towers haunted
The team would be out for a week. It was a big call even Peter went with them. As far as he could tell there was no one in the building but him. Perhaps this was a chance to show he could handle things on his own. He was down in the gym when he first got the impression someone was watching him. He continued what he was doing occasionally checking nearby reflections or giving a careful glance over his shoulder but he couldn’t catch anyone if they were in fact there.
He headed towards Clint’s floor to take a nice hot bath when he saw a woman at the end of the hall. Small study frame with a thick red braid down to her waist. He looked confused. “Sarah?” She quickly slipped around the corner and when he got there she was gone. “Friday is anyone in the building?” He didn’t want to have a setback when everyone was gone. “My scanners indicate you are the only one in the building at this time James.” Of course he was alone. “Ok Friday, please let me know if that changes.”
When he entered Clint’s bathroom he was confused to see the bathtub was already filled with hot water. “Friday, did Clint forget he was going to take a bath?” He knew Clint had his moments but damn. “Clint was not in his quarters long enough to do so. Is there and issue? I can place a maintenance order.”
“Um no… was anyone else in his room this morning? Natasha maybe?”
“No, Clint entered long enough to grab his bag and bow and leave you are the first person since his departure to enter the apartment.”
His better judgment told him to drain the bath and start over but on the other hand it was still warm, hot even. He finally figured a hot bath couldn’t be dangerous in anyway and made himself quite comfortable. It was hard for him to relax enough for a warm bath so he was going to take what he could get. He had almost forgotten about the “person” he saw until he realized it smelled like someone was cooking somewhere in the tower. “Friday is something cooking somewhere in here?”
“There are no kitchen elements in use at the moment James. Is everything ok? Tony said you could call Happy if you needed someone here.” He got out of the bath and got dressed. “No Friday I don’t need a babysitter. Maybe the quiet is just bugging me a bit but I could swear that someone was…” He stopped when he saw the pot of soup on the stove. “Friday, there's a pot of hot soup on the stove,how is that possible?” He moved closer to investigate. Someone had to be messing with him. “Friday scan this and see if there’s anything in it I should be concerned about.”
“Looks like it’s plain old chicken and rice soup with quite a bit of parsley.” He looked at it suspiciously. “As long as you are sure it’s safe.” He fixed himself a bowl and sat down to play around on his Stark pad. At some point in all that he fell asleep and woke up with a blanket tucked around him.
The next couple days continued like that. It would be pleasant if it weren’t so damned creepy. He casually texted Pepper. “Weird question...is the tower…..haunted?” he waited a few moments and got a reply “To my knowledge no. Is something wrong do you need me to send someone over?” He hated that everyone one thought he needed help. “No. Just...it’s nothing I’m sure Friday would let you know if there was an issue.” Pepper sat at her desk completely derailed by his message. It wasn’t unusual for him to text her if he had a question he didn’t want to ask Tony or anyone else or if Morgan was getting a little too close to his arm but this seemed unusual even by his standards. She decided to ask Tony if the tower was haunted.
Tony smiled at his phone knowing a text from Pepper meant either a cute Morgan picture or maybe some get home safe motivation. He was NOT expecting her to be asking if the tower was haunted. “Pep, honey I didn’t build on an Indian burial ground and as far as I know the ghostbusters cleaned up the town in the 80’s so we should be good. Everything alright? I didn’t think Morgan was gonna go through the I believe in ghosts thing so easily.” She texted back a moment later “don’t tell Steve, I don;t want him to worry, but . James texted and asked if the tower was haunted. At first I thought He had forgotten about Friday somehow but he made it clear before I even asked that it wasn’t anything with Friday. I offered to send someone over but he declined.”
Tony Scowled at his phone. This was gonna bug him now. He quietly pulled up surveillance and watched over everything barnes did. He paused. “HEY NAT!” She hopped over to him “What what is it?” He pointed to the surveillance. “What the hell is Barnes doing using Barton's room?” Steve was now looking at them. “He what? That’s not like him at all.” Nat frowned “Well cat’s outta the bag. Clint gave him permission to use the normal bathroom in his room. You overwhelmed him with that technological monstrosity you installed in his.” Tony was unusually quiet. “Why didn’t he tell us?” Nat glared at Steve. “As much as he has had to have help with how embarrassing do you think it was for him to admit he couldn’t figure out a shower? I’m impressed that he went to Clint before he went to me.” Tony nodded “Ok so Barnes needs a bathroom remodel simple have in done next week.” She shook her head. “No he has to ask for it. He will flip if he thinks we were spying on him which is what it looks like you are doing.”
Steve was now a bit closer. “What are you doing watching him?” He let out a sigh. There was no privacy in their current location waiting around for a supposed Hydra weapons deal. “Apparently Barnes asked Pepper if the building was haunted so I’m trying to see why he might be thinking that.” Steve sat down next to him. “Oh, ok…that’s...weird.” They watched through the footage. Nat noticed the pot on the stove. “Wait, go back where did the pot come from?” they moved back and replayed. The pot seemed as if it came out of thin air. “Friday slow it down as much as possible.” They watched it a third time at a snail's pace and caught a brief glimpse of green. “What is that?” Tony resumed the video normally instructing Friday to slow it at any point where something appeared. “What on earth are these weird green flashes?” Bruce was now looking over the footage with him while Steve and Nat went back to their respective tasks. “I mean If I didn’t know better I would swear it could be a ghost. Why not send Strange over?” Tony crossed his arms and huffed. “Because I don’t want Dory to think we can’t trust him to take care of himself and then he will know Pepper said something and he won’t trust her.”
Bucky finally figured he would try and catch this mystery person one way or another. He found a comfy spot in his room and began to read a book. After a while he let it sag as he steadily pretended to doze knowing who ever was around would be sure to come by and drop a blanket over him. He felt a quick rush of air in the room and heard a sigh as the blanket was plucked off the couch his left hand was quickly wrapped around an arm that was frantically squirming to break free. “Stop it! Stop it you idiot you are going to break my arm” A dark haired man was now struggling practically in his lap. “Who are you? Why are you here?”
“I’m here because it was the easiest place to hide from the wizard. Who I am is of no importance. Why are you left behind while all the other Avengers are out?” He let go of his arm. “Not cleared for missions. What do you mean you are hiding from the wizard? What wizard?” There was suddenly an orange flash in the room. “He would be talking about me Sergeant Barnes. Loki give the book back Wong told you that you could not remove it from the sanctum.” Bucky now had a knife drawn although he was not sure what it would do against a wizard.
“I promise I’m not here to harm you. I have been looking for this one though. He took a very important book from me and I need it back.” Loki pouted “I was going to return it when I was finished. I wanted to read it in the comfort of my own home.” He frowned. “You know Wong does not like any of his first editions to leave the sanctuary so I must firmly ask that you return the book now.” Bucky watched as Loki produced a small book. “I was nearly done anyway. A shame there aren’t more works like it from Mrs. Shelley.” He could now see the gilded title on the cover “the modern Prometheus” He scowled. “You are hunting him down over a copy of Frankenstein?” Strange sighed “Yes because in case you didn't hear or didn't notice, that is a first printing. It still bears the original title before it was changed to Frankenstein. Wong is very proud of his first edition books particularly those in the science fiction realm.” He nodded “I see and you are?”
“Right that was rude of me, I and Dr. Stephen Strange. I actually live nearby.” He quickly elbowed Loki. “Ow, right, I am Loki…...Thor's...brother.” He had only heard stories of Thor’s brother he wasn’t sure what to expect. “Are you the one that's been doing things around the tower?” He let out a chuckle. “Yes, it was my hope to keep you distracted enough that I could get a moment's peace. It nearly worked too.” He smiled “It didn’t work for a second. I have been spending the last few days trying to catch you in the act although I appreciated the soup.” Strange looked at him. “You fed him?” Loki shrugged “Something about him made me wonder if he was taking adequate care of himself. I certainly couldn't risk someone falling ill and ruining everything. Besides my spell was set to act on creature comforts. Sergeant Barnes has some rather basic comforts compared to others. He really only wants food and warm blankets with an occasional warm bath. I dare say that others have run me ragged with such a spell. It was quite refreshing to find someone who wants for so little.”
Bucky was now blushing and he didn’t exactly know why. “Um..thank you? I think.” Loki bowed “You are quite welcome. I must be off I sense you Avengers are due back any moment now and I would rather they not find me here.” With that he and Strange both disappeared leaving him alone wondering how this had become his life. Strange stopped Loki before he entered the sanctum. “Thank you for your help. I’m glad we could keep the winter soldier out of hydra’s hands.” He pulled the book out of his pocket. “You have it for one more day if you like but I expect it back.” He nodded. “I shall return it in the morning. Do you think we should have the soldier over for our game night? I observed that he has an affinity for some of the same things. He has been going through a collection of Ray Bradbury stories this week as well as watching several episodes of Star Trek and Lost in Space.” He thought a moment. “I will see what Banner has to say. I know Peter speaks highly of him however I’m inclined to think Peter sees the good in everyone seeing as though he is even kind to the bully at school. What did you do with the Hydra operatives that you found?” Loki grinned “I believe there are some beasts that were very happy with their evening meal for the first time in a long time.”
A few hours later the team arrived back exhausted but otherwise ok. “How was the mission?” Tony glared and fixed himself a drink. “Bad intel nothing happened. Sat on that place all week finally moved in and found nothing.” Steve took a seat next to him on the couch. “How was your week? Anything interesting happen?” He shrugged “Nope quiet week. Nothing to report.” Soon enough everyone was moving to their respective rooms for a good nights sleep on a decent bed. Natasha stayed behind and slid onto the couch. “You should talk to Stark about the shower soon. I think it might go better than expected.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and left him to think it over. Maybe it was time to Talk to Stark or maybe he could use Clint’s for just a little longer until he found the right words.