An LGBTQ+ bingo challenge!

By the time we woke again, a jumbled mess of men all entangled in one brain and unable to unravel ourselves, they were sat upright beside us, leaning back against the headboard, their cell propped against their knees, one hand scrolling slowly while the other idly traced patterns on the bare skin of our back, skimming over scar and metal and flesh without wincing.

“We're in love with you,” we breathed, head turning to gaze up at them, enraptured. They smiled, eyes shifting to our face, and leant down to press a gentle kiss to our temple.

“I love you too, my sweet boys,” they purred softly, delicately tucking a strand of hair behind our ear. “How did you sleep?”

We frowned a little, glimpses of half-formed scenes flickering across our vision. “Okay, we think…” Shifting a little, we rested out head on their thigh, gazing up at them in wonder. “What woke you?”

They smiled, half-raising their cell. “Nothing in particular; I’ve not been up long. I was just doing a little reading.”

A bubble of joy build in our chest, Tem’s happiness palpable. “What is it this time?”

“Another rabbit hole,” they admitted, shrugging sheepishly. “Bawean deer.”

“Tell us about it?” Tem murmured, rubbing his cheek against their leg adoringly, his eyes happily wide and imploring. They grinned, fingers toying with our hair.

“It’s a tiny deer – 24 to 28 inches. That’s only about the side of a two-year-old! They’re only found in the wild on the Bawean island of Indonesia. They’re critically endangered, even though they don’t have many natural predators; they’re only really preyed on by birds of prey or big snakes. But they’re seriously impacted by climate change, like the prolonged droughts or increased flooding. But…” They trailed off as their eyes scanned further, then smiled a little. “There was a bill passed in 1977, in the hope of keeping them around. It’s been… I mean, the counts vary wildly.” With a small frown, they hummed thoughtfully. “I wonder if Shuri would be interested in…” Trailing off, they let out another hum, then looked down at us, blushing. “Sorry.”

“You’ve nothing to apologise for,” Tem replied, beaming, and squeezed their leg gently. “Shuri would love to talk about it. She’s just as enthusiastic about these things as you are. And it’s beautiful,” he added, nuzzling closer. They lit up, fingers entwining with ours and squeezing gently.

“Can we go and explore?”

Guiding them around the place I’d called home for so long was a beautiful experience, and one I couldn’t get enough of. We worked our way out from the palace, exploring streets and markets, each new sight and smell filling them with wonder. It was a stark change from back home, where I was still learning my way around, guided by their own familiarity.

The nature surrounding the city had certainly become more evolved since I had left. Shuri knew where we were at any given time, of course, and I snorted as updates on our environment were offered via the (determinedly one-way) communication in my ear. "Shuri would like me to inform you that it's not only animals that experience the benefits of her technological prowess," I chuckled, waving a hand at a copse as we circled the edge of it.

“Cola trees?” Mars prompted, reaching out to brush their fingers over a vibrantly red pod, head cocked. “I didn’t realise they were endangered?”

“These specific trees, Cola nigerica, are related to the ones cultivated commercially to flavour cola drinks – that’s where the soda flavour comes from!”

I parroted Shuri’s words obediently, and Mars let out a delighted hum, toying with the pod. “That’s fascinating,” they replied, no trace of sarcasm in their voice.

“Shuri’s incredible,” I agreed, slipping my fingers into theirs and guiding them along gently. “She’s the one who figured out how to help me, after all.”

They fell quiet, walking beside me in silence for a few moments until we passed from beneath the shade of the grove and back into the unrelenting heat of the Wakandan sun and they looked up at me once more.

“Was it… Did it hurt?” they prompted softly, their grip tightening in mine instinctively. With a thoughtful pause, I considered the question, looking out over the vast landscape as I pondered my response.

“Not physically,” I offered eventually, turning to face them more fully, bringing us to a halt as I cast my mind back. “I was physically fine. But the hold they had over my mind was a powerful thing, ready to revert at a moment’s notice. It took a lot to break that. And even then… The terror was like nothing I’d ever felt before when they put it to the test.”

“Test?”

Their word came softly, hesitantly, and I shot them a gentle smile of reassurance. “Nothing so dire. Ayo – the woman who met us from the jet yesterday… She took me far from anyone and tried to activate me.” They gasped, and I grinned shrewdly. “Yeah… It was a brave move, no matter how intelligent Shuri is. If I hadn’t trusted the princess as much as I do, there was no way I’d have let her try it. But that didn’t stop it being…” I trailed off, jaw clenching as I looked away, and their hand rested gently on my arm, drawing my focus back to their open, tender expression.

“I can’t imagine how scary that must have been,” they offered, tone hushed. They waited after that, leaving me space to speak, and I found myself continuing unprompted, the words itching to escape.

“It was,” I muttered, scuffing the dirt with my toe. “It still is, sometimes. I’ve been tested and deemed safe, but… The fear never leaves me. The feeling of being controlled – especially when I started to regain some semblance of myself, when I began to look at my blood-soaked hands and question what the hell I had done…” I felt my muscles tense, stiffening further as I took a step away and their fingertips grazed my spine, recoiling instinctively as memories of other, harsher hands on my body flooded in unbidden. “Sometimes they’d let that feeling stay, for a little while. They’d let me blunder in confusion and pain until they finally stripped my mind again. And by then I knew what they were doing – knew what was coming when they led me to that chair and-”

I cut myself off with a fierce shudder, turning to find their gaze locked on me, tears gathered along their lash line, and winced apologetically. “I’m sorry. I- I didn’t want you to be afraid of me, I-”

My sentence was cut short with a huff of air as they collided with my chest, fingers knotting in the back of my shirt with surprising strength.

“I’m not afraid of you,” they whispered, face buried against me. “I’m horrified for you. You deserve far more than the way you’ve been treated, James.”

After a heartbeat of surprise, I wrapped a hand in their hair, holding them just as fiercely as they gripped me. My face pressed against the top of their head with intense devotion, startled to find tears welling in my eyes.

“I love you,” I breathed, pushing as much honesty and intensity into my words as I could, and they sniffed against my chest.

“I love you too,” they murmured, fingers grasping tighter.

“I can see you, you know,” Shuri’s voice laughed in my ear as we held each other for a moment longer. “You’re adorable.”

With a fond roll of my eyes, I laced my fingers through my partner’s once more, guiding them onwards. “Come on. I have more to show you – before Shuri starts complaining.”

I’m not ready for this.

It’ll be okay. Ayo has always understood us – she’ll accept us for who we are.

What if… She’s afraid of me?

I snorted aloud, drawing Mars’ gaze with a fond, understanding smile. We were seated at a long table in one of the palace’s many rarely-used rooms, my fingers drumming nervously on the wood while we waited for Ayo to join us, the space before Mars and I slowly being filled with pitchers and covered dishes.

Ayo never feared us – not even when we were still under, I reminded him gently. She’s not going to start now just because we’re a little different than she thought.

With an uncertain but accepting hum, Winter fell quiet, despite his nerves still rattling through my veins. Mars’ fingers found mine, squeezing gently as the door opened.

Ayo was accompanied by the Dora Milaje I’d seen fighting to maintain her composure the day before – Aneka, I recalled distantly, remembering brief, courteous interactions a long time past.

Not as long as it seems, Tem mused idly, seemingly the calmest of the three of us. It feels like a lifetime ago since we were here, but it’s only been a few months.

With an easy smile, Ayo slid out the seat for her companion, ducking to press a gentle kiss to her head before settling into her own chair. “I’m glad you arranged this,” she informed us, glancing between Mars and I. “It’s been quiet without you, Wolf.”

“I’ve missed this place,” I acknowledged, glancing about myself quietly. “I was welcomed here in a way I haven’t felt since before the War. It was nice to have that again – to show me what I should look for when I left,” I added, glancing at Mars with a soft smile. While the city itself have never felt quite the home Wakanda had, the life I’d built there was so tailored to us and the things we needed that it was hard to imagine wanting anything else.

After a heartbeat, I let my gaze slide back to the pair opposite, pausing while dishes were removed and plates piled high. “So… When did this happen?” I teased playfully, gesturing between the two with my fork. Aneka’s head ducked minutely, while Ayo simply grinned.

“A few weeks before you left,” she admitted, one arm draping over the back of her partner’s chair. “We thought it best to keep things to ourselves for a while, though. I’m sorry I did not tell you.”

I waved a hand dismissively, leaning back in my seat to consider the duo. “It’s up to you when – and if, for that matter – you share these things. I’m just glad you’re happy.”

She nodded once, her eyes moving to her fellow soldier, an unusually soft smile gracing her lips. “I am,” she replied gently, earning a broad grin from Aneka.

“As am I,” she replied, fingers lacing with the ones gently caressing her upper arm and squeezing lightly.

The two gazed adoringly for a moment at one another before Ayo seemingly remembered our presence, her gaze flicking back to me as she straightened a little in her chair. “And you – you’ve found someone of your own?” she replied, tilting her head at Mars curiously, my partner’s cheeks flaming in response to the attention.

With a soft laugh, I nodded, rubbing my thumb over the back of their hand lightly. “I have,” I acknowledged. “Quite by accident. I went into a store looking for dog advice… I came out with more than I bargained for.”

Ayo chuckled, and Mars shot me a sheepish grin. “You also got dog advice,” they pointed out, making me chuckle.

“I did, that’s true.”

“And a dog,” Aneka added, glancing at Zeus, lounging exhaustedly beside the table after his romp across the open plains, his head occasionally raising as I slipped him pieces of meat.

“And a dog,” I echoed with a nod, leaning down to run a hand along his side lovingly. “He helps.”

Their eyes were on me when I straightened, full of unasked questions, and I let out a sheepish shrug. “You remember the nightmares?” I asked Ayo quietly. She nodded, her jaw tensing at the thought.

“You would keep half the city awake,” she recalled, sympathy thick in her voice. “I’ve never… I’ve never heard anything make sounds like that. The first few times, we thought you were being attacked.”

I nodded once, short and embarrassed, glancing down at my service dog once more. “Well, after I left Wakanda… They got bad again. Nothing felt as safe out there. It was hard to leave my home. Steve made me visit a doctor, and… Well, after a bit of a false start, someone suggested a dog. One thing led to another, and… I met Mars, and I got Zeus,” I finished, smiling softly.

“And he helps?” Ayo clarified, watching me closely as I nodded again.

“He keeps me… Grounded,” I offered hesitantly. “He looks after me in a way I hadn’t realised I needed.”

As if on cue, Zeus picked up on the steadily increasing beat of my heart, moving to rest his large head on my thigh and gaze up at me adoringly, his thick tail thumping heavily against the ground. With a tender smile, I smoothed a hand over his ears, letting the weight comfort me. On the other side, Mars squeezed my fingers gently, offering the same silent support.

Ayo was watching me through slightly narrowed eyes, thoughtful and quiet. “... This isn’t all, is it?” she clarified, head inclining. With a dry swallow, I shifted uncertainly in my seat, distinctly uncomfortable.

“No,” I admitted, my voice coming barely above a whisper. “No, there’s... It isn’t.” She simply kept her eyes trained on me, patiently waiting, while I squirmed. “There’s… Some things that I have begun to realise about myself since I left this place that I would like to share with you.”

“I’m listening,” she replied simply, her hands folding in front of her, thoughts of food forgotten in response to my seriousness.

With a last, steadying glance at Mars, pulling in a deep breath as I drew strength from their gentle smile. “So, the thing is, I-”

Don’t.

I froze, the pulse of fear coming from my companion arresting the air in my lungs.

Don’t. Please.

Win, I-

I don’t want her to know about me.

I glanced at the woman opposite me, her eyes still examining the minute details of my face, seemingly unphased that I’d stopped midsentence, simply waiting until I was ready to continue.

Why?

She’ll hate me.

I felt my features flicker, my heart aching for this broken creature, torn apart by the people who created him. She could never hate you, I replied gently, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. How could anyone ever hate you?

You’re perfect, Winter.

Ayo leant forward, her hands coming up to rest under her chin gently. “This is about Winter, isn’t it?” she asked quietly.

I half-nodded, the motion coming instinctively, before I paused, brow furrowing, jaw slack. “… What?”

Her smile was soft, sympathetic, as her head tipped to one side. “I did wonder when the two of you would meet.”

“When did the two of you meet?” Mars interjected, unable to keep from interrupting, and vocalising my shocked curiosity.

“I thought you might not remember,” Ayo mused aloud, their eyes never wavering from mine. “I thought he might, though.”

Remember what? we thought in unison, steel tongue still heavy and immovable in my mouth.

“When did we meet?”

A flicker of recognition graced her features at my whisper, gaze soft. “The first time I attempted to activate you. You attacked me.” Bile rose with the horror, cloying and thick in my throat, and she frowned, raising her hands quickly in an attempt to soothe me. “You did no harm. You were panicked – a caged and terrified tiger will bite when threatened, after all.”

A beast.

That’s what she thinks of me.

A mindless machine for slaughter.

That’s not what she said, and you know it, Buck replied sharply, seemingly realising that a gentle approach was achieving nothing. She’s responding quite graciously, all things considered. Don’t be so quick to anger over nothing.

I paused, letting his words settle, considering Ayo through half-slitted eyes. “You consider me an animal?” I clarified quietly, feeling Mars’ fingers tighten around mine sympathetically as Ayo shook her head quickly.

“I think you responded through instinct – you are no more an animal than the rest of us, Winter. You were treated horribly and were mistrustful of someone you deemed to have intent of the same nature. I think that was an incredibly understandable response.”

I relaxed infinitesimally, my tongue pressed to the roof of my mouth as I hesitated. “… Why did you never tell us? Tell… Bucky, about me? It must have been clear he wasn’t aware.”

Her fingers returned to being clasped beneath her chin, and in the corner of my eye, I saw Aneka release the grip of the weapon at her waist, resisting the urge to quirk an eyebrow in silent challenge. “He seemed to have no memory of the incident when it passed. He became himself again half-lay in the dirt, and sat upright without any reaction. I thought it best to let him discover your presence in his own time.”

“How did you know me by that name?” I challenged, wary of such a simple story, and she smiled stiffly.

“You told me,” came the soft reply, eyes flickering minutely as she replayed a memory I didn’t share. “When you came at me, I called your name- what I thought to be your name. You corrected me sharply before you were sent over my head,” she added, the smile becoming a little more genuine, albeit sheepish.

“You took me down?” I clarified, unable to hide my surprise, and she laughed.

“I vowed I would, if necessary,” she reminded me without hesitation. “A hand at your shoulder seemed to remind you that I know who you are.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I know exactly who you are, Winter,” she replied softly, her steady gaze locked on mine unwaveringly. “I saw you in that moment and I knew that I’d seen pieces of you in my time with Bucky. Things I’d assumed to be a part of him – but I now knew better. I saw everything in those few moments, Winter. And I was not afraid of you. I could never be afraid of you. I wanted only to help.”

Tears blurred my vision, and I clenched my jaw against the urge to sob, lowering my head to obscure my face as I felt my skin warm. “You did,” I muttered back softly, muscles tensed. “We’d never have been able to believe it if you hadn’t shown us it was true.”

“You didn’t think it was… Unusual?” Mars interjected softly, their fingers squeezing mine, and Ayo smiled softly.

“It was something I had not seen before,” she admitted, “but there are stories of the duality of nature. Many cultures in West Africa, for example, have the dual god Mawu-Lisa. Two who have become one.” She shrugged, her eyes flicking back to me. “I saw nothing to fear in your having the same trait as a god.”

I let out a low chuckle, grinning weakly. “Well, that’s certainly a new way of looking at it,” I replied slowly. “Though dual is a little… Misrepresentative, in our case.” With a curious tilt of her head, she waited for me to continue, and I cleared my throat before speaking once more. “There is another. Tem- Temnota.”

“It means ‘Darkness’,” Mars added helpfully, grinning. “It’s funny, ‘cause he’s about as threatening as a puppy. A puppy eating ice cream.”

Distantly, I heard my brother giggle, bringing a smile to my own face. “That’s accurate,” I agreed, shaking my head fondly. “He’s certainly the sweetest of us.”

Ayo was watching me with her chin resting on her hands, and I flushed lightly, fidgeting under the heat of her stare. “Despite knowing this – that there are more of you than first meets the eye – you seem… More intact, this way. More alive.”

I nodded once, glancing at my partner briefly. “We feel it. Realising all of this, meeting Mars… It’s been an enlightening experience, but it’s made our world a far happier place. We don’t regret any of it.”

“And the engineer? Does he still trouble you?”

Frowning, I paused. “I haven’t heard from or seen Tony since before I came to Wakanda,” I replied carefully. “I can only hope that, given time, he decides I’m not worth pursuing.”

Do you really think he will? Buck prompted gently, and I sighed internally.

I don’t know. But I fear what will happen if he doesn’t.

The sun set late in Wakanda, and Mars and I strolled barefoot along the streets, the stone warm beneath our feet even as darkness descended.

“It really is beautiful here,” they murmured, starlight reflecting in their eyes as their head fell back.

“I’m glad you like it,” I replied, beaming as I pulled them closer into my side. Win had receded after his meeting – or rather, reunion – with Ayo, emotionally drained and needing to process the knowledge and slowly-returning memories he found himself confronted with, and I’d missed spending time with the person beside me, grinning as they spoke animatedly about the things they’d seen throughout their day.

“-believe how much technology they’ve developed here,” they gushed, hands moving with their enthusiasm. “They’ve figured out things that the rest of the world can barely even dream of, and most people don’t even know they exist. How is that possible?”

I shrugged, pursing my lips. “Wakanda has a lot of valuable metal. Given the history of African nations being pillaged and pilfered for their resources, who can really blame them for wanting to keep themselves secret?”

They hummed thoughtfully and nodded, grimacing. “Yeah…” Their eyes flitted around their surroundings, taking in the towering buildings and slowly dwindling populous on the streets. “It’s amazing, though. The things a culture can do when they’re not constantly at war or oppressed…” I nodded in agreement, smiling at their wonder, and they sighed contentedly, moving closer to rest their head on my shoulder. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“It’s our honour,” I replied softly, pressing a kiss to their hair. “We felt more at home here than we have anywhere for a very long time. It’s a privilege to be able to share it with you.”

They blushed, pressing closer for a heartbeat before skipping ahead, Zeus breaking into a trot to keep up, tail lashing excitedly. “Race you back to the room?” they teased, and I laughed, arching an eyebrow.

“You know I’m a super soldier, r- hey, wait for me!”

I caught up to them at the top of the seemingly endless stairs, their breath coming harsh and heavy from the exertion, and I chuckled, scooping them over my shoulder. “What’s up, little one?” I teased, metal arm over their thighs to keep them in place as they cackled, batting playfully at my back. “Getting tired?”

“No fair!” they chortled, wriggling in my grip. “I’m younger than you!”

“That should be an advantage!” I snorted back, using my free hand to tousle my dog’s ears as he circled my feet excitedly.

“I’m not as tall?” they offered, giggling, and I shook my head fondly, nudging our door open.

“Lower centre of gravity!”

I dropped them onto the bed, and they grinned up at me sheepishly, blushing minutely. “You’re a super soldier,” they acknowledged, pouting, and I beamed, dropping over them, a hand either side of their head.

“I am,” I agreed, a shy heat rising in my cheeks as I considered them. “But you’re pretty super yourself.”

Their smile widened, and they reached up, arms wrapping around my neck. “I am?” they breathed, fingers teasing my hair, earning a quiet hum of contentment.

“You are,” I murmured, my own hand shifting to stroke their cheek gently. “You’re incredible.”

Their mouth met mine with a happy whine, pulling me closer, and I let out a quiet groan when their legs wrapped around my waist, holding my body flush to theirs. “You’re perfect, Temmy,” they whispered, and I flushed softly, ducking my head to trail light kisses along their throat.

“I want you,” I breathed, the words barely audible in my timid proposition, but they understood the meaning of my fingers curling against the base of their neck and the twitching in my jeans, back arching minutely as they nodded.

“Please, Tem.”

My hands moved along their body reverently, relishing every new inch of exposed skin with almost sacrilegious attention. The way they trembled and whined at my fingertips drifting over their flesh made me smile, their eyes slightly unfocused as they watched me lower myself patiently along their stretched-out frame.

Fingers wrapped lightly in my hair as I hummed under my breath, carefully undoing their fly and belt before easing their legs free from their shorts. I was in no rush, brushing my lips along the soft skin inside their thigh, relishing the quiet sounds of joy and pleasure they emitted at each motion.

When my mouth skimmed lightly over their underwear, they whimpered weakly, swallowing audibly. “Please…”

Smiling to myself, I carefully eased the fabric over their legs, settling on my knees on the floor and draping their own over my shoulders, their thighs parting to offer me access to the wet heat that made my mouth water on cue. I was gentle as I tugged them closer to the edge of the bed, the first pass of my tongue over their folds tentative and feather-light, eyes flickering shut in pleasure at the taste of them.

I could do this forever.

I savoured the hand knotted tenderly in my hair, following my movements encouragingly, each minute twitch and shift of their hips noted and responded to accordingly. By the time I drew back to catch my breath, they were squirming beneath me, their own breathing coming heavier. “God… More- more of that, please,” they stammered, legs pressing wider needily, their free hand curled in the sheets as they panted. With a pleased smile, I lowered my face to their pussy once again, my tongue exploring a little more eagerly as they whimpered and whined, my cock straining against my pants at their enthusiasm.

I took my time unravelling them, picking them apart patiently, alternating between burying my face against them and sucking lightly on their clit. It was a joy to watch them writhe, muttered praise and pleas coming more incessantly as their pulse quickened beneath my hands wrapped around their thighs. Their body shuddered and arched against me as they sobbed in pleasure, the fingers in my hair pinning me to their quivering pussy, the feeling of their wetness on my chin drawing a ragged groan from the lips around their clit. My pace slowed, tongue passing languidly over them as I chased down every drop of their juices, lost in the taste until they began to jerk minutely with the sensitivity of it all.

By the time I rocked back onto my heels, thirst slaked – at least for now – they were gazing absently at the ceiling, a grin plastered across their features, and I chuckled under my breath. “That was… Okay?”

Lazy eyes rolled towards me, and they let out a soft, disbelieving huff. “Oka- Yes. Yes, Tem, that was… That was so very, very… Okay.” Their fingers extended towards me, and I took the proffered hand happily, allowing them to pull me down beside them and curl their depleted body against my side. “That was…. Oh… My…”

Beaming, I pressed a gentle kiss to their hair, pleased with their satisfaction. “I’m glad!” Their fingers trailed languidly over my hip, and I chuckled, arching an eyebrow. “You’re barely awake…”

“I want you,” they murmured, pouting sweetly. Snorting, I held them closer, nuzzling against their temple adoringly.

“At least rest,” I requested gently, trailing a soothing hand along their spine. “If you’re still awake in a few minutes, you can do anything you’d like, sweetheart.”

With a happy hum, they nodded, curling closer and nestling their head beneath my jaw with a contented sigh. “I love you,” they breathed, idly tracing patterns on my chest through the thin weave of my shirt. With a deep, satisfied rumble, I squeezed them lightly.

“I love you too, Mars.”

They let out a contented purr, fingers moving along my collarbone, following the scar at my shoulder and trailing down my ribs - and pulling their hand back quickly when I jerked. “I’m sorry! Sorry, I- I shouldn’t have-”

My lips met theirs, soft and loving, and I smiled when I drew away. “Ticklish,” I noted, and they laughed, looking a little more alert for their concern, shaking their head fondly.

But the amusement died quickly, replaced with something deeper, and their mouth found mine again, hands grasping at my shirt with a renewed need. “Please?” they breathed, and I chuckled.

“Oh, I’m far too weak to insist that you sleep,” I acknowledged, grinning sheepishly, heart aching with adoration when they lit up. Eager fingers fumbled with my jeans, tugging at them needily, and I laughed, raising my hips to help them as they dragged the offending material free. My boxers and shirt quickly followed, leaving me spread bare on the sheets, their mouth finding mine once more as hands traced the contours of my chest. A low whine slipped between my lips when they straddled me, the feeling of their slick heat brushing against my aching cock making my hips twitch instinctively.

“You’re so beautiful,” they breathed, dipping their head to kiss me once more, swallowing my deafening groan as they took me inside them, the tight, wet heat wrapped around me making my muscles clench in pleasure.

“Oh, God…” I whimpered, trembling beneath them as their hips worked me patiently, hands moving to their hips to hold them tight, seeking some semblance of sanity in their corporeal form. There was nothing but this; the starlight on their skin, their palms pressed to my chest, their soft, huffed breaths punctuated by the sound of their body meeting mine with increasing need. I could only stare and experience, lost in the moment, letting them ride me at their own pace until my blood fizzed in my veins, quivering with the effort of not wanting this to end.

But they were attentive to my every quiet whine and twitching muscle, rocking back to offer me a full view of my cock disappearing inside them, guiding my hand to their clit to stroke them encouragingly as the movement of their hips became rougher, their moans coming louder as they began to quake once more.

The feeling of their pussy spasming around me was more than I could handle, and I groaned deafeningly, the hands on their hips holding them tightly as I drove myself home, emptying myself inside them with a sound of feral desire.

They lay languishing in my arms, sated and semi-conscious, as I trailed my fingertips tenderly over their bare skin, murmuring sweet nothings into their hair as they hummed blissfully. “Temmy?”

“Hm?” I murmured, cracking an eye to look down at them, lips curling in an exhausted, satisfied smile.

“I hope you’re in my life forever,” they mumbled, pressing a kiss to the side of my chest, sighing softly.

I could only stare down at them in wonder as they succumbed to their tiredness, a soft snore rumbling in their throat, their hair falling loose around their shoulders, having come free from its restraint sometime when they were atop me. Fascinated, I watched them for a moment, then paused uncertainly.

… We will be, right?

I…

If Tony ever stops hunting us – if he forgives us, we could go to the compound…

We could become an Avenger, like Steve wanted.

We looked to the fascinating creature in our arms, satisfied and depleted, and a small smile graced my lips.

We’re not going anywhere, are we?

… No.

No. This is our forever.

They are our forever.

As I relayed the whole sorry tale to Tony, his husband watching me worriedly, Clint made me a coffee and sat beside me, quietly interjecting when my anxiety made me skip over a point. I shot him a grateful smile when he took over as the words froze in my throat, choked by the terror climbing like lianas inside my lungs.

“And I guess… Well, they’ve gone, and James seems to think they-” I pushed the note into his hands, and he paused, scanning it quickly and wincing. “Yeah… It seems they’ve gone to Asgard to deal with it by themselves.”

“They’ll get themselves killed,” Stephen murmured worriedly, exchanging a glance with Tony. “We have to do something…”

“Can’t believe we still haven’t found a way to communicate with Thor when he’s off-planet,” Tony muttered, scowling. “I worked on a project for a while, but then we had little need of him, so I didn’t put much time into pursuing it – never really saw much need, and there were other things I could…” He trailed off, grimacing. “I should’ve learned from last time.”

The expression that clouded his features was one with which I’d become familiar over the years, particularly since his sobriety. Guilt was something he struggled intimately with – but Stephen took good care of him. As I watched, the magician’s arm tightened around his husband’s waist, holding him a little closer and pressing a kiss to his temple, murmuring quiet reassurances against Tony’s hair. Despite myself, I smiled. Even after all this time, I constantly marvelled at how perfect they were for one another.

“You weren’t to know,” I reassured him, only a little begrudgingly. While I knew Tony wasn’t responsible for the situation in which we found ourselves, it was hard not to think that he should’ve prioritised finding a communication method.

We left the Spiders on Asgard far longer than we should have for the exact same reason. We shouldn’t be here again.

Tony hummed noncommittally, leaning against his partner. “Either way – as it stands, we can’t do anything but wait,” he murmured, grimacing. “Hopefully Thor will stop by soon, but-”

“Mr. Stark? Thor Odinson has arrived on the premises. Would you-”

“Where?” I snapped, interrupting the AI’s announcement with a snarl in my voice.

“He is currently heading east along the ground floor. He-”

I was on my feet before she had finished speaking, tearing from the room without waiting to see if the others would follow. The compound had never felt so big, and my legs so slow and sluggish, despair and terror like molasses weighing me down. Vaguely, I was aware of speaking on my heels, Tony offering panted commands to the bodiless voice, but my single-minded determination left little room to care.

By the time I skidded to a halt before the colossal god, I’d lost all of my companions, the sound of footsteps and rasping breaths distant. I almost slammed into Thor’s chest, and he stumbled back in surprise.

“Buck-”

“We need to get to Asgard,” I spat, eyes burning into his. “Now.” He hesitated, and I snarled, fingers clenching by my sides. “Now!”

“I understand your concern,” he offered, hands raised imploringly, “but-”

“You knew?” I hissed, curling my grip into his ridiculous armour to push him bodily against the wall. “You allowed this to happen?”

“I came here to collect you,” he replied steadily, unperturbed by my grip on him. “But I cannot do that unless you release me. We’ll catch them up; Heimdall is keeping a careful eye on them, and-”

“Great – more people who were aware of this, and still did nothing to stop it…” I growled, still pinning him to the bricks. His expression was grave as he nodded once.

“I don’t blame you for your anger,” he replied simply. “By the time I discovered what was happening, they were already on their way. I came as soon as I heard, James.”

Breathing hard, I glared at him for a moment longer, heart pounding, before stepping back. “How did they even get there?” I hissed, gaze narrow. “The only way to Asgard is through the B-”

I cut myself off as realisation washed over me, the image of my lover’s hand vanishing between the Guardian’s.

Heimdall.

I’ll kill him.

“I’ll kill him,” I repeated aloud, my voice soft and threatening. Thor looked away, shame flickering across his expression.

“I can’t pretend to understand Heimdall’s course of action, but-”

“Don’t you dare,” I snapped, muscles tensing. “Don’t attempt to defend him.” Thor’s jaw snapped shut quickly, having the good sense to stop talking. “Get us there, Thor. Now.”

A soft hand brushed against my elbow, and I glanced back, surprised to find Clint by my side. “James…”

“I need to go, Clint,” I replied immediately, shaking my head. “You know I do.”

He nodded once despite the concern evident in his eyes, smiling weakly. “I know. I just… What about the Boys?”

The question made me freeze, wincing guiltily. With everything, I’d forgotten about the other two – the ones that made up Mars’ Boys, as they so lovingly called us.

When Shuri had helped to lovingly craft bodies and transfer consciousness to allow the Spiders to live their lives as individuals in a more classic sense, it wasn’t only them who had benefitted from her expertise. First Winter – then later, Tem – was carefully separated from me, while Mars’ Greg gained his own form – the only one of us to request a body significantly different to the one they’d previously inhabited, fascinating genetic tampering producing the 6ft sailor. Even more intriguing was the fact that they were still derived from my Bug’s DNA – as genetically related as siblings, if not more so.

And it was this sailor that currently had Winter and Tem’s attention, his new ship attracting their interest. Temnota, in his infinite absence of social graces, had requested to join the couple, excited at the thought of a new experience. They were sailing to the Caribbean and back, and I hadn’t even considered reaching out to them; I hadn’t thought of them at all, in all honesty. I’d been too busy worrying about my Bug, but now guilt and shame hit me with a vengeance, leaving me grimacing.

“I should call them…” I murmured, hesitating, glancing between my husband and the god uncertainly. They deserved to know – if something this urgent was kept from me, no matter the reason, I’d be furious – but each second was torturous, Mars getting further and further away from us with each heartbeat. Panic rose in my chest, and Clint squeezed my arm gently.

“I’ve got it,” he offered softly, and I shot him a weak, grateful smile.

“Thanks, honey,” I breathed, leaning in to kiss his cheek gently. Our dynamic had changed in the years since we’d married – gravitating towards platonic over romantic – but we still loved one another fiercely, our life together proving to be something we would never stop fighting for, no matter how it shifted and restructured itself.

The fact that he was willing to face the potential wrath of Winter, however, was a true testament to his love for me. He was notorious for the fear he could inspire when stressed, and Clint’s offer was not one most people would make.

“That would be amazing,” I replied softly, wincing. “Thank you, Clint… Don’t let Win worry you. He’s all talk. Usually,” I added, one eyebrow raised in a shaky attempt at humour that drew a gratuitous smile.

“I can handle him,” he smirked, one eyebrow arched. It was still bizarre that I no longer had any more insight into Winter’s actions than anyone else, and explaining his behaviour still came as second nature to me, despite the several months we’d now lived as our own people.

Turning my gaze to Thor, I nodded once, grim and determined. “Let’s go.”

The moment  I stepped from the array of blinding, brightly coloured lights, I launched myself at the Guardian, the walls ringing at the sound of his armour colliding with the hard ground. He simply gazed up at me as I snarled, his golden eyes showing no distress or concern.

“This is the way it is supposed to be,” he replied evenly, and I moved ever closer, my nose an inch from his.

“I’ll kill you,” I whispered, low and threatening. “I’ll kill you, I swear to god.”

“You need to move quickly if you’d like to catch up with them. You don’t have time for both.”

I hesitated for only a moment at his calm words, and growled with consuming hatred before pushing myself to my feet, glaring at the Guardian for a moment more before turning my gaze to Thor, still stood where he landed and watching the proceedings with something akin to disbelief. “Where do I go?” I snapped, and he blinked in surprise.

“South-East,” he replied after a moment. “A few day’s walk. Through Asgard, Alfheim, the Enchanted Forest, Nastrond, Nornheim…. He’s on a lake in Varinheim. You’ll hear him from the border. We will,” he amended quickly, offering me a weak smile. I nodded once, short and impatient, flicking my gaze to the Gatekeeper once more.

“If Winter and Temnota call on you, I trust you’ll aid their travel?” I pressed stiffly, leaving no room for disagreement, and he nodded.

“Of course.”

“I don’t believe you,” I muttered, turning away with a shake of my head. “Thor?”

“We’ll get there quicker if we ride.” He moved as he spoke, gesturing for me to follow. I didn’t look back at the sounds of Heimdall getting to his feet, loping tirelessly along the jogging god as he led the way across the Rainbow Bridge. “We know the path they’re taking, Buck. We’ll find them long before they’re in any danger.”

“If we don’t, your gatekeeper will pay the price with his blood,” I spat, keeping my eyes on the path before me even as he slowed a little, baulking.

“We don’t have a chance.”

I bristled in response, my gaze fixed firmly on the girth I was cinching as Thor spoke. “We do. We have to.”

“But Sleipnir is the fastest horse in Asgard. If they’ve taken him, then nothing we do can-”

“Then we’re going to fucking try,” I snarled, turning to face the god as the silver-maned Glaðr fell into step obediently behind me, Gyllir reaching past Thor’s shoulder to nicker at his stablemate obliviously.

“Buck-”

“Thor, I have to try,” I interrupted, my tone dropping to a murmur as my voice cracked. “You know I have to try.”

He considered me for a moment before nodding once, slinging himself into the saddle of the golden horse beside him. “They don’t have that much of a head start. Hopefully, we can catch them before they get into the mountains – there’s a passage to Jotunheim out there, somewhere,” he added, wincing minutely at the thought of all 5’4” of my partner coming up against the Frost Giants. “It hasn’t been used since Lo- in a very long time,” he muttered, interrupting himself with a grimace, “but I still shouldn’t like to risk it. We should get moving.”

With a silent nod, the lump in my throat proving too much for me to speak, I guided my horse into the footsteps of his own, the sound of horseshoes on street ringing deafeningly around us as we left the stable. Even in my fear and anxiety, I found myself looking around as we circled around the palace’s significant perimeter, the mountains rising in the distance. The Plain of Ida stretched before us in its vastness, dotted with small ponds amongst rolling fields, sparse copses interspersed  by low shrubbery breaking up the endless landscape until the ground began to slope upward. I couldn’t keep myself from searching the Plain, eyes flitting over the open ground in a desperate, futile attempt to find my Bug before venturing away from the city. While the chance was slim, I couldn’t hold in a soft sigh of disappointment when they were nowhere to be seen.

“Are you ready for this?” Thor asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft as he glanced my way. The shimmering stallion beneath him was dancing eagerly, hot-footed and hot-headed, and I smiled weakly at his excitement.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I breathed, turning my gaze once more to the expanse before me.

I still saw the towering mountains in my nightmares, rising overhead as intimidating spires that cast cold shadows. I’d explored the peaks as we searched tirelessly for the Spiders, scrabbling through crevasse and along barren ridge, terror filling my eyes with tears that impaired my vision until I’d stumble and fall to my knees, pausing only long enough to sob myself dry before continuing. Those mountains, with their endless, aimless, winding paths, were prime real estate for every monster my subconscious could elicit from the depths and put in my path.

I swore to myself long ago that I’d never step foot on those windswept trails again – but here I was, as Glaðr broke into a gallop beneath me, legs stretching to capacity as she raced alongside her stablemate, hurtling towards the mountains as the wind whipped my hair in stinging lashes across my face.

Here I was, chasing down yet another person who’d been lost to this hellish realm and its cursed beasts, dancing with death to a tune only they could hear.

I understood the allure, of course. The temptation to ease the wolf’s suffering was a stone in my chest, too – but not one I would die for. If there was only my life to worry about, I’d be far more likely to make an attempt; as it was, my family had been through enough, and my death was not something they would take in stride. If I failed and perished, they – especially the more fragile of the group – may never recover.

And if I succeeded… If I succeeded, we would all die, and that possibility was more than I could bare think about.

The hooves churned up the grass beneath us, so shining green that I’d almost believe it spun from emeralds if not for the soft whump of horseshoes on plant matter. My eyes gravitated downwards, and I swallowed, struck suddenly at the thought of my inexperienced partner finding themselves beneath the eight-legged Sleipnir, nausea rising in my throat.

I’m coming, my love. I’m coming. Please be safe.

Thor made us slow to a trot as we wound our way through passes and trails, bordered on each side by towering rock faces. He told tales of rivers that used to wind between the mountains, long run dry and leaving these paths in their wake, but I was only half listening. Somewhere on the wind was the distant sound of grunts and snorts, a nose-stinging stench carried by the breeze as it curled between the crevices. It was too far yet for Thor to detect, and I watched him silently as it grew steadily stronger, unable to find the words to describe the noises and scents I was picking up, until finally his spine stiffened. His hand raised, curling into a fist by his head as he drew to a halt and indicating for me to do the same.

My gaze skimmed over the set of his shoulders, analysing the line of his jaw as his head turned to follow the breeze. Half-turning, he looked at me with worry in his eyes.

“Mountain giants,” he muttered, seemingly uncomfortable at needing to keep his voice low. “Nothing we couldn’t handle, but not something we have time for. It’s best if we can avoid them.”

I nodded once, remaining silent to show my understanding, and he offered a weak smile before moving forward.

He’s nervous, I noted distantly, the realisation doing little to settle my own fear. … What makes the God of Thunder nervous?

The sounds came and went as we continued along the trail at a walk, each clatter of metal on stone making me wince, certain we would be discovered. At one point, the brutish groans rose to a din, echoing all around us, and I closed my eyes for fear I’d choke on the odour.

But eventually the perturbing noises faded, and we crossed the last peak, the land opening up once more beneath us.

The plains here were more interspersed, divided by winding rivers forged by majestic bridges, and forests sprawling across the landscape.

And a welcome party sat on horseback at the bottom of the slope, bows slung over their shoulders, luminescent and breathtakingly beautiful.

We approached slowly, leaving plenty of time for them to react as they saw fit, but Thor was smiling.

“The Light Elves,” he offered under his breath as the land began to level out beneath us. “The Ljósálfar, who reside in Alfheim, under the care of the Vanir god, Freyr. A benevolent and beautiful people, much like their leader; this place is a paradise of art and music. They receive visitors with grace – unless invoked otherwise,” he added, brow furrowing minutely. “… This border never used to be guarded.”

I saw his fingers twitch minutely, holding back the urge to reach for his hammer by his waist, and my own hands tensed instinctively around the reins.

One moved forward, his mount gleaming white in a dazzling sunlight, silver hair trailing down his back as he considered us.

“Thor Odinson, Prince of Asgard,” my companion introduced himself, bowing in his seat as much as his frame and armour allowed. “I humbly ask permission to cross your territory with this mortal in search of his mate.”

The elf smiled, bright and surreal, and I felt myself relax immediately, despite the anxiety previously coursing through me. “You seek the human who stole Sleipnir, yes?”

“Yes,” I interrupted quickly as Thor’s mouth opened, squeezing my steed forward gently to approach. “Yes. My partner – mate. Their name is Mars. They didn’t steal him, not really, they-”

“Peace,” the elf interjected soothingly, his hands raising. “We know of your mate and their quest. We found them fleeing the mountains with trolls on their heels – fear not, they are well,” he added quickly when I tensed in alarm. “They are recuperating from their flight in our village before they continue. We were on our way to alert the Asgardians to their theft, in the off chance that their story was inaccurate.”

“They’re here?” I clarified, looking around desperately, as if the elven residences would suddenly emerge from a mirage before my eyes. The elf smiled a little wider, nodding gracefully.

“We shall escort you to them. Come.”

My heart was pounding in my chest as we rode down a wide, seemingly gold-lined streets – an impressive biological achievement with the serum in each cell of my body, but such was my fear at ensuring my love’s well-being. It was all I had not to force the party to move faster, to demand that they get me there now under pain of death.

The elves spoke with soothing tones as we moved through towering homes, made of the same glimmering material that rang out beneath the hooves, their matching white horses walking in perfect synchrony with one another. Music and song radiated from glassless windows, lightening my soul no matter how I fought against it.

“They’re incredible,” I murmured, turning my head infinitesimally toward Thor. A soft smile was curving his lips at the edges, looking almost eerily peaceful.

“They’re thought to have given inspiration for the arts to the humans,” he replied quietly, the characteristic tension easing from his muscles with each note.

“I can see why,” I chuckled, shaking my head. While I had more to worry about, I was just as powerless as the god in the face of their intoxicating melodies, and soon found myself slumped in the saddle, willing to take my time.

They’re safe here. We’re all safe here.

We dismounted a few moments later, and the instant we crossed a threshold into one of the identical buildings, the music ceased, my head snapping up in surprise.

“One-way sound barrier,” Thor offered, chuckling. “They’d never get anything done otherwise.”

The words barely registered, however. My gaze was locked on the person sat on delicate, woven mats against the wall, beautiful and captivating – and the mats themselves were no slouch, either.

I was moving before they looked up, bundling their delicate, fragile, painfully mortal body into my arms with a soft sob against their hair, and they froze for a moment before tangling their fingers in my shirt.

“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have- But- But I had to-”

“I know,” I soothed gently, holding them tightly to my chest. “I know, sweetheart. It’s okay. I’m so glad you’re safe… I was so afraid…”

They sniffed, raising their head to peer at me from beneath tear-spiked lashes. “I’m sorr-”

Their words faltered as my mouth met theirs, kissing them deeply, hungrily, relishing every point of contact like a man starved. We were both panting lightly when I drew back, my forehead pressed to theirs. “You’re an idiot,” I breathed, affection laden in the words. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” they chuckled weakly, drawing back to look at me. “…You were right. I couldn’t- I… I can’t do this. We should go home.”

I considered them for a moment, their eyes full of more unshed tears, and set my jaw. “Setting off alone was reckless and dangerous. You could have gotten yourself killed.” They nodded morosely, looking away, and I offered a weak smile. “That’s why I’m coming with you.”