Yay! I finally got to finishing this chapter! It has been a little while since I updated, but here we go. Fair warning, there's some internal homophobia and more adult themes mentioned. It's not worth changing ratings, but the warning is just so no one is shocked. I'll have more to say at the end of this chapter. For now? Read on!
"-I can't just go 'Hi, I'm Adrian I hope you liked my glasswork!'"
Amused at catching the end of the conversation that had obviously been taking place in the elevator, Steve cleared his throat to gain the man's attention. Adrian quickly turned around and stiffened as he took in the group's appearance. Steve frowned for a moment as he recalled that Thor had left with Loki to find Dr. Selvig who would help him with transportation and Tony had yet to show up, but quickly shifted his attention back to the subject at hand- the rather suspicious, enthralling man who was raising his hand in a slight awkward wave.
"Uh… Hi."
Steve raised an eyebrow at the lack-luster response.
"Well, this is…" Adrian rubbed the back of his head, "Not how I expected meeting you all to go, but I guess getting that out there is for the best anyways. I'm sure you were all wondering."
"Certainly. After all, that was quite the mass of Chitauri who would've been detrimental in the battle, but I was more curious as to how," Adrian turned to Dr. Banner who was curiously looking at Adrian like a fascinating new specimen under a microscope.
"All in good time, Doctor. However, I think some introductions are due," Adrian gave a dramatic bow that shocked Steve into a small smile at the silly theatrics before he schooled his expression, "I, as you heard, am Adrian. Behind me is Junn carrying her child Arashi, though I don't think she wants you to see him at this time. Beside her is my companion Mark. We wanted to meet you all after helping out in the battle."
Glancing at each other the Avengers simply started down the line.
"Captain Steve Rogers."
"Clint, Clint Barton."
The deadly assassin maintained her silence a few moments before quietly introducing herself in a dark tone, "Natasha Romanoff."
"You already seem to know, but I'm Bruce Banner."
"Thor is unavailable due to familial duties, but Tony was supposed-"
Steve was cut off by Tony entering, "I'm Tony Stark," he winked at Adrian, "but you probably already knew that."
Steve gazed curiously as Adrian subtley rubbed his wrist before smirking at Tony, "Oh, aren't you full of it, and yes I know of the name, Stark, but not in the way you think."
Tony rubbed his ear when it felt like something, probably a random bug, bit him, but otherwise dismissed the slight tingling at having the first words spoken, "So, Fred, what brings you and the Mystery Gang to the Avengers' Tower?"
"'Avengers' Tower'? Really? That's the best a genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist can come up with? I would've expected more… Pizazz."
"It's a work in progress."
Adrian smirked at the man playfully before schooling his expression and addressing the other four, "Well, after the fighting I figured you lot would likely try to stick together as a group considering everything. I wanted to see about joining your vigilante group. After all, I'm sure we can be of some help."
"Really?" Natasha crossed her arms with a skeptic eyebrow raised, "And what brought you to that conclusion?"
"Well, considering your known status as above average people, I'm sure you'll be off and away on missions or otherwise occupied. I do think you'd probably like someone who can help cater to everyone's needs or make this place more welcoming to come back to. I can also assist on missions if you feel it necessary."
"Wouldn't you just be in harm's way?"
"Not quite. I myself have an array of skills and abilities at my command. I can easily hold myself against threats the average person would immediately perish to, although I'm a bit more pacifistic than people expect."
"And what proof do you have that you, as much as you've verified your work in the Chitauri 'glasswork', have as much ability as you claim to hold?"
Adrian raised an eyebrow at Natasha's skepticism before he observed the room. His eyes landing on the broken windows, he smirked before waving his hand towards the shards and window frame. Everyone else watched, disbelieving, until the glass rose into the air. Shocked faces watched as the glass pieces amassed in the center of the frames before spreading out to fill the empty space. The glass seemed to melt together before solidifying, leaving the windows looking like new.
"I have a fair amount of proof if you're so skeptic?"
"You haven't shown you have any capability in fighting."
"I will admit. I'm not a well-practiced fighter. I can hold my own, but I plan on rectifying that slight weakness."
"Oh really?" Tony asked, a manic glint entering his eyes as he raised an arm to be armored by his gauntlet. He shot a beam at Adrian in a surprise attack, sure the man would be fine and that he could fix anything that would be broken.
It stopped mid air in front of Adrian's raised hand, "Trigger-happy much?"
The energy fizzled out as Adrian clenched his hand into a fist. His head tilted inquisitively when Tony looked at him appraisingly.
"I was expecting at least a dodge or something, not magic hands."
"Well, I don't usually meet expectations. So? Can we join your group?"
The second half was addressed to Steve, who blinked at having Adrian's attention back on him. He swallowed, that display unexpectedly stirring him, before assessing the three staring back at him expectantly. Despite part of his mind telling him allowing the subject of his wicked thoughts to stay was a horrible idea, a much larger part was yelling at him to stop thinking about something that was an obvious 'yes!' Adrian gave a large smile that made something in Steve twinge happily when Steve nodded.
"Despite the devastation in what has been confirmed as an extraterrestrial attack, the extraordinary heroics of the group known as The Avengers has been cause not only for comfort but for…"
"It's just, really great knowing they're out there. Someone who is watching over us-"
" I LOVE YOU THOR!"
"And there was pew pew and then the air goes phwoar and this green guy walks up and he's like RAHH!"
"I don't exactly feel safe with those things out there."
"It just seems like there's a lot they're not telling us."
"Superheroes in New York? Gimme a break."
"These so-called 'heroes' have to be held responsible for the destruction done to the city. This was their fight, where are they now?"
"Tough questions are being asked about The Avengers themselves. Their sudden appearance and equally sudden disappearance."
"What? That this is all somehow their fault?" a women on one of the many helicraft screens Nick Fury had chaotically depicting the news coverage of the battle and The Avengers spoke, "Captain America saved my life. Wherever he is and wherever any of them are I would just; I want to say thank you."
"Where are The Avengers?" One of the councilmen asked from his video display.
"I'm not currently tracking their whereabouts. I'd say they've earned a leave of absence."
"And the Tesseract?" Another councilwoman asked.
"The Tesseract is where it belongs- out of our reach."
"That's not your call."
"I didn't make it. I just didn't argue with the god that did," Nick Fury responded with his arms crossed."
"So you let him take it and the war criminal Loki who should be answering for his crime."
"Oh, I think he will be."
"I don't think you understand what you've started, letting the Avengers loose on this world. They're dangerous."
"They surely are and the whole world knows it. Every world knows it."
"Was that the point of all this? A statement?"
"A promise," Fury said before allowing the displays of the council to turn off before leaving the room. After arriving on the main deck of the helicraft, Agent Hill caught up to him.
"Sir, how does it work now? They've gathered in Stark's tower and there's talk from the agents about there possibly being someone out there already. We get into a situation like this again- what happens then?"
"They'll be there."
"You really sure about that?"
"I am," Fury calmly said.
"Why?"
"Because we'll need them to."
"Hey Point Break! You didn't get to meet them before you left for Dr. Selvig, but we have new members of the team. Let me introduce, Fred, Shaggy, and Daphne. Of course Velma has yet to make an appearance and they haven't let us meet Scoobs yet, but I'm sure they will in good time," Tony greeted Thor, who raised an eyebrow at the introduction before addressing the group tony had gestured to with it.
"Greetings. It is unfortunate we did not get to meet until now. I was otherwise occupied with my brother and retrieving the Tesseract."
"That's quite alright Thor, but let me actually introduce myself. I don't think you want to refer to us by Tony's chosen nicknames, after all."
"No, indeed."
"Alright, well I am Adrian Leeson. My companions are Junn and Mark Russo."
"It is good to meet you, son of Lee and compatriots. Forgive me, but we must proceed."
Adrian merely nodded in acknowledgement before watching things unfold. The others had all gathered on a bridge in Central Park with several SHIELD agents maintaining a perimeter against civilian 'fans.' Thor was keeping firm hold of Loki in a metal muzzle to stop his silver tongue as they approached the middle of the bridge. He watched silently next to Steve as Selvig pulled out a device- which would be Thor's transport- and allowed the Tesseract to be transferred from the case Tony brought to the device by Dr. Banner with a pair of tongs. Adrian subtly stepped closer to Steve as he stared at the transferral with furrowed brows. Thor grabbed Dr. Selvig's shoulder in a farewell before taking the device. Adrian raised an eyebrow as Natasha leaned towards Clint and said something indiscernible in his ear that caused him to smirk from behind his sunglasses at Loki.
Thor held the device out to Loki who took it after a quick glance at him. Adrian met his eye as he looked around and reciprocated the nod he gave everyone in farewell. He twisted the handle he was holding, activating the Tesseract. Blue light encompassed the two before they vanished with a surge of light upwards. Everyone stepped back as the two vanished before they started separating to the vehicles that they had used to get there, with a few handshakes to maintain a facade. Adrian, deciding that it'd probably be better not to push it, got in the car with Tony and Bruce to head back to the tower. Steve got on his motorcycle and headed off in a different direction to throw off people before he'd take a circle route back to the tower.
A couple weeks had passed since they had first met Adrian, but he seemed quite adept at making himself useful. Tony has had no troubles so far since he sought Adrian for help in reconstructing the tower and then renovating to make room for the members of the vigilante group. Of course, Adrian made some of his own changes to the place that no one minded. A sizable garden on a terrace where he made sure to plant some of the seeds his tree friend had given him was just one of the few. Steve thought back and remembered being quite surprised when he stumbled upon the garden one day looking for a quiet place to sketch. Noticing him Adrian had made a bench with some effort and Steve gladly sat among the lovely flowers and plants that probably shouldn't have already been so far along in growth, but Steve simply dismissed it as being something Adrian did. After all, the plants had all shifted slightly whenever Adrian walked past. 'He's certainly attractive. I can agree with the plants on that much.' Steve remembered thinking as he started sketching mindlessly, watching Adrian walk through the garden with a small smile on his face.
"I didn't expect to see you… well… I mean."
Steve had raised an eyebrow at the light blush filling Adrian's cheeks, "What?"
"Well… It's just that you didn't seem happy about my presence, and you've been avoiding me so I wasn't expecting to see you around me at all," Steve still felt bad as he remembered the man turning away, giving away how hurt he had felt about that fact.
"Well, I hope you'll forgive my… distrust, but I wasn't quite prepared for another person in the group- let alone staying here in Stark's tower." Of course Steve wasn't going to mention the fact that he had been trying to stop his attraction to the man in front of him. Instead he had smiled comfortingly at him before going back to his mindless sketching as he watched Adrian continue on in his caretaking of the garden. He had felt very divided when his stomach twinged at the sight of an attractive backside as Adrian bent over to check for any produce from a plant. Instead of focusing on the man, Steve had tried to focus on his sketch before realizing that would definitely fail as he had clearly sketched Adrian, looking graceful walking among the plants despite the bit of sweat that seemed to cling to his skin. Steve had been almost tempted to step forward and teasingly lick Adrian's albeit sweaty neck, but shook his head as soon as he realized where his mind was going and blushed. Adrian's eyebrow raised as Steve had stammered out some excuse (something about needing to go to the bathroom) and hurried inside to escape the man who could seem to unravel Steve and leave him all bothered simply by being nearby. It's not like he would have a chance with the gorgeous man even if what he was was accepted. It is surely unfortunate that he had missed the look of longing he received as he left the terrace garden. Since then he had only tried to avoid him further. He was just glad no one seemed to have noticed so far.
"Steve?"
"Huh?" Steve shook his head to disperser the thought of the moment a few days ago and focused on the man who seemed to be trying to get his attention.
"I was trying to tell you about the progress made on the tower. As a matter of fact it concerned you since we finally finished your little suite with all that you requested. As well as some choice alterations for when you finally choose to stop being the boyscout virgin and actually get laid for once," Steve sighed as Tony again laid down, not-so-subtly, that he thought Steve should get a girl and get laid as soon as possible to get rid of the proverbial 'stick in his ass.' Instead of giving Tony's bawdy grin a response, Steve stood up from where he had stopped to sit and think for a moment and headed to his rooms.
Steve groaned when he found what Tony had talked about. The bed was king-sized- enough room for two people- and had privacy curtains tied up at the posts, but that's not what was the biggest part of the problem. What was the problem was what looked like a small bar and the possible contents of two drawers, one innocent looking among his dresser drawers and the other in his bedside table (both only giving hints with little hearts on the knobs). He picked up a note that was laid over a few containers of lube, condoms, and massage oil.
For when she's in a bit more spunky mood. Though, knowing you, this stuff will likely be found in the trash bin underneath your desk with the contents of the other drawer. Seriously though, Cap, at least keep this stuff. It's the basics you need- even if you only have sex once you marry.
-Tony
P.S. You can also ask after Adrian if you don't find all our hard work satisfying.
Steve's eyebrows shot up as he realized he'd have to go through the other drawer, but decided to take the advice for what it is and closed the drawer with everything in it. He turned to the other drawer and blushed at what he found in it. Steve may be up for trying new things, but he didn't like the thought of using anything in that drawer. He grabbed the trash bin and started putting things into it from the drawer, thinking as he went through it.
'Hmm… Whips are definitely going… Along with all these restraints and blindfolds… Maybe keep a couple blindfolds… Definitely not this… whatever this is. How much does Tony expect me to use some of this? Maybe I'll keep a couple of these, not sure what they are, but they don't seem quite as… malicious? Hmm… Ok, now I know he has to be joking with this. Who even makes these?!' Steve carried on in this fashion until he had satisfactorily cleared out the drawer of the things that made him uncomfortable to even imagine using with his partner- can't really say wife since an image of Adrian immediately drifted to mind as he thought. He was left with some blindfolds, a couple of large interesting rings, and some choice clothing that he didn't imagine he'd likely ever wear, but one can never be quite sure. He then moved the massage oils to the drawer with the sparse items, but left the other items in his bedside table. He walked out, slightly blushing as his mind wandered to Adrian and the hint he had gotten to see of the man's backside. He realized why he had decided to keep a few things Tony left him and turned back around, resolving to get rid of all the stuff. Keeping it meant he had plans for a future with Adrian, but that mustn't happen. Steve doubted marriage was even possible between the two of them, and yet, he found himself still thinking of Adrian even as he subtly distributed the plain items in the unfinished rooms of the other guys and got rid of the blindfolds and rings. Besides Adrian probably didn't have any interest in him.
"Adrian? Where are you?" Junn called out as she stepped into the garden, trying to find the man who she believed must have Arashi with him. She hadn't seen either of them much since the two were developing the bond Junn knew they had- playing and sometimes laying on the couch with Arashi cuddled up to Adrian while he read or tinkered- but this was getting concerning since she hadn't seen even a hint of Adrian since the day after he had come from his garden with a hopeful little smile a few days ago. She frowned as she remembered what they had briefly talked about. Steve had been completely avoiding Adrian up to that point and he hadn't had any idea why. Adrian, while he maintained a facade with the other heroes, had not been doing well. Junn had seen him staring longingly after Steve, she had even noticed the slightly unwilling return of such stares when Steve thought no one was looking. She thought back to the day she found him, but was jarred out of her thoughts when her call was finally answered.
"I'm… I'm here Junn."
She swung towards the noise and started when she found the previously empty bench occupied, "Where have you been?"
"I haven't been anywhere, Junn. Just going around like normal."
"Invisible?"
"Maybe."
"Adrian, isn't that a bit draining to maintain everyday? Why are you doing it?"
"It's nothing, Junn."
"It doesn't seem like nothing. Even Arashi is giving you a look."
She watched Adrian turn to look at Arashi sitting next to him and giggle at his face. Arashi had somehow managed to achieve a raised eyebrow, "Well, of course you'd sell me out. Brat."
Arashi snuffed at Adrian before he turned and flew off, leaving Adrian to face Junn who was replicating the raised brow and slowly tapping her foot- waiting for an explanation.
"Well, see, uh… IwastryingnottomakeSteveuncomfortable."
"What?" Junn blinked at the rush of words.
Adrian sighed, "I was trying not to make Steve uncomfortable."
"Really? What makes you think he'd be uncomfortable just by you being there?"
"Well, I was the one helping Tony with his room and I may have seen the, um, toys Tony was putting in one of the drawers. Plus, he was avoiding me before anyways, so I figured he wouldn't feel so disconcerted if he didn't even know I was there."
"I don't think hiding from him is the right answer, though. If anything, he needs to get used to your presence. After all, even if he tries to deny it, he is your soul mate and is attracted to you. I've seen him looking at you when you weren't hiding. He certainly is attracted to you. I just don't know why he's resisting his feelings."
"What? You mean he actually likes me?" Adrian's eyes lit up.
"I certainly think so, but I think you should talk to him anyways."
"Alright. Arashi?" The dragon came at hearing his name, "Why don't you stay with your mom here? Maybe she can try to help you figure out how to transform purposefully, not on accident."
"What?" Junn asked excited that Arashi had actually transformed.
"Yeah. He was chasing a snake that somehow was in my garden when he apparently transformed into one. Loads bigger though, scared the crap out of me when he came slithering back. He couldn't change back for over an hour and even then I don't think he meant to."
He left Junn to excitedly talk Arashi through transforming. Time to find Steve.
There's that chapter finished! I hope there's no confusion or mistakes and the things I warned of weren't too upsetting. No one but me looks at my work before I update the fanfic. Tell me if there's any problems. Don't forget to follow this work so you can get notified of when I update since I don't quite have a regular update time. Favorite and review to give me input. I love seeing input!
Rock on my fellow gals and guys!