Having nothing else better to do for the holiday, I decided to attend the party Stark was throwing for the fourth of July. Bruce who was my actual boss begged me to come so he would have someone to chat with. I was his lab assistant but friends as well sharing similar hobbies.

I sat at the bar with Bruce for a while until Tony called him over to meet some other people. I felt out of place and regretting coming at all when a blonde couple approached the bar to the left of me. Deciding not to wait for the fireworks, I grabbed my glass to put it at the end of the bar with the discarded drinks.

Someone bumped into me from behind, my drink splashed onto the woman covering the front of her white sundress.

"I am so sorry. Someone bumped into me and I'm so sorry. I can pay for a replacement," I rambled noticing the woman's frown.

"Excuse me," she spat speeding off.

I set down the glass reaching for my wallet to give her boyfriend money for the dress.

"I'm sorry I ruined your girlfriend's dress," I stammered to the man looking down combing for my money.

"She's not my girlfriend, ma'am." He replied making me freeze.

That sentence was tattooed on my side. My soulmate's words.

I looked up to see Steve Rogers staring down at me making my eyes widen.

"W-What did you just say?" I had to have heard him wrong.

"Hey, Cap, it's time!" Mr. Stark announced pulling him with the help of Thor outside as the fireworks started. The crowd rushed out to follow the Avengers. The lights turned off leaving me alone in the dark. It had to be a mistake.

Biting back tears, I left finding the closest diner to get a good burger and a strawberry milkshake to mull things over. A bitter pit formed within my stomach making me on edge. The overwhelming feeling of not being ready to be with someone no matter of Captain fucking America. God, he deserved someone like him a superhero. Leaving cash for the bill and a generous tip, I hit the streets glancing up to see stray fireworks filling the night sky. Rummaging through my purse, I frantically noticed my phone was missing.

"Shit," I hissed turning back in the direction of the tower remembering I set my phone down in the bathroom.

My stomach dropped when my phone was gone from where I had set it. I groaned my forehead hitting the wall.

"Are you okay?" A woman with a thick Eastern-European accent asked making me jump ten feet.

I turned to see Wanda Maximoff washing her hands.

"I'll be fine," I told myself and her taking a deep breath.

Wanda tilted her head. I felt like an idiot realizing she could probably feel what I was feeling. I tried to calm down feeling my cheeks redden with embarrassment. She focussed her eyes on me before smiling making her way out the door.

Forget it, go home, order a new phone, and everything can go back to normal.

Walking out, I observed only a few voices, not a whole crowd. I faltered stopping mid-stride when I heard someone address Steve.

"What's the bitter pill, birthday boy? Carter seemed interested in you," Stark snarked.

Was it his birthday? Jesus, I feel worse now. I took a few quick steps away to make sure I wouldn't be seen.

"It was hilarious when that girl accidentally spilled wine on her dress though. Sharon bitched about it all night," Barton remarked chuckling to himself.

I tensed at the long pause that followed.

"That woman is my soulmate," Steve admitted eliciting gasps from his team members.

"Congrats, Sharon is a great agent," Bruce, my boss, was the first to speak.

"It's not her," Steve replied warily.

Tears formed in my eyes, he wanted her not me, of course. I heard enough turning to rush towards the elevator not before slipping on someone's spilled drink. I fell back hitting my head hard.

"Fuck," I grumbled regaining my vision seeing a circle of Avengers around me.

Double fuck.

"Cora?" Bruce asked pulling me gently up from the ground. Steve stepped forward anxiously to help. The breath was knock out of me when his fingers grazed my wrist feeling sparks shoot from his touch. Wordless, we stared at each other.

"Holy shit, they are both socially awkward. They are perfect for each other," Tony teased making Steve turn to glare at him.

"How about you walk her home, Steve," Wanda suggested smiling at the two of us.

Steve placed an arm behind me leading me towards the elevator. The doors closed and I turned to look up into his eyes.

"I'm so sorry. I don't want to cause you any trouble. We don't have to," I faltered with my words as he pulled me into a hug. I breathed in his scent making my body weak.

"I have been dreaming of you since 1939. I won't let you out of my sight," Steve admitted kissing the top of my head.

We walked hand in hand through the celebrating streets getting to know each other better. I blushed when he kissed me on the cheek goodnight.

"Would you to get breakfast tomorrow?" Steve asked blushing like mad smiling.

"That sounds great, Steve. Thank you for walking me home."

Kissing his cheek, we agreed to meet up at eight.

As soon as I locked my door, I squealed in delight at meeting Steve. He was perfect. I pulled out my laptop to Skype my mother to tell her the good news. I had a few friends but my mother was currently the only person I told everything. She was the only person who knew that I was a mutant.

Getting ready in the morning took double the time because I changed my outfit as least eight times. I finally decided to wear my first outfit trying to play it cool with jeans, converse, and dark green sweater. I felt butterflies as I walked into the café Steve said was great. We were sat by the window. Our waitress had her shirt a button too low to be called appropriate while batting her eyes at Steve. I felt a surge of uncomfortableness from Steve through the very thin bond that had grown since we first touched.

I chuckled slightly of how he kept his eyes downward ordering a cup of coffee.

"I'll have the same, thank you," I smiled at the waitress before looking down to glance at the menu.

As soon she was out of sight, Steve looked up at me with a flustered expression. I giggled at him shaking my head at him teasingly.

"Maybe you should have worn bagger clothes," I suggested as she made her way back to use.

Steve rolled his eyes at me before ordering the all-American breakfast. I ordered the French toast. I stirred in cream and sugar in my coffee. I noted how Steve took his plain. Steve looked around, surveying them room in habit. I noticed his eyes lock on a table around the corner hidden behind a clear dividing wall. Steve groaned seeing that Bucky, Sam, Natasha, and Tony tailed him. They quickly avoided Steve's gaze. I turned to glance over at the table.

"I can't believe them, actually I expected it from Tony. If you are uncomfortable, we can leave," Steve offered, taking another sip of his coffee.

"They care and that's a great thing. Would you mind if we joined them?"

Third POV

It was Natasha's idea to follow Steve. Tony made a copy of Cora's file to bring along. Bucky and Sam were in wanting to make sure this girl was right for their best friend. Bruce urged them not to saying that his lab assistant was a great person and not to worry. Wanda thought what they were doing was childish and took Vision away on a day vacation. Clint returned to his family for the rest of the month and Thor returned to Asgard.

The table watched as Steve and Cora entered. They watched the waitress try to get Steve's attention, gauging Cora's friendly behavior.

Bucky used his hearing to repeat their conversations. They acted normal as the couple approached their booth.

"Good morning, do you guys mind if we join you?" Cora asked smiling with Steve's hand on the small of her back.

"No, not at all. Elsa over here was craving blueberry pancakes this morning," Tony answered making room for the two.

Cora slid next to Sam greeting him with a small smile.

"If you don't mind me asking, do you know if Bruce has finished the first round of testing for the new compound?" I directed to Tony.

"He was just starting when we leaving," Tony answered knowing the work they had just started. Tony liked Cora she had quite the attitude in the lab. She had always never taken any of Tony's shit and wasn't scared of working with Bruce.

"That hypocrite, Bruce refuses to let me work weekends. Then he promised to wait until Monday to wait to start testing so I could be there," I sneered crinkling my nose wishing to see how the compound would react.

"I reminded him. He told me that you can take it up with the Hulk because he gets restless not doing something," Tony replied as waitresses returned with trays of food.

"I might just have too," I joked taking a bite of my French toast.

Sam snorted at me.

"Hey, I could totally take him," I half-joked at him knowing there is a chance that I could.

"When pigs fly," Sam retorted sticking his tongue out at me.

"He does fly doesn't he?" I leaned over asking Steve making him choke on his eggs snickering.

I looked back to see Bucky and Natasha sharing a look.

Tony ended up paying and we followed behind the group at a distance.

"Since I didn't pay, this doesn't count as a date. Are you free tonight?" Steve asked ignoring Sam wolf whistles.

"I'm free, but I actually already have a chicken cooking with potato and carrots. You are more than welcome to join me," I offered.

"That sounds great," Steve answered as we caught up with the group waited for us to catch up.

"Hey, short stack! Bruce texted me that he will have the first results within the hour. Wanna join me?" Tony offered.

"As long as you don't mess up my samples with your fat fingers," I snapped jabbing my finger at him.

"It was just one time!"

I spent the next hours with Bruce and Tony in the lab. The results were better than what I expected. Bruce congratulated on me finding my soulmate while Tony kept going with sex jokes instead.

"So Cor, when do you plan to deflower America's national treasure?" Tony asked how erring behind me.

"Careful, Tony, she is carrying a chemical that could burn your face off," Bruce warned stretching his back.

"I wouldn't take away the only thing he has. I'm not satan," I teased setting the sample down itching for a break.

"Now, you have broken my heart," Tony dramatically feigned heartbreak, "Steve, there you are, we have been talking about you."

Steve came in dressed in workout clothes carrying a cup of tea. He came down to set it beside me kissing my cheek.

"This is what I have been dealing with," Steve admitted.

"I wonder if I dangle my keys in front of him if that will shut him up," I reply watching as Tony pouted going over messing with some circuits.

"I thought you might need a break," Steve offered me his hand which I took grabbing my cup of tea. Steve led me down the hallway to an empty living room. I curled up tucking my feet underneath me cradling my tea taking a sip.

"I didn't realize how close you are with Banner," Steve stated turning to look down at me.

I didn't have to feel the bond to hear the hint of jealousy in his tone.

"He's my boss and friend. I also prefer Captains," I admit slowly leaning up placing a kiss on his cheek before pulling away slowly.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I didn't expect the bond to get strong so fast. We barely know each other."

"I feel it, too. I was wondering if your other friends approved of me. It's kind of hard to read them."

"Bucky and Natasha don't trust people easily. I can barely get a read off them sometimes but they congratulated me on us."

"I bet I can win them over with a nice fruit basket. All assassins like fruit baskets, right?"

A month later, Steve and I grew closer than I thought possible. I warmed up to Wanda, Vision, and Sam easily but Bucky and Natasha still seemed on the fence about me. I worked in the lab with Bruce and sometimes Tony. Steve and I got to know each other which was great but still after four dates I still received a kiss on the cheek. I knew he wanted to take it slow but this was beginning to get frustrating.

Currently, Steve was away for a three-day mission with Bucky, Natasha, and Wanda. I sat on the floor scrubbing away turning my Sunday into a deep clean day. Getting up to pick up my phone, I answered the incoming call from an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Cordelia Lily Adams. We have your mother in 1201 Eastwood Drive in Salt Lake City. If you want to save her life come alone. We will know. We just want to chat. This phone will combust in ten seconds. See you soon."

I dropped the phone in the sink as it ignited.

Well, fuck.

Leaving a scribbled note that I had an emergency and would be back soon. I filled my backpack before hailing a taxi to the airport. I suppressed my guilt so Steve couldn't sense it.

Waiting four hours to get on my flight, I couldn't sleep on the plane. Little did I know that Steve returned early.

I checked into a motel outside of Salt Lake City before trying to eat something and recover from jet lag getting ready for what faced me the following day. I could feel Steve's worry from his side of the bond. I focused for a second closing it off trying to be level headed for tomorrow. Also, I didn't want Steve to worry.

Third POV

Steve wanted to surprise Cora so he stopped at the market to pick up pizza and flowers. He was worried when he received no response from her door or her phone instead he found a note addressed to him telling him not to worry and that she left for a family emergency. He could feel her fear despite how she tried to hid it.

"Cora's gone. She left a note about a family emergency but I think it's something more," Steve rushed into the debriefing room. He had a gut feeling something was wrong.

"J, give me a location," Tony commanded.

"Are you sure that you are not overreacting?" Natasha snapped wanting to finish the debriefing with the full team.

"She just landed in Salt Lake City. She bought the ticket herself," Tony explained watching the video of a frazzled looking Cora.

"Her family lives in Northern Wisconsin, why would she go to Salt Lake City?" Bruce asked.

"Why don't you call her?" Bucky asked wondering why this was a big deal.

Steve admitted that he may have broken her door to investigate more. He set the remains of a burnt phone on the table.

"Okay, that's weird," Sam admitted.

"I think you need to calm down. You freaking out is probably freaking her out. Cora is a grown woman and you need to trust her," Natasha leveled trying not to sound incentive. She had a feeling that the girl was more than met the eye.

"Excuse me for worrying about my soulmate's odd behavior and disappearance," Steve snapped leaving the room to head to the gym to hit something. It was well into the night when he felt nothing from her, she was gone from the back of his mind. That's when the Captain really began to panic. He paced for hours debating on tracking her down. By the early morning, he had to find her. Bruce, Tony, Natasha, Bucky, and Sam decided to tag along.

Cora's POV

Getting up, I had knots in my stomach. I could take care of this and be home today. I wasn't sure how I was going to tell Steve yet. The taxi pulled up to the large looking warehouse. I took a deep breath before yanking the door open closing it behind me.

My mother sat in a chair with a man wearing a metal helmet on leaned on a table in front of her.

"Welcome! I was wondering when you would appear," the man boomed gesturing me to approach.

I looked at my mother who was smirking at me instead of looking fearful. She morphed in a blue lady. It was a trick, of course, it was.

"What game are you playing?" I demand while crossing my arms taking a step back.

"We had to draw you away from your friends to make you an offer to join us. You keep yourself hidden. Wouldn't you like to be not afraid anymore of what you are? The time of hiding in the shadows is over because people will finally see that mutants are supreme," He sauntered around to stand behind me.

"Remarkable of how much you sound like Hilter. You trick me then ask me to trust you? You could have just knocked on my door because you went to all this work to hear the same answer of no!" I spat at the both of them.

The lady morphed into Steve in his uniform standing up.

"But Cora, isn't your duty to your people?" Not Steve asked smiling at me.

"Now that's spooky," Tony sneered appearing the door yanked open.

Most of the team stood in their gear, I could just see how pissed Steve was. They weren't supposed to be here. I grimaced at Bruce who stood off to the side. I didn't want them to find out like this.

She morphed into a blue lady as a man appeared out of thin air. The metal headed man grabbed a piece of scrap metal before hurling it towards Bruce. I stopped it before it reached him floating in mid air but the damage was done. Bruce erupted into the Hulk.

"That should keep you busy for a bit. We will be waiting for you, but a parting gift of what it feels like to turn you back on your own," He warned before passing by me. He used his gift to stab a sliver of metal into my side.

"Eric, we need to go," the blue lady snapped before they teleported away.

The burning pain hurt more than anything I had ever experienced. I yanked out the sliver putting my hand on the wound to keep pressure. I turned to see that the team had their hands full with Hulk trying to calm him down. He roared before setting his eyes on me and he was pissed. I could see that it was all my fault in his eyes.

"Cora, move!" Steve shouted tossing his shield at Hulk's head try to distract him.

I stood my ground taking a few steps towards Hulk who charged at me. Before the team could react, Hulk had frozen mid-leap.

I took a deep breath focusing what energy I had left on trying to knock him off carefully. Feeling the blood drip from my nose, I had seconds left to get him asleep before I would be.

The team watched in awe as the two collapsed in sync.

"Cora!" Steve ran to gather her up in her arms rushing back to the quinjet to step her a gurney. Bucky was right behind him grabbing medical supplies to dress her wound. Getting Banner in the other gurney, the team headed back to New York.

Steve carefully washed the blood away from her face.

An hour later, Banner woke before checking his assistant side.

Cora's POV

I woke up with someone brushing my side. My eyes first saw the IV drip that made my body numb. I open the bond searching for Steve finding a wave of anger and worry.

"Careful, you don't want to reopen your wound," Bruce warned not looking me in the eye.

"How could you do something so stupid?" Steve snapped towering over me.

The others averted their eyes not looking at us but seemed shocked by his harsh tone.

"I'm sorry," I replied wishing he would stop looking at me with such cold hard eyes.

"You're sorry? I trusted you. We trusted you. How could you not tell me you are a mutant?" Steve hissed stared at me expecting an answer.

"I don't owe you an explanation for what I am," I croaked before turning my back to him letting a few tears fall.

Steve muttered something under his breath before walking towards the cockpit. I felt him close of the bond making me let loose a sob. No one spoke for the next three hours. When they landed, everyone but Bruce left. He walked over to me placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Cora, it's time to wake up," Bruce whispered.

"I'm awake," I whispered glancing over my shoulder to look at him.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine, I want to go home."

I stood accepting the jacket from his to cover up before limping out next to him.

"I'll walk you home."

Bruce and I walked silently until I viewed my broken door.

"Bruce, could you stay for a few minutes?"

"Sure, here I can get this." Bruce propped the door open for us to get in before shutting it.

"There is tea in the cabinet left of the stove. I'm going to change."

We sat at the table while I sifted through a tin looking for a certain picture. I handed the picture of a bus load of kids sticking their heads out the windows. I pointed myself out.

"I was eight when I discovered my ability by pushing a kid with my hand breaking their ankle. When I was nine our bus crashed on a bridge falling into a lake along with a semi. We were going to the zoo. I was the sole survivor. My younger brother died. I tried to lift the bus but I was powerless. I ended up nearly killing myself then spent months in the hospital. They couldn't understand how I sustained so much brain damage. I told my mother and she was beyond supportive. A few years later, after mutant events grew in the news. Our neighbor came out with the ability to read minds. "Mutant and Proud." was the t-shirt I found him in when he was hung in the town square. I would listen to how hateful people were and only practiced my abilities when we went to our Summer cabin with my mom. I hurt her once by accident and since then, I stopped using my powers.

I never told anyone else. It's why I'm not afraid of you and why we got along at first. I know what's it's like to feel like a monster. I wanted to tell you but this gift of mine ruins everything when I use it. I didn't want anyone to think of me differently. I'm so sorry, Bruce. I understand if you don't want to work with me anymore." Wiping the tears from my cheeks, I felt Bruce pull me into a hug stroking my hair.

"I still care about you, Cora. For me, it's comforting to know that if the other guy gets out of line you can help me. I understand why you didn't tell me. I'm here for you for anything."

I smiled into his shirt.

"I think I have a frozen cheese pizza in the freezer for dinner if you want to stay."

"That sounds great."

Third POV

Bruce left a few hours later after redressing Cora's wound. He felt closer to here after today and felt Hulk fierce urge to pummel Steve into the ground after the way he treated her.

He entered the floor hearing people in the living room. He walked into the kitchen grabbing a water when he listened to the conversation.

"So instead of comforting her after being stabbed you yelled at her?" Wanda asked glaring at the captain.

"Yeah, dude, it was a bit harsh," Sam agreed.

Steve dismissed them by focusing on Bruce.

"What took you so long?" Steve snapped noticing how his shirt was partially soaked.

"I stayed with Cora. She told me about her past and how she was afraid to tell anyone. I comforted her making sure she ate dinner before rechecking her wounds," Bruce explained in an even voice not liking how much of jealous boyfriend he sounded, "And you should go over as fix the door you broke. I know you're upset she's been through enough to have her soulmate shame her for being herself."

Steve froze. He ran his hands through his hair before moaning, "I'm an idiot. I love Cora. The thought of losing her mad me go a bit crazy. I guess I better go buy here a new door. Thank you, Bruce, for looking after her," Steve admitted before rushing out the door.

"Finally, he's been moping since you two left," Natasha pointed out taking a sip of her coffee.

Cora POV

"Steve?" I asked opening my door when he pulled me into his arms kissing me hard without warning. Melting into the kiss, my hands played with his hair as he took my breath away.

"I was a being an ass. I'm sorry for overreacting just the thought of spending the rest of my days with seeing you smile made me lose it. Please, could you forgive me?"

I nodded pulling him in explaining everything I kept from him. A weight felt lifted from me as he pecked my face with kisses. After attaching my new door, I invite him to stay the night. We ended up cuddling in my room for hours along with some kisses making me forget the events of the past twenty-four hours.

It took a few days before things went somewhat back to normal. Wanda was very supportive of me being a mutant herself. We bonded more by her sometimes helping me play around with my power telling that it could be a good thing.

Bucky still wouldn't look me in the eye neither would Natasha. I knew it bugged Steve.

Currently, it was a little past nine at night. I was still in the lab making some sweet overtime with Bruce and I furiously still at work being on a time crunch because of how fast of samples would deteriorate.

Steve, Sam, and Bucky went out for drinks a man nights out. The rest of the team was around but didn't interrupt us.

Hours past and we were just about finished, I felt my eyes drooping. I lifted my head from the tabletop hearing a rowdy group head towards the lab.

I look at the three drunk men giggling like children stumble in the lab. Bruce paused stepping in front of me to set down a beaker.

"Cora, my sweet darling, I've been looking everywhere for you. Where have you been hiding?" Steve asked completely plastered.

"Are you drunk, Steven Grant Rogers?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

"Maybe," he giggled before tickling Bucky making him squirm and yelp.

"They both drank a keg of Thor's stuff, it was cool," Sam explained wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

Steve stumbled forward to try and hug me but hugged Bruce instead.

"Doll, why do you smell like a man?" He asked pouting.

"Because you're hugging, Bruce, honey. Bruce, can you finish up without me?" I asked pulling Steve away. Bruce nodded bidding me goodnight.

Steve nuzzled his face into my neck.

"Come on, let's get you into bed," I tugged him towards the door.

"No! I'm not tired. I want to cuddle instead," Steve pouted stopping completely in the hallway.

"How would you like Bucky and Sam to come over and have a sleepover?" I asked teasing but he grinned pulling the three of us to his room.

The three grown ass men built the hugest fort I'd ever seen.

Steve soon pulled me in pulling me to lay down between him and Bucky. Steve wrapped at arm around me before drifting off to sleep. I watched as Bucky nod off and put his head on my shoulder because the tent they made was small for four people.

Waking up, I could hear the clicking of phone cameras. I opened my eyes to see the heads of the rest of the Avengers with their cell phones. Steve didn't stir but pulled me closer to him burning his face into my neck.

Sam and Bucky stirred sitting up looking were hungover and confused. I tried to sit up but Steve's arm was too strong. I smirked at the idea of how to wake him up. Before I could back about I gave him a wet willie making him let out a shout.

"Morning, my love," I crooned as he looked around confused.

"Why are we in a fort sleeping with Bucky and Sam?" He asked wiping his ear.

"Because drunk you didn't want to go to bed," I explained getting up turning back to look at the three men.

Everyone left the room to start breakfast leaving Steve and me to take apart the massive fort.

"I apologize about last night. Bucky thought to challenge me to a drinking contest switching out for Thor's alcohol. It the first time I ever was drunk," Steve apologized as he cleaned up.

"Well, luckily, you are very cute when you're plastered," I admitted before brushing my teeth.

Steve pulled me into his arms leaning down to place kissing my lips. My eyes fluttered close leaning up on my toes to return his kiss. I pulled away to smile at his redden cheeks.

Looking into his eyes, I felt that my life would be filled with shenanigans and so much love and happiness.

Decades passed, and it turns out I was right.