Imagines [Book Three]

Marvel [Gen Fic X Reader]

Imagine going back home to your family for some much needed down time when some of your co-workers show up to pick you up.

. .

. .

Growing up, you'd always been surrounded by law enforcement. Your grandfather was a deputy, your father a dispatcher, and your brother a deputy as well. Their coworkers became pseudo uncles, brothers and sisters, so it was no surprise that you followed in their footsteps. You took your basics at community college, survived the police academy, and became a deputy for the county you lived in your whole life.

But after a couple of years, being a small town deputy just wasn't cutting it anymore. There were threats out in the world that a normal deputy had no hope of handling and you wanted to be better. So you made the big move to upstate New York and signed up for the Avengers Academy where the training was a lot more brutal than anything the police academy could prepare you for. And by some miraculous intervention, you passed their requirements.

Training with bonafide SHIELD agents was beyond anything you could have prepared for, but you gave it your all. Even when you felt like giving up. And then a few years later, you were assigned to the Avengers Compound.

You went through a few more months of training with the Avengers just so you could learn each other's strengths and weaknesses, and it wasn't long before your co-workers became people that you could call friends. But even doing something you loved and surrounded by people who looked out for you, you couldn't help but get homesick every now and then. This time, however, it severely affected your mood that it took Natasha suggesting you take a week long vacation to realize you really needed to do something. So you requested a week off and booked a flight back to your hometown as soon as it was approved.

Your dad and siblings welcomed you back with a cheer, and you spent the time visiting with everyone you had missed. It felt odd being back in the room you grew up in, but you were grateful for the reprieve and felt yourself becoming the most relaxed you've felt in a long while.

So here you are now, the day before you're set to fly back out to New York, surrounded by your dad, siblings, their spouses and their children. Even some of their friends have shown up- people you've known since you were ten.

Usually the Texas heat is no joke, but the Gods seem to be looking out for you because there's a breeze that's making it comfortable to be sitting outside. There's not a cloud in the sky, so the three large trees shading the driveway and the front yard is yet another blessing. A wooden picnic table has been dragged onto the driveway and long, rectangular tables have been set on either side of it. There are several ice chests sitting in between everyone, beers and soda and bottles of water having been iced down for hours now. There are two bar-b-cue pits off to the side and a giant water slide just a little ways away where all the kids have congregated. And all too soon, someone is bringing out a speaker to hook their phone up to so music can be playing as well.

"Hey, Y/N. Here!" Your sister-in-law passes you a red solo cup that appears to be filled with a white slush, and a little umbrella skewering a chunk of pineapple and a cherry. She made you a piña colada. "Drink up."

You smile at her and take a sip, and then wrinkle your nose when the alcohol hits. "Shit." You chuckle. "How much rum did you use?"

"Just a splash," she innocently muses.

"You're a damn dirty liar." This time she laughs and you take another sip. "But it's good. Thanks."

As you sip on your drink, surrounded by family and listening to their jokes and music, you can't help but realize that this is exactly what you needed. You love your work and your friends, but you're more relaxed around your family. You always have been.