Firstly, can I just say, 'Thanks a lot Heimdall?' He just had to come down from God knows where (actually apparently he is a God so that's just confusing) and had to declare that my life was in imminent danger.
Naturally, this put Bucky and Steve into a mood. I could barely go to the bathroom now without one of them tailing me. I was dreading the moment when school started back up because I could only imagine the sort of security detail they were going to put on me there.
I felt terrible too, because Steve and Bucky couldn't even spend Thanksgiving at their own house, since Heimdall had said I needed to move into the Avengers tower. They said they didn't mind, that my safety was more important than Thanksgiving traditions but still, it certainly wasn't something I felt good about.
The others were trying to make me feel welcome, trying being the key word. Tony seemed very on edge with my presence, something Bruce was trying to get him to ease out of. My presence could raise questions about whether I knew of the Avengers secret identities or not, as well as raise more awareness as to where I was. So, I was not allowed out of the tower at all.
Most of the others seemed nice. Sam and Loki were the ones I was probably on best terms with. Sam and Loki had even taught me self defense until Steve had walked in on Loki pinning me to the ground and nearly took his head off with a shield. Loki turned invisible for a few hours to let Steve blow the steam off on the punching bags instead.
Although. . . I'm not sure it was the self defense Steve was furious about now that I think about it.
But, most of the others regarded me as a kid. Especially the people like Pepper Potts and T'Challa Udaku who I had as actual teachers.
I tried to keep in contact with Clementine, since I knew she had gone back home with Donavan, but Tony was quite against me having open communication since someone could hack my phone and track my location.
Thanksgiving morning came and the entire tower smelled like Turkey and stuffing. I had asked if I could help with the preparations, but Tony had a personal catering team that would prepare the entire meal, so there was no need for me. Instead, I contented myself with making a homemade pumpkin roll to eat solely by myself later.
That was what I was doing when I heard a sharp voice say, "Oh!"
I turned to see a Caucasian woman with blond hair standing there. She looked very surprised to see me here, probably as surprised as I was to see her. This was Steve and Bucky's personal floor, so the fact that someone else was in here was surprising.
"Who are you?" We asked at the same time. I noticed her hand slowly inching down her side. I was going to need to de-escalate the situation so I could avoid being shot at.
"I'm a friend of Steve and Buckys'." I answered, not sure where she was on the spectrum of knowing things. If she was aware I was a student, I did not want her knowing of our courting relationship.
"Just a friend?" She asked skeptically.
"Yes." I replied evenly.
"I've never seen you around before." She was still highly skeptical.
"Well, I've never been here before." I admitted. "It's only for my safety right now."
She frowned, "Oh. Oh I know who you are. You're the girl that Heimdall declared needed protecting, right?"
"Um, yes."
"Friends." She scoffed. "You can just say you're fuck buddies."
"We're no-"
"Look, a piece of advice." She smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "None of their past fuck buddies have lasted. And they've gone through quite a few. But in the end, the only ones they really love is each other. So, my advice? If you're looking for something long term, look somewhere else, cause you're not going to find it here and you'll waste your years."
She shoved off the doorframe, turning and leaving. "Happy Thanksgiving!" She called over her shoulder, the apartment door closing behind her.
I stared after her for a few seconds, feeling an uncomfortable pit twist in my stomach, staring at the closed door.
I had known, of course, that this relationship we had going on would not last. Logically speaking, it was impossible for it to last, as it was illegal to marry more than one person. The relationship did not work. So knowing that it would not last, was not new knowledge to me.
However, the very unpleasant way that she had put my situation was painful. I wondered if that was how the others viewed the relationship, and if that was why they didn't care to befriend me, the way I thought they might.
"Elizabeth?" I blinked, finding Bucky standing in front of me. He was bent slightly at the waist, looking into my eyes, concern in his own eyes. "Hey, you okay doll?"
"Uh, um, yeah, I'm fine." I mumbled. I forced myself to snap out of it and said far more cheerfully. "Sorry, must've been lost in thought."
"You sure?" I jumped, not having picked up that Steve was behind me. He also looked rather concerned.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine." I laughed, hoping they didn't realize how off it sounded. I needed to shake off the womans' words. They were nothing new and hell, they might've even been said out of jealousy. No reason to be upset or question them or anything. Besides, if the relationship wasn't going to last, I didn't want there to be any fights in our fleeting time together.
"Sorry." I finally grinned. "I was just making a pumpkin roll. I got bored and Tony said he didn't need help with dinner cause he has professionals doing it for him. Which, honestly, I feel like family made is much better, but I suppose he could always surprise me. Tonight's dinner is good enough for a billionaire anyways."
I was talking to much and to quickly. As supersoldiers, I knew they had picked up that something was wrong, especially from the looks they were giving each other. But as Bucky simply said, "Well it smells good" and as Steve agreed with him, I knew they were going to try and figure it out another way.
"Seriously, guys, I'm fine. You just scared me, since I didn't notice you two at first, that's all." I sighed, touching Bucky's shoulder. "Really, I am super duper fine."
"If you say so." Steve murmured, wrapping his arms around me. "Your heart is beating quickly." He admitted. "Sorry for scaring you Princess."
"Yeah, sorry Doll." Bucky said quietly.
"It's alright." I smiled. "Now then, how about I teach you boys how to play Monopoly?"
ꨄ︎
I was halfway wishing that I had gone home for Thanksgiving. Nothing against Tony, the meal just wasn't what I was expecting at all.
I guess I had been expecting it to be like how it was at home. A proper dining room table set with the fanciest dishes and silverware that we had. We would all sit around the table, hold hands, say grace, then eat calmly there and then.
Avengers Thanksgiving was nothing like that. There were buffet tables, filled with food. Most people stood and ate in small circles and they wore dresses and suits like they were at a charity gala. I stood out like a sore thumb and I hated it. I wished someone had told me the dress code.
There was also a bar, which was running drinks out left and right and I took a seat nearby, practically hiding in the corner. Steve and Bucky had said they would meet me down here. I had thought I would be glad for the time alone, but now I just wished I had someone by my side.
Well, Gods seem to make wishes come true, as Loki approached me from my left side. "Elizabeth, I want to introduce you to-"
I heard a squeal and looked up to see Ivy on Lokis' arm. Ivy pulled me into my arms, making me laugh. "Good to see you Ivy." I glanced teasingly at Loki as the black haired girl pulled away. "So, this is your student pet?"
Loki let out the slightest of coughs. "Well, er, yes. Although I share her with Wade, admittedly."
I had no idea who Wade was, but it seemed like Steve and Bucky weren't the only polyamorous relationship in the tower.
Ivy looked gorgeous, wearing a silk, forest green dress, that was high on her hip. The two of them looked very. . . well sexy together. Both of them were rather tall, with long black hair, though Ivys' was definitely longer than Lokis'.
"Well, you two look very nice together." I offered, wishing I had something to drink. I looked at Loki, "Um, do they give people sodas or something?"
Loki rolled his eyes. "Honestly, the fact that those two left you alone. Bartender, a rootbeer." He flicked his fingers at the man behind the bar who nodded once. Loki turned back to me while Ivy looked on amused. "And. . . there." He flicked his fingers at me and I looked down to see that I was now enveloped in a light purple dress.
"Nice." Ivy grinned, "You look beautiful."
I turned, looking for the mirror, and saw that I was wearing a lilac purple dress, held up by my breasts which was a style I was not used to wearing. There was a stitching of purple roses across my chest and waist. He had done something fancy and curly with my hair, pining up parts, letting other strands fall around my face. Pairing everything with white stockings, black school girl shoes, and a strand of double pearls around my neck.
"Oh. . . wow." I mumbled. It certainly wasn't something I would have picked, definitely not for a Thanksgiving meal either. But it was very beautiful, and I noticed it had a slight vintage style to it. "Thank you."
"So where are your boyfriends?" Ivy asked casually, asking the bartender for some fancy sounding alcoholic drink. Loki leaned across the counter, swiping the bourbon flask, pouring his own shot, reminding me very vividly of Damon from Vampire Diaries.
"I'm not sure." I responded as casually as I could. After we'd played four games of monopoly, they'd said they had to go and had left with the same warnings of staying safe and emergency contacts through F.R.I.D.A.Y. as they always did. "A meeting or something."
"Oh! There's Wade!" Ivy said excitedly, pointing across the room towards a man in a red and black uniform that I recognized vaguely as Deadpool.
"You might want to rein him in before he does something stupid." Loki drawled, swirling the whiskey around in his tumblr, watching as the somewhat superhero started to juggle knives.
Ivy swept away and Loki looked at me out of the corner of his eye. "What happened?"
"What?" I asked, flicking my eyes up to his, swallowing more soda than meaning to.
Loki rolled his eyes. "Norms, I'm not as stupid as Midgardians. What happened to put you in this mood?"
"Well I thought I was hiding it well." I mumbled, not answering his question as I finished the rootbeer. Loki signaled for another one.
"Fine." Loki muttered and I was startled as he touched my shoulder. His eyes had turned green, before he dropped his hand, eyes returning to blue. He sipped his drink and then said, "Don't let Sharon bother you, she's a complete bitch."
I blinked and then narrowed my eyes. "Hold on. . . did you like. . . read my mind?"
"I swear. . ." Loki muttered darkly. "Yes, of course I read your mind."
I glared at him. "That's highly invasive. I ought to sue you."
"No one would believe you." He yawned. "Anyways, Sharon. She's a bitch and James hates her guts. I wouldn't worry about her. Especially about how long your relationship lasts. She barely stayed with them for four months before they dropped her."
"Well she did say they dropped their er- 'fuck buddies' rather quickly." I mumbled.
"She was just trying to get to you. She's jealous, I think that's obvious." Loki huffed. "Besides, you're not their 'fuck buddy' as she so modestly put it. If that's all the soldiers wanted out of a girl, they wouldn't have chosen you."
I felt startled as I looked into his blue eyes. I hadn't even thought of that.
Loki tossed the rest of the drink back. "Now I'm going to go be with my girl. And if those soldiers aren't here in another five minutes, you come get me. I'll go find them and kill them for not being by your side."
I couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "Thanks Lokes."
"No, that nickname is not sticking." Loki gave me a warning glance before walking confidently through the crowd to where Ivy and 'Wade' were.
I didn't have to wait five minutes, as Steve and Bucky showed up only one minute later. Steve was wearing a brown and beige suit and tie, which looked good on him. His fluffy blond hair was gelled back just slightly, giving it a darker look. He looked very pink in the cheeks as he looked down at me.
Bucky on the other hand, was wearing a red suit, with a black bowtie. He was not wearing gloves like he usually was, his black metal hand pairing with the suit nicely. He'd attempted to pull his long hair back like Steve, but had somewhat failed, making his hair look like it was bunched in a ponytail.
"You look beautiful, where did you get this?" Bucky grinned as he kissed my cheek.
"Loki illusioned it on me. . . I think." I said hesitantly. "It might disappear at midnight."
"I don't think he knows that fairy tale." Steve grinned, although Bucky shot the God of Mischief a glare from across the room.
"Ah yes, my glorious protector." I teased Bucky, reaching up and shaking his hair out so that he was back to normal. "Don't worry about Loki, he seems very smitten with Ivy."
"I love the dress." Steve said, softly. "It sort've looks like something from our time."
"I thought it looked vintage." I exclaimed, blushing a little.
"It's very beautiful. You're beautiful." Bucky said sincerely, though he still wrapped a possessive arm around my waist.
"So beautiful Princess." Steve said softly, gently pressing his lips against mine. "Come on, Buck and I have something we want to show you."
I let the two men lead me through the party room, before going out onto a balcony. Bucky wrapped a jacket around my shoulders, the two of them leading me over to a small garden area. There was a small fire going, though nothing huge and Steve put his own jacket down on the stone bench, before lifting me up and placing me down on it.
"We got s'mores." Bucky grinned, showing me the packages.
I couldn't help but smile too. "Really?"
"And hot chocolate and popcorn." Steve said lightly. "Thought you'd enjoy it. Especially when ten o'clock hits."
"Why? What happens at ten?" I asked, perking up in interest.
"Well telling you would spoil the surprise." Bucky smirked, picking up a roasting stick, unceremoniously shoving two marshmallows onto the metal pipe.
I pouted, "Bucky, you're abusing your marshmallows."
"Doll, they're marshmallows. Sweet little marshmallows that I'm going to roast over a fire, before I smush them between two graham crackers and chocolate." He said, his voice becoming dark and menacing in a joking way. "Before being devoured by yours truly. I think effectively ending their lives by impaling them is being nice."
Steve rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he neatly put his marshmallow on the end of the metal stick, putting it over the fire. "Wow Buck, you should've taught writing classes."
"I know right?" Bucky said in a 'I'm one hundred percent right' voice. "But the dumb bird got in the way."
"Do you hate him?" I asked curiously.
"No." Steve answered. "They get along well enough at least."
"But you don't like Loki?" I asked again.
"Look, Loki is better now, but I don't completely trust him. He did try to destroy New York once upon a time." Steve shrugged. "Leeway for being brainwashed by a Titan. But he is a God of mischief. Trust can only go so far with him."
I contemplated that. "Fair."
I pulled my marshmallow out of the fire, squeezing it between the graham crackers and chocolate.
"You didn't leave it in there for nearly long enough." Bucky shook his head, clicking his tongue in disappointment. "You're supposed to burn it so it turns black."
I stuck my tongue out, pretending to gag. "I'll pass, thanks. I prefer not eating carbon."
Bucky gasped dramatically. "Stevie, did you hear that? She called my perfectly roasted marshmallow carbon!"
"Now, now kids." Steve said sternly.
I giggled, snuggling up against Bucky, who wrapped his other arm around me. We ate s'mores until I felt sick, while they pulled out hot chocolate to sip, topped with marshmallows. It soothed my stomach a little and I appreciated it.
As ten o'clock rolled around, Bucky and Steve shifted over so that each of them were sitting on either side of me. Steve wrapped his warm around around my shoulder, while Bucky simply looped his metal, jacket covered arm through mine.
The outside patio lit up, nearly blinding me, with thousands of brilliant white lights. Looking upon them closer after I got used to it, I saw that they were all shaped like small snowflakes. Somewhere in the background, 'It's beginning to look like Christmas' started to play softly. I smiled at that, looking over at Steve.
"We uh, put it together ourselves." Steve murmured softly. "You said one of your favorite things about Thanksgiving is that it's the official transition into Christmas, which is your official favorite holiday. So we um, decide to officially make Christmas official for you."
"That's a lot of officials." I teased softly, before pressing my lips to his. "Thank you for this-" I turned to Bucky, kissing him too. "-both of you."
"C'mon, I want to wake up tomorrow with both of you in my bed." Bucky said, getting up from the bench.
"It is nearing Steve's bedtime." I teased again, standing up as well.
"Alright you two." Steve rolled his eyes, standing up, taking my other hand. I walked between the two Super Soldiers, hand in hand until we reached their bedroom. Steve shouldered open the apartment door open and all three of us stopped dead, taking in the sight before us.
The same blond lady- Loki had called her Sharon? - from before was in here. Her blond hair had been curled and styled, but what really threw me off was her outfit. She was wearing very vintage lingerie, probably something from Steve and Buckys time, in the colour of a nice pale blue.
I could smell apple pie, which was probably because that's what she was holding in her hands as she turned to face the door as it opened. I felt slightly disturbed, knowing that she had been in the apartment for some time to cook that pie. And also, knowing that she had probably been one of their exes that hadn't worked out.
That definitely explained her cruel and unnecessary words from earlier. She was jealous that they had moved on with me.
"Buck." Steve sighed, sounding mostly disappointed.
Bucky didn't say a word, his hand gripping mine harder. I was startled as he pulled me along, through another door, slamming it behind him as we entered the room, going through the other side door to where the kitchen was.
Bucky was furious as he pulled out glasses and I quickly took them from his hands since he looked like he was on the verge of shattering them.
"Bucky?" I asked softly, putting a hand against his arm gently. "Bucky what. . . who. . . what is. . . I don't really understand what's happening."
"That's Sharon Carter, niece of Peggy Carter." Bucky muttered, opening the refrigerator door so hard I was surprised it didn't come flying off the hinges like in the cartoon. "Steve's ex."
Ah, which implied that she had never actually had a relationship with Buck. Hence, Bucky's anger.
"You weren't with her too?"
Bucky huffed. "Hell no. Never liked the Carter girls, either of them. Peggy didn't approve of our relationship, tried breaking Steve away from me in favor of her. And Sharon is just the personified definition of 'bitch'. Sharon was someone Steve was dating before I was out of HYDRA. He probably would've married her if I hadn't recovered and we found our way together again. Steve tried to see if Sharon would want this sort've relationship, but she basically said 'hell no'. She still wants Steve though, this little show she's putting on isn't her first."
"Why can't she just be happy for him?" I asked, taking the eggnog from him since that was also in a glass bottle, carefully putting it in the three glasses.
"Because Carter girls always get what they want." Bucky muttered, more to himself than to me.
"Peggy. . . she successfully broke Steve away from you?" I asked softly.
Bucky was silent for a moment. "Not really. Steve talked it over with me. Explained that Peggy had explained that Captain America was a symbol and that he needed a woman by his side. He said that he didn't want to lose what we had, but that maybe publicly, Peggy was the key. She never broke him away from me in the sense that Steve left me, but she certainly broke him in a way that he's always believed he needs a woman too."
I sipped my eggnog awkwardly, knowing I was going to regret this next question. "You don't need a woman for this relationship to work?"
"No of course we don't." Bucky scoffed immediately. "It was just the two of us before and that was always enough. I love him and he loves me and that's all that there needs to be."
The kitchen was silent for a full five seconds before Bucky muttered. "Shit."
I bit my bottom lip, before blowing air out of my mouth.
"Doll-"
"Bucky, it's fine." I said nonchalantly, glancing over at him. He was looking at me with a hesitant expression. "I'm going to go uh, take a walk. Thanks for being honest with me."
"Wait-" Bucky said desperately as I hurried from the room.
Steve was just closing the apartment door behind Sharon, looking extremely annoyed when I entered.
"Hey Princ-"
"You need to talk to Bucky." I interrupted him, not in the mood for pet names. "Please? I'm going to go take a walk."
Steve looked startled as I yanked open the door. I heard Bucky calling for me again, but the door had already closed behind me, with a soft click. And I strode off down the hall without looking back.