Power to the Doggo
***ONE WEEK AFTER BEING IN NORTH CAROLINA; FIVE MONTHS AFTER SOKOVIA***
Tony has been watching and testing on Artemis for a week and Veronika went daily to check his progress. Worried about what abilities the pup might possess. Today is one of her check in days. She walked into Tony’s lab and went to where she saw her pup.
“How’s today been Techmiester?” She asked.
He jumped slightly at her voice and looked at her. “Jeez kid, don’t scare me like that!” he said, glaring at her. “And never call me that name again.”
“Sorry… Techmiester.” She smirked slightly. “Anyways answer my question Stark, how’s my puppy been?”
He looked at the dalmatian who was barking to get to Veronika again, then looked at the girl.
“She’s more advanced in a speed sense than normal dogs. So basically, like our Sonic just on four legs and cuter.”
Veronika laughed at that.
“So super speed, anything else? Like laser eyes or super bark, I need to worry about?”
“Flying? Maybe there were some weird incidents, but I don't really know the full details. She definitely has enhanced intelligence, some dog breeds are pretty smart, dalmatians being one breed. But this dog has those times one hundred. She can understand commands unlike any other dog I’ve seen. So, you and she could work well.”
The girl smiled at the dog and the dog crouched into a play position and barked.
“Then can I have her? Like take her now. I’ll walk her and do everything dogs need.”
“Eh you brought her but ask Steve first cause you’re his kid and I don’t want the responsibility.”
She laughed and opened the containment unit Artemis was in. “Let’s go ask your grandpa if I can keep you.”
“Grandpa!?”
“I’m her mama, so yes, her grandpa. Deal with it Stark.”
“Damn you’re a bossy kid.”
“Thank you. And thank you.” She smiled as she left the lab holding Artemis. “So, you have super speed huh? Silver might like you more after he finds that out.” She laughed and the pup barked.
She walked through the compound holding Artemis till she got to the kitchen where she saw Wanda baking and Vision sitting at the island.
“PUPPY!” Wanda yelled, dropping the flour on the counter and rushing to the puppy in Veronika’s arms. Not caring about the mess, she accidentally made in her excitement.
“Hello Wanda. Meet your niece Artemis, Artemis meet Aunty Wanda, she’s the Silver haired boy’s sister.”
“This is Artemis? She’s so tiny and cute! So nice to meet you puppy!” Wanda said petting the pup.
“Feeling high levels of excitement, is this normal around furry creatures?” Vision asked bits of concern evident.
“Yes Vis, this is how people act around, dogs, cats, bunnies, and other animals all time, here pet her she’s super soft see.” Wanda said, pulling Vision closer. They petted the dog and a smile appeared on their face.
“Oh, she really is soft. And you named her after the Goddess of the moon and hunt, very brilliant on your part Veronika.”
Veronika laughed. “Thank you, Vision. Now please excuse me. I need to ask Dad and Mama if I can keep her.” She laughed and walked to the living room and funny enough the two people she was looking for were there and doing something she had been waiting for a very long time for them to do.
The tension was unbearable, believe her thoughts. They were sharing a kiss. She had walked in and seeing the display her jaw dropped. “Oh I’m sorry Mama and Dad!” She exclaimed and started walking out when she heard the two calling for her.
“Ver!” Natasha said.
“It’s not what it looks like-” Steve started. She froze.
“It’s not!? I was hoping it was because I've been waiting for you two to date since I found you both!” She laughed. “You two obviously love each other, now hurry up cause I have an important question!” She was about to leave again.
“Wait, Ver what is it?” Natasha stood from the couch and went to her daughter to see the dog. “Oh! Puppy!” She giggled.
Ver raised a brow.
“Did you just giggle?” Steve asked.
“It’s a PUPPY!” She exclaimed happily.
“Yep, her name is Artemis. I found her on that mission you sent Pietro, Sam, and I on last week. Tony has been testing, and she’s all checked up, our little super pup. Can I keep her?” She asked, rushing through details.
Steve looked at her. “You sure kid? Puppies are a lot to take care of. You want to do all of that?”
“Yes. I will walk, feed her, take and pay for vet visits! With Tony’s card of course.” Veronika smirked and her and Nat shared a wink. Both knowing that in the widows for every kill they got that target’s fortune so she was in reality very well off. “I’m kidding, I do have money. I’ll take care of her. Please?”
Steve looked at her and the dog which both shared the puppy eye looks. “Okay fine, but she’s your responsibility.”
She smiled and gave her pup to Nat hugged her father. “Thank you, dad. I will take great care of her.”
“I know you will, I believe it.” He smiled at her and looked at Natasha. Who had a smile and hugged them both slightly. Trying to not squish Artemis while doing so.
“I love you guys.” Veronika whispered and Steve smiled brighter if it was possible.
“We love you too, kid.” He whispered the pup barked and they laughed when it did.
“Well, I’m going to take her to my room, I want to show her home too, so she won’t get too lost.” Veronika smiled, taking Artemis and putting her down so the pup could follow her. “I’ll see you both at dinner,” she said waving, “you may carry on.” she laughed as she left.
Natasha smiled as the door closed. “You’re good looking when you’re surprised Rogers.” She smirked as he blushed.
He cleared his throat slightly, “th-thanks.” She chuckled and kissed him again.
“I’m going to find Sam and Rhodey for dinner.” But before she could leave, he pulled her in for another small kiss. She just melted with it.
The Rogers and Romanoff family are interesting.
She took Artemis all around the compound, through a movie room Tony insisted on, through the training and playrooms. She even asked F.R.I.D.A.Y. to make an order for toys for puppies to be set in place so that she could put the toys in the room for Artemis to play with when the team are in here messing around. Basically, everywhere important and then to her own room and showed her the bed she’d sleep on.
Veronika kept her room simple though she did love the things she had in it. Like pictures of her and Wanda, of her and Steve and Nat, with Sam that they took after a mission for a laugh. With the rest of the team. But mainly with the four mains of her life. So now she pulled out a small polaroid camera and took a picture of her and Artemis.
“To mark the day, we became a family pup.” she whispered, scratching the puppy’s head and hanging it on the wall.
The pup laid on her bed and let out a yawn.
“You can rest. I’m sure you’re very tired, I’ll bring you some food.” Ver smiled and Artemis closed her eyes. Veronika left her room quietly and walked to the kitchen again. Wanda and Sam standing there. “Mind if I watch? I love watching you two cook.”
“Yes, you also have the inside scoop on things around here so tell us new information while you sit.” Sam said. She laughed and sat at the island as they were collecting things from around the kitchen.
“Deal. What do you want to know first?” she asked as they started prepping food.
“You’re getting to keep Artemis?” Sam asked.
“Yes, she’s all mine. She’s asleep in her new room on the bed.”
“Congrats. What about the world’s most oblivious pair have you gotten them to confess yet?”
Ver smirked and shrugged slightly. “All in due time Sammy.”
“What about you and Sonic?”
She glared and rolled her eyes. “I told you I don’t like him.”
“Wait, is he talking about Pietro? I knew you liked him!” Wand said, stopping what she was doing and smirking slightly.
“Did you miss what I just stated. I do not like Silver. Not like that anyway.” She glared slightly at her friend. “He is not my type, I’m sorry.”
“Mhmm, the goo goo eyes sure say that.” Sam teased.
“Oh yes and his at you, it sad really.” Wanda said with a pout.
“Maybe we should rename them the most oblivious pair in the compound cause Steve and Romanoff are at least starting to figure it out.” Sam said to Wanda, who laughed with a nod in agreement.
“That’s it, I’m done with your torture, just call me when dinner is done.” She laughed, getting up from the island and walking away.
“Oh, Little Romanoff, don't leave!”
“Ver, we sorry we spoke the truth!” Wanda said after her, Veronika lifted the bird to her.
“Rude!” Sam gasped.
Veronika laughed and walked through the compound aimlessly.
Why does everyone think she likes the one person who hates her?
The person who takes every chance he gets, to get on her nerves.
To be fair he was cute and sometimes tolerable. But she couldn’t get pass the flirting he does. Literally every single mission they go on he finds a girl, or sometimes a random guy and flirts with them or does whatever he does.
But Wanda once told her that he just does that for attention. She guessed she could understand that. The need to feel loved, or wanted…a gentle touch.
She went to the back of the compound where the view was, she leaned slightly on the rail and took a breath, the cold months coming back. It being October and everything she loved the feeling of this new normal she could feel it and be safe with it. She smiled slightly to herself. Her hair flowing slightly in the wind and to anyone who just looked out the window at her it’d seem as if she were a ghost just waiting to be carried away. But she stayed solidly to the ground and waited for her mind to stop questioning.
“I wish you could see this sestra.” She whispered to herself.
Pushing herself from the rail and just walking inside again. She went to dinner and then when all was done back to her room and pup relaxing for the night, sort of.