The next day Skye was in the event room on the main floor of the compound with her guitar teacher. Her dads hadn't felt comfortable sending her to the home of a random young male guitar teacher but they also understood why having a random person in the Avenger's living quarters didn't make sense. So practicing in the event space on the main floor was a happy medium that Skye and her dads could agree on.
Skye was sitting in a chair and was slowly playing Free Falling by Tom Petty. She was finally to the point where she could learn an actual song.
"Not bad," the instructor said. "But you are too tense. Loosen your shoulders a little."
Skye did so and kept playing through.
"And move up a fret," he said.
Skye did so.
"Better," he said with a smile. "You are a quick study."
"Thank you," Skye said with a smile.
"Start from the beginning," he said.
Skye did so. The instructor watched her. His hand brushed against her knee. Skye moved her knee and he mumbled a small apology and Skye shrugged it off.
Loki had been bored and decided to be a pest. He turned himself transparent and snuck into the event room. He was going to just make things move. Maybe scare the instructor a little.
The instructor's hand made his way onto Skye's knee again and slowly moved up her thigh. Skye mumbled for him to stop but she was physically frozen. Loki saw what was happening and that Skye was not comfortable and trying to get him to stop.
Loki made himself visible. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
The instructor jumped back. "Where did you come from?"
"Does not matter where I came from all that matters is I am going to make your life a living hell if you come anywhere near her again," Loki said getting between Skye and the man. "And do not get me started on what her boyfriend will do to you if he finds out what you were doing to her."
"I was just teaching her to play guitar," the man said.
"Since when does teaching someone to play guitar involve running your hand up her tight?" Loki asked.
"And look at that time. I'm late for my next lesson," the man said getting up and leaving.
Loki turned to Skye. "Are you okay?"
Skye shook her head. "Thank you," she said softly.
"Do you want me to keep this to myself?" Loki asked.
"You aren't planning to tell Tucker?" Skye asked.
"Not my place to tell him. But if you plan to tell someone and need someone to confirm if I can," Loki said.
Skye nodded a little.
"But I was not kidding about him not coming anywhere near you again," Loki said. "So you figure out how to tell your parents you do not want lessons from him anymore or I will. Because I will not stand by for him to put you in that situation again"
"When did you get so mature?" Skye asked.
Loki snorted. "So am I telling someone?"
Skye got up from the chair, picked up her guitar, and started for the elevator. Loki followed.
"I don't want a big deal made out of it. And you're right Tucker will lose it when he finds out. But at the same time, it feels wrong not to tell him," Skye said. "What were you doing in there anyway?"
"I was going to live up to my title of God of Mischief," he said.
"Oh," Skye said as they got onto the elevator and set her guitar down.
"I would say sorry but honestly I am glad I did," Loki said getting on as well and pushing the button for the living quarters.
"I am glad you did too. You are the reason he stopped," Skye said.
"You could have gotten him to stop. You are capable of that yes?" Loki asked.
"I kind of froze," Skye admitted wrapping her arms around herself.
"Oh," Loki said. "I think that is not an uncommon reaction?"
"From what I know yeah it's not uncommon," Skye said as the elevator landed on the right floor.
Skye picked up her guitar and went into the kitchen where Bruce and Nat were starting on dinner. They were playfully poking at each other as they cooked.
"Hey, do you know where my dad is?" Skye asked softly.
Nat looked up "Not sure. Are you okay?"
Skye shook her head.
"What's wrong?" Nat asked looking between Skye and Loki who had followed Skye into the kitchen.
Skye let out a breath and her eyes filled with tears. "I just need my dad."
"Okay. I can help you find him," Nat said.
"Friday?" Nat said
"Agent Romanoff. how can I help you?" F.R.I.D.A.Y. asked
"Where is Steve?" Nat asked.
"Captain Rogers and Mr. Barnes are in their bedroom with strict instruction to disturb unless it is an emergency," F.R.I.D.A.Y said.
Skye shuttered. "It can wait."
Nat looked at Loki. "Do you know what is going on?"
"I do. But it should come from her," Loki said.
"Is it more of an urgent situation than she is letting on?" Nat asked.
"Urgent no. Important yes," Loki said.
"Okay," Nat said.
"Friday. As soon as they are done whatever they are doing tell Steve his daughter needs him and that it is important," Nat said.
"Yes Agent Romanoff," F.R.I.D.A.Y said.
"Are you sure there is nothing I can do for now? Nat asked.
"Unless you have a way to soap my brain so I don't have a picture I don't want in my head anymore nope," Skye said.
"You're not hurt or sick?" Bruce asked.
"Not in any way that requires medical attention no," Skye said.
"Do you want something to eat or drink?" Nat asked.
Skye shook her head. "I'm going to just go rest," she said carrying her guitar into her room and putting it in its case before she curled up with Harley on her bed.
About an hour later there was a knock on her bedroom door.
"Yeah?" Skye said softly.
Steve went in. "Just me or do you need Papa too?"
"Papa can be here too," Skye said sitting up. Harley moved so his head was in her lap.
Steve and Bucky both came in and closed the door before they sat on either side of the end of her bed.
"What's wrong?" Steve asked.
"I don't want to take guitar lessons with that instructor anymore," Skye said.
"How come?" Steve asked
"He. . . tried to," Skye said her eyes filling with tears.
"Tried what?" Steve asked.
"He was trying to force something on me. I told him to stop he wouldn't I just kind of froze," Skye said.
"How far did he go?" Bucky asked softly.
"His hand was moving up my thigh. Um. Loki decided at that moment he was going to pull one of his pranks and I guess snuck into the room invisible and saw what was happening, made himself visible, and stepped in to stop it," Skye said.
"Can I give you a hug?" Steve asked
Skye nodded.
Steve moved closer to her and hugged her tight. Skye hugged him back tightly.
"Okay. Number one. This was not your fault," Steve said.
Skye nodded.
"Two. How we handle this is up to you. I agree you will not be taking lessons from him anymore. But outside of that. If you want to report it or not is up to you," Steve said.
Skye nodded again. She broke the hug a minute later and looked at her Papa.
"Hug from me too?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said her eyes filling with tears again.
Bucky moved closer to her and hugged her tight.
Skye hugged him tight.
"Thank you for trusting us with this information. And if you need us to talk to Loki to make sure he doesn't tell anyone else we can do that. Who gets told is up to you," Bucky said.
"No. He made a point of saying he wouldn't tell anyone if I didn't want him to. But would back me up if I need someone to corroborate what happened," Skye said.
"There are also cameras in that room. We will talk to Happy and make sure that footage is locked so no one you don't want can't see it," Steve said.
"Okay. Thank you," Skye said breaking the hug with Bucky. "Never thought a day would come I would be glad Loki is a little shit sometimes."
Steve smiled a little. "Yeah. I'm glad he was there for you too."
"Are you physically okay?" Bucky asked.
"Yeah. He didn't hurt me in that sense," Skye said.
"Okay," Bucky said.
Skye moved so she was lying down again.
"Do you want us in here with you still or do you want to be alone? Either choice is okay," Steve said.
"I think I want to be alone right now," Skye said.
Steve and Bucky got up and left the room. Steve texted Happy and asked him to secure the footage from the event room from the last three hours before he went and found Loki in the living room.
"Loki can I talk to you please," Steve said.
Thor, who was in the room, looked up. "Loki what did you do?"
"He didn't do anything wrong," Steve said quickly.
Thor nodded and Loki got up and followed Steve into the office.
"One. Thank you for protecting her," Steve said as they both sat down.
"Of course," Loki said.
"Two. She did say you said you wouldn't tell anyone?" Steve said.
"Correct. Only if she needs me as a witness or something," Loki said.
"Okay. Good," Steve said.
"I do not know if Skye told you but I did tell the guy if he came anywhere near her again I would make his life a living hell and that if her boyfriend finds out I implied he would do worse," Loki said.
"Okay. Thank you for letting me know that. You are not going to be in trouble for defending her when she says she froze," Steve said.
"Yeah. That is what it seemed like. She did tell him to stop but it seemed she could not move or something," Loki said.
"That is not an uncommon reaction," Steve said. "All that matters right now is Skye is going to be okay and this doesn't get shared with anyone she doesn't want to know."
Loki nodded, "Lips are sealed.
"Are you okay?" Steve asked.
"Yeah. I just do not think I have ever seen Skye looking scared. She looked scared," Loki said.
"She probably was. But she is okay. And that is because you were there to protect her. I'm proud of you," Steve said
Loki smiled a little. "Thank you."
"And you're sure you are okay?" Steve asked.
"Yes," Loki said.
"Nothing else you think I should know?" Steve asked.
"No," Loki said.
"You can go," Steve said.
Loki got up and left the office.
The next day Happy came upstairs with Officers Robbins and Eaton.
"Hello," Skye said from where she was sitting in the living room reading with Morgan.
"Skyler. We need to speak with you, your dads, and whoever else was with you during your guitar lesson yesterday with Mr. Howell," Officer Robbins said.
Skye's mouth dropped open. "He went to the police? He was actually that stupid?"
"I take it you know exactly what this is about then," Officer Robbins said.
Skye sighed. "Hey Morgan, we can finish this later okay?"
"Okay," Morgan said taking the book and going off not looking the officers in the face.
Skye looked at Happy. "The footage my dad asked you to secure from the event room."
"I need approval from him to show it to anyone," Happy said.
"Did you watch it?" Skye asked.
"I didn't," Happy said.
"We should have this conversation somewhere else. And needs my dads. And probably Loki," Skye said.
"Thor?" Happy asked.
"I don't know if he knows," Skye said. "I doubt it."
Steve, Bucky, Thor, and Loki were pulled into the office along with the officers and Happy.
"What is going on?" Steve asked.
Skye looked at her dads. "My former guitar teacher went to the police. And reported being threatened here."
"I'm sorry. What does this have to do with Loki and me?" Thor asked.
"I'm the one who threatened him," Loki said shaking his head.
"Mr. Howell ran his hand up my thigh. And my telling him to stop did nothing. Loki saw what was happening and stepped in to stop him because I froze," Skye told the officers, clearly upset. "Loki told him to stay the hell away from me."
"Nothing about making his life a living hell?" Officer Eaton asked.
"If he did not leave her alone. And it was not a threat. It was a promise," Loki said. "I would say it again. And mean it every time."
"Why didn't you report this yesterday?" Officer Robbins asked Skye.
"I hadn't decided yet if I was going to. There is video evidence of what happened," Skye said.
"We will need to see that," Officer Robbins said.
Steve looked at Happy and nodded.
"I can email it to you," Happy told the officers.
"Does the video footage have audio?" Officer Robbins asked.
"Yes. Highest quality footage but visual and audio that can be gotten," Happy said
"Perfect," Officer Robbins said.
"Is Loki going to need a lawyer?" Thor asked.
"If what they say happened, happened no. He was defending her," Officer Eaton said.
"Need anything else?" Steve asked
"No. Thank you for your cooperation," Officer Robbins said before Happy showed them out. As soon as the office door closed again Skye looked at Thor
"The only reason you didn't know Thor is I didn't want it getting any further yet," Skye said quickly. She didn't want anyone in trouble because of her.
"I understand Skye. I am not upset," Thor said.
Skye nodded.
Thor looked at Loki. "I am proud of you."
Loki shrugged. "I just did what anyone else here would."
"You are right. But that does not mean I can't be proud of you," Thor said.
"Okay," Loki said letting out a breath. "Can I go?"
"Yes," Thor said.
Loki got up and left the room. Thor followed behind.
Skye put her head in her hands.
"You okay?" Steve asked.
"No," Skye said. "He assaulted me and had the fucking audacity to report Loki for defending me!"
"Yeah. Stupid," Steve said.
"But you heard them. Loki's not going to be in trouble for defending you," Bucky said.
Skye nodded.
"And you handled things here perfectly," Steve said.
"But I just wanted to forget it and move on," Skye said.
"Yeah. That might be a little harder now," Steve said.
"And that isn't fair to you," Bucky said.
"But we will take this one step at a time," Steve said.
"Next step is telling Tucker I think," Skye said.
"If you want to," Steve said.
"Can I go over there?" Skye asked.
"Yes," Steve said. "You're sure he is home?"
"Yeah. The store is closed this week. A water main broke and had to shut down for a few days to repair," Skye said.
"I can take you," Bucky said.
Steve let out a breath.
"What?" Bucky asked.
"I know if you take her it will be on the motorcycle," Steve said.
"Ah. I thought we agreed you were fine with it," Bucky said.
"I'm as okay with it as I am with you being on it," Steve said.
Skye smirked.
"Go, grab what you need," Bucky told Skye.
Skye got up and left the office.
"Hey. You are not going to get me to not ride. But if you are really not okay with Skye being on it. I won't," Bucky said.
"No. I told you I'm okay with it. I know she wants to. And I trust you. I wouldn't have married you if I didn't trust you with Skye," Steve said.
Bucky smiled, got up from his seat, and leaned down putting his hands on either arm of the chair Steve was sitting in. He kissed him. "I promise to be extra careful."
"Are you not extra careful when it's just you on it?" Steve asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm going to choose not to answer that," Bucky said with a smirk.
Steve sighed. "If you ever crash because you are not being careful I will not let you on a motorcycle again."
"Oh yeah?" Bucky asked.
"Try me and see how that works out for you," Steve said with a raised eyebrow.
"I promise to always be careful," Bucky said.
"Thank you," Steve said
Bucky kissed him again before he stood back up.
Steve got up and the two left the room.
Skye had grabbed what she needed and was waiting in the living room.
"I know you listen to Papa. But you listen extra carefully," Steve said.
"Promise Daddy," Skye said.
"Okay. Go," Steve said.
Bucky and Skye went. Bucky put a helmet on Skye's head and secured it before he helped her onto the bike first before he put on his own helmet and got on.
"Wrap your arms around me and hold on tight," he said.
Skye did as she was told.
Bucky turned on the bike. "And don't try to lean the opposite way that I am."
"Okay," Skye said.
Bucky pulled out and started for Tucker's place. When they got there, Bucky turned the bike off. Skye got off.
Bucky got off as well. Skye took the helmet off. "So what did you think?"
"That is in the top three coolest things I have ever experienced," Skye said with a big grin.
Bucky chuckled. "I'm glad. Now go. Talk to Tucker. Call me when you need a ride."
Skye handed him the helmet before she went and pressed the button for Tucker's apartment.
"Yes?" a male voice Skye recognized as Tucker's roommate answered.
"Hey. It's Skye," she said.
She was buzzed into the building and went up to the door opened with Tucker standing there waiting.
"Hey," he said with a smile. "This is a nice surprise."
Skye hugged him.
Tucker hugged him and could tell she was tense. "What's wrong?"
"We should talk in your room," Skye said.
Tucker led her into his room and closed the door.
They both sat on his bed looking at each other.
"So. I was just planning on letting it go. I would have told you no matter what but law enforcement has now been brought into it. And I don't want you to find out some other way," Skye said.
"You in some sort of trouble?" Tucker asked.
"No," Skye said.
"Tell me," he said taking her hands.
"My now former guitar teacher. . . well sexually assaulted me. He was running his hand up my thigh and I told him to stop but it's like I physically froze. Loki was coming into the room planning to live up to his name of God of Mischief. He came in, invisible. He saw what was happening and made himself visible stepped in and threatened him to stay away from me. And even said when you found out you'd want to do worse to him. The idiot went to the police and said he was threatened with harm. Officers Robbins and Eaton showed up and I told them what happened. Happy is emailing the security footage and Loki is not in trouble for defending me," Skye said.
Tucker took a breath. "Are you okay?"
"Not really," Skye said. "I'm physically fine. But I'm shaken up by it."
Tucker gently caressed her cheek. "What can I do to help?"
"Hold me?" Skye asked
Tucker gently pulled her into his lap, leaned back against the wall above his bed, and wrapped his arms around her. Skye leaned her head on his shoulder.
He ran his hand up and down her arm. "This okay?"
"Of course Tucker," Skye said. "I asked to be in your arms. And I trust you. I also know I could tell you to stop and you would."
"Instantly," Tucker said.
After they sat there for a while in silence. Skye shifted a little. "I never told you what happened when we almost had sex."
"No. But you don't need to if you don't want to. You don't ever need a reason to say no," Tucker said.
"I had flashbacks to being abused as a little girl," Skye said.
"Oh," Tucker said. "Was it something in particular that I did? Something to avoid for future reference?"
"I don't think it was something specific. It was just the first time I was choosing to be that close to someone. Someone I love. And want to be with forever," Skye said. "And I don't know that it was anything specific you did."
"Okay. Well if it is something specific and you figure it out. You will tell me?" Tucker asked.
"Promise," Skye said.
Tucker smiled and kissed her head. "I love you too by the way."
Skye smiled and kissed him on the lips.
He kissed her back.
She deepened the kiss and moved so she was straddling his hips
He ran his hands down her back as they continued to make out and slowly their clothes came off and they were making love for the first time.
Afterward, they lay in each other's arms.
"Are you okay?" Tucker asked.
"Yes," Skye said. "Are you?"
"Yes," Tucker said
They were quiet for a couple of minutes before Tucker reached into his bedside table. "I do not want you to read into that I'm giving you this because we had sex. That's not what this is."
Skye smiled. "Okay."
He took the bracelet that she had seen out of its velvet wrapping. He wrapped it around her wrist and clipped it on.
Skye's eyes filled with tears.
"Are those happy tears?" Tucker asked.
"Yes," Skye said.
Tucker held her close again. "Good."
"Thank you. For making my first time perfect," Skye said.
"It's what you deserved. So I'm glad I was able to do that for you," Tucker said.
They were quiet again until her phone rang.
She sighed and answered it. "Hi, Papa."
"You ready to start for home?" Bucky asked.
"Half an hour?" Skye asked.
"Okay," Bucky said before they hung up.
Skye looked at Tucker and smiled.
"We should probably get dressed," she said.
Tucker chuckled. "Probably."
They both got up and got dressed and Skye looked at the bracelet again with a smile. "It really is beautiful. I will cherish it forever."
Tucker pushed her hair off her shoulder and kissed it. "I know you will. Because you take such good care of the things that are important to you."
"You do too," Skye said.
"Probably comes from growing up not having much," Tucker said.
"Well I can legitimately say that I have everything I could ever need and or want at this point," Skye said. "And I don't just mean physical things. But the people in my life. You included."
"Ditto," Tucker said.
The two left the bedroom soon after and Tucker walked her down to see Bucky pull up on the motorcycle.
"You're on the motorcycle huh?" Tucker asked.
"With a helmet and the proper jacket," she pointed out.
"I know. I know you are safe," Tucker said with a smile.
Bucky handed her the helmet.
Skye put it on and tied it around her neck.
"If you do press charges and go to court I want to be there," Tucker said.
"Okay," Skye said before she got on the bike.
She waved to Tucker before she wrapped her arms around Bucky. Bucky made sure she was holding on tight before he started for home.