Chapter 1
“Time casts a spell on you, but you won’t forget me. I know I could have loved you, but you would not let me”, Harley sang under her breath with a melancholic tone.
Fingers drumming to a nonexistent beat. Her eyes fell to Bucky and then to the man next to him. Bob Reynolds. The Sentry. The Void. Bucky and Bob were both tending to their wounds. They were not seriously hurt, just a few cuts and bruises. The mission was a complete bust. Their mission was to protect the president’s daughter. They had failed. They had underestimated Hydra and were outnumbered. They had let the nation down; they had let the president of the United States down. They had let the president's daughter down. We are so fucked… Valentina is gonna kill us. Well, maybe not Bob. She has a soft spot for him for some reason, Harley thought.
As they land on the building that was formerly known as Avengers Tower, they can see Valentina’s form coming up to the landing pad, not caring for the Quinjet’s movement.
“What the hell happened out there? Why didn’t you call for backup?”, Valentina yelled. The Quinjet’s wind was blowing her hair in all directions. Her face turned pink from anger. Valentina was clearly not in a mood for joking. She's dead serious. Harley's mouth got uncomfortably dry. Bucky nudged Bob to go talk to her, but Harley looked back at Bob and gave him a look. “I will give the debriefing”, Harley said to Bob. Reassuring both men, Harley walked up to Valentina. Valentina crossed her arms. She turned around and headed inside the building. Bucky, Bob, and Harley followed her. Harley tried to maintain her composure. Bob’s head hung low. Bucky sighed, shoulders feeling heavy with guilt.
After an hour of debriefing, Bucky, Bob, and Harley left the room with defeated and tired looks on their faces. Valentina chewed them up real good. She gave the mission to the rest of the Thunderbolts. Basically, suspending them from the mission. Bucky, Bob, and Harley stopped and looked at each other. They gave each other reassurance. “Get clean up. I’ll cook something up later, yeah”, Harley said with a sad smile. She tried to not let this get to her. Both men silently nodded their heads. They went their separate ways. Bucky was the first to leave, then Bob. Bob looked back at Harley like he wanted to tell her something, but he brushed it off. He just said something under his breath and left. Not understanding what he said. Harley looked at him with a sad expression. Harley went straight to her room.
Naked and all scratched up. Harley entered her bathroom, turning on the shower. As the hot water fell from the showerhead, she couldn't help but think about the mission, about the president’s daughter. About her well-being. Fuck, she gritted her teeth. Clenched her hands into fists, feeling her powers rile up. The orange-red magic all around her. Anger. She felt angry… But she had to calm down. She shook her head. Harley snapped out of it and entered the shower. The water instantly calmed her racing thoughts, but made her wounds sting a bit. She cleaned herself, washing away her worries and doubts. Harley let her mind wonder as she washed her hair. Her mind went to Bob. What did he want to tell me? Bob and Harley were good friends, but there was something there they both couldn't quite place. Something that sacred Harley. Bob is a good man who had his demons. He's a good-looking man. Fine as fuck actually. Tall. Strong. Brunette. Blue eyes. He's… my friend. With a sigh, Harley let that thought go and finished up showering. Steam filled the bathroom. Harley wrapped a towel around herself and got out of the shower. She changed into her clothes and combed her wet short hair. It's gonna be okay, she told herself. She headed to the communal kitchen to begin cooking their meal.
“The rest of the Thunderbolt left a few minutes ago”, Bucky said, setting down their plates. Bob grabbed the drinks and Harley set the food.
“Great. Hopefully, they'll save the president’s daughter”, Bob said with a hopeful expression.
“Yeah, then John will gloat for a week”, Bucky said annoyed. John and Bucky were so competitive. It's quite amusing. If only Sam were here, Harley thought. Cap was currently in Washington DC handling something else.
“Harley, can't you use your powers? Witchcraft thing. See things”, Bucky said as he took a bite out of his pasta.
“It doesn't work like that. My visions come to me at random”, Harley said looking down at her food. I'm not strong enough. I'm not like Strange or Wanda, she thought.
Bob looked at her. His gaze was… intense. You shouldn't doubt yourself, Bob said in her head. Bob was reading her mind. Harley forgot about his telepathy. Harley's eyes widened. Shit. Did you hear… Harley's thoughts wondered, not daring to finish that sentence. Bob and Harley both looked away and began to blush. They dropped the conversation. Bucky, obliviously, began talking about some memories of Steve and him during the 1940s. About how Steve threw up after riding Cyclone at Coney Island. Bob and Harley tried to listen attentively, but they would sneak a glance at the other person when they weren't looking. Harley could feel her ears heating up. She was trying to act normal, but failing miserably. As Bucky continued his story, Harley couldn't help but think about Bob… They eventually finished their meal. Cleaned up and retired for the day. The evening went by without an incident and the sun began to fall.