The Bear

it was nearing 9am and despite wanting to stay the whole day here in the treehouse Nat and Wanda would notice soon if they hadn’t already. Grabbing your sketchbook and pencils and stashing the snacks away again you slung it over your shoulder and began climbing down the ladder. At some point it had started raining.

“great” you muttered pulling on the hood of your hoodie in an attempt to keep dry. You didn’t have a coat or anything so it was the best you could do. you shoved your backpack under your shirt and despite it being waterproof you didn’t want to take any chances when it came to your sketchbook. You hurried back, weaving the familiar path through the trees.

As the compound came into sight it was raining rather heavily. your socks were soaked, and your shoes squelched as you walked. it felt awful against your feet, and you couldn’t wait to get them off. once in the foyer you slipped past the desk and towards the lift. deciding to head straight to the kitchen for a better breakfast than chocolate and cereal you threw down your backpack and began rummaging in the cupboards.

A moment later you felt strong arms grip your biceps from behind and before you could react you were spun around and thrown into the wall. your head connected with the plaster with a loud thwack and in your dazed state you realised a hydra agent was in the kitchen with you.

He must have waited for you to leave the treehouse and followed you back. he pinned you to the walls and twisted your wrist at an unnatural angle. leaning in close you could feel his breath on your cheek. struggling in his hold you felt pain shoot down your arm from your wrist when you moved it.

All at once you shifted into a ferret and crawled through the man's legs to escape. At the same time a burst of red magic threw the man into the wall and he groaned and slumped unconscious. Natasha and Wanda ran into the kitchen.

Wanda hurried over to the man and Nat crouch down to where you were curled up whimpering behind a chair. Nat scooped you up in her arms carefully and began jogging to the lift to take you to the med bay. luckily bruce had stayed behind. you squirmed in her arms, and she shushed you whispering reassurances.

Jarvis had alerted tham you were back and in distress. Wanda and nat had been looking for you so they had hurried to the kitchen just in time to see you shift to a ferret and slip between the man's legs.

as she hurried you shift back into a human in her arms, and she stumbles slightly but stays upright carrying you bridal style in her arms. You groan and rest your pounding head against her chest and nat picks up the pace worried about you
.
“How you doin there Y/n/n talk to me sweets.” She said sounding worried. You groaned again.
“Dizzy and it hurts.” you said. And Nat nodded. Your eyes were closed but you felt her move from where you were curled into her.
“Just hold on for another second love and then Bruce will take care of you.”
“Wheres Wanda?” you asked still dazed but noticing her absence.
“Shes just letting fury know whats going on and putting the hydra man in a cell. Nothing for you to worry about right now.” She hushed and you nodded weakly hissing at the pain that sparked with the movement.
“Hold on love just stay still for me.” She said as she walked into the med bay and set you down gently.

She turned you on your side. Knowing you hadn’t said you felt sick but not wanting to risk anything if you got nauseous.
She quickly grabbed Bruce who came and gave you a check-up.

She shone the light in your eyes and determined you had aggravated your concussion a bit and would need to rest for a few days. He deemed it ok for that to be done in your room and you mumbled “Great just as it was starting to go away too.” Then you thanked Bruce.

After a second of them both looking at you, waiting for you to get up and join them you suddenly lent forward and gagged. The nausea hitting you all at once.

Nat rushed to your side and lent you over the edge of the bed to avoid you throwing up on yourself. opting for the floor as a better option.

Meanwhile Bruce quickly grabbed a sick bag and rushed straight back. He handed it to nat who used one hand to guide it to your chin and the other to rub between your shoulder blades.

At that moment Wanda rushed in as you began to throw up.
“Oh love.” She said coming to stand on your other side and joining nat in comforting you. “Get it all out sweets its ok natty and I are here lovebug.” She said rubbing you back. You coughed and threw up again before leaning back against the pillows and closing your eyes.
“Sorry.” You mumbled.
“You don’t have to apologise Y/n.” Bruce said taking the sick bag from nat and disposing of it on the other side of the room.
“Let’s get you to bed.” Wanda said and helped you up supporting your weight on one side as Nat supported your weight on the other. They helped you out of the sick bay and thanked Bruce before going to the elevator and instructing Friday to go to your shared floor.

Bruce had ordered no teleporting or shifting until you're better. at some point you must have fell asleep in the lift as you registered Nat’s strong arms hoist you into a princess hold. you snuggled your face into her neck and drifted off.

when you woke it was dark. the room was dimly lit with the blinds closed and your head was pounding your wrist was in a black wrist brace and you sniffled. letting out a harsh cough that made your head hurt more you whined softly.

At that moment Wanda emerged from the bathroom with a glass of water and some pain medicine for you. you gave her a weak smile as she came and sat next to you on the bed. silently you accepted the medicine and took it.
“How are you feeling my sweet?” Wanda asked in a hushed voice.
“Bad.” you said and coughed. Wanda frowned at the rough sounding noise that ripped through your chest. With a cool hand she laid the back of her hand on your warm forehead. She clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“Love you're a bit warm.” she said, and you simply turned away and sneezed.
“Bless you Y/n.” Wanda said. “Wait here a moment.” she went back into the bathroom returning a moment later with a thermometer.

She pressed it to your lips, and you let her slip it into your mouth. after a moment it beeped, and she frowned.
“101.3 thats a fever alright my love.” she said with a sigh. with a flick of her wrist, she summoned a cool rag and laid it over your eyes.

“This cold doesn’t seem too bad, but it looks like being wet from the rain didn’t do you and favours my love.” she said, and you hummed burying yourself into her side and falling into a light doze.

Wanda sighed and scratched you head lightly. after a bit nat came in and swapped out for Wanda. the team had gotten back while Wanda had been in with you and nat had been grilling the hydra agent.

Nat slipped into Wanda’s side of the bed, freshly showered and laid a hand against your forehead and hummed.
“shes due another dose of meds soon.” Wanda said and nat nodded before shooing her out.
Wanda sighed and trudged dejectedly to the kitchen to make dinner for the team and soup for you.

after a bit Nat was alerted by Jarvis that dinner was ready. she had given you more meds and you had gone back to sleep around a half hour ago.

Deciding to let Wanda wake you she made her way to the kitchen. after sitting down the team trickled in and Wanda came and sat beside nat. nat frowned expecting you to be with the redhead

“Where’s y/n/n wands? aren’t you going to get her? Is she not eating with us?” nat asked and Wanda shook her head.
“The pain meds have her zonked and so I’m letting her sleep. Plus, I can’t eat and feed her myself at the same time. With the … you know” Wanda pointed to her wrist and Nat nodded.
“She was sleeping when i left her.” Nat agreed.

After the team had eaten Wanda went to get you from your room and she led you into the kitchen. You sleepily rubbed your eyes and curled into her side still standing in the doorway. Wanda rubbed your back softly.

The team had left now, and it was just Nat sat at the table waiting for you. Wanda settled you into a chair next to Natasha and brought out a bowl of steaming soup.

“Wands it’s ok, you go clean up ill feed her” Nat offered, and your cheeks reddened at the idea of being spoon fed by the black widow. As much as you loved Nat and she felt like a mother slash older sister even the idea of your girlfriend having to spoon feed you was mortifying on a good day.

Wanda nodded and stood. Your cheeks darkened another shade as the assassin brought the soup up from the bowl, blowing on the spoon lightly before she brought it to your mouth.

Wanda chuckled at your embarrassment and continued to use her magic to clean the plates from the rest of the team.

You were sluggish, clearly tired as Nat fed you.
You ate slowly and stared off into space. Nat took note of your glazed eyes and flushed cheeks, the red reached all the way up your ears.

After Nat had decided you had eaten enough which was more than half the bowl, she walked it into the kitchen and handed it to Wanda before walking back to you. You were still sat at the table staring off at the same point on the wall still.

As much as she didn’t want to leave you Nat knew Wanda was needed to run some errands for Tony by the request of Fury. Nothing that counted as an offical mission but some work she needed to do at headquarters.

Before she left Wanda walked back into the kitchen where you were sat as Natasha tried to get your attention.
“Y/n? Baby, Fury needs me to go do some stuff for him at headquarters my love. Natty’s gonna stay with you for a bit while I’m out my sweet.” Wanda cooed and kissed your forehead. She paused feeling the heat coming from you.

“You might wanna take her Temp Nat it might explain why she’s so distant.” Wanda said as her brow pinched in concern.
“We’ll be fine Wands.” Nat said and placed a hand on Wanda’s shoulder. Wanda nodded and began getting ready to leave.

Nat helped you up and walked you back to your room with an arm around your waist. Wanda’s room was next to yours on the left and Natasha’s was on your right.

When you walked in the door you beelined straight for the bed as exhaustion was weighing heavily on all limbs. You flopped down without an ounce of grace and Nat chuckled lightly.

“Come on Y/n/n you need to get changed first love. You have sweat through your shirt.” She said and despite her being right you whined still not fully understanding what was going on through the haze of a fever addled mind.

Nat frowned walking over and pressing her hand to your forehead.
“Dammit Wanda’s right your warmer than you were earlier.” She said more to herself than anyone else.

She walked to the bathroom grabbing a thermometer and a fever patch from the first aid kit under the sink before she returned and grabbed some clothes for you. She knew she would need to help you change after all you were not able to fend for yourself currently. Nat sat down by your legs and tapped your thigh.

“Lift your hips for me sweetie.” She said and you did, unbothered and eyes drifting shut as she slipped off your PJ shorts and replaced them before getting you to lift your arms for her as she changed your shirt as well.

After you were changed Nat took the thermometer and placed it between your lips and held it there with her hand. After a moment it beeped, and she removed it.
“Hmmm 102.7 That’s fever patch worthy babe.” She said and carefully took the patch from its packaging and placed it on your flushed forehead.

After she got on the bed with you and after a moment of shuffling you laid your head on her shoulder. Nat chuckled softly. She put on a movie without really paying any attention. Knowing you would be asleep soon she shifted you, so your head rested in her lap, and you fell asleep as she played with your hair. Making small braids everywhere she could reach. The feeling was enough to relax your tired body as you edged into sleep.

You had been sleeping for the better part of an hour, still in Nat’s lap she had found a better movie to watch while she braided and rebraided your hair over and over again.

She was now absentmindedly slipping on another hairband as she finished the plait when she noticed your face was all screwed up like you were in pain. Then you started to kick a bit and flinch in your sleep muttering soft but urgent words Nat couldn’t make out. She had seen enough nightmares from Yelena and the team to know what was going on and it was most likely the fault of Your fever.

She gently rubbed her hand up and down your arm to wake you gently. After minute you shot upright almost colliding heads with Nat who had been hovering over where you still laid in her lap.

At the last minute she dodged and watched your eyes hastily scanning the room. They were still glassy and held an edge of confusion. The fever patch had fallen off as you slept and was sat on the sheets nearby. Nat helped you steady your breathing and because you were tired and confused your emotions were overwhelming as you began to cry.

“I want Wanda.” You sobbed as she pulled you into her chest. Your head was tucked under her chin as she ran her hands up and down your back.

You still felt too warm, and she gently laid her hand on your forehead. When she had managed to calm you down, she helped you take some more medicine before laying you against her chest. You curled up with your hands fisting in her shirt as your breathing evened out again, falling asleep listening to the rhythmic beating of her heart.

Nat looked down at your sleeping form as your grip relaxed on her shirt as you slept. She carefully checked your temperature with her hand and hummed as it seemed to be going down. As she reached for the remote to resume her show Nat felt her phone vibrate beside her. Before the ringtone began and woke you up she quickly answered.
“Hello?” She asked.
“Hi Nat, I just wanted to check on Y/n/n. How is she doing?” Wanda’s voice asked. Nat sighed.
“She’s ok. I think her fevers going down. It was at almost 102 and she’s had a nightmare just before. I just got her back to sleep actually. She was asking for you. I think she’s exhausted and overwhelmed, she’s definitely confused because of the fever.” Nat explained and ran a hand through her own hair.
“I’ll try and get home as soon as i can. Thank you for looking after her Nat it means a lot and we both really appreciate it.” Wanda said.
“Anytime I love the two of your gremlins more than you realise.” Nat said and began rubbing your back again. Wanda laughed.
“Ok Nat we love you too. I have to get back to fury before he notices I’m not working. I’ll be home soon … hopefully.” Wanda said and they said goodbye before ending the call.

About two hours after her call with Nat, Wanda walked into the bedroom to see you and Nat curled around each other fast asleep in her arms.

Quietly she walked over to you and stroked the hair from your eyes, frowning at the wetness of your skin against her hand. Luckily you weren’t warm anymore, so it was most likely sweat from the fever breaking while you slept.

Carefully she roused you from your sleep accidentally waking Natasha in the process as she has always slept lightly for as long as Wanda could remember. As you blearily opened your eyes, they lacked the look of fevered confusion that he been present in hours prior. Wanda internally celebrated the small win.

“Y/n you need to get up sweetheart. You need a shower my love.” Wanda said helping you into a sitting position, in your sleepy state you missed the wet patch of sweat against Natasha’s shirt from where you had been sleeping pressed into her side. She seemed unbothered however, and slipped out of the room as Wanda helped you to the bathroom.

She sat you down on the covered toilet seat as you were still sick and exhausted. Helping you slip out of your clothes she soon shed her own and helped you into the shower where you lent against her heavily.

Wanda gently washed your skin clean of the sweat, using her scented soaps. The steam cleared some of the congestion and as Wanda helped you out and wrapped you in a towel, she began to apply lotion to your arms, legs, torso and face. You hummed, enjoying the skin to skin contact as much as humanly possible.

After a minute you were dressed again as she helped you back to the bed. Nat is sat on the bed; she had replaced the sheets and changed her clothes. Her shower had taken much less time than yours as she could do it unassisted.

Nat opened her arms to you, and you curled into her side as Wanda pressed up against your back to block you into their arms. Nat put on a movie she had been waiting for Wanda to watch knowing the young witch would enjoy it tremendously.

You were asleep in an instant and your softly breathing was warm against Nat’s neck where you face was buried in her shoulder. Wanda’s arms were wrapped around your midsection and Nat’s arm was around your shoulder.

While you were sick tony was getting heat from the team as to why you were the target of a HYDRA attack on the tower. They had been alerted to the break in by Friday when they returned, and Tony had been giving them nothing as they watched the footage from the security feed in the briefing room.

You were sleeping as Natasha and Wanda had slipped downstairs for the meeting while you did knowing you may need someone to defend you. She had told Friday to keep a close eye on you. Walking in the team sat around the table in the meeting room and waited for answers.

Tony knew he had to explain why hydra broke in and tried to get you, he hadn’t been entirely honest with the team, and he knew they needed answers and fury had told him it was time to tell the team.

He had more than enough reasons to so he would just have to rip off the bandaid. You had given him explicit permission to tell them if something like this happened. You knew it would be easier for you if tony told them instead of yourself which is why he hadn’t waited for you to be able to attend.

He begun to explain not missing the way Nat’s eyes gauged everyone reactions and took mental note of it all.

Eventually the meeting descended into arguing as most did.

“Shes a criminal and we thought she was dead” Steve said getting mad.
“So did hydra that was kinda the point Steve.” Tony huffed rolling his eyes and sipping his coffee.
“How do we know shes safe to be around now?” He argued.
“She wasn’t in control. And i know her i can vouch for her. Shes good now. And maybe if your head wasn’t so far up your ass you would see you did the same thing for Bucky.”
“Don’t bring him into this. That was different.” He shoved a finger into Tony’s chest.
“Yeah cap? How?” Tony shot back. “How was it different captain asshole?”
Just before tony could get his suit and Steve could throw a punch Natasha pushed them apart.
“Alright. Enough.” She yelled “theres enough testosterone flying around in here that my voice could drop if i breath too deep.” She said and bruce grumbled something about medical inaccuracies before retreating under Nat’s harsh gaze.
“Yes y/n worked for hydra.” Tony glared at her.
“But not because she wants to, she was forced. And whether you like it or not Steve shes similar to Bucky. Sure, they used different tech to brain wash her so it's not exactly the same. She remembers all of it which is a curse she has to live with for the rest of her life. She doesn’t need you adding to that Steve. Now shes an excellent fighter and she is an amazing avenger so both of you get your heads out of your asses and see that she needs a family to support her not a bunch of testosterone addled kids fighting over the last cookie man up and get over it.” Nat said.
“Geez nat you might have to take over the pre mission prep lectures from now on your giving Steve a run for his money.” Tony grinned and Nat glared before storming back to your room. Bruce was there having slipped out of the meeting once the arguing started. He was checking your vitals when she arrived. A nervous habit of his.

“How is she?”
“Shes fine her fevers broken which is good. Other than that, i tried to wake her for meds for her cold but she won't respond. Im worried about what Tony said about her powers coming back. I did a scan to see the proper cause of her fever earlier and its odd because there doesn’t seem to be one.”
“She was out in the rain that day and Wanda thinks it's just a cold. Maybe she’s just tired.” Nat said looked slightly worried. You were still sleeping, and it had been almost three hours now. You should be awake soon.

“I still don’t know why shes not awake yet. Something may be wrong.” Bruce said running a hand through his hair and looking stressed. He hated not have answers almost as much as Natasha did.
“Alright thats enough speculation there big guy.” Tony said walking in and nat glared at him.
“I thought i told you to cool off stark.”
“First off my niece.” He said pointing at the bed. “And second i do what i want around here.” Nat grumbled but let him stay.
“I think it's time i told you how little miss bear here got her powers. The first time they came they did the same thing, knocked her out for about a week while her body sorted itself out. Im assuming it's doing it again to get the rest back”.
“The rest?” Nat asked confused.
“Yes. She can do more than just teleport and shape-shift and i assume this”he gestured to the bed. “Happened when those came back as well.”
“What do you mean came back?” Bruce asked brow furrowed.
“Hydra suppressed them so she could only use them on their command, but the drugs seem to be working its way out of her system i don’t know why now after all this time but i assume it's because her body has finally relaxed enough after processing the trauma enough. Her system is finally rebooting fixing itself. Thats why i wanted her back here. Aside from her uses to the avengers she needs someone to keep an eye on her.”
“And you let her go out into the field.”
“She said it hadn’t happened in month we both thought the other powers wouldn’t come back, ok?” Tony said sounding slightly stressed.
“Ok it's alright tony thank you for telling us now i can look after her better.”
Bruce said placing a hand on Tony’s slouched shoulders.

“I need a coffee. Nat alert me if theres any change.” He said walking out.
“I would love a coffee thanks for the offer tony.” Nat called after him sarcastically. Bruce laughed and disappeared to the kitchen returning a moment later with a coffee for nat.
“Made a pot earlier.” Bruce said handing it to her.
“You're a lifesaver banner.” Nat said kissing his cheek and making him blush. He scurried back into his labs office stuttering something about rerunning the tests now he knew what to look for. Nat took a large sip of her coffee and sighed at the warm feeling.
“Im here y/n/n. Wanda and i are here and we won't let anyone hurt you. Now get better for me soon so i can kick your ass in training. I wanna know what cool powers you wake up with this time.” She grinned squeezing you hand. Wanda entered and sat on the other side of the bed. Brushing the hair from your closed eyes.
“She looks so cute when she sleeps.” Wanda said and Nat hummed in agreement. Somewhere in your unconscious state you felt safe. Something you hadn’t felt since hydra, your heart thawed slightly at the feeling.

Bucky had finally convinced Steve to give you a chance and the news had finally seemed to settle on the team.

Over the next few days, you were in and out of sleep completely drained an exhausted. After around three days you were awake again and fully ok. No new powers had shown up yet and you felt no different.

Sometimes it was simply a fluke. Your body may have been just reacting to the illness and stress.

You stuck to Wanda and Nat’s side. Clint was still waiting for his new hearing aids, so you had many talks with him in ASL while new ones were being made. They had to be waterproof for missions and taped into coms, so they were specially made.

Together the four of you brushed up on sign language and nat had begun to teach peter who struggled at first with the more complex signs before nat corrected him.

He was getting much better now and much to Clint’s amusement Steve seemed to get annoyed he couldn’t join in. Muttering about secret languages. He was simply annoyed at anything that kept him in the dark. The same way he didn’t like when you and nat spoke in Russian or when you and Wanda spoke in sokovian. You had picked up a few languages in hydra. Your commands were always in Russian and sometimes sokovian so it made sense.

Pepper had taught you French as a child and you also knew German and ASL. You were easily bilingual but not many people knew.

You had taken to calling Nat mama spider as a tease since she mothered both you and peter almost always. She always muttered something in Russian about cute tragic orphans that always made you grin.

Tony and Bruce had been in the lab together for what felt like days due to the blissful peace of no bickering or science jabber.

Of course, now there was a hit out on you and your life was at risk tony had made sure there was never a moment you were alone. If your escort, usually Wanda or nat needed a break they were to pass you off to another member of the team and under no circumstances were you to be left alone. It's not that you couldn’t look after yourself but more the team was afraid to lose you. You had grown on them all.

Clint loved the way you had brought more ASL into daily life and even taught some more people at the compound. It meant Clint didn’t feel so alone and didn’t need to wear the hearing aids he hates so much all the time.

Steve was nice and kind of like a big brother.

Bucky was the same. The goofy older brother who ruffles your hair and brings you snacks. He sat with you after nightmares, one of the few that understood. You didn’t talk just simply listened to the silence and his presence was all you needed.

Wanda, your amazing girlfriend was perfect in every way.

Nat your pseudo mother was awesome.

Thor was like a confused cousin who basically came ate all your food and then left again.

Bruce was shy but kind to you and happy to get into the details of your nonverabalism and talk about science with you.

Tony was still the ever-annoying uncle you had grown to love and hate at the same time.

Peter became what you assume a little brother would be like if you had one. Minus the fighting.

And Sam was alway just around being Sam which means he was being annoying as always.

You woke each night with nightmares after it seemed your weird sleep had brought back some unwanted memories so you had taken to spending some nights in your own room away from Wanda so she could get some real sleep and not worry about you. You always found some excuse.

You liked your late-night sessions with Bucky just sitting on the roof looking at the stars. After you both woke from nightmares. You loved the way Steve would pick you up and run away when you both stole Bucky arm. Or the way Bruce always left little notes with science doodles on them around the compound for you. The way peter invited you to help him build lego. The way Thor once let you eat his pop tarts with him. The way Sam and you pranked Steve. The way Clint was happy to show you how to do new archery trick shots after finding out it was a hobby of yours. The way Nat admired your ability to throw knives and the way Wanda always seemed to know what you needed.

You had bonded with them all after a matter of weeks.

Thought back to the first time you and Bucky sat together. You had been tossing in bed before deciding to get up after a horrible nightmare. You walked into the hall freezing as you saw Bucky leaving his own room down the hall.

He saw your distress that almost matched his own and motioned for you to follow him. Silently the two of you walked up to roof and sat down together under the stars. Bucky pulled you into his side, his long hair brushing the top of your head as your ear was pressed to his chest. His arms were around your shoulders.

Silently he held you as you sobbed. Unbothered by the tears that were staining his sleep shirt. He simply held you under the stars, the cool night air grounding as he rubbed his metal hand up and down your back. The cool groves of the metal gave you something to focus on enjoying the texture against your covered skin. You had always loved Bucky arm. The metal was soothing and cold. The groves you would trace absentmindedly in meetings when he sat next to you. Your fingers sometimes tracing the red star on his steel bicep.

After a few minutes your sobs die down and you grew slightly embarrassed. You began to pull away, but his arms tightened around you.
“Don’t go.” He said softly as you realised you were grounding him as much as he was doing the same for you.
“Ok.” You mumbled and buried your face in his chest again soon you feel asleep in his arms listening to his heartbeat.

The next morning when you woke, he was gone but the softness you felt was the pillow and blanket he had used to tuck you in still on the roof in the shaded morning sun.

You stood stretching and tucking the blanket and pillow into a nearby vent on the roof, you felt this was not a onetime occurrence and you were correct.

You made your way to the kitchen feeling more rested than you should. In kitchen Bucky sat nursing a coffee. He sent you a small smile and a slight nod of his head but doesn’t say anything. The smile is genuine.

Over the next few nights, it became routine. Sometimes he puts you back in your bed, sometimes you rejoin Wanda or nat in their rooms after a bit or just sleep with him on the roof. He’s very comfortable it must be all the super soldier muscles.

Life in the compound was comfortable and you began to form a routine. You were sat now in the gym after finishing sparring with nat. You were both hot and sweaty and guzzling water. Nat swiped a hand over her brow and smiled at you flicking off the sweat.
“Your pretty good out there L/n” you said, and you nodded at the compliment.
“Not too bad yourself Romanoff.” You grinned and she shoved your lightly on the shoulder.
“Come on. Tony said he had a surprise for you. But shower first. You need to buy new deodorant because it's not working.” She joked and you lightly slapped her before heading for the showers.