Surprise! A chapter! Thanks to everyone who comments, follows, and favorites. I read each and every review and they make me so happy. Eventually I will finish this and I think I might either clean it up and do a rewrite or write a sequel with later Marvel movies or a prequel with the first Captain America movie. But that probs wont be for a long time lol.
Sorry for being a spaz, anyways I'm guessing everyone else is as traumatized by infinity war as me?
Elli sat at the end of the couch, her prosthetics draped over her daddy's legs as he checked some wires in her right ankle. She pouted as she sipped on a juice box, intent on giving the older Stark the coldest shoulder she could muster. A small chuckle escaped the mechanic as he poked his daughter's cheek, causing a half-hearted glare to be cast his way.
"Aw, come on baby girl, it was kind of funny." His daughter only blew a raspberry at him before turning her attention back to the television. Tony turned to his science buddy looking for support, "Bruce wasn't it kind of funny?"
The brunette glanced from the other side of couch, taking notice of the side eye the six-year-old was giving him. The scientist shrugged as he tapped his fingers on the armrest.
"I'm not getting involved."
Tony sighed and tightened another bolt, semi-regretting the events from ten minutes prior. He had left his daughter earlier that morning to finish her movie, the little girl eventually giving into sleep after a long morning of prosthetic adjustments. After having dosed for a couple hours, Elli had gotten up to get juice only for her right leg to give out from under her, causing the sleepy child to face plant with a large thump that made Bruce jump out of his seat in concern. The elder Stark had cackled from the kitchen, only to stop when the stool he was on started glowing and proceeded to dump him onto the floor. In his defense, it was quite funny and Elli obviously wasn't hurt, well except her bruised ego.
Glancing again at his daughter, he placed the screwdriver down before poking her again, this time in the stomach.
"Come on, please forgive me?" She squirmed slightly as she tried not to smile, his poking getting more frequent and turning into a full on tickle attack, "pleeaasssee?"
A giggle escaped the younger Stark as she tried to escape. Bruce just laughed at the two and stood up in order to escape being caught in the crossfire. Tony picked up his daughter before spinning her upside down and tickling her even more.
"Daddy stop," the white haired child wheezed as she laughed some more, "I'm going to end up breaking you again!"
"Not until you forgive me!" He tossed her up, making Elli laugh as she put her arms around his neck.
"Okay," Tony pretends to drop his daughter, making her squeal in surprise and tighten her grip, "just promise you won't laugh next time."
"It's a promise kiddo," he deposits her on the ground making sure her legs can hold her up, "Now how 'bout you go and get Deedee and we can go on a walk?"
"Okay!"
Tony walked back to the couch to turn off the television as his daughter went off to find her furry companion.
"Want to come Jolly Green?" Tony met Bruce's eyes as he picked up the now empty juice box.
"I think I'll take a rain check this time," the scientist paused, "What did Elli mean by break you?"
"Ah, yeah," the billionaire ran a hand through his hair, "Remember when I had that cast last year? The tickle monster and metal limbs don't always mix so well. It was definitely my fault but Elli's kind of sensitive about that so don't mention it."
"I remember Steve yelled at you about that," Bruce furrowed his eyebrows, annoyed at himself and his teammates for yet another reminder of how they had been unfair to the Iron Avenger.
"Yeah, well, Steve yelled about a lot of things," Tony shrugged and gave a half smile.
"Still Tony, we weren't fair to you."
"I caused a lot of misunderstandings keeping Elli a secret. There's no point on bringing up each one now, it's in the past."
"Tony that's not-"
"Brucie-Bear, can we just," the genius sighs as he runs a hand through his hair, "put a pause on this conversation."
"It needs to be addressed, Tony. There is still a lot of tension on the team because of it."
"Look, I'm sorry I'm causing tension," Tony waves his hand in the air as he picks up Deedee's leash from the counter, "I'll try to make it less awkward."
"That isn't what I meant."
"Yeah, it is. I'm still the center of the problems on the team."
"Jesus, Tony-"
A swirling vortex open over them and drops one Steve Rogers onto the Stark's coffee table, effectively cracking it in half. The super soldier hops up immediately, still cradling Peter tightly to his chest.
"Why is it that my coffee table is always being destroyed? Why can't swirling blue portals drop people on the couch for once?"
"Bruce…take Peter, I have to go." A trembling nine-year-old is pushed into the scientist's arms as Steve strides toward the elevator.
"Hold up, you wanna explain what that was first?" Tony grabs the blonde by the shoulder spinning him around.
"Ava, I've got to go," the super soldier has a dazed look about him and is breathing heavy, which is strange for Tony as he doesn't think he has ever seen the man even slightly winded.
"Yeah, that explained a lot." Steve blinks as he is steered towards a chair, "Wanna try again? Who is Ava?"
"My girl," Steve lets Tony guide him into a chair.
"You have a girl? Like a girlfriend? I thought Captain America was a virgin."
"TONY," Bruce comes up behind the genius having checked over Peter. Elli had returned to the room with Deedee and was sitting with the young boy on the couch.
"What? He's supposed to be America's chaste golden boy from the conservative 40s. From what I heard from my dad he didn't even get to second base with Aunt Peggy."
"What's second base?"
"Something you'll never be doing sweetie," Tony turns to Bruce who is now kneeling in front of Steve shining a pen light in his eyes, "what is wrong with him?"
"Not sure, his pupils are slightly dilated but I think the serum is helping him recover quickly. His eyes are starting focus already." Steve blinks again and gets Bruce to take the light away from him.
"Ava is my girl from before the serum," the blonde stands up and has to steady himself on the back of the chair, "she is supposed to be dead."
"That seems to be a growing trend in your life, is she a brainwashed assassin as well?"
"No but Bucky was trying to kill her when she sent me and Pete through that portal." The two scientists blink.
"Wow your life is complicated."
"I need your help Tony; I can't lose her again," Steve gags a little, he doesn't remember ever being this nauseous since the serum. Tony sighs.
"Pumpkin, can you take care of Peter while I go save Steve's friend?"
"Yep!" The younger Stark has already covered the boy in multiple blankets and was handing him a full glass of orange juice.
"That's my girl," Tony smirks and turns back to his teammate, "Alright big guy, where are they at?"
"Elli's school."
"What?!"
"She's Elli and Peter's teacher."
"WHAT?!"
**line***
Ava closed the portal quickly as a glowing bullet flew past her. She whipped around as three more followed.
"Alright Alisha Keys, how bout you make this easy and extinguish yourself."
Tendrils of light whip around the ethereal being's head as the building begins to shake. The Winter Soldier dashes forward only to be blown back into a row of lockers.
"Hard way it is then," the mercenary reloads before dodging an energy blast.
Elli and Peter sat on the couch watching the news. The little Stark was sure her daddy would be on the screen any minute but for now it was just a frazzled news anchor standing outside the school.
"Following reports of gunfire at Midtown Elementary, authorities have released that there is what appears to be a fight between three super powered beings is taking place inside of the school. Students have already been dismissed for the day but it is not known if anyone is still inside the building. For now, police have created a barricade and are waiting for the Avenger's response team. Reports indicate that Captain America and Iron Man are on their way-"
A large explosion makes the anchor squeal before recomposing himself.
"Why are those people trying to hurt Ms. Lane?" Deedee rested her head between the children's laps and relished in the gentle pets they both were giving her. Bruce had gone down to the lab to see if he could get in contact with Fury, leaving Jarvis in charge of the three.
"I don't know. I hope she is okay."
**line***
"So you're the little lady that has got Stevie all worked up," Bucky easily dodged Steve's fist as he strolled up to the blonde sitting on the park bench, his most charming grin ready and arm extended, "Steve said you were good looking but I got to say, I wasn't expecting you to be such a pretty dame."
Ava looked up from her novel, a single eyebrow raised as she glanced back and forth between the two men. Steve's eyes seemed nervous as he stood awkwardly to the side of his best friend. Her eyes finally rested on the extended hand which she pointedly chose to ignore.
"He a friend of yours?" A wave of relief washed over Steve as Ava scoffed at Bucky's charms, his best friend awkwardly chuckled and took his hand back.
"Ah, um I'm not sure if Steve has told you about me," the brunette shuffled on his feet.
"Just enough to make me forgive that atrocious entrance," she closes her book and adjusts her sunhat, "want to try again?"
"Bucky Barnes, nice to meet you. Steve mentions you a lot," this time Bucky allows Steve's weak punch to land, causing Ava to laugh and dissolve the remaining tension.
"Avalyn, but you can call me Ava. Steve mentions you often as well," the blonde grins as she finally takes Bucky's hand.
"Got a last name, Ava?" Steve laughs and answers for her.
"Not today, Mr. Barnes."
**line***
"Barnes I need you to listen to me," Ava ducked as a metal arm swung at her. The arm came down again, this time she caught the assassin's wrist, "I don't want to hurt you."
"Don't think he can hear you Sunshine," Wade leans back and begins the wait for his arms to grow back, dark and brooding had ripped them off earlier.
The Asset gripped his target's forearm in his metal grasp as he felt the charge heating up. Before she could break free he released the charge, the same cold look in his eyes as she screamed in pain. He held Ava up as her glowing form began to dim and her legs gave out from underneath her.
"Bucky…" the metal hand moved to her throat as the built in weaponry specifically designed for Ava continued to electrocute her, "please…"
Black dots are entering Ava's vision as she brings up a glowing hand to the assassin's temple. A surge of energy knocks him out causing both of them to fall to the floor, the Winter Soldier pinning the Skīr-r beneath him. Ava laughs as she wraps her arm around her former friend's head.
"If only Steve could see us now."
"He will be seeing you, in like two minutes. Flying is so much faster than motorcycle but not all of us can be as cool as me." Ava looks up to see Iron Man standing above her, Deadpool already thrown over his shoulder fireman style.
"You're definitely no Colossus but I guess your shiny metal butt will have to do," Tony dropped the mercenary with a thud as Captain America's motorcycle skidded to the front steps of the school.
S.H.E.I.L.D. agents quickly flood the doors and soon Bucky is being lifted off of Ava and put on a stretcher. She can barely keep her eyes open as she is carried out, her head leaning against a muscular chest.
**line***
"What're you thinking about so intently over there?" Ava tilts her head in his direction, her golden curls bouncing in the sea breeze. They sat underneath a large umbrella on a blanket Ava had brought with her. Bucky and the dame he had brought with him were splashing around in the water but Steve's fair skin making it impossible for him to stay out in the sun too long.
"I want to enlist, but I keep getting rejected" Steve feels his heart flutter as he meets her molten gold eyes, "Bucky keeps telling me to stop trying already. Says I don't need to be on the front lines to make a difference."
"He's not wrong," she rests her hand over his, "just because you're not on the front lines doesn't make you less. You can still help in other ways."
"I don't want a factory job; I can't just sit over here when others are risking their lives! I don't have a right to do any less than them." A little bit of guilt washes over him as he watches as she scrunches her nose. He feels her thumb run back and forth over his knuckles.
"Steve, what is this really about?" He looks away, choosing to watch Bucky in the water instead.
"It's not about anything, it's just something I gotta do," her other hand cups his face and turns his head back to look at her.
"You never did know when to quit, Mr. Rogers," a small smirk graces her lips, making Steve blush slightly, "but that is what I like most about you."
"You mean it's not my dashing good looks that got you hooked?" A goofy grin crosses his face as she throws her head back laughing.
"I guess they played a small part," she leans in and kisses him. Every touch from Ava was like electricity under his skin, but kissing her always felt like magic. A shiver of disappointment runs down his spine as she pulls back, "Just promise you'll always come back to me."
"Of course, but the war might last a long time, when I get back I want you to be my girl," he rested his hand on her knee, running his thumb over the fabric of her sundress, "are you willing to wait for me?"
"Always. I've got all the time in the world to wait for you, Steve Rogers."
