"The problem with surviving was that you ended up with the ghosts of everyone you'd ever left behind riding on your shoulders."― Paolo Bacigalupi
Captain Heather Potter waited in the lobby of Avengers Tower. She was leaning in a deceptively lazy fashion against a column with her arms crossed. She was dressed in black combat pants and a matching black long sleeve performance shirt. Her long black hair was pulled tightly in a braid that was wrapped in a crown around her head and pinned neatly in place.
Crossing her legs, she glanced around the large foyer through her lashes, watching and waiting. She knew that she was fairly conspicuously dressed, but she found that she did not care at the moment. The team was preparing to leave on their next mission and she was asked to bring her former comrades up to the labs and get the set up before she left.
Shifting slightly, she felt the shift in the atmosphere before she saw them walk through the doors together. Chuckling, she straightened and approached the group with a smile. She was picked up by Dean Thomas and swung around before she was passed off to Justin Finch-Fletchy. Lisa Turpin hugged her tightly and Moira Entwhistle gave her a smacking kiss on her cheek before hugging her as well. The last two to approach were Eddie Dunn and Michael Johnston, both of whom hugged her gently and kissed her on the crown of her head. This was her team, and though they were not going to battle with her, they were there to help and that meant more to her than they would ever know.
"Right," she chuckled. "Let's get you lot situated in the labs and in your rooms. You each have your own suite of rooms and share common spaces like a living room and kitchen."
"What can we expect?" Dean asked curiously.
"I'm set to leave in a half hour with the rest of the team on a mission." She said softly. "We should be back in the near future. However, in the meantime you're expected to get settled in and acclimated to being in the USA. MACUSA has left credentials for each of you which you will find in your rooms."
"So we don't have anything we really need to do immediately?" Lisa asked with a frown.
"When I let the team know that we had been trying to find a solution to the technology problem, they were keen on you coming on board." Heather replied. "If you wanted to get a jump on that, it would be appreciated. However, if you need time you've got it."
Heather badged them into the elevator, telling them they had their own in their rooms with their information packets. She went up to their floor which was a few below her own. They each went to their individual rooms and unloaded their gear before grabbing their badges and meeting her by the elevator.
They went up a few more floors to the lab that had been assigned their team. Heather informed them that she had begun warding it to follow what they had done previously, but they would need to finish it. Once they had familiarized themselves with everything and were introduced to JARVIS, Heather took her leave.
Stopping on her own floor, she grabbed the rest of her gear after tugging on her combat vest and essentials and went to the roof to meet the team in the Helicarrier. With her pack slung over her shoulder she approached the aircraft and walked up the open hatch. Most of the team was there loading their gear and checking the equipment. Nodding to them she made her way into the cargo area before proceeding to the seats.
"Your team settled in?" Tony asked.
"Yes, they've been given a quick tour," she smiled. "Thanks for having them. They've already ensconced themselves in the lab."
"We're happy to have them on board," he replied with a warm smile. "Alright, pixie! Time to buckle in Cap says we're taking off in two."
Rolling her eyes, Heather tucked her gear away and sat in her seat, buckling in. Bucky sat nearby with Sam beside him. Next to her Bruce sat wearily. Natasha, Clint, and Steve were in the cockpit. Rhodey jogged onto the craft and threw himself into his seat beside Tony.
"That's everyone for now," Tony called out. "Let's get this show on the road!"
Heather shifted in her seat and closed her eyes. This was her first mission without her team and with an entirely new team. Her nerves were there and she tried to let it go, but trust was hard won and earned. She trusted this team to a certain degree and would do what was asked of her, but she was weary.
Shaking herself, she shifted restlessly once more. There was no room for doubt in a mission or in a team. The team had been vetted and she had gotten to know them over the past couple of weeks. Sure it did not make up for the years she had spent with her former teammates, but she felt comfortable with them, especially Bucky and Steve.
Now there was a pair that she tried not to spend too much time thinking about. Bucky in particular sent her pulse racing and her magic would often reach out for him. It was something that was unfamiliar to her. Sure in the past she had crushes and brief relationships, if they could even be called that. But whatever pull she felt towards the super soldier was different. If she weren't so annoyed with Hermione she would have asked her about it.
Thinking about the person who had once been her best friend, Heather blinked back tears. She knew that it was partly her fault for the state of their relationship, but Hermione was so damn stubborn sometimes it was impossible to talk to her. While Hermione had been thrilled to jump into a relationship with Ron and settle back into the British Enclaves and their oppressive patriarchal rules, she refused.
Heather could not and would not cater to the masses just to maintain the status quo. When the chance to serve in the Queen's Armed Forces was given, she jumped at it and left almost immediately. What did she have left in the magical world? Andromeda was taking care of Teddy, the Weasely's were dealing with the aftermath and loss of one of their own, the Marauders were gone, and Hogwarts was in ruins. No, there had been nothing tangible to tie her down there.
"It isn't in my past. It is in my everyday." - Helen Wilson
"Alright there, doll?" Bucky asked, jolting her from her thoughts.
"Fine," she gave him a wane smile. "Brings back memories, is all."
Bucky looked at her carefully before nodding. Beside him, Sam regarded the petite woman curiously. He had arrived a few days ago and had joined the team in an official capacity as Falcon. He has spoken to both Bucky and Steve about Captain Potter at length.
"It's alright to be nervous," Sam said carefully. "First mission with a new team is always nerve wracking."
"You're far more perceptive than I care to admit," she smirked. "I'll be fine."
"Didn't say you wouldn't be ma'am." He replied, causing her to roll her eyes. "But the fact remains that we've all got each other's backs."
"I've faced a fully grown nesting mother dragon, I'm certain that I can face a few rogue agents no problem." She said with her eyes glinting mischievously.
"Say what now?" Tony blurted out. "Dragons, like fire breathing giant lizards?"
"Dragons are very real and very nasty." She answered. "I was fourteen when someone illegally entered me in a tournament against my will. The first task was retrieving a golden egg with a clue in it from the nest of the aforementioned angry mother dragon."
"What the Hell is wrong with the wizarding world?" Clint said from the front.
"I've been trying to figure it out since I was eleven," she snarked. "Hence I enlisted with the British Magical Special Task Force and left all that nonsense behind."
"But, dragons!" Tony exclaimed. "What's next you'll tell me that unicorns, fairies, and vampires are real?"
"All of the above, including werewolves and so much more," she said with a grin.
"How the Hell does the rest of the world not know?" Tony demanded.
"The rest of the world knows what we want them to know," she said firmly. "As I've said the Salem Witch Trials were very real and the cause for the Great Divide. Our society was hidden away to protect ourselves and to survive. While I don't agree with all of the bigotry and backwards thinking, I understand wanting to be safe."
"Bigotry?" Sam asked.
"Even in the Wizarding World there are those that are viewed as less." She answered, her expression hardening. "There are Purebloods who have all magical ancestors. There are Halfbloods with one magical parent and one non magical parent. Next comes the Muggleborns or first generation magicals who seemingly have no magical ancestry. They're also referred to as mudbloods, a racial slur meaning they have dirty blood."
Heather paused and rolled up her left sleeve, exposing the word carved into her arm. The entire cabin was silent and seething. Bruce was struggling to keep the Other Guy from transforming. Tugging her sleeve back down she continued.
"Technically I am considered a halfblood," she gritted out. "However, during the war there were those that thought those like me shouldn't exist. I was 'Enemy Number One.' While we won, nothing changed and I refused to stick around when the stuffy old men refused to allow for change and progress."
"Fucking Hell," Rhodey breathed. "How old were you?"
"When I first fought? I was eleven," she replied. "When I received this, I was seventeen."
Bucky looked like he was trembling in rage. His metal arm kept clenching and unclenching reflexively. He knew that she had been through a lot, but he wasn't aware it was quite this bad. Steve was right, she was a kid when most of it went down. Hell, she was younger than him when he had been drafted!
"Does it hurt?" Bucky asked gruffly.
"It was made using a cursed blade," she replied hoarsely. "It will never fully heal and there will always be pain."
"And the person who did this?" he asked in an eerily calm voice.
"She's dead," she said firmly. "As are many who were on the other side. In any war there are casualties. Unfortunately, in the Blood Wars, especially the second, most of them were the children that were forced to fight when the adults around us did nothing."
"Will your children be returning to that world?" Tony asked calmly.
"Well, if I were to ever have children," she paused, looking down at her hands. "I would like to think that they would go to school in the US. Much like their non-magical counterparts, the MACUSA and its people are much more tolerant and accepting. All else fails, I'll homeschool."
"You'd give up your career?" Sam asked curiously.
"If I were ever in a position to have a family," she said with a soft smile. "I would do anything for them, especially my children. I didn't have the best childhood, so I'm not sure about parenting. However, I've had plenty of examples of what not to do."
The aircraft fell silent once more. Most of the team was lost to their thoughts and concerns about their youngest and smallest team member. Bruce was still trembling but calmed when Heather passed him a mild calming draught to keep the Hulk at bay for the time being. Bucky, however, looked like he wanted to tear something or someone apart.
His mind was racing with everything that she had said. He knew there was so much more to her file than what was written. He had also watched the memories that she had shared with the others and was livid and horrified. Sure, in his time there was the draft, but the men had been of age. In her memories he saw kids as young as fourteen or younger fighting!
At that moment he wanted nothing more than to have Steve turn the carrier around and plonk her right back at the tower where she would be safe. The thought of her in danger had him on edge. Seeing the proof and evidence of her torture made his blood boil.
"Given what you've just told and showed us," Tony said lightly, "It's understandable that you're apprehensive with a new team. But we've got your back, shorty."
"I will hex you, tin man." She reminded him with a dimpled grin. "Toad or mouse?"
"Neither!" he said quickly. "No more short jokes," he swore.
Chuckles rang out around them. Heather tugged on her fingerless black dragon hide gloves. Over her shirt she was wearing her dragon hide combat gear. It was specialized for her team and had modifications making it bulletproof. She had reached out to Charlie Weasley to procure something similar for the rest of the Avengers and others that may need the added protection it provided.
"The human capacity for guilt is such that people can always find ways to blame themselves." -Stephen Hawking
"We should be approaching the coordinates in about ten," Steve called out. "Make sure that you're ready to be on the move immediately. Our source indicates that there could be hostile targets in the area."
Heather drew a deep breath and closed her eyes. Perhaps she would reach out to Bill Weasley about runes being carved into their gear, or perhaps rune tattoos similar to the ones that she had on her back and biceps.
Pulling back behind her occlumency shields in her mind, Heather put on what was considered her 'game face.' She was ready to battle. While she had her wands strapped to her forearms in hidden holsters, she had several non-magical firearms and knives on her person as well.
When they landed she quickly unbuckled, threw on her pack and strapped on the last of her weapons before opening the back hatch and moving. She took up position to clear the next person. Seeing no movement, she signaled for the rest of the team to move.
A snap to her right drew her attention and her body coiled, ready to spring into action. Movement caught her eye and she released a nonverbal, wandless stunning spell and moved. She kept in the shadows and moved towards the thud of the body that she had dropped.
Entering the small thicket, there was a man in head to toe black gear with numerous weapons unconscious on the ground. Binding him and removing his weapons she looked around and waited. Hearing movement to her left she hid behind a tree and waited.
Thick Russian accents were headed her way and she felt sweat drip down her back. Despite the crisp cool air, her adrenaline was pumping and she knew that her team had fanned out and gone in other directions. Her magic was making her coms obsolete so she was a sitting duck with at least two other hostile targets rapidly approaching.
Bracing herself, Heather drew a cleansing breath and got ready to move. Her adrenaline was pumping and her pulse thumping in her ears even as they rounded the bend and drew their weapons. Hopefully the Potter Luck wouldn't fail her now.
"The best way out is always through." - Robert Frost
"Where the fuck is Dark Rose?" Tony asked over the coms.
"Language!" Steve bit out. "She warned us her coms would have problems. We should have made sure we had other means to communicate with her. Bucky and Sam backtrack to her location."
"On it," Sam replied.
There were three rapid shots that rang out towards the northeast and the rest of the team went running. Bucky was sprinting through the thick underbrush, making his way towards the sound of gunfire and the shouting in Russian. His blood ran cold as he realized that Heather must have walked right into a hornets nest!
"Damn it, we need to move faster!" Bucky snarled. "Stark, get your ass in the air and find her!"
The team converged on the location and found nothing. There were drag marks on the ground where it appeared that someone, presumably Heather, had fallen and been pulled away. They began tracking the footprints and moving as a group.
Tony was in the air and could not find any sign of them or Heather anywhere. He was infuriated that this was happening. Mentally berating himself for not having made sure that she would be alright or had another means of communication, Tony flew around, barking orders to JARVIS.
"The only heat signals picking up are yours," Tony informed the team. "There is no sign of them anywhere."
"We are not leaving without her," Bucky said firmly. "I'm not leaving without her."
"No one said we were, Buck." Steve said, coming to stand beside his friend. "We will find her."
"Hawkeye!" Tony called over the coms. "Head back to the carrier and see if we can make contact through the coms there."
Clint darted through the woods silently, hugging the shadows and disappearing into the thick vegetation. The rest of the team were still walking around looking for a sign of Heather or the rogues. Bucky was beginning to fight to keep himself in control of the Winter Soldier who wanted to come out and make someone pay.
Shaking himself he shared a look with Steve and Sam. Both men knew that while HYDRA's hold on him was broken, the Winter Soldier was still there and still very much a part of him. He did not come out often but when he did his lethal skill set was used and unleashed in such a way that left none in his sights standing.
"Maybe you need to let him out," Sam whispered to him. "It's obvious he wants her safe too."
Bucky stared at him and gave a grunt of acknowledgement. He knew that both he and the Soldier felt something for Heather. In her he found a kindred spirit, much like Steve. He refused to lose her before he even had a chance with her.
The group went back to the initial thicket to see if there was something they missed when their coms crackled. They could not quite make out what was being said, but it was Hawkeye. As one they turned and made their way back towards the carrier.
Clint was waiting at the hatch for them. He did give them any indication of what was going on but they saw bloody footprints going up the hatch into the aircraft. He gave a nod and a tight smile before leading them towards the cargo bay.
When they arrived they found four rogue agents incapacited and tied up. They had various wounds on them but appeared to be alive nonetheless. Further in the bay, Heather had shed her outer layer of gear as well as her long sleeve shirt leaving her in a tank top. On her left bicep she had a graze wound from a bullet and on her right side it appeared that she had been shot as well. Though the bullet did not go through her dragonhide armor, she had a large bruise on her side.
"Hey," she said tiredly. "I tried the coms, but they didn't work. The first one was to the right, northeast of here about fifty yards into the underbrush. The others arrived not long after."
"Are you alright?" Steve asked, coming to stand beside her.
"I'm fine," she smiled softly. "Not the first time I've been shot and most likely won't be the last."
"What happened?" Bucky asked, coming up beside them.
"These three arses saw their comrade down and immediately opened fire," she shrugged. "I mean I was behind a tree in the underbrush. I tried to get a disillusionment spell on, but they had already tracked my location."
"How did you take them out and get them here?" Tony asked, approaching as his suit shrunk down. "It appears that at least two of them have been shot."
"Because they were," she replied, staring him in the eye. "I returned fire and then shot off a few spells. Instead of waiting for more, I tied them up and knocked them out and used a portkey to bring us back here. I secured them and made sure they wouldn't die from their wounds and started to treat my own."
"Any other injuries?" Steve asked.
"None that I'm aware of at the moment," she smirked. "I'll be fine."
"Let's get that arm cleaned and wrapped." Bruce said, holding a first aid kit.
"I'll let you wrap it for now," she replied. "However, I've got a few potions back at the Tower that will heal it and seal it, so no stitches."
"Really?" Bruce asked in keen interest. "Can we get enough for the team? Would they work the same way for the rest of us? Would I be able to run some tests and try to break down the formulas?"
Heather laughed while looking up at Bruce. "I can get you the ingredients and the formula as well if you want," she chuckled. "I am not sure how well the ingredients will work for you as they're magical, but I can make sure that my team will bring you to their potions lab."
"Potions lab?" Tony asked, with a smirk. "Do you really use cauldrons?"
"We do in fact use cauldrons," she flashed him a dimpled grin. "However, potions are volatile like chemistry. You need to be extremely careful with them and when brewing them. Explosions happen often, fumes can be toxic, and if brewed incorrectly the consequences can be fatal."
"Right, I think we'll just observe." Tony replied. "Let's get back to the Tower so we can have Rosie girl patched up."
Heather smiled at him tiredly before her face changed and she winced slightly as Bruce applied antiseptic to her wound. Her breath hissed out slightly before she blew out a breath. He looked at her apologetically as he began wrapping the wound.
The rest of the team streamed in and took their seats. Heather sat in her seat and buckled herself into the seat and leaned back tiredly. It wasn't the most magic she had used before, but creating a portkey on the spot was exhausting.
"Are you really alright?" Bucky asked from across from her.
"I'm good," she replied with a tired smile. "I've had worse, this is nothing."
"Not sure that's comforting, sweetheart,"Bucky replied dryly
Sam looked at her carefully and nodded. "You did good, Rosie." he remarked with a smile. "Though next time, I think we ought to make sure you've got a partner in the field."
"Agreed," the others replied immediately.
Heather chuckled and leaned back against her seat. Her body was sore and she knew that the adrenaline would be wearing off soon. She would most likely crash before they arrived back to the Tower as the flight had taken them several hours to get there.
"Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you do not have the strength." - Theodore Roosevelt
Heather jolted awake to the aircraft banking right suddenly and Clint swearing from the front. It was then she realized that they were taking on fire from an unknown opponent. Swearing, she reached back to her pack and dug out her extra shirt and pulled it on. Dragging her dragonhide armor back on she began fastening weapons to herself, getting ready for a possible crash landing and fight on the ground.
"One of the engines is out." Natasha shouted. "If we take another hit we need to land."
Heather looked at the prisoners that had woken and looked at them carefully. There was something in their eyes that made her uneasy. Whispering a stunning spell, she knocked them out once more. Unstrapping, she ignored the shouts of the rest of the team. Reinforcing the ropes and chains on them she took the discarded portkey and enchanted it once more, giving it a destination of the holding cell within Avengers Tower.
"Stay back and don't touch them." she shouted. "They're going back to the Tower. You'll have to call Dean and the others to make sure that they're secured until we can get there."
As she finished talking the four assailants popped out of view. She stumbled back to her seat and put her buckle back on. If there was a need she would make another portkey for them to bail out of the aircraft if need be. Looking around she watched the grim faces of the team as Tony and Rhodey as well as Sam prepared to depart the aircraft to give additional cover.
She was exhausted, but she had been there before. Closing her eyes she centered herself and began to draw on the latent magic in their surroundings. Soaking up the latent elemental magic in the air she began to forcibly recharge her core. It was dangerous and risky, but not anything that she hadn't done before.
The next five minutes were harrowing for them, but their attackers had been taken out and grounded. Clint landed the craft in a nearby field and the team exited to assess the damage. It would be far too risky to fly over the ocean without full engine power.
"Sometimes to find the light, you have to go through the deepest darkness." - Jared Leto
Heather waited for confirmation from Dean as Tony sent off a message through JARVIS. She paced the same patch of grass until she heard the reply from Dean and breathed a sigh of relief. The prisoners had been received and were secured.
"Quick thinking," Tony nodded to her, before turning back to the damaged engine.
Heather knew that they were going to try to fix the damage to their aircraft, however at the moment she was on edge. They were in the open, essentially sitting ducks in the middle of a field. While they had taken out the bogies that were firing on them. That did not mean that there would not be others that would attempt to finish the job.
"I would suggest that we either put up wards or a disillusionment charm," Heather called out. "We're in the open and my instincts are screaming at me that we need to do something about it."
"Would either of those interfere with us repairing this?" Tony asked curiously.
"Wards might, but the disillusion charm wouldn't," she replied. "I can also cast a cloaking spell until we're ready to lift off again."
Seeing the affirmative from Steve she drew both of her wands and rolled her shoulders. Breathing in she drew on the latent magic in the world around her and began casting simultaneously. There appeared to be a large dome like invisible bubbly forming over them. They watched as her lips were moving, but she was silent in her spell casting. They could feel the energy around them, through them as she waved her arms in intricate patterns. Sparks of energy raced through her hair and along her skin as she continued.
"Fucking hell," Clint breathed.
Heather felt her arms tremble with the exertion of the magic. She had already been tired from earlier, but now she knew that she was running on fumes. As she finished the spells she sank to her knees and let her hands fall on her lap.
Bucky and Steve approached her cautiously and carefully. They could see the exhaustion in her features. Her complexion had paled dramatically and she seemed to be struggling to remain conscious. They watched as she trembled and slowed her breathing.
"Doll, you alright?" Bucky asked.
"Heather," Steve said quietly, crouching beside her. "What can we do to help?"
"Used too much energy," She said hoarsely. "Need rest to let my magic levels recover."
Bucky sat beside her and pulled her to lean against him. "So you need rest?" he asked.
Heather felt herself drifting and struggled to keep her eyes open. She hated being vulnerable in a very precarious and vulnerable situation, but there was little choice. Call it part of her "saving people thing," but she needed to make sure that the team was protected even if temporarily.
"Need rest," she murmured into Bucky's shoulder. "If we're found, get the green potion bottle in my pack."
Steve straightened and went to grab her bag. Bringing it back, he opened the back and moved her things to get to the item she was talking about. He looked uncomfortable rifling through her things, but as a fellow soldier he knew that there was no help for it.
"This one?" he asked, holding the small vial in front of her. "Hey, doll you've got to wake up enough to let us know if this is what you need."
Bucky's gaze snapped to look at his best friend. The pair shared a glance and a subtle nod before looking down at the petite woman dozing against Bucky's side. Perhaps Steve's feelings weren't as platonic as Bucky had first thought. A feeling of dread pooled in his gut and a chill ran down his spine.
"Is that the only green bottle?" Bucky asked gruffly.
"Yes," Steve replied. "There are a few others, but this one had 'Pepper Up' written on it."
"What do the others say?" Bucky asked curiously.
"There's 'Blood Replenisher,' 'Essence of Dittany,' and something called a 'Calming Draught." Steve replied, looking baffled.
"I want to get those under a microscope and in a mass spectrometer." Tony said crouching beside them. "If we can replicate them or create something similar without magic, it'll change medicine!"
"What's our time frame?" Steve asked Tony.
"We should have this repaired in an hour, two at most," he said with a shrug. "The blade was damaged but we've got enough materials and spare parts to fix it enough to get home."
Bucky and Steve brought Heather into the downed aircraft and laid her down on the floor. They went outside to keep watch and check the perimeter of the area to make sure that they would be safe while the repairs were being made. It was an awkward and tense silence between the pair of friends.
"We need to talk about this, Bucky." Steve finally said. "While I do care for her, it's not what you think. She's a great dame, but it's pretty clear that you and she have been dancing around each other since you met."
"I don't know what you mean," Bucky replied, refusing to look at Steve.
"Hey," Steve said firmly, grabbing Bucky's arm to turn and look at him. "I can admire her for the great girl she is, but she is drawn to you! I could see her as a friend or younger sister, but I wouldn't do that to you. You deserve to be happy, Buck."
Bucky looked down and away from Steve's earnest expression. "You do as well." He replied roughly. "What could I possibly offer her?"
"Why don't you let her be the one to decide that?" Steve said bluntly. "I will however tell you that if you hurt her, I hurt you. She needs someone to be there for her, and apparently that someone seems to be you. You've gotten the closest to her."
Their conversation was interrupted by Tony calling out to them. The engine had been repaired and they were getting ready to lift off soon. Both men nodded, acknowledging that they would finish the conversation another time. Steve, however, was adamant that Bucky pursue Heather.
Bucky seemed lost in his thoughts as they walked up the hatch and into the seating area. Heather had been buckled into her seat where she was still dozing. Her things were packed away and everyone else was filing into their seats. Steve had taken Tony's seat as Iron Man had decided that he would fly with Clint and Natasha to keep a close eye on the repairs.
"How's she doing?" Steve asked Tony.
"Her vitals are normal, but she didn't even budge when we moved her." Tony said over the coms. "She's completely out of it, so let's hope we don't need Sabrina's help in the near future."
They lifted off and while it wasn't as smooth of a ride as they would have liked they were on their way. It was a long and silent flight. Everyone was on edge and their adrenaline was pumping. Once they were within sight of the US coastline, they breathed a sigh of relief.
Heather's team kept them posted about the prisoners. Apparently, they had administered something called a 'truth serum' to them and they sang like canaries. JARVIS had recorded the confessions and sent off copies to the necessary chains of command.
"Believe you can and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt
Bucky shouldered both his and Heather's packs before lifting her and carrying her bridal style down the hatch and onto the roof of Avengers Tower. A few of her magical teammates spilled onto the roof and asked for a status on her. Dean swore softly and told Bucky that she would need to be brought to the med bay to be monitored.
"What do you mean she needs the med bay?" Bucky demanded, cradling her to his chest.
"For her to be unconscious from magical depletion is bad," Dean answered carefully. "Lisa is our trained Healer on our team. She'll know what to do and how to treat the magical exhaustion."
They entered the med bay where Lisa was waiting. She had a tray of vials waiting and immediately began waving her wand over Heather. The diagnostic spell revealed that she had depleted her reserves to dangerous levels. Though she had absorbed latent magic from the environment, her own levels were not given a chance to recharge sufficiently.
"First we need to treat the GSW," Lisa called out, and shooed the others from the room. "Out! I need room to work."
The outer layers of Heather's clothes were vanished, leaving her in her tank top and her panties. The men left the room quickly, knowing that not only was it an order, but to protect Heather's modesty. Bucky followed Steve out and the pair made their way to their shared floor.
"Are you alright?" Steve asked as they entered their floor.
"Fine," Bucky replied tersely.
"I'm not going to push," Steve said carefully. "However, I meant what I said. She's not the one for me, but she could be yours. Don't give up before you give it a chance."
Steve left his friend in their living room and went to his bedroom. Bucky stood there for a few minutes before going to his own room. Shedding his clothes, he walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. The hot spray eased the tension from his muscles and helped to lull his mind, even if briefly.
Perhaps Steve was right. Not that he would admit it to the punk! Bucky snorted at the thought and ran his hand through his hair. Heather was so different from the women of the forties. She was bold and fierce, but so damn fragile looking. Her features were captivating, and her emerald eyes were impossible to look away from.
Yeah, the little punk was right. Damn it! He wasn't quite sure what to do with this. He hadn't been allowed to feel anything in nearly seven decades. It was beyond the shell shock and PTSD that his fellow soldiers and men had felt in the War. He had no idea what the Hell he was doing. He was so damn attracted and infatuated with this dame that he couldn't think straight.
For the first time since he had awoken, he felt real fear. Fear for her when he heard the gunfire. He thought his heart was going to explode in his chest as he ran as fast as his body would go to try to get to her side. His only thought was making sure that she was alright.
Toweling the remaining water from his body, he reached for a fresh set of clothes. Donning a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, he grabbed a pair of shoes and quickly put them on before going back up to the med bay. He needed to make sure that Heather was alright. Magic was a relative unknown and it made him uneasy.
"The team will debrief in twenty," Steve told Bucky as he reached the group waiting.
"Any word?" he asked.
Lisa came out of the doors and approached the group. "She's fine but she needs a lot of rest. She shouldn't do any magic at all for at least a week." Lisa said firmly. "As for physical activity, it should be kept to a minimum during that time as well, perhaps longer."
"How'd it get so bad?" Dean asked from where he was leaning against the wall.
"She never let her reserves fully charge," Lisa replied while pinching the bridge of her nose. "While we've had R & R, she immediately came here. She never rested and recharged as she should have. We'd been deployed for five years, Dean. As a group we only went on vacation that one time, other than that when was the last time she took leave?"
"Son of a-!" Dean gritted out angrily. "That stubborn little witch! She never took leave!"
"Let's not forget that she was the one to power most of the wards on missions," Moira chimed in. "She's the strongest of all of us, but even she should've rested more."
"I can't believe that we didn't notice before," Justin whispered. "How did we not notice?"
"I don't think that she wanted us to notice," Lisa replied sadly. "She's always taken care of us. She never wanted us to see her as weak. How often did she take extra patrols or shifts? If rations were low she cut a portion of hers to share. It's who she is, but now we need to do something about it. She's been going essentially non-stop for the better part of eleven years."
"Shit," Steve whispered in horror.
The group ignored the cursing of their Captain and looked to Steve and Bucky who looked horrified. Most of them knew that soldiers needed a break. The fact that Heather had not taken time during her deployment except the one time, was staggering. Added to that, she had fought in a Magical War prior to that with little to no reprieve, it was no wonder that she was exhausted.
No one knew how long they stood in the hallway outside of the medbay. It was quiet, except for the beeping of the monitors from Heather's room. Everyone was lost in their thoughts. Heather's team felt an immense amount of grief and guilt. The Avengers were not much better.
"Right, well we can debrief here," Steve said authoritatively, breaking the silence. "No sense in relocating if we're all here."
The group walked to the large conference room down the hallway from the med bay. They each discussed the various aspects of their mission and what they had seen and experienced. JARVIS was taking minutes and the report would be generated once Heather added her input. Notes had been taken when they were on board the Helicarrier after she had apprehended the rogue agents, however her formal statement needed to be taken.
For the next several hours the group sat talking and making plans for the next missions. Heather's magical team mates were brought in as well. While the two groups were somewhat apprehensive at first, they got along well enough on a professional level. As with Heather, it would take some time for everyone to get to know one another.
As for Heather, she was in a magical and medical coma that Lisa had pushed her into. While Lisa did not like to take the choice away from a patient, Heather was stubborn and would not take sufficient care of herself. No, Heather would get the much needed rest that her body and magical core needed to recover. Even if it only lasted for a few days, because let's be honest, Heather is stubborn like that.
"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." - Theodore Roosevelt
Bucky sat in the chair beside Heather's bed and looked up from the book he had been reading. When he wasn't training, he was at her bedside. He and Steve switched off from time to time, but Bucky was reluctant to leave her. Hearing her friend and teammate Lisa discuss her magic exhaustion was alarming.
As a group the Avengers had requested information and books to reference. They were blown away at the seemingly impossible things they had at their fingertips. When they read the Modern Magical History books and saw Heather's name in the, they were intrigued and soon immersed themselves in the chapter set aside just for her.
Tony had nearly fainted seeing the moving picture of Heather outflying a large mother dragon. As a group they were horrified at everything that she had gone through. Bucky was not sure how she was still functioning. Steve looked completely lost having read her history. He could not understand such evil, none of them could.
Reading Grindewald's part in World War II was eye opening and horrifying for Bucky and Steve. It was no wonder that things had gotten so bad over in Germany! They hadn't even known that there had been a magical element and opponent they were facing from the shadows. Hydra was bad enough, but to know that there were others working with the Enemy at the time was shatter for both men.
Bucky shifted and looked back towards the unconscious woman that had become the center of gravity for him. To know that she had experienced so much and was still such a beautiful person inside and out gave him hope. She gave him hope that perhaps he could be redeemed and that he was not completely lost. If she could keep going after everything that she had been through, then surely, he could as well.
If he wanted any sort of relationship with her, he would need to be the kind of man that she deserved. He knew that he had a lot of work and a long way to go, but he wanted to be that man for her. He knew that he was broken, but he acknowledged that she was as well. Perhaps they could help one another along the way. She was the sort of woman his ma would have been proud to know.
The change in Heather's breathing drew his attention. He watched as her eyes flickered behind their lids and knew that she would be waking up soon. Putting his book on the nearby table, he quietly called JARVIS to page Lisa and the rest of the team.
Leaning against the edge of the bed he murmured to her. Running his right hand through her wavy black hair, he tried to soothe her. She groaned and winced slightly as she shifted, but her eyes blinked and she looked towards the sound of his voice. Blurrily, she looked at him and sighed, closing her eyes.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" he asked her softly.
"Sore and tired, but better." She replied with a scratchy voice.
Bucky stood and poured her a cup of water and helped her take a sip through the straw. Her limbs were still shaky, and she was pretty weak. He wanted nothing more than to bundle her up and carry her off like a damn caveman. Shaking himself from that thought he smirked at her.
"Oh no," she murmured, waving towards his face. "None of that. That look right there is trouble."
Bucky chuckled and winked at her. Heather closed her eyes and shifted in the bed. Bucky leaned over and took her hand in his good one. He kissed her knuckles gently and rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand.
"You're trouble," she murmured, opening one eye and looking at him with a soft smile.
Shrugging unapologetically, "Not as much as Steve." He snorted. "I was always getting that punk out of trouble."
"You sound like my friends from school," she chuckled tiredly. "I never went looking for trouble, it just sort of found me."
"I beg to differ," Dean chuckled, entering the room. "You went looking for plenty of trouble, Oh Captain!"
The rest of her team filed in and chuckled at her expense. She blushed hotly and scowled at them, causing Bucky to laugh at her bedside. Lisa bustled beside her and ran a few diagnostic spells and muttered to herself.
"Well, your vitals are solid." Lisa declared. "You've been unconscious for three days. You need rest and if I have to tie you to the bed I will."
"Kinky, but not my cup of tea," Heather retorted sassily. "I'm not staying in this bed."
Bucky felt like he was going to swallow his tongue hearing her reply. His facial expression must have given him away because she winked at him and turned back to Lisa. He felt a flush run up his neck and creep into his face. Honestly, he could not remember the last time he had blushed because of a woman!
"You need rest, Heather!" Lisa said firmly. "At least a week of nothing strenuous. You need to give your body and magic a chance to recoup!"
"But—" Heather was abruptly cut off.
"But nothing, Heather!" Lisa gritted out. "Magical exhaustion can shatter your core if not treated! You need to let your body recover, Heather. Otherwise, you'll do permanent damage!"
Puffing out her cheeks, Heather deflated. The fight went out of her, and she settled back against the pillows. Looking down at her hands, she realized that Bucky still held her right hand in his own.
"Alright," she murmured. "I'll rest and recoup."
"Stubborn mule," Lisa teased. "At least you caved sooner than Baghdad."
"Hush now," Heather murmured, her eyes getting heavy once more.
"I will not," Lisa replied. "You refused medical attention and had 3 gunshot wounds, two of which were millimeters away from major arteries. Now lay back and get some more sleep."
"Why am I so tired," Heather's voice slurred.
"You are physically and magically exhausted." Lisa answered. "And I might have helped you along. Nope, don't fight it! Now rest and let us take care of you for once."
Heather's team had been composed of former members of the DA. She had been looking out for everyone for so long that she often forgot to take care of herself. Her team had taken it upon themselves to do so, even when she was obstinate about it. They also informed the Avengers of it as well.
"Well Cap," Tony said from the door, clapping him on the shoulder. "It appears that you've got two stubborn troublemakers to look after now. Lucky you!"
"She's technically the same rank," Steve said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Plus, isn't she part of the British monarchy? She's a Duchess right?"
"Yes and no," Dean smirked, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Lady Heather Rose Potter-Black, was knighted by the Queen when she turned eighteen. She hates when she has to attend royal functions, but she's got a castle and is expected to attend to royal matters when the Queen calls upon her. However, she's not officially part of the peerage as far as I know."
"And her magical titles?" Bucky asked curiously.
"She's officially Lady Heather Rose Potter-Black," Dean replied. "Also holding titles to the Houses of Perevell, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. By conquest, she has several others, but she's passed along those to the remaining relatives and donated a significant portion of the assets to fund war reparations and taking care of the orphans."
It was an awkward silence that settled over the room. Heather's magical friends took their leave while Steve took the chair beside Bucky, lost in thought. Tony followed out of the room beside Lisa who was in the process of showing him and Bruce their potions and what they could do. Both scientists were baffled and mesmerized by what they could do.
The pair of super soldiers fell into a comfortable silence. They were both thinking about what Heather's friends had said. It showed her character that she would take it upon herself to help with the post war efforts. While neither one had been around to see the aftermath of their War, they saw the gritty, ugly reality of what war was. They knew firsthand that it would take a lot to repair and restore what once was.
"How're you holding up?" Steve asked quietly.
"Fine," Bucky murmured, watching Heather's chest rise and fall with each breath.
"I'm glad she's going to listen," Steve said with a small smile. "She sounds remarkably like someone I know."
"Easy, punk." Bucky flashed a cocky grin. "I can still take you."
They fell back into an easy quiet. Steve kept glancing at his long-time friend before looking towards the petite figure resting in the bed. She was the type of dame that neither of them would have ignored in their youth and they certainly weren't now. Bucky would have easily wooed her, while Steve once upon a time would have been ignored. However, she treated everyone with kindness. No one was left out and though she could be quiet or shy at times, she gave her full attention to whomever she was talking to or around.
Steve, while he found her to be beautiful, found her to be more of a kindred spirit. She could be a great friend, but nothing more. He could see that his friend was quickly becoming besotted with her. He honestly had never seen Bucky look at a woman the way he looked at Heather and they had only known each other a few short weeks.
"Never take your eyes off of your opponent, even when you are bowing." -Bruce Lee
"MACUSA wants a meeting," Lisa said, entering the training room where Heather was sparring with Natasha.
"Any particular reason?" Heather asked wearily. "All of the necessary paperwork was filed for all of us."
Seeing the unsure look on her long-time friend's face Heather felt dread. Closing her eyes and taking a breath, she looked back at the other woman. She and Lisa had been to Hell and back on numerous occasions.
"Bloody Hell," Heather said, sitting against the wall. "Can you get a message to Kingsley and have him contact the Prime Minister and Queen regarding this? I'm not going into a meeting with a government body without knowing what is going on."
"Starke sent his jet over to London this morning with Eddie and Michael," Lisa replied. "Tony actually went with them. He mentioned something about trying to build a rapport with your friends and allies."
"Well that's not comforting," Natasha murmured. "I'll have Pepper check in with him."
Heather stood and rolled her shoulders. Lisa nodded and the three women left to head back upstairs. Lisa would be heading to the lab to brainstorm with Bruce over magic potions and medicine. Natasha was going to grab a shower before heading in for a briefing about an assignment.
Waving to the other women, Heather stepped off onto her floor and headed for her room. She immediately went into the bathroom to take a nice hot shower. It had been a great work out with Natasha and she was grateful to be cleared to move again. It had taken a couple of weeks, but her magic labels and overall health had drastically improved.
Stepping from the bathroom she was wrapped in a towel while towel drying her hair. She walked into her closet to find something to put on for the rest of the day. Hopefully MACUSA would wait until she had word back from London on how to proceed. Grabbing a pair of black pants and a simple green henley shirt, she got dressed quickly.
Heather entered the elevator and hit the button to head up to the common level. She smiled as she heard the voices drifting from the kitchen area of the large open space. It seemed like everyone that was 'home' was there and grabbing some lunch.
Breathing in the lily of the valley and coconut, Bucky realized that Heather was approaching. Her scent was intoxicating and he had a hard time focusing when it hit him full force. Steve chuckled knowingly and bumped shoulders with him as he went to sit at the table.
As a group they sat talking and laughing at the table. Bucky and Steve sat on either side of Heather. She was eating under the watchful eye of Lisa and the others. While she was better none were willing to risk a relapse.
Heather felt comfortable with the group. In the time that she had been there she could feel the various bonds forming with the group. As a magical being bonds were sacred and often held in high regard. Many of the Avengers were becoming family or friend type bonds. However, it was the bond with Sergeant James 'Bucky' Buchanan Barnes that was throwing her for a loop.
She never really had time for relationships or romance. Her life had never been that simple or easy. She had a couple of dates at Hogwarts, but nothing serious then or since. To know that she was forming such a bond with Bucky was a relief and yet terrifying for her. Over the course of the weeks that she had been there she had come to care about the man a great deal.
With everything going on she had not let herself entertain the thought of such relationships, but perhaps now she could? Despite the fact that she felt as if the other shoe were about to drop, she knew that she did in fact need to live her life. Otherwise, what was the point of all the sacrifices that she had made?
Glancing at the man in her thoughts, she flashed him a dimpled smile. Seeing him return it with a wink and slow smile of his own, and she felt her heart racing. Oh yes, perhaps she would just wait and see what it meant for her. He was a good man and understood her in ways that others could not begin to understand or hope to.