With Steve in London, I was left trying to keep the team together as we faced our ultimatum. I am by no means the leader that Steve is, nor can I command a room like Tony or even Nat, but damn if I'm gonna let a glorified phone book rip my new family apart. I listen to the arguments both for and against the Accords, I even try reading them, but I'm too angry to choose a side. We've had to keep Wanda quarantined at the base while all this has been going down. She's being treated like a criminal. I can't help but worry that I'm next.
Natasha ends up inviting me along to the UN meeting in Vienna as a sign of good-will to the world leaders, and I only accept out of fear that I'll be imprisoned like Wanda if I don't. If the world leaders could see that I am not a threat, maybe they'll realize that Wanda isn't either.
We get to the venue of this monumental meeting and Nat has yet to utter a word to me. I think she can sense my anxiety towards all of this. The two of us only take one step in the door before a media frenzy is upon us.
"Miss Romanoff, is it true that all of the Avengers are planning on signing the Accords?" One reporter yells.
"Miss Edwards, how will the Accords affect your ability to use your powers? Will you go back in time and change the outcome of this meeting if the results aren't in your favor?" Another asks. I fight the urge to put up a field around myself, but my eyes are a dead giveaway for my emotions.
A gaggle of security guards break through the crowd and bring Natasha and I into a very official looking hall. A UN rep plods his way up to Nat and hands her a clipboard. I roll my eyes.
"Excuse me, Miss Romanoff? These require your signature." He smiles at her and turns to me, "You'll have to sign them too, Miss Edwards."
I glare at him, my eyes seeping with the energy that courses through me. "I'm not signing anything, thank you. I am here to listen, that is all." I go back to focusing my attention on keeping myself calm, I can't afford to lose my cool in a place like this.
As the UN rep leaves, a vaguely familiar, exceptionally handsome man gracefully takes a step towards us.
"I suppose none of us are used to being in the spotlight." He glances around and gestures to the many news outlets vying for a statement both inside and out of the glass building. His accent oozes throughout his words.
"Oh, well, it's not always so flattering." Nat quips, obviously knowing who this man is.
"You seem to be doing alright so far... considering your last trip to Capitol Hill, I wouldn't think you would be particularly comfortable in this company." He gestures again, this time referring to the leaders and statesman in the room.
"Well, I'm not." Nat takes a deep breath, the first sign of uncertainty I think I've ever seen from her.
"That alone makes me glad you're here, Miss Romanoff. The same could be said about you, Miss Edwards. Of all of Earth's mightiest, having you here is the most surprising." He smiles lightly. Wow he is magnificent.
"I'm just here to listen. I will remain open minded, but I make no promises on where my mind ends up." I extend my hand to the man wanting to shake his, still unsure of where I know him from. He takes it and kisses the back. Wow he is beautiful. Natasha gives me a look before continuing:
"Why? You don't approve all of this?"
"The Accords? Yes. The politics, not really. Two people in a room can get more done than a hundred." As the man finishes, an older gentleman who bears a resemblance to him walks up.
"Unless you need to move a piano." He adds on.
The younger man speaks, "Father."
"Son. Misses Romanoff and Edwards." The older man politely nods in my direction and I do the same.
"King T'Chaka, please. Allow me to apologize for what happened in Nigeria." Natasha solemnly looks at the older man.
Wait... King T'Chaka? I've been talking to the King and prince of Wakanda? Oh my god.
"Thank you. Thank you for agreeing to all of this," The king glances around much like his son did previously, before continuing, "I'm sad to hear that Captain Rogers will not be joining us today."
My eyes soften slightly at the mention of Steve, though I am sure I'm still well into my range of 'pissed off dazzle' as Tony likes to refer to it.
"Yes, so am I." Natasha says, placing one of her hands on my shoulder protectively, obviously sensing my emotions.
A voice rings out overhead, telling us to head to our seats. Nat and I wish our goodbyes to the Wakandans and try to find our places. Out of nowhere, my ears start to ring and there's a feeling in the pit of my stomach. I turn to Nat.
"Natasha, something bad is about to happen. I feel it." I don't hear her response before my knees buckle and I'm on the ground.
An explosion rings out. Everything is moving so fast. I notice the Wakandan prince rushing towards his father and try to put a force field around them, but I'm too late. Why am I always too late? Nat and I are thrown back like the rest of the group as the explosion reaches us. She manages to land a few feet away, but I'm thrown a distance. I smack my head against the ground, but not hard enough to knock me out. I only have one thing on my mind as I gather myself up off the floor and examine the wake of the destruction. Steve. I have to get to Steve.
My ears continue to ring, now from the explosion, as I focus my energy on Steve. If I think hard enough about him, I should end up where he is, no matter when or where in time. I close my eyes and a rush of air informs me that I've traveled.
My eyes open to see Steve and some woman in a hotel room, watching in horror as the newscaster on the television is giving live updates of where I just was in Vienna. I'm positioned at the door of the room, the TV perpendicular and my presence isn't noticed right away.
"Steve," I mutter, hands shaking and covered in dirt and soot. I reach up and touch my forehead where I hit the ground. Alright, adding blood to the list of grime I'm covered in. My knees get wobbly again and I fear I'm about to hit the ground for the third time today.
This gets both sets of attention as Steve runs over to me, catching me in his arms before I make it to the floor.
"Oh my god, Lucy are you alright? What the hell happened? Is Nat ok?" Steve questions. I look into his eyes, unsure how brightly my own are shining out of fear.
"I-- I don't know, everything happened so fast, I tried to help them, but I was too slow..." I start, head still spinning, " I control time, I-- I felt it before it happened, but I was too slow, Steve. Why am I always too slow?"
YOU ARE READING
For Some Time
Fanfiction"I'm with him, for better or for worse," I stare her directly in the eye. "It'll probably be worse..." Natasha shakes her head at me. "I knew that the day I met him." I pull her in for a hug, barely whispering the last syllable before pulling away...
