Sophia Strange: The Newest Avenger (Steve Rogers x OC)

16 - Not the Plan

Wanda and Sophia snuck through the hallway behind Steve and Bucky. The team of two super soldiers and two magic users had come to work well together on missions.

"You've got the main lab coming up on your left." Natasha said in their ear pieces. "As anticipated, there are four levels. According to heat signatures you've got baddies on each floor, and just a reminder you need to clear it as quickly as possible before they get the chance to clear out any evidence."

"No problem, I have a plan," Sophia said with a smirk.

Steve paused, midstride and turned. "A plan? Pardon?"

"Yes, I have a plan." She said with a shrug.

"Sweetheart, we already have a plan," Steve warned.

"Yes, well, I just thought of this plan and it means we clean this place up even faster than we initially planned," she whispered with a grin.

"I like Legs plan, it means pizza night happens sooner," Bucky grinned.

"I think that's three votes for Legs. You're outnumbered, Cap." Wanda snickered.

'Last time I checked, I'm mission lead, and in this case–this isn't a democracy." Steve cut them all off and continued to advance.

Bucky gasped with a smirk on his face. "Captain America refusing to have a democracy? What is the world coming to?"

Steve felt a familiar grip on his arm and stopped, turning to see Sophia looking him in the eye. "Steve, please, just hear me out?"

Steve felt his frustration growing, but looking into Sophia's green eyes made him waver. This was a mission, not a discussion about date night. He shouldn't be letting her pull his strings. "You have one minute to explain this 'plan'."

One minute later they came bursting through the door, Bucky's guns were blazing, Steve's shield flying through the air, and Wanda was shooting red fiery projectiles through the air. As soon as the lower level was secure, Bucky and Steve got into a formation with Steve in the middle of the room with his shield fixed at a slight angle and Bucky slightly behind him.

"Now, Legs!" Bucky yelled.

Sophia came running in, already looking up to the second level of the lab, running at full speed and held her hand out just as Bucky held out his metal arm and grabbed her forearm, flinging her up. Her foot hit Steve's shield and Steve swore he saw her wink at him as he shoved her up and she leapt into the air. She added several of her own magical shields in the air as she went up, jumping from one to the next before she made it to the next level, beginning the fight just a few moments before Wanda had levitated herself up to the level with her.

The two of them had already cleared out half the floor when the two men made it up the flight of stairs.

"You know, I'm pretty sure one of you could levitate us up or something," Bucky said, sounding mildly out of breath.

"What's wrong, are the super soldiers getting a little out of shape?" Wanda said with a grin as they all fought.

As soon as the level was clear, Sophia and Wanda did indeed bring Steve and Bucky up with them to the next level. Within minutes the entire lab was clear and before long they were back on the Quinjet. Sophia and Wanda sat back in their seats, resting while Steve helped Bucky with take-off and navigating towards home. After a few minutes of them being in the air, footsteps were heard and Sophia opened her eyes to see Steve staring at her with his arms crossed over his chest.

Wanda stirred and glanced between the two of them. "I think I'll go help Bucky," she mumbled before quickly getting up and heading towards the front.

Steve came over and sat in the chair next to her, staying quiet and sitting stiff with his hands on his knees.

"I already know what you're going to say," Sophia said quietly. "I'm sorry. I know it wasn't appropriate and I wasn't trying to undermine you as team lead. I just–it seemed like a good plan and I'm so comfortable with Wanda and Bucky, and of course you–that it seemed okay, and–"

"Sophia, stop talking," Steve cut her off.

Her mouth snapped shut and she kept staring ahead at the seats across the quinjet. She swallowed hard and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

After a moment, he finally turned slightly towards her. "I was going to say...good job. It was... a good plan. A little unorthodox, but it played into all our strengths and it got the job done quickly and cleanly. Would I prefer you not have thrown it out there right before we were going in? Yes. We can't change plans like that at the drop of a hat, on a whim, just because you give me... heart eyes... Sophia."

She sighed. "I know."

"I can only think of one solution to keep it from happening in the future," he said so matter-of-factly that she panicked.

"Steve... please tell me you're not benching me. Or that we can't go on missions together. Come on... we work well together. We make a good team. Your strength and my magic..."

"I'm not benching you. And I sure as heck am not keeping you off my missions. Someone has to be sure my wife isn't getting into too much trouble," he said with a smirk.

She frowned. "Then what's the solution?"

"Clearly you're good with strategy. This isn't the first time. It was your thinking that got us Nat back. You've been a part of countless successful missions now. I'm going to recommend that you start helping us with mission planning. Maybe what we need is some of your... creative thinking..."

After a few moments his words sunk in and she smiled. "So... I"m not getting reprimanded... I'm getting... promoted?"

He chuckled. "I don't know about a promotion... but an increase in responsibility? Maybe, if you think you're up for it. I'll have to talk with Tony."

"Does this mean I get to be called... Captain Rogers as well? I could stick with my maiden name. Captain Strange."

He groaned. "I think not. It's difficult enough for me dealing with Danvers running around as another Captain."

She giggled. "Sergeant?"

"I don't know if Bucky will share that rank with anyone else."

"Yeah, probably not..." she smirked.

He smirked again. "How about Lieutenant... Lieutenant Legs."

She elbowed him. "I changed my mind. I don't need a rank."

He let out a belly laugh. "Are you sure? I bet Tony would love calling you Lieutenant Legs."

It was her turn to groan. "Oh god no, please don't give him any ideas."

He leaned over and kissed her temple. "You did good out there, sweetheart. Next time, let's just settle on a plan ahead of time, okay?"

She smiled and leaned into him a little. "You can't always plan for every eventuality, Captain."

"Of course not."

"And sometimes changing the plan on the fly might be exactly what's needed for a particular mission," she argued gently.

He sighed. "I"m not going to win this, am I?"

She shook her head. "Nope. But I promise to do my best to be respectful and not use our relationship against you if I get a good idea on the fly. And I will respect your decision as team lead. Deal?" she asked as she held her hand out for a handshake.

He smiled and took her hand. "Sounds like a decent compromise." After shaking it, he slowly brought it up and kissed her knuckles. "How about a date to celebrate a successful mission? How about I take you out dancing?"

Her eyes twinkled as she smiled up at him. "You always did know how to woo me, Captain Steve Rogers. I love you."

"And you've always had my heart, Sophia Strange Rogers. Since the day I met you."

–The End–