Steve's Return Home:
Author's Note: I don't know where I am going with this story. I plan it to be only a couple of chapters. Hopefully you enjoy reading this and Thanks for checking this story out.
Disclaimer: I don't any of these characters. I wish, though.
Chapter 1:
It was a simple mission. It's funny, really, how people expect things to occur but it isn't what actually happens in the end. All he had to do was check if the warehouse was a remnant of numerous buildings still left of HYDRA. If it was HYDRA he would have to wait for the others as back-up to help destroy the facility.
"The French countryside is beautiful", he thought, "it be such a shame if HYDRA actually had a base here."
He hoped it was just a false alarm. He wanted to go home already. He wanted to be with his friends and his wife, Natasha. His wife. He still couldn't believe it. Even after two years of marriage he still imagines that it is all a wonderful dream that he conjured up in his head and if it were a dream he did not want to wake up...ever. But he knew it wasn't and that just made him cherish the life he was living even more.
Especially when he remembered waking up from the ice, the overwhelming sadness and grief that he had, after realizing that all his friends were gone. He didn't think he could rebuild his life again, but he had been proven wrong. The threat against Earth by Loki and his army helped integrate him with a group of people who are now his closest friends. And it was how he had also met his wife. He wasn't dumb enough not to notice the second chance that had been to given him.
A year after the Battle of Manhattan, he had finally gathered up the courage to ask the femme fatale on a date and he thanked his lucky stars every day after that when she had said yes. It was the start of all his happiness. It was amusing to see the others' reactions when they found out about it and the rest of the day too when Tony had pushed Natasha too far. Also, Clint's revenge against Tony for doing something that the others still hadn't figured out was entertaining as well.
The guys were having breakfast and Tony was doing his usual antics of teasing Steve.
"Hey Captain Purity, when are you going to let us help you find a girl to lose your V-card."
Clint listened with avid interest while he simultaneously scarfed down his plate of chocolate- chip waffles. Pausing only to nod his head, to emphasize his agreement to Tony's statement.
"Stark, seriously you are going to start this, this early," Steve said keeping his face down towards his plate, while the beginning of a blush began to form on his cheeks.
"You, seriously, need to lighten up and let us help you," Tony continued.
"Help him with what?" Natasha yawned as she entered and sat in the empty chair in between Steve and Bruce.
"I am trying to be a good friend by trying to convince Captain Virgin, here, that he should lose his V-card." Tony explained.
"He can't lose it twice," she said cryptically while serving herself some sliced fruit and a waffle.
"What do you mean he can't lose it again? How would you know if he has already lost it little Red," Tony said absentmindedly while taking a swig of his tumbler of whiskey. Finally registering what she had said, his eyes grew wide and began to tear when he began coughing out the whiskey that he had just drank. Meanwhile, Bruce was busy thumping Clint's back, who was choking on a mouthful of waffles.
"No, NO," Tony said after the coughing fit had subsided, "How did-"
"Shut up Stark," Natasha said not bothering to look up.
"When did this-"
"Stark," Natasha ground out, keeping her rising anger on hold.
"...What?" Tony, for once, was at a loss for words.
"Stark. Pinky." she warned. Tony taking heed of her warning and stopped whatever he tried to say...for now.
Tony kept on staring at Natasha still not convinced of what he heard. Steve cleared his throat and continued finishing his breakfast, his face at this point was tomato-red.
Tony cast a glance at Bruce and Clint. Bruce was unperturbed from the revelation and continued sipping his tea. Clint, on the other hand, had the same dumbfounded expression as him.
Throughout the day, Tony's eyes flickered between Steve and Natasha. It was evening when Thor returned from Asgard, it was Avengers Movie Night after all. When he heard that Steve and Natasha were together, he was ecstatic.
"Tis marvelous to hear that Steven and Lady Natasha are courting one another." Thor's voice boomed through the room, enveloping them both into a bone-crushing hug.
"We should celebrate this momentous occasion," he added, while they all went to their seats. On the sofa were Tony and Thor on each side with Clint on the floor, head against the free space in the middle of the couch. Bruce was sitting in a comfortable armchair while Steve and Natasha sat together.
"Hear, hear," Clint joined. He was shocked but happy that his partner had found someone. He mentally reminded himself that he needed to have a little chat with Steve about the consequences of hurting Natasha; she was like his little sister. Although, he knew his threat would go unfulfilled as he saw how happy they were as she curled next to Steve on the loveseat.
"So," Tony said with a grin on his face and wriggling his eyebrows up and down, "How was the ride little Red?"
Upon hearing Tony's word, Thor's face scrunched into confusion.
"I am confused Man of Iron, what is this ride you are talking about that Lady Natasha has ridden? Is it a steed you are speaking of?"
"Yeah Thor it was a stallion," Tony chuckled, "Right Red?"
Trying to hide their amusement, Bruce and Clint quickly glanced at Natasha, who was glaring at Tony, and busy uncurling away from Steve. Steve was also glaring at Tony but his looked less menacing because of the big blush on his cheeks.
"That's it," Natasha growled. She swiftly got up, jumped over Clint, and pounced on Tony causing them both to flip over the couch. They heard sounds of a struggle, Natasha stood with Tony following suit since she had him in a fierce headlock.
"Are you going to stop, Stark," Natasha grunted. Being the big mouth that Tony was... he didn't.
"I was giving you a compliment," he gasped, "Congratulations on bagging a thoroughbred."
Having had enough of Tony's shenanigans, she shifted her headlock grip into a sleeper hold. She sighed with relief when she felt Tony relax.
"He will most likely be knocked out until tomorrow." She said as she walked across the room and snuggled next to Steve. He was smiling gratefully at her for shutting Tony up.
Not able to keep it together, Clint started laughing with tears streaming down his eye. Thor's laughter boomed across the room and Bruce let out a few guffaws as he saw his science bro lying on the ground. Steve let out a few chuckles; Natasha next to him, joining in with her melodic laughter. Her anger with Tony faded away.
"Can we continue watching the movie?" she asked as their laughter died down. She received a few nods and murmurs of agreement.
They were watching the last few minutes of the flick when they heard the click-clacking of Pepper's heels before she even entered the room. They greeted her with "Welcome home Pepper" and continued watching the movie. Still busy with her phone and at the same time conversing with someone over her Bluetooth she did not notice Tony until one of her feet bumped into him. Pepper took one look at Tony, who was slightly drooling on the floor, and the rest of the Avengers. She had an idea of what might have happened here.
"Did Tony say or do anything obnoxious?" Pepper asked.
"Yes," Natasha replied, "He was going too far on his jokes about Steve. As his girlfriend, I protected him from being sent to jail after murdering Tony. Tony is fine by the way. He will be awake by tomorrow."
Pepper nodded her head, understanding that Tony got what he deserved for provoking a super soldier and his spy/assassin girlfriend. He did go too far this time. She continued walking towards the kitchens.
"Wait," she thought," ...GIRLFRIEND?!"
Everybody turned around when they heard Pepper rapidly clicking back into the room. She had a huge grin on her face as she looked at her best friend and Steve. Natasha returned the smile and nodded at the question evident on Pepper's face. Pepper quickly went to hug Natasha.
"Congratulations, you two," she said and started heading again towards the kitchen before pausing and looked back at Natasha.
"Oh, and you have to teach me how to do this," she added while pointing at Tony's placid form on the floor.
"Of course. It will be my pleasure Pepper, "Natasha said with an evil, feline grin stretching across her face. Her smile brought shivers down the boys' spines as they saw the smile of revenge on her face. They looked at Pepper who had reciprocated Natasha's evil smile with her own. The boys looked at each other coming to the same conclusion: Women.
"Thanks," Pepper said and then hurried to the kitchen to grab a glass of cool water. Her thoughts were on Natasha and Steve. She was happy for them.
"Finally, they got together," she thought, "Those two have been giving each other eyefuls since forever."
When the film ended they all stretched up and slowly started filling out. Bruce, most likely went back to the lab to continue on one of many science projects that he was working on. Thor, retired to his room. The next day he wanted to go to New Mexico and surprise Jane. Natasha grabbed Steve's hand and started leading him back to his room, he looked back to Tony. Clint was crouched next to Tony, black marker in his hand and a dark smile on his lips. On Tony's face he had drawn a small mustache, glasses, and a certain body part of a man's anatomy on both his cheeks. Steve and Clint shared a smile before Natasha tugged him out of the room and Clint disappeared into a vent. Steve could only imagine what Tony's reaction will be tomorrow.
He inwardly chuckled at the memory. He missed them all. Yes, even Tony. He had been searching the countryside for three days now because of an anonymous tip that HYDRA was operating around here and since he had the most experience with HYDRA, Fury gave him this mission. It took him forever to find it. It was well isolated in between the hills; it surprised him that it was only fifty miles west from a little village.
He quickened his pace to reach the building, his eyes surveying his surrounding for any movements. Pressing himself against the wall, he edged himself slowly and steadily around the corner to get to the door.
"Strange, "he thought as he opened the unlocked door and snuck inside.
The room was dark and he waited for his eyes to get used to the low lighting. His eyes made out big wooden crates stacked up everywhere. He stepped forward quietly; still unsure if there was any security here. Going to one of the crates he lifted the top slowly and looked in. Nothing. He grew more puzzled as every crate he opened was empty. As he explored further inside the warehouse, his super hearing began to pick up a ticking noise. He dropped the lid of the crate with dread. He realized the ticking was that of a bomb. He scrambled back towards the entrance when the bomb went off.
His turned around to face the explosion using his shield to protect him. The force of the blast was too much as he flew into the air. He lost his grip on his shield as it flew out of his hands and he felt his uniform burning all around. He clutched at his necklace were he always put his wedding ring, afraid he'd destroyed when he was busy punching bad guys. The last memory he had was of the day he left on the mission giving Natasha one last quick kiss before he faded into unconsciousness.