Across the Universe

Comic Con Love Story (Comic Con AU)

I sat in my bed reading my worn copy of Wuthering Heights with soft instrumental music playing in the background. All was quiet in the little city apartment that I shared with my brother Bucky in downtown San Diego, at least all was quiet in my room. I heard Bucky yelling from his room along with the loud video game music and sound effects. I rolled my eyes and left my room, pounding on his door. The noise on the other side of the door stopped and I heard the heavy footsteps of Bucky coming for the door. He opened it and peeked his head out.

"What's up?" he asked, swiping his long dark hair out of his face. I place my hands on my hips and looked at his with a raised brow.

"You're too loud."

"Oh, sorry. I'll be quiet."

"Good." I turned to go back to my room, but Bucky's hand on my arm stopped me.

"Hey Claire, wait a second. Can I ask you for a favor?"

"Depends on the favor..." I did not like where this was going.

"So, I lost a bet with my boyfriend—"

"Yeah Buck, I'm familiar with you and Steve," I chuckled, folding my arms and rolling my eyes. Bucky shook his head and ignored me.

"Anyway...so I lost a bet and now I have to go with him to Comic Con."

"So? What's your point?"

"Can you come with me? Like, in a costume?" He folded his hands and stared at me with his signature puppy-dog pout. I tried to look away and not give in to the look, but it was too powerful. I sighed heavily and groaned.

"Fine," I groaned. Bucky whooped and jumped up and down before hugging me.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Claire! I promise I'll make it up to you. I gotta text Steve and find out what the theme is so we can coordinate—"

"Woah! You didn't say there was a theme."

"Of course there's a theme. We can't just show up in random costumes. It'll look weird." He scoffed and gave me a look of disbelief.

"Whatever," I said as I rolled my eyes and walked back to my room.

○○○

A knock on my door pulled me from my book and I put it down when Bucky poked his head in.

"Hey, you busy?" he asked.

"Not really. What's up?" Bucky walked in holding hooded hanger. "Whatcha got there?"

"It's your costume for Comic Con," he said laying the hanger on my bed. I reached for it and opened it, revealing an ugly gray/green/red leotard with a long gold and red cape. I looked up at Bucky, my face contorted in disgust and I shrugged.

"What the hell is this?"

"That's your costume."

"Okay, but who am I supposed to be?"

"So, Steve and I agreed to go as Marvel characters, so he's the Winter Soldier, I'm Captain America, and you're Vision."

I groaned and threw my head back.

"Aw what? Vision? But he's not even that cool! Why can't I be Iron Man or something?"

"Because Tony called it months ago," Bucky said pinching the bridge of his nose.