A/N:Hello my lovelies! Okay, so I'm introducing a new character in this chapter, but I'm not sure if I'm bringing her into other chapters along the way. She is apart of the Marvel Comics Universe, and I did a lot of research on her before bringing her on. Oh! And I DID mention an Agents Of SHIELD character in the last chapter :P Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, Disney or the Avengers. Just Effie :)
Chapter Thirteen
The next morning, Steve and I got up, and dressed quietly, knowing that this day was a big deal. Bucky would remember today, and Steve would finally be reunited with his best friend.
"Coffee?" I asked him as he sat down on the couch in the living room. He nodded, smiling up at me as I handed him his coffee.
"Thank you," he said taking my hand to kiss my palm.
"You're welcome sweetheart." I said softly, leaning down to kiss his forehead.
"Fury's sending a car for us. You're friend is there already, and waiting for us before she begins." Steve said as I sat down with my cup of tea.
"I've missed Layla, and I can't wait to see her again." I said, bouncing a little on my seat, making Steve laugh.
"I know the feeling." He said as the elevator doors opened.
"Captain Rogers?" An agent asked. We turned to look at him, looked back at each other and nodded. I quickly put our beverage in to-go cups and took Steve's waiting hand as we descended to the ground floor. We didn't speak the entire car ride, choosing to just sit in each other's presence. Steve held fast to my hand as the car stopped in front of SHIELD's New York facilities.
"Ready?" I asked as the doors opened, and we stepped out of the vehicle.
"As I'll ever be. I have a feeling I'll be yelled at." He said wincing from a memory. I squeezed his hand in reassurance, as we headed toward the cell block. I kept looking for Layla in the faces I saw, and spotted her in a military jacket and black skinny jeans.
"Butterfly!" I screamed, running toward her. She turned and looked at me with her wavy blonde hair and blue eyes, alight with mischief.
"Effie!" She said, running towards me as well. We collided in a tangle of limbs as she tackled me to the floor, both of us laughing maniacally as agents watched in disbelief.
"You are in so much trouble! I didn't know how to contact you, and you better not try to sneak off again without a phone number." I said as we got up.
"On the run sweet cheeks. Couldn't stop to think, let alone contact anyone. Besides, I'm settled in Hell's Kitchen now, working with X-Factor Investigations. Helps to be a mutant these days to get a job you love." She said, poking my sides.
"You know I never cared if you were a mutant or not. You're one of my best friends. And now I'll be bugging you a lot more, as I live in Stark Tower." I said, sticking my tongue out at her.
"Stark Tower for the Stark heiress. I saw an article on you not that long ago. Congrats on finding out who your parents were." She said, looking past me. I looked back just in time for Steve to wrap an arm around my waist.
"Hello, Layla Miller, best friend of Effie, and deadly mutant." She said, holding out her hand. Steve took it with a smile saying, "Steve Rogers, boyfriend of Effie and understood."
"Layla, this is Captain Rogers, as in-"
"Girl, you're banging Captain America?!" She yelled in surprise. I covered my face as she had gained several agents attention.
"We'll take about this later," I said, dragging an amused Steve, and Layla toward Bucky's cell. Through the window, we could see he was already handcuffed to the table, and was staring at his hands; one metal, one flesh.
"Bucky?" I said quietly as we entered. He looked up at the three of us entering with an agent. He was confused at the sight of Layla, until he remembered that she was here to help him remember.
"She's gonna help, right?" He said in a gruff voice, gesturing to Layla with his head.
"She has a name, and it's Layla." Layla said, sitting down across from him.
"This is gonna hurt a little," she said, taking both hands index and middle fingers, and pressing them against his temples.
"I feel noth-AGH!" Bucky yelled as Layla started. It felt like hours, as we watched, Bucky's eyes wince in pain, occasionally opening with a softer look. Layla pressed harder towards the end, focusing on her task and looked to be chanting underneath her breath. Bucky, let out a strangled cry at one point, most likely remembering his fall.
"I can't watch much longer," Steve said, tears evident in his eyes.
"It's almost over, he's breaking." Layla said, gesturing with her head to undo the handcuffs. Steve was quick to release his friend, and return to my side.
"He's going to be in a lot of emotional pain, guilt being at the forefront. Don't overwhelm him," She said, drawing her fingers away as Bucky continued to twitch. Standing up from her seat, she smacked her open palms on the table, effectively ending his trance. His eyes flew open, as he jumped out of his chair, and towards the closest corner. They darted around the room, trying to figure out his surroundings, and landed on the man by my side. I stepped back as Steve slowly moved toward Bucky.
"Buck?" he asked in a small voice. It felt like a whole hour, as Bucky regained control of his breathing, and studied Steve.
"You couldn't have just caught me?" The words were accompanied with a small smile, and a hesitant chuckle. Steve released the breath he was holding as Bucky stood up and they crushed each other in a hug.
"I'm sorry I couldn't reach you in time." Steve said, holding tight to his best friend. I winked at Layla as she came to stand beside me.
"It was my fault for trying to be a hero. I was a little jealous of you punk." Bucky said, pulling away from Steve and clasping his shoulders.
"Now, I think I have someone I should apologize to." He said, looking behind Steve to meet my eyes. Steve chuckled and led him towards us, saying, "For a formal introduction, this is Effie Stark, my girlfriend, and Layla Miller, her best friend."
"I'm sorry for kidnapping you," Bucky said, holding out his hand. Instead of taking it, I grabbed him in a hug.
"I'm not, because Steve got his best friend back, and his happiness is all the apology I need." I said, kissing his cheek. Blushing he stood back to shake Layla's hand.
"Well, now that that's over with, shall we get lunch?" Layla said, motioning to the door where Nick Fury was waiting. His lips were drawn up in a smirk, and his arms were behind his back, looking certainly intimidating.
"Director Fury," Steve said, standing up straighter.
"Director, I would like to propose that Bucky Barnes be sent to a psychiatrist for lingering Post-Traumatic Stress, and for the side effects of Hydra's brainwashing." I said, looping one arm through Bucky's and the other holding Steve's hand.
"Miss Stark, I believe that is a very good idea, but until such time as we can confirm that Barnes is not a threat, he needs to be monitored."
"Steve," Bucky started, "I think the Director is making a wise choice. We don't know how this could play out, and I could-"
"Won't be an issue to society or to SHIELD. In fact will be an asset to the Avengers," Layla spoke up. I forgot she had knowledge of the future, but would never tell me how she got it.
"I was going to suggest that you monitor him at Stark Tower." Fury said, raising a brow at us. I nearly squealed in joy, at how understanding Fury was being. Steve needed Bucky, as well as Bucky needing Steve for rehabilitation. I would have to tell Peggy about this tomorrow, knowing she would love to know how Bucky survived.
"So, we can go?" I asked in a small voice.
"You are free to go, but Barnes is to be here every Thursday for a Psych evaluation, and counseling." He said, before turning and walking away.
"Well, who's up for homemade pizza? My treat, back at the Tower." I said, before dragging Layla out the door.
Layla had to return to work, and Steve had something to talk to Tony about, so I was left with Bucky, trying to catch him up on the 21st century.
"So how much about today do you know?" I asked, fishing my StarkPad out of my purse.
"I think I know about as much as Steve does now, considering I've been able to see how everything changed over the last 70 years. But I haven't seen any movies or heard an music since I joined the army in the 40's." He said, looking at my extensive movie collection.
"Well, we can start with I love Lucy and work our way towards the newer stuff. I have old musicals from the 40's, 50's, 60's and some from the 70's. But I mainly have nerdy stuff, like Star Wars, Star Trek, chick flicks and Harry Potter." I said, getting up to make a cup of iced tea.
"Why are you putting ice in the cup if you're making tea? Isn't it supposed to be hot?" He asked, wrinkling his nose in distaste.
"Well this is something I love. I have different flavors of tea and some are meant for simply being iced. Brew the tea, and then pour it over ice and you've got a sweet drink without added sugar and it has natural health benefits." I said, handing him a little to taste. He sipped it and then quickly swallowed the rest.
"That was good." He said, sounding surprised. I winked at him as I passed the cup I made for myself, and then made another.
"Shall we?" I said, moving to put in I Love Lucy. I simply loved watching it, and cuddled up on the couch beside Bucky. He stiffened when I laid my head on his shoulder, most likely confused as to why I did so.
"I'm not coming on to you Bucky, I just haven't had a guy friend that I felt comfortable around since my best friends died. And I really want to be your friend, cause at this point, we all need one to get through the coming months." I said, as the doors to the elevator opened. Steve came into view and sat beside me on the couch, rubbing my thigh softly.
"She's right, we all need to be open and honest with each other, as you're going to be living here. Anytime you need one of us, we will be there." Steve said, moving closer and throwing an arm around my head to poke Bucky's arm.
"Me more than him, because I don't have a job with a fancy spy organization." I said, jokingly as Bucky relaxed.
"Thank you, both of you." He said softly.
"In a weeks time, you won't be thanking us, but asking to be back at SHIELD. This place is a mad house on a good day." I said, thinking of the Nerf war Clint and I had with Tony last night.
"Just don't let her drink before 5 pm." Steve said, warning Bucky.
"I'm not a drunk! I just like my wine, and scotch, and whiskey, and bourbon." I said, pausing between each kind of alcohol.
"I have a feeling we will be best friends, Doll." Bucky said, shaking with laughter.
"Time for Project Rehabilitation!" I said, pressing play on the remote, changing the subject for the time being.
I was walking around our apartment, cleaning up little messes and singing at the top of my lungs, when the elevator dinged.
"Hey, don't stop on my account. You've got a set of lungs on you doll," Bucky commented, plopping himself down on the couch.
"Thank you, but you knew that already." I laughed, tidying up Steve's sketchbooks.
"You could be a singer, like famous I mean." Bucky said, flipping through a sketchbook I recognized. I snatched it out of his hand, before he could find the picture Steve drew of me in London.
"I was looking through that." He said as I flipped through, to find the picture. Turns out, Steve had a couple of me in there, all without clothes on. I quickly took them out, and asked, "Jarvis, could you open my safe please?"
"Right away ma'am." The AI responded, as a picture next to the bedroom swung away from the wall. Ensuring I had gotten them all, I tucked them in the safe, ensuring they were underneath the secret panel. After closing the safe I handed the book back to Bucky.
"Now it's safe to look." I said, before moving to clean the kitchen.
"So why did you take those out and lock them away?" Bucky asked, flipping through the book again.
"Because sometimes Steve draws things that should only be between the two of us. Secret stuff, like inside jokes." I said, filling the dishwasher. Minnie hopped up on to the counter to ask for a head rub, meowing at me when I ignored her.
"Wow, I didn't know you two had a cat." Bucky said getting up to pet her. She shied away from his hand at first, but after a quick sniff decided she had a new favorite person, jumping onto his shoulder.
"She's my guard cat that doesn't take her job seriously." I said, putting detergent in the dishwasher and starting it.
"She's so cute though," Bucky said in a baby voice. I tried to hold back my laughing, but couldn't.
"I'm gonna find out one day what they are, you can bet on that." Bucky teased as he went to sit down with Minnie.
"How about some music?" I said sitting down at my piano, with my guitar to tune it. Tony had surprised me with my own piano, as a way of making up for not telling me sooner about the elopement. After a quick strum to ensure I was in tune, I asked him what kind of music he liked.
"I'm pretty much a fan of everything." Bucky said, as I played a little bit of a song I loved.
"Okay, here's a favorite of mine." I said as I continued playing the beginning.
You and I were meant to be
Ain't no doubt about it
No way to hide that sort of thing
Now I'm waiting for something better
Ain't nothing better worth imagining
I, I keep on running
I'm building bridges that I know you never wanted
Look for my heart
You stole it away
Now on every single road that I could take
Listen, I want you to burn my bridges down
I said, I want you to burn my bridges down
Set me on Fire
You set me
Set me on Fire
You can burn my bridges down
Send this out to sea
Send it where you want it
You can take it note for note and not at all
There's no filling up your spaces with fictionary places
Imaginary faces they don't work at all
I, I keep on running
I'm building bridges that I know you never wanted
Look for my heart
You stole it away
Now on every single road that I could take
Listen, I want you to burn my bridges down
I said, I want you to burn my bridges down
Set me on Fire
You set me
Set me on Fire
Will you burn my bridges down?
I want you to burn my bridges down, down
I want you to burn my bridges down, yeah
Set me on fire
You set me
Set me on Fire
Set me on Fire
I want you to burn my bridges down
I said, I want you to burn my bridges down
Down, Down
Set me on fire
Set me on fire
I finished with a flourish, and looked up to a smiling Bucky.
"I liked that. What else you got? Steve said you were a talented musician, but I thought he was just being boastful." He said, still petting Minnie while I blushed.
"Well, I've got a country song that I really like, if you don't mind that." I said, as Bucky nodded.
"I'm fine with everything!" He said, as Minnie jumped off and ran to the bedroom.
"Okay, here it goes." I said, strumming my opening.
Ripped jeans, a blue eyes, I knew right away I was in trouble that night
Tattoos, he don't shave, makes a good little girl wanna misbehave,
I won't be takin him a home any time soon, it ain't a good move
Wooah ohh ahh oohhh
[chorus]
I keep givin him my permission, to break me down and steal my kisses
I don't know where I went wrong, I'm sorry mama so sorry mama
In so many ways I dare not mention, he keeps pullin me in his direction
I guess you were right all along, I'm sorry mama so sorry mama
[verse 2]
Chrome hearts a steal chains, and nothing but you know what on his brain
Full speed, top down, like Bonnie and Clyde tearing up this town,
I know you raised my better than this, but how can I resist
Wooah ohh ahh oohhh
[chorus]
I keep givin him my permission, to break me down and steal my kisses
I don't know where I went wrong, I'm sorry mama so sorry mama
In so many ways I dare not mention, he keeps pullin me in his direction
I guess you were right all along, I'm sorry mama so sorry mama
[bridge]
He's got this hold on me, just like you said it would be
I didn't miss him, and now I can't walk away
I won't be takin him a home any time soon, it ain't a good move
Wooah ohh ahh oohhh [x2]
[chorus]
I keep givin him my permission, to break me down and steal my kisses
I don't know where I went wrong, I'm sorry mama so sorry mama
In so many ways I dare not mention, he keeps pullin me in his direction
I guess you were right all along, I'm sorry mama so sorry mama
I'm sorry mama so sorry mama
I'm sorry mama so sorry mama
Doo ohh oo [x2]
I'm sorry mama so sorry mama
Doo ohh oo [x2]
Ripped jeans, a blue eyes, I knew right away I was in trouble that night
I heard clapping as I finished and turned to find Steve, with Natasha and Clint following behind him.
"Beautiful babe," Steve said, coming to my side, kissing my cheek.
"Thanks," I said, trying to sound like Louis Armstrong. Everyone laughed as I put my guitar away, and moved to grab wine glasses.
"Effie, it's 3pm." Steve said, noticing what I was doing.
"But it's 5 o'clock somewhere," Natasha and I said in unison, laughing at ourselves.
"Anyone else want a drink?" I asked, moving to the bar.
"Scotch," Clint said as Bucky said, "Whiskey."
"I'm gonna stick to water today." Steve said, shaking his head at the rest of us.
"Oooh, Nat I picked up some new wine in London I simply adored. Want to try it?" I said as I poured everyone's drinks.
"Sure," Natasha said, smiling.
"Now, who wants to watch Tony's YouTube channel? I know there are some cool videos that were just posted on there." Clint said pressing something on the remote. I was half listening until a song started playing.
"This morning was a fight to get up, Those words still ringing in my head.
Never felt like such a fool in front of anyone, I guess that's what you do when you love someone." Came from the speakers accompanied by strumming of a guitar. My ears picked up the sound of my recorded voice and my eyes went wide.
"No no no no no…" I whispered as I looked to the TV. Sure enough it was me, looking out the window, smiling like an idiot.
"I was in Nashville, you were driving home, I wish I'd been in the passenger seat
I just needed you to know that I'm coming undone, That's what you do when you love someone." The 'me' on the screen sang as she danced around with the guitar a little.
"If I fall, I'll try a little harder and get back up, Please stay by me, love
That's what you do when you love someone, That's what you do when you love someone."
"Just give me time, if you need more, There's no way to ever really know
How to protect yourself or predict the outcome, But you'll do anything when you love someone
You'll do anything when you love someone,"
"If I fall, I'll try a little harder and get back up, Please stay by me, love
That's what you do when you love someone, That's what you do when you love someone,"
"I just hung up the phone, You've got a way of changing my day
You proved me wrong, When I was convinced I was alone
Yeah, that's what you do when you love someone,"
"If I fall, I'll try a little harder and get back up, Please stay by me, love
That's what you do when you love someone, That's what you do when you love someone," The song ended, but my humiliation didn't.
"I love him…" The recorded 'me' said, before noticing the reflection of Tony in the window and screaming, "TONY! What are you doing?!"
As the video finished, everyone was giggling at my red cheeks, and Steve kissed my forehead.
"And I love you," he said, leaning his forehead against mine.
"Hey, there's more!" Bucky said turning on another, and chuckling at the title.
"Real Wild Child? More like Boozy Housewife," Natasha joked, winking at me.
"I'm a real wild child!" I sang on the video, while dancing around playing my electric guitar, in a t-shirt and a pair of Steve's boxers.
"Kill me now!" I said to the ceiling, hoping someone was listening.
A/N: And thats it for this update :) Hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you thought.