Daffodils: An Avengers Romance

Dinner

"So, why did you both decide to go cult hunting without telling anyone?" Natasha asked as she cut into her meal. Taking a sip of my water, I took a second before answering.

"It's not like it was planned," I settled on, "It just happened." How was I supposed to tell them about the King of Dreams dropping me off in the middle of the forest? Dream hated when mortals found out about him and I was not about to get on his bad side. If he found out mortals knew about him, he might kill them.

What were some humans to a being beyond time?

Steve put down his cutlery and gave me a stare that was almost sad, "Why did you not call us?"

"It was like 2am when I found myself in the forest! Plus, there was no way for you, any of you, to get there fast enough."

"But Thomas could?"

"I mean yeah, Jason can literally create portals."

"You should have told us beforehand, so we could've been there!"

"It wasn't planned, Steve!"

"What were you doing at 2am in the forest then? Knowing that it's Hydra territory."

"It wasn't planned!"

The very circular conversation was interrupted by Thomas' cough. I looked over at him, pleading with my eyes to help explain.

"I believe there is a misunderstanding here," He said in such a calm voice, "Aida was dropped into the forest by a very powerful being that requested her aid in stopping the ritual. She did not plan to be there, but when she found herself there she requested help from Jason, who can create portals and has plenty of experience fighting magical beings and magicians. Under those circumstances, I believe that the choices she made were the correct ones. Would you not agree?"

Thomas gave Steve his charming smile that had gotten him out of a lot of trouble. Though currently it was more threatening than anything else.

Bucky gripped his knife a bit too tightly, "What do you mean a powerful being dropped her in the forest?"

Holding tighter to my wine glass I chose my words carefully, "The act of trying to summon an Old God has attracted... attention. Beings from various dimensions are invested in this, as it could very well mean their involvement if things do not turn out well."

Natasha's gaze sharpened, "If they are so invested why aren't they helping?"

"They can't" Thomas said, "Beings of their power can not get involved with humanity that easily. Not until they are clearly needed, but by that point it would be too late for most of us. So they do what they can. Like dropping Aida off in the forest at midnight."

I could feel eyes on me, but I was staring at the ring on my finger again.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Bucky asked, no anger in his voice this time instead it was a lot sadder, "Aida?"

"These things, it's much better to not know a lot about them." I said, "The more you know about them, the more involved you get. And when it comes to dealing with those whose power can destroy a universe it's much better to not be involved at all."

I looked up and stared into their eyes, "It will not affect the situation with Hydra, I swear. In fact it would only put you all in more danger. Learning their names, their identities- these things hold power, attract the attention of those outside our dimension."

Thomas spoke up at that, "This is not knowledge you want to know, trust me on that." He gave a little chuckle, one that held so much sadness in it. I looked over at him, worried but he just gave me a small smile back.

"This knowledge will consume you and you will never escape it." Thomas said and a heavy silence settled on the table. It lasted for a minute, before being broken by Natasha.

"By the way, Fury started interrogating the people you brought in last night. From what we've gathered they were the ones carrying out the ritual, but they are not the leaders. We're still trying to figure out who those are, so we can capture them."

Hm, so it seemed that those that were carrying out the rituals aren't the actual leaders. How strange.

* * *

Thomas and Natasha left as soon as dinner ended, and I waved them goodbye as I went to put Peter to bed. Steve and Bucky stayed, helping to clean the table.

"You know, Thomas used to have black hair." I said instead of trying to explain anything else, "He always wore it long, but after everything that happened he has yet to cut it. It's a reminder to himself of what happened, to everything we lost."

They said nothing, instead Steve came over to where I was and held my hand. I squeezed it right back and went to pick a movie to watch for the night.

There really wasn't much to be said, they wanted to protect me and I wanted to protect them. But this, this was something I refused for them to get involved in.

* * *

Two days later I found myself stress baking again. This time because Jason sent me a text saying that the little girl had woken up and refused to talk to anyone.

I thought we had handed her over to SHIELD! Not kidnapped her. Now she was crying hysterically, refusing to come out of her room.

Also, Jason's father had found out about her and pretty much adopted her on the spot.

"Peter, love," I called out as I took my third cake out of the over, "Is everything packed?"

"Yes!" Peter called out before running over to me, a cute little backpack already on. I was sending him to Wade's for the weekend with Bucky and Steve watching over them. My excuse was that I was taking the weekend off for family purposes.

"What does that mean, AIda?" Fury had asked and I just smiled at him.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" To which he just groaned and started massaging his temples.

I was going to visit my parents, but also go to Jason's and yell at him about kidnapping little girls.

No matter how much Old Magic they could control.

As we made our way over to Wade's Peter kept talking about his chess club, which for some reason was permanently moved over to the middle school building.

That's... really weird. In a school as rich as this, they must have open rooms in the elementary to have practice in.

"Also, Ms. Aida," Oh, he wanted something. He only called me Ms. Aida when he wanted something these days.

"What is it, munchkin?" I asked as he slowed down his steps and looked down.

"There's a field trip to Oscorp next month? Can I please go?" Peter blinked those long lashes at me and gave me some serious puppy dog eyes.

God, he was good at that. Much better than he used to be, he must be practicing with Wade or something.

"Have you asked Tony and Pepper?" He smiled and nodded.

"They said that since you were the one taking me then I had to ask you. Though they told me to ask you after they talk to you after the weekend, since it was your time. But, I really want to go, Ms. Aida! Wade and MJ and Ned are going, I can't be the only one that doesn't go!"

Peter kept rambling and I chuckled. He was such a happy kid, I hoped he would always stay like that.