Here it is the long overdue addition! And though we are drawing in in the close of the movie storyline, fear not my reader there is PLENTY more of Steve and Edie in the works. And I have had some inquiries about good ol' Bucky Barnes, and yes he will make his appearance soon! Can't wait :D
So please continue to enjoy and review, it's much appreciated! xoxoxoxo
The clouds collected in scattered patches across the sky just beyond the crystal glass. Perched so high in the city skyline gave a towering perspective, the horizon hypnotized the senses and made one feel as though they belonged, amongst the flapping birds and wispy clouds.
"Captain Rogers?"
Steve's gaze shifted away from the window to meet the therapist's unfamiliar face; gray blue eyes distant and reserved. He'd already forgotten her name and though she was polite this SHIELD appointed therapist was a complete stranger. It was difficult enough to depict his feelings about one of the most harrowing days of his life let alone describing this to someone he didn't know.
War he was used to, what it cost was something Steve could never prepare for.
"Would you care to discuss what happened that day?" She offered a weak smile, hoping to make the mandated sessions more comfortable for the super soldier.
The therapist could read the hesitation flicker across Steve's expression, but it was as his hand turned and caught the reflection of the sun that he was prompted to speak. Voice holding a timid strength that fell across the already suffocating atmosphere.
"It wasn't supposed to happen like that."
Steve's eyes lingered longer on the silver band around his finger.
"I wasn't supposed to lose her."
-0-
The god had fallen for their plan, as simple as it was there was something about Edie that Loki couldn't ignore. He was enticed and found his usual cunning attitude fleeting. That night on the Chitauri ship only seemed to heighten his need for domination, to attest that the Healer did not possess powers stronger than he, the God of Mischief.
Tony crouched silently behind the device that hummed with energy and breathed life to the expanding portal above.
With steady hands he attempted to tap into the control panel and cut off the power pumping through the veins of the contraption, but that was proving harder than originally expected. The force field was strong and immune to his advances, lazers unable to penetrate it's pulsing shell.
"How's it going up there?" Steve's checked in with concern across the channel.
The alien army had begun to swarm the streets, attacking anything in their path but all Steve could think about was Edie. The guilt of her injuries still fresh on his hands, Rogers wanted nothing more than to protect her, no matter the cost.
"We're fine, Dad." Tony answered with a snarky drag, attempting another feeble strike against the device.
"Stark I'm only chec-"
"Cap, civilians trapped in a mangled transit bus, could use your help." Natasha called out over the earpiece.
"I'm on it. What's your location?"
Edie listened to the banter across the radio waves, Steve's steady voice in her ear a soothing outlet as she continued to distract the seething god. But the calm turned to apprehension as Tony's voice surfaced.
"Hey, Betty Boop I'm having a little issue out here. This force field is practically impenetrable..think you could go all Heatmiser on it?"
Stark watched from his position on the terrace, picking up on the confusion flickering across Edie's expression though she kept a trained eye on the ranting Asgardian that paced in front of her.
"I know you were the reason that carrier went down in Spain. Hey, no judgement, we all have our secrets…just know we have your back."
Edie swallowed the uneasiness that binded her throat, both at Tony's acknowledgement and the news of the device's durable shield.
Could she trust herself enough to control the power? Often Edie had found it had a mind of its own, trusting an ability that was fueled by her rage was a dangerous gamble.
"But really we may need to switch it up a bit. Follow my lead."
Edie watched as Tony soon made himself known, gliding along the catwalk and removing his armored suit, all the while communicating to JARVIS.
"Ooh now what's going on here? Don't tell me you two were having a party without me?" Tony sang a tune of joyful sarcasm, sending Edie a winking smile as he made his appearance.
"Please tell me you're going to appeal to my humanity." Loki followed Tony's trek towards the bar, casual and unfazed in that signature Stark attitude.
"Actually, I'm planning to threaten you." Tony's voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You should have left your armor on for that." The god countered, cocky grin forever present.
Edie inched back as the two conversed further into the living room, analyzing the situation for an escape.
It wasn't until Loki pressed the scepter to Tony's chest with intention of corrupting him that Edie made her move, the clang of metal on metal pulling a confused furrow from the Asgardian.
Seizing the opportunity Edie scurried towards the terrace under the cover of the god's distracted state. Skating across the gravel Edie quickly ducked behind the catwalk and army crawled towards the beacon of twitching energy.
The blue glow illuminated Edie's ivory features as her eyes scanned the device for any entrance or weakness but unfortunately concluded it was a fortress.
"Here's goes nothing."
With tensed hands and a deep inhale Edie aimed her focus.
Her conscious finding Steve on instinct, pulse soaring at just the thought of his irresistible smile.
But soon reality settled over her shoulders and the ghosting of Loki's promises to harm that what was dearest to her heart ignited that familiar heat of rage. The green then vanished from Edie's eyes and she sought her vengeance.
However instead of disarming the device Edie's fury channeled her towards a particular dark haired god. Catching sight of his silhouette through the crystal glass prompted a seething smile from the Healer.
"You will all fall before me. When will you accept the fact that Earth was made to-"
His words halted, the deep growl from behind caught both men's attention.
"Loki."
Tony's eyes widened at the sight before him, the utter darkness radiating from Edie's tone enough to make his hair stand on end. He recognized the fury, the fixated gaze and stance from the night in Spain.
"Well, well what have we here? You going to let a female fight your battle for you Stark?" Loki's wicked grin masked the budding fear that crept through his veins the closer Edie drew, white eyes piercing through him with a sharp intensity.
"Enough. You and I will settle this. Now." Edie sneered, delicate fingers twitching with bolts of energy.
Tony's senses heightened with concern, thoughts swirling to figure out the Healer's intentions.
"Tony. Leave."
Her sudden command brought the Ironman back to reality. He watched as Edie took a tensed stance, hands outstretched and sparking with power.
"What? No, Edie. I'm staying right here."
Her eyes never left the god, only one of those twitching hands moved in Starks direction and before he could realize what was happening Tony's body was moving on it's own. A familiar cooling sensation radiated through his systems and despite the struggle Tony found himself moving towards the safety of the balcony, activating the door closure on the way out.
"Oh, you'd like me all to yourself. Is that it?" A manicured brow quirked.
Tony watched with paralyzed awe as Edie advanced towards the god, the two battling inside the confines of the penthouse with jolts of electricity and mischievous illusions. But he soon realized the more power Edith focused on Loki the less flowed through his own body, increasing his range of motion.
With a fumbling hand Tony reached to engage his ear piece, calling over the channel he knew there was only one person who could break the Healer's trance.
"Captain! Cap, we got a situation up here!"
"Stark? What happened? Is Edith okay?"
Steve's voice boomed across the radio wave, bringing his current tussle with a Chitauri soldier to a swift end with a sharp snap of his shield.
Tony felt a tingling spread through his nerves as he slowly regained the consciousness of his muscles. And like a baby calf on new legs he wobbled to stand up, the Ironman gripped the adjacent railing for support.
"Worse." He answered through labored breaths.
"She's taken on Loki…alone."
The way his nose crinkles when he laughs.
Electrical surge.
The serious concentration that envelopes his handsome face as he sketches.
Bolt of energy.
His ability to make you feel as though you are all he ever needs…and wants.
Shattering glass.
His compassion.
The floor splintered beneath their feet.
That's what you'll be giving up, if you do this.
It's the only way.
I...I have to save him, he doesn't deserve to die this way.
And you do?
"Doll? Answer me baby. Are you hurt?" Honey dripping lips called out.
The hum of his voice woke Edie back to reality, mustering an exhausted smile just as the blast erupted.
-0-
An explosion of sparks and jolting energy lit up the entire sky above, snapping the team's attention immediately from the streets below. Bolts of electricity vibrated and cracked like thunder. Despite the sheer forcefulness of the blast it barely rocked the Device, penetrating only for a second and closing the gap barely an inch.
Panic plagued the Captain's senses as his eyes followed the figure thrown from the ledge of the skyscraper and plummeting rapidly to the ground.
"STARK! Do you have eyes on Edie?!-Any one near the tower?" Steve panted frantically over the channel, watching helplessly from the street.
"Anytime now JARVIS." Tony barked against the screeching wind as he too fell, the AI working swiftly to configure the newest suit adaption. The ground grew closer and the people below stood frozen in fear.
"Negative, Captain." Several voices answered to his dismay.
"I'm going back up." Stark confirmed through the face mask of his suit, the metal plates fusing together just in time before he could kiss the concrete.
Edie hurdled through the whistling wind like a bullet, the gaping portal above staring back at her. Bracing herself for the fatal fall she was had not expected to be abruptly engulfed in a strong grip and certainly not a green one.
With a blurred speed the Hulk careened between the neighboring buildings and soon had them landed against the rubbed avenue. Hulk gently released the Healer from his clenched fist, making sure no harm had come to her in the fall when he read the shock across her paled expression. Edie gawked upward, mouth parted in awe as she took in the towering form crouched like a primate before her.
It was then that Edie met Hulk for the first time.
Staring deeper into mirroring jade eyes Edie caught a warm flicker of amber, a wave of familiarity sweeping over her.
"Bruce?"
Edie reached out a steady hand, flinching only a moment when the heavy beast growled lowly in defense. She studied his face a moment longer, astonished at the doctor's hidden form before giving a verbal appreciation.
"Thank you." Ruby lips breathed.
It took a moment for the words to sink passed the rage and touch Banner's heart but soon a smirk twitched across the Hulk's expression.
"Edie."
It was the Healer's turn to smile this time, recognition confirming Bruce's buried presence.
The moment was brought to a swift end when a swarm of extraterrestrial soldiers
flanked the duo from the right.
Edie radiated a line of calculated pulses with the help of her mechanical gloves, unleashing levels of debilitating shocks to the Chitauri. Meanwhile the Hulk did what he knew best: smash.
But despite their defenses the flow of invaders only seemed to increase. Suddenly Edie found herself on the wrong end of a space ray, she let out a cry as the blast clipped her shoulder. The sound of Edie's pained yipe caught the Hulk's attention, enraged at the sight before him the green beast unleashed a howl and bolted towards the swarm of aliens.
Edie stumbled back with haste as the Hulk tore through the barricade of soldiers, ripping them apart like cotton candy.
He towered over her wounded form on the concrete, and with a sudden gentleness he helped Edie to her feet.
Before any words could be spoken between them, a crushing blow from above rained debri down like hail fire. The Hulk and Edie snapped their attention towards the robotic whale that surfaced above.
"Go!" The Hulk's voice boomed with authority, urging Edie to take cover and find the others as he took out the mechanical creature.
With a hesitant nod and weary smile to the raged giant the Healer scrambled down the adjacent street.
"Steve, what's your position?" Edie panted, finger pressed firmly to her earpiece as she limped a run through the rubble. Her body struggled to keep up, injuries inflicting at a faster rate than she could heal.
"Edie? Are you alright? I saw what happened. I'm at the bank on 42nd past Madison." Steve's fear vibrated from the other side.
"Yes, I'm quite alright thanks to Dr. Banner. But I wasn't able to disarm the device, it's too strong. There has to be another way."
Turning the corner with haste, Edie dodged the rapid fire from all angles.
The same couldn't be said though for the Captain.
"STEVE!"
Edie shrieked as she witnessed the Chitari's blast clip the Captain's side, sending him to the littered ground with a sharp thud.
Instinctively darting around the crushed vehicles and rubble, Edie skated to her knees in front of him.
"Gotta get up, baby. Come'on!" She coached the towering blonde, snaking her arm around his waist.
"Edie, go. I'm fine." Steve lied through gritted teeth, feeling the searing pain of his side heighten as they hobbled to the cover of a mangled bus bench.
"Oh no, you're not getting rid of me that easy." Edie insisted with a shake of her tangled waves before moving to access his wounds.
Crimson red began to pool under the tattered material of his suit, and she noticed the scratches etched across his soot covered cheeks. Just when Edie was about to place her hands against the wounds Steve swiftly guided them away.
"No..you can't." Steve choked through shallow breaths, unwilling to let Edie risk her life for his. He could see the slow swirl of white in those jade eyes, her body struggling with weak defenses.
"I can and I will. Don't argue you with me, soldier." She snipped back with a playful smirk, watching that beautiful smile break Steve's face weakly.
Unsure of the origin of this unwavering confidence that suddenly filled her despite the chaos around them, Edie could focus on nothing more than Steve's safety, to see that happy glimmer.
But before Edie could return her hands to Steve's injuries they were ambushed from behind by one of the alien minions.
"Edie get down!" Steve's voice barked, pulling her form against his body in a fluid motion to conceal them both under his shield. Before the creature could get any closer to Steve, Edie unleashed a pulsing flash of electrical current and reduced the being to a twitching corpse.
Amidst the struggle, Edie took advantage of the close proximity to the Captain and her hands found his wounds once more. Caging his protest with her lips, Edie felt his body relax against her and give into the sweetness of her mouth, all the while she absorbed his injuries through steady hands.
"And you say I'm trouble, Doll." Steve panted, nose brushing lightly against her cheek with affection as she pulled back, the strength returning to his voice in an instant.
"Well you'll have to punish me later, Captain. We got a world to save." Edie purred, stealing another kiss against his lips.
Steve was about to ask again about the events that took place in the STARK tower, but a voice intervened through the microphone.
"Nat could use some back up, anyone copy?" Hawkeye accessed from his perched position on the looming building above.
"Copy." Edie volunteered, running gentle hands across Steve's face she combed back his fallen hair and smudged away the dirt from his now unscathed cheeks.
Edie's heart swelled as she stared into those blue orbs that held such kindness and now a hint of green in the sun's rays.
"I'll come with you."
The couple's attention momentarily distracted when a earth quaking rumble shook the ground, followed by an unmistakable godly roar.
"Sounds like Thor could use your help."
Edie concluded, watching the confliction paint Steve's face. Plump lips opened to protest but Edie beat him to the punch.
"Just come back to me, okay?"
The two shared a small smile as Rogers answered promptly.
"Always."
With one last strawberry kiss Steve watched as Edie began to retreat down the cratered asphalt. Turning to send him a quick winking smile before bolting down the alley, Barton giving her directions all the way.
But what the Captain didn't see from afar was the pain pooling in Edie's eyes, the ache in her body rising with every hit she took.
It was no surprise that Edie encountered resistance along the route; enemy forces around every corner. But what she hadn't prepared herself for was the appearance of a particular Sergeant or the sight of her own blood.
It wasn't until the Healer skated for cover behind a crumbling brick wall that the pain caught up with her, sending the nurse into a fit of coughing and weakening her knees.
A burning ache spread through her lungs and she struggled to focus her gaze.
"Oh boy." Edie whispered hoarsely, casting worried eyes at the sight of crimson blotches covering her metallic gloves.
She fell back against the unforgiving rubble, swallowing back air and pain in shallow breaths.
"Dollface, you seen my razor?"
Green eyes snapped open in an instance, the face matching the voice she heard.
"Buck?"
There he stood, beautifully uniformed and alive.
The devastated streets of New York had transformed into an army camp, and Edie found herself relaxed against Bucky's military issued cot, book in hand. Unfazed by the changing scenery around her all the Healer could focus on was his face.
"Earth to Edith, you in there?" Bucky jested, gracing her with that pearly smile and Edie felt her heart quake.
"I swear you get a book in your hand and you suddenly become deaf."
His movements towards her were playful and familiar, he eased onto the space next to her and Edie was met with a wave of lemony scent.
"What am I going to do with you?"
Words were a foreign concept to Edie, her mouth only gaped open and her eyes stayed fixated on Buck as he brushed back a raven wave and gave her chin a gentle nudge.
Before she could muster the courage to speak, a crack of thunder and lightning lit up the sky beyond the tent.
"Well, looks like duty calls. You coming or you just gonna mope?"
Bucky twitched that signature smirk and extended an open palm, awaiting her to follow his lead.
The two ducked from the mouth of the tent and suddenly back onto the chaotic streets of New York.
Countless Chitauri roamed the alleys and boulevards, seeking a fight on the ground and also in the skyline above.
It wasn't until Bucky's imaginary figure took off in a sprint that Edie found her voice, raspy and wavering.
"Buck!"
His chocolate haircut turned to meet her.
"Come'on, Nightingale. You gotta catch me."
Edie stumbled at first on weakened knees, but soon was darting after him. Daring not to let the Sergeant out of sight in fear he may disappear from her conscious forever.
The landscape around Edie shifted rapidly, from memories of war torn Europe to the modern day city.
Chitauri armor flickered to Nazi uniforms.
Skyscrapers to towering trees, and littered sidewalks to grassy fields.
It was the sudden chatter across the radio waves that finally intervened through Edie's flickering trance.
"I can close it! Can anybody hear me? I can shut the portal down!" Natasha barked frantically, struggling to hold the scepter steady.
"Do it!"
"No, wait!" Tony intervened with haste. "Stark, these things are still coming!" The strong voice of the Captain bellowed in Edie's ear, pulling a weak smile from her despite the circumstances. Edie felt a cold sweat settle over her as Tony broke the news of the missile headed right for them. "Stark, you know that's a one-way trip?"
Edie's legs halted abruptly, blinking against the blotches of myth and reality. Clamping her eyes shut Edie willed herself to focus and calm the churning waves of her mind. Casting a heavy gaze towards the cosmic sky just in time to watch Tony disappear into the portal.
Seconds turned to minutes and crept like hours, unnerving and tense until Steve made the final call.
"Close it."
The Captain's reluctant command echoed across their earpieces, the grounded members of the Avengers watched in horror as the wormhole began to recede, sealing both the fate of the alien life forms and Tony.
The prickling tears blurred Edie's vision as she watched from the rubbled sidewalk, silently chanting a pray of Tony's survival through labored breaths.
The team sighed in unison with relief as a single black dot dropped from the sky just as the gaping vortex vanished, leaving a blue sky and a plummeting Ironman.
Panic soon returned with a fierce vengeance when they realized Tony wasn't reacting, instead his limp form continued to plunge dangerously fast towards earth.
"Come'on Tony." Edie stressed.
His body descended against the skyline, and without another thought she clicked her boots together.
"Come'on!" Edie barked, coaching the beaten remains of her boots until they hummed to life with a dim glow.
If it was timed just right, she might be able to cushion Tony's fall. The Healer channeled enough energy to boost herself upward, electric surges jolting her closer to his falling form.
"Almost…gotcha..!" She gritted with one last pulse of energy that sent her close enough to grip Tony's battered body against hers.
Twisting in the whipping wind, the ground welcoming them closer with each passing second and she braced for impact.
Wake up, Nightingale. Come'on, don't tell me you're giving up now.
Edie woke to sudden gasping and labored movements shifting above her.
"Buck..?"
Her eyes glazed over, seeking out that husky voice once more.
"Oh my God. What happened?...Edie?!"
But it was Tony's words that came into focus, too panicked and disoriented to decipher Edie's mumbling.
She'd let the ghost out of her sight for only a moment and he was not gone, leaving her once more to reality.
"Ughhh.." Edie could barely muster a groan as the pressure of Tony's body was alleviated and the pain of her injuries began to set in.
"Oh God..what did you do?" His eyes darted from the sky to the crater of concrete where they impacted the earth, piecing together her bold move.
"Did you use yourself as a human pillow?!"
"Ow." Edie's voice a hoarse whisper as she attempted to sit up, balancing the weight on her legs she struggled to stand.
"Sssss!" A bolt of pain shot through her spine, racking a shock through her entire body, suddenly she was met with the blue sky once more.
"I gotcha!" Stark scrambled to catch her as she fell backward.
"You're going to be in so much trouble." Tony tsked lightly, despite his rising panic.
"Shhh don't tell."
The younger man felt his stomach lurch at the sight of her blood stained smile. He struggled to laugh away the severity of the situation.
"Oh ouch, don't make me laugh. My side-Oh well that's lovely." Tony drew attention to the jagged piece of metal buried into his side.
"Tony..let me." Her voice strained.
"What? No, don't you think you've done enough? Who do you think you are? Wile E. Coyote? This isn't a joke Edie. " Tony scolded, attempting to wiggle out of her reach all the while keeping her supported on his knees.
"Tony, you have to. They need you out there, the fight is not over…Loki could still be out there." Edie concluded through exhaustion, unaware if the earlier blast had snuffed out the god for good.
"No! You could die! God knows what damage you've already done to yourself!"
Knowing her body was failing to repair itself, a rapid flash of white and green stared up at him.
She can only take on so much pain before it consumes her and her body gives out. Banner's words swarmed a morbid reminder in Tony's thoughts.
"Tony, you tell him I loved him more than anything-"
"Edie.." He warned, sensing her farewells.
"Tell him, he has a good heart and that is all that matters. When things seem impossible…" Her breath hitched.
"...Tell him to remember that kid from Brooklyn." Edie felt the tears welling and with a quick motion she gripped Tony's shoulders, a cooling surged through his body as the paralysis set in and she began to absorb his pain.
"NO!" Tony roared before everything went black.
Bolting upright with a gasping breath, his mind foggy but his body felt rejuvenated. Running a hand through his hair, Tony fought to piece together the haze of consciousness. He'd began looking for his helmet when he noticed a pair of tangled legs and a familiar spray of black hair that brought him crashing back to reality.
"Edie!" The IronMan darted over, cradling her head in his lap.
"Come'on Princess, show me those green eyes." He urged, shaking her shoulder lightly.
He let out a defeated sigh as her head lulled to the side with a trickling stream of blood from her nose, casting his eyes down he noticed the diamond star gleaming against her throat.
Steve.
"No." He snapped, refusing to accept her death.
Tony stood suddenly, securing his helmet with haste before lacing his arms under her. He booted up the rockets of his suit and made his way through the littered city.
"TONY!" Natasha voice belted upward.
"Are you okay? We saw you-What happened? Is she okay?" Natasha piped at the sight of Edith's limp body as Tony lowered himself to the crumbling sidewalk.
But before he could answer Rogers rounded the corner.
"The portal took care of the army but we still-" Words dying out as his gaze fell to Tony, Steve stepped closer.
"Tony you're okay-what hap…Edie?!"
Blue eyes wild when he recognized her.
Quickly snatching her from Tony's grasp the Captain's knees hit hard against the concrete. The pale remains of Edie's once lively personality breathed life to Steve's worst fear.
"Doll?..Edie, say something!" He demanded, choking back the tears, his throat clenched. Shaky fingers brushed back the Healer's tangled curls, caressing her soot smudged cheek.
"She..I tried to stop her, but she insisted on healing me." Tony uttered, the memory flooding his mind.
The Captain felt a brokenness return to his soul, he willed himself to wake from this nightmare.
"Please.." Steve rolled his forehead against hers, begging her limp body to wake up. To cast those emerald eyes on him and smile away his sorrow.
Teddybear.
The nickname ghosted his ear and made the soldier sick.
This can't be happening, I can't lose her.
They all stood back, when suddenly Bruce came jogging down the wrecked street, the green receding from his skin.
"What's-" He stopped in his tracks, looking at their grave expressions before casting his gaze to the broken form of the Captain.
"She sacrificed herself to heal Tony." Natasha murmured reluctantly.
Bruce felt his heart clench and before he knew it he was slowly leaned down, making sure not to startle the grief stricken man that clung desperately to his love.
"Captain…may I?" The Doctor asked, motioning towards Edie.
He'd never seen this look in Steve's eyes before. The soldier had been stripped of his stoic armor and mask of bravery, leaving only a humble and heartbroken boy from Brooklyn.
With a silent nod Steve gave permission for Bruce to examine her, a caramel toned hand checked Edie's vitals gently.
"You're going to miss it, Nightingale."
Jade eyes fluttered open, expecting a wave a pain Edie braced herself but nothing came. The only sensation she felt was the crisp bed of green grass tickling her relaxed form. Sitting up she was met with a gorgeous display of colors as the sun kissed the earth.
Buck sat next to her on the riverbank, babbling water an accompanying melody to his strong voice.
"Nice of you to finally join me."
Edie's senses felt paralyzed with a calm, her gaze shifted between his familiar profile and the beaming sunset.
"Buck..I.. "
Edie fought to form a sentence, words just out of grasp. She watched his handsome face meet her with understanding in those gray eyes.
"You have to go to back?"
Edie's heart jolted with confliction, the final reunion of the two something she'd been dreaming about since she woke from the ice but there was another need that pulled harder on her soul.
Steve.
Edie could only answer with a tear filled nod of black waves. With that signature smirk Buck turned back towards the sunset, lacing a comforting arm around her shoulder.
"It's funny really, he think he's the one that needs us. But in reality, we're the ones that need him."
The warm glow of the sun intensified and basked his beautiful face in a white light.
Sighing with defeat when his conclusion was confirmed, Bruce subconsciously checked Edie's pulse once more and was met with a shock.
"I have a heartbeat!…it's very faint."
Steve's head snapped up at the Doctor's findings, hope returning to those ocean eyes.