"Will Agent Anderson please make her way to Director Fury's office." The intercom speaker says throughout the entire base.
Sighing, I close the file on my computer and start towards the director's office. The walk is short and filled with curious looks. I reach the office in no time, knocking on the door gentle to ask permission for entrance.
"Come in." The gruff voice of the director says through the door.
Taking a deep breath, I push open the oak door, coming face to face with deputy director Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. Walking into the plush office, I close the door silently behind me, standing in front of the desk with my hands behind my back.
"You wanted to see me?" I say, my voice calm and professional, despite my churning stomach.
"Yes. I have a new assignment for you, Tony Stark and the rest of the Avengers have requested you to live and work at Avengers Tower. There you will perform all medical duties under Dr. Banner's guidance and you will help get Captain Rogers and Thor adjusted to earth and our technology." Director Fury says, surprising me.
"Yes sir. When do I begin?" I ask, my professionalism not allowing me to ask the screaming questions in my head.
"Tomorrow. Your bags are being packed this moment and Agent Barton will be flying you to the tower tonight." Fury replies, his one eye looking at me.
"Yes sir. Is that all?" I ask, unsure whether or not the meeting is over.
"Yes, you are free to go." Fury replies, returning his gaze to his desk.
I nod, leaving quickly and silently. Speeding walking to my room, I find all my clothes, toiletries, and few personal items packed and ready to go in my bags. Grabbing the three bags that contain my life, I walk towards the flight deck, anxious to leave the helicarrier and return to my city. New York City.
On the flight deck, Agent Clint Barton, waiting for my arrival, quickly greets me. Taking my bags like a gentleman, Agent Barton loads them into the jet before taking his seat as pilot and starting the aircraft. I take the co-pilot seat and buckle in. Even though I am trained to be a physician's assistant, like all S.H.I.E.L.D. agents I am also trained in many other fields. Aviation, mechanics, and combat were some of the many skills I've perfected through S.H.I.E.L.D. However, born and raised on the streets of NYC, I've learned to fight and defend myself since I was a kid. Living in a rough neighborhood, the only way to ensure my safety was to know how to fight, sometimes to the point of death.
By the time we land in New York, I'm exhausted. I don't remember when I had fallen asleep, but it must've been pretty soon after take-off since I don't remember anything of the flight. When we land, Agent Barton shakes my shoulder, waking me from my light slumber. Together, we leave the quinjet, Agent Barton carrying my bags despite my protests. We enter the basement of Avengers Tower, where the vehicles and heavier machinery are kept. Walking towards the elevator, I am awed by all the technology and resources available to the team of superheroes. I know Tony Stark is loaded, but now I can see how loaded he truly is.
The elevator trip to my floor is quick. When we stop at my floor, floor 21, I can see the awe factor is not just limited to the basement. My entire floor is converted into an apartment of sorts. Stepping out of the elevator I am greeted with a nice foyer of sorts with a cot closest and a small mudroom of sorts. Further entering the space I have a nice open living room, dinning room, and kitchen area. I have a large flat screen TV with surround sound, stainless steal appliances, and a grand eight seat dinning table with a large chandelier hanging above. The balcony and view from my room is amazing. Since I received the entire 21st floor, I have a 360 view of Manhattan and the harbor in the distance. I can see Central Park in the distance and the Brooklyn Bridge in the opposite one. The balcony in my room is large and spacious and has a grill, some patio furniture, and a lovely floor garden. Further into the apartment, I find I have an office, a small gym area, a guest room, and my own bedroom, which has a balcony with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. I have a large walk in closest, a full-scale bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub and separate shower, and a vanity already supplied with the most expensive make-up. Walking into the closest, I find there are already some clothes waiting for me. Several cocktail dresses, a few ball gowns, and various clothing items ranging from designer jeans to simple plain white t's. There's a whole rack full of shoes too; boots, heels, sandals, and everything in between. Placing my bags in the closest, I walk back toward the main room, noticing the other Avengers now join Agent Barton. The five males and Natasha wait patiently for me as I finish exploring my new crib.
"Well, what do you think?" Tony asks, clearly excited.
"It's lovely. But you shouldn't have gone through all the trouble." I reply, standing awkwardly in front of earth's mightiest heroes.
"Nonsense! You're part of the team now. Consider it a welcoming present." Tony says, shrugging his shoulders carelessly.
"Do you like it?" Clint asks, worry in his tone.
"Of course. I love it! It's the best room I've ever had! Thank you!" I say, embracing Tony in a hug and then moving on to Clint, who gladly accepts the warm embrace.
"C'mon it's getting late, we should let her get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow." Natasha says in a firm voice, peeling Clint off me.
"You're right. Tomorrow the real fun begins!" Tony says in a happy voice, high-fiving Clint and making Natasha roll her eyes.
"Have a good night, Skylar." Natasha says, giving me a small nod before taking her leave, Clint in tow.
"Night Sky!" Tony says, hugging me and giving me a small kiss on my temple.
"Good night Lady Skylar. I hope you have the sweet dreams." Thor says in his deep voice, giving me a bone-crushing hug before leaving as well.
"Good night Miss Skylar, I look forward to working with you." Bruce says, giving me a light pat on the shoulder before leaving.
"Good night Miss Anderson. Sleep well." Steve says in a guarded voice, looking at me with a peculiar look on his face.
"You don't have to go." I say before I can stop myself.
Pausing, Steve turns towards me, his blue eyes sparkling under the lights. For a super soldier and one of America's finest heroes, the man is quite dense. However, tonight he seems to be getting the message, because a grin spreads across his handsome features. "Do you want me to stay?" He asks, still slightly guarded.
Did I want him to stay? That was the million-dollar question. Did I want the man, who'd I slowly let break down my walls, stay? The fierce street girl in me wanted to say no. That I didn't need him and his chivalry charms to come in and protect me from the big, bad world. The other part of me, the girl who's been alone for so long, wants to say yes. It's been years since I've spent one-on-one time with someone in a place that feels like home. That rises another question, home. Could Avengers Tower be home? Home for me are the streets of New York. The dark, dirty, dangerous streets that are feared by tourists and avoided by locals. The place where street racing, prostitution, gambling, and drugs are centered and a daily life. The place where violence and murder are common, and the only real protection is a knife, gun, and a good hit. Could Avengers Tower, with all it's luxury, technology, and protection be home?
"Yes. If you want, please stay." I say, making my mind.
A full fledge smile spreads across his lips, the wrinkles on his face becoming more pronounced as he flashes me his pearly whites. Walking from his place near the door, Steve takes the final couple steps towards me, closing the space between us. Steve's 6' height compared to my 5'3 height forces me to tilt my head up to meet his face. Blushing, I let a genuine smile spread across my face.
"So Miss Anderson, what do you want to do?" Steve asks, his voice sending shivers through me.
"Please, just call me 'Skylar'." I say, casting my eyes downward at his heated stare.
"Okay, Skylar. What did you have in mind for this evening?" Steve asks, drawing out my name on his tongue, tasting it for the first time.
"How about drinks on the balcony? It's a warm night and there's a full moon." I say, motioning towards the shinning blue moon outside.
"Alright, drinks on the balcony it is." Steve says, leaning even closer and allowing me to get a heavy whiff of his scent.
Steve drinking a Bud Light and me a Corona, the two of us settle on the balcony furniture, drinking and enjoying the warm summer night. The full moon is out and shinning brightly over the city that never sleeps. True to its name, even at the late hour of nearly midnight, the city below the tower is bustling. Car horns can be heard from a distant and the sound of people walking and talking below is still slightly audible from such heights.
"I never get tired of this view." I say, taking another swig of my drink.
"What do you love most about the city?" Steve asks, looking at me and not the view.
"I don't know. I've seen both the good and the bad of this city it's hard to imagine one without the other. I probably love Time Square the most." I reply, thinking deeply about my reply.
"Any particular thing about Time Square you like?" Steve asks, continuing to nurse his drink and observe me.
Chuckling slightly, I take another sip of my drink before answering. "When I was little, my parents took me to Time Square on my birthday, Christmas, and New Years. I always loved to see Broadway at night with all the lights and posters."
"You miss her." Steve says matter of fact, knowing some bits and pieces of my mom from the mentions of her.
Looking down, I feel the stab in my chest at her mentioning. "Yeah." I reply simple, not wanting to let the pain show in my voice.
Moving from his seat, Steve kneels in front of me, placing my beer on the table beside my chair and taking both my hands in his. "I'm sorry. I wish I could be more comforting. I know what it's like to lose a parent. And I'm sorry you of all people had to lose yours." Steve says sincerely, making me looking into his blue eyes.
"You are comforting. Just being with me, talking to me. That's helped me more than you'll ever know." I say, my voice huskier than usual.
"C'mon it's late and you have a big day tomorrow." Steve says, gently pulling me out of the chair and sweeping me into his arms.
Walking inside, the super soldier carries me to my room, kicking the door shut and resting me on the soft mattress. Turning to leave, I grab his hand before it goes to far out of reach.
"Stay?" I say simple, giving him an unsure smile.
"Of course." Steve replies, kicking off his shoes and sliding next to me on the bed.
Shifting under the covers, I snuggle closer to Steve's hard chest, feeling his muscles relax under my touch. Placing my head over his chest, I can hear his heartbeat, the steady rhyme lulling me to sleep.
Three Months Earlier
I'm sitting in the conference room, my body not moving. My hands are still slightly shaking and I can feel the unsteadiness of my breathing. Shock, that's the state I'm in. This morning, Loki was questioned by the Black Widow, who was able to learn about his plan to release the Hulk. Plan succeeded. Not only did he release the Hulk, he attacked the Helicarrier, fatally wounded Coulson, and escape. One hell of a plan. On top of that, I came face to face with the Hulk and my life flashing before my eyes. I guess you could say 'wrong place at the wrong time'. And besides nearly being crushed by the Hulk, saved by a demi-god prince, and held hostage by a crazed god, now I get to hear the news that both Thor and Dr. Banner are gone, leaving only Captain Rogers, Tony Stark, Agent Romanoff, and a recovering Agent Barton left.
Now a good hour or so after the meeting has been through, I'm still glued to my seat, unable to move a muscle. I can't. The memory of Hulk's large and powerful form lunging with killer speed towards me can't leave my mind. The way his growl sounded while I was sprawled on the floor, a good blow to the body keeping me down. The flash of blonde hair, black armor, and olive skin crashing into the beast taking the blow through a wall meant for me. The memory continues to play out. I'm unable to think of anything else, only that split second when I believed I was actually going to die.
I feel a warm hand rest on my shoulder, jerking me out of my memories. Looking up to my side, I see Steve's worried look. He hasn't been the same since the attack. I know it's his first taste of action since arriving on the helicarrier and being reintroduced to the 21st century. The idea of a ranging beast able to destroy a quarter of the ship's interior is appalling to someone, who before his crash was only an idea of mythology or folktale.
"Are you okay Agent Anderson?" Steve asks, keeping a firm hand on my shoulder.
"Yes, thank you. Please call me 'Skylar'." I say, feeling slightly better with the contact.
"Do you need to go to the medical bay?" Steve questions, eyeing the scratches on my face and my still slightly bloody lip.
"No. I'm fine. Just need a good night's rest is all." I say, shaking my head vigorously and attempting to stand up.
The moment I stand, I feel a rush of dizziness. I know I hit my head when the Hulk threw my body like a rag doll, but I don't believe I have a concussion or anything serious. Even the doctor on staff didn't believe so.
"You're not 'fine'. You should go see Dr. Brown." Steve says, wrapping me in his arms trying to steady me.
"No. I'm fine. I just need to get to my room." I say, my voice firmer.
"If you don't see the doctor, at least let me help you to your quarters." Steve says, his voice gentler.
Attempting to take a step, the rush of dizziness overcomes me again, and I fall into Steve's chest. Yes, him helping me would definitely make the trip to my room faster, easier, and less painful. "Okay."
Without another word, Steve easily lifts me up bridal style and carries me out the conference room doors and through the hallways and corridors of the helicarrier.
"My room is on the starboard side. Top floor, near the forward wing." I say, my eyes getting heavier and my consciousness fading.
I pass out from exhaustion before we reach my room. In fact, we barely leave the main hallway before I'm out. I don't know what trouble Steve went through to find my room or whether he went through any, but the next morning I found myself laying in unfamiliar bed with a strong masculine aroma full of aftershave and a unique scent. Groggily I open my eyes more to the smaller, less furnished room of one of the temporary quarters. Not knowing why I'm in a TQ, I notice that I'm not longer in my dirty work clothes, but in a large over-sized t-shirt and my compression shorts. Sitting up further, I hear the bathroom door open and Steve's wet body with a white towel draped loosely and dangerously low around his waist emerge.
"Uh-um. Morning. I didn't think you'd be awake." Steve stutters, a pink blush creeping up his cheeks.
"No it's okay. Thank you for your hospitality. I really didn't mean to pass out on you." I say quickly, trying to keep my eyes focused on Steve's face and not his rock hard chest and abs, or the drooping towel.
"I asked Natasha to change your-uh clothes. I didn't think you'd be comfortable in your um-suite?" Steve says, motioning towards the oversized shirt.
"Thank you. That was very sweet of you." I say, blushing like the virgin I am.
"Don't worry I wasn't in the room. I thought you'd want your privacy." Steve assures me, obviously feeling awkward at explaining himself.
"Steve, it's okay. Thank you for being so thoughtful." I interrupt, finding his rambling and growing blush adorable in a way.
"The shower's all yours if you want. You don't have to use it. But if you want it's open for you, and so is anything in the room." Steve says, walking towards the built in cabinets and beginning to rummage through the contents inside.
"Thank you. I think I will grab a shower." I say, getting out of bed and begin walking towards the bathroom.
"There's a clean towel under the sink." Steve says, watching me.
"Thank you." I say over my shoulder, purposefully swaying my hips a little more necessary than I would normal just for fun.
Entering the bathroom, I turn around and see Steve's gawking face, clearly having watched and enjoyed my little show. Quickly noticing me looking, the soldier blushes a deeper red and looks away quickly, obviously embarrassed. Smiling at his modest ways, I close the door and start the water, removing Steve's shirt and my shorts before stepping in to the warm water. I shower quickly, wrapping myself in the white towel I find under the sink like Steve said. Walking back out, I wrap the towel around my body, carrying my clothes in one hand.
"Sorry I didn't realize you'd be done so soon." Steve says, making me look up at him, seeing him dressed and holding a cup of water and an apple.
"It's okay. I just finished." I say, noticing Steve desperately trying to avoid looking at my barely covered body still damp from the shower. "Steve it's okay, I'm not ashamed of my body."
"No! It's not that! You have a perfect body! There's nothing to be ashamed of!" Steve says quickly, looking directly at me with full conviction in his voice. "I just-I, uh…"
Walking up to the stuttering soldier, I gentle rest my hand on his chest, making his head snap towards me, then to my hand. "Steve, it's okay. You don't have to be embarrassed." I say kindly, loving the feel of his hard abs under my hand.
"You're not upset?" Steve asks, looking at me like a child would to a parent while confessing a guilty deed.
"Not at all. In fact, I feel it's a compliment you like looking at my body so much." I reply, trying to be seductive and not sure if I'm failing or not.
"Would you mind if I looked at it more?" Steve asks, uncertainty heavy in his voice.
"You can touch it if you like." I say, not sure where the courage to say it came from.
Slowly, but confidently, Steve brushes his hand across my arm, moving it to my side and resting it on my hip. His other hand caresses my face, pushing some of my wet locks behind my hair. Standing on my tiptoes, I stretch my height to be closer to Steve's taller one, his body returning my advances and lowers so his lips touch mine in a light kiss. Unable to control myself, I wrap an arm around Steve's neck, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. The hand on my hip tightens and a second hand rests on my waist to pull me closer and hold me to a toned chest. Opening my mouth, I let Steve test his tongue against mine, the feeling making me moan in pleasure. Becoming bolder, Steve pushes his tongue into my mouth, battling with it for control. Fisting a hand in his hair, my other hand is trapped between our bodies, the feel of my breast against his chest causing me to tingle from head to toe.
"Captain Rogers are you ready? Director Fury has located the Tesseract." An agent's voice says outside the door, knocking on the metal frame loudly.
Stopping our heated make-out session, both of us freeze. The deer and headlights look crosses Steve's face for a short moment before he steps back, unwrapping my arm from his neck. Internally whimpering at the loss of heat, I straighten my towel, making sure the girls are covered before looking back at Steve's face. Lust and disappoint are clear in his eyes, obviously wishing for more, but too committed to his job to ignore his duty.
"Go. I'll see you when you get back." I say, kissing his cheek softly and looking at him with equal amount of lust.
Kissing me passionately one last time on the lips, Steve hurries out the door, giving me one last sad look before closing the barrier and heading off towards the director.