samuelbugs

CHAPTER FOUR IS NOW POSTED! The ships are becoming more relevant now... (Bob caught blushing...?)

Chapters: 4/? Fandom: Thunderbolts (Movie 2025), Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Yelena Belova & Thunderbolts Team Members, Yelena Belova & Robert "Bob" Reynolds, James "Bucky" Barnes & Yelena Belova & Robert "Bob" Reynolds & Alexei Shostakov & Ava Starr & John Walker, Ava Starr & John Walker, Ava Starr & Thunderbolts Team Members, Robert "Bob" Reynolds/John Walker (Marvel), Yelena Belova/Kate Bishop, Robert "Bob" Reynolds & Alexei Shostakov, Alexei Shostakov & John Walker, James "Bucky" Barnes & Yelena Belova & Robert "Bob" Reynolds & Alexei Shostakov & Ava Starr & John Walker & Sam Wilson, Thunderbolts Team Members & Sam Wilson (Marvel), James "Bucky" Barnes/Sam Wilson, Thunderbolts Team Members & John Walker (Marvel), Valentina Allegra de Fontaine & Robert "Bob" Reynolds, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine & Mel (Thunderbolts 2025), Kate Bishop & Thunderbolts Team Members Characters: John Walker (Marvel), Robert "Bob" Reynolds (Marvel), Yelena Belova, Alexei Shostakov, Ava Starr, James "Bucky" Barnes, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Mel (Thunderbolts 2025), Sam Wilson (Marvel) Additional Tags: Found Family, Healing, Thunderbolts Team Members Live in the Watchtower | New Avengers Tower (Marvel) Summary:

Starting from the ending of the movie, Thunderbolts* (The New Avengers), and hopefully reaching to the post(post) credits scene.

Covering the journeys of all the members afterwards, their healing, their coming to terms. Explanations for why they all ended up in the Watchtower, tidbits of them becoming a family, and healing — not fixing — their emotional (and physical) wounds.

Featuring the following ships (eventually):

Charmfire Banner

I love Shayne’s face, he’s like “yeah, I’m their wife” that silly ass smirk.

Court making direct eye contact with Shayne “I will work your wife”. I love these two

Thunderbolts* Fic | Chapter 3

click here for chapter 2 and here for the ao3 ver

Everyone had settled into the tower, save Bucky. It had been only 2 months since Alexei and the Vault Squad had moved in. But soon after…

La Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine had reached out to them, she had called a meeting.

The entire time the team had begun entering the Watch Tower, everything was under surveillance— everyone was under surveillance. She knew that everyone except Barnes had moved in. That was, until today.

“Do you know why we have to wear our suits?” Bob asked Yelena.

“You mean why does everyone but you have to wear their suits?” She corrected him, gently.

Sighing, Bob responded, “Because apparently I’m not cleared for super hero work. And that’s… fair.”

“And also your suit had just disappeared after the whole… err fiasco.”

Bob chuckled, “Yeah… Such a shame about the suit.” He rolled his eyes playfully. Yelena smiled back at him, glad to see him in a good mood despite…

“Valentina.” Yelena said through gritted teeth as their ‘boss’ entered the meeting room.

John had straightened his posture, Bob had hunched over, Yelena glared, Ava rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, Alexei saluted.

“Good. You’re all here.” Valentina said, her presence already announced but she made sure everyone knew once more. Mel trailed behind, quietly.

“You all remember Congressman Barnes, yes?” Before anyone had any time to react or say anything, she continued. “Of course you do. Well, he’s here, joining you all in this… lovely home you’ve made.” She commented, through gritted teeth and a harsh stare.

James Buchanan Barnes appeared from behind the door, entering the meeting room.

“Bucky?” John said, confused.

“The Winter Soldier!” Alexei said excitedly as he quickly moved towards the older — yet younger looking — man.

“Woah— Alexei!” Bucky strained as the larger man hugged him tightly. “It’s… good to see you too?” He wheezed.

“Alexei! Let go of Bucky!” Yelena commanded as Alexei let Bucky go from his bear hug.

“Do not worry so much, Lena! The Winter Soldier can handle a simple hug!”

Valentina regained everyone’s attention with a snap of her fingers. “Yes yes, Bucky is here. Now can we all get down to business? This is very important.”

Alexei quickly shuffled back to his seat, eagerly awaiting Valentina’s news. Bucky sat on the other side of Yelena, facing Alexei. Yelena was sitting facing John, Bucky and Bob on either side of her. Ava was sitting next to John, and Alexei on the other side of John.

“Mel, why don’t you tell them?” Valentina said, gesturing for Mel to stand at the front of the table. Melissa Gold stood forward, hesitant but steadfast. It would be almost impossible to hear Valentina whispering ‘good girl’ under her breath as Mel walked by — that was unless you were a super soldier.

Bucky noticed Mel tense up, but he couldn’t discern whether it was because she was uncomfortable or… something else he couldn’t quite place.

Mel cleared her throat before she started speaking, “Alright, now that we finally have you all together it's time you guys do actual superhero stuff. Interviews, magazine covers, that type of thing.”

Alexei’s face lit up, “Oh this is just like when I was state-sponsored super soldier and superhero for Russia!”

Mel cringed a little, but managed to contain it to being only on the inside. “Yes… similar to that. Except well, you’re the Avengers.”

Yelena commented quietly, “I do not quite like that name.”

Ava gave her a knowing look of, I know right? The last Avengers sucked ass. The two of them had beef for a few of the past avengers… current avengers? No one really knew.

Mel continued, “You’ll be interviewed in a few days from now, introducing yourselves to the public eye… officially.” She gave a brief smile to Val. Val nodded then quickly turned her head to John.

“John, you were promised a clean slate, this is your chance. Don’t fuck it up again, okay?” Valentina said, addressing the man clearly.

Everyone in the room already knew, already saw, what John Walker had done not too long ago. Decapitating a man in public isn’t exactly forgotten, but it can be brushed under the rug.

John’s posture, usually perfect, faltered in that moment. His shoulders rolled forward as if to protect his heart.

While the conversation— more like presentation— continued, Bob was left noticing that John had begun fidgeting with his hands. Bob himself was accustomed to that, constantly playing with the hem of his shirt or picking at his skin.

Bob was aware that John was titled Captain America but was pretty much removed from the job only after a few months. He knew what John did, but no one ever talked about it.

Bob had been slowly regaining his memories, with the help of his mandated therapists— of course— but it was still progress nonetheless. He can only slightly recall when he first saw John’s shame room. It wasn’t him killing that man… it was… his family. Bob couldn’t remember anything other than that.

John. He thought. It's so weird to call him John. After all, almost everybody called him Walker.

After the meeting, everyone except John and Alexei were complaining. Alexei was of course — celebrating, but tried to keep it down as everybody else seemed to not be in the mood.

John was quiet. John wasn’t one to be quiet, usually.

Ava noticed this. While Alexei and Bucky were moving Bucky’s boxes to his room, and Bob and Yelena went into her room, Ava walked over to John who was sitting on the couch. He was simply staring at the blank tv, not turned on.

“You… alright there, Walker?” Ava sat down and tilted her head. The two of them had an understanding of sorts.

“Me? Yeah no, I’m fine.” He brushed off the question, he raised his hand to swat it away as if it were a fly.

“Walker. Your knuckles are white.” Ava pointed out so matter-of-fact-ly it forced John to lift his head and look at her. “Tell me what’s up.”

John blinked, processing the kindness Ava had shown him.

“It’s just Val, but you know her. Doing everything to get under any of our skins.” He looked back at the TV.

“You can talk to me, you know. To any one of us, if you need.”

“You sound like Bob’s mandated therapist.” John joked lightly, partly and Bob’s expense. But to be fair he didn’t know any other therapists.

“You know what I mean, John.” It was a long time since John heard his first name not being used condescendingly. His gaze softened, but only for a moment.

“I’ll think about it.” He finally said. Ava looked at him, her eyebrows slightly upturned. She stood up abruptly a moment after.

“Well, no one can’t say I didn’t try being emotionally intelligent.” She said with a slight chuckle as she looked down at John one last time before turning away and walking to Yelena’s room to join her and Bob in their regular routine of gossiping.

“Thanks a lot, Doctor Phil!” He called after her as she walked away. Ava playfully flipped him off as she phased through the door. John never got used to her phasing, it was quite unsettling.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

Ava phased into Yelena’s room. It was decorated with posters and Knick-knacks, it looked lived in. It looked… like home.

“My girl Ava!” Yelena smiled widely as she stood up and embraced her friend as if they had not seen each other moments before.

“Hey don’t squeeze so tightly!”

“Just making sure you won’t phase away!” She said as she let go and sat back down on the floor where she and Bob were chilling.

“That’s not how my powers work but alright…” Ava chuckled as she joined the other two.

“How’s John?” Bob asked, he didn’t really expect to, but he did. Yelena and Ava looked at him as if the world had turned upside down.

“John?” Ava said confused before answering the question. Bob and John never really talked on an emotional level before. “He’s… well he’s going to say he’s fine but he’s not.”

“Nothing we can do if he’s not going to open up.” Yelena added on. Ava echoed the sentiment by nodding.

“Why’re you asking?” Ava tilted her head slightly to one side. Bob thought for a moment.

“I don’t know… he seemed really hurt.” Am I not allowed to ask how someone is? He thought. “Is it illegal to ask how Walker is?” He said, his tone suddenly a little harsh. Ava lifted her hands up in defense.

“Just curious, no need to be so bloody defensive.” Ava scoffed. Yelena put her hand on Bob’s shoulder .

“It’s alright Bob, we were just curious, we did not mean to upset you.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap like that.” Bob fiddled with the hem of his shirt. He looked up to see into Yelena’s eyes as she smiled. It made him feel safer.

“Okay is there something up with Bucky or am I the only one seeing it?” Yelena quickly changed a subject as she rolled onto her knees to lean closer into the middle of the triangle the three of them had formed.

“I thought I was going crazy! Him walking in here like a wounded puppy.” Ava responded with relief.

“What’s this about?” Bob asked.

“Why else would Bucky join us? He had a stable life… I’m thinking something happened between him and Sam Wilson.”

“Captain America?” Bob had to jog his memory in order to remember why that name was so familiar.

“Yes! Captain America. Although he was originally the Falcon… part of the U.S. Airforce.” Yelena would’ve gone on about the intel she knew if it wasn’t for Ava,

“Alright Lena, we know you know a lot about people.” Ava playfully nudged her and Yelena chuckled.

“Wait, are you saying that…?” Bob trailed off as he began to piece together what his two friends meant. “Wasn’t he from the 40’s? I mean do you really think…”

After a moment Bob’s eyes widened.

“Oh my god. He is gay isn’t he?”

Yelena and Ava nodded in unison.

“I thought you’d know?” Ava pointed out.

“Because I’m gay?”

“Well…” Ava looked at Yelena and they locked eyes. Ava then looked back at Bob and shrugged. “Yeah.”

“I don’t think I ever told you guys.”

“You didn’t have to! We have excellent gaydar.” Yelena smiled widely.

“Yeah and mine is awful.” Bob rolled his eyes playfully and chuckled.

“Which is a shame, but we will help you figure out if someone is into men or not.”

“We’ll be your wing-women.” Ava nodded her head and smiled.

“And you guys? Are you also queer?” He felt awkward for asking the question, but he just wanted to get to know them better.

Yelena spoke up first, “I don’t know, actually. I wasn’t really given any time after the red room to… explore, I suppose.” The room fell silent for a moment. “One of my trainers, in the red room, we were close. I always saw him as a mentor figure. He saw me as… something else. When he was murdered I went to go and investigate and I found out that he hired sex workers to pretend to be me.” Yelena stared at the floor for a few seconds before mustering up the courage to continue. “I’d say I’m asexual. Maybe aromantic, not sure yet.”

Ava was hesitant but she placed her hand gently on Yelena’s back. “I’m sorry about that…” she trailed off.

“Nothing you could’ve done.” She smiled plainly.

“It’s still awful.” Bob added. “We’re just glad you’re okay now.”

“You have us, darling.” Ava smiled, Bob followed suit. Yelena relaxed. She hadn’t told anyone before, but it felt good to get off her chest.

“I also didn’t have much time to think about my sexuality.” Ava continued, “Growing up in labs and working for shield… couldn’t really sit down and talk about it to anyone.” She gestured to the others. “But I have you guys. Whether I like it or not.” She chuckled.

“I knew I was attracted to men since I was a teenager. But my dad… lets just say he wouldn’t have it if I came out. So I just… stayed quiet at home.” Bob shared, scratching at his upper arm. “Do you think anybody other than Bucky and I — and you guys — is queer too?”

Yelena shook her head. “I don’t think I want to speculate about my dad's sexual preferences.” She stuck out her tongue and the other two chuckled.

“What about Walker?” Bob asked, diverting it away from Alexei. “I don’t think so but given my track record…”

“He stumps me.” Ava admitted. “Pretty closed off. He had a wife and a kid… that’s about all I know.” She shrugged.

Yelena laughed. “I cannot imagine Walker being into men, but I agree. It’s a possibility. He was in the military after all, surrounded by a bunch of other hot and sweaty men…” Ava shoved her playfully.

“Okay! We get it!” Ava chuckled.

Thunderbolts* Fic | Chapter 2

Click here for chapter 1, and here for the ao3 ver

Bob and Yelena started living in the tower together, though their mutual depression and insomnia didn’t really help each other out. Some days Yelena would make Mac n’ Cheese with the one pot they had in the whole tower, others she’d just order take out. Honestly the place wasn’t clean, but it wasn’t a total wreck either.

Then, two weeks after darkness fell on New York, Walker showed up on the common room floor with several plastic bags hanging on his arms. Yelena and Bob turned around quickly from the television, their usual activity.

“Walker, what are you doing here?” Yelena asked quickly, her face scrunched in confusion. Walker sighed as he walked over to the kitchen side of the common room.

“Don’t get it twisted, okay, my lease was up on the place I was living in, and, well, Valentina offered all of us to live here. Just more convenient.” He shrugged, placing the bags on the counter. Fresh fruits and vegetables. Bob and Yelena’s mouths watered, they hadn’t had real food in.. well.. 10 days? That’s how long it’s been since Yelena arrived.

Bob’s head tilted as John started placing stuff in the refrigerator. “So… you’re going to live here, with us?” Walker was a macho military man, did he really want to live with two depressive people?

“Uh, yeah, Bob. I’m living here now.” John’s tone was a little harsh, but he was an asshole, after all. Yelena had just told Bob to ignore whatever stupid shit he’d say.

John had brought routine and order to the small (well, small in the size of people, the watchtower is huge) household. The two would wake up and find John had made a hearty breakfast big enough for three of them— and more. The common room became spotless, all the crumpled napkins and empty chip bags disappeared by the next day.

Despite Walker having joined the two of them, he kept to himself. Only really ever interacting with them to tell them dinner was ready. Bob was wondering what was stuck up his ass all the time.

As he worked in therapy some memories became more clear. Yelena’s shame room, for example. Neither of them really spoke about it, Yelena didn’t like talking about her past in depth. It would be understandable why she was depressed. Beaten into perfection and if she was the best in her class her friends would be beaten. She’d killed so many people and she carried that guilt with her.

The two got closer, Bob spent most of his time in the common area and Lena’s room. She showed him how she did her makeup and he told her he used to wear eyeliner back when he was… well, addicted. They painted their nails, watched movies, and overall just enjoyed each other’s company.

Bob and Walker weirdly got closer too. Not especially, but more than before. Bob would compliment John’s cooking and he would be quiet for a few moments, then thank him. Whenever Bob would quietly complain about being hungry or craving something, John would all of a sudden place down a bowl of strawberries, or home-made ramen.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

One night John was reading some book in his room when he heard some noises. They were faint, but because he had super-soldier serum coursing through his veins— the majority of his senses were enhanced. Rubbing his eyes, John walked out of his room (neatly decorated and organized, of course, displaying all his medals) and walked into the kitchen to see Ava Starr for a second only for her to quickly disappear a moment later. He brought his hand up to his temple, sighing he said,

“Ava I know you’re here, you don’t have to hide.”

Ava stood for a moment in her quantum state, thinking. Then a moment later she reappeared, still hesitant, though.

“I thought you’d still be asleep, I did—“ Ava started, but then was rudely interrupted by John.

“I have night terrors.” He said blankly. He didn’t actually expect to say that, but he did.

“Oh.” Ava said, raising her eyebrows for a moment then looking away. The two stood in silence for a moment. Then John moved towards the fridge and pulled out a protein shake and began to drink it casually and turned around to head towards his room. Ava blinked slowly, then John turned his head around and said,

“You know, you could stay here. In the tower, I mean.” He swallowed down another sip from the shake. “You don’t have to hide anymore, Ava.”

Ava chuckled, putting her hands on her hips she said, “Surprised you remembered my name, Walker.” “Surprised you remembered mine.” He retorted before walking back to his bedroom.

Ava was left standing in the kitchen, alone. She laughed lightly to herself, how ridiculous it was that she was worried about Yelena and Bob being mad at her asking to stay here, when Walker didn’t even bat an eye when she appeared. Phasing her hand through the cabinet door, she grabbed a box of cereal and began eating it. She looked to see the brand… Wheaties. Ava thought for a moment that Yelena’s dad would probably be complaining that the New Avengers weren’t on the box.

The New Avengers weren’t given any missions, and were barely even contacted by Valentina, other than her initial invitation to live in the tower — which, of course, no one responded to. Not even disgraced-congressman James Buchanan Barnes replied.

Ava had figured the radio silence was because there was a bloody PR nightmare. But who was she to care? It’s not like Valentina even cared where they were.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

When the rest of the tenants finally realized that Ava had started living in the tower, Bob and Yelena would make her join their activities. The three of them would watch movies, gossip about… whatever they could, do each other’s makeup. And of course, whenever John would grace them with his presence, they’d tease him. Yelena had playfully called them the Vault Squad, since that’s where they all met. Ava and Bob chuckled and nodded, and John smiled and shrugged.

A few weeks after Ava had joined the tower, Yelena had gotten a string of texts from Alexei.

Yelena laughed, why did Alexei type in all caps?

Never mind. She thought. She asked everybody else if it was alright if Alexei could stay here, with them.

Bob was a little hesitant but nodded, he didn’t remember much about Alexei other than his loud presence and the fact he smelled like vodka. Ava and John shrugged, but were accepting of the idea of Alexei living in the tower.

They knew how much he cared about Yelena, and maybe he should live with them. He was an Avenger, after all. Within the next 5 hours, Alexei arrived with around 10 bags of stuff. Yelena went up to help him but he refused, saying,

“I am super soldier! I can carry few bags by myself.” Which is true, he could very much do so, but it wasn’t the weight he was struggling with, but the amount.

John chuckled to himself, the older man looked so silly waddling with 10 different bags slung over his shoulders and hanging off of his arms.

Bob peered out from behind the door frame of his room, he remembered Alexei. He went in to help Bob fight the Void, but he never really interacted with the man.

Bob remembered overhearing Valentina call him “Old Santa” — given how he looked, it was pretty accurate.

Alexei settled in pretty quickly — and loudly. But the place became much more lively, and Yelena began being less depressed than usual, which at this point was not-actively-suffering type depression.

Because Alexei joined the watchtower, John now had to cook tenfold. But that wasn’t an issue for him, John actually needed some routine, and cooking not only provided that — it also gave him a way to say things non-verbally. Feeding the rest of the team was a sort of “thank you” from John. Although no one mentioned it, they all could tell John cared about them.

It was funny though, how John wouldn’t let anybody into the kitchen while he was cooking, unless it was something easy like toast or just heating some leftovers. He claimed it was because they would, in his words,

“Distract me, or worse, mess up the meal.”

But to John, it was cathartic to cook. And he didn’t really want anyone watching him while he tried to relax.

Ava, however, was tricky. Sometimes she would stand in the kitchen, unseen, trying her best to be as quiet as possible. But after a minute, sometimes even shorter than that, John would say.

“I hear you.” That was always the giveaway. Sometimes, though, she got the jump on him. Typically when John was tired or not paying attention, Ava could pop out in front of him while he’s turning a corner or even standing still.

She would chuckle and phase away, leaving John furious. It wasn’t only Ava who would tease John, though. Yelena would often instigate more than Ava. It was if the two of them were the little sisters of John and they would do anything to annoy him.

Of course they derived joy from the sight of John being pissed or spooked, but they only did so because they knew he could handle it.

John figured it was because they were becoming more comfortable with him.

Both were true at the same time.

To the girls, it felt good to have some fun. To John, it felt good that they didn’t see him as a violent person who could snap at any moment.

Thunderbolts* Fanfiction | Chapter 1

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/79833726/share

“For years, I have been working secretly to develop a new age of protection. Today, the citizens of the United States needed that protection and thanks to my hard work— they got it. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the New Avengers.” The six figures standing behind La Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine shared glances, confused at how they were just conned into becoming the New Avengers, as Valentina had stated.

Yelena Belova’s eyes transformed from a confused squint to wide-eyed expression at the words, the furrow in her brow softening as she realized her dream came true, but at what cost?

James Buchanan Barnes — better known as Bucky, formerly the Winter Soldier, stood still, the thought processing as he tilted his head.

Alexei Shostakov, the Russian hero known as the Red Guardian, began to smile—oh, how he missed being a public figure and superhero. A wave of nostalgia washed over him as reporters and onlookers began to applaud and cheer, cameras flashing every second or so.

Bob, standing on the far right, began to nod with a smile, clapping with such pride and enthusiasm, despite having no clue what happened earlier.

The applause went on for a while as John Walker — with his now bent in half shield — stared off into the distance, he remembered the feeling of the press, the kind of stress to be Captain America, to be something he wasn’t, but also that familiar confidence boost was something he adored.

Ava Starr awkwardly looked around, she wasn’t used to large crowds, after all she grew up in a laboratory for most of her life, having that sort of attention was new to her, almost scary.

Bucky looked towards Yelena, his mouth slightly agape as none of them had expected this to happen, he hadn’t completely trusted Mel, Valentina’s assistant of sorts, but he did not see him and his band of misfits becoming the New Avengers to be on their list. Mel was standing the farthest to the right, behind Valentina but in front of the New Avengers, her clipboard held flat against the front of her hips. Yelena took a moment to consider the situation then stepped forward, passing Mel, and towards Valentina. Valentina was smiling so smugly thinking she had won until:

“We own you know.” Yelena whispered into her ear. Valentina’s smile faded, her attempt at swallowing the frown her lips were making wasn’t all that great, but she recovered with a forced smile. Yelena turned to face the cameras, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the abrasions on her skin seeping into her bones and she began to feel so tired, but they had won.

…

Right?

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

Days had passed since darkness fell onto Manhattan, as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone. People had been thrown into past memories, shameful, scary, traumatizing.

The New Avengers had been the ones to stop it, but no one really understood how. It seemed that everyone was keeping what happened under wraps. In the days that had followed the need for therapists skyrocketed — maybe because those “shame rooms”, as they came to be known, made people relive things they had forgotten (or wanted to forget).

Up in the Watchtower (formerly the Avengers Tower – formerly Stark Tower…), people were walking on eggshells around Bob, and he felt it. No one explained where injuries came from, why no one would tell him what happened after he attacked Valentina as Sentry. It was all fuzzy, a blur, covered in darkness. Eventually the pieces clicked, when he had touched Yelena and Walker in the bunker, he was transported somewhere, he saw their memories, their shame rooms.

Had he been the cause of the darkness that overtook New York? Had he hurt his friends?

When Yelena went home the night after the attack, she looked in the mirror for the first time in a long time, checking to see if her makeup was smudged while she was on camera.

She unzipped the top half of her suit, letting it bundle around her hips, to see a long bruise circling around her neck, that certainly wasn’t before she entered the void. It seems as though whatever physical thing happened to people in the void, was real.

She carefully patched up the scrapes and applied ice to the bruises on her neck where she was previously strangled by a cloth and a plastic wire.

Yelena thought about taking a shower, but she was exhausted. The shortest of her hairs were plastered on her forehead by sweat. Yelena quickly splashed water on her face and wiped off her makeup with some wipes on the side of the sink.

Valentina was likely to contact her in the next few hours – or days, it really depended with her and her schedules – and talk about the “New Avengers”. Yelena dragged herself to her bed, she let her body fall on the mattress with an “oomf” breaking from her throat.

As her eyes grew heavy and her muscles slowly relaxed – as much as they could – she had a thought pop into her head. Would Bob be okay on his own? It was a valid question, they had promised to stick together, but he was quickly whisked away after the press and brought to the Watchtower for his “protection”. What Valentina really meant was protection for everyone else. Yelena had argued it, saying that Bob was his own person but Valentina responded with,

“Robert is very capable of choosing his own decisions, I agree with you, Ms. Belova. Robert, where would you like to go?” Bob looked between Yelena and Valentina, he trusted Yelena more, but Valentina was still manipulating him.

“I- uh- I mean I’d like to go back to the Watchtower, but I want to stay with Yelena.” He said with those dark blue puppy-dog eyes of his, fiddling with the hem of his dark blue sweater. Yelena frowned, Bob should do what he wants, but Yelena did not want to step foot in the Watchtower.

“I can’t go to the tower, Bob.” She said, shaking her head slightly. Bob lowered his head, he didn’t have anywhere else to go but the tower, but he felt safe with Yelena. She was someone who understood him. Yelena went up and hugged Bob, promising she’d be back. Bob let out a sigh and when the hug ended, he followed Valentina back to the Watchtower.

The next few days in the watchtower were lonely. The tower was large and it had so many empty rooms that he couldn’t help but feel lonely. Everybody else had their own homes, Yelena had her apartment, Bucky had his, Ava had her own apartment, even. Yelena called almost everyday to check up on Bob, promising she’d go to the tower some time. He had an inkling her hesitation didn’t have to do with Valentina or him.

Bob had started therapy, although Valentina had mandated it, he actually wanted to go. His therapist wasn’t that bad, actually, he was nervous about the whole experience given that his mother had documented mental illness and when she would go away for a few weeks she would come back less… her. He was always afraid of what they did to her, and afraid of what his dad would do to him while she was gone.

But he figured he needed help, and he wanted to get better. He had people worth getting better for. Heck, even Walker was worried about him. He remembered what he said on the streets of New York after the huge gap in his memory,

“You did great in there, Bob.” Not Bobby, not Robert, but Bob. Walker had given him a nod, which was probably the nicest thing Walker had done or said in the whole time he’d known him. “Thanks, Walker.” He smiled, the skin around his eyes creasing. “In— in where?”

Bob couldn’t help but melt at the praise then. But he had begun to piece together the gap in his memory by the end of the week. “In there”, the shame rooms he remembered walking into— Yelena’s and Walkers— everything in there was so… real.

Everyone called the terrorist who unleashed the darkness on New York “the Void”. But that was him, that was Robert Reynolds. He took almost all of New York City into a dark place all because of… Valentina. She did something to him, to stop him from hurting her.

She never did trust him in the first place, nobody should have. He’s a mentally unstable person with crazy new super powers, of course people didn’t trust him, they had no reason to.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Bob turned around from his place on the couch. He’d spent days sitting there, watching television way too much for it to be healthy. But there she was, Yelena.

“Miss me, Bob?” She said with a coy smile. Bob smiled haphazardly, he was having a bit of a depressive episode then. It was good to see a familiar face, after all it had been 5 days since darkness fell on New York.

Yelena leaned against the door frame of the common room. Bob’s hair was a little greasy and there were deep bags under his eyes.

“I want you to know why I didn’t want to come here at first.” Yelena sat down next to him, Bob shuffled slightly to the side making room for her.

“You don’t have to- I understand why, I mean I hurt y-“ Yelena cut him off. Her eyebrows furrowed. “No, don’t start. Let me explain, okay?” Bob sighed in defeat and Yelena adjusted her posture.

“I don’t think I told you this, I don’t think many people know- but my sister…” She took a moment to breathe. “Natasha Romanoff. My sister, she was an avenger.” Bob tilted his head slightly, his body relaxing a little, his shoulders lowering. “When we were announced as the new avengers, I was excited, but it reminded me of my sister. She used to live here, in this exact tower, with the other avengers.” She explained, her eyes looking down to the carpet and the feet of the coffee table in front of them.

“I didn’t know if I was ready, ever since she died there was a… void. And without anyone it just got darker.” She looked at Bob. “But then we found each other, we made a team. I promised we’d stay together. And I’m going to keep to my promise.”

“Yelena—“ Bob looked for the words. It was her who was better at consoling someone, not him. “I’m sorry, that you had to go through that.”

“And I’m sorry for what you had to go through, I shouldn’t have left you with Valentina.” The two smiled at each other, they understood each other. Two souls who suffered in silence until they found each other. They needed company, that was clear.

“It wasn’t too awful, she’s kind of been leaving me alone. Made me start therapy, but I think it’s good for me to go.”

Yelena chuckled, “Of course she did. I'm glad you’re getting help, Bob.”

“So, which room do you want?” Bob stood up, stretching, it was a good stretch, maybe because he felt safer now. “Nobody else has come yet so you get first pick.”

Yelena jumped off the couch in excitement. “Let’s go check them out!” She grabbed Bob’s hand and they went to the elevator.

Krakoa’s like dead now, it was only Charles on the island.

Him being paraplegic was such beautiful representation (in my opinion) and then they just… made him able-bodied one day.

When given the choice to return back to Earth after saving Rocky, Grace stays. Not because he can’t go back, but because there’s nothing on Earth for him.

All the people he thought were his friends ended up betraying him by throwing him into space against his will. The only thing that he loved back at home was teaching.

So when given the opportunity to go back? He doesn’t. Because to Grace, being “hailed a hero” isn’t what he wants.

I almost forgot to draw John’s moles and I was in such disparity.

W/o text under the cut

The scream I scrumpt when the guy picked up the phone and said “yes Miss De Fontaine”. I AM CRYING WONDERING HOW THE THUNDERBOLTS ARE GONNA HANDLE THIS NOW THAT THEYRE AVENGERS… will we get a nod to them as well??

WILL WE GET A FIGHT SCENE BETWEEN JOHN AND MATT LIKE IN THE COMICS???