Another day, another short chapter. It was supposed to include Pietro/Spencer's date but I wanted to do that in a separate chapter :) I have been MIA for a long time, so I'm trying to make up for it with lots of updates! This chapter is some cute angst/fluff between the dream team aka Spencer and Steve.
Word about Spencer's date with Pietro spread faster than wildfire. It was horrifying how quickly the word got out. When Spencer woke up, Sam was in the kitchen making breakfast and he kept smirking at her and wiggling his eyebrows. Spencer rubbed her face, "You got something to say, Falcon?" Spencer asked with narrowed eyes.
The dark-skinned man grinned widely and shook his head and focused back onto his breakfast. Spencer stared at him for a few moments before Cooper's whining caught her attention; Right, she was out here to give Cooper his breakfast. Spencer ignored Sam's sudden giggle and gave Cooper his breakfast provided by Stark Industries, of course.
"Where's Steve?" Spencer asked, surprised that Steve was lounging with Frodo around this time.
Sam pursed his lips, "Dunno, he seemed to leave earlier than usual," Sam responded and frowned, "I heard you two got into an argument, since when do you two fight?" Sam asked, seating himself at the dining table with a cup of coffee and a plate of eggs, toast, and sausage.
Spencer leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Cooper shove his face into his food bowl, and answered Sam, "Steve doesn't think I'm capable of training the new team," Spencer says bitterly, "Apparently getting shot in the chest makes me incapable of doing anything." She knows she's being a brat, but she couldn't help but feel bitter towards Steve.
Sam sipped his coffee with a thoughtful expression, "Watching you get shot in the chest isn't something Steve takes lightly, Spence," Sam tells her, "I don't agree with Steve treating you as if you're completely useless, but I understand why he thinks it's better if you don't train the new team, it's only been, what? Two weeks since you got shot? Don't you think you need more time to rest? You're always complaining about needing a vacation, well, here's your chance." Sam pointed out.
Spencer pouted, "I want to take a vacation when I want to, not when shit needs to be done," Spencer said a bit sharply, "Tony's retiring, Thor's off bringing peace to the nine realms, Clint's focusing on Nathaniel, and Bruce is fricking missing!" Spencer says looking upset, "How the hell do you lose the big, green guy?" She added with a shake of her head, "Anyway, it's just Nat, Steve, and I left to train you guys. I don't understand why Steve can't understand that I'm not fragile! I've been through too much shit to be treated like some damsel in distress." Spencer ranted with a huff.
"I'm not sure what you want me to say, Spence," Sam chuckles softly, "I see both sides of the coin."
"I'm not asking you to pick sides," Spencer says with a gentle sigh and mentally calms down, "I just don't understand why Steve's acting like this. It isn't the first time I've gotten hurt, you know? It isn't the first time I've come close to death, that's a part of the job." Spencer says quietly as she fiddles with the hem of her shirt.
"You are all that man has, Spence," Sam says reluctantly, "You and Steve have such a strong, deep bond that no one else can compare to, he's already lost so much in his life...he's probably terrified about losing you, too." Sam's words hit Spencer hard-She's forgotten how much Steve has lost and the realization dawns on her slowly.
She feels like a brat and an asshole, but Spencer wasn't the one who started to raise her voice, it had been Steve, and Steve had never raised his voice at Spencer like that, it startled her but it also made her mad. Spencer was hot-headed, everyone knew this, how did Steve not realize she wasn't going to back down easily?
Spencer sighed loudly and groaned, "You think he's avoiding me?"
Sam shrugged, "Steve does have a habit of running away from his problems sometimes."
"I bet he's eating breakfast in the training room," Spencer growls, getting up with a furious look, "The nerve he has, moping around! He's the one who started the argument! I should be daydreaming about my first date but instead, I have to deal with him and his man-period!" Spencer storms off towards the door with Cooper barking at her heels.
"Oh, god," Sam watched the young woman storm out of their shared apartment, "This isn't good," Sam is whipping out his phone and texting in the group chat, "We need backup here!" Sam yelled at his phone before rushing to finish his food and chase after Spencer. "Oh my god, what if they end up fighting? They'll destroy the new facility!"
Spencer is a raging storm and everyone is smart enough to steer clear of the furious woman. Whispers are going around wildly as Spencer reaches the training room that was only meant for the Avengers. She slams the doors open and just as she expected, Steve and Frodo were on the floor eating breakfast from IHOP! Spencer loved Ihop! How would Steve do this to her!?
Steve is startled to see her and pales at the raging expression on her pretty face.
Cooper runs by her barking in greeting and Frodo meows loudly in response, both pets unaware or uncaring of their owners' struggles. "Hey, Spencer," Steve swallows wondering what got her riled up, "I thought Helen said no training yet?" Steve cringed, maybe that wasn't the best thing to say right now.
Spencer stared at Steve and Steve was readying himself for the absolute shredding that Spencer was going to unleash on him. "I'm not going to fucking die anytime soon, Rogers," Spencer says icily making Steve wince, "We've been through hell and back, I would think by now that you would trust in my capabilities as an Avenger."
"Spencer, I don't doubt your capabilities as an Avenger-" Steve got up and tried to explain himself.
"Then why are you treating me as if I'm some fucking fragile girl?" Spencer demanded loudly with her hands curling into fists, "Haven't I been through enough to show that I won't die easily?"
"I can't lose you!" Steve blurts out, "Watching you get shot in the fucking chest made me realize who easily you can die!" Spencer's eyes widen at the sound of Steve cursing so loudly, "You did it without thinking, too! You were willing to throw away your life, Spencer, how could you do that?" Steve asked storming up to her with watery eyes, "Did you not care about what you would have left behind?" He demanded angrily.
Spencer watches Steve with confused eyes, "Steve, it's our job-"
"That's bullshit! It's my job to not die, it's your job to live your life, Spencer!" Steve says, throwing his hands out in a frustrated manner, "All of us have already lived our lives, but you haven't! You're only twenty-four years old and you're about to have your first date! You shouldn't be worrying about anything else but that! You should be worried about normal things not...training superheroes!"
Spencer glares at Steve, "This is the life I was given, Steve, I can't change that. I'm sorry you feel as if I should retire from being an Avenger, but that isn't your call to make," Spencer says strongly, "I thought you understood me, but perhaps I was mistaken."
"I understand you perfectly well, Spencer," Steve says with a hint of anger.
"Do you? I don't think you do. I understand your reasoning, I do, but this is my life. If I would have died, I would have died saving Pietro. I would have died defeating Ultron. That's our job, Steve. Not just your job, buddy, it's our job to die protecting innocent people and our planet," Spencer shifted away from him, "If you believe otherwise, maybe it's best if we distance ourselves from each other."
Steve's face falls, "You don't mean that, Spencer," Steve's voice wobbles.
Spencer's heart quivers in her chest, "Do you think I want to do that?! You're my best fucking friend! You're my brother, god damn it! You're my family but I would never do what you're trying to do to me! I'd support whatever you would decide to do with your life, so, please don't try to dictate mine because trust me, Nick and my dad have already tried and it failed." Spencer says thickly, "We all had our reasons when we became the Avengers and we still have our reasons now, to continue being Avengers, and until I deem otherwise, I'm not going anywhere."
Spencer pauses and suddenly punches Steve in the arm.
"Ow!" Steve whines with wide eyes, "What was that for!?" He demands like a child.
"For being a jerk! You got Ihop but didn't get me anything!? You know I love IHOP!" Spencer cries angrily.
Steve shrinks back and mumbles, "I'm sorry,"
"Damn right you better be sorry," Spencer says with a frown, "Since we're apologizing, I'm sorry for raising my voice at you."
Steve perks up a bit but sheepishly says, "I'm sorry for acting the way I did and raising my voice at you first, I love you, Spence, you mean a lot to me-"
Steve is cut off as Spencer hugs him tightly, "You big oaf, I love you, too! You don't think I understand where you're coming from? I do, I do, but this is my life and I plan to live it to the fullest extent!" Spencer says with an eye roll.
"Aw, how sweet," Wanda coos, making Spencer glare at the air, "I think Pietro is going to be jealous now." She snickers evilly.
"Wanda, seriously?" Spencer lets go of Steve to fling two electrical blades at her, but Wanda deflects them easily, "You nosey witch." Spencer grumbles.
Wanda smirks, "As happy as I am to see the dream team back together, I was looking for you." Wanda chirps with a bright smile.
"Why?" Spencer frowns as Cooper greets Wanda excitedly.
"We're going shopping," Wanda says plainly, "You don't have anything decent to wear to your first date with my brother."
"How would you know that?" Spencer deadpans with a frown.
Wanda smirks again, "I went through your closet with Vision."
"You what?!" Spencer shrieks, mortified.
Steve couldn't cover his laugh fast enough before Spencer elbowed him in the gut.