#mcu self insert

“We’re supposed to be rehabbing your knee, not doing one of your experiments. Turn off your brain for just a second,” Steve told you, holding out an elastic band for you to start stretching with.

You huffed, “Why are you rehabbing my knee, anyway? You’re not a licensed physician.”

“He’s not, but he’s been beaten up so many times he can pretty much be an honorary doctor by this point,” Bucky joked as he strode over and leaned against the wall. “What are you talking about, anyway? What’s up with Greece?”

“Nothing, nothing, just something I’m working on,” you waved your hand dismissively while Bucky rolled his eyes. “Don’t give me that look.”

“You not sharing things is a bad sign,” Bucky said. “You know who else does that same shit? Steve.”

Steve rolled his eyes, “I do not.”

“Full of shit, that’s what you are. Full of shit,” Bucky shoved Steve jokingly on his shoulder and turned to you again. “So what is it? Is this actually just an elaborate coverup for you to go on a vacation with Castle?”

“No…” you trailed ff, eyes widening at the thought. “That’s a good one, though. I’ll use that.”

“And I’m sure Tony will love it,” Steve chimed in. “Come on, what’s going on? You and Banner have been acting very shady, lately.”

You scoffed. You were going to argue about this, but when you looked up, Steve and Bucky were glaring at you waiting for a real answer. You sighed and looked around to make sure no one else was in the gym before you spoke, “This doesn’t go back to Tony.”

“Even better,” Bucky quipped. “What is it?”

You chewed on your lip as you considered just how insane this sounded, “So there was some pottery, likely dating back to Ancient Greece, like, for real, based on the experts we consulted with, uh…it was part of that shipment Tony and I went to check on. Didn’t realize that was the big prize.”

Steve frowned, “The Bratva Boys getting into art theft?”

“I don’t think those morons knew what it was. They probably thought it was hiding drugs or something, but, uh…so Frank kind of shattered it, a bunch of red dust came out and went inside him, and if you thought he was a beast before, he’s much, much more murderous after that.”

“Shit,” both soldiers swore as they listened to this.

“Oh, and it gets better. We took a piece of it back that night, right? Next day, it was whole again as if it wasn’t obliterated into bits and pieces.”

Steve cleared his throat and glanced to Bucky who shook his head, raised his hands, said he was tapping out, and went to go lift weights, muttering that ‘spooky shit’ was not on his agenda that day. Steve rolled his eyes and sat down on the bench next to you.

“Did you tell Frank you’re concerned?”

“No…I’m not sure what that’ll do to him. He felt completely fine, nothing showed up on any scans. All we have to go on is what I’ve seen.”

Steve nodded in understanding. “Okay. And your research?”

“Lots, and lots, and lots of dead ends, dead people, and a mysterious vase floating through the planet.” You shrugged your shoulders. “Hence, why I’m thinking I’ll have to do some footwork.”

“Right. Footwork. In this condition.”

“I’m mostly better!” You scoffed. “I’ll take Bruce with me, it’ll be fine! Two science-y people doing research-y things. Sheesh. Are we done?” You asked over Steve’s slight chuckling.

“Considering you barely did anything? Sure, go on. Your knee is completely fine.”

“Sarcasm, on you, Captain?” You shook your head as you stood up from the bench, “Unbecoming, really. I expected more from you.”

You quickly skirted away before he could once again hit you with the small towel. You made your way over to your office space. Blacking out all the windows, you sat down and started working on trying to find anything else about the vase, and tried to look into this more. Honestly, this was going nowhere.

You needed an expert and you knew it. Bruce knew it too, but everyone who actually came into contact with it appeared to be unreachable. Harvard University had some information about it, but there’s was a collection of data sourced from other people, which they hadn’t definitively proven to be true or untrue. You realized that, maybe, your best bet was taking this vase with you and going to an expert. The British Museum’s current and most popular exhibit was on Ancient Egypt, but you saw they had an entire section on Greek Vases, which meant there had to be an expert there you could make an appointment with, right? Some use had to come out of your last name. 

This was fine. You could take Bruce to the British Museum and find out what the fuck was going on with this stupid vase. This was a fine plan, a totally good plan indeed.

Clearing your throat and putting your feet up on your desk, you brought your phone to your ear and stared up at the ceiling as you listened to it ring. You frowned when no one answered. Just as you were about to send a message, you received one yourself.

Come outside.

Chewing on your lip and trying to hide the growing smile, you stood up, went to the elevator, and made your way out to the back of the tower where Frank’s creepy little van was waiting. You were surprised when you saw Frank. It’d been a few days but he seemed…painfully well, which feels insulting, but, really, for someone who’d been on a murder bender, he looked fantastic and refreshed.

“Wow,” you muttered as you walked towards him. “You wear death well for someone who has been eliminating an entire gang these last few days. Dare I say, you look like you’ve been sleeping full 8-hour nights!”

Frank chuckled and shook his head as he walked closer to meet you halfway, “Yeah? What would you say if I told you it’s been, maybe, two hours a night.”

“I’d be horrified and also very impressed with the lack of bags under your eyes,” you murmured and draped your arms around his shoulders as you drew him in closer and your noses touched. “Are you okay?”

Frank chuckled. Shutting his eyes, he tilted his head to the side and pressed his lips against yours, large hands sliding down your back and resting at your hips where he held you in place before gently pulling away. “Actually,” he began. “I’ve never been better. I feel great.”

“Wow,” you nodded slowly. “That’s impressive, and moderately concerning.”

“Ah, come on, enjoy it. I’m usually hobbling around all wrapped up and fucked up,” Frank grinned and nodded over to his van. “Come on, I got something I want to show you.”

“A man just gestured to a van and said he wants to show me something. Let’s see, what can possibly go wrong there?” You asked Frank who guided you towards the passenger side.

He snorted, “Yet you willingly get in.”

“Well, yes, you’re pretty.”

Frank rolled his eyes, muttering that he was far from pretty as he helped you into the passenger seat. He shut the door behind you, climbed into the driver’s seat, but didn’t start the car. He instead surprised you by reaching into the back and grabbing a black plastic bag that crinkled loudly as he brought it over to him.

You studied him with a raised eyebrow, “Dude, we could go upstairs, you know.”

He shrugged a shoulder, “I just wanted time with you, not the whole tower,” he explained as he opened the bag and lifted up two white styrofoam cups. “Try this.”

“Is this drugs?”

“Does it look like drugs?” He scoffed as you took a cup from him. You popped off the plastic lid and peered into the ice-cold cup. You noticed the top was smooth and looked a little ice-y, but not quite like ice cream or an Italian ice. You looked up to Frank who grinned, “Helado de Coco, place out in Sunset. It’s ice with a drop of cream in it, gives it this beautiful, silky texture.”

“That sounds heavenly. What do I got?”

“Cherry for you, coconut for me,” Frank said as he swiped the top of your ice with his spoon and brought it to your lips. You shrugged and leaned forward to eat it, watching as Frank smiled in delight to see you trying it for the first time. Your eyes widened a bit and you slapped your hand over your mouth after trying your first bite. “Right?”

“Holy shit, Frank. You never cease to amaze me,” you blurted out as you stabbed your spoon into his coconut ice.

“I know — hey!” He laughed. “Manners, princess, damn.”

“I have to know!” You said quickly and tried it. “Fuck.”

“And that is the second time I’ve got you sounding like that in this van,” he teased you as he started to eat his ice. “You like it?”

“I’m loving it,” you sighed dreamily and leaned back in your seat to enjoy it. “I’m actually glad you stopped by, I wanted to talk to you.”

“Yeah?” He looked at you from the side, eyes quickly looking you over to see if there was something that needed his immediate attention. “You okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. I just gotta go to London for a few days. I’ve got some stuff I’m working on, taking Dr. Banner with me. Just letting you know in case you miss me,” you teased.

He hummed and watched you closely, “Yeah? What are you working on?”

“Research, sensitive topic. No one here is —“

“That vase huh?” He asked you, watching as you suddenly pouted. “Come on, princess. It wasn’t a hard guess. You had me take that chunk of that vase back for you for a reason, and you been a busy bee lately. That vase was important, wasn’t it?”

“I think so,” you began, not wanting to tell him that maybe, just maybe, there’s something supernatural and weird about it because you didn’t want to worry him, he already had enough on his plate. “No one here really knows, figured I’d take it back to where it was last seen a couple of centuries ago, see some experts at the British Museum — they’ve got serious people there, and see what we can find out.”

“Okay, sounds good.” He nodded in agreement with you. “Well, uh, don’t be gone too long. Okay?”

You shoved the spoon into the cup, slammed it down into the cupholder, and grabbed Frank’s forearm with both hands, “Oh my shit, Frank Castle.”

He groaned, knowing where you were headed with this already, “Don’t even start —“

“You’re going to miss me!” You sang loudly, “You like me! You’re gonna miss me, you’re gonna want me, you’re gonna need me, but I’ll be in another country, and you’ll be here waiting, and I’m gonna —“

Frank cut off your obnoxious singing by grabbing your jaw, pulling you close, and pressing his lips against yours, the taste of coconut on his lips meshing with the cherry on yours. You hummed into the kiss, causing Frank to pull away with a teasing, satisfied smirk.

“You’re a shit,” you mumbled under your breath.

He smirked and wiped the red dye from the corner of your mouth, “I know, princess. Keep me updated on that vase of yours, okay? And, you know, I’m almost wrapped up here with the Bratva Boys. When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow night,” you said quickly. For a moment, you paused to think about it. Should you take Frank with you? If you left him here in New York and something serious happened or you found out something dire and Frank was on another continent, you’d feel incredibly guilty. But damn it, this meant that he needed to find out why you were really going over that stupid vase and how you were worried about him. Okay. Maybe you can tell him on the plane…? 

“Hey,” you cleared your throat. “Go with me?”

“You want me to go with you and the doc?”

“Yeah,” you nodded. “Why not? Could be fun. When’s the last time you were out the country and not serving it, Frank?”

You watched as his head tilted to the side. It seemed like he completely left you in that moment. Frank’s eyes were pointed on you, but he looked like he was gone, eyes glazed over, not blinking, just a long thousand-yard stare into the distance.

Finally he came back to you with a quick snort of air and a clearing of his throat. He nodded quickly, hand running down the front of his face before scratching at his stubble, “Yeah, yeah. Okay. Uh…. not sure how easy it is for me to get on a plane, though. Not sure if you noticed, but I’m pretty sure I’m a flight-risk, an everything-risk, actually.”

You stared at him, eyebrows up in surprise, “Oh, honey….that’s cute you think we’re flying commercial.”

Frank stared at you for a moment before his lips curled in a smirk “I fucking knew that little billion dollar princess was in there somewhere,” he remarked while you grinned.

~*~

“What do you mean you don’t want to go!?” You threw your hands up as you stared at Bruce. “It would be so fun!”

“Yeah. Big guy in a big museum with priceless, irreplaceable artifacts,” Bruce stared at you. “With the Punisher. Sure.”

“Hey, Frank is sweet.”

“I’m sure Frank is very nice to you, and he was quite fine with me, but for the benefits of, well, everyone, I will sit this one out. Just call me, you’ll be fine. You should probably tell him why you’re going, too.”

“And why are we telling Frank why my spawn is going to London on the down low?” Tony asked.

Bruce jumped and dropped a beaker from his hand onto the ground. He swore loudly as the ground began to smoke and he ran to find something to neutralize it. You nearly fell out of your chair as your dad stepped out from behind one of the storage lockers in the lab.

“Were you spying?” You shouted. “How did you get in here?”

“It’s literally my lab in my tower, I can go anywhere I want,” Tony crossed his arms over his chest and stared at you. “Now, what’s going on, Y/N, and where are we going?”

Before Tony could get too excited, Y/N piped up from her spot by Stephen’s side. “That’s where you’re wrong. While the song may have become a chart topper in November 1988 after serving in Buena Vista’s Cocktail soundtrack, it actually debuted four months earlier in July.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Crap, she’s right.” Natasha laughed, turning her phone around to show the song’s details.

“How do you two even remember all this junk?” Wanda asked incredulously.

“It’s because they’re both weirdos. It’s no kidding they get along so well.” Clint joked, picking at his nails.

Stephen turned to Y/N and smiled before squeezing her shoulder kindly. “I’d be lost without my apprentice,” he said with a wink. She returned a quick smile of her own before turning away to hide a foolish grin that was forming on her face.

It was another Friday night, and the Avengers had gathered at Stark Tower to review battle plans for their mission the next day. Despite Bruce Banner’s best efforts though, strategizing was soon forgotten, and everyone began chatting instead.

As the night wore on, Stephen Strange and his apprentice had astounded everyone with their vast musical knowledge, and the night’s goal had become finding a song to ‘stump the wizards’.

One by one, each Avenger would suggest a song from their spot at the war table. Peter played ‘Midnight Memories’, Natasha chose ‘Back in Black’, even Thor tried his luck with ‘Toxic’. Despite their best efforts though, the sorcerers knew each and every song title, release date, and artist, almost like they were perfectly synchronized.

Stephen and Y/N had become nearly inseparable within the last eight months. When Y/N first arrived at Kamar-Taj the year prior, it was clear that she had the makings of a brilliant sorcerer. She promptly surpassed the other students in spell work and training, soon catching the attention of Doctor Strange himself. Stephen was quick to take her under his wing and serve as a mentor.

Now they fought, trained, and practiced the mystic arts together. They had become so close, that against her better judgment, Y/N began harbouring an epic crush on her mentor.

“I guess it’s my turn.” Steve laughed, running his fingers through his hair.

“You’re our last hope Cap, they’ve guessed every song. If you don’t choose a really hard one, we might have to kick you off the team.” Natasha teased.

“No pressure though, Mr Rogers, Sir. You’re awesome.” Peter assured him with a wide smile.

“Alright, thanks kid,” Tony said, rolling his eyes. “I’m sure he needed that.”

“Back to my roots I guess,” Steve decided with a shrug. “My parents used to like this one. Let’s see how you two do with it.”

Stephen leaned in close to whisper in Y/N’s ear. “I think we can take the old man. Just one more round and we’re champions.”

“Stephen,” Y/N began with a breathy laugh, “Quit making me nervous... and tell your cloak to relax,” she said, gesturing to the agitated cloak of levitation that was flapping about as the game progressed.

Stephen only gave a slight chuckle before sitting back and clearing his throat. He turned to Steve and gave him a sharp look. “Bring it on, Captain.”

Y/N felt a shiver travel down her neck at his words. She could still feel the phantom touch of his breath against her skin from when he had leaned in and whispered to her. She turned to look at him, and smiled at the face that had become so comfortably familiar to her this past year. If only he felt the same way she thought with a twinge of sadness.

Stephen turned and saw Y/N’s look of dismay. “You alright there?” He asked, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She gasped before answering back as coolly as she could manage. “Definitely! I guess the competition is getting to me, is all. Let’s do this!”

He nodded and turned back to the table.

“Ready, you two?” Steve asked

“Shoot, Rogers.”

Tony passed Steve a remote to the stereo. Everyone waited in anticipation as he pressed a button, and the music started playing.

The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it,

Not to mention the Finns.

Folks in Siam do it;

Think of Siamese twins...

Y/N listened to the old timey tune and grinned. Steve wasn’t kidding when he said he’d go back to his roots, this song was from the 1920’s! A song of his childhood, surely.

Some Argentines

Without means do it.

People say in Boston

even beans do it...

“1928, Cole Porter.” Stephen started confidently. “It debuted in Porter’s first Broadway musical, Paris. Great choice Steve,” he added with a wink.

“Slow down, Wizard. You have yet to give us the song title.” Thor called out from behind a mug of beer.

Stephen turned to Y/N and granted her a mischievous grin, his eyes glinting with humour. “Y/N?”

The apprentice bounced in her seat, excited that she knew the answer. “Let’s do it! Let’s fall in love!” She called out, hugging Stephen.

He pulled out of her embrace and locked eyes with her. “I already have,” he said in a low voice, before pulling her in for a kiss.

Y/N tensed with surprise as Strange leaned forward, lips against her own. After a moment though, she melted into his touch, deepening the kiss, and smiling at the faint prickle of his beard against her skin.

“I love you Stephen,” she whispered hoarsely, not daring to pull away quite yet.

“I know,” he responded, smiling against her lips.

“Oh great. The wizards are in love.” Tony deadpanned from across the room.

That was enough to make them part. Stephen rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly and Y/N gave an embarrassed cough once they realized that the Avengers were all gawking.

“So, that was unexpected.” Bruce said with a quiet laugh.

“Mr Stark, what just happened?” Peter asked incredulously.

“Great question. Steve?”

“Well, they got it right. The song’s called ‘Let’s do it (Let’s fall in love).’”

Wanda giggled from her seat. “Well, you two took that literally.”

“Alright guys,” Clint chuckled. “Let’s give these two some privacy.”

With that, the Avengers filed out, whooping and clapping before leaving the room.

“To love!” Thor toasted before being dragged out by Bruce.

“Congratulations!” Peter called out from behind Natasha.

Tony was the last to leave. “I hope you two know how sickening you are,” he said sarcastically. He paused for a moment, then quirked a brow, “Keep it up.”

“Thanks Stark.”

Tony winked before leading himself out.

The door finally closed, leaving Stephen and Y/N alone together.

Stephen took both of Y/N’s hands in his, and smiled. “Well, that was sufficiently awkward. Anyway, what would you say if I suggested we kiss again?”

Y/N gave his hands a squeeze. “I’d say, let’s do it!”

Let’s fall in love...

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Try reading To The Daisy!!!

“I’d be lost without my apprentice”... see what I did there *eh*??

Oh, in case your interested, here’s my favourite rendition of Cole Porter’s Let’s do it (Let’s fall in love), it’s great!!

Something about Thor listening to ‘Toxic’ just makes me so happy. Oh, and Peter is totally a Directioner. Anyway, what songs do you guys think suits each Avenger????? Now I’m curious.

So this was my first Avengers fic. *yay!* Anyway, I’ll be off now. REQUESTS ARE OPEN