the strongest avenger (2)

fifty nine

I blink at Nat and then come out of my stupor.

Was not expecting to see you.

Her lips quirk up a little at the side. "Everyone's kinda antsy. After...yesterday."

Probably my fault. Showing up out of the blue and then screaming my head off like a crazy person.

Did Steve make me my smoothie? I ask while going over to my dresser and finding a bra, a thin white lacey one, and matching undies.

James stands awkwardly in the corner, his towel hung low on his hips. I drop my towel and pull up the lace panties and then put my bra on.

James stares at me from across the way.

She's seen me naked, calm down.

"Yeah, I had sex with her before you did. Back up a step Buck."

His eyes are wide as saucers as he glances between us. I just shake my head and grab a pair of cotton shorts and a crewneck.

I go inside the bathroom and gather Bucky's clothes, throwing them at him before going back and putting my dirty ones in the hamper.

So, what are you doing here?

"I wanted to see if you were alive. You've been sleeping for over 24 hours."

I shrug and start to brush out my hair, towel drying it a little while James gets dressed in the bathroom.

"Peter's worried. A lot." I pause and look over at her.

I pull my hair back into a low bun and sit down next to her.

"I think you should talk to him. He's been beating himself up."

I nod at her, and turn as Bucky comes out of the bathroom.

"Alright," Nat says while pushing up off the bed and heading to the door. "back to civilization we go."

I follow her out, James trailing behind as we go to the kitchen. I immediately go over to the fridge and grab a bottle of water, drinking as fast as I can without my throat hurting too much.

I turn and see Wanda smiling at me, and so I sit down next to her. James sits on my other side, while Steve starts to cut up fruit.

How are you? I jump slightly in my seat as Wanda's voice enters my thoughts.

I'm okay. A little frazzled, but I'm good. How was everything while I was gone?

Wanda's lip purse. Awful. Tony was a mess when Peter was taken, and then when you were both gone, he almost had a stroke, Tal. Bruce put some medicine in his drink that calmed him down.

Wow...

Yeah and then Steve and Bucky were finding the warehouses, and we ended up hitting the wrong one. It was so bad. Steve and Tony were going at it, then Nat and Thor were getting involved.

Thor? Really? He's been very...distant lately.

Yeah, once he realized that everything went to shit and you were now not in control, he was really upset. I mean we all were, but you know how he takes things to heart more than others.

Yeah...

Sam and Bruce were trying to calm everyone down and then, it just went on an endless cycle. No one could agree on anything...we're barely a team.

We need to do team bonding exercises.

I agree. And then when Peter came back, he was obviously a little out of it and paranoid. They had to put him on a jet or something, he got here fast. But when he found out that you were in trouble...he was furious. He was blaming himself and this and that and was so upset. Bucky had to step in.

Oh God...what the hell happened? I rub the side of my temple absently.

Bucky talked to him, I don't know what they said, but Peter came back more focused. Bucky was also a mess.

What? I stop the rubbing and blink a few times. You're lying.

No. He was frantic, trying to figure something out with Steve. But Steve was refusing to let him go out, too big of a risk. I'm telling you, it was bad.

I start to rub my temples again as I absorb all of this information.

Now, why are both of your heads wet?

A small smirk forms on my face. We took a shower. That's all.

Oh?

Yeah...I'm in deep shit. I think I like him.

Tal...I thought we knew this already.

Uh, no. I came to this conclusion yesterday.

"Hey, no mind reading unless we all can hear it." Steve slides my smoothie over to me with a quirked brow, causing me to smile.

My throat burns slightly as I sip my smoothie, glad it actually tastes good considering that Steve made it. I look across the table at Nat, and see her eyes narrow slightly as someone enters the room.

I turn and roll my eyes as Sharon enters the kitchen, her eyes looking around the room and landing on me. My chest heats up as I remember what she did.

"Fury wants to see you."

Yeah, like that was happening. I give her a close lipped smile and shake my head no, turning back to drinking my smoothie. I hear her huff out a breath, and then her footsteps come closer. She puts an arm on my shoulder and I jerk, immediately ripping her hand from me and shoving her back, watching with a little satisfaction as she stumbles slightly.

I do my best to stay calm, even though I'm so tempted to send her flying through the window.

"Look," she runs her hands over her pencil coat, smoothing out any wrinkles. "Fury wants to see you. And you work for him, so you have to go."

"She'll go tomorrow. She can't even speak." Nat says, her arms crossed as she leans on the countertop.

"But—"

"No, buts. Get out." My brows rise a little on my forehead as I look over at James, a muscle popping in his jaw as he glares at Sharon.

The woman takes a deep breath, but nods and leaves. I send Nat and James a thankful smile and then continue to drink my smoothie.

Nat and Steve make some idle talk, something about setting up a place for the homeless. But my attention strays as someone else enters the room. I turn on the stool and pause as I see Peter.

And he looks awful.

There's an almost fully healed bruise on his cheek, from Kaminsky, and his under eyes are purple. Probably from lack of sleep. His eyes are slightly puffy and he just looks...drained.

I reach out and touch his mind, a little nervous too.

I want to talk to you.

I see the moment he registers and then nods at me. I quickly get up and rinse my cup, putting it in the dishwater, and then I go over to Peter, jerking my head so he follows me.

Where are we going? He asks me.

Your room.