Pairings: Steve x Oc, Bucky x Oc, Thor x Oc
Someone is picking off the Avengers and their friends, turning them against each other.
@emmygreen817 @animeaobsessed
“Wait, Natasha did this to you?” Bucky asked, stepping forward, “Why?”
Steve looked down for a second then at Bucky, “I think she was brainwashed.”
“Hydra?” he asked. Steve went over to him and put his hand on his shoulder.
“I don’t know, Buck, but we’re going to find out,” he said.
“Where is she now?” Tony asked, making them look at him.
“Down in Shuri’s lab. Clint is with her,” Steve said, “I think you and Banner should go have a look at her too. Shuri also has a search going for the others.”
“Alright, Brucey, let’s go be lovely assistants,” Tony said. Banner got up.
“I will contact Heimdall,” Thor volunteered, getting up as well, “perhaps he can tell us where they are.”
“Good idea,” Strange stood, “but Abby, it’s time to show what a sorcerer can do.” Abby quickly stood up too. “She’ll take a look at Miss Romanoff’s mind.”
“You’re going to let your student into Nat’s mind? I don’t think so,” Tony said, putting his hand up in Strange’s direction.
“She can be trusted,” Strange explained, “I’ve trained on this and she is very skilled. She’s gone into Wong’s mind and my own.” Abby bit her lip and tugged on her sleeves as she felt herself being evaluated by the others.
“Can you do it? Figure out what’s going on with Natasha?” Steve asked her. She looked at him.
“I believe that I can. And...depending on the damage and what exactly was done, I might be able to heal her to an extant. I specialize in healing magic,” she said. Steve stared at her for a moment before continuing.
“Alright, than I believe in you, Abby,” he said with a nod. Abby froze in her spot until Strange dragged her away. The others disbursed as well. Tony and Banner came with them down to Shuri’s lab.
“Oh no. No magic. This is a lab,” Shuri said when she noticed them.
“We can help,” Strange said. Shuri watched him with narrow eyes, shaking her head slightly until Abby stepped forward.
“Please. Just let me take a look at her. I just want to help,” she said. It was her turn to be regarded by Shuri.
“Fine. You have one minute. One,” she said then turned to Tony and Banner, “you two, I’ll show you my hero finder.” She lead them over to the other side of the lab as Abby walked over to Nat. She was unconscious and bound to the exam table she laid on. Abby hesitantly put her hands up to start.
“Go on,” Strange nodded at her. Abby took a deep breath and placed her hands on the sides of Nat’s head. She closed her eyes and within seconds both were screaming. Abby pulled away and darted back. She looked terrified and there were tears in her eyes. Nat was now awake and trashing against her restraints. Clint jumped down from where he had been perched and tried to stop her. It was to no avail until he knocked her out.
“Sorry Nat. You did it for me,” he whispered. Abby, during all of this, had run from the room. Some of the others came down to the lab, having heard the screaming and seen her run past.
“What the hell just happened?” Steve asked, hands on his hips.
“Miss Romanoff’s mind seems to be a not so great place at the moment,” Strange said.
“Are they alright?” he asked.
“Your friend? She’s no worse than she was. Abby? She’ll be fine, she’s faced other things,” Strange said. Steve knitted his brow together with a worried look but nodded.
“Well, I have asked Heimdall to find the others. He is still searching,” Thor said.
“Alright. Let’s leave this thing to run overnight and Nat get some sleep. We’ll start again in the morning,” Tony said.
They agreed and went their own ways once again. Most of them went to get rest while they could, who knew what the coming days would bring. This is what Knowledge was trying, and failing, to do. So when a knock came at her door, she merely called out for them to come in and sat up.
“Hello,” Thor said as he came in and closed the door behind him.
“How are you doing?” he asked as he sat at the end of her bed.
“I’ll be honest. I’m scared. Thor, you warned me something was coming. Something big. Now all this. What’s happening?” Knowledge asked. Thor moved up by her side and took some of her red hair into his hands. He started to braid it.
“I do not know for sure. I just know it is just the beginning and that we can make it through it,” he said. Knowledge sighed.
“Will you stay this time? When it’s all done?” she asked, looking at him out of the corner of her eye.
“Perhaps. I would like to but I can’t ignore if I am needed elsewhere,” Thor said, finishing the braid and letting go of it. She frowned.
“You should stay. I’m tired of you leaving,” she said. She turned and looked right in his eyes. He looked back.
“And I am tired of always leaving you behind. If I must go, come with me,” he said, grabbing her hand gently between his own. Knowledge froze, her heart pounding.
“Go with you?” the thought had crossed her before, but she had no idea that it had occurred to him. She barely had any idea what they were to each other. But to know that he wanted this, it made her heart jump.
“Yes, of course. You are...a great teammate. We make a great team,” he said. Knowledge chuckled. She adored when the god got nervous.
“That is true,” she agreed, “but...”
“And because I love you,” Thor interrupted. He was worried she was going to say no.
“Thor, I love you too,” she said. He leaned forward slightly, looking at her lips.
“May I kiss you?” he asked.
“You may,” she replied and he did. It was sweet and gentle at first but grew greedy. All of the wasted time between them seemed to come into play, as if they needed to make up for it with this single moment. He couldn’t keep her close enough until they finally needed to breathe. Thor pressed his forehead to her’s..
“Stay or go, we stick together. Agreed?” he asked in a whisper.
“Agreed,” Knowledge whispered breathlessly.
Just down the hall and around a corner from these lovebirds sat Abby against a wall. She was curled up with her knees to her chest and her arms holding them close. She was staring up at the ceiling and her eyes looked so far away.
“Hey, is this seat taken?” Abby seemed to wake at the sound of the voice.
“No,” she said. Steve sat down next to her.
“You want to talk about it?” he asked.
“No. I don’t know,” she said.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Steve said, “and I’m here to listen.”
“You’re alright, it’s not your fault,” he said. Abby shook her head.
“Natasha...what happened was a trap for any sorcerer who tried that, so we couldn’t figure out what exactly was wrong. But I felt past it, just a little, a glimpse.” Abby’s eyes started to tear and she felt her throat tighten.
“What did you feel?” Steve asked, gently. Abby took a deep breath.
“She’s gone. I couldn’t feel her,” she couldn’t look at him.
“She’s just buried deep. Nat is still in there somewhere. Trust me, I’ve dealt with brainwashed people before,” he said. Abby gave a tiny nod.
“I know. I’m sorry,” she said.
“It’s okay. He’s back now, mostly,” Steve said, “and Nat? We’ll get her back too. She’s too stubborn and strong not to come back.” Abby smiled a little at that and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Will you tell me about her? I’ve never really met her. I hardly know any of you actually,” she said.
“Oh I can tell you some stories about Nat,” he smiled a little and launched into one.
Outside and down a little ways was Bucky, who was headed to his hut for the night. What he found upon entering was that he had a guest. One that was already asleep. He crept closer to the bed and caught sight of Gabrielle. She was snuggled up in his blankets and pillows as if it were her own bed. Bucky’s heart started to beat fast. What was she doing? Not knowing what else to do, Bucky took an extra blanket and set himself up across the room. He tried to sleep but it was off and on. He looked to her each time woke, still unsure what to do.
