I CANNOT apologize enough for the ridiculously long wait! But to make up for it I made this one long! I wanted to get this perfect for you guys and my schedule has been insane...enough excuses, Kelsey. Anyway, I know some of you have been like "where is she going with this?" And I myself have been kind of saying the same thing. I had a set plot then other ideas popped in that I liked so I flipped a coin and decided to follow this idea. I've sprinkled in some laughs and hope I've captured Tony in the right light. I pray I haven't lost any of you, stick with me and it will all come together (*fingers crossed*). Thank you all :D
Enjoy! XOXOXO
PS: REMEMBER this is RATED M, please skip those parts if it is not your cup of tea.
Let's get the lay of the land.
Three days have passed since Edie's..outburst? Shall we call it.
The team is on edge for obvious reasons but that doesn't deter Cap. Not one bit. Spending every waking moment with her, as if to make up for lost time. Tony has since picked up his detective hat and gone full Sherlock. Determined to get to the bottom of this.
Edie, still nursing her wounded conscious, has made sure to do everything she can to stay in the confines of that containment room. Refusing to put anyone in harm's way again. Giving her time to reflect and gather the broken bits of her memory once more.
All the while the threat of mass genocide is looming over them all, Pierce's puppet strings extending far past the HYDRA compound.
-0- Present day, wee hours of the morning.
"Hi Mr. Stark, is there something I can help you with?" Anxiously the guard greeted towards the control room entrance.
Tony's eyes fell to the life beyond the camera feed. Barnes sprawled against the mattress, passing the time with a little game of catch. Metal plates shifted with the overhead lights as he tossed a random object in the air and caught it with adept skill.
Up and down. Up and down.
Tony watched the soldier, seeming so aloof and relaxed. As if being confined was natural to him, almost an expectation.
The scenes of the attack blurred to life in Tony's mind. He'd exhausted the recorded camera video with countless replays. The interrogation especially. Ignoring Fury's demands and Steve's protective growls, Natasha's murmured doubts and Tony's own, skeptical words.
Instead Iron Man focused on Edie. Her movements, her reactions. When he noticed a small something. A blip that could easily be missed. A surge of blue up the flesh of her wrist that was exposed by the leather of Steve's jacket. A jerk of her head and the whisper of a pleaded….'No'?
The closer Tony watched the more obvious it became. Edie's wrestle with control. Like Jekyll and Hyde. One hand crippled with power while the other fought to preserve.
But it was this Barnes. This HYDRA turned ruffian who stopped it. Stopped her.
Why? After he himself, attacked them on the bridge and seized Edie.
Why was Edie so hell bent on ensuring this man's safety?
'Please don't hurt him. He's the reason I'm here. He saved me.'
Those were Edie's exact words. Begging and pleading to safeguard the Winter Soldier.
Something wasn't right. They were given a puzzle without all the pieces and Tony was determined to figure it out. He had already begun the first leg of investigation without a door-busting discovering, when he received a request.
"Sir, a Sergeant James Barnes has implored for your presence."
Things were really getting out of hand around here. Lovers quarrel, Fury's men crawling all over the place and now a Russian tin soldier, who technically was under arrest, was making requests.
The clock read some ungodly early hour and the sun hadn't even graced them with its presence yet.
"I was summoned by Robocop in there." Tony explained, hands stuffed casually in the pockets of his jeans.
"Oh right, let me go get the Director and we can go in."
Can? Since when did Tony need permission to go enter rooms? On his own property for that matter. Aside from that insult, the billionaire knew if he was going to do this, he was doing it alone. No grim faced Mega Spy was going to be looming over and barking out his own demands.
"Say how's that kid of yours?" Tony sidetracked, begging his brain to remember the name of the little boy written in the Agent's file he'd memorized just minutes ago.
"Ricky, right?"
The younger man stopped dead in his tracks, a prideful smile replacing the duty of protocol.
"Very good, sir. Growing everyday. Would you like to see a picture?"
Tony nodded his head in feigned eagerness. With his gaze locked on the scrolling pictures of the young blond tot, Tony snaked a hand onto the control panel.
"What a little scamp. You don't say? 6 already?"
The genius's voice reached an octave to muffle the click of the flash drive that slipped from the long sleeve of his shirt.
"How cool of a dad would you be if you came home with an autograph?"
The Agent's beaming excitement fed right into Tony's trap.
"Really? That would be amazing!"
Tony waved nonchalantly at the idea. The older man readied himself to urge the Agent to leave his post and find an article to bless with his permanent scribble when the conversation took another turn.
"Do you really think Captain America would give me an autograph?"
The muscles in Tony's jaw flexed, annoyance daring to drop his friendly mask. The Man of Iron physically blinked away the flaring eye roll and instead donned a tight grin.
"Of course! Go find America's golden boy. I'm sure he's out there helping old ladies cross the street or some other noble deed but he'll certainly stop all that for little Ricky. Go on get outta here." Tony urged though he read the hesitation. "Oh, don't worry I'll watch this guy. Go on, make your son proud."
Before the assurance could even completely form across Stark's lips, the Agent was out the door.
"Will Captain America give me an autograph?" Tony scoffed to himself in a high tone, "He sure as hell isn't footing the bill around here! But be my guest." Sliding out his phone, he engaged the software that sought to override the cameras. Feeding the monitors a looped visual of Bucky relaxed and alone. Tony could conduct his business completely under the radar.
The messy tresses of his hair bobbed as Stark stepped from his leaned position and gained clearance into Bucky's room.
"I come in peace, Rambo." Calloused palms revealed themselves.
Bucky only paused his game for a moment, face indifferent at Tony's presence. Though he resumed the catch and release of a decorative glass orb, the Sergeant kept a trained eye on Tony as he skirted around the room.
This man, dressed in jeans, a graphic shirt and tired eyes, meandered around. Fidgeting with just about everything as if seeing it for the first time.
"So you just going to play the cool guy? Call me here and then make me ask all the questions?" Tony reclined against the sofa, leg hooked over his knee.
Still the soldier said nothing, only glazed toward the prying eyes blinking red in the corners.
"Oh don't worry, it's just us chickens."
Bucky looked to the phone wiggling in the air.
"She didn't do it." He finally spoke.
"Didn't attack us? Yeah, sorry I was there. That definitely happened. You're going to have to be more specific."
"It wasn't Edie. They did things, took control."
"Are you going to keep speaking in these caveman riddles? Because if so this is going to be a long day and I haven't had my smoothie yet."
Bucky's brow furrowed at the reference. The same expression often donned by both Edie and Steve during a conversation.
"Oh, God. Now we have three of them." Tony groaned, head falling against the back of the couch.
"Ya, know what? Forget this. Let's go."
Bucky watched the goateed man's movements towards the door. They stared at each other for a moment longer, expectantly.
"I know you know how to use a door. Let's go, boy. I'll treat you to your very own smoothie if you're nice."
Many hours and frosty beverages later…
"Riddle me this, Rambo and take into account the amount of disdain I have to swallow for Fury and his circus of dancing spies when I ask this. But, how do you know this isn't true? How do you know that in August 1943, Edie wasn't at a HYDRA compound?" Tony threw his hands toward the mound of documents and footage digitized across the room.
Bucky tore his astonished gaze away from the advanced technology. Giving the icy green slush a long, delicious slurp before answering.
"Because she was with me. In Italy."
The Winter Soldier took a step towards the hologrammed event report that documented an interview between Red Skull and Edith, the Chameleon.
"This date, it's all wrong. She was kicking my ass in poker that day, not-" Eyes narrowed at the screen, smoothie pointed.
"Debriefing on Allied powers whereabouts and weapon status. She'd won my watch that day." A smile ghosted Bucky's lips at the memory. She had loitered that over his head for days before giving it back. A cheeky grin always there to bust his chops about something. It sickened Bucky to know she was being painted as a traitor.
"Little Edie a poker champ" Tony pondered for a moment "Yeah I could see it. Bouncing curls, doe eyes and all that. It's distracting. Cap fell victim to it." Tony chuckled to himself before realizing his choice of words.
"I didn't mean victim, victim. Oh, forget it." The billionaire huffed with indifference when he noticed the Sergeant had long since ignored him for an array of photos. Scrolling through the various scenes until a collection in particular caught his eye.
"What's the date on these ones?"
Tony paused mid yawn to answer.
"November 12th, 1943. Just labeled: Physical Exam." He continued to leaf through for more details "Must have been a routine exam once she returned to the HYDRA base-"
Tony's words zoned into a muffle as Barnes took a step closer, studying the images with a constricted gaze. In varying angles and to thoroughly examine every body part, photos were taken of the Healer in a uniform of a tank top and shorts. It was the lack of a certain blemish that had Buck reeling.
"Her scar. She doesn't have her scar." He whispered in breathless realization.
"What was that, Fabio? You're going to have to speak up. I'm not as young as I look."
Bucky pointed sternly at the expanded photograph of Edie, specifically the flesh her left shoulder exposed by the cotton strap.
"We were ambushed on the outskirts of a forest. I took a hit, several actually and Edie healed me but not without earning a little souvenir. Above her heart, there's scar from the bullet." Subconsciously the soldier caressed the remnants of his own scar, metal cool to the touch.
Tony took a moment to study the image, mind racing to process.
"Well, we're going to need more than your word and a war wound to get her out of this. No offense, but your credibility is kind of in the toilet right now."
"What do you suggest?" Buck inquired, battered mind already exhausted but he dared not stop. Not until Edie was cleared of all fictitious charges. He would willingly take all the blame, face the judgement without question if it meant she would walk free again.
Again Stark glanced at everything before them.
What did they have so far?
They knew the evidence was fabricated. But they needed a way to prove it. Slim chance everyone would take Sergeant Brainwash's word for it.
They had front row seats to HYDRA's mainframe. An endless fountain of archives at their fingertips. Breaking through the firewalls was a bit too easy, though. Maybe HYDRA wanted them to find this and only this. So focused on the right hand that they don't notice the knife in the left, perhaps?
Was this all a charade to keep them from looking for the codes? Tony had to admit that had taken the back seat. He'd been channeling all his resources towards Edie's cause.
Was that their plot? Distraction?
Or was it all true, and both HYDRA agents had infiltrated their safe house just like Pierce had wanted.
All the swarming questions and suspicion was beginning to give Tony a headache. He rubbed his temples slowly and willed himself to think.
Trust his gut.
Playing out every situation, estimating the outcomes and taking into account previous events Tony compiled their options.
"We wait."
A protest formed but he beat Buck to the punch.
"All good poker players wait for the right moment. When the time comes then we're all in. At least she's here with us, safe."
Despite his urge to act immediately, Barnes knew Tony Stark was right. So he simply nodded and turned to toss his empty cup on the heap that was already piled high in the trash can. As long as he agreed to help and keep quiet about their little meetings, Tony promised Bucky all the frozen, fruity drinks he wanted. Little did the IronMan know but Buck would have done it for free.
It was the appearance of a particular blond rounding the corner that reminded Tony of the very reason he required secrecy. Not that Cap wouldn't be of help, especially since they were all vying for the same cause. But one defrosted war veteran at a time was all Stark could handle.
So with a quick and comical shove, Tony sent Bucky into the confines of an open supply closet.
"JARVIS, clean-up crew."
Swiftly all the digital holograms evaporated and a murmuring version of Dazed and Confused filled the speakers. Just in time for Steve to pop into the work station.
"Hey, Tony. I've asked everyone into the living room for a meeting." Steve advised, brow furrowed at the obscure stance of the younger man. Leaned heavily against a door, absently inspecting his cuticles.
"Aye Aye Captain." Tony nodded, applying more pressure to the jarring door.
"You alright, Stark?"
Again the billionaire donned an overly ambitious grin. "Right as rain, my man. I'll meet you down there."
Suddenly Bucky's muffled voice vibrated through the metal cracks.
"Did you hear something?"
Panic rose in Tony's throat despite his cool exterior. Steve took a fuller step through the door and Tony acted on his feet.
"This is my favorite part. Turn it up, JARVIS."
Soon electric jolts of Led Zeppelin's iconic guitar solo blared through the speakers. Concealing Bucky's protests and shooing the Captain back down the hallway.
Two birds, one great song.
Tony sighed a relieved puff of air towards the ceiling and stepped away from the door. Prompting a very confused and not so graceful soldier to come tumbling out.
"That was a close one."
Rubbing the back of his head with a wince, Bucky erected upward. "Yeah, maybe a little warning next time."
Smirking wickedly, Tony clapped a hand on his back.
"Aw come'on Rambo. Where would the fun be in that?"
"Who's Rambo?"
That was the last straw, Tony rolled a perfect glare towards the heavens.
"Oh, for the love of God. One of these days, I swear I'm sending you all to Pop Culture boot camp and be done with it."
Tony swiped his own drink from the counter and made a break towards the door.
"I've been summoned again, apparently that's becoming a regular thing around here. Stay put and don't touch anything. JARVIS show this guy a thing or two, would ya?"
Tony winked a goodbye, secured the room and started down the corridor. Bucky reclined back in the cushions of the office chair, silently slurping as the opening credits of Sylvester Stalone's blockbuster projected onto the wall.
-0-
Tony joined the convened group a bit tardy and claimed to be fashionably late. Scooting across the room he chose a seat next to the fidgeting doctor and waited for the show to start.
"I called you all here to discuss Edie." Steve began.
"I think the events a few days ago is discussion enough." The sassy remark could belong to no one other than the curvy redhead perched against the doorway.
"Are you vouching for her release?" Bruce found his voice.
"I'm vouching an agreement, a truce."
"There's so many questions unanswered. We barely got through a debriefing before, excuse my language Cap, shit hit the fan."
What did she have for breakfast today? Sassy-o's? Tony chuckled at his own wit.
Silence soon blanketed the group.
The tall soldier could tell he was losing them already.
"C'mon guys, just breakfast then? An hour tops." Steve pled his case in a hopeful tone to the room.
"It took less than 15 minutes for her to land us all in the med bay." Fury pointed out, watching America's boy grimace at the reminder.
"Please, she hasn't had another episode. She refuses to come out unless everyone is on the same page and agrees."
"Us all agree? Teach' is gonna be in there awhile then." Tony's signature scoff sounded.
The team shifted for an answer with uncertainty, wounds left from only a few days ago still fresh in everyone's mind and body.
"I'll keep an eye on her, I promise."
The soldier had to swallow his pride to get the words out. Anger rising at the very fact that he had to bargain for the simple pleasure of sharing breakfast with Edie outside the containment room.
One that seemed to grow smaller each day. Steve had also unofficially moved into the room that was meant to hold the enraged Hulk. Harness something reckless and dangerous to those around. Two attributes that Steve felt could never describe his wife.
But the thing was they were part of a team. An eclectic group of people that didn't always share the same ideals. A group of people Edie and actually himself included, now looked at as a family. Hence the reason he was standing before them like a child begging for a new toy. Promising to do all the chores and eat his vegetables without complaining. Steve was willing to do anything to get Edie out of there, even for only an hour a day.
"You going to make sure to feed and clean up after her too, Cap?"
Steve had to literally bite his tongue to keep the venom at bay. With a deep breath through flared nostrils he turned towards the Man of Iron.
"Scouts honor, Tony." A broad hand found a place over Steve's chest. Perfect teeth gritted into a smile.
"I think we should have some conditions." Hill spoke up from her perched seat on the sofa.
"Seriou-what did you have in mind?" Steve's voice faltered as he attempted to wrangle his burning annoyance.
"I think we should discuss that as a group, maybe at a later time." Natasha reasoned to the thinly veiled anger radiating from the Brooklyn native.
"Cap, whatever you feel is right is good with me." Sam offered, continuing to shoulder the archway.
"Thank you, Sam." Steve nodded with appreciation before Tony mocked.
"Well aren't you a good sidekick. That's easy to say when you weren't even here, where were you anyway? Bird convention in town?"
"Out getting your precious juice. I believe your exact words were 'hey BirdBrain go get my juice or else I'll clip your wings'. I had to go to four different stores!" Sam reminded, watching Tony break out in a geeking smirk at his own antics.
"Ahh..good one." He puffed a laugh towards the gloss of his shoes.
"Can we please get back to the task at hand." Steve skated a hand across his brow. Trying to hold a productive conversation with this group was like trying to hail a runaway train.
"Sir, you're being uncharacteristically quiet." Agent Hill turned towards the Director. Who had yet to verbalize as much as a cough from the secluded corner.
"Well it would seem Captain Rogers is running the show now. Funny how he calls a meeting when he didn't seem too fond of them a few days ago." Fury challenged in his usual stance; shoulders squared and arms crossed.
"You were interrogating her like some criminal. What was I su-"
"Listen to the orders of your superiors for one thing-"
"Really, Nick? Like you did to Pierce?" Tony joined in.
Soon the room erupted in a chaos of swirling arguments. Booming accusations and upper cut insults toppled over one another in a heat.
"VOTE!"
Everyone snapped their attention towards the couch. A particular doctor, who was reddening by the second.
"I uh, let's just put it to a vote for now." Bruce stammered to recover from the outburst. Eyes meeting the gaze of the surrounding group then the tiled floor. The room seemed to shrug in unison before Tony called out the outstanding topics for debate.
"All in favor of letting Edie out of containment for one hour a day until further notice?"
Everyone surveyed the room with curious eyes. Cap's hand was the first to reach the air, naturally. A slow trickle of limbs joined including Sam then Tony. Steve couldn't cage his surprise when Natasha's slim arm reached for the ceiling.
"What?...be good to have another female out here. Hill and I can only handle so guys are pigs." The redhead shrugged nonchalantly and Steve decided not to pry.
It would seem him and Edie weren't the only ones that had gotten attached.
Leaving those opposed as follows: Fury, Hill and Dr. Banner.
Bruce shifted nervously when the Captain's eyes fell to his raised hand. The words flowed from his mouth without a halt, feeling as though he needed to explain his decision.
"Captain, no disrespect. I just know what it's like to lose control and I think until we figure this all out…for everyone's safety it just-"
"Doctor, it's alright, really. You're entitled to your opinion. I appreciate your honesty." Steve cut in, unable to watch the younger man squirm with uneasy any longer.
"Really? Well how come you always seem to have a spare eye roll when I voice mine?" Tony jabbed with a sly smirk, playing with the tassle of a throw pillow.
"Because you have an opinion about everything." Steve pointed out, biting back his own grin at Tony's feigned hurt.
"Ohh is that so? Please would someone break Betty out already? I can't take Captain Cranky anymore. There's only room for one drama queen on this team, and I don't plan on relinquishing that crown anytime soon."
-0-
Edie's POV: Containment room.
Steve.
My husband's name was drawn out in a longing whisper. Head jerking with a startle I scanned the room. Corner to corner, eyes narrowed for the source of the ghostly murmur.
But I was alone.
With a shallow sigh I chalked the delusion up to the complete isolation I was in. But it came again, just as I settled back into the cushiony chair.
Ours.
"Who's there?"
Nothing.
Though my heart had began to race, I focused on the words before me. Slipping fingers between the pages to turn towards the next chapter. At least I got to read while I was in here. Despite the high level of security and 24 hour surveillance, Tony spared no expense. I was as comfortable as I could be in this neatly furnished cage.
Want.
I took a deep, steady breath through my nose.
"It's all in your head, Edith."
That would appear to be true, as I was currently the only occupant in the room. But it was growing harder to ignore the ghosting whispers and immense pull that followed.
Now.
It was getting impatient, rimming the simple syllables with urgency. When words weren't enough to get me to move, a sudden flush of feral hormones had my breath quivering, and pushing me to find Steve. My body had suddenly become foreign to me. Acting on its on accord.
After New York, something had changed within. Though I blamed it on stress and after effects of the replicated serum. Something strengthened not only my ability to heal but also this power that coursed through my veins. The power that nearly leveled the STARK tower that day. Now able to manipulate energy at a whim, create force fields, debilitate a man to the brink of death. All with a casual flick of my wrist. Of which had also taken on a change. Seeming at random the skin had begun to illuminated with an indigo glow. Pulsing blue rivers snaked up my arms.
My physical abilities weren't the only things that had been altered though. My emotions also fell victim to the wave of changes. This heightened instinct to protective Steve intensified to the extreme that I needed to be near him at all times or at least know that he was safe. Before I had just chalked it up to affection and being a 'newly-wed'. But after the attack on the bridge, what I did, there was no way to deny it any longer. The drive, the hunger to destroy anyone or anything that dared to touch him came alive again.
Not a scratch.
I tried to control my breathing.
Not one.
Not on that smooth, sweet skin. Or those plump, pink lips.
Feral thoughts accompanied as the voice took a sinful turn. A warm tingle spread throughout each nerve and my head rolled back with a lusty gasp. Driven by a wave of hormones that screamed to find my mate, I uncrossed my ankles and tensed against the form of the chair.
Steve!
Gulping I turned towards the reflective glass of the window, calculating an escape. It wasn't a corrupting rage like I'd had felt before, not the menacing thoughts that had erupted to attack. This was something completely different. It was yearning.
Need, as the voice expressed.
But this wasn't the one that frightened me. It was the darker, grueling one that plagued me with a sickening nausea and had me white knuckling the armchair. These overwhelming thoughts invaded my conscious and soon fueled my actions. They had surfaced during my time at the HYDRA base and only seemed to intensify the other.
Locate target.
There it was. A queasy feeling began to bloom in my stomach and a burning surged through my veins. But again the other surfaced. Seeming to growl in response and branched a cooling sensation across my body.
No. Steve, mine. Teddybear.
Eliminate.
Protect.
I clenched the muscles of my jaw as the voicing thoughts wrestled, flaring the power within. It was easy to say I was literally battling myself.
However, the whiff of a familiar musk breezed in and my throbbing pulse calmed in an instant. The husky scent intoxicated my senses and I was licking my lips at the very thought of its owner.
It would appear, as the dark thoughts faded slowly, the protective urge had prevailed.
I fought to catch my breath and fixate my blurred vision back on the book in my lap when the security alarm sounded and a tall form filled the doorway.
I pushed down the apprehension of what might have happened if Steve hadn't had such impeccable timing. Peeking up from the crisp pages I was graced with the grinning face of my husband. Baby blues holding a secret.
"Guess whatttt?" Steve's voice sang, a new pep seeming to invade his step.
I watched him with a suspicious smirk as he found a spot at the feet. Broad hands slinked up my thighs, thumbs drawing absently.
"What?"
My voice cracked a bit with faked attempt to sound composed. The cooling sensation seemed to purr at the sight of Steve. I chewed the flesh of my cheek to focus on his words and not the pink curve of those plump lips. The ones I so desperately wanted to bite.
"I did it."
Oh, please keep those hands on me. My skin hummed to life under his touch, trailing ever so lightly up my curves to rest around my waist.
"Did what?"
I subconsciously arched further into his touch, itching for him to continue that heavenly rubbing. I don't know what had gotten into me. I was like a cat in heat. At the mercy of my heightened desires.
"Got you out, now it's not permanent. But it's at least breakfast."
"Really?"
Alarm and disbelief filtered through my tone. I would be lying if I said fear didn't flood my chest at the news but I dared not let it show, not with the happiness radiating from the face in front of me. That face that I would do anything for, including staying locked up forever if it promised his safety. The very face that seemed to be the only antidote to my stricken mind.
After I'd learned of what I did, it was as if the world around me tilted. The reflection in the mirror wasn't my own. These hands were following a foreign how could I deny him? After he'd gone to bat for me.
An unstable Healer, who was currently being accused of being HYDRA's star pupil. Someone who couldn't even defend herself because her mind was a hazy warzone of cryptic memories and thoughts. It was as if I was trying to read a language I was not versed in.
Steve simply nodded, pearly grin never faltering.
"Let's go eat, Doll."
And as I stood, slipping on my heels, a face flooded my mind. One that I had been thinking and worrying about since my..episode.
"What about Bucky?"
The mention of our friend had Steve stopped in his tracks, mountain of a back exhaling slowly.
"He's okay. I checked in on him earlier. Though Fury has him under tight security, I've tried-"
My temper flared.
"I want him out. If it wasn't for him I would still be there, Steve. He doesn't deserve to be treated like an animal, he didn't..didn't do what I did." The muscles in my jaw tensed to keep my lip from quivering.
"Doll, so do I. How do you think I feel? Two of the most important people in my life are being treated like common criminals, with no regard to what they've sacrificed. I had to basically beg to get you out. All I can say is we will try, okay? At least he's here with us. Safe."
A comforting roughness found my chin before he added, with a twitching smirk.
"Now will you please do me the honor of accompanying me to breakfast? There's waffles..."
I caged the giggle bubbling up at the way he sang the alluring temptation of food. Again I was reminded of my inability to deny Steve.
I decided to listen for once and put the Bucky argument back in the drawer of my mind...for now. The mention of waffles peaked my interest and I let my stomach take the wheel.
"Ohh Captain Rogers now you're speaking my language." I laced my hand through his and savored the touch.
We'd began walking down the hall, and already I could feel the tension that followed my appearance. The few passing Agents kept a tight grip on their guns and I couldn't blame them. Though, my own protective thoughts had dissipated into a flourish of giddiness at just the close proximity to Steve.
My emotions running the show lately.
I couldn't stop myself from touching him. Keeping a secure grip of his hand on mine and trailing a touch up his muscular bicep. Head nestled against Steve's shoulder, I inhaled that pure, musky scent with greed.
It was the ajar door of a random conference room that had those thoughts purring again.
Need.
A heady breath escaped my lips and I could barely cage the groan that followed.
"Baby? You okay?" Steve jarred us to a stop, turning to brace my shoulders for inspection.
I could see confusion melt to a tinge of fear across his face.
Clouded sapphires giving him away.
If it wasn't for the reflective metal of a nearby door I wouldn't have known.
But I saw churning white that began to engulf my left iris.
A growl echoed from the back of my mind at the sight of Steve's fear.
Mate afraid. Protect. Love.
I slinked into the embrace of my husband, snaking my arms to lock behind his neck. I could sense the rampant pulse beneath his shirt and immediately eased my power through his system with a calming sensation.
I breathed against those full lips.
"I won't hurt you, we promise."
Before the soldier could protest, I had him by the mouth. Darting my tongue into the sweetness that lie within and it was his turn to groan.
That burly, throat thick moan that set my body into a tingling frenzy. Obediently Steve followed my actions, stumbling backward into the open mouth of the empty conference room.
His narrow waist hit the glossy table top, my mouth seeking the tender skin of his neck.
"Shit, Doll.."
I felt the vibration of his words under my kisses. My hands soon went to work. One working the growing tauntess under his jeans and the other slamming the door shut without so much as touching it.
I could sense confusion muddy the soldier's focus at the sudden ability but at the moment explaining was not on my agenda. To get him back on track I honed in on his weak spot.
"I need you, Steve."
Gnashing teeth grazed the sensitive skin behind his ear.
A pair of broad hands hastily conquered the hemlines of my dress, stripping it away until it was nothing more than a belt around my hips.
I could tell Steve was boiling over, just as much as I was. But these frisky thoughts wanted to have some fun.
Baby blues, hooded with thick lashes, followed my movements as I slinked the length of his toned form. Those eyes darkened with lust when my knees found the floor. I grazed a feathery touch along the denim snake, vying for release.
The room was thick, suffocating with desire. Steve's pulse was pounding in my conscious, flaring my own hormones. Painfully slow I unhinged the metallic teeth. With a locked gaze we watched each other. Through the shimming of his jeans, the playful kiss against the cotton head that twitched for attention. My Captain shuddered as the air grazed his most intimate part and it was heaven to witness.
Steve's eyes left me only once.
"Oh..God..damn."
Followed his rolling head. Falling against those massive shoulders as I took him into my mouth. I teased and licked the generous length. Black waves bobbed with every back and forth motion. Spanning from tip to base with a slurping greed.
I couldn't help but enjoy the view from below. A picturesque scene of pure ecstasy. Pouty lips hung slightly agape, inhaling heady breaths as his excitement mounted. Messy blonde hair swayed with every subtle buck and jerk. Large palms white knuckling the table's edge.
When Steve's gaze returned to mine he found a smirk against the glistening head of his member.
"Oh, you're having fun, aren't you?"
His stoic voice was shaky and mischievous. A quick, dark chuckle vibrated his chest and sent a quiver to my dripping core.
Nimble fingers trailed through my hair and guided me back to my full height. However before Steve could gain the upper hand I turned abruptly. And like a true frisky feline I arched myself across the coolness of the table top until my thighs hit the chilling edge. Glancing ever so slightly over my shoulder, I offered up the roundness of backside with a devilish wink.
I caught Steve's lips twitch with a pleased smirk, swiftly following my silent command.
He was on me. Hands clawing away the flimsy lace of my panties, the dampened material putting up little protest. At last we were exactly where I wanted.
Where I needed.
The purring thoughts seemed to vibrate my every nerve. Demanding for release.
A heated moan fought its way from my chest, one I barely recognized to be my own, as Steve perched his throbbing member at my entrance. My thighs already slick with anticipation.
But Karma had found me. In the teasy form of a rock solid cock that began rubbing every place but where I yearned.
This prompted me to look back once more. Met with a pearly white smile and dark desire.
Those broad hands found my waist again, this time with a tight grip that halted my attempt to delve him inside.
"Such a greedy girl you are."
His voice was enough to get my urges stirring. Now more than ever. I felt alive with lust and I couldn't contain myself.
"I should punish you, not reward you."
The words taunted me.
I was paralyzed with need. Unable to coherently respond I simply pouted a whimpering lip and arched my heated center up the soldier's length. Begging.
I bite back my triumphant grin when the grasp on my hips lessened and a hot sigh joined the air behind me. A simple, wanton action and I had him. But any boasting that I might have mustered escaped me as quickly as the breath in my lungs when, without warning, he eased into me.
"Steve!" I cried out in uninhibited pleasure, girth stretching me to the max. I whimpered with a shaky breath when a hand found my mouth like a gentle muzzle.
Again I cried out, this time muffled against broad digits when I was suddenly blanketed by a solid chest at my back and he filled me completely.
"Shhh, Gorgeous. We wouldn't want to reveal our private party, now would we?"
Husky desire laced through Steve's every word,wet lips ghosting the shell of my ear.
There was no space between us. We were completely one. I was already shaking into my next orgasm, body so sensative to his very essence.
I could only manage a short shake of my head. Eyes fluttering shut, his nose nuzzled into the thickness of my waves. Those powerful hips gave the first, sharp thrust and sent us both reeling. His broad hand slipped from my kiss swollen lips and fell to my bare breasts. Tweaking the sensitive pink buds and massaging the tender flesh, which bounced with every thrust my husband delivered.
Like a good girl I kept quiet. Bundling all those pleasure rooted moans and cries into the confines of my lungs. Ignoring their pleading burn to be released, I only allowed a few desperate squeaks to join Steve's panting breath.
He leaned back, leaving my back cold in his absence. The Captain grabbed the fullness of my hips and found a sinfully sweet rhythm.
I tasted the bitterness of blood seeping from the chewed flesh of my lip as I tried not to arise suspicion from anyone passing by.
Though it was growing increasingly difficult to cage those sounds. The length of him driving in and out. Back and forth. With deliberate, calculated thrusts Steve knew exactly what he was doing. I was squirming under him, silently begging for more every time he hit that certain spot. That spot that sent my eyes rolling back and my nails clawing the table top.
All the while the thoughts were there.
Crooning right along with me, surging with approval at the very presence Steve. It had been so long, too long.
I began to see stars, but another familiar sensation chased my orgasm. That cooling surge spread rapidly through my entire body, intensifying the already overwhelming pleasure. I slammed a heavy fist against the table top to keep from screaming.
Need.
I rocketed up from my reclined position with a new urgency. I needed to feel Steve all around me again. Reading my body, a muscular arm snaked around my waist and held me flush against the pounding of his heart. Faster. Harder.
Every fiber of my being was standing on end. Each nerve humming and the lines of my consciousness blurred into a haze. The velvety muscles of my core fluttered tightly into another orgasm.
"Jesus, Edie..I'm gonna.."
The relentless rhythm of his hips and constricting grip around me signaled Steve was close. Teetering on that glorious edge.
I was spiraling into my second and he, his first.
Somehow in the midst of all the pawing and ragged breaths, I found his ear.
"That's it my love, let go."
Steve snarled with hissing pleasure against my neck as an erupting warmth filled me.
We stayed frozen together for a moment of eternity. Both circling down from the clouds above with blotchy vision and spasming muscles.
-0- Same day, Breakfast with the team...STARK Safe House Kitchen
Now Edie had seen war. Witnessed the nervousness of a first date and pain of public speaking. But the awkwardness that tensed the immaculate kitchen was enough to have the young woman heading for the hills. But she had to remind herself that Steve stuck his neck out.
"You're late." Natasha's voice was the first to acknowledge their addition.
Steve searched the leather of his boots but found no inkling of an answer.
"Get lost, did we?"
Tony read the two's appearance, narrow smirk playing. The ruffle of Edie's usually neat pin waves, not to mention the rosy smear of lipstick across the Captain's neck was enough to give them away.
"Um, yeah. Took a wrong turn."
A broad hand pawed the muscles of Steve's neck. Body language defying their thin alibi.
"Smells great." Edie could read the unease rippling across their faces. Going as far to think Nat slipped a hand under the table, no doubt towards the gun always strapped to her thigh. Not that Edie blamed her.
Despite all that though, it was wonderful to see them all together. Only two missing were missing, Thor and Clint. But Edie didn't think an invitation was appropriate considering the circumstances. Would only be more people for her to hurt. Edie fought the urge to actually shake the dark thoughts from her head and followed Steve's lead towards the open seats.
A chorus of utensils hitting plates filled the stiff atmosphere of the dining room. Everyone seemed to be plagued with the same illness: awkwardness induced mutism. A faked interest in the food being pushed and pulled across their plates. The room itself seemed to be holding its breath, choking on it's own silence. That was until a strawberry grin decided to break the ice.
"So when did Fury become…undead?"
Laughter ignited at the pure innocence of the simple question, Tony nearly choking on his orange juice. Starting as a ripple until a roaring tidal of chuckles swept across the entire table.
"Not undead but oh-what were they called again, dear?" Edie asked from behind her hand, green eyes looking to Steve.
His expression narrowed with thought, scrounging his brain for the name.
"You remember, don't you?...That show, oh with all the dead people. Rather gross if you ask me but I actually quite liked it. Chompers? Is that what they called them? No that wasn't it." Edie's external thinking process only seemed to make the others laugh harder. The two older Avengers racking their brain for the simple word that would describe when a person comes back from the great beyond.
"It's like watching a kitten try and get out of a box or a dog chase its own tail."
"Painfully adorable." Tony agreed with Sam's observation.
Unable to watch it any longer, the billionaire put the couple out of their misery.
"Shaggy, Scooby. I believe the word you're looking for is Walker aka Zombie."
"That's it! See I was close." Edie smugly triumphed over the warm wisps snaking from her coffee mug.
"Chompers? Not even close, Dollface. Sorry, can't give you that one." Tony sent Edie a wink as she pulled a face.
Before they knew it the group had slipped back into old habits. Reconvening as a family over a meal instead of a ragtag group pinned against a decade spanning disease known as HYDRA.
The topics moved from the lighthearted tale of Fury's resurrection, to the more serious debate as to who held the highest score for Dance Party 3000. The group hadn't played since the last time they were held up in one of Stark's luxury compounds. Without Thor and Clint there to defend themselves and with the new addition of Sam Wilson they all agreed it was only fair that they start a new battle.
"Oh you just wait, Cappy. This isn't one of those VA charity balls. I'm not going to go easy on you."
"Just put it on, Stark and we'll see who the charity case is." Steve mirrored Tony's eyebrow raised standoff.
"Are we forming teams? Because I call Edie!"
It would appear the Healer and Iron Man were the only ones to find his declaration amusing. Remembering how they both dominated last time. Even though she was new to the technology and moves, Edie had always loved dancing. She picked up the game quickly and soon had every one of the edge of their seats as her and Tony battled for their name on the leaderboard.
"Alright good. It's settled, Betty Boop and I will go first. Show you all how it's done. Then Steve and Red, you two. Brucie you get Birdboy, sorry." Tony ignored Falcon's disapproving protest.
It was just too easy, Tony smirked to himself.
"Hop to it, gang. I'm going to do some stretching. Might wanna do the same Gramps, arthritis is nothing to mess with." The dark haired man jabbed before excusing himself from the task of cleaning up.
Edie muffled a giggle through tightened lips, earning a playfully scowl from her husband. But she only seemed to laugh harder as the word 'traitor' fell from those full lips and he swooped in to give her waist a ticklish squeeze.
"Hey no horse play! I don't want my teammate injured." Tony barked from his reclined position against the sofa at the sound of Edie's squeals. His version of 'stretching'.
The allotted hour stretched far beyond the sixty minutes but no one dared to blow the whistle.
Instead, for the first time in days a light hearted atmosphere wafted in and blanketed the group in a fit of smiling banter.
It was as Sam and Tony faced off, under the saucy notes of Hips Don't Lie by Shakira, that Edie fell in beside Natasha.
"Nat, can I talk to you for a second?" Black waves motioned towards the solitude of the kitchen.
"Yeah sure."
Scooting into a secluded corner, Edie searched for where to begin but it was the redhead that beat her to the punch.
"I won't apologize for what I did, I was protecting the team." Defense rimming her words and eyes.
Edie puffed a shaky laugh at the emotionless rebuke.
Classic Nat, always ready for a trial.
"I wasn't going to ask you to, quite the opposite actually."
Confusion muddied the assassin's stoic expression. Edie wetted her lips, taking a moment to string together all the things she pined to express.
"I wanted to thank you. I don't have answers or an explanation for what happened. And your suspicion is warranted, I don't blame you. I am grateful for what you did."
Subconsciously jade eyes panned to the bantering group, all huddled around the flickering screen. So many precious heartbeats gathered in one place. Many that wouldn't be alive without the assassin's actions and ability to take initiative.
"All I want to do is protect him, to protect all of you. This team is everything to me and to think I..I am responsible for nearly tearing it all apart.."
A gentle touch found Edie's shoulder. The outreach of compassion and swarming regret nearly sucked the wind from her sails.
"Well, anyway the reason I called you over here was to ask you something."
The Healer inhaled a collective breath.
"Next time, God I hope there's not a next time. But...Nat I want you to ensure their safety. No matter what this time. Don't hold back."
Despite Romanoff's expert training of detachment, shock could be read creeping across her flawless complexion as the request set in. In contrast to the younger woman Edie was rather calm and composed despite the subject.
"Edie..I-"
Hesitation, ready to refuse if Edie dared to let her continue.
"I mean it and I want this kept between you and I. Do we understand each other, Agent?" Edie punctuated the severity with the use of Natasha's title.
Edie could accept her death. But she would not accept his, or theirs and especially not by her own hands.
"Yes."
A watery smile found Edie's face at the indifference that returned to Natasha's voice.
Thanks for reading! I hope I made it up to you :) Please let me know how I did. I cannot get over how adorable Bucky would be addicted to smoothies. He's such a cutie pie, I just wanna protect him and love him!
"I won't hurt you, we promise." ...What was that all about? I know I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off Teddybear either. Stay tuned to find out more. And don't worry I already have Chapter 10 planned and in the works.
xoxoxoxox!