Marvel Universe Imagines and One Shots Book Two

Immortal - Part 4 - Howard x Nick x Reader

Nick had been a little taken aback when the car had once again drawn up outside the immortal's home. When she had walked out of the house, she was no longer pretending that she was an older woman. No longer had the greying hair or the slight wrinkles that had littered her face. No, now she had appeared in her prime. Her hair bright and full of vigour, her skin fresh and soft, no signs of age that came to everyone else; and Nick could see why Howard might have been drawn to her. How his eye would have fallen on the quite exquisite immortal.

The ride to the local airport had been made in silence, Nick having handed her the folder with her cover story in it. The immortal quietly reading it, before handing him it back. Her eyes focusing on the countryside that passed by. And up until this point, the plane ride had been equally as quiet; (Y/n) just sitting in the chair, it appearing as though she was just lost in her thoughts.

"Do you have any questions?" Nick asked, as the pilot informed him that they would be landing at the Avenger compound in the next few minutes.

"What...........? Oh, no...............I, I just want to get this over with. It's been a long time since I had to meet so many new people." (Y/n) replied. Her answer not completely the truth.

It was true that she hadn't had to introduce herself to a large group of people in many years. Since the Second World War had ended, she had moved back to the States, and lived in a few little towns, rarely only interacting with a small number of people. The immortal usually becoming known as the local recluse. But what she had really been thinking about was seeing Rogers again. It was meeting the son of the man that she had cared for so many years before.

She doubted that the captain would recognise her. It was Howard and Peggy that had dealt with him the most; they were the faces that he saw every day. She, on the other hand, had been the shadow that Rogers had often asked about. She had been the quiet one, the one that watched from the background; the one that always seemed to draw Roger's attention when she was in the same room as him. Yet it was the notion of meeting Howard's son that had kept her up all night.

Since Fury had left her home, she had found her thought going back to Howard; going back to the years that she had spent by his side, helping him with his work. The immortal finding an old box that held equally as old photos. Her fingers brushing over the image of the handsome man. A small smile pulling at her lips, as she had looked at Peggy. She had mourned both their passings. She had liked Peggy a great deal; she had been strong and brave. Just the kind of woman that the world needed. But it was the murder of Howard and his wife that had hurt her the most.

She hadn't seen him for years, and then, just days before his death, he had once again found his way to her doorstep. He was so much older than the day that they had said goodbye, his hair no long dark, but white from age. Though that didn't mean that he was any less handsome in her eyes; any less charming. They had talked for hours, and he had told her about Maria and his son. How he was sure that she would like them if they were to meet. That he was sure that his son would benefit from knowing her, just like he had. Howard stating, as he made his way back to the door, that he had never forgotten about her, that he should never have sent her away that day; that he should have kept her with him. That..........that in a different world, he would have never have let her leave his side; and his son would have been theirs. Howard taking his face into his hands and kissing her on the forehead before he left. (Y/n) unable to stop herself from crying for days, as she heard about his death and the death of his wife. A little part of the immortal wishing that she could find the younger Stark and introduce herself. That she could somehow offer to help him with not only his grief, but also the legacy that Howard had left him. Yet a way to do that, had proved elusive. (Y/n) only able to watch from a distance, as the funeral for his parents had been held. But now, here she was, about to land at the compound he had built. About to finally meet the son of the man that she had very much loved.

"I am sure that you will be fine. Do you remember your cover story.........?" Nick enquired, as the wheels of the plane touched the tarmac.

"Mister Fury, I have invented more stories for myself; more alter egos and backgrounds than you can imagine. I have become an expert at not letting anyone know who I really am. So this.........this will be nothing..........."

"Yes, but have you had to deal with the likes of Barton and Romanoff before? Loki can read your mind.................."

"I have no doubt that the archer and widow are excellent at what they do, but I have had practice against some of the best, and worst, when it comes to finding out dark secrets. And if I can survive the Inquisition, I am sure that I can keep my secrets from your two spies. Oh, and as far as the God of Mischief is concerned, I would like to see him try and read my mind. Immortality isn't the only little trick that I have up my sleeve." (Y/n) interrupted, as she unbuckled her seatbelt, and made her way over to the door of the plane that had just been opened. The immortal taking in the view before her.

"The team will be waiting in the conference room." Nick told her, as they both climbed down the steps and made their way out onto the runway. The Director gesturing for her to follow him into the largest of the buildings in the complex.