Visitor at the gate
Five years after the snap
Kat had gone with Steve to Chicago for the weekend. He made a point of visiting all the centers he had set up, checking in from time to time. She had also opened a home there a few years ago, and she was checking up on them too. There were only a few kids there, and a surge of pride washed through her. When she had set it up, it was almost overcrowded. It had amazed her how people had come forward in fostering and adopting the kids.
Kat finished early and drove the car over to the center where Steve was having his meeting. She was quiet when she entered, hoping to catch the end of it. She loved listening to Steve guide people. He had a way with words, a way of making someone believe in themselves, it was one of the reasons she loved him so much.
She could listen to his voice all day.
“You did the hardest part; you took the jump. You didn’t know where you were gonna come down.” He told one of the men in the group. “And that’s it. That’s those little brave baby steps we gotta take…to try and become whole again, try and find purpose.” Kat’s eyes watered as she listened in. She was so thankful that she had that. She had found her purpose again, it was Steve. She wouldn’t have made it this far if it weren’t for him.
“I went into the ice in ’45, right after I met the love of my life. Woke up seventy years later.” He said. Her heart broke for Steve. He has had to endure more than anyone ever should, and Kat hoped that she made him happy, that being with her was worth all of this for him.
“You gotta move on. And I did. The woman I’m with is the kindest person I’ve ever known. We came together under difficult circumstances, but I love her, and I wouldn’t have made it these past five years without her.”
Tears were falling down her face and she was smiling like an idiot; thankful Steve couldn’t see her. “The world is in our hands. It’s left to us guys, and we gotta do something with it. Otherwise, Thanos should have killed all of us.”
She came around the corner after everyone had left, watching Steve put the chairs back where they went. He turned and smiled at Kat, wrapping his arms around her when she reached him. “Hi sweetheart, how did your day go?” She looked up at him and smiled. “It was really good.”
Steve noticed her red eyes and pulled away, looking down at her with concern. “Have you been crying?” He asked softly. She nodded and shrugged. “I’m okay, I was just listening to the end of your meeting is all. I wouldn’t have survived this long without you either Steve. I love you.”
He smiled down at her and kissed her softy. “I love you too Katherine.” She shivered. She loved it when he said her name like that. Steve started placing soft kisses down her neck and her hand tightened in his hair. “Are the doors locked?” She whispered in his ear. He shivered and nodded against her shoulder.
She quickly began undoing his belt, sliding his pants and briefs down, grabbing his already hard length in her hand. Steve moaned against her neck and started pulling at her leggings, and with her help, they were able to get them off her and in one quick motion he picked her up by the legs and pushed her roughly against the wall. She pulled his face down to hers, biting his bottom lip, rolling her hips against him. His fingers slid through her folds and he moaned. “You’re always so wet for me sweetheart.” He growled and thrust two fingers into her.
“Please Steve, I need you.” She whispered into his lips. He nodded and pulled his hand away to line himself up, and in one thrust, he bottomed out inside her. She cried out and dug her nails into his shoulders. “Oh my God.” She whispered. His hips were frantic, and he was clinging to her like it was the last thing he would ever do. His head fell to her shoulder and he slammed into her over and over again.
He didn’t know if he was just over emotional from the meeting or what, but all he cared about at the moment, all he needed, was Kat. Her nails scratching the back of his head, moaning his name over and over.
Kat didn’t know what came over Steve, but she was loving it. He’d never been this rough with her before and she was sure her hips were going to have bruises tomorrow. Steve pulled back to look at her and dammit if she wasn’t the sexiest thing he’d ever seen in his life. He rested his forehead against hers and brushed his lips over hers softly. “God, I love you so much.” He whispered, bringing a hand up to the side of her face, easing up on his thrusts.
Kat took his face in her hands and kissed him softly. “I love you too baby.” She gripped his shoulders as she felt her release coming. “I’m so close Steve.”
“Come for me Katherine.” That sent her over the edge. She moaned into his mouth as she clenched down on him, causing him to jerk his hips and come, gripping her hips hard. It took a few seconds for Kat to catch her breath, and she noticed Steve was shaking. She furrowed her brow and lifted his face from her shoulder. “Hey, what’s wrong?” She said softly.
Steve shook his head and carefully put her down, pulling his pants up and helping her back into hers. “I don’t know what came over me, I’m sorry. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” He asked, looking her over.
Kat shook her head. “No, I’m okay Steve. You don’t need to be sorry. I liked it.” She told him. He stopped fidgeting with his belt to look up at you with wide eyes. “You liked that?” She nodded, a small smile on her lips. “I mean yeah, you’ve never really been rough with me before, it was kind of hot.” She told him, softly tugging on his shirt, pulling him back to her.
“I could have hurt you Kat.” He told her. She leaned up and kissed him softly. “You didn’t. I trust you.” He nodded and kissed her again, lacing their fingers together.
“Let’s go home, get rested and then we should go visit Nat, I know she’s been lonely in the compound.” Steve smiled at her and nodded. “That sounds like a great idea sweetheart.”
After getting back home via Quin Jet, they both showered and took a nap, exhausted from the trip. They headed over to the compound to find Nat sitting in the office, crying. “You know, I’d offer to cook you dinner, but the only think I can really make are pancakes, and the occasional pot pie.” Steve said softly. She looked up at them and quickly put on the ‘I’m fine’ mask she always wore.
“You know we saw a pod of whales on the way here.”
“In the Hudson?” She asked jokingly.
“Less boats, cleaner water.” He said. She scowled at him. “If you’re about to tell me to look on the bright side…I’m gonna hit you in the head with a peanut butter sandwich.” Steve chuckled and Kat went over to her, wrapping her arms around the redhead when she stood. “I miss you.” She whispered into Kat’s ear.
“I know, I’m sorry, we need to come around more.” She and Steve took a seat on the other side of the desk, Kat pulling her feet up into the chair. Steve sighed, the silence filling the room once again, the loneliness of the missing members of their team still heavy in the air. “You know, I keep telling people to move on and grow. Some do, but not us.” He told Nat.
“If I move on, who does this?” She replied. Honestly, there wasn’t much to do anymore. There weren’t any threats for the Avengers to fix. Or what was left of them.
“Maybe it doesn’t need to be done.” Steve told her.
Nat shook her head, trying to stop the tears from falling. “I used to have nothing. And then I got this. This job, this family. I was better because of it. And even though they’re gone, I’m still trying to be better.”
“You are better Nat.” Kat told her. “You still have us. We are still your family.” Nat smiled at her but Kat knew it was a forced once. She was missing the whole family, mainly Barton. They had heard word that he was acting as some sort of mercenary, killing gangs and drug dealers all over the world. She knew it hurt Nat to see her best friend hurting like this, but he lost everything. Kat would probably be doing the same thing if she were in his shoes.
An alert popped up in front of them and Nat swiped it to the side, and they could hear a voice coming from the security cameras. They got up and went over to look and someone was standing outside the gate next to an ugly brown van.
“Is anyone home? This is Scott Lang, we met a few years ago at the airport…in Germany?” He continued to ramble and Kat tried to remember where she’d seen his face, then it hit her. He had been on the list of the people that had vanished. How the hell was he standing at the front gate?
“Is this an old message?” Steve asked.
Nat shook her head. “It’s the front gate.”