AN: Before we get into this, I would like to say a few things. One is that I do not own any of the characters, just playing with their stories. All rights go to their owners!
Two, being that I haven't read any Avengers comics before, all my Marvel knowledge comes from the movies in the MCU unless I change something to fit the story.
This will be taking place during Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The events of Twilight are happening in a different time frame than the books and movies.
Brief information for this story: Bella is 27, and she never went to Forks at 17. She finished high school and college in Phoenix. The Cullen's are in Forks during this time.
Let's get into it.
Chapter 1: Assassin in the Woods
Friday
The young woman looked up at the small white home, a smile on her face as her father was sitting out on the porch, sending her a wave. She closed the taxi door, pulling her bag behind her. The taxi pulled off with a honk of the horn.
She walked up the driveway, her brown eyes searching her father's frail form. As she walked up the few steps, she stopped, shooting him a grin. "You didn't have to wait outside for me," She bent down to kiss his cheek, grabbing his hand. "I haven't seen you in almost 3 years Bells. I can muster the strength to wait outside for you," He smiled, squeezing her hand.
Bella chuckled, sitting down next to him on the black swing-set. "So, I hear you're going to be working at the high school. English," Bella rolled her eyes, a small chuckle escaping her lips. "Of course I couldn't tell you before the whole town did. Yeah. I start Monday, I'm excited I guess," Charlie snorted. "Right. Teaching high school students. Anyway, I had some help clearing out my old office so that you could make it into a bedroom,"
Bella smiled in thanks, looking out into the evening sky. "Thanks dad. I told you not to make a fuss. In the meantime, when's the last time you've had a home-cooked meal?"
Charlie's stomach rumbled on cue, and Bella let out a laugh, standing up. "Come on old man,"
Over the weekend, Bella started to slowly set up her room with pre-paid furniture she purchased when she found out about Charlie's deterioration in health.
He'd been having some heart problems, and after speaking to a few of his doctors, she decided that she'd help Charlie in the area of eating healthy as a start. She cut out a lot of greasy foods and traded them for healthier proteins. She even used different bases, and ingredients to replicate the things he loved to eat.
Charlie barely noticed a difference, although he'd complain about not being able to bite into a juicy burger. Over the next two days, the two reacquainted themselves with one another, and they both realized how much they had missed out on.
Although they didn't say it, Renee was partly responsible for the little bit of life she allowed sharing with Charlie concerning Bella. By the time it was all said and done, Bella was already an adult. Charlie was just happy that he could live out his remaining days with his only daughter.
They settled into a routine that allowed Bella free time to do as she pleased, and the other time dedicated to helping Charlie with his basic needs around the house. Bella honestly found enjoyment out of it. Charlie would put on some music, and the two would just dance and laugh about stories that could only be remembered through memory.
Charlie had a new story to tell almost everything hour about something Bella got into when she was younger. "We had just put you down for a nap, and not even 30 minutes later, we hear this little pitter-patter of something, and there you were, out of your crib and crawling across the floor. You got into a lot of things," Charlie chuckled.
His chuckle turned into a violent cough, and Bella couldn't help the worry that flashed across her face. Charlie noticing this, he just looked at her apologetically. "I'm really not doing too good am I?" He asked gravely. Bella shook her head slowly. "No, not really. We'll get you right dad. I'll help you to the room, and I'll clean up," Bella stood from the table, and Charlie grabbed her hand. "Leave it Bells. It's your first day tomorrow," Bella's eyes softened as she looked at him. She gave him a nod, knowing that she was going to clean up anyway.
"I love you, you know that right? I may have never got to spend a lot of time with you, but I love you kiddo," Bella's lip trembled, but she sucked in a deep breath. "I love you too dad. Always,"
Monday
Brown eyes swiped over young faces as they filed into the classroom, murmuring lowly in curiosity. Bella smiled at many of the students that made eye contact or murmured a greeting in passing. She turned her eyes to the time as the 5-minute bell rang.
She grabbed the dry erase marker, writing her name in large letters. She turned around once again to look at the faces of her last-period English class. Since the beginning of the day, many students were anxious to find out who the retired Chief of Police's daughter was.
No one had ever heard of her until Charlie retired. Many speculated that she'd come home to help, but some didn't expect her to take up permanent residence in Forks. The students were wondering if she'd be an easy teacher to get over, if her class was easy or hard, or if she was a strict teacher that stuck to a schedule.
Bella wasn't one or the other. She taught at a pace her class was comfortable with. If she found that the majority of the class could follow along, she'd speed things up. If they seemed to be struggling, she'd take her time.
This was her fourth time writing her name on the board and she thought that she'd just leave it up for the week. As the bell rang, the rest of her students filed in. She cleared her throat to gather everyone's attention. She swept her eyes over the entire class before a smile came about her face.
"I'm sure as you all know, I am Isabella Swan, the new English teacher here. We don't have to be so formal where you address me as 'Ms. Swan', 'Ms. Bella' will do just fine. A few things to take note of with me. I won't push you to do your assignments, and what you do in my class is ultimately up to you. If you decide that you don't want to do any work, you will fail. However, if I find that you aren't putting any effort into my class, you can expect a call home as a warning. Afterward, your grades are a reflection of you. I don't plan to make this class hard or go out of my way to make this difficult. All quizzes, tests, etc., outside of the final exam will be open note. Your notes are important. I expect you to be on time…"
She was cut off by her door opening, and she looked over to see a student rushing in and heading towards the back of the classroom. "Excuse me, sir?" Bella called. She raised a brow as the young man turned around.
He was almost sickly pale with strange golden eyes. He had bronze-colored hair that was spiked upward. "Where is your late pass?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest. The young man cleared his throat before meeting her eyes. "I don't have one," His voice was velvety smooth, and Bella tilted her head a bit.
"What is your name?" She asked, motioning for him to take a seat. He decided to stand, giving her a crooked smile. "Edward Cullen. Ms. Bella," Bella narrowed her eyes at his attempt to charm her.
"Well Mr. Cullen, I don't like tardiness. If you come into my class again late, I will send you to the principal. Take your seat please,"
She took her eyes off the young man, turning to her board. "As I was saying, I expect you to attend my class. If you are late, you must have a late pass. No late pass, no entry. I think you know what happens after that. We will be using just one book for our text this semester. If one of you do not have a copy that was given to you by the school, I will work to accommodate you with a copy of your own. I won't make you stand up and go around the room introducing yourselves," She chuckled at some obvious sighs of relief.
"Just state your name so I can learn your faces and where you're from. Any questions?" She turned back to the class, her lips turning upward. "Great. Why don't you start Mr. Cullen?" She knew she was digging into the kid, but there was something about him that screamed arrogant.
Edward went on to introduce himself, looking uncomfortable. Other students followed after, and Bella's last period went quite smoothly. As the bell rang, signaling the end of school, many students started to file out, some saying they would see her tomorrow, or a quiet goodbye.
They each handed her their knowledge quizzes, a breakdown of their knowledge of classical English. As she sat behind her desk, waiting for the classroom to be empty, she started to look over the few papers. She grabbed a red pen and started grading.
She felt eyes on her and heard a set of feet stop at her desk. She looked up, surprised to see Edward standing over her desk. "Mr. Cullen. What can I do for you?" She took off her glasses, setting them on the table.
Edward smiled down at her again, his eyes slightly widening. Bella waited. Edward's smile turned into a frown seconds later before he minutely shook his head. "I just wanted to apologize about being late. It won't happen again," Bella nodded, deciding to cut him some slack. "I'm sure it won't. I wasn't trying to be on your case today, but I do expect that you treat my class like I am sure you treat others. On time tomorrow Mr. Cullen," She held her hand out for his paper. He handed it to her with a nod before disappearing from the room. She decided to grade his, finding that he got everything right, especially one's most of her students struggled on. "Hmmm…"
Outside of the school sat a man, his blue eyes trained on the building before him. He watched the petite, brunette woman whose hair was in a neat bun; a white blouse and black pencil skirt walk out of the building with a bunch of folders in hand.
He pulled out a folder of his own, eyeing the picture. At the top, the word TARGET was written in bright, bold, red letters.
The moonlight was shining into the upper room, kissing just the top bottom of the bed. In the corner stood a figure, eyes watching the sleeping woman with interest, watching her chest rise and fall with each breath she took, surrounded by her scent of roses and magnolias.
The figure all but glided forward, sinking effortlessly onto the bed without so much as a disturbance in the sheets. His hand softly bushed away her brown locks, and he studied her face. "So beautiful," He whispered. Everything was silent within the home, even her thoughts were of nothing.
The figure leaned down, mere inches from her face. Before he could taste her sweet skin with his lips, he found himself being flung back. He barely manded to brace himself before he was knocked into the wall, creating a loud bang that shook the house.
His eyes widened, and before his beauty could wake, he was out the window, shutting it behind him.
Bella woke with a start, flipping on her lamp, her heart beating in her chest. She brushed the hair from her face, looking around her room in surprise. She looked around to find nothing out of place, except for a crack in the wall. She got out of bed, pulling on her robe, opening her bedroom door.
She walked across the hall, knocking on Charlie's door before coming inside. He too was sitting up, staring out of his window. He turned around to look at her before staring back out of the window. "Earthquake?" She asked. Charlie shrugged, and Bella helped him back to bed. "We haven't had an Earthquake since '73. Maybe? Anything damaged?" He asked, looking up at her. Bella shook her head. "I haven't gone downstairs yet. Although, there is a crack in my wall, nothing major. You need anything?" Charlie shook his head, patting her hand, dismissing her.
The young vampire scoffed at her 'brother'. "You're going to get us kicked out of town again. Carlisle and Esme love this place. I think whatever it was that propelled you away is a sign to leave the human alone. You said the last one was the one, and look where that got us,"
Edward sighed, sunning a hand through his hair. "I'm telling you, Rosalie. She's the one. I think whatever it was, was probably a defense mechanism," Rosalie gave Edward a look. "For good reason. She's obviously gifted, and subconsciously protecting herself against dangerous things like us. You shouldn't go to class tomorrow,"
The two siblings were oblivious to Carlisle's worried expression as he disappeared into his office.
Tuesday
Bella turned off the lights in her classroom as she hit play on the video. The class was going to be watching an old classic to get them started on Classical Literature. She made her way to her way to her desk chair, too looking at the video every once in a while, then shifting her eyes to the class to make sure they were paying attention.
She unconsciously shivered as she felt eyes burning through her skull. She glanced over the faces of her class, freezing on Edward's face. She gave him a quizzical look as his stare didn't waver. If she was being honest, she felt very uncomfortable.
It felt like pens and needles were sticking her in the back of the head, and she looked away from Edward, shaking off the feeling. This last period seemed to take forever, and as the video played in the background, Bella could still feel his stare on her. As the video was wrapping up, the bell rang, signaling the end of class, and Bella dismissed the class.
Edward was once again the last to leave, and Bella had to stop him before he left. "Edward, can you stay for a moment?" Edward turned to her, once again smiling a crooked smile. "Um, I noticed you staring at me throughout class…. are, are you okay?" She questioned, fighting the urge to lean back as he stepped towards the desk. Something in her body was telling her danger, but the rational side of her kept telling her how dangerous can a 17-year-old be?
"I think I'm in love Ms. Swan," Bella's brows show up and she tilted her head. "Oh? Well, t-that's great! Who's the lucky girl?" She wasn't sure what being in love had to do with his strange behavior, but if it gave her an idea of why he was being bizarre, she'd take it.
"I don't want to be inappropriate or cause a fuss. She's a few years older than me," Her brows lowered now, her mind trying to connect dots that weren't even there yet. She also couldn't help that inner adult in her, hoping that the strange, young Edward wasn't in any trouble, or being manipulated. "Is that so? Like 2 years?" She questioned curiously. Edward shrugged. "She's….you know? I think the moment I saw you, I was in love and I know you feel it too. If you are worried about what the town would say, we can run away together,"
Horror flashed across Bella's face followed by panic as she rushed to close her classroom door. She quickly looked out of the small, rectangular window, turning back around, swallowing as he was right in her face. "Mr. Cullen, I think what you're feeling is not love, and it is highly inappropriate to be thinking of me in such a way. I am your teacher, an adult at that, and I think it is best you try and put this behind you. You are a child, and in no way will I take advantage of that nor interact with you in anything but a professional manner,"
She laid her hands on his chest to move him out the way, only for her eyes to widen when she realized how it looked. "God," She muttered, ducking around him, and stumbling back to her desk. She rubbed her temples, letting out a sigh. "Mr. Cullen…" She started, only to be interrupted by him. "I'm not a child Bella,"
Bella pursed her lips as he moved forward. "Ms. Bella. In the eyes of Washington, you are still a child, and I can't believe I'm having this conversation. Mr. Cullen…" Edward once again interrupted her. "You can call me Edward,"
Bella stepped back again as he stepped forward. "Mr. Cullen, there will be nothing between us, there is nothing between us. Now if you'll excuse me," She grabbed her bag and looked at him pointedly as he was blocking the exit. He moved out of the way looking dejected, and Bella walked past.
However, he gently grabbed her arm, and a forcefield seemed to come around her, projecting Edward back a few feet. Bella's eyes widened, and she quickly rushed out of the room and down the hall. She didn't stop until she made it to her car, hightailing it out of the parking lot.
Edward came out seconds later, watching her leave.
Wednesday
Bella didn't go to work for two reasons today. One: She was still freaked out by what happened with Edward and whatever had pushed him away. Two: She had to take Charlie to the hospital in Seattle where he'd be staying for 72 hours for a routine checkup.
She didn't mention that one of her students had a strange infatuation to her father, nor about whatever it was that was going on with her. She took him and got him checked in, and pretty much spent the day with him until it was time for him to undergo observation.
She returned home late Wednesday night to find a silver Volvo in the driveway. She cautiously stepped out of her car, looking around. She wasn't sure who it belonged to. She went to the car, peering into the window to see nothing that gave her any clue as to who owned it.
She cautiously walked up to the house and twisted the doorknob finding it locked. That eased her worry for just a second, but she wouldn't let her guard down. She used her key to let herself inside, and as soon as she walked in, she could see a faint glow coming from the kitchen. She reached to the side of her, grabbing the titanium bat that Charlie kept by the front door. "Hello?" She called sternly, slowly turning the corner into the living room to see nothing.
She steadied herself as she slowly moved into the kitchen, finding that candles were lit on the table. There were rose petals on the floor, and a sinking feeling hit Bella in the gut as she turned the corner. "Oh my god," She whispered, swallowing the bile that wanted to spill from her throat.
In front of her, the table was set with dinner prepared. "What the fuck?" She mouthed to herself, turning around as she could feel a presence behind her. Bella's eyes widened at Edward who stood with two wine glasses in hand. "What's with the bat love…it's just me,"
Bella couldn't believe what she was seeing, and she backed up. "What are you doing in my house? How did you get in here?" Edward just smiled, walking past her, and setting the glasses on the table. "I had a key made. Remember?"
"Oh my god. You're fucking delusional," She whispered. "Vampires aren't crazy love, unless you count Alice. She was found in a mental institution," Bella's eyes clouded over with tears as he said the word vampires. "I'm sorry. W-what?" She asked, backing away from him. Edward smiled, appearing in front of her in the amount of time it took her to blink. "I told you, sweetheart, I'm no child. I've been waiting for 106 years for you,"
Bella gasped in terror, and she swung the bat as hard she could, only for it to bounce off his body and cause it to vibrate throughout hers. She dropped the bat, her body once again protecting itself. Edward was flung against the table, knocking it down. The fire illuminated her face as a candle caught the tablecloth, which then caught on the backdoor curtains. The whole kitchen went up in flames, and Bella managed to back herself out before she headed for the door.
She took off towards her car, screaming for help. It was then that she realized that her car wasn't even in the driveway anymore.
"Oh god," She whispered. She went to the Volvo, pulling on the door handle only to find it locked. A choked hasp left her lips as Edward stepped out of the house unscathed. "Bella! Wait!" She took off into the woods, running away.
Edward caught up to her rather quickly, and he stopped her by coming to a stop in front of her. "Bella don't be frightened. I promise I won't hurt you," Edward hesitated on moving closer, almost able to see this invisible shield with his own eyes.
Bella's eyes were wide with fear and a heavy feeling came about her as all she could do was scream, the invisible shield growing until it reached the threat, the force so strong, Edward was tossed to the side, so far that she couldn't even see him in the dark.
Bella kept moving, her feet carrying her to god knew where. It was like her body knew where to go. She kept running, terrified out of her mind at what was happening to her. She kept looking back to faintly see something trailing after her.
A whimper escaped her lips as she kept going. When she turned her head back around, she gasped as she was about to run into someone, fear in her heart that whatever was surrounding her would harm whoever this person was.
Instead though, they crashed into one another, and Bella couldn't contain her cry of pain as they rolled onto the forest floor. As her head hit the ground multiple times, they finally rolled to a stop, this stranger on top of her. She blinked her eyes open to faintly see a man with shoulder-length hair. The moon was her only indicator of light, and she looked into blue eyes, her eyes roaming over the mask on his face.
The man froze as they met eyes, and unbeknownst to Bella, this shield around her dropped, her body deciphering that it was safe enough to lower its defenses.
For the Winter Soldier, it was like a switch went off. That haziness went away, and the man that had since been lost in his own mind was free once more. He could remember everything. From the moment he fell off that train, he remembered everything.
He didn't have time to dwell though, something within him urging him that this woman was important. That other part of him, the Winter Soldier, that evil part of him didn't feel so evil anymore. That side of him clicked into place as a feeling of peace settled over his mind. It was like a merging of two people, one of which was determined to get this woman out of harm's way.
Tree branches breaking in the distance shook Bella from her trance, and her head flew to the left, terror seizing her heart. Seeing the look of utter fear on her face, Bucky moved into action, jerking her off the ground as gently as he could.
Bella was frozen still, staring off into the distance, and Bucky snapped his fingers in front of her face. "What's out there doll?" His voice captured her attention, and she shivered. "Something evil. A monster," She whispered.
Bucky grabbed her hand, pulling her along. "Where are we going?" Her voice trembled as they picked up the pace, but not once did that shield come up again.
"Getting the hell out of this place,"
"Who are you?" She asked as they started to run again.
Bucky just looked back at her before he continued on. It was then Bella noticed that she wasn't holding onto flesh, but metal.
He was her warrior, and even if neither of them knew it at the time, fate knew.
He was given that folder for one reason only, and it wasn't to kill. The only thing that could soothe his mind was now in his grasp. Since she was born, she always had this gift, but it had never been needed until now.
Bella was now on the run with some unknown man, running for her life.
This wasn't even the surface of her problems.