Whoo! I'm on a roll! This chapter features a special cameo. Thanks, Ink Outside The Lines for directly creating this fic, basically. ;)

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Guest: I'm glad you like it! Here's another chapter ;)

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Sutton fidgeted for the millionth time in her office chair as she looked at the clock. She drummed her foot on the floor and tried to calculate how many of the different worst case scenarios she'd thought up the two men in her apartment could've gotten through in the time she'd been gone. They'd assured her that they would treat her apartment and trust with "the utmost respect", but she still wasn't sure.

"I can deal," she muttered to herself. "I can deal with an empty, ransacked apartment as long as Sprinkles is ok."

"Sutton? You ok there?"

Sutton jumped in her chair and looked up to see the quirked, smiling face of her co-worker.

"Alexandra," she said, putting her hand on her chest. "You snuck up on me."

Alexandra grinned wider, leaning against the cubicle wall, and put a hand on her hip.

"I'm pretty light on my feet," she said. "But also you have been staring into the abyss beyond your computer for at least two minutes." She raised her brows in a curious amusement and Sutton chuckled sheepishly. Alexandra lifted her ever present water bottle to her lips and took a sip through the straw as she apparently waited an explanation.

"Usually you look bored," she noted when Sutton paused too long. "What has gotten you looking perpetually perturbed and pondering problems before lunch?"

Sutton groaned and Alexandra giggled.

There was no question that Alexandra was a good coworker. She was always smiling and happy to help. And despite the fact that she was a few inches taller, Sutton always considered her almost fairy-like. With a thin frame, always styled brunette hair curling at her shoulders, and her generally easy air, she caught more than a few gazes everyday. And she was just generally nice.

But as kind and understanding as she was, Sutton didn't know how she felt about informing a coworker that she'd let two men who believed themselves a prince and a knight, respectively, into her home. And then left them alone. All for a couple gold coins. Yeah, definitely just for the money.

"It's just, um, Sprinkles," she improvised. "She wasn't, uh, feeling good this morning. Hoping she didn't eat anything from the trash, you know?"
Alexandra nodded in understanding. She brushed some hair from her shoulder and waved her free hand as she spoke.

"I'm sure she's alright. You always seem very on top of things when it comes to her. She was the most well behaved dog at the company picnic!"

"Ha, thanks. I'm sure you're probably right."

With a happy nod, Alexandra took another sip of water and looked at the watch on her wrist.

"Oh! I've got a meeting in five. I'll see you later? And, just a tip, you might want to try not talking to yourself quite so loud?"

Sutton groaned into her hands again and Alexandra's humored laugh drifted away as she headed towards one of the conference rooms.

When Alexandra was out of sight, Sutton pulled out her cell phone and dialed her home number. She drummed her fingers on her desk and sat hunched over and out of direct view of her cubicle doorway as her home phone rang. And rang. And rang. Sutton ran her hand over her face, pulling at her skin, as her phone went to voicemail. She took a deep breath as she heard the long tone.

"Hey," she said with false cheer. "I was just trying to check in and make sure everything was fine. I, uh, don't know if you guys forgot how to answer the phone, but, um, yeah. It's just about lunch now, so I should be back in a few hours. If there's an emergency or something, definitely let me know. You hit the numbers on the phone that match the ones on the fridge and-"

The phone let out another tone, informing her that she'd been cut off and Sutton dropped her phone into her purse, holding her hands out in front of her as if to calm herself down.

"It's fine," she said. "It's going to be fine. Right now, it's time for lunch."

[]

Lunch came and went. Sutton probably only managed to do half the work that she usually did in a given day. She waved goodbye to Alexandra on her way out and urged the elevator to move faster as she made her way to street level. Generally it took her about half an hour to walk from work back to her apartment, but in her haste she shaved off about ten minutes from her time.

The rain had let up slightly in the last day, but the clouds were still hanging ominously overhead and she kept her umbrella held tightly in her grip as she jogged down the sidewalk. Her building came into view and she stopped herself from breathing a sigh of relief.

The elevator ride up was a crawl inside of a glide, and she pushed passed the doors as they began to open and kept an eye out for oddities as she made her way down the hall.

Her front door wasn't left hanging open. That had to count for something.

Now that she stood right outside her apartment, however, she was hesitant to enter. There weren't any loud sounds coming from behind the door. Her doormat hadn't been moved or knocked aside by any large furniture. Sutton took a deep breath and held it as she put her key in the lock and pushed her door open.

A wave of lemon scented air hit her as she stepped into her apartment. Sutton stopped in her tracks and just blinked as she scanned the room. The blankets on the couch had been folded and the pillow was sitting on top, all the little piles of clutter had been cleared from her counters, and both Steve and Bucky sat calmly at her table; reading from books they'd pulled off her shelf. Sprinkles poked her head out from under the table and let out one obligatory bark.

Sutton eased her door shut and glanced around once more.

"Hello," Steve said. He lowered his book and made sure to make eye contact and smile as he greeted her. Sutton tried to mimic the gesture.

"Hey. You guys, uh, manage alright today?"

Bucky cut his eyes over to her as he watched her put her purse down and shuck off her jacket.

"It was quiet," he said. "Except we could not recall how to activate your phone."

Sutton nodded.

"I thought so. But, did-did you guys….clean?"
Steve smiled widely.

"I thought it would be the least we could do to thank you for your kindness."

Bucky shot a droll look at his friend and rolled his eyes.

"You mean it was the least I could do," he muttered. Steve reddened and scowled.

"I did help," he argued.

Sutton wondered if they knew she could still hear them despite their low voices. She decided not to draw attention to their squabble and accept the gesture for what it was.

"Well I really appreciate it," she said. "Thank you." She eyed Sprinkles who was still lying at Steve's feet and hardly raising her head as she cut her eyes up to look at Sutton. Sutton frowned and lowered herself to her heels.

"Really," she complained. "I get a hello everyday I come home until someone new comes in? Am I that replaceable?"

Sprinkles let out a whine and actually raised her head, shifting her front paws to scoot forward slightly without actually getting up. She licked the air in front of Sutton, but couldn't actually reach her face and wasn't going to put in the effort to do so. Sutton rubbed behind her ears a second before pushing off her dog's head and standing up. She shot Steve a look and moved away from the table to get some water in the kitchen.

"You're not allowed to keep her when you leave, you know," she said. "She might mourn you, but she'll have to get over it."

"I would never attempt to take your companion," Steve promised. Sutton lifted her glass of water in a toast and drank to that.

Sutton drained her cup and sat it in her sink, noting how the cheap metal actually shone in the dull light of her kitchen. Maybe they really did have magic.

"Well," she said, "I'm going to take Sprinkles out. You guys want to stretch your legs? Get some fresh air?" Both men seemed to breathe sighs of relief.

"Yes," they said at the same time.

[]

They took in the sights with a bit more of a level headed demeanor as she led them on the short walk to the dog park. They passed the cafe on the corner where she'd found them and it looked completely ordinary. No sign of any sort of magical happening or world traveling. Sutton inwardly sighed and wondered what had actually happened to them. Where they were really from to not recognize anything in a city as known as Seattle.

When they reached the dog park, Sutton unclipped Sprinkles and let her take off across the field. There were a few other dogs playing and romping around, and Sprinkles invited herself into their games with a graceless loping and blatant refusal of rejection.

Sutton tucked the leash into her coat pocket and joined Steve and Bucky. She rubbed her hands together fruitlessly and gave them a sheepish smile.

"Dang," she said. "I should've gotten us coffee or something first. I completely blanked." Steve straightened and gestured towards the closed gate.

"We can get some now." Sutton shook her head.

"I can't leave Sprinkles here by herself, and you haven't seen what it's like trying to get her to leave this place. It's not worth the effort."

"Well, perhaps I can go and retrieve some?"
Sutton raised her brows and smiled doubtfully.

"Right," she drawled. "I'm not sure that's-"

"We have taverns and the like," Steve said in a huff. "I can order drink, I know that much."

Sutton held her hands up in peace and reminded herself not to patronize them. Eyeing Steve, she reached into her other pocket and pulled a twenty out of the card holder she'd brought.

"Alright," she said, passing him the cash. "Here, I'll give you a tip. See that green sign down there? The one that says Starbucks?" Steve nodded. "Go passed that. There's a better coffee shop two doors down. All you have to do is ask for a tall mocha, and whatever you and Bucky want. I'm guessing you're used to plain black, but cappuccinos are good, or white mochas if you have a sweet tooth."

"Tall mocha," Steve repeated, accepting the bill she put in his hand. Bucky twisted his lips to the side.

"I do not believe I'm feeling so adventurous today," he said. Steve nodded again and held up a hand when Bucky moved to follow him.

"I can go, Bucky," he said. "No need to follow me." Bucky appeared appalled.

"Your majesty-"
"It's a mere half step away. And the people here do not recognize me. But Sutton is without escort, so please stay."
Sutton rolled her eyes.

"Yeah. Haven't actually had a chaperone since the last school dance I went to."

Bucky stayed behind begrudgingly and Sutton watched in amusement as Steve marched down the sidewalk towards the coffee shop she'd recommended. She turned a grinning face towards Bucky.

"Does he have something to prove?"
"These things always start with a gift," Bucky grumbled. "Except it isn't much of a gift if it was paid for, is it?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Sutton laughed. "But it's cute that he's trying to be all cool about buying coffee."

Bucky turned to look at her, tilting his head down.

"Cute?"
Sutton's expression shuttered as she dropped her smile.

"I mean funny."

"But you said cute."

"Look," Sutton said tersely, "I don't know where you guys are from but, uh, here...um, cute and funny can...be ...sort of...interchangeable." She finished her argument lamely and Bucky only smirked.

"If you insist." He dipped his head slightly in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way and Sutton huffed.

She watched Sprinkles play for a bit and groaned internally as her dog completely rolled through a patch of muddy ground. There was going to be a messy bathroom cleanup in her future. Bucky gazed out in front of him. Every once in awhile he'd shift his stance or look over his shoulder if he heard a sound he didn't recognize. Sutton tilted her head down and shoved her hands into her pockets.

"I'm sure you guy 'll get back home eventually." Bucky snapped his gaze up.

"Pardon?"
Sutton gestured with her head.

"You've seemed unsettled. I'm sure whatever happened was...distressing. But I'm also sure you'll find your way back."

"Forgive me," Bucky said. He ran his bare hand through his hair and sighed. "I have merely been concerned for the state of the kingdom. What with the dark sorcerer Loki now able to more easily take control."

To her credit, Sutton was getting better at pretending to go along with whatever they said. She nodded in sympathy and pressed her hands deeper into her pockets.

"I'm sorry. I can't imagine what that must feel like." Bucky smiled thinly and Sutton felt that perhaps he took his imaginary job as knight very seriously.

It was then that she noticed Steve making his way back over. He was proudly clutching a cup carrier with three tall coffees tucked inside. Her lip twitched and she pointed with her head.

"Looks like he made it after all."

Steve came through the gate and absentmindedly passed Bucky a cup labeled 'black' on the side and then swiveled to face her. He tugged the frontmost cup from the carrier and regally held it out for her to accept. Sutton bit on her bottom lip.

"Thank you," she said, bobbing in a mock curtsey. She took a sip and allowed the hot, chocolatey coffee to warm her from her core. "Ah, awesome. You got it perfectly right." His lips quirked up even further and he passed her what change they gave him, then pulled out his own cup. Sutton glanced at the writing on the side. She grinned.

"Cappuccino," she said. "You've had one before?"
Steve shook his head as he smiled down at her.

"I have never before heard of them. But I trust your judgement."

Sutton's eyes widened momentarily and she swiveled to check on Sprinkles.

"Coffee don't fail me now."

Still, she cut her eyes over to watch his reaction as he took his first drink. His eyes lit up and he stared down at the cup in awe as if it had bestowed some revelation on him.

"Bucky," he said. "You must try one. It is incredible."
Bucky seemed faintly intrigued now that Steve was enthusiastic about it, but shook his head and nursed his own coffee.

"Perhaps another time," he said. Steve shrugged and took another drink. She'd never seen someone look so enraptured by something as basic as coffee. It was almost like everything was new and wonderful to him. It was unusual. It was worrisome. It was a bit endearing. Steve's eyes cut down to look at her from over his coffee cup unexpectedly and Sutton cleared her throat and looked away.

"Well at least you like it," she said. "It'd be a shameful waste of beans if you had to throw it away."

Sprinkles played and ran a bit longer. When she wore herself down she came panting back over to the group and Sutton rubbed at her head as she greeted her briefly and then circled around Steve. She barked twice pointedly and Steve rubbed behind her ears fondly. The other dogs in the park perked up and looked over. Sutton was pulling the leash back out of her pocket as almost every other loose dog came bounding over.

"Woah!"

Sutton dodged a bumbling English Sheepdog and almost tripped over a corgi as a gang of dogs suddenly surrounded Steve. He laughed a bit nervously and held his cappuccino out of their reach as he greeted them all.

"Hello friends," he said, attempting to keep them from jumping up and pawing his sweater. He moved closer to the park gate when he saw the leash in her hand and the dogs trailed happily after him. Some were yipping in excitement and they were all competing for his attention. Sprinkles wasn't violent, but she was jealously eyeing the other dogs who were just her friends seconds ago. She stuck close to Steve's legs and attempted to put herself between him and all the other animals.

Sutton could only watch dumbfounded as Steve tried to navigate with his own canine parade crowding behind him.

"What. The. Flip."

Bucky merely hopped the fence to avoid all the dirty pets as Steve seemed to be trying to find a polite way to leave them.

"I really have to go," he said. "I'm terribly sorry."

"No, really," said Sutton. "What the heck. Do you have a steak under your sweater or something?" She clipped the leash on Sprinkles' harness and, for once, the doberman seemed eager to leave the dog park. "I know that one." Sutton pointed to the English sheepdog. "His name is Watson and it took him three weeks to even come near me."

Steve ended up hopping the fence as well and Sutton was able to slip through the gate without any dogs darting out after her.

"As I've said, I'm good with animals."

Sutton squinted in disbelief at his innocent face. There was something off. Something off about both these guys. Never had a cappuccino? And why didn't Bucky seem weirded out by his pet magnet friend? Why did Steve look more embarrassed than freaked out by being ambushed by a slobbering mass of dogs?

Sutton drained the last of her coffee from her cup even as she kept her glare on Steve. She chucked the cup into a nearby trash bin and pointed a finger at Steve as she passed him.

"You're wearing a weird cologne or something. Because that was freaky."

"I'm-"

"Yeah, I know. You're good with animals. Well, if you're so great with them, maybe you can help get Sprinkles cleaned up." Steve bowed marginally.

"Anything to help, Sutton."

"Oh, buddy. I don't think you even know what you're agreeing to."

Bucky was wise enough to stay out of the bathroom. Steve was too chivalrous or too dumb to back out of volunteering.

Sprinkles was a well behaved dog, no doubt. She knew tricks, she wiped her paws, she stayed and sat when told. But if there was one thing she did not like it was the bath.

To be truthful, Sutton tried to avoid baths at all possible costs. Because Sprinkles was almost the same size that she was and it was a war just to get the ritual complete. But she couldn't have a muddy dog traipsing through her apartment and sleeping on her bed. So, when they got back to her apartment and she'd said "bath", Sprinkles' ears had immediately gone back and she'd ducked down underneath the dining table.

"Think you can coax her out while I get a towel and soap?"

Sutton watched long enough to see what method Steve would use. She expected him to maybe coo softly while snagging her by the collar and dragging her out. She didn't expect him to kneel down, peg Sprinkles with an admonishing look, and start trying to reason with her.

"Come now, Sprinkles," he said. "This is beneath you. What is it about a bath that has you all worked up?"

Sutton shook her head in bewildered wonder and went to get a towel. Odds were she'd have to go back over and help him anyway. But when she turned around with a towel and pet shampoo bottle in hand, Steve was already standing in the bathroom doorway, Sprinkles drooped and pouting, but still there, by his side. Sutton's mouth hung open a minute as she eyed the pair.

"Maybe you are magic," she finally said. "I don't even know anymore."

Except Sprinkles compliance only lasted so long.

They'd managed to get Sprinkles all sudsed up and it was in that prime condition that Sprinkles decided that she would like to be done. She attempted to leave the bathtub and Sutton vainly fought to push her back.

"No! Sprinkles, stay! Steve."
Steve reached out to gently nudge Sprinkles back into the tub. He made it look easy. And then Sprinkles let out a string of yowls and grumbles that Sutton always interpreted as complaining. Surprisingly, at this point, Sprinkles barked at Steve once and then reached forward, grabbing a chunk of his sweater, and pulled him forwards into the tub. Steve's arms pinwheeled as he tried to maintain his balance and failed, and his arm caught Sutton on his way down. Sutton let out a short scream as she fell forward and both of their bodies landed in a wet heap in her cheap tub.

Sprinkles scrambled out from behind them and darted out of the bathroom, leaving a wet, soapy trail in her wake.

Sutton let out a shocked gasp as water soaked into her clothes. Somehow she'd landed on top of Steve who'd cushioned her from knocking her head against the ceramic. He was grimacing slightly and Sutton was worried that he might've hit his head against the faucet. Er, with his size he might've broken it. She'd never get that security deposit back.

"Oh my gosh, are you ok? Did you hurt your head? I'm so sorry. I didn't know she'd-"

Steve laughed and cracked his eyes open. There was an amused gleam flashing through his eyes that made her stop. Sutton took in his now wet hair, flicking up at odd angles and noted that he was supporting her, holding her up by the waist away from most of the water. His sweater sleeves were still rolled up by his elbows.

He didn't look like a crazy man who thought he was a prince from a magical kingdom. He looked normal. He looked like someone she'd do a double-take for on the sidewalk.

"I'm fine," he said. Laughter tinged his tone. "Sprinkles certainly has strong opinions."

Sutton's eyes widened and she pushed against Steve's firm chest in a bid to free herself from the tub.

"Oh. Oh no. Sprinkles! Sprinkles get back in here! If you jumped on the couch- I swear!"

But before she could even get out of the bathroom, hardly out of the tub, Bucky was at the door with Sprinkles held easily in his arms. He eyed their awkward attempts to right themselves and another smirk flickered across his face.

"Very strong opinions," Bucky agreed. "And a sense of duty."

[]

They managed to get Sprinkles cleaned up the rest of the way and had to change themselves. Sutton did a load of laundry without procrastinating forever like she usually did because both men still only had two outfits a piece.

She put her own hair up in a bun, given that it was bound to frizz after getting damp, and set to work on dinner. In an attempt to distract Steve and Bucky, she popped Snow White into the DVD player and told them she thought it'd be right up their alley. It seemed to be working because they didn't interrupt her once while she cooked.

Dinner was just finished when the end of the movie wrapped up. Sutton leaned against the doorway and watched them as they rapturously watched the cartoon. The evil queen died. Snow White was rescued from the curse by True Love's Kiss. She and the prince rode away into the sunset. Sutton smiled unknowingly as she took in their awed, happy faces. It was like they were seeing the movie for the first time. Watching it with all the delight of a child. When the credits began to roll, she spoke up.

"So, did you guys like it?"

They both turned to her and she already had her answer by the looks on their faces alone. Steve's gaze darted up and down her form and she brushed a stray curl behind her ear.

"How long ago did this happen," Bucky asked. Sutton quirked a brow.

"You mean, when did the movie come out?"

"It's a history, correct," Bucky clarified. "How many years ago did it occur?"

She didn't laugh at him this time, though the humor of it still sparked through her. It should have occurred to her that they might have taken the film a bit too literally.

"It's not real," she said. "It's just a story. You know, like you tell kids before bed? That kind of thing. There's no such thing as poison apples and magic kisses."

They looked at each other as if in mutual belief that she was the insane one of the bunch. Sutton felt an odd pang. An uncalled for kind of sadness.

She was a bit charmed by their naivety, was warming up to their blatant kindness, but she found herself wishing they weren't quite so far gone in their delusions. If only they didn't believe in it so entirely.

Why if only? She shook head.

"Anyway," she said, "dinner is all ready if you're both hungry."

[]

"May I ask why you don't believe in happy endings," Steve asked in the middle of dinner. Sutton almost choked on her forkful of salad. Even Bucky cut his eyes up from his plate and paid attention as Sutton tried to figure out what to say. Steve made an attempt to clarify.

"You have that...movie, so I am assuming you enjoy the tale. And yet you profess to not believing in happy endings or magic."

"I enjoy stories," Sutton said. "Anything can happen in a story. It doesn't make it real."

Steve poked at his BBQ chicken and tilted his head downward.

"It just seems like a sad outlook. It- pardon my forwardness, but it just...doesn't seem to suit you."

Sutton stiffened and poked at her own meal.

"I'm not a pessimist, if that's what you're getting at. It's not like I think life is terrible and sad and there aren't any good moments. I'm realistic. There aren't always happy endings. Sometimes you have to work get to the good times. And another person showing up in your life and being some True Love just doesn't happen. Like, don't get me wrong, I love the sound of it. But I'm not holding my breath."

Steve put down his fork and looked a bit disappointed before he leveled his gaze at her.

"What if it could happen? What if it did?"
Sutton laughed lightly, trying to break some of the tension. Tension over talking about magic, and True Love, and make believe. She shrugged.

"Then I guess I'd have to eat my words."

Bucky looked away, back at his plate, and Steve nodded. Some unidentifiable flicker of emotion flashed across his face before Sutton focused once more on her own food.

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The only light that illuminated the workshop came from a few candles spread around on table tops, and one large softly glowing orb that hung from the center of the ceiling. The light inside the orb twisted and shifted, as if it were a living organism lazily swimming in a bowl. Ancient books and scrolls were spilling off wooden shelves and spread across stone table tops. Over a cold, dead fireplace, a large pot hung; waiting for when it was needed again.

Tony sat hunched over one of his workbenches. His eyes were tinted red as he read yet another page of the tome he was searching. His eyes darted back and forth quickly, and after a moment his face crumbled into an angry grimace and he slammed the book closed.

"I'm going to have to seek them out," he muttered under his breath. "There's no other way."

"Seek who out?"

Tony turned to see Pepper standing in the room, her robe tied around her waist and a candlestick clutched in her grip. He glanced to the well of water in the middle of the floor and noted the stars reflected on the surface.

"Sorry dear," he said. "I didn't realize the time." Pepper frowned as she made her way over to him and ran a hand through his hair.

"Seek out who, Tony?"

He sighed in resignation and leaned into her touch. Pepper sat the candlestick on top of the workbench and tilted his head up so she could look into his eyes.

"The assassins," he confessed. Pepper's fingers stiffened briefly as she paused.

"Are you sure?"

"I don't have a choice. I can't risk Loki sensing my presence, and this has to be secret. If he knows that I am working to bring them back before I get a chance to, his attacks will become even more aggressive. He'll increase his security around The Vessel and our chances of rescuing them will diminish even more."

Pepper sighed as she sank into his lap and ran her fingernails gently over the back of his scalp.

"Do you really think they can succeed?"
Tony sank his head into the crook of her shoulder.

"I don't like them either," he said, "but if there's anyone who can steal something out from under Loki's nose, it's the Order of the Shield."

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Oh snap, assassins! And I guess Steve-o was trying to be charming or something.