You Meet Him for the First Time
A/N: What's this? A new preferences story? For the Avengers? YES! I am extremely happy with how this turned out! Please tell me your thoughts in the little white box below, or you can PM me. And take the time to check out my first Preferences story for NatM (Night at the Museum) or any of my other works!
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Disclaimer: I don't own you, or any of the other characters.
It's over. The invasion has finally ended, but that doesn't mean everything's back to normal. New York City was destroyed in the battle, and there is still some clean-up work to do, even an entire month afterwards. Due to your apartment's destruction, you have no job (you worked off of your now-destroyed computer for a living) and no place to live (housing prices for everything have tripled). There are shelters set up everywhere, but you don't want to cause any trouble. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention you have a problem? Yeah, you kind of have secret ice-powers. Like Elsa from Frozen. You can't create living snowmen or anything, but in tense situations (such as a crowded homeless shelter), you have a tendency to *ahem* freeze everything within a 10 yard radius. When the Jatari first landed, you locked yourself in the freezer of a nearby super market so you wouldn't hurt anyone. When the owner found you during clean-up, the temperature inside had dropped below zero and the room was literally wall papered in 1 inch thick ice, and on top of that it was snowing. Inside. Yeah, that bad. At least the cold doesn't really affect you. Currently, you have just been awoken in an abandoned alley by the sound of road workers. Fudge, you had only gotten 4 hours of sleep. Groaning, you sit up and pack your few meager possessions into an old back-pack you found.
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Steve/Captain America
"Need some help ma'am?"
A tall blonde man walks to where you have just finished packing.
"Thanks, but I think I've got it." You eye him cautiously; ready freeze him if he tries to attack you. It wouldn't be the first time. He frowns.
"It's alright; I'm with the clean-up crew." You scoff.
"Yeah, that's what they all say."
"I am." He sounds earnest. You heft on your pack and stand up, "Why were you sleeping out here? You know, there's a shelter down the street if you need a place to stay Miss..." Wow, the guy actually seems to give a what about your well-being. No one really does that anymore. You have grown so distant to the world around you; you forgot how nice people could be.
"(Y/n). (F/n), (L/n). And you are…?"
"Steve Rogers ma'am, at your service." He extends a hand and you shake it.
"Well, Mr. Rogers it's been a pleasure meeting you, but from the looks the workers are giving us, they probably have some work to do over here."
"Oh, right. Hey, uh, I'm about to go on break, and there's this coffee shop that's open about a block from here. You, uh, want to go get a drink?" You shrug.
"Sure, why not?"
...
Tony/Iron Man
You feel some dust drop down on you and look up. Your eyes reflect your horror as you watch a piece of the building behind you fall straight down.
"Look out!" You immediately respond to the robotic voice and roll out of the way. The chunk of rock crashes right where you were sitting, obliterating your last belongings. You tighten your eyes and calm your racing heart. Slowly, the ice that had formed melts off your hands. You open your eyes to see a familiar figure fly down towards you.
"Sorry, I didn't realize you were there." Iron Man lands next to you, extending a hand to help you off the ground. "Oh… was that your stuff in that bag? Don't worry; I'll replace everything in it." You smile appreciatively.
"Thanks… Mr. Stark, right?"
"Call me Tony. Mr. Stark makes me feel like I'm old." The gold face mask lifts to reveal the playboy you have seen in all of the tabloids.
"Well, thank you Tony. It wasn't much, just some old clothes, toiletries, and food, but it was everything I had." You sigh.
"What about your house?" You shake your head.
"My apartment was destroyed along with everything in it." He gives you a sympathetic frown.
"What's your name?"
"(Y/n)."
"Well (y/n), if you ever need anything, give me a call. This is my private number, so don't go losing it, ok?" A business card slips out of a slit in the arm of his suit and he offers it to you.
"You don't have to do that…" You try to resist, but he quickly nullifies any possible arguments you have.
"Go on, take it. Call me later and I can send you your stuff." You finally give up and take it from him.
"Thanks, Tony."
...
Bruce/Hulk
Leaving the alley, you make your way to the nearest super-market. Entering, you begin scouting the aisles for any necessities you might need. Stopping in the coffee section, you notice a rather nervous looking man. Seeing no attendants nearby, you decide to help him.
"Hey, you need any help?" He jumps. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. You just look kind of… lost." He gives you an appreciative smile.
"Thanks. A friend of mine asked me to get him some coffee. Do you see this brand?" He holds out the packaging.
"Uh, nope. Not seeing it. There's another store just down the block that might carry it though." He shudders.
"Great, just great." He mutters to himself.
"Don't like shopping much?" You smirk, recognizing the frustration of going out in public; the same frustration it took you years to get over.
"Not if I can help it." He sighs. "Well, thanks anyway." You watch him as he pathetically walks towards the entrance. An idea hits you, and you abandon your cart and follow him. Once outside, he stops, realizing he hadn't gotten any directions to the place. You chuckle.
"Take a right over there, straight past the next two intersections, then a left." He turns around in surprise. "Want some company?"
"Oh I wouldn't want to-"
"It's no trouble, really. In all honesty I don't have that much else to do and would enjoy the distraction." He gives you gentle smile.
"Thanks. I'm Bruce."
"(Y/n), pleasure to meet you."
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Thor/…Thor
Slinging your stuff onto your back, you exit the alleyway and head toward the park. You are so absorbed reading a book (The Lord of the Rings), you hardly notice the only other figure in the area until you walk right into him.
"Please forgive me fair maiden, Are you alright?" You nod and pick up you things from where you dropped them. "Allow me." He picks up your book which had fallen out of your hands. You blush at his manners. You have never met such an *cough* attractive *cough cough* man with such good manners.
Suddenly you hear the Darth Vader Theme play from his pants. He pulls an iPhone out of his jean's pocket and attempts to turn it on. "Blasphemy! Why doth it blare the music of the Wars of Star?!" You giggle.
"It means someone's trying to call you. Here, let me." You take the phone from him and press a few buttons. Handing it back to him, you realize he doesn't know what to do. Where the heck did this guy come from? The Dark Ages? You reach up on your tip-toes and place the device next to his ear.
"Lady Nat? Why do you make my phone play the music from the War of Stars? WHAT?! HE SHALL FEEL THE WRATH OF MY HAMMER!" Out of nowhere, a large hammer flies toward your head. You quickly drop down to avoid it as the strange man caught it. You feel the temperature dropping dramatically around you as fear wells in your chest. You remember hearing people talk about heroes with strange powers, but you personally didn't pay much attention. Now, you wish you had. He stuffs the phone in his pocket when he suddenly notices you, trembling on the ground. His face instantly softens upon the realization that he'd frightened you.
"I apologize fair maiden, however, Bird-man has stolen my Tarts of Pop and I must make him pay." You don't know who this bird-guy is, but you are afraid that tall blonde and freaky might hurt someone if you allow him to carry out his threat. You don't want to have to use your powers, so you try sweet-talking him.
"Y-you mean Pop Tarts? Here, I have some left over. You can have them, j-just please put the big hammer away and calm down. Ok?" Your voice trembles as you try to keep back the spray of frost that threatens to blow your secret. He eyes you cautiously.
"What kind, maiden?" You let out a shaky breath and pull out a blue box, praying that he likes it.
"S'mores and… brown sugar. You can have whatever, please, just put the hammer down." His blue eyes looked into your e/c ones, and you pray that they aren't changing color like they usually do when you use your powers.
"Alright then, a fair trade." He puts down the hammer and you hand him the box. As you pass the box to him, your hands brush together. "You are cold." He takes your hand in his own, showing how small you are in comparison to him. How easily he could hurt you. You pull away and grab your arms. You have never felt so… vulnerable. Well… you have, but nothing like this. You try to talk, but your voice evades you.
"It is alright, you have nothing to fear. I mean you no harm." He smiles faintly and offers his hand. You calm your racing heart and try to bring you temperature back to normal. After a few moments of hesitation, you place your hand in his.
"Come, the place of Starbucks has warm drinks, to remedy this cold morning."
...
Clint/Hawkeye
You grumble as you sling on you pack, determined to get more sleep. After circling the block, you find a tall build that the workers have already finished. Scaling the fire escape, you find a small corner to curl up in. In fact, you are almost asleep when…
WHICHING!
"C'mon! I NEVER miss!" You open your eyes to see an arrow right above your head; the wing of a fly captured in its tip. The arrow is roughly yanked from the concrete by a sandy-blonde archer.
"What the heck?!" You yell, feeling your hands ice-over instantly under your gloves.
"Yeesh, I wasn't aiming at you Sleeping Beauty."
"Well then what exactly did you mean that you missed?" You stand up and put your hands on your hips. He groans.
"The fly."
"The fly?"
"My shot was supposed to clip the left wing, not the right." He groans as he sinks to his knees. "And like I also said, I NEVER miss." You look at the archer, then at the fly writhing on the ground.
"You actually made that shot?" You stare at him incredulously, feeling the ice slowly soak your gloves as it melts. He nods.
"I just… I mean, how is this possible, I-" While he begins to rant about all his training and experience with the government, you go back and examine the fly.
"Hey, uh archer dude?"
"Hawkeye. But after that shot, I don't think I deserve to be called THAT anymore." He mutters.
"I wouldn't be so sure little bird." You toss him the fly. "While from the angle you shot it, it would appear you hit the left wing, you turn it around however and…" Relief washes over his face.
"YES! I mean uh- thanks, Miss. And uh, sorry about shooting at your head." He grins sheepishly. You chuckle.
"(Y/n). And as long as you don't lose you don't lose you touch, its fine with me. Hey, how about a celebratory donut? I think I saw a shop down the street." He grins.
"You mean Dunkin's? Sure, but the bill's on me."
...
Loki/Loki
"Mew." You turn around to find an adorable little black cat rubbing against the back of your legs. Well, it's actually a kitten, but that's beside the point. You pick up the little ball of fluff and gently stroke it; you have never really believed in the whole "bad luck" thing. Then, you notice the reason for its meowing. There's a shard of glass stuck in its paw.
"Sh, it's alright, I've got it. Now, it will only hurt for a second." Gently, you pluck the offending object and cast it aside. Glancing around, you don't see anyone, so you form a little ball of snow in your palm to apply to the bleeding appendage.
"Mew." The poor little thing squirms.
"I'm sorry, I know it's cold, but it will help you heal faster." After a few more minutes, you dissipate the snow and settle down to cuddling it. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a collar, so you don't know where it's owner is. After a while, you consider taking it to a shelter when…
"Shadow, …Shadow! Come here you pathetic little mortal creature!" The kitten seems to recognize the voice, so you stand and walk towards it.
"Um… is this Shadow?" The man turns towards you in surprise. "I found him earlier in that alley back there. Be careful, he's hurt." The lean young man takes the kitten from you and inspects its paw.
"Not a bad clean-up job. And yes, this is Shadow. My brother got him for me to make me feel more… comfortable." He groans.
"Not much of an animal person?" You smirk.
"Not in the least."
"Well if you ever need a cat sitter, I don't really have a job anymore so… here." You take out a pen and scribble your name and number on a scrap of paper in your pocket. "Just give me a call. Oh, and you might want to consider getting Shadow a collar. That way if you lose him again, he can be easily returned." He raises an eyebrow as you hand him the slip.
"Do you realize who you're dealing with, Miss (l/n)? I am Loki of Asgard and I am bur-" You cut him off, not really understanding what he means.
"As long as you're not a rapist, uh- Loki, I don't really care. Oh, and call me (f/n)."
"Well then, (y/n), this will be… interesting."