes all her strength to stop the bile rising up her throat from spilling out of her mouth.
"Good than this should be quick, Lenora Azzam-Stark, you are in violation of the mutant/human protection act as imposed but the fair and just people of the United States of America. You are an unregistered mutant. You are in illegal possession of violent military-grade weapons, you have neglected to notify the United States government of your full capabilities, and have illegally filed for a marriage license in the state of New York. How do you plead?
"I- what, what happens if I plead not guilty?"
Director Fury takes the question prompted as his cue to speak, "Well you have some options. If you plead not guilty you can be judged by a jury of your peers who will be presented with evidence of your 'misconduct' and come to an... unbiased conclusion, or the more likely, you could be put in front of a judge who will decide your sentence, and time served, likely nullify your marriage and deem you unfit to integrate with regular human society. "
"And what if I plead guilty?"
He smirks, the side of his lip upturned, aiming to his eye, or lack thereof. "Well you have some options here too, you can plead guilty, spend a minimum sentence in high security, mutants only facility. And be allowed limited access to the outside world after your incarceration. Or,' he leans forward onto his arms, that have found their resting place on the large oak table.' "and this is the path we suggest you take, you join S.H.I.E.L.D, become part of a new... An initiative we have in the works, you'll be collared until such a moment we see it fitting for you to use your abilities, and you keep your marriage, your home, your life."
Tears are slowly lining the edge of her eyes, "My life? Do- do either of you have any idea how painful it is for a mutant to suppress their abilities, the stinging, burning, chronic pain? What kind of life would that be?"
"A free one."
"I- can I think about it?"
"Unfortunately not Mrs. Stark, you either leave the room with a collar around your neck willingly, or you do so forcefully, in handcuffs as well. We can give you medication to help with the pain, it won't help much but it will be manageable, so I ask again. How do you plead?"
And that's how Lottie ended up back home sobbing into both of her husband's arms, collared like a dog- a bottle of pills in hand, pain already setting in deep to her bones. The light of the arc reactor illuminated her tears. He's technically a mutant now too, but nothing will change, because he hadn't been born that way. The only thing racing through all of their minds is-
This isn't fair.
"Is that green tea?"
"Yup."
"That mug is almost the size of your head."
Lottie sighs turning to face Tony, stiff movements like she's getting used to being in her own body. "I need the extra kick especially since I can't have coffee anymore." He looks over her in shock, the exhaustion evident in her features. "I'm sorry, you can't have coffee anymore?" He takes two fingers and points them between the cup and herself, shifting forward to accentuate his point.
"Yup." She placates- popping the P'.
"And, why not?"
"Fucks with my meds."
"Ah."
"Okay, okay- listen come 'ere, baby.' Tony reaches over her to move the half-finished gargantuan mug aside. Pulling her into his lap, his hand traces over her cheek, and down her neck, examining the collar. He uses two fingers to raise her chin and does his best to lay his head into the junction of her neck and shoulder. "We will find something to help, not whatever crap Ross gave you, Something with fewer side effects too until then keep up with the green tea, but please try a smaller cup tomorrow, I'm worried you're gonna drown yourself in that thing."
"Thank you."
"No need, Rhodey and I were talking last night after you fell asleep- it was his idea."
"Mhmm, I'll have to reward him somehow, then." She teases her voice dropping into a whisper. "Maybe we both will, platypus won't know what's comin' for em."
The pair lets a moment of silence fall between them, a beat further and Lottie pats Tony on the back urging him to release her. "Well as cute as this all was, get off. We gotta check your blood."
The genius groans at the thought, rolling his eyes in patented stark fashion "We were having a moment, a nice one too, and you had to go and ruin it huh?" Lottie smiles back "Yup that's what I do, certified moment ruiner."
"Fine. If we must, JARVIS: Wake up, Daddy's home." He shouts to the room, U begins rushing over to the kitchen nook ready to prepare the chlorophyll smoothies needed to sustain his father, and Jarvis sequentially exposed all the screens within the room from their dormant state.
"Welcome home, sir. Congratulations on the opening ceremonies. They were such a success, as was your Senate hearing. And may I say how refreshing it is to finally see you in a video with your clothing on, sir." The petty comment summons a chuckle out of the engineer and his wife, interrupted only by the crashing of appliances behind them "U! I swear to God I'll dismantle you. I'll soak your motherboard. I'll turn you into a wine rack." The comment causes the aforementioned bot to bow his head in shame looking almost depressed. "Tony! Aww, come 'ere, the big bad man didn't mean it- c'mon. Come to momma." He perks up and rolls over quickly, placing his 'head' in her lap.
"You're too easy on him, he needs discipline."
"Disciplining him, and threatening are two different things, Tones."
"Sure. Anyway, how many ounces a day of this gobbledegook am I supposed to drink?"
"We are up to 80 ounces a day to counteract the symptoms, sir."
"Check palladium levels." He pulls out his device, reminiscent of what's used for blood sugar analysis.
"Blood toxicity, 24% it appears that the continued use of the Iron Man suit is accelerating your condition. Another core has been depleted." Tony lifts his shirt fiddling with a replacement-
"Here, let me help you, you'll struggle to do it yourself looking down I can see what I'm doing." His wife finally stepped in after seeing him fumble with his fingers. She rotates and pulls the reactor out of his chest, handing it back so that the core can be replaced.
"God they're running out quick."
"I have run simulations on every known element, and none can serve as a viable replacement for the palladium core." Jarvis narrates as Tony hands the reactor back to Lottie so she can reinsert it back into its home, gently running her fingers across his scars, in a comforting manner, then pulling his shirts back down to cover the exposed skin.
"You are running out of both time and options.' Tony's breath picks up; harsher now. Feeling the effects of the palladium kicking in again. 'Unfortunately, the device that's keeping you alive is killing you."
"Ms. Potts is approaching, I recommend the two of you inform her." "Mute."
Lottie would love to tell Pepper what's going on, she one of the few friends she has outside of her husbands’, but legally Pepper could only know the bare bones of her new situation, and she wouldn't violate Tony's trust by going behind his back to tell her something he's explicitly keeping private. Other than Jarvis and the boys, Rhodey, her, and Tony are on a need-to-know basis of the latter condition, and until further discussion, it will stay that way.
"Uh-uh." Tony makes a noise of indignation towards the blonde, downing another glass of the dark green liquid.
"Hi, Pepper." A wave and a smile sent in the wans direction.
"Lenora." she smiles back. "Just because you're on the clock doesn't mean we aren't close anymore, You can just call me Lottie, here." Pepper nods in silent agreement before turning her attention to the other Stark.
"Is this a joke?"
"What are you thinking?"
"What?"
"What're you thinking?!"
"Hey. I'm thinking I'm busy. And you're angry about something. Do you have the sniffles? I don't wanna get sick."
"Did you just donate the entire foundation modern art collection to the- to the-
"Boy scouts of America."
"I recommend the girl scouts, they're scary, they need something to calm them down instead of intimidating us to buy cookies," Lottie interjects from her seated position.
"Yes, but baby girl, Rhodes was in the boy scouts- he's an alumnus, it's important that we give back to the organizations that shaped us." And he turns to Pepper to continue defending himself, "To your question. The answer is also yes. It's a worthwhile organization. I didn't physically check the crates but basically, yes. And it's not the foundation’s collection, it's my collection. The foundation just so happens to also be under my name."
"You know there are only about 8,011 things I really need to talk to you about."
"Dummy. Hey, stop spacing out. The Bridgeport's already machining that part."
"The expo is a gigantic waste of time."
"I need you to wear a surgical mask until you're feeling better. Is that okay?"
"That's rude."
"There is nothing more important to me on that list than the expo. It's my primary concern. I don't know why you're..."
"The expo is your ego gone crazy."
Okay. Now. Lenora loves Pepper she does, but she knows the other woman can be a bit full of herself and number crazy especially when it comes to draining funds, it's part of the reason why she's so good at her job, but the expo. That's Lottie's baby as much as Tony's.
"The expo is meant to showcase talent and skill, as well as promote accessibility to the tech world. Yes, it's huge and very much Stark centric and we can cut back on some of the theatrics to ease the pressure on funding, but the expo allows people all across the country, the world to showcase their designs and ideas- it’s giving people in disadvantaged communities platforms and the resources to study and create- It offers scholarships and research opportunities to scholars, scientists, engineers, and even a handful of high school students dedicated to making the world a better and safer place through tech. I'm sorry Pepper, but the expo will go as planned. I'll talk Tony down into reigning in his price range.
"See a compromise I can do'. She lightly smacks Tony on the arm with her planner, "be more like her."
Virginia "Pepper" Potts, Ceo of Stark industries. Tony Stark, Iron Man. James Rhodes, War Machine. And Lenora is what? Some hindered mutants, a bird with clipped wings. No, she won't let that be her legacy, she won't let corrupt officials of the U.S decide her fate, if S.H.I.E.L.D wants her to be their little foot soldier, she'll show them exactly what she can do, powers or not. They should fear the idea of threatening the people she loves.
So that's how she ended up here, Tony and Happy trading punches, sparring in the ring while she practices her hand technique, the morning after she meets with Director Fury and Senator Ross, Rhodey and Tony sat her down to brainstorm what she could use in a life or death situation, something that offers enough distance to prevent an attacker from getting too close but something still dynamic and mobile enough it could be used even in her weakened state.
Scythes.
Made of the same titanium alloy that encompasses the War Machine and Iron Man armor, it's swift and light, but sharp enough to decapitate someone if necessary... Not exactly the most reassuring thing to hear coming out of your soulmate’s mouth, but it came from a place of love.
A sudden 'Thud' and resounding groan is enough to break Lottie out of her thoughts.
"Sorry."
"What the hell was that?"
"It's called mixed martial arts. It's been around, about three weeks." Tony as always, try to talk his way out of something he's done, very unconvincingly much to Happy's chagrin.
"It's called dirty boxing. There's nothing new about it."
"Alright put them up. Come on."
The sound of clicking heels breaks the onlooking woman's eye line away from the bickering pair. Striding in is a gorgeous redhead- likely without the heels would be an inch or two shorter than Lenora herself, and the instant connection, the pulling is enough for her to know.
She's found another soulmate.
"Tony."
"Tony!"
"Anthony Stark!"
Now that gets his attention, very rarely had anyone ever referred to tony by his full name since Jarvis and his parents passed away, and there were three exclusive reasons as to why.
One. He's in trouble.
Two. It's being screamed (hopefully in pleasure.)
Three. Someone desperately needs his attention.
"Lovebug, what could I possibly have done, look I know I wasn't exactly fighting by the rules, but that's not even on a top ten list of worst things I've accomplished."
Lottie drops her scythes to the ground beside her feet, careful not to hurt herself- nodding to the direction of the woman whose eyes dart between the pair of them, shocked almost, likely not expecting to meet her soulmates this way.
Now what the Stark's don't know is that the P.A, Pepper hired as Natalie Rushman- is not in fact that: That she's Natasha Romanoff, she's an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D agent who's been sent to observe and build preliminary profiles on the Stark family, That she's been manipulated or at the very least left in the dark to the fact she would have to investigate her soulmates, it's difficult to believe that the mark on her wrist had not been spotted by her superiors and compared to the two standing before her, or worse. It had and she wasn't informed.
Either way, her job just got a hell of a lot harder.
The redhead walks over to Pepper, who had been silently corresponding on her phone until this moment.
"I promise this is the only time I will ask you to sign over your company."
"I need you to initial each box."
Tony and Lenora still have their eyes transfixed on the girl, Happy punches his boss, and friend lightly in the head to encourage him to return his attention back to their 'fight'.
Lottie also takes the hint to pick back up her own weapons and practice with a dummy beside the ring.
"Lesson one, never take your eye off- ughhh"
Lottie smiles at that, Happy being so into teaching that he distracted himself, it's cute. Tony didn't even kick him that hard, but the unexpected blow sent him tumbling and announcing he's done for the day, as he steps out of the ring he corrects Lottie's posture and moves on, the silence giving opportunity for Tony to be... Tony.
"What's your name, pretty lady?"
"Rushman- Natalie Rushman."
"Alright, Ms. Rushman, at least I hope it's Ms.- I am as you know 'The Tony Stark'. This' he points his hand towards the taller woman, 'My wife, Lenora. We all call her Lottie, it's an inside joke I'm sure you'll be in on it one day. No worries. And our hubby is currently consulting for the Air Force, but he'll be home later tonight and excited to meet you I'm sure."
She nods placing her hand in his outreached one, allowing herself to be pulled into the ring. "It's a pleasure to meet you, both of you. A bit strange since you're technically my boss through."
"Oh Natalie, no. Those papers she just signed.' he points to Pepper' makes her your boss, you are definitely ours just not in that way, you are gonna be living in the lap of luxury, Precious."
Pepper and Happy escort themselves out of the room, letting the three fated enjoy some time to themselves. Lenora hangs up her blades on their rack joining her mates.
"He can be a little eccentric, don't worry you'll learn to love it. We aren't going to encourage you to do anything you don't want, if you could stick around to meet Rhodey tonight, that's all I ask- but if you have something else you need to get to you can leave whenever you want."
Nat runs her fingers across her soul mark smiling down at it fondly.
"You know, I could never actually figure out what kind of tree this is... I bought a book once, "The complete guide of wild-growing trees on natural Earth." But I couldn't find an exact species." She looks up to meet the eye line of her mates, "I... Can I see yours?"
Tony bites his lip and smiles his hand coming to the edge of his shirt pulling it up enough to reveal his mark but not quite ready yet to expose his scars and reactor. "It's Yggdrasil. It's Norse, this sacred tree, tree of life." He puts a hand on Lenora's hip encouraging her to turn and face him. He pulls up the back of her shirt and stretches the back straps of her sports bra- exposing how her mark encompasses the entirety of her back. "I didn't know what it was for the longest time either, but put little Lottie here is a bit of a mythology bug she made the connection when she was what? 12?"
"13."
He puts her clothes back into place and turns her back around to face the redhead, he hugs her from behind and puts his head on top of her own. "Ahh, I was close enough."
"Soooo, I gotta say I'm a sucker for strong women. I love it really. You look, strong. Capable, Lottie's been learning how to fight too, Pepper mentioned that the P.A she's hiring knows a thing or two about self-defense. It wouldn't be a leap to assume she was talking about you right?."
"Not a leap at all."
"Promise not to go easy on me?" Lenora jokingly asks her, getting into a fighting stance.
