Daffodils: An Avengers Romance

He's My Ex, Kinda

I fell in love for the first time when I was 14. Ok, well not really but I was almost in love. I definitely liked the guy.

At 14 I managed to get a scholarship for the best school in all of New Jersey, a fancy private school that only the richest of the rich go to. As can be imagined, I was not super welcomed there being both mixed race and objectively not rich.

But I did manage to make two friends: Jason Lancaster and Thomas Lien. We became inseparable, doing everything together. Including making the school's very first paranormal investigation club.

Thomas was obsessed with the idea of the supernatural and I liked Thomas while Jason gave into peer pressure, so we went along with him. It started off easy enough, exploring places that were said to be haunted and staying overnight at creepy houses or motels.

Then when we were 16 Thomas went to England and came back with a book. He said he had bought it at an auction and it was said to be a super old book detailing how to get in contact with the beyond or something.

We laughed at him for wasting his money, but of course we went along with him and performed the ritual in the book. Truly, we never expected for it to work.

Or for Thomas to get possessed.

* * *

I woke up to the sound of people arguing, which was not a fun way to wake up. Groaning, I clenched my throat,which felt like the Sahara Desert had decided to visit for the weekend.

"Ease there," I heard Steve say, "Here, drink slowly." My body was slowly moved into a sitting position as a cup was placed against my lips.

Gulping down the water, I opened my eyes to be met by the beautiful sight that was Steve Rogers in the morning light.

"Aida Florestine Baron, what is the meaning of this?" Somebody said as they rushed to my bedside and went right up next to Steve, "Can you explain why we were contacted by a secret agency to explore Old Magic with only a text from you saying 'help them'? Not even a call! Then suddenly, a month later, we get another cryptid text saying 'a candle was lit'?"

"Hey, Jason," I smiled up at him, "It's always so good to see you."

Jason groaned, completely ignoring Steve next to him. I took in the sight of him and was glad to notice he had gotten rid of the mustache he had been growing.

Jason was tall, about 6'4 and built like a tank. His hair was long, dark and tied back into a low pony while his eyes were the dark green of the summer forest. He was dressed as he always was, in a black button up and black pants.

"Honestly, you are so uncouth," Another voice said, "You can't just barge into Aida's room like that." My smile got even brighter as I saw Thomas walk in, cane tapping the ground every step he took.

He also looked the same as last time I saw him, unnaturally beautiful. His hair was down to his chest, so white it didn't look real. His eyes were a bright green while his skin was pale as the moon. Combined with his choice to wear a white button up shirt and pants, he looked more like a vision than a real person.

"Thomas!" I cried out, "My love! How did you guys get here so quickly?"

Jason scoffed as Steve now glared at Thomas. He just shrugged and sat down on the other side of my bed, holding onto his cane as he did so.

"The gentleman that called us last night said it was an emergency. So we opened up a portal and got here as soon as we could." Thomas said, smiling down at me.

"Awww, thank you. But seriously, I have so much to tell you guys, we really need to catch up." I said as Jason sat down next to me, handed me the glass of water he had been holding this entire time.

I quickly drank it as he spoke in his always-grumpy voice, "Yes, like why you got us all involved with a government agency."

"Not the government," Steve sounded angry as he spoke and I gave him a worried look. I've never really seen him angry before, "SHIELD is affiliated with the government, but we don't work for them."

"Yeah, that sounds so great," Jason said, rolling his eyes, "Aida, explain yourself."

"You know how I was working as a maid right?" Jason nodded, "So the kid was almost kidnapped by some Hydra thugs, then Danny said that I had to stop the summoning of Mh'ithrha into our world. Then Dream said that I had to stop the sacrificial rituals, which were because of Mh'ithrha."

Thomas and Jason both had wide eyes as they stared at me.

"Danny and Dream?" Thomas said in a shocked voice, "Oh, this cannot be good. Why did you not contact us after Danny spoke to you? Or after Dream? Aida you cannot get contacted by two extra-dimensional kings and not tell us."

I scratched at my face and grinned sheepishly, "I was busy?"

They were definitely going to continue scolding me but then Steve stood up, chair scratching along the ground, "Alright, that's enough. Aida needs her space, you can question her later."

He then turned his glare into a gentle look as he held out his hand, "Bucky made breakfast. How bout you shower and then eat?"

That sounded like an amazing idea, I was both grimy and hungry. As I grabbed his hand, I ignored the looks Jason and Thomas were sending me.

They were children, honestly. I think I even saw Jason making a kissy face.

"Where's Peter?" I asked as Steve led me to the bathroom.

"Bucky took him to class this morning. I called the day off."

At that moment I felt my crush go dangerously up into 'let's get married' territory.

* * *

It took a bit of haggling, but I finally got Steve to leave me alone with Thomas and Jason. I had him and Bucky take Peter out to a restaurant for dinner, while I spoke to my friends in private.

There was way too much tension between the three men, for some reason Steve really didn't like them.

"Now that he's gone, explain yourself." Jason said as he sat cross-legged on the couch in front of me. Thomas sat next to me, my head resting on his shoulder.

"Ok, so I never meant for this to happen." I started, "But the King of the Infinite Realms themself asked me to stop Hydra. You know they can't get involved in the mortal realm without appropriate reason, but Hydra is dangerously close to actually summoning Mh'ithrha. By the time Danny can interfere, it would be too late."

"A candle was lit." Thomas said and I nodded.

The ritual for the summoning to be complete required the candles at all four places of the circle to be lit. By the time the fourth one was lit, Mh'ithrha would take for in our dimension and lay waste to the Earth,

No matter how quickly Danny could come here, just the mere presence of an Old God in our realm would be devastating.

"Why would they try to summon destruction itself?" Jason asked the room, though none of us answered.

The answer was usually stupidity, thinking they could control a being with so much power. Thinking they were strong enough, smart enough to do what nobody else has ever accomplished.

I continued my story, "Then Dream told me about the forming nightmare on campus, due to the sacrifices taking place here."

Thomas turned slightly to look down at me, "I did feel much dark energy here. I am surprised that those living here have yet to be affected."

Jason took out a coin and started throwing it in the air, "You've got us into quite a mess, Aida."

I hummed and relaxed further into Thomas, who moved slightly to accommodate me more.

"It has been fun working with SHIELD though," Thomas said, "The book they unearthed is fascinating."

"And dangerous," Jason reminded, catching the coin before putting it away again, "We need to get rid of it, make sure no other idiots get their hands on it."

I nodded, feeling my eyes get heavy. Thomas reached out and patted my head, "We will do that. For now, sleep."