The Mimic - One-Shots

Donut shop (Book 3 scraps)

Overview: Y/n goes to a donut shop to visit some old friends, but an interaction with a stranger leaves her confused. 

A/N: As it says in the title, this is the first of many one-shots that were going to be in the third book. I didn't just want to scrap them completely, because I feel like they're vital to y/n. However, I have giant writer's block when it comes to writing a third book in the series, which hurts but I felt as if I was completely reciting TFATWS, and I don't want that. It wouldn't be entertaining for you, so I hope you understand <3 

Word count: 2,440

Warnings: Little bit of angst. 

*****

Christmas in New York.

Y/n hadn't set foot in the city in years. So long, in fact, that the last time she'd been there had been when her and Bucky were on the run. It didn't end well, obviously, but y/n didn't even remember why they'd decided to risk it and go to the city in the first place. It was something to do with Spiderman, but that wasn't the point. Almost ten years ago.

Y/n hadn't kept count of the days in a long time, but it was definitely around that number. Ten years. She and Bucky had spent a year in Wakanda after that incident, and then Thanos attacked.

Five years in her hometown added the number up to an even six.

Then two years in Wakanda after her Westview incident. Eight.

And finally, she'd spent a year or so in Budapest with Yelena. Nine, inching closer and closer to that clean ten.

God, so much had happened. Putting it in perspective like that felt so weird. She'd completely disconnected herself from the Avengers. From saving lives, from fighting. The only person she kept in contact with was Captain America. Sam Wilson. She was so proud of him.

*****

"You were on a team with Spiderman for years! How did you never find out his identity?"

The pair were currently in their shared hotel room. Two single beds covered in clothes, weapons, chargers, bags, anything and everything. You see, neither of them knew how long they'd be staying in New York. It was just another one of Yelena's missions. Y/n didn't ask questions, nor did she join in. She never did. She just decided that it'd be nice to explore New York during the holidays.

Y/n shrugged at Yelena's question, eyebrows furrowed in complete focus. She was busy securing a difficult braid into the blonde's hair, fingers cramping up from the tightness of it all. All y/n knew was that it had to fit under a mask. It looked like a ski mask in her opinion, but Yelena didn't find that funny.

"I don't know." Y/n murmured, her voice muffled by a bobby pin held between her teeth. She tied the end of the braid with several hair ties, finally pulling the bobby pin out of her mouth. "My memory hasn't always been my greatest feature, you know that." She sighed, earning a hum of agreement from Yelena.

"Yeah, but I thought you'd at least know his name, or what he looks like." The blonde offered, watching y/n in the mirror opposite her. She could do the braid herself. It was almost like second nature, but she'd never say no to y/n. It reminded her of the times that Natasha did it for her. "Y'know what would help your memory issues?" Yelena asked, a mischievous smile appearing on her face at the sight of y/n raising her eyebrows. "Not getting hit in the head! When we helped Sam with that whole super soldier situation, you always had some sort of bloody lip-"