The chapter where Steve says, "are you ok?" a lot and Sutton starts to get nervous.

Thanks to all those who are reading (and leaving feedback :P). A special thanks (again?! Yes.) to Ink Outside the Lines for the awesome playlist that is going to inspire me for the rest of this fic. (There's a couple song choices that were especially spot on.)

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"Let me see if I understand you correctly. You want us sneak into Loki's fortress, steal the Vessel of Light and Space, and then return it to you without one person noticing."

"That's correct," Tony said. He smiled widely at the duo, and the dirty blond of the pair blinked.

The two assassins were decked out in black leather breeches and vests with dark undershirts underneath. The woman's was a deep, blood red color while the man's was a royal purple. All the dark colors made the weapons strapped to their person harder to spot, but Tony still noted the short daggers and small potion flasks.

"Do you realize the magnitude of the job you're asking," the man asked. "What's in it for us?"

"Besides the safety of the entire kingdom?"
The redhead woman smirked.

"The Order is already working on that."

Tony scoffed. He reached into a pouch hanging at his side and pulled out a handful of some colored powder. He threw it into the well in the floor and with a crack images curled up into view like a hazy blue smoke. Sparkling flashes of light popped randomly as the images moved.

Prince Steven and the war hero, Sir James.

"Good luck restoring order in the kingdom when these two are in another world."
The man in purple groaned as his shoulders went slack.

"Are you honest," he complained. "Natasha, you didn't mention this."

For the first time, Natasha's lips twitched downwards.

"I wasn't given this information."

Tony moved around the room; picked up a decanter and poured himself a drink.

"No doubt," he said. "It's taken a lot of work from the royal cabinet to keep it quiet. No need for chaos when we can avoid it."

"Clint, make a note to speak with Fury when we get back," Natasha murmured. The images above the well flickered out and Tony downed the rest of his glass.

"If you need more besides praise, fame, and the eternal gratitude of the entire kingdom and royal family, I'm sure it wouldn't be out of line to suggest you may be compensated for your efforts."

Clint held up a finger.

"We are speaking of financial compensation, correct? Gold, gems? Perhaps a moonstone?" That earned him a glare.

"Don't push your luck," Tony said. "But you will be paid. Handsomely. So, what do you say? Is the shadowy Order of the Shield as capable as the stories claim?"
Natasha smiled.

"I'm starting to think this sounds like fun."

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"Gold," Sutton muttered under her breath. She dug through the jeans in the bottom drawer of her dresser and searched through all the pockets. "I swear I put it in the pocket of these- aha!"

She held the two gold coins triumphantly and then expelled all the air from her lungs. With needing more groceries than usual, she was going to have to trade the coins in. Sutton rubbed at her forehead as she sat in a crouch. She didn't want to go, but necessity dictated she head out soon. Sutton slid the coins into the pocket of the pants she was wearing and stood.

Steve and Bucky were loitering around as usual. She felt a little odd that they had nothing to do, didn't seem to think they needed to do anything to "get home".

How long would she let them stay with her?

They looked up when she entered the room, actually stood, and she smiled thinly.

"Hey. I just need to run an errand really quick. If you want to-"
"We'll accompany you," Steve interrupted. Sutton stammered.

"Actually I wasn't going to-" But they both already had their shoes on and were opening her front door. They must have not liked being cooped up in her apartment. Sutton chewed the inside of her lip and shoved her keys into her small purse as she followed after them.

"Alright," she said. "I guess you can come."

She felt like she had a couple of towering body guards as they all trekked down the sidewalk. Since she'd left Sprinkles at home, she was able to shove her hands into her coat. The gold coins pressed into her leg as she walked.

People crowded and moved around them. As usual the streets smelled wet and dirty. Sutton kept her head and eyes down, avoiding bumping shoulders with people like a well seasoned pro. Steve and Bucky seemed as though they were used to crowds moving out of their way, and a couple people were sent flying across the sidewalk as they checked shoulders with them.

It was a bit of a walk to where she was trying to go. Sutton decided it would be safer to take the bus.

She paid the fare for all of them and watched as Steve and Bucky awkwardly followed after her.

"You might want to sit," Sutton suggested. Bucky looked fascinated by the vehicle and Steve looked down at her.

"Why-"
The bus lurched back out into the street and both men almost toppled over. Sutton bit her bottom lip and fought a small smile.

"That's why."

They rode the bus through busy city streets. Sutton mildly wondered, not for the first time, how people dared to drive in the city. She had a license, but she'd had to sell her car. She wouldn't have been brave enough to drive it here even if she had one.

The bus finally stopped at a familiar corner and Sutton stood, gesturing for Steve and Bucky to follow her. Another block down and she could see the shop peeking out from a line of concrete store fronts. She hunched her shoulders further.

"Are you alright," Steve asked from beside her. Sutton glanced up from under her brows to see his concerned face.

"I'm fine," she said. "Just not my favorite errand."

The shop door opened setting off a ringing bell and Sutton made her way to the front counter. An older gentleman emerged from a back room. He was a bit stooped with age and had large, coke bottle glasses, but he wore a bright smile that outshone even his white hair.

"Miss Sutton," he called. He reached out a hand to grasp hers and gave her a friendly shake. "Wonderful to see you again." Sutton forced herself to smile.

"Mr. L," she said. "You're looking as cheerful as ever." Mr. L's attention flickered to her companions and he tilted his head.

"Can I help you gentlemen?"
"They're actually with me," Sutton said.

"Alright then. What do you have for me this time? More hoop earrings? Another ring?"

Sutton's false smile only grew tighter.

"Nope," she said sharply. "Found something new."

She pulled the coins from her pocket and sat them on the countertop between them. Mr. L adjusted his glasses and rubbed his hands together.

"Marvelous," he said. "Let's have a look."

Sutton stepped back as he inspected the gold coins; made sure they were real and then weighed them.

"These seem like something that should be going to a collector, not to me," he eventually said. "This stamp looks like something they used in ancient Rome. What is Andolasia anyway?"

"I, uh, I think they're just a limited edition novelty item, actually," Sutton said. She forced out a laugh and gestured at the coins. "So, how much are they worth?"

Mr. L pulled out a calculator and punched in some numbers.

"I can give you twenty-five hundred. They're a decent weight," he said. "Although you could probably get more if they were authentic artifacts."

"I really doubt it. The twenty-five hundred is fine, thank you."

Mr. L moved to pull out a checkbook and filled it out. Sutton shifted on her feet, eyed the door, and avoided the gazes of the men with her. She drummed her fingers against her leg as she watched Mr. L finish off the check with a flourish of his pen and a smile.

"There you go," he said. "Making the big bucks now, huh?"
Sutton accepted the check without looking at it and slid it into the wallet in her purse.

"Thanks again, Mr. L. You take care."

He waved waved goodbye and Sutton darted from the shop and started speed walking back down the sidewalk.

Steve and Bucky both took a few quick paces to catch up and then evened out their stride. Figured, she didn't have the leg span to keep ahead of them.

"What's wrong," asked Steve. He sounded worried. Why would he sound worried when he hardly knew her? Why did he care? Sutton tucked some hair behind her ear and continued on. She tried to flash an easy smile up at him to curb any suspicion.

"Nothing. I just need to get this check to an ATM before it gets dark. These streets get creepy at night."

"Maybe it wasn't enough," Bucky said lowly, over her head. Steve made something like a tsking sound in the back of his throat and Sutton rolled her eyes in misdirected irritation.

"It's not about the money."
"Has he cheated you when you've come before," Steve asked. Sutton shoved her hands into her coat pockets and scowled.

"No. He's one of the few honest ones. That's why I make the trip out."

"Then why-"
The bus stop came into view and Sutton swiveled on the heel of her foot, walking backwards as she pegged both men with a look.

"It's kind of personal, actually. Sorry, but I don't want to talk about it." Their gazes flickered away and Steve winced.

"My apologies. I shouldn't have pried."

At his shamed face Sutton felt something inside her twist and she let out a quiet breath, turning back around she eyed the bus sign.

"It's fine; you didn't know." A beat passed and she shook out her shoulders, straightened herself up. Reminded herself that she couldn't get like this. "I'm not feeling like cooking tonight. What do you say we eat out? I can't really afford anything worthy of royalty, but there's a decent burger place near my apartment."

Bucky and Steve seemed to understand the suggestion as a gesture that there were no hostilities. They gave murmured agreements with her suggestion.

"What is a burger," asked Bucky. Sutton groaned.

"No way."

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They were pleasantly surprised by the burgers. Sutton enjoyed not having to worry about the time while she ate. Enjoyed the fact that she didn't have to be scared about being out on the streets after dark alone. She tried to ignore that she felt safe with two guys she'd only known a matter of days. Told herself that she should definitely not feel that way. It wouldn't do her any favors in the long run.

She dipped a fry into her cup of sauce and popped it into her mouth. Bucky was attempting to wipe bbq sauce out of his chainmail sleeve and Sutton wondered why he was still wearing it. Didn't even take it off to eat. It must have been a bad deformity, or injury, perhaps. That or it just played into his fairytale beliefs. Sutton wasn't sure which was more concerning. The waitress came by, beaming and offering more water, and Sutton paused as she filled their glasses. She was glad she had enough at the moment to leave a decent tip.

"So," she said as she twirled another fry in her sauce, "what's, uh, Andolasia like?"
Both men paused in their eating and glanced at each other before looking back at her. Sutton looked up at their hesitation and continued to pick at her fries.

"You believe it's real?"
She winced at Steve's wary tone and hunched her shoulders.

"I just- I mean, I'm curious. I wouldn't mind… a story."

It was quiet at the table a moment. Sutton listened to the murmuring chatter in the diner and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Sorry. You don't have to, I-"

"Steve fell off a horse right in front of Asgardian diplomats once. Fell asleep and slid right off in the middle of official goodbyes after trade negotiations." Steve let out an insulted cry.

"Bucky! That was years ago; we were children."

Sutton laughed and Steve scowled. Bucky shrugged while grinning slyly.

"It still created quite a stir, if I recall."

"Do they last that long," Sutton asked while grinning. "Official goodbyes that is. Is it a process or something?"

Bucky raised his brows and turned to Steve, passing off the question, and eagerly anticipated his answer. Steve hunched in his chair and busied himself with chewing another bite to stall answering.

"Bucky and I had stayed up too late the previous evening. Hunting for dragons in the forest."

"And whose idea was that?" Sutton covered her smile at Bucky's taunting. Her expression flickered, however, as she noticed they were actually telling a story. Offering bits of the whole in turn and not contradicting each other. As if they'd already had this planned out. As if it were actually something that had happened to them. She shook her head and caught the waitress's attention, signaling she'd like the check.

"What about Andolasia," she asked, cutting off their silent bickering. "What does it actually look like?" Perhaps she could gauge where they were from with a decent description.

"Lushly wooded," said Steve. "And mountainous in the distance. It's truly the most

beautiful kingdom in the land."

"The city is cleaner," Bucky added. "And smells better."

Sutton tilted her head in thought. Perhaps Canada. Woods and mountains and, what had they called them? Frost Giants? She hoped they weren't fighting tall people in parkas. Maybe they were polar bears? Instead she said,

"That sounds beautiful."

Steve leaned forward over the table as Sutton accepted the bill and started digging some cash out of her wallet.

"Perhaps you can visit. When we return, of course. You may find you...like it." Sutton flashed him a humoring smile.

"Maybe," she said.

They returned to her apartment and Sutton slipped out one last time to let Sprinkles stretch her legs and go to the bathroom. At least, she'd anticipated slipping out by alone, but she found herself being followed again because it was "dark" and "not safe to be out unaccompanied". Sutton rolled her eyes and told herself she was peeved. Annoyed. She had been living on her own for quite awhile. But her heartbeat didn't skitter like it usually did when she passed the eerie alley at the end of her building. The shadowy silhouette on the corner across the street didn't have her tensing up. She managed to make it back home without even one person asking her for some cash.

Sprinkles clung to Steve's side back in the apartment, as if he might leave at any moment and never return. Sutton poured kibble into Sprinkles' bowl then changed into a pair of sweats and a tee for the evening.

When she came back out into the main living space, Steve was on the couch with an entire doberman attempting to curl up on his lap and Bucky was snickering quietly. She couldn't help but smile. The apartment felt warmer with the extra people in it and she didn't even have to turn on the television to fight the quiet.

"How about a movie night," she suggested before she could talk herself out of it. "I've still got some snack foods in the cupboard. Oh! And ice cream. Cookie dough, the best obviously."

"Movies," questioned Steve. "Like the tale of Snow White?" Sutton grinned.

"Sure. We'll make it a Disney night. Just pick out which DVDs you're interested in from that top shelf under the TV and I'll get the snacks."

She forgot the funk she'd found herself in after visiting the gold shop. Steve had been insistent on Cinderella, which she found somehow fitting, and Bucky had picked Beauty and the Beast. Sutton contributed Tangled just to mix things up a bit.

There wasn't much seating in her apartment, so they all had to squeeze onto her one sofa and precariously balance all their snacks while a stubborn Sprinkles insisted on being included in on the activities.

They spent the evening laughing with feet propped up on her old coffee table and eating melting ice cream as cartoon princesses sang and danced and fought for their own happy endings.

Steve mentioned that Cinderella's castle looked similar to his own and that the ball gowns were "a bit plain" but "serviceable" he supposed. Bucky liked they way they drew the magic.

Sutton hummed along to the music as she ate another spoonful of ice cream from the bowl propped up on Sprinkles' rear, which was in her lap. The front half of Sprinkles was stretched out over Steve's legs, who had insisted that he didn't mind when she'd awkwardly suggested sometime in the middle of Beauty and the Beast that he could kick Sprinkles off his lap.

It was warm and cheerful, and even just sitting pressed up against another person felt like it was filling some gaping hole in her that she'd been ignoring. If she melted a bit more into Steve's side than she strictly had to, well, that was just because her couch was old and the cushions were caving.

Sometime after Rapunzel and Flynn sang amongst a sky full of lanterns, Sutton started to drift. Once, she told herself that she should get up but it was so warm and she was comfortable. Besides, how was she supposed to stand with Sprinkles sitting on her? She pinched lightly at her arm to wake herself back up.

"Hey. Sutton?"

Her shoulder rocked gently and Sutton let out a quiet whine while opening her eyes. She blinked a couple times, her brain loading, and caught the gaze of a smiling Steve. Sprinkles was gone. Bucky was in the kitchen eating leftovers and he had her full and undivided attention. Sutton finally realized that her head was propped up on Steve's shoulder and she jerked away and stood.

"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I didn't-"

Steve held up his hands.

"It's quite alright, really. I-I didn't mind. It has been growing late."

Heat engulfed her. The credits were just ending for Tangled, so at least she hadn't been asleep too terribly long. Still, she wiped under her eyes and smoothed down her hair while avoiding making eye contact.

She fell asleep. With two full grown men in her house. She'd cozied right on up and just let herself lose consciousness. Worse, she already missed the warmth.

Sutton forced a false cough.

"Well, um, good. I mean- I'm glad it didn't- didn't bother- you know what? I better get to bed. Work tomorrow and all that. Sprinkles. Sprinkles!"

Sprinkles cut her eyes at Sutton and looked torn. Sutton snapped her fingers and Sprinkles begrudgingly trotted over.

"Goodnight," Sutton called over her shoulder. She hurried down the hall and closed her door behind her. Leaning against it, she let out a ragged breath. Only a couple days and they were wrecking her.

They had to leave soon.

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Steve watched Sutton flee back to her room with Sprinkles at her heels. His hand that had been outstretched slowly lowered back down to his side and his face dipped into a frown. He idled a moment and then looked to Bucky who was just finishing up his late night snack.

"I'm afraid she's not very fond of me," he said. "Do you think I'm being too forward with her?"

Bucky rolled his eyes. He put his plate in the sink and then walked over to clap Steve on the back.

"Some mares are just skittish," he said. Steve frowned further.

"An inept analogy," he said flatly.

"My apologies, majesty. I meant no offense."

Steve sighed, sounding in distress, and Bucky tilted his head.

"Although you didn't hear it from me, but I believe Sutton may have used the word cute when previously speaking of you."

He clapped Steve once more on the back and then moved towards the bathroom. Steve stiffened and blinked.

"Cute," he said. "Cute? Wait, Bucky, when-"
Bucky closed the door in his prince's face and Steve was forced to back off or risk alerting Sutton. He shot a glare at the bathroom door and made his way back to the guest room.

"Cute," he murmured, sitting on the bed. "She thinks I'm cute."

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The next morning broke early and Sutton was still feeling off kilter. She got ready for work on autopilot and let Sprinkles out before heading to work. Most of the time she didn't look forward to heading to the office, but she found that she was relieved at the distance it provided after the previous night.

She still couldn't believe that she'd fallen asleep in front of them. Had used Steve as a pillow. Had- hadn't minded it.

And that. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Everything else she could have dealt with. Everything else could have been remedied. But her becoming attached to the two weirdos, to Steve, was not an option.

She stormed into the building and rode up the elevator as a woman on a mission. So intent on marching out of the elevator, she almost ran into Alexandra. Her coworker was just coming from down the opposite hall and distractedly adjusting her hair; Sutton staggered to a stop before she knocked into her and they both had a sour morning.

"Oh, hey Sutton." Alexandra looked down at the watch on her wrist and the back up. "You're not late yet!"
"Ah, actually I was just...eager to get in today," Sutton said. She shrugged and rubbed at her arm. Alexandra nodded.

"One of those days? Family stuff?" Sutton held back a wince.

"Uh, apartment issues, actually."

"Oh yikes. My advice? Befriend at least one person on your floor. That way you have someone to team up with when things go wrong. Homemade cookies go a long way in winning people over, fyi." Sutton readjusted her purse on her shoulder and smiled thinly.

"I'll keep that in mind," she said. "Thanks."

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She made sure to catch up on the work that she'd slacked off on previously. Driving herself to distraction helped calm her down a bit. By lunch she was feeling more settled and by the end of the day she'd convinced herself that she had reorganized all her emotions and had them under control. Alexandra winked at her on her way out and called,

"Don't forget the cookies!"
Sutton gave her a thumbs up and wished her a good night.

It was raining again when she left the building. She'd forgotten her umbrella, so she popped up her hood and hunkered down into her jacket as she trekked onward.

Home, work, home.

She pulled up the collar of her jacket. Perhaps she should get a few hobbies. Something besides standing awkwardly at the edge of the dog park or throwing a squeaker toy.

Sutton took off her jacket and shook the water off while she was still in the hallway outside the elevator. Better the water on their carpet instead of hers. There was a familiar hunched figure near her door, however. The hair on her arms prickled as Gary tapped on the bottom of her door with his boot, as if quietly knocking. She'd say that she had never seen him act so creepy, but there was always the high probability that just she'd never caught him. Reaching into her purse, she grabbed her keys and slid a few between her knuckles, clenched her hand into a fist.

"You need something, Gary?"

Gary startled and turned to face her with wide red-rimmed eyes. There was a toxic sort of sweet smell radiating from him and she held her breath. Sutton didn't bother smiling even falsely this time. Her shoulders were tense, stance rigid. She felt along the ridges of her keys still hidden in her pocket to make sure they were tooth-side up.

"Thought I heard something," Gary finally said. "Still have your… cousin over?"

"That's not really your business." Gary scoffed and shifted as if she were being rude. He lifted his hands up in defense and raised his brows in a blatantly patronizing move.

"No need to get huffy. Just trying to be a good neighbor."

"No need to start now. So, do you mind moving?" She flashed her teeth. Gary blinked, slow to decipher her meaning and body language, then scowled.

"Just sayin'. Hate to see the landlord find you breakin' the rules." Sutton's fist tightened

around her keys and she pulled her hand out of her pocket.
"You know, I could say the same thing. I could have sworn there was a no smoking clause in the rental contract. Don't remember ever giving you a neighborly reminder about that before."

His face darkened at that, his lip pulling up a bit and Sutton shifted her stance. He moved, but slowly, and Sutton whistled loudly as she edged towards the door. There was a brief quiet, and then the front door vibrated with a bang and a throaty barking exploded into the hall. Gary fully recoiled.

"Geez, lady," he said, slinking down. "You threatening me?"
Sutton's hand shook slightly as she unlocked the door. It burst open when she turned the handle and Sutton fumbled to catch Sprinkles' collar before she could actually tear down the hall. Gary let out a shout and ran stumbling back to his own apartment, slamming the door shut behind him.

Sprinkles continued to bark, the deep upset kind that was real. Sutton held her back and pulled her into the apartment behind her.

"Easy," she said between panting breaths. "Easy. Good girl, easy now. You did it."

Sutton kneeled down and let go of Sprinkles' collar. Sprinkles turned and whined, licking at Sutton's face and paced around her in agitation before licking her face again.

"I'm fine."

"What happened!"
Sutton looked up. Steve had one shoe on and Bucky was holding his sword and they both looked like they'd been spooked into action. She took a deep breath and felt the adrenaline start to drain.

"Nothing," she said. "It was just a run in with Gary. He was being weird again."
Bucky's face darkened.

"That foe," he questioned. "I can have words with him."

"Did he hurt you?"
Sutton waved a hand in dismissal.

"No, it wasn't a big deal. Really. I'm pretty sure he just wants to break in here and steal some stuff."

Both men looked scandalized.

"Not a big deal," Steve admonished.

"He is allowed to roam free," asked Bucky. Sutton laughed lightly and stood.

"You can't arrest someone for wanting to commit a crime."

Steve straightened and glared through the door.

"I can," he insisted. Sutton sighed and pat him on the chest on her way to the kitchen.

"This isn't Andolasia. It's Seattle. No you can't."

For the first time since Steve and Bucky arrived, Sprinkles followed closely after Sutton of her own free will. Sutton made a pot of coffee and took a mug with her to the couch. Sprinkles hopped up flush against her and made sure her head was in the perfect position to receive pets.

Taking a sip of her coffee, Sutton hummed. She peeked over the rim to note that both men still looked unsettled and stiff. She cocked her head to the side and lifted a brow.

"Are you still upset," she asked. "I'm fine."

Steve finally took off the one shoe he'd managed to put on and came around to sit on the arm of her couch.

"But you might not have been." She smiled, knowing humoring him would probably be the only way to appease him.

"Look, this was really nothing. He didn't even try anything. Besides, I survived this long on my own. What do you think I have Sprinkles for?"
Bucky curled his chainmail hand into a fist and leaned against the wall.

"You shouldn't have to. Everyone has support."

He hadn't said it, but Sutton heard the underlying point.

Where is your family? Where are your friends?

She decided to ignore the implied questions.

"Look, if it means so much to you, the next time Gary is weird, you can have a nice friendly chat, ok? That is, I mean, if you're still here."

They wouldn't be. She knew that.

They couldn't be.

A pity, really. It would've been fun to watch.

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You wanted to see Sprinkles bite someone, didn't you? Admit it.