Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The training ring was spacious, granting you plenty of room to inch around as you stared at the recruit across from you. In a different world, you might have thought she was cute - blonde hair, chocolate eyes, and a flirty smirk on her lips - but your heart belonged to another and that wasn't going to change (even if said person didn't know about your feelings).

She advanced towards you, throwing series of quick punches that you easily deflected. Either she hadn't taken your training serious or she just wasn't trying because a child could have defended against that. She went for your legs, dropping low to try and sweep them out from under you, but you hopped over it and knocked her flat onto her back. You offered her your hand to lift her up, but she turned the tables on you and brought you down onto the mat. She straddled your hips, a playful smirk tugging at her mouth. 

"I could get used to this," she purred, earning an awkward blush.

"Uh, I don't think so," you muttered back, watching a pout fall over her face. You were terribly uncomfortable. You didn't like the position you'd found yourself in. It shouldn't be some random agent straddling you, it should be…

What you were completely unaware of was Wanda staring at you. Her eyes were red, a dangerous glint overcoming them as she took in the compromising position. She hated seeing you like that; you looked so out of your comfort zone and it was evident the woman was prepared to stay on your hips for as long as she could. Red mist played at the tips of her fingers, itching to separate you.

"I think that's enough training for now," you coughed, nudging the woman off your lap.

The agent frowned, but stood, her hands behind her back. "How'd I do?" she batted her eyes at you.

"You did fine," you replied, scratching the back of your neck. The other agents watching were snickering; she was known for trying to sleep her way to the top and you were a good wrung on that ladder, being an Avenger.

The agent nodded, her hand falling to your limp arm. "Well, I had a great teacher."

"Anyways," you clapped your hands together, effectively cutting off contact. "Training is over for the day. Return to your normal duties and we'll pick up sparring tomorrow."

The other agents filtered out of the room at a fast pace, concerned you'd change your mind and make them continue their rigorous workout, but you had no plans for that. Honestly, you just wanted to get away from the woman still standing in the middle of the ring!

You smiled anxiously. "Yes?"

"How can I get better? I feel like I'm not really doing fine."

"Well," you relaxed a little; the conversation was staying in a safe place, "You have to stop choreographing your moves. It's easy to knock you off your game when you do that."

Nodding, she stepped closer. "Is there any way you could give me some private training? I'd love to get better."

Swallowing hard, you glanced away from her. The Avenger part of you wanted to help the agent, but the logical part of you knew that she had something other than training on her mind. "I don't think that's such a good idea."

"It'll be a great idea, I promise," she argued, leaning in to kiss your cheek.

Wanda snapped. She wasn't going to let some random agent do what she'd been wanting to do for months. Using her powers, she forced the two of you apart, sending the agent flying back onto the mat. You were stunned, but so very thankful. You hadn't realized Wanda was there, but God were you glad she was.

Strolling over to you, Wanda slipped into the ring and grabbed your hand, dragging you out of there. She wasn't going to wait for the agent to rise or ask for a hand up. Nope, she was done waiting. Watching you with her was the last straw.

You followed her out of the room without protest, not even casting a glance backward to see if the agent was okay. The woman whose name was written on your heart was holding your hand and that's what mattered. She tangled your fingers together and your lips ticked up, a smitten smile playing there.

Stopping in the hallway, Wanda shoved you up against the wall and pinned you there, her green gaze so deep and intimate. It made your heart stutter before it started beating wildly in your chest. The way she looked at you…

No one had ever looked at you this way before.

"Tell me you don't want this," she whispered, "Tell me you don't have feelings for me and we forget this happened."

Deciding a leap of faith was your best option, you surged forward and crashed your lips together. She relaxed into you, sinking into your embrace as your arms encircled her waist. Her fingers tangled in your hair, tugging gently. You moaned against her lips and she smiled, your mouths turning into smiles pressed together.

You couldn't be happier right now.

"I love you," she mumbled, separating your lips so she could bury her face into your neck. She didn't want to see your face as you replied. There was a difference between love and lust; she was terrified you felt the latter, not the former.

Your face split open in a wide grin and you tugged her back a little. "Read me," you said, capturing her lips in sweet kiss.

Breaking away, Wanda's hands fell to your temples and searched. Every thought you'd ever had of her came rushing to the surface. How beautiful you thought she was, how much time you'd spent pining over her, every dirty thought you'd had (she blushed at those, but kept going), and how much you truly loved her. She was your everything and she deserved to know that.

Her hands dropped from your head and she reconnected your mouths, teeth and tongue clashing as she clung to you desperately. "I love you, I love you, I love you," she repeated over and over, reverently. 

"I love you too," you promised.

You didn’t know what was going to happen next, but with her by your side, you couldn’t wait to find out.

Chapter Text

The park was decked out for the concert, the stage open and wide, the grass greener than you’d ever seen it before. You could hear the chattering of the people occupying space, but you tried to drown it out. Instead, you turned your attention to the woman standing beside you; you took in how her brunette locks cascaded around her face, the way her emerald eyes lit up as she took everything in.

You’d never seen such a beautiful sight before.

Wanda had been honest with you when you first arrived. She was terrified it would be too overwhelming – all the people and the noises and the energy – but standing here, with your hand in hers, she couldn’t help but bounce with excitement. She couldn’t wait for it to start.

The band playing tonight wasn’t super well known and mostly did cover songs, so the park wasn’t insanely full so Wanda was thankful for that. You strolled deeper into the area and found a seat on the grass. When the band finally came out, you were certain you’d have to stand to see but for now, you planned to relax and enjoy the warm May air. The sun was beginning to set, so you knew it wouldn’t be long now.

“Thank you,” Wanda said suddenly, her head falling to your shoulder. She tugged your linked hands into her lap, playing delicately with your fingers.

“For what?” you asked, confusion lacing your words.

She smiled, her first digit tracing along the back of your hand. “For bringing me here tonight. For always being there for me. For loving me.”

“How could I not?” you replied with a gentle smile of your own. “You’re impossible not to love.”

She giggled, raising your hand up so she could kiss the back of it. She felt so safe and loved, something she hadn’t felt ever. Her whole life had consisted of hiding and experimentation and torture, but with you, all of those fears and dark memories drained away. She could just exist.

When the band finally came on stage, the two of you stood up and began swaying to the music. Their first song was soft – a ballad – and Wanda hummed along with the song as she snuggled into your side, closing her eyes and taking it all in. The thoughts from the other people around them were loud, but not deafening. She could tune them out pretty easily so all that mattered was the music.

The first few songs went okay, but then two giants stepped in front of you and suddenly Wanda couldn’t see the stage anymore. She pouted but she didn’t want to complain; she was having such a good time. Noticing your girlfriend’s distress, an idea popped into your head. You were tall enough to see between their heads. It wasn’t too difficult for you, but Wanda was a few inches shorter than you so she was struggling.

Slipping behind her, your hands fell to her hips and you leaned in, whispering into her ear, “Do you trust me?”

“Always,” she replied sweetly, earning a blush from you.

In that moment, you thanked every God that you’d been blessed with super strength and extreme stamina. You stooped a little lower and grabbed her legs, spreading them slightly before tucking your shoulders behind her knees. You lifted her up and she squealed, her hands landing in your hair as you righted yourself, her sitting comfortably atop your shoulders. The guys in front of you glanced behind them and, noticing you, grinned sheepishly.

“Sorry, should we move?”

Hands on Wanda’s knees, you shook your head. “Nah, you’re fine.”

Nodding, their attention returned to the stage and you shifted slightly so that Wanda could watch the performance better. It was weird, being that high up, but Wanda couldn’t help loving it. She could see everything from up here. Absently, her fingers combed through your hair and you sighed contentedly, your attention caught between her ministrations and the band rocking out.

Finally, at the end of the show, the lead singer announced their final song of the evening. It wasn’t one of theirs, but they felt it would be a good song to end the night on. They’d gotten permission to perform it so when it started playing, you smiled. Freeing one hand, you reached up and tangled your fingers with Wanda’s.

Girls love girls and boys…

Wanda smiled down at you and you locked eyes, a smitten expression on her lovely face and an equally adoring one on yours. In that moment, nothing else mattered. All that mattered was you and her and the music washing over you.

In the morning, when the paper shows a picture of you and her in that position and an article discusses your relationship – two Avengers in love – you’ll smile and tuck the paper away somewhere safe, because that’s a picture you want to keep for the rest of your life.

Chapter Text

Staying in a cold, powerless safe house was not Wanda’s idea of a fun night. She and you had been on a recon mission only – get in, find some information, get out – but the Quinjet had been compromised and you were being hunted so you’d been forced to take cover in one of SHIELD’s remaining safe houses deep in the heart of Russia…

Where it was currently 20 degrees and dropping.

You were standing in front of the window that overlooked the snowy terrain, completely unaffected by the dropping temperature. You were a pyrokinetic, enhanced by Hydra. The Avengers had found you not too long ago and you’d been more than happy to join the team. This had been your first real mission and while it was a success, you wondered if every mission was this eventful.

You glanced over at the couch, noticing Wanda’s uncomfortable state. She was curled up underneath a blanket, her teeth chattering and her skin paler than you were used to seeing. She looked so pitiful that you had to do something.

 Walking into the kitchen, you grabbed a tea pot and filled it up before holding it in your hands. You focused, willing the fire to course through your body and into your palms. In mere seconds the water began to boil. Briefly setting it on the stove, you lit your hand on fire and searched through the cabinets until you found a few tea bags. You also found hot chocolate and smiled. You’d make one of each and just drink whichever one she didn’t want.

Locating two cups, you poured the chocolate mix into one cup and dropped a tea bag into the other. Retrieving the pot, you dumped water into the cups before returning it to the stove. You stirred up the hot chocolate and waited for the tea to finish soaking before tossing the bag into the trash. You carried the cups over to the couch.

“Here,” you said with a smile. “Hot chocolate or tea?”

“H-hot chocolate,” Wanda stuttered, a blush on her cheeks. She wasn’t used to someone taking care of her – aside from Pietro. She’d expected to sit there all night in a ball, yet here you were, being sweet and bringing her something that would warm her up.

Nodding, you gave her the hot chocolate and took a sip of your own tea. You took a seat beside her and stared blankly into the darkness. You didn’t know what to say. You didn’t spend a lot of alone time with Wanda. You wished you did, but she had you nervous. She was so beautiful and kind and amazing and she left you with butterflies in your stomach.

Wanda sipped her hot chocolate, but the shaking of her hand threatened to send it spilling all over the blanket and her. You sighed. You didn’t know what to do. You had some control of your powers but you couldn’t heat the entire room without it threatening to burn the safe house to the ground.

“Y-you’re lucky,” Wanda said through clacking teeth, “N-not feeling the c-cold.”

You chuckled sardonically. “Sure, I guess we can call it lucky.”

Wanda shivered, pulling the blanket tighter around her. An idea popped into your head, but you weren’t certain it was a good idea. It was a weird thing to offer to someone you spent little time with. But, you also didn’t want her dying of hypothermia.

Scooting closer to her, you smiled awkwardly. “If you want, we can share the blanket and I can keep you warm?”

Wanda glanced at you curiously, “You can do that?”

“I can raise my core temperature on command so you can soak it in and stay warm.”

She seemed to think it over for a minute before nodding. She pulled back the blanket and let it fall over your waist and legs before pressing herself against your side. You tossed your arm around her shoulders and brought her as close as possible before you. Exhaling, you started to bring your temperature up, letting your body heat up. She sighed, snuggling deeper into your hold, her arm coming to lay across your stomach as she tried to soak in the warmth.

It was a rather intimate position to be in, but you had to keep her warm so you said nothing.

“You’re so warm,” she mumbled, letting her head rest against your shoulder.

“Perks of being a pyro,” you laughed.

You two sat in a comfortable silence, the darkness enveloping you as you played human furnace. You couldn’t believe you were so close to her. It was a dream and a nightmare all at the same time.

Eventually, she started shifting every few minutes and it concerned you. “Are you okay?”

“It’s getting colder outside,” she mused, “And while you are very warm, half of my body is still very cold.”

Blinking, you pursed your lips. The only other option you could offer would be to let her curl up in your lap, but that was a strange thing to offer.

“Can I?” Wanda inquired, glancing up at you.

You looked back at her in confusion. “Can you what?”

“I-I didn’t mean to but I read your mind.”

“Oh…”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to!” she tried assuring you, begging you to understand.

Chuckling, you smiled. “It’s okay. I know how difficult it is controlling powers sometimes.”

Wanda sighed, relieved that you weren’t mad at her. She knew people hated when she went into their minds without permission, they just didn’t understand how hard it was to control sometimes. Especially if they have loud thoughts.

“If you want to, yeah, you can.” You shrugged. It wouldn’t bother you to have a beautiful woman on your lap.

Slowly, Wanda slid onto your lap, her arms encircling your neck. You grabbed the blanket and brought it up and over her body, making sure it was tight enough to contain your body heat. Her head fell into the crook of your neck and she inhaled deeply, taking in your earthy scent. You smelled really good.

Leaning your head back against the couch, your eyes drifted closed but you made sure not to fall asleep. If you fell asleep, your body would drop back to normal and that wasn’t an acceptable notion. She hummed into your neck and began to doze, her arms tightening around you. You were so comfortable and honestly, she’d liked you for weeks now so this was something she’d only imagined in her greatest daydreams. But, in her dreams, she’d imagined you stroking her hair, telling her about your day and asking about hers.

The night inched along, the moonlight streaming through the window. Wanda slept peacefully – the first time in a long time – and you were content just to hold her. Sure you were tired, but she was worth a little sleep deprivation.

Besides, when Clint came to pick you up in the morning, you’d be able to sleep on the jet.

When the sun replaced the moon and the room began to warm a bit, you relaxed. Using your powers for so long was exhausting, but you’d managed it and that’s what mattered. Eventually the woman in your lap started to squirm and she yawned, her hot breath puffing against the muscles of your neck. A chill went down your spine – and it definitely wasn’t because of the lack of heat.

“Good morning,” Wanda whispered, almost afraid to break the silence.

“Morning,” you replied, equally as quiet.

You stayed in that position for a while, but nothing good lasts forever and the sound of your rescuer rang clear in your ears. “Clint’s here.”

Wanda frowned. She didn’t want to leave, not when she’d gotten to be in your arms all night.

Sliding out of your lap, Wanda dropped the blanket on the couch. You followed her lead and stood, combing your fingers through your hair. It wasn’t too messy but you didn’t want Clint to get the wrong idea. He was a little protective of Wanda.

Smiling shyly at you, Wanda stepped close. She leaned in, pressing a kiss to your cheek. “Thank you.”

You flushed, eyes wide as you watched her walk towards the door. Just before she opened it, you called out, “Hey, Wanda?”

“Yes?” She turned to face you.

“You maybe wanna get dinner or something?”

Wanda beamed at you, her cheeks reddening. Her smile was infectious and you smiled back, your heart warm – and not because of your powers. “I’d like that.”

Chapter Text

The arena was huge, three stories tall and dark. Fog drifted up through the vents, obscuring your view. You were creeping about, laser gun in hand as you searched for your targets. This was supposed to be a fun training exercise, considering Tony had bought out the arena for the night, but you weren’t having a grand time. It was hard to when you were up against an ex-assassin, a former spy turned arrow master, a woman who could read minds, and a man who moved faster than you could see.

Your team consisted of Bruce – who was a little wary, seeing as how he didn’t do well in enclosed spaces – Tony, and Steve. And, while you loved all your teammates dearly, a part of you wished you were on the other team. At least then you would have had a chance of winning.

The sound of footsteps behind you left you on alert and you ducked behind a pillar, your back pressed against it as you waited. Focusing your powers, you conjured an image of yourself standing in the walkway. You couldn’t help smiling when you heard a familiar chuckle. It was sultry and sweet and made your chest ache. It was so easy falling in love with it.

“I know that’s not you, lyubov moya,” Wanda called out, shooting her gun to prove her point. It smacked into your illusion and the image of you disappeared.

You wondered if there was any way you could sneak past her, but there was no escape and you couldn’t deny it. With a sigh, you stepped out from behind your cover and raised your hands. “Alright, you got me.”

Wanda grinned. She didn’t level her gun at you, but instead tucked it into its holster. She did, however, stalk towards you. Her hands fell to your waist and she backed you up until your back was in the corner. Her lips captured yours and her tongue slid impatiently into your mouth, tasting every inch of you. Her lips were petal soft and she tasted like cinnamon – which didn’t surprise you considering she often chewed cinnamon gum. You battled her for dominance, but eventually submitted to her kiss. It was hot and heavy and by God, you were so in love with this woman.

Her grip on your waist tightened and you moaned, sinking deeper into her hold. You loved with she was the dominant one. It so rarely happened, but when it did…

Whoa.

“Alright, love birds, break it up!” Clint called, watching you two from atop one of the pillars.

Wanda blushed, her face warm as she buried her face in your neck. She wasn’t ashamed of PDA, but she was uncomfortable doing it in front of Clint. He was her mentor – almost a brother to her. It was like kissing you in front of Pietro, something she didn’t do often.

“Come on, let’s get back to training,” you mumbled into her hair.

Nodding, she pecked your neck. Pulling back, she quickly grabbed her gun and a pew could be heard, making your gear beep wildly. You were stunned. She’d shot you!

“Sorry,” she giggled, before disappearing into the foggy darkness, leaving you stunned and panting in the corner.

“Oh, it’s on.”

Come and get me.

Chapter Text

“That restaurant was so cute,” Kara gushed as you stepped into her apartment, her eyes bright and wide. She was so utterly stunning like this, her energy enthralling. “We have to go back some time.”  

You smiled and reached for her, hands falling instinctively to her waist. Her arms came around your neck and you walked her backwards until her spine was pressed against the wall beside her door. She let out a quiet, “Oh,” as you pinned her there, biting her lip as you stared at her with intention. You leaned in, catching her lips with yours.

It started off sweet, a simple brushing of lips. You hummed, your grip tightening on her waist. You knew it wouldn’t hurt her seeing as she was Supergirl, the famed heroine of National City, but it was enough to get her attention. She gave a tiny moan and you deepened the kiss, slipping your tongue into her opened mouth. It met hers midway and battled for dominance, though she submitted quickly. She was very submissive when it came to these matters and you guessed it had to do with her having to be firm and authoritative as Supergirl.

Your hands slid from her hips down to her legs and you lifted her up, her legs encircling your waist. She tangled her fingers in your hair and gripped tightly, earning a low groan from you as you carried her toward the couch. It was borderline painful, but it didn’t bother you by any means. You thought it was hot when she lost control of her strength a little. You were the only person who could do this to her and you were going to enjoy it for the rest of your lives.

Stopping in front of the couch, you set Kara down on the cushions before pushing her onto her back. Her cheeks were flushed and her soft, plush lips were kiss-swollen and you’d never seen such an enticing sight in all your years. She was gorgeous.

You climbed onto the couch, elbows on either side of her head and a leg slotted between hers. Your lips reconnected and her arms came around you, pulling you flush against her. She whined as your leg was pressed harder against her and you smirked. Doing it again, you swallowed the answering noise and slowly ground yourself down her thigh. Her hold on you tightened, keeping you trapped – not that you minded in the slightest. This was the farthest you’d ever gone and you were going to enjoy it while you could.

She kept her lips attached firmly to yours and her hands slid under your shirt, nails digging into your back. You made a startled noise, but it only egged you on and your tongue traced every inch of Kara’s mouth, dragging along her upper lip before diving back in. Her tongue was wet and hot against yours, driving you mad. All you could do was imagine all the pleasant things she could be doing with it. You bucked your hips.

When the need to breathe became too much for her, she broke contact and tilted her head, exposing the long expansion of her neck. You froze.

One thing Kara didn’t know about you was that you weren’t exactly human. Once upon a time you had been, but you’d met someone who had changed your entire world and now you were an immortal. Well, actually, you were what humans considered to be a “vampire” but you hated that term. It sounded so sinister. Yes, you needed blood and yes, you were stronger and faster than most people, but that didn’t mean you were a bad person. You didn’t hurt people – all of your meals came from blood banks – and you didn’t use your abilities often, if at all, so why should such a stigma get put on you?

You’d wanted to tell her, but you never knew how. She’d told you she was an alien about a month into your relationship, but you were so scared to lose her that when it came to telling her the truth about you, you panicked and clammed up. Besides, would she even believe you? Vampires were just some made up creatures meant to scare kids, right?

But that was why you never complained or told her about her losing control of her strength. It didn’t faze you. You actually enjoyed the pressure of her hands in your hair or her clawing at your back. You could feel it and it felt really nice.

You swallowed hard and leaned down, running your nose along the side of her neck. She smelled divine and you could hear her heart pounding wildly, her pulse point quivering. All you wanted to do was taste her…

Kissing the juncture where her neck met her shoulder, you paused. Her warm skin and racing blood was hypnotizing and the urge to sink your teeth in was almost too much. You tried pulling back, but one of her hands fell to the back of your head and encouraged you to stay put. Your tongue poked out from between your lips and you traced it along her neck, finally tasting the flesh that had taunted you for so long. There was a reason you tried staying away from her neck whenever you made out – and this was that exact reason.

You could feel your fangs extending into tiny, sharp daggers and you couldn’t hold back any longer. You opened your mouth and scraped your teeth along that juncture that was oh so tempting. Her surprised moan spurred you on and you clamped your lips around the thin, bloody line. You took a little drag before snapping out of your lusty haze. Eyes wide with terror, you were off her in a second and on the other side of the room. Your hand was over your mouth and tears filled your eyes, though they’d never fall.

Kara stared at you in shock, touching the trickling line on her neck. You cut your eyes toward the door and ran for it, unable to face what you’d done. How could you have been so stupid and lost control like that? You’d never forgive yourself for this.

Before your hand could touch the knob, Kara was standing in front of you, a confused look marring her features. “(Y/N), what’s going on? How did you…” she trailed off and waved her hand about violently.

You backed up, shame written all across your face. “I’m so sorry, Kara. I didn’t mean to…I mean, I meant to tell you but I couldn’t and then this happened and I’m so sorry,” you cried, shaking your head. “Just let me leave and I’ll never bother you again.”

Kara’s expression changed from confusion to determination and she crossed her arms. “No, you have some explaining to do. Now.”

Rubbing a hand across your cheek, you stared at the floor. “Years before we met, I came into contact with someone who wasn’t a good person. They were awful, actually.” You smiled humorlessly. “I didn’t know that, though. Until one night, they turned on me and bit me. I woke up days later with a thirst for something no human has ever lusted over and powers that I couldn’t explain. It took a long time for me to accept it and even now I have trouble coming to terms with it. But,” you took a deep breath, “I’m what most humans consider a vampire. I have been for over thirty years.”

Kara stared at you in stunned silence, crystal blue eyes wider than you’d ever seen them. Apprehension filled you and you continued to ramble. “I never wanted to hurt you. And I honestly wanted to tell you, I just…”

“Just what?” Kara demanded, betrayal swimming in her eyes. “You had plenty of opportunities. I told you I was an alien for Rao’s sake. You could have told me then!”

Swallowing drily, you pursed your lips. “I was afraid. Most people are terrified of vampires and I didn’t want to lose you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I thought that, if you knew, things would change and you wouldn’t want me anymore and I couldn’t bare that thought so whenever I wanted to tell you, I freaked out and didn’t say anything…”

Kara’s gaze softened and she stepped towards you, grabbing your hands in hers. She brought one up to her lips and kissed the back of it soothingly. “I’m not afraid of you. I just wish you’d told me. This is a big deal.”

“I know,” you sighed.

Hating how sad you sounded, Kara cupped your cheeks and brought your lips together in a sweet kiss. She was hurt you hadn’t trusted her with such a secret, but you meant a lot to her and she wasn’t going to let this destroy your relationship. So what if you drank blood? It wasn’t the weirdest thing she’d ever heard before. After all, she was an alien. Why wouldn’t vampires exist?

You were flabbergasted yet hopeful. You returned the kiss, pouring every emotion you felt into it. You loved Kara so damn much. You didn’t want to lose her.

“You have a lot of things to explain, but this doesn’t have to be the end of us,” Kara said, pulling back so she could stare into your (E/C) eyes.

“Okay,” you agreed meekly, leading Kara to the couch. You’d tell her anything she wanted to know. You’d never lie to her again. That was a promise you planned to keep.

Chapter Text

You hated the dark. It brought back too many memories of being trapped in that damn HYDRA facility, the lights being turned out on you just before they came in. Those who came to correct your behaviors; those who attacked you until your powers fizzled out and all you were left to do was curl up in a ball and wait for it to be over. That’s why you slept with a nightlight. It was childish and you knew that, but it was better than being plunged into total darkness.

It was better than waiting around for your nightmares to come to life.

-X-

The compound was relatively empty when it happened. Only you and Wanda were left, the others having left for a two-week long mission. They’d been gone over a week already with occasional updates coming in every few days. Their mission was going well – and honestly, you were kind of glad you hadn’t been chosen to go. Spending time with Wanda (your girlfriend of nearly three months) and having time to recuperate from your last mission was a godsend. You’d been sent on three missions in the last month so getting a reprieve from that was appreciated.

You were sitting in the theater room, scrolling through Netflix when the power flickered. Once, twice…

Suddenly the room plunged into darkness. You could hear the generator whirling as it tried to find a source of energy but was unable to. The noise eventually died and you were left to your thoughts. In the dark. Alone.

Trembling, you pressed your back against the armrest and brought your knees up to your chest. Your forehead fell against your legs. Your body shook violently, arms tightening around your legs as the silence threatened to swallow you. It was impossible to see anything, so your eyes clamped shut and you waited.

Tears flooded your eyes, but you did your best to force them back. You didn’t want to cry – and you certainly didn’t want Wanda to find you balling your eyes out in a dark room for no reason other than it was dark. That would be embarrassing.

You waited for what felt like hours for Wanda to find you, though realistically it was only about five minutes. She’d been headed to the theater room for your date night when the power had failed, so it wasn’t like you weren’t expecting her. She was just lucky she hadn’t been in the elevator when everything had gone dark or it would have taken a lot longer to get to you.

The door to the room creaked open and you glanced up, taking in the ethereal glow of her hands as red light spilled into the room. You couldn’t stop the thankful smile falling upon your lips, grateful to see such a familiar sight. Grateful to see anything at all, really.

Wanda paused in the doorway, taking in your odd position. She’d never seen you look so small before. Sure, you were shorter than her, but your personality was so big that it was often overlooked that you were the same height as Natasha.

“Are you okay, printsessa?” Wanda asked, stepping into the room. She could see how your body shook and the wetness of your eyes and it concerned her. She’d never seen you distraught before.

Swallowing drily, you plastered a smile onto your lips, though it did little to convince Wanda. You were far too pale to be “okay” and you both knew it. Wanda inched towards the couch, a look of concern on her pretty features.

She sat next to you, extending her hand. It was still glowing - so were her eyes - but it didn’t scare you. You had absolute trust in her powers. You took her hand and brought it up to your lips, smiling as her powers made your mouth tingle. She worried about the way your hand trembled against hers.

“I’m fine,” you tried to assure her, though it fell on deaf ears.

She reached for you, unwinding your arms from your legs. You slowly moved, dropping your legs to the floor so that you could lean into your girlfriend. Her arm came around your shoulder and tugged you as close as possible, your head falling to her shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” Wanda wondered, her hand wandering up into your hair so she could pet your locks.

You sighed. You’d never told Wanda your story. You knew she’d gone into HYDRA with her brother, but your story was far more violent and twisted than theirs. You’d taken beatings every day and lived through hell. They’d gone in willingly; you hadn’t.

Taking her chin between your fingers, you tilted her head so you could rest your forehead against hers. You opened yourself up completely to her powers and let her see. It was easier than explaining it out loud. At least this way she knew every rotten, screwed up piece of your history.

Wanda gasped, red eyes wide as she flashed through memory after memory. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched what you went through and you cupped her cheek, wiping away the few stray tears that fell. It was hard, reliving those memories, but you wanted her to know. You didn’t feel right keeping something like this from her.

When it was over, the two of you sat in silence, breathing each other in. You could feel her breath on yours lips, smell the sweet scent of her chapstick. She exhaled heavily before dragging you into a tight embrace, tucking your head into her shoulder as she stroked your back. The eerie light from her hands died away and darkness took hold of the room once more, but now, it didn’t bother you as much. Your trembles began to subside the longer you were in Wanda’s arms and a real smile breached your lips. You buried your face into the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply; you loved how she always smelled like berries and vanilla.

Leaning back, the two of you stretched out on the couch, though your face never left its hiding spot. Wanda laid on her back and you curled up against her, your legs tangling together. Your arms encircled her waist and you pressed a kiss to the side of her throat. It wasn’t meant to start anything; it was only meant to be a sign of gratitude. She wasn’t judging your past and she didn’t think less of you and that’s what you needed in your life.

Wanda kissed the top of your head and held you as close as she could. She was stunned by all the things you’d suffered through. You were the sweetest, kindest person she’d ever met and you’d gone through things she never could have imagined. It bothered her to see you suffer but she was honored you trusted her enough to show her everything.

“I promise you, I won’t let anything like that happen to you ever again,” Wanda vowed, finally breaking the stillness. There was a steely edge in her tone, a promise that she was determined not to break.

You nodded, believing her. She wasn’t one to be trifled with.

“When the dark gets to be too much, I want you to come to me, okay, malysh?” she continued, her hand stroking along your spine.  "I don’t care what time of day it is. If you are struggling, come to me and we’ll take care of it together. You are not alone. Not now, not ever.“

You leaned back and studied her face. It was fierce, but so full of love and you couldn’t stop yourself from leaning in and kissing her. You poured every inch of emotion into it; all of your fear, your pain, but most importantly, your love. Your love for your life, your love for your friends, but more than that: your love for her.

She returned the gesture chastely before you moved back to her shoulder, your hot breath tickling the side of her neck. You closed your eyes, soaking her in. A hum broke from her throat and an old Sokovian song tumbled past parted lips. It was low, but Wanda’s voice was so soothing. Finally, the last of your tension drained away and you slumped against her, all of your body weight finally pressing against her, though she didn’t mind in the slightest.

It didn’t take long for you to succumb to sleep. She continued singing even after your breathing had evened out; she wanted all of your dreams to be sweet and full of good things. She held you tightly throughout the night, even after she had fallen asleep. Her grip was firm and comforting and honestly, you’d never slept so well before in your life.

Chapter Text

Tony Stark was a pain in your ass. You loved him like a brother – you were always in his lab, helping him and Bruce with the occasional project – but right now, you hated him like he was the Devil incarnate. You didn’t want to be here, dressed up for a party you had no interest in being a part of. Being an Avenger wasn’t an automatic reason to show up, but here you were.

You were standing at the bar with Maria Hill and Natasha, (F/D) in hand as you looked upon the crowd. They seemed equally as bored and you were certain that they’d rather be doing something other than this. He threw so many parties that they’d lost their appeal.

Your eyes found Wanda and Pietro standing across the room chatting with some government official. They didn’t look too pleased with whatever he was talking about and you were concerned. It wasn’t your place to worry about Wanda the way you did, but you couldn’t help it. Your crush on her had only grown since you’d gotten to know her and now you were like a fifth grader with puppy love. She was too perfect for this world and all you wanted to do was protect her. Her powers made her strong, and her personality made her stronger, but you couldn’t help wanting to keep her safe.

Wanda felt your gaze on her and couldn’t stop a smile from breaching her lips. The man before her was rambling about Sokovia and it hurt her to think about her home, yet he just wouldn’t shut the hell up! But, she was far too polite to tell him off. She was a strange girl in a strange place.

She glanced over at you and your eyes met. She smiled shyly at you and waved, cutting off the official. You returned the gesture with an awkward smile of your own. She was so damn pretty.

Blushing, Wanda’s attention fell back on the man in front of her. She’d accidentally caught a glimpse of your thoughts. But she knew there was a difference between thinking you were pretty and wanting to be with you. She desperately wanted to know if you liked her in that way, but she refused to snoop through your thoughts. It was an invasion of privacy and that bothered her.

Natasha rolled her eyes at your antics and signaled the bartender for another drink. “You two are so obvious. When are you going to just ask her out?”

You flushed bright red, ears glowing as you muttered out, “Never. She doesn’t like me like that.”

“Oh please,” Maria laughed, nudging you. “We’ve all seen how she looks at you. You’re crazy if you think she doesn’t have feelings for you too.”

Your blush deepened and you hurriedly downed your drink before asking for another. Natasha and Maria had been pushing you for weeks to ask her out, but you were terrified of ruining a good thing. You didn’t want to lose the bond you’d formed with her. She wasn’t very outgoing – her powers made her frightened to get close to the others – but you’d never once been scared of her. You trusted her implicitly.

“I swear, I’m going to ask her out for you if you don’t do it soon,” Natasha threatened.

Your eyes widened. You wouldn’t put it past her to actually do that.

Walking away from the bar, drink in hand, you wandered over to the twins who were progressively getting more and more uncomfortable and frustrated. Your hand fell to Wanda’s arm comfortingly and you gave a fake smile to the man still running his mouth.

“Excuse me, Sir, I hate to cut in but do you mind if I borrow my teammates for a moment?” you asked, cutting off the rest of his sentence.

He seemed a little put off by the interruption, but what could he do? Deny an Avenger? That would look so bad on him and he couldn’t handle that. The press would have a field day.

“Of course,” he replied through gritted teeth, watching enviously as you walked away with two very powerful people.

When you were far enough away, a breath of relief broke from Wanda’s lips and she squeezed your arm gratefully. “Thank you for that, (Y/N). I don’t know how much longer I could have stood talking to that smarmy man.”

You chuckled, offering Wanda the untouched drink in your hand. “I’m just glad I could get you away from him. I would have blasted him into outer space if I’d been you.”

“Oh, I thought about it,” Pietro admitted with a shrug. He used his power and stole the offered drink, downing it in one go, smiling cheekily at you when you just stared at him.

Deciding you’d had enough Pietro in your life for a moment, you walked Wanda over to the bar, her hand still gripping your arm as you did so. It made butterflies fill your stomach, as clichéd as thought was, but you didn’t mind. Being in the company of this beautiful woman was all you wanted.

Wanda tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as you ordered her a drink and smiled. She liked being able to touch you. Maybe it was the selfish part of her that liked staking her claim in public, even though she had no right to, but you didn’t seem to care so she continued hanging onto you.

The bartender passed you the drink and you gave it to Wanda, grinning as she sipped it from a small, black straw. She was too damn cute.

A little further down the bar, Natasha and Maria watched you curiously. They’d already devised a plan to get you to admit your feelings, but they were hoping it wasn’t needed. Maybe you’d get the courage to do it now. They hoped.

Wanda leaned into you as you stared out at the ocean of people filling the room. There was a comfortable silence hanging over you and you appreciated that. It was nice feeling comfortable enough with someone that you didn’t have to talk. Wanda’s free hand fell atop yours and her fingers flexed like she wanted to hold your hand but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Your heart was pounding in your chest, but you were going to do it. You were going to tell Wanda how you felt. The worst thing that could happen was that she didn’t feel the same, but you’d never know until you tried. Turning to look at her, you opened your mouth, trying to form the words that would hopefully change things for the better but before you could say anything, the billionaire whose insane, extravagant party this was saddled up beside you and cut you off.

Wanda deflated. She was so certain you were about to say something important – something that would change your relationship forever – but of course Tony freaking Stark had to ruin it.

Natasha nearly face palmed in her corner of the bar and sighed. It was time for their plan to be enacted. You were a terribly honest drunk, so if they supplied you with enough liquor, you were bound to admit your feelings, company be damned. You’d announce it in front of everyone if given half the chance and that’s what they were hoping for.

Tony whisked Wanda away from you and you had to bite back a pout. You were so irritated with him in that moment. You’d been so close to spilling out your heart. Why did he have to come over now?

Natasha strolled over to you and called out for the bartender.

You sighed.

-X-

A few drinks later, you were feeling great. The world was a fuzzy and your stomach was really warm, but you felt amazing. Most of the guests had left already, but a few stragglers were scattered about the room, chatting quietly amongst themselves.

Wanda was on the couch, her drink still in hand as she talked with Clint and Thor. Pietro was beside her, his face flushed with alcohol. He’d drank quite a bit too throughout the night, so he was feeling the warmth in his stomach too.

You were all smiles as you walked over to the couch. You glanced around. There were no open seats but you wanted to join them. You pouted, but then a brilliant idea popped into your head. You stopped in front of Wanda and grinned. She smiled back, a brow arched inquisitively. You grabbed her drink and set it on the table in front of her before plopping down in her lap. She squeaked in surprise, but her arms encircled your waist anyways.

Pietro snickered. He could see how flustered his sister was and it amused him greatly.

You wrapped an arm around Wanda’s neck and pressed a sloppy kiss to her hot cheek, a wild grin upturning your lips and eyes glassy. Her eyes widened. She’d never expected you to be such an affectionate drunk. You were cuddly and sweet and she’d never thought your first kiss on any part of her body would be while you were way past tipsy.

Leaning in, you whispered in her ear, “I really like you.”

Chuckling, her hold on your waist tightened. “I like you too.”

“No,” you whined, your bottom lip jutted out pathetically as you stared at the woman embracing you. “I mean I like you.”

Everyone around you froze. Wanda’s arms went slack and she stared at you, green eyes so light and soft that you just wanted to lean in and kiss her, but you didn’t. You had some self control. Besides, you had no idea if your feelings were returned. She still hadn’t said anything.

When the silence grew awkward, your face flushed with embarrassment and you stood up from her lap, suddenly very very sober. You bowed your head. “I’m sorry. Uh, I think I should go get some sleep.”

Rushing from the room, you fought back tears. You’d definitely just humiliated yourself in front of your team – but more importantly, Wanda didn’t feel the same and that really sucked. You weren’t sure you’d be able to face them again for a while. Maybe Nat would let you hide in her room for a few days. Or maybe you should go visit your parents. You didn’t know.

Back where the party was, Natasha was glaring at Wanda. She knew the witch had feelings for you, so why the hell hadn’t she said anything? Why did she let you leave? Wanda peered over at Natasha, confusion and disbelief etched across her features. Did that really just happen? And had she really just let you walk away, hurt and possibly crying?

“Go after her,” Natasha mouthed, gesturing at the door.

Nodding, Wanda stood up and fled after you. You were already in your room, but that didn’t matter. She was going to talk to you one way or another. You meant too much to her.

The elevator to your floor wasn’t fast enough and Wanda impatiently tapped her foot. She needed to see you now, dammit. Before it was too late.

When it opened up, Wanda hurried to your room and knocked.

“Go away,” you croaked, your face buried in a pillow as tears trickled down your cheeks.

“Please open the door,” Wanda called out softly, startling you. You sat upright abruptly, your head snapping over to the door. You didn’t know if you should open it. You’d already embarrassed yourself once tonight. Why willingly do it again?

“Please,” Wanda begged, her palm pressed to the door.

You swallowed hard but got out of bed. Opening the door slowly, you studied the nervous woman before you.

“Did you mean it?” she wondered, eyeing you. She was blushing, but her eyes were so bright. They said so much and a little hope bloomed in your chest.

You nodded cautiously.

“I like you too,” Wanda whispered, an anxious look on her pretty face. She reached out for you, her hand finding yours. She squeezed it.

“You do?” you yelped, lacing your fingers together. It was the first time you’d ever been able to hold her hand like this and you were going to take advantage of it.

She shook her head and smiled. “Yeah…”

You tugged her close and cupped her cheek, staring deeply into her eyes. They sparkled with emotions you’d never seen in them before and it warmed you in ways alcohol never could. You leaned in for a kiss, but she pulled back. You must have had a hurt look on your face because she leaned forward and kissed your cheek, soothing the pain in your chest.

“You’re drunk,” she explained, “I won’t kiss you and have you regret it tomorrow. If you still want one tomorrow, I’ll happily give you a kiss.”

A huge smile broke across your cheeks and you nodded. “Okay. But be prepared for the best kiss of your life,” you smugly joked, pecking her forehead.

“I’ll hold you to that.” She sauntered off, an extra sway in her hips that you’d never seen before. It was tantalizing and hot and honestly, you couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

Chapter Text

You were a DEO agent. A damn good one, in fact. You were one of Director Danvers’ favorites, which was a huge compliment in itself. You trained hard, did good work in the field, and were just an overall good person. You were often found helping Winn or teaching the new agents some moves that might just save their lives in the field.

You were also Supergirl’s favorite. You knew she was Director Danvers’ sister Kara, but the secret was safe with you. You weren’t exactly supposed to know, but you’d once heard Alex slip and call her Kara and it all clicked into place. You were honest with the director, though. You told her that you knew, but you promised to keep that information to yourself. You wouldn’t endanger Supergirl in any way. Alex wasn’t thrilled that you knew, but being her favorite meant she had some trust and faith in you, so she didn’t have J’onn wipe your mind. But she did threaten to have Kara toss you into the sun if you said anything.

After you found out her identity, Kara started spending more time with you. Sometimes you’d train together, but more often than not, she’d bring you lunch and the two of you would eat together. She was so sweet and funny and it didn’t surprise you when you found yourself crushing hardcore on the superheroine. Most of the DEO had some type of feelings for her – mostly professional – but you were starting to fall for her with her and that was problematic. Not only would Director Danvers’ kick your ass, but there was no way Kara would ever have feelings for some lowly DEO agent. She could have anyone.

Besides, you’d seen her last boyfriend. He was a prince for God’s sake. Why would she ever pick you?

On your off day, you decided you needed a change. Running a hand through your locks, you pursed your lips and stared into the mirror. You were tired of your long hair – it was shaggy and a mess and kept getting in your eyes – so with a determined nod, you left your small, one person apartment. It was going to be different, but you were ready for something new.

That’s what started your newest problem.

-X-

Strolling confidently in the DEO, you shot the occasional agent a smile, oblivious to their stares. You thought you looked good – and so did they. They’d never seen you with short hair, but you were damn attractive with it. Your confidence helped your cause too. They’d never seen you stand so tall and proud.

You found Alex and Kara standing together, whispering back and forth as they discussed something you couldn’t hear. It wasn’t your place to hear it, either. It was their business.

“Supergirl,” you greeted as you passed, “Director.”

Kara glanced at you and her eyes widened. Her mouth dropped open a little, candidly staring at you as you walked away. Alex nudged her, but Kara paid her no mind. She couldn’t help but watch you. You looked amazing and just…wow.

“You really need to ask (Y/N) out already,” Alex laughed, peering around Kara. She watched you duck into the training room and smirked. “Go train with her. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind the company.”

Kara shook her head. “I can’t. Did you see her? She looks…”

“Good,” Alex supplied. “Seriously, this crush is getting out of hand. Ask her out.”

“Is that an order?” Kara squeaked, looking at her sister.

“It will be if you don’t do it soon,” Alex replied laughing, patting Kara’s shoulder. “So go –”

“Ma’ams?” one of the agents called. “We have a situation downtown.”

Kara nodded, preparing herself. She hadn’t fought in days and she had some pent up frustrations she was needed to get out. Between CatCo and her feelings for you and Alex’s pushing, there was a lot going through her mind. She would deal though. She always did.

-X-

After a few days, you were starting to feel self-conscious and hurt. You were positive Kara was avoiding you. You’d caught her meandering about the base, but every time she noticed you, she would get a weird look on her face before disappearing from sight. You didn’t know what you’d done wrong, but it was bothering you greatly. Sometimes, when you were walking around, you would feel her eyes on you yet when you turned, she’d be gone.

You talked to Winn about it, but he was less than helpful.

“Maybe she hates your new haircut?” he suggested with a helpless shrug.

You frowned. That seemed weird, but maybe he was right. She hadn’t talked to you since you cut it. You wanted to ask someone who might know, but it would be weird asking the director, right? Why would she tell you anything? You might be her favorite but that didn’t mean much.

Dejectedly you stalked about the base. You wanted answers, but there were none. You would just have to deal with Kara’s departure from your life. It was an ideal that broke your heart, but if she wasn’t going to talk to you – or just be around you for that matter – then you weren’t going to actively seek her out anymore.

Alex watched from afar as you steeled yourself and headed for the training room. You’d been spending a lot of time in there recently and it worried her. She could see how Kara’s odd behavior was affecting you. You weren’t as cheerful or upbeat; in fact, you were downright downtrodden and quiet. You barely talked during meetings and you went harder on the recruits than normal. It wasn’t good for you and it sure as hell wasn’t good for the DEO.

They needed you at your best.

Huffing, Alex went off in search of her sister. She was less than pleased with her antic and she either needed to fix this or make a clean break. It wasn’t fair, doing this to you.

“We need to talk,” Alex said when she found Kara.

Kara stopped mid bite, apple in hand. She’d rather it be potstickers, but bringing potstickers into the DEO would be weird, so she’d snagged the fruit out of the lunch room. “What’s up?”

“You need to talk to (Y/N). This is getting out of hand. She’s acting weird and I’m pretty sure it has to do with you.” Alex crossed her arms, staring at the blushing superheroine.

“I don’t know how,” Kara whined, “She looks so good with her hair like that and I’m scared I’m going to tell her how I feel.”

“Kara, the worst thing that could happen is her turning you down but I don’t think she will,” Alex said gently, rubbing Kara’s shoulder. “She’s not a bad person; there’s worse people you could date.”

Sighing, the blonde nodded. “She’s just so kind and nice to me. I don’t want to lose her.”

“You already are,” Alex pointed out. “She thinks you hate her. She asked Winn why you weren’t talking to her. He said it was because you hate her hair.”

Kara winced before standing up. “I’m going to go find her. Hopefully she’ll let me explain.”

“If she doesn’t, let me know and I’ll make her,” Alex joked, though it wasn’t really a joke.

Smiling gratefully, Kara strolled out of the room, cape swinging as she went off in search of you. She knew you were in the training room, beating on a punching bag. That’s what you did whenever you were frustrated.

Stepping into the room, Kara awkwardly lingered by the door. You were in a white tank top and shorts, sweat dripping down your face and throat, the muscles of your stomach flexing as you pounded the bag. You looked so tired and angry and Kara felt awful. She hadn’t meant to cut you out the way she had, she had just been so flustered by you that she panicked and hid.

“(Y/N),” she called out, her voice causing you to freeze.

Your hands fell to the bag, head bowed. You didn’t say anything. You didn’t know what to say. If you spoke, you’d probably be snarky and hurt Kara’s feelings.

Kara slipped deeper into the room and stood behind you, her hand landing on your shoulder. You flinched and she pulled her hand away, a pained look crossing her pretty features.

She’d really upset you.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

You glanced over your shoulder at her, an emotionless expression marring your face. She had tears in her eyes, apologies sparkling in them like they’d been written in the stars. She looked so bothered that you couldn’t help but hug her. You’d never hugged her before but you wished you had. Her hugs were magical. She sank into the embrace, her arms wrapping tightly around you.

Your heart was pounding in your chest and you were certain she could feel it. It wasn’t subtle at all.

“It’s okay,” you said, pulling back from the hug.

She wanted to pout when you let go. She didn’t want to let you go. She liked hugging you – a lot. You were warm and strong and it made her happy.

“No it’s not,” Kara shook her head. “I hurt your feelings and I didn’t mean to. I just,” she exhaled heavily, “You looked so good with your hair like that and all I wanted to do was run my fingers through it and that scared me so I pushed you away because I didn’t want you to know I have feelings for you and –” Kara cut herself off as she realized what she said, eyes going wide.

You were stunned. This goddess had feelings for you? The blood rushed to your head and you gawked at her. She fidgeted under your gaze, uncertain. She didn’t know what that look meant.

“You…have feelings for me?” you repeated.

She nodded shyly before continuing, “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way, really! I just don’t want to ruin our friendship and I promise I won’t let my feelings get in the way and –” this time she was silenced by your lips finding hers. You chastely kissed her before parting, an equally uncertain look on your face. You probably shouldn’t have done that, but her ramblings were too cute.

“I’m sorry,” you apologized, cringing.

Kara’s lips were parted, her eyes following your every move. “Why?”

“Uh, why what?” you asked nervously.

“Why are you sorry?”

You chewed your bottom lip. “I didn’t ask if that was okay.”

“That was more than okay,” Kara breathed, tugging you closer. She brought your lips back together in a sweet kiss and smiled against your lips. It was just a pressing of smiles, but it was perfect.

“Let me take you out,” you said breathlessly. “Tonight?”

Kara nodded eagerly. “Yes!”

You laughed before stepping away. “C’mon, Supergirl, let’s spar. I’ve missed kicking your ass.”

Arching a brow, Kara stared you down before breaking out into a fit of giggles. “Oh, you are so on.”

Chapter Text

You were annoyed. You didn’t have a right to be, but you were. You hated seeing Natasha with Banner, especially when he was his alter ego. You had nothing against Bruce (really, you didn’t. He wasn’t a bad guy) but seeing him so close to the woman you’d been flirting with for a while now was bothersome. You knew that once upon a time they’d been a thing, but hopefully that was long over.

Hopefully.

The Hulk was smashing HYDRA agents left and right, knocking them unconscious and flinging their bodies away from him. He was in a rage – one you hadn’t seen him in for quite some time – and you couldn’t help worrying about Natasha. She was close to a…well, you wouldn’t exactly call him a “monster” but…

Shaking your head, your attention returned to the agents before you. They were leveling guns at you, but you weren’t worried. Natasha had taught you quite a few moves since your initiation into the Avengers so you were prepared for anything. Dodging bullets just happened to be a part of that ‘anything’ category.

You weaved and ducked through agents, slowly rendering each one unconscious. Just enough force behind every punch or kick could do that, you had learned early on. Natasha had knocked you out more than once during your training sessions, but it honestly made you a better Avenger. And, truthfully, she hadn’t meant to knock you out, so you forgave her easily.

That was something you did when it came to the woman who was slowly worming her way into your heart.

Sighing as the last agent dropped, you heard Steve through the comms. “Natasha, time for a lullaby.”

You rolled your eyes. That was the weirdest signal you’d ever heard, but you kept your comments to yourself. It’d been working for them since before Sokovia and you guessed it would continue to work, but that didn’t mean you weren’t keeping a close eye on your teammates. You watched Natasha walk over to him, through the rumble of the crumbling compound, and begin their little ritual. If you hadn’t been observing them, you probably would have never noticed how Hulk’s agitation seemed to climb as she got closer but you did notice. You opened your mouth to call out to her, but it was too late.

The Hulk turned on her, his eyes full of fury and bloodlust. He wasn’t in his right mind; he was angry and there was nothing Bruce could do to stop him. He jerked his arm away from her and glared, startling the stoic Black Widow. She stared at him with wide eyes, waiting to see what would happen. A second later, her body was soaring through the air and into the side of the tattered building while the Hulk ran off. You called for Stark to initiate Veronica 2.0, but your words seemed so far away.

All you could focus on was getting to Natasha.

She was sitting upright by the time you reached her, blood dripping from a cut on her head and her breaths coming out in short pants. She was gasping, hand clutching her chest as she stared blankly ahead. Natasha was clearly shaken by the turn of events. The Hulk had never turned on her like that before. Why he had now was beyond anyone’s knowledge.

“Hey,” you greeted softly, kneeling before her. “Breathe, Tasha.”

She looked up at you with glassy eyes and you grabbed her free hand, bringing it up to your chest. Her fingers clenched around the material of your shirt, holding onto you like you were her lifeline.

“Follow my breathing,” you instructed gently, your hand coming to rest atop hers as you took slow, even breaths.

Natasha nodded, following your breathing with her own. She inhaled deeply through her nose, her nails digging into your chest through your shirt. It didn’t bother you. As long as she was breathing properly you’d deal with it.

You stroked your fingers over her hand. Hers was trembling but at least she wasn’t panting anymore.

“It’s going to be okay,” you promised Natasha, “Stark’s gone to get Bruce.”

Reaching with your free hand, you wiped away the blood trickling down her forehead. It was a thin line, but it was close to dripping into her eyes and you knew how uncomfortable that would be. You brushed your hand off on your pants and slowly stood, bringing Natasha with you. She stumbled when she put weight on her right leg and you caught her around the waist. You glanced down and noticed a rip in her suit. There was a gash showing through, blood gushing from it. It looked painful. You guessed she must have caught something when Hulk sent her flying.

You frowned.

Bending, you slid your arms under her knees and lifted her up. A noise of surprise escaped plump lips but her arms came to wrap around your neck. She wanted to protest, but the pain in her head and her leg made it hard to focus. Being slammed into the side of building was very disorienting.

You carried her in silence, listening for anything that might cause problems. Her weight was no problem; you’d been training to lift someone the size of Thor and Natasha was notably smaller than him. She was warm in your arms, her breath hot on your neck as she rested her head against your shoulder. It bothered you that she wasn’t arguing with being carried – the Natasha you were used to would never willingly let someone carry her –, but you also knew that being hit by the Hulk had taken a lot out of her.

You could hear Tony yelling at Bruce through the comms, his voice firm as Veronica 2.0 took care of the issue that was the Hulk. You hoped everything was going okay.

Finding the Quinjet, you brought Natasha inside. You were the first ones back in the plane and you set Natasha down on the medical bed. She squirmed, hating being fussed over, but a well-placed kiss on her forehead left her frozen. You weren’t sure why you’d done it, but you couldn’t take it back now. You blushed and started searching for supplies.

You could feel Natasha’s eyes boring into your back as you flitted about, but you refused to look at her. It was bad enough that you’d kissed her. Seeing the disdain in her eyes would have killed you. Finding what you’d been looking for, you turned around, eyes never lifting off the ground. You wandered over to the bed and started cleaning the gash on her leg, wiping away the blood that was making its way onto the bed.

Taking the largest bandage you could find, you carefully covered the seeping wound. It wasn’t too difficult of a task and you smiled. After it was properly taken care of, you moved to Natasha’s head. She tilted it for you, offering you sight of the cut without argument. It wasn’t deep, it was just bloody. You brushed her soft hair out of the way, trying to ignore how much you wanted to run your fingers through it over and over again.

You cleaned off the dried blood and pursed your lips. You didn’t think it needed stitches, but you were worried it would reopen.

“You’re going to have to be careful,” you warned her, “If it starts bleeding again, Dr. Cho may need to put stitches in it.”

Packing up the supplies, you paused when Natasha captured your wrist. She tugged you around and stared up at you, something unreadable in her eyes. She studied you acutely, searching for something in yours. You were bare under her scrutiny, but you didn’t turn away. You’d bare your soul for this woman.

She must have found what she was looking for because a hint of a smile tugged at her lips. She wrenched you closer and sat up, swinging her legs off the side of the table. She brought you to stand between them, her hand reaching up to cup your neck. She slowly inched you down, bringing your lips together in a sweet, almost chaste kiss. It was soft and gentle and you’d never expected it from Natasha, but you liked it.

A lot.

Your lips moved against hers in a slow dance, familiarizing yourself with her plump lips. She tasted with dust and heaven, an odd combination but it was the most perfect first kiss you’d ever had. You smiled against her mouth and it became a pressing of smiles together.

“Thank you,” she murmured against your mouth and you knew she was thanking you for more than just caring for her wounds.

“You’re welcome,” you replied, nudging her nose with yours. “Always.”

Chapter Text

Grunting as your back hit the mat, you stared up at Natasha with a cheeky grin. “Well, if you wanted me on my back, you should have said something.”

Natasha rolled her eyes, offering you a hand. You accepted the gesture, letting her pull you upright and onto your feet. “Can you at least pretend to be serious while we train?”

“I’m serious,” you snickered. “I’m the most serious person in the room!”

The redhead before you shot you a look and you broke out in laughter, tears forming in your eyes. You were never serious during training and everyone knew it. You were the one cracking jokes, trying to get Natasha to either go easy on you or, at the very least, smile. She wasn’t fond of your “I don’t give a shit” attitude, but you didn’t care. It’s just who you were.

Grinning, you prepared yourself for Natasha’s next attack. She took a swing at your head and you ducked, landing a well-placed shot to her stomach. She let out a slight huff, but quickly turned on you and swiped your legs out from under you, knocking you down – again. You groaned as you hopped back up to your feet and swung wildly at her. It didn’t surprise you when she kicked your knee and knocked you forward, your hands catching you before you busted your face.

“That’s enough for today,” Natasha said, shaking her head. “You really need to try harder, (Y/N). You won’t always be able to rely on your powers.”

You rolled your eyes and stood up. Natasha warned you of that every session, but it hadn’t come true yet. Having the ability to heal almost immediately had come in handy so many times in your life and hadn’t failed you once. Why would it start now?

Glancing around the training room, you spotted Wanda with Clint. He was trying to help her get better at hand-to-hand (just in case her powers ever failed her, something you couldn’t imagine happening either). You watched her for a moment, taking in her lithe form as they worked together. She was gorgeous in a dark tank top and shorts; you’d never seen her in shorts before and wow, her legs were nice to look at.

You swallowed hard. She must have felt your eyes on her because she peered over at you through dark lashes and smiled. It was the kind of smile that would have made you melt if you weren’t so determined to keep your bad ass reputation intact. You’d made a name for yourself being sarcastic, your lack of seriousness legendary amongst the Avengers. You hadn’t wanted to seem weak – your power wasn’t terribly impressive like Wanda’s or Bruce’s or even Pietro’s – so instead, you forced yourself into the role of the “bad girl” and it had stuck ever since.

Wanda watched you fondly, oblivious to Clint’s knowing look. Everyone on the team knew about her crush; they just couldn’t figure out why you. You two were nothing alike. Wanda was sweet and caring and a joy to have on the team while you were a bit of a prick sometimes. You never took anything seriously and you often showed how little you cared about things.

You waved at her before grabbing your black leather jacket off the bench and throwing it on. It stuck to your sweaty body but you didn’t care. You loved that jacket; you wore it damn near everywhere.

Wanda’s eyes lingered on you as you strolled out of the room. Clint tapped her on the shoulder, regaining her attention. “You okay, kid?”

Blushing, Wanda nodded before falling back into her fighting stance. “I’m fine.”

“Why don’t you ask her out?” Clint suggested, charging at her.

Wanda barely avoided his attack, her cheeks glowing bright. “She’s (Y/N). If she liked me, she’d tell me. I can’t imagine her being shy about it.”

“Maybe you make her nervous,” he said, shrugging.

Shaking her head, Wanda involuntarily glanced over at the door again, hoping to catch another glimpse of you.

Steve walked confidently into the room. “We have a mission.”

-X-

Sitting in the debriefing room, your arms were crossed disinterestedly as Steve rambled on about the upcoming mission. You, Wanda, and Steve were headed to the Midwest in search of a HYDRA base. You had your intel and your assignment, so why was he still talking? There was nothing he had to tell you that you couldn’t read in the file.

Wanda was next to you, listening intently to whatever the great Captain America was discussing. Her chair was so close that it was touching yours. You could smell her vanilla shampoo and all you wanted to do was stick your face in her hair. It was probably so soft; you would’ve bet your powers on it.

“(Y/N), are you listening?” Steve asked, cutting himself off.

You stared at him blankly. You had no idea what he’d been saying if you were being honest, but maybe you should have pretended to. You didn’t enjoy being called out by Steve; it was like disappointing your father or something.

Steve pinched the bridge of his nose. “Really?”

Sighing, you looked over at the file on the table. “I know what to do, Steve. We go in, use our handy little flash drive to get all the information off their computers, clear out their hideout, try not to die, get back on the Quinjet. It’s a pretty common theme with these HYDRA bases.”

Wanda bit her lip. She didn’t know if she should laugh or scold you. You weren’t entirely wrong, but that didn’t mean you should be rude to Steve.

“If you were listening, you’d know there was a little more to it than that. The commander of the base has been designing weapons that could cause some real damage if we aren’t careful. It’s not just guns and soldiers. We’re going to have to be extremely careful,” Steve said exasperatedly.

You nodded, not acknowledging the chastised expression on your face. “Alright.” You stood up from the table and started for the stairs. “Let me know when we’re leaving.”

Staring after you, Wanda pouted. She’d hoped to talk to you after the meeting, but now you were gone and so was the opportunity. Steve watched her curiously. He wasn’t unaware of her affections towards you, but he too couldn’t understand why.

“We leave tomorrow morning. Let her know if you see her,” he instructed, grabbing his file and strolling out of the room, leaving Wanda with her thoughts.

The next day, Steve was flying the Quinjet towards your destination. You were in one of the chairs, Wanda beside you. You noticed that she was often beside you, whether you were on the Quinjet or just sitting in the compound living room. She liked being at your side, even though you didn’t speak a lot when you were alone with her. She made you so nervous that you often didn’t know what to say to her.

You could feel her warmth seeping through your clothes and it brought a slight smile to your lips. You liked her being close, even if you wouldn’t admit it out loud. She was so perfect and it made you wish you could be a better person for her, but you’d never deserve her.

Your lips dipped downward at that thought.

A patch of turbulence hit the jet and Wanda’s hand instinctively reached for you. It landed atop your hand and you froze, staring down at them. Wanda smiled sheepishly and went to move her hand, but you simply turned your hand over and entwined your fingers, keeping your hands clasped together. Another wave of turbulence hit and the jet shook violently. Her grip tightened. Your thumb stroked the back of her hand comfortingly.

Wanda was stunned. She hadn’t expected such a sweet gesture from you. She’d expected a joke or for you to jerk away but actually holding her hand? That was different – but she wasn’t going to complain. You shot her a grin, as if you knew what was going through that beautiful mind of hers.

When the Quinjet touched down, your hands separated and a cool, indifferent mask fell across your face. You wandered off the jet and glanced around. You were in the middle of nowhere but you could make out a base not too far away. It wasn’t inconspicuous by any means. How no one had caught on was beyond you.

The three of you carefully made your way to the base, knocking out the occasional agent that was stationed nearby. They weren’t hard to render unconscious, especially when there was a man with a vibranium shield and a woman who manipulated energy. You weren’t useless either; you may not have cared for your training sessions with Natasha, but you’d picked up a thing or two since you started.

The building wasn’t as guarded as the one in Sokovia had been so it wasn’t hard sneaking inside. Once inside, though, things became a little chaotic. HYDRA had been preparing for your eventual visit; they were ready for you.

Hitting the nearest agent, you knocked his gun away from him and smacked your fist into his temple. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious. You smirked triumphantly and began wading through the other HYDRA agents, keeping most of them away from Wanda. You knew she could handle herself, but you weren’t about to let one of them creep up behind her.

You’d rip anyone apart that dared to hurt her.

Hooking your leg around another’s neck, you slammed his head into a table and shoved him away. You were getting closer to your objective, you just needed to finish off the rest of these guys. They were the only thing standing in your way. You broke away from Wanda and Steve and ran for the server room, disabling agents as you went.

When you reached the server room, you hurriedly emptied it of agents and shoved the drive into the computer, downloading the information onto it. Your eyes scanned through it as it downloaded, but it meant very little to you seeing as most of it was encrypted anyways.

“I’ve got it, guys,” you said through the comms, ripping out the drive the moment it was finished downloading. You stuck it in your pocket and returned to the other two. They’d managed to clear out most of the agents. Only a few stragglers were left.

It wasn’t until you were preoccupied with one of the remaining skilled agents - one that actually knew what he was doing - that something went wrong. You heard the whirling of a weapon and peered over your shoulder. Two men were leveling weird looking guns at Wanda. You didn’t know what the hell they did, but you knew it wasn’t good. The barrel of the guns lit up and made a noise and you rushed towards Wanda.

“No!” you screamed.

You caught Wanda around the waist and spun her around, your back to the guns. Bursts of light left the barrels and slammed into your spine. It felt like fire running up your back, your shirt burning away and your skin sizzling audibly. Wanda’s mouth was opened in a silent scream, her eyes glowing red as your arms grew slack and you dropped to the floor. You landed on your side, refusing to let your back touch the ground. Your body hurt so much, tears flooding your eyes.

You heard a primal noise break from Wanda’s throat. You heard bodies smack against the floor, then there was silence. Wanda dropped to her knees beside you, her hand reaching out for you but not touching you. She was scared that it would only cause more damage. She peeked around at your back and blanched. It was charred and ugly and she couldn’t imagine what it would have done to her if you hadn’t been there. It was very likely you’d saved her life, but at what cost?

Steve ran over to you, bending down behind you. His face was pale as he took in your injuries. He wouldn’t be able to move you without hurting you, but he didn’t have a choice. He’d have to touch your back in order to lift you.

“(Y/N), this is going to hurt,” Steve warned, rolling you onto your back. You howled in pain, the tears finally falling down your cheeks.

He hurriedly picked you up, one arm at the bend of your knees and the other around you, trying the best he can to keep you steady. Tears were still dripping down your face and your vision was almost blackened with pain, but somehow you were managing to stay conscious. It was a daunting task, but you refused to pass out. You needed to reassure Wanda that you were okay; she looked too distraught.

Once you were finally in the Quinjet, Steve set you down on the nearest flat surface and helped you onto your side. It would be a rough flight, staying in that position, but there was no way in hell you were going to lie on your back for that long. It might have only taken a couple hours to return to New York, but that was a couple hours too many.

Wanda took a seat in the nearest chair, her hand finding yours as she studied your pained expression. Her free hand brushed a sweaty lock of hair from your face and she frowned. You looked so miserable.

“Hey,” you whispered, “Stop that.”

“Stop what?” she asked in an equally as quiet voice, almost afraid to break the calm that was falling over you.

Your hand squeezed hers. “Stop looking so guilty. This isn’t your fault.”

“If I had been paying more attention…”

You shushed her, smiling weakly. “It’s not your fault,” you repeated.

The pain was slowly becoming too much and you closed your eyes, trying your best to will it away. You could feel your powers trying to kick in, but the injuries were extensive. It would take time for them to fully heal you. Whatever those beams were had dug in deep into your body, taking layers upon layers of skin with it. Your powers just needed time.

Honestly, though, it was worth it. Who knew what it would have done to Wanda? She’d likely be in a worse condition or…

You shuddered.

Eventually you succumbed to the darkness, passing out when the pain got to be overwhelming. You’d fought it off for a little while, but it was too much even for you.

-X-

You awoke in your room, the sheets pulled away from your torso as you slept on your front. You couldn’t feel any aches or pain in your back, so you assumed your healing had finally started working. You sat upright, stretching your arms above your head. The muscles of your back were tender, but not agonizing. You were shirtless, but that didn’t faze you. You were positive Bruce had been nothing but respectful when he’d checked you over. You were kind of surprised you weren’t in the hospital wing; you weren’t complaining though.

The door to your room opened and Wanda stepped inside, a cup of tea in her hand. She looked good in a cute red shirt that clung divinely to her and a short skirt that offered a nice view of her legs. You were quite entranced by the sight.

She gasped when she saw you were awake - and blushed when she noticed how very naked your upper torso was. “You’re awake!”

You grinned, nodding. “I am. How long was I out for?”

“Only a day and a half,” Wanda assured you, setting her tea on the side table beside you. She was trying valiantly to ignore your nakedness, but her eyes still lingered on your throat and collarbone. She wouldn’t dare let them drop lower. “It took some time for your healing to start working because of how extensive your injuries were.”

Standing up from the bed, you smirked. You could see her gaze slowly dropping lower and lower and honestly, it made you a little hot under the collar. You were starting to wonder if your feelings were returned. Your hands instinctively fell to Wanda’s hips and she gasped, the green of her eyes so deep that you were worried you’d drown in them.

“I realized something,” you murmured abruptly, startling her.

“What?” she replied breathlessly.

Your nose brushed along Wanda’s jawline. You can hear her sharp inhale and it only urged you on. “Life is short, even for someone like me. I don’t want to have any regrets.” You pulled back slightly and cupped Wanda’s cheek. “If I don’t do this, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

Glancing between Wanda’s eyes and her lips, you slowly leaned in. You waited for her to jerk away – anticipating the rejection – but she didn’t. Her fingers tangled in your locks and she dragged you closer, slotting your lips together. Your mouths fit together perfectly, moving in harmony as you adjusted to the new sensations. You tugged her into you and her hold on your hair tightened.

You moaned in surprise, fingers flexing on her lithe waist as your other hand came to rest opposite its twin. She echoed the sound and you slipped your tongue into her mouth, mapping out every inch. Your tongue teased hers, earning a low noise that settled deep in your stomach. It was desperate and hot and you never wanted it to end.

Caught between wanting to press her up against your bedroom wall or taking things slowly, you wandered back towards your bed, never breaking the embrace. Your knees knocked off the mattress and you sat down, your lips never leaving hers. She stood between your legs, her back bent slightly as you continued kissing. She tasted like she smelled and it was driving you mad. She was like sugar and heaven rolled into one perfect creature.

You helped Wanda straddle your lap, her skirt bunching up around you as she slid atop you. You could feel her panties against your thigh and could barely contain your smuggest smile. She was already wet, the material clinging to her core. You couldn’t wait for it to be gone.

Grabbing the edge of her shirt, you stared inquisitively up at her. You weren’t going to do something she was uncomfortable with, but a fervent nod soothed your worry. You stripped it off her and leaned back, eagerly taking in all the skin presented to you. She blushed under your scrutiny but refused to look away. Instead, she finally let her eyes drift lower than your throat. She caught sight of your heaving chest and her blush deepened.

You smirked, leaning forward to press a kiss between her lace-clad breasts. The black encased Wanda’s bust deliciously and it brought something primal out in you. All you wanted to do was ravish this woman on your lap, but the rational part of you knew that you needed to take this slow. Being a HYDRA experimentation didn’t leave much room for romantic prospects so going slow and taking your time was essential. You wanted her to enjoy this too.

Slipping your hands around her back, you unclasped her bra and tossed it aside, exposing her completely to your gaze. Pebbled flesh called to you and you attached your mouth to one while your hand came up to play with the other. Wanda moaned softly, cupping the back of your head and keeping you close. Your tongue teased her skin, circling around it before lips captured her nipple and sucked.

“(Y/N)…” she sighed.

You switched breasts, leaving a trail of wet kisses between them. Her wet flesh was tight as cool air met it but your hand replaced your mouth, keeping it warm.

Wrapping your arms around Wanda’s waist, you stood up. Her legs encircled your hips and you groaned as she ground her soaking center against your bare stomach. You positioned her on the bed so that her head was to the pillows, brunette locks fanning out on the (P/C) cases. She looked good enough to eat as you kneeled between her spread legs. Her chest was flushed, lips kiss-swollen and eyes so dark that there was hardly any color showing.

She looked properly debauched and you loved it.

Crawling forward, your hands fell to either side of her head as you stared down at her. “Tell me what you want,” you demanded, voice raspy and deep.

“I want you,” she whispered, her fingers drifting along your cheek.

You smiled, capturing her lips in a slow, sensual kiss. It was softer than your previous ones and Wanda melted into it. One of your hands glided down the expansion of her stomach, past the waistband of her skirt, and under it. Your hand found soaked material and your thumb circled her covered clit. It was light and teasing, but Wanda still panted wantonly. She needed you to touch her.

“Please,” she begged, throwing her head back.

“Please what, pretty girl?” you prompted, leaning in and biting at her exposed throat. There were definitely going to be marks tomorrow, but Wanda’s encouraging groan eased your worry about them. If she didn’t care, then you were going to mark her as yours – then everyone was going to know.

She pushed into your hand, your finger coming into firmer contact with her engorged flesh. “(Y/N), please… Don’t tease.”

“Why not?” you cooed. “You look so good like this, all flushed and soaking, begging me.”

Wanda whined. She didn’t know what else to do.

You wanted to make this last but you weren’t going to be cruel. She was dripping through her panties, the wetness evident on your thumb and her slick thighs. Finally slipping your hand into her underwear, you rubbed her clit firmly, mouthing at her neck as she moaned. She was beyond enticing like this: head thrown back, lips parted, eyes clenched shut.

All you wanted to do was devour her.

You teased her entrance with your finger, your thumb never leaving her clit.

She made a choked noise, jerking into the sensation. She wanted more. She needed more. “Fuck, (Y/N), please!”

Hearing her desperately curse and plead set you off. You slipped one finger, then two inside her. You set a steady, slow pace, just enough to give her some relief but not enough to send her crashing headfirst into an orgasm. You wanted to make this last. You didn’t know if this was a one time thing so you were going to savor it while you could.

Wanda’s hips followed your rhythm, incoherent moans falling from pink lips. Your fingers were long and filling and God she hadn’t felt this good ever. “Harder.”

Following orders, you moved your hand faster and harder, fingers dragging along the spongy area that would send her into a frenzy. Wanda cried out, mouth wide open as her legs trembled. You couldn’t stop yourself from kissing her, swallowing every moan and little noise that escaped. She clutched at you, nails digging into your back as she got lost in the feeling. She could feel something warm building low and she nipped sharply at your bottom lip, earning a strangled cry. It wasn’t painful per se, but it was startling.

“God, you’re so hot,” you muttered between kisses, “You like this, don’t you? I bet you’ve dreamed about this, me being deep inside you.”

Wanda whined loudly into your mouth before breaking the kiss, gasping for air. Her nails scraped down your back and you shuddered. The burn was sharp, but it ignited something deep within you. You picked up the pace, almost to the point of your wrist hurting, and pressed your thumb firmly to her clit. She jerked and her legs clamped down on your hand, trapping it there as she rode out the orgasm that had slammed into her. She could feel her heart pounding painfully in her chest, breath coming out in puffs.

You kissed below her ear, appreciating the moment. You’d managed to make the most beautiful woman you’d ever met come apart with just your fingers and it was the hottest thing you’d ever done in your life. You could feel your own slickness between your legs and an ache in your core.

Wanda tilted her head and connected your lips chastely, a smile tugging at her mouth.

“That was wonderful,” she sighed, staring deeply into your eyes. Hers were full of emotions you didn’t dare put into words and you returned her smile.

You kissed her nose, smiling when it scrunched up. You couldn’t admit it out loud but your crush on her was turning into something more. She was too sweet to end up with someone like you. As if she could hear your thoughts, she frowned and then you realized something: she probably could.

You weren’t a quiet thinker.

“You’re perfect for me,” she whispered reverently.

Blushing, you glanced away from her. You couldn’t look her in the eye after such a confession. You wanted her – truly you did – but there was no way you could make her happy in the way she deserved. You were too stoic, too sarcastic. You knew you were a jerk some days, and what happened if you were mean to her? You’d never forgive yourself.

Wanda cupped your cheek and tilted your head, catching your gaze. “You deserve to be happy, (Y/N).”

“I…” You wanted to say “I love you” but the words got stuck in your throat and left you silent, unable to finish your thoughts.

You leaned forward and kissed her sweetly. Pressing your forehead to hers, you breathed in, taking in her comforting scent. She always smelled so good.

“I know, baby,” she whispered, “I know.”

Chapter Text

It wasn’t often that you had time to find yourself on the roof of the Compound, but these were the nights you appreciated the most. You loved staring up at the stars, watching them twinkle and shine. Occasionally you’d catch sight of one shooting across the sky and you’d make a wish. They were easy wishes, but they were yours all the same. You enjoyed the simplicity of it all; it kept you sane in your hectic life.

Watching another star cross the sky, you clamped your eyes shut and chewed on your bottom lip thoughtfully.

I wish Natasha was here to enjoy this.

Natasha was away on spy business with Clint. You hadn’t seen her in nearly two weeks and you missed your girlfriend – a lot. Life always seemed bleaker without her. You liked spending time with the other Avengers and with the SHIELD agents that you often associated with, but nothing could fill the hole in your heart that Natasha left behind. And, truthfully, you wouldn’t want anyone else in the world to actually try and fill it.

There was no one better for you than her.

The roof was chilly against your back yet you found it quite refreshing. You took in the chilly night air and smiled, your eyes drifting closed for a moment.

“I thought I’d find you up here,” a knowing voice called out, startling you. You jerked upright and peered over your shoulder at the woman you called your lover.

You grinned, hurrying to your feet. “Nat!” You tossed your arms around her, pressing kisses to her cheeks, her nose, her forehead…

She laughed, catching your fluttering lips with her own. The kiss was deep and full of pent up emotion. Her mouth moved against yours roughly, her hands drifting into your hair and your lips falling into a familiar dance. You were used to this greeting. After missions, Natasha was often full of energy and frustrations so this wasn’t an uncommon situation that you found yourself in now. Her grip on your hair tightened and your hands took hold of her hips, dragging her closer.

“I missed you,” you mumbled, finally breaking the kiss when the need for air became too much.

Natasha hummed. “Well, why don’t you come show me how much you missed me?” she suggested with a sultry smile.

Laughing, your arms encircled Natasha’s waist and you held her tightly. “Patience, baby.”

“We both know I don’t have patience,” Natasha replied with a smirk, pressing her lips to the juncture between your neck and your shoulder, teeth nibbling at the sensitive flesh there.

You moaned softly and tilted your head, granting her better access to your body. “It’s still early,” you pointed out breathlessly. “You should sit with me and watch the stars.”

Natasha groaned against your neck, pouting. She wanted you in her bed; she didn’t want to stay outside where nothing of interest would happen. But she would do as you asked because she wanted to make you happy. You stroked vibrant red hair and pressed a kiss to her temple.

“We’ll only stay out here a few minutes,” you promised.

Natasha slipped out of your embrace and entwined your fingers before dragging you back over to your star-watching spot. She sat down and brought you onto her lap, her arms around you. You were a few inches taller than her, but she loved being the big spoon so it wasn’t a new concept to find yourself in her lap. Besides, it was comforting to be held by her. You always felt so safe and cherished.

“I love you,” you murmured, leaning your head back so it was against her shoulder.

She hummed. It was rare for her to say it back, but you knew she loved you too. Her actions showed you that much; the way she held you – especially after sex -, the way she kissed your head when you were sad or the way she gripped your hand whenever she had the chance. The words may not leave her mouth often, but that was okay. You loved her just the way she was.

After a few minutes of staring up at the sky in silence, you began to notice the tremors working through Natasha’s body. She trembled, her skin growing colder despite how close she was holding you. She wasn’t going to admit any weakness, but you knew she was getting chilly by the way she brought you in tighter, her chest flush against your back.

That much was evident.

“You’re cold,” you commented knowingly, glancing at the woman who had captured your heart.

Natasha shook her head, though her shivers contradicted her denial. She could feel the tips of her fingers going numb and she pouted. She was Russian, dammit! She shouldn’t be so cold.

America has made me soft, she pouted.

“I thought you were Russian,” you joked, unwittingly voicing her thoughts. You leaned forward and a pathetic whine escaped Natasha’s throat as you stole her warmth. Giggling, you slipped off your hoodie and handed it to the woman behind you. “Here, take this.”

“I thought you said we weren’t going to stay out here very long,” Natasha retorted petulantly, throwing on the warm overshirt. Your smell engulfed her and she breathed in deeply, a content smile tugging at her lips. Reaching for you, she brought you back into her grasp and rested her chin against your shoulder, taking in your scent from the source.

Turning your head, you pecked her cheek. “We aren’t going to be out here much longer,” you answered playfully, “But I don’t want you to turn into a popsicle before we go inside.”

“I wouldn’t turn into a popsicle,” Natasha argued, “I’m not cold.”

You giggled. “Sure you’re not, baby. You’re just shaking because my presence overwhelms you so much.”

Natasha rolled her eyes so hard you were certain she’d be able to see the back of her skull and your giggles turned into full-fledged laughter. Her grip on your waist tightened, her fingers dancing along your sides. With only a t-shirt separating her fingers and your skin, your laughter of amusement shifted into ticklish laughter. You wiggled in Natasha’s lap, trying to escape her nimble digits.

“Stop it!” you wheezed, tears prickling the corner of your eyes.

Natasha smirked and dug her fingers in a little deeper, earning what could only be considered a squawk from you. You squirmed, trying valiantly to slip out of your girlfriend’s ironclad grip.

“Tasha!” a whine broke free from your throat.

Laughing, Natasha finally let you go and you slumped against her. Your ribs ached from your giggles but you didn’t care; it was worth it to see Natasha so carefree and happy. You’d suffer through a million hours of tickles if it meant she smiled as brightly as she was.

“You’re so pretty when you laugh,” you commented sweetly, grinning when a bright flush erupted in Natasha’s cheeks.

Natasha didn’t say anything, but you knew she appreciated the compliment. She’d heard so much negativity about herself most of her life that she often forgot her worth. But you were determined to remind her how wonderful she was and made it your mission to remind her that her life had meaning too.

“Ready to go in?” you wondered, chuckling when Natasha’s head bobbed heartily.

You stood up from her lap and offered your hand, tugging her up and into your arms. You brushed your lips against hers and she melted into you, her arms encircling your neck. Your lips slotted together in

“My clothes look good on you but I bet they’ll look a lot better on the floor,” you murmured into her mouth.

“Well, why don’t we find out?” Natasha whispered hoarsely.

She dragged you towards the rooftop door and you couldn’t stop grinning like a fool. God, you loved this woman.

Chapter Text

Streams of sun flickered through the curtains, its warm light falling upon your face as you slept. Your head was turned away from it, trying to keep it out of your eyes but much to your dismay, you were beginning to rouse. There was a familiar pressure on your chest and you smiled, tightening your hold on the woman in your arms. Cracking open one eye, you glanced down.

Wanda was sprawled out atop you, one hand gripping your shirt while her other arm was tossed carelessly out to the side. Her legs were tangled with yours and her head was resting comfortably over your heartbeat. She often sought it out whenever you slept; she said it kept away the nightmares. Her hair was a wild mess around her face, but she’d never looked more beautiful in your eyes.

It was moments like this that meant the most to you. It was serene and calm and for a minute you could just exist with the person you loved most in this world.

Wanda whined as consciousness crept up on her. Her fist balled up your shirt and she squirmed closer, her head falling into the crook of your neck. She was too precious for words in the morning. This happened – without fail – every morning. She’d wake up, wiggle around, then try and force herself back to sleep. It never worked, but you admired her determination.

Glancing over at the clock on the bedside table, you pursed your lips. It was only eight, but you knew Clint would come looking for Wanda soon so they could train and you had a meeting with Steve and Fury in an hour so you guessed it was time to get up. Your fingers slid along Wanda’s spine and she made a noise that was very similar to that of a cat purring. Her toes flexed against your calf, earning a slight giggle from you.

“Baby, it’s time to get up,” you cooed, slipping your digits beneath the sweatshirt she’d stolen from you to sleep in. They danced over soft flesh and you were rewarded with a whiny moan.

“No,” she huffed, her accent thick with sleep, hot breath brushing over your neck, “More sleep.”

You smiled, kissing the top of her head. She hummed contentedly, burying her face into the side of your neck. Her lips lingered on your skin and it made you want to shudder. It was so torturous, the way each exhale tickled your neck and the way you could feel every minute movement of her mouth. Every twitch or uptick felt like heaven and hell wrapped up in a pretty little bow.

“Can we just stay in bed?” she begged, untangling her legs from yours so she could stretch hers out.

“I wish,” you murmured, rubbing her back apologetically. You didn’t want to get up either.

Wanda pouted. “But…”

You shook your head. “C’mon, pretty girl, we need to get up.” You wormed your way out of her arms, ignoring her pathetic whine of annoyance. You knew for a fact that if you looked at her, she’d manage to convince you to stay in bed, so you refused to glance in her direction, much to her disdain.

“Why are you so mean?”

Laughing, you started changing into an appropriate outfit for your meeting. It was a simple shirt and nice pants, but you had to admit: you looked good. Grabbing the brush, you brushed out your hair and peered at yourself in the mirror before nodding.

Arms encircled your waist from behind and a forehead was pressed against your shoulder. “You look good, lyubov moya. A kiss for good luck?”

“Of course,” you replied, spinning in Wanda’s arms. You slipped your arms around her neck and kissed her sweetly, mouths molding together in a toe-curling embrace. You loved kissing your girlfriend; your mouths slotted perfectly together like puzzle pieces – like you were meant for each other.

Wanda hugged you tightly before letting you go with a swift pat on the ass and a cheeky smile.

“I’ll start breakfast,” you laughed, swatting her back before disappearing out of your bedroom.

Yeah, it was going to be a good day.

-X-

Your talk with Fury and Steve didn’t last long. It was just a quick debriefing of your last mission and a discussion about the information you’d returned with. It wasn’t complicated and you found yourself without anything to do an hour later. You liked having time to yourself, but you never knew what to do with it. You were so used to having your friends and girlfriend around that when you were alone, you never had any ideas of what you’d actually like to do. It wasn’t your day to train with Natasha or to teach any of the new agents, so really, you were lost.

Glancing around your floor of the Compound, you pursed your lips. It wasn’t necessarily unkempt, but it certainly wasn’t the cleanest you’d ever seen it so you started picking up the shoes scattered about your living room, setting them beside the door. You peered into the kitchen and frowned. There were dishes in the sink and the counter wasn’t as clean as you would have liked, so off you went, preparing yourself for a long day of cleaning your floor.

When you were finally done with your chores (it had taken longer than you anticipated, to be honest), you plopped down on the couch and grabbed the remote. Flipping through the channels, you leaned your head back and started trying to relax. Your hands were pruned from scrubbing the dishes and you faintly smelled of cleaning solution, but you were too lazy to go shower.

Time ticked by and you patiently waited for your lover to come back from training. She’d usually drag herself in a few hours after practicing with Clint with sweat clinging to her clothes and exhaustion written across her pretty features. Her face would be flushed and she would complain about the workout, but you both knew that she enjoyed spending time with the man.

He was the closest thing she had to a brother since the passing of Pietro.

When the door finally opened and Wanda wandered in, you couldn’t contain your chuckle. Her black shirt was clinging to her body, wet with sweat, and the ponytail her hair had been pulled up in was crooked and wild. She looked like she’d gotten her ass handed to her a few times if the red marks on her upper arm were any indication. You felt bad for her, but you knew that Clint would never wittingly hurt her. He just wanted her prepared.

Walking over to the couch, Wanda flopped down in your lap, her arms coming to circle your neck. You wrinkled your nose.

“Ugh, you’re sweaty- get off.”

Wanda smirked, pressing a kiss to your cheek. “I’m not moving, your lap is comfortable.”

“Why are you so stubborn?” Rolling your eyes, you hugged her close. You knew you both needed showers, but you weren’t about to move. You loved holding your girlfriend, even if she was gross. “How was training?” you inquired, rubbing your hand along Wanda’s side.

Wanda sighed heavily, slumping deeper into your grasp. “Exhausting.”

“I’m sorry,” you cooed, squeezing Wanda’s hip sympathetically. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I’m tired, just cuddle me,” she whined, snuggling in as close as possible.

Awkwardly moving around on the couch, you managed to lay out fully without knocking Wanda off your lap. You leaned your head against the armrest and stroked Wanda’s hair as she stretched out atop you. You both stared at the TV, though it didn’t really hold your attention. All you could think about was the woman in your arms.

A few episodes later, you were getting hungry so you poked your dozing girlfriend who whined in return. “I’m hungry.”

Wanda sighed pathetically and lifted her head to look at you. She stuck her bottom lip out; she obviously didn’t want to move. She was comfortable atop you. Why would you be mean and make her move?

You leaned in and kissed her, unable to stop yourself. She looked too adorable. You cupped her cheek, deepening the kiss briefly before pulling back. You smiled at her, a bright glint in your eyes as you stared up at the woman you loved. “Feed me.”

Huffing, Wanda slid off the couch and stared down at you with a ridiculously serious expression, hands on her hips. “This is the only reason you love me. I feed you and give you kisses.”

Your laughter was boisterous. You clutched your sides, nearly rolling off the couch as Wanda playfully glared at you. Your giggles were so infectious that eventually her stern façade gave way and she started laughing along too. Once your laughter subsided, you stood up from the couch and wrapped your arms around Wanda’s waist, planting a kiss on her neck as the two of you swayed to the music in your head.

Wanda’s heart was so full of joy. She’d never thought she’d be this happy ever again, but then she’d met you and her whole world shifted. You’d helped her grieve her brother, held her during her nightmares… You’d even fought with strangers on the street who told her that she was nothing but a monster. You were her light in the bleakest of nights and she loved you so much.

“Do you still love me, even though I only want you for your impeccable cooking skills and your kisses?” you asked jokingly, grinning at her with wide (E/C) eyes.

“Yes, even when you’re annoying the fuck out of me, I still love you,” she replied lightheartedly, though a promise was held in those words. She would love you until her dying breath; that much she knew. You were her entire world and even if you were ridiculous and a dork, she would love you forever.

“Way to make a girl feel good about herself,” you smirked.

Wanda kissed you softly – deeply – and tugged you as close as possible. “Does that make it all better?”

“I don’t know. A few more of those might not hurt,” you murmured against her lips. “But you know what would be even better?”

With a knowing smirk, Wanda pulled back. “What?”

Leaning in close, you whispered against her mouth, “Food.”

Wanda gasped. You giggled gaily and bolted out of her arms, rushing down the hall with Wanda close behind. You could hear her gaining and it only made you laugh harder. It was these moments that you lived for. No worries, no fear. Just you and the woman you loved.

Inches from your bedroom door, you felt her arms come around you before you were pressed up against the wall beside the door. You let out a quiet “oomph” as your back thumped against it but your words of discontent were cut off by her lips on yours. Her persistent tongue slipped between your open lips and met yours, subduing it in into submission quickly.

When the need for air became too much, your lips naturally parted from hers and you grinned. “That was kind of hot.”

Wanda rolled her eyes, but pecked your lips once, twice, three times, before releasing you. As your stomach growled, making its presence well known, she laughed, “Let’s get that beast fed before it devours us all.”

You nudged her good-humoredly but linked your fingers with hers, dragging her back towards the kitchen. In that moment, nothing could ruin your happiness. Wanda was perfect, you were perfect, and life was perfect.

You never wanted this moment to end.

Chapter Text

You hadn’t slept in your old room in months yet here you were, staring up at the ceiling wondering how things had gone so wrong so fast. You didn’t even know what had started the fight - you were pretty sure it had started because of the pretty waitress that had been flirting with you at dinner but honestly, you hadn’t paid her any attention so Natasha bringing it up had put you on the defensive.

All you could remember was how it ended. It had ended with Natasha yelling at you to get the hell out of her room (something she hadn’t called it since you moved into it) so now you were hiding out in your former sleeping area until things calmed down.Sighing for what felt like the millionth time, you sat up and swung your legs over the edge of the bed. Glancing at the clock, you huffed.

Three a.m. stared back at you in bright red numbers, mocking you. This was the longest one of your fights had ever lasted. Even on your worst days, you two made up rather swiftly. Your jobs were hard enough, so why make your personal lives difficult too?

Realizing that things had gone on long enough, you rose and started for the door. Your hand paused on the knob and for a second you wondered why you were the one going to apologize, but then something came to the forefront of your thoughts. It didn’t matter who had started it – both of you had said things you didn’t mean in the end. All you needed was your arms around her, snuggled into her chest as she played with your hair.

You were both in the wrong so it was time one of you stepped up and apologized. With a firm nod and pounding heart, you threw open the door and headed for the room you called yours. The halls were empty, seeing as only you and Natasha commandeered this floor. You wandered along until you came to a stop in front of the door that held your heart. You swallowed dryly and raised your hand to knock, but something caught your attention. You could hear rustling and whimpers, cries of anguish falling from your lover’s mouth.

Nudging it open, you glanced around the room. Natasha was lying in bed, the sheet balled up in her fists as she jerked about, lips parted as pained noises escaped her throat. She looked so helpless and lost, her fiery red locks clinging to her face as she writhed. You stepped towards her, your fight forgotten completely. All you cared about was the woman with tears clinging to her lashes.

Climbing onto the other side of the bed, you carefully caught Natasha’s shoulders and steadied her. “Nat, baby, wake up,” you murmured quietly, trying not to startle the ex-assassin too badly.She fought against your hold.

“No, don’t hurt her!”

“Tasha, wake up!” you said a little louder, your grip on her tightening.

A heavy gasp filled the room before a fist came flying at your face. You deftly trapped it with your hand, keeping a warm, calm expression on your cheeks. Natasha was always terribly disoriented after a nightmare wrecked her psyche so you stayed utterly still, waiting for her to come back to reality. Once you were certain she was aware of who you were, you brought her fist to your lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Hey, you’re safe now. It’s okay, I promise.”

Natasha was frozen, her eyes staring into yours as though she wasn’t certain you were real. “(Y/N)?” her voice was raspy with sleep and tears, but still lovely enough to make your heart beat faster.

“You’re okay,” you promised softly, placing another kiss on her hand, though on the back of it this time.

She slowly sat upright, an unreadable expression falling over her features as everything came flooding back. Her eyes darkened and she turned her head, refusing to look at you. She took her hand out of yours and dropped it onto her lap, grabbing at the blanket still covering her.

You exhaled deeply and moved so you were sitting cross-legged on the bed. She was never this stoic and quiet after a nightmare. Usually she’d burrow into your arms, tangle your legs together and tell you her terrors. She was open with you, and only you. She’d never opened up to anyone else like she had with you. Not even Clint understood her the way you did. Most of the time it was about the Red Room, but sometimes they were “what-ifs” or “what could have been’s.”

You couldn’t stand the space between you.

“Nat…” you cautiously reached out, touching her arm. She flinched and it made your stomach clench. This one must have been worse than normal, but she was obviously still unhappy with you if her silence was any indication. “I know you’re not talking to me, but please don’t shut me out.”

Swallowing harshly, Natasha let your hand stay on her arm. “They had you. They had you and there wasn’t anything I could do to stop them from…” she trailed off, a lone tear trickling down her cheek. It broke your heart.

You uncrossed your legs and inched towards the love of your life, reassurances on the tip of your tongue. You wanted her to know that you trusted her and that you were completely safe. There was no one better equipped to protect you than her. And truthfully, you weren’t an invalid. You could easily protect yourself.

“I’m right here,” you whispered, your arm slowly encircling her shoulders. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Natasha leaned into you, her head falling to your shoulder as she stared into the darkness of the room. It threatened to swallow her whole, but your warmth grounded her – kept her from falling down that rabbit hole. “I’m still mad at you.”

“I know,” you replied softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

And you did know. You knew the two of you needed to talk, but you weren’t going to let her suffer in silence. You loved her too much for that. She was your everything and you weren’t about to let her hurt alone.

Leaning back against the headboard, you brought her down to lay her head on your chest, your fingers carding through red locks. You pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m sorry,” you murmured after a few minutes, the silence becoming too much to bare.

Natasha was quiet, her body tight with tension. It left an uncomfortable sensation in the pit of your belly, feeling how edgy your lover was. You wished desperately that you two had never fought to begin with. It had been stupid and the ramifications were awful.

Eventually she slackened a little and replied just as softly, “I’m sorry too.”

You nodded, not daring to say anything more. Were there things you needed to discuss? Probably. But you could do that tomorrow, when the sun was high and a new day had dawned. Right now, all that mattered was the woman with her head on your chest.

Tossing a leg between yours and an arm around your waist, Natasha sank deeper into you, her eyes falling closed as sleep threatened to overtake her. Your fingers continued to comb through her hair and it lulled her to sleep, her pretty lips parting and steady breaths escaping. Smiling, your own eyes fell closed as you cherished her body against yours.

Yeah, this was all that mattered.

Chapter Text

You knew it was coming. You could see it as clearly as you could see the sun on cloudless days. It was coming right at you and there was absolutely nothing you could do to stop it. You desperately wanted to – really, you couldn’t imagine life without her – but it seemed like the end was nearing and you were forced to watch it come.

Kara Danvers was the love of your life. You’d met her at CatCo when she was still Cat’s assistant and you’d formed a close bond. Most people thought you were just friends, but that had never been the case. You’d been falling for her since day one – and she’d been falling for you too. She loved your laugh and the way your eyes lit up when you smiled at her and she just…

She just loved you.

Or, at least she did.

Now, though, you weren’t so sure. You’d been together over a year when Lena Luthor came into your lives. She was charismatic and sweet and she had your girlfriend absolutely wrapped around her finger. Kara would drop everything for her – even leave date nights – to go off and save her and while you understood that your girlfriend was a superhero, it broke your heart every time. You were losing her little by little every day.

-X-

Game night was a staple of the Superfriends. Everyone gathered around with some beer or liquor and you played games until late in the evening. Sometimes the Danvers’ pout would even convince J’onn to join, though he rarely stayed as long as the others. Kara had started game night as a way to bring everyone together but now, it filled your chest with pain as you realized everything you were going to lose when Kara finally left.

You weren’t only losing her, you were also losing the family you’d come to love so much.

Leaning into Kara’s side, you sipped your drink and stared blankly ahead. Winn was rolling for his turn at Monopoly, an expression of concentration on his boyish features. Mon-El was beside him, looking so confused by the game but ultimately enjoying himself. You weren’t a huge fan of the Daxamite prince, but he was tolerable most days so you tried to look past his less than stellar qualities. Maggie was sipping her beer watching them, her amusement palpable as Mon-El asked another question.

Kara was babbling to Alex about her latest article with Lena and despite Alex’s valiant attempt to seem interested, all she really seemed to be was irritated. She wasn’t blind either; she knew about Kara’s budding feelings for Lena and it scared her. You’d become like a sister to her since you started dating Kara and she couldn’t stand to see your heart breaking every time Lena bloody Luthor’s name was mentioned.

You abruptly stood, cutting off Kara. The Kryptonian glanced at you in confusion and you mustered up the best smile you could, though you were certain it looked more like a grimace.

“Need another drink,” you said with a shrug, heading into her kitchen.

Alex followed, muttering quietly that she needed another beer. She stopped beside you, her hand falling to your shoulder as she nudged you around. You had tears in your eyes, but you refused to let them fall. You weren’t going to cry, not now.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay,” Alex assured you, though you could see the hesitation in her eyes, “Kara will get over her soon enough.”

A watery laugh bubbled in your throat. How do you tell your girlfriend’s sister that she shouldn’t have to get over someone when she was already dating you? How do you explain that you feel like you’re losing everything every time Lena’s name is brought up? How do you tell her that you know Kara’s going to pick her over you? Why wouldn’t she?

Alex tugged you into a hug and held you close, stroking your hair and whispering promises that you both knew weren’t going to be kept.

-X-

It wasn’t until you saw them together at Noonan’s that you knew it was all over for you. Kara had blown off a lunch date with you, so you’d decided to go eat with a couple friends from CatCo. You weren’t going anywhere nice, so Noonan’s was the obvious choice. You were the last one there and when you stepped inside, you froze.

There, in the back corner, sat your girlfriend with Lena Luthor. She was giggling at something the other woman said, her hands fidgeting on her lap like they used to when she talked to you. They looked good together and it made you sick.

“Of course,” you muttered to yourself, a vile feeling taking hold in your chest.

Kara glanced away from Lena, her gaze falling upon you and she froze. Your gazes locked and she must not have liked what she saw in yours because a flush bloomed on her fair cheeks. You wanted to scream, walk over there and demand…hell, you didn’t know what you’d demand, but it wouldn’t be pretty…but instead you remained calm, keeping a stoic expression as you stalked through Noonan’s.

This was the final straw.

Later that night, you found yourself outside of Kara’s apartment, hand perched to knock. You had a key you could have used, but you didn’t feel like you had the right to use it anymore. The door flew open and Kara stood before you, her eyes wide and mouth parted. She looked like she wanted to say something, but the words were stuck in her throat.

“Can I come in?” you asked, waiting patiently for the woman you loved to decide what to do. You half expected to find Lena there, but you were pleasantly surprised to find the apartment empty.

“O-of course!” Kara opened the door wider and you slipped inside, not even bothering to take off your jacket. Something told you this was going to be a conversation you’d want to leave directly after.

“We need to talk,” you said firmly, your voice wavering as you stared into Kara’s crystal eyes. You could already see tears forming in them.

“(Y/N)…?”

You sighed, walking over to Kara’s couch. Sitting down on the edge of the seat, you motioned for Kara to join you. She did hesitantly, a look of fear in her eyes. She knew where this was going – and she wasn’t going to like how it ended. She wanted to reach for your hand – to ground herself with your touch – but she knew it wouldn’t be welcome.

It probably wouldn’t be ever again – and it was all her fault.

“I think we need to break up,” you finally admitted, head bowed and eyes planted on the ground. “We both know this isn’t working. You don’t…” you trailed off, something heartbroken and despondent falling over your features. “You don’t love me anymore.”

A noise of distress left Kara’s throat, her eyes widening. Had she really made you feel that way? Had you really questioned her love for you? She hadn’t been fair to you, but had it really gone that far? “I do lo-”

You cut her off with a wave of your hand. “You think you do, Kar, but we both know that when you close your eyes, I’m not the person you see anymore.”

“(Y/N)…” Tears trickled down flushed cheeks, dripping onto clenched fists. This was wrong. It was all wrong!

You smiled sadly and stood. Fishing her apartment key out of your pocket, you set it on the arm of the couch. This all felt so final and it broke your heart. You’d never love someone again the way you loved Kara Danvers. Getting over her would take an absolute lifetime, but you wanted her to be happy and if that wasn’t with you, so be it. You’d deal with your pain.

Kara Danvers would be happy – and that was enough for you.

-X-

It took a long time for the pain in your chest to lessen. Months, in fact. You grieved for a love that would never be again, you grieved for the family you’d lost and you grieved just because you could.

You had the time now.

For the first few weeks, your friends’ numbers were constantly appearing on your phone. Messages from Winn asking if you were okay and begging you to call him, voice mails from Maggie wondering if she needed to kick Little Danvers’ ass for hurting you, and even a text from Alex promising you she’d take care of Kara. She wasn’t going to try and dissuade you from what you were doing or try and change your mind; you appreciated that.

Eventually they stopped reaching out and you let out a sigh of relief. It was hard enough, losing them. Their constant presence in your life was just too much. There was no way for you and Kara to both keep them in your lives so you bowed out, leaving them for her. They were hers first and honestly, she needed them more. They knew her secrets – her story – and she needed that more than you needed someone to cry on.

It was okay, really.

At CatCo, everyone seemed to notice the change but no one dared to comment. Whenever you saw her in the halls or talking to a colleague, you’d simply flash a courtesy smile before disappearing, leaving everyone to wonder what had happened between (Y/N) and Kara Danvers.

What you didn’t know was how much that destroyed Kara – every. Single. Time. She hated the fake smiles and the way you never gazed directly at her and how pretty and put together you looked while she was falling apart on the inside. She understood why it had happened. She understood why you’d left her. She would have never put up with her antics if she’d been you, but that didn’t stop the insurmountable amount of pain leveling her bones to dust.

After you’d left, she’d tried dating Lena but that had crumbled faster than a burnt piece of wood. She’d realized that what she thought was romantic attraction was nothing more than platonic admiration and affection. She’d loved how new and shiny Lena was, she should have never put her above you.

Lena wasn’t you – and she never would be.

After a while, things calmed down and you went back to having a normal life. Yeah, you still had some habits you couldn’t seem to break – like watching the news closely whenever Supergirl was mentioned – but overall, things were going back to the way they were before you’d ever met Kara.

It wasn’t until the Daxamite Invasion that you really had any sort of interaction with your former lover. You were walking the streets of National City when they appeared, their suits and weapons startling you as one took up stance in front of you. He looked intimidating and daunting and you were pretty sure that you were about to die. He leveled his stick (you had no idea what it did but it looked dangerous) at you.

You’d taken a few defense classes in your lifetime and Alex had taught you a few things when you started dating Kara, but this was beyond your pay grade. You couldn’t fight off an alien invader. They didn’t prepare you for that in those classes!

Your mouth opened as he began to swing the long weapon at you, but before a scream could escape, a figure dropped down in front of you and caught it. They sent the man flying into a building across the street before turning on you. Your jaw remained slack.

It was Kara.

“Are you okay?” Kara worried, cupping your face as her eyes perused your body in search of injuries.

You nodded dumbly, surprised to see the blonde. You hadn’t expected her to come to your rescue, but you were happy to see her all the same. The only issue was that, in that moment, all of your buried feelings came rushing to the surface. All you wanted to do was thank her properly, but it wasn’t your place to do so anymore. It was Lena’s – and that bothered you.

She dragged you into the alleyway behind you, her face twisted with fear.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Kara whispered, pressing her forehead against yours like she’d done so many times before when you were dating. It was instinctual, grounding her to the present. She didn’t know what else to do. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”

Your brows furrowed in confusion. “You’d have been fine,” you assured her, “You have Lena.”

Kara frowned. She knew there wasn’t enough time for this conversation but she couldn’t leave you thinking that. “Lena and I aren’t…we’re not…” Kara awkwardly gestured, though her forehead never left yours. “I realized the moment you walked out of my life I had made a huge mistake and I just…”

Making a split second decision, you threw your arms around Kara’s neck and kissed her, pouring everything you had into the kiss. It didn’t matter that Kara was in her supersuit - it didn’t matter that the world was ending and you were probably going to die – all you could think about was that Kara’s lips still fit perfectly with yours.

Kara returned the gestured heartily, her hands gripping your waist tightly. She hadn’t expected such a response, but she wasn’t going to complain.

Pulling back, you smiled. “Come by my place after you save the world, Supergirl. We’ll talk then.”

“Promise?” Kara asked hesitantly.

“I promise.” You removed yourself from her embrace and nudged her. “Now go save the world, Supergirl. We’re all counting on you.”

An expression of determination crossed Kara’s features and she nodded. “Get somewhere safe. You better not get hurt before we talk.” She ran back out into the fray, her cape swinging back and forth as she took off towards the sky. You couldn’t help smiling. You knew Kara would manage to save the world. She always did.

Even now you still had faith in her.

-X-

It took a while for Kara to stop the Daxamites, but she’d managed to do it. You’d taken refuge in a locked down building with a few others, each watching the mayhem that the Daxamites caused. It was violent and gruesome, but you knew Kara and the Superfriends would pull it off. You wished you could have helped, but you were too far away from CatCo and too far from the bar, so you helped the injured humans instead, bandaging wounds and calming the small children.

It wasn’t much, but it was something.

When they finally left, you and the others ventured out into the destroyed streets, gazing upon the chaos. Buildings were destroyed and cars were mangled where the Guardian (aka James bloody Olsen) had fought against the murderous regime but overall, the city could have looked worse.

It was late when you finally made it home, but you were glad to find your building still in one piece. You trudged up the stairs and into your apartment, flopping down on your old, worn couch. You didn’t expect Kara to show tonight, knowing she would take on the responsibility of cleaning up the city, so you flipped on the TV so you could watch what your ex-girlfriend was up to. Of course all the news outlets were reporting on her and you were thankful for that.

It was a little after midnight when a knock echoed through your little living space. You hauled yourself off your couch and walked to the door, revealing an exhausted, dirty Kara.

You thought she’d never looked more beautiful.

“Can I come in?” Kara inquired meekly, a bashful smile upturning her lips.

You grinned, gesturing for the blonde to step inside. “I wasn’t expecting you tonight.”

“This is a conversation I didn’t want to put off,” Kara admitted with a shrug.

Closing the door behind her, you gingerly led Kara to your couch and set her down. Taking a seat beside her, you reached out and took her hand, running your thumb along the back of it. “Are you okay?”

“Not really,” Kara whispered. “We had to send Mon-El away. The only way to stop the Daxamites was to fill the air with lead. If he’d stayed, he would have died.”

Knowing your ex must have felt overwhelming guilt, you inched closer to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Her head fell to your shoulder and tears dripped from her eyes. “You did the right thing,” you murmured, stroking her hair. “You saved us all. I know he doesn’t blame you. You did what you had to.”

A sob bubbled up in her throat and she leaned into you. Holding her as she cried, you had flashbacks of all the times you had comforted her when you were dating. She always took her failures so hard and even when you assured her she’d done her best, you’d always ended up in the same position – this position.

Eventually her tears dried and her pained hiccups subsided, leaving the two of you to sit in an uncomfortable silence.

“I want you to know how sorry I am,” Kara mumbled.

“It’s okay,” you replied gently. “I know. But you can’t help who you fall for.”

“I didn’t…” Kara trailed off, thinking carefully about her next words. “I think I thought I did, but the truth is, the moment you walked out of my life, nothing made sense anymore. When you left – which I don’t blame you for leaving – my world crumbled and I felt like I’d lost everything. You were my everything. What I felt for Lena could never have compared and I’m so sorry for hurting you. Lena’s a Luthor and I think I wanted so badly to believe that she was good that I confused myself in the process. I’m not making excuses; I was in the wrong and I know it.”

You continued stroking blonde locks. “I won’t lie, it still hurts but I do forgive you, Kara. You will always have a place in my heart and I think you always forgive your first love, even when it doesn’t work out.”

Kara was quiet for a moment. She had so much running through her mind and your words, while comforting, brought a question to the forefront.

Softly, she asked, “Is there any way for us to get back to being an us?”

You froze. You wanted to – God, did you want to – but you weren’t sure your heart could handle it. “Kara, I…”

“Forget it,” Kara sniffled, “I shouldn’t have asked that. I don’t know why I did.”

You tugged lightly on her hair. “You didn’t let me finish. I want us to be an us, but I think we need to work back into that. Losing you hurt and yes, I cried for a long time afterward, but I figured out that I can survive without you,” Kara stiffened, clearly hurt, “But, I don’t want to. You were the best thing that ever happened to me. So, yes, I think one day we’ll get there again, but for now, let’s go slow.”

Kara nodded eagerly, stunned that you were so willing to try again. Your heart was so big. She swore she’d never break it again, even if it killed her. Taking her head off your shoulder, she smiled brightly at you.

“(Y/N) (Y/L/N), would you do me the honor of going on a date with me?” Kara questioned, her eyes wide and full of hope.

Kissing Kara’s cheek, you smiled. “I’d love to.”

You both knew it was going to be hard to get back to where you’d been, but you also knew that it was worth it to try. Your love story deserved a happy ending.

Chapter Text

Punch. Dodge. Kick. You bobbed and weaved, ducking under Wanda’s fist as it came flying towards you. Sweat dripped along your face, blurring your vision and making your hair cling to your skin. Your shirt was uncomfortably wet and your shorts kept riding up, but overall, you couldn't really complain. She wasn't doing too bad and you felt like some of the training had really stuck with her.

You’d been at it for hours, teaching your girlfriend hand-to-hand combat. She had her powers but some day it might be vital to know some things. You knew the world was a weird place so it was best for her to have that at her disposal too. Would her powers just randomly give out? Probably not but you wanted to make sure she could defend herself either way.

Wanda brushed a wet lock from her face, her look of determination lighting your lower belly on fire. She was terribly sexy when she wore that expression. You'd seen it during plenty of missions and it never failed to do something to you.

While you were, understandably, distracted she managed to knock you onto your back and instinctively, your self-preservation skills kicked in.

Literally.

Wanda leaned over you to gloat and, without thinking, your leg shot up, catching her squarely in the face. The crack that resonated through the gym was loud and you winced, immediately realizing that you had possibly fucked up. Badly.

Crying out, Wanda clutched her nose in pain, eyes watering as blood dripped onto the mat. Her hands were shaking and her cheeks were red and Holy God, you felt awful. You’d never meant to hurt her. The moment your back had hit the ground, your fight or flight had started up with a vengeance and you really wished it hadn’t.

Hopping up, you grabbed Wanda’s shoulders and turned her to face you. Gingerly you pulled her hands away so you could study the injury.

“Oh, I definitely think that’s broke,” you murmured apologetically, flinching at the glare your girlfriend sent in your direction.

“You think?” Wanda retorted, her hands returning to her bleeding nose.

Sighing, you helped Wanda out of the ring and towards the hospital wing, shaking your head at Clint as you passed. His mouth was open in startled horror, a question on the tip of his tongue, but he stopped himself when he noticed the guilt written across your face. He’d done something similar to Natasha once upon a time and he’d felt awful about it for days.

He wished you the best.

Walking into the hospital portion of the Compound, you hurriedly found Dr. Cho. Could you have found someone less important? Sure, but Wanda was your girlfriend and you were going to make sure she was taken care of by the best, dammit!

Dr. Cho guided Wanda onto a bed and looked her over, carefully poking and prodding her nose. “What happened?”

Disheartened, you replied, “I kicked her in the face while we were training.”

Arching a brow, the doctor peered over at you. “On purpose?”

“No!” you cried, shaking your head. “It was a freak accident.”

Your expression must have said a thousand words because Dr. Cho nodded. She looked back at her patient and smiled kindly. “It doesn’t look like I’m going to have to set your nose, but I will give you some medication for pain. In a few days, you can come back and I’ll check to make sure it’s healing properly.”

Wanda nodded gratefully. “Thank you, doctor.”

Disappearing for a moment, Dr. Cho reappeared with a wet wipe and a bottle of pills. Handing you the pills, she passed the wipe over to Wanda. “You have quite a bit of blood on your face, so I thought you would like to clean it up.”

Thanking the woman again, Wanda cautiously cleaned off her face before jumping off the table.

“Thanks, doc,” you said, wrapping an arm around Wanda’s waist as she swayed.

You led Wanda back through the Compound to your shared bedroom. “What do you need? Pain meds? A shower? Food?” you asked diligently, brushing a stray lock of hair out of Wanda’s face. You felt so bad for hurting the woman you loved, so you were going to make it up to her any way she wanted.

Wanda groaned. “Shower first. I feel disgusting.”

Nodding, you cupped Wanda’s cheek and brought your lips to hers in a soft, sweet kiss. You made sure your nose didn’t touch hers and she smiled into the kiss.

“I’m really sorry,” you said as you parted. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

“I know,” Wanda laughed, “Accidents happen, malysh. It’s all a part of training.”

You blushed, embarrassment on your cheeks with a splash of guilt mixed in. “I know, but still…”

Wanda stroked your cheek with her thumb before heading into the bathroom, the door closing behind her. While she showered, you started searching through the room for the comfiest clothes you could find. She loved your old band tees, so you grabbed one out of the closet before finding your baggiest pair of sweat pants. Whenever Wanda didn’t feel good, she loved to steal your clothes so you figured now was a perfect time for them.

When you heard the shower click off, you laid out the clothes on the bed and straightened them out before sitting beside them. Wanda walked out in a towel, her eyes lighting up as she noticed the clothes on the bed. “Thank you, lyubov moya.”

Beaming at her, you hopped up and headed out of the room towards the kitchen, leaving her to get dressed. Despite the fact you’d seen her naked multiple times, she still got so shy dressing in front of you. You found it endearing, but humored her anyways. All you wanted was for her to feel comfortable.

Grabbing two bottles of water, you trotted back into your room and paused. Wanda was standing by the mirror, staring at her reflection. She poked her nose, wincing every time her finger came into contact with the sensitive area.

“My clothes look good on you.”

Flushing prettily, Wanda glanced over her shoulder and accepted the water you handed her. “Your clothes are very comfortable.” Her accent was so thick sometimes and it flooded your belly with warmth.

You flopped down on the bed and cracked open your water, taking a sip before setting it aside on the table. “Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?”

Wanda wandered over to the bed and took a seat beside you, her hand seeking yours. She entwined her fingers with yours and brought the back of your hand up to her lips.

“I’m tired, so why don’t you just cuddle me and we can watch a movie?” she suggested, wiggling closer to you.

Grinning, you pressed your back against the headboard and gestured for her to lean against you. Whenever she didn’t feel good, this was her favorite position: her head on your chest, her fingers tangled with yours on your stomach. You didn’t know why it made her feel so loved, but it did. And, honestly, you liked it too. You enjoyed holding her close, whispering sweetly to her.

Kissing the top of her head, you grabbed the remote and passed it to Wanda. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she murmured, flipping on the television.

It wasn’t how you’d imagined your day going, but you weren’t going to complain. Spending the rest of the day with the love of your life in your arms sounded wonderful and, if it made her feel better, then that’s what you were going to do.

Chapter Text

Avoiding your girlfriend was harder than you anticipated. You weren’t avoiding her because you’d had a fight or because you wanted to break up. No, the idea of losing her killed you, but you couldn’t help hiding whenever you saw her. Why?

Because guilt gripped you every single time she came into view.

It was your fault. Really, it was. If only you’d been paying attention – if only you’d done your damn job – then none of this would have happened and you’d still be able to hold her, love her, how she deserved but you were a coward. She didn’t blame you, but you blamed yourself and it was destroying everything.

You’d been on a mission gone wrong with Wanda and instead of watching her back, you’d been in your own head and it had ended with her having a concussion and a broken ankle. You walked away scot-free and the guilt had been eating at you ever since.

If only you’d kept a closer eye on your lover…

Shaking your head, you walked through past the living room where everyone was having a movie night. You could hear the laughter and the jovial comments, but you couldn’t bring yourself to join them. Joining them meant dealing with your guilt and for some reason you just fucking couldn’t.

”Hey, (Y/N)!” Natasha greeted, lifting her popcorn in your direction. “Come to join the land of the living?”

You forced a laugh and shook your head. “Nah. I need to shower and…stuff.”

Wanda stared at you with wide, imploring eyes, begging you to come sit on the couch with her and cuddle. You’d been so distant lately and it worried her. You’d never been so closed off before. When you were helping her deal with Pietro’s death when she’d first joined the team, you’d opened yourself up completely to her so she never felt alone. But now you were acting so weird. Did you not love her anymore? Were you trying to avoid her so that you didn’t have to break up with her?

What was happening?

You waved awkwardly at the group before disappearing down the hall and towards the elevator. You needed to leave and you needed to leave now.

Wanda sighed, wrapping her arms around her waist in hopes of comforting herself. She didn’t know what to think anymore and it was killing her.

“What the hell is wrong with (Y/N)?” Tony wondered, sipping his whiskey. He glanced at Wanda. “Did you two have a fight or something?”

“No…” Wanda trailed off. “At least, I don’t think so.”

“Well, clearly something is wrong,” Tony replied, earning a glare from Natasha and Clint.

Delicately, Natasha inquired, “Have you tried looking in her head? You know, trying to see what’s wrong with her?”

Wanda sighed, nodding despondently. “Yes, but I can’t see anything. It’s like she has completely shut herself off from me.”

“You need to go talk to her,” Clint advised. “Corner her and don’t let her leave until you two straighten this out. Make her talk to you.”

Grabbing her crutches from beside the couch, Wanda rose unsteadily. “I will.”

-X-

You knew you were being a coward. Really, you did know that. Instead of addressing your feelings – instead of talking everything through with your lover – you were hiding away in your room, missing out on your favorite night of the month. So you found yourself leaning against your headboard, staring blankly at the television. It was playing some sitcom that you cared nothing about, but you couldn’t bring yourself to turn it off. It was the only thing drowning out your thoughts at this point.

The door to your room slid open, but you refused to look away from the TV. You knew who it was; her scent wrapped around you and crushed your chest. She always smelled so nice and it used to comfort you, but now…

“We need to talk,” Wanda said firmly, hobbling into the room.

You stayed silent, unable to meet her fiery gaze.

Stopping in front of your bed, Wanda took a seat at the end, staring imploringly at you. “Please look at me,” she begged, her hands twitching, the temptation to reach out for you so strong that she was surprised she managed to push it down.

Bringing your hand up to your mouth, you nibbled on your thumbnail. You desperately wanted to tell her your thoughts, but the words were stuck in your throat, threatening to choke you.

Wanda’s expression darkened. “Quit ignoring me and look at me!”

Your head snapped around, gaze locking with hers. There were tears in her eyes, but also a fierceness that wracked your very core. She’d never looked at you like this before. Only when she was fighting HYDRA agents did she have such a look on her face. You could just barely make out a hint of red swirling in her eyes and you sighed.

God, you had really screwed everything up, hadn’t you?

“I’m sorry,” you whispered. “You deserve so much better.”

“What are you talking about?” Wanda asked, her features softening. She could see the guilt and sorrow in your eyes and it surprised her. You looked so small, curled up on your bed with tears in your eyes and such a broken expression.

Shaking your head, you dropped your eyes.

“Please don’t shut me out. Talk to me,” Wanda pleaded, reaching out to grab your fidgeting hand. She entwined your fingers, her thumb rubbing along the back of your hand as you sat in silence.

Finally, everything became too much and you blurted out, “I’m the reason you got hurt!”

Wanda jerked a little, startled by your outburst. “What are you talking about, malysh?”

“If I’d paid more attention during the mission, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt!” you cried, tears dripping down your cheeks as you glared at your sheets. “If I hadn’t gotten so…” you waved your unoccupied hand awkwardly, “Then you wouldn’t have gotten hit in the head and your foot wouldn’t have gotten broken and I wouldn’t feel so damn guilty!”

“Lyubov moya, this wasn’t your fault,” Wanda assured you gently, squeezing your hand. “It was just a bad mission. I could have been paying more attention too. I know you want to protect me – I know, because I want to protect you too – but we can’t always do that. Yes, I got hurt, but that is not on you. HYDRA is to blame.”

You roughly wiped the tears from your face, but her words did alleviate some of the guilt eating away at you. You knew your guilt wouldn’t go away for a long time, but it wasn’t quite so crippling anymore.

“I’m sorry for shutting you out,” you apologized, glancing back up at your girlfriend. “I don’t know why I reacted like this.”

“We all deal with things differently,” Wanda replied, scooting closer to you, “But next time, talk to me. I was so scared you were going to break up with me or something.”

A noise of distress broke from your throat and your head shook wildly. “God no! I can’t imagine life without you in it,” you admitted, cupping Wanda’s cheek. “You’re so important to me.”

Wanda nuzzled your hand, her eyes falling closed. It felt so good to have you close again. “The others are outside the door listening. How about we go join them for movie night?”

Smiling, you pecked Wanda’s petal-soft lips. “That sounds nice.”

Helping Wanda up from the bed, you followed her to the door. It slid open to reveal Steve and Clint, their faces nonchalant despite the fact they’d been caught standing outside your bedroom. You were fairly certain Natasha had been there too, but she was slicker than the others, having disappeared the moment she heard your footsteps.

You smiled. Your family was ridiculous, but you loved them all the same. You were glad Wanda had people looking out for her.

Chapter Text

You rolled your eyes as you stepped into the party, shaking your head at the amount of people Tony had managed to fit into one room. He just had to throw the best New Year’s Eve party, even if it meant turning the Tower into a fire hazard. You could just barely make out your teammates scattered about, your eyes falling upon familiar vibrant red locks standing out amongst the crowd of people. She was chatting with your girlfriend, a brightly colored drink in her hand that sloshed dangerously whenever she moved.

Strolling over to them, your arm slipped around Maria’s waist, hand falling instinctively onto her hip. You pecked her cheek in greeting, squeezing the slight bone under your hand lightly.

“Good evening, ladies,” you smiled, eyeing the swaying redhead. You couldn’t help but wonder how many of those she’d had already. “You both look lovely tonight.”

You hadn’t gotten a chance to see Maria before the party, so her tight black dress was a nice surprise. She looked stunning in it, the way it clung to her curves, and her hair was so wavy that you just wanted to run your fingers through it.

Natasha raised her glass. “You clean up really nice, (Y/N). I don’t think I’ve ever seen you dressed up before.”

Maria turned to get give you an onceover and had to bite back a gasp. You were in your nicest outfit, hair done up in a way she’d never seen it before, and a stunning smile upturning your lips. You seemed so proud of yourself and Maria decided she couldn’t wait to see that outfit on your bedroom floor later.

“You look great,” Maria complimented, her arm sliding around your neck to pull you into a quick, but deep kiss. Your lips moved against hers with familiarity, though you’d never quite get used to kissing her. There was something special about the way she kissed.

Parting, Maria’s thumb wiped some of her lip gloss from your mouth and she grinned at you.

“Alright, love birds, quit being cute,” Natasha griped, downing her drink.

You were a little worried about her. She was drinking heavily, her brows furrowed together as she swallowed. You knew she was taking her break up with Bruce – if you’d even call what they had been doing “dating” – pretty hard and you wondered if she was going to be okay.

Sharing a look with Maria, you nodded over to the bar. “Want a drink?”

She nodded and as you started towards the bar, Natasha’s arm linked with yours and she practically dragged you over to it. She signaled for the bartender and after you gave him his orders, she asked, “Are you still planning on asking her tonight?”

Glancing around to make sure Maria wasn’t nearby, you nodded shyly. “Yeah. Steve has the ring. I couldn’t exactly hide it in this outfit without her noticing it.”

Natasha smiled genuinely at you and patted your arm. “I’m so happy for you guys. You really are an amazing couple.” Despite her sincere words, her gaze was a little dull and you grabbed her hand, holding it between you.

“You know if you ever need someone to talk to, you can talk to me,” you informed her kindly.

Natasha waved off your concern. “Don’t look so worried, (Y/N), I’m fine. This alcohol is just making me emotional.”

“Still…” you trailed off, accepting your drinks from the bartender. “If you need anything…”

“I know,” she laughed, taking her own drink off the bar. “Thank you.”

-X-

The night continued on, the party in full swing as midnight neared. You were talking with Pepper and Tony, Maria at your side bickering with the billionaire though it held no malice. You glanced over at your lover, a smitten expression on your face and Pepper shot you a knowing look. You were pretty sure everyone on the team – plus Pepper – knew what you planning, but that didn’t bother you. It was nice that your makeshift family was so accepting. They could see how much you loved the former SHIELD agent and she obviously loved you in return.

Kissing the side of Maria’s head, you grinned as she leaned into you. She wasn’t the most affectionate person in public, but it was the little things that brought you the greatest joy.

“Oh, there’s Cap. I need to talk to him before the countdown,” Tony announced, drawing away from his girlfriend. “(Y/N), you coming?”

Nodding, you bid Pepper goodbye and followed Tony over to Steve. He was with Sam and Bucky, discussing something you were too far away to hear. He perked up when he saw you, his somber expression dissipating.

“Evening, Cap,” Tony greeted, shooting a smirk at the hero. “Enjoying yourself?”

Steve nodded, discretely fishing something out of his pocket. He passed it to you and you clenched your fingers around the box in your hand. It was small – simple – but you hoped what it hid would make up for that. You hadn’t gone extravagant and excessive; you knew Maria liked things simple. With the chaotic lives you led, simple was good.

“Your parties are always something else, Tony,” Steve commented, winking at you.

“Well, I’m certain it’s about to get a little more interesting,” Tony mused, his head jerking towards the crowd as they started cheering. “Thirty seconds. We should probably get back to Maria and Ms. Potts.”

Nudging your way through the throngs of people, you got to Maria’s side just as “ten seconds” echoed through the room. Your palms were sweating and the box in your hand felt like it weighed a million pounds, but you were determined to do this now.

“Nine…”

You tugged Maria towards you, your free hand on her hip.

“I love you,” you murmured, “So much.”

She beamed at you. “I love you too.”

“Six…”

You swallowed drily. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

“Four…”

Maria’s brows scrunched together thoughtfully. “Okay?”

“Two…”

“Maria Hill,” you started lowering yourself to the ground.

“One…”

“Will you marry me?” you flipped open the box and offered it to her, staring up at her hopefully. The cheering around you was loud enough to shake the bottles behind the bar, but all you could hear was your heart pounding in your ears. She wasn’t saying anything, her eyes wide and her hand over her mouth.

Pepper and Tony were watching from the crowd with bated breath, waiting to see what she’d say.

Slowly, Maria bent down on one knee and slipped her hand under her dress, grabbing something from her thigh. She brought out a nearly identical box, tears in her eyes as she smiled. “I guess you beat me to it.”

You were stunned, the box in your hand almost falling as you stared at the prettiest ring you’d ever seen stared back at you. She’d picked out a ring absolutely perfect for you and a wet laugh bubbled up in your throat.

“I guess so.”

Exchanging boxes, you slipped the ring onto your finger and stared at it in adoration. Glancing at her, you grinned cheekily, “I suppose this is a ‘yes’?”

Laughing, Maria dragged you off the ground and cupped your face, smashing your lips together in a heated kiss. “Hell yes!”

You heard Tony grab a mic from the stage, but all you could think about was the woman in your arms. His congratulations to the two of you rang out into the night, but you didn’t care. Maria was the only person you had eyes on. She was all you could see – all that mattered.

This was definitely a good start to a new year. You couldn’t wait to see what it held.

Chapter Text

When the world lost half its people, everything seemed to stop. It was like the world fell off its axis. No one knew what to do anymore. Their families, their friends – their lives – were suddenly gone and there was nothing anyone could do to bring them back.

You’d been in the battle. You’d watched your friends disappear; seen Wanda dissolve into nothingness as she sat beside Vision’s lifeless body. It was jarring and nauseating and God, you didn’t know what to do with yourself.

The only saving grace was that you didn’t lose Natasha too. She was one of the few who survived the fallout and you were so thankful that you threw yourself into your girlfriend’s arms the second she came into view. Tears mingled together as you kissed her, desperation pouring out of you both as you clung to each other.

You didn’t know what would happen – and you were scared.

The next five years crept along. Natasha tried staying strong for everyone that was left, but it was slowly destroying her and you had no idea how to help her. The circles under her eyes were dark and the light that was once in her emerald gaze had stopped shining years ago.

You spent many nights just holding her, staring blankly at the TV as they discussed what to do now. Five years later and it was still all they talked about. You could feel her tears soaking through your shirt, but you never said anything. You just carded your fingers through her hair, ignoring the wetness that filled your own eyes.

It was eating away at you both; you just wondered when it would finally end you.

-X-

Walking through the Compound, you sleepily searched for your lover. It was a little after two a.m. and she still hadn’t been to bed. Hell, you weren’t even certain she’d slept last night either. You were worried about her. Everything was catching up with her and, if she didn’t stop trying to carry the world on her shoulders, this was going to kill her.

You found her in the conference room, staring blankly at the screens before her. There was nothing on them, just a black screen and her reflection gazing back.

“When was the last time you slept?” you quietly asked, walking up behind her. You stroked her head, fiddling with the baby hairs clinging to the back of her neck.

She remained silent, her eyes refusing to meet yours. She couldn’t sleep. The memories were too much; the feeling of complete failure was too much.

“You need sleep, love,” you murmured, your hand falling to her shoulder and squeezing. You tried not to feel hurt when she shrugged it off, but the pain in your chest was crushing. It stole the air from your lungs and made your stomach twist into knots.

“I’m fine,” Natasha said gruffly, ignoring the hurt in your eyes. She felt bad about it, but right now, she couldn’t handle her own emotions, adding yours in would be a recipe for disaster.

Sighing, you brushed a hand over your face. You didn’t know how to help her and it was killing you. All you wanted was your lover back, not this shell of a woman before you. “Nat…”

Jerking out of her chair, Natasha strolled out of the conference room, you hot on her heels.

“Quit ignoring me,” you begged brokenly. “Let me in. You’ve been keeping me at arm’s length for so long and we can’t keep doing this. Please, just talk to me.”

Natasha continued into the kitchen, her head bowed. You weren’t wrong; she was keeping you at arm’s length, but she didn’t know what else to do. You’d both lost so much after the snap and all she wanted to do was fix it, but she couldn’t. She was afraid of losing you but all she seemed to do was push you away.

Keeping the counter between you, Natasha leaned on it. “What do you want me to say, (Y/N)?”

“What’s on your mind!”

Natasha stared at the counter. She could feel something inside of her shattering and the words flowed from her mouth without permission. “I feel like there’s nothing I can do anymore. We couldn’t stop Thanos and now I have to clean up the mess he left behind and I can’t! How do I fix something impossible to make better?”

“Nat, it isn’t your job to make all of this better,” you replied logically, looking imploringly at your girlfriend. “You’re right, you can’t. No one can. We have to learn to live with what’s happened. We have to try and move on.”

“I don’t know how,” Natasha admitted miserably.

Venturing cautiously around the counter, you wrapped your arms around Natasha and dragged her into an embrace. Her hands gripped at your shirt, keeping you as close as possible as she wept. “I don’t know how either, but we have to try.”

Stroking Natasha’s hair, you kissed the side of her head comfortingly.

“Why are you so good to me?” she asked, angrily wiping the tears off her cheeks. “I wouldn’t have put up with me if I were you.”

You chuckled sadly. “You’re not looking after yourself so I’m looking out for you. And, I love you. I’ve loved you for over five years and that’s not going to change anytime soon.”

Natasha froze, an odd expression taking over her features. She looked scared, something you very rarely associated with the Black Widow. The only time she had that expression was because of nightmares that wracked her dreams. Seeing it now left you concerned.

“What’s wrong?” you asked, your fingers drifting along Natasha’s cheek.

Swallowing drily, Natasha glanced away. She was frightened by the notion that one day you wouldn’t be there anymore. Maybe because she drove you away – because she knew there was a good chance she’d fall back into bad habits - or maybe because something went horribly wrong but the idea of you being gone scared her beyond belief.

“What if one day I wake up and you’re not there?” she whispered, leaning into your hand.

You frowned. You’d never willingly leave the redhead, the mere thought making you ill. “Baby, I’m not going anywhere.”

“You can’t promise that!” Natasha argued, stepping away from you. She paced back and forth, her expression going dark. “The world is already a fucked up place. What if…”

“Nat, there’s always going to be “what ifs” but I promise you that I won’t willingly leave you,” you swore, watching your lover pace like a caged panther. “Tomorrow I could just as easily lose you, but I can’t dwell on that because it would just drive me crazy. You can’t focus on the what ifs or you will lose your mind.”

“I think I already have,” she laughed humorlessly, shaking her head.

This was the most open Natasha had ever been with you and while you were thankful, you were also so worried. Not for yourself, but for her. She had so many dark things bouncing around her mind,

“You haven’t. You’re just scared right now and that’s okay. I am too,” you confessed.

“I don’t like this feeling,” Natasha growled, combing her fingers through her hair.

You wanted to bridge the gap between you but you knew it wouldn’t be welcome right now. “I know, love, but it’s going to be okay. We just have to take it one step at a time.”

You weren’t sure you believed your own words, but it seemed to soothe the raging beast inside of Natasha. You didn’t know what the future held. You didn’t know if Natasha would truly ever be okay again - hell, you didn’t know if you would ever be okay again – but you had to try.

For both of your sakes.

Chapter Text

“If you eat all of those, I’m never going to forgive you,” you pouted, crossing your arms and glaring at the smug woman standing at the counter.

Carol smirked at you, slowly reaching for another cookie, daring you to do something about it. In hindsight, she hadn’t exactly meant to eat that many of them, but they were so good and she didn’t always have the best impulse control when it came to treats like this.

She loved your baking prowess, okay?!

Snagging the tasty chocolaty morsel off the plate, Carol happily munched on the cookie, her eyes shining with mirth as your pout deepened. You’d made those for the entire team, not just for your girlfriend but she didn’t seem to care. She was going to eat the whole damn plate if you didn’t find a way to stop her.

When she finished her cookie, you strolled around the counter before she could grab another. Your hands fell to her hips and with a strength you didn’t know you possessed, forced her backwards until her back was against the wall. Her eyes widened as her back made contact with the plaster, her hands coming to rest on your shoulders. She wasn’t used to seeing the dominant side of you, so this was a pleasant surprise.

“What are you –” she was cut off by your lips crashing into hers.

She tasted of chocolate and something that was so distinctly Carol that you couldn’t really explain it but to you, it was heaven. Her mouth moved against yours, her tongue coming out to trace your lip, hoping to gain back some control. She wasn’t a submissive partner and you loved that about her, but right now, you were the one with all the power.

One hand slid up to tangle in her hair. She hummed against your lips before spinning you around, your back replacing hers against the wall. She smirked into the kiss, proud of herself. She was so arrogant sometimes but God, you loved it. She pressed herself flush to you, earning a low groan as her leg slipped between both of yours, her hands coming to rest on your hips. Your free arm wrapped around her back, your nails digging into her back.

“I love you,” you panted against her lips.

“I know,” she murmured, her mouth trailing kisses down to your neck. She didn’t say it back often, but that was okay. You knew about her time with the Kree – how emotions were frowned upon, trained out of them – so you didn’t mind that she only said it occasionally.

It just made those few words more special.

Her teeth nipped at the juncture where your throat met your shoulder and you gasped, arching into her. You gripped her hair tighter, holding her to you. One of your legs wrapped around her waist, bringing her as close to you as possible.

Her mouth was sinfully divine. Yes, you knew that was an oxymoron. No, you really didn’t care.

You were so wrapped up in each other that you didn’t notice the footsteps thumping against the floor, signaling the arrival of your teammates. You did, however, hear someone clear their throat and you jerked back, head cracking painfully against the solid mass behind you.

Slowly, Carol removed her face from your neck, though there was a smirk firmly in place. She gazed upon the darkening mark on your skin with childish glee. It’d definitely be there for a while and she was going to make sure you didn’t cover it up.

“Hey guys,” you greeted awkwardly, your face red with embarrassment. You’d think after getting caught in this position so many times that it wouldn’t make your cheeks burn, but alas, that was not the case.

Natasha snickered at you. “Having fun?”

You buried your face in Carol’s neck and dropped your leg from her waist. Jesus, why did you two always decide to make out in such public areas of the Compound? Would you never learn?

“I made cookies,” you mumbled, just barely loud enough for the others to hear,

That seemed to distract the group of heroes from their teasing and soon they were crowding around the plate, bickering over who should get the most. Clint was arguing with Tony, claiming he was your favorite despite knowing that it was clearly Carol who was your favorite.

Carol chuckled huskily, leaning back to look at you fully. “How about we finish this in your room?”

Nodding, you let Carol drag you from the kitchen and down the hall.

Maybe I should make cookies more often.

Chapter Text

Curled up on the couch with your head in Wanda’s lap was one of your favorite places to be. Her fingers combing through your hair was such a calming sensation, leaving you contentedly sleepy. Your eyes felt so heavy, but you refused to succumb to the sandman. You were going to enjoy your alone time with Wanda, even if it meant fighting your natural instincts.

You were on the couch in the main living area for once instead of being holed up in one of your rooms. The others were gone so you were taking advantage of the Compound’s emptiness. None of them knew about your newfound relationship with the Scarlet Witch and you were hoping to keep it that way for a little longer. You weren’t embarrassed or ashamed of your relationship – in fact, a part of you wanted desperately to tell the whole world that this wonderful woman was yours – but something was holding you back.

Well, someone anyways.

“We really should tell her soon,” Wanda mused, dragging you from your sleep-induced haze.

Blinking, you twisted your head so that you could gaze up at Wanda, confusion in your eyes. “Tell who what?”

Wanda tapped your nose. You scrunched up your face adorably and she smiled. “Natasha. You and I both know that she is going to be angry when she finds out we’ve kept this from her.”

You sighed. “Wanda, she’s my sister. She’s not going to be mad, she’s going to be furious. She always hates whoever I date and I don’t want her to hate you. If we don’t tell her, then she has no reason to hate you.”

“Maybe this will be different,” Wanda suggested, “She knows me.”

Sitting up, you ran a hand through your hair, brushing back a few wild locks. “Wanda…”

Insecurity grappled at Wanda’s throat and she choked out, “Are you ashamed of me?”

You froze, stunned by her accusation. You thought she knew how you felt. You tried so hard to tell her every day how special you thought she was and how thankful you were to have her in your life. The fact that Wanda considered that a possibility made you sick to your stomach and you turned to face her, cupping her cheeks.

You pressed your forehead to hers and rubbed your noses together in a comforting manner. “I’m not ashamed of you, baby.”

“Promise?” Wanda whispered timidly.

“I swear,” you assured her, pecking her lips chastely. “I just don’t know what she’ll do. Nat’s so…”

“Nat’s so what?” Natasha butted in, her eyes glued to the tablet in her hand as she strolled into the room. You let out a quiet shriek and jerked away from Wanda, tumbling backwards off the couch and onto the carpeted floor.

Glancing up from her tablet, Natasha’s brow arched at the sight of you sprawled out on the ground, your cheeks flushed and guilt gleaming in your eyes. Her attention shifted to Wanda and her other brow joined its twin. Wanda’s cheeks were rosy and she couldn’t look Natasha in the eye, her hands wringing together nervously.

It was obvious she suspected something was amiss so you hauled yourself up from the floor, babbling wildly about training and how you needed to see Clint and, “didn’t you say you needed to find Pietro, Wanda?”

Before Natasha could respond, you’d already grabbed your girlfriend’s arm and started dragging her away, words still flowing guiltily from your mouth even as you disappeared from sight. Your grip on Wanda’s wrist didn’t lessen until you away from Natasha and even then, it only slackened a tiny bit.

Man, that was too close.

Natasha stared after you, her mouth open and rampant confusion filling her emerald eyes. “What the hell just happened?”

-X-

It wasn’t until she caught you two kissing that she understood your bizarre reactions. She’d gotten out of bed for something to drink and had noticed Wanda in front of your door when she came around the corner. You were standing in the doorway, one arm looped across her neck as you quietly discussed something she couldn’t hear. Completely oblivious to prying eyes, you leaned in and kissed Wanda, your hand tangling in her hair and tugging her close while she clutched at your hips.

Startled by the sudden display of affection but not surprised by the act itself, Natasha watched curiously as you pulled back and smiled sweetly at your girlfriend. You looked so happy. What bothered her was the fact you hadn’t mentioned Wanda – or a partner in general – to her. She knew she could be a little overbearing sometimes, but it was only because she loved you and wanted the best for you. She’d never approved of your other partners because they didn’t deserve you, but Wanda?

Wanda might be good for you.

Nodding to herself, Natasha crept away from the wall and back towards her bedroom, drink long forgotten. Tomorrow she would have a chat with you – both of you. But tonight, she’d let you have your moment. After all, it was kind of cute.

Morning came and you just knew your day was going to be weird. There was something strange hovering in the air, a feeling you couldn’t seem to shake. It was thick and palpable, but not crippling. You didn’t know what it was, but you were sure you’d find out soon enough.

Walking into the kitchen, you noticed Wanda sitting at the bar, an odd expression on her face. Apparently you weren’t the only one who’d noticed the weirdness that was hanging around.

“Good morning, beautiful,” you greeted, pecking Wanda’s cheek.

Wanda blushed prettily. “Good morning, printsessa.”

The sound of feet thumped down the hall and you turned away, searching through the cabinets to find something for breakfast. You glanced over your shoulder. “Morning, Tasha.”

“Good, you’re both here,” Natasha said, hopping up onto a chair at the end of the counter. She eyed you knowingly and suddenly the tension in the room made you feel small again, like the headmistress of the Red Room had caught you sneaking out of bed after dark, only this time you weren’t facing such a harsh punishment. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

Wanda peeked at you wide, terrified eyes.

Swallowing drily, you barely spared Wanda a glance, knowing full well that if you did, it would surely give you away. “What do you mean?”

Natasha narrowed her gaze, her darkening irises warning you not to try and act dumb. “I think we both know what I mean.”

Your spine stiffened at the challenge her voice held and you locked eyes with Natasha, neither one of you backing down. You weren’t an idiot – you knew for a fact that she must know something regarding your relationship status – but you were determined not to back down. You were an adult, dammit!

“We’re dating!” Wanda finally blurted out, the tension too much for her empathic tendencies to handle.

Deflating, you peered at your girlfriend. She wore an expression of horror, her hand clamped over her mouth as she looked between the two of you. You weren’t mad at her for telling, but you had wanted to see how long you could hold out before one of you cracked.

Natasha laughed, her arms coming to rest on the counter as she stared at Wanda. “We really need to train you on secret keeping.”

Wanda’s cheeks grew red with embarrassment and you couldn’t help but laugh along with your sister. You inched around the counter and stopped at Wanda’s side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. You kissed her temple, inhaling the floral scent her shampoo left behind. “Yes, we’re dating. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

Natasha nodded. “I won’t lie, I’m a little hurt you didn’t tell me but I understand why.” She had the decency to look sheepish. “I know I can be overbearing at times, I just want the best for you.”

“I know,” you replied, and honestly, you did know that. Natasha was a wonderful older sister; you couldn’t have asked for a better one.

Sliding out of her seat, Natasha walked over to you and spun you away from Wanda, bringing you into a loose embrace. “I’m not mad. I think you guys will be really good together,” she said, squeezing you. Her sharp gaze landed on Wanda over your shoulder. “But if you hurt (Y/N)…”

Wanda paled.

Chuckling, you swatted Natasha’s arm as you stepped back. “Don’t threaten my girlfriend, Nat.”

Natasha shrugged noncommittally, her eyes soft though they still held a warning glint in them when they landed on the squirming woman. “It’s my job.”

You clapped your hands together, breaking the last of the tension. “I know. Now, who wants pancakes?” Natasha’s attention fell to you as Wanda’s hand shot up playfully, watching a smitten smile tug at your lips. There was a sparkle in your eye that she’d never seen with any of the others.

Yeah, she was going to like this one.

Chapter Text

The steady beeping around you was driving you mad. You’d been listening to it for hours, willing your eyes to open just so you could turn the damn thing off, but for some reason your body refused to listen. You could occasionally hear a doctor or two milling about, chatting with someone though you couldn’t tell who. You had an idea but you couldn’t be certain – because your freaking eyes wouldn’t open!

A familiar hand slipped into yours and squeezed.

“C’mon, baby, I need you to open your eyes for me.” Maria’s voice was soothing and you tried to follow the sound of it.

With a groan, your body finally decided to do as you requested and your eyes partially cracked open. Maria was blurry, but she was still beautiful. She looked a mess, red-rimmed eyes staring at you, a faint smile on her lips.

You blinked. “Is that my shirt?”

With a watery grin, Maria glanced down and plucked at the material. It was your favorite shirt; you wore it as often as you could but she couldn’t help stealing it for the time being. It smelled like you and God had she missed you.

“I’m pretty sure that’s not standard SHIELD apparel,” you mused, grunting as you sat up in bed. Maria went to protest, but a sharp look from you silenced her. You wanted to be upright for this conversation. “What happened?”

“What do you remember?” Maria wondered, her hand still in yours. Her thumbed rubbed the back of your hand and you squeezed hers in return.

You cleared your throat. “I remember the mission, interrogating the HYDRA agent and I remember getting into a vehicle and coming back, but I don’t remember anything else.”

Maria sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “On your way back to base, your car exploded. We have no idea why or how, but Fury’s looking into it. He thinks it was an inside job but he can’t prove it yet.”

Nodding, you glanced away. “How many survived?”

“Just you,” Maria replied softly, studying your face. “You’ve been out for three days. The doctors said it was a miracle that you walked away from it.”

You swallowed drily. Some of your best agents were in that vehicle with you. Some of your friends. Knowing they were gone was quite a blow.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured.

You appreciated the sentiment, but it did little to make you feel better. You knew quite a few of their families. Some of them were new parents. They didn’t deserve such a terrible ending.

Maria stood up and joined you on the bed, wrapping her slender, muscular arms around you. You buried your face in her chest, a heavy sigh leaving your lips. You were going to personally kill whoever did this to you – to them.

Combing her fingers through your dirty hair, Maria kissed your temple. “I know what you’re thinking. Let Fury handle them. He won’t let this go.”

“I know,” you murmured, “But I still want to kill them.”

“I know, babe. On the bright side, a few of the Avengers stopped in to see you. Tony Stark was particularly worried about you. Said he needed his favorite SHIELD agent to get back to one hundred percent and come help him out in the lab whenever you feel up to it,” Maria informed you, amusement evident in her tone.

You laughed. “Good to know I made an impression on Mr. Stark.”

Maria grinned. You never seemed to realize the impact you had on people. You were so kind and genuine, something most people lacked nowadays. It was refreshing and one of the many reasons she had fallen in love with you.

You would hurt for a long time about the people you’d lost, but you refused to let grief rule you. You would avenge them one way or another – that much you swore.

“So, back to that being my shirt,” you teased, leaning back to eye your lover. “Care to explain?”

“I missed you,” she replied simply.

Cooing at the honest answer, you pecked Maria’s lips. She tried to deepen the kiss, but you pulled back before she could. Confusion was evident in her eyes and you smiled. “I haven’t brushed my teeth in three days, babe. My mouth is probably horrible.”

Maria pouted. “But…”

Swinging your legs over the opposite side of the bed, you staggered into the bathroom and used the spare, brand new toothbrush to clean your teeth. Running your tongue along your teeth, you nodded before venturing back out into the room. Maria met you midway and slipped her arms around you, tugging you into a kiss.

“Minty fresh,” she mumbled against your lips.

Laughing, you hugged her close. “I’m glad you approve.”

She buried her face in your neck and inhaled deeply. You smelled like smoke and sweat, but you were still you. But still…

“You stink,” she murmured against your skin, kissing the flesh beneath her lips.

You smirked. “Care to help me shower? SHIELD didn’t skimp on the size of that one.”

Tossing her head back in laughter, Maria shook her head. “Even after being blown up you’re still a horndog.”

“I can’t help it,” you pouted, “There’s just something about you…”

Shaking her head, Maria shoved you towards the bathroom. “Shower! Fury’s going to want a debriefing as soon as you’re done.”

Huffing in mock annoyance, you nodded. Maria walked over to the nearby chair and passed you a set of clothes. They were soft and comfortable, something you needed right now.

“I’m not getting that shirt back anytime soon, am I?” you asked jokingly, smirking at Maria who had the decency to blush.

“Absolutely not.”

“Didn’t think so.”

Chapter Text

Wrapped up in your sheets, you watched your occasional lover dress, throwing on her previously discarded clothes, You hated that she never stayed the night but you didn’t argue with her about it anymore. She wasn’t going to stay no matter how much you pleaded.

So, you’d rather have her this way than not at all.

Circling the bed, Natasha gazed almost lovingly at you, though you were positive you were just imaging things. You couldn’t help but think she looked so pretty, all debauched with her sex-wild hair and swollen lips. She bent down and pressed a kiss to your forehead. She never kissed you on the lips after sex – and that bothered you.

Smiling at you one more time, she walked over to the door. Double-checking that no one was there to catch her leaving, she slipped out into the night. Tears sprang forth into your eyes but you forced them away. You knew going into this that Natasha wanted a “no strings attached” arrangement and stupidly you had agreed, but that hadn’t stopped your feelings. But you preferred to suffer in silence because keeping her in your bed was better than her finding someone else.

The next day, you strolled out of your room and into the kitchen, catching sight of Tony and Steve. You were surprised not to see Natasha. She was usually the first one there, fixing herself some coffee and reading the newspaper so that she was kept up to date.

“Where’s Nat?” you wondered, feigning nonchalance.

Steve frowned. “Natasha and Clint left for a mission this morning. Did she not tell you?”

Blinking, you stared at the American hero. “No…”

Tony snorted, sipping his own coffee as he studied you. He could see the confusion and hurt in your eyes and he felt bad for you. Everyone knew you had feelings for the former assassin. “Huh, you’d think she would have told you considering how close you two are. She’s going to be gone for nearly a month.”

You felt like someone had punched you in the chest. A month? And she hadn’t told you?

Steve patted your shoulder, the heartbreak on your face tugging at his heartstrings. He hated the way Natasha seemed to play with your emotions. He had no idea if it was intentional or not, but it upset him to see you hurt. You were like a little sister to him. “I’m sure she had her reasons.”

You swallowed drily and nodded. “Yeah.”

Tony and Steve shared a look as you continued through the Compound, your face scrunched up as you fought off your anger. You deserved better than this; deserved better than being the sporadic booty call. You may not have been her girlfriend but you thought you were at least her friend.

Passing Wanda on your way to the training room, the Sokovian frowned. You looked like you could really use a friend right now, so instead of searching for her brother like she’d intended, she chased after you.

“Are you okay?” Wanda inquired, saddling up beside you.

Your jaw clenched. “I’m fine,” you replied through gritted teeth. You weren’t mad at Wanda, so you really didn’t want to take your anger out on her. She was far too nice for that.

Wanda shot you a sympathetic smile. “Want a sparring partner?”

You shrugged. “Sure. But I’m not going easy on you this time,” you joked, nudging the brunette.

“Oh, you’re on,” Wanda grinned, bumping you back.

-X-

Natasha stared out the window of the abandoned building she and Clint were hiding in, eyeing the crowd below. She was observing them, but her mind was elsewhere. Ever since she’d left, all she’d been able to think about was you. She felt awful for not telling you about leaving, the guilt gripping at her heart.

She hadn’t meant to fall for you. When you first started whatever it was you were doing, it had been fun. A simple way to blow off some steam, but now feelings were involved and it scared Natasha. So she did what she did best – pushed you away. She thought it would make things easier but alas, it didn’t. All it did was make her ache for you; made her yearn for your smile, your laugh.

She didn’t know what to do.

“You need to talk to her,” Clint informed her from his place on the floor. He was tinkering with a listening device, studying it intently.

Natasha frowned. Of course he was aware of what she was thinking about. He knew her better than anyone else. “She probably hates me now.”

“I don’t think so,” he replied, glancing up at the Russian. “I’ve seen the way she looks at you. That girl is head over heels for you.”

Natasha balked. Obviously you were attracted her, but did you really have feelings for her? “Are you sure?”

Clint snorted, finally standing up. He settled himself beside her and followed her gaze. There wasn’t anyone of interest but she liked people watching. It always helped calm her mind. “She definitely likes you, Nat. You just need to let her in before someone comes and takes her away. She won’t wait forever.”

Natasha bristled at the idea of you with someone else. She wanted you happy, but she wanted you happy with her. Seeing you with someone else would kill her inside.

Smirking at the jealousy raging on Natasha’s face, he threw in one final observation. “I’m pretty sure Wanda wouldn’t mind going out with (Y/N). They are fairly close.”

Natasha’s eyes widened in horror. You were going to be alone with Wanda for a month – after Natasha had run away like a coward. What if she came back and you decided you deserved better? What if you decided Wanda was better?

Clint pursed his lips to keep from laughing. Wanda wasn’t going to ask you out but jamming the knife in a little deeper would get Natasha off her ass. She needed the encouragement. He grabbed Natasha’s shoulder and squeezed. “Tell her how you feel. She’ll appreciate it. Don’t just sleep with her and run again.”

Natasha licked her dry lips and nodded. She just prayed that you would forgive her.

-X-

A month had passed and Natasha was due back at any minute. You were excited to see her again, but you were still angry with the redhead. She’d left you without a single goodbye and that wasn’t fair to you. So, you had decided you weren’t going to fall back into the bed with the woman anymore. Lust wasn’t a good enough reason for you to stay in this arrangement so you were done. You would remain friends with her, but nothing more.

You were in the living room watching a movie with Wanda and Pietro when she came into view. She was beautiful and it made your heart flutter. Her mission suit was snug, clinging to her lithe form and it drove you wild but you were going to stay steadfast in your decision.

You deserved better than a hook up.

Natasha’s eyes landed on you and she frowned. You were leaning against Wanda, her hand playing with your hair. You glanced over the couch at her and smiled, but didn’t stand up to greet her. You merely waved before returning your attention to the movie playing. It was cold but you weren’t sure what else to do.

Clearing her throat, Natasha rocked on her heels, uncharacteristically nervous. She didn’t know what she was going to say to you but she had to say something. “(Y/N), can I talk to you?”

You peeked over at Wanda who smiled encouragingly and you stood, nodding. You followed Natasha to her bedroom, surprised when she gestured for you to step inside. You’d never been in her room before; you always met in your room, not hers.

Natasha wrung her hands together, chewing her lip. Her emerald eyes swept over you and she stepped a little closer. Her hands fell to your hips and she crashed her lips onto yours. Surprised by the abrupt onslaught, you moaned into the kiss, forgetting your plan to stop whatever was happening from happening for a moment.

Her tongue slid across your bottom lip and it brought you back to the present. You jerked away, scrambling backwards so that there was space between you.

“I can’t do this,” you gasped, staring at Natasha with wide eyes. “I can’t.”

Startled by the sudden separation, Natasha’s frown reappeared. “(Y/N)…”

“No! I can’t…” you combed your fingers violently through your hair. “I can’t keep doing this to myself,” you whispered. “I have feelings for you and I know you don’t feel the same, so please, let’s just end this now before someone gets hurt.”

Natasha stepped towards you but froze when you moved back. Your eyes were full of tears and it made her chest hurt. “I do have feelings for you, though,” she mumbled, glancing away.

You blinked. “Huh?”

“I like you too,” she admitted quietly, words cracking under the weight of her emotions. “I have for a while now, but I was too afraid to say anything.”

The world tipped on its axis. You didn’t know what to say. The woman who haunted your dreams returned your feelings, but was that enough? How would any of this work out? Natasha was so closed off and stoic sometimes while you tended to wear your heart on your sleeve.

“Nat…”

Natasha reached out for you and you let her, her hands grasping yours. “Please give me a chance,” she begged, eyes boring into yours. “I know I need to work on some things, but I want you. I need you. I’ve never felt like this before and I think we could be something great.”

Inhaling sharply, you nodded. You couldn’t say no to Natasha, especially when she was looking at you like this, so earnest and open. She’d never wore such an expression before.

“Okay,” you whispered, tugging Natasha close.

Burying your fingers in her hair, you brought your mouths together in a sweet, sensual kiss. It was unlike any you’d ever experienced before with her. Usually when you came together it was rough – rushed. You never really took your time exploring.

Natasha’s hands gripped your waist and she backed you up against the wall. Your back thumped against the solid surface but you didn’t care. All that mattered was Natasha’s lips moving against yours, her tongue peeking out to play.

Ripping her mouth away from yours, Natasha hurriedly tried to discard your shirt, practically destroying it in her haste to disrobe you. You laughed, stilling her hands so that you could pull it off. You didn’t want your clothes to be shredded and if Natasha had it her way, they probably would be.

“Relax,” you cooed, pecking her lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Exhaling inaudibly, Natasha’s hands flattened against your stomach. “I know, I just…”

“I understand,” you replied, cupping Natasha’s cheeks. “I really do.”

Carefully, the Russian helped you out of your shirt and tossed it aside before pressing her lips to the space in between your breasts. Your skin was so soft and silky against her mouth and it made her want to moan. You were so perfect in every way.

You held the back of Natasha’s head to your chest, sighing as her lips drifted over to your clothed nipple. She mouthed at it, driving you mad. She reached around to try and unclip your bra one-handed and with sheer willpower alone, she managed to unclasp it. Throwing it away, she latched her lips onto your nipple and sucked, bringing her hand up to tug and squeeze

Your head bounced off the wall as a greedy moan escaped your throat. You clutched at Natasha, your nails digging into her back though the pain was dulled by her suit.

“You’re overdressed,” you panted, grasping at the material.

A smirk upturned Natasha’s mouth and she leaned back, slowly stripping off the bodysuit. She was putting on a show, the way she gripped her top and peeled it off, revealing a simple but oh so tantalizing lacy black bra. You wondered if she planned this because you couldn’t imagine her willingly wearing that during a mission. You extended your hands to touch soft flesh, but she batted them away, winking at you.

“Just watch,” she purred, stepping away.

Your mouth was watering by the time she finally slid her pants off. You wanted to drop to your knees and worship her the way she deserved. She was a goddess.

The moment her suit was kicked away she was pressing against you, keeping you flush to the wall. Her fingers danced across the button of your jeans before she cupped you, her palm pushing against your swelling flesh.

“Oh God,” you hissed, your forehead falling to her shoulder.

“Just Natasha,” the ex-assassin teased, grinding into you.

Rolling your eyes, you nipped at her neck, earning a quiet groan from her. You nibbled on the expansion of skin presented to you, your teeth digging in before you sucked harshly, leaving a dark mark in your wake. You weren’t allowed to leave marks before – Natasha didn’t want the others knowing about your trysts – but things were different now.

Natasha dragged you over to the bed and shoved you onto it, watching gleefully as you bounced into the middle of it. She took hold of your pants and undid the clasp before tugging them down your legs. They joined the rest of the clothes on the floor.

“You’re so beautiful,” Natasha breathed, straddling your waist.

You grabbed her hips, arching upward so that her core rubbed against the plane of your stomach. She moaned, throwing her head back. She jerked against you, gliding back and forth as the light material of her panties massaged her engorged flesh.

“Fuck,” she hissed, finding herself embarrassingly close to the edge already. She was so sensitive, having thought about this during the entire flight home. Between finding a way to apologize and thinking about your heavenly body, she was a mess.

Smirking, you tensed your stomach muscles and increased your speed, watching her tumble helplessly over the precipice. You knew enough about your lover to know what drove her crazy. She was always so easy to orgasm the first time, but you knew she was far from done.

You were in for a long night.

Once the pounding of Natasha’s heart calmed and she wasn’t seeing stars anymore, she grinned at you. “Don’t look so smug.”

You shrugged the best you could, your smirk never faltering. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Capturing your lips in a bruising kiss, Natasha’s hands dropped to your chest, groping the flesh beneath them. You writhed, moaning into her mouth as she roughly twisted your nipples. She was teasing you and both of you knew it. Her talented digits were going to drive you to your breaking point long before she ever touched you.

“Tell me what you want,” she mumbled, nipping at your bottom lip before catching it with her teeth.

You panted into the kiss, a pathetic whine escaping you as she let your lip go with an audible pop. “I want you,” you moaned.

Natasha grinned, inching down as she planted kisses along your pliant form. She was leaving a trail of bites in her wake, but God, you didn’t care. You would wear them proudly if she would just hurry the fuck up. Sharp teeth scraped across your belly and a guttural noise echoed throughout the room.

“Stop teasing,” you begged, your pleading eyes wide and glassy. You needed her to touch you.

“Patience, kotyonok,” Natasha cooed, dipping her tongue into your bellybutton before tracing it down to your underwear. She caught the edge of them in her mouth and dragged them down your legs, her touch lighter than a feather on your thighs.

The soft contact was excruciatingly gentle and all you wanted to do was scream.

You bit your lip as she slinked her way back up your body, reminding you absently of a panther about to pounce on its prey. You bucked as her lips drifted along your legs, a silent plea forming.

“You’re so wet,” Natasha commented, coating her fingers in your arousal.

Huffing with need, your head pressed into the mattress as her plump lips wrapped around your aching clit. Her tongue laved the velvety flesh, her nails digging into your thighs and combing downward, leaving trails of red in her wake.

“Oh fuck,” you whined, grinding against her face.

She hummed and you clenched around nothing. She knew if she worked hard enough she could make you come without ever being inside you, but she’d missed her fingers being buried deep inside you, urging you on.

Two fingers found their way home without any resistance and as she curled them, you arched. The noises falling from your lips were animalistic and she set a brutal pace, her fingers pounding into you without reprieve. You’d missed this – missed her; missed the way she made you feel.

The tips of exploring digits found your sweet spot and your hips stuttered, the fire raging in your lower belly amplifying. You were so fucking close.

“Nat, I’m g-gonna…”

Sucking firmly on your clit, Natasha brought you into ecstasy with a simple brush of her fingers. Your back bowed and a fierce moan fell from parted lips, bouncing off the walls of her spacious room. You were fairly certain the team would hear you despite the soundproofing Tony had offered but you didn’t care. All you could think about was the stars in your eyes and the ringing in your ears.

When your legs relaxed and your body slumped against the bed, Natasha made her way up, licking her lips like a cat who ate the canary. She looked so damn proud of herself. She kissed you deeply, letting you taste yourself on her tongue.

“God, you’re good at that,” you panted, your cheeks flushed.

Natasha relaxed atop you, her legs tangling with yours. “I know, but it’s always nice to hear.”

You laughed, snapping the strap of her bra. “Don’t get a big head on me.” Your fingers danced across her spine before finding the clasp of her bra. You twisted your fingers and it opened without resistance.

Rolling over, you dragged the bra away from her chest and smirked. Her nipples were already standing at attention and you couldn’t wait to have one in your mouth.

It was going to be a long night – and you couldn’t wait.

Chapter Text

You were leaning against the doorframe, a smirk on your face as you sleepily observed your girlfriend. Kara was bent over in front of your refrigerator trying to find something to munch on for her midnight meal. It was fairly common for her to get up in the middle of the night hungry so you were familiar with this scenario, but what you loved most was seeing her in only a pair of panties and one of your oversized t-shirts.

God, she looked good enough to eat.

You weren’t going to lie, you had obsession with your girlfriend’s butt. You couldn’t help it. It was shapely and firm and you just couldn’t stop yourself from staring at it whenever you got the chance and truthfully, the urge to caress it was overwhelming.

Pushing off the wall, you strolled over to Kara and swatted her firmly on the butt. It made your hand sting a little, but it was so worth it. Kara yelped, her head slamming into the freezer door, leaving a huge dent in your refrigerator. Your eyes widened and disbelieving laughter bubbled up in your throat. You knew about your girlfriend’s secret identity but seeing her accidentally damage your appliances was the funniest thing to you.

“Oh gosh!” Kara squeaked, glaring at you over her shoulder. (Y/N)!”

You shrugged, smirking at your blushing lover. “I’m not even sorry.”

Kara’s glare deepened but it held no malice. She wasn’t mad at you, just terribly embarrassed that she’d unintentionally attacked your refrigerator. She reached out and touched the indention, her blush darkening her pale cheeks.

“Aw, don’t be mad, princess,” you cooed, wrapping your arms around her waist and pressing your forehead into her back. “That was kind of adorable. And honestly, I think it’s hilarious. My fridge has personality now.”

Kara crossed her arms, her lip jutting out as she twisted around in your arms. You would have worried if it wasn’t for the mirth shining in her ocean eyes, brightening her already gorgeous features. Your hold on her waist tightened, your hands dipping dangerously low on her back.

“I’m mad at you,” Kara pouted, “You made me dent the fridge and you don’t have any potstickers.”

You chuckled. Of course she would point out that you didn’t remember to bring home her favorite snack. In your defense, you didn’t know she was coming over tonight but really, you should have assumed she was.

She’d been spending a lot of time at your place recently and you were beginning to wonder if it was time to ask her to move in with you.

Humming softly, you grinned at her. “Is there any way I can make it up to you?” you nearly purred, watching the heat rise up in Kara’s cheeks though for an entirely different reason this time.

Kara’s arms slowly uncrossed and came around you, tugging you close. She brushed her nose against yours. “Kiss me and I’ll forgive you.”

Leaning forward, you leisurely pecked your girlfriend’s mouth once…twice…before kissing her deeply. Her grip on you tightened as her lips moved against yours in a soft dance. She was always so careful with you, mindful of her strength, but sometimes you wanted her to be a little rougher. You weren’t going to break at the slightest touch. You were a pretty resilient human.

Slotting your mouths together in a harsher manner, your tongue peeked out and you licked her bottom lip. A tiny moan escaped Kara’s throat and you grinned into the kiss, your hands gliding down the last few inches to her butt. You squeezed it confidently, knowing she needed the added pressure in order to really feel it. Absently you wondered if Alex could install red sun lights in your apartment so that Kara’s powers were negated a little – that way she could feel human without blowing out her powers – but the thought left as quickly as it’d come when Kara’s lips parted slightly.

You’d worry about it later.

Kara’s muscular arms lifted you up and set you on the counter in front of her, keeping you trapped as she kissed you. You always thought it was hot when she used her powers, but you were disappointed that you couldn’t reach her hindquarters from this angle. So, you did the next best thing and hooked your legs around her waist, keeping her pressed firmly against you. Her fingers flexed, digging into your hips and you groaned approvingly.

Kara’s mouth left yours and she started kissing along your neck, her teeth scraping your collarbones teasingly. You could feel her leaving a mark against your neck and you groaned, tangling your fingers in her blonde locks.

Her hands drifted under your t-shirt and started tugging at it but before she could pry it off you, her stomach audibly grumbled. Freezing, Kara glanced up at you and smiled sheepishly. You laughed heartily, stroking her head. She was too cute for words. She looked so guilty, like a child whose hand had been caught in the cookie jar.

“That was kind of hot,” you commented, pecking Kara’s forehead, “But now I think it’s time to feed the beast. I know a pizza place that’s open twenty-four hours. Want me to call?”

Kara visibly perked up and you knew that was the right question. She helped you off the counter despite the fact you were quite capable and sped around the room until she found your phone. Handing it to you, she grinned like it was Christmas and you’d given her the best present in the world. She was precious and God, you adored this woman.

So maybe it wasn’t just her butt you were obsessed with. Maybe it was the whole package.

Chapter Text

Lounging on the couch in the Compound’s living room, your jaw dropped open as a heavy yawn escaped your mouth. Your eyes were drifting shut but you tried to keep them trained on the television with the hope that you’d manage to stay awake. You were determined to be awake for your girlfriend’s arrival.

Wanda, Sam and Steve had gone a mission a week ago and were due home at any minute and, while you’d be happy to see both the boys back in one piece, you cared more about Wanda’s return. You’d missed her quite a bit and seeing her would do your heart some good.

The only problem was that they weren’t scheduled to land until one in the morning.

Yawning again, your head lulled back onto the arm of the couch. Blinking lazily, you stared up at the ceiling. “FRIDAY, how long until the Quinjet lands?”

“They are about thirty minutes out,” the AI informed you, though you were almost certain FRIDAY was annoyed with you.

…no, this wasn’t the first time you’d asked.

Sighing, you patted the pocket of your pants to double-check (well, actually triple-check, but who’s counting) that her present was still there. You’d gone out with Natasha for coffee a few days ago and on your way back to the Compound, you had noticed a jewelry store with a gorgeous necklace hanging in the window. You’d stopped to look at it and – after a small debate with Natasha – decided it was perfect for Wanda.

So, you were hoping to surprise her with it when she finally got home. You stroked your fingertips along the satin box and smiled. One day, that little box would hold a ring.

One day.

“The jet is here,” FRIDAY announced, breaking you from your reverie.

A burst of energy surged through you and you jumped to your feet, standing near the door like a puppy eager to see their owner. You knew it would take them a few minutes, but you couldn’t contain your excitement. Wanda was finally here!

Patiently waiting, you were overcome with joy the moment three tired but otherwise unscathed Avengers stepped into the room. You smiled at Steve and Sam before throwing yourself into Wanda’s arms, nearly knocking her over. She giggled at your enthusiasm. She lifted up you, swinging you around and smiled freely at your surprised squeal.

Steve watched you with tolerant amusement, much like a father would. He loved your relationship; he thought you and Wanda were perfect for each other. He had suspected you two liked each other after you helped her deal with the loss of her brother and after you’d gotten together, he became your number one supporter. He was the first person to have your back if one of the new agents made a comment and he was always there to help if you had a fight or a misunderstanding.

Wanda set you down and pressed a brief kiss to your lips. You would’ve deepened it but that would have given Sam too much ammunition. He had enough things to say; you weren’t about to add to them.

Burying your face in Wanda’s neck, your hands drifted along her sides. “Are you okay?”

“We are fine, malysh,” Wanda promised, hugging you close.

“Good.” You nodded, leaning back to really get a look at her face. She looked exhausted but, overall, seemed jovial. “I take it the mission was successful?”

Nodding, Wanda leaned into your side, her arm securely looped around your waist. Her hand fell dangerously close to your pocket and you worried she would feel the box tucked away in there. You didn’t want to give it to her in front of the guys. Even though you loved them, it would definitely ruin the mood.

Sam lifted his arm and sniffed, his nose scrunching up in disgust. “Gross. I’m going to shower. Have a good night.” He waved at you before disappearing down the hall towards the elevator, Steve not far behind.

“Same. Good night, (Y/N). Wanda.”

You returned the gesture before tangling one hand in Wanda’s hair, pulling her mouth against yours. You kissed her like you’d fantasized, her soft lips slotting perfectly with yours. She grinned into the kiss, breaking the intimate contact but leaving your smiles pressed together.

“I missed you,” you murmured, nails scratching the back of Wanda’s head in a soothing manner.

“I missed you too, lyubov moya,” Wanda replied, her forehead resting against yours.

You pecked the tip of her nose playfully. “I have something for you.”

“A present?” Wanda perked up, her eyes lighting like a child’s on their birthday.

Nodding, you led her over to the couch and nudged her, urging her to sit down. She followed your lead, nearly bouncing with anticipation. Her green eyes were so bright and enchanting, almost bewitching. You could stare into them for hours and never bore.

Sitting beside you, your hand slipped into your pocket. Her gaze drifted towards your hand to watch, but you chided her jokingly, “Uh uh. Either keep your eyes on me or close them.”

Her eyes flickered back up, connecting with yours. She pouted and honestly, it was probably one of the cutest things you’d ever seen. Her bottom lip quivered, but it was far more enticing than anything else. You just wanted to lean in and nip it, take it between your teeth but you refrained from your baser needs. Those would be dealt with later.

Fishing the box from your pocket, you set it between you and clicked it open.

“Can I look now?” she laughed.

You smirked, nodding. You were fairly certain she was going to love it.

Her gaze dropped to the pendant necklace and her mouth fell open. Eyes going glossy, she reached out to delicately touch it. It was a black onyx heart with a stripe of red agate through the middle of it. You had thought it was hauntingly beautiful and for some reason it reminded you of your lover. Maybe because it was red or maybe because it was just as mysterious and ethereal as her and her powers. You weren’t one hundred percent sure why you thought of her every time you looked at it, but you did.

“(Y/N)…” she breathed, the tip of her finger caressing the stone.

“Do you like it?” you asked hopefully.

She nodded wildly, tears dripping from the corners of her eyes. “I love it.” She surged forward, tossing her arms around your neck, her grip tight enough that it threatened to cut off your airway.

“I can’t breathe,” you laughed, keeping your hold on the box firm. She’d almost knocked it out of your hand but your hold on it kept it safely in your grasp.

She broke the embrace and righted herself, looking at the pendant with wide eyes. “Will you put it on me?”

Carefully taking the pendant out of the box, you adjusted the chain in your hand before reaching behind Wanda to clip it into place. You were doing it based entirely off memory since you couldn’t see through her hair and, while you were completely capable of doing it, her wiggling made it hard for you to slip the clasp into place.

“Would you just hold still?” you smirked, shaking your head at your girlfriend’s antics. “I can’t get it into the notch if you don’t stop moving.” Wanda froze, keeping as still as possible so you could finish sliding it into place.

It fell against her chest and you grinned triumphantly. It was finally clasped and it looked really good against Wanda’s pale skin. You were pretty proud of your purchase.

Wanda grinned, her cheeks warm as she fingered the swaying pendant. “I really do love it, (Y/N).”

“I’m glad,” you replied, setting the box aside so that you could gather Wanda into your arms. She sighed contentedly against you, nuzzling your neck. She was practically on your lap but neither of you minded in the slightest. “Are you hungry? I could make you something to eat before bed.”

Wanda shook her head. “No, I’m not hungry.”

You combed your fingers through a curtain of brown locks and kissed the side of her head. “What do you need then, lovely?”

“I’m tired,” she yawned, “Just cuddle me. I don’t think I slept well the entire time I was away from you,” she admitted shyly, her eyes drifting closed, eyelashes tickling the side of your throat.

Smiling fondly, you suggested quietly, “Then why don’t we head to bed? Tomorrow can be a lazy day and we’ll stay in bed as long as you’d like.”

“Promise?” she mumbled, her accent growing thick with exhaustion.

“I promise,” you murmured, helping her off the couch. You turned off the television and helped Wanda towards the elevator, your arm securely around her waist. One day that little box left forgotten on the table would hold an entire future in its tiny hands. It would hold something bigger – something permanent – and honestly?

You couldn’t wait.

Chapter Text

It was a harrowing day for the Avengers and Maria knew it.

The media was ferocious as ever, asking if Bruce should be arrested for the damage he’d caused while discussing if the Avengers should even have that much power to begin with. Radio hosts, news personalities, just about everyone who was anyone, were weighing in and it was getting uglier by the minute. No one had anything nice to say about Bruce despite the fact he’d helped save New York all those years ago. Was she surprised? Not really but still…

It was hard to listen to.

Maria pursed her lips together. “I’m sending the Quinjet some coordinates. Have Clint fly you guys there. It’s a safe house. It should keep you off the grid until we can find Ultron.”

“So you want us to run and hide,” Tony replied knowingly, staring at the woman in the screen. He was pale, exhaustion evident in his eyes but he was sharper than ever, catching the slight hitch in Maria’s breathing.

“Until we find Ultron, I don’t have much else to offer,” she admitted regretfully.

“Neither do we,” Tony said, shutting off the connection. He glanced around the jet at his team and his frown deepened. None of them were okay – and he wasn’t sure when they would be again.

Back in New York, Maria leaned back in her chair and sighed. She grabbed her phone and unlocked the screen. She chewed on her lip for a moment before pressing a button, bringing the device up to her ear. “Hey, we need to talk…”

-X-

The plane touched down not that far outside of the city. It was an obscure area with very few houses and plenty of land between them. None of the team knew where the hell they were, but Tony trusted Maria. If she said this was a good place to hide and regroup, then this is where they would do just that. He only hoped that the door was unlocked so they could.

The house was cute but rather simple. It was two stories and big enough that it could probably accommodate the team without any problems so Tony wasn’t worried about that. He thought the little tricycle and the toys scattered about the yard were a nice touch too.

It made it seem like a real home.

Everyone clamored up the stairs but before anyone could check the door, it swung open and revealed…

“Maria?” Tony was stunned to see the former SHIELD agent standing there. He was fairly certain she’d been in the Tower when they had last talked. “What are you doing here?”

She wasn’t dressed in her usual business attire, instead donning a simple button up and a pair of jeans. Her hair was tied up like normal but in a softer manner, leaving her looking less stern than they were used to. Her eyes held a different light, like the world was brighter – safer – here.

Helping Clint bring Natasha inside, Maria sat the distressed woman on the nearest couch. She watched Natasha slump back into the cushions and pursed her lips. The redhead looked like she had definitely seen better days.

“Again, I ask, what are you doing here?” Tony repeated, eyeing his associate curiously.

Maria went to respond, but pattering footsteps across the wooden floor distracted her. She faced the noise and extended her arms deliberately. In less than a second a little girl’s body came flying into her embrace and Maria swept her up, pressing a kiss to the side of her head.

“Mama, tell (S/N) to stop!” she cried, burying her face in Maria’s neck.

“(S/N), what have I told you about chasing (D/N) with Trevor? You know she hates spiders,” Maria chastised a young boy who came running around the corner, a tarantula in hand. “Why your mother let you buy one is beyond me.”

Laughter bounced off the walls and you stepped behind your son, your hands falling to his shoulders. You squeezed them before patting his head. “Go put Trevor back in his cage,” you instructed, nudging him in the direction of the stairs.

(S/N) huffed but did as he was told, sticking his tongue out at (D/N) who returned the gesture wholeheartedly.

“We both know I can’t say no to him,” you chuckled, walking over to Maria and snuggling into her side. “He has your eyes after all.”

Maria smiled and pecked your lips, her free hand coming to rest on your cheek. Her thumb stroked your cheekbone. “At least you didn’t let him buy the snake.”

You gazed over at the Avengers and bit back a huge smile. You’d heard so much about them; seeing them in person for the first time was an amazing moment despite how haggard and haunted they appeared.

“Steve Rogers, ma’am,” Steve said, offering you his hand. You knew who he was – hell, you knew who all of them were – but you accepted his handshake anyways.

“This is my wife, (Y/N),” Maria informed them proudly, slipping her arm around your waist. “And this is my daughter, (D/N).”

Tony stared at you, his jaw slack. “You’re married? You have kids? How did none of us know about this? How did I not know about this?”

“Only Fury knows about them,” Maria replied carefully, setting your daughter down. “He helped us set this up. SHIELD has a lot of enemies; I didn’t want anything to happen to them.”

“So this is where you disappear to sometimes,” Natasha muttered from the couch, studying you. “I thought you might have a partner but…”

You kissed Maria’s cheek before slipping out of her hold and walking into the kitchen. “Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. Why don’t you get them settled in?”

Maria nodded, her eyes lingering on your back. You looked good and God, she had missed you. “C’mon, I’ll show you to your rooms. You can get some rest and shower because you all look like you could use it.”

Tony wagged his finger at her. “We’re going to talk about this later.”

-X-

The next day, after the Avengers had found some time to regroup and get some rest, you found yourself in your bedroom with Maria, the other woman leaning against the wall as she stared out the window. She wore a look of concentration though her eyes were filled with worry.

She was already dressed for the day, though her hair wasn’t pulled up in its usual bun yet. You inched over to Maria and curled into her side, your hand sliding under her shirt to rest against her stomach. You stroked her soft flesh comfortingly, pressing a gentle kiss to the underside of her jaw.

“What happens now?” you wondered.

“I called Fury,” she admitted with a shrug, her gaze faraway. “Hopefully he can talk some sense into Stark – and honestly, we need all the help we can get finding Ultron.”

Nodding, you peered outside. “How long until he gets here?”

“I don’t know. Soon, I would assume.” Maria wrapped an arm around your waist and kissed the side of your head. She hummed against your temple before peppering kisses down to your lips. It was just a peck at first, but you deepened the contact, your teeth nipping at her bottom lip.

She walked you backwards to the bed and nudged you down, though your mouths never disconnected. Your back bounced and your arms wrapped around Maria, pulling her as close as possible. You’d missed your wife so much in the last few weeks. With everything going on, she hadn’t really had a chance to come home to you so you were going to take advantage of the quiet for a moment and just enjoy her being in your arms.

She clutched at your hips, a breathy laugh escaping her parted lips. “I take it you missed me?”

“You have no idea,” you breathed, smiling up at Maria.

She nuzzled her head into your neck and slumped against you, her body pinning you to the bed. “I missed you too,” she admitted tenderly, kissing your throat.

She was gentle with you. You knew how hard and tough she was forced to act when she was a SHIELD agent and, after its collapse, she had gotten softer but she still kept herself stoic and professional. With the Avengers she was still Agent Hill, but with you – and subsequently, your children – she was just Maria.

“I love you,” you said quietly, running a hand across the back of her head.

“I love you too,” she replied, sucking on the skin she’d just kissed.

You smiled, keeping her close. You knew that sometimes she had to remind herself you were hers. Being away so much bothered her greatly and she was so thankful for you. You’d never once blinked an eye about her suddenly disappearing in the middle of the night and you were never distrustful. You told her anything and everything when you talked. She wasn’t always there, but you made her feel like she was.

And, when it mattered most, she always made time for you and the kids.

A knock on the door stopped her hands from sliding under your shirt.

“Mama?” (D/N)’s voice was muffled by the closed bedroom door.

“Yeah, princess?” Maria called out, moving so she was straddling your hips.

“Uncle Fury is here.”

Sighing, Maria’s head dropped slightly. “Okay. We’ll be out in a minute.”

Tiny footsteps echoed off the floor as (D/N) ran back downstairs. Your hands cupped Maria’s face, stroking your thumbs across her cheekbones. “Go. Fury needs you. Hell, they all need you.”

Maria turned her head and kissed the palm of your hand. “I love you,” she said again, grateful that you were so understanding.

“And I love you,” you replied easily. “Now go.”

-X-

Tony’s conversation with the former SHIELD director must have gone decently because when Fury and Tony stepped into the house after talking in the garage, they were discussing what needed to be done. You and Maria were cleaning up after dinner and you were absently listening, not wanting to intervene or comment. Hearing how dangerous Ultron was made you sick to your stomach, but you trusted Maria’s abilities. She’d come home to you; she always did.

Your daughter clung to Maria, her little head buried in Maria’s side as the older woman worked in the kitchen. Her departures were always worse for the children and they knew Maria would have to leave soon. Whenever “Uncle Fury” came, Maria always left. They hated it, but they understood nonetheless.

It wasn’t until Dr. Banner asked about Dr. Cho that you realized your time with Maria was coming to an end. She was about to leave with Fury.

Maria shot you an apologetic glance and you smiled reassuringly, patting her arm. She tossed it across your shoulders and dragged you into a hug.

“Come home to me,” you begged quietly, holding her tightly.

“I will,” she promised before releasing you. She bent down and hugged your daughter before hugging your son. Their grips were strong, but they didn’t cling to her or beg her to stay. If they had, she probably would have but they knew that their Mama was protecting the world – and in turn, protecting them – so they only kissed her cheek and grinned at her.

Fury was standing by the door and you walked over to him, giving him a stern look. “Keep each other safe,” you commanded, earning a startled look from the Avengers. They’d never heard someone use that tone with the former director before.

He laughed earnestly, shaking his head. “We will,” he assured you, pulling you into a one-armed hug. He liked you; you had spunk and you kept his best agent on her toes. “We just have to see what kind of trouble we can get into.”

Maria followed her former boss out the door, her gaze steadily ahead. If she looked back, she would break and she couldn’t afford to do that right now. You chewed your lip, watching them leave. They looked like a team, more than they had when they arrived. You wished them all the luck in the world.

They were going to need it.

Chapter Text

When Clint came back without Natasha, you knew. You had no idea why you knew, but you did. She was gone – and she wasn’t coming back.

Your knees buckled, but Bruce’s strong arms caught you before you hit the ground. Tears flooded your eyes, overflowing down your cheeks and you sobbed into Bruce’s chest. His grip was firm, his own eyes filling with tears as he thought about the woman he truly had loved.

They were never going to get their happy ending.

You didn’t know what to do. Natasha had been your best friend – the closest thing you’d had to a sister – and now she was dead. She’d been your confidant, your mentor. She was the only person who’d completely understood your nightmares; knew what it was like to have your past haunt you. There was just as much red in your ledger as there was in hers and she’d tried so hard to help you come to grips with that.

Hell, she was the reason you’d had the courage to ask Wanda out all those years ago – had gotten you through the heartbreak of losing Wanda – but now…

Now you were alone in a world that was crumbling and you didn’t know what to do. You didn’t even have a freaking body to bury. She was just gone, like she’d never existed. And that wasn’t fair! She deserved a hero’s sendoff but instead her body was left on some planet like she was trash. You were angry and heartbroken and alone…

So. Fucking. Alone.

-X-

When the Compound was destroyed, it broke your heart all over again. Every memory of Nat was in that building. All of her things were now rubble, crushed under tons and tons of rock. There was no way you’d ever be able to dig them out and all you wanted to do was scream.

Your rage filled you as you bolted into the fray on Thanos’ army, killing as many of his men and monsters as you could. You might have only been human – just a former assassin whose best friends were knives and guns – but you were going to avenge Natasha one way or another. You were going to make her proud.

You didn’t find Wanda until after Thanos was defeated. You had seen her briefly as she was taking apart Thanos, but lost her when the ship fired. You’d taken refuge behind a large piece of what was formerly the Compound and by the time the madness cleared, she had disappeared. You searched for her in between killing his cronies and you were fairly certain you caught a glimpse of her in the throng of women that Carol was leading, but it was only for a moment. You were too far away to join them so you did what you did best: fight.

After the dust had cleared and Tony was gone, you found her. She was standing a few feet away with Clint, her face dirty and bloodied though you didn’t see any marks on her. Running over to her, you tossed your arms around her, nearly knocking her to the ground. Tears were shed but for once, they were full of joy instead of sorrow. She was here, in your arms, and you felt like maybe you weren’t so alone anymore.

-X-

You found yourself at Clint’s after Tony’s funeral. The former Avenger had been kind enough to offer you and Wanda a place to stay since the Compound was no longer a viable option. You liked his house – and subsequently the warmth his family instilled in it – but it wasn’t home.

You didn’t have a home anymore.

Curled up in bed with Wanda, you stared at the wall blankly. Your head was on her chest and her arms were secure around you, keeping you trapped against her. You thought that being in your lover’s arms again would help you sleep – finally sleep after five years of broken nightmares and sweaty mornings – but you couldn’t close your eyes. All you could think about was the time you’d lost with Wanda and how Natasha would never experience this again. She’d never know the joy of sleeping in a lover’s embrace, she’d never get to see the people she considered family again.

You wondered if this room had been hers when she stayed with Clint. It probably was and that made the ache in your chest so much worse. Thanos had taken so much from you – from the world – and it wasn’t fair. He’d just disappeared into nothingness but his presence would be felt for a lifetime.

Deciding that you couldn’t stay in this room any longer, you carefully extracted yourself from Wanda’s hold and wandered out of the room. You crept silently through the house and made your way downstairs and into the Bartons’ kitchen. Yawning, you started searching the cabinets for something to snack on. Maybe something in your belly would make you feel better.

Opening the cabinet that held the cereal, you grabbed a box and tugged it out. You started to close the door when something caught your eye. In the very back was a bottle of…

Whiskey?

Setting the box of cereal aside, you cautiously dragged the bottle out of the cabinet, doing your absolute best not to make a sound. Once it was in your possession, you studied the label for a moment. Should you really be doing this? Drinking away your pain like this? Natasha would be so disappointed in you.

But Nat’s not here, you mused, taking the bottle over to the couch.

Settling yourself on the edge, you stared at the whiskey and sighed. Popping the top off, you took a long swig. It burned your throat, threatening to choke you but you forced it down. You weren’t much of a drinker but here you were, clutching a bottle to your chest with tears in your eyes mourning someone everyone else seemed to forget.

Realistically, you knew that wasn’t true but that’s how it felt. You understood why Tony received such a farewell – he’d earned it – but Natasha hadn’t gotten a sendoff. No memorial, no discussion of what a great person she was…nothing. Hell, the only person who had really talked about her since her passing was Clint but even he didn’t really have a lot to say. You guessed it was because he was the one to see her body at the bottom of the cliff.

That had to haunt him.

Grunting quietly, you took another sip of whiskey. It didn’t hurt the same way it had the first time and you were thankful for that. You’d really hate to wake up the house and them catch you with the bottle in your hand. You’d hate to see the disappointment in Wanda’s eyes or the knowing in Clint’s.

You drank quite a bit of the whiskey, only stopping when the world was a little hazy and you could feel the world spinning. Standing up, you swayed dangerously and waddled over to the cabinet, slipping the bottle back inside. You tucked it behind a different box of cereal and promised yourself that you weren’t going to do this again. It was just a onetime thing.

Slowly trudging upstairs, you managed to crawl back into bed with Wanda and slide into her arms, your heavy head falling on her shoulder. She hummed contentedly in her sleep and gripped you tightly to her, thoroughly trapping you. You sighed, nuzzling her shirt and inhaling her sweet scent. God, you had missed her so much. Five years without her had nearly killed you.

You could only pray that you never lost her again.

The next night, you found yourself in the same position as the day before. You were sitting on the couch, staring down the neck of the bottle. You weren’t even sure what you were mourning this time. Tears were trickling across your flushed cheeks, dripping onto the couch but you didn’t care. All you cared about was the awful pain in your chest. It was crippling and a part of you wanted to throw up. This was a terrible way to live, but you didn’t know what else to do.

You couldn’t talk to Wanda about all of your feelings. She’d lost five years; she had enough to deal with. Between losing Vision’s friendship and having five years taken from her, she didn’t need to struggle with your problems too.

Taking a huge drink of the whiskey, you stared out the window. You could see the moonlight drifting through the curtains and you smiled sadly. You remembered all the nights you’d spent sitting under the stars with Wanda and Natasha, their arms around you and their words flowing through your ears like water.

You wished you’d paid more attention in those moments.

Admittedly downing half the bottle that night wasn’t a great plan but it happened anyways. You barely made it into your room before passing out, the stink of booze clinging to you. You reeked of alcohol and, in the morning as you laid asleep – a trickle of drool dribbling out of your mouth – Wanda awoke and frowned. She couldn’t exactly place the smell, but you didn’t smell good. Not like you normally did. Shrugging, she pressed a kiss to the side of your head and rolled out of bed, not thinking too much of it.

It wasn’t until she started smelling it on you every morning that she started to worry. She didn’t know why you didn’t smell like yourself, but it bothered her. She knew you weren’t cheating on her – you’d waited five years for her after all – but you weren’t acting like yourself either. You were sluggish and light sensitive and if she didn’t know any better, she would have assumed you were hung over.

And you were.

After you finished off the bottle of whiskey, you’d managed to hunt up another bottle of liquor. It was hard, finding alcohol in Clint’s house, but he had a few stashed away and you were determined to collect them all.

A week into your bingeing, Wanda had enough. She was determined to figure out why you were acting the way you were. So, she pretended to fall asleep and when you snuck out of bed, she followed you. She lingered at the top of the stairs, her nose scrunched in worry as she saw you take your seat on the couch with another bottle of alcohol in your hand. You cracked it open and took a long drink, your face marred with disgust as it touched your tongue.

“What are you doing?” she asked quietly as she walked into the living room, startling you so bad that you almost dumped the entire bottle over.

“Son of a bitch,” you hissed, wiping liquor off your pajama pants.

Wanda stopped beside the couch, her eyes soft as she gazed at you. Your eyes were rimmed red and you looked so lost – so defeated. “Malysh…”

You choked on a sob, your hands trembling as they covered your face. You didn’t know what to say to her. She looked so sympathetic and understanding and it broke something inside you.

Taking a seat beside you, Wanda tugged you into an embrace, humming gently as she stroked your hair. Your tears soaked her shirt but she didn’t care. All she cared about was her broken partner crying. You were so upset, your hiccups wracking your ribs painfully.

“Talk to me, malysh,” Wanda begged, kissing your temple.

Once you could talk again, words started spilling from your quivering lips. How lost you had felt without her, admitting that you’d wished you could have joined her more times than you could count. Your voice broke and your heart ached but it felt good to get it out.

You also told her about how Natasha’s death had affected you so deeply. The death of someone you loved like a sister was crippling. All you wanted was for her to come back and Wanda understood that feeling. She’d wanted the same thing when Pietro died. She’d dreamed of him for months; dreamed of him walking into her room with his usual smug smile and thick accent.

“Oh, lyubov moya,” Wanda cooed, her forehead resting against yours.

You sniffled, wiping the tears from your eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Brows furrowed in confusion, Wanda asked, “Why?”

“Because you’ve lost so much! You lost five years and your friendship with Vision and your brother and I didn’t want to put all of my problems on you!” you cried, more tears replacing the ones you’d just cleared off your face.

Wanda cupped your cheeks, her thumbs catching the falling tears. “You are my girlfriend,” she replied fiercely, “Your hurt and your fears and your anger are things I need to know. I love you, malysh, and I want to know these things because they’re a part of you. I don’t only want the good parts. It’s okay to hurt.”

You nodded weakly. “Okay.”

She hugged you tightly, her face in your neck as she squeezed you. “Natasha was a big part of your life. I understand that. It’s okay to miss her, but she wouldn’t want you to drink yourself to death. She would want you to live for her. She would want you to have a full life.”

You knew that, but hearing it from Wanda really made it sink in. She was right. Natasha wouldn’t want you to waste your life. She would want you to be happy – be happy with Wanda, with life.

Inhaling deeply, you buried your face in Wanda’s hair. “You’re right.”

You sat there for a while, soaking in your girlfriend’s warmth. For once, the tightness in your chest had lessened and you felt like you could finally breathe again. Things weren’t perfect – they weren’t going to be for a long time – but with Wanda at your side, you knew things were going to be okay.

“I owe Clint a lot of liquor,” you murmured, earning a soft laugh from Wanda.

She nodded, her arms tightening around your waist. “We’ll go buy him some tomorrow.”

For the first time that night, you smiled.

Yeah, everything was going to be okay.

Chapter Text

The minute you stepped foot into your room, Carol had your back pressed up against the door and her lips were attached to yours. Her tongue slipped inside, easily dominating yours and you let her. Your hands fisted in her hair, you moaned as her leg slid between your thighs, effectively trapping you. You grinded down on firm muscles that were flexed, panting into your girlfriend’s mouth as her fingers dug into your hips.

Sliding back and forth along the clothed surface, your head tilted back and Carol’s lips trailed across your throat, leaving faint red marks in her wake. The mark she’d left earlier was already blooming with color, but she was determined to leave more. She liked seeing them painting your skin. Her teeth caught a particularly sensitive spot and you moaned throatily, arching into her.

You tugged on her hair, dragging her lips back up to yours. You nipped at her bottom lip, earning a groan that rippled through you, the warmth in your belly burning bright. She lifted you with ease and you wrapped your legs around her waist, letting her carry you to your bed. She tossed you onto it and grinned, slowly stripping off her tank top. You drooled at the sight of her abs, your eyes wide as you watched her unhook her bra.

“Christ,” you whispered, sitting up so that you could reach out and run your fingers along the defined abdominal muscles. They clenched under your studious exploration, her lips pulling into a smirk. You were such a sucker from her stomach.

Your fingers drifted upward towards her chest but she caught your hand midway. Bringing it up to her lips, she kissed your palm before setting it over her heart. It was her way of saying she loved you without having to form the words.

You couldn’t have stopped your smile if you had tried.

Capturing the edge of your shirt in her hands, she pulled it off before tossing it aside. Her eyes drifted along your physique and she smiled. You were so beautiful and, wow, she adored you. Her digits traced your collarbones before her hands slipped behind your back. She undid your bra and it joined your shirt on the floor.

She hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her pants and she dragged them down her legs before kicking them away, leaving her in just a pair of blue panties. They weren’t inherently sexy but she could make anything look good so you weren’t complaining – at all. She discarded them quickly, baring herself to your lustful gaze.

Nudging you onto your back, she helped you out of your pants before throwing them as far away as possible. She didn’t want anything to come between your skin and hers. She gripped the sides of your underwear and her hands began to glow. It was warm against your flesh but not enough to hurt. With a flick of her wrists, they snapped and fell in pieces onto the bed, causing a soft moan to escape your parted lips. You loved when she used her powers.

It was so hot.

“Mm, you’re so wet,” Carol purred, eyeing you hungrily. “Is that all for me?”

Whining, you tried to close your legs - embarrassed by her gaze - but her strong hands caught you before you could and kept them spread.

“Oh no, pretty girl, no hiding,” she cooed, nails scratching along your bare thighs. “I love seeing what I do to you.”

You groaned, fisting your hands in your sheets as you locked eyes with your girlfriend. She was smirking, stroking the soft flesh of your legs and all you wanted her to do was touch where you needed her most. She wasn’t wrong; you were already so wet. Having her press you against the wall had left you aroused and ready.

She leaned down and pressed a kiss just below your bellybutton. You whimpered, trying to push your legs together so you could get some friction. Her fingers flexed against your thighs as she kept them separated. She clicked her tongue at you, shaking her head.

“What did I just say?” she chided, disappointment dripping from her words.

“I-I wasn’t…” you stuttered out, your grip on the sheets tightening. You weren’t too sure how to defend yourself. You’d broken the rules – even if it wasn’t intentional – and now you’d surely pay for it.

Carol shushed you, dragging her digits over to your dripping core. Her thumb teased your swollen clit and you whined, jerking into the sensation. Her touch was firm, but not nearly enough to bring you to completion. She slowly circled it, playing with the reactive flesh. A guttural moan escaped your lips as she pressed down harder.

“So responsive,” she grinned, moving to rest in between your legs. She caught both of your hands with one of hers and secured them above your head. “Don’t move your hands, pretty girl, or you won’t come for a week,” she warned, waiting for you to nod before letting go of your wrists.

Her free hand slid down to your naked chest and she teased soft skin into a stiff peak, her fingers twisting and pinching until you were worried you’d become overly sensitive. She switched to the other breast and you moaned breathlessly, arching into the touch. Her other hand was still rubbing your clit, making something hot coil in your belly. The firmer she got, the closer she dragged you towards the edge.

“Fuck, Carol, please,” you breathed.

“Please what?” she asked, letting off the pressure on your clit until she was just barely touching you.

Pouting, you rutted your hips upward. “Fuck me.”

She chuckled throatily, her touch light and torturous. It was maddening, feeling her warm fingers on you but not getting any satisfaction. She was touching you so softly and it was killing you.

“Carol…” you whined, pushing into her fingers. “Don’t tease, baby.”

“But you look good, all flushed and ready for me. Why shouldn’t I enjoy that a little longer?” Carol smirked, leaning in and kissing you deeply. She nipped at your lower lip and you moaned, your mouth opening enough for her to slip her tongue inside.

Suddenly pressing down roughly, her thumb rubbed your swollen, aching clit with a force you weren’t expecting but were thankful for all the same. You mewled into her mouth, arching because of the abrupt sensation. It was divine and it made your head swim. All you could feel was her.

She brought you crashing towards the edge of the abyss, but before you could tip over, she stopped. Her hand stilled against you even as her tongue ran along your teeth and you whined pitifully. She smirked knowingly and pulled back, staring down at you. “I want to try something.”

You nodded, curious to see what she’d thought up. The two of you had a very active sex life. You’d tried plenty of things together so you weren’t too worried about what she was thinking. You trusted her with every ounce of your being.

Wrapping your legs around her waist, she rolled you over so that she was flat on her back with you straddling her hips. She pawed at your legs before gripping your waist, slowly inching you upward towards her face. Your brows furrowed in confusion, but you followed her suggestion. You blushed when you realized what she was wanting.

“Carol…”

She smiled reassuringly at you, her grip on your waist tightening as she lowered your core onto her mouth. Her tongue traced across her soft lips before dipping between your legs, moaning as your arousal coated every inch of the probing muscle. You moaned debauchedly, falling forward to grab the headboard as you rocked your hips. She licked around your clit before capturing it, suckling gently on the bundle of nerves. It was strange – straddling your girlfriend’s head – but it was kind of hot too. You tried to keep your weight settled on your legs, but Carol simply brought you farther down, using her superior strength to keep you exactly where she wanted you.

Her tongue glided lower and slid inside you, curling as she fucked you. You moaned and panted, grinding greedily against her. Her nose continually brushed along your pulsating clit, driving you wild. You wanted – no, you needed – to cum and you needed to cum now.

Nails bit into your waist and you groaned, your fingers clenching so tightly around the headboard that you were afraid you’d break it. Her tongue was twisting and writhing, making the ache in your lower gut burn so hot you were terrified it would consume you/ Knuckles white with pleasure, you chased your high until you were teetering right on the edge. You were so close…

“Come for me,” Carol commanded, her attention falling solely on your clit.

She sucked and licked it fervently, forcing you headfirst over the cliff into pure bliss. You moaned so loudly you were positive your teammates would be able to hear you but fuck, you really didn’t care. The things Carol could do with her tongue were sinful and that’s all you could focus on.

She dragged out your orgasm as long as she could, flicking your swollen nub until your hips finally stopped their erratic jerking. A soft whimper escaped your mouth and Carol released you, letting you fall beside her. Cuddling into her side, your head rested on her chest. You were still twitching from the aftershocks and damn did they feel good.

“I love you,” you murmured, hand falling to her hipbone. Your fingers drifted along the taut muscles of her side before drifting lower. You could feel her clenching, impatiently awaiting your final destination. You smirked.

Oh how the tables had turned…

You were going to enjoy this.

Chapter Text

Kicking your feet up on your desk, you stared at the frame resting beside your computer, smiling fondly at the faces staring back at you. It was an old picture – one from your college days – but it was your favorite. You looked so cheerful back then and honestly, it was probably because of the woman standing beside you. Her smile was wide and encompassing, her arms encircling your waist as you pressed a sloppy kiss to her cheek. You could just barely make out the blush on pale cheeks but it was there.

Sighing, you reached out and touched the glass. God, you missed her. Maria had been the best thing to ever happen to you. She had encouraged you to follow your dreams, helping you with your computer courses and she had kept you focused. She had also made sure you didn’t work yourself to the bone. She’d come keep you company or take you out for a fun night whenever things were too much.

You and her had dated all the way through college, but towards the end she’d gotten secretive and busy, leaving you alone more often than not and – while it had hurt – you wanted her to follow her dreams too. She never told you what she was up to – not because you didn’t ask but because she honestly couldn’t – so when graduation came around, you parted ways. It was the hardest decision you’d ever had to make, but you wanted her to be happy and it was evident she didn’t have time for a partner anymore.

You hadn’t seen her in years but you often wondered what she was doing. She had been so determined to change the world during her college years and you would bet anything that she was doing her best to help it now.

A ping resounded from your computer and your attention fell away from the photograph. Clicking your mouse, your lips pursed. Someone was trying to hack your personal files. Again. This was not the first time this had happened, but it was something you never took lightly. Being one of New York’s top hackers painted a giant target on your back and you did your best to keep yourself from being tracked.

You easily halted their attempts, securing your walls and encrypting your files to the point that it would take a small government organization to crack them. You were very serious about what you did; you weren’t going to let some amateur destroy everything you’d built.

Deciding to be nosey, you decided to back hack whoever was dumb enough to hack you first. It took some work and time, but by the end of the day, you found yourself in the system of something called SHIELD. You weren’t one hundred percent certain what that was or what it stood for, but you knew it was something big. They had files on all of the Avengers, plus people and places you’d never heard of before. You didn’t want to spend too much time in their system so you didn’t peruse too much, but your curiosity was piqued.

Your brows furrowed. What did they want with you?

-X-

Standing outside your apartment, you juggled your grocery bags as you attempted to slide your key into the lock. Barely wrapping your hand around the doorknob, you shoved it open and stumbled inside. Your hip checked the switch by the door, illuminating the room enough so that you could wander into your kitchen. Dropping the bags onto the counter, you ran your fingers through your hair and huffed. Why did you get an apartment…on the third floor…in a complex that has no elevator?

You walked into your living room, eyes scrunching at the darkness enveloping the room. You were fairly certain you’d left the light on and the blinds open, but clearly you hadn’t. Shrugging, you turned the switch for the nearby lamp and the noise that escaped your lips was not human.

There were two people sitting on your couch. One was a man with an eye patch and a knowing look and the other was…

“Maria?” you squeaked, gaping at your ex.

Obviously you were both older now, but she hadn’t really changed much. Her hair was pulled into a tight ponytail and her face was sterner than it used to be, but you’d know those eyes anywhere.

“(Y/N)(Y/L/N), I assume?” the man greeted.

Blinking, you nodded, your gaze never faltering from Maria. She was eyeing you curiously, her gaze drifting along your figure before locking with yours. You had absolutely no idea if she was surprised to see you but if she was, she was hiding it well.

The man rose from the couch, walking over to you. He grasped your hand and shook it, ignoring the bewilderment twinkling in your eyes. It was evident that you were very confused but that made this the perfect time to talk with you.

“Nick Fury,” he introduced himself with a firm nod and a solid grip.

You nodded again, too stunned to process what was happening. Your mouth moved but no words passed parted lips. What could you say? Nice to meet you? It’s a pleasure? How the hell did you people get into my apartment?

Fury’s brow arched and a chuckle escaped him. “That, Ms. (Y/L/N), is a secret.”

Oh. So apparently that’s what managed to work its way out of your mouth. You chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of your neck. “Oh. Okay.”

Stepping back over to the couch, Fury settled on the edge and gestured for you to take the seat across from him. You did as he suggested, your knees buckling as you sat down. He didn’t seem like he was here to kill you but you thought it was better to be safe than sorry.

“I assume you’d like to know why we’re here,” he offered when nothing but silence filled the room.

Your head bobbled as you swallowed thickly. “Yeah, that’s a good place to start.”

“What do you know of an organization called SHIELD?” he inquired.

Brows furrowing together, you replied carefully, “Not much. I know they tried hacking my server the other day and that they keep tabs on people like the Avengers but I don’t really know anything.”

“We’ve had our eyes on you for quite some time, Ms. (Y/L/N). Your particular talents make you valuable but sometimes the most valuable of things can be the most dangerous.” Fury scrutinized your face, wondering what was going through that mind of yours. “Are you?”

“Am I what?” you blurted, floored by the odd peculiar question.

“Dangerous,” he clarified, watching the blood drain from your face.

You laughed, combing your fingers frantically through your hair. “Me? No! I’m just some lowly hacker! How could I be a danger to you?”

Fury almost thought you were being sarcastic, but a quick shake of the head from Maria indicated you actually believed the words flowing from you. You really didn’t see yourself as anything special. “You do realize you managed to infiltrate a government organization, correct?”

“Not on purpose!” you squeaked. “I didn’t know who you guys were! And technically, you hacked me first,” you pointed out.

“Like I said, we’ve had our eyes on you for a while,” Fury acquiesced. “You’re New York’s best hacker and SHIELD tends to search for the best. So,” he leaned back, crossing his arms, “I have an offer for you. SHIELD would like to offer you a position. We need more computer technicians with your particular skills.”

Disbelieving laughter broke from your chest and you glanced wildly between the two people on your couch. You couldn’t believe this was happening. Shit like this only happened in movies. You were just some hacker, not a government agent.

When your laughter finally cleared, you were dumbstruck. “You’re serious?”

Fury simply looked at you while Maria shook her head, a fond smile playing on her lips. You were the same dork she remembered, that’s for sure. You never did believe in yourself – even with her encouragements. She was glad to see you hadn’t changed much.

She would never admit it out loud, but she had missed you. You were the one thing she regretted letting go of.

Slumping back in your chair, you stared dazedly at Fury. “If I don’t say yes, what happens? You turn me in to the Feds?”

Fury chuckled and shook his head. “No, but you would be doing your country a service if you joined. Hell, maybe even the world. You’re wasting your talents sitting in some dingy backlit room when you could be protecting people, helping people.”

Clenching your jaw tightly, you glanced away. You may not have had the same drives Maria did when you were younger but the idea of helping keep the world safe held some appeal now. You’d seen some awful things in your lifetime – but you’d also seen greatness too.

And you were fairly certain a government job would help you afford an apartment with an elevator.

Fury hummed thoughtfully and rose, gesturing for Maria to do the same. “Well, just think about what I’ve said.” He produced a card from his coat and handed it to you, smirking at the bafflement marring your features. “Should you feel inclined, give this number a call.”

You stood up and followed them towards the door, surprised to see your ex lingering there. She was staring at you with an odd expression.

“I’ll leave you and Ms. Hill alone for a moment.” Fury opened the door and stepped out, closing the door behind him as he went.

There was an awkward silence enveloping the room, but you decided to break the tension and jokingly said, “So, I see you’ve been busy.”

Maria laughed softly, nodding. “So have you.” She turned to face you fully, her lips tugging into a tender smile. “It’s good to see you, (Y/N).”

“You too,” you replied, “You look good. Happy.”

Maria stepped closer, her hand falling to your forearm. “I am…” she paused slightly, “But I wish things hadn’t ended the way they did.”

You shrugged, patting her hand. “Things worked out the way they were supposed to.”

She glanced away, pursing her lips. “I think SHIELD would be a good place for you. You’d like it. Getting to hack all day with the government’s permission,” she teased.

The card in your other hand felt like it weighed a million pounds but maybe that was because of all the promise it held. “If I do this, do you think we could maybe get coffee or something sometime? Maybe talk about all of this?”

Maria grinned, inching until her face was close to yours. She pressed a gentle kiss to your cheek. “I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.”

A blush warmed your features and she couldn’t resist pecking your other cheek before walking towards the door. You watched her leave with a wide grin splitting your face, the door clicking closed behind her. This wasn’t how you’d expected your life to go, but maybe…just maybe…this was exactly where you were supposed to be.

Peering down at the card, you nodded. Yeah, you were definitely going to call now.

Watch out, SHIELD, here I come.

Chapter Text

Staring at your television screen, you chewed on your thumbnail as you watched your girlfriend get hit in the face for what felt like the hundredth time. You understood why she protected the city – it was her city and she would do everything in her power to protect its people – but watching aliens twice her size try to pound her into the ground was so nerve-wracking. You knew she could handle it, but Kara deserved so much better than that.

You started cleaning up around the apartment, your ears perking up occasionally whenever the reporters watching the fight made a comment. It was easier than seeing Kara’s head bounce off the concrete; you’d just hear someone talk about it.

Cheers erupted from your television and you glanced over at it. Kara, dressed in her newest suit, – one that actually offered pants! – was proudly hauling the unruly alien towards the DEO vans. She looked utterly exhausted but unscathed and you smiled. You couldn’t help it; you were just so proud of your girlfriend.

Despite everything going on at work – between mentoring Nia and dealing with her upcoming Pulitzer and maintaining topnotch articles – and her duties as Supergirl, you knew she was tired. She’d been through a lot of the things in the last few months and it was starting to weigh on her.

So, you had a surprise for her.

On your way home you’d picked up her favorite foods – potstickers, two extra large pizzas, and three pints of ice cream. You’d also stopped at one of the candle shops she adored and bought a few of their most soothing candles. Lavender vanilla was their number one seller because of the relaxing properties they offered so you bought a couple of those, plus a rosemary candle that you’d already set up in your bedroom.

There was also a brand new bottle of massage oil sitting beside it because – even if she wouldn’t admit it – you knew her muscles ached after tough battles. It took a lot more effort to massage her considering she was the “Girl of Steel” but you’d make due. She deserved a night of pampering after all she’d done for you and for the city.

You finished gathering your laundry and tossed it into a basket, setting it aside so you could spend tomorrow washing clothes. You knew you had a few minutes before Kara made it home (she always stopped by the DEO after a major fight so she could soak under the sun lamps for a little while) so you started preparing plates for dinner. The majority of the food would fill Kara’s belly but you stashed away a few potstickers for yourself.

If you didn’t, the likelihood that you would get any was slim to none.

Dimming the lights and lighting the candles scattered about your living room, you scrolled through the channels until you found a movie that would put Kara at ease. It was a simple comedy that you had liked when you watched it so you were fairly certain she would like it too.

Kara made it home not too long after the movie started. She let out a heavy sigh as she stepped into the apartment but her eyes widened as she took in the scene. She could smell the candles you were burning and they instantly helped calm her ragged spirit. The dimmed lights helped her overly sensitive eyes and the food piled up on the counter made her stomach grumble. You strolled over to her and wrapped your arms around her waist, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth in greeting. You squeezed her midsection tightly.

“Hi, baby,” you greeted, nuzzling her neck.

“Hi,” Kara replied breathlessly, glancing around. She eyed the food hungrily. “What’s all this?”

You kissed the side of Kara’s throat and smiled. “I thought you deserved a good night. You’ve been so busy and you’ve been doing so much for everyone else lately that I thought,” you leaned back and gripped her hips, “Tonight should be all about you.”

Tears filled Kara’s eyes and she kissed you tenderly, her hand cupping your cheek. She kissed you for a long time, her soft lips moving against yours. It was familiar and comforting but exciting at the same time. You’d never grow tired of kissing her. She rubbed her nose against yours when you parted, her beautiful smile beaming as she gazed at you with so much love that it stole your breath.

“I love you,” she whispered, pecking your lips again, “So much.”

“I love you too,” you cooed, ushering Kara towards the couch. “Now, take a seat and get comfortable. I’ll bring your plate over to you.”

“You don’t –” Kara started to argue, pausing when you shot her a playful scowl.

“Hush,” you chided, wagging your finger at Kara. “Let me take care of you.”

Laughing, the blonde shook her head but did as instructed, leaning back into the couch. She felt so loved; she’d never had a partner do something like this for her before. Mon-El had never really pampered her and her time with James had been so short that there honestly hadn’t been any time for something like that.

You walked over with two plates, Kara’s piled up substantially higher than yours. You set it on her lap and settled on the couch beside her, your leg pressed against hers. Kara liked when you were touching even if it was something small like that.

She said it brought her comfort.

Kara smiled appreciatively and dug into her food, devouring her slices of pizza in what seemed like seconds. You weren’t surprised and you weren’t going to make fun of her; she was always so hungry after dealing with alien (or human) menaces. Her body burned calories so fast.

Eventually Kara’s plate was cleaned and she gave you a sweet look. “Thank you, (Y/N).”

“This is only the beginning,” you promised, standing and offering Kara your hand. You tugged her off the couch and led her into the bedroom, nudging her towards the edge of the bed.

“Oh, I like this,” Kara grinned, her hands coming up to cup your hipbones.

Shaking your head at her antics, you wrapped your arms around Kara’s neck and kissed her deeply, your hand playing with the baby hairs at the base of her neck. Her grip tightened on your waist and you couldn’t help the soft moan that escaped.

Leaning back, you helped Kara out of her shirt before pushing her onto her back. Dragging her pants off down her legs, you left her in just her underwear. She grabbed at the air, hoping you’d take the hint and let her hold you but you simply caught her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers.

“Turn onto your stomach for me, baby,” you requested, turning her hand over so you could peck her palm.

Her brows furrowed in confusion but she did as you asked, taking the nearest pillow and tucking it under her head. She didn’t know what was happening but she trusted you. You’d never led her astray before.

You swiped the bottle of oil off the table and moved to straddle Kara’s hips, your knees pressing into the bed on either side of her. You squeezed a generous amount of oil into your hands and started massaging Kara’s shoulders, digging your fingers into the steely muscles. You were fairly certain your digits were going to burn by the end of this but she was worth it.

Kara let out a breathy moan and buried her head deeper into the pillow. Your hands felt so good. She was sore after her fight with the rogue alien and now, getting this massage, her body was finally growing slack.

Your hands drifted along her back, stopping just above her bra. “Can I take this off?”

Nodding, Kara lifted up slightly so you could drop the sides of her garment down. She tugged it off and flung it away, not caring where it landed. All she wanted was your hands back on her skin. You honestly had the hands of a goddess and she never wanted them to leave.

You couldn’t contain your smile as your hands continued down her spine, reveling in the soft smoothness of the flesh beneath you. You wanted to reach down and kiss along it but you decided against it. Massage oil on your lips would’ve been kind of gross and you didn’t want this to turn into something heated. All you wanted was for Kara to loosen up and hopefully fall asleep.

She deserved a good night’s rest.

Working along her body, you hopped off her hips and inched across her legs. You worked your aching fingers against the thick muscles residing there. You could hear Kara’s breathing beginning to even out and you chuckled quietly to yourself. It wouldn’t be long now.

Ending at her feet, you worked the soles and her cute little toes. Taking care of her ankles and her calves, you grinned at the steadiness of your girlfriend’s breath. She was out like a light. You flexed your fingers, hearing the bones pop and creak but you decided it was worth it. She was worth it.

You got off the bed and wandered around the room, slipping on your pajamas. It wasn’t super late, but it was late enough that you could easily fall asleep. You turned off the lights sliding into bed beside Kara and curled up against her. You smiled when her arm subconsciously came to encircle your waist and pull you close. She was so warm but you still brought the covers up over both of your bodies. You knew it brought Kara some security to feel the weight of it atop her.

Kara mumbled in her sleep as she wiggled closer, her head finding purchase on your shoulder. You kissed the top of her hair and closed your eyes, letting her warmth wash over you. It wasn’t long before you too succumbed to the sandman.

Chapter Text

Natasha wasn’t a bad mother. She really wasn’t. She loved her children dearly, trying so hard to ignore her Red Room teachings so that she could be a good mom. It was hard sometimes, but she did her best and that’s all she could hope to do.

Right now, however, was one of those “hard” times.

You were helping your three year old daughter into her ballerina costume, adjusting the skirt so that it flounced about properly. (O/D/N) had wanted to follow in Natasha’s footsteps and learn the craft, much to Natasha’s delight, but Natasha realized early on that maybe she wasn’t as good of a parent as she had hoped to be. She hated the recitals she was forced to sit through; she barely paid attention, constantly fidgeting and glancing around. Whenever your youngest daughter started getting antsy, she was almost thankful because having a reason to get up and go outside for a minute was the reprieve she was looking for.

It bothered you more than anything, often causing major fights between you and Natasha. They usually ended with Natasha sleeping in the guest bedroom and you crying yourself to sleep.

Ushering your daughter over to her classmates, you peered at your wife. “Are you at least going to try and pretend you care about this?”

“I do care!” Natasha argued.

You shot her a look. “So you’re not going to find a reason to leave this time?”

Natasha swallowed harshly and glanced away. The perceptive look in your eye was too much for her. You both knew that Natasha would end up outside at least once, possibly missing your daughter’s performance – again.

“You need to stay, Nat,” you said softly, trying not to garner too much attention as you started for your seats. “(O/D/N) really wants you to see what they’ve been up to and we both know she’s doing this for you, not me.”

Guilt welled up in Natasha’s eyes. She did know that. What she didn’t know was why she had such a hard time being a mother like you. She had no clue why she couldn’t sit through recitals, or parenting groups you often dragged her to. It was just…

Hard.

Finding your seats, Natasha settled into hers, determined to stay and watch your daughter’s recital, even if it killed her. She was a good mother, even if she didn’t feel like one some days. Like right now.

The lights slowly dimmed and the crowd grew quiet. You grasped her hand in silent support, tilting your head so you could glance at your wife. You smiled kindly at her. She was such a good mother but this was a problem she needed to expel – fast.

Maybe with your support she’d finally manage to handle it.

-X-

You hardly said a word to Natasha when you arrived home. The car ride had been filled with your daughters’ chatter but you barely said anything, humming and nodding at the appropriate times, but unable to find your words. If you had spoken, it would have just started a fight in front of your children and you weren’t about to do that.

Natasha scooped up (Y/D/N) and walked into her bedroom, helping her dress for the night before tucking her into bed. She stayed as long as she could, hoping to avoid the inevitable argument she was certain was about to ensue.

Wandering into your shared bedroom, she found you sitting on the end of the bed, a frustrated expression marring your features. Your hands were clasped together in your lap, knuckles white.

“I’m sorry,” Natasha said softly with a frown. She didn’t know what else to say at this point. This wasn’t the first time she’d apologized for this – and honestly, it probably wouldn’t be the last.

You pressed your fingertips to your temples. “Nat, you can’t keep doing this. You almost missed her performance – again.”

Natasha bowed her head, guilty tears flooding her eyes. She didn’t mean to keep doing these things but she didn’t know how to stay. She’d spent her whole life fighting – for the Red Room, for SHIELD, for the Avengers – so slowing down was such a foreign concept. She knew that she was supposed but calming down long enough to do the typical parenting things seemed like an impossible task.

You stood up from the bed and walked over to Natasha. Cupping her cheeks, you wiped away the few stray tears that had fallen. “You’re a great mom, Nat. The girls absolutely adore you; I’m fairly certain you’re their favorite parent,” you joked, earning a watery smile from Natasha, “But you have to learn to deal with the mundane things. I know the parenting classes are boring and not nearly as exciting as being an Avenger, but they’re something you need to do.”

Natasha nodded, burying her head in your neck. “I’m sorry,” she repeated miserably.

“I know, baby,” you soothed, stroking her head. “Why don’t you talk to Clint? He has kids. I’m sure he’ll understand.”

Perking up at the idea, Natasha rubbed her against your shoulder. “You’re right.” She leaned back and smiled meekly at you. “Do I have to sleep in the guest room tonight?”

You laughed, shaking your head. “No. I know you’re struggling with all of this. You can stay in here tonight.”

With a grateful smile, Natasha pecked your cheek and started dressing for bed, preparing herself for the upcoming conversation she needed to have with her best friend. She was terrified he wouldn’t understand but he was the only person she could think that might. Having done similar things in life, he would know what it was like to constantly need something to do. That’s why he was often rebuilding and remodeling his home. Being still was not in their nature.

-X-

Knocking on Clint’s door, Natasha waited patiently for the man to answer. You didn’t live too far from Clint, having picked a house only a few minutes away. Natasha had wanted to live near him in case something went wrong. They both had enemies that could do some real damage to their families so if they lived near each other, it wouldn’t take too much time for backup to show should things go south.

The door swung open and Clint greeted Natasha with a confused smile. “Nat! What are you doing here?”

Natasha shoved her hands into her pockets. “Can we talk?”

“Yeah, of course.” He opened the door wider and gestured for Natasha to step inside. He was surprised to see her but that was okay. She rarely visited without calling first so he assumed this was important. “Are you okay?”

Shaking her head, Natasha glanced around Clint’s home. She assumed Laura and his children were out for the day so this was the perfect time to talk. But, she didn’t know where to start. How do you tell your best friend that you felt like a horrible parent because you can’t sit through a recital or a parenting group?

“C’mon, Nat, sit down and talk to me,” Clint suggested, leading Natasha over to the couch. “What’s going on?”

Something in her broke and Natasha spilled everything. She told him exactly what had been going on. She even admitted – for the first time out loud – that she thought the Red Room had ruined her chances of being a parent. Maybe they’d stolen more than just her ability to have children.

Maybe they’d taken her ability to be a good mother too.

As tears trickled down Natasha’s cheeks, Clint contemplated a few things. He had suffered as a father too. His life before his kids had affected him in ways he’d never talked about before. Sometimes he would still have doubts – even now – that left him lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling as he wondered if he was destroying his children’s lives. He’d lost so much time with them when he was still an Avenger and he often speculated if they resented that.

Tossing an arm around Natasha’s shoulders, Clint brought her into his side and stared out the window. “When Cooper was born, I wondered if I could handle being a dad. With everything I’ve seen and done, would I have the capability of being a good dad or would I fail him? I was so scared the first time I held him, but then I realized that my past doesn’t define me. Your past doesn’t have to define you either, Nat.

“I’ve seen you with your daughters. They love you – and so does (Y/N). She knows you’re a great mom too. You just don’t have faith in yourself. That’s your biggest problem. All you think about is the what ifs and it’s causing you to doubt yourself.”

Natasha listened intently, hanging on every word her best friend said. “How do I fix this, Clint? I want to stay and enjoy (O/D/N)’s ballet routines and go to parent groups with (Y/N) and just…be what my girls deserve.”

Clint grabbed Natasha’s hand and smiled. “You’re exactly what your girls deserve. But I do know a few things that might help…”

-X-

When Natasha returned from Clint’s, she seemed like a brand new woman. There was something in her step and a shine in her eye that she hadn’t had in a long time. Grinning, she greeted you with a deep kiss, her arms wrapping around your neck.

“I take it your talk with Clint went well?” you inquired as she pulled back, her arms still secure around you.

She nodded, her grin softening into a sweet smile. “It went great. We talked about everything and he gave me some tips.”

Your fingertips drifted across Natasha’s cheek. “I’m glad.”

And truthfully, you were. You understood that there were some things about Natasha’s life that only Clint understood and you weren’t jealous by any means. As long as she was okay and happy, you didn’t mind that it took her discussing everything with Clint for things to get to that point.

“I love you,” you murmured, pressing another kiss to her plump lips.

“I love you too,” she sighed against your lips, holding you close.

You stood there embracing, her mouth moving lazily against yours as you soaked in each other’s warmth. It was surreal and loving and it felt like this was a new chapter in your lives. Maybe that didn’t make a lot of sense, but in the end, it felt like the truth. It was like the weight in Natasha’s chest had finally lessened.

Now she could breathe easier.

The sound of tiny footsteps echoed off the floor and you released Natasha just in time for two little girls to come plowing into her. Four tiny arms encircled her legs, nearly knocking her off-balance but she managed to use years of training to stay upright.

“Mama!” (O/D/N) squealed, hugging Natasha’s knee.

Natasha bent down, scooping (Y/D/N) into her arms. She swung her about playfully before handing her over to you. She repeated her actions with your oldest daughter, earning a plethora of giggles from the small child.

You smiled, cherishing the grins plastered across your wife and child’s cheeks as they spun around the room. Your youngest daughter clung to you, watching her sister and her mama with a joyful expression.

These were the moments you lived for. Were things always going to be rainbows and butterflies? No, but that didn’t matter. You were going to enjoy these moments while they lasted. You kissed the top of (Y/D/N)’s head and smiled. This – this right here, right now - was what you lived for.

And you prayed that it would never end.

Chapter Text

Your comm crackled in your ear, distracting you from the fight you were currently locked in.

You were supposed to be clearing out a former HYDRA facility with Steve, Natasha and Wanda but things weren’t exactly going as planned. Whoever had worked in this facility had created monsters. Well, not monsters per se but they were supposed to be super soldiers, created with a serum that was supposed to be similar to what had helped Steve become Captain America – only it hadn’t worked. Now they were just a bunch of messed up creatures who were far too strong and not capable of a lot of thought.

Caught between two of them, you weren’t paying too much attention to your comm, so when a voice rang out, it was startling.

“(Y/N), report,” Steve’s voice was broken with static but still clear enough that you could understand him.

“Kind of busy, Cap,” you replied breathily, narrowly avoiding the bigger of the two’s hand that had been coming at your face.

“Need a hand?” Natasha asked, her own grunts filling the channel as she took down another creature.

You laughed, swinging your legs around one of their necks like she’d taught you. “I’m fine.”

Listening to your teammates fighting, you managed to knock the smaller of the creatures onto his back, knocking him unconscious with a single punch to the temple. Using your own super strength, you grabbed a nearby table and swung it at the bigger one, smacking him squarely in the face. He stumbled back a few steps and using all of your might, you rammed into him, throwing him into a wall.

He didn’t move after that.

Doing your best to catch your breath, you glanced around the room. There was nothing of use in here but you were going to be thorough and double check. Satisfied, you started out of the room, only to come face-to-face with a former-human-now-turned-creature standing before you. He was somehow bigger than the ones you’d been fighting and you sighed.

“Of course.”

You tried to lunge at the creature, but it easily caught you around the neck and lifted you up. Its meaty hand squeezed your throat, slowly choking you. You tried gripping its wrist, hoping to break it but it clearly wasn’t going to let go.

Now you were kind of wishing you hadn’t told them you were fine.

Beating on his arm was doing you no good. Your head was starting to swim and you wondered if this was how you were going to die. It wasn’t how you’d imagined your death. No, you’d expected to be caught in an explosion or another end of the world crisis, not trapped in some HYDRA facility with a creature nearly twice your size.

Something behind the beast made a noise and he turned his head. You caught sight of a red glow and you smiled. Thank God.

The creature’s hand suddenly let go of you, dropping you to the floor. You groaned as your body made impact but you stood up. The creature flew past you and slammed into his fallen comrades. He didn’t get back up, something you were grateful for.

“Thanks, b-”

Wanda grabbed the back of your neck and jerked you forward, pressing her lips roughly against yours. You could taste fear on her tongue mixed with a small bit of rage. She was shaking violently, her magic still slinking around you. You could feel it drifting along your back and you cupped her cheek reassuringly.

“I’m okay,” you promised, your thumb stroking her cheekbone.

Wanda let you go, the look in her eyes dark with promise. Was it a good promise? Probably not but that was okay. You’d have fun later either way.

“You guys okay?” Natasha inquired as she rounded the corner, catching sight of the two of you.

Snorting, you nodded. “Of course, Nat. Why wouldn’t we be?” you laughed.

Natasha rolled her eyes. You were always so cocky and, while Natasha could appreciate that, she wished you would stop trying to act so tough all the time. She could see an imprint of a hand on your throat but she wasn’t going to point it out.

She was fairly certain Wanda wouldn’t appreciate it.

“Let’s go. We’ve cleared out the base. SHIELD will take care of the rest.”

-X-

The walk back to the Quinjet was silent. Wanda was leaning into your side, her eyes straight ahead and her lips pursed. She was less than happy with your antics. You were so reckless sometimes, always trying to show that you could handle yourself. You might have had super strength, but you weren’t immortal nor were you invulnerable. You never asked for help and one day it was going to get you killed.

Stepping onto the jet, you walked towards the back, stripping off your uniform shirt. It left you in nothing but a tank top but you didn’t care. Your uniform was hot and sweaty and you couldn’t stand being in it for too long. You tossed it aside and found a seat, waiting for Natasha and Steve to start up the jet.

Wanda wandered into the back, much to your confusion. She usually sat with you. You started to wonder if she was really that angry with you.

Once the Quinjet was in the air, you went to search for your lover. She wasn’t difficult to find, standing at the very back staring at the wall blankly. She was just standing there and it worried you. You could see her chewing absently on her thumb, a faraway look in her eye.

“You okay?” you asked quietly, stepping behind her. Your arms encircled her waist and tugged her into you, your chin resting on her shoulder.

“You could have died,” Wanda said instead of answering your question, her eyes trained forward. “If I hadn’t come to find you…”

Sighing, you shook your head. “I can take care of myself just fine,” you replied, squeezing Wanda’s waist.

She jerked out of your arms and spun around, gaze fierce. There was a fire in her eyes that you didn’t see often and it honestly made you a little hot under the collar. Her passionate side always dampened your underwear and left you panting.

“You weren’t taking care of yourself,” she mocked, pressing you against the wall with just a flick of her wrist. It wasn’t painful but it made a point. “His hand was around your throat.”

Shivering, you faltered under her glare. You could feel her magic keeping you tight to the metal, forcing you to stand there and look at her. You knew this was a serious conversation but your underwear were growing wetter and wetter by the second.

Everyone assumed you were the dominant one in your relationship, but they had no idea of the truth.

“Wanda…”

Her chest was heaving and – without even realizing it – your gaze flickered to her rising breasts, the sight tantalizing. Her mission outfit always looked so damn good on her.

She followed your line of sight, her scowl softening into a smirk. She stepped closer, pushing into you as her hand trailed over your shirt. Her fingers drifted along your collarbones, earning a shudder. She leaned forward, her lips connecting harshly with yours. Her tongue immediately slid along your bottom lip demanding entrance.

You granted her easy access, your lips parting and your tongue poking out to meet hers. She stroked the inside of your mouth, her tongue brushing along your teeth before her teeth nipped at your tongue. You moaned, trying to reach out for her but something stopped you. You leaned back and glanced down, noting the red encasing your wrists.

“Oh no, printsessa,” she cooed, running her hands over your neck, “You don’t get to touch.”

Pouting, you fought against her hold but unsurprisingly, it didn’t budge. You were utterly trapped – and by God, it was sexy.

Wanda’s lips found purchase on your throat and she kissed the soft flesh presented to her, her teeth scraping across the sensitive area where your shoulder and neck met. You moaned unabashedly, whimpering when she stopped.

“No noise,” she warned, her eyes dark with want, “We don’t want everyone knowing what we’re doing, do we?” she teased, her hands grabbing your shirt. She slowly lifted it, exposing your stomach. She had always found your stomach and chest so enticing. She could spend hours running her fingers and tongue over the contours of your body.

A soft whine escaped but you shook your head. “No…”

“Good girl,” Wanda smirked, dropping to her knees. She kissed just above the waistband of your pants and you wished you could tangle your fingers in her dark locks. Her mouth was hot against your skin, driving you wild. Your hips wanted to jerk forward, but her powers made it impossible to move so you were forced to just stand there and let the torture continue.

One hand slid higher – up to your clothed chest – and she squeezed, her smirk deepening as your hard nipple rubbed against her palm. You were so responsive to her touch and she loved it.

Unbuttoning your pants with the other, Wanda slowly worked them down your legs, letting them pool at your feet. She wasn’t going to fully take them off in case Natasha or Steve came looking for the two of you but she had a feeling they wouldn’t. Natasha was smart; she was bound to know what was happening.

She leaned in and let her tongue drag along the fabric of your underwear, easily finding your clit through the material. You were already wet, your arousal soaking through. She could taste it on the tip of her tongue and she moaned, though it was muffled. You wanted to point out how unfair that was but this was her game and she very well might stop if you did.

And fuck, you didn’t want her to stop.

Your hands clenched into fists as she circled your engorged flesh, silently begging her to get on with it! As if reading your mind, she gripped your underwear and tugged them down, letting them join your pants on the floor. She licked a strip from the top of your core to your entrance, her tongue narrowly avoiding where you wanted it most. She knew there wasn’t much time but she was going to tease you as long as she could.

“Please,” you whimpered softly, staring at her pleadingly.

She chuckled huskily before capturing your clit between her lips, sucking fiercely on the aching nub. You nearly cried out, but it stuck in your throat, only leaving a choked noise to echo through the jet. She almost stopped to chide you but decided that would be too cruel.

She’d punish you later for it though.

Her hand left your chest, traveling to your leg. She tossed it over her shoulder before leaning deeper into you. She laved your clit with attention while her free hand worked its way to your dripping core. She slid two fingers into you roughly, the tips dragging across the spongy space inside you without warning. She didn’t leave much time for you to adjust, her hand beginning to move and thrust. You clenched around her digits, your teeth digging into your bottom lip so that you didn’t moan. You could taste blood in your mouth but you didn’t care.

Her thrusts were deep and long, dragging you close to the edge faster and faster. She added a third finger and you were damn near a goner. All you could feel was her filling you up and her wet tongue dancing across your clit. It wasn’t going to take long for you to come.

Your body felt like it was on fucking fire. You wanted to crawl over the edge of the cliff that was pleasure but she was keeping you right on the precipice.

Wanda’s lips left your clit and you nearly shouted your displeasure but when she stood, her mouth latched onto yours. You could taste yourself on her tongue and the burning in the pit of your belly multiplied.

“Oh God, oh God, oh God,” you chanted quietly against her lips, your eyes rolling back in your head.

“Come for me, malysh,” she commanded, swallowing your moan as you finally tipped over. Apparently all you were waiting for was her permission.

Wave after wave crashed into you, stars bursting behind your eyes and fireworks ringing in your ears. Trembles of aftershocks worked their way through you, your legs nearly giving out. You were fairly certain the only thing holding you up was Wanda’s magic and you were thankful for it.

When you finally stopped shaking, your arms wrapped lazily around Wanda’s shoulders and you buried your face in her neck.

“I love you,” you murmured breathlessly, flinching as cool air drifted along your heated core.

Realizing that you were standing there naked from the waist down, Wanda helped you right your clothes before leading you back into the main part of the Quinjet. You could see Steve staring straight ahead – which was normal considering he was flying the jet – but his ears were tinged red and Natasha was smirking at you from her seat.

You blushed. “Oh God.”

Natasha’s brow arched. “You know, I always thought you topped, (Y/N).”

Wanda burst out laughing while you covered your flushed face with your hands. You could hear Steve muttering under his breath and it only made things worse.

It felt like you had disappointed your dad.

“Sorry, Steve,” you mumbled, barely daring to look at the man.

“You two better not have made a mess,” Steve warned jokingly. He peered over his shoulder at you and winked teasingly.

An unexplainable noise ripped from your throat and Natasha snorted, shaking her head. “You wouldn’t know a mess if you saw one, old man.”

They started bickering back and forth good-naturedly and you smiled. This wasn’t how you’d expected your day to go but this was the life you lived – and you couldn’t be happier.

Chapter Text

Strolling confidently through the halls of the Compound, you found the team scattered about the kitchen. Pietro and Wanda were sitting at the counter while your girlfriend was standing in front of the toaster. Sam and Bucky were on a mission so they were absent and you had no idea where Tony or Steve were but you didn’t think too much of it.

They would show up eventually for breakfast.

Stopping beside her, you pressed a kiss to her cheek, sighing internally when she flinched away from the contact.

You didn’t understand Natasha. Sometimes she was so sweet, accepting your love without question while other times she acted cold and uncaring. You hated those days; all you wanted was for your girlfriend to act like your relationship meant something to her – that you meant something.

Was that too much to ask for?

You turned your attention to the twins, watching Pietro devour his food like it was his last meal. You wondered how he never choked. Wanda was staring at you with a sympathetic smile, her eyes full of worry as she took in the slump of your shoulders. She was your best friend; she knew how much Natasha’s attitude bothered you.

Heavy footsteps echoed up the stairs and you glanced over, catching sight of an exceptionally beautiful woman with short hair and a cocky smile trailing behind Steve. She wasn’t exactly your type but if you were single, you probably wouldn’t say no either. Her gaze lingered on you and you couldn’t stop the blush blooming on your cheeks.

You were completely oblivious to Natasha bristling beside you.

“Team, this is Carol Danvers,” Steve announced, stepping aside so the woman could stand beside him.

You pursed your lips thoughtfully. You were fairly certain you’d heard that name before. Why did you know that name?

“She’s a friend of Fury’s,” Steve explained.

Realization rushed over you and you blurted out excitedly, “Captain Marvel.” Everyone’s eyes fell upon you and you smiled sheepishly. “Fury has told me stories about you. You guys worked together back in the 90’s, fighting the Kree.”

Carol grinned, walking over to you and offering her hand. “That’s me. It’s nice to meet you…”

“(Y/N),” you supplied, shaking the extended appendage briefly.

“Oh, Rogers was just telling me about you. I’ve heard you’re the strongest Avenger,” she praised, earning another blush.

You were a former HYDRA experiment that the Avengers had rescued some time ago. Your strength was legendary in the SHIELD Compound. The only person who might be stronger than you was the Hulk, but you’d never tested to see if that were true. You didn’t feel like fighting such a beast. It would only end badly.

“I…” you didn’t know what to say.

“We should train together sometime. I’d love to see what you can do,” Carol said, unfazed by your lack of response.

You nodded, a little starstruck by the notion of training with the Captain Marvel. Fury had told you about her one day when he was feeling a little sentimental and you couldn’t help but be in awe of her. She sounded amazing and to train with someone so powerful…

Well, you couldn’t wait.

Natasha inched closer, a tadbit aggravated by the instant connection you seemed to have with this newcomer. You were almost fawning over Carol and that bothered Natasha more than she cared to admit. She knew she wasn’t always the best girlfriend but she did her best. It was hard forgetting the lessons the Red Room had instilled in her.

She had a feeling she was not going to like this stranger.

Not one bit.

-X-

A few days later, you found yourself in the training room Captain Marvel herself. You were dressed in shorts and a tank top; you were prepared for battle. Carol wore a similar outfit, though her shirt clung to her abdomen, leaving her abs on full display beneath the material. You didn’t know it but it was intentional. Carol liked you – she too thought there was a connection – so she wanted you to be impressed by her physique.

Bouncing on the balls of your feet, you brought your fists up and steeled yourself. Carol eyed you, searching for an opening. Steve had sung you nothing but praises when it came to fighting. She was curious to see what happened.

“Ready?” Carol wondered as she mimicked your stance.

“Bring it on,” you taunted teasingly, rushing at the blonde.

The two of you clashed, fists flying as you attempted to knock her on her butt. She swung her arm at you and you caught it mid-swing, your strength coming in handy as you brought her up and over your shoulder, dropping her onto the mat. You mentally cheered though your face remained impassive. You attempted to help her up, but she easily wrapped her legs around you and dragged you down, straddling your waist.

You laughed, staring up at Carol. “That’s cheating.”

“Never underestimate your opponent,” she warned, getting off your hips and helping you stand.

Nodding, you brushed off your shirt. “I know. Nat tells me that all the time.”

Carol’s brow arched. She’d seen you coming out of the other woman’s room in the mornings but she hadn’t thought much of it. During the day you hardly acted like a couple so she had assumed you were just friends. She wondered if there was more to it than that.

“Ready to go again?” Carol inquired, falling back into her stance.

“Absolutely,” you agreed, lunging at Carol.

What you didn’t know was that Natasha was lingering in the doorway, staring intently at you as you trained with the former Kree. She was disheartened. You were never that free when you fought with her. She knew it was because your strength scared you when it came to her but she wished you wouldn’t hold back so much with her. Ironic, right?

Watching you knock into each other, Natasha sighed. Jealousy wasn’t something she’d experienced before. She knew you cared about her but it was difficult to see you this way with another person.

Actually, she hated it.

Rage bubbled up in her chest when Carol managed to knock you down and straddle you again, her face dangerously close to yours. She looked at you like she wanted to devour you and it drove Natasha crazy. Natasha thought you were gorgeous but apparently so did Carol.

Natasha left the room, her jaw clenched and her eyes narrowed. What made all of this worse was how oblivious you were to Carol’s advances. Because you only had eyes for Natasha, you never paid attention when someone hit on you. You just assumed they were being nice, often forgetting that people might find you attractive.

Growling, Natasha stormed through the Compound. She had to do something. She didn’t know what, but something needed to change.

-X-

Tony’s form of welcoming Carol to the team was throwing an extravagant party at the Tower. Sure, it no longer housed the Avengers but it was far nicer than the Compound so here you were, dressed in one of your nicest outfits, chatting with your friends. Bucky had returned home from his mission with Sam so you found yourself in a deep conversation with him discussing what they’d found at the former HYDRA base.

Bucky was a good friend, second only to Wanda. He was a sweetheart despite what had happened. He was a calm voice of reason when the others fought and he was genuinely a good man. You were the only person who knew about his crush on Steve and you felt bad for him. Steve – as far as you knew – was straight and it broke your heart that Bucky wouldn’t get his happy ending with him.

He’d been through enough.

He caught sight of Steve and excused himself. You weren’t alone for long though. Carol was quick to join you.

“What’s a beautiful woman like you doing all by yourself?” Carol jokingly flirted, glancing over your shoulder to stare at Natasha.

Natasha was in a sleek red dress that clung divinely to her lithe body. You’d practically drooled when you’d seen her earlier but you hadn’t gotten much time with her. Maria had dragged her away the moment you’d stepped into the party and hadn’t let her go since.

She was watching you with a look of thunder marring her features. She seemed beyond pissed and it confirmed what Carol had suspected. Apparently you were coupled with the redhead and while Carol would bow out gracefully, she was still going to tease the woman a little. She needed to get over whatever trepidations she had. You were wonderful and if Natasha couldn’t learn to show you that, then she didn’t deserve you – at least in Carol’s opinion.

You shoved Carol playfully, shaking your head. “That was a terrible line,” you laughed.

Carol shrugged. “It hasn’t failed me yet.”

“Well, it just did,” you grinned, strolling over to the bar with Carol behind you. You had no idea that her gaze was lingering on your backside, earning a scowl from Natasha.

Ordering a drink, your attention fell upon the woman again. “So, how are you enjoying Earth?”

“It’s nice,” Carol replied diplomatically, earning a giggle.

“You sound so impressed,” you smirked.

“It’s…different,” Carol admitted with a lift of her shoulders. “My life on Hala was a lot different from this. And I’ve traveled to so many worlds that it’s almost bizarre to be settling down. I’ll still help other planets but to call Earth home is strange.”

Nodding sympathetically, your hand fell to Carol’s arm. “It’ll get easier and if you need someone to talk to, I’m always here.”

Carol patted your hand gratefully, smiling at you. “Thank you, (Y/N).”

The two of you stood in silence for a moment before a hand found yours atop the bar. Glancing over your shoulder in surprise, you found emerald eyes staring back at you. “Nat,” you greeted with a sweet smile. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything is fine,” Natasha replied, glaring at Carol. “I was just wondering if I could steal my girlfriend away for a dance.”

You were a bit shocked. You’d only danced with Natasha a handful of times and they’d all been in the sanctity of one of your rooms – Natasha found it too personal to dance in front of others – so you didn’t know what to say. Nodding dumbly, you twisted your hand over beneath hers and linked your fingers. You shot Carol a parting smile.

Carol nodded in concession at Natasha and the weight in the woman’s chest began to dissipate. She returned the gesture and led you out onto the floor, sweeping you up in her arms. You swayed together, your arms around her neck as you grinned at her.

“We’re dancing,” you whispered, acting as though it were some big secret.

Shaking her head at your antics, Natasha buried her face in your neck, causing your arms to fall to her waist. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled against the skin residing there.

Brows furrowing in confusion, you continued to dance with your lover. “Why?”

“…I was jealous,” Natasha admitted softly, pressing a gentle kiss to your throat. “Of Carol.”

You leaned back, gazing into hypnotic emerald eyes. She looked so apologetic but you could see the underlying vulnerability staring back at you. “Baby, you have no reason to be jealous. There’s no one I’d rather be with,” you assured her, cupping her cheek. “I love you and only you. Carol’s just a friend.”

Natasha’s smile was watery. “Ya liublyoo tibya. And in my heart I know that, but I was scared,” she whispered.

Sighing, you leaned in and pecked her lips, startled when Natasha deepened the embrace. She’d never kissed you like this before, every emotion she felt poured into it. It was soft, but you could taste residual fear on her tongue. It was obvious that she was trying to reassure herself but you didn’t mind. You’d happily kiss her for as long as she wanted.

“You know she wanted to be more than friends, right?” Natasha asked as her lips left yours with a quiet pop.

Eyes widening, you glanced over your shoulder at Carol. The blonde waved, a cheeky grin splitting her cheeks. “You’re joking.”

Natasha laughed, kissing your reddening cheek. “You’re so cute, my oblivious malysh.”

“You’re serious?” you squeaked, your eyes falling back on Natasha. You couldn’t believe it. You’d thought Carol was just being nice. Had she liked you?

Walking you over to the bar, her arm firm around your waist, she locked eyes with Carol, waiting to see what the other woman had to say.

“You make a cute couple,” Carol acquiesced, lifting her drink in surrender. She could see the love shining in both your eyes and she was happy for you. Truly.

Natasha’s stiffened spine relaxed and she smiled at Carol for the first time. “Thank you.”

“No offense to Tony but this really isn’t my scene so I think I’m going to head out,” Carol announced, finishing the beer in her hand.

“It’s not really ours either,” you admitted, leaning into Natasha. “You going back to the Compound?”

“Probably,” Carol shrugged. “I don’t really know New York that well so…”

Natasha hesitated for a moment before offering, “We know a pizza place that’s open all night if you’d like to join us?”

Carol studied Natasha, trying to see if her offer was genuine. When she was satisfied that it was, she nodded appreciatively. “That’d be nice.”

“C’mon,” you said, locking arms with both Natasha and Carol, “We keep spare clothes in our old rooms for after parties like this. You can change out of your fancy clothes and into something more comfortable.”

Smiling, Carol followed you without hesitation.

She was going to enjoy Earth.

Chapter Text

Lips pressed together, Wanda melted into you as your fingers dug into her hips. Sweat was dripping down your face, but neither of you minded. Working out together always left you two in such a position. Maybe it was the adrenaline; maybe it was because you were working so closely together. Either way, it ended with a passionate embrace you tried explaining away.

Despite it all, you swore you were “just friends”.

Wanda often wondered if all your friends knew the way you tasted – or if she was a special friend.

Your hands wandered under her tank top and your nails bit into the soft flesh of her waist, earning a low moan. She was bewitched by the way your tongue moved against hers, sinking into the sensations you offered freely. She loved these little moments, when you were hers and she was yours. They didn’t last long but they meant the most.

She wished she could say she didn’t need this – didn’t need you – but that would be a lie. There was something about you that drove away all thoughts of self-preservation. She would give in to you every time you came knocking.

You caught her lip between your teeth and nipped gently, smirking when she leaned heavily against you. Kissing you was such a deadly thing. It had to be terrible for her health, the way you managed to steal the breath from her lungs and how you made her brain swim, trapped amid lust and blooming love. She prayed that she wouldn’t fall for you – knew how bad of an idea that would be – but she had a feeling it would happen.

Friendships weren’t supposed to feel like this.

Pulling back, you cupped Wanda’s cheek and stared into her striking green eyes. You couldn’t admit it out loud, caught up in your “we’re just friends” mantra, but you were falling in love with her. She was special to you – and by God, this meant absolutely everything to you.

“(Y/N),” she whispered, your name sounding so lovely wrapped up in her thick accent.

You smiled, pecking her lips before stepping back. Breaking the connection was hard but being so close to her was driving you wild. All you could smell was the sweetness clinging to her hair, the taste of her mouth sticking to yours.

If you dared to lick your lips, you knew you’d taste her cherry chapstick…

Refusing to let go, Wanda reached out and grabbed your hand, marveling at how it fit in hers.

“I need to go change,” you laughed, squeezing Wanda’s fingers. “Movie night starts in like an hour and if I’m late, the others will never let me live it down.”

Wanda bit her lip, staring at your linked hands. “Maybe we could skip tonight? I’m sure they would understand…”

You shook your head, a million thoughts racing through your mind. If you did that, then the others would know the truth – and the truth could ruin everything. If you said there was nothing more between you, then no one could take it away.

“We should get ready,” you said, clearing your throat uncomfortably. Guilt welled up inside you at the sight of Wanda’s drooping shoulders and pained expression, but you were a coward. You couldn’t say all the things you wanted to.

This was fragile enough as it was.

-X-

“I don’t understand you,” Natasha chastised as you stood at the microwave, a bag of uncooked popcorn in your grasp.

Your brows furrowed in confusion and you glanced at the other woman, silently imploring for an explanation. Her arms were crossed, disapproval marring her features as she eyed you. You were bewildered; what had you done now?

“What are you talking about?” you asked when no explanation was offered.

“Wanda,” she replied knowingly, her gaze dark as she dared you to deny whatever was going on.

You looked away, shaking your head. “What about Wanda? We’re just friends…”

Natasha snorted disbelievingly. “Riiiiiight.”

“We are,” you insisted, throwing the bag of popcorn into the microwave before violently pressing the timer.

Sighing, Natasha strolled over to you, wrapping an arm around your shoulders. “(Y/N), be honest with yourself. You two have never been just friends. The first night you met her, before you even knew her name, there was a connection. We could all see it.”

You swallowed drily; you hated how observant Natasha could be. “What do you want me to say, Nat?”

“Just tell me the truth.”

Normally heart-to-hearts weren’t Natasha’s strong point, but she had a soft spot for you and she could see you struggling. It was obvious that you had feelings for the Scarlet Witch, you just needed to admit it.

“I-”

Whatever you were going to say was cut off by Tony walking into the room, immediately ending the conversation. You slipped out of Natasha’s grip and hurriedly grabbed a bowl for the popcorn before yanking it out of the microwave. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t fully cooked; you’d learn to live with it if it meant you didn’t have to continue on with this.

Natasha glared at the billionaire playboy, irritated that he’d ruined what was bound to be an admittance.

“What?” Tony demanded, watching you leave the room in a hurry. “What’d I do?”

-X-

Movie night came and went, taking with it all of your trepidations. The more you thought about what Natasha was prompting, the less you feared it. You cared about Wanda – that much was certain – and you were fairly positive she cared about you too.

So why were you so afraid?

You found yourself standing outside Wanda’s room, hand perched to knock on the door. You didn’t know what you were going to say, but you needed to say something.

Anything.

It was time for you to grow up and acknowledge your feelings, even if the idea of that terrified you. This was worth it; she was worth it.

The minute your hand touched the smooth metal, a soft, “Come in,” echoed out into the hall. Nervously adjusting your shirt, you opened the door and stepped inside, letting it click closed behind you.

Wanda peered over you from her spot on the bed, a warm smile tugging at her lips. “(Y/N).” She set her book down and rose, walking over to you. “Is everything okay, malysh?”

Malysh. It was a word you’d heard a few times before but had never asked about. You knew it was a pet name, but a piece of you had worried that it would do irreparable damage to your relationship if you asked what it meant.

You couldn’t help yourself. Surging forward, you pressed your lips to hers, pulling her as close as possible. Her arms instinctively came to encircle your neck, a squeak of surprise falling from her lips. She didn’t really know what was going on, but this time everything felt different.

“I love it when you call me malysh,” you admitted, your forehead against hers. “I don’t know what it means, but it’s nice.”

Wanda gazed at you with wide eyes, waiting to see if there was more to your quiet confession.

“I wish I could pretend I don’t need you,” you continued on, “But every touch is…” you trailed off, unsure how to finish. “I mean, I should be running, but you keep me coming for you and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to leave. Everything between us has always meant something, even if I say we’re just friends. We aren’t. We never were.”

Tears pricked in the corners of Wanda’s eyes, but her smile was beaming. “Really?”

You nodded, hesitantly brushing your lips over Wanda’s. “I’d really like to take you out sometime.”

Nodding vigorously, Wanda repeatedly pecked your lips before you brought her into a deeper embrace, keeping your mouths pressed together in a way that made you both weak in the knees. All along you were coming for her, even if you hadn’t wanted to admit it.

But admitting it might just be the best thing you’d ever done.

Chapter Text

Natasha was no stranger to alcohol. She wasn’t a lush, but she enjoyed a drink here and there, imbibing occasionally. It wasn’t frequent and it surely wasn’t every night, but some days, things were just too much for the former assassin to handle.

Tonight was one of those nights.

She’d just gotten back from a mission – one that had kept her from home for weeks – and she was exhausted. All she had wanted from the second she walked through the door was a hug from you and hopefully a nice, long massage.

Neither of those things happened.

Apparently you were out with Carol, showing the other woman around New York. Natasha wasn’t mad – or jealous, surprisingly – because she hadn’t told you she was coming home. Hell, she hadn’t even known she was coming back, but she’d managed to finish her mission early so here she was, back at the Avengers Compound instead of in some dingy motel room that reeked of stale cigarettes and bodily fluids.

Natasha slumped through the Compound, waving tiredly at Steve as she passed. She paused in the kitchen, rifling through the cabinets until she found a bottle of vodka. Was this a bad idea? Definitely. Did she care? Not at all.

Wandering towards your shared bedroom, Natasha popped the cap off the bottle and took a long swig, groaning at the burn that slithered down her throat. Her nose crinkled. She’d forgotten how disgusting vodka straight was.

Nudging the door open, Natasha stepped into the room and set the bottle of liquor on the dresser, slowly stripping out of her clothes. Her body ached and she was covered in bruises, but at least she’d returned home mostly uninjured. She wasn’t bloodied or wearing a cast, so she counted this a successful mission.

Natasha took another drink from her bottle before making her way into the bathroom. A hot shower would probably do her some good and it would help her pass the time until you made it back from wherever you were with Carol.

She stood in the shower for what felt like hours, letting the hot water rain over her sore form. She washed the grime and sweat from her hair, grimacing as it swirled along the drain. She was fairly certain the water in her motel room had done nothing to clean her, only masking the worst of it. But here and now, all she could do was thank Tony Stark for his ridiculously powerful water heater.

After she finished showering, she didn’t bother to dress as she grabbed her vodka and flopped onto the bed. She flipped on the television and began to mindlessly watch it as she drank her liquor. She didn’t realize how much she’d actually drank until the world started getting a little fuzzy around the edges.

Blinking slowly, Natasha glanced at the door as it slid open.

You walked inside, completely oblivious of the naked woman in your bed. You paused when your foot brushed her discarded clothes, fairly certain those were not yours. Peering down curiously, your eyes flitted across the ground until they rose up and landed on your blitzed lover.

“Nat!”

You lunged at the redhead, wrapping your arms around her as you jumped onto the bed beside her. You pressed kisses all over her face, earning a plethora of drunken giggles. Her giggles were charming and a smile broke across your cheeks. She was so cute. You’d never seen her drunk before, but the smell of vodka on her breath and the emptied bottle on the nightstand were dead giveaways that she wasn’t sober at this moment.

Natasha’s arms encircled your waist and she nuzzled her face into your neck, practically purring when your fingers drifted along her back. “You smell good,” she murmured against your throat.

Laughing, you let your hand fall down to her waist. “And you’re drunk.”

“I’m not drunk,” she slurred slightly, glassy eyes peeking up at you.

You smirked, brushing your lips across her temple before slipping out of bed. “Sure, baby.”

Natasha watched you undress, her green gaze soft as she took in the contours of your body but it held no heat. She was just appreciating you.

Once you were ready for bed, you climbed in and rested on your side, head against the pillow as you looked up at Natasha. She was propped up on one arm, staring down at you. Her free hand caressed your face, her fingertips fluttering over your eyebrow before dipping across your cheek down to your jaw line.

Your eyes drifted closed under the ministrations, letting yourself simply soak in the attention. Natasha was a fantastic lover, but she was rarely this slow and sensual. She was passion, a smoldering fire that bubbled and raged. Affection was still odd for her, so you were often the one to do things of this nature. But right now, drunk Natasha seemed perfectly content so you weren’t going to stop her.

“Ya liublyoo tibya,” Natasha whispered, dragging her finger over petal-soft lips.

You kissed her finger, smiling. “I love you too,” you replied just as quietly, scared to break whatever spell had overcome you.

“I really do,” Natasha promised, eyes suddenly far more alert than before. “You are the first thing on my mind in the mornings and the last thing I think about before I sleep.”

You wanted to coo at the confession, but you knew it would only embarrass your lover so you stayed silent, waiting to see what else she had to say.

Natasha hurriedly filled the silence. “Being away from you is hard,” she admitted, “I don’t sleep well without you and I get so distracted, especially if you’re on a mission. I worry…”

Reaching up to cup her cheek, you tugged Natasha into a deep kiss, pouring your soul into it. You wanted her to know she wasn’t alone. You worried so much when she was gone. She might be the Black Widow, but she wasn’t inhuman. She could bleed like everyone else and that scared you. She wasn’t reckless, but what if – someday – someone finally got the drop on her?

You hugged Natasha close to you, pulling her down fully onto the bed and into your side. “As sweet as this is, you’re going to be so embarrassed in the morning.”

Natasha shook her head, digging her fingers into your shirt. “I need to tell you these things. I don’t want to be closed off from you. I won’t – I can’t – ruin this.”

Biting back an “aw”, you combed your fingers through red locks. “You aren’t going to ruin us, Nat.”

Nodding sleepily, Natasha snuggled into your embrace, her arm tossed over your waist and her leg tangled between yours. “I’m tired.”

“FRIDAY, turn off the lights,” you commanded, waiting patiently for the room to be plunged into darkness.

As darkness settled over you, your fingers continued their exploration through Natasha’s hair. It was wet, but oh so very soft. It was soothing to play with it; to have her back in your arms again.

You had missed her so much.

“Good night, baby,” you murmured.

She mumbled something unintelligible before a snore answered you. You tried to contain your giggles, praying you wouldn’t wake your exhausted lover. She grumbled at your shaking, but sleep had claimed her and refused to let go.

You smiled, letting your own eyes drift closed. Tonight may not have gone how you had expected – coming home to find a drunk Natasha in your bed had not been in your plans – but you were so thankful to have her back.

And even if her admissions embarrassed her come morning, you were glad to hear them nonetheless.

Chapter Text

Being the sister of the Tony Stark had never been easy. There was so much pressure to be the perfect child – the perfect Stark – and you hated it. You hated the world’s eyes on you and you hated how they compared you to your famous brother. You were as much a genius as he was; you simply used your talents differently, trying to stay out of the limelight.

He was an Avenger, one of Earth’s mighty heroes, while you were a simple lab technician in the Compound. You worked in Tony’s lab, helping him design new armor and tech that would keep the world safe. You weren’t out there in a suit like he was and that was fine with you. You’d rather be tucked away in a lab than out there making a fool of yourself. It wasn’t that you weren’t in awe of what Tony did; you just knew you were far more helpful in his lab than you would be trying to be an Avenger.

And Tony accepted that.

What he had trouble accepting was your newfound relationship with one of the team’s newest members.

He didn’t care about the fact she was a woman. No, he had known for years that you preferred the company of the fairer sex. What bothered him was who you had chosen.

Wanda Maximoff, one of the newest Avengers and easily the most dangerous, was your girlfriend – and it drove Tony crazy. He didn’t trust her – her or her powers – and he’d never admit out loud that she genuinely scared him, but he knew that arguing with you about your relationship was a terrible idea. It would get him absolutely nowhere because you were stubborn and once you set your mind to something, nothing would change it.

So instead of commenting, he watched from a distance, silently judging and calculating every little interaction. He wanted to catch her screwing up so he could step in. He loved you more than any person on this planet – you were his little sister after all – and he didn’t want you getting hurt. So he simply waited.

She would screw up. He just knew it.

-X-

The lab was quiet – something you were appreciative of. For once, Tony and Bruce weren’t in the lab so it was just you and the tech. You adored your big brother, but sometimes he was just too much. He needed to understand that he didn’t always have to be “Tony Stark, billionaire genius”. Sometimes the only person he needed to be was Tony.

Grabbing Natasha’s batons, you set them on the table before you and started tinkering with them. They were powerful, but you had a feel you could up the voltage while decreasing the weight. They were balanced, but Natasha often grumbled about how heavy they could be. Since she wasn’t going on a mission anytime soon, you figured now would be the perfect time to test out a few theories.

Before you could inspect them, however, the lab door slid open and Wanda stepped inside, a shy smile on her face. Your relationship was still fairly new and she often worried that she was bothering you whenever she came down to visit, but your beaming smile softened her fears and she relaxed, walking over to you.

“Hello, malysh,” she greeted, her accent thicker in these private moments with you than when she was around the others. She liked – and to some extent, trusted – the Avengers, but she felt like they judged her for being different so she tried downplaying her accent. With you, however, she knew she didn’t need to. You had repeatedly told her how much you loved listening to her talk, reminding her there was nothing wrong with being unique.

She leaned down to peck your lips, her hands on your shoulders so that you didn’t tip back off the stool. You’d done that before, scaring her half to death despite the reassurances that you were totally fine.

You cupped Wanda’s cheek, dragging her into a deeper kiss that made your pulse race. Her lips were petal soft and so damn tantalizing. Humming against her lips, you smiled as you parted.

“What brings you down to my lovely hideaway this fine evening?” you asked, separating your knees so you could bring Wanda to stand between them.

Wanda’s arms encircled your neck, her eyes flickering between you and the batons on the table. “I was looking for you. It is movie night and you weren’t there.”

You sighed, pressing your head against her chest. “I know.”

Fingers played with the baby hairs at the nape of your neck, soothing your raging mind. “Is there something wrong?”

Shaking your head, you leaned back a little and stared up at your worried girlfriend. “No, darling, I’m fine. I’ve just got a lot on my mind and going through some of Tony’s tech always helps me sort it out.”

“Should I go?” Wanda wondered, deflating slightly at the idea of not getting to spend time with you.

“You can stay if you want,” you replied with a smile, “I just have to warn you, I’ll probably drive you crazy with my ramblings.”

Wanda giggled, combing a hand through your hair. “I like when you ramble.”

You helped Wanda hop up onto the bench beside Natasha’s batons, pressing another kiss to her enchanting lips before resettling on your stool.

From the doorway, Tony discretely watched you chatting with Wanda. He’d come down here to find you and talk about whatever was bothering you, but instead you were with her. You were explaining in great detail how the batons worked and she seemed genuinely interested, something you’d never had before. It surprised Tony a little, if he was being honest. He hadn’t expected her to care yet here she was, sitting on your bench, listening to your explanations while also trying to help you with your rampant emotions.

Blinking, he uncrossed his arms and stepped out of the door. Maybe Wanda wasn’t so bad after all.

-X-

It wasn’t until Wanda went missing during a mission that Tony realized how much she meant to you.

It was supposed to be simple: get in, retrieve a SHIELD informant, and get out but something had gone terribly wrong and now she and Bucky were both missing. You were standing in the lab with Tony and Bruce as they suited up and prepared to leave and go find their captured friends. You were staring at the suit Tony had made you a long time ago, when he first became Iron Man. It was (F/C) and it fit you like a glove despite the fact you’d never done anything with it.

“I’m coming with you,” you announced, stalking over to the suit.

Tony balked. “What?”

“I’m coming with you,” you repeated, glaring at Tony, daring him to argue with you.

Bruce cleared his throat. “(Y/N), we don’t know what they’ve done with them. It might be too dangerous for you to…” he trailed off, his eyes widening at the fierce look that crossed your features.

“I’m. Going.”

You activated your bracelet and pointed it at the encased suit. The glass slid open and you stepped up onto the platform, pressing another button. Faster than you had anticipated, the suit was on your body and booting up, FRIDAY’s voice loud in your head.

“Good morning, (Y/N),” she greeted robotically.

It wasn’t hard for you to adjust to the suit – you helped build and maintain these things for God’s sake – and by the time Tony was dressed and ready, so were you.

The others weren’t that surprised to see you joining them. Natasha had faith you’d find your strength. She understood that you wanted to be there the moment they found Wanda and Bucky, so coming in a suit of armor made sense. You were going to help properly destroy those bastards one way or another; you were a Stark after all.

You just needed a push.

“Ready, team?” Steve asked as everyone gathered at the Quinjet.

You nodded impatiently, praying to whoever would listen that your girlfriend would be okay.

Sam clapped you on the shoulder though you barely felt it. “She’s going to be fine.”

Vision nodded. “Yes, Wanda is quite capable. I am sure she is fine.”

Rolling your eyes, you followed Steve onto the Quinjet. You knew how capable Wanda was, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t hurting or scared. She was the strongest woman you’d ever met yet she was still your girlfriend.

The flight wasn’t terribly long but you spent the entire time pacing. You couldn’t help it. All you could think about was HYDRA having your girlfriend – and Bucky. Two people that HYDRA definitely didn’t need to have. What if they were trying to weaponize Wanda or re-weaponize Bucky? You’d worked hard to help Wanda gain control of her powers and Steve had spent so long helping Bucky reintegrate back into society…

There would be hell to pay if all that had been undone.

The moment the Quinjet touched down, you were out with Tony right behind you. Both your face plates fell into place and Tony couldn’t help but appreciate this. The two Stark siblings, fighting together at last. Fighting for one of their loves. It was kind of poetic.

“Ready?” Tony asked.

“Let’s do this.”

You and Tony flew towards the base’s entrance while Steve and the others fought the ground forces. There weren’t many so you didn’t feel too bad leaving them there. You slammed into the door and it flew out of the doorway, knocking back into the wall on the far side of the room. It smacked a few agents, knocking them unconscious.

“Good job,” Tony praised, looking around. “I would say we should split up but Cap will be up here soon looking for Bucky so we should search for Wanda.”

Nodding, you followed Tony through the base. You left most of the fighting to him, instead deciding that you’d be the one to look through the rooms. The first floor was a bust and the second floor only led you to whatever SHIELD informant they’d originally been sent to find, but the third floor was where you finally found her.

Wanda was locked up tight in a small cell by herself, her hands bound behind her back and a blindfold over her eyes. She looked so small and young, dirt smudged on her cheeks. She didn’t cry though. She was too headstrong and determined not to show fear. You wondered what all they had done to her, but you didn’t have time to think about it.

Rushing over to the cell, you jerked at it with all your might. It slid open and Wanda’s hands clenched into fists.

“I will not tell you anything,” she spat.

You smiled, so proud of your girlfriend. Your face plate came off and you kneeled before Wanda, carefully reaching up to take off her blindfold. You watched her gorgeous green eyes blink before wearily landing on you.

“(Y/N)?” Wanda whispered, stunned. She thought she was imaging things. You’d never worn this suit before – hell, you’d never been on a mission before – so why were you here now? Was it all for her?

“We’re here to get you out, Maximoff,” Tony informed her from outside, watching the two of you curiously.

You helped Wanda to her feet and spun her around so you could untie her hands. The second she was free, she tossed her arms around you and brought you into a heavy kiss, pouring everything she had into it.

“I love you,” she murmured, her lips brushing against yours.

“I love you too,” you replied, entirely smitten with the woman in your arms.

Tony made a gagging noise but the two of you ignored her. It was creepy to see his little sister kissing her girlfriend, but the moment was sweet and he was glad to have been there. He finally understood everything. She was your Pepper Potts in a way; she was the woman you’d do anything for.

“We’ve got Bucky and the informant,” Steve announced through the comm. “Have you found Wanda?”

“Yeah, Cap, we’ve got her. We’ll see you back at the jet.” Tony gestured for you to follow him. “C’mon, kids. We’ve got places to be. Exchange saliva later,” he teased.

You flipped Tony off before slipping your face plate back into place.

Tony grinned.

Maybe, just maybe, he had been wrong after all.

Chapter Text

You nervously gripped your girlfriend’s’ hands as you sat in the dentist’s waiting room. Technically you were still in the Compound - being an Avenger meant you couldn’t exactly go to a regular doctor (heaven forbid you accidentally blurt of state secrets) - but that didn’t matter. You were about to get your teeth pulled and you were terrified.

Carol smirked at Natasha over your head, squeezing your hand in support. “You’re going to be fine, (Y/N).”

“What if my powers activate?” you worried, glancing at the blonde. “What if I catch fire and burn the dentist or…”

Hoping to soothe your panic, Natasha kissed your cheek. “Relax, malysh, they’re prepared for the worst. Everything is going to be okay.”

With a retort on your tongue, you opened your mouth but a door cut you off. Peeking up, you went pale at the sight of the dentist’s assistant.

She smiled kindly at you, but it did little to reassure you. “We’re ready for you, Ms. (L/N).”

Grumbling about how creepy you found that statement, you stood up and pecked Carol’s lips before twisting around to do the same for Natasha. With slumped shoulders, you followed the assistant out of the room.

The door swung closed behind you.

“She looked really nervous,” Natasha mused, pursing her lips as she stared at the closed door.

Carol smiled, reaching across the empty chair to grab Natasha’s wrist. “She’ll be fine, babe. It’s a standard procedure. She’s dealt with a lot worse.”

“No one knows how her powers are going to react to the anesthesia, though…” Natasha had the urge to go after you. She wouldn’t admit it out loud, especially to Carol, but she was just as worried as you. She knew how much your powers scared you sometimes. What if you woke up without them and you panicked?

Carol sighed, scooting over. She swung her arm over Natasha’s shoulders and tugged her close.

“Fury and Tony have every precaution in place for this. If she catches on fire, the fire suppression system will put her out before she does any damage.”

Leaning into Carol’s embrace, Natasha sighed. Despite the former Kree’s logical response, Natasha couldn’t stop worrying. But, she knew there was nothing she could do but wait.

-X-

After the procedure finished, Carol and Natasha were led back to your room. You were still passed out, but the dentist promised you’d be awake soon. The drugs were burning out of your body at a ridiculous pace so it wouldn’t be too long.

Carol pulled out her phone, thumbing through her apps before aiming her camera sneakily in your direction. She was certain that you were going to be hilarious once you woke up and she didn’t want to miss anything. She was fairly positive the others would want to see this too.

With a groan, you jerked your head and shakily raised your hand to touch your mouth. You blearily blinked, the room fuzzy around the edges as you tried to focus. Your eyes landed on Natasha, who was standing near you against the wall, and you gasped.

“Am I dead?” you questioned, your words muffled by the cotton balls shoved into your cheeks.

“No,” Natasha laughed, reaching out to touch your warm hand. “Why do you think that?”

“Because you’re an angel…” you relied in awe.

Carol snorted. “That’s the oldest line in the book, (Y/N),” she teased.

Turning your head to stare at Carol, your eyes got wider. “I really am dead…” you whispered.

A faint blush burned Carol’s cheeks but she ignored it, opting to smirk instead. “How are you feeling?”

“I don’t know,” you replied absently, your eyes flickering between your girlfriends. They lingered on Natasha for a moment. “You want to get drinks later?”

Carol’s smirk deepened. “She’s taken, (Y/N).” You went to repeat the question to her, but she cut you off. “I am too.”

“Oh.” You pouted, glancing away from the two women. You could feel your heart breaking but you didn’t want to say anything. “They’re really lucky.”

Natasha rolled her eyes, frowning at how hot your hand was getting in hers. She wasn’t a fan of Carol teasing you in such a state - especially when you had very little control over your powers. “You don’t have to ask me out, (Y/N). We’re already dating.”

Your jaw dropped open and you stared at Natasha. “You and me?”

“And me,” Carol piped in, a little hurt that she was left out.

You suddenly sat upright and ripped your hand from Natasha’s, tossing your arms up in the air. “Yes!”

Natasha made a noise of surprise and Carol burst out laughing. She was so glad that she was recording this.

“I’m the luckiest girl in the world!” you cheered - loudly.

“Shh,” Natasha hushed you, amusement evident in her eyes.

“Sorry,” you whispered, slowly dropping your arms. “I’m just so happy.”

Laughing at your antics, Carol rose and walked over to you, slipping her phone back into her pocket. “You ready to get out of here, babe?”

Nodding, you slid off the chair, your knees wobbly. Carol slid her arm around your waist and Natasha let you loop an arm around her shoulders.

Sighing happily, you leaned against your lovers. “I love you two. Like, a lot.”

Carol and Natasha paused, causing you to stutter in your steps. The three of you hadn’t said those words yet. Carol was still getting used to letting her feelings control her and Natasha still struggled with her Red Room trainings, but you didn’t hold those same traumas so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that you would be the first one to say it.

“I…” Natasha didn’t know what to say.

You were completely oblivious to the sudden tension. You started walking - albeit awkwardly - down the hall, leaving your girlfriends behind.

Carol and Natasha shared a look, both dumbstruck by your words. You were the soft one in your relationship; the one who didn’t think twice about pressing a kiss to their lips or bought flowers just because you could. You were the one who picked up their favorite meals when they were sad and reassured them they weren’t failures when missions went south. You were, in a way, the glue that held everything together and even if they couldn’t say the words right now, they both knew in their hearts that they loved you - and each other - too.

Maybe they couldn’t say it back yet but that was okay in your drug-addled brain. They knew you loved them and that’s what mattered most. You didn’t care if you didn’t hear those precious words fall from soft lips. They deserved to know how you feel - and now they did.

Before either could say anything else, your voice rang out excitedly, “Did you know I have fire hands?”

Balking, Carol and Natasha rushed after you, their fears of the future left behind. One day those words would be spoken with absolution and ease, but for now, all they needed to do was keep you from burning down the Compound.

The rest would come when it was supposed to.

Chapter Text

Kara was a little tipsy. Not overly so, but enough that she wasn’t quite steady on her feet. She hadn’t meant to get drunk, yet here she was, watching you and drinking a little too much.

It was hard for her to admit she was in love with you. She’d been burned so many times in life (being the weird one in school, trying to be serious with Mon-El, only to have him turn out to be a jerk, etc.) so it was difficult to acknowledge her feelings.

She didn’t enjoy feeling jealous, but she couldn’t help it. Watching you sit at the bar - when you should be spending time with your friends (namely her) - was hard. You were chatting with another alien and while the conversation was completely innocent, Kara could hear the flirty undertone of the other woman. She was touching your arm occasionally, her hand lingering on your bicep.

“If you stare any harder, you’re going to laser the poor girl,” Alex joked, poking you in the side.

“She’s been over there a long time,” Kara replied. “Did she forget about us?”

The insecurity shaking her voice made Alex feel bad for teasing Kara. Alex understood the real question: did you forget about her?

“Kar, they’ve only been talking for a few minutes. She’ll be back over here in a moment, I’m positive.”

Kara nodded uncertainly. “Okay.”

She would wait and see.

-X-

The alien you were chatting with was very charming, you realized early on. She looked like a human, but she was apparently very fast and very strong - according to her, anyways. You weren’t super impressed by that because, hello, you had Supergirl as your best friend.

“Would you like to play a round of pool?” she asked, swirling her drink around in her glass.

You shook your head, glancing over at your friends. They were watching you closely, Alex slightly condemning you with her eyes but what surprised you the most was the disheartened expression marring Kara’s face. You were confused. Why was she so upset?

“No thanks. I should probably get back to my friends. I enjoyed talking to you though,” you assured her, patting her arm before rising up from your chair.

She nodded. “I did too. I hope to see you around. Maybe we can get dinner or something sometime.”

The sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the bar and you spun around. Kara was holding pieces of glass in her hand where her drink used to be. She was staring at her hand in surprise and you strolled over, setting your hand on Kara’s shoulder.

“You okay?” you whispered, wanting her to not feel self-conscious.

She nodded faintly, sweeping the glass into a pile before shoving it away. “I think I’m going to go home. I’m tired.”

She stood up abruptly, cutting off contact. You were slightly hurt, but you didn’t say anything. She stormed out of the bar, leaving you behind in confusion.

“Go after her,” Alex hissed.

“What’d I do?” you asked, terribly disoriented by Kara’s sudden change in mood.

Alex shook her head. The two of you were so hopeless sometimes.

Sighing, you set your drink down and ran after Kara, following her into an alleyway. She was struggling with her suit, the alcohol in her veins making her a little sloppy. You honestly thought she shouldn’t be flying in such a state but who were you to tell her what to do?

“Hey,” you murmured, stopping behind her. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, (Y/N). Why don’t you go back inside to your new friend?” Kara bitterly suggested, adjusting her cape.

Realization dawned on you and your heartbeat sped up. She was jealous.

“Kara, are you jealous?” you blurted out, reaching for the superhero.

“Why? Do I have a reason to be?” Kara retorted, turning to face you.

All of the feelings you’d tried so hard to repress came flooding back into you and you couldn’t stop yourself from cupping her cheeks. Staring deep into her wildly blue eyes, you shook your head with a smile.

“Absolutely not,” you assured her.

Kara was stunned by the shift in atmosphere. You were holding her face like she was the most important thing on this planet. She didn’t know what to do. Was something more happening here?

“(Y/N),” she mumbled, her hands falling to your waist. “What’s happening?”

“I’d really like to kiss you, if that’s okay,” you replied softly, leaning in ever so slightly. You were giving her plenty of opportunity to back off, but she remained frozen in place, wide-eyed and a little hopeful.

Shaking herself from her stupor, she closed the gap between you and pressed your lips together. The kiss was gentle, a mere brushing of lips. She kissed you like you were made of the same glass she’d shattered minutes before and that just wouldn’t do. Throwing your arms around her neck, you dragged her closer and firmly let your lips meet hers.

A startled squeak vibrated against your mouth but Kara responded positively, walking you backwards until your back met the alleyway wall. So many feelings were poured into that kiss - and it made your head spin. You’d dreamed of this so many times and to actually experience it was amazing.

When breathing became an issue, you pulled back but leaned your forehead against hers.

“Wow,” you hummed.

“Good wow or bad wow?” Kara wondered, her eyes tracing your face like it was the last time she’d ever see it.

“Good wow. Definitely a good wow,” you responded with a giggle.

Kara beamed happily, pecking your lips again just because she could.

“We should probably talk though,” you added.

Nodding, Kara stepped back and extended her arms in offering. “A ride, my lady?”

Smirking, you walked into her embrace. “Are you good to fly, Supergirl?”

Kara grew serious. “I would never do something that could hurt you.”

Cooing at the hero, you slipped your arms around her and rested your head on her shoulder. “Then let’s go, Supergirl.”

Chapter Text

You hovered above the city, ears listening for any sign of distress. It was weird being on Earth, but you were starting to enjoy it. You hadn’t been here too terribly long - considering your pod had been trapped in space for quite some time - but maybe that was for the best.

When Kara had found you - another Kryptonian - she’d been overjoyed. She’d immediately taken you under her wing and now you were a superhero like her. It gave her the ability to watch over certain parts of National City while you took over the other half.

The half you’d been given was nice. It was the better half of National City but what made it great was the fact you could look out for Lena and L-Corp. You might have been newer to superheroing but you were more than capable of watching out for the youngest Luthor. Your crush on her might have been unrequited but at least you could protect her.

Landing on the roof of Lena’s penthouse, you settled on the edge of balcony and dangled your legs over the side. Your blue cape billowed in the wind, wrapping around you. This happened quite often, finding yourself sitting on her balcony. You didn’t know why, but it brought you comfort. A part of you wondered if Kara had given you this part of the city because of your crush but you did your best not to think about that. If Kara knew, then so did the others.

Which meant Lena probably knew.

Sighing, you brushed a hand over your face. Everything was so complicated sometimes.

A whimper echoed in your sensitive ears and you glanced down, though you didn’t look through the ceiling. That would be an invasion of privacy and you weren’t about to do that. Lena’s nightmares were nothing new yet they worried you every time. She’d already been through so much. She didn’t deserve more problems.

If only you knew the truth.

-X-

Lena awoke with a start, legs tangled up in her blankets as she jerked upright and glanced about. A kaleidoscope of images danced before her, blurry visions taunting her as she watched you fade into nothingness.

This wasn’t the first time she’d dreamed of you - of your warm skin against her, of your mouth pressed against her throat - and it probably wouldn’t be the last but they were haunting her. She desperately wanted them to be real but she feared they never would be.

But sometimes it was so hard to distinguish dreams from reality.

Quietly sliding out of bed, Lena padded through her apartment and into her living room. She sat on her couch and buried her face in her hands. What was she to do now?

All she wanted to do was scream her lungs out for you, bring you into her world and do whatever she’d dreamed, but she couldn’t. You deserved so much better than a Luthor. Besides, there was too much that could go wrong between a Luthor and a Kryptonian.

At least that’s what she told herself. The truth was, she was terrified about how much she needed you. How much she enjoyed your arms around her whenever you comforted her or the way you freely touched her during game night. She’d never had someone be so open and touchy. Most people wouldn’t come near a Luthor with a ten foot pole yet you didn’t care about names and titles. All you cared about was making sure she was okay and it drove her crazy. Parts of her wanted to push you away before she got hurt - she was tired of loving people that weren’t hers to love - but she couldn’t. You meant too much.

A knock on her balcony window startled her and she peered up with wide eyes, catching sight of you hovering outside. You waved meekly, uncertainty in your gaze. You didn’t know if you were doing the right thing, stopping in to check on her, but her accelerated heartbeat worried you so you had thrown caution to the wind. Now you were starting to regret that.

Walking over to the door, Lena unlocked it and tugged it open, stepping onto the structure.

“(Y/N),” she greeted with a confused smile. “What are you doing here?”

You played with the ends of your cape as you settled in front of her. “Well, I was in the neighborhood and noticed you were awake so I was just coming to check on you.” That wasn’t a lie, you were just choosing to omit some of the truth.

Lena’s heart fluttered. It was sweet that you cared enough to stop in, but she didn’t know what to do. “Oh, I’m fine,” she assured you. “I just can’t sleep at the moment.”

Nodding, you glanced around her apartment. “Should I go?”

Lena wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t want you to leave but she was certain you had better things to do than sit around with her. “Don’t you have a city to protect?” she laughed, though there was real questioning in it.

You shrugged. “If something goes wrong, I can hear it. But if you’d like, I can leave.”

Lena shook her head. “You can stay if you’d like. I’m probably not going back to sleep anytime soon.” She walked back into her apartment and lingered near the couch, unsure what she was supposed to do.

“Nightmares?” you inquired, following her inside.

Lena paused. She didn’t want to lie, but there was no way she could admit she was dreaming about you. Mistaking her silence as confirmation, you strolled over to her and wrapped your arms around Lena.

Lena melted into your embrace - into your affection -, her head resting in the crook of your neck. Her hands gripped your cape and she breathed in your enchanting scent. She didn’t want to ever let go.

You leaned back slightly, planning to reassure her that you understood, but you froze. Her face was so close to yours. You could feel your breath catching in your throat but you couldn’t move away.

There were only inches separating you.

Lena noticed it too. She was staring into your eyes, silently begging you to give in to the tension. She just needed a sign you felt the same way and she would give in first without a single regret.

Your eyes flickered down to her lips, lingering on the bare flesh. It was so rare to see her without lipstick.

Throwing caution to the wind, Lena leaned in and pressed her lips softly against yours. It was brief and fleeting, but it left you wanting more.

Lena pulled away, her eyes wide as she took in your expression. You looked so stunned - and it scared her. Had she misread everything? She opened her mouth to say something - anything - but your lips falling onto hers cut off her explanation.

She made a startled noise but sank into the kiss eagerly. Her hands left your cape and fisted themselves in your hair. She kept you as close as she could and you let her. You might be one of the strongest beings on the planet, but she was the one who held all the power in this room.

And you were okay with that.

When breathing became a necessity, you broke away but kept her tightly against you. The unbridled tension was growing thicker with each passing second and you wondered what would happen next. Would she ask you to go or…?

“Stay the night?” she whispered, playing with the baby hairs at the nape of your neck. Her smile was shameless and full of want, leaving you breathless.

“Okay,” you answered quietly, reconnecting your lips with hers.

She started walking you towards her bedroom, lips never leaving yours, and you followed willingly. Maybe you hadn’t expected your night to go this way, but you didn’t care. You just hoped nothing went wrong in National City because absolutely nothing and no one was going to tear you away from this goddess.

You’d let the world burn first.

Chapter Text

You stared out the window, watching the droplets of water run down the pane. You wanted to be out there, letting the rain wash over you.

“What are you thinking about, lyubov moya?” Wanda asked from the couch, her hand combing absently through Natasha’s hair.

“I want to go outside,” you announced, glancing over your shoulder.

“It’s raining,” Natasha pointed out unnecessarily, earning an eye roll from you.

“I know that,” you replied exasperatedly. “But have you never played in the rain?”

Natasha paused, eyeing you. “No?”

Wanda perked up, sitting up straighter - much to Natasha’s dismay. “That sounds fun.”

“It is,” you said, beaming at your lover.

“Can we?” Wanda asked Natasha, who stared at the two of you like you were insane.

“You want to go play in the rain? In September? In New York?” Natasha was so flabbergasted by your suggestion.

Nodding happily, you left your spot at the window and strolled over to the couch. You grabbed Wanda’s hand and tugged her up, dragging her towards the elevator. Natasha followed closely behind, her bewilderment palpable.

“This is going to be so fun,” you promised Wanda, who kissed your cheek.

“Any time with my girlfriends is fun to me,” Wanda replied, smirking as your cheeks flushed.

Stepping into the elevator, you pressed the button for the roof.

“This is insane,” Natasha muttered. “You’re going to get sick.”

“No, we won’t,” you replied easily, watching the numbers travel upward.

Wanda used her free hand to grab Natasha’s. “Malysh, relax. It’s just a little rain.”

The elevator dinged and the doors opened up. Walking out of the metal contraption and onto the helipad, you smiled widely and opened your arms, spinning around enthusiastically.

Natasha hesitated in the elevator but Wanda chased after you, beaming as the coolness washed over her. Catching you around the waist, she lifted you up and followed your example, swinging you back and forth. You giggled, wrapping your arms around her neck.

“C’mon, Tasha,” you called out, beckoning for the redhead to join you.

Sighing heavily, Natasha finally stepped out and into the rain. She sputtered as it dripped onto her lips, irritated by her hair suddenly sticking to her head. She didn’t understand why you found this so enjoyable but she loved the two of you deeply so she wasn’t going to argue anymore.

Wanda reached out for Natasha, her arm still tight around your waist. “This is nice,” she said loudly, trying to be heard over the pounding rain.

Natasha accepted Wanda’s hand and let the woman pull her into her side. She glanced down, a sudden appreciation for the rain dawning upon her.

Wanda’s ridiculously tight shirt was clinging divinely to her, droplets rolling down and into her cleavage. You caught Natasha’s line of sight and smirked. She was such a horndog sometimes.

You tangled your fingers in Wanda’s wet locks and tugged her into a kiss, grinning into it as the witch stumbled forward a little. She let you down and you pecked her lips a few times before turning on the former assassin. You brought her into your arms and kissed her deeply. The rain made your lips slick but neither of you seemed to mind too much as they slid in a familiar dance.

“I love you,” you murmured. “Thank you for coming out with us.”

Natasha nodded, nestling herself in your embrace. She would never admit it, but this wasn’t so bad. Especially if she got kissed like that.

Wanda slipped her arms around the both of you and set her head on Natasha’s shoulder. “Ya liublyoo tibya.”

“We love you too,” you answered, resting your head against Natasha’s.

You stood there for what seemed like forever, letting the rain drench you all though nobody really seemed to care anymore.

“Alright, enough sappy stuff,” Natasha joked. “I’m cold and it’s starting to thunder. I think we should go inside.”

“For a Russian, you’re terrible in the cold,” you teased, poking Natasha’s side.

Rolling her eyes, Natasha started for the elevator with you and Wanda trailing behind her, giggling.

“I’m going to take a shower and warm up,” Natasha decided as the elevator descended.

Your hand creeped into Natasha’s back pocket and you leered playfully at her. “Mind if I join you?”

“And me,” Wanda piped in, catching Natasha’s belt loops and pulling her into a kiss.

“I think that can be arranged,” Natasha said breathlessly as they parted, smiling at you and Wanda.

When the elevator announced your arrival, you led your lovers towards the bathroom, grinning all the way.

Playing in the rain was the best idea you’d ever had.

Chapter Text

Storming into L-Corp probably wasn’t your best decision but you were frustrated. Actually, you were downright pissed. You had been for a while now, but this was just icing on the proverbial cake.

Of all the days!

It was yours and Lena’s six month anniversary and you’d been stood up. Dressed in your nicest outfit, you’d waited at that freaking restaurant for two bloody hours and she never showed. You’d gotten so many pitying looks that you wanted to scream and - when you had gotten in your car - you did scream.

Loudly.

Being an alien from another planet, you hadn’t really understood the concept of anniversaries when you first started dating the youngest Luthor, but you’d grown quite fond of them now. And for her to have blown you off made you angry. You understood her work kept her away - often - but it was your anniversary.

Could she not make time for you?

In fact, it had been weeks since she really spent any time with you. Some “huge” project was keeping her at the office until late every night for the last month and honestly, you missed your girlfriend.

Impatiently pressing the button for Lena’s lab, you tapped your foot as you waited for it to descend. You watched the numbers count down, leaving you time to try and calm down. You didn’t want to scream at Lena - she had been through so much in life - but you wanted her to know your displeasure.

The bell dinged and the doors opened up, granting you access to the labs. You stepped inside and glanced around, searching for the woman you loved. You didn’t immediately see her but that didn’t stop you. You were certain she was down here.

She was always down here.

You started walking around, following the sounds of soft chatter. Of course Eve was here. Why wouldn’t she be? Rolling your eyes, you hurried after their voices until you found them.

“So if the nanotechnology is centered at the waist, it should…” Lena trailed off as your footsteps echoed across the floor.

“It should what?” you demanded bitterly. “Don’t stop on my account. It’s not like you have recently so why start now?”

“(Y/N)!” Lena yelped, dropping her tablet onto the table with a bang. She was confused by your tone. Well, if she was being honest, it worried her greatly. You sounded so mad. “What are you doing here?”

She took in your outfit and jealousy filled her. Why did you look so good? Just who had you gone to see tonight?

“Oh, you know, I was just spending my anniversary alone at some fancy ass restaurant that my girlfriend wanted to try but then I thought, huh, I wonder what was so important that she forgot about me so here I am,” you spat, crossing your arms.

Eve stared at you wide-eyed. She’d never heard you talk to Lena like that before. “Um, I think I should go. I’ll see you tomorrow, Ms. Luthor.” She scurried away, leaving you and Lena alone.

Lena’s mouth dropped open and she gazed upon you, her eyes screaming apologies that she herself couldn’t seem to form. She had completely forgotten what day it was. She was in her labs so much that days passed by like seconds.

“(Y/N)…” she circled the desk, walking carefully towards you. “I am so sorry, darling.”

“Sorry doesn’t fix this, Lena,” you said, shaking your head. “This isn’t just about tonight. This is about the last month. You’re here every night until at least midnight and gone long before the sun is up. I haven’t really seen you since I outed myself to you about being an alien.” You paused, realization dawning on you. “Is that what this is about? My being an alien?”

Lena was stunned. She hadn’t realized how much she had been working. Had it really been a month?

“It is, isn’t it?” You mistook her silence as confirmation and you stepped back, tears filling your eyes. “You’ve been avoiding me because of that, working on this “huge” project instead. Well,” you angrily wiped at the tears threatening to fall, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you immediately but I was scared of this exact thing happening - and I guess I had a reason to be. I thought you were different, Lena. I mean, Christ, your best friend is Supergirl. I guess I was wrong.”

You shook your head and started for the elevator, leaving Lena to stare after you in horror. She couldn’t believe she’d made you feel so unloved. Unloved enough that you questioned if all of this was over your biology. God, what had she done?

“Wait!” she called after you, chasing you through the lab. “Don’t go, please. Without you, none of this was worth it. Without you, this is all for nothing.”

You paused at the doors, curiosity getting the best of you. “What was all for nothing?”

Lena swallowed dryly. She’d hoped for this to be a surprise for your anniversary, but clearly that was out of the picture considering she’d forgotten what day it was. So, instead she reached out and touched your shoulder, her hand sliding down your arm to grab your hand and pull you around.

“When you told me you were an alien, you said you wished you could help people like Kara does,” she explained, nerves shaking her voice, “So, I got in contact with the people who work with Supergirl. We…” she trailed off, shaking her head. “Just come with me. Please.”

You hesitated for a moment but the hopefulness in her eyes made you follow along willingly.

Stopping at Lena’s tablet, she typed in the passcode before handing it to you. “We discussed the possibility of you becoming a hero. With your powers, you could be a great asset, so we started working on a suit for you. I was going to bring you here on our anniversary and show you the designs and how it would work, but some complications arose and I had hoped to fix them before today but that didn’t happen. I understand why you’re angry. I shouldn’t have missed our anniversary and I’m so sorry. I know that doesn’t change anything but…” she was cut off by you setting the tablet down before tossing your arms around her and pulling her into a hug.

Tears gathered in your water line but you didn’t care. This was the best thing anyone had ever done for you and you felt like such a jackass now.

“I’m sorry,” you mumbled into her hair, keeping her close to your chest.

“Why are you sorry, darling? I messed up,” Lena replied, brows furrowed together.

“I should have let you explain before I accused you of being xenophobic. I should have known better,” you sighed apologetically, leaning back so you could study your girlfriend’s features. “This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

Lena gave a watery smile, relief slacking her muscles. She had been terrified the moment you walked away that you were leaving her. Being in your arms, however, staved off that fear.

“Do you forgive me?” Lena whispered, staring at your lips.

“Yeah,” you replied just as softly, leaning in and capturing her lips.

You stood there for what felt like hours, kissing and reacquainting yourselves with each other. It was gentle and sweet, and while it wasn’t how you imagined spending your anniversary, you were okay with it.

“You know,” you started when your lips left Lena’s, “Back on my planet I was a bit of a science whiz. How about we work on my suit together?”

Lena beamed. “That sounds wonderful, darling. I can show you what we’ve got so far and maybe we’ll be able to fix the problems that have arisen.”

Linking your fingers with Lena, the two of you began pouring over the tablet, chattering about the suit and what it could do.

With a heart ten pounds lighter and a smile that could power the world, you felt at peace - and that’s all you could ask for.

Chapter Text

Bounding cheerfully into the room, you glanced at your teammates and smiled widely.

“Good morning, everyone,” you greeted, walking over to the cabinet and combing through it in search of your cereal.

“Morning, (Y/N),” Bucky returned, waving his metal arm in your direction.

Grabbing a box, you tugged it down and poured it into a bowl before joining your friends at the counter.

“How are you always so happy in the mornings?” Tony wondered, his voice almost a whine as he stared at you. “You don’t even drink coffee.”

You laughed, stealing the milk away from Sam and pouring it on your food.

“I don’t know.” You shrugged.

The familiar fall of footsteps echoed behind you and a grin split your lips. You would know those footfalls anywhere.

“Morning,” Natasha greeted, her words raspy with sleep. You’d woken her up far too early on her day off but she loved you so she wasn’t going to complain too much.

She walked up behind you and wrapped her arms around your waist. Her chin on your shoulder, she gazed at your cereal. “How do you eat that stuff? It’s so sugary.”

Leaning back into her arms, you hummed, offering her a bite. “It’s good,” you argued defensively.

Natasha accepted the offering, her face screwing up as the sugar overtook her. “I don’t understand you.”

“You don’t have to, babe,” you giggled, “All you really have to do is love me.”

Sam snorted while your comment earned you a smirk from Bucky. Everyone thought your relationship was odd, but it worked. You were so full of life and energy and goodness, filling Natasha with joy. You lightened the darkest parts of her, helping sooth her inner demons. They’d never seen her this relaxed and calm.

She had finally found someone that let her feel human.

“I do,” Natasha replied softly in your ear.

Rolling his eyes, Sam coughed out, “Whipped,” though he tried valiantly to hide it.

Natasha released you and stepped over to the Falcon. She glared at him for a moment before shoving him off his chair. He tumbled to the floor, but his laughter was hearty.

“Shut up,” Natasha hissed though it held no malice.

“Honestly, Nat, I’m glad you two found each other,” Bucky said seriously, eyeing the redhead. “You seem a lot happier.”

“I am,” Natasha acknowledged with a nod.

Your cheeks grew red and your chest warmed. It wasn’t often that Natasha said such sweet things so you would cherish them when she did.

“Ready to train, (Y/N)?” Bucky asked as you finished off the last of your breakfast.

You nodded, standing up from your chair. “Ready to get your ass kicked, old man?” you teased.

Bucky’s brow arched at the challenge. “You haven’t beaten me yet. What makes you think you’re going to win this time?”

“I’ve learned your tricks,” you announced proudly. “I bet you my pick on movie night that I can win.”

Bucky extended his hand and you shook it. “Deal. If you win, you can have mine.”

The two of you strolled out of the room and Natasha glanced at Sam. “Want to go watch this train wreck?”

Sam nodded eagerly. “Hell yeah!”

They followed after you, leaving Tony standing alone in the kitchen. He sighed, sipping his coffee.

“I’m surrounded by children.”

-X-

You’d been pouting all night, arms crossed as you watched the movie Bucky had picked. It was an old black and white film he and Steve were fond of and while it didn’t bother you, you were upset you had lost.

“Malysh, let it go,” Natasha smirked, her arm tossed around your shoulders.

“He cheated,” you insisted quietly, not wanting to disturb the others.

“He’s a trained soldier and a former assassin. You should have known you weren’t going to win.”

Your pout deepened. “Why can’t you be on my side for once?” you whined pitifully.

Natasha slipped her fingers into your hair, combing through your locks. “I am always on your side.”

Your pout fell away and you leaned in, kissing your girlfriend gently.

“Hey, lovebirds, get a room,” Tony called out, his eyes never leaving the television.

Standing up, you grabbed Natasha’s hand and pulled her off the couch. You dragged her from the room, leaving behind your giggling friends. They all knew what was about to happen but none of them could fault you.

You really were an adorable person in an adorable relationship.

“What are you doing?” Natasha smiled as you brought her into your bedroom.

“You keep saying sweet things and I just…” you blushed, suddenly shy.

Natasha cupped your face, bringing you into a deep kiss. Her tongue trailed along your lips and you granted her access, your tongues tangling together.

She knew what you were saying even if you didn’t.

You backed Natasha up against the wall, cradling the back of her head so that it didn’t bounce against the hard surface. You knew that she enjoyed the roughness of such interactions sometimes but you wanted this to be slow and sweet; an appreciation, one might call it.

Natasha smiled into the kiss, her lips slick as they separated from yours. She was going to tease you for taking control, but as you started leaving nips along her jaw line, the words escaped her and all she could do was moan and grab your waist. Her fingers dug into your hips yet you couldn’t find a single care. If she left fingerprints, you’d wear them proudly.

Stopping just above the neckline of her shirt, you gripped the sides and pulled it off, careful not to rip it. You liked this shirt; it looked damn good on her.

Natasha kicked off the wall and shoved you towards the bed, but your training prevented you from tumbling back. Catching your lover off guard, you spun her around and knocked her onto the plushy mattress. You straddled her hips, your palms pressed down onto the bed on either side of her head.

“I’m in control tonight,” you announced, trying to sound serious and dominating despite usually being the one in Natasha’s position.

Natasha’s brow arched and you deflated a little.

“Please,” you murmured, your lips lingering near her ear.

Natasha smirked but nodded, growing slack and pliant. She would let you have your fun for now and that’s all you could ask for.

Kissing across her neck and down to her chest, you reached behind her and tugged off her bra. You tossed it aside like it were trash - and to you, it was. It was keeping you from your target and that meant it needed to go.

Now.

Capturing her pert nipple between your lips, you alternated strong sucks and light licks as you tweaked the other with your hand. She moaned, her fingers tangling in your hair as she kept you close. She could already feel herself throbbing with need and prayed you weren’t going to be a tease. That was her thing, after all.

Smirking, you switched breasts and lavished it with equal attention, your hips grinding into Natasha’s. She bucked up into the sensation and you whined, caught off guard.

“Don’t tease,” Natasha panted, a shaky command in her tone.

Nodding, you undid her pants and helped her out of them - without displacing yourself (this was not your first rodeo). You sat on her thigh, your fingers tracing along her stomach as you stared at your lover. She was so sexy, red locks wild and splayed out in such a debauched manner. You would never grow tired of seeing her like this.

Leaning in, you kissed Natasha while sliding your fingers over her soaked panties. She was dripping through the fabric, driving you mad. You could feel her engorged flesh pressing into your palm and you ground your hand into her, earning a high pitched mewl. She grasped at your back, her nails digging into your back. Their bite was dulled by your shirt, but you could still feel her.

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” Natasha complained breathlessly.

Scrambling out of your shirt, it joined Natasha’s on the floor. Your bra followed suit and before you knew it, you were left in only your underwear.

Your digits slipped under Natasha’s ruined panties and you slowly circled her clit, careful not to touch the sensitive flesh yet. Her wetness clung to your fingers and all you wanted to do was bring them to your mouth and clean them off, but you weren’t that big of a tease. You’d make sure she was taken care of, then you’d clean up the mess you made.

Finally pressing your thumb to her clit, you bent down and started painting her chest in hickeys.

“(Y/N),” Natasha warned, her hips jerking.

Grinning, you pressed a kiss to the mark you’d left atop her breast. “What, baby?”

“Fuck me.” Natasha’s eyes rolled back in her head as you pressed a little firmer.

Finally, two of your fingers slid home and a loud moan escaped your girlfriend. Starting a steady pace, you watched Natasha’s chest bounce with each thrust, her hips mindlessly following your movement. She was sucking you in, dragging you deeper.

You knew the moment your fingers found her sweet spot by the noise that broke from her throat and the way her stride stuttered. One hand gripped the bedsheets so tight you were worried she’d rip them while the other found purchase on the back of your neck. She brought you into a kiss, her moans and little noises filling your mouth.

Her release came sudden and violent, overtaking her in mere seconds. She shuddered, gasping into the kiss as though it had stolen all of her breath - and maybe it had.

You helped her ride it out before slowly removing your fingers, bringing them up to your lips so you could clean them off. You moaned appreciatively, her taste so divine on your tongue.

Natasha gazed up at you, love and euphoria shining bright in the green. She cupped your cheek, hand trembling as the last of her orgasm washed over her.

“I love you,” she whispered, a flushed smile splitting her lips.

“I love you too,” you replied softly, pecking her cheek before lying beside her on the bed.

As silence enveloped the room, you smiled. Maybe to the others the two of you didn’t make a lot of sense but right here, and right now, that didn’t matter. Perfection didn’t always have to make sense.

Sometimes, it just was.

Chapter Text

Sleeping was not your strong suit. Plagued with nightmares and memories, you always seemed to wake up drenched in sweat and far more tired than when you went to bed. It was miserable and every night sleep seemed so daunting.

Glancing at your sleeping girlfriend, you sighed softly, your fingers lifting to comb through her soft hair as she cuddled into your side. She always looked so pretty when she slept and it always managed to calm your racing heart to see her beside you.

Loving her was one of the easiest things you’d ever learned to do. She was gentle and patient, her eyes always so soft when you talked about your past. She understood in ways the rest of the team didn’t and it had drawn you to her but her heart is what kept you.

Inching out of bed, you replaced your shoulder with a pillow, smiling as she grumbled. You knew there was a good chance she would wake, but you hoped she wouldn’t. She’d just gotten back from a mission and she deserved a peaceful sleep.

Slipping from the room, you walked into your tiny kitchen and started making some tea, hoping it would help bleed out some of your terrible dreams. Each floor had a tiny kitchenette in it that way no one would have to trek all the way up to the main kitchen area, which you appreciated. You often found yourself going for tea in the middle of the night, so you would have hated having to wander up three floors.

Once the tea finished boiling, you poured some into a mug and sipped, climbing onto one of the chairs surrounding the counter. You stared blankly into your cup, thoughts swimming. God, sleep was the last thing you wanted but you were so damn tired.

Feet padding down the hallway caught your attention and you peeked over your shoulder. Wanda, dressed in an oversized t-shirt and shorts, stood in the doorway, sleep in her eyes and a sympathetic smile on her lips.

“Trouble sleeping, lyubov moya?” Her accent was thick and it sent shivers along your spine. You’ve always loved her accent.

You nodded, exhaustion evident in your gaze.

Wanda meandered over to you and wrapped her arms around your neck, nuzzling it. “Is there anything I can do?”

You shook your head, twisting slightly so you could press a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m okay.”

“Will you come back to bed then?”

You smiled. “You can go back to bed, love. I’ll be in soon?”

“No,” she whined, tugging at your shirt. “How will I sleep without my big spoon?”

Chuckling quietly, you peered at your tea before nodding. “Okay. Let’s go to bed.”

You stood and wrapped your arm around Wanda’s shoulders, letting her lean against you as you led her back to bed. She was yawning and you felt bad for waking her up but she poked you, your thoughts too loud for her to ignore.

“Stop that,” she commanded sleepily, shoving you onto the mattress before lying on top of you, burying her face into your neck and sprawling out.

“What are you doing?” you laughed, holding her close and tugging the blanket up so that it covered you both.

“You’re so soft, I think I’m gonna nap here on you,” she replied, her words slurring slightly as sleep threatened to overtake her.

You would have shaken your head, but her face against your throat stopped you. You didn’t want to displace or upset your tired lover.

“Sleep,” you cooed, carding your fingers through brunette locks.

Eventually her breathing evened out and she went slack, puffs of air tickling your neck. You had no idea why but it was so soothing. Your eyes grew heavy and you followed her into sleep.

You didn’t wake up again that night.

Chapter Text

Kara’s hands trembled and she nervously wrung them as she waited for you and the rest of the “Superfriends” to show up. Game Night was a big deal and no one ever missed unless things were going horribly wrong so all she had to do right now was wait.

It was unusual for her to be so nervous about something as simple as Game Night, but tonight was special. Well, maybe special. It might be a total disaster. She didn’t really know but she prayed to Rao that everything worked out in her favor because if it blew up in her face, she’d be heartbroken.

Tonight was going to be the night she admitted she had feelings for you.

She was going to wait for the games to end and the others to leave (you were always the last to go, always volunteering to stay and help clean up) and then she was - hopefully - going to sit you down and tell you how she felt. It was a scary thing to do, but she was determined to get it all out in the open.

The first knock on the door had her moving at an inhuman speed. You were the only one who ever knocked, stating every time she said something that you didn’t just want to barge in.

“It’s rude, Kara,” you would laugh. “I get why Alex can do it but I’m not Alex.”

She threw the door wide and you jumped back, startled by her sudden presence. Your fist was still raised to knock but it fell to your side.

“Hi,” Kara greeted shyly, biting her lip as she looked you over.

“Hey,” you smiled, walking up to the superhero and wrapping your arms around her waist. You hugged her briefly and it left Kara wanting to pout. She wished you would have held on longer.

“How was work, Ms. Pulitzer Winner?” you asked, stepping into the threshold of her apartment.

Kara beamed, padding after you. “It was great! I met an alien who runs an animal shelter and donates so much money to other non-kill shelters to help them stay in business. She was so sweet and her animals were so cute. I almost adopted a cat but my landlord would have killed me.”

Your chest warmed at the sight of Kara’s innocent expression and the admiration in her eyes. You adored her and her genuineness. She was too good for Earth but God you were so glad to have met her.

“I’m glad,” you replied honestly, “Maybe you could take me to the shelter some time and show me around? I’ve been wanting to get a pet and my landlord doesn’t care. You could help me pick one out and, of course, you’d be able to come see them whenever.”

Kara paused. Not only did this sound like a date but the idea of sharing a pet with you made her heart pound in her chest. Maybe tonight wouldn’t go badly at all.

“T-that sounds great!” Kara squeaked, her cheeks going crimson.

You didn’t understand Kara’s blush but you found it precious all the same.

“How was things in the lab?” Kara inquired, rubbing her hands over her cheeks to will the blood away.

You were Lena’s lead scientist at L-Corp and honestly, you loved your job. You were in charge of projects and helping the other scientists if they slammed into a mental wall. It was the best job you could think of and you wouldn’t change it for the world.

Plus it had brought you so wonderful friends whom you wouldn’t trade for anything.

“Oh, things are going. A couple of the guys are stuck on this formula and I’ve been trying to help them but we’re all a little confused it seems.”

Kara chewed her lip. “The next time you’re free you could bring it by and I might be able to help. I was supposed to go into the science guild on Krypton and your science on Earth isn’t really advanced so maybe I could help you solve your mystery.”

Grinning, you threw your arms around Kara and squeezed. “Thank you! It’s been days and we’re still lost,” you admitted.

Kara relished your arms around her and the way your scent lingered even as you let go. “You’re welcome, (Y/N). You know I’d do anything for you,” she said thoughtlessly, her eyes widening the moment she realized what she said.

Your brow arched at the admittance but before you could say anything, the door flew open and Alex announced herself loudly, Kelly not too far behind shaking her head.

You waved at the newcomers and took the beer from Alex’s arm, snagging a bottle as you set the box on the counter. You cracked it open and sipped, eyeing Kara as she grabbed Alex’s wrist and tugged her towards her bedroom, leaving you and Kelly bewildered.

“Do you know what that was about?” Kelly wondered.

“No idea,” you shrugged.

-X-

“What do you mean you’re telling (Y/N) how you feel? How do you feel?” Alex questioned, confusion shining in her eyes.

“I think I’m in love with her,” Kara whispered, her arms wrapped around her waist.

Alex was stunned. She prided herself on knowing Kara but she had obviously missed something. “You love her?”

Nodding, Kara stared imploringly at Alex. She was silently begging her to understand.

“Come here.” Alex beckoned Kara over and embraced her, rubbing her little sister’s back. “I’m proud of you for admitting it. I’m sorry I didn’t pay more attention. (Y/N) is great and you two would make the cutest couple. Well, second to Kelly and me but still,” Alex teased.

With a watery laugh, Kara nodded. “I hope it all works out. I’m so nervous,” she mumbled.

“It will,” Alex said confidently. “(Y/N) would be stupid not to feel the same and we both know she is not stupid.”

Kara heard the door opening and the rest of the group pouring into her apartment. She let go of Alex and wiped the tears that gathered in her eyes away. “Well, everyone’s here.”

“Then let’s go party!” Alex grinned, leading Kara from the bedroom and back into the living room.

Kara found you chatting with Brainy and Nia, discussing Dreamer’s latest heroics. You were always so intrigued by the notion of heroes and knowing two of them just made you wish you were one. It also made you worry - a lot. These heroes were your friends; you wanted them safe.

Lena and James were standing in the corner, their break up still fresh though it was obvious they were trying to work out their problems so that it wouldn’t affect the dynamic of the group. Kelly was nearby, secretly listening to the former couple talk. She couldn’t help it; James was her brother and Lena was her friend.

As Kara joined you, your arm instinctively came around her and you hugged her momentarily before looking at her. “You okay?”

Kara nodded, her palms sweating and heart racing. “Y-Yeah! I’m fine.” She smiled, hoping to hide her nerves. “What do you think we should play first?”

“Not Monopoly,” J’onn piped up from the kitchen, a drink in his hand. “I refuse to play that again with Lena.”

Heading her name, Lena’s head snapped around and she playfully glared at J’onn. “You just don’t want to lose again.”

“You’re right,” J’onn agreed with a shrug.

Snickering silently, you and Nia shared a look.

“I think we should play Scrabble,” Nia suggested.

You nodded. “Definitely.”

In a room full of brilliant people, Scrabble was such an interesting endeavor, considering there were three scientists, a former DEO Director, three journalists, a psychologist and a brainiac from a different time. The board was always full of strange words that would have left most people scratching their heads.

“We should do teams,” you gasped, “Do you know how cool that would be?”

“I call Nia,” Brainy announced immediately, touching his girlfriend’s arm.

“Kelly!” Alex shouted, wildly gesturing for the woman to join her on the chair.

Smirking, you latched onto Kara’s bicep and batted your eyes at her. “Wanna be my partner?”

Swallowing drily, Kara nodded. “Sounds like fun,” she murmured, almost breathless. She wanted to be your partner in more ways than one but this was a good start.

“I call J’onn,” Lena said from across the room, stepping away from her ex. “I believe we could have a spectacular partnership.” She winked at the older man and he chuckled, accepting the offer with a raise of his cup.

James sighed. “I guess I’m on my own,” he muttered irritably, though he couldn’t blame Lena for ditching him.

Kara hurriedly set up the game, ignoring the shake of her hands as she put out the pieces. Kelly, ever observant, noticed but Alex’s quick jerk of the head kept her from asking. You settled on the couch, waiting for your partner to join you and watched the others pair up.

Tonight was going to be awesome.

-X-

No one was surprised that you and Kara won - or that Lena and J’onn came in second. Both of your vocabularies were spectacular and it made sense that you two would conjure such words out of nothingness.

None of you, however, had realized how late it had gotten. The game had lasted way longer than you’d anticipated and now the others were planning to leave. Lena first, since she had to be up so early though James and J’onn weren’t far behind.

“Are you sure you don’t need any help?” Nia asked, staring at the empty chip bowls and drinks scattered about.

“Don’t worry, Nia, we’ve got this,” you assured her, gathering up some of the bottles near you.

Nodding, Nia hugged Kara before dragging Brainy out of the apartment.

Alex lingered by the door, her hand clasped in Kelly’s. “I’ll see you tomorrow for breakfast, right?”

Kara hesitated and Alex amended her question. “I’ll see you unless something comes up?”

Nodding firmly, Kara waved at her sister before the door slammed closed behind her.

The apartment was silent yet it wasn’t uncomfortable. You and Kara simply worked around each other. You knew Kara could do this by herself in seconds but she never rebuffed your help so you always stayed. You didn’t mind, though. Spending time with Kara was your favorite part of any day.

Once things were finally in place and the trash was tossed, you peered at the door. “I guess I should be going,” you remarked, a little sad to leave this wonderful woman’s presence.

“A-actually, can you stay for a minute? I was hoping we could talk. I mean, if you can’t that’s okay too. You might have plans or something and I didn’t think about that…” Kara would have continued rambling on, but you grabbing her hand and leading her towards the couch stopped her word-vomit.

“Is everything okay?” you asked, concerned by the terror swirling in ocean eyes. “You’ve seemed a little off all night.”

Kara stared at your connected hands, the words dying on her tongue as she reveled in your warmth. She had so much she wanted to say yet she couldn’t get it out. Usually if she was scared or anxious, she wouldn’t shut up but in this moment, she had no idea what to say.

“Kara?” you prompted, slowly pulling your hand away.

Before you could fully inch back, her hand was in yours again, fingers tangled together as she struggled to find the right thing to say. Seeing her in such turmoil, you stayed quiet, your thumb stroking the back of her hand comfortingly as you waited. It was obvious something of importance was bothering her; you just didn’t know what.

Kara inhaled sharply, the dam holding her back finally breaking as words spilled forth. “I think I have feelings for you. Wait,” she shook her head, panic in her voice, “I know that I have feelings for you. You’re my favorite person. When your name shows up on my phone, my heart feels like a hummingbird got trapped and when I see you I feel like I’m flying - and I know what that feels like! You’re my favorite partner at Game Night and when you leave, you take a part of me with you. I think you’re so beautiful and smart and funny and sweet and I don’t want to spend time with anyone as much as I want to spend it with you…” she trailed off, your stunned expression terrifying her.

“Kara…” you didn’t know what to say, completely blown away by her admissions.

“Look, I feel things when I’m with you, and it’s new and scary but I think I like it because I like you. I think I’m in love with you, (Y/N). And it’s okay if you don’t feel the same, but -”

You threw yourself at the superhero, catching her by surprise. Slamming into her felt like hitting a soft-fleshed, steel-muscled brick wall but you didn’t care. All you wanted was Kara’s lips on yours - now.

A noise of surprise escaped Kara when your mouth crashed into hers, her arms encircling your waist. When she realized what was happening, Kara’s eyes slipped closed and she reciprocated the affection presented eagerly, her lips moving against yours as you poured everything into it.

You didn’t know if you could call this love - not yet - but you cared about Kara in a way that was definitely not platonic. You often fantasized about kissing Kara, late at night when no one was around, but you’d never wanted your affections to get in the way of your friendship so you had tried burying them.

Maybe you should have said something after all.

“I like you too,” you whispered between the brushing of your lips.

Blood rushed to Kara’s head and a dopey grin tugged at the edges of pillow-soft flesh. “Really?”

You nodded, your forehead against hers. “Really really.”

“Oh,” Kara breathed, unable to form a coherent thought.

You giggled, pressing a kiss to Kara’s reddened cheek.

“That’s good,” she nodded, her head bobbing awkwardly.

Smiling, you leaned back, staring into those eyes you could stare into for days. “How about we get breakfast in the morning? Just you and me?”

Kara nodded enthusiastically, already planning an apology text to Alex in her head. She looked so adorable that you couldn’t help kissing her again. And again. And again.

By the fourth parting of your lips, you noticed you’d somehow managed to end up on Kara’s lap, your legs on either side of her on the couch. Kara’s strong hands gripped your waist, her chest heaving despite not really needing that much oxygen. She was staring at you like you held the moon and stars in your hand and it was so empowering - yet so humbling.

“Stay the night?” Kara requested imploringly. “Please, nothing has to happen. I just want to cuddle.”

You smiled. “You’re so cute,” you cooed, undoing her ponytail so that you could card your fingers through her blonde locks. “Cuddles sound good.”

“Yay!” Kara swept you up into her arms, earning a squeal of surprise as your legs wrapped around her torso and your hands flew up to her neck.

Love was a big word - one you couldn’t say yet - but it wouldn’t take long.

Love never does.

Chapter Text

Sighing for the hundredth time, you meticulously began trying to untangle the cord to your daughter’s favorite glowing bats. She adored them because they were illuminated in black light and she thought that was the coolest thing, so here you were.

Two seconds away from screaming.

You could hear Maria talking with your daughter at the table, a math book probably set in front of them. She was trying to help your daughter with her homework because she was more equipped to handle it than you.

Eventually the tangles came loose and a cry of victory escaped you. You rose, eyeing the room. There were decorations strewn about the room already, so you weren’t positive where to attach these. A brilliant thought popped into your brain and you grinned.

Walking down the hall, you stopped in front of your daughter’s room and started stringing it up around the frame. You were fairly certain she was going to love this. Besides, if you left it in the living room it would make things look tacky because, God, there were so many Halloween decorations in there.

You loved Halloween and so did your daughter. Maria didn’t mind the holiday, but she wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic about it as the two of you were. However, she tolerated your need to decorate everything and that’s what mattered most.

Satisfied, you strolled through your home and into the dining room.

“How’s your homework coming?” you asked, combing your fingers through your daughter’s hair.

“It’s hard,” she whined, glancing up at you.

“You’ll get it soon enough, sweetie. That’s what Mama’s here for,” you grinned, earning an eye roll from Maria.

“That’s if Mama can get it,” Maria muttered to herself, though you heard her clearly.

“Well, take a break and come take a look around,” you instructed, offering your hand to your daughter.

Hopping out of her chair, you and your daughter headed into the living room.

“Wow,” she breathed, taking in the scene. You had fake cobwebs thrown about, little pumpkin lights around the front door, a pop-up candy bowl witch on the table with a few pieces of sugary goodness in it, and a black light attached to the ceiling (thank God for ladders and some semblance of brilliance).

“Looks good, babe,” Maria praised, wrapping her arms around you from behind.

“Thanks,” you grinned, leaning back into the embrace. “I did pretty great.”

Maria laughed. “Don’t go getting a big head on us.”

Shrugging, you peered down at your daughter. “Go look at your door.”

Blinking in confusion, she did as instructed, disappearing down the hall. You smirked, waiting for the impending reaction.

“Oh my gosh!” your daughter squealed, her voice echoing.

You danced victoriously in Maria’s arms before spinning around, pressing a brief kiss to her lips. “I am a genius,” you announced proudly.

Maria arched a brow. “Well, if you’re a genius then you help (D/N) with her homework.”

“Fine, I’m a Halloween genius then,” you amended with a pout.

Chuckling, Maria kissed you again before the sound of little feet beating against the floor entered the room.

“Ew,” your daughter scoffed in disgust.

You laughed. “Yes, child of mine?”

Your daughter charged you, throwing her arms around your waist. “Thank you, Mommy, I love it.”

You patted her head. “You’re welcome, sweetie.” You glanced at the clock. “But now you and Mama need to finish your homework so you can go get ready for bed.”

Huffing, your daughter stomped into the dining room and hopped back up into her chair, Maria following close behind.

You couldn’t contain your smile. God, you loved your little family.

-X-

Halloween was upon you faster than you anticipated and soon you found yourself standing in front of a mirror in the hallway, finishing up the final touches of your makeup. Smacking your lips together, you smiled triumphantly.

You were donning a Supergirl costume, complete with the correct chest symbol and a cape. Your daughter was supposed to be Batgirl while Maria took on Wonder Woman’s insignia. It was going to be a fun night, you just wished they’d hurry up!

Maria sauntered into the corridor, a shield on her back and a plastic sword at her side. Her hair - usually pulled up in a tight bun - fell behind her and the tiara on her head suited her.

In another life, she would have made an incredible superhero.

Smiling, Maria wrapped her arm around you and tugged you into her side, brushing her lips carefully against yours so that your gloss didn’t didn’t smear.

“You look amazing,” you complimented, your hands running across her chest.

Your eyes traveled down the expansion of her front, your lip snagged between your teeth as they glided over her legs. You weren’t lying; she looked damn good.

“So do you,” Maria replied.

The click of tiny footsteps echoed off your floor and you turned in time to catch sight of your daughter strutting towards you. She stopped in front of you, hands on her hips and a huge smile on her face.

“Ready, sweetie?” you asked, watching her present her bag proudly.

“Yeah!” she cheered. “Let’s go!”

-X-

The streets of New York were filled with children, each in their own costumes with tired parents following behind them. Not many of them were dressed up like you but your daughter didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. She was proud of how her little family looked.

Accepting candy from another storefront, you walked down the street, your hand in Maria’s and your daughter directly in front of you. Her bag was so full already and you hadn’t even stopped by Avengers Tower yet. You’d promised your wife’s friends that you would come by, having told them all about your daughter wanting to be a superhero “just like them.”

You came across an alleyway and your daughter froze, her eyes glued on something. Coming to a stop, you followed her line of sight and frowned.

A boy was standing at the other end, a group of kids surrounding him. They were obviously bullying him, teasing him about his “cheap” Hulk costume and the fact he had a hole-filled pillowcase in his hand.

Your daughter huffed angrily and thrusted her bag into Maria’s arms before rushing down the alley with you close behind, though you stayed in the shadows.

“Hey!” she shouted, fury on her tongue and venom in her eyes. “Leave him alone.”

The group turned their attention to her, the leader smirking.

“What are you going to do about it, short stack? Make us?” he snorted, walking over to your daughter.

He was quite a bit taller than her and you were about to step out of the shadows and make your presence known, but something stopped you.

“I can’t make you,” she admitted with a shrug. “But I know someone who can.”

His eyes took on a dangerous glint and he pushed your daughter a little. Not enough to hurt her, but enough to try and scare her. “Oh yeah? And who’s that?”

“My uncles,” she announced proudly, crossing her arms and glaring defiantly at him.

“Do that again, pipsqueak,” a voice called out, “I dare you.”

Glancing at the sky, you could barely contain your laughter. Tony, in his Iron Man suit, was hovering above the alleyway. His face wasn’t visible but you could just imagine his look of thunder.

The boy taunting your daughter stumbled back fearfully. “I…uh…”

Two sets of feet hit the ground beside him and his head jerked to the side, coming face to face with a furious Bucky and a less-than-impressed Steve.

“I think you need to leave,” Bucky hissed, stepping closer to the boy.

Scrambling away, he ran past his group, leaving them behind. They stared after him before words and apologies began pouring from their lips. They refused to look at the superheroes and hurriedly dissipated. The only one who remained was the boy they’d been picking on. He was dirty and there were tears in his eyes, but he was smiling.

“Thank you,” he said quietly as he walked up to your daughter.

“You’re welcome,” she replied genuinely, a smile on her lips. She glanced behind her at you and Maria, who had stopped at your side. “Would you like to join us? We’re still trick-or-treating and it’s always nicer to get candy with friends.”

He looked at the few Avengers filling the alleyway and at you. “A-are you sure?”

“Yeah,” your daughter nodded. “It’ll be fun.”

He hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Sounds great.”

Your daughter walked over to Maria and accepted her bag, bringing her new friend along with her. You couldn’t stop your smile and you bent down, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before leaning into Maria.

“Ready?” your daughter asked, earning nods from everyone, including the Avengers stationed about.

Tony dropped to the ground and began following your daughter out of the alleyway, Steve and Bucky close behind. You and Maria took up the rear, though you could hear your daughter just fine.

“Wait until you meet my aunt Nat! You’ll love her!” she proclaimed.

Your arm curled around Maria’s waist and you grinned.

“We raised a great daughter,” you said.

Maria kissed the side of your head. “We really did.”

Peering at the love of your life, you noticed the earpiece secured to the shell of her ear and it dawned on you how Tony and Steve had known about the incident. You chuckled silently. Your wife was so protective - and you loved her for it.

Your daughter’s voice rang out into the night again. “Though, with a costume like that, you’ll probably like my uncle Bruce more. He created the Hulk on accident, you know.”

“You know the Hulk?!”

“Duh,” she replied with a giggle, patting his arm. “You’ll get it eventually.”

Chapter Text

Carol Danvers was an oddity in your life.

She was initially one of your best friends but recently she’d become your girlfriend, something you had never expected to happen. You had liked her for so long but you hadn’t anticipated those feelings being returned.

You liked it, though.

But her former life made her strange. Being a Kree had messed with her emotions, so she was a tad bit closed off sometimes but you were managing it. If she started feeling overwhelmed, you’d let her talk through it or you’d back off until she was ready. Your friends didn’t really understand but that didn’t matter. Your relationship was really none of their business.

However, there were times her emotions erupted forth like a volatile volcano and it left your head swimming. She would get irrational or let jealousy overcome her, which threw you into a tailspin. She was so confident and headstrong that when she got insecure like that, it left you wondering what was going on in that beautiful brain of hers.

Today was one of those days.

You’d been training with Wanda, helping the younger woman hone some of her hand-to-hand combat skills. She wasn’t the best fighting at close range without her powers but she wasn’t the worst person you’d ever trained with either. Some of the SHIELD agents you’d worked with before joining the Avengers had been total losses. They would have never survived their first missions.

Helping Wanda up from the floor, you smiled at her. “You’re getting better. I’m proud of you!”

Wanda blushed, brushing invisible lint off her shirt. “Thanks, (Y/N). You’re a great teacher.”

You patted Wanda’s arm and spun around, catching sight of your girlfriend standing in the doorway, an unreadable expression marring her features. You waved at her but she simply turned on her heel and stormed off, leaving you terribly confused. You bid Wanda goodbye and chased after Carol, your feet padding heavily against the floor.

“Hey, wait up!” you called out.

Carol slowed her long gait and you finally caught her, your hand wrapping around her arm and bringing her to a halt.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” you questioned, noting the darkened color of her eyes.

“Nothing,” Carol snapped, yanking her arm back.

Hurt by her sudden action, you crossed your arms. “Clearly something is bothering you.”

Carol glanced away, her face falling as she studied the wall behind her. “I saw you with her.”

“With who? Wanda?” Your brows bunched in bewilderment. Carol knew you trained with the witch, so why was she struggling with this now?

Carol nodded sharply, her expression growing harsh. “You like her!”

Balking, you could only gape at the woman. She must have taken that as a confirmation because she stalked off, leaving you to try and wrap your mind around what was happening.

Once you regained your wit about you, you ran down the hall to her room and waited impatiently for the door to slide open. It wasn’t locked so you didn’t even attempt to knock because you were certain she’d tell you to get lost.

You found her sitting on the edge of her bed wearing a disheartened expression.

“Baby,” you murmured, walking over to her and crouching down. “I don’t have feelings for Wanda. She’s just special.”

“Why is she so special to you? Do you like her or something?” Carol’s spine tensed like she was preparing for war. “I thought you liked me.”

“I do like you,” you assured her, taking her hands in yours. “I like you a lot. She’s special to me because I see her as a little sister. She’s lost so much and I haven’t seen my family in a long time, so she’s kind of become like family to me.”

“Why was she blushing then?” Carol demanded, eyeing you suspiciously.

Chuckling softly, your thumbs stroked the back of Carol’s warm hands. “Because she doesn’t accept praise well, just like someone else I know,” you teased, earning a hint of a smile.

Carol tugged you up, bringing you to stand between her legs. “I’m sorry.”

You carded your fingers through Carol’s short locks and you smiled. “There’s nothing to be sorry for, baby,” you replied. “Can I sit in your lap?”

Carol looked up at you through long lashes and nodded. You straddled her thighs, encircling her waist with your legs. Your arms came around her neck and you kissed her sweetly. Your lips massaged hers, her tongue peeking out to meet yours. She easily took control of the kiss, her hands gripping your waist, and you became like putty against her, pliant and willing.

Kissing her was one of your favorite activities, second only to cuddling with the former Kree. Her fingers dug into your sides and you moaned, shamelessly grinding into her.

“Is bad I like it when you’re mad at me? It makes the sex so much better,” you breathed.

A throaty laugh escaped your girlfriend and she rolled over so you were on your back, legs dangling off the edge of the bed. “I’ve heard jealous sex is better than angry sex,” she replied with a wink, sliding off of you so that she could stand. Her hands fell to the waistband of your shorts and she started working them down.

“I guess we’ll find out,” you smirked, squealing as she yanked them off.

“I guess we will.”

Chapter Text

You sipped your wine, free hand on Lena’s thigh as you listened to your girlfriend chat with the former owner of her newest venture. You’d forgotten what his name was and honestly, you didn’t care enough to ask Lena.

His wife and adult children were with him, daughter and son. They were nice enough but you hated the way his son leered at Lena. It was starting to irk you yet you said nothing. Instead, you simply gripped Lena’s exposed thigh, fingers stroking just below the hem of her dress.

What you failed to realize was the underlying tension between his daughter and Lena. She was openly staring at you, lip caught between her teeth as she watched you. She eyed your dark button-up like she was seconds away from ripping it off you, leaving Lena frustrated beyond belief. Only she had the right to look at you in such a manner; you’d dressed up for Lena, not for her.

“What do you do, (Y/N)?” the man’s daughter asked, subtly luring you into a conversation while Lena chatted with her father.

“Oh, I work for CatCo,” you replied proudly. You were working on a project with Kara and Nia at the moment, but you were hopeful it would earn you a Pulitzer.

“Doesn’t Ms. Luthor own that too?” She posed the statement as a question, but there was an obvious dig hidden in there.

Your brows furrowed together. “I’ve been there longer than Lena’s owned it. We actually met because she purchased CatCo.”

His daughter’s smile was fake as she nodded. “Well, if I had someone as charming on my staff as you, I’d have definitely snatched you up too. If you’re ever looking for a new job…”

Her eyes drifted across your chest and you weren’t the only one to notice.

Lena bristled beside you. “Back off, she’s mine.” Though she made it sound like a joke, there was a hint of warning in her eyes and daring on her tongue.

You squeezed Lena’s leg slightly before patting it. “Thank you for the compliment but I’m perfectly happy where I am.”

Lena smirked. She could have leaned over and kissed you for such a refusal, but that was terribly unprofessional and she wasn’t going to let his daughter know that her words had any reaction.

Your hand drifted a little higher up Lena’s leg and she paused, watching you out of the corner of her eye. Her cheeks were slowly growing warm the higher you crept, but she continued conversing with the former owner like nothing was happening.

Inches from her core, you stopped your hand and smiled. Her leg was tense and her jaw was clenched, the only signs that you were having any effect on her. Chuckling quietly to yourself, you reached for your glass of wine and took a hearty drink.

Letting your pinky bridge the gap, you brushed the digit over her clothed center. She gasped slightly, discretely reaching under the table to stop your movements.

“Are you okay, love?” you asked innocently, faux worry on your face.

“I’m fine,” she replied, forcing a smile. “I just though something touched my foot.”

You wanted to smirk, but you kept it away. Lena was a hell of an actress, you’d give her that.

You stood up, knowing fully well Lena would follow. “Excuse me for a moment, I need to use the restroom.”

Starting for the bathroom, you hear another chair scoot. “Wait, darling. I’ll come with you. I need to fix my makeup.”

You stopped, waiting for Lena to join you before you ventured towards the back of the restaurant. Your arm encircled her lithe waist, keeping her at your side as you strolled confidently.

“That wasn’t funny,” Lena said as you stepped into the restroom, her glare holding no malice as she checked her lipstick in the mirror.

You smirked, leaning against the wall so you could study your beautiful, delicious girlfriend. She looked so put together in her tight black dress - and God, did you want to fuck that all up. You wanted to see her debauched, lipstick smeared and her hair a wild mess.

Stalking over to her, you reached around her and locked the door, the “click” audible in the silence of the room.

“What are you doing?” Lena’s brow arched, her painted lips quirking into a curious smile.

Grabbing her hips, you backed her up until she was pinned against the door. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t push you away - not that you had expected her to. This game of cat and mouse - let’s see how far things would go - was pretty common in your relationship. You often teased her at inopportune times but never when it was detrimental or dangerous.

You pressed your hips into hers and a delicate moan escaped red lips. She could feel a bulge in your pants pushing against her and suddenly her mind went cloudy with lust. You were packing, something you didn’t do often in public.

“Oh God,” she murmured, lacing her fingers at the base of your neck.

You smirked. One hand slid down to the hem of her dress, rucking it up slightly, while the other skated across her chest, barely brushing hardening nipples.

“Say the word and I’ll stop,” you said seriously, eyeing your lover. You’d never do anything she wasn’t comfortable with and if she decided she didn’t want to do this here - now - then that was fine.

Lena moaned, her hips jerking into yours as you circled her nipple with your finger.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered, her lips touching yours. It was a simple touch, not enough to smear her lipstick but enough that you could exchange breaths.

Flicking your tongue over her upper lip, you dropped to your knees and hiked up her dress so you could kiss along her smooth thighs. You nibbled on the sensitive flesh, leaving behind marks that only you two would know were there. You could smell her arousal, the scent heady and sweet.

It was driving you mad.

You shoved her dress up to her hips and swiped your tongue over black lace, earning a low whine. Divulging her of her underwear, you tucked them into your back pocket and dived in, your tongue and lips massaging swollen flesh. You sucked greedily, moaning as she buried her fingers in your hair. Maybe you were the one who was going to walk out of here looking rather undone.

She shuddered as your moan reverberated through her. She was getting closer with each dedicated flick of your tongue but she wanted - no, she needed - more.

“(Y/N),” she gasped desperately, silently begging you to fuck her.

You stood, your hand replacing your mouth as you circled her clit, your strokes strong and determined. Her hands came to your waist and she started undoing your pants, her hands shaking as she tried to focus. It was hard, considering she was teetering on the edge of an orgasm.

Your fake appendage finally sprang out of your pants and you grinned. Lena was staring at the blue strap on like it was a lifeline and you couldn’t wait to bury it inside her.

Your hand left her core and you rubbed her arousal over the silicon before grasping it. You pressed against Lena, slowly rubbing it along her heated center. She squirmed, her hands coming to your shoulders and nails digging in deep.

“Stop teasing,” she demanded breathlessly.

Smirking, you lined up the dildo with her entrance and carefully pushed inside her. She moaned - loudly - as you slid deep, her breath catching in her throat as you bottomed out the best you could. Working your hips slowly, you pulled out before thrusting back inside.

Her wetness smeared onto your pants and you were so glad you decided to wear black. She was so inviting, dragging you in deeper with every thrust and you wished for a split second that you could feel it - feel that connection.

“God don’t stop! Please don’t stop!” Lena begged as you picked up the pace, your lips attaching themselves to her neck though you only placed kisses along it. You’d hate to leave a mark and everyone know what you’d done.

Your hand dipped low and you started playing with her slick, engorged clit as you pounded into her. By the way she gripped at you, you could tell she was close. Her breathing was labored and her nails dug so far into your shoulders that you were surprised she hadn’t ripped your shirt.

“(Y/N), (Y/N), (Y/N),” she chanted, eyes rolling back in her head.

A few more thrusts pushed her over the edge and she bit back a scream, her head slamming into the door behind her. You slowed your pace, helping her ride out her pleasure before slipping out of her. You didn’t cum but that was okay. This was about her.

Besides, she would definitely make it up to you later.

She panted, her forehead landing on your shoulder as she came down from her high. Her arms shakily encircled your neck; you were the only thing keeping her upright. You embraced her, careful not to accidentally touch her with your arousal-soaked hand.

You’d hate to ruin such a lovely dress.

“I love you,” she whispered, tilting her head so she could press a kiss to the underside of your jaw.

Smiling adoringly, you replied, “I love you too.”

She released you and cautiously walked to the sink, staring at herself in the mirror. For the most part, she looked rather normal. Her hair was still in its tight ponytail and, despite having flushed cheeks, her makeup was untouched.

You readjusted yourself, sliding the dildo back into your pants, before following her lead. You washed off your hands, grinning at the love of your life. You could feel her panties in your pocket but you weren’t giving them back.

You pecked Lena’s cheek as you dried off your hands. “Ready?”

She nodded, tucking her hand in the crook of your arm. You walked out of the bathroom, grateful that no one was waiting outside.

That would have been awkward.

Chapter Text

Fury was certain something was going on. He didn’t know what exactly, but something was fishy. You were acting strange - stranger than usual, anyways. And strange wasn’t exactly the word he’d use.

You were acting different.

Smiles were more frequent and you had a pep in your step that he hadn’t seen in a long time. You were still calm and collected at work, yet there was something about you that left him perplexed.

-X-

“Good morning, Director Fury,” you greeted as you stepped into the Compound.

Fury nodded though it held a fatherly touch. He couldn’t been seen as playing favorites yet everyone knew you came before them. He was the director, but he was your father first. He cared about the good of mankind but you were his first priority; his only daughter.

Continuing through the halls, you said your good mornings to your fellow agents before finally coming across Maria Hill. She was standing in the center of a ring talking with new recruits. The newbies were watching her with wide eyes as she talked and so were you but not for the same reason. You could feel your heart fluttering as you stared at the beautiful woman, her blue eyes flickering up to meet your (e/c).

“Agent Fury,” she called out, startling the recruits. “Would you mind joining me?”

Nodding, you strolled over to her and climbed into the ring. Her fingers twitched like she wanted to reach out for you but she refrained. It was hard, though, having your girlfriend so close and not being able to hold her hand. Maria wasn’t the most affectionate partner but with you, she made the effort.

“This is Agent Fury,” Maria introduced, gesturing at you. “She’s one of our best and she will possibly be leading you on missions so if you see her, show her the utmost respect.”

You waved sheepishly at the new agents. You always got awkward when such high praises were sang. You did your best to be your best but to hear Maria introduce you with such pride made you a little embarrassed.

“Now, today we’re going to show you some close hand-to-hand combat. A lot of you were brought in due to your marksmanship skills and your talents outside of fighting but today, everyone will spar. It’ll give us an idea of your combat abilities. Agent Fury and I will demonstrate, then you’ll get up here,” Maria informed, her voice firm and commanding.

She gestured for you to settle in the other corner and you did, waiting for instructions. Maria set up in her own corner and you took a moment to soak in the sight of her.

She was in her usual attire - a black shirt and dark pants - but she looked gorgeous. She always did.

“Ready?”

At your nod, Maria raced forward at you and gave a calculated swing that you dodged easily. Your fist struck her torso, though you refused to hit her too hard. You would’ve hated yourself if you left a bruise.

She threw another punch and you caught her arm, flipping her onto her back. She stared up at you with a proud gleam in her eye. Knocking her down was a huge accomplishment. You offered her your hand but she looped her leg around yours and jerked you down, rolling on top of you before you could get up. You caught her hands as she tried to pin you but after a struggle, you conceded with a smile.

“Good job, agent,” she praised. Bending down, she whispered, “Meet me in the conference room in about an hour.”

You were confused, but you nodded all the same and Maria got off your hips and helped you to your feet. You nodded to the recruits as you slipped out of the ring and disappeared from the room, headed towards your station.

An hour couldn’t come fast enough.

-X-

Slipping into the conference room, you were startled when two arms slid around your waist and pulled you into a warm body. You immediately recognized Maria, but she had still scared you quite a bit.

“What are you doing?” you murmured. “If Dad catches us…”

“He won’t,” she assured you. “He’s in meetings all day. And,” Maria smiled though you couldn’t really see it in the dark, “I’ve missed you. That last mission was too long.”

You laughed, your arms coming around her neck. “I was only gone three days.”

“But you missed date night,” Maria pointed out.

You acknowledged her point with a jerk of your head before pressing your lips to hers. The kiss was soft and delicate, remaining simple despite the urge to deepen it. That would come later. The fact was, you were tucked away in secret without much time so there was no easy way to get lost in the embrace.

“How about I make it up to you tomorrow night?” you offered. “Dinner at my place?”

“That sounds nice,” Maria agreed, kissing your forehead.

You snuggled into her arms for a second then parted from her, despite your body’s screaming. You wished you could stay here, in this moment, forever but that was impossible.

You both had jobs to do.

-X-

The next night came faster than you anticipated and soon enough Maria was knocking on your door. You tossed it open and grinned. She was still in her SHIELD outfit, meaning she was excited enough to spend time with you that she hadn’t even gone home to change.

“Am I too early?” she asked, offering you a bottle of wine.

“Never,” you beamed, tugging her into your apartment. You set the bottle down and buried your hands in Maria’s hair, pulling her into a sweet but deep kiss.

“Hi,” she said breathlessly as you inches away, your forehead against hers.

“Hi,” you returned, mesmerized by how blue her eyes were.

The smell of your cooking trying to burn brought you out of your reverie and you rushed into the kitchen with Maria not too far behind, bottle in hand.

“Ooh, chicken Alfredo. My favorite,” she commented, leaning against the counter.

“I know,” you replied smugly, stirring the pasta.

When it was ready, the two of you sat down at your table and started eating, chatting about your day between bites. You understood how stressful Maria’s job was. Being your father’s second-in-command was tiring but you were always there to try and make it better for her.

“Agent Donovan isn’t going to last,” Maria commented after dinner, dragging you over to your couch so you could watch a movie.

“Why’s that?” you inquired curiously, flopping onto the couch beside her. You curled into her side, arm tossed over her waist.

“One of the other recruits accidentally broke his nose and he sat on the floor and cried.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” you defended, “Broken noses hurt.”

“True, but in this line of work, a lot worse can happen,” she reminded you, handing you the television remote.

She wasn’t wrong but you still hoped whoever Donovan was would pass. Maybe they could find him a desk job. SHIELD needed good people now that it was restarted.

Flipping on a romantic comedy, the two of you watched it in silence for a few minutes before your lips started drifting along Maria’s neck. She shifted a little, her head tilting as your mouth explored the expansion of skin. Your hand rubbed her stomach and Maria sighed contently.

Eventually your kisses turned to nibbles and Maria began squirming a bit. Her neck was so sensitive and God, you enjoyed that. You loved turning her into a mess. You hadn’t gone very far in your relationship, but it was still fun.

Grabbing Maria’s chin, you tilted her head so that you could attach your lips to hers. Working together in a common dance, her tongue met yours and you moaned softly. Her lips were incredibly soft and you had always loved kissing her. Her tongue wrapped around yours and you inched your way into her lap, straddling her thighs, the movie long forgotten.

Her hands fell to your waist, her lips never leaving yours. Her strong fingers held you tight, keeping you close as you continued kissing. Your head was swimming, caught between lust and love, despite it being way too soon to admit that.

You were so caught up in each other that you never heard your door click open. Fury cautiously stepped inside, his hand on his gun as he entered. He’d been calling your phone for the last hour and you hadn’t picked up, so here he was, checking to make sure nothing bad had happened to you.

Making his way into the living room, he spotted you and froze. He’d known about your sexuality for years so to see you in the arms of a woman wasn’t surprising. Seeing you with Agent Hill, however, was.

He cleared his throat and you jerked your head to look at him. With a yelp, you fell off Maria’s lap and onto the floor, your eyes wide. Maria didn’t know if she should look at you or him, so she chose the safest option which was to help you up.

“Dad! Uh, what are you doing here?” you asked as you massaged your back. Your floor was not soft.

“I called. A lot. And you didn’t answer so I came over to make sure everything was okay. Had I known you had company, I wouldn’t have.”

You smiled uncomfortably. “Yeah, sorry. My phone is in my bedroom charging.”

Fury nodded, staring at Maria who was still refusing to look at him. He knew you were old enough not to need him watching your back but you were his little girl - despite being Maria’s age - and he was going to look out for you.

“Agent Hill,” he said, finally garnering her attention.

“Sir?” she answered, anxiety soaking that one word like a torrential rain.

“You better take care of my daughter,” he warned calmly, “And don’t let this affect anything at work. Your personal lives are your own but don’t bring them into the job.”

Maria nodded, relief flooding her. She’d been terrified he’d forbid you from seeing her or that it would jeopardize her position but clearly that wasn’t the case.

Fury’s attention fell upon you and a faint smile tugged at his lips.

“I’m happy for you, (Y/N). Agent Hill is a good woman. I hope she’ll make you happy.”

You walked over to Fury and tossed your arms around him. “She does. She really does,” you whispered.

He nodded, hugging you for a moment. “I’m glad. And I’m sorry for crashing your evening. I was just worried.”

“I know. I probably would’ve been too,” you admitted as you let him go. “With our line of work…”

“Missed calls are never a good sign,” he finished, earning a chuckle from you. “Well, enjoy the rest of your night and I’ll see you both tomorrow. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, Agent Hill,” he teased as he left.

Maria’s face went red and you giggled.

“That went better than expected,” you said as you settled on the couch beside Maria.

“And you were worried,” Maria joked.

“So were you!”

Maria grinned, pecking your lips before throwing her arm around your shoulders. “Want to finish the movie?”

The mood had been effectively killed by your father but that was okay. A simple night in with your girlfriend, watching bad rom coms, sounded perfect because in this moment, your world was at peace and that’s all you cared about.

“Sounds great.”

Chapter Text

Wanda whined as light streamed through the window and into her eyes. She tried to roll away from it, but your arm around her kept her secure to your side. She huffed pitifully, but snuggled deeper into your side.

“Why are you awake so early?” you murmured, eyes closed and the hint of a smile on your lips.

“Too bright,” Wanda whispered in reply, burying her face in your shoulder.

Chuckling quietly, you turned your head and pressed a kiss to the top of Wanda’s. She sighed happily, kissing your bare shoulder.

“Good morning,” you mumbled, finally opening your eyes. You blinked the sleep from them and stared up at the ceiling. You could feel Wanda’s breath on your flesh and it tickled, but you said nothing.

You didn’t want her to move away.

“Morning,” she replied softly.

Carefully, you rolled over, leaving Wanda plenty of time to get situated on the bed. She smiled sleepily at you, raising her hand so she could cup your cheek. Her thumb stroked your face and you inched closer, pressing your lips to hers. It was chaste and sweet, but a perfect early morning wake up.

“Why don’t we have a lazy day in and stay in bed all day?” you suggested, brushing your nose against hers.

“What if we get hungry?” Wanda laughed, returning the small gesture.

“If I get hungry I can just eat you.” You smirked lecherously, enjoying the blush that bloomed on Wanda’s cheeks.

Wanda kissed you again, a little deeper this time, and you hummed appreciatively. You ignored each other’s morning breath, having grown accustom to it, and kissed languidly, though the softness of the early morning was still there. Your hand touched her bare waist, cupping her hipbone.

“Your hand is cold,” Wanda whispered against your lips, giggling when you slipped your hand over her stomach.

“Maybe you should warm it up,” you leered, tracing it down the pane of her stomach before dipping low.

Wanda gasped, dragging you into a deep kiss as you stroked sensitive flesh. In a matter of minutes you had her panting and whining into your mouth, silent pleas escaping.

And when she came, it was glorious. She ripped her mouth away from yours and cried out, her eyes glowing bright. The room was enveloped in red, nearly blinding you, but you couldn’t look away.

You were so enthralled by what was happening.

Eventually it died out and Wanda’s breathing returned to normal. She glanced about, startled by the fading red hue of the room.

“Well that’s never happened before,” you joked, bringing Wanda back to the present.

“I don’t know what that was,” she admitted, slightly fearful. She hadn’t lost control like that before.

“Hey, it’s okay,” you assured her, your forehead touching hers before you tugged her into a loose embrace.

Wanda snuggled into you, trembling. She was scared and you understood why but at the same time, she hadn’t done anything bad.

It was just different.

“I love you,” you mumbled into her hair. “And it really is okay. It was a beautiful light show,” you grinned, earning a shaky laugh from your girlfriend. “Like fireworks.”

“I love you too, malysh,” she replied, her eyes drifting closed. She would worry later about her powers.

For now, she would simply enjoy this moment. This early morning love.

Chapter Text

Natasha wasn’t going to admit it, but she was sick.

Not just kind of sick, but ungodly sick. Coughing, chills, nauseous – the whole nine yards. She was freezing despite her room being seventy, wrapped up in the warm blanket you’d brought with you when you had moved into her room at the Compound. Her body ached and her eyes drooped with exhaustion but she refused to search for medication because she knew for a fact you had none, meaning she’d have to ask one of the others. Which meant they’d see her in a moment of weakness. Something that she vowed would never happen.

Groaning, Natasha buried her face in your pillow and inhaled deeply. It smelled just like you, bringing her some comfort. She wished you were home right now but you had been gone for two weeks now on a covert mission, one she wasn’t allowed to know anything about. She understood the need for secrecy but God did she want to be curled up in your arms right now.

She coughed weakly, a tear trickling down her cheek. She hadn’t felt like this in a long time and handling it alone was not on her high list of things to do.

Please come home, (Y/N). Please.

-X-

Yawning as you stepped off the quinjet, you raised your arms above your head and stretched, letting the early morning sun bounce off your cheeks. It was nice to be back in New York. You’d missed the sounds of the city; missed the singing birds and the sense of unity the city often seemed to hold.

But what you had missed most was your girlfriend.

You’d been gone nearly three weeks and you knew something was wrong, you just didn’t know what. Wanda had texted you the moment you were off restrictions, telling you she hadn’t seen Natasha in days. And, while that wasn’t too concerning – considering Natasha was a master spy who often enjoyed seeing if she could sneak around – learning that she had missed multiple meetings and training sessions scared you.

Bag over your shoulder, you walked through the Compound, waving at the occasional SHIELD agent that passed. Once you reached the Avenger’s section of the building, your pace quickened and you headed for your shared room. You noticed Wanda standing in the kitchen, a cup of tea in her hand and a frown on her lips.

“Hey,” you greeted, setting your bag down. “Have you seen her?”

Wanda shook her head. “No, but I stopped by your room and I think I heard her coughing.” She handed you the tea, eyes swimming with worry. “Here, you might need this.”

Accepting the cup, you nodded. “Thanks, Wanda.” You weren’t just thanking her for the drink; she was such a good friend, watching out for your girlfriend when you weren’t there to help.

She smiled at you.

“Of course. Now go,” she shooed you, earning a chuckle.

Walking towards your room, you paused in front of the door. You could hear nearly consistent coughing and tiny little whimpers, both of which bothered you greatly. You’d never known Natasha to get sick but of course it would happen during your time away.

Nudging the door open, you slipped into the room. It was nearly dark aside from the table lamp glaring at you from the desk. You could see Natasha trembling, her body balled up in the fetal position as she gripped your pillow. She was pale and you could see perspiration on her forehead, bangs wet and clinging to her skin.

She let out another cough, whimpering as it clawed at her sore throat.

You carefully made your way over to the bed and sat the tea on the nightstand, eyes trained on the sick assassin. You crouched at the side, reaching out to stroke Natasha’s drenched hair.

“Baby, I’m home,” you whispered, your voice remaining as smooth and gentle as possible. You didn’t want to startle her or add to her pain.

She gave a pathetic whine, one bleary eye cracking open. Your face was blurry but she’d know that (E/C) anywhere. “(Y/N)?”

“Yeah, beautiful, it’s me,” you cooed, fingers combing through sweat-greased locks.

She reached for you, her hand nearly smacking you in the face as she touched your cheek. “You’re home…”

Smiling, you tilted your head and pressed a kiss to her hand. “I am and I’m here to take care of you. Wanda says you haven’t left the room in a few days.”

“Don’ feel good,” Natasha slurred, her eye threatening to drift shut.

“Have you eaten anything?” you asked softly, coaxing her to stay awake.

Natasha weakly shook her head. “Not since las’ night.”

Standing, your hand slid from her hair and her eyes jerked open. You were about to go find her something to eat, but the tears that formed in her waterline stopped you. She was staring at you, heartbreak in her gaze, and it stunned you.

“Don’t go! Please, don’t go. I’m sorry. I’ll do better. Please don’t leave me,” she begged, tears dripping down flushed cheeks.

You were thrown for a loop. You’d never seen Natasha act this way before and you knew it was because of her fever and possible delirium but it broke your heart to see her so distraught. She was reaching for you and you grabbed her hand, clutching it tightly to reassure her you were there.

“Hey, it’s okay,” you promised quietly, “I’m just going to get you some food.”

Shaking her head the best she could, Natasha looked at you with glassy eyes. “Don’t go…”

Nodding, you stripped off your mission clothes and tossed your phone onto the table before you climbed into bed beside her. You brought her into your side, her head falling against your shoulder. She clutched at you, nails digging into your skin, but you didn’t mind. She needed to know you were there; that you weren’t leaving her.

Murmuring promises, you rubbed Natasha’s back until she started to relax. She mumbled incoherently into your shoulder but you had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. She was going between English and Russian and considering you didn’t speak her native tongue, you simply assured her that you weren’t going anywhere.

Eventually her breathing evened out and she drifted into the arms of oblivion. Her forehead was hot against your skin and that worried you but she was sleeping calmly so you figured it was safer just to let her rest.

“I’ll never leave you,” you swore into the silent - aside from her occasional cough - room, pressing a kiss to the top of Natasha’s head.

Chapter Text

Stepping off the quinjet, you tiredly shouldered your bag and headed into the Compound, your legs dragging and your feet aching. You’d been gone for nearly a month and it had been too long since you’d had a chance to just relax and exist.

Stepping into the shared common room, you paused. Tony was there, his face a mask you couldn’t read.

“Hey,” you greeted slowly, waving uncomfortably.

Tony stalked over to you and clapped you on the shoulder, his mask slipping a little as he stared into your eyes. “Whatever happens, know I’m here for you.”

“What’s going on?” Panic was setting in. “Is Maria okay?”

His eyes darkened and a sneer tugged at his lips. “Ask her.”

You were so confused. Tony used to be a huge supporter of your relationship; what the hell had happened in a month?

“Tony, what the hell is going on?” you demanded, dropping your bag so you could cross your arms. This was madness and you were starting to get pissed.

Sighing heavily, his grip on your shoulder tightened a little. “You really need to ask her about Agent White. Okay? I don’t want to…” he trailed off. “You just need to talk to her, okay?”

Your heart sank into your stomach. Agent White? You vaguely recognized the name but you couldn’t put a face to it. Why was this person so important today?

He squeezed your shoulder before pulling you into an awkward hug. “If you need me, I’m going to be in the lab, okay? Anything you need.” Releasing you, he smiled sadly before walking out of the room and towards the lab.

Confusion and anxiety sank its claws into your chest and you bent over, grabbing your bag before you headed for your room. The door was cracked, a sliver of your girlfriend visible. A smile upturned your lips and you threw open the door.

“Honey, I’m home!” you grinned at Maria though it faded at the guilty look in her eyes. “Maria?” You dropped your bag, eyeing the SHIELD second-in-command.

Forcing a smile, Maria rose from the edge of the bed and embraced you, her hold fierce – like it was the last time she was going to touch you. “I’m so glad you’re home,” she said softly, stroking your back.

“Okay, what the fuck is going on?” you asked, leaning out of the hug. “You’re acting weird, Tony’s acting weird. Someone needs to tell me what is up.”

Maria’s eyes widened, fear shining bright in those baby blues you loved so much. “What do you mean?”

You shook your head in frustration. “Something’s going on and nobody is telling me anything. You didn’t kiss me like normal when I walked in, Tony told me to ask about Agent White and…and…” huffing, you glared. “And I need to know what’s up.”

Swallowing drily, Maria led you to the bed and sat down. You followed her lead and grabbed her hand, squeezing it encouragingly.

“I want you to know it meant nothing,” Maria blurted.

Freezing, your hand quickly dropped hers. “What meant nothing?”

Maria combed her fingers through her hair, staring at the door as though it held all the answers. “You were gone for a month and I missed you, so I went drinking with a few of the other higher ranking agents. Agent White was one of them…”

Realization washed over you. You’d heard similar stories from your friends; how their ex-partners had started apologies in such a manner. Usually they ended in broken relationships and hatred. But Maria wouldn’t do something like that to you, right?

She wouldn’t hurt you like this.

“Maria, what did you do?” you hissed, eyes narrowing at your (possibly former) lover.

A few tears trickled down Maria’s cheeks and you knew, despite the lack of an answer, what was going on. You understood Tony’s anger at her and his words to you; you understood your friends’ pain.

“Tell me you didn’t,” you begged, your voice cracking with emotion.

“It meant nothing,” she repeated, reaching for your hand. “We were drunk and I regretted it as soon as I woke up. I never meant to hurt you.”

Jerking up from the bed, you stumbled back into the wall farthest from her. Tears streamed down your face and you had to bite back your sobs. Of all the things you thought Maria was capable of, this was not one of them.

“Please, baby, I’m sorry,” she cried, silently begging you to understand.

You covered your ears. “Please shut up. Just shut up.”

“(Y/N) –”

You couldn’t breathe. Your chest was aching and it felt like every inhale burned like fire in your lungs. And maybe there was. Maybe you actually were inhaling flames. Your relationship was burning in front of your very eyes so why wouldn’t there be a fire?

You could vaguely hear Maria talking but all of her words melded together and it sounded like you were underwater. Shaking your head violently, you could feel the bile rising in your throat. You couldn’t be here. Not now. Not when the world was spinning and you were about to collapse under the weight of your heartbreak.

Running from the room, you blindly headed for the lab, your tears so thick that you couldn’t see past them. Maria was following you but you were fast. Faster than her, at least.

Bursting into the lab, you found the billionaire tinkering with his latest suit, a faraway look in his eye.

“How did you know?” you asked, staggering forward.

Tony hurried over to you, catching you as your knees gave out. He didn’t immediately answer, cradling you to his chest. He simply held you as you cried, his shirt growing wet with tears, though he didn’t care.

Catching a glimpse of Maria through the glass, his expression shifted and he growled, “FRIDAY, lock the door.”

You didn’t hear the click over the sound of your sobs but you were thankful nonetheless. You didn’t want to see her.

“How did you know?” you hiccupped again as you angrily wiped at your face.

He sighed. “I saw Agent White leaving your room.”

You stiffened. “She slept with her in our bed?”

Another wave of tears dampened your cheeks but this time fury raged below the surface. It was bad enough Maria had cheated on you but to do so in your room? That was fucked up.

Tony stroked your locks, humming softly. “Is there anything I can do?”

You nodded against his chest. “Can I stay in here for a little while? I can’t…”

“Of course. We can sit in here and talk or I can call Bruce and Natasha and we can sit in silence and down the bottle of whiskey I have stashed in here,” he said, a hint of playfulness in his tone.

Laughing for the first time since you’d got home, you pressed your forehead into his shoulder. “That sounds nice.”

Your relationship was in shambles and you would probably never forgive her, but in that moment you knew everything was going to be okay. Because you had friends – no, you had family – and you would make it out of this alive.

Chapter Text

You were lying in bed, pitiful music playing in the background as you pondered your latest failed relationship. It had been short-lived but you were still hurt by their actions and now you wondered if it was you. Was there something about you that made you pick the worst of the worst to date?

Sighing, you picked at your blankets.

The ding of your phone beside your head startled you. Grabbing the small device, you opened it and started at the screen.

F/N: Get up and get dressed. We’re going out.

You: Not tonight.

F/N: It’s 8 on a Friday. They aren’t worth your time. They sucked and now they’re gone. It’s time to get over them. Let’s go. I’ll pick you up in ten.

You knew there was no arguing with your friend so begrudgingly you slipped out of the warm sheets and started for your closet. Finding your sexiest dress and tallest heels, you hurriedly tossed them on before going into your bathroom to work on your make-up. There was no way you’d get it perfect in ten minutes, but dammit, if you were going out, you were going to look hot.

Fifteen minutes later there was a knock on your door. Touching up your lip gloss, you smacked your lips together in satisfaction. You didn’t look too shabby.

Throwing open the door, you smiled at your friend.

“Damn, girl, you look good,” she complimented, grinning. “I’m proud of you. Now let’s go.”

-X-

The club was bumping, the bass of the music reverberating in your chest as you stepped inside. With dim lights and a thriving bar, you were bound to have a little fun. Your friend was incessant and started dragging you towards the bar, shoving writhing patrons out of her way. She made you chuckle but you still apologized to the people she pushed past as you followed along dutifully.

Stepping up to the wooden area, your friend was quick to order two shots of whiskey, passing one your way the moment it was in front of her.

“Drink up,” she commanded before downing her shot.

You diligently did as instructed, wincing at the burn that slithered along your throat. It tasted weird and you wondered if it was Crown but you didn’t say anything. Accepting the second shot, you tossed it back before looking around the club.

There were a lot of bodies on the dance floor but none of them caught your eye. They were pretty, sure, but not your type. Scanning the surrounding tables, you paused at the sight of a beautiful blonde standing to the side with a short-haired redhead and what you could only assume was the redhead’s girlfriend. She was glancing at you occasionally, a shy smile on her lips. She was gorgeous but you didn’t have the courage to go over and talk to her despite your friend nudging you in the side. If you weren’t hurting, you probably would have put yourself out there but the idea of rejection was too much.

The song changed and your attention returned to the bar. Ordering a shot, you waited patiently for it to arrive before you thanked the bartender. You studied the amber liquid like it would tell you everything you needed to know but no answers appeared. With a shake of your head, you took it down and slammed the glass onto the tabletop.

A tap on your shoulder made you jerk and you spun around, a refusal on your lips though it died the moment you noticed who was standing before you.

The pretty blonde you’d been watching was smiling, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. She was gorgeous up close, a little black dress clinging to her hips. Her glasses made her adorable and you absently noted how much like Supergirl she looked.

“Hi,” she greeted over the music, soft pink dusting her cheeks.

“Hi,” you replied softly, extending your hand. “I’m (Y/N).”

She shook your hand with a grin. “Kara.”

“What can I do for you, Kara?” you asked teasingly, her name rolling off your tongue like sugar.

Fidgeting, her grin grew a little wider as confidence overtook her. “Would you like to dance?”

You glanced at your friend who was nodding wildly and giving you a discrete thumbs-up though you were fairly certain Kara could see her. You debated the notion for a moment. Should you dance with this complete stranger?

After a moment of deliberation, you nodded. “I’d love to.”

She offered her hand and you took it, letting her pull you onto the floor. You started swaying to the music, a few inches between you and Kara. She was so nervous and it was the most endearing thing you’d ever seen. She looked like she wanted to reach for you but didn’t know how.

Deciding to take the step for you both, you closed the gap and wrapped your arms around her neck, moving with her instead of beside her. Her strong hands took grip on your waist and she tugged you a little closer. She was inhumanly warm and you just wanted to sink into it.

“This dress looks really nice on you,” she commented in your ear, her fingers flexing.

You blushed. It was one thing to have your friend compliment your appearance; it was another thing entirely when a stranger did it.

But you couldn’t deny that you liked the praise falling from her lips. Her soft, enticing lips…

The song changed into something fast-paced and you twisted in Kara’s arms, pressing your back to her front. You shimmied and grinded against the blonde, making her fingers dig into your sides. She was pliant and ready, meeting your movements with some of her own that left you a little breathless.

If she could do that dancing, what would you be able to make her do in bed?

Shaking that thought from your head, you continued with your new dance partner. You could feel her hot breath on the back of your neck and it made your head swim. She smelled divine. You wanted to be wrapped up in her for as long as possible.

After a few songs, the two of you wandered back over to the bar.

“That was fun,” she said bashfully, her cheeks flushed and her glasses a little crooked.

Without thought you reached up and adjusted them, your fingers lingering at her temples. “You’re really cute,” you blurted, instantly going red as the words escaped. “I mean – uh…”

“Thank you,” Kara replied sweetly, swiftly pressing a kiss to your cheek.

Your cheeks grew hotter and a dopey smile overcame your lips. You went to grab your phone but quickly remembered your friend had it and you nearly pouted. You really wanted to ask Kara for her number but leaving her company wasn’t something you wanted to do.

As if summoned by the gods themselves, your friend was suddenly at your back. She pressed your phone into your hand and vanished back into the crowd though she was still watching you like a hawk, just from a distance.

Fumbling with it awkwardly, you clicked it open and smile hopefully. “Can I have your number? I’d really like to see you again. I mean, if you want.”

Kara beamed and took your phone from your hands, typing her information into your phone before passing it back to you. “I do! You seem really nice and I’d really like to get to know you.”

Relief flooded you. Maybe coming out tonight wasn’t such a bad idea.

A few moments later the short-haired redhead strolled up to Kara and whispered something in her ear, making Kara’s face fall. She stared at you, apologies in her eyes as the redhead stepped back.

“I need to go but text me tomorrow or something, okay?” Kara’s blue eyes bore into your (E/C) and you nodded.

You watched Kara and the redhead disappear into the throngs of people and you exhaled deeply. You hadn’t expected your night to go like this but you weren’t going to complain. A cute girl gave you her number. That was a win, right?

Your friend sauntered over to you and touched your arm, triumph in her voice. “I told you that coming out tonight was a good idea.”

Laughing, you swatted at her. “Thank you.”

“Double shot of Crown please, bartender,” your friend shouted, peering over her shoulder at the grumbling man.

Oh boy, it was going to be a long night…

Chapter Text

“Wanda and Pietro Maximoff,” Steve introduced, pressing a button on the remote, bringing the screen to life and presenting pictures of the twins.

You tilted your head as you studied the photos that flashed across the screen. They were flickering, showing protests and showcasing the two Maximoffs screaming in the Sokovian crowds before the final picture appeared, leaving you stunned – and a bit in awe.

The woman, Wanda, was floating slightly in the air, an eerie red glow around her. It wasn’t menacing and she clearly was doing no harm; in fact, it actually looked like she was playing with the children surrounding her in the photo, warming your heart a little. You didn’t know why but it brought a smile to your face. You couldn’t understand why the others looked so serious.

“What’s wrong with them?” you inquired, brows furrowed thoughtfully. “They don’t seem like they’re doing any harm.”

Steve pursed his lips. “They’re former HYDRA experiments turned thieves. They’ve been stealing from major pharmaceuticals and other companies around Europe. Wanda uses her powers to manipulate the minds of the guards and the employees while her brother uses his speed to steal whatever they came for. They’re becoming real threats because no one knows what they’re using it all for. So, we’ve been called in to deal with them.”

Everyone nodded, yourself included, but this didn’t sit right in the pit of your stomach. Something felt off about this. They never hurt anyone in the buildings and only left with a handful of things. Why were they considered threatening enough that the Avengers were being called in?

You lingered in the room after everyone was gone staring at the photos in the dossier before you. Most of them were of Wanda with an occasional shot of her brother – though he was mostly a blur. Wanda, with her soft brunette locks and hauntingly green eyes.

Browsing through the folder, you pursed your lips.

You had a feeling this wasn’t going to go well. It was quite possible that this had less to do with them being “evil” or “criminals” and more to do with who they were stealing from. They clearly weren’t doing these things in the name of HYDRA or any other organizations, so what were their motives?

“Hey, you coming?” Natasha asked, peeking around the corner of the door.

Startled, you slammed the folder closed though a picture skirted out of the side. “Yeah, just give me a second.”

“Well, c’mon. Tony is getting impatient – and an impatient Tony is an annoying Tony,” the former assassin huffed, earning an uneasy smile from you.

“Tell Stark to get his panties out of a twist. I’ll be right there,” you replied, sparing the picture one final glance. Her eyes connected with yours and you exhaled deeply.

Yeah, you weren’t going to enjoy this.

-X-

The moment the quinjet touched down outside of Sokovia, everyone – except Bruce – filed out of the aircraft and started for the town. You were up front with Steve, your knives sheathed at your hips as you cautiously wandered into the heart of Sokovia. Tony was above you surveying the scene, hoping to catch sight of the twins, which wasn’t hard considering they weren’t hiding.

“They’re at the…orphanage?” Tony informed you, though it sounded like a question, as though he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

The hand that had been hovering over your knife fell away and you straightened up. “They’re at the orphanage? Are you sure?”

“Would you like a picture, (Y/N)?” Tony sneered, peering down at you.

Rolling your eyes, you separated from the group and hurried toward the orphanage, leaving behind the other Avengers. You could hear Steve chiding you but you didn’t care. You wanted to see this before your teammates intervened.

Coming upon the rundown building, you slowed. You could see a blur of a human playing ball with multiple children, keeping up as each child threw balls at it. It was an amazing sight and you assumed the blur was Pietro, considering he was possibly the only person in the town capable of such a feat.

He must have noticed you, however, because the blur became whole in a split second.

He stared at you, eyes narrowed and lips twisted into a snarl. He crossed his arms, daring you to do something.

“What do you want?” Pietro demanded.

You opened your mouth to respond, but Steve saddling up beside you kept the words from escaping. In a flash, Pietro was gone, leaving you standing outside with a handful of terribly confused children while the doors of the orphanage swung violently, the only indication he’d ever been there.

“What do we do, Cap?” Sam asked, dropping to the ground beside Steve.

“We have to be careful,” you said, cutting off Steve, “These are innocent kids. If the Maximoffs don’t attack, we shouldn’t either.”

“We have to bring them in,” Tony said resolutely.

“Why? Because the Government told us they’re a threat?” you snorted, shaking your head. “They could say we all are but the truth is, we don’t know what the hell is going on. The files didn’t tell us what they stole, only that they stole it and that no one knows what they’re doing with it. Maybe we should try asking questions before we accidentally destroy a city,” you suggested snidely.

“I agree with (Y/N),” Natasha seconded before Tony could retort, “We don’t want to start trouble.”

Steve gazed upon the building for a moment before nodding. “Agreed. (Y/N), take point. I’m trusting your judgment on this.” He looked up at Tony, then at Sam. “Stay outside and make sure they don’t try and run.”

Chewing your lip, you strolled towards the orphanage’s doors and gently opened them. Herds of children were scattered about, each one eyeing you suspiciously as you stepped inside before disappearing into various rooms. The most popular room seemed to be the one at the top of the stairs and your curiosity piqued.

You wandered upstairs and cracked the door, peering inside. In the center of the room sat a gaggle of children, their backs to you as they stared wide-eyed at the beautiful woman sitting on a chair in front of them. You couldn’t blame them from being so enraptured (you were too).

Her voice was soft and sweet as she read to them, eyes alight with joy when they laughed or exclaimed something in their native language. Her smile was so enchanting and if it wasn’t for her brother clearing his throat from the corner of the room, you probably would have stood there forever.

Your eyes snapped over to him, meeting his icy blue glare.

Wanda closed the book and said something to the children, earning disappointed groans. They all stood and filed out of the room, pushing past you with glares on their little faces. One boy said something under his breath at you and Pietro laughed riotously. Your cheeks went red despite not knowing what he said and you stepped into the room, standing before the enhanced twins.

Natasha and Steve lingered at the door, preparing for the worst should things go south.

“Wanda Maximoff, I presume,” you said casually, refusing to tremble under her rigid glare.

Wanda stood, eyes glowing red as she took you in. Your mind began to swim a little and grow hazy as she probed your brain but you remained firm, meeting her gaze head on. Red slowly crept into your line of sight, taking over everything else. It was starting to freak you out but before you could do anything, it dissolved, leaving behind nothing but a tiny headache and a sense of unease.

“And you are (Y/N) (Y/L/N), an Avenger,” she replied, tilting her head.

“I am,” you answered, glancing over your shoulder at your bewildered teammates.

“Why are you here?” she wondered, inching closer to you despite her brother’s warning growl.

You shrugged. “I think we both know why we’re here,” you said knowingly.

“You’ve come for us,” she said without hesitation, crossing her arms as she studied you. “Because of HYDRA.”

Shaking your head, you copied her stance. “No, we’re here because you’ve been stealing from major companies around Europe. You do realize that’s a crime, right?”

Wanda’s gaze narrowed. “We only take what we need, never anything more.”

“What’s so important about the things you take?” you inquired, intrigued by such a reply.

The room was silent for a moment before Wanda’s defensive posture slackened a bit. “Sokovia is not a rich country. We need things. Things they have and refuse to give us. Our people are suffering – dying – and no one cares. They cannot do anything about it, but we can. So we did.”

You froze. Everything was starting to make sense. “Oh.”

“We do not wish to hurt anyone,” she continued, “We only want to help our people.”

“You do realize it’s still a crime, though,” Steve commented as he stepped into the room. You could practically see the walls fall upon Wanda’s face and you silently cursed the hero.

“What else were we to do?” she demanded.

“I…” Steve trailed off, unable to answer what should be a simple question.

You gripped Steve’s shoulder, taking over the conversation once more. “We understand why you’ve done what you’ve done but that doesn’t make it right. You can’t just go around stealing things, even if it is for a good reason.” Wanda bristled angrily, but you carried on. “However, I think we can help each other.”

“How?” She warily watched you, her heart fluttering a little at the sight of your patient smile.

“The Avengers care about all of Earth. We don’t want to see anyone suffering. So, you come with us – maybe join the Avengers, even – and together we can help Sokovia and anyone else who needs it. You’ve both got amazing powers that we could benefit from and we’ve got resources that your people could really use right now,” you replied, offering your hand to Wanda.

“And if we say no?” Pietro butted in.

Your smile turned apologetic. “Then we keep hunting you. SHIELD isn’t going to stop until they know you aren’t a threat anymore. At least if you do it this way, you keep your freedoms and you can still help your people.”

“This feels like blackmail,” Wanda smirked, accepting your hand. She shook it firmly, eyes boring into yours. “Do you promise that you will do your best to help Sokovia?”

Nodding, you returned the gesture. “I do. I don’t want to see anything happen to Sokovia, especially if it’s preventable.”

Wanda relaxed. She heard the sincerity in your voice and saw the honesty in your eyes. You truly wanted to help; she only hoped the other Avengers were half as nice as you.

Dropping Wanda’s hand, you stepped back and nudged Steve towards the door. “You can take a few minutes to say goodbye to the kids. We’ll be outside waiting.”

You could hear Tony yelling in your ear but you ignored him. This was the safest thing to do in your opinion and it meant you’d be gaining two new Avengers whose powers would be very useful while avoiding a fight that could potentially level a city. It was a win/win, honestly. He just needed to see that and move on.

“You’d better hope Fury accepts what you’ve offered them,” Natasha murmured as you slipped past her and into the hall.

Smiling, you patted her arm. “He will.”

Chapter Text

“(Y/N): Gold Digger?”

Staring at the news article, tears flooded your eyes as you scrolled through the article on your computer. It discussed your recent dates, how Lena was always paying for them, and your chest began to ache.

You weren’t a gold digger. Sure, you didn’t make nearly as much as Lena but you tried desperately to do your share. If you went out to a nice restaurant, then you’d at least leave the tip or pay for the drinks or something. You rarely accepted Lena’s gifts but you showered her with them whenever you could afford them – yet there were quite a few articles discussing your relationship and calling you all sorts of names.

It broke your spirit a little.

Your phone chimed and you glanced at the message, a smile replacing the frown on your lips.

Lena: Are we still on for tonight, darling? I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day. These meetings have been hell :(

You: Of course.

A series of hearts appeared on your phone and you chuckled, setting it beside your computer. Your eyes drifted back over to the words plaguing your screen but you closed the tab, determined not to let it bother you.

What did they know?

-X-

Sitting across from the most gorgeous woman in National City, you awkwardly picked at your appetizer as she talked about her day. Lena was discussing her latest project and you were excited for her – really, you were – but glancing around, you could see the contempt in your fellow diners’ eyes as they discretely watched you. They’d all seen the latest article about your relationship and everyone was wondering the same thing: were you a gold digger?

After all, you were at the nicest French restaurant in the city and it was evident you weren’t going to pay.

Lena had ordered the most expensive bottle of wine on the menu and, yes it tasted amazing, but it cost more than your monthly rent. How the hell were you going to split some of the bill with her if you couldn’t even afford the wine?

Noticing your silence, Lena worriedly reached out and touched your hand. “Are you okay, darling? Have I been talking too much about this project too much? I’m sorry.”

You shook your head. “No, Lena, it’s not that, I promise…”

“Then what is it, (Y/N)?” Lena could see the emotions warring in your eyes and she was concerned. She didn’t understand what was bothering you but she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to fix it.

Poking at your food, you glanced away and sighed.

“I think we need to break up.”

Those words hung between you like an anvil waiting to fall. You honestly couldn’t believe those words had slipped out but you didn’t take it back – didn’t know how to. You really didn’t want to lose Lena but the social gap between you was a lot to deal with. You’d never make what she did – no normal person ever would – and it left a hole in your chest. How could you ever provide for this woman if you weren’t even close to her tax bracket?

Lena was stunned, her hand falling from yours. “W-what?”

You could see the devastation in her eyes and it made you swallow harshly.

“Is it me? Have I done something?” Lena wondered, tears in brimming in her waterline. “I know I spend a lot of time at the lab but I can make more time for you, darling. I’m sorry if I made you feel second best.”

Fear stole your words and you stayed quiet.

“We could go on vacation, just you and me,” she suggested, desperation clawing at her throat.

“That’s not –” you cut yourself off. “It’s not you, Lena, it’s me.”

A humorless, dark laugh escaped Lena’s painted lips and she sat back. Her eyes narrowed into a glare as she studied you. “Ah, the famous “it’s not you, it’s me” response. How original. What’s really going on, (Y/N)? Is it someone else?”

Shaking your head violently, you stared at her earnestly. “No! That’s not…I don’t…” you exhaled sharply. “I would never cheat on you, Lee. I love you.”

“If you love me, then why do you want to break up?” She paused for a moment before her gaze flickered away. “Is it because I’m a Luthor?”

Unable to stop yourself, you grabbed Lena’s hand and squeezed. “God no! I don’t care about your last name.”

“Then what is it?” she begged, cherishing the last time she’d ever get to freely touch you.

You smiled sadly.

“You deserve so much better than me,” you said, the warmth of her hand thrumming through you. “You’ve got money, status, a world-renowned company and I can barely afford my rent. I can’t take you on lavish vacations or buy you nice things. How can I compete with everyone who can? You’ve dated geniuses and your best friend is a Super. And I mean, you have to have seen the articles about me being a gold digger. Everyone thinks so…” you shrugged helplessly.

“I don’t care about money,” she replied softly, urging you to listen. “I’ve never cared about wealth or status. I don’t want those things. I love everything you’ve bought me because I know it came from your heart, not your wallet. Everything you’ve given me has meant something and I cherish them all. I don’t need expensive things or lavish vacations. I just need you.”

Your heart flipped in your chest and tears welled up in your eyes. “Y-yeah?”

She gave a watery smile. “Of course, darling.” She giggled. “Besides, I like spoiling you. What else am I supposed to do with my money?”

You chuckled, squeezing her hand again. “I really do love you, Lena Luthor.”

She rose up from the table and – without a single care – sat herself in your lap and wrapped her arms around your neck. “I love you too, (Y/N). Next time you’re feeling insecure, please talk to me. Please…”

You nodded and pecked her lips, mindful of her lipstick. Your arms were around her waist and you hugged her close. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she promised, combing her fingers through your hair.

Maybe those fears would never go away. Maybe you’d always wonder if you were really worthy of the Lena Luthor – but that didn’t matter. Every time doubt crept in, you’d remember this moment and realize that nothing else was important but the two of you.

“Remind me to buy the publications that called you a gold digger tomorrow,” Lena murmured as she kissed your cheek, earning a hearty laugh.

Yeah, you’d be just fine.

Chapter Text

Lips meeting over and over, you moaned as Natasha pinned you to your door, her fingers in your hair and nails digging deliciously into your scalp. Her mouth, dangerous and deadly, worked yours expertly.

“Invite me in,” she whispered hotly, tugging on your locks.

You paused, breathless as you stared into darkened green. You knew in your heart that the two of you were playing a risky game, trying to drown out memories that haunted you, but you couldn’t bring yourself to say no. She brought out something in you, burning like a wildfire.

And you weren’t sure you really wanted to.

Nodding, you shoved the door open and dragged her inside. She reconnected your mouths and you hurriedly stripped off her shirt, breaking apart for only seconds. You could see the desire in her eyes but there was something more there. Was it love? Maybe not but there was feelings there – and it scared you. It had stopped being “hook-ups” months ago but it was never addressed, both of you too damaged to acknowledge it.

She walked you backwards, shoving you back onto the bed. She shimmied out of her jeans and you were enthralled by the sight. She was gorgeous, all hidden muscle and agility. She made your mouth water.

Your feelings for her were extreme, borderline insane, but you couldn’t help them. She set you free in ways past lovers had only dreamed of and God, did she fuck with your head. She was all you could think about some days, leaving you waiting impatiently for the next time you could be together. You knew distractions could get you both killed but she was worth toeing that line.

She climbed on top of you but you were quick to flip her onto her back, smirking down at her. Your breath fanned across her face and she surged up, her lips pressing against yours, her scarlet kiss etching itself into you. You melted, humming as your fingers traced along her bra-clad chest, dipping below the alluring fabric.

Arching into your touch, she nipped at your bottom lip, clawing at the shirt keeping your skin from hers. She wanted – needed – more and you were more than happy to give in.

In a way, you were kerosene and she was the match. The moment she sparked, you were a goner, burning together in a way that most would call crazy. It was wild and passionate, but it worked. It shouldn’t have – both of you had histories, red in your ledgers – but maybe that’s why you made sense.

You feared that one day the fires would flicker out and you’d be left a simple scorch mark in the floor but to have just a moment of her time made that outcome bearable.

Stripping away your shirt, it joined hers in the corner of the room.

In the end, it didn’t matter. You’d walk through hell for this woman. She was worth the uncertainty and the fear and the hope. Hope that everything would fall into place; hope that none of this was for nothing.

As she smiled up at you, your heart beat painfully in your chest and you wondered if she could hear it. Words fell from your lips before you could stop them.

“I love you.”

Chapter Text

You loved Wanda. Truly, madly, deeply. She was the absolute light of your life and you adored her more than anyone in the world. You’d do anything for her, including die.

But if she didn’t stop stealing your damn sweatshirts, you were going to scream.

She stole them often, claiming she’d give them back – but she never did. So far she had stolen your school sweatshirt, the cute little Avengers one you’d found before joining SHIELD, your SHIELD one, and the one your mother had sent you in your favorite color. And every time you mentioned them, she’d smile and kiss you until they were the farthest thing from your mind.

You didn’t mind letting her have one or two – she said that she liked how you smell and when you were gone, your scent lingered in the fabric and it helped the pain of missing you – but she didn’t need four.

Especially considering it was winter in New York and you needed one to keep from freezing your ass off.

You were wandering through the Compound when you noticed her curled up in the shared living room – in your sweatshirt. She looked precious, the oversized sweatshirt engulfing her, the sleeves too long for her arms. And, honestly, it didn’t really bother you but it was the principle of the thing at this point.

Cute little thief, you grumbled silently.

Stalking over to her, you towered menacingly (not really but you tried to look stern, at least) over her. You cleared your throat pointedly and she slowly glanced up at you, smiling innocently.

“Hello, malysh,” Wanda greeted sweetly, reaching up to tug on your shirt so she could get a kiss.

Remaining steadfast, you leveled a look at her. “You’ve got something of mine.”

“Your heart?” she asked hopefully, nervously playing with the sleeve of your sweatshirt.

You shook your head, watching her face fall and a pout form. “You’re wearing my sweatshirt – the one I asked for three days ago – that you told me was lost.”

Bright eyes dropped to the floor. “It was lost. But I found it.”

“So instead of giving it back, you decided to wear it,” you scolded, though your voice wavered at the defeat on Wanda’s gorgeous face.

“It’s my favorite,” she replied meekly, peeking up at you through long lashes.

Your heart stuttered in your chest and what little irritation lingering there vanished. “Wanda…”

Shaking her head, Wanda wrapped her arms around her stomach and sighed. “It brings me comfort. Growing up, after my parents died, I didn’t have that. But your sweatshirts give me that. They smell like you so even when you aren’t here physically, you’re still with me.”

You melted, her confession playing at your heartstrings like the chords of her guitar.

Apparently you were quiet for too long because she deflated further. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’ll give them back.” She peered up at you, tears prickling the corner of her eyes.

“If you really think that you can just give me those puppy dog eyes and I’ll forgive you then you’re right and I forgive you.” You smiled, combing your fingers through her hair. “Now please don’t cry, come here.”

You dropped onto the couch beside her and gathered her up in your arms, her head tucked into your chest.

“How about this: you let me have one of them back for a little while, I’ll wear it so it smells like me again, and then we can switch them out and then just continue the cycle over and over. That way you’ve always got a few to keep you company and I’ll still be able to survive the cold,” you suggested, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.

She thought over your offer for a second before nodding. “Okay…” That seemed pretty fair considering she’d stolen them in the first place.

Grinning, you leaned back and tilted her chin up, catching her lips in a sweet kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she murmured, beaming at you with that lovely smile of hers. “You can have the SHIELD one back first. It’s not baggy enough.”

Laughing loudly, you shook your head and kissed her again, your hand cupping her cheek.

Well, at least you wouldn’t freeze to death now.

Chapter Text

Incessant knocking on your door dragged you from your dreams, your cheeks stained with tears and eyes heavy with misery. You’d been dreaming of Kara – again – and you hated yourself for it. You were tired of seeing her smiling, gorgeous face every night. It hurt.

It hurt so much.

Sighing, you lifted yourself off the couch and staggered towards your door, sleepily wiping at your face. You looked like shit but you honestly couldn’t care less. It was late and you were exhausted. Making yourself look pretty for an unwanted visitor was the last thing you were going to do tonight.

You glanced through the peephole and froze.

Kara was leaning against the wall, a broken look on her flushed face with Alex standing beside her, obviously scolding the younger woman while trying to keep the superhero upright.

Throwing open the door, you caught the last bit, “…seriously, Kar, it’s late. We should go.”

“What are you doing here?” you sighed, crossing your arms.

Alex stared at you apologetically, a sympathetic smile on her lips as she yanked Kara subtly. “I’m sorry, (Y/N). I know it’s late.”

“(Y/N),” Kara slurred, smiling drunkenly. “You’re so pretty. Rao, I’m such an idiot.”

A familiar ache burned in your stomach, its fires licking up your throat. You loved your ex – truly, you did – but her being here, saying such things, was too much.

“Go home, Kara,” you murmured.

You moved to close the door but Kara caught it deftly, sorrow etched into her features.

“Kara…” Alex tried prying Kara’s fingers loose, though to no avail.

“I have to say this,” Kara insisted, her blue eyes glazed and watery as she studied you. “Please.”

The idea of letting the Danvers sisters into your apartment made you want to throw up. It was a wreck inside and honestly, you weren’t sure you could handle her invading your space. You still weren’t one hundred percent comfortable in your bedroom, the memories of bare skin and breathy moans imprinted into the mattress.

You wished you could tell Kara to get lost. You wished you could hate her but you didn’t. Your breakup had sucked but she hadn’t been a monster. She hadn’t cheated on you or physically hurt you. All she had done was break your heart – and somehow that wasn’t enough to despise National City’s sweetheart.

You heard your neighbor’s door creak open and you gestured for them to step inside. Alex led Kara to the couch and the Kryptonian flopped down, nearly breaking it if its groan of protest was any indication. You couldn’t help but think about all the times she’d done that when you were dating and the sheepish expression she wore every time.

“What is so important, Kara?” you questioned, closing the door.

She waited until you were in front of the couch. For a moment you thought she was going to reach for you but she must have thought better of it because her hand dropped to the leather, her fingers digging in nervously.

“I’m sorry,” she finally said.

Your brow arched and you said nothing, waiting.

“I know I hurt you and I know I have no right to come here and that “I’m sorry” doesn’t fix anything but I really am sorry,” she rambled, wringing her hands together. “Mon-El coming back shouldn’t have changed anything but it did and it’s my fault that it did. You were awesome and understanding and I messed it all up by thinking about the past instead of the future and I…”

She choked back a sob, refusing to look at you and Alex. Her bottom lip trembled and the masochistic part of you wondered if you should go over and comfort her. She wasn’t a bad person – and yeah, you still loved her in spite of everything, drunken visit included.

“Seeing him again brought up a lot of things I’d buried and never dealt with and instead of handling them, I let them destroy us,” Kara whispered. “You were great and I was…awful.”

You smiled sadly. “Kara, you’ve got to stop beating yourself up.”

“Every time I try to forget about you I see you everywhere,” she admitted, her eyes meeting yours. “I see you every time I close my eyes, in my dreams. I can’t stop thinking about you. I’ve tried – Rao, have I tried – but I can’t.”

“I see you too,” you mumbled embarrassedly, glancing away.

When the silence became too much, Kara stood, swaying under the weight of what she’d drank. “We should go,” she hiccupped, “But I just wanted you to know I’m sorry and that losing you will always be my biggest regret.”

Alex helped her sister stagger out of the apartment and as you lingered, watching them slowly wander away, you couldn’t help but think of all the good times. Your first date at Noonan’s that ended with Kara’s blouse stained with hot chocolate and whipped cream on her lip. Your first kiss, the taste of the previously mentioned whipped cream on your tongue. Your first I love you’s and your first fight (over who got the last potsticker, of all things).

And your final goodbyes.

You couldn’t stand the idea of this being the end. What you had with Kara was special – and you knew you’d never find it again.

“Hey, Kara,” you called down the hall, watching your ex pause.

She turned cautiously, a tentative smile on her lips. “Yeah?”

Repeating the same words she’d asked you all those months ago, you grinned nervously. “Do you want to get coffee sometime? I know a really good place.”

Kara perked up, beaming at you. “Y-yeah! That sounds nice. I’ll call you tomorrow?”

You nodded, giggling as Kara jumped excitedly, nearly knocking Alex over in the process. You wondered if things would ever be like they were and you decided no. They wouldn’t be.

But maybe they could be better.

Chapter Text

Your chest ached, bile burning your throat as you watched your girlfriend – or the woman you thought was your girlfriend – flirting with the bartender. You hated the way she smoothly ran her fingers through her short locks (like she’d done so many times when she first started seeing you), a confident smirk on her lips.

Your friends had tried to tell you about her. Natasha – blunt, knowing Natasha – had insisted this would end in absolute heartbreak. Wanda was kinder with you but honest, mentioning Carol’s wandering thoughts and player tendencies. She’d assured you they just didn’t want to see you hurt but you ignored them…

Maybe you shouldn’t have.

Tears brimmed in your eyes and you downed your drink. She hadn’t looked at you once since she walked over there, her attention all on the busty, flirty bartender. You didn’t blame her; Carol was a very attractive woman.

You blamed Carol.

Carol, who’d invited you out. Carol, who had promised she wouldn’t leave your side. Carol, who was supposed to care about you but obviously fucking didn’t.

Angrily wiping the tears away, you fished out your phone. Pulling up your group text, you begged Natasha and Wanda to come pick you up. You couldn’t do this anymore. Between worrying about Carol’s commitment and the fear of possible infidelities, you were done. Too tired to go on with this charade of being okay with everything when you weren’t.

Grabbing your things, you stormed out of the bar and into the chilly night. It was still wintery in New York and you hadn’t exactly dressed appropriately because you’d wanted to impress Carol, so outside you stood, slowly shivering under the pale moonlight. Your fingers ached from how tightly you gripped your phone, Wanda’s reply still on the screen.

We’re on our way.

It probably wasn’t the safest idea to stand out on the sidewalk in the middle of the busy city but you couldn’t bring yourself to go back inside. Back inside with them. Who would willingly put themselves through that kind of torture?

Time seemed to tick by slowly, your eyes blurry with newfound tears. You almost didn’t want Carol to come searching for you. If she did, those tears would fall and you’d be forced to deal with your overwhelming emotions.

The bar’s door swung open behind you and you pleaded with anyone who would listen that it wasn’t Carol. Let it be anyone other than her.

“Hey, (Y/N), what are you doing out here?” a familiar voice asked, a warm hand landing on your freezing shoulder.

You shrugged her off, staying silent as you waited for your friends.

“(Y/N)?” Carol prodded, trying to turn you around. “What’s wrong?”

Unable to contain your snort of disbelief, you spun on her, fury in your glare. “What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Tell me you’re not that dumb, Carol,” you spat.

She bristled beneath your words, but you were too enraged to care.

“I’ll tell you what’s wrong. You asked me on a date then spent the entire fucking night flirting with some bartender. You stayed with me for all of ten minutes before disappearing. You’re supposed to – at least – care about me but I’m just a plaything to you, aren’t I?” you shouted, your tears of sadness replaced with tears of anger.

“We were just talking,” Carol denied, though you could see guilt coloring her irises.

“Sure, like you were just “talking” to the barista at the coffee shop last week, or the secretary at the Compound, or the SHIELD agents you train with, or freaking Maria Hill!”

Carol froze, gaze wide as she stared at you. She’d never seen you so mad before. A part of her wondered if she’d ever really seen you before at all. “(Y/N)…”

“Did you really think I didn’t know?” Your words were choking you, their sharp edges digging into your throat. “I tried so hard to be good enough for you, Carol, but I’m starting to think I’m not the problem. You don’t know how to care about anyone other than yourself.”

She opened her mouth, but it simply hung open. She didn’t know if she should defend herself or plead with you to stay, both notions trapped. She’d been awful (she knew that) but she wasn’t sure she liked the idea of being without you.

Shaking your head, you glanced away as you heard the roar of Natasha’s engine. “You know, they warned me about you,” you whispered, though she could still hear you, “I should have listened.”

The car screeched to a halt in front of you and Wanda stepped out of the passenger seat. She glared venomously at Carol, her arm coming around your shoulders as she herded you into the back. She didn’t have to say anything, a dangerous red hue overtaking the green of her eyes as she stared down Carol.

“If you come near her, Danvers, I won’t hesitate to shoot you,” Natasha warned, her voice carrying through the open doors.

She watched you leave, a kaleidoscope of emotions washing over her. She wanted to chase after you and promise she’d be better – but she knew that’d be a lie. Being a Kree for all that time had changed her despite having left them so long ago. She was free, but chained to her ways. She wasn’t ready for what you were offering.

She never would be.

Chapter Text

You hadn’t meant for this to happen, caught up in a “meaningless” hook-up cycle that left you heartbroken over and over again, pining over a woman that would never love you.

You’d met her in a bar. It was small and pretty unknown, but she’d been there nursing a glass of vodka with a smirk on those pretty lips of hers. Her green eyes had trailed over you, leaving you hot under the collar, molten lava slithering through your veins. She was gorgeous – and so, so dangerous.

After you got your drink, she’d come over with hers and started up a conversation that left your head spinning. It’d started off so innocent but ended with her telling you she’d willingly fuck you in the bathroom right then and there.

And, stupidly, you went along with it, letting vodka-soaked lips imprint themselves in your brain.

Which is what got you into the mess you were currently drowning in.

Natasha called often, after the missions she told you nothing about, and it set you on edge. You knew you needed to end whatever this was, but her sultry voice always convinced you to give in one more time.

Tonight was one of those nights. She’d called and you’d given in, answering her despite the war waging inside.

“Hey,” she purred, “What’re you doing?”

You swallowed, wondering if you should lie and say you were busy. That would be the smart thing right?

“Nothing,” you admitted, staring at the blank television.

“Can I come over?” she asked, the faint sound of a zipper sliding echoing through the phone.

Hesitating, you remained silent.

“(Y/N)?” She almost sounded nervous and it gave you false hope that maybe she did care about you.

“Yeah, you can come over,” you breathed, closing your eyes in disappointment.

God, you were so weak.

Hanging up, you leaned your head back and glared up at the ceiling. This was such a bad idea. You knew nothing about her, not really. All you knew she was an Avenger, but she hadn’t even told you that much. You had to find that out on your own. You didn’t know her friends, had no idea where she went when she left, and you honestly couldn’t keep doing this to yourself.

It didn’t take her long to show up on your doorstep. A firm knock let you know it was her and you slowly pushed up from your couch, trudging over to the door. It opened slowly, revealing Natasha. She was in pants so tight that nothing was left to the imagination and a shirt that clung to her lithe – but insanely fit – torso.

She was quick to catch your face between her hands, jerking you into a deep kiss. It was enthusiastic and fierce, like she wanted to devour you – like she couldn’t get enough of you. The pads of her fingers gripped you tightly, keeping you from moving away. She tasted like gunpowder and pain. You weren’t sure if something had happened or if the pain was yours, if it was the feeling of your heart cracking in your chest with each passing moment.

She leaned back, lips swollen and slick as she stared into your eyes. She could see the sadness residing there. “It’s okay,” she whispered, sliding her hand under your shirt.

You choked back a watery laugh. Nothing about this was okay if it made you feel like this.

-X-

Hours later, sated but miserable, you watched her dress. She was leaving; she always left because this didn’t matter to her even though it mattered to you. You wanted to beg her to stay, but the words wouldn’t leave your mouth.

“Thank you,” she said, slipping her shirt on. You didn’t know what she was thanking you for but it made you feel dirty anyways.

You stood up from the bed, catching her hips. She paused, eyeing you curiously. This hadn’t happened before.

“You should stay,” you murmured, a quiver in your words and a silent plea in your eyes.

She smiled, leaning up slightly until her mouth brushed yours, breath fanning across your lips. “I can’t stay, (Y/N). We both know that. I…” she trailed off and shook her head.

Biting your bottom lip, you stepped back, defeated.

She finished dressing and headed for the door. You watched her walk away, bare and hurting. You deserved more than this. You deserved a real relationship – someone who could love you – not this. Not a breeze that occasionally rolled through.

“I can’t do this anymore,” you whispered, though you knew she heard you, her hand stilling on the doorknob. Your body shook as sobs threatened to escape, tears in your eyes as you studied the woman you – probably – loved.

She froze, back stiffening as the silence hung between you. A piece of you hoped she’d give you something to cling to, but you knew she wouldn’t. She was incapable of being honest with you, so why would that change now?

She glanced over her shoulder at you, eyes darker than normal as she took you in one last time. Maybe in a different world this would have worked; maybe she would have said “okay” and stayed. Maybe she could have loved you the way you loved her.

But this wasn’t that world.

Nodding once, she opened the door and stepped out into the hall – and out of your life.

Chapter Text

She knew she shouldn’t have walked out. She knew it wasn’t what she’d wanted, but the words had gotten stuck in her throat and she couldn’t bring herself to let them slide off her tongue. So, instead, she’d taken the coward’s way out and left.

Left you broken just beyond the door closing behind her.

You’d never just been a way to pass time. Well, maybe in the beginning it had started out like that, but after the third time you’d let her in, something warm started creeping into her chest. You’d always assumed multiple people kept her company but the truth was…

There was only you.

She hadn’t meant to keep you in the dark – to make you feel the way you did – but she’d wanted to protect you (or maybe she was protecting herself. Those lines were a little blurred, if she was being honest with herself). She thought letting the distance hold you apart would keep you both safe but all it seemed to do was break hearts.

-X-

Hours became days and before Natasha realized it, it’d been a month since she’d heard you, seen you. She’d ignored it at first – the longing gripping her chest – but it was becoming overwhelming. She was reckless and withdrawn (more than normal). She was snappy and irritable and the team was worried.

“Nat, seriously, what’s going on?” Clint asked, flopping down beside Natasha on the couch in the common room.

Rolling her eyes, Natasha jerked to another page in her book, eyes scanning but not seeing the words printed. “Nothing.”

He reached out, grabbing her wrist calmly. “That’s a lie and we both know it. Talk to me.”

Natasha swallowed drily, fingers flexing around the book in her hands. Her tongue felt like it weighed a million pounds inside her mouth, threatening to suffocate her if she dare speak. A familiar pain traveled through her, the icy memory of the Red Room’s punishments creeping up her veins and pooling in her stomach.

Clint was startled to see tears filling Natasha’s eyes and he ripped the book from her, tossing it aside and gathering her in his arms. One hand stroked her hair while the other kept her close, murmuring soft reassurances to her.

“I fucked up,” Natasha hiccupped. “I-I should’ve stayed. I should’ve told her…”

His brows furrowed but Clint remained silent, waiting for his oldest friend to continue.

“All she wanted was for me to stay and I didn’t,” she whispered. “I never wanted to hurt her.”

Something dawned on Clint. “Is she who you used to go see after missions?” he inquired carefully, ignoring the tension that seemed to stiffen her muscles.

“…yes.”

Nodding, Clint leaned back and brushed a lock of hair from Natasha’s face. “If you’re this upset, you need to go to her. Tell her you regret leaving that night – that you regret leaving her. Wallowing isn’t doing anyone any good,” he advised, smiling sympathetically.

“I’m afraid she won’t forgive me,” she admitted brokenly. “I never told her anything. Not about missions or my life or anything. I kept her so far in the dark that I don’t know how to bring her into the light now.”

“You’ll never know until you talk to her,” Clint said. “If you care about her this much, you need to talk to her. Otherwise it’ll be entirely your own fault that you lost her.” He knew his words were harsh, but she needed to hear them. If he tried sugarcoating it, she’d never leave the couch.

Natasha’s face scrunched as she forced back tears. He was right. As much as she wished he wasn’t, he absolutely was.

“Okay,” she breathed, determination befalling her features. “Okay.”

Clint smiled, patting her shoulder as he stood. “C’mon. I’ll drive.”

-X-

The drive to your apartment was silent aside from the incessant tapping of Natasha’s fingers on her thigh. She was trying to prepare her speech, like she was readying for battle, but she knew the moment she looked into your eyes it’d be useless. This wasn’t something she could sweep under the rug with a seductive look or a sensual kiss. She had to actually talk.

She was going to throw up.

Sudden terror gripped her as they stopped in front of the building. “I can’t do this.”

Clint chuckled and shook his head. “Yes, you can. Go talk to her. I’ll wait here until you say otherwise.”

Bottom lip snagged between her teeth, Natasha inhaled sharply and tossed open the car door before storming inside and up to your floor. With every step her heart thudded a little harder, but she ventured on, blinking sporadically to keep the tears at bay. Fist balled tight, she knocked twice behind rocking on her heels.

Silence.

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

Natasha’s head tilted. Only stillness greeted her as she stared at the door mocking her. She couldn’t hear anything on the other side, which was bizarre considering your floor creaked just at the entrance.

Her eyebrows nearly touched as she tentatively reached forward and knocked again. It was well past nine at night, so where the hell were you? A nasty thought crossed her thoughts and she faltered. What if you’d already moved on? What if you were on a date? What if they were in there?

The old woman who lived next door peered out of her apartment and stared at her. She could see the emotions warring on the beautiful woman’s face.

“Excuse me, miss,” the woman called, garnering Natasha’s attention. “She’s not there.”

Natasha’s head snapped around. “O-oh. Do you know when she’ll be back?”

The woman’s pursed lips concerned Natasha. “I don’t think you understand, sweetie. She doesn’t live here anymore. Moved out about two weeks ago.”

All the blood drained from Natasha’s face and her lips parted slightly, a deeper concern blossoming in her stomach.

“None of us know where she went either,” she admitted. “We just saw her leave one day and the next, the landlord was trying to find new renters. It’s a shame too. She was lovely. Always helped me with my groceries.”

“She’s…gone?” Natasha repeated slowly, glancing at your door like she expected you to throw it open and laugh at your elaborate joke. This was just a joke…right?

Smiling sadly at Natasha, the old woman studied her. As a former nurse, she’d seen many people walk into her hospital with a similar expression; regret and devastation marring their features, waiting for someone to yell “surprise” or hoping to wake up from a bad dream.

She silently prayed this woman would someday find you and right whatever wrong caused that look; she’d always hated that look.

“I’m sorry, honey,” she mumbled before closing her door, the quiet click sounding like a thunderous boom in Natasha’s ears.

The urge to slump to her knees was crippling but Natasha forced herself upright and staggered out of your (former) building, dragging herself towards Clint’s car. Her fingers felt numb as she gripped the handle, dropping into the passenger seat. She said nothing and he didn’t push.

You were gone.

-X-

Traveling the country had never been something you’d really considered before. You liked having a steady home, steady relationships – a steady life. But two weeks after Natasha walked out of your door, you decided to throw caution to the wind and try it. You had more than enough money to survive for a while so you tossed your bigger items into the storage and began a trek across the country, headed west.

Was it irresponsible to quit your job and break your lease all because a woman didn’t love you? Probably, but you didn’t care. You needed something new; something wild that could help mend the shattered shards of your heart.

So you found yourself in a little town in Ohio two weeks into your trip, a cheap beer in hand as you looked around the bar. You weren’t trying to catch anyone’s eye, merely curious of your surroundings. Plenty of people were scattered about, filling the air with small-town liveliness.

A feminine hand caught your attention out of your peripheral and you discretely glanced over. Long digits traced across the edge of the wood.

“I might be mistaken but I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen you around here before.” Her voice was like a warm breeze in the middle of September and you couldn’t stop yourself from gazing at her.

She was pretty, relatively speaking, though she didn’t hold a candle to the woman who’d prompted this trip. But she might be pretty enough to help you forget.

“You’re not wrong,” you smirked, sipping your beer as you watched her eyes flicker to your lips.

She offered her hand, skin smooth and gentle against yours. “I’m Lucy.”

“(Y/N),” you replied, letting your fingers brush the palm of her hand as you let go.

Hopping onto the stool beside you, she raised a finger and the bartender handed her a drink. You weren’t sure if he’d been simply waiting for the gesture or if it was just a lucky coincidence but you weren’t going to question it. You were a stranger, what did you know?

“So, what brings you here?” Lucy asked, raising her glass to glossed lips.

You shrugged. It’d sound pathetic to admit all of this started because of a woman, right? An Avenger but still…

“Road trip,” you hummed, eyes drifting through the crowd again.

Lucy chuckled, smirking at you over the rim of her drink. “I’ve heard a lot of people say that but that’s never the full story, is it?”

Your gaze jerked back to her and her smirk deepened.

“Boyfriend troubles – or girlfriend?” she wondered, her glass thumping on the bar as she set it down.

Sighing, you acknowledged her probing with a humorless laugh. “Technically? Neither. She was never my girlfriend.”

Lucy’s brow arched, curiosity brimming in green eyes. “Oh?”

You downed your beer. “Yeah…” you didn’t exactly want to offer information but the need to vent was pulsating into your bones. No one knew the story; hell, no one had even known you had an occasional bed partner. “I had feelings for her but she walked out and never came back, so I decided a trip across the country wasn’t such a bad idea.”

Lucy gave an apologetic hiss and patted your arm. “Ouch.”

“But,” the corner of your mouth tugged up, “I’m sure some good company would help take the sting out a little.”

-X-

Finding out you had left was a blow Natasha hadn’t anticipated. She’d considered calling you from Clint’s car but the idea you had blocked her number gave her pause. You’d left for a reason, so she should honor that…

And she did try.

But, as another week drifted into two, she was crumbling inside. She’d spent many years trying to correct all the mistakes she’d made over in her youth but now she had no idea how to fix this one. You’d never been hers – though through no fault of your own – but it felt like you’d taken a chunk of her heart wherever you had gone.

In the end, it wasn’t even her who found you.

Tony Stark was many things: arrogant, a billionaire playboy, but not stupid. He’d seen Natasha losing herself and, while he might butt heads with her often, he hated the misery that lingered on the outskirts of green. So, as any friend would do, he stole her phone.

Your number was easy to find since it was the only “civilian” number on there, aside from Laura Barton. Natasha was nothing if not minimalistic.

Minutes later, he pinged your phone and had FRIDAY tracking it.

“Boss, what should I do with this information?” the AI wondered, curious – well, as curious as an AI could be.

“Send it to Agent Romanoff and tell her I better be her best man at the wedding,” Tony replied coolly, wandering off to go bug Pepper before Natasha could come skin him alive.

When FRIDAY alerted her of Tony’s meddling, she did consider hurting him for less than a second before she was racing out of the Compound and towards a jet. Yes, flying a million dollar get to win back her not-ex’s heart was dramatic but she was an Avenger.

And Avengers were good at dramatics.

-X-

You hadn’t left that little Ohio town yet, which honestly surprised you. After spending a night drinking with Lucy, you’d followed her home…

And slept on her couch.

She’d been wonderful to talk to – and you’d been right about the company – but sleeping with her had never been an option. You weren’t going to use someone like that, even if she was a stranger. But, she’d offered her couch and nearly two weeks later, you were still there. She’d argued with you about finding a motel, telling you she liked having someone to fill the silence of her little apartment.

So you stayed.

Right now, you were tucked in a little coffee shop, a mug in front of you as you waited for Lucy. She was off getting things ready for her upcoming art gallery in town so you’d been left to your own devices (which was fine). You were absently flicking through your social medias, listening to the locals discuss a plane that had touched down outside of town. You weren’t really paying any attention to it but the silence that enveloped the shop as the door opened certainly caught your notice.

You peeked over your shoulder, eyes widening as a disheveled – but still unnaturally beautiful – Natasha strolled over. She looked dress for war, but the uncertainty in her eyes left you frozen. In all the months you’d known her, she’d never looked so scared before. Like you were a wild cat that would either spring at her or dash away if she got too close.

“Hi,” she greeted, voice raspy and alluring.

You gaped, your throat suddenly so dry that it burned. You could tell your silence hurt Natasha but your lack of running away helped lessen the fear swirling inside her stomach. She cautiously grabbed the chair across from yours and dragged it closer, though she kept a respectable distance between you.

“W-why…how…um, huh?” you sputtered, trying to gather your thoughts. You had so many questions that wanted out and no idea how to ask them.

“You left New York,” she stated plainly, as if that explained everything – which, it did not.

“Yes?” you replied, though it definitely sounded like a question at that point.

Natasha cleared her throat, green dancing between your mug and the floor. “I was a coward,” she muttered, “The night you said you couldn’t do what we were doing anymore. I wanted to stay, but I was scared. Scared of what happens if I let you get too close; scared you wouldn’t like the real me. So, I left. But when I came to talk, you were gone.”

Her gaze almost felt accusing but you both knew she wasn’t angry with you.

“I –” you stopped yourself from apologizing. You hadn’t done anything wrong. You were the wounded party.

But looking at her, you wondered if maybe you weren’t the only one hurting.

“I shouldn’t have left,” she continued, lip trapped between perfect teeth. “I should’ve stayed when you asked and I’m sorry I didn’t. I should’ve told you I wanted more too. I should’ve given you everything instead of taking it. You were never just fun for me – and I wish I’d told you that sooner.”

“Nat,” you exhaled, watching her shoulders slump. “I wish you had too.”

She nodded, her hair obscuring your view, hiding that face you loved so much. “I know I don’t have a right to ask, but can we try again? Try to have something real this time? I can’t promise I’ll be perfect but I really want to give us a shot. Because losing you? It was one of the worst things I’ve ever felt.”

Your tongue was lead in your mouth, pressing it to your teeth. Thoughts swam through your mind at millions of miles per second and you wondered for a moment if you were dreaming. The air felt ten degrees hotter and you were fairly certain everyone was looking at you but you didn’t dare look away for even a millisecond.

“Hey, everything okay?” Lucy.

You didn’t even know she had arrived and suddenly the world felt like it was tipping on its axis. Natasha’s hair fluttered as her head snapped to the new arrival and you could see her heart turning to dust as she assumed the worst. Lucy’s eyes were on you but yours never left Natasha.

She didn’t say a word, merely kicking out of the chair and rushing from the shop, leaving you stunned. Another flurry of emotions and thoughts erupted in your brain but you knew one thing: you had find her.

You couldn’t lose her again.

Bolting off your chair, you lurched out of the shop and glanced about frantically. A glimpse of her black outfit was the only sign she’d ever existed in this little town and you surged after her, pushing your muscles in a way you hadn’t since you were forced to run a mile in gym.

You weren’t going to let her leave you again. If she left, there wasn’t going to be a third chance – and you knew it.

Catching her arm just outside of the trees that you assumed lead to her jet, you dragged her to a halt, breath escaping you in pants as you stared at the back of her head. This felt like something out of a stupid romantic comedy but that wasn’t your biggest concern.

“Natasha,” you started, though she hurriedly cut you off.

“It’s okay,” she sniffed, clearly fighting off her sorrow. “I get it. You don’t have to explain.” She was silently begging you not to. She couldn’t handle it if you did.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” you assured her, tugging on the skin-tight material clinging to her body. “Lucy’s just a friend I made when I stopped here. She’s not…we’re not…”

Instead of struggling to find the words, you simply jerked on Natasha’s arm, bringing her crashing into you. Her hands found your shoulders and yours cupped her face, thumbs brushing the stray tears away. You had so much you wanted to say but you’d been taught actions speak louder than words so with a rush of courage, your lips brushed hers.

She gasped, her lips still against your own and you wondered if you’d made a mistake. But, as she sagged into you, she fervently brought her mouth to yours, kissing you desperately. She clung to you like you’d disappear, arms coming around your neck to keep you close.

When air became a necessity, you pressed your forehead against hers and smiled. “Want to take a road trip with me?” you asked breathlessly, giggling as she nodded without hesitation.

“Yes.”

Maybe this was that world after all.

Chapter Text

Ending up on Midgard had not been her goal. Then again, there hadn’t been so much a goal as much as a need to survive the crumbling of Asgard. It hadn’t taken long for her to realize that getting out of there was in her best interest so in a last ditch effort to survive, she’d ended up here.

On Midgard.

Hela grunted in disgust.

Dressed in black, headpiece still branching out like a gruesome, violent rack on a stag, she glanced around. She’d been here a few times, some in her youth but the most recent being the death of Odin. She didn’t understand its appeal but it seemed like the type of world she could so easily conquer. Humans couldn’t exactly stand toe-to-toe with a goddess, after all.

Asgard’s destruction meant her powers would never fully recover, but she was cunning and even with only some power, she was still stronger than most (and she highly doubted Odin’s precious Thor was here, all things considered).

She sniffed the air, nose scrunching as she took in the earthy smell. Her feet shifted under the grass and she sighed. She was far too weak to try and use her powers but she absolutely refused to stay here, like a commoner.

Each step was deliberate, body aching as she ventured through the trees. Her side gave a twinge every few steps and her breathing felt labored but she continued onward. It was late in the evening but her sight was sharp and she could navigate fairly well through the wooded area. She hoped to find a town before her legs gave out; how embarrassing it would be for humans to find their new leader passed out on the ground?

She’d have to kill them.

As she delved deeper into the trees, something seemed to vibrate the ground. It wasn’t drastic or violent; no, it was mere hum that everything reacted to. Hela included. She could feel the slight movement in the tree she was using to keep herself upright. It was odd – but intoxicating – as it drew her closer.

She’d seen Midgard when she was younger, having briefly explored similar parts of the world, and she couldn’t help but find it strange that none of the woods’ inhabitants had made an appearance. She remembered small, chattery things from her few experiences yet there was nothing here.

Her vision suddenly swam and she groaned, tilting her head slightly as she prayed not to hit the dirt. She swallowed harshly, the world teetering at a nauseating angle. Just as darkness attempted to consume her, something gold glistened just ahead, a voice soft and whispery dancing in her ears.

Then everything with black.

-X-

She felt like she was floating, caught in darkness though she didn’t feel trapped. In Hel, that was the only thing she’d felt but not here – not now. There was something – someone? – tracing her skin but as she fought to keep the touch, it disappeared.

With a sudden gasp, Hela jerked upright, eyes wild as she took in sharp, shallow breaths. The first thing she noticed was the soft blanket tangled up in her legs, nervous fingers twisting in the soft fabric. The second was the bed beneath her, comfortable yet sensible. It was basic but she didn’t notice any aches so she couldn’t complain.

A flowery smell tickled her nose and she glanced about, noting the vase full of lavender sitting on a dresser. It wasn’t overpowering but it did help calm her slightly. She touched her head, expecting her headpiece and dried blood, though she only found the softness of her skin and black strands of hair.

“Where the hell am I?” she muttered, slowly dragging herself off the bed.

Her knees buckled slightly and she bit back a yelp. She wasn’t in pain; it was as if her legs were unaccustomed to her weight, like she hadn’t used them for a while. Her hand fell to the end of the bed to steady herself. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror, pausing to really study what she was seeing.

She was in a plain black shirt and baggy pants – most definitely not the outfit she had passed out in.

A creak in the floor outside of the bedroom caught her attention and she slowly crept to the door, nudging it open. She could hear humming but only an empty hallway greeted her. Curiosity piqued, she wandered closer, keeping her steps silent (which was fairly easy considering she was wearing fuzzy socks). Peeking left, she saw a couch and table and just beyond that, a door leading out into the world. For a moment she considered making a run for it but she was far too intrigued to simply leave.

So she turned right.

-X-

You’d been aware of your temporary housemate’s awakening the moment it’d happened. There had been an immediate shift in the house, sending all of your friends scurrying away as to not face this new power. You were fairly positive she was alien – possibly even a goddess – though you had no real proof yet.

She thought she was stealthy, staring at you from the doorway and you couldn’t help smiling. A beauty she was, even if her being here left a darkness inching up your bones. There was no way you were going to leave her unconscious in your woods, dangling between life and death, her face serene despite the blood dripping across her cheek. Even if her injuries didn’t kill her, you knew she’d be in pain and that just wouldn’t do, so you’d brought her home and nursed this oddity in your life back to health.

“Good morning,” you greeted suddenly, catching a glimpse of her startled face before she was rushing at you, one hand jerking you around while the other wrapped firmly around your throat.

“Who are you?” she demanded, unnerved by your calm expression as she pressed you against the nearest wall.

You considered making a sarcastic comment, but the fear in her eyes kept you pliant and gentle, like tending to a wounded cat. “I’m (Y/N).”

Her fingers flexed, eyes narrowing at the lack of panic. She didn’t like not being in control; didn’t like the unknown if she wasn’t charging headfirst into it like battle.

“You’re okay here,” you promised, her tight grip making your words a little breathy as you stared at her. “Nothing will hurt you.”

She snorted. The fact a human thought she was afraid of them was absurd. “I’m not afraid,” she growled, glaring at you.

A sigh caught in your throat as her hand squeezed and you decided you were tired of this game. You carefully wrapped your hand around her wrist, tugging it off without hurting her while keeping yourself safe. Blue eyes went wide as she struggled to get her hand out of yours, a true sense of fear washing over her.

Smiling placidly, you slowly pressed her hand to her chest before letting go. “It’s okay to be afraid,” you murmured sweetly. “But I’m not going to hurt you.”

She watched you step around her, gathering ingredients to start breakfast.

“I’m assuming you’re not from here, are you?” you wondered, keeping your pace as nonthreatening as possible. It was probably best not to spook the woman staring at you.

“I am Hela of Asgard, rightful heir to the throne,” she proclaimed proudly, though her face dropped after a moment. Something akin to grief washed over her and you pursed your lips, forcing yourself not to offer anything she might consider pity.

She probably wouldn’t take kindly to it.

“Like Thor?” you inquired, whisking the pancake mix.

Only silence answered your question and you peeked over at Hela. She looked seconds away from bolting.

“I won’t tell him you’re here,” you hurriedly promised, catching her eyes. “No one has to know you’re here.”

The tightness in her jaw lessened. “Like Thor,” she finally said, peering around the kitchen. “How do you know of Thor?”

You shrugged, grabbing a pan from under the cabinet. “It’s a long story.”

“We have time,” she snapped, distrust evident in her stance.

Oh Gods, where do I begin?

Chapter Text

You ladled out a pancake, staring blankly at the batter that began to bubble.

“I’d heard of him long before I ever met him,” you admitted with a shrug. “It was big news when his arrival confirmed that there were sentient beings outside of our planet. He was all people could talk about for a while; some mythical Norse God with lightning in his eyes? He could protect us or destroy us – and it made everyone a little nervous.

“However, I didn’t meet him until Loki and his hoard of monsters invaded New York. I hadn’t even meant to venture that far into the city but I did. Buildings were in ruins and everywhere I looked someone was hurting or dead. It was a miserable sight – but leaving was never an option. I was helping a boy when Thor crashed down a few feet away.”

Hela was enthralled, accepting the plate you passed her and following you to your table as you continued your explanation.

“He saved us from one of those creatures. I hadn’t even noticed it sneaking up on us but he put a hammer through its head and made sure we were okay before disappearing back into the madness.”

You paused long enough to take a bite of pancake before retrieving juice from the fridge. Hela took the cup you offered, sipping the juice cautiously. It was sweet – almost too sweet – but it was refreshing and she downed it quickly. With a grin you refilled the cup, eyes twinkling with hidden amusement. In spite of her standoffishness nature, she really was remarkably entertaining – and inhumanly beautiful.

“I didn’t really think about him again until he crash-landed in my woods a few years later. He wasn’t hurt, just unconscious, so I brought Thor here and waited for him to wake up. When he did, I fed him and we talked. He told me a little about Asgard and I told him about myself…” you trailed off, lips pressed into a thin line.

Arching an expectant brow, Hela stared at you. “What makes you so interesting to him? I can’t imagine a god caring too much about some woodland human.”

Snorting at her haughty attitude, you simply bit the end of your fork and smirked. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

She growled lowly, crystal blue turning icy as she narrowed her gaze. She would never admit her curiosity despite it burning in her chest. Her mind was racing with questions but she refused to ask them. Admitting she wanted to know meant you had an upper hand – and that simply wouldn’t do.

Before she could give in and ask, a low, haunting howl rippled through the air and you both jerked up from the table. You shared a look before you bolted for the door, tossing it open as you looked around, Hela close behind. Eyes scanned the slight clearing but neither of you could find the source. It hadn’t sounded like any creature that roamed your woods but you weren’t going to abandon anything that seemed so miserable.

Just beyond the trees a whimper was heard and, without thought, you started towards it. Your bare feet padded across the grass, blades tickling your toes. Your hand brushed the bark of a tree and suddenly the world seemed to hum.

Hela faltered, breath catching in her throat as the ground vibrated beneath her. She stared at your back, wondering – again – what you were.

You nearly collided with the staggering creature, stopping inches from its massive muzzle. Gleaming teeth greeted you as it snarled, though it broke into a whine as something shifted beneath its impressive muscles. Nearly double your height, it was hulking yet you showed no fear.

A noise of disbelief – and fear, though not for herself – escaped Hela. She would know Fenris anywhere, her faithful steed bloody and sagging as it glared you down. Breath fanned across your face, those teeth she’d seen rip enemies apart in one bite so close you could see saliva dripping from them.

Head tilting thoughtfully, you inhaled slowly and reached out, palm up. Fenris snapped in warning, but you didn’t flinch. In fact, you seemed determined, never stopping to reconsider what you were attempting to do – fearless despite the wolf looming over you. Eyes tracked your movement as your hand inched closer to its muzzle but Fenris didn’t lash out again, simply staring at you warily.

A warm glow enveloped your wrist just as you touched the fur matted with blood and Hela watched, mouth gapped in awe, as the tension drained from Fenris’ body. It yipped, head heavy in your hand as your eyes connected.

“Easy,” you cooed, your other hand stroking behind its ear. “You’re safe here, little one.”

Fenris slumped to the ground, exhaustion turning its bones to cement. You simply crouched before it, examining the marred flesh and the plethora of marks scattering its neck and back. The light wrapped tightly across your arm crept upward, gold emanating from your skin as methodical fingers traced along a gash in Fenris’ neck. Fenris snorted but didn’t move, merely cutting its eyes towards a stunned Hela.

Hela absently noted the humming growing stronger with every new inch of gold, her gaze flickering between you and her beast. A snap of twigs caught her attention and she watched with wonder as animals trickled out of the trees. Squirrels chattered at you, but you only smiled, continuing your ministrations with Fenris.

A herd of doe drifted into sight and Hela’s knees buckled as they ventured close to Fenris, sniffing the newcomer curiously. Fenris never budged, tipping its head as they nuzzled its throat. It was complete madness; this beast – this harsh, wild predator – was letting prey nip and bump against it without argument or question.

Fenris almost seemed at…peace?

Hela cautiously wandered over, studying Fenris’ abused flesh as it knitted itself together, leaving behind no evidence of its existence besides the blood clinging to dark fur. Her hand lingered just above your shoulder as your hands continued to stroke along Fenris’ head but you shifted away from the contact, eyes apologetic as you gazed up at her.

You wouldn’t have minded her touch but she could so easily unravel everything. This woman – this goddess – was darkness in its purest form. With just a flick of her hand she could so easily dismantle your handiwork.

Fenris sighed as the pain left, licking your cheek affectionately.

Giggling, you scratched the ridge between Fenris’ eyes. “You’re a good wolf, aren’t you? Protector of your mother and guardian of Asgard’s princess.”

Fenris barked, deep and deafening, startling the deer dozing against it.

“Will you finally ask your questions, Hela of Asgard?” you teased, patting the grass beside you. “I think we should talk.”

She collapsed beside you, hand falling instinctively to Fenris’ face. “I think you’re right, (Y/N) of Midgard.”

Chapter Text

Puffing slightly as you ventured towards your apartment door, a few bags of groceries in each hand, your phone vibrated for the fifth time in two minutes. It had started after you reached your building but you refused to set your bags down long enough to check it (the creepy guy from the sixth floor had watched you through the mirror-y metal of the elevator doors and you were not about to let him offer to help).

You barely managed to get the key into the lock and shoulder the door open, your strength wavering at the sight of your counter. The apartment was unusually dark; Kara always had some form of lights left on, even if she wasn’t there. Hence the white fairy lights draped around your living room.

Dropping the bags onto the fake stone, you fished your phone out and glanced at the screen.

Alex D (five missed calls)

Alex D: Don’t go home! Get to the DEO. Kara’s been exposed to red K and we… the rest of the message was hidden, but you didn’t have a chance to read it as the door slammed closed behind you, causing your heart to leap into your throat.

A strong hand fell to your shoulder and you tensed, eyes staring into the dark room. You knew who was there, the joy you normally felt eclipsed by the panic welling in your chest. The powerful energy of the room felt wrong. The Kara behind you was not your Kara, merely an imposter wearing her skin.

“Hi, baby,” you greeted lowly, thankful your voice wasn’t shaky.

You’d only been “friends” with Kara the last time she’d been given red K but even that had been devastating, your friendship barely surviving all the nasty things she’d said. In this state, she was volatile and cruel, the warmth you’d grown accustomed to gone.

“Hi,” she purred, lips brushing your ear as her hand tightened against your work shirt. You shivered, a near-gasp caught between clenched teeth.

Slowly twisting to face your lover, you stared into steely blue eyes. They were narrowed slightly, anger just below the surface. You were scrambling to remember the last conversation you’d had with Kara, trying to pick apart anything that might’ve made her mad but you came up blank.

“Are you okay?” you wondered cautiously, flinching at the curl of her lip.

“I stopped by your work earlier, thought we could get lunch. Imagine my surprise when I found out you’d already left with (F/N),” Kara spat, shoving you slightly into the counter. “So tell me: how long have you been screwing her?”

Your jaw hung open, bewildered by such an accusation. “Excuse me?”

Kara growled, hand drifting from your shoulder to your chest, nails digging into your flesh through fabric. She could feel your heart pounding and it only seemed to confirm your “guilt”. Why would you be nervous otherwise?

“I’m not sleeping with (F/N),” you promised, wincing as the corner of your counter pressed into your spine. “She wanted to talk about some paperwork and I was hungry so we went to get lunch.”

A disbelieving scoff slipped through lips glistening with gloss and you realized nothing you said was going to get through the haze of Kryptonite.

Fuck, Alex, hurry up and figure out she’s here!

“Don’t lie to me!” she shouted, red overtaking the blue you loved. “I saw you together and it definitely didn’t look friendly.”

Your brows knitted together as you tried to put a little space between you and Kara. The only thing Kara could’ve possibly seen was (F/N) grabbing your hand while she talked, but Kara did the same with almost all of your shared friends so why was this triggering such a reaction?

Besides, (F/N) was unbelievably straight!

Mistaking your silence as admission, Kara advanced on you, her hand around your throat as she wedged you between herself and the nearby wall. An explosion of pain erupted where your head smacked the plaster but you didn’t have time to think about that, instead wrapping trembling digits around Kara’s slender wrist.

“K-Kara,” you choked out pleadingly, “I love you. I-I’d never cheat on you.” Her grip had tightened with each word so the last was so breathless you were surprised she could hear it.

She stared unblinkingly at you, eyes boring into yours as your feet dangled inches above the floor. Your tongue felt like it weighed a thousand pounds in your mouth and the world was beginning to blur around the edges but you weren’t angry. Not with your Kara. You knew she’d never hurt you, you just wished you could get through to her.

“You’re my forever,” you whispered, the lack of oxygen making your words slur. “I wouldn’t –”

Suddenly the tightness of your throat was overwhelming and you couldn’t finish your thought, slowly succumbing to the claws dragging you into darkness. A faint bang echoed through the apartment and you heard screams…

Then nothing.

-X-

A steady beeping jolted you awake and you wrenched upright, coughing as you took in a few deep gulps of air. Your neck throbbed something horribly and you brought your fingers up to poke the abused area, wincing.

Glancing around, you recognized the DEO medical bay, having passed through here a few times in search of Kara when you’d visited. The glaringly white walls and insane amount of equipment gave it away and you relaxed. If you were here, then she was here.

The door opened and Alex slipped inside, smiling tiredly at you. “You’re awake.”

“Where’s Kara?” you demanded, forcing your legs over the side of the bed. They were wobbly but you didn’t care. She was your only concern at this moment. Everything else could wait.

Alex had always been impressed by your devotion to her sister but seeing the worry in your eyes, despite everything that had happened? Well, she might’ve fallen a little bit in love with you too (platonically, of course).

“She’s under the sun lamps,” she said, gesturing for you to follow her. “She’s really upset this happened again. She thinks you’ll hate her.”

She led you down a long hall, passing agents who were quick to look away. Some wanted to gape at the nasty coloring on your neck, but one glare from Alex sent them scurrying away. You figured it was an awful sight, but you would worry about that later.

Alex hesitated, hand hovering on the handle. “Go easy on her, okay?”

The door swung open and a sobbing Kara came into view, her hand over her eyes. She was hooked up to a plethora of wires and the lamps were so bright but she was all you could stare at. Exhaustion and regret poured off her in waves, leaving her looking so terribly young.

“Oh, honey,” you murmured, hurrying to her side.

Kara jerked at the sound of your voice, scratchy but gentle. Eyes flickered across your sweet features before drifting down to your throat, another sob filling the room as she took in the blossoming colors. She could see her handprint perfectly and it made her sick. She’d hurt you, the person she loved so, so much.

“I’m sorry!” she cried, refusing to meet your eyes. “I never… I…”

She dissolved into a fit of tears and you carefully maneuvered around her wires, pulling her into an embrace. One hand buried in blonde locks while the other soothed across her back, keeping her as close as possible. You cooed into her hair, quiet promises that you weren’t angry falling from your lips occasionally. She fisted your shirt as she babbled broken apologies.

Alex watched from the doorway, tears flooding her own eyes as you comforted the distressed Kryptonian.

You could feel Kara panting against your chest and your hand drifted from her hair to her cheek as you tugged back, the other grabbing hers and bringing it to rest over your heart.

“Follow my breathing, baby,” you instructed calmly, taking deliberate breaths.

Her digits shifted but after a few seconds she began to follow, occasionally hiccupping. She stared at her hand, watching the rise and fall. It grounded her, reminding her that you were here. You weren’t gone.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“I know,” you smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “But I’m not mad at you. I’m mad someone managed to poison you again.”

Alex cleared her throat. “We’ll find out who as fast as possible,” she assured you.

Throwing the older Danvers a wink, you jokingly replied, “Well, when you do, let me know. I think I need to have a chat with them.”

Kara gave a watery laugh, finally meeting your understanding gaze.

Your thumb stroked across Kara’s flushed cheek and you kissed her carefully, like she was one of those shatter-able figurines your grandmother used to keep in her cabinet. It was easily the sweetest kiss you’d ever shared, the simple gesture soothing some of the wounds clinging to the surface.

“I love you, Kara Zor-El,” you sighed into her mouth.

She smiled and, in that moment, you knew everything was going to be okay.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Hela didn’t immediately speak. Her fingers brushed along Fenris’ muzzle as she studied you, curiosity tinged with suspicion. No one had ever been allowed to touch her beast so freely yet you had done so with full confidence that you wouldn’t be harmed.

That had earned you respect – but also a healthy dose of wariness.

“Are you from Midgard?” she questioned, tilting her head. She had assumed you were human but she was beginning to wonder if she was wrong.

Smiling, you crossed your legs, absently stroking a rabbit’s back as it climbed into your lap. “Yes.” You paused before amending, “At least I think so. My parents never told me otherwise…”

Fenris snorted lazily before dropping its head into the grass, eyes drifting closed.

“Have you always – I mean…” Hela pursed her lips thoughtfully, brows pinched together.

“Had powers?” you finished with a laugh. “Yeah. My mom used to say I had a way with living things that no one would ever understand. It was until my dad nearly died, though, that I really understood what she meant.”

Hela leaned closer, intrigued by your openness. Under Odin’s thumb, she’d only seen deception and underhandedness; rarely was anyone honest. But you were offering information so freely, like you trusted her, and that was bizarre. Why would you trust a stranger?

Taking her silence as prompting, you leaned back on one hand while petting the snoozing rabbit using your lap as a bed. “He was hunting when someone mistook him for an animal. Shot him in the chest, barely missed his heart. He fell into the snow – which probably kept him alive, honestly – and when we went out to find him, he was barely holding on. Mom was in hysterics but I just dropped to my knees beside him and put my hand over the hole.

“I don’t know why I did it, but something just took over and I managed to heal him. We carried him home and Mom nursed him back to health. Afterwards, they made me swear not to tell anyone what I could do.” You laughed wistfully, a faraway look in your eyes. “And I didn’t for a very long time.”

“What changed?” Hela blurted, crystal irises wide as she watched you expectantly. She didn’t like the way your expression fell, deciding you were far too beautiful to look so disheartened.

Sighing heavily, you tilted your head back and gazed up at the afternoon sky. “Despite what I can do, I can’t stop death, only prolong life. Eventually my parents grew old and passed away while I stayed the same. Whatever gave me my power also gives me immortality. Or, a really long fucking life span. I’m not sure. But after they were gone, I got reckless. I wanted to see what I was capable of. I tried healing the planet – helping plants grow and regenerate, saving animals, etcetera – but for every piece of good I did, something bad had to happen.

“It took me a while to understand that life must have death to keep balance. We need the scales to be even or the world is in chaos. Too much good brings a devastating amount of bad later and vice versa. So, I chose to limit myself. But Loki trying to destroy our world threw the balance off entirely, meaning I could help there more.”

“So you’re the Goddess of Life?” Hela was bewildered. She was touted as the Goddess of Death and she truthfully had never pondered if she had an equal on the other end of the spectrum.

You hummed, shrugging your shoulders as you glanced over at the dark-haired woman. “I don’t know,” you admitted. “Haven’t looked that far into it.”

Silence followed your admission but it wasn’t uncomfortable, only thoughtful.

“Since you know about me now, tell me about Hela of Asgard,” you softly implored, turning all of your attention to the woman leaning into Fenris.

Hela’s first instinct was to lash out, distrust lingering in her bones, but she paused at the gentle emotion glistening in your eyes. You weren’t pushing for answers, merely interested in her. You had offered knowledge of yourself to someone you had no reason of trusting without expecting the same amount of reciprocation. You weren’t demanding she bare her soul.

You only wanted to know what she was willing to give.

“I’m sure Thor told you how he is Odin’s son?” Nod. “Well, I am Odin’s firstborn, rightful queen of Asgard,” Hela said, her earlier pride stripped away as she considered the home she’d lost. “Well, I was before Surtur was reborn and destroyed our world.”

“Thor never mentioned he had a sister,” you said casually, “He only mentioned Loki.”

Hela snorted, contempt dripping from her tongue. “Of course Father never told him. Why would he want to? He’d have to explain locking away his own daughter!”

As much as she didn’t want to acknowledge it, Odin’s betrayal had hurt her in ways she couldn’t begin to explain. From a terribly young age, she’d been treated as a weapon – a means to an end – but she was only worthy when he needed her for something. He’d never been nurturing, only pushing her until she embraced her dark gifts – but she could only use them for him. She wasn’t permitted friends, only left to train until she was stiff and exhausted. She wasn’t given love, only words of anger, until all that was left within her was fury.

He hadn’t been a father; only cruel.

The animals surrounding you jerked at the sudden outburst of dark energy, but you merely reached out and touched Hela’s knee. “What happened?”

She was up and pacing before you could blink, eyes wild and glazed. “What happened was he lost use for me and tossed me aside like rubbish! He wanted peace!” her laugh reminded you of a deranged bark, but you stayed quiet. “His peace was only possible because of me! I helped him conquer until no one was willing to fight against him, then he decided he didn’t need me anymore. And when I rebelled, he threw me into Hel! But what did he expect? War and fighting and death are all I know! It’s all he let me know!”

A broken scream erupted from her throat and everything aside from you and Fenris scattered, terrified.

“And when I was finally released, no one even remembered me! Everything I had ever done for Asgard had been shoved under a rug and I was left to rot. I was met with nothing but Thor’s hammer and a fight. Maybe killing all of Asgard’s guard was a bit much but when you’re given nothing but harshness and spite, can you really blame me?” she ranted, hands waving violently as she gazed about frantically. “It never had to be like this!”

She paused, slumping slightly.

“It never had to be like this…”

Scrambling to your feet, you gathered Hela into your arms and stroked her raven locks, brows furrowing as she pressed her face into your neck. She didn’t cry – wouldn’t cry, not in front of you – but her limbs felt like jelly as you embraced her. Exhaustion rolled over her like a tidal wave, your hold the only thing keeping her from buckling.

“It doesn’t have to be like that anymore,” you promised, squeezing Hela slightly. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Chapter Text

A part of you wanted it to be a nightmare, your girlfriend’s accusations a mere hallucination but the longer – and louder – she yelled, the more you began to realize this was very real.

You weren’t really sure what’d caused the fight. Natasha had been in meetings for most of the day so you’d left the Compound, meeting with the jeweler Clint had sworn by since the former assassin wouldn’t be around to wonder where you were. It’d gone off without a hitch and you’d walked out with a gorgeous, but simple, black diamond on a white gold band.

It was perfect.

But the moment you’d stepped onto your floor, Natasha flew off the handle, shouting and cursing while implying – then flat out saying – you’d been cheating on her. She demanded answers that you couldn’t give yet without unveiling your plans, so you waited for her to run out of steam.

Except she didn’t.

Your silence only seemed to confirm whatever she thought she knew and you found yourself staring into cold emerald eyes, her lip drawn up into a snarl as she shoved her finger into your chest. The pain was eclipsed by the fury and hurt burning in her gaze, causing you to falter under its weight.

“I’m not cheating,” you whispered, flinching at her humorless laugh and the sharp jab she pressed over your pounding heart.

“Bullshit,” she spat. “You’ve been acting weird for weeks!”

An explanation lingered on the tip of your tongue but wouldn’t drop over the edge, weeks of planning holding you hostage as you stared at the woman you loved; wanted to spend your life with. “Nat…”

“No! Don’t ‘Nat’ me, (Y/N). Tell me the fucking truth!” she demanded. “Sneaky glances at your phone, it’s always on silence now, and you’re guarding the damn thing like it’s priceless. Plus you disappeared all day! What do you expect me to think?”

“I expect you to trust me!” you snarled, standing tall despite her fierce glare. “I’ve never given you a single reason not to!”

She nearly wavered but insecurity twisted in her stomach, her vulnerability spurning on indignation. You’d always left her so bare and open but the fear of being scarred while you walked away unscathed kept her upright and angry.

“This has nothing to do with trust,” she lied, her hiss menacing as she stood chest-to-chest with you.

“Oh really? It doesn’t?” The ring in your pocket suddenly felt a thousand tons heavier as you panted, your nose inches from Natasha’s, waiting for her next comment like this were a game of chess.

Shaking her head, Natasha took a step back and crossed her arms. “If you didn’t have something to hide, you would’ve just told me the truth already.” The underlying sadness in her voice nearly made you shudder, your shoulders slumping in defeat.

“I just need you to trust me,” you implored, barely keeping the tears threatening to overwhelm you at bay.

For a moment, you thought you’d gotten through to her but an aggressive jerk of her head dashed that hope against the rocks, taking your relationship with it.

“I think you should go,” she said with finality, glancing away from you. Her bottom lip trembled and you wondered if, when you walked away, she would cry.

You swallowed drily, wanting to argue but knowing it’d get you nowhere. She was stubborn to a fault and with everything so fresh and raw, she’d only lash out. Some masochistic piece of you wanted to question if this was the end but you were too terrified to. The thought was too much and you couldn’t bring yourself to ask. Not now. Not yet.

A sharp inhale was your only farewell, the thump of your shoes deafening as you slipped into the elevator. Eyes on the floor, you refused to watch her leave your sight.

“Rooftop, FRIDAY.”

“Yes, (Y/N).”

-X-

Days trickled by slowly and as it neared the end of the week, everyone was walking on eggshells. If Natasha wasn’t holed up in your (former?) floor, she was done in the gym demolishing punching bags – and a few new agents. No one dared to mention your name, too fearful of what the legendary Black Widow would do to them.

You weren’t fairing much better, sleeping on the couch on Wanda’s floor. The first night you’d slept on the roof but when Steve found you leaning against a wall, he promptly woke you before scolding you about the dangers of sleeping in such a spacious and unprotected area.

Realistically you could’ve gone back to your old room but the memories were too much. Before you’d moved into Natasha’s room, you’d spent a lot of time with the assassin in yours doing many things, both clothed and…not so clothed. Remembering those happy little moments would’ve done nothing but destroy you, so you opted going elsewhere.

Hence your new bed, Ms. Maximoff’s couch.

(Plus you really didn’t want to be alone.)

That’s where Clint found you, tucked up in a blanket and staring absently into space. He frowned, his brows furrowed at the heartbroken expression occasionally crossing your features. He’d never seen you so despondent, even after you’d talked about your traumatic childhood under HYDRA’s thumb.

“What the hell is going on?” he demanded, flopping down on the couch next to you.

You didn’t respond, choosing to focus on a singular spot on the wall. It was a hole, probably where a picture used to hang but you couldn’t be sure. It was fairly tiny but you pondered what would happen if enough pressure was applied? Would cracks appear? Would the whole wall cave in?

That’s how your heart felt. One little poke had left it shattered, the structure failing despite your hands trying to hold it together. And you had no idea if anything could rebuild what’d been destroyed.

Clint was bewildered by your lack of acknowledgement, finally understanding what the others had seen. Something was very, very wrong here.

“(Y/N)?” He carefully touched your shoulder, the heat of his hand muffled by the far too warm throw around your shoulders.

“She doesn’t trust me,” you mumbled gloomily, peering over at Clint. “She thinks I’m cheating on her.”

Clint’s eyes widened a fraction, his jaw nearly dropping in surprise. Besides his marriage with Laura, you and Natasha had the strongest relationship he’d ever seen. You hardly fought and when you did, they never seemed to fester too long. Most of the time you’d simply snipe at each other before one of you would relent and finally discuss the problem. He couldn’t remember the last time a fight had lasted longer than a day.

And he honestly couldn’t believe Natasha had accused you of that. She was his best friend and he normally took her side, even when she was wrong, but anyone with eyes could see how devoted you were to her. Hell, everyone but her was aware of your upcoming (or was it cancelled now?) proposal and they’d all been enthusiastically helping you plan, Stark had even offered his jet so you could take her anywhere in the world if that’s what you had wanted.

“I…” he was frozen, his disbelief rendering his words of comfort useless.

You patted his arm. “Yeah.”

FRIDAY’s voice broke your misery bubble. “Agent Barton, Agent (Y/L/N), you are both requested for an emergency mission briefing.”

Hoisting yourself upright, you offered him a miserable grin before slipping out of the room. Apparently saving the world waited for no one, even heartbroken (Y/N)s.

-X-

Dressed in your mission suit, you nervously bounced your legs as the others chatted quietly around you. If things were normal, Natasha would be beside you, hand pressed against your thigh in hopes of calming your nerves. But instead, she was in the corner with Steve, her eyes occasionally straying towards you before flickering away.

Wanda offered you a concerned smile. “Things will be fine,” she promised, though her uncertainty made the words feel hollow. You both knew she wasn’t talking about the mission, but you appreciated her efforts all the same.

The minute the Quinjet touched down, you were racing off the aircraft, not bothering to see if anyone was following. You were just outside a little village in Europe that’d been forced into one of HYDRA’s schemes. They’d been experimenting on people and one of their creations had gotten loose. Now it was terrorizing the village, wreaking havoc on the people they’d once loved.

“We need to be careful,” Steve said firmly, his voice tinny through the earpiece. “We have no idea if any HYDRA agents are here.”

“Great, so we’re fighting a raging beast and HYDRA,” you grunted.

The village was in shambles, chunks of siding missing and a few stray fires burning in odd areas. You could hear people screaming and followed the noise, eyeing some cowering villagers you found along the way. You pressed a finger to your lips and they nodded.

It wasn’t hard to find HYDRA’s experiment. Muscles bulged from its vein-y back, so purple they were almost black beneath the surface. Meaty fists were slamming onto the ground as it endured the bullets HYDRA agents were unloading into its chest.

A bullet whirled past your head and you ducked behind a home, checking the gun on your belt. You were well trained in both firearms and hand-to-hand but you doubted your fists would do any good against the monster a few feet from you.

You noticed Clint atop a roof, arrow aimed at the beast, and Natasha crouched across from you. Sharing a look, you waited for Steve’s signal.

A sudden burst of color flew towards the beast and the solid clang of Steve’s shield smacking into something rang out. At the same time a barrage of missiles rained down on a few HYDRA agents, earning him shouts of surprise.

Go time.

You leaned around the wall and fired at the creature, bullet lodging into its head though it did little to slow it down. Clint’s arrow followed but it simply ripped it out, tossing it onto the ground.

“Might wanna try one that explodes,” you suggested, narrowly avoiding another bullet.

A shuffle in the grass behind you caught your attention seconds before an agent attempted to tackle you. You deftly stepped out of range, a well-placed kick to the sternum winding him. Sweeping your leg, you knocked him to the ground before slamming your knuckles into his temple, leaving him unconscious but breathing.

Deciding that subtle wasn’t working, you barreled into the fray, dodging the beast Steve and Tony were tending to and slamming into an agent, using his gun to shoot another that was attacking Natasha. You knew she could take care of herself but considering it was seven on one, you figured leveling the playing field a bit wasn’t too insulting.

Wading over to her, you stood behind her, taking on a few of the agents. Despite everything, she wasn’t surprised. You’d always had her back, why would now be any different?

Knocking two unconscious, you glanced over your shoulder just in time to see a dagger headed for Natasha’s back. You turned and nudged her out of the way, but couldn’t stop the blade for slamming into the space inches below your heart as he shifted his attention to you. He smiled wickedly but a smack of Natasha’s baton to his head quickly wiped it away.

A strangled gasp escaped as your knees buckled, a soft yet sturdy arm keeping you close to a warm body as a hand pressed against the wound. Natasha’s face was blurry but the fear and anguish was evident as blood slipped through the cracks of her fingers.

The world was slowly going quiet but your shaky hand reached up, touching the pale cheek reddening as tears flowed from emeralds. You’d never told her this but you’d decided early on that if you were to go, you wanted to go in her arms. It was a morbid thought, but she was the last thing you wanted to see.

“D-don’t cry,” you coughed, ignoring the splash of crimson trickling out of your mouth. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Only you would comfort me like this,” she joked, a sob catching in her throat as she tried to keep you talking. Keep you alive.

A faint smile tugged at your lips and your head lolled awkwardly. “I never cheated…” she tried shushing you but you plowed on. “I-I wanted to surprise you. Ask you t-to marry me. The ring’s tucked in Wanda’s couch.”

It was getting harder to talk so you simply stared at Natasha, watching her face go fuzzy. Her mouth was moving but you couldn’t understand what she was saying. A shadow eclipsed you.

Then nothing.

-X-

“…thirty percent chance…”

“…possible…not likely…”

“…not your fault…”

“…I’m so sorry…”

Chapter Text

Going to L-Corp’s annual holiday gala hadn’t been part of your weekend plans but when your girlfriend asked you to accompany her, gorgeous eyes wide and pleading, how could you say no? (You couldn’t and you both knew that.)

Besides, Kara and her sister were coming as additional – hidden – security, so you wouldn’t be alone when Lena was inevitably swept up by investors and “important” people.

Soothing down your dress, you nervously tapped your foot as the elevator passed floors, climbing higher. Lena had offered to pick you up but you knew she had too much left to do beforehand so you’d declined. That didn’t stop her from sending a car, though.

The arrival ding echoed through the enclosed space, announcing your entrance as the metal doors slid apart. You were greeted with multiple looks as you stepped out but you only had eyes for the woman across the room, her smile so plastic, fighting the irritated scowl threatening to take its place. Clad in a stunningly sleek black dress, she reminded you of a goddess.

Noticing the shift in the room, Lena glanced over at you, locking eyes before slinking over your form. Her jaw dropped, stunned by how delicious you looked. She’d always thought you were gorgeous but holy fuck, you took her breath away tonight.

She hurriedly excused herself from the sleazy man – if she’d even call him that – chattering at her as his eyes drifted lecherously.

(He thought she hadn’t seen them linger on her chest. He was wrong).

But honestly, she had stopped listening after he mentioned his trust fund and your appearance was the perfect escape.

“Darling!” she exclaimed, pressing a gentle kiss to your cheek. “Don’t you look dashing?”

Your face warmed and you leaned into her side, enjoying the weight of her hand on your hip.

“You’re gorgeous,” you murmured, lips brushing her earlobe teasingly. You briefly considered nipping at the soft flesh but you thought better of it in the end.

She smiled, accepting the compliment with a giggle as her cheeks reddened. Affection was still foreign to her so you made sure to shower her in it whenever you could.

Lena was quick to introduce you to partners and other company heads, proudly calling you her girlfriend while touting your successes in your profession. Most had already seen your name attached to hers in the tabloids but tonight was not the night to anger the youngest Luthor so they smiled pleasantly and shook your hand.

But it didn’t take long for a potential investor to steal your girlfriend’s attention. You didn’t mind listening to business dealings but a glimpse of a familiar blonde had you slipping away.

“Kara!” You tossed your arms around her, firm arms encircling your waist briefly.

“Hey, you’re here!” Kara squealed before looking you over. “And you look gorgeous, oh my gosh.”

You beamed, studying her light blue dress, the mild color complementing her eyes so well. “So do you!” Glancing around, your brows furrowed curiously. “Where’s Alex?”

“She’s around,” the heroine smirked, rolling her eyes. “She’s trying to be sneaky and incognito. She’s worried something’s going to happen and decided that, should things get weird, she can create a distraction so I can…” She gestured oddly but you understood the silent implications.

Nodding, you spied a buffet of fancy food and grinned. “I’ll be back.”

“Watch out for the slimy things. They’re like licking a slug. W-well, what I imagine licking a slug is like.” She awkwardly adjusted her glasses and you snickered, patting Kara’s hand tenderly.

“Never change, Kara,” you sighed playfully before venturing towards the overly extended table.

It was piled with what you would consider “gala” food but a few of them stood out. A giddy feeling twisted in your belly when you realized they were some of your favorites.

Oh, Lena…

You absently reached for a plate but jerked when you touched something that was definitely not a plate. Apologies fell from your mouth as you turned to the woman beside you, barely noticing the way her gaze roamed.

“It’s fine,” she assured you, nearly purring as she stepped closer. “I’d take a gorgeous woman touching my hand over these men any time.”

Smiling, you nodded. “I understand that completely. They can be a little much.”

“Do you come to these types of events often? Because I’m terribly upset that I haven’t met you before now.” She rested her hip against the table, blocking the plates and making you internally pout.

“Not really,” you shrugged, glancing longingly at the foods around you. “I usually only come if my friends or gir–”

“Well, you should definitely come more often,” she insisted, cutting you off before you could mention Lena. “You’re a ray of sunshine in all this drabness. I’d come just to see you again.”

The conversation was slipping into dangerous territory and the thought of fleeing started bubbling closer to the surface. But while you were contemplating how to run, across the room, Lena was contemplating something else entirely.

She’d been fine seeing you with Kara, knowing you weren’t getting caught up in schemes or fending off flirty suitors but the moment Kate Kane struck up a conversation, something hot and ugly had overtook her.

Watching the woman openly flirt with you – her girlfriend – made Lena ill, her eyes glistening with jealousy. But the moment Kate’s hand inched towards yours, she snapped.

She abruptly stalked away from the man she was talking with, leaving him staring after her in confusion. Her gait exuded power, the Luthor in her blood shining through as she pressed herself into your side, arm wrapping possessively around your waist.

“Hello, Kate,” Lena greeted coolly, her jealousy waning slightly as she felt you relax into her.

“Ah, Lena, wonderful party,” Kate praised, a challenge crossing her face. “Everything is just so lovely tonight.” Her words were directed at Lena but her eyes stayed on you, causing Lena to bristle.

Lena’s grip tightened and you almost whimpered, your lower belly growing hot. You’d never seen her so tall and dominant – and it left you embarrassingly wet. Her retort was muffled, your focus entirely on the fire burning hot in those green irises you loved so much.

Intimacy with your girlfriend was very give and take, neither of you fully falling into any “role” but you wouldn’t deny the fact that she was incredibly sexy right now. And, you totally wouldn’t say no if she asked you to sneak away for a quickie.

“I do apologize for ending this conversation so abruptly but I need to speak with (Y/N) for a moment. If you’ll excuse us.” Anyone with half a brain could tell Lena’s smile was fake but Kate didn’t have time to comment since Lena was already leading you away.

She practically dragged you through the throngs of people, not stopping until she threw open a door just down the hall from the party. It was pretty basic, just a table in the center of the room surrounded by chairs, but neither of you were too interested in the décor. Your back met the door and it slammed closed. The only light was from the moon glittering through the window, but it illuminated Lena in a way that made her seem ethereal – borderline angelic. Her predatory gaze though?

That was all devil.

Her lips crashed into yours and a needy moan escaped, her tongue taking advantage of the gap. It tangled hungrily with yours, her hands grasping your hips almost painfully. She’d never hurt you – that much you were sure of – and in this moment, you didn’t mind the grip. It was hot, seeing her so undone and wild.

She wedged her leg between your thighs, gasping at the wetness seeping through your ruined panties. Just a few passes of the fabric over her leg left it damp and she could hear the hitch in your breath as you tried to catch friction. It made her eyes roll back in pleasure, knowing you were needy because of her. That you wanted her.

Your kiss grew sloppy as you grinded against soft skin, painting it with arousal as you chased your high. Your clit was pulsing painfully and all you wanted was for Lena to touch you, give you what you wanted.

“Please,” you mumbled against her lips, whining as she pressed a little harder.

She smirked, lipstick smeared across both of your mouths as she leaned back. Her eyes were blown with lust and it almost made your knees buckle. “Please what, darling?”

You linked fingers with the dark-haired vixen, dragging her hand under your dress. A fingertip brushed along swollen flesh and you moaned softly, letting go so she could move freely. “Lena…”

“Tell me what you want,” she demanded, trailing her hand over to your trembling thigh, short nails digging into it. She wasn’t going to give in just yet. She wanted you to work for it.

“Fuck me,” you whispered, well aware of the fact you were on a floor full of people. If this were Lena’s office you wouldn’t have given your volume a second thought but it wasn’t.

What you didn’t know, and she knew you didn’t know, was that this room was soundproofed – but she didn’t plan on telling you, curious as to what you’d do.

Her eyes narrowed. “Louder. I couldn’t hear you, baby.”

You swallowed drily, debating the pros and cons briefly before figuratively saying, “fuck it.” This was Lena’s party – and Lena’s building – and if she didn’t care, you weren’t going to either.

“Fuck me,” you repeated, voice strong but wavering with need. “Please, Lee. I need you.”

Her digits were quick to push your panties aside, thumb brushing your clit as two fingers slid deep into your ache while her free hand pinched your nipple through the material of your dress, tweaking the pebbled flesh. You moaned unabashedly, head smacking the door when she curled her fingers, sliding teasingly over the spot that made your brain fuzzy. Her pace wasn’t slow but it was teasing, driving you crazy without letting you have the satisfaction you craved.

Your hands scrambled to find purchase on something – anything – that would keep you upright. One found your girlfriend’s shoulder while the other pressed into the colored wood that was being used as a temporary backrest. The door wasn’t comfortable against your spine but you refused to stop, the pleasure outweighing annoying stiffness.

Involuntarily, your hips began to follow her tempo, dragging her deeper as your eyes closed. The rougher she was, the louder you got, your moans filling the air. You wanted to beg for more but you couldn’t, the words stolen with every touch.

She watched you with hooded eyes, drinking in the sight. Your hair was mussed and lips parted, your pretty little noises music to her ears. She loved seeing you so debauched; the partygoers down the hall couldn’t hear you but they’d know you’d gotten up to no good the moment you returned.

Her movements grew faster and you whimpered, “God, Lee, please. Let me come.”

“Look at me,” she growled, leaning in and letting her nose brush yours.

You obeyed, barely able to maintain her gaze as she brought you closer to the edge. Your peak was building almost painfully in your abdomen, bone deep and hot.

“Whose are you?” The words ghosted over your lips, thick with arousal.

“Yo-urs,” you offered, moan breaking the reply.

Her thumb pressed roughly against your clit and you keened, babbling out a string of curses with her name occasionally mixed in. Even a few “yours” tumbled out, though most of your words were slurred and jumbled together.

You were pliant when her mouth met yours, her teeth snagging your bottom lip before letting it go with a pop.

“Mine,” she breathed, her other hand leaving your breast to lightly wrap around your throat, the pads of her digits barely pushing in.

Maybe it was sudden action or the possessiveness in her eyes but a powerful orgasm ripped through your body, white overtaking your vision for a moment as you screamed her name, the declaration more of a prayer than anything.

She prolonged it for what felt like hours, turning your bones to jelly once you managed to regain your senses. Every nerve-ending tingled, as if you’d set off fireworks in all of them at the same time. It was glorious but oddly disorienting.

“Holy fuck,” you gasped, eyes fluttering closed as you panted. “I’ve never…that was…fuck.”

Lena slowly removed her fingers, popping them into her mouth proudly. She knew she was a decent lover but she’d always worried her lack of experience would leave you wanting more someday. Seeing you like this though? It did wonders for her self-esteem.

Delicate hands cupped your cheeks before Lena’s lips encased yours. It was tender and sweet, unlike the earlier one that’d been dripping with fierce passion. You tasted yourself on her tongue and groaned inaudibly, the vibrations earning a giggle from your lover.

“That was amazing,” you said, parting from the tantalizing pillows you could spend all day kissing. “You’re amazing.”

She blushed under such praise, helping you adjust your panties and dress back into place. “We should probably get back.”

Smirking, you rubbed your thumb over the smeared lipstick streaked across her face. “We should probably find hit the restroom first. Then again, I wasn’t exactly quiet so they probably already know anyways.”

Lena opened the door and stepped out into the hall before cheekily glancing over her shoulder. “The room is soundproof, darling. I would’ve told you but you never asked. Who knew you were such an exhibitionist?”

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

You’d always thought Saturday meant sleeping in, enjoying the ease of a day without responsibility. It supposed to be a time to relax and cuddle with your wife – who, for once, had a weekend free – and your daughter. A day of chocolate chip waffles and no urgent errands (especially the ones that usually involved saving the world from utter destruction).

So why was a tiny finger poking your cheek at seven am?

You had hoped the first one was a mistake, a figment of your imagination, but as the fifth or sixth one landed just below your eye, you realized it wasn’t. A little shuffle meant your daughter was inching towards the edge of the bed and when she reached out to poke you again, you snagged her around the waist and dragged her onto the bed.

She squealed loudly, startled by the abrupt placement change. “Mommy!”

Chuckling, you pressed a kiss to the side of her head before settling her between you and Maria, her four year old feet smacking the woman’s back. You heard Maria grunt as the action dragged her into the land of consciousness and you giggled.

(You were so thankful you and Maria had remembered to dress after you sated the urges you hadn’t been able to satisfy in nearly two weeks.)

“Oops,” your daughter whispered, straightening out so she was parallel with you.

Maria slowly rolled over to face you, eyes blurry with sleep as she took in a sight she’d never get tired of. Your daughter’s head was on your chest, bright (E/C) staring at her while you smiled contentedly. Fingers danced over hers and she entwined them, bringing your hand to her lips.

“Why are we awake so early?” Maria asked, voice husky and sweet. It nearly made you shudder.

Your daughter shrugged, though a haunted look crossed her features for a moment, and Maria frowned. She’d been suffering from nightmares for months now and neither of you could find a way to help. It drove you both crazy watching her endure whatever horrors her mind conjured up. They weren’t gruesome by adult standards – considering what Maria, and you to an extent, had seen – but for a child, they were definitely upsetting.

“Oh sweetheart,” you cooed, running your fingers through dark locks. “Do you want to talk about it?”

She shook her head.

Maria leaned forward, pecking her forehead. “Well, how about we go make some waffles and forget about all our problems?” Maria suggested, drawing out ‘all’ to earn a giggle from the girl in your arms.

“Okay, Mama,” she agreed cheerfully, wiggling out of the bed and leaving the two of you alone for the first time – and probably last – that morning.

Twisting onto your side, you reached out and cupped Maria’s cheek, bringing her in for a slow kiss. It wasn’t rushed or needy, just the silent “good morning” you always offered. It didn’t matter if it was three am and she was running off to fix a crisis or eight am on a typical day.

You never forgot to kiss her good morning.

“I love you,” she mumbled against your mouth.

Smiling, you nudged your nose against hers. “I love you too.” You glanced at the door, hearing footsteps padding back towards your room. “But I believe you promised someone waffles and we both know she isn’t patient.”

Maria hummed. “I wonder who she gets that from,” she teased, kissing your cheek and sliding out of the covers before you could smack at her.

“I know exactly who she gets it from,” you replied, following your wife.

She paused, glancing over her shoulder curiously. “Oh really? Who?”

You smirked.

“Tony.”

Chapter Text

National City was gorgeous in the fall. The changing leaves, the quaint little fairs and the cool, crisp air left you in awe every day. It wasn’t too chilly that you couldn’t enjoy yourself but it wasn’t so warm that you were forced into shorts either.

It was simply perfect.

Smiling to yourself, your hand tightened around Lena’s as you led her through the park. It was a rarity for both of you to have the same day off so you were taking advantage of it while you could. You’d spent the day at the fall-fest near L-Corp and now you were enjoying the sunset peaking just above a few untouched trees in what was considered the city’s “central” park, your steps unhurried.

Lena’s hand trembled in yours so you slipped your free one atop it. “You okay, baby?”

She nodded, her body wracked with tiny shivers she hoped you wouldn’t noticed. “I’m fine.”

You paused mid-step, releasing her hand and shrugging off your jacket. “Really, because you look cold. Take my jacket.” You smiled, wrapping it around her shoulders. “Besides, it looks better on you anyway.”

She slipped her arms into the warmed material, your scent enveloping her in a way that always brought comfort. “Thank you, darling, but won’t you get cold?”

A smirk tugged at your lips and you shrugged, sliding your hand into her back pocket. “Your butt is a really great hand warmer so I’ll be fine.”

Lena giggled, rolling her alluring eyes as she shook her head. “You’re such a dork.”

“But I’m your dork,” you replied smoothly, settling a small kiss on the corner of her mouth.

You continued through the park, finding a bench so you could watch the last colors of the day blend together. Silence surrounded you but it wasn’t awkward; you liked that. It was nice to be able to sit comfortably in peace with someone, not needing to fill it with mindless chatter.

“I love you,” you whispered against her temple just as the sun dipped low, barely visible.

“I love you too, sweetheart,” she hummed, leaning into your side with a faint smile.

Time passed slowly, both of you watching the pinks turn dark and stars splash across the void, but eventually the cold began to bite into your bones and you couldn’t suppress the shakiness of your breath. You stood, offering Lena an arm, before leading her to your shared apartment.

The walk was short and you waved to Dave the doorman as you slipped into the building. He liked you; thought you were good for Lena. She’d been happier since you’d moved in. Even when her days were long and stressful, the minute she stepped into the lobby, it all seemed to drain away.

He attributed that to you.

The elevator ride was quiet, Lena against you as it traveled upward. The day had been so wonderful and it made her feel a little clingy, craving the intimacy and love you gave her without reservation. You didn’t mind in the slightest; you simply tugged her closer.

Once you made it into the apartment, Lena took off your jacket and laid it across the back of the nearest chair. You wandered over to the couch and flopped down, leaning your head against the cushion. You weren’t tired per se, merely relaxed.

Lena walked over to you before sprawling out in your lap, curling her body into yours as her legs extended along the sofa. Her face was buried in the crook of your neck, the cold of her nose contrasting with the hot breath pouring over your skin. Arms encircled her waist, keeping her close as your digits stroked over her hip lightly, oblivious to the effect it was having on her.

She shifted slightly, legs pressing together discretely. All she could think about was how her clit seemed to throb with every brush of your fingers. Her breathing grew labored when they dipped below the waistband of her jeans, drawing patterns over the sharp bone as you hummed to yourself.

Her nearly inaudible moan caught your attention, lips parting before she snagged the bottom one between her teeth. You smirked, slowly digging your short nails into her soft flesh before scratching pointedly, letting her know you were aware of her plight.

“What’s wrong, love?” you purred, your other hand drifting along her spine.

She whined, wiggling at the feathery touch.

Tangling her hair in your hand, you jerked her head back gently to stare into her eyes. “I asked you a question.”

A louder moan escaped and you crushed your mouths together, tongue meeting hers while the hand lingering on her hip confidently slid up her shirt. She whimpered into the kiss, her hand cupping your cheek as she sunk into the embrace, letting you take control.

Being a woman – a Luthor woman at that – meant she was expected to be in control of everything. Every company move, every gala, every article, every second of her life, had to be maintained and kept professional. She wasn’t allowed to show frustration or weakness – wasn’t allowed to be human.

And when you’d first gotten together, she’d tried to keep up that persona. The cool, calm Luthor who stayed collected even when a gun was being pointed at her. It took months of work and reassurances and love for her to realize she didn’t need to pretend with you. She could be vulnerable while you took care of everything else.

“Please,” she murmured, panting into your mouth as she arched her back, pressing her ribs into your palm. “Touch me…”

You nipped at her lip, nudging under her bra as you groped her breast. You deftly tweaked and teased her hardened nipple, swallowing her groan of approval.

“You’re gorgeous,” you praised, kissing and nibbling along the milky expansion of her neck.

One particularly rough tug had her grinding in your lap so you helped her shift, having her straddle you. She ripped off her shirt and tossed it aside, her bra following suit. You wanted to drink in the sight of your topless girlfriend but her pout prompted you onward. Dipping down, you took a nipple between your teeth while you played with the other.

She gripped your hair, head tossed back as you tortured her in the best possible way. She was certain her panties were ruined – embarrassed to admit there might be a wet spot in her jeans too – and she was desperate for more. She pushed her hips into yours with a heady sigh that made your brain swim.

You littered her chest with bites, leaving faint bruises as you switched your attention to the other side. It wasn’t often that you left marks where others could see, but you definitely enjoyed painting her skin in constellations in places only you two would see. Her chest, stomach, inner thighs…

Groaning around her nipple, you grabbed Lena’s hips and brought her down firmly, slotting your thigh between hers so she could find a little friction while you appreciated her exposed skin. She immediately started a steady rocking and you helped guide her, teeth grazing up to her throat. Your tongue dragged along her flushed neck, pulse point pounding under your curious muscle.

“Oh God,” she whined, the seam of her pants rubbing in just the right way. Her hands found your shoulders, grasping at you like you were a lifeline.

Fingers trailed to the button, deftly popping it open. You caught a glimpse of (F/C) panties and you grinned, leaning back to watch your frantic lover. Her movements were persistent but you were fairly certain it wasn’t enough to tip her over the edge.

“Do you want me to touch you?” you teased, dipping the pads of your fingers under the silky garment.

Lena nodded wildly, pleading for you to sate the hunger gnawing deep within her lower belly. It felt like she was boiling from the inside out and the only cure was your touch. Only you could stop the fire threatening to consume her.

You brushed over her clit at the same time you captured her lips. She groaned, hips stuttering as she tried to chase the sensation. It was too light; too teasing. She needed a firm touch – your touch – to help her find ecstasy.

“More,” she begged, the word breaking as it caught in her quivering throat.

Arching a brow, you swiftly buried two fingers inside Lena’s soaking core. The angle was awkward – borderline painful – but you didn’t care, finding a rhythm that would work despite the unforgiving restrictions her stupid fucking jeans created. Yes, she looked delicious in tight pants and you were normally very appreciative but they were such a nuisance right now.

She choked out a curse, brows scrunching together as she started riding your hand. Her clit continuously slid over your palm as she followed your lead.

“God don’t stop!” she pleaded, her pace erratic and sloppy. “Please don’t stop!”

Adjusting your fingers slightly, you found the spot that sent her into the clouds and rubbed against it with each thrust. A string of swears – and gibberish – filled the room, her jeans muffling the slick, dirty sounds of her dripping center.

Her panties were an absolute mess and neither of you cared.

“C’mon, baby,” you cooed, eyes dark with lust. “Be a good girl for me. I know you want to come.”

She huffed, hair sticking to her forehead as she lingered on the precipice of euphoria. She could feel it – it was right there – but she couldn’t fall over.

You could practically see her vibrating with need, frustration bubbling as she teetered on the edge. You thrusted once…twice…and on the third, you slammed another finger inside while your palm slid firmly over her clit, jerking forward to sink your teeth into the top of her breast.

Lena came with a scream that echoed throughout your spacious apartment, clenching around your digits as her hips jumped violently. You kissed the fresh bite mark and gently massaged her through the most intense climax she’d ever experienced, smiling proudly at the little gasps leaving swollen lips.

She went boneless in your arms, slumping into your chest, and you chuckled, slowly easing out of her while stroking her sweaty back. She moaned at the loss, eyes closed as she basked in the afterglow. Your heartbeat was strong beneath her ear, a constant thump that lulled her back to the present.

You popped one finger in your mouth, moaning at the sweet taste, which made Lena shift upright. Her eyes were glassy yet the fire still flickered deep within. You grabbed her chin, opening her mouth enough so you could slip the other saturated digits inside. She obediently sucked on them, your heated gaze only fanning the flames.

“I want you naked and ready on the bed by the time I get in there,” you informed her decisively as your fingers vacated their temporary home, confident your dominance would go unchallenged. “This was a nice preview, but we aren’t done.”

Lena swallowed drily, almost frozen as she stared at you.

“Now.”

Chapter Text

The scramble to get you back to the Quinjet after you lost consciousness was a blur. Steve swept you up in his arms, weaving around bodies – both prone and moving – with Natasha hot on his heels. Tony was screaming that he, Sam, and Vision could finish off the HYDRA agents and half-alive creature that refused to die.

Natasha was fairly certain the man responsible for your pain would be dead before they were done but that wasn’t her concern. She wouldn’t blame Tony if he did kill him, honestly.

She wanted him dead.

Bruce was waiting, barking orders at Steve as he flitted about your still body once they situated you on the emergency cot. Your breathing was shallow and blood was pouring down out of the slit in your uniform, dripping steadily onto the floor. Steve’s shaking fingers were pressing a cloth to the wound but it did little to stem the flow. If they didn’t hurry, you wouldn’t make it.

Natasha wanted to help – to hold you hand just in case – but she all but collapsed in Wanda’s arms the moment Clint lifted the Quinjet into the air, eyes wet with tears as she stared at the crimson stream threatening to carry you away from her. She could hear Wanda whispering reassurances but they were muffled, the frantic beat of her heart pounding in her ears.

Your confession (she refused to consider it a dying declaration. You weren’t going to die, dammit) had shattered her, stomach twisted with guilt as she remembered the fight – that stupid, so fucking unnecessary fight. You’d been planning to propose and she’d ruined it, accusing you of infidelity instead of listening; instead of trusting. So insecure about someone like you loving a monster like her, she’d destroyed the most precious thing in her life.

She had wanted to chase after you, apologies on her tongue but her feet refused to listen so she’d watched the doors of the elevator close, the silence deafening.

(She hated herself. If she had just believed you, she could’ve at least had a few more days – a few more memories – with you. And you would’ve known her answer was always going to be yes.)

Barely aware of the jet touching down, she numbly stepped aside so the trauma team could whisk you into the Compound and into surgery. You looked lifeless, the only indication of your fight to stay being the faint rise and fall of your chest.

She didn’t blink until you were out of sight.

Wanda’s arm circled Natasha’s waist and Clint’s found a home on her shoulders but they didn’t feel right. They didn’t offer the comfort she wanted. Only your arms could do that. Only you brought a sense of safety, a sense of home.

God, what had she done?

-X-

Minutes felt like hours and the hours felt like days as the team waited outside of the medical bay. Steve had changed clothes, the sight of your blood staining the blue too much for him but Natasha couldn’t bring herself to leave. She feared that, in those few moments of absence, you’d slip away and she’d be left in a world without you.

Nurses and doctors rushed in and out of the operating room, orders and assessments jumbling together (or maybe she was simply too exhausted and terrified to try to understand). Clint was beside her, his hand on hers. He wasn’t talking, aware he couldn’t promise her the things she desperately wanted to hear.

Tony was leaning against the wall, staring blankly at the door. It hadn’t taken long for him and the others to dispatch the beast and the few agents left, terror disguised as rage fueling their need to finish everything quickly.

You’d always been close to Tony, your sarcasm and wit earning his respect while your personality earned his friendship. He hated his inability to contribute – to save you – and the helplessness that washed over him was unwelcome. He hadn’t felt like this since Pepper had plummeted to the ground during the Killian incident, and before that, when his parents had died.

If you were gone, you’d be taking a piece of him with you.

When Dr. Cho finally stepped out of the OR, the sun had long since set and some of the team was dozing in chairs and on the floor. But not Natasha. She didn’t dare nap.

Natasha stood up abruptly, jarring Clint awake.

“Avengers,” Dr. Cho greeted tiredly, eyes drifting over the exhausted heroes.

“How is she, doctor?” Steve asked as he inched closer, his hand heavy on Natasha’s tense shoulder.

Dr. Cho sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “She’s stable for now. Whatever entered her body nicked arteries and a small section of her liver, hence the bleeding, but we were able to stop it…” she paused and it filled Natasha with dread.

“However, (Y/N) did suffer major blood loss and she coded twice on the table. The next forty-eight hours are crucial and I can’t promise you she’ll survive the night, let alone two days. We’ll do whatever we can to keep her alive but now it’s up to her.” Dr. Cho pursed her lips sympathetically, eyeing the swaying, shell-shocked redhead leaning against Steve.

Everyone in SHIELD knew you and Natasha were a couple and this news was devastating but she wouldn’t – couldn’t – lie to the former assassin.

“One of you can stay with her,” Dr. Cho offered, “But we are keeping her in a medically induced coma until the forty-eight hours are up. Then we’ll see what needs to be done next.”

“I’ll stay until Natasha gets changed,” Tony piped in, voice cracking with emotion. There wasn’t a chance in hell she was going to leave your side and he needed a few minutes alone with you, all the things he’d ever wanted to say to you crawling up his throat.

Natasha glanced at the billionaire and nodded, a silent understanding passing between them.

-X-

After throwing out her ruined suit and slipping on your favorite hoodie, Natasha had taken up vigil at your bedside. A few tubes and wires were attached to various pieces of your torso and hands, but for the most part you looked peaceful, as if you were merely sleeping instead of treading along death’s doorstep.

During those decisive hours, Natasha never left, only slipping away to use the restroom. Wanda had to bring her meals and drinks, coaxing her into staying healthy.

(“If she wakes up and you’re sick, she won’t be happy,” Wanda had scolded, passing her a sandwich. “Now eat.”)

When Dr. Cho kicked her out of the room so she could examine you on the third day, Natasha paced in the hall. She was thankful for your scent lingering on the fabric engulfing her; it was the only thing driving away the clinical smell she always associated with hospitals. That same smell haunted some of her worst nightmares.

The door creaked open and Dr. Cho’s face appeared in the gap. “Would you mind stepping in here a moment?”

Natasha swallowed drily. The good doctor was trying to sound upbeat but the strained smile worried your lover greatly.

“How is she?” Natasha mumbled, her back pressed against the door as she glanced between you and the woman standing stiff.

Dr. Cho peered at your chart, flipping through it and refusing to meet Natasha’s pleading gaze.

“She’s out of critical status, but I’m worried,” she admitted. “(Y/N)’s brain function isn’t what I’d hoped for. We’ve stopped inducing her coma but I fear she may have slipped into one.”

“W-what are the chances of her waking up?” Natasha faltered, uncertain if she actually wanted an answer.

“She has a thirty percent chance of recovering,” Dr. Cho replied dejectedly, regretfully lifting her head. “It’s possible she’ll wake up, but not likely. Between the blood loss and her flatlining, it might’ve been too much for her body to handle. At this point, all we can do is hope.”

Tears streamed down Natasha’s reddening cheeks as she choked back bile. You, her wonderful, perfect malysh, might never wake up. Might never hear the words she wished she’d said. Might never stand at the altar with her and call her your wife.

She might never hear “I love you” come from your sweet lips ever again…

Dr. Cho caught Natasha before she hit the floor, barely managing to corral her limp form over to “her” chair. She’d heard about your fight before this mess had happened and she knew an expression of heartbreak and remorse. She’d seen it in plenty of partners’ eyes when they received bad news, recalling the final words spoken.

“It’s not your fault,” Dr. Cho murmured kindly. “Would you like me to send for the others?”

Natasha nodded appreciatively, eyes trained on you like she was trying to memorize every inch.

When the doctor left, Natasha’s trembling hand grabbed yours and entwined your fingers, trying not to wonder if this was the last time.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, bringing your palm to her lips. “I should’ve trusted you. I should’ve asked you to stay and tell me everything was going to be okay. I should’ve never told you to leave.”

Sobs escaped as she pressed your hand against her cheek, aching to feel your thumb stroke along the skin.

“I love you. I love you more than I’ve ever loved another person in my life and I don’t know how to do this without you. I can’t do this without you. Please don’t leave me,” she begged brokenly, staring at your serene features, tracing the dips and contours with glistening irises.

A faint knock echoed off the door and Natasha sniffled, uselessly brushing away tears that continued to fall.

“I’m not giving up on you.”

-X-

As days passed, Natasha’s optimism dimmed.

Life went on but, without you, it was all meaningless. She would do paperwork throughout the day before visiting you at night, often falling asleep at your side before repeating the process again the next morning.

It was nearing a month when Natasha finally ventured onto Wanda’s floor, deciding it was time. She’d refused to search for the engagement ring tucked between cushions, fearing it would only serve to torture her more but for some reason today was hitting her harder than any of the others and she needed something to keep her hope alive.

Wanda hadn’t done much to the couch, only folding your blanket and setting it on the arm. Her fingers grazed the soft material, smiling as she thought back to all the times you had tossed it around you both, tucking Natasha’s head under your chin as you watched a movie or discussed your day.

Kneeling down, Natasha studied the gaps in the cushions. If she had to guess, you were probably sentimental and kept it in the one closest to your heart. Her hand slipped into the crack and she nearly cried, velvet brushing over the tips of her digits.

“You sappy idiot,” she laughed wetly, pulling it out to examine it. A red widow was painted over the lid of the box, her insignia displayed proudly.

(“You should wear it with pride,” you’d told her one night, your pointer finger drawing the shape over her chest. “You’ve done so much to redeem yourself and undo your mistakes. Now you just need to forgive yourself.”)

She lifted herself onto the couch, touching the symbol reverently.

“I’ll wear it proudly,” she promised quietly, gasping as she opened the box.

The ring was absolutely perfect. Simple but elegant. You always joked she was impossible to shop for but when it counted most, you’d chosen right.

Trembling fingers lifted the ring before sliding it into its rightful place, a stray tear dripping onto the diamond as she scrutinized her hand. It should’ve been you placing it there, your lips on her knuckles before capturing hers in a kiss that would’ve surely made her toes curl.

Closing her eyes, Natasha brought her hands to her chest.

“I don’t know if anyone’s listening,” she muttered into the quiet room, “But if you’re out there, please let (Y/N) wake up. Please.”

That night, she slept in your medical room, her newly-ringed hand atop yours.

She never noticed yours twitching below hers.

-X-

Gentle stroking roused Natasha, each touch confident and soothing as they followed her locks down to the tips. Humming sleepily, she pressed her head into the touch, reveling in warmth. The smell of antibacterial wash wafted under her nose but it couldn’t hide your natural scent, filling the fractures in her heart.

“Mm, (Y.N),” she breathed, tilting her head to kiss your wrist.

The moment her lips touched skin, Natasha’s eyes flew open. She was greeted with a tired smile, your eyes slightly dull but open.

“Hey sleepy head,” you whispered, tracing her brow line with your thumb.

Natasha’s jaw dropped open, stunned as she took you in. “You’re awake…”

You chuckled, though you winced as it pulled at your healing torso. “Yeah. I never believed you when you said my naps always seemed to last a lifetime. Guess I should’ve listened.”

She whimpered, covering her mouth as another round of tears trickled out. She’d cried so much in the last month she assumed she’d ran out by now but she didn’t care. You were awake! You were talking.

You weren’t dead.

Grabbing her free one, you tugged. “C’mon. It’s still early and I don’t want to deal with the doctors yet. They’ll want to run tests and I just want to hold you for a little while. They can wait.”

She didn’t hesitate, climbing carefully onto the bed beside you, avoiding the few wires and the IV they hadn’t taken out yet. It took some adjustment and a few grumbles of pain but she managed to curl into your side, legs tangling with yours. Her hand pressed into your chest below the collar of your gown, feeling the steady rhythm under her palm, each beat slowly driving away the anguish she’d feared would never go away.

Glancing down at the unfamiliar coolness of metal on your skin, you saw something that you’d only dreamed of seeing adorning that slim digit.

“You found it,” you grinned, reaching slowly to touch the diamond. “I take it…?”

She nodded, head buried in your gown as she cried into your shoulder, relief falling with every drop. “Yes. My answer is always going to be yes.”

Chapter Text

Sighing for what felt like the millionth time, you rolled over onto your side and stared out into the world. For once the city was quiet; no sirens, no drunken shouts, no car horns. You almost missed the sounds, their absence leaving a void that something else was quick to plug. The sharp talons of worry began to creep in, digging into your racing mind.

You hated when Diana was away, whether it be for work or for work, it left you with an ache not even ice cream and bad movies could cure. Nights like this were the worst, though. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t shut off your brain and it was driving you mad. You were exhausted, like you hadn’t slept in days – which, in all honesty, you really hadn’t – but your body was rebelling at the thought of actually sleeping. The minute you started to doze, your leg would cramp or your arm would itch or you’d have to freaking get up and go to the bathroom.

It was becoming evident that sleep was not going to be your friend this evening.

The glowing green numbers on your clock mocked you whenever you dared to look, eerily illuminating your features and hurting your eyes.

2:38. Christ.

A mournful groan erupted from your throat and you grabbed Diana’s pillow, shoving it over your face. You held it tight, inhaling the familiar smell. You wondered what the heroine was doing right now, if she was asleep – like you should be.

You tossed her pillow aside and rolled out of bed, keeping the lights off as you headed for the kitchen. The apartment you shared with Diana was gorgeous, every room covered in things that reminded you of her, but the vastness of it overwhelmed you on nights like this. There was too much it and not enough you to fill it.

Throwing open the fridge, you fished out a bottle of water and broke the seal before taking a long sip. You stared into the overly lit appliance, wondering if you should say “screw it” and eat the leftovers cluttering the shelves.

No point in being tired and hungry.

The sound of a doorknob rattling startled you and you nearly crushed the bottle in surprise. Brows furrowing warily, you hurriedly – but softly – closed the door, plunging the room into darkness. You slipped around to the other side of the fridge and pressed your back against the wall, trying desperately to remember some of the survival techniques Diana had taught you.

You’d never admit that you definitely blanked.

Your apartment door creaked before the sound of light, but confident footsteps echoed in the silence. Something heavy thumped against the carpet, earning a familiar swear that left your heart pounding for an entirely different reason.

Flipping on the nearest light switch, you caught a glimpse of your astounded lover’s face as you crashed into her, cupping her cheeks as you peppered kisses to every inch of skin you could. Nose, forehead, cheekbones, chin. No spot was left untouched aside from her lips.

That kiss you wanted to savor.

“You’re home,” you murmured, staring into those eyes you loved dearly.

Diana laughed freely as her arms encircled your waist, keeping you close as she smiled, pleased by your reaction. “I am.”

“Early,” you pointed out unnecessarily though your excited head tilt let her know how happy you were about her unplanned homecoming. She knew you loved her – you made sure to tell her every day, even if it was just a text – but moments like this were a reminder of just how much she meant to you.

“Yes,” she replied, lifting you slightly as she spun around playfully. “I finished sooner than I thought I would and I wanted to surprise you.”

As your feet touched the ground, you captured those lips you often dreamed about, sighing contentedly. No dream would ever come close to the real thing. They brushed slowly over yours, no heat but so full of love that it nearly melted you into a puddle.

“It’s late,” Diana scolded when you finally parted, frown settling where her smile once was. “You should be asleep.”

You ducked your head. “I know.” Admitting you didn’t sleep much when she wasn’t home seemed childish and you really didn’t want her to be concerned every time she left.

She sighed, pressing a kiss to your temple as she began leading you towards the bedroom. A lecture would do no good and, despite being a goddess who needed less sleep than you, the chance to curl up on a comfortable mattress with you in her arms was too good to pass up. “Let’s go to bed, darling.”

Grinning blissfully, you nodded with a heavy yawn and snuggled into her side.

Chapter Text

Curled up in the corner of the couch, you barely paid any attention to the movie scrolling across the theater-sized television Tony had installed in the “common room” of the Avengers’ part of the Compound. You had tried focusing on it – after all, it was you had suggested it – but the pretty brunette beside you kept stealing it away, her little giggles and occasional comments drawing you in until she was all you see.

You and Wanda had always had an odd friendship. She’d been very skeptical of everyone when she’d joined the team but a failed attempt at paprikash softened her. She helped you salvage the dish and a tentative trust was born.

But it didn’t take long for it to blossom into something greater.

At this point, both of you were aware of the other’s feelings but neither of you would bridge that gap, terrified of what it meant. All of your relationships had been short-lived and meager (at best) while hers had been nonexistent. You guessed being a HYDRA experiment didn’t leave a lot of time for romance.

So lost in thought, you didn’t notice Wanda flicking a piece of popcorn at you until it bounced off your forehead and fell into your lap. Slowly glancing down at it, your brow arched.

“What was that for?”

Wanda smirked, slipping one into her mouth. “You’ve been staring at me for the last ten minutes. I thought I would simply help bring you back to the present.”

You shook your head, plucking the “projectile” between two fingers before tossing it back at her.

“What were you thinking about?” she asked curiously, the movie long forgotten as she studied you intently. She desperately wanted to delve into that brain of yours but she refrained, having promised she’d never use her powers on a member of the team without permission.

Chuckling, you winked.

“I was just thinking about how cute you are,” you teased, planning to poke her nose playfully though she seemed to have another idea.

Inches from your target, your finger was suddenly snagged between perfect teeth, hot breath wafting over your hand as Wanda wiggled her head back and forth. A gasp stuck in your throat, eyes wide as she stared back at you in a way that made your stomach twist in the best way possible. The room was thick with tension and you wondered if the temperature had suddenly spiked a few degrees or if it was just you.

She released your digit, teeth scraping teasingly over the pad. She had expected you to laugh off the exchange, preparing to hide her disappointment once again. She never thought you’d drag it along the soft, pink skin. It was gentle like you were memorizing the texture, eyes trained on her mouth as you carefully lingered there.

Almost pouting when it fell away, she squeaked as your lips replaced your finger. It was nervous – borderline shy – but neither of you jerked away, letting the situation settle in. The moment she realized this was real, not just some elaborate daydream, her hands fell to your shoulders and clutched at the fabric of your shirt as she dragged you closer. She tilted her head slightly and you were quick to slot your mouths together in a firmer embrace, melting into the touch.

By the end of the night, you might not know how the movie ended – or what it had ever been about, really – but you didn’t care because the taste of Wanda was stained on your tongue and her head was on your chest.

Chapter Text

It wasn’t often that Wanda got sick. Her enhancements from HYDRA’s experimentation had boosted her immune system so much that SHIELD’s doctors had wondered if it was possible for her to get sick. So, when she awoke with a red nose and a pounding headache, she finally had an answer.

Yes, she could.

And, yes, it sucked.

When you received word from FRIDAY that your girlfriend had fallen ill, it took you less than five minutes to trek your way to her room. It would’ve taken three but some starry-eyed agent had tried to start a conversation as you passed him.

(You would’ve ignored him entirely but you could imagine Wanda’s disapproval if she found out you’d been rude, so you excused yourself with gritted teeth and a brisk walk. If he got offended, at least you could say you tried.)

(Kind of.)

Slipping into Wanda’s dimly lit room, you frowned at the sight of her huddled under the covers, an occasional sniffle escaping as she tried to breathe properly. She looked so miserable and you could honestly say you’d never seen her look so young before.

“(Y/N)?” she croaked in surprise. Your thoughts were too loud for her to block out in such a state, her powers flaring and waning every few moments.

You smiled despite knowing her eyes were closed. “Yeah, baby, it’s me. FRIDAY told me you’re sick.”

Wanda nodded glumly, her congestion evident when she tried inhaling, her pout adorable as she blinked weakly over at you in her doorway. “Apparently.”

A chuckle bubbled in your throat and you walked over to the bed, settling on the edge so you could stroke her hair gently. “Only you could make a cold look this cute.”

She tried to glare up at you but it was pitiful at best, her flushed nose twitching as she fought back a sneeze. You cooed teasingly, fingers brushing across her warm – borderline hot – forehead.

“You’ve definitely got a fever, baby,” you murmured with concern, smile dipping into a frown while you pondered the best plan of action. “I think I have some cold medicine in my bathroom. And Tony just bought that tea you like. It might make you feel a little better and get the nasty taste of cold medicine out of your mouth.”

Wanda whined as you stood, fingers grasping and pathetically tugging at the bottom of your shirt. “Don’t go…”

Your heart melted. Bringing her hand up to your lips, you pressed a soft kiss to the tips of her digits. “I’ll be right back, baby.”

Her brows furrowed, glassy emerald eyes studying you in a way that nearly turned you into a puddle of sheer love. They were so hopeful and trusting. You’d do anything for this woman if she kept looking at you like that.

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Chapter Text

You didn’t really get to meet the Maximoff twins before heading to Sokovia. Still too bitter about the memories the witch had forced you back into, you actively ignored her, chatting with Steve and the weird Android that honestly kind of creeped you out. He sounded like JARVIS but he wasn’t.

But your life was already strange and you were probably going to die anyways so what did it matter?

It wasn’t until Sokovia was freefalling that you were around her for more than a few moments. She’d been drawn away from the machine keeping the city in the sky after Pietro’s near-death and Vision wasn’t close enough to save her – but you were. So, being the good little (Y/N) you were, you swooped in and pulled her from the wreckage she was floating in, barely escaping out a window before it dragged you both down.

You tried ignoring how good she smelled as you watched the city plummet into the sea below. Wanda shook in your arms as she sobbed over her lost home, burying her head in the crook of your neck when its pieces met the water. A part of you wanted to hate her – say she deserved this, that she caused this – but you couldn’t bring yourself to. She’d trusted the wrong people in hopes of a better world.

Could you really fault her for that?

Your first conversation didn’t come until you were back in the new Compound. You were in the common room with Sam, watching a television show you’d lost interest in a few hours ago. At this point you were only here because the silence in your room still felt stifling and Sam’s incessant chattering helped soothe your anxiety.

Throwing yet another piece of popcorn at Sam, you cheered as it caught in his ear. “I win!”

He glared at you, his eyes flickering over your shoulder to someone standing near the corner of the couch. You heard Steve clear his throat and caught a slight movement just out of your peripheral, so naturally you stuck your hand out for a fist bump, proud of your accomplishment…

Only to realize the skin your knuckles brushed was far too soft to be Steve’s.

Sam snorted as you whipped your head around, staring wide-eyed at a startled Wanda, her hand extended formally.

“Oops,” you breathed, uncurling your fist so you could awkwardly shake the offered hand.

“Nice going,” Sam snickered, earning a deadly glare from you. “Can’t even properly shake a pretty girl’s hand, huh?”

“Keep it up, bird brain, and you’ll find your underwear hanging above the Capitol before you know it,” you threatened, releasing Wanda’s hand after you realized you’d probably been holding it too long.

“It is nice to meet you officially,” Wanda smiled hesitantly, her accent thick (and cute, though you refused to acknowledge that).

“You too,” you replied, grinning playfully at one of your two new team members. “I heard Pietro’s on bed rest until he heals but you’re welcome to join us.” You gestured at the bowl beside you. “You can help me annoy Sam until he goes away so we can steal the remote.”

A more genuine smile graced her lips and she nodded, carefully settling beside you. “You know I can just take it from him, right?” she whispered, wiggling her fingers at you.

Snorting, you handed her the bowl of popcorn. “You’re going to fit in just fine around here, Maximoff.”

You were completely oblivious to Steve watching the interaction behind the couch, his lips drawn into a knowing smirk. He’d bet his shield you two would be dating before the end of the year and, if Sam’s look was any indication, there’d probably be a pool started come tomorrow morning.

Chapter Text

You made it through Tony’s funeral without a shred of emotion on your face, back stiff and straight despite Maria’s hand settled between your shoulders, rubbing across the ironed material of your jacket as people said their farewells. Both of you watching Morgan and Pepper say goodbye to a man who had changed the world – had saved the world. Say goodbye to a husband and a father. Say goodbye to a hero.

When everyone dispersed, some slipping into the house while others lingered around the property, you walked over to the pier and stared out at the water. You still struggled to believe one man – one monster – had ruined so much over some delusional vision. With one snap, he’d stolen five years you could’ve spent with the woman you love.

He’d taken so much and didn’t suffer a day because of it.

Even in the end, when Thor had beheaded him, he was still so steadfast in his beliefs that his death wasn’t satisfying.

You didn’t notice the tears dripping down your cheeks or the soft hiccups escaping occasionally, fists clenched tight in agony. Everything from this moment forward was going to be a challenge, not just for you but for everyone. Wanda lost Vision, Clint lost Natasha, and you?

You had lost pieces of yourself you were fairly certain you’d never regain.

After Maria vanished, your grief had consumed you. Losing half the population really brought out people’s true colors and, while you didn’t start spilling blood in the way Clint had, you still made a name for yourself with the worst of the worst as you mourned your better half.

You didn’t tell her what you’d done when she’d returned, terrified of what she might say or think. If she knew about the person you’d become without her.

If she knew what you were capable of…

A warm, slightly callused thumb brushed a tear from your face and you flinched, jerked from your thoughts.

“Oh, baby,” Maria cooed, stepping in front of you, crystal eyes flooded with worry. “It’s going to be okay.”

Choking on a sob, you closed your eyes, unwillingly to see compassion when you didn’t deserve it. You nearly pulled away from the hands cupping your cheeks, methodically wiping away the evidence of your pain.

“There’s things I –” you were cut off by a single digit quieting you, a calm smile lighting Maria’s features.

“I know,” she whispered, tone gentle but assuring, and you realized she wasn’t just talking about Tony’s memorial.

“How –”

Maria shushed you, leaning forward to brush her lips over your wet ones, ignoring the salty tang left behind. “Clint told me. He was worried you’d let it eat away at you. He said it was hard on you two.”

You swallowed drily, barely peeking at your girlfriend. “Do you hate me?”

“I could never hate you,” Maria replied confidently, one hand falling to tangle your fingers together. “I love you too much.”

A shaky exhale slipped through and her forehead came to rest against yours, noses brushing.

“I love you too.”

Her smile deepened. “When everything calms down, we should go somewhere.”

“…how about on a honeymoon?”

Chapter Text

The furious taps of fingers on a keyboard filled the room as Natasha stared at her computer screen, plump bottom lip snagged between her teeth. She’d been working on this report for hours, the words growing fuzzy the longer she looked at them but she couldn’t bring herself to stop or take a break.

If she finished it tonight, her weekend would be free (for the first time in nearly six months) and she’d get to spend uninterrupted time with you.

So engrossed in the black text, she didn’t notice the office door creaking open. Your bleary eyes peeked in, a sleepy smile on your lips as you studied your diligent lover. You knew she was going to work late tonight so you could have the weekend together but you hated the tension bleeding into her shoulders and the exhaustion in those emerald irises you adored.

Natasha stood abruptly and spun to face the file cabinet in the corner, her back to you – completely oblivious to your presence (which was concerning, considering the lives you both led) – as she scoured for the final piece of information she needed. She was so close to finishing; she just needed a little more time.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when arms embraced her, dragging her into a lazy hug. If it hadn’t been for the familiar sigh that tickled her ear, she probably would’ve broken several bones but you knew how to navigate her reactions. A quiet murmur or noise would keep her from bashing your head into the nearest surface, your act of complete pliancy as you relaxed against her back soothing her raised hackles.

Natasha exhaled through her nose, leaning into you. She reveled in your warmth, unintentionally closing her eyes as she soaked everything in.

Humming, you pressed an open-mouth kiss to the side of her throat.

“When are you coming to bed?” You weren’t chastising her or bothered by her incessant need to complete the file on her computer screen; merely curious about what she had left to do.

“I only have a few paragraphs left,” she promised, turning her head so she could glance at you through long lashes. “So maybe in an hour?”

You smiled, tilting your head slightly and brushing your lips over hers. “Okay,” you replied easily, nose grazing hers playfully.

Releasing her from your hold, you cupped her cheek and pecked her forehead before walking over to the couch against the wall and flopping down. If she was going to be holed up in this room for another hour, then so were you.

You didn’t mind waiting…

Not for her.

Chapter Text

Listening to Ross rant and rave at your team again was not the highlight of your day; hell, maybe your week at this point. His face was going red with each cross word, arms flailing as he chewed out Sam for triggering a small explosion that could’ve – didn’t – but could’ve caused an incident.

(He didn’t seem to care that Sam’s distraction had saved dozens of civilians, giving the hostages time to escape from their preoccupied captors. Apparently that didn’t matter.)

Your fingers tapped anxiously over the table in the debriefing room, lip snagged between your teeth as you forced yourself still, fighting back the urge to grab this idiot by his tie and strangle him with it. His voice was grating and nothing he said meant a damn thing. It was all bullshit. He didn’t care about the team’s well-being.

He wanted to leash the team – and everyone knew it.

The moment Ross started in on Wanda, you growled and tensed as you prepared to stand and give the man a piece of your mind, but a warm hand fell atop yours. You peered down, familiar crimson nails digging lightly into the skin under them.

Natasha was silent, barely peeking at you out of the corner of her eye. She waited patiently for you to relax, scratching gently along your hand until you went slack and leaned back in your chair. She wasn’t a big fan of Ross either but, as much as it would amuse her to see you crack him across the head, her priority was keeping you with her and not locked up.

When the fire burning below the surface finally cooled, she slipped her hand off yours, instead locking her pinky finger around yours. It was subtle and soothing, just enough to pressure to keep you seated and away from the blabbering man.

A pointed, arrogant cough brought your attention away from the gorgeous redhead you called your girlfriend and back to the obnoxious government lackey you were heavily considering tossing out a window.

“Is there a problem here?” he sneered, clearly hoping to goad you.

Natasha’s pinky tightened reassuringly around yours and you swallowed the retort on your tongue, glaring at Ross.

“No.”

He stared harshly but when he realized he wasn’t going to get a rise out of you, he started yelling at Steve instead. Glancing at Natasha, you caught the slight uptick of her lips.

You’d throw him into the sun one day.

Just not today.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Courtrooms were far too serious, you decided absently as you glanced around, eyeing the officers stationed about and the reporters posted up against the back wall. There was a soft buzz as people discussed the day’s proceedings but you weren’t really listening, only glaring at those whose eyes lingered too much on the woman beside you, every shark in the room hoping the youngest Luthor would bleed so a frenzy could begin.

Lena’s grip was tight – almost painful – though you didn’t mind, merely smiling whenever she peeked over at you, eyes wide like she couldn’t believe you were still here. You hadn’t been dating very long but nothing was ever “casual” when a Luthor with a target on her back was involved. Your romance was a complete whirlwind of chaos and scrutiny and underhanded comments (and a few assassination attempts) but you never paid any mind to it.

You were happy with Lena – happier than you’d ever been before – and you weren’t going to let moronic, judgmental people who knew nothing about you ruin the best thing in your life.

Bringing Lena’s hand up to your lips, you pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles. Nothing you could say would make any of this easier and no amount of sweet words could soothe the sting of what she’d been through so your goal was to simply let her know you were there.

That you would always be there.

A nasty snarl on the face of a reporter caught your attention and you narrowed your gaze, silently challenging him to say something. Sure, you might be going to jail if he did, but your bail would be a lot cheaper than him having to get a new set of teeth.

You curled your lip dangerously, sick satisfaction washing over you when his expression dropped nervously.

Lena squeezed your hand, regaining your attention, and you watched raptly as she touched red-stained lips to your flesh, the faintest hint of lipstick left behind on your knuckles when they retreated.

“I –”

The sound of a door swinging open halted your comment and a booming voice eclipsed the others around you.

“Court is now in session!”

Chapter Text

Head pounding and body aching, you barely paid any attention to the Director examining you, her touch gentle as she poked and prodded. Being a close friend of Supergirl’s – and Supergirl’s best friend’s girlfriend – meant Alex was often the one patching you up after a fight or a mission “occasionally” gone wrong so you weren’t bothered, the familiarity comforting as you tried to ignore the way the overhead lights made you nauseous.

“Nothing’s broken,” Alex mused, humming as she stepped back. “I just need to –”

She was cut off by hurried footsteps echoing just outside of medical. Alex’s head snapped over to the door, hand inching towards her weapon but you merely smiled, slowly glancing at the frosted glass.

You’d know those heels anywhere.

Three…

Two…

One…

The door flew open, a concerned Lena rushing into the room with Kara only a few steps behind her.

“(Y/N)!” Lena gasped as she took in your battered form, subconsciously covering her mouth as she frantically peered at every inch of visible skin. Your shirt was sitting on the edge of the bed but you didn’t feel self-conscious. Both of the Danvers sisters were like family and Lena was your girlfriend, so modesty wasn’t at the forefront of your thoughts.

“Hey,” you greeted weakly, licking your lips and wincing as your tongue swept over dried blood – and the split beneath it.

Kara grimaced, regret crushing her heart into dust when she studied the bruises and cuts littering the majority of your torso. You’d been part of the team helping her fight a few rogue aliens and you’d taken a couple blows that had been intended for her, trying to keep her from getting overwhelmed.

She was the alien; the superhero. She was supposed to protect you.

“Stop staring at me like that, Supergirl,” you chuckled, “You look like someone punted your puppy into the sun or something.”

Mouth opening to argue – or maybe apologize (you weren’t sure) – Kara was interrupted by Lena’s quiet, but stern voice.

“I can take care of everything from here, Director,” she said, though her eyes never faltered from yours.

Alex nodded, leading her pouting sister away before the Kryptonian could say anything. She figured Lena scolding you would be more productive than hers and any apologies Kara needed to give could wait.

You watched Lena methodically flit about the bay, gathering gauze and antiseptics as she went. Her silence bothered you but you didn’t speak, waiting for her to finish going through whatever her mind was working over.

Stopping in front of you, Lena deposited the supplies onto the bed beside you.

“You know Kara’s invulnerable, correct?” she finally murmured, finger tips brushing the nasty bruise on your collarbone. “She’s an alien. You are not.”

Lips pursed, you kept quiet. She wasn’t done reprimanding you, that much was evident.

“Yet you seem to forget that bombs and bullets and angry aliens don’t really hurt her. This is the third time in four months you’ve ended up here because of something like this,” Lena reminded you sternly, half-tempted to poke the ugly colors blossoming near your ribcage.

“She’s important. To the city, to the Director,” you mumbled, glancing away. “To you.”

Lena’s expression softened. “So are you, darling. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I love Kara and I want her safe, but I’m in love you.”

Nodding, you peeked at your lover guiltily. “I’m sorry, Lee.”

“I know, darling,” she sighed, bending slightly to kiss every abused piece of skin she could see, lips lingering on the worst of them as she tried to remember you were here. Alive.

Each soft touch made you tingle, eyes drifting closed after a few moments of the treatment.

She carefully pressed her mouth against yours, cautious of the split. She drank in your sigh, relaxing as your warm hands touched her hips.

Her breath fanned over your face as she leaned back.

“Let’s get you cleaned up. I think a movie night is in order.”

Chapter Text

You hated injuries.

Actually, you hated injuries that left you sitting in “time out”.

While your fellow Legends were off doing cool things like dancing with royalty and saving the world, you were stuck lying in bed, broken leg propped up as you tried to pretend the book Sara had tossed your direction when she left wasn’t the most boring thing you’d ever read.

Seriously, if you had to read another chapter, your brain was going to melt out of your ears and all over Sara’s clean sheets.

Groaning loudly, you threw it over to the dresser, proud of the fact it bounced off the wall and landed almost perfectly onto the surface. You honestly weren’t too sure how long Sara and the others had been gone but you were dying of boredom. If Mick were here, you’d be playing cards and sharing a beer (even though you weren’t technically supposed to be drinking right now) but he wasn’t.

(Neither was your girlfriend but that was a different – yet just as bothersome – problem.)

“They better hurry up,” you grumbled, burying your face in Sara’s pillow miserably.

At some point you drifted into a light sleep, maybe because of the medicine you were taking or maybe because you had nothing to do. Either was possible at this point.

It wasn’t until the bed dipped behind you that you were dragged from your slumber, disoriented by the sudden weight against your side. Peeking one eye open, you caught sight of blonde locks spilling over your shoulder and bright eyes peering up at you.

“Hey,” Sara greeted softly, smirking as you slowly opened your eyes and took in her outfit.

“Damn,” you mumbled. She made the 20s look hot.”We should come back to the 20s when I’m not on bed rest.”

Laughing, Sara hugged you tightly in response, avoiding your casted leg skillfully as she enjoyed your body pressed into hers, the hold awkward but lovely in its own odd way. It’d felt like years since she’d hugged you – though it’d been a couple days at most – and she was going to savor this. She hated when you weren’t on a mission with her; she trusted everyone on the team to have her back but you were her right hand.

It felt wrong when you weren’t there.

You sighed, pressing a kiss to Sara’s head. “Get showered and comfy. I want cuddles,” you demanded playfully, winking at the woman you were lucky enough to love.

“Yes ma’am,” she replied cheekily, rolling out of bed before you could swat her, hips swaying provocatively as she disappeared.

Yep, you were definitely coming back here once you were healed.

Chapter Text

Natasha Romanoff was many things.

A former assassin.

An Avenger.

Russian.

She was not, however, what she would consider “good” with children. It wasn’t that she didn’t like them – or that she didn’t occasionally dream about having one someday – but being trained in the Red Room, she’d never been given the opportunity to be “motherly”. And after her procedure, the thought had become more of a pipedream than anything so she’d never really interacted with kids afterwards.

Meeting you had been a surprise. She’d bumped into you at a coffee shop – quite literally. You’d been taking coffee to a patron and she hadn’t been paying attention, nearly knocking you to the floor when she plowed into you. She’d managed to keep you upright and save the coffee, which honestly impressed you, so you’d bought her drink as a thank you.

Afterwards, she started frequenting the shop more than necessary. She’d stop in before missions, after missions, any moment she had free. You weren’t dumb; you knew she wasn’t coming around for the drinks. Her eyes would linger when she thought you weren’t paying attention and you really did enjoy the woman’s company but something was holding you back – someone.

Being a fling to a superhero wasn’t possible when you had a little one. Because that’s all she could possibly want with you, right? Why would the infamous Black Widow want anything else?

Anything more?

It wasn’t until you got a call from your son’s babysitter that Natasha found out you were a mother. He was sick and cranky and he wanted you. So, in a panic, you asked her for a ride.

That’s when you told her about your son. How his father had left when you were pregnant so you’d been raising him by yourself for the last four years. How he was your whole world but you sometimes felt like you weren’t enough. You had no one in New York that could help and you doubted your family would even if they could.

She’d listened intently, nodding and asking the occasional question. She was stunned by how strong you were, trying to carry the world so your son could have a good life. It was admirable and it only served to solidify your place in her heart. When you kissed her cheek in gratitude before rushing into your apartment building, Natasha was determined to ask you out.

She just had to make it good.

-X-

When she asked, a bouquet of your favorite flowers in hand, you’d almost laughed. Under her air of confidence was a current of nerves, her fingers twitching around the stems. She assured you she was serious about this – about you – and you couldn’t bring yourself to decline the invitation.

So, she took you to dinner and you exchanged stories for hours, sipping wine and sharing a dessert at the end that made your toes curl. Your first kiss when she dropped you off became one of many and before you realized it, you were dating Natasha Romanoff.

Three months in, you broached the subject of her meeting your son. She was understandably anxious and you promised she didn’t have to meet him until she was ready – until she was sure this was something she wanted – but she merely shook her head and said there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that she wanted this.

Which is how she found herself standing at your door on a Friday night, dressed in comfortable jeans and a cute shirt with a bottle of sparkling grape juice in hand.

(She’d considered wine but she didn’t want your son feeling left out.)

Knocking firmly, Natasha tried to ignore the terror bubbling in her chest. What if he didn’t like her? What if he refused to give her a chance? What if you broke up with–

You tossed the door open, glancing at the bottle in her hand with an adoring smile. “Gosh, you’re cute,” you murmured, dragging her into a brief kiss before bringing her inside.

She peered around your little home, studying the pictures scattered about and the sporadic toy strewn across the floor of the living room. She smiled at the Iron Man action figure leaning against the couch’s leg, Hulk and Captain America lying on their back in front of it.

“(S/N)!” you called, leading Natasha into the kitchen. “Come here. I have someone I want you to meet.”

Pecking Natasha’s lips one more time, you turned your attention to the hall as tiny footsteps padded along the carpet. Tentatively, a (H/C) head peeked into the kitchen, (E/C) eyes wide with curiosity and trepidation as he took in the newcomer.

“C’mere,” you cooed, chuckling when your son bolted for your legs. He hid behind you, warily watching Natasha. “This is mommy’s special friend, Natasha. Can you say hi?”

He waved awkwardly, biting his lip. “Hi.”

You combed your fingers through his locks, winking at Natasha. “She’s joining us for dinner, okay, buddy?”

Nodding, he inched out from behind your legs. “You like ‘Vengers?”

Natasha nodded slowly, smiling at the boy as she realized he looked like a mini-you. “I do. I actually know them. We’re friends.”

“Really?” he gaped, head jerking between you and Natasha quickly, his four year old mind racing with possibilities.

“She does,” you promised, patting his back, “Why don’t you show her your toys while I finish dinner?”

Grabbing her hand, he started dragging her towards the living room, questions spilling rapidly from his mouth while she peeked over at you in bewilderment. “D’you know Iron Man? Is he nice? Can the Hulk really lift a car? Is Captain America a human flag? He looks like one.”

Smirking, you waved at your girlfriend before checking the pasta sauce simmering.

-X-

Once the nerves finally settled, your son was a chatterbox, every thought that had ever crossed his young brain falling out as you ate. He’d been intrigued by her “friendship” with the Avengers but when she’d told him she was Russian, that had started an entirely new conversation that ended with her promising to teach him some words and phrases when he was older.

He was utterly smitten with Natasha and it warmed your heart seeing your son accept her into your little bubble. He wasn’t a fan of new people too much but he acted as if Natasha had been a part of your lives forever (which, you may or may not hope she would be from here on out, considering your last major hurdle had been addressed).

A yawn escaped your son when the movie you’d turned on after dinner finished, his head lolling slightly against your chest as you rubbed his back.

“Bed time, buddy,” you chuckled, sharing a grin with Natasha.

He whined pitifully but wiggled off your lap, wiping a hand over his eyes. “Story?”

“Yeah, I’ll read you a story. Go get ready for bed, okay?”

Nodding, he paused in front of Natasha for a moment. He blinked at her with sleepy eyes, a timid smile on his face. “You’ll come back?” he asked hopefully.

She swallowed dryly. “Yeah, I will.”

“Good,” he beamed, tossing his arms around her, “Because Mommy really likes you and now I do too,” he announced before skipping out of the room.

Stunned, Natasha stared after your son. “I thought getting his approval was going to be a lot harder.”

You giggled, kissing her cheek softly before standing. “You’re very easy to love, Miss Romanoff. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

She watched you stroll down the hall after your son, cheeks reddening slightly as her lips turned up and something sweet and gentle flooded her chest.

So are you. Both of you.

Chapter Text

Leaning against your apartment door, you groaned as your shoulder throbbed. You knew you’d dislocated it the minute it had happened but you’d tried ignoring it though now you were wishing you hadn’t. This happened far too often and you hated it, but there was nothing you could do.

Overly flexible joints were just a bitch sometimes.

You managed to unlock the door and grunted as you stepped inside, sighing in relief at the sight of your girlfriend standing in front of your oven, watching the pizza cook intently. She was here, being too damn cute for words, and she’d made dinner which meant you wouldn’t have to cross that stupid bridge.

“Hi, baby!” Kara greeted, eyes never leaving the oven.

“Hey,” you returned weakly, pain dripping so heavily from that single word that Kara’s head immediately snapped around.

She frowned, stepping closer. Her hands hovered inches from your body, ocean irises skirting over every visible piece of you. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

Your eyes flickered to the floor and you gave an awkward one-arm shrug. “It’s nothing,” you mumbled, bothered by the fact this had occurred again in such a short amount of time.

“No, no, don’t do that,” Kara cooed, deciding that cupping your cheek was probably the safest option.

You huffed. “I dislocated my shoulder and I thought I’d be fine, but I’m not. It hurts and I’m tired and I just…”

Leaning her forehead against yours, Kara’s hands drifted to your hips. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll eat and you can take a hot bath and we can watch movies while I help you feel better,” she promised with a comforting smile. “I can be your personal nurse all weekend!”

Chuckling, you brushed your lips over hers appreciatively. “What about Supergirl?”

“The DEO gave me the weekend off and now I’m really glad they did,” she replied sweetly, pecking your lips just as the timer beeped. “Do you feel like eating?”

“I probably should so I can take a pain pill afterwards.”

Kara nodded, carefully directing you towards the table. “Sit down and I’ll get the food.”

-X-

After dinner, Kara hurriedly filled up your bathtub while you swallowed a pill that would hopefully dull the ache in your shoulder. When you ventured into the bathroom, your wonderful girlfriend helped you undress and stepped into the warm water. She frowned at the slight bruising, wishing desperately that she could take away your pain.

“Want me to leave?” she asked, carding her fingers through your hair as you relaxed.

Shaking your head, you stared up at her pitifully. “Please stay. Tell me about your day or work or your sister or something. Anything.”

Kara settled on the edge of the tub. “How about I tell you about Krypton? I really think you would’ve loved it.”

“That sounds wonderful,” you said, closing your eyes and letting her voice lull you into a sense of serenity. She didn’t talk about her home often but you always loved her stories.

Within minutes she had you giggling, the throbbing manageable.

“Wait, Clark had a dog named Krypto? Isn’t that a little on the nose?” you teased, earning a playful tap on your forehead.

“I never said my uncle was creative,” she laughed. “I bet if Krypto had made it to Earth, he probably would’ve had similar powers. Can you imagine? A flying dog with heat vision? Every government on this planet would lose their minds.”

Blinking, you tried to picture a white dog zooming across the sky in order to chase a bird or maybe a stick…and it was hilarious. “I’d pay money to see that.”

As the water grew colder, you decided to get out and dress for the evening. It was a slow process but Kara was diligent and patient, her touch gentle whenever she came anywhere close to your shoulder. She led you to the bed and went in search of your emergency icepacks.

(It was nice having a girlfriend whose breath could instantly cool them off whenever they melted.)

Cautiously climbing in bed beside you, she tangled her fingers with yours and began scrolling through the channels. Tears sprang up in your eyes as her thumb brushed your knuckles. None of your other partners had ever been quite so understanding and you realized how perfect this woman really was.

“What?” Kara asked when she glanced at you, startled and concerned by your damp gaze.

Shaking your head, you smiled wetly. “Nothing. I just – I love you, Kara Zor-El Danvers. So damn much.”

She beamed, leaning over to kiss your cheek. “I love you too, (Y/N) (Y/L/N). And I always will,” she vowed confidently, certain she’d spend the rest of her life with you.

And you believed her.

(So if a ring in a lead-lined ended up in your drawer the next week, well that was nobody’s business except yours.)

Chapter Text

When you met the infamous Harley Quinn – no longer attached to the maniacal clown that’d menaced Gotham for years – she wasn’t anything like you’d expected. She was weird – and maybe a little (a lot) insane – but she didn’t scream “murder!” the way Joker did.

(You’d almost consider her soft in some bizarre sort of way.)

Making the mistake of trying to walk home in the middle of the night, you’d been ambushed by a few members of one of Gotham’s many gangs. You weren’t helpless by any means considering you’d been raised in this hellscape of a city but five-on-one was a bit more than you were prepared to handle.

You were backed against an alley wall, eyeing the sneering men cautiously. Running wasn’t really an option and the glinting knives and heavy bats kept you from trying to beat your way out.

Their ringleader was taunting you, his voice deep and muffled by the mask he wore but you weren’t listening to him. You were pondering, trying to discover an escape that wouldn’t leave you in the hospital later. If you grabbed the knife on his belt, you’d likely get the lights knocked out of you but simply giving into the dumb brutes almost sounded worse.

Footsteps passed the entrance of the alley but you paid them little mind. Most people in Gotham ignored these kinds of interactions, keeping their heads down to avoid becoming targets themselves.

“So, what’d’ya say, little girl?” the ringleader cackled, tapping his bat on the ground. “Gonna come quietly?”

You sneered at him but before you could retort, an animalistic laugh filled the air. Head snapping around, you caught sight of a woman standing on the sidewalk with…

Hyenas?!

Blinking, you watched her mutter something to the animals before they charged, each snagging a criminal. While the men were distracted, you stole the leader’s knife and stabbed it into his shoulder, earning a bloodcurdling scream.

“Hell yeah!” the woman cheered, grabbing the bat that’d rolled over to her when the leader had accidentally flung it. “Let’s fuck shit up!”

You didn’t have time to address her inappropriate exuberance as you caught the bat aimed at your head. You ripped it out of the criminal’s hand, smacking him hard across the face while the other woman (your savior?) slammed hers against the only uninjured gang member left standing. He doubled over, clutching his ribs, and she brought it down on his back, giggling gleefully as he dropped to the ground.

Your attention fell to the leader who was trying to pull the blade from his shoulder. He was cursing, eyes wide with fear as he noticed all of his men were either unconscious or hyena food.

“Ah, c’mon, Quinn, don’t do this,” he begged as the woman advanced on him.

Finally looking at her, your lips parted in surprise.

Holy fuck, that’s Harley Quinn!

“Oh, ya want mercy, huh?” Harley mock-sympathized, lip pushed out in an exaggerated pout. “Ain’t that something?”

He swallowed nervously, managing to dislodge the knife. It tumbled to the ground but he didn’t try to pick it up, terrified Harley would kill him if he tried.

“I’ll let ya go,” she decided with in a playful voice, stepping closer until they were only inches apart. “But you leave this one alone, yeah? She’s mine and you mess with her, ya gotta deal with me.” Her final word was sharp and deadly, sending shivers down his spine – and yours.

Nodding frantically, the leader glanced at you. “Sorry. It won’t happen again.”

When Harley started towards you, the man bolted, completely ignoring the blood pouring down his back.

“You okay, puddin’?” Harley asked, eyes scanning over your form.

Bewildered, you slowly nodded. “Yeah, I’m good. Thank you.”

She beamed, linking arms with you as she whistled at her pets. “Lou, Bud, let’s go before Gotham’s finest get here. Or Batsy. Or both.”

The hyenas abandoned their meals and trotted after their mistress as she led you out of the alleyway.

“Where ya headed?” Harley wondered, unknowingly dragging you in the direction of your apartment.

“Home,” you replied, suddenly exhausted. Between work and that incident, you were officially tired and the idea of curling up in bed sounded wonderful.

Harley nodded. “I’m Harley.”

Chuckling faintly, you smirked. Like anyone in Gotham didn’t know who she was. “(Y/N).”

-X-

After that night, when she’d dropped you off on your doorstep with a lightning-fast kiss on the cheek, she seemed to seek you out (which was so strange to you, considering she was a wanted criminal but then again, this was Gotham and nobody wanted to be on her bad side). You’d often find her waiting outside of your job, grin wide and eyes bright as she walked you home. She’d chatter on and on about things – sometimes what she used to do and sometimes what she was doing – but you didn’t mind.

Despite her chaotic energy, she was great company.

One Saturday night, you were holed up in your living room eating takeout when a knock on your door startled you. You warily set your food aside and padded over to the door, peering through the peephole. Blonde locks splashed with blue and pink caught your eye and you sighed, slowly opening the door.

“Everything okay, Harley?” you inquired, studying the bouncing doctor.

Nodding enthusiastically, Harley slipped into your home (without her pets, which you were thankful for. You liked Bud and Lou, but God they were messy creatures).

“Yeah, sugar, I’m fine but I got you something!” Harley grinned, handing you a wrapped box. It was decently heavy – which was concerning, when she was involved.

“…it’s not Batman’s head, is it?” you half-joked, eyeing the gift.

Harley laughed. “No,” she replied before her face sobered. “Do you want that? Because I can –”

“Nope, nope, I’m good,” you hurriedly assured her, some part of you well-aware that she was serious.

Settling on your couch, you started ripping the messily wrapped paper off the box. Whatever was inside shifted awkwardly whenever you moved it and you silently prayed it wasn’t alive. If Harley were to buy a pet, it surely wouldn’t be normal like a dog or cat. It’d probably be something that should be in a zoo – or the wild – and you didn’t think your landlord would let you keep it.

(How Harley’s landlord let her keep Bud and Lou was beyond you.)

Tugging the top off the box, you gaped. Metal painted in bright colors filled the inside, a few (live?!) grenades scattered about.

“Um, Harley, what am I supposed to do with this?” you squeaked, eyeing the launcher and its ammo.

Of all the things you’d expected, this wasn’t one you’d anticipated.

Harley fidgeted slightly, a sheepish, almost shy grin on her face. “Well, I was just thinkin’, ya know, how we met and Gotham’s not safe and I just want to make sure you are. And I ran into some of Roman’s old guys and they had trucks full of this stuff and I figured they wouldn’t miss it, so why not?”

Stunned – and oddly touched – you didn’t know what to say.

Harley’s expression dropped, taking your heart with it. “I know it’s weird. I just don’t want anything happening to you.”

Overwhelmed, you leaned over and kissed Harley’s painted cheek, lingering dangerously close to her lips.

“Thank you,” you said sincerely, “But I’ve got you and there’s no one else I’d trust more to keep me safe.”

Face going red, Harley peeked at you. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Your fingers brushed over the colorful launcher.

Harley’s hand grasped your free one and her digits tangled with yours. You’d never expected your life to go this way – never entertained the idea of being courted by a super-villain who’d once destroyed Ace Chemicals while drunk – but sitting in your apartment, her hand in yours and a grenade launcher in your lap, you were finding out that you really didn’t mind.

Chapter Text

Huffing when your phone chimed with the predictable “I’m sorry” message, you angrily kicked off your shoes, wincing when one of them banged against the wall – the only wall separating you from your ridiculously hot neighbor.

Brunnhilde – though she preferred Valkyrie or Val – had been your neighbor for a few years now and the two of you had formed a close friendship fairly quickly. At first you hadn’t really liked her but once you got to know her, you really liked her…

Which was problematic, considering how many women came and went from Val’s apartment.

Hearing shuffling through the thin plaster, you strolled over to your door and unlocked it, waiting for the inevitable. Tapping your foot, you couldn’t help but smile as Valkyrie’s familiar whistle filled the hall as she stepped out of her apartment.

You tossed the door open, startling the other woman.

“Well, don’t you look nice,” Valkyrie commented, eyes flitting over your form curiously.

After months of pining over Valkyrie, you’d decided to start dating again, hoping it would help you get over her. You’d been out with a few people but nothing had stuck, much to your dismay. You had hoped tonight would be different but your discarded shoe leaning against the wall – and the very woman you were trying to get over standing in your doorway – told a different story.

“Yeah, I had a date, but…” you shrugged hopelessly, gesturing for Valkyrie to step inside.

You were completely oblivious to the frustrated glower crossing her features as you headed for the kitchen.

“What happened?” Valkyrie inquired, watching you scour the refrigerator for a moment before you grabbed “her” bottle of whiskey and a fresh bottle of wine for yourself.

Snorting humorlessly, you handed her the whiskey before uncorking your wine. “Apparently her ex showed up last night, they made up, and she didn’t know how to let me down until now. Hence the shoe hitting the wall.”

“Well, she’s an idiot,” Valkyrie decided, taking a long sip of amber liquor, ignoring the selfish piece of herself that was joyous your date had fallen through.

You hummed, leading your friend over to the couch as you completely forgo a glass. What was the point of dirtying a glass when you were probably going to drink the whole bottle anyways?

Flopping down on the cushions, you patted the space beside you. “Movie night?” you proposed with wide, pleading eyes.

“Of course,” she replied easily, stealing the remote from the table before dropping beside you, her leg pressed firmly against yours. It hadn’t been intentional but she forced herself not to move away, waiting to see what would happen.

Maybe it was the whiskey in her veins, but she was tired of denying her feelings. Tired of nameless women trying to fill the you-shaped void. Tired of pretending she didn’t want to see you every fucking day.

Tired of not calling you hers.

Barely managing to swallow the wine in your mouth, you glanced at Valkyrie in confusion. There was plenty of space so why was she right beside you? Close enough that you could feel the heat radiating from her thigh through your pants.

When she didn’t shift over, you slowly relaxed and took another drink of wine. You watched her flip through the channels, eyes narrowed as she briefly perused movie descriptions. Her disdain for romantic movies was legendary and it amused you greatly whenever she grumbled under her breath about them.

(“It’s not that I don’t like romantic things,” Valkyrie had told you, words slurring slightly as bleary eyes stared at you. “But romantic movies are so bloody stupid. They aren’t realistic! All they do is give you false hope and hurt people.”)

“Finally!” she cheered as she found the new action movie she’d been dying to see. She peered over at you hopefully. “Is this alright?”

You nodded, a genuine smile upturning your lips at her adorable excitement. She’d once admitted that no one ever wanted to watch action films with her (except for her old friend Carol, but she wasn’t in town very often) so whenever you had movie nights, you’d let her choose just so you could see that pleased glint in her eyes. Sometimes she would insist you pick but you’d simply hop around and hint at movies until she – unknowingly – picked.

The room fell into a comfortable silence, the only noise coming from the movie on your television. You tried watching the movie – seriously, you did – but your wine-fuzzy mind kept drifting over to Valkyrie, taking your eyes with it. You couldn’t help it; the way her face would light up during a well-scripted fight scene was enchanting.

She could feel your gaze and it was maddening. She wasn’t self-conscious by any means but your intense look made her skin crawl (in a fairly pleasant way). She was pretty sure you’d never looked at her like this before or, if you had, she’d never noticed.

“What?” she finally asked, peering over at you with an arched brow.

Your cheeks grew hot but wine fueled your courage, loosening your tongue. “You’re too distracting with your gorgeous face and your…your…everything!”

Valkyrie’s other brow joined its sister as her mouth parted in surprise.

Throwing caution to the wind, you steeled yourself. “You’re gorgeous and so kind and wonderful and you drive me crazy! You have since we met. At first I thought you annoyed me but you don’t. I care about you so much! And I know you don’t like me the same way I like you – and that’s okay! – but keeping it inside is making me insane.”

Valkyrie’s lack of response was worrying. You’d never seen her speechless before – and you couldn’t tell if she was pleased or disgusted by your admission. You swallowed down the ache blossoming inside and chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of your neck.

“Uh, I think I’ve drank too much. Maybe you should go and we’ll talk tomorrow or something,” you suggested, bones heavy with rejection. Maybe a night of crying would make it hurt less tomorrow when she inevitably says she doesn’t want you like that.

You stood up from the couch, refusing to look at Valkyrie as you walked to the door. Head bowed, you listened to her steps trailing behind you and waited for her exit. Your eyes were hot with repressed tears, forcing them down until she was gone.

You’d embarrassed yourself enough for one night.

Valkyrie stopped behind you.

“Seriously, it’s okay,” you promised weakly, “But can you just –”

A firm hand gripped your shoulder and spun you around, pressing you against the wall beside the door. Your head snapped up, eyes locking with Valkyrie’s dark, nearly black irises.

“You like me?” she reiterated, dragging her tongue over her bottom lip slowly.

The action was enticing and you couldn’t do anything besides nod, words trapped in your (suddenly very, very dry) throat.

Cupping your cheeks, Valkyrie smirked. “I guess I should’ve listened to Carol.”

Before you could voice your question (what had Carol said?!), soft lips crashed into yours, dragging a low moan from deep within your chest. The pads of her fingers dug slightly into your face but you didn’t mind, accepting her tongue the moment it touched your lips.

You melted into her body, slowly memorizing every inch of her mouth as she kept you pinned between her and the wall. She tasted like bitter whiskey and honey, intoxicating in a way you’d never expected but always hoped for.

When air became a necessity, Valkyrie pulled away, chuckling as you chased after her.

“I’m not sorry your date blew you off,” she admitted with a shrug. “I may even send her flowers.”

Laughing, you beamed at your neighbor. “Worry about that tomorrow. Keep kissing me tonight.”

“With pleasure,” she purred.

Chapter Text

Parties in Port Royal were always an interesting affair, especially when hosted by Tony Stark – a man who had his hand in every trade, illegal ones included. If anyone needed anything, he was the person to talk to. Thriving on favors in such a corrupt town, if you could help him, he would help you.

You’d gotten an invitation to Tony’s latest soiree and you’d considered skipping but angering the man who could singlehandedly fund Port Royal wasn’t a good idea in the grand scheme of things. So, donning your best dress, you ended up in front of Stark’s looming mansion. It was the biggest home in town – which wasn’t surprising – and you could tell the party was already in full swing.

Stepping inside, you nearly faltered. Most of Port Royal filled the main hall but so did pirates. Some of the most notorious criminals from around the world were scattered about, swords hanging from their hips and mugs of liquor in their hands. You could name a few of the pirates.

Carol the Conqueror and her quartermaster known only as Valkyrie.

Steve Rogers and his right-hand Bucky.

A man who named himself after the Norse god Thor and his brother Loki.

You swallowed dryly, nervously eyeing the room.

“Ah, lady (Y/N),” Tony greeted cheerfully, slinging his arm around your shoulders, startling you from your thoughts.

“Good evening, Mr. Stark,” you answered respectfully, accepting the drink he was thrusting into your hand. “Lovely party.”

Tony snickered, glancing about. “It is, isn’t it? Quite an eclectic group.”

Humming, you sipped your drink, nearly wincing at the strong taste. “That’s one word for it,” you murmured.

Booming laughter echoed through the room and Tony patted your arm. “Have a good evening, Ms. (Y/N).”

He flitted off, chatting with people as he went.

Peering around, you choked on your drink as you caught two sets of green eyes boring into you. A gorgeous redhead and a stunning brunette were leaning into each other, smirks tugging at pretty pink lips. They were both dressed in leather trousers, a red button-up clinging to the redhead while a white button-up wrapped around the brunette.

You looked away, cheeks warm as you refused their gazes. They were beautiful but you weren’t dumb; they were definitely pirates.

And that was a dangerous web to get caught up in.

-X-

Fending off another man’s advances, you wondered if it’d be rude to leave, maybe feign illness and retreat. You’d already declined several sleazy men’s offers – plus a few from the pirates (though they were far more pleasant to deal with. They handled rejection better than the men of the port).

“You seem upset, milaya,” a husky voice purred near your ear, causing you to flinch slightly.

Jerking your head, you came face-to-face with the redheaded woman, her eyes twinkling with amusement and mischief.

“I…uh…” you were at a loss for words, bewitched by her deep green irises.

“Cat got your tongue, malysh?” another woman cooed from your other side, her accent doing things to you.

Swallowing harshly, you peeked over, not too shocked to see the brunette. “N-no, you just surprised me,” you mumbled, wishing for another drink.

The redhead chuckled, sending a bolt of arousal into your lower stomach.

Oh God, they’re going to be the death of me.

“Well, we apologize for startling you,” the brunette smirked. “We’d be delighted if you’d let us make it up to you…” she trailed off expectantly.

“(Y/N),” you supplied, smiling weakly.

“It’s lovely to meet you, (Y/N). I’m Wanda and that is Natasha,” the brunette said, gesturing to her friend – (girlfriend?) – whose lips twisted in a sultry way that made you want to fall to your knees.

Before you could summon a reply – maybe an assurance they didn’t need to apologize – a cocky-looking man strolled towards you, his usual nasty smirk in place.

“Ah, (Y/N), I’ve been looking for you,” Brock Rumlow announced, completely ignoring your company. “I was hoping you’d be here.”

You fought back a sneer. “Rumlow.”

“Aw, don’t be like that, doll. Come dance with me.” His request was more of a demand and you felt the pirates beside you bristle.

“No thank you,” you refused politely, subconsciously inching closer to Wanda.

Brock growled, reaching out to grab your arm. “Don’t be rude. It’s just one dance.”

A knife met Brock’s hand and he froze, staring at the blade digging into his palm. You hadn’t even seen Natasha move but you were thankful for the woman. Wanda stepped slightly in front of you, crossing her arms as she glared.

“I believe she said no,” Natasha snarled, a dangerous smirk on her lips as a drop of blood dripped from Brock’s hand.

“And if a woman says no, you respect that and move on,” Wanda finished, letting her hand dip lower, resting it atop the hilt of her sword. “So I suggest you leave.”

You could see the conflict in Brock’s eyes. He was nervous but he didn’t want to submit to a woman.

Instinctively, you reached out and touched Wanda’s back, your other hand stroking Natasha’s wrist as you tried to keep the pirates calm. “I think I could use some air. Would you ladies mind accompanying me?”

Wanda peered over at Natasha and they shared a nod.

“Of course, malysh,” Wanda hummed, offering her arm. You waited until Natasha sheathed her knife before accepting, offering your other arm to the redhead with a shy smile.

You led them outside, sighing in relief when Brock didn’t follow. You didn’t care what happened to Rumlow but the idea of these gorgeous pirates being forced out of Port Royal made your stomach roll anxiously, which was possible if they’d grievously injured the bastard.

“Thank you.” Wide eyes flitted between the women, your lip snagged between your teeth.

Natasha purred, her fingertips dancing across your cheek. “You are more than welcome, milaya, but if you don’t stop biting that pretty lip of yours, I might have to do it for you.”

Squeaking, you peeked nervously over at Wanda.

“Oh, malysh, you’re sexy and you damn well know it, or you wouldn’t be wearing that,” the brunette teased, a single finger dragging over your pounding heart.

Your mouth was dryer than a desert and your hands were shaking as the pirates backed you up against a nearby tree, hidden from prying eyes.

“Say you don’t want us and we’ll leave you alone,” Wanda promised softly, mouth inches from your neck.

“Or say you’ll come back to the ship with us tonight,” Natasha proposed, “We’ll make it worth your while.”

Realistically, you knew you should say no. A night with them would be a dream come true but you were fairly certain it would only take a night for you to fall in love with them. Besides, pirates were dangerous, dastardly creatures.

So all you needed to do was say no…

“Okay.”

Chapter Text

The moment the word slipped out, Natasha’s mouth slammed into yours. She tasted like stale ale and cherries, a spice you couldn’t place burning the tip of your tongue. Her well-kept nails dug into your hips through your dress, scratching at your hipbones.  Moaning, your fingers tangled in red locks and tugged, earning a low groan from the pirate and a buck of her hips.

A tiny whimper escaped her partner and you broke away from Natasha, jerking Wanda’s head up and away from your neck so you could connect your lips. She melted with a sigh, startling you slightly. Was this fierce, scary (in an undeniably sexy way) woman a bottom?

In the beginning you would’ve been happy dropping to your knees for them, but having such a powerful woman under you?

Oh you were going to have fun with this.

Tugging on your dress, Natasha purred in your ear, “How about we head to the ship before we give the town a show?” Seeing you kiss Wanda left a burn in her belly and she wanted both of you to herself, away from the sleazy men who would be far too happy if you were caught.

Separating from Wanda, you dragged your thumb along her kiss-swollen lip and smirked. “Lead the way, ladies.”

-X-

Stepping into their cabin, you didn’t have time to really look around before Natasha was pressed against you, fingers drifting over your quivering throat.

“So pretty,” she cooed, pecking your lips. “But you’ll be even prettier with your dress on the floor.”

You glanced over at Wanda, nearly chuckling at her submissive pose. Her head was bowed, hands behind her back as she waited for instructions. Natasha smirked, arching a brow as she watched you study her lover.

Sauntering towards Wanda, Natasha’s hand brushed over Wanda’s chest, narrowly avoiding straining nipples.

“She’s such a good girl, isn’t she?” the redhead praised, tongue flicking over a pale earlobe. “So strong for everyone else, but not here. Here she just wants to please.” Wanda’s whine flooded your undergarments and you needed to touch the stunning brunette.

Walking to them, you cupped Wanda’s cheek, brushing your thumb over her cheekbone. “Are you going to be a good girl for me too?”

Wanda nodded frantically, green eyes bright and wide. Her tongue slid over her lip and you couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like on your clit.

Inching backwards, you tilted your head. You didn’t want to overstep your boundaries, but you desperately wanted to see Wanda – and Natasha, though you could tell she would do things in her own time – naked.

Humming, Natasha settled at your side. “Strip for us, lyubov moya. Slowly.”

While Wanda began disrobing, Natasha leaned into you, words so low only you’d be able to hear her.

“She doesn’t like degradation or hitting. She’s fine with spanking though. And she does enjoy a rougher touch,” she whispered, eyeing the topless brunette hungrily.

Acknowledging the information with a brief nod, you settled on the edge of their bed and watched Wanda shimmy out of her breeches and undergarments. You nearly drooled as more skin was exposed. You noticed a few small scars here and there but vowed never to mention them. It wasn’t your business and you refused to make her self-conscious.

Bare, Wanda’s cheeks went red as you perused her lithe form. The woman standing in this bedroom was nothing like the suave pirate you’d met at the party but you felt honored to see this part of her. Appreciated that they trusted you enough to show you.

Hiking your dress up until your thighs were exposed, you patted your lap. “C’mere, baby,” you cooed.

Without hesitation Wanda came to stand in front of you, her irises shiny but so fucking dark, pupils blown wide with lust. You helped her maneuver onto one of your thighs, her slick core hot on your flesh when she was fully settled, her bottom lip trapped between perfect teeth.

Leaning forward, you pressed teasing kisses along her throat while your hands took possession of her hips, slowly dragging her back and forth, letting her arousal paint your skin.

“Oh!” Wanda whimpered, grabbing your shoulders to steady herself.

So entranced by Wanda’s sweet noises and the way she slipped along your thigh, you didn’t notice Natasha stripping. Hell, you wouldn’t admit it but you didn’t realize she was naked until she stepped behind Wanda, a dark glint in her eyes as her arms wrapped around Wanda, hands embracing her heaving breasts.

Her slender digits manipulated puckered flesh and Wanda tossed her head back, resting it on Natasha’s shoulder as she keened. Grinning, you dragged your tongue along Wanda’s throat before guiding her faster, your motions strong and firm.

“You’re so beautiful, lyubov moya, let us hear you,” Natasha encouraged, twisting a nipple sharply and drawing out a loud moan.

Dull nails clutched at your shoulders, Wanda’s pants filling the room.

“You want to come, don’t you?” you purred. “You want us to make you feel so good you see stars?”

Crying out, Wanda nodded desperately, her clit throbbing painfully as you kept her rhythm steady – but not enough. She startled babbling in a language you didn’t understand but Natasha seemed to, her lips stretching into a smirk that made your core ache with need.

Sharing a look with the redhead, you started moving Wanda faster, her moans becoming almost painful as you pushed her closer to the edge. You realized, as she begged, that your name had never sounded better falling from another’s lips. Taking a leap of faith, you wrapped your hand around Wanda’s throat while you brought her along your thigh roughly, cutting off a moan but tipping her headfirst into an orgasm. Hips stuttering violently, her chest went red as waves of euphoria rolled through her body.

You and Natasha held her upright as she shook, eyes clenched tight. As she calmed, you helped Natasha settle her on the bed beside you, smiling at the disheveled woman.

A hand wrapped in your hair and jerked your attention forward, Natasha’s near-black eyes boring into you. Her free thumb and forefinger gripped your chin, bringing your lips to hers in a surprisingly gentle kiss. Mapping out your mouth with her skilled tongue, she brought you forward until she lowered you to your knees, bending until she was satisfied with the kiss.

“You look so lovely on your knees, milaya,” she murmured, finger dragging over your cheek.

Your dress was bunched awkwardly around you and your thigh was soaked with Wanda’s arousal but you didn’t dare move, too entangled in Natasha’s sultry expression. It was like being trapped in a spider’s web but you weren’t upset.

If this woman chose to eat you, you’d die a happy person.

Head level with her dripping center, your mouth watered at the intoxicating smell. You wanted to lean forward and devour her, but kept yourself still, awaiting permission. Your tongue swiped across your lip and something inside Natasha snapped. Her hand cupped the back of your head and gave you the contact you craved, her taste something you could only compare with heaven.

Her throaty moan broke your revere and you hurriedly wrapped your lips around her pulsating clit. She hadn’t expected your enthusiasm and her legs trembled slightly, barely managing to hold her upright as you greedily consumed every drop of slick clinging to her. Tongue tracing the hot flesh, you gripped Natasha’s quivering thighs, bringing her closer.

Grinding against your tongue, husky words mixed with divine noises filled the room as Natasha stared at her bewitched girlfriend. Wanda was enamored with the sight of you ravishing the pirate, not a shred of jealousy threatening to flicker forth. You weren’t the first person they’d bedded but she briefly wondered if – maybe – you’d be the last.

“God, do that again,” Natasha demanded as you dipped inside her.

Humming appreciatively, you did as she said, nearly chuckling as her knees shook. Natasha was obviously a woman who enjoyed being in control but, this angle and the pain in your knees, was becoming a bother so you spun the woman around – making sure she landed  on the bed – and buried your face between her thighs before she could complain.

Your nose occasionally brushed her clit as you learned every inch of Natasha, one hand keeping her legs parted while the other danced up her calf. The bed shifted slightly and you glanced up in time to see Wanda capturing Natasha’s lips in a bruising kiss.

Fuck, that’s hot.

Slipping your hand up, you slid two fingers into Natasha boldly, smirking at the deafening moan muffled only by Wanda. She clenched around the intrusion, pulling you deeper as she bucked. Strong, confident thrusts were driving Natasha insane, not enough yet almost too much as your tongue teased her clit in tandem.

She nearly knocked you away when you found the slightly rougher patch of flesh inside.

Purely accidental, of course. You’d just surprised her.

(No one besides Wanda had ever hit that spot before.)

Focusing your digits along that area, you suckled her swollen clit, laving it with attention. It wasn’t long before she was squirming, her own form of gibberish, similar but not quite the same as Wanda’s, escaping as her lover toyed with her nipples.

One strong roll of your tongue and a twist of your fingers threw Natasha into pleasure, her moans low but long as she rode it out, legs clamping down on either side of your head. You moaned, accepting everything her body gave, knowing her taste would be on your tongue for days.

If this was a “one night only” thing, hopefully your memories would keep you content for the rest of your life.

Natasha went slack and you rose, wiping your face as you smirked at the breathless redhead. Wanda was grinning at you, offering her hand.

“Let me take this off,” you laughed, tugging at your rumpled dress. Your undergarments were positively ruined but you didn’t mind.

At all.

Tossing your clothes aside, you joined the staring women, their lustful gazes drinking you in. Wanda snagged your arm, jerking you down beside her so she could kiss you until you were dizzy, groaning at Natasha lingering on your lips.

You wondered if this was what poison tasted like, sweet and alluring until it destroyed you from the inside out.

You could hear Natasha searching through a drawer but you didn’t dare pull away from Wanda, tangling your fingers in soft locks. Kissing her was different than kissing Natasha. It was bewildering that Natasha preferred softer, sweeter kisses while Wanda pushed for rough, dominating ones.

(She didn’t want to win; she just wanted her partners to show her who was in charge.)

The bed dipped and Wanda squealed as she was repositioned suddenly, brought up on her hands and knees, peeking up at you with wide eyes. You peered around her, mouth dry as you noticed the smooth, shiny phallus harnessed to Natasha’s slim waist. It wasn’t uncommon for women to have them in Port Royal but you hadn’t anticipated her brandishing it so freely with a stranger (acquaintance?) they’d only just met.

“On your back, (Y/N),” Natasha smirked, settling behind Wanda.

Nodding, you reclined on their pillows, watching the women curiously.

“She made you feel good, milaya, so you should return the favor,” Natasha purred, nudging Wanda until she was hovering just slightly above you, elbows pressing into the mattress.

The moment Wanda’s flattened tongue met your heat, Natasha slammed into her lover without preamble. Her moan of surprise made your eyes roll back in your head, one hand grabbing their headboard as you fisted the sheets in the other.

Natasha fell into a semi-steady pace, the sound of their skin slapping together mingling with the symphony of moans echoing about. Wanda was truly skilled, her mouth working wonders on you despite her own pleasures rocking through her. You sporadically locked eyes with Natasha, her face flushed from exertion as she pounded into Wanda.

Wanda whined as Natasha gained speed, focusing on your clit so that she didn’t get too lost in the feeling of Natasha stretching her. She was determined to make you feel good too, dammit.

Releasing the sheets, your hand found a home in Wanda’s damp locks, tugging whenever her tongue did that one thing that had your toes curling. Your heartbeat was ringing loudly in your ears, muffling everything around you as Wanda inched you closer to ecstasy.

Noticing your expression, Natasha doubled her efforts, slipping around to rub Wanda’s clit firmly. She moaned, which in turn made you moan, your grip tightening almost painfully – though Wanda was not going to complain.

Most were too afraid to manhandle her, fearing Natasha’s wrath, but you seemed fairly comfortable. A little tentative, but if you weren’t, she’d probably be worried about sharing a bed with you.

A guttural noise broke from your chest as you came, juices coating Wanda’s face as your back bowed almost painfully. Pleased with herself, Wanda’s second orgasm washed over her and she fell forward, arms jelly as she pressed her forehead into your jumping abdomen.

Those same fingers that’d tugged before began scratching soothingly at her scalp as you both calmed and she moaned, sated and happy. She whimpered when Natasha carefully slipped out, tossing her temporary piece away as she flopped onto her back, sweat coating her skin. She stroked Wanda’s back, a raspy chuckle vibrating in her throat as Wanda wiggled blissfully, her little sigh precious.

She crawled between you and Natasha, landing on her side and pressing her back into Natasha’s side. The redhead’s arm encircled her waist, tracing patterns over her pale stomach and suddenly you felt awkward. You were certain you’d overstayed your welcome – even if you hadn’t yet, they would be asking you to leave soon enough – so you attempted to leave the bed with whatever dignity you could conjure.

Attempted being the operative word because Wanda grasped your forearm, brows furrowed as she blinked sweetly.

“Stay.” The word reflected in Wanda’s eyes though it’d left Natasha. “It’s late.”

Considering the request, you glanced between the women thoughtfully. Wanda looked so hopeful and, though she wouldn’t acknowledge it, Natasha seemed nervous, almost afraid of your answer – like it mattered more than it should. You swallowed harshly, knowing it was a terrible idea and that you’d definitely be gone before they awoke, but you nodded.

Beaming, Wanda pulled you close, throwing your arm around her, yours tucked just below Natasha’s. The tips of your fingers brushed the pirate’s hip and she hummed. It was a strange series of events trying to get the messed up bedding over your naked bodies but when you were all finally comfortable, Wanda snuggled sleepily between you, it didn’t take long for sleep to engulf all three of you.

A single thought crossed your mind as you dangled centimeters from sleep.

I am so fucked.

Chapter Text

The sound of pen on paper was comforting in an odd way, the occasional noise escaping your roommate – and girlfriend – making you chuckle under your breath. Her blonde hair was tugged up into a ponytail, a few wild strands falling into her face and framing her beautiful features in a way that it stole the air from your lungs.

God, you would do anything for this woman.

Rain pattered against your single window, a few slivers of sunlight slipping through the dark clouds. National City was such a bizarre city but you never pondered it, deciding the world was already too much of a weird place.

You were sitting in your bed, head in your hand as you watched Kara pouring over her math (science? French? You had no idea, honestly) book. Her shoulders were tense, brows furrowed as she sat cross-legged on her own mattress, papers scattered about the twin bed.

“Take a break, baby,” you murmured, frowning at the exhaustion darkening her eyes.

“I can’t,” she replied absently, flipping the page, “I have an exam on Monday and it’s like thirty percent of my grade.”

You huffed. “Kar, darling, it’s Friday. You can stop long enough to get dinner or just breathe. You’re so smart; you’ll be okay.”

With a heavy sigh, Kara glanced over at you. “(Y/N)…”

Hopping off your bed, you crossed the room and grabbed Kara’s hand. “C’mon. Ten minutes and then you can come back and study,” you promised, eyes wide and pleading, knowing she couldn’t say no to that expression when it was painted across your features.

“Ten minutes?” she reiterated timidly, tangling your fingers together.

“Ten minutes.”

Tugging her up, you started leading her from the room, making sure to snag your keys as you passed, much to her confusion. She trusted you with her life but this was bizarre, even for you. You dragged her down the stairs, stopping just outside the front door.

“What are you –”

Throwing open the door, you strolled out into the rain, beaming at her even as water dripped down your face. It soaked you almost immediately but you smiled like it was the best thing you’d ever felt. You wiggled in a strangely amusing way, gesturing for her to join you.

“You’re going to get sick!” Kara laughed, holding the door open enough to talk, not to get wet.

“It’s refreshing,” you argued, crooking your finger at her. “C’mon, you know you want to.”

Kara glanced around shyly. “What if someone sees?”

“So what?” you replied with a shrug, ignoring the sticky feeling of the shirt clinging to you. “None of it matters when we graduate and I dare someone to say something.”

She’d always found your confidence alluring. You never seemed to care what others thought, so willing to fight anyone she was too anxious to yell at. She’d lived under her sister’s shadow for years – not that she minded, because she adored Alex and she just expected it, being the outsider – but the way you stood up for her warmed her heart. You’d once told her you’d fight an army for her…

And she believed you.

Swallowing nervously, she stepped out, joining you on the sidewalk. You cheered, wrapping your arms around her waist playfully, rocking side to side.

“How do you manage to look so good when you should look like a drowned rat?” you wondered rhetorically, pecking her cheek as you put a small amount of space between you.

You began dancing to a song only you could hear, eyes closed as you let the rain wash away all your troubles. It was a baptism of sorts, cleansing you of everything that bothered you. Extending your arm, you waited for Kara to accept your hand before bringing her close, twirling her slowly as you pretended she could hear whatever was in your mind.

Giggling, she followed your lead, dipping and swinging when prompted, her arms slowly encircling your neck as you began to just sway.

“What are you thinking about?” you inquired sweetly, your eyes opening as you watched a million emotions skim over the blue of her irises before settling on something you’d never seen before.

(Hoped to see, but hadn’t yet.)

Kara smiled uncertainly. “I…think I love you,” she whispered, burying her face in your damp neck, terrified of your response.

You beamed, squeezing her waist gently. “I know I love you, baby.”

A tiny gasp brushed against you and Kara tugged back, startled.

“R-really?” Eyes shiny, she stared at you like you’d just promised her the stars.

Kissing her tenderly, you nodded. The embrace was precious, no passion but all emotion.

“I think it’s been ten minutes,” you mumbled against her lips, giggling as a droplet of rain slid down the bridge of your nose.

You’d swear – even years later, when you were old and gray – that you saw the sun in her smile, her light driving away the drab colors and still-chilly air.

“I don’t care.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

The steady thudding of rain on the window lulled you awake, limbs heavy with exhaustion as you forced your eyes open. The room was a gloomy gray from what little light was pouring in through the curtains, barely illuminating your injured lover’s semi-paled features. Her cheek was an array of colors, dark purple seeping out from under the bulky bandage protecting the wound just below her left eye.

Pulling your wrist to your face, a relieved – albeit shaky – sigh escaped at the green “2”residing there. When you’d finally passed out the night before, it’d been sitting on an ugly yellow “5” that had concerned you so seeing it back into the green numbers was comforting.

It meant she was safe, at least for now.

A low groan garnered your attention and you dropped your arm, watching Alex carefully. She scrunched her face, a pained noise escaping as she registered the throbbing.

“Easy, Al,” you murmured, stroking the bandage lightly.

Bleary hazel irises skirted across your features as Alex squinted at you. Your gentle touch was soothing, nearly dragging her eyes closed but she resisted, choosing to simply lean into the gesture.

“Morning,” she greeted huskily, voice raspy with sleep. “What time is it?”

You shrugged, letting your fingers drift lower and skim faintly over the colors painting her cheek. “Early, but that doesn’t matter.” She shot you a look, confusion etched into her soft features. “You, my love, have the week off to heal up and rest. Doctor’s orders, remember?”

“But –”

Arching a brow, you stared at Alex. “No buts. Alex, you were in a lot of danger yesterday. If it hadn’t been for this,” turning your arm slightly, you exposed your wrist to the dim light, “we might not have known until it was too late.”

The thought of losing your lover – your soulmate – made your throat thick with fear. Yesterday had been a nightmare, seeing the glowing red “8” pulsate as you screamed at Kara to find her sister, your panic escalating with every passing minute.

Alex’s argument froze on the tip of her tongue, slowly taking in the pain glistening in your eyes. She knew you’d been scared – hell, she’d been scared – but she hadn’t really realized how it had affected you. If she’d been in your shoes, she would’ve been a mess, panicking despite the fact she’d been trained not to react in dire situations.

“Okay,” she mumbled, relaxing into the mattress. “I’m sorry.”

You lifted your arm, waiting for Alex to wiggle over and into your embrace. She tucked her head under your chin, breathing in your scent as she slumped against you. The weight of your arm was grounding, reminding her that she was safe; that she was alive.

“I know what I do is hard to deal with sometimes,” Alex admitted quietly, her lips brushing occasionally over your throat. “If you want to leave –”

“Stop,” you interrupted, pinching Alex’s hip gently. “You, Alex Danvers, are the love of my life – my soulmate. There’s no way I’m leaving now.”

You could feel her mouth stretch into a smile and she sighed contentedly. “I love you too.”

“Good,” you chuckled, letting your eyes slide closed as the sound of rain filtered through the room. “Because you’re kind of stuck with me.”

Alex laughed softly.

She wouldn’t have it any other way.

Chapter Text

Fiddling with your cuff of your long-sleeved shirt, you glanced at the blonde heroine leaning against the wall of the DEO chatting with the visiting Daxamite. She seemed genuinely excited to see her ex-boyfriend and your chest clenched painfully, swallowing drily at the light in his eyes as he stared at Kara with that grin she’d always been charmed by plastered across his features. You tried to ignore the insecurity tangling its way around your heart but the nasty feeling was threatening to suffocate you.

It was hard, being the soulmate of an alien. Different biology meant you suffered the normal emotions humans did when soulmates were involved but she didn’t. For all intents and purposes, Kara was free to choose anyone she pleased, not destined to bear the marks and pains you did. She didn’t necessarily feel the ache of separation like a human would; feel the constant want and need to be around you.

She was your soulmate but sometimes it felt like you weren’t hers.

Watching Mon-El reach out and touch Kara’s blue-covered shoulder, tears sprang involuntarily into your eyes. Maybe it was just your imagination but you’d swear the look in her eyes wasn’t one she’d ever given you, even now. Even after six months of careful interactions and tentative affection, you’d never gotten a look like that.

It hurt.

You absently wiped at your eyes, sniffling inaudibly as you tried to steel yourself from the pain crawling up your spine.

“Hey, are you okay?” Alex asked, startling you as she grabbed your arm. You hadn’t even noticed her saddling up to your side, but you wished she hadn’t. It was one thing to wallow alone; it was another entirely to try and convince your boss – and your soulmate’s sister – that you were fine.

Humming noncommittally, you forced the fakest smile you could muster onto your face and nodded. The arch of her brow made it clear she didn’t believe you but the lie, “I’m fine,” clung too heavily to the tip of your tongue.

Looking over in the direction you had been, realization dawned upon Alex and her lips pursed sympathetically. It was no secret that Kara was your soulmate (which Alex wholeheartedly approved of) but she knew you both struggled because you were so in love with Kara from the start but she didn’t feel as strongly, still too hung up over the former prince.

“(Y/N) –”

“Don’t,” you mumbled, staring at her pleadingly. “I can’t…”

Peeking back at Kara, you winced at the confusion she wore, her attention diverted away from Mon-El for a moment as she watched you. A tiny sliver of pettiness urged you to smirk or taunt the space traveler who was glaring at you but you refrained, offering an uncomfortable smile instead.

“I think I’m going to go train,” you said quietly, hurriedly turning away to scurry down the hall, praying no one would be dumb enough to try and engage with you along the way.

-X-

When Mon-El was called away from Kara by Brainy, Alex was quick to replace him.

“You’re not being fair,” she chastised, nearly sighing at the bewilderment in Kara’s eyes, knowing the ensuing question without ever needing to hear it. “To (Y/N). Since Mon-El’s been back, you’ve barely paid her any attention. I know you missed him, but…”

Kara’s first instinct was to argue, but she paused, letting Alex’s gentle scolding sink in. She hadn’t meant to act different, but seeing her ex again – with a wife – had shaken the foundation she’d tried to build.

Despite having been on Earth for years, the idea of soulmates hadn’t settled into Kara because she’d assumed she wouldn’t have one so it wasn’t something that needed consideration. She thought Clark was simply special when it came to Lois, refusing to believe that fate would have a hand in anything that had happened to them – to Krypton.

Refused to acknowledge the possibility of meeting her soulmate.

Then she met you during your first week at the DEO, your eyes bright and wild with joy. Watched you excitedly explain that she was your soulmate, undeterred by her being an alien or National City’s hero. Saw the colors that painted your arm reach out for her, trying to connect with something that wasn’t there.

Deflating slightly, Kara chewed her lip guiltily. “I didn’t mean to.”

“I know,” Alex sighed, brows furrowing as she considered her next words carefully. “But Kara, Mon-El’s not the same guy he was. When his time here is over, he’ll leave again because he has his own mission to finish in life. And you’re not the same Kara anymore. I know a part of you wants to fall back into those roles, but you aren’t the same people. You need to stop holding onto the past and realize you have a future – a good future – if you want it. You’ve been pushing (Y/N) away because you can’t let go of him.”

“Oh Rao,” Kara whispered, heart pounding in her chest as she recognized the truth in Alex’s words.

Alex watched the emotions flash across Kara’s features before settling on determination.

“I need –”

“I’ll tell the other agents to stay out of the training room,” Alex offered, shoving Kara playfully. “Go talk to your soulmate.”

With a firm – albeit anxious – nod, Kara strolled after you.

-X-

Sweat dripped from your hair as you pounded on the punching bag. You had no idea how long you’d been in there but the thought of leaving and running into Mon-El kept you stuck. People had been coming and going but no one approached you, fearful of the glint in your eyes.

So when the door opened, you paid it little mind. Your fists slammed into the bag, the throbbing barely noticeable as your thoughts raced.

A gentle hand caught your wrist inches from the padding, startling you away from the rabbit hole you were tumbling down. You blinked, almost unable to process the soft flesh pressing into yours, steely digits anchoring you to earth.

Kara tugged on your wrist carefully and you slowly twisted, staring into ocean eyes that seemed miles deep.

“Hey.” The simple greeting was so quiet you almost couldn’t hear her, apprehension dripping from it.

“Hi,” you replied cautiously, eyeing the nervous Kryptonian. “Everything okay?”

Kara’s heavy sigh was worrying, the blue of her irises cloudy as she studied your wary expression. “Not really. Alex pointed something out and she’s right. I…” she swallowed anxiously. “I haven’t been fair to you.”

You were stunned by the admission, bewildered and slightly distrusting. “Oh?”

“The entire time we’ve been sorting through this whole soulmate thing, you’ve been great but I’ve been pushing you away. Maybe because I was scared or because of Mon-El –” you flinched at his name and she flushed shamefully. “– and you didn’t deserve that. I loved him, but we aren’t the same people anymore. I loved who he was but he’s not that guy anymore. He’s moved on and I need to too. And I want to do that with you.”

Her words hung between you as silence enveloped the room, her eyes flickering between yours as you tried to understand what the hell was happening.

“I…um…” you wanted to say so much but your mouth refused to cooperate.

“I…I want to be happy with you. Now and in the future,” Kara whispered, praying she wasn’t too late to really try.

Your brows nearly touched as you considered everything she’d said. Despite all the stuff leading up to this moment, your feelings for Kara had never faltered. It was likely they never would, but this was different. She was choosing you.

“Okay,” you finally answered, a timid – but genuine – smile stretching across your cheeks. “Okay.”

Kara’s hand traveled from your hand to your cheek, glancing at your lips questioningly. You leaned forward, your mouth burning away any doubt as it met hers. You’d shared pecks in the past but this?

This was real.

Chapter Text

She was playing with proverbial – and maybe literal, if this didn’t go the way she planned – fire and she knew it. Your wild, unpredictable temper was the discussion of many safety meetings within SHIELD and she was planning to fan that flame, to see how high it could rise before becoming an inferno.

If this went the way she hoped – wanted – tonight was going to be a good night.

And she couldn’t wait.

Wanda knew she needed to start off small. Alerting you too soon would only end in disaster, so she simply snagged the last of the coffee Tony had left, downing it before you could protest. Eyes narrowing slightly, you grumbled, frustrated by your girlfriend’s strange antics. She didn’t even like coffee!

But you didn’t say anything directly about the behavior, choosing to trudge over to where she was leaning near the coffee maker. She grinned cutely, pressing a kiss to your cheek as she flitted out of the kitchen, leaving you alone as you petulantly began to make another pot. Her lower stomach knotted with anticipation as she caught a few stray thoughts.

This was going to be too easy.

Her second “fanning” was during training. Normally Natasha filled the role of sparring partner, having decided early on that you weren’t a reliable trainer. She said you were “too distracted” but you argued that you were merely watching Wanda’s form, blatantly ignoring the fact your eyes had been caught lingering at her ass.

(One snide comment later, peppered with a disbelieving eye roll, and it was decided Natasha would handle Wanda’s training.)

But instead of working with Natasha, Wanda was bouncing around the ring and trading blows with Vision, occasionally taunting him as she dodged his attacks. Despite pretending to focus on the android, she was aware of your heated gaze trained on her lithe form, your nails probably digging into your palms as you watched the show she was putting on for you.

You weren’t fond of Vision. The way he looked at her drove you mad. Not because you didn’t trust her but because you didn’t trust him. Him and his lack of fucking boundaries. If it hadn’t been for you threatening to fry him from the inside out after he nearly walked in on something private – again – he probably still wouldn’t use the damn door.

He said something that made Wanda giggle and you clenched your jaw, the tips of your fingers growing hot.

“Easy, hot head,” Natasha teased as she settled a few feet away, keeping her distance in case you went up in flames.

Growling, you cut your eyes at the smirking Widow. “Bite me, Romanoff.”

Her teeth clicked playfully as she nipped at the air. “Don’t you have a girlfriend for that?”

You slowly began to relax, tossing your middle finger up as your attention drifted between the ring and the former assassin. Wanda clearly thought you were unaware of her tricks – her faint, smug smirk evidence of that – but you weren’t stupid. She was obviously vying for attention, trying to goad you into acting.

But if she wanted a reaction, you’d give her one.

-X-

Remaining steadfast and calm for the majority of the day, you planned accordingly. Tony was throwing a little party, mostly for the team and some of the SHIELD agents milling around the Compound, so you were keeping your cool until an opportunity presented itself for revenge. You loved your girlfriend more than life but her bratty behavior would have consequences.

Dressed casual, but appropriately, you strolled confidently into the party, searching for a flash of your girlfriend. You spotted Natasha (who she had spent the afternoon getting ready with) but no Wanda. Frowning slightly, you wandered over to the bar and ordered a drink, accepting it with a nod of thanks when the bartender offered it to you.

Sipping the drink, you glanced around…

And nearly choked.

Wanda was sauntering towards you, her face an expression of innocence despite the mischievous glint housed in her green irises. Her black dress clung to her in ways you couldn’t quite comprehend, hungry eyes drinking her in with every step.

“You look nice, malysh,” Wanda complimented as she stopped in front of you, head tilting slightly as she studied you.

“So do you,” you murmured, tugging her closer and pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Is this new?”

“Natasha let me borrow it.” Wanda’s hand ghosted over your hip, digits digging in slightly.

Humming thoughtfully, you took another sip from your glass. “Well, it looks good on you.”

It wasn’t long before you were both swept away from the bar and into conversations neither of you really cared about. Listening to new agents try and impress you with stories that truly weren’t memorable, dodging flirtier comments from a few of the agents who still couldn’t take a hint. As if you’d leave your girlfriend for them.

When you found Daisy, though, your interest became genuine. You enjoyed the company of Coulson’s team. They were an eclectic bunch and you sincerely liked them, even if they were terribly impulsive sometimes.

(Then again, so was your team.)

That’s how you ended up in a booth-style table away from the crowd, Daisy on one side and you tucked into the other, chatting about her latest missions and catching up on life.

“So, I told this asshole that –”

A soft cough cut off Daisy’s spirited retelling of her newest task and you both peered up at Wanda.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cut you off,” she apologized, glancing between you. “I was hoping I could join you?”

“Of course!” Daisy grinned. “Did everybody else finally get on your nerves?”

Wanda laughed, carefully settling into the booth beside you. “Something like that.”

Her statement was innocuous but her demeanor as she began talking with Daisy set you on edge. Maybe it was the way she was shifting slightly, a pleased smile tugging at her lips, or maybe it was the fingers dropping panties into your hand under the table…

Wait, what?

Your hand immediately engulfed the wet garment, eyes never leaving Daisy despite wanting to look at Wanda. She was intently listening to Daisy’s tale but you could tell she was proud of herself.

“I think I’m going to get another drink,” Daisy announced as her story finally ended. “Do either of you need anything?”

You declined silently, waiting for Daisy to disappear into the crowd of agents before staring at your girlfriend.

“What?” Wanda asked sweetly, peeking at you coyly.

A smirk spread across your face and you chuckled darkly, tucking the panties away. “You’ve been a bad girl all day. The coffee, Vision, this,” your eyes narrowed fractionally, “don’t you know it’s dangerous playing with fire, baby?”

Swallowing dryly, Wanda nearly whimpered as your hand fell to her thigh and tugged slightly. She obediently widened her legs, holding her breath as you skimmed over the dampness coating the inside of her thighs, inches from touching where she wanted you. Blood rushed to her cheeks at the heat in your gaze, half of her hoping you’d take pity on her while the other half soaked up the teasing like it was the sun and she was a flower.

You leaned in, lips barely brushing her lobe. “You’re going to be a good girl for me for the rest of the night or you won’t come. Do I make myself clear?” you purred lowly.

Wanda gasped, her hand falling atop your arm and squeezing once.

Yes.

You relaxed back into the booth, leaving your hand on her thigh as Daisy returned, fingers drifting higher and higher as the conversation began flowing freely. Wanda was more subdued, distracted by your wandering hand though she tried acting unfazed, pretending that the heat in her belly wasn’t threatening to boil her alive.

Your nails dragged across sensitive skin and she nearly moaned, muffling it with a halfhearted giggle. Was Daisy’s comment actually funny? She had no idea. And she truly didn’t care.

As the pad of your finger touched Wanda’s aching clit, you dragged Daisy’s attention away from your girlfriend and started discussing something Wanda couldn’t focus on. All she could feel was you, the abnormal warmth of your finger driving her wild as you teased. It was slowly circling her, not enough pressure to do anything but enough to keep her uncomfortably wet and make her want to beg.

When Daisy was thoroughly distracted, you dipped lower, sliding your digits through arousal while your thumb began manipulating Wanda’s engorged flesh. Firm strokes had Wanda wanting to grind into the feeling but she stayed unusually still, keeping her breathing calm as you leisurely tortured her.

Two fingers slipping inside forced her to bite her lip, turning her head so no one would notice the grip her teeth had on it. You seemed so unbothered by it, working your fingers heedlessly as you carried on your conversation.

Your pace was slow but the long drags were pushing Wanda closer to the edge with every movement, thumb moving in tandem with your thrusts. Feeling every single twitch and flex of your fingers was driving her to desperation as something hot coiled inside her.

You could feel Wanda tensing and nearly smirked.

“Hey, Daisy, would you mind getting me another drink?” you inquired sweetly, curling your fingers against the spot that almost always made Wanda want to cry out.

She nodded, accepting your glass and leaving you with a teetering-on-the-edge Wanda, completely oblivious to what was happening under the table.

Watching Wanda’s face, you rubbed and twisted in just the right way, tipping her into oblivion. Her eyes slammed closed and she let out a nearly audible whine, head falling back as you coaxed her through the rush, drawing it out but also helping her stay grounded.

As she slumped into the seat, you slowly took back your hand, squeezing her thigh soothingly as she calmed. She couldn’t stop the sated smile that pulled at her lips, opening her eyes to gaze over at you adoringly as her panting slowed.

You winked at her as Daisy approached, accepting the drink with a grin.

Maybe playing with fire wasn’t such a bad thing.

Chapter Text

Covers pulled over your head, wet with tears and snot, they helped block out the world as you wallowed in your misery. The ache in your chest was crippling but you couldn’t fight it, simply accepting the pain as it radiated through your body, threatening to steal the breath from your lungs as you suffered.

Everything hurt. Every memory, every phantom touch, past kisses whispering across your skin, words of passion and love in your ears. They taunted you, trying to swallow you whole and drag you into the sea of despair you were barely treading in.

You could remember the love in her eyes, her accented promises. There until she broke your heart, love lingering but not for you. An awful sight that left you gasping for the air she took with her as she walked away.

A broken whimper escaped your throat, echoing in the gaps of fabric.

Hating him was effortless. He, who wasn’t even flesh, merely an android playing human. But you couldn’t hate her – couldn’t even bring yourself to curse her. It’d be easier if you could, maybe able to banish the horrid feelings sliding through your veins instead of burning alive inside of them.

The sound of your door clicking open made you freeze, sobs caught on the tip of your tongue as nearly silent feet padded over to the bed. It dipped under the weight of a lithe body and for a moment your heart leapt with a futile hope you shouldn’t have. But as Natasha’s face replaced the one you longed for as she tugged the blanket away, it tapered off into anguish.

“You can’t do this to yourself,” she chided gently, combing her fingers through dirty locks as she gazed upon you.

Chuckling humorlessly, you tilted into the touch, accepting the comfort offered from the usually stoic former assassin. “What am I supposed to do?” you wondered earnestly, a wet noise bubbling forward. “She chose him when I didn’t even know it was a contest. She swore she loved me but crushed my heart the minute he decided she was enough for him.”

Natasha’s brows furrowed together, face twisted with sympathy and unbridled rage. She wanted to strangle Wanda, she really did. Stringing you along until she disappeared with Vision, deciding she needed “time” to figure things out, leaving you to cry alone. She’d considered Wanda a friend but seeing the aftermath of what she’d done, Natasha wasn’t sure she wouldn’t punch the witch if she saw her anytime soon.

It probably didn’t help that she had slightly more than friendly feelings for you. Seeing you so distraught was terrible and, while she’d never acted on those particular feelings, she wished she had. She could have saved you from such devastation because she would’ve never hurt you like this.

Leaning down, she softly pressed her lips to your forehead.

“It’s going to be okay. You’re going to be okay,” she promised, eyes glistening at the sorrow painting your beautiful features.

“I love her so much,” you choked, words nearly inaudible with grief. “But she still said goodbye.”

Tears trickled down your cheeks and Natasha hurriedly gathered you into her arms. She cooed as you sobbed into her chest, silently vowing to help fix the shattered pieces of your soul littered about. She’d never leave you.

And when you were okay – alive and happy – she’d tell you the truth.

No matter what.

Chapter Text

Blood dripped from the gash on your forehead, crimson smeared across your cheek, caked into the skin and leaving you feeling so gross. The burn in your arms kept you conscious and upright, shackles biting as you stood suspended in the middle of the warehouse.

The man pacing in front of you was smirking, clearly proud of his “catch”. He reeked of cheap cologne that made you want to gag – though his unearned arrogance was just as thick and nauseating. You could spot a bogus criminal “mastermind” from a mile away, his status obviously undeserved.

He’s probably some middle man playing king, you mused absently, wincing as you licked the split in your lip.

“Such a pretty bird,” he cooed, pausing inches from you, “Not so dangerous, are you?”

He reached out and cupped your painted cheek, yet the bloody spit landing on his face left him rearing back in disgust. He wiped it off slowly, clearly surprised by your audacity. You, who was somehow still cocky despite your precarious position.

Your toothy grin enraged him and he struck you harshly, stepping away before you could kick at him or retaliate.

“The weakest member of Gotham’s little girl gang seems to have spirit,” he sneered, eyes narrowing as he studied you. “It’ll be such a shame when I have to kill you.”

You shook your head, almost groaning at the pounding in your skull.

“Don’t do this,” you pleaded solemnly. “Just let me go and we can forget about this. Scout’s honor.”

Your captor snorted incredulously, basking in his men’s laughter. “Begging for your life? Pathetic. Aren’t you supposed to be stronger than that?” he mocked.

“I’m not begging for my life,” you replied quietly, gaze dark and pointed. “I’m begging for yours.”

Stunned, his jaw dipped low as he gaped at you. “Excuse me?”

Glancing over his shoulder and between the handful of men scattered about, you smirked knowingly.

“Took you long enough, baby,” you teased cheekily.

“Sorry, Cupcake, had to get the boys,” Harley’s voice was lilted and playful despite her thunderous expression, Bud and Lou lingering at her hips as she glared at your assailants.

The man and his hired help jerked around to face your pissed off girlfriend, skin ashen at the sight of her beloved pets and the bat barely touching the floor. Each of her precious predators looked ravenous, anxiously awaiting Harley’s signal.

Her blue eyes tracked over your battered face and you could see her lips pursing in disapproval.

You sighed.

Nothing could save them now.

Bud’s ominous laughter filled the warehouse and each man visibly shuddered in terror. Eyes rolling in amusement, you chuckled despite the situation. Their reactions were mistakes they’d never be capable of undoing.

If you saw them, she surely did too.

One man reached for his gun, hesitating a moment too long – and absolute hell broke loose.

Harley’s whistle was sharp and her movements fluid as she easily disabled two of the closest men, her prized weapon knocking them to the ground effortlessly while her “children” ripped into the others. You could hear their teeth sinking into flesh and you almost lost your stomach, looking away from the gruesome scene.

Only your captor remained, too horrified to attack and too scared to run, his legs trembling as he watched your lover destroy his people. Clearly he was no villainous architect.

As bodies dropped to the floor, you relaxed against the restraints, flinching at the blood drenching Bud and Lou’s muzzles as they trotted towards your captor. You were well-aware of their murderous tendencies but you’d only seen them being cuddly pets. You didn’t want to remember they were vicious beasts that could tear apart humans in seconds.

Harley smirked humorlessly as she advanced on the cowering leader, her bat mostly red as it slid over concrete.

“Aw, ya scared?” she taunted. “Pathetic.”

He scrambled backwards, knocking into you. Wincing as he jostled your bruised – possibly cracked – ribs, you noticed Harley’s darkening expression.

“No one fucks with my lady,” she announced, grabbing him by his shirt and jerking him away from you. “You expected the Birds but they ain’t got nothing on me.”

Mouth opening – whether in apology or explanation or rebuttal, you didn’t know – he was kept silent by Harley’s heavy swing, the wood smacking audibly against his temple. She gestured to the man and the boys lunged for his prone body, though she shielded you from the grisly sight.

“How ya feeling, sugar?” she asked worriedly, snagging the keys off a crate to undo your binds.

You grunted as your weight settled, rubbing the raw flesh on your wrist. “I’ve had better days,” you joked tiredly, leaning into Harley as she carefully embraced you.

“Well, let’s get ya checked out,” she suggested, leading you away from the motionless bodies.

Smiling, you nodded, cherishing Harley’s sickly sweet scent.

“C’mon, boys,” Harley called.

As you stepped into the night, the soft padding of paws trailing behind, you laughed. You never were too good at begging.

Oops.

Chapter Text

Perching on the edge of a chair, you anxiously glanced between the silent pirates, pleading for someone to break the tension threatening to choke you. Natasha was lounging comfortably in the seat across from you, Wanda settled on the armrest beside her, their expressions calm despite the emotions darkening Wanda’s eyes.

“You left,” Wanda finally spoke, brows twitching as she fought the urge to furrow them.

You slowly nodded, teeth digging into your lip for a moment. “I assumed you would want me to leave before you awoke. I apologize if I’ve upset you.”

“We asked you to stay,” Natasha pointed out unnecessarily, the corner of her mouth dropping fractionally, sending your stomach plummeting with it. “We wouldn’t have asked that if we wanted you gone.”

Shrugging awkwardly, you forced a contrite smile. “Then I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to anger either of you.”

“You didn’t anger us,” the redhead said, peering up at her unusually quiet girlfriend. “It just made us realize something that we wish to discuss with you.”

Your eyes flickered over to Wanda, watching the heavy fall of her chest as she exhaled.

“We don’t normally do this,” she admitted solemnly, gaze piercing as she studied you. “Chase women we’ve known less than a day but…”

“You’re special,” Natasha finished, her lips tugging upward slightly.

“Very,” Wanda agreed, eyes never leaving your tensed body. “And we don’t want last night to be a single experience.”

Lip snagged between sharp teeth, your eyebrows nearly touched as you stared in confusion. Were these gorgeous pirates implying what you thought they were? You had to be misreading the situation in some way. “Pardon?”

Annoyed by the lack of communication and understanding, Natasha jerked upright, authority radiating off her in waves. “We cannot stay in Port Royal but we wish to see you again. See if this could become something more. So we’ve come to make you an offer.”

“Join our crew,” Wanda proposed shyly, glancing at her lover to make sure she was still okay with the idea.

To say you were stunned would be the understatement of a lifetime. Become a pirate? That wasn’t an option…

…was it?

You had a life here (though you wouldn’t always classify it as such). You had a home along with friends and…and…was that really all that was holding you back? The few people you called friends? Was your life really so boring?

But more importantly, could you give this up – whatever shred of a life you had here – for two women you’d only just met?

Would you give that up for them?

“Even if you decide we aren’t what you want, you could still have an adventurous life. Explore the world, more coin than you’d ever need, women at your feet. ‘Tis a glamorous way to live,” Natasha tried bargaining, knowing fully that she’d hate the idea of you with someone other than them.

“We want to give this a chance, though. And that would be terribly hard if there’s oceans between us,” Wanda added hopefully.

You swallowed harshly and peered around your small home. Tony would likely keep up your house for you if you asked nicely. Besides, Natasha wasn’t wrong. This would be a once in a lifetime opportunity and oceans separating you from them sounded miserable at best.

“Okay,” you murmured, shaking your head in amusement. That one word had started this mess and now it’d either bring you eternal happiness or utter ruin.

“I…really?” Wanda balked, stunned by your easy acceptance. She’d anticipated having to plead and bribe – offer you the world – yet you were simply nodding along with a slight grin.

Exhaling nervously, you stood on shaking legs. “Yes. I just need to gather a few things?”

Noting Wanda’s wide eyes and dipped jaw, Natasha nodded slowly. “That’s fine, milaya. We can wait for you.”

“We’ll always wait for you,” Wanda whispered as you flitted away, her words so soft that you never heard them.

-X-

It didn’t take long to gather the most important belongings. A letter from your mother, a few valuable jewels and family trinkets you’d inherited when she’d passed, and a handful of other things you cherished. If your hands were unsteady, you’d never admit it.

You were stepping into an entirely new world; nerves were expected.

All of your things bundled into a knapsack, you steeled yourself and walked into your sitting room with a noticeably forced confidence. Maybe it would make everything less scary.

“Are you ready, malysh?” Wanda asked, the phrase innocent though it was dripping with deeper meaning.

Were you ready to leave behind this life? Leave behind your friends? Your town? Your safe haven?

Nod.

Wanda’s lips curled into a pleased smile and she hopped off the chair’s arm, boots thumping steadily across your floor as she stopped inches in front of you.

“I am very glad you’re joining us,” Wanda murmured, cupping your cheek with a gentleness you hadn’t expected. Her palm was warm and you couldn’t help nuzzling into it.

“As am I,” Natasha said, settling at Wanda’s side as she searched your face for any hesitation. Neither woman would force you into anything but she needed to be sure this was something you actually wanted.

A flash of courage had you leaning forward to briefly press a kiss to the corner of Wanda’s mouth, swiftly pressing another to the corner of Natasha’s before either could react.

“Me too,” you replied bashfully, a fierce blush heating your face until it felt like an inferno.

You hoped you hadn’t overstepped any boundaries, surprise painted over both pirates’ faces as they gaped at you. They didn’t seem upset but you were a new body in an already established relationship, surely there were things you’d mess up. You just prayed it wasn’t now.

Stern knocking on your door startled you from your embarrassment, brows bunched together in confusion.

“Expecting company, milaya?” Natasha asked, hand falling to the hilt of her sword instinctively.

Head tilting curiously, you stared at the vibrating wood in bewilderment as another – almost violent – bang rattled the door. “No.”

“(Y/N), open this door at once!” Rumlow’s voice was muffled but booming, his fury evident.

Following Natasha’s lead, Wanda’s hand dropped to her sword – the other touching your arm – as her girlfriend sauntered over to the door. If you didn’t know her (sort of), you’d be terrified.

She was a very imposing woman despite her fairly short stature.

Tossing the door open, she glared at Brock, clearly unimpressed. “Might I help you, sir?”

“I must speak with (Y/N), pirate,” he spat, trying to shoulder past Natasha, only to be shoved back with a strength he hadn’t anticipated.

“I think not,” Natasha snarled, yanking her sword from its sheathe. “If (Y/N) has not invited you in, then you will not come in. What is so important?”

Brock’s cheeks were flushed with rage, eyes narrowed. “My words with (Y/N) are none of your business, heathen, so why don’t you and your little boat of bitches depart while your ship still stands.”

Faster than he could comprehend, the tip of a dangerously sharp blade was digging into his throat, never quivering despite the anger pouring off Natasha in waves.

“You will not insult my crew – and your “words” with her are entirely my business since she is now one of them,” Natasha responded, smirking triumphantly at his bemused expression.

“Liar!” he hissed, wincing as her blade pressed deeper into his skin.

You wandered over to them, Wanda mere centimeters behind you. Your fingers touched the dip of Natasha’s back and she relaxed slightly, relishing in Rumlow’s darkening eyes as he watched the interaction, both fuming and jealous at the easy affection.

“She isn’t, actually,” you hummed, leaning into Wanda as she positioned her chest to your back. “They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, Brock.”

“You’re running off with these whores?” he demanded.

Bristling, you met his furious gaze with one of your own. “They are not whores but yes, I am.”

“No! Absolutely not. I refuse to let you leave. You are meant to become my wife,” he argued, ignoring Natasha’s scoff of disgust at his audacity.

“I never wanted to sit around and only be someone’s wife. Especially not yours so none of this has anything to do with you. I’ve told you for years I want nothing to do with you yet you continue to push. Get it through your skull, sir, that you have no say over anything here so you should leave. Because I am. And there’s nothing you can do about that!” You’d never yelled at him before – even though you’d considered it many times – and it truly felt good.

You heard Wanda’s sword being drawn slowly from its sheathe and silently begged Brock to leave. Not because you cared about his wellbeing but because you desperately didn’t want to clean his blood off your floor.

“I believe you heard (Y/N),” Wanda growled as he remained steadfast despite the blood oozing from his abused throat. “Leave.”

Brock casted you another infuriated glance before stumbling backwards, his hand immediately going to the wound as he stormed away.

The moment he left your sight, Natasha’s body went slack and she tucked away her sword. She peeked over her shoulder at you, smiling faintly.

“Let’s get out of here. We have a few things to do before we leave.”

Knapsack clenched tightly in hand, you nodded.

Chapter Text

Leaning against a tree in the middle of National City, you disinterestedly watched the people wander by as you picked at your nails. Onyx wings laid heavy against your spine, the tips brushing the grass whenever you shifted. Cloaked by your abilities, the people of this plane couldn’t see you unless you wanted them to, so you worried little about the obvious abnormality.

Hell, even if they could see them, you probably wouldn’t care enough to hide them.

You were a demon. What could they really do?

As your target approached, you tilted your head and smirked. She was cute enough. Blonde hair, a modest, borderline dorky outfit clinging shapelessly to her physique, and an awkward gait like she was awkward in her own skin.

“Huh,” you mumbled, pushing off the trunk and slowly following after her.

A part of you couldn’t help wondering why this particular woman had a contract on her life. She didn’t seem like much of a threat, especially not to the balance. She was simply…

Human.

The annoying chirping of her phone filtered through your ears and your smirk deepened. Humans were so easily distracted by those devices glued to their hands, presenting you with the perfect opportunity to strike.

Damn I love easy jobs.

She swiped the screen, immediately bringing it to her ear. “Hi, Miss Grant! Yes, I’m –”

Ignoring the conversation, you waited. The sidewalk was full of pedestrians but you only had eyes for the woman (Kate? Kara?) ahead of you. Timing was everything, after all. Strike too soon or too late and you’d have to wait for another chance.

And you definitely didn’t want that.

Coming upon a crosswalk, you inched closer to your prey, only a few steps behind.

Wait for it.

The moment she was nearing the middle, a slight gap opened and your eyes went red. With a flick of your hand, a gust of wind slapped into Kara, knocking the phone from her grasp and sending her careening into oncoming traffic. Her steps were staggered as she tried to regain her footing but she couldn’t save herself.

You crossed your arms triumphantly.

Easy.

Your smirk fell as a pale hand snatched your victory from you, jerking Kara away from a speeding taxi that surely would’ve completed your assignment. Snapping your head around, you caught sight of a recognizable white glow, sickening and bright.

You sneered, catching sight of pallid feathers and dark hair as Kara’s savior righted her.

Of course.

Kara couldn’t see what saved her, but you could. You were far too familiar with the angel smiling comfortingly at the blonde. Capable of offering solace and reassurance with just a look, the angel was calming the flushed woman without having to say a word.

She reminded Kara to grab her damaged phone before sending her into the crowd, though you opted not to follow. You had bigger things to deal with at the moment.

“Lena,” you greeted darkly, gaining the angel’s attention. “Of course they sent you to protect that cretin.”

Deep green eyes locked with yours, red lips curling into a mocking smile. “(Y/N), lovely to see you.”

“Save the pleasantries.” You stormed over to her, narrowing your gaze. Humans walked around you, an invisible force compelling them to keep their distance. “I’ve got a contract on the human. She has to go. Boss’s orders.”

Lena’s smile dipped. “I can’t let you do that. Mine has big plans for her and I’m not to let anything happen to her. She must reach her potential.”

Nose inches from hers, you snarled, “I don’t care. She’s mine. I won’t lose again. Not to you.”

She glanced at the ugly scar marring your neck and guilt flooded her eyes, the sight reminding her why you felt such disdain. The last time you’d met, she’d protected your target until it was too late, leaving you with the fallout of your failures. It wasn’t the only mark left but it was the most visible. All the others were hidden by your dark attire, away from her prying gaze, yet she knew they were there.

“(Y/N),” she murmured, the green of her irises going soft and flooding your stomach with something uncomfortable and fluttery. “She’s important. To the angels. To them. To the world. I can’t let you kill her.”

Chuckling lowly, you stepped back. If you didn’t put some space between you, there was a good chance you’d do something stupid. She was good at making you do stupid things. “What’s so special about that one?”

Lena hummed noncommittally. “Does it really matter?”

“Yes!”

She shook her head. Telling you would be against the rules and you both knew it, but she considered it briefly. When she’d first taken on the mantle of guardian and you’d become a hunter, you had often crossed paths. It wasn’t uncommon for angels and demons to feud, but you’d actually formed a playful rivalry, teasing each other whenever you were assigned the same person.

Then it happened. And nothing had ever been the same.

That tentative friendship was stripped away, your affectionate words now icy with hatred. Your scar was a reminder of your failure, but it was something more. Something worse.

It was a reminder of your loss.

“You can’t interfere with this one,” Lena begged. “Please.”

Wincing at her pleading tone, you looked away. “We both know I can’t do that. It’s bad if I lose. It’ll be worse if I don’t try.”

Lena’s wings fluttered, expression sorrowful as you absently reached up to your neck, fingers dragging briefly over the raised skin. She wanted to reach out – to touch you, hug you, something – but it would only cause you both more pain.

“If she’s so important, keep an eye on her,” you advised seriously, staring intently into the traffic rumbling by. “I highly doubt I’m the only one with this assignment. They’ve made it very clear she cannot do whatever she’s supposed to do.”

Her brows furrowed thoughtfully, curious but wary. She believed you – still trusted you, in spite of everything – but why would you willingly offer that information?

“(Y/N) –”

“I hope this one’s worth it.” You spared her a single peek, a miserable smile tugging at the corner of your lips. “Stay safe, Lee.”

And, in a flash of fire, you were gone.

Chapter Text

Slender fingers dug into the comforter as Natasha waited, impatiently glancing at the clock on the rented room’s bedside table. She’d been sitting here for nearly an hour, frustrated but unwilling to leave – be it pride or need, she couldn’t tell.

It felt wrong, meeting like this. Far too dangerous, threatening to unravel all of the work she’d put into clearing the red in her ledger yet she couldn’t find the strength it’d take to stop. She’d always considered herself powerful – a force to be reckoned with – but ending these trysts wasn’t something she could do, despite the anvil of guilt and trouble dangling above her head.

The soft thump of a card swiping over the locked handle stole Natasha’s breath, scratchy fabric twisted in her grip.

“You’re late,” she hissed as you slipped into the room, the dim light of the hall barely illuminating your form before the room was plunged into darkness once again.

“Apologies,” you chuckled blithely, your gaze smoldering even from the shadows. “Had to ditch a few of your friends.”

Natasha rose, meeting you in the middle of the room. Your hands cupped her pale cheeks, thumb stroking along her bottom lip, eyes flickering over silhouetted features you’d memorized long ago. Long before these forbidden moments began.

“Are you okay?” she murmured, digits probing as she gauged your reactions.

Smiling amusedly, you pressed your lips to her forehead. “Careful, Tasha. People might start to think you are concerned about me.”

She scowled, shoving you away petulantly before strolling over to the window. “God, you’re such an asshole, (Y/N).”

Chasing after the displeased Russian, you caught her wrists and spun her around, a placating smile scarcely visible in what little moonlight the blinds allowed. You could tell she was annoyed – but what bothered you was the hurt staring back at you.

“I’m sorry,” you replied earnestly, letting a hand drift up her arm. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I am concerned about you,” she admitted quietly, letting you wrap your arms around her and burying herself in the comfort you – unfairly – offered. “You’re…I…”

Kissing her temple, you hummed. “I know.”

She tugged back and grabbed your face roughly, dragging you into a rough kiss that made your toes curl as her tongue pressed between your lips. It tangled with yours, stealing your moans while you gripped Natasha’s hips almost painfully tight. Even as fit as she was, she was still undeniably soft and you desperately wanted her beneath you.

Twisting around, you began walking her backwards towards the bed, lips never separating even as she dropped onto the mattress. Her head was bracketed between your arms, your hips flush with hers and grinding together slowly as you let her feel the surprise you’d brought along. One slightly harsher thrust had you swallowing Natasha’s whine, lips tugging upward smugly as you trailed kisses along the plane of her neck.

“Aw, how cute,” you purred, nipping at her throat and earning a stuttered jerk of her hips. “We’ve barely begun and you’re already so wanting. Who’d have ever thought the great Black Widow would be so needy?”

Your mouth latched onto her pulse point, teeth sharp and determined as you worked a mark into her skin. Her groan, a mix of pleasure and pain, sent shivers down your spine and the feeling of her nails against your scalp was maddening, pushing you onward.

“(Y/N),” she breathed, pliant and willing under you.

With a final bite, you leaned back and smirked at her little noise of protest. It was intoxicating seeing Natasha like this; to have her at your mercy. “What do you want, printsessa?”

Her fingers flexed in your hair, pulling slightly as she brought your mouth down to hers. “Fuck me.”

Your lips barely brushed over hers, tongue teasingly passing across her upper lip, before you righted yourself for a second, stripping off your shirt and tossing it aside. She followed, arching just enough to let you work the tight material over her head before it joined yours on the floor.

The moment she was partially bare, teeth and tongue mapped over prominent collarbones and down the valley of her torso as your hips met hers once again. She’d forgone a bra – since you were known to destroy them should you be so inclined – and her pebbled flesh ached for attention. Engulfing one between your lips while your fingers plucked at the other, you rolled your tongue around the warm skin.

She was a flushed mess, moaning as she tried to gain friction against the clothed strap pressing in between her thighs. Your hot mouth and the pointed tugs of your fingers had left a boiling feeling in the pit of her belly, threatening to consume her.

“Stop teasing,” Natasha demanded, her growl slipping into a whine as you stopped all ministrations, strap just out of reach as you lifted yourself up slightly.

“Excuse me?” your brow arched expectantly, a tsk of disapproval earning wide eyes from the assassin.

“I…” glassy green peered up at you pleadingly. “I need you.”

A taunting smirk settled on your face and you met her eyes. “Say it. Beg.”

Natasha’s expression shifted defiantly, tugging at your roots. “No. I won’t beg for anyone.”

“C’mon, baby,” you chuckled darkly as your mouth brushed her earlobe. “Do it. Do it and I’ll give you everything you want.”

Hips rocking unexpectedly into hers, she whined. “Fuck, okay. Please, (Y/N).”

You shook your head. “You can do better than that, Tasha. Make me believe it.”

“I –” a firm thrust made her eyes roll and jaw dip open. “God, please. Please fuck me. Make me yours. Do something. Я сделаю что угодно, просто трахни меня, пожалуйста. я хочу чувствовать тебя несколько дней.”

Grinning triumphantly at the string of Russian, you abruptly stood, ignoring her objections as you worked your pants off before nearly ripping hers off. You didn’t even pay attention to her panties, banishing them from your prize the moment they were in view.

She crawled up the bed and you stalked after Natasha, pinning her with a single hand to the chest. You both knew she could easily fight you off, but she wouldn’t.

“Such a pretty printsessa,” you murmured, opening her legs with your free hand before settling between them. “I can’t wait to make a mess of you.”

Sliding nimble digits upward, your fingers danced over the slick painting her thighs. Bringing them up to your mouth, you sucked off the arousal and winked, moaning lavishly. Dropping low you kissed Natasha intensely, her taste evident as you guided your strap inside, the combination of her taste and the sudden sensation forcing a heady moan from deep within Natasha’s chest.

Muscular legs encircled your waist, pulling you in until you were fully sheathed inside. The fullness left her breathless, pieces of Russian escaping. Slowly finding a rhythm, you nibbled along Natasha’s jaw before reaching her ear.

“God, you feel so good. Such a good girl, taking me in like this,” you cooed.

Her cries of pleasure spurred you on, thrusts gaining speed as you fucked her into the mattress. The headboard began knocking against the wall, but you didn’t care in the slightest, attention fully on the woman beneath you.

Nails dug into your bare shoulders and you grunted, the burn pleasurable in a way you couldn’t explain. Catching her mouth with yours, you cherished the sounds escaping. She was a drug – heavy and enthralling, compulsively keeping you trapped – but you never wanted to give her up. She was going to change your whole life.

Long, deep strokes were pushing her closer to the edge, thin lines nearly bringing blood to the surface as you kept pace. Steadying yourself with one arm, your hand ventured downward. Her clit was swollen and throbbing, your thumb nearly missing as you adjusted to the amount of slickness. Finding purchase, you circled it gently, leaning back to watch Natasha’s face. Eyes clamped closed and red hair wild, she looked properly debauched.

Your soft touch was nothing more than a tease and Natasha arched into it, silently begging for more. She needed more – and you both knew that.

“Be good for me and cum. Let everyone in this shitty motel know what I do to you,” you growled, thumb suddenly as firm as steel and eyes dark with lust.

Her heavenly moans filled the room as two quick thrusts tossed her over the edge, her legs keeping you flush against her as she arched and bucked into wildfire spreading through her veins. Her forehead met yours and you smiled, basking in her panting breaths, prolonging the moment for as long as possible.

Body going slack beneath you, you carefully slipped out and landed on the mattress beside her. The room was silent aside from your breathing, hand stroking across Natasha’s trembling stomach. It was slick with perspiration, a feat you took satisfaction in.

When she regained function of her limbs, Natasha shakily cuddled into your side, sighing as you combed your fingers through her sweaty locks. Even in the dimness of the room you knew her eyes were tracing along your features.

“I wish things could always be like this,” she admitted quietly, briefly touching her lips to yours.

“What do you mean?”

She laughed humorlessly, lifting a hand to run her fingers over your cheek. “No fighting. No opposite sides. No governments hunting you – hunting us.”

You paused for a moment. It used to be like that, both of you training under the Red Room, sneaking around to find solace in each other. But then she’d defected to the Americans and left you here. Here, where you weren’t happy especially without her.

“What if it could be?” you wondered, nearly stunned by your own question.

She shifted slightly, leaning up so she could look you in the eye. “What do you mean?”

Locked in on the green you adored, you swallowed dryly. “What if I gave this up?”

“What?”

“…what if I came home with you?”

Chapter Text

You’d taken a day to recuperate and plan after your run-in with Lena, shaken by her sudden appearance. Having anticipated time, you’d hoped to not see her for at least a century but here she was mere months after it with her perfect hair and overly white wings glistening in the mortals’ sunlight, her smile bringing back painful memories.

Had Kara’s guardian been anyone else – maybe Querl or Barry – you would’ve immediately hunted her down to finish off the job but this was Lena’s charge.

And even if you refused to acknowledge it, that settled heavily upon you.

Finding her again was easy. The human seemed to take the same path to work every day but now you knew better. This wasn’t going to be simple. So instead you followed her to a towering building and up to some woman’s office, biding your time until another opportunity arose.

How is this pathetic human so important, you wondered, watching her flit about the office from your spot against the wall, when she’s just this woman’s assistant?!

Hidden, you hummed to yourself as you studied the spacious, undeniably expensive workplace. The mostly white interior was blinding, vaguely reminding you of heaven. You shuddered at the thought, glancing out the front windows into the rest of the bullpen. You’d never stepped foot inside heaven but the white outfits and wings on every fucking angel was a clear indicator that someone really liked white.

You rolled your eyes as the older blonde – C. Grant, you vaguely remembered – scolded Kara for the fourth time in thirty minutes.

Honestly, killing this girl might be a blessing at this point, you snickered though a flash of white caught your attention away from the blondes and you squinted curiously. It lingered behind a young woman sitting at a desk, her fingers flying along a keyboard.

Focusing on the source, you nearly growled. So there’s Querl.

Disbelieving, you fought back the urge to wander over to him. He’d alert Lena of your presence and you couldn’t let that happen. Again.

Why is Heaven’s best protecting two women in the same office?!

Lena and Querl were two of the most respected guardians, only half a step below an archangel. If they were working so close – or even together – something big was about to happen. You’d taken this contract as a way to make up for past mistakes but clearly you should’ve inquired a bit more before accepting it.

“Yes, Ms. Grant, right away!” Kara’s words broke through your haze of thoughts as she practically dashed out of the room and over to the elevators.

Following leisurely after her, you watched the doors of the metal contraption slide closed. Pursing your lips thoughtfully, you phased through. Thick cables slowly descended the elevator down to the bottom floor, the human’s voice muffled by the machine she entrusted with her life.

“Silly, silly girl,” you mumbled, fishing a dagger from your pocket as you extended your wings. “Far too trusting of man’s technology.”

You hovered in front of the main pulley and dug the blade into the cable, watching it almost immediately begin to smoke and spark as your dagger broke apart the wires like it were made of butter. Disinterestedly, you noticed the elevator a few floors below shudder, obviously trying to fight against your ministrations.

A flash of white filled the space as your blade sliced through the final cord, sending the elevator plummeting downward. However, you couldn’t enjoy the chaos, caught off guard by a burst of energy burning into your shoulder.

“Fuck!” you screamed, smacking the smoldering area while flying after your attacker, seething at the audacity of your…

Her.

Lena was chasing the falling box, determination written across her features as she tried to seize the flailing cables. She wasn’t going to let this woman die. She was far too important to the world; she couldn’t go out in such a terrible, gruesome way.

There was still so much to do.

You grabbed Lena’s ankle as she caught the sturdiest cable, bringing the elevator to a halt seconds before it could smash into the ground. Growling furiously, you ripped Lena upward and tossed her away from the abused car, hatred in your eyes as the doors to the elevator cracked open enough for a terrified Kara to escape.

“You just have to keep fucking everything up, don’t you?” you hissed, glaring over your shoulder at the angel hovering a few feet away.

“I told you she was special,” Lena said, eyeing you warily. “She cannot die before her destiny is complete. The world needs her.”

Lunging at her, you screamed, “I don’t give a fuck about the world!” Hand tight around her throat, you ignored the burning in your palm as you sneered, faces inches apart. “This place means nothing to me.”

“Once upon a time it did,” she reminded you, slender fingers encircling your wrist as she tried to escape your grasp. “You once questioned if humans were savable.”

Chuckling darkly, you yanked down the neck of your robes, exposing some of the marks you tried so desperately to hide. “And look at what that got me!”

Emerald flickered across marred skin, eyes glassy as she took note of the raised flesh, an ugly token of your choices. She hated the sight of them; hated the guilt they brought forth.

“(Y/N)…”

“I let you get in my head,” you snarled, gaze cold and unwavering. “I listened to your ‘humans aren’t so bad’ bullshit and all I got was the punishment of a millennium. So no, I really don’t care about this place anymore. Why should I?”

“I’m sorry,” Lena whispered sincerely. “I never wanted you to get hurt.”

Shaking your head, you shoved Lena away and peered back down at the elevator, watching the humans try to figure out what had caused the near-tragedy.

“They thought I let you win,” you murmured, briefly touching the mark that had just barely healed on your chest. “That our friendship had given your ward an unfair advantage. They said I was weak for letting some angel get into my head. For letting you play with me like that.”

“You really think I was playing you? That our friendship was nothing but a ploy?” Lena demanded, visibly hurt that accusation.

Shrugging, you glanced at her. “Weren’t you, though? It’s your mission to keep these cretins alive. Why wouldn’t you do whatever it takes to make sure that happens? Either way, it doesn’t matter. This contract is meant to be my redemption. Losing to you is a death sentence for me.”

Lena balked, jaw gapping in disbelief. “They’ll kill you if she lives?”

“Or worse.” You nodded, sighing heavily.

Stunned, Lena didn’t know what to say. It was her duty as a guardian to protect Kara, but the thought of you no longer existing made her ill. Caring about a demon was dangerous but you’d so easily wormed your way into her heart.

What do I do?

You shook your head, straightening your spine. “Now you understand why I can’t let this go, Lee. I can’t let you win this time.”

A burst of fire engulfed you abruptly, leaving only Lena behind in the shaft. She was mulling over your words, unsure for the first time in her guardianship.

Wait, let me win this time?

-X-

Appearing in a flash on top of an apartment complex in National City, you staggered over to the edge and settled against it, exhaustion deep in your bones. It was clearly a mistake taking this contract. You should’ve never agreed to it and now, eyes closed and chest aching, you were beginning to realize that.

“Well, well, look who I found,” a deep voice taunted, startling you from your thoughts.

Eyes flying open, you studied the dark-clothed man smirking at you, arms crossed and an evil glint in his stare.

“Oh…”

Fuck.

Chapter Text

Hips rolled languidly, guided by steady hands as your eyes never strayed from the flickering screen. Tiny whimpers and soft gasps shook the woman on your lap – her back pressed against your chest, an arm tossed around your neck – but you remained impassive, expression kept neutral despite the smirk threatening to break across your lips. You had to remind yourself that this was her punishment for being such a brat.

Otherwise you’d say “fuck it” and throw her headfirst into the orgasm you’d been denying her for over an hour now.

“(Y/N),” Wanda whined, desperately trying to gain some of the friction you’d been denying her. “Please.”

Clicking your tongue disapprovingly, you rocked upward, savoring the approving moan that seemed to echo in the darkened room. “You don’t get to beg, my love. You’ve been a brat all week and brats don’t get to come whenever they want.”

“I’m sorry,” she pleaded, words breathless as a hand ventured under the blanket covering your laps (it was dangerous enough doing this in the common area, you weren’t going to risk someone ruining this by seeing something they shouldn’t). “But we haven’t touched like this in a week and I need you. Nothing makes me feel like you do.”

You weren’t a fan of justification but she wasn’t wrong. Between training and paperwork, neither of you had shared more than a kiss in the last week – which almost never happened. There hadn’t even been time for a quickie to sate some of that hunger.

Dropping a kiss to her clothed shoulder, nimble fingers circled her throbbing clit teasingly. “Is that so?”

“Y-yes, I – oh God – I’ll be your good girl but I need you to make me come, malysh, please?” Her needy, slightly accented words sent a bolt of fire into the pit of your belly, the urge to fuck her overwhelming everything else.

Inhaling sharply through your nose, you growled, “Turn around.”

You could say with full certainty you’d never seen Wanda move so fast outside of a mission before. Kicking off the tangled blanket, she scrambled around to straddle your waist, arms locking tight around your neck as wide, lust-darkened eyes met yours.

Gripping her waist roughly, you helped her sink fully onto your strap, her appreciative cry nearly deafening as she took in its length. Her forehead touched yours, breath fanning across your lips as she relished in the fullness for a moment.

You rolled your hips pointedly. “You said you were going to be a good girl, so work for it, kitten.”

Whining, Wanda followed your command without hesitation, barely rising up before dropping down. The sensation was devastatingly powerful but she wanted more.

As she found her pace, one hand drifted upward, over her clenching stomach and through the valley between her heaving breasts before wrapping tenderly around her throat. Her gasp was audible, eyes falling closed instinctively as you dragged her into a kiss that set her ablaze, bottom lip trapped as you slowly leaned backwards.

Letting it go with a pop, you smirked mockingly, brow arched. “C’mon, kitten, I know you can do better. I thought you wanted to come?”

She nodded the best she could around your hold. “I do!”

Your fingers flexed. “Then prove it.”

The arms around your neck tensed as she began chasing her high, worried you’d stop all together if she didn’t try. Every bounce was met with a steady thrust, eyes rolling back in pleasure whenever your grip tightened around her neck. With each movement the couch creaked but neither of you cared; if it broke, you’d just buy Tony a new one. You were too fixated on watching Wanda, the way her jaw dipped whenever your strap brushed across that special, mind-blowing spot or the way her hips canted when the base rubbed her clit.

“Fuck,” she gasped, feeling the familiar coil beginning to burn and twist deep within. “I’m –”

“You gonna come for me, kitten?” you cooed, the hand on her hip slipping down between her legs, thumb casually finding her slick, swollen clit.

Her desperate cry made your ears ring.

Stars erupted behind Wanda’s eyelids as you pressed firmly on her aching clit, grinding down on the strap. Euphoria was so close…

A careful tug brought Wanda’s mouth inches from yours.

“C’mon, kitten, come for daddy,” you murmured, crashing your lips into hers.

No longer tipping over the edge, Wanda crashed. Maybe it was the husky words or maybe it was the permission. She didn’t know and she honestly didn’t care. All that mattered was the heat enveloping her, hips stuttering as wave after wave of bliss washed over her.

As she calmed, your hand released her throat, gentle digits stroking the expansion of skin soothingly as she relaxed into you, head falling to your shoulder. Mind fuzzy and body pliant, she smiled happily at the muffled praise you offered, snuggling deeper into you.

“Such a good girl. My good girl.”

Chapter Text

Watching the humans tend to her ward, Lena absently nibbled on her thumb as she stared at the trembling blonde accepting medical treatment. This woman – Kara – was important. Very important, her bosses had stressed, yet she couldn’t help but resent her slightly. If it wasn’t for her, your impending death wouldn’t be hanging over her head like an anvil waiting to drop. If she didn’t die, you would. She was meant to save the world but if you were gone, Lena’s would crumble.

Her training demanded she let you die – to put humanity first – but the nasty feeling twisting about her belly left her questioning everything.

This was all for the greater good…

But could she really sacrifice you?

You, who had apparently let her win? Who had shouldered a punishment no one deserved? Who had warned her in spite of everything?

Tears pricked the corners of Lena’s eyes as your smile overtook her thoughts. How the color of your irises sparkled in the light whenever she told a joke or playfully scolded you for your crass behaviors. The way your laughter echoed in her ears despite having not heard it in so long. How your fingers flexed when you wanted to reach out and touch something desperately, even when you knew you shouldn’t.

Could she go through the rest of eternity without those things? Could she live without you, knowing she could’ve saved you?

She hated the finality of it. Knowing your bosses would have no problems ending your existence, stripping away everything that made you you until you were nothing, merely a soul cast out amongst the others.

Gone. Forever.

“Kara, are you alright?” a collected – albeit slightly concerned – Cat Grant inquired, dragging Lena away from her morbid spiraling.

Nodding, Kara glanced at the metal contraption that had nearly stolen her life, long digits digging into the sleeve of her cardigan. “Y-yes, Ms. Grant, I think so.” She shuddered. “But I think I should probably send my guardian angel a lot of ‘thank you’ thoughts tonight.”

Such heartfelt words would normally strike a chord within Lena but they only earned a broken sigh.

What am I going to do?

-X-

Gaze trained on Lockwood, you warily righted yourself as you studied the slimy demon.

“What? No hello for an old friend?” he mockingly pouted, hand clutching his chest dramatically.

“I’d offer a friend a hello if I saw one,” you replied snidely, eyes narrowing slightly. “But since all I see is you, I think I’ll pass.”

“How hurtful, (Y/N)! My, my, not nearly as friendly, are you? What happened?” His twinkling eyes and seemingly innocuous question left you rearing back, bristling at his sheer audacity.

“I think we both know why,” you hissed, venom dripping from your words. Your glare was deep and threatening but it only served to amuse the smug man.

“Oh.” His eyes flickered over your clothed torso, lingering on the freshest scar healing in the center of your chest like he could see it through your robe. “I guess learning your place must’ve stolen a bit of the spirit, huh?”

A low snarled escaped as you advanced on Lockwood, daring him to keep talking. You weren’t above destroying his wings and tossing him off the building. “What do you want? Besides someone stroking that massively unimpressive ego of yours? I doubt you’re here for fun.”

He shrugged. “Truthfully, I’d prefer you dead but since you’ve given a final chance at redemption, I suppose I’ll have to wait for that.”

“If that’s all, maybe you should get lost but I’m absolutely going to hate disappointing you.” Crossing your arms, you arched a brow expectantly.

Lockwood chuckled humorlessly. “Apologies, but I can’t do that. They’ve sent me here to help you succeed, among other things. I’m your ‘helper’ until this contract is fulfilled.”

“I don’t need your help,” you spat. “I never have and I never will. Anyone stuck with you helping them is doomed to fail.”

“Then it shouldn’t matter that I’m here. If you don’t need me, I’ll simply be a bystander. Watch the ‘master’ in action,” Lockwood sneered, lip curling as he met your dark glare with one of his own. “Even after your “correcting” you’re still a bitch, aren’t you?”

Growling, you shoved Lockwood, sending him stumbling back in surprise. “Keep talking, Lockwood, and I’ll send your soul back to Hell without a fucking body.”

“It’s not my fault you let some angel corrupt your mind. Was she a good lay? Did you at least get a taste before she left you for dead?” he taunted, face inches from yours.

Fury washed over you in waves – at him, at yourself, at her – and your fist met his jaw with a thunderous crack. Another hit met his nose before you tackled him, straddling his waist as you started pounding his head into the rooftop.

“Don’t fucking talk about her like that!” you roared. “You don’t know anything!”

Catching your wrists, he shoved you off and scrambled to his feet, ignoring the pain radiating through his face as he stared guardedly at you. You were one of the best fighters and he…was not. If he wasn’t careful, you could easily overpower him and follow through on your promise.

“Even now you still defend her.” Clicking his tongue disapprovingly, he shook his head. “She twisted and warped your thoughts until you became weak. Made you question your training – your calling – yet you stand here ready to fight for her when we both know she’s going to let you die. This contract is your last chance and she’s already messing with your head.”

You swallowed harshly, trying to ignore the sharp feeling piercing your chest. “She…”

“Is going to let us kill you,” Lockwood finished abruptly, his usual smirk missing as he stared at you, silently pleading for you to listen. “She is going to ruin this and keep the human alive. She’s already done it once – and she’s going to do it again.”

Gritting your teeth, you peered down at your clenched hands. Despite your hatred for him, you couldn’t help but wonder if he was right. She was bound to her duties, strict in keeping order. Your life wasn’t going to matter in the scheme of things; she wasn’t going to shirk her responsibilities just because you might not survive.

“That nice face of hers is going to get you killed,” he warned seriously, tilting his head. “Her words might be flowery and pretty but you’re a demon – her enemy – and she’s going to do anything in her power to keep you from succeeding. You might’ve thought you were friends but all she sees is the contracts she’s going to save as long as you’re buying into her angelic bullshit.”

Lockwood cautiously reached out and squeezed your shoulder.

“If she doesn’t care about you, you shouldn’t care about her. Finish this contract.”

Huffing, you rolled your eyes. “I thought you wanted me dead, Lockwood?”

“I do,” he admitted with a nod, “But I’d prefer to be the one doing it instead of letting some angel get you killed. I guess you deserve an honorable death.”

Smacking his hand off your shoulder, you inhaled deeply and glanced out over National City.

“Fine. Let’s get this done. I’m tired of this fucking city.”

Chapter Text

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Green never strayed from your sleeping form, watching the steady rise and fall of your chest. She wondered if you were dreaming; you seemed like the type who’d manage to have beautiful dreams even in a coma. She wondered if you would dream of her – though she definitely wouldn’t consider herself a beautiful dream – or if you’d dream of what life could be without her in it.

She wouldn’t blame you. You were here because of her. Because of her actions and choices; because of her history.

Because you – stupidly – had fallen in love with a monster.

“I will always love you,” you swore adamantly, running a finger along Yelena’s cheek, the corner of your eyes crinkling with affection. “Even when life separates us, you will have a home. With me. Forever.”

Biting the inside of her cheek, Yelena wondered for the first time in years if some god somewhere might listen if she were to pray.

You danced about the kitchen, singing softly into a wooden spoon as music filled the room. Hips swaying with the beat, your movements were awkward but she couldn’t look away. Imperfectly perfect, she might’ve had training but you had passion.

She hoped it was never snubbed out.

Reaching out, Yelena linked her fingers with yours, head tipping forward as she ignored her former trainer’s voice screaming about such shows of weakness.

After all, her weakness was the reason for all of this madness.

“Such a pretty pet,” your assailant cooed, gun dragging across your throat slowly. “No wonder she’s so fond of you.”

You never faltered, staring at Yelena calmly.

“Let her go,” Yelena demanded harshly, refusing to wince at the crack in her words.

Tapping the barrel over your heart, the assassin’s head tilted. “And why should I do that? We care little for innocence and it’s entirely your fault she is here. Love is for children – and children must learn.”

Yelena briefly peeked at you, concern shining bright. There was no way everyone here would walk away unscathed but she was terrified of risking you. The Red Room would have no qualms about one of their girls killing an “innocent” bystander to make a point.

I love you, you mouthed, a poignant smile tugging at your lips.

She wanted to answer – nearly did – but instead she watched, horrified, as you twisted in the assassin’s arms and lunged for the gun.

The boom was deafening but your surprisingly successful attempt to distract the woman had worked. Yelena’s shot was clean, through and through, but she didn’t care to watch her fall. Instead she rushed to your side, watching the blood seep out of your shirt.

“Idiot,” she hissed, applying pressure to the pouring wound as she silently begged the others to find you quickly. “How could you be so dumb?”

“Because it was you or me and the world needs you. Of course I risked my life for you, Lena,” you replied weakly, a shaky hand touching her wrist.

Yelena shook her head, gritting her teeth as blood slipped from between her fingers. “But I need you. You promised forever and this is not forever.”

The way your body jerked sent Yelena’s gaze flying upward, looking at your monitor as alarms began blaring into the otherwise silent room.

“I love you,” she whispered as doctors flooded the room, hurriedly surrounding you on the bed and ripping your hand from hers, shoving her out of the way…

“Promise,” Yelena demanded, digits digging into your sides as you squirmed.

“Stop! I promise!” Tears streamed down your cheeks as laughter bubbled forcefully from your chest. “I promise.”

Freezing in a menacing position, Yelena’s smirk grew predatory. “What do you promise?”

You giggled breathlessly, cupping her pale cheeks. “That I’m yours until forever. That I’m not going anywhere, even if you are a jerk.”

“You promised.”

Chapter Text

It didn’t smack you like a bolt of Thor’s lightning. It didn’t wrack your body and stop your heart. It didn’t make you panic; didn’t make your blood run cold.

It simply appeared one day and never left, every passing moment bringing it forward until a crescendo rippled through your very soul.

Love. Such a primitive word and ideal. Too many people based everything upon it and you’d considered yourself above it. Fully accepting you would spend the rest of your existence alone. You weren’t meant for that sort of thing if your previous experiences with it were any indications. Alone was safer. Alone was smarter.

Alone was all you really knew.

Until she came into your life, icy and professional in a way you both hated and admired. She regarded you in a way that made you shudder and pout simultaneously. Like you were a bug seconds away from getting swatted with a newspaper.

At first, you only wanted her friendship. To peel back the layers of ice until you could prove there was a person beneath. She was so intriguing – fascinating enough that you could ignore the butterflies that swarmed your stomach whenever she actually talked to you – and you wanted to slip inside her mind for just one day, understand the woman who eluded most and captivated all.

When your tentative conversations shifted into a cautious familiarity, you began to notice the little things. The way her smirk would slip into a genuine smile whenever you needled her playfully. The way her green eyes glistened with fondness when your klutziness overtook you, often leading to something broken and you on the floor in tears with laughter. The way her red locks glimmered in the sunlight.

The way she made you feel…

Being in love with Natasha Romanoff was both liberating and suffocating. It was always there, coloring your every interaction. Red and pink began to bleed into yellow, tingeing the edges of your friendship with something more.

Something deeper.

You wouldn’t – couldn’t – bring yourself to say them out loud. Even when friendly dinners twisted into romantic candlelight and short hugs became long kisses, you couldn’t voice them. What if admitting them pushed her away? What if she ran? What if she voiced your biggest fears? Said everything you thought about yourself?

You’re too much for me to handle.

I could never love you.

You’re not enough.

So you bit your lip and swallowed them back every time they tried to escape. You loved her, she’d just never know. Never know how often those three little words lingered on the tip of your tongue.

Loving her was everything a person could want and nothing like anything you’d expected. Kind and gentle with you, she was nothing you’d expected. But you wouldn’t change it. Wouldn’t change her.

Maybe one day you’d bite the bullet and tell her you loved her, but for now you’d keep quiet and simply bask in her light.

That love wasn’t going anywhere – and neither were you.

Chapter Text

Nervous hands wrung together as you wandered the halls of the museum. It’d been so nice of Diana to invite you – and buy your ticket – to the latest show she’d helped scrape together but you couldn’t help feeling terribly overwhelmed and completely underdressed as you studied the suited men sipping champagne and their dazzling partners.

Even if you had someone you could’ve brought, you probably both would’ve stood out like sore thumbs.

You sighed softly, accepting a flute as a man with a tray brushed past you. You had hoped to see Diana for more than a few passing moments yet clearly the world was not on your side. She had waved and smiled when you’d caught her eye but that was all. Nothing more.

It was stupid having a crush on her, anyways. Being Barry’s adopted sibling, you were well aware of who she was – who they all were – but that hadn’t deterred your feelings for Diana. You blamed the allure of her heroism and the fact she was a literal goddess even though you knew there was more to it than just her status. It was who she was as a person that dragged you in. Her sweet demeanor despite everything she’d been through, the way she hugged you whenever Barry could bring you to one of their meetings…

Diana was more than just a goddess. She was perfect.

Taking a drink from the flute, your eyes traveled along the expanse of art before you. Bold colors popping out and bright, it was an attractive piece, you must admit.

“Ah, good eye,” a deep voice broke your thoughts, bringing your attention away from the work you lingered on. “Composition X. A lovely slap of colors if I do say so myself.”

Glancing at your sudden companion, you smiled faintly at the newcomer. “You seem to know a bit about it?”

“It was created by Wassily Kandinsky. We had to study it in my art courses at Cambridge,” the man explained with a tilt of his head. “I was quite surprised when it was announced it was coming here. Miss Prince must be spectacular at her job.”

“She’s definitely something,” you murmured, attention falling back upon the art.

You could practically feel the man’s pause. “You know her?” The incredulous inflection nearly made you flinch. Like it was so unbelievable you could know Diana.

Nodding thoughtfully, you hummed. “She’s a friend of my brother’s. She actually got me my ticket for tonight.”

“Impressive. I had heard Miss Prince was known to be charitable.”

The slight dig forced a dry swallow. It was obvious he thought you didn’t belong here either. In the best outfit you could afford, the world still saw you as out of place.

“Well, I am to assume you’ll be taking advantage of the free food provided for the opening tonight then? It’s probably nicer food than you’ll ever be accustomed to,” he inquired, his casual tone not enough to offset such a question.

Gritting your teeth, you drank a healthy swallow of champagne. “Actually –”

“There you are,” Diana cut you off suddenly, her scent enveloping you as she pressed her chest against your back. You hadn’t noticed her approaching but neither did the unwelcome conversationalist. A tiny part of you wondered if she used some of that goddess power to appear so quickly but you didn’t linger on that thought for long. “It took far too long to escape Mister Klarek, darling. I do apologize.”

Darling?

“Darling?” the man sputtered, gaze flickering between you and the woman glaring at him.

“Apologies for interrupting your chat with (Y/N), Mister White, but I have been missing my girlfriend terribly since I was dragged away,” Diana replied, an undercurrent of steel tightening her words as she completely ignored his unspoken question.

It took everything within not to react, choosing to accept her warmth and school your features. You’d never complain about being linked with Diana, even if you didn’t understand why she was claiming you in such a manner. Maybe it was her way of politely telling him to fuck off.

“N-no worries. I don’t blame you for missing such charming company,” he coughed, scratching the short hair he surely called a ‘distinguishable’ beard. “I shall not feel so bad leaving this lovely woman when she’s in good hands.” With a tight smile, he spun on his heel and stalked off.

Your eyes never strayed from his form until he disappeared into the crowd, enjoying Diana’s presence. You could hear soft muttering but the words sounded alien so you simply ignored them.

“How miserable. Are you alright?” Diana finally murmured into your ear, breath hot against the shell.

“Y-yeah,” you whispered, fighting the urge to let your eyes close. “He was an…”

“Ass,” Diana finished, clicking her tongue in displeasure. “I should speak with his boss before he leaves tonight. Let him know the type of man he has hired.”

Slowly twisting out of her embrace, you smiled bashfully at Diana. “Thank you for doing that.” Your brows furrowed worriedly. “I just hope he doesn’t spread that rumor. I’d hate for you to get stuck with that.”

Diana laughed sweetly, snagging the flute in your hand and taking a drink. “I am not worried, (Y/N). It would be an honor to be tied in such a way with you.”

Giggling in disbelief, you shook your head. “I’m pretty sure I’d have to be the honored one in that situation, Diana. I mean, you’re a goddess!” You could see color blooming faintly in her cheeks and a swell of confidence urged you to step forward. “But if it’s such an honor, I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to taking you to dinner.”

Tension thick with anticipation, your eyes flickered to Diana’s lips for a second too long, watching the tip of her tongue wet them. A flash of movement and the sudden impact of a mouth against yours startled you, though you weren’t entirely sure why. Maybe this moment was predetermined, simply waiting for the stars to align just perfectly.

Diana inched back slightly, breath fanning across your face. “I would like that very much, darling.”

Oh. You were going to enjoy that word. A lot.

Chapter Text

They kept appearing. In your room, in your dresser, in your locker, on you that time you fell asleep on the couch after your three week long mission. Anywhere and everywhere you might find one, you would. Both intrigued and frustrated by this new occurrence, you were left waiting impatiently for a new letter to find its way into your hands.

I wish you were with me, tucked in my arms as we whispered our secrets…

(Yes, you were obsessing slightly over love letters but this had never happened to you before so…)

You’d even tried pretending to sleep on the couch to see if you could catch whoever dropping another one on your stomach but instead you’d managed to actually pass out and wake up to a sticky note on your forehead with a cute smiley face drawn on it.

If it was tucked away with the letters, you’d never admit it.

Not yet, silly.

So now you were watching your teammates – and a few agents that you really hoped weren’t the culprit – stealthily in hopes of spotting the illusive pieces of paper. You feared it might be Sam or Tony trying to play a nasty prank on you, but then you remembered neither were in the country when you had one left on your body. So they were quickly eliminated.

(Unless Tony had secretly made one of his creations drop it off but decided he wouldn’t put that much effort into a prank.)

(He wasn’t known for that much effort.)

-X-

A world without you is a world I would hate. Nothing in this life could replace you from mine.

-X-

Stepping into the workout room, you paused at the sight of a letter pinned neatly to your punching bag. With an adorable heart-shaped tack keeping it in place. You glanced at Natasha who was sparring with Bucky in hopes she might reveal something but she purposefully ignored you, chatting loudly with Bucky as her lips tugged into a wicked smirk.

Oh, she definitely knows.

“Bitch,” you whispered, glaring at the redheaded assassin petulantly.

Natasha’s head tilted in your direction – though she never fully looked at you – and you knew she heard you but you didn’t care, even if it meant the next training session you had together meant she was likely to kick you in the head at least once. Keeping secrets wasn’t nice.

(Yes, a part of you wanted to stick your tongue out like a child but she deserved it, so there.)

Strolling over to the note, you unpinned the delicate sheet and carefully unfolded it. Sweet, looping words were scrawled across the lines, simple but elegant – even with the occasional word scratched out – as they beckoned you up to the roof, the promise of ending this mystery far too enticing to pass up. As much as you enjoyed the notes, you needed to know who your admirer was.

Beautiful and strong, you remind me why I am here. Why I fight. Why I live. I am waiting for you atop the Compound, in the Avengers’ hideaway. Come find me.

Natasha snickered as you practically sprinted from the room, not even sparing her another glower. “Good luck, Maximoff. You’ll need it with that one.”

Your steps were pounding through the abandoned halls though you never noticed, the note crumpling slightly in your hand as you bolted for the stairs. At this rate, an elevator would be far too slow. You needed to get to the roof…

Now.

You bounded up the stairs two at a time, ignoring the way your shoes squeaked against the floor. You weren’t worried about falling; you were trained for this pace. Plus you could technically call this training if Steve scolded you for leaving the workout room.

“Please don’t be anyone weird,” you begged quietly, exhaling deeply as you touched your bracelet to the lockpad beside the door. The Avengers’ hideaway was sacred and protected; only your team and a few select others could venture onto this part and you preferred it that way.

Your breath caught in your chest as the door clicked open and you were greeted with a gorgeous sight.

Sitting cross-legged on a beautiful blanket, picnic basket settled beside her, was Wanda in the prettiest dress you’d ever seen. It was casual and red and she almost reminded you of a goddess wrapped up in a sundress – like an old painting that many might see but few would appreciate – though that wasn’t what stole your words.

It was the sparkle in her eye as she smiled bashfully at you as you walked over to the blanket, peering down at the abundance of foods and drinks and desserts tucked into the basket.

“Surprise?” she giggled nervously, visibly searching for any sign of discomfort.

A dry, scratchy feeling enveloped your throat and you coughed, trying to clear some of the cobwebs as you thanked the gods it was her. “Y-yeah.”

Slowly offering you her hand, she whispered, “Join me?”

Nodding, you grabbed it. “Always.”

Chapter Text

You could call Carol Danvers plenty of things. She was fearless. Strong. Brash. Wild. On a good day, goofy and on a bad one, downright heartbreaking.

But you could also call her the love of your life.

The sun to your moon.

The light that kept you walking forward instead of lingering in the past.

Everything you could ever want.

-X-

Affection didn’t come easily to Carol. Be it the physical kind or the emotional kind, she was absolute shit at it. And it wasn’t that she disliked it – in fact, she quite enjoyed the way your hands traced hers or the way you’d often press a kiss to her temple and tell her you loved her – but she didn’t know how to process it. The right way to initiate it or how to accept yours in return.

She questioned everything.

Was it too much? Not enough? Was she being clingy? What the fuck is happening?!

But you didn’t mind that she could only choke out a, “me too,” whenever you whispered it in the dead of night or how she struggled to relax before melting entirely into an embrace. You didn’t mind that she struggled to comfort you in your darker moments, merely sighing when she wrapped her arms around you and ignoring the awkward ways she attempted to offer a “bright side” that only served to make you laugh.

You knew she wondered why. Why you accepted such a broken heart when someone not so stunted could handle your love better. You often offered to name the reasons but she could never bring herself to listen. She wished she could though.

If only she knew it was because of the little things. The way she held you when you watched a scary movie for the first time, letting you bury your face in her neck while the grossest parts played and chided you for looking too early. Or the way she was so gentle during your first kiss, solidifying what you already knew was going to happen.

It was in the way she leaned into your surprise hugs with a quiet mumble, cheeks brushed with soft pink as you teased her.

Maybe it was also in the way she loved you without saying a word. Lips tugging into a fond smile as you tried to tickle her, you rolling your eyes as you ignored her, “I’m an alien, I’m not ticklish,” warnings. And in the surprised spark in her gaze when you made her dinner for the first time.

(You’d never admit to being proud you didn’t manage to burn them. You’d been so nervous of disappointing her that you watched them studiously, making sure you didn’t mess them up. It had absolutely been a feat.)

But it was mostly in the way you knew her. Knew the woman she was beneath the façade she wore. Softer – kinder – than she’d ever acknowledge. Her beauty deeper than skin. Soul tarnished but lovely. She had suffered but you were determined to show her a better life, for as long as she’d let you.

Maybe – just maybe – it was the little things for you both.

Chapter Text

He’d kill you – without hesitation – if he knew about your feelings for what he considered his. He might not love her (might not even care about her) but she was his and trying to interfere would only leave your body broken and disregarded, left for the bat to find.

Or maybe he’d make Harley get rid of you; prove you meant nothing to her.

It was a twisted thought but it honestly wouldn’t surprise you if that’s what happened.

Sighing miserably, you cleaned the comically large blade Harley had gifted you months ago, barely noticing the smudges of crimson as you peered about the “abandoned” warehouse the Joker was keeping most of his goons housed in. You weren’t fond of the idiotic bunch he employed but you understood why he recruited the dumbest of dumb.

He couldn’t rule geniuses. If he could, Bruce Wayne would probably work for him.

Lucky fucker, you mused. If I had his kind of money, I could leave this dump behind.

“Whatcha lookin’ at, suga?” Harley whispered next to your ear, laughing gleefully as you screamed and pitched forward off the crate you often used as a seat.

“Christ, Harley!” you gasped, clutching at your chest while your shaky fingers went pale against the hilt of your knife. “Don’t do that. I coulda stabbed you or something!”

“Aw, a little blood only makes it fun,” Harley teased, hopping into the spot you had vacated, sending a wink in your direction.

Rolling your eyes, you studied the former psychiatrist curiously. “What’s up? The boss need something?”

“Nah.” Harley shook her head, painted lips curling upward slightly. “I just wanted to come see ya,” she admitted with a nonchalant shrug. “Only henchwoman around here I like.”

You smirked playfully at her. “Aw, what an honor.”

Grabbing the bottle of polish beside her, Harley chucked it at you, a petulant pout marring her lovely features. “Hey! There’s no reason to be mean!”

Sidestepping the projectile, you balked, “Me?! You just threw polish at me!”

She huffed and crossed her arms, pout deepening as she glared at the floor. “You deserved it! Bein’ all rude to me and stuff!”

Despite knowing she was teasing, seeing such a sight made your heart ache a little. You would never want to hurt her. She’d been through enough – was still going through enough – and all you wanted to do was protect her.

“I’m sorry, Harley,” you apologized sincerely, setting your knife on the crate before grabbing one of her wrists, slowly prying her arms apart. “Ya know I’m just teasin’.”

Bright blue eyes lifted up to meet yours. In that moment, her façade was stripped bare, eyes shining in the light as you held her gaze. This wasn’t the Joker’s “girl”. This was the real Harley. The one you wished you could take away from this madness. The one you wanted to save.

“I haven’t heard a real apology in so long,” she mumbled brokenly, almost afraid to voice such an admittance. Each word a weight kept tight in her chest.

Swallowing your rage, you replied softly, “You deserve better.” The urge to reach out and cup her cheek was crippling but you fought it back.

“He’s all I’ve got.” Her breath lingering on your lips left you realizing how close you’d gotten but you couldn’t bring yourself to step back. To part from such a moment…

“No he’s not. You’ve got me. Forever. ‘Til the bat burns this hellhole to the ground.”

Even if your feelings weren’t returned – were never returned – you would always be there for Harley. She held a piece of you that you didn’t want back.

“I…” Blue flickered over your shoulder and froze, widening with a fear that left you reeling backwards.

A sinister, piercing cackle sounded behind you, throaty and untamed.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

You inhaled sharply.

“Fuck.”

“Puddin’, no!”

Chapter Text

“Be careful up there,” you begged, adjusting Carol’s jacket nervously. “Please.”

“I’m always careful,” she replied playfully, the tips of her fingers lingering sweetly on your cheek. “Can’t leave my favorite girl behind just because I was dumb. You and Maria would come kick my ass in hell.”

Laughing wetly, you kissed Carol deeply, pouring every ounce of your love into it. “I’m glad you realize that. You promised me you’d always come home to me. I’m going to hold you to that,” you whispered as you parted, silently pleading for her to keep her promise.

“Don’t worry, I will.”

-X-

Six years had passed since Carol’s disappearance. Since you’d kissed the love of your life. Since she’d promised. Promised to come home. Promised to spend her life with you.

Life had been tough without her. Her presumed death had been so sudden, stripping away the light you clung to just hours after having seen her for (unknowingly) the last time. Plunged into darkness, you hadn’t come prepared with a flashlight so you’d been left to crawl in the dark for days…weeks…months…

Hell, years.

You’d always told her that losing her would hurt you in ways you couldn’t explain but she’d always laughed it off, saying you would be fine without her. Except you weren’t. Waking to dreams of being in her arms, every new morning without her chipped at your soul. She wasn’t there but she was supposed to be and you just couldn’t understand it.

Loving her was heaven. Losing her was a nightmare.

It didn’t help that Maria – sweet, hurting Maria – reminded you of Carol. She had lived through so many moments with the two of you and she often stopped by to check on you, but also to help stoke the flames of those memories. Making sure they never died out.

Watching Monica grow was hard too. She often asked about Carol, wanting stories almost too painful to speak aloud but you persisted, offering them to her in hopes they would soothe her pain as well. You would tell her anything you could about Carol, just so the legacy she was creating would never be forgotten.

Hearing a car rumbling up your drive, you glanced out the window and smiled faintly. You could just imagine Monica sitting in the back, rambling on about her day as she bounced up and down in her seat. It was bittersweet seeing them but you’d never deny the comfort it brought.

The car jerked to a stop and you walked to the door, a greeting on your tongue though it died as all the air was stolen from your lungs.

A little older and a little rougher, she was still exactly how you remembered her.

“C-Carol…”

“I told you I’d come home.”

Chapter Text

The pressure in your head was crippling, slowly dragging you to your knees as you tried to force your eyes open. If they closed, you weren’t sure they would ever open again. But even more than that, you were afraid if you took your eyes off Jean, everything within her would consume her and destroy her too. You were okay with dying if it meant she could live.

“Jean,” you croaked, the glowing veins of your girlfriend both hypnotizing and nauseating. “Baby, you have to stop…”

You’d kill those who had done this to her.

(But first, you just had to stand up.)

Despite her eyes flickering over to sweep along your bowing body, you were fairly certain she wasn’t seeing you. Only past you. Through you. Like you were a sheet of glass separating her from the world – and maybe you were. Maybe she was waiting for you to simply shatter.

“You’re killing us,” your words were barely a wheeze but they seemed to register, Jean’s expression shifting just enough to let you know she was listening. “Scott, Quick…me.”

Her head tilted almost curiously, glancing around the room at her downed friends before straying back to you. Her silence was eerie but the ringing in your ears supplied plenty of ambiance, even if you were the only one hearing it.

You wondered if she could hear it too.

Every piece of your arm felt like concrete, weighted and stiff but you still reached out for your girlfriend pleadingly.

“J-Jean…”

The glint of the ring shimmering on your finger garnered her full attention and suddenly the pressure lessened. It was still there – lingering on the outskirts of your mind – but you could think. Could breathe.

A powerful hand rose, inches from yours, and you lunged forward. Time seemed to drop to a crawl but as your palm slid over hers, the world seemed to make sense once more. It felt like just you and her, existing in a space where nothing could hurt you. Like the last few days were nothing but a bad dream.

“(Y/N),” she whispered, the power fading from her gaze. “What is happening to me?”

Swallowing, you tried to smile reassuringly though it probably looked more like a grimace than anything. “You have to calm down. Come back to me, Jean. We can get through this but you have to stop letting them control you. You are so much more than this.”

The pressure receded again, leaving behind only stray wisps drifting along your mind like a lover’s caress instead of a giant’s fist. You could hear the others gasping for air but you dare not look away from Jean. You were so close to saving the woman you loved. If you looked away, she might dissolve into nothingness and you couldn’t let that happen.

“Come home,” you murmured, digits steady against her hand. “Let us help you. We can fix this. Control this. We can go away until you’re okay if we have to, but don’t let these assholes win.”

“I’m a monster,” she whimpered as she peered at your entwined hands, the gravity of everything settling heavily on her shoulders. “I hurt you. All of you.”

It was hard but you staggered to your feet, tugging Jean closer. “Look at me. I’m fine.”

“But –” a sharp pull dragged Jean into your arms and you embraced her tightly.

“I’m okay,” you promised fiercely, breath warm along her ear. “Baby, please. Let me help you.”

The moment she nodded, the world seemed to tip back onto its axis. Her head was buried in your neck, hidden from the mayhem and destruction, but you couldn’t help watching the chunks of concrete and mangled metal crash to the ground, like meteors that could’ve ended life but somehow just barely missed.

A testament to what could have been.

You could only hope they would always miss.

Chapter Text

This wasn’t how she intended for you to find out. Granted, she wasn’t entirely sure how she wanted you to find out but it certainly wasn’t like this. Inches from death, the dust of the concrete chunk blowing over your faces as she smacked it away from you, shielding you from – at the very least – a nasty head wound.

It was dangerous, outing herself like this. Not in her suit, she was merely Kara Danvers… Kara Danvers who somehow managed to deflect falling debris like it were a volleyball and not a few hundred – if not thousand – pounds of pure concrete. But as it shattered into the sidewalk, far enough away that it couldn’t hurt anyone, she bowed her head and awaited her fate. The wind across her cheeks, everything was silent as she tuned out the startled shouts and the world continuing on around her.

Best case scenario, you’d only sign a NDA and break up with her, allowing her secret to remain while merely hating her for not admitting the truth (a truth that could easily put your life in danger, especially if you didn’t know). Worst? Well, she really, really didn’t want to think about that.

“Holy shit,” you whispered, staring at the broken pieces of the demolished building. You knew Kara was strong but there was no way any human could do that. “Kara…?”

Swallowing anxiously, crystal eyes glanced over at you and skated along your features, trying desperately to gauge your reaction as the sudden implications washed over you. “I think we need to talk.”

“Yeah.”

-X-

Your eyes never strayed from your pacing girlfriend, following her throughout her apartment as she overworked her words until they became nothing but an endless babble of thoughts.

Kara was an alien.

Kara was Supergirl.

Almost everyone she was close to knew.

Except you.

Her girlfriend.

You knew anger should’ve been your first emotion. Betrayed that Kara had kept something so important and unbelievable from you but you couldn’t bring yourself to be too terribly upset, knowing your girlfriend was under so much pressure to keep such a secret (something she was honestly awful at) that was clearly eating her up inside.

“I know I should’ve told you but I was scared you would hate me and be angry and I couldn’t lose you but I knew I needed to tell you but I didn’t know how and Alex…” Kara rambled on, oblivious to the tiny smile tugging at the corner of your lips.

Fear poured off her in waves but you couldn’t help finding her nervous gestures and colliding words precious despite the seriousness of the moment. She seemed so distraught, the blue of her eyes deep as she fought off tears, clearly expecting the worst reaction possible.

“…understand you probably hate me and I’m so–”

“Can you take me flying?” you asked, halting her mid-apology.

(This was her fifth apology so far so you figured cutting it off wouldn’t hurt anything. You’d probably hear another five more later anyways.)

Kara paused, eyes widening notably as she peered at you. “I…what?”

“Flying. In the sky. With the birds? And the occasional stars?” you teased, leaning back into the couch cushions as you waited for the question to sink in. You weren’t going to make a huge ordeal out of her confession, aware that she must’ve been struggling with this for longer than she was letting on.

Her whole life, even.

Jaw dipping slightly, her blonde locks shifted as her head tilted in surprise. “You…want me to take you flying? That’s it? No yelling? No break up? No threats of mass destruction?”

Smirking with amusement, you nodded slowly. “Yep, that’s it. I’ve always wanted to fly in the clouds without being stuck in an airplane and I can’t imagine a safer way of doing that than being in National City’s hero’s arms.”

Stepping tentatively over to you, Kara peeked into your shining eyes as she searched for any lingering anger or deception. She wanted to hope it was this simple – that you weren’t planning to secretly kill her or leak her secret – but it seemed too good to be true, right?

Finding nothing but love and the smallest amount of expectation, she offered you a gentle hand and tugged you up and into her arms.

“Okay,” she breathed, drinking in your warmth as she relaxed against you, like you were her personal sun, longer eclipsed. “I-I can do that.”

“Then suit up, Supergirl. We’ve got some flying to do.”

Chapter Text

You hated the stifling emotions lingering in the air, watching your girlfriend’s eyes grow glassy and deep as she pleaded with you to understand. To forgive her.

“Mistake.”

“Confused.”

I’m sorry.

Licking your lips carefully, you tilted your head as you considered her words. She had cheated on you. With her. The ex-fiancée. The ex-what-could’ve-been. Who you didn’t even know was back in town but who had managed to blow in and ruin everything for you.

Maybe you’d gotten too comfortable. Maybe you had been naïve, expecting someone to love you as much as you loved them. Clearly you loved too much – too deeply – because this seemed to always happen. Someone else would slip in and break things you thought indestructible. Let their hands wrap around its throat and choke the life from your relationships. From your self-esteem.

“What do you expect me to say, Alex?” you wondered brokenly, throat thick with emotion as you tried to fight back the bile crawling its way up.

“I…I don’t know,” she whispered, fingers flexing as she fought back the urge to reach out and grab your hand. “I got caught up in Maggie’s return and I really messed up.”

“This hurts…” you mumbled, absently rubbing the skin guarding your heart. “This isn’t fair.”

The silence was crippling, Alex’s shattered expression burning itself into your memory.

“…how do I fix this?” she finally braved.

Swallowing, you glanced away.

“You can’t.”

Chapter Text

Lips pursed, Maria’s eyes darted around her office…

Her office that seemed to be overflowing with any and all types of flowers. Colors upon colors filled every corner of the room, blooms open and vibrant as they softened the usual seriousness of her space. The bouquets were exquisite – effort radiating from each one – but excessive. As if you’d bought out the entire florist’s shop and told them to go wild.

“(Y/N),” she sighed fondly, shaking her head with tolerant amusement. “You idiot.”

It wasn’t a secret that Maria was upset with you. You who had accepted a dangerous solo mission hours after finally getting medically cleared to tentatively return to duty. You who had just healed from being blown up, only to get nearly blown up again.

And she knew her anger was justified but unfair. You were an Avenger – a hero – who would always pick others’ needs over your own but she couldn’t help her fears. She loved you (even if she struggled to say those words) and knowing you were willingly putting yourself in danger again so soon bothered her.

She had nearly lost you once. Doing that again wasn’t something she was prepared for yet.

Strolling over to the overflowing vase resting in the center of her desk, she cautiously pried the envelope from around the ribbon and flicked it open before dragging the small, folded piece of paper from its sheathe.

Dear Maria,

I’m sorry. I should’ve talked to you before I went and it was stupid of me to think my doing what I did wouldn’t affect you too. I hope you can forgive me and let me make this up to you. I realized how much I hate not getting a welcome home kiss and while I don’t deserve it, I definitely want to earn one. Come up to the roof?

Love, (Y/N).

P.S, don’t worry. Nat’s kicking my ass in your honor…and so is Wanda…and Steve keeps giving me looks…and even Stark’s made a comment on your behalf (though he’s nearly killed Pepper by not paying attention so I’m not sure what right he has).

She couldn’t help the stream of giggles that escaped, smiling at the carefully penned words. Gripping the letter, destination in mind, she headed for the door.

You had a kiss to earn – and an office to clear out.

Chapter Text

Pale, callused fingers twitched, balling the sheets up tight as short, inky locks jumped along the pillow case. She could hear them – the screams of her family, then the overbearing ringing in her ears that had followed – but it sounded different this time.

It felt different this time.

Standing in her family’s home, she could see herself standing between her parents – see her family’s murderer waving his fingers – but instead of seeing everyone she had loved fall around her…

She only saw you.

Every bullet that should’ve been piercing her family was piercing the one person who had become her world. Who loved her without hesitation, accepting all of the bad and finding the good Helena had believed died with her family. Your jaw dipped as you screamed but she couldn’t hear you, the blood rushing to her head as she watched you dropped.

She wanted to rush forward, protect you from the very thing – the very person – who’d destroyed her life but her feet felt cemented to the floor and she could only watch as crimson surrounded you.

“No, no, no!” she screamed, willing herself to take a step but knowing she was trapped.

(The ghost of a hand slipped into hers but she didn’t feel it, focusing only on the body of the woman she loved.)

“Please, this can’t be happening again,” she muttered, glancing over at the cackling man in his chair. “You’re dead! You can’t do this to me! Not again. Not to her.”

(Wake up, baby.)

His smirk widened. “Do you really think death can stop me?”

(Helena, baby, it’s just a bad dream. I promise.)

“I won’t let you take her from me,” she snarled, glaring at the figment that had haunted her for so long.

(Wake. Up!)

-X-

Those same fingers found purchase around your throat, pained eyes snapping open as Helena was ripped from her nightmares. Her grip was tight but not enough to end your life, only enough to keep you still and silent.

Her gaze darted along your face, taking in your collected expression as her fingers pressed into your steady pulse. Your hand was wrapped around her wrist though it was in no way threatening. Only offering some grounding as she regained her wits.

“Breathe, Lena,” you whispered as her hold slackened minutely. “It’s okay. It was just a bad dream.”

Your voice was soothing despite the fact most would be terribly bothered about having digits pushed into their skin, coaxing Helena into the comfort with the faintest hint of a smile. You weren’t fazed, having awoken to many fits over the course of your relationship.

Dark eyes met yours and then suddenly the pressure was gone, replaced by two arms encircling your waist and a head buried into your shoulder. You could hear her mumbling to herself but it had never made sense before and you doubted it would now.

Cooing softly, you slowly – and oh so carefully – brought her head to your chest, leaving her ear over your heart as you combed your fingers through her hair.

“It’s okay, sugar,” you promised, kissing the crown of her head. “You’re safe here. He can’t hurt you. Not anymore.”

Inhaling deeply, Helena nodded. She couldn’t bring herself to admit she hadn’t been worried about herself or her family this time. That’d she’d been worried about you.

I can’t lose you, she mused, I won’t lose you too.

Chapter Text

If someone had told you a year ago what your life would become – living in an overly expensive, gorgeous apartment your world-traveling, super-heroine girlfriend refused to let you pay for, sipping thousand dollar wine that you couldn’t even begin to pronounce the name of – you would’ve laughed at them.

Violently.

While running in the complete opposite direction because there was no way in hell they were sane.

Except here you were, doing exactly that while waiting for said girlfriend to return home from her four month long trek across the world with the other superheroes guarding your planet. She’d sworn to come home as soon as possible but villains didn’t seem to work in a timely manner or respect hopeful wishes (which wasn’t surprising, considering Arkham couldn’t contain any of their prisoners and Lex Luthor seemed to have goons absolutely everywhere).

You’d gotten a message from Diana hours ago, promising her return with the cutest selfie attached (which you were pretty sure Barry had taught her how to take) that made your heart race and palms sweat anxiously. You’d missed her more than you could explain. Gaps between seeing each other wasn’t uncommon – because, again, superhero – but you always hated the days, weeks, months apart. Some days you wanted to just curl up in her arms, feel protected…

Feel loved.

But you understood. You would deal with the distance however long you needed to until it was no longer an issue. She was always going to be worth the wait and the longing. She was the woman you wanted to spend the rest of your life with and you weren’t going to let distance or lunatics or anything else ruin that.

You wanted her to be it. Your final first kiss, the final love of your life, the final person to set your heart ablaze whenever she walked into the room. You wanted her to be both the final of so many things and the first of so many others.

And if the fates were kind, hopefully she would be.

Taking another sip of your wine, your ears perked up at the sound of keys jingling into the lock and the familiar contented hum that always escaped Diana when she came home. Nearly tossing the glass onto the table, you bounded off the couch and bolted for the door, giving her mere seconds to prepare before you were barreling into her arms as it slipped open.

Her twinkling laughter filled your ears and she embraced you carefully, almost purring as her lips brushed your temple.

“Aw, little one, I’ve missed you too,” she cooed playfully, her words soft and warm as she swayed you softly.

The distance wouldn’t last forever – but this?

You certainly hoped so.

Chapter Text

Planning a date with your girlfriend was always a gamble and never set in stone. It was merely a tentative “suggestion” that may or may not end up being rescheduled half a dozen times. Being an Avenger meant she had little free time and while she spent almost all of it with you, sometimes things just never worked out the way they were supposed to. Be it an injury or a world-ending catastrophe – nothing was off the table.

But today was supposed to be special. One year together…

It was supposed to be a celebration, right?

So instead of being deterred by the apologetic, exhausted messages sent to your phone, you devised a plan. It wasn’t a lot you could do – obviously there was only so much you could drag into the Compound without security giving you weird looks or unintentionally ruining your surprise – but with a picnic basket in hand and a sucker-for-love Avenger waiting for you at the front desk, you strolled into the building with a huge, appreciative smile.

“Hey, Captain,” you greeted with a one-armed hug, careful not to jostle the basket swinging precariously on your other arm. “Thank you for coming down here.”

“Of course, (Y/N),” Steve beamed, whisking you past the people most likely to stop you if it weren’t for America’s hero sweeping you away. “I know Nat was really looking forward to today. I thought she was going to kill Ross when he dropped all that work on her desk.”

“He really needs to lay off,” you mumbled, stepping to the elevator and sifting through your little basket as you watched the doors close. Fishing out a cookie, you offered it to the surprisingly gentle man. “I know he’s paid to be a hard ass but he’s doing nothing but hindering you guys.”

Steve cheerfully accepted the treat, taking a bite out of the freshly baked indulgence. “Well, he’s definitely got Tony drinking the Kool-Aid.”

Rolling your eyes, you watched the numbers steadily rise. “Tony’s a genius…but he’s an idiot. He always thinks he’s right, even if a million sources say he’s wrong. He’s a good man but sometimes he never sees past his own nose.”

Mouth open, whether to agree or differ you’d never know, Steve went silent as the elevator dinged. He carefully guided you down the hall, occasionally nibbling on the cookie as he eyed the doors.

“Here we are,” he muttered quietly, winking at you. “Have a good anniversary, (Y/N). Make sure Nat doesn’t have a choice but to take a break.”

Nudging him playfully, your hand fell to the doorknob and you slowly turned it. Hunched over, combing through what seemed like hours of paperwork, was your girlfriend. Her expression was one of concentration though you could see the tension in her bunched brows and the way she chewed her lip.

“I swear to God, Steve, if you tell me to forget this stuff and go see (Y/N) one more time, you’ll be meeting the same fate as Ross. I’m trying to finish it as fast as possible,” Natasha growled, eyes never straying from the lines of the documents. “But even Russian spy skills can’t shuffle through all of this bullshit.”

“I guess it’s good I’m not Steve then,” you remarked, smirking as her eyes shot up to meet yours. “Though I wouldn’t threaten him too much. He did help put this together after all.”

“I…” Natasha was, for the first time in your relationship, utterly speechless. Emeralds jumped between you and the basket, unable to comprehend what she was seeing. “What?”

“I know you’re busy,” you explained sweetly, offering the basket shyly. “So I thought I’d come to you instead. That way neither of us is spending our anniversary alone.”

It was evident in the way Natasha seemed to melt that she was barely holding her emotions together. Deep and suddenly shiny, her eyes screamed what her mouth couldn’t.

I love you.

“Happy anniversary, Nat.”

Chapter Text

Exes were such an odd, awkward thing to you. Having someone who meant so much suddenly stripped out of your life like you’d never made plans; never wanted to grow old together. Such a bizarre, uncomfortable notion that used to leave you up all night, contemplating what life was going to bring you.

Then you met her and you understood why those people had to leave.

She was everything and nothing you’d expected all rolled into one. She was strong and she made you feel so undeniably safe, her arms tight whenever you curled into her, letting yourself get lost in her warmth and the silent promise that she would always protect you. Not one for fancy words, her actions always made up for it. A kiss to the crown of your head, a teasing smirk, a poke to your ribs whenever you were a bit cheeky…

Yelena easily became the person you wanted to spend your life with. Without question.

So when an old friend reached out tentatively, passing along information about an ex, you were truly startled but completely unbothered.

“She thinks you’re still in love with her. That you’re talking about her and wanting her back.”

A loud, incredulous snort escaped – and that was it.

Until now.

-X-

Fingers entwined with Yelena’s, you strolled through the grocery store, skimming over cereals as you rambled to your amused girlfriend. She was quiet, simply nodding along but you appreciated it all the same. You knew she was listening.

“We need milk,” Yelena reminded you softly, halting your faltering train of thought. “Sam drank the last of it this morning.”

Nodding, you pouted and lifted Yelena’s hand to your lips before dropping it. “I know. Jerk. Can never buy his own. You get your weird, bland cereal and I’ll go find the milk.”

Yelena’s jaw dipped in mock offense and you giggled, disappearing before she could pinch your hip.

It didn’t take long to find what you were searching for, snagging a jug with a triumphant hum. Spinning around, you nearly slammed into someone, an apology escaping as you balanced yourself and them.

“My bad –” you paused at the sight of your ex, your hand hurriedly falling away from her arm like she’d burned you. “(E/N).”

The smile that once made your heart thump only made you wince now, glancing away as you tried to step away from her.

“(Y/N)!” she exclaimed, voice dripped with fake enthusiasm. “It’s been so long!”

Chuckling awkwardly, you inched back. “Y-yeah. It has.”

“You look good,” she smirked, giving you a once over that made your skin crawl. “How long’s it been?”

Your first response was borderline ugly but you swallowed them back, forcing a smile. “A while.”

“I talked to (F/N). Asked about you. Thought maybe we could meet up. I know you’ve missed me.” Her arrogance angered you.

Shaking your head, you made it a point to step away from her. “Actually, I really don’t. It was nice seeing you and all, but I have things to do.”

Walking away, you nearly considered breaking her hand as it landed on your arm.

“Hey, it’s okay. I miss you too,” she said, sickly sweet with a honey you never experienced when you were together. “Come have lunch with me.”

“I said n –”

“What is going on here?” Yelena’s accent was thick with disdain. You couldn’t see her face but you could imagine her expression, brow arched as she glared at your ex.

Ripping your arm from her grasp, you dropped the jug into the cart you’d left with Yelena and shook your head. “It’s nothing. She’s nothing.”

It wasn’t hard for Yelena to understand what was happening and while she prided herself on little emotional reactions to anything, she couldn’t stop herself from hooking an arm around your waist and tugging you into a kiss, earning a startled squeak as you melted into the embrace.

Deep and possessive, she was staking a claim – and everyone knew it.

Separating deliberately, Yelena smirked over your shoulder at your gaping ex. “Well, I am certainly glad I am not nothing, dorogoy.”

“N-never,” you replied breathlessly, a goofy smile painting your lips.

Exes were such an awkward thing…

You could only hope she would never be one.

Chapter Text

Alex couldn’t help rolling her eyes as she watched Kara awkwardly pace around her apartment, hands wringing together as she babbled. She’d honestly tuned her sister out minutes ago but it was clear that Kara was in no mood to slow down anytime soon. It was cute that Kara was so worked up over asking you to be her “Valentine” but if Alex had to keep listening to her doubt herself, Alex was going to personally drag you to this apartment and lock you two in until you finally addressed the obvious elephant in the room.

“Would you please calm down?” Alex finally interrupted with a chuckle. “You’re stressing yourself out over nothing. (Y/N) is going to say yes. She’d be an idiot not to and I personally don’t think she’d take too kindly to you thinking otherwise.” She winked.

Kara scowled, lip drooping into a pout as she slowed her incessant movements. “(Y/N) isn’t an idiot.”

“Exactly!” Alex smirked. “So breathe.”

She watched in visibly deep rise of Kara’s chest and had to bite back laughter as the superheroine deflated.

“Okay,” she sighed. “I can do this.”

Grabbing Kara’s phone from the table, Alex tossed it to her and leaned back into the couch, keeping a critical eye on Kara just in case you really were an idiot.

Unlikely, but always possible.

-X-

So enraptured by the movie on your television, you almost missed Kara’s name lighting across your phone screen. Which, you absolutely would’ve felt awful if that had happened considering how much you enjoyed the Kryptionian’s presence. Even through the phone, she would always have your full attention.

“Hey!” you greeted exuberantly, lowering the volume of the movie - for your sake and hers.

There was a bizarre rustling noise and a barely audible yelp before Kara breathlessly returned your greeting.

“You okay?” you laughed, imagining the sheepish grin spreading across soft lips.

“Y-yeah! Of course! Alex was just being…Alex.”

Giggling at the indignant yell from the oldest Danvers sister, you couldn’t contain the warmth bubbling in the pit of your belly.

“Your laugh is so nice,” Kara blurted, eyes going wide as she realized her slip of the tongue. “Anyways! I actually called because I have a question.”

Swallowing back your startled noise and resisting the urge to drift back to the mistake, you cleared your throat. “Yeah?”

“Um, so you know how Valentines Day is coming up? I was wondering if -”

“Yes!” you cut her off, not even waiting for her to finish. This was the moment you had been hoping for and you weren’t about to wait a second longer. “I would love to go out with you.”

You waited for a response but all that answered you was silence. Deep, heart-crumbling silence.

Had you been wrong?

“Ka-”

The sudden knocking on your balcony window stole a scream from your chest, hand flying to rest above your heart as your eyes jerked over to the locked door.

There, dressed in her regular clothes, cheeks aflame and crystal eyes glistening, was Kara. Clutching a box of…something?

Scrambling over to the balcony, you tossed the door open and stared at the hero with curious eyes. The box of candy hearts was practically crushed in her alien grip, the sides crunching inward and a slight powder escaping the top, but you didn’t care, taking in the blushing woman.

Candy hearts were gross, anyways.

Chapter Text

Slender legs languidly wrapped along the bars of the cell as Harley tried to expel the wild energy riled up within her. Trapped like an animal, she had no choice but to try and keep herself calm as she waited for the rescue she knew was coming. Pale fingers met metal as the room’s door slid open and she peered at the guard sauntering inside, his smirk creating such a nasty feeling in the pit her stomach.

“How many times do we have to tell you to stay off the bars?!” Griggs sneered, his radio crackling to life as the second cage surrounding her bars slid open. “You’re lucky I didn’t tell them to light you up when you were upside down, though I’m sure it would’ve been such a pretty show, hotness.”

Harley forced a flirty expression, slowly hopping to the ground as she stared at the creep who had been making her life hell since she was captured. “If I had something else to play on, I would.”

The way his body shuddered nearly made Harley gag in disgust.

“I would offer to come in there but the big bosses wouldn’t like that,” he mumbled, clearly entranced, “Especially since you keep putting my guys in the hospital.”

Shrugging innocently, Harley peered behind Griggs curiously. A few of the guards behind him didn’t look familiar, their faces mostly obscured and hands lingering a little too close to their weapons. One in particular reminded her of someone but there was no way…

Or was there?

-X-

Watching that fucking bastard flirt with your incarcerated girlfriend made your blood boil, fury rumbling through your veins as you waited. You would kill him - slowly, painfully - before reuniting with the woman staring at you, letting his blood paint her skin. That was the only way he’d ever get to touch her again. She knew you were coming (there was never a chance of you leaving her here to rot with the scum of Gotham) but you hadn’t managed to find a way to send her a message so you had simply chosen to wing it.

And seeing the way Griggs treated her, you wished you’d come sooner.

Eyes flickering up to the cameras stationed around the room, you watched the red lights flicker before going dark, each one turning off like domino pieces falling. Glancing to your right, you nodded and untucked your gun from its holster, gaze returning to the giggling blonde. Griggs obviously thought she was still flirting with him but you knew different.

“Daddy…” Harley sighed, eyes glittering in the fluorescent lights.

“I shoulda figured you were a kinky girl,” Griggs grunted, still oblivious to Harley’s lack of interest in him. “You can definitely call me Da -”

Bullets rang out as you rolled your eyes, the bodies of the few actual guards thudding to the ground as your men made quick work of them and you shot Griggs’ legs in rapid succession, watching him drop helplessly to the floor. While nowhere the marksman that Deadshot was, you weren’t to be taken lightly.

You didn’t give him time to react, strolling over to the prone, howling man as he tried to comprehend what was happening. Blind with pain, he could hardly breathe as you gripped his shirt, the barrel of your gun dragging across his cheek.

“She wasn’t talking to you, you stupid fuck,” you hissed, letting the toe of your boot press into his bleed shin. “The only title you get is creep.”

His hand wrapped feebly around your wrist, tears streaming down his cheeks. You’d never understood how Griggs had become a leader in Arkham, considering his cowardice and idiocy. The fact he was left in charge of the high security inmates was mind boggling and you often wondered if they left him here hoping someone would just break his neck.

“You’re a disgusting little man, Griggs,” you mused, stepping a little harder. “I’m going to do what someone should’ve done years ago.”

Grabbing his gun, you tossed it aside before smirking at the guard.

“It’s good to see some things never change.” Snagging his handcuffs, you watched Harley snatch both his wrists through the bars while you maneuvered about, locking him against the cell he’d kept your girlfriend in for far too long.

Once he was secure (yelling obscenities but very much trapped), you fished the keycard to Harley’s cell from his pocket before dropping your final surprise onto his lap. Bright numbers continuously shifting along the screen, Griggs seemed unable to understand what he was staring at.

Five thirteen…

Five twelve…

Five eleven…

Unlocking the cell, you grunted as Harley jumped into your arms, legs tight around your waist as her mouth crashed into yours. Teeth and tongues met in a fierce battle, your hands sliding over bare skin as you reacquainted yourself with the woman clinging to you. You regretted ever waiting so long despite knowing it hadn’t been a choice but a necessity.

“Hi, kitten,” you mumbled, nipping at her lip before remorsefully pulling away. “As nice as this is, we need to go. When that reaches zero, we don’t want to be anywhere near him.”

Harley nodded, pouting as she dropped to the the floor though it shifted into a maniacal grin as she peered at Griggs. “Bye, bye!”

Chuckling, you tangled your fingers with Harley’s before tugging her away from the screaming man. Your men trailed behind you, pausing only when you turned to glance back at the (former) guard.

“I’d say it was nice knowing you but I’m a villain, not a liar. I’ll see you in hell, Griggs,” you called out, winking at Harley as you disappeared into Gotham’s notorious asylum, ready to face the world.

Together.

Chapter Text

Losing Pepper to Tony had always been a possibility. You’d always felt like a placeholder, simply waiting for him to replace you so when it finally happened, you plastered an understanding smile over the grimace threatening to overtake your face and bowed out of a relationship that was never meant to last.

He was your friend but she was his love and what could you say to that?

It was weird, staying with the company despite the awkward tension but you somehow managed it. Swallowing the ache bubbling in your chest whenever he kissed her cheek or did the little things you used to do. Going separate ways was hard when you were the only one ever invested.

But then Natalie Rushman - or, Natasha Romanoff, as it were - stepped back into your life.

The former assistant who turned out to be a former assassin with wild red hair and piercing eyes that had often left you enthralled, even when you were dating Pepper, walked into the dwindling office party looking for Tony but found you instead, slumped against the bar with silent tears pouring down your cheeks as the gravity of your failed relationship settled on your shoulders. It hurt, knowing you were the only one who’d cared - who suffered - about the months you’d spent with her.

“Hey, stranger,” Natasha greeted, climbing into the stool beside you as she studied your face. “It’s been a while.”

“Stranger is pretty accurate, huh?” you teased, goofy grin sporting no animosity as you peered at the former assistant.

Startled by the obvious playful jab, Natasha’s cheeks went hot as she tried to find an appropriate response. You’d been so nice to her during her time with Stark and she knew she owed you an apology or, at the very least, an explanation.

“Hey, no hard feelings,” you chuckled, waving the bartender over and passing the tip she’d definitely earned. “You were doing your job and I have to respect that. Plus you looked very pretty doing it.” You winked.

Natasha rolled her eyes, but the hint of a smile across pink lips let you know she was pleased by the compliment.

“You just liked how short the dresses were,” she laughed, catching the barest hint of desire darkening your eyes.

“I can’t deny that,” you replied huskily, letting your eyes skate along her lithe form for just a moment, remembering the pale flesh you’d often scolded yourself for staring at.

Natasha’s brow arched, surprised by your bold admittance. It was no secret Pepper had broken your heart (she’d acknowledged it when she’d met with Natasha for coffee, the guilt weighing heavy on her mind) for Tony but Natasha hadn’t expected such blatant flirting.

How much have you drank, (Y/N)?

Reading the hesitation in her gaze, you shrugged. “I’m not drunk, Nat. I wanted to be but someone in this place has to pretend to be professional. But I can’t sit here and pretend you’re not absolutely gorgeous. Someone would have to be blind not to see it.”

The tension was thick as your eyes locked with Natasha’s, hundreds of thoughts crashing about as you let yourself get lost in green.

“How about I give you a ride home?” Natasha finally offered, peering around the room. “It’s late and I think everyone else is pretty much passed out.”

Swallowing dryly, you nodded. Something about the innocuous statement left your belly in knots and your palms sweat but you ignored the butterflies trying to escape your throat. “Y-yeah. Okay.”

-x-

The ride was nearly silent, aside from the occasional ding of the turn signal and the gentle music flowing from the radio. Natasha’s movements behind the wheel were fluid but you barely noticed, far more intrigued by the woman than the late night traffic.

The glow of the lights left an angelic glimmer around the redhead despite you knowing fully well she was no angel. She was the ultimate temptation - the apple you weren’t meant to eat - but how desperately you wanted take that bite. Would you damn yourself if you did?

Or would all be forgiven afterwards?

“You okay, (Y/N)?” Natasha murmured sweetly, soft lips turning upward as she peeked out of the corner of her eye. “You seem quiet.”

“I’m fine,” you whispered, letting your gaze drift lower as you wondered if they’d taste like the sin you compared them to.

Was it wrong, yearning for your ex’s friend like this? She had already moved on with your friend, so why couldn’t you move on with hers?

“Do you want to come up?” you asked as she parked in front of your apartment.

Natasha’s eyes burned bright and you almost wanted to blame the question on what little alcohol was coursing through your veins but you’d been honest when you told her you weren’t drunk. So you waited, accepting that you’ll either be going upstairs with a gorgeous super spy or you’ll be slinking upstairs to mope into the vodka stashed in the back of your fridge.

Natasha’s gaze was steady on you as she reached out and turned the key slowly. The car went quiet and you remained still in the silence, awaiting her response.

“Yes,” she finally breathed, eyes flickering to your mouth before she was shoving open the door and stepping out into the world.

Scrambling to follow after her, shaky fingers unlocked the building before ushering the beautiful woman inside. Your heart felt like it was pounding against your rib cage but you did your best to remain unfazed despite the sweat lingering on the palms of your hands.

The moment you stepped into the elevator, the air shifted into some heady and hot. Boiling, even.

You’d never really know who made the first move. The moment she shifted towards you, the tension snapped within and you found your hands tangling her locks as frantic mouths slotted together in a kiss that left you burning alive.

There was no way this could be sinful when it brought you so close to salvation.

Whining as your tongue delved into her mouth, you crashed into the wall of the elevator, oblivious to the ever-rising floors. Sharp nails dug into your neck but you didn’t care, tasting the fruit that had haunted your darkest dreams.

You’d been a placeholder for Tony but maybe Pepper had been one too.

Chapter Text

Planning a demise wasn’t terribly time consuming when someone like Lockwood was helping. Dastardly and vile, his ideas were straight to the point as you discussed your options. While you couldn’t outright end the human’s life with your own hands, he was quick to point out the most effective options that even a great angel like Lena couldn’t stop. Cars were too uncertain and, while the elevator had been a good touch, something like that was too preventable.

“You need quick. Abrupt. No possible room for survival,” Ben advised, sunglasses obscuring his face despite having no need for them as he eyed the blonde strolling briskly past you, none the wiser of your existences.

“True, but we have to be smart,” you added, glancing around in search of Lena’s tell: her “heavenly” glimmer.

“Yes, yes, I know. Your little angel is cunning but I think you give her too much credit,” Ben replied, his eyes undoubtedly rolling as he sneered at the humans walking along.

Snorting, you jabbed your dagger into his side, ignoring his hiss of pain or the way he swatted at your hand. “No, I’m just not arrogant enough to underestimate her.”

Your eyes strayed back to Kara as she slipped back into her office building and then - only then - did you seem the shine of the angel that often haunted your thoughts. The cretins of the earth couldn’t see her but you could, her dark locks fluttering in the wind as she gazed back at you pleadingly.

Pieces of you hated her. Truly. Deeply. You would bear marks for the rest of eternity because of her.

But in the same token, you couldn’t deny that your memories with her often left your stomach twisted in knots as you reminisced over the smile that made your heart ache. It hurt, remembering how things had once been. Before you were forced to fight with her; fight for your life.

You could see Lena’s expression shift the moment it dawned on her who was standing beside you. The way her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed, defiantly glaring at the smug demon beside you.

“Uh oh. I think your little angel recognizes me,” Ben cackled, fingers curled into a taunting wave.

Snarling your lip, you growled, “She’s not my angel, you ass. Now shut up before I cut your fucking tongue out.”

Ben clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “Testy, testy, (Y/N). Such a killjoy.”

Cutting your eyes at him, your grip tightened on your dagger. “Shut. The. Fuck. Up.”

You glanced back over to the building, but Lena was nowhere to be seen.

-X-

Querl studied his ward curiously, occasionally reading whatever Nia was writing though his stare always returned to the woman he was sent to protect. She was so entrancing and for once in his existence, Querl wished to be human again. If only for a day.

So enthralled by Nia, he didn’t notice Lena’s presence until her voice startled him off the desk he’d been perched on.

“Gods, Lena, you scared me!” he yelped, clutching his chest as he stared at the openly bothered woman.

“Maybe if you had been paying attention to your surroundings and not gawking, you would’ve noticed me,” Lena scolded, though her words held no real bite to them.

“You seem troubled.” Querl’s brows furrowed together worriedly. “Are you okay?”

Shaking her head, Lena snagged her bottom lip between her teeth before sighing. “No. Complications have arisen and I’m unsure of what’s going to happen.”

“What complications?”

Peering over at Kara’s messy desk, her nostrils flared slightly. “It appears (Y/N) has been given a helper. Lockwood.”

Inhaling sharply, Querl’s eyes flitted between Nia and Kara. “What should we do?”

“Be watchful. And careful. (Y/N) might have once been a friend but with Lockwood here, we must be vigilant or they’ll both be dead before we can stop it.”

It was difficult, accepting your new role in her life. Mortal enemies instead of teasing rivals you’d once been. Friends no longer, especially if you were willing to work with him.

A monster in every sense of the word.

“If she’s working with him, you need to be careful. This seems way more personal than just an assignment,” Querl advised sagely. “I want to believe it isn’t but I can’t imagine Ben will let this finish without trying to end you. Or having her try to kill you, to prove herself.”

Your punishment had been no secret, most of the guardians far too aware of what your friendship with Lena had left you with, the bad blood thick and the scars deep.

“(Y/N) wouldn’t…”

“Maybe the old (Y/N) wouldn’t but now? Everything is different, Lena. You must accept that. Putting too much faith in her could cost us everything.”

Swallowing dryly, the angel nodded. He was right…

She just wished he wasn’t.

-X-

“We could always send a helicopter crashing into the building,” Ben mused, scratching his chin thoughtfully. “If that didn’t kill the human, surely the building collapsing would.”

“That would kill too many others,” you argued, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of your nose. “We’re supposed to be discreet. Dropping a building on a bunch of them definitely wouldn’t be discreet.”

Lockwood shrugged, completely unbothered by his suggestion. “The human must die. At least we’d know for sure she was dead. Plus Querl’s little charge is up there. Two sad, pathetic birds. One mighty stone.”

“Not a chance, Woody, pick a new idea.”

Ben sneered. He hated that nickname and you knew it, only using it to get under his skin. “Fine.”

Smirking at his obvious annoyance, you peered up at the sky absently, noting the darkening clouds. You couldn’t remember life as a human (if you’d ever been one to begin with) but you almost wished you could if only to feel the rain on your skin. It seemed like such a peaceful experience, the water trickling over flesh, soaking into clothes instead of rolling off dark wings.

“I’m going to see if I can come up with a better plan,” you jeered, heading for the building before he could reply.

Stretching your wings, you kicked off the ground and slowly maneuvered to the floor your mark resided on, eyeing the oblivious blonde through the window. You were well aware you’d be attracting unwanted attention but you couldn’t stand being around Ben any longer. If you didn’t get a few minutes of space, you were likely to ram your dagger into his throat and send him back to the underworld without his body.

The shift of the air was apparent and you smirked knowingly at Lena’s reflection in the glass.

“Stop smirking at me,” Lena demanded, arms crossed in frustration.

Snorting, you twisted to face her, brow arching in amusement. “Or what?”

“You’re working with Lockwood now?” she questioned, ignoring the challenge hidden in your words. “You hate that spawn of Hell.”

You shrugged nonchalantly, peering at the throngs of people below. “He’s my ticket to survival.”

“He’s a slimy coward who wants you dead!”

“Clearly so do you!” you shouted, eyes narrowing into a venomous glare dripping with disdain. “At least he’s trying to keep me alive a little longer.”

“You’re an idiot if you really believe that.”

Rolling your eyes, you inched closer to the infuriated woman. “No, I was an idiot thinking you ever cared about me, Lena. At least Lockwood doesn’t lie to my face and pretend to be my friend.”

“I am your friend!” Lena screamed, the green of her irises dissolving as energy flowed through her. “I don’t want you to die!”

As if sensing the tension, the sky went alight with lightning as rain began to flow, startling the humans and hurriedly soaking them to the bone. If only it could wash away the anguish and pain twisting your insides; silence the beasts banging around in your head.

“Bullshit! You pretend to be some pure, precious guardian but you’re really just as manipulative and cruel as every other angel. You think that energy of yours makes you above everyone but you’re no better than me! And I should’ve seen that instead of falling in love with some white-winged bitch!” You shoved her, hard, barely containing the want to strangle the guardian who’d ruined you.

Fury washed over you in waves, rendering you heedless of the unwitting admittance that had passed your parted lips, only the sounds of your enraged breathes ringing in your ears. A flurry of emotions crossed Lena’s features but you didn’t care, simply wanting to either bolt away from the angel or toss her into the sun.

Whichever was easier.

“Y-you’re in love with me?” she whispered, the power draining away and leaving behind imploring emeralds that were glassy with something.

The blood drained from your face as you poured through your last words. You had never meant to say that. Because you weren’t in love with her. Couldn’t be. There was no love in your heart, especially for her.

“I…”

Lena’s fingers twitched, the urge to reach out overwhelming as she silently begged you to stay. To help her understand.

“(Y/N)-”

Shaking your head violently, you jerked backward. “No! No, no, no. I don’t - I can’t - fuck!”

Red lips dipped open but you didn’t stay long enough to hear what she had to stay.

Fire erupted…

And then you were gone.

Chapter Text

Life as a pirate was everything and nothing like you’d expected. On a boat full of slightly terrifying women, you felt entirely out of your element but completely at ease at the same time.

Yelena (Natasha’s most trusted outside of Wanda) was the Captains’ quartermaster, acting as their right hand at sea. You could tell she was wary of you, border-lining on hostile, but you accepted her caution with a simple nod and faint smile. Such renown must come with some type of hesitancy, otherwise the notorious women wouldn’t be alive to keep their reputations aflame.

Maria was another they seemed to trust, though she was slightly nicer. Less unsociable. She actually talked with you, discussing your former life between sword lessons while your girlfriends mapped your travels. What cities were worth raiding and what ships to overtake.

(You were remiss to admit you had honestly had no idea the amount of thought that often went into pillaging. It clearly wasn’t all gun powder and swordplay.)

But as days rolled into weeks and those weeks became a month, you realized you’d never been happier.

-X-

Sitting on the edge of the bed, you watched Natasha and Wanda bicker as they poured over the treasure map spread across the table. The glow of the candles flickered along the lines and coordinates, a heavenly light dancing across their features.

“I highly doubt Alexander left his fortune buried without traps or some type of guard,” Natasha argued, circling the tip of her finger along the parchment. “We must tread carefully.”

“I don’t disagree but he is arrogant. There is no way he’d put stock into the idea of someone besting him. His guards will be nothing but man-children with swords they have no idea how to use,” Wanda replied firmly.

Are they talking about…

“Governor Pierce?” you blurted, startling the two women from their heated debate. “From Cape Cod?”

Emerald eyes drifted towards you, the cool glint lightening as they studied you.

“You know of Pierce?” Natasha inquired, chewing her lip thoughtfully.

Nodding slowly, you rose up from the bed and wandered over to your girlfriends, glancing at the map. “Port Royal is a pirate haven. We had all types of men and women that would pass through. Some worked for him, others absolutely hated him. Called him a crook and two-faced. I think even Captain Rogers wanted revenge on him for something to do with his right-hand.

"Rumlow often sent him shipments and bragged that we would go meet with the governor every once in a while. And if he was attached to Brock, I assume he’s probably a terrible man.”

Wanda nodded. “The worst kind of man, actually. Steals from the poor to pad his pockets, has his mercenaries kill in cold blood…”

“He deserves to be hanged but no one will oppose him,” Natasha added, “Though I find it quite interesting that Rumlow seems to be friendly with him. I wonder if he does the less savory things for Pierce.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me,” you shrugged. “Rumlow, despite his wealth in the Port, is very hated. But no one has ever found a reason to run him out. Or if they have, they disappeared before it ever came to light.”

Humming deliberately, Wanda’s arm encircled your waist and tugged you close, her lips capturing yours.

“Do you think he could have some of Rumlow’s men guarding his wealth, then?” Natasha wondered, ignoring the burn in her belly at the sight of her favorite women sharing a passion she wished to delve into.

Carefully parting from Wanda’s tantalizing mouth, you considered the question.

“It’s possible,” you answered warily, wishing you could give a better response. “He seems very fond of the governor, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s lending men to him. Or if Rumlow is his puppet.”

Gazing upon the map again, Natasha reached out and rolled it closed with precision before tucking it away.

“Enough business for the evening,” she decided with a smirk, spinning around to face you. “We can choose our next actions tomorrow.”

Grinning, your hand drifted low on Wanda’s back, dipping under her breeches. “Oh? Then how ever shall we keep ourselves entertained tonight?”

The heat was glowing bright in Wanda’s cheeks but you and Natasha pretended not to notice, the captain closing the distance in seconds. Pale, callused hands gripped your cheeks and dragged you into a toe-curling kiss, her tongue meeting yours without hesitation.

Wanda squeaked as she was tugged closer, eyes trained on the occasion glimpses of pink slipping between mouths. It was oddly arousing, knowing you and Natasha were caught in a battle of dominance despite knowing you would ultimately submit to the fierce pirate.

“We’ll think of something,” Natasha growled against your mouth, earning shudders from both of you.

Tonight she would be discovering a far better treasure.

-X-

Boots sinking into the sand, you hummed as you looked along the abandoned beach. You could feel the earth shifting beneath your shoes and the weight of your sword was noticeable but you tried to ignore the anxiety rising up in your throat. This was your first real excursion and you couldn’t help but worry you were going to fuck this up.

“Breathe, (Y/N). You look like you’re going to pass out,” Maria murmured, winking at you.

Smiling shakily, your attention fell to your girlfriends as you waited attentively for instructions.

“As we all know, Pierce has goods hidden along this island,” Natasha started, her voice commanding and undeniably hot. “There is a high possibility it will be guarded by fairly capable men so we will have to be on our toes. Those of you chosen for this will be split into two groups. (Y/N), Maria, you will follow Wanda and myself. Yelena, you will lead the others.”

You peeked over at the blonde, wincing at the glare she offered in return. She looked as though she wanted to protest but bit her tongue instead, clearly having already accepted the decision. You wondered if someone had mentioned the plan to her beforehand.

She took in her crew mates and nodded shortly, leading them into the trees.

“They will be the distraction,” Wanda said, motioning for you and Maria to follow. “Our goal is to find the treasure as quickly as possible, so there might be no casualties or injuries.”

The journey inland was long and silent, your hands sweaty as you dodged low-hanging limbs and creatures that seemed less than thrilled by your existence. You had nearly screamed when a furious snake hissed at you but met an immediate fate thanks to the tip of Natasha’s sword.

As you ventured in deeper, shouts and the clinking of metal slammed into your ears.

“Shit,” Wanda whispered. “We’ve been discovered.”

Natasha’s hand on her arm stilled her, hair fluttering as her head jerked. “That is men. I don’t believe they know we’re here, we may just not be the only people here.”

Finding a slight gap in the brush, you peered into the fray.

Captain Steve Rogers of the Iron Shield was wading through guards like they were nothing, his blade tinted crimson as he taunted the men. His right hand, Bucky, was at his side, eyes slipping between the men and his man, always prepared to step in should Steve need it.

It almost didn’t make sense - the way Pierce’s guards were defending this section of the island - until you realized something must be here.

“We should offer a hand,” Wanda mumbled, eyes trained on Steve. “That way we may stop any bloodshed between our people and his.”

Nodding, your girlfriends rushed into the madness, swords drawn and hurriedly finding temporary homes in bodies as they dispatched guards. Maria followed suit, leaving you crouched in the brush. Part of you wanted to join them but the sight of something gold glinting in the sunlight caught your attention.

Staying low, you cautiously kept out of sight as you circled the clearing. The rest of the crew had followed their captains’ lead, some toying with the few remaining guards as they taunted them openly, jeering at the panicking guards. You obviously weren’t needed and the allure of finding the treasure was too great. Not because you wanted to secret it away but because the need to prove your worth was overwhelming. They’d taken a chance on you; you wanted to show it wasn’t in vain.

As you got closer, you nearly laughed. You could only assume it had been Pierce’s men’s terrible idea to mark the spot with a golden necklace hanging from a branch, the chain long and obvious as it swung in the breeze.

It even held the governor’s crest, a blatant token of the man who held a city in terror.

“Fucking idiots,” you breathed, touching the metal reverently. Your eyes drifted along the tree, taking note of the freshly shifted ground. It was apparent it was newly buried, the dirt too soft and pliant.

You almost didn’t notice the lack of shouts and swords until Natasha’s chuckle tickled your ears, voice husky with pride.

Peering back into the clearing, you noticed all the bodies littering the ground and your redheaded girlfriend chatting with Steve while Wanda helped Bucky with his bleeding arm, softly chiding him for letting his attention waiver.

Standing upright, you nearly called out to them until you caught sight of a man leveling a pistol at your crew, more specifically, Yelena. They were completely oblivious to him, most of them fully relaxed as they took stock of their surroundings.

He was a few yards away and you had no idea if you’d get to him before he fired but you had to try. You’d never forgive yourself if something happened to the crew or to Natasha’s closest friend.

Grabbing the dagger Wanda had gifted you after your first dueling lesson from your belt, you sprinted at him, drawing his attention away from the crew just long enough for you to wedge the blade between his ribs and bowling him over in hopes of saving a life. The gun fired but you didn’t have time to check who it might’ve hit as you tumbled into the grass, your hand slick with blood as you ended the coward’s existence without hesitation.

Your ears were ringing and your vision was fuzzy, the world barely moving. How cowardly, trying to shoot people from the shadows, like a ghost hellbent on revenge.

Panting, the adrenaline evaporated like the man’s soul and you stared at your trembling hand, dislodging the blade as the man took his last breath. Face pale and shirt smeared with blood, he was as still as the corpse he had become.

And you gasped.

You’d never killed someone before. Ever. Hell, you couldn’t even handle slaughtering animals. Or fishing, for that matter (you stopped fishing after you kept tossing the sad looking fish back into the see. Which, realistically, was all of them).

Your body sagged as realization dawned upon you, bile rising up in your throat. You hadn’t thought before acting, choosing your crews’ lives over anything else.

It had been instinct but now, holding the slick weapon, a stranger’s blood dripping from your fingertips, you could only wonder…

You had taken a life.

Killed a man.

Did this make you a terrible person? A monster? Ending a life so recklessly, without thought, must’ve meant something was wrong with you.

This life had seemed so new - so shiny - but now…

Is this life going to steal my soul?

Chapter Text

Everything was wrong.

Completely. Wholly. Wrong.

The swimming of your head was unnerving and you felt like you were absolutely going to lose your stomach. But then it stopped, the world righting itself and leaving you reeling between relief and panic. Relief that your brain was no longer trapped in a blender but panicking as you noticed your new surroundings.

It was obvious you weren’t where you were supposed to be. Where you had been. In the middle of some tiny town with the woman you thought you loved, spending the rest of your lives away from the madness of the world.

Except…

You were Avengers. You couldn’t simply abandon that life.

But you did. You left it all behind for her.

Didn’t you? You had suggested leaving. But you couldn’t remember any of it. Like walking through a dream. You could see your body - mouth forming the words - but it didn’t feel like you. It was as if you were watching a puppet, your eyes cold and body rigid though you vaguely caught a flash of yourself fighting against the puppeteer engineering your body. Noticed the flex of your muscles and the twinkle in your eye before it faded into nothingness again.

It was strange. You could hardly conjure memories of your time as one of Earth’s mightiest. Bruce and his awkward smile, Tony’s sacrifice, Natasha’s…