Rose was having a nice week. She was content, at least at the moment. The previous day, she had made a contract with a Japanese company that profited SI by nearly $2.6 billion. They were now expanding themselves in almost all fields with their arc reactor tech. From cars that didn't need to be refueled to generators that ran houses and companies. SI was now becoming a name in almost every country rather than just the USA and UK and Rose was loving every bit of it.
And she was in her Somerset mansion, sleeping soundly under the big warm super comfortable duvet in a huge super comfortable bed. She had noticed the dawn breaking a while ago, but remaining in bed seemed way better.
And suddenly that happiness was short-lived when the door to her room burst open, and with giggles three different beings jumped on her, landing on various spots. And then the duvet was yanked off her face
"Wake up!"
Rose groaned covering her face again, "I want to sleep" she whined
"Uh-huh. Gran said you need to wake up and get down for breakfast or you won't be getting it"
Rose looked up from under the duvets at the three kids and pouted
"Let her sleep, guys"
the four looked at the door where Laura Barton stood near the doorframe.
"Nope. I'm awake now." Rose sat a little straighter and stretched, yawning. Clint had accepted her proposal and once she personally showed him the mansion, he readily moved his family there within a week. And no one found out. Fury was the only one who was informed and he agreed that the mansion was a better option.
Ever since Rose was introduced to Laura, the two clicked. Mostly over Clint and kids. And that relation turned into a beautiful friendship the two shared. Laura and the kids quickly adapted to magic. And if you think everything would be normal after that, you are so wrong.
Rose, once while playing with the kids, found out that Cooper and Lila had magic, thanks to Clint's hedge wizard status. First gens in their family. Now that wasn't as big of a shocker as Rose expected for the family. Clint had informed his wife and kids of having a bit of magic, so Laura or the kids didn't freak out. Rose and Andy had calmed her further down while Rose explained that things like these weren't uncommon. She even told her about the Creevey brothers who were first-gen wizards in their family. Clint seemed a little pleased to find that his kids were full-fledged magicals and not like him. Since Cooper was still 8, he had three years before he was needed to attend a magical school, and Lila another 5. Plenty of time for Rose and Andy to teach them the basics.
As for the kids, the three had gotten closer.
"Well, now that you are awake," Laura chuckled when Rose pouted, "You might as well come for breakfast"
"But I wanna sleep more!"
Laura laughed at her antics "Come on kiddos. let her freshen up"
the three left the room while Rose tiredly headed for the bathroom.
When she made it to the kitchen for breakfast, she was still tired.
"When did you sleep last night?" Laura chuckled
"No clue," Rose shrugged, serving herself the now warm breakfast, "I was doing some work and I guess I slept in the middle somewhere"
"In your bed?" Cooper asked, confused. An expression that was so similar to Clint's.
"I sleepwalk, sometimes." Rose shrugged and sat down near the kids. Cooper was going through an old book for beginners of magic before they attended full-time school. The basics. Clint preferred his kids to be prepared for everything.
"Mum," Teddy spoke up, "Can we go to Disneyland this weekend?"
"Can we Aunty Rose?" Lila asked and looked at Laura, "Can we, mom?"
Rose chuckled and looked at Laura, raising a brow "Whatcha say, mom?"
Laura smiled, "Only if you are not busy"
"Hey, I'm never busy for-" Rose's phone rang, "...for my kids" she trailed off answering the phone, keeping the breakfast plate on the table.
"Hey, Brit...uh-huh...alright. I'd be there in say, 15. Keep all the papers and the legal ready...okay," she drawled out, "...can I procrastinate?...oh well. fine. I'll be there."
"What's wrong? Laura asked
"There's some paperwork I need to sign. The deals and contracts. And I have a very important gala to attend this weekend on behalf of the Maria Stark Foundation. Dad won't be attending. One of us needs to be there." she shrugged again, running a hand through her purple-pink hair, "I need a week off." she muttered and got up, putting her dish in the sink and making her to her room to change.
Laura looked at Rose in slight worry. She, like almost everyone else, often forgot that one of the strongest women in the USA, CEO of SI, part of Avengers, a scientist, and responsibility of a kid on top of everything was just 24 years old. Laura sighed. She should do something for the girl who had done so much for their family without an inch's hesitation.
Rose came down 5 minutes later, dressed in deep blue high waisted jeans, a white shirt tucked in with a first few buttons open, and a beige blazer whose sleeves were pushed to her elbows and beige pumps. She had done a quick makeup, her lips were a shade of subtle red-orange and perfect winged eyeliner.
she pressed a quick kiss on all the kids and a quick hug to Laura
"Sorry babies, no Disneyland this weekend. But I promise I'll compensate"
"It's fine" Laura smiled
Rose nodded and walked out
WASHINGTON DC,
He chuckled, shooting the reply to a meme Rose had DM'd him, which got a tongue teasing emoji from her in reply. He replied by asking when she was returning to which she just said soon. Well, isn't that precise? Then she added that she wanted to grab dinner with him when she'd come to DC. Besides, he hadn't been able to talk about anything, including the near chance of him almost kissing her, and for once he'd like to get it together and finally talk to her.
A few days after her birthday, she had left for the UK again to finish her business deals all by herself while Pepper stayed back. She had been gone for a better part of the fortnight. Tony had left too, to close some property deal. Mia too took a small vacation to go see her family. Thor left for some galactic shit. Clint got called in a mission and Natasha decided to move to DC for a quick change. Tony offered Bruce and spot with him and he decided to go for a change of scenery. That left him all alone. So Nat got this brilliant idea of suggesting that he too could move to DC for a while for a change of air and to remain close to SHIELD HQ.
He walked to his apartment as he heard his neighbor,(Claire was it?) talking to someone. As he approached the floor, he found her talking to the phone, holding a laundry basket. Despite not trying to eavesdrop, he couldn't help it. His enhanced hearing was sometimes a headache.
She noticed him and hung up as they exchanged smiles
"My aunt, she's kind of an insomniac." she nervously smiled at him
Steve nodded slightly
"Yeah." she sighed, pocketing her phone
Steve eyed the laundry basket, "Hey if you want...if you want, you're welcome to use my machine. Might be cheaper than the one in the basement."
"Oh, yeah? What's it cost?" she chuckled
"Nothing. Just helping out a neighbor" Steve smiled
"Thank you, but um...I already have a load in downstairs, and, uh...you really don't want my scrubs in your machine. I'm just finished orientation in the infectious diseases ward, so." she shrugged
"Oh," Steve muttered, "well, I'll keep my distance."
"Well hopefully not too far." she chuckled and Steve almost frowned. He wasn't that good with flirting didn't mean he didn't know when he was flirted to. Steve still nodded and turned to go to his apartment when she spoke up again, "Oh, and I think you left your stereo on."
Confusion bloomed inside Steve. He didn't remember turning on the stereo. He barely even used it. Just because the Starks got him a furnished apartment in DC, which had a decent amount of tech, didn't mean he used them regularly.
Steve nodded, "Oh. Right, thank you."
She smiled and left. Once Steve was sure she was out of sight, he looked at the door in suspicion.
Knowing that something was wrong, Steve walked to the backside of the apartment, climbed up with the fire-escape, and entered his apartment through the window. Without making any sound, he slowly headed for the stereo from which the music blared. he picked up his shield and entered the living to stop. There was Fury, sitting on his recliner in the dark.
"I don't remember giving you a key," Steve said. So far as he knew, only the Starks and he had the key. And the Starks trusted Fury as far as they could throw him.
"You really think I'd need one? My wife kicked me out." Fury scoffed
"Didn't know you were married." Steve frowned
"A lot of things you don't about me." Fury replied
"I know, Nick. That's the problem."
Steve turned the lights on only to notice that Fury was injured. Before he could say anything, Fury shushed him, turned off the lights, pulled out his phone, and typed something. He turned the phone screen towards Steve.
Steve's jaw clenched when he read EARS EVERYWHERE.
"I'm sorry to have to do this, but I had no place else to crash," Fury added, typing something else and showing it to steve. The new message read SHIELD COMPROMISED.
"Who else knows about your wife?"
Fury typed him another text, YOU AND ME.
"Just...my friends." Fury replied
"Is that what we are?" Steve slightly raised his shield
"That's up to you." Fury shrugged and suddenly Fury is shot three times from through the wall, causing him to collapse. Steve looked out the window for the shooter, then he quickly dragged Fury to the next room. Steve was about to leave but Fury handed him a flash drive.
"Don't...trust anyone." Fury wheezed just before passing out. And then he heard his apartment door being broken in and a familiar voice calling him.
"Captain Rogers?"
Steve looked up and saw his neighbor walk in with a gun, "Captain, I'm Agent 13 of SHIELD Special Service."
Steve blinked in confusion before narrowing his eyes at her.
"I'm assigned to protect you," she added
"On whose order?" Steve demanded. Just then she noticed Fury lying injured on the ground.
"His." she quickly approached Fury and contacted SHIELD with her radio "Foxtrot is down, he's unresponsive. I need EMTs."
"Do you have a twenty on the shooter?" the SHIELD operative asked
Steve looked through the window where a silhouette stood on the opposite roof before looking at his neighbor.
"Tell him I'm in pursuit."
Steve was standing there in the observation room as the doctors operated on the Director of SHIELD. He heard the door open behind him and he perispherically saw a familiar face standing next to him
"Is he gonna make it?" Nat asked
"I don't know." Steve exhaled, hands in pockets
"Tell me about the shooter."
"He's fast and strong. Had a metal arm." Steve muttered. The door opened again and Steve saw Hill enter in the reflection of the glass.
"Ballistics?" Nat asked
"Three slugs, no rifling. Completely untraceable." Hill answered
"Soviet-made," Nat muttered
"Yeah."
Suddenly they watched in shock as Fury's state deteriorated. Nat took a step forward instinctually
"He's in V-tach."
"Crash cart coming in."
"Nurse, help me with the drape."
"BP is dropping."
"Defibrillator!"
It only increased the anxiety of the three
"I want you to charge him at one hundred."
"Don't do this to me, Nick" Nat muttered
"Stand back! Three, two, one. Clear! Pulse?"
"No pulse."
"Okay. 200, please. Stand back! Three, two, one. Clear! Give me epinephrine! Pulse?"
"Negative."
"Don't do this to me, Nick. Don't do this to me." It was the first time Steve had the assassin's voice break
The three watched the doctors as they continued to revive Fury but Fury was still showing as flatlining.
"What's the time?" Doctor asked
"1:03, Doctor."
"Time of death, 1:03 a.m."
Steve turned away and walked out, glancing at the flash drive.
Rose was utterly bored. Nursing her wine glass in her hand, she looked around the place quite bored. Her other hand was inside the pocket sewn in her dress where she was fiddling her phone. She was literally praying to the gods and Merlin for Pepper, Tony, or even Fury to call her away from this charity event. She'd rather face an army of Doom bots or some monster-of the week than be there, wearing a plastic smile and pretending to be actually comfortable where she wasn't.
Not that the event was any problem. She knew why she was here, representing MSF, but she always hated such high profile events where the only job men had was to discuss business deals and the stock market, women compared who got the richer husband or who's child won the science fair that was completely made by their tutor, and bachelor's preye- ahem, looked. It's looked- for a suitable match as a trophy husband/wife, depending on one's tastes. And she hated big crowds.
And Rose was pretty sure if another stuck up elite asked her to dance or to accompany her outside, she'd be losing control of her tongue and tearing that person into a new one. Rose leaned back a little, against the bar counter eyes moving around the crowd. Hell, she wouldn't even complain about having Storm here, if it meant she got out of this wretched place. And she usually just tolerated his company.
Besides, just up and leaving might wasn't the problem. The problem was that she was all alone in New York and had nothing planned. And she had no mood of going to the tower when no one else was there. She'd rather sit in a crowded hall than go back to the cold and lonely skyscraper. even if the ambiance bored her to death. Maybe she could text Steve and see if he's available for tonight? They were already supposed to meet two days later, but what the fucking hell? He was bored, as per their text exchanges, and she was sure they both could use the company of another.
"Not a fan of big crowds?"
Rose turned around her stool and looked at the bartender. He had a nice strong build and a cute face- her preferences. on top of that, chestnut brown hair and hazel-green eyes, a bonus. He might do for the night, provided he agrees.
"Depends on my mood"
"And what happens to be your mood?"
"Bored"
The guy chuckled and extended his hand, "Dean"
"Just Dean?" she smirked a little
"Dean Campbell"
"Wouldn't have anything to do with Dean Winchester, would you?"
Dean laughed, "I didn't peg you as a Supernatural fan"
Rose shrugged with a smile, "Just a guilty pleasure."
Dean grinned as he leaned on the counter, a nice attractive smile.
"No nothing to do with Winchesters or the actors. I guess it's just a funny coincidence."
"Huh," Rose chuckled, finishing her drink
"Another round?"
"Gin and Tonic, please. Can't afford to get drunk at such a place without any backup."
"Must be a high gamble," Dean chuckled as he made her the drink
"Oh you'd have no clue," Rose muttered, checking her phone, to if there was any alert or notification or message. Nothing.
"Expecting someone?" Dean handed her the drink
Rose shrugged "More like something."
Dean nodded with a hum, "Must a bitch to be an Avenger and then have nothing to do, right?"
"Got that right," Rose nodded, "Didn't think you recognized me?"
"Give me some credit, okay? Last I checked, only one girl had steel balls of dyeing her hair a crazy pink shade who also belonged to this high-society circle"
Rose laughed at that, "Guess it became more of a signature look these days"
"Oh, it has been for years, actually. If someone is talking about a pink-haired girl in her early twenties in these channels, it's usually Rose Stark."
"Usually?" Rose raised a brow
"Uh...some other girls are trying to follow your footsteps and failing miserably. So, yes, I'd say usually. More like 95.4% of the times"
Rose nodded with a hum and she checked him over discreetly. No wedding ring or any jewelry. A small minds probe revealed he was amazingly single. Great.
"so what do you say, Dean? When does your shift end?"
Dean almost choked on-air and looked at her with wide eyes.
Rose mentally rolled her eyes. She'd expect men to stop giving her those looks when she'd ask such questions, but would they? No. Come On! She had a fucking reputation!
"Ah," Dean cleared his throat, "Well, it ends in...uh...30 minutes"
"Can you make it 15?" Rose was not required to put on a seductive tone or bat her eyelashes. She knew she was attractive.
Dean stared at her in awe for about a whole minute, "I'll check in with Chris," he turned his heel and left.
Rose smiled, finishing her gin and tonic. Finally.
Disguised as a civilian dressed in a hoody, Steve went back to the hospital to retrieve the flash drive from the vending machine. it was the last thing Fury handed him over and as much as he knew Fury, it had to have some very vital information.
Just as Steve took out a coin from his pocket and stood in front of the vending machine, his eyes widened. The drive was missing. The next thing he knows Natasha is standing next to him, chewing gum and something snapped in him. He quickly pulled her into a nearby empty room and pushed her to the wall
"Where is it?" Steve demanded. Just because they were all great friends and used to live together doesn't mean they had the right to intervene in another's missions. It was a rule.
"Safe." Natasha deadpanned, looking him in the eyes
"Do better!" Steve growled
"Where did you get it?"
"Why would I tell you?"
Natasha looked at him for a few seconds
"Fury gave it to you. Why?"
Something struck Steve, "What's on it?"
"I don't know."
"Stop lying!"
Natasha humorlessly chuckled, "I only act like I know everything, Steve. Ask Rose"
Natasha mentally patted herself when there was a minute-very minute- change in Steve's posture when she mentioned Rose.
"I bet you knew Fury hired the pirates, didn't you?" Steve asked, bringing back their current problem.
"Well, it makes sense." Natasha nodded to herself, looking away, "The ship was dirty, Fury needed a way in, so do you."
"I'm not gonna ask you again"
Natasha looked back at him.
"I know who killed Fury. Most of the intelligence community doesn't believe he exists, the ones who do call him the Winter Soldier. He's credited with over two dozen assassinations in the last fifty years."
"So he's a ghost story."
Natasha snorted
"Five years ago I was escorting a nuclear engineer out of Iran, somebody shot out my tires near Odessa. We lost control, went straight over a cliff, I pulled us out, but the Winter Soldier was there. I was covering my engineer, so he shot him straight through me." she pulled her shirt where a nasty scar was there on the side of her stomach, one he had never seen, "Soviet slug, no rifling. Bye-bye bikinis."
"Yeah, I bet you look terrible in them now." Steve retorted
There's a hint of a smile from Natasha. The Starks were rubbing off on him, good. Bigger fishes to fry, though.
"Going after him is a dead end. I know, I've tried." she held up the flash drive "Like you said, he's a ghost story."
Steve took the drive from her
"Well, let's find out what the ghost wants."
