Chapter 9
It was New York again, 2012. It's always the same day, except this time you were seeing something new. This time, unlike any other, when you were usually in the streets seeing the attacks or in your office seeing your co-workers run from the Chitauri. No, this time you were- you were on top of a tower. You had no idea how you got there, but you could see the whole city. Then, you heard voices near you and a huge blue light materializing into the sky. You tried to hide yourself the best you could and hear the conversation going on before you.
"The Scepter,"
"Doctor,"
That voice sounded familiar. You peered around the object you were using to conceal yourself to see Black Widow talking to an older man. You'd never remembered this happening to you. It had to be someone else's perspective, right? Your mind had to be making things up. All you could normally recall from this day was just your usual morning routine. After that, everything was a blur. One day, apparently 2 weeks after the attack, you had woken up in the hospital, fully recovered with no clue who brought you there. It was strange, but you never questioned it. You quickly focused back on the discussion.
"Loki's Scepter. The Energy. The Tesseract can't fight, but you can't protect yourself,"
"It's not your fault. You didn't know what you were doing,"
"Actually, I think I did. I built in a safety to cut their power source,"
"Loki's Scepter..."
You woke up again in the medbay with another terrible headache. You don't know how long you've been out, only that you look to the chair on your right and see Steve napping very uncomfortably. With a bit more attention, you realize your senses are dialed up again. You want to panic, but you keep your cool when Wanda, Widow, and Dr. Cho walk in.
Steve wakes up from the movement in the room and Wanda sits down on the side of your bed. They are all looking at you like they were about to announce the death of someone. Wanda reaches to grab your hand gently, while Widow and the Doctor shut the door and step to the corner. Since your senses are hyped up, you are able to hear the whispers of Widow and Cho's conversation before Wanda turns around, clears her throat, and starts talking.
"Where do I begin?" she starts. "Well, I guess I should mention that when you first got to the compound, I started sensing pain, not physical, but deep emotional pain. I'd never picked up on something that strong, without digging into one's mind beforehand. I tried not to think too much about it, you know? Everyone has their inner demon's, and we had just gotten back from a long mission, and because of the Accords, there was lots of stress built up within the team,"
You looked back up at her, concerned. All of this because of a bad headache? You decided against speaking up or interrupting her. Wanda had to have a point in bringing this up. Hold on, that internal anger, similar to what appeared when you were arguing with Bucky however long ago was trying to take over again. You pushed it down, listening to everything else Wanda had yet to mention.
"I didn't think much of it until the day I met you in person. If you recall, it was the day you were getting ready to publicly announce your relationship. That's when I confirmed it was coming from you. You were almost radiating pain and anger. I didn't understand why you would be experiencing that. I figured that it wasn't my business to pry and I wasn't going to push you, that is until I felt your physical pain from your 'headache' yesterday. I'm not a doctor or master in magic by any means, but Y/N... I think everything corresponds. I think you're developing some type of power."
You'd be patient and listening to Wanda enough. Anger had seeped through your veins. Powers? Who the hell is she to diagnose you to be some mutant?
Your eyes started glowing, just like Bucky had described them yesterday. You could feel something strangely familiar, yet foreign all the same coursing through every inch of your body. By now you were positive everyone in the tiny room could feel your anger, even if they didn't have powers. Wanda let go of your hand and backed away. You were about to unleash it until you felt a hand start circling the hollow of your back. It was Steve, leave it to him to try and calm you down.
You turned to him with your golden glowing eyes and caught sight of the reality before you. Where had this sudden anger shown up from? Everyone in the room was now defensive towards you, trying to predict your next move. You rubbed your eyes and noticed that your senses seemed fine now. It was all as if the last 2 minutes had never happened. These people were your acquaintances, they were just trying to help you.
"W- Wait. Wanda, you think I have powers?"
She nodded in your direction.
"Of course we still have tests to run, your bloodwork isn't ready yet, and with Banner being gone God knows where, it's going to take a little longer than I would like," Cho stated.
You noticed Widow's demeanor changed when Cho mentioned Banner. You assumed she was talking about Bruce Banner or the Hulk. You had briefly heard that after the Avengers managed to defeat Ultron, Banner and Thor had disappeared.
"So, how long will I have to stay here until you confirm my um... powers?" you asked.
God, it felt so weird to say, or even possibly think you had abilities.
"Well, you won't have to stay here in the medbay, but just to be safe, you have to stay on the premises. And, the woods don't count. If something comes up then we need to have you safe and nearby,"
Widow and Wanda left your room, leaving Cho. She was undoing the IVs and various equipment attached to you before you were discharged. Steve helped you out of bed after this.
"Probably a bad time to mention this but we have an interview in an hour or so. The reporter is going to come into the compound. I don't think there will be any cameras or anything, but I can do it myself if you don't want to. I mean, I think they'll understand if-" you cut Steve off before he was able to do finish.
"Yeah, of course, I'll do it. I mean, this is my responsibility too," you smiled, not letting it reach your eyes. Steve picked up on this fakeness but knew not to question you any further.
***
After getting discharged Steve told you to meet him in the press room in the compound. He had continuously reassured you that if you weren't feeling well, he wouldn't mind taking over, which you were thankful for, but you also had a duty to fulfill. You had to make this fake relationship look genuine on your part. You were sure that your stunt at the party didn't help anyone's reputation.
You weren't surprised in the slightest when you turned the corner in the hall after asking Friday to guide you, to reveal a huge, modern room. Every detail was Avengers-themed. Upon further inspection, you noticed Steve and who you assumed to be a reporter sitting in the middle of the room. You opened the door and Steve looked up and smiled at you, waving. The male reporter looked up and held his hand out to greet you when you got close enough. Once shaking his hand you turned around and gave Steve a kiss on the cheek. You had both talked about boundaries, but also trying to make it believable.
"So, Captain, Ms. Y/L/N first and foremost, thank you for agreeing to this interview," he smiled.
"No, thank you," Steve replied
The reporter started by asking some typical relationship questions, 'how long have you two been together', 'when did you ask her out', and your personal favorite 'how is it dating Captain America?'. All of the questions you had to sugar-coat and exaggerate, but you know that Steve is a good guy, so it almost hurts to have to lie. In the short time you've known him he has been more caring and concerned with your well-being than any of the other guys you've been with. Granted, the last time you dated someone was your sophomore year of college, it hadn't been anything too serious, and since then you had been too busy trying to organize your life to try and have a committed relationship.
It wasn't long before the interview had concluded. Hopefully, it was believable. Once it was done Steve walked the interviewer out of the room, afterwards he turned to you.
"Hey, so some of the team is having a game night now if you want to join. It's usually just a few drinks, sometimes a short-lived game of truth or dare, and a movie."
"Damn, it's nighttime already? Anyways, yeah I'll join, it's in the common room, right?"
"Yeah, alright then... I'll see you there. I would take you there myself, but I promised I'd talk with Bucky about something,"
***
As you walked into the common area you could feel all eyes on you. Everyone smiled and looked happy to see you, you even got a few verbal greetings before Steve waved you over to sit beside him.
"Y/N, what's up! Glad you decided to join us for our game night!" Wilson said.
Sam Wilson was among those who made sure to greet you. Ever since he found out about project FAM, Wilson has apparently been teasing Steve about it. You hadn't had much of a chance to talk to Wilson since arriving here, but he seemed like quite the character.
As soon as you sat down, you saw Widow giving Steve a look. You figured it wasn't about you because you knew that if Widow had a problem with someone, she'd always handle it with them personally. You couldn't help but wonder if she was thinking about Steve's conversation with Bucky earlier. It was no secret that Bucky hated you, ever since you two had met, he'd been nothing but rude. At least now he had a bit of a reason to?
"Okay, we are starting off with a good ole' game of truth or dare," Tony said.
"I'm first!" Widow said with a drink in her hand. "Y/N, TRUTH or DARE?!"
"Oh, um. Dare?"
You were never really the type to engage in these types of activities. In college, you were a bookworm and only ever went to a handful of parties, but you didn't want to shy away from any fun with the Avengers.
"Oooh, okay. I dare you to kiss Steve," she giggled. "I know for a fact that Rogers hasn't been kissed since he came out of ice,"
"oh,"
You and Steve hadn't even kissed. It was somewhat of an unspoken agreement to not engage in anything like that. You two mostly kept to the occasional handholding when in a public area. Apparently, Steve had been anticipating this moment because as soon as you were about to look at him and give him a quick peck, he moved his hands to your cheeks and slowly moved in to press his lips to yours.
You moved your hands too, putting one on the peck of his chest, while the other rested on the back of his neck. Both of your lips moved against the others. Before you two could take it any further, Widow cleared her throat, signaling for you both to back away. It wasn't an awkward kiss. Even though you hadn't had much experience it was quite well. As you looked around, everyone had gathered to stare at you and Steve before someone spoke up and cleared the silence.
"Well then, looks like my theory has been confirmed," Sam Wilson smirked.
***
After a couple of drinks and dares later you were more than ready to go to sleep, in your own bed. You left in the middle of an intense game of truth or dare, but you were ready to get some rest, hopefully, this time without a headache signaling your new 'powers', that was until you got off the elevator.
At first, all you had heard was distant yelling, then as you started walking, it could louder and clearer. You made it down the hallway and in front of Bucky's door, you could hear exactly what was going on.
You pondered whether to just let Steve handle it and call Friday to alert someone, but Bucky sounded like he needed immediate help. So, you lightly knocked on the door, hoping that it would be enough force to not need to barge in, but that didn't do anything.
"Friday?"
"Yes, Ms. Y/L/N?"
"I think Bucky needs help, could you alert Steve and tell me if I have access to open his door?"
"Yes Ms. Y/L/N, I will alert Captain Rogers. And yes, you do have permission to open the door. I just unlocked it,"
"Alright, thank you Friday," you said as you opened Bucky's door.
Upon entering, you noticed the dark and bare apartment. The walls were muted and it looked like a tornado had entered the room. Pillows were thrown everywhere, the furniture looked as if it had been knocked around and moved, and there in the corner screaming and crying was Bucky.
You had never dealt with anyone else's night terrors before, so you weren't sure what to do. You slowly approached him and quietly called his name. As you reached down to lightly rub his soldier, he stirred and tackled you. He covered your mouth so no one could hear you and moved you against the wall.
"Кто ты? (Who are you?)" he said.
You didn't know Russian, so you just shook your head and tried to break free from his grip on your mouth. He then moved his hand to your throat, not enough to constrict you, but just enough to startle.
"На кого вы работаете? (Who do you work for?)" he spoke again, letting you talk.
You couldn't understand him so you continued to shake your head.
"B- Bucky, it's me. Y/N,"
His grip on your throat tightened,
"Ты был моей миссией, aureate (You were my mission, aureate)"