Chapter 5
George was woken up by a crashing then a curse, so he got out of bed, grabbed his revolver, and left to investigate the noise. Thankfully, Winifred was still sleeping, as was Rebecca and Steve, which surprised George -- surely a super soldier should be woken up by the slightest of sounds!? But, Steve was currently wrapped up in layers of blankets and looked rather content, so George left Steve to sleep and he, quietly, made his way downstairs but he froze at the kitchen door; the door was wide open and there was this green glow lighting up the kitchen, so there was no need to turn on the lights. He swallowed his anxieties and stepped into his kitchen, and almost dropped his revolver at what he saw... He saw Toni. She was awake -- and eating his cereal?! She's sitting on top of the dining table, and was surrounded by an ungodly amount of food and drinks, that she stole out their refrigerator and cupboards. Toni looked up at him and rather nonchalantly stated. "Your bananas taste wrong."
"The ban--... huh?" George was lost. What was she talking about? Then Toni started rambling about Panama disease and the extinction of the bananas. His confusion only got worse as Toni continued to talk at him. George was speechless and after a beat of silence, George questioned her, sounding concerned. "Ms, are you okay?"
Toni looked up, mid-bite and shooked her head and nonchalantly replied. "I'm pretty sure I'm havin' a mental breakdown." Toni continued to spoon in the cereal and milk dripped down her chin and George's eyes widened in horror. A mental breakdown?! But, she's so casual. Toni smiled sweetly and she shrugged at him. "Don't feel bad, really, it's fine -- mental illness is basically my default setting, at this point."
George let out a bemused snort, smiling at her. "That really doesn't reassure me."
"Where's Steve?!" Toni suddenly asked, in a much serious tone of voice, placing her bowl onto the table. She came straight to the kitchen when Toni woke up, feeling an unusuallevel of hunger... granted its been some time since she's had a full meal.
"Upstairs, first room on the right."
Toni nodded, she grabbed the half eaten banana and jumped down from the table, quickly heading up the stairs. When Toni stood up, he gasped and turned rapidly -- she wasn't wearing any pants. She wasn't in any of the same clothes his wife gave her; just a too large white shirt, which he recognised as Steve's old shirts. George, averting his eyes, followed Toni, curious as to what she will do. Toni didn't lightly nudge him and whisper him awake -- like a normal person would do -- instead, she pounced on top of Steve, George couldn't believe it. Was this normal behaviour for women in the 21st century, or was it just a Stark thing?! Steve had reacted to Toni almost immediately, he turned so quickly that he almost missed it but Steve's now on top with fist balled up in the air and he was ready to attack his attacker. Still half asleep, he frowned in confusion, looking down at Toni, who was still holding a half eaten banana, and he leaned backwards, still positioned on top of her. "Toni?"
"Hey, Capsicle." Toni's smile turned into a grin and she teased. "Not that I don't love this position we are in -- I happen to think missionary is an overhated position, it's a fun position when you're with somebody who knows what they're doing -- but your adopted father is watching us, and this is way too incesty for my liking... so if you'd kindly get off me? Thanks." George didn't know whats more shocking to him; Toni's casual sexual commentary, or Steve's lack of reaction? George doesnt even talk with his wife the way Toni spoke to Steve.
"Why are you holding a banana?" Steve asked, helping Toni up onto her feet.
She lit up excitedly and all but shoved the banana into his face. "It tastes so weird!? I thought you were being overly dramatic and old man anti-21st century! HERE!"
Steve eyed her. "Are you drunk?"
"No." Toni giggled, shaking her head. She was definitely acting drunk. She gestured to the glowing arc reactor, grinning like a fool, and she shrugged. "There is an alien rock in my chest, now my insides tickle." It seemed to glow brighter as she started to lose control of her giggles. Cautiously, Steve took Toni by her shoulders, guiding her back onto the bed. "I feel so great."
Steve gave her a stern look, very Captain America. "You're high on alien energy."
"Meh, it doesn't hurt." She pursed her lips. "I've done a lot of drugs -- this is nothing. It is really weird, my emotions are all over the place... I cried for like twenty minutes before, 'cause the banana tastes wrong. I am a little more erratic than I usually am."
Steve grimaced. "Could we please not go down memory lane?" He begged, looking over to George, who was becoming more concerned with Toni by the second. She's not exactly filling him with assurance. She rolled her eyes, sighing at Steve, but still nodded her head and quietly apologising. George smiled softly, watching Steve fret over Toni. It was very sweet, and George was brought back to the 30s before their son was taken; before Steve became the famous Captain; before the war... George suddenly saw Bucky fussing over a sickly pre-serum Stevie, and a sadness washed over him, he really missed Bucky. Though it's very funny seeing Steve stepping into Bucky's role of caretaker. George couldn't help but snort when Toni slapped Steve's hands away, scowling up at him.
"Stop it!" Toni huffed. "I feel fine."
Steve scoffed, angry but it came from a place of frustation and love. "Toni! You've got an Infinity Stone in your arc reactor!"
She snorted, she could not help herself. "Lets face it, this isn't the weirdest thing I found inside myself." Steve's face fell.
"Toni! Please take this ser--"
"--We can deal with my parasite later. I'm fine... kinda. We've got bigger fish to fry -- like recreating that explosion and finding a way back home! Y'know, to the century that I actually have human rights in!" Toni interrupted Steve. Before George knew it, they had begun to bicker with one other.
After a few minutes of them arguing with each other, George suddenly yelled at the duo. "ENOUGH!!" They stopped instantly and they turned to George in surprise. He proceeded to chastised at them. "You are too old and it's too early for an argument, and my wife and daughter are asleep!"
"Not anymore, we're not." Winifred's voice made them jump. Steve and George were both blushing bright red, now awkward.
"I'm sorry, my love." George apologised.
Steve coughed. "I--... I'm sorry, Ma."
Winifred's attention turned from her boys to the small woman with a glowing chest on the bed, sitting behind Steve. Winifred tilted her head and smiled. "You must be Toni Stark?! My name is Winifred Barnes, this is my daughter, Rebecca, you already met my husband; George and, of course, Steve. It's very nice to meet you."
"Call me Becca, please." Rebecca spoke up, huffing as she corrected her mom.
She became uncharacteristically shy; her cheeks were pink and Toni smiled, trying to hide the mutilated fruit. When her face twisted in pain, then her hand shot up to her chest, covering her arc reactor; Toni's hand glowed. She groaned. "Toni?" Steve was quick to panic. "Hey! What's wrong?"
"Sli-slightly more than a tickle now." She stammered, grunting. "God, it's like 2009 all over again." 2009 was a very shit year... she had Palladium poisoning because of her Arc Reactor -- this was a dangerously similar feeling... only, she didn't have the SHIELD scientists and Nat to stab her in the neck with some magical miracle cure if anything went wrong, so it was scary.
"What do I do?! I don't know what to do!"
"Oh, and you think I do?!" Toni raised her voice, she hissed, she squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her chest in pain, which only made her angrier. "I'M AN ENGINEER STEVEN, NOT A FUCKING ASTRONOMER! The only thing alien I've had inside of me, was Thor! This is definitely NOT Thor!"
"Yes I know y-- you and Thor? Seriously?!" Steve asked Toni, distracted and slightly bewildered by that revelation, and maybe even jealous... but, of who? Toni grinned and nodded her head, and much to Toni's shock, and confusion, the pain inside her reactor began to subside with her anger fading in favour of her memories of Thor.
"Oh yeah." Toni gasped, a fantastic wave of relief -- like instantaneous medicine -- rocked her body, then she turned to face Steve and repeated, only sounding smug with a sly grin curled across her lips and a nod of her head. "Oh yeah. That I did!"
"When was this?!" Steve demanded.
Toni grinned. "Ooh, Stevie, you jealous?" Steve began to stammer. Toni snickered a laugh and continued to tease him. "It's okay, Capsicle, you can join in next time. You're going to love what he can do with his lightning. Oh my god. Full body. He is electrifying." She wiggled her eyebrows.
"Who is Thor?" Becca asked, intrigued.
Steve explained. "A friend."
"Hmm, he's the God of Thunder."
Steve quirked an eyebrow, shaking his head and argued with her. "Is he though? I'd say he's an alien, not really a God."
"Have you seen his arms? He is Godly!" Toni hummed like she was reading off a dinner menu and Steve started to smile, clearly agreeing with her.
Winifred gave Steve and Toni a stern look and shooked her head. "She is seventeen years old. Steven, you know better! In my house, there won't be any dirty talk!"
"Did I just get shamed? That felt kinda shamey." Toni continued with herself. "Steve, I thought the women in your old life were all avid feminist?"
Winifred was offended. "I am a feminist!"
"Ooh, Stevie, I like her." Becca giggled.
George held his daughters shoulders, he dropped a kiss on her head. "Back to bed, it's late." He told her, making her groan in annoyance; she wanted to stay and keep talking with Toni -- George just wanted an excuse to leave. He tried to not judge, but he desperately needed to take a moment away from Toni. She was a lot to handle. She also reminded George of Bucky, and it hurt him. They've got the same charming, lovable personality, which would let them get away with anything. So, when George looked at her, he couldn't help but see his son. She even kind of looked like him.
George was tucking Becca in her blanket, he was uncharacteristically silent, Becca stared up at her dad in worry then bluntly stated, confident in her observation. "So, you are not a big fan of Toni, are you?"
For a millisecond, he froze then smiled at her. "I don't not like Toni. She's -- abrupt."
After a beat of silence, Rebecca quietly muttered, frowning sadly. "She's Jamie." George matched her sad smile, moving hair from her face with a gentle nod.
"Same humour." George snickered sadly.
"I miss him."
He kissed her head. "Me too."
After Rebecca fell back to sleep, George went back to Bucky's bedroom. Toni was considerably calmer but was still teasing Steve, and she was definitely enjoying it, much to Steve's ire. Steve sighed as Toni gave him a shit-eating smile. "It's way too early for this... please, go back to bed."
Toni looked petrified, her smile dropping, and gasped. "By myself?! What happens if the stone does something and I end up in the dark ages and you're stuck here?!"
"Then sleep here." Steve shrugged.
Toni laughed at him, humourless. "In this room?! Dorito, that's actually fucked up."
When Toni woke, she had no idea where she was and, naturally, she panicked. She was very confused; who's room was this?! Who cleaned and changed her?! Why was her chest burning?! Steve was nowhere to he seen, which only made her worry that much more. The room was nearly empty, with all the bedroom essentials -- and the ugliest curtains she'd ever seen! It took a good ten minutes and four panic attacks before Toni even thought about stepping out of the room. Toni only realised where she was when she saw the photographs on the walls; Steve brought her to Bucky Barnes' house?! But, the hunger Toni felt became the priority... she went into their kitchen and raided every cupboard, when she saw the calendar on the wall and she saw the year 1948. Though, strangely, it's a fact she already knew... Toni knew they travelled back in time. Given which stone was in her chest, that made sense.
She surrounded herself with food, trying to distract her hands while she took it all in. Where they were; what happened; why it happened. It's a lot. Toni was thankful that Steve found them safety so quickly, but with the Barnes'?! It felt wrong. Their son -- regardless of why he had to do it -- was the reason why she lost her parents, and she hasn't really gotten over that yet. It was one of the worst things she's ever been through. She didn't want to be here. She was very uncomfortable here, hence her lax attitude. The sass and sarcasm was a shield for her; protection. It usually helped but, right now, it's complicated.
She panicked again when George came into the kitchen with his revolver. Bucky's father... Bucky looked so much like him. It's the eyes. For a moment, she actually thought he was Bucky. It scared her. So, she began rambling nonsense, purposely antagonising him to see how he'd react. He was caring and worried for her, and it sort of annoyed Toni because now, Toni didn't have a reason to be hostile or even avoid George, so she asked for Steve.
"We'll go back to the guest room." Steve had grimaced at her anger, and Winifred and George shared a look of confusion.
"It'll have to do." Toni sighed.
Steve half-heartedly rolled his eyes with a smile. He turned and kissed Winifred's cheek. "We are sorry for waking you up."
"Right, we will make sure too kee--" Steve smoothly wrapped his arm around Toni's shoulder and quickly covered her mouth, muffling whatever sexual innuendo was going to say, and Steve smiled innocently at his adopted parents. Toni continued to talk, even with his hand over her mouth.
Winifred raised an eyebrow at Steve, he let out an anxious snicker. "She'll be on her best behaviour." He promised them, very quick to make his escape.
They heard Toni cackle. "Is this the first time your mom's caught you with a girl?"
Then they heard Steve gasping. "Toni!" And they heard Toni laughing louder.
Watching them leave, Winifred smiled at her husband. "She seems good for him." And Winifred truly meant that, despite her own opinions about the rather boisterous and incredibly vivacious young woman.
George laughed. "She's interesting, that's for sure." He told Winifred, not unkindly.
AN -- I love the Barnes family 😭❤️ the MCU really robbed us of families because tell me why She-Hulk was right... there's a weird number of adult orphans lmao ANYWAY, here you go <33 have a little fun chapter. I'll foreverpreach we need more fun little stories <33 we will be seeing a lot of other charactersvery soon. Yes, it's going to include the Asgardians, Howard Stark and everybody who was alive in the 1940s. It's going to be a hoot 😆
Q. What headcanons do you have about members of The Howling Commandos?
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