Hidden

by SumOfAllThings

Summary:

The barman’s eye flickered behind me. Moments later a second man stepped up to the bar. The first thing I noticed was how weirdly clean he was. He was taller than me by several inches and looked like he ate and exercised regularly.

My hindbrain started screaming out a warning - bells, whistles... the whole shebang.

The man was trouble.

“Uh,” I said, easing back. “Hi...”

Notes:

I love Tony Stark. That is all.

Chapter 1: Discovered

I usually avoided crowded places. People had a nasty tendency of noticing me. I’d learned over the years, though countless painful experiences, that being noticed was not a good thing. I knew I didn’t help matters. Being quiet and unassuming went against my nature. More often than not I made bad situations a thousand times worse just by opening my mouth. I had a knack for pissing people off.

My stomach grumbled and cramped, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten anything for almost three days. I didn’t have a choice. If I wanted to survive I needed to interact with people. I needed to trade.

Still, I hesitated. It had been a long time since I last set foot in an actual town. I felt a cold sweat break out across my forehead as I considered all the things that could go wrong. I hastily wiped a dirty cuff across my brow and wondered if the inhabitants would realise I was alone and unaffiliated. Would they even care?

I started when I heard a boom of rambunctious laughter, resonating from inside the saloon. I stopped mid-step, spooked. The place looked rough. Was I really desperate enough to go in there?

Yup, I decided as my stomach cramped again, realising I really didn’t have a choice. I kept moving, pushing through the swinging doors and stepping into the hellhole with  the bravo of a man twice my size.

I resisted the urge to fiddle with the scarf covering the lower half of my face. I’d made sure it was securely fashioned. There wasn’t any point in brining more attention to it than necessary.

I quickly scanned the room. Predictably, everyone was staring at me. I wasn’t too worried yet. They would have stared at anyone, particularly a stranger. It was getting them to lose interest that was the trick.

“What can I get ya?” the barman asked, his single eye roaming speculatively over my face and slowly down my body. The guy had a ragged scar covering the left side of his face and virtually no hair on his pus covered scalp. Part of me wondered if he was diseased, and if I’d be better off going elsewhere.

Except there wasn’t anywhere else in a twenty mile radius. 

“Yeah,” I said, leaning forward and trying to keep my voice pitched low. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t lose the inflection in my accent and it usually captured people's attention. Attention was bad. “I have some items that might be of interest.”

“Being?” the man asked, his expression bored.

“Knives. Good ones too. In mint condition.”

“What sort of knives?”

“Why does it matter,” I said, instantly regretting my tone when the man’s single eye narrowed irritably. “Not kitchen knives, if that’s what your asking. They’re still sharp. The sort of knives bad people use to stab one another with.”

“You looking to trade?”

Now we were getting somewhere.

“Yeah, for food,” I said immediately, aware I sounded a little desperate but unable to tamper down the need to get the food, and get the hell out of dodge. “Canned goods, preferably.”

The barman’s eye flickered behind me as another man stepped up to the bar. The first thing I noticed about him was how clean he was. He had light blonde hair and deep blue eyes. He was taller than me by several inches and looked like he ate and exercised regularly.

My hindbrain started screaming out a warning to run. The man was dangerous.

“Uh, hi,” I croaked, leaning back a little.

The stranger stared intensely back at me. “You have something to trade?” he asked.

I looked at the barman, hoping for a little help. Fat fucking chance there. The man was already moving away. He was clearly nervous.

Danger.

“You know what, on second thought I should probably be going. People to see, places to go. See ya -”

I broke off, sputtering as the man scruffed me and dragged me to the back of the room. My fucking toes were dangling above the goddamn floor. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I grabbed his wrist with both hands and used the momentum to kick the asshole as hard as I could in the shin.

And it did absolutely fucking nothing. He didn’t even flinch.

“Whatcha doin’ Steve?” a dark haired man asked as he stepped lazily towards us. He had light blue eyes and a classically handsome square jaw. He was equally as clean as the douche currently scruffing me, but not quite as well built. He stared impassively back at me when our eyes met.

The newcomer wasn’t going to help me. No one in the bar was going to fucking help me. Steve’s grip on my neck slackened, not letting go but no longer squeezing. I sucked in a desperate breath and tried to break free. The man squeezed in warning and then threw me into a booth. I scrambled to escape the other end and the brunet sat down, blocking my exit. I stared at him warily, waiting.

Danger.

Steve sat down and I found myself sandwiched between the two men. The two very large, very healthy looking men.

Trapped.

“Can’t you smell it?” the blonde asked, leaning into my personal space and, jesus, scenting me.

“Get away from me,” I choked, shoving with all my strength. The man didn’t even have the good manners to so much as sway. “Seriously, let me out. I’m leaving.”

“I thought you wanted to trade?” Steve said, his face still disturbingly close.

“I did, with the guy at the bar. You guys, not so much. So if you’ll just get the hell out of my way -”

“Why do you wear the covering?” the dark haired one asked, trailing his fingers against the scarf like he had any right.

I turned to snap at him when I realised the man had a metal arm. And it looked fully functional. It was actually kind of beautiful.

“Don’t like to scare the locals,” I answered, tearing my gaze from the man's arm and meeting his eyes with a raised eyebrow. “Seriously, there is some gruesome shit going on under here. It might even be contagious…”

“Bucky,” Steve said, settling his hand on the back of my nape and squeezing. “Do you smell it?”

Bucky didn’t just lean into my space. He actually pressed his face into the junction between my shoulder and neck and inhaled. I had this sudden, terrifying feeling that he was going to tear my throat out with his teeth.

“It’s faint, but yeah, I’m picking up the scent. Damn, Steve.”

Damn didn’t quite cover it. Fuck, they knew. They knew.

“OK,” I said, my voice rising, along with the hysteria. “You need to get out of my way, now.”

Except they weren't going to. No one was going to help me. And they knew it.

“Secure him,” Steve said, his face impassive as stood up and left the booth, approaching the barman.

I immediately tried to scramble out after him, but Bucky grabbed me with his metal arm and I realised pretty quickly that I wasn’t going anywhere.

“You don’t need to do this,” I said, allowing my eyes to widen as I fisted his shirt and pulled him close. “I’m not - I’m not what you think.”

“Sorry, doll but that isn’t going to happen. Just relax, OK? I don’t want to hurt you.”

He was pulling out cuffs. He had cuffs? Was he a slaver? Fuck!

It was pathetically simple for him to manoeuvre me into the cuffs and drag me outside. The barman and Steve shook hands and then he followed us outside. I fought with everything I had, kicking and screaming. Steve just threw me over one large shoulder and walked until we reached a beat-up van. They opened the back and Steve placed me inside with surprising gentleness.

“Stay,” he said, in the manner someone might talk to their dog. He closed the door and moments later I felt the engine roar to life and we were moving.

It had taken roughly fifteen minutes for my life to thoroughly and completely combust.

Chapter 2: Travel

Notes:

Tony's defence mechanism is to swear...like a lot...

Oh god, oh god. I was so fucked. I was so completely and utterly fucked.

“Stupid,” I hissed, struggling to maintain my balance as the van picked up speed. I crawled onto my knees and frantically ran my cuffed hands across the filth-covered floor, looking desperately for something I could use to escape. Just my luck that my abductors were equally as fictitious about their transportation as they were about their unusually tidy asses. “So fucking stupid. I shouldn’t have gone into the town. I knew something bad would happen and I did it anyway. So fucking stupid.”

I moved methodically, searching for anything sharp enough to pick the lock on the cuffs. I had a plan. Get the cuffs off and then get out of the moving van before we arrived at wherever it was they were taking me. Easy-fucking-peasy.

About five more minutes passed before I felt something sharp and metal under my fingertips. I grasped it excitedly and immediately fell back against the wall of the van. I took a moment and realised how badly I was shaking.

“Can’t pick a lock if you can’t keep your hands still, Stark,” I whispered, breathing slowly and evenly. A few more minutes passed and I felt calm enough to get to work. And really, it was ridiculously easy to get the cuffs off. The locking mechanism made a satisfying clicking noise and I slipped my wrist free.

“OK,” I said, getting back to my knees and crawling to the front of the van. I ran my hands across the door but I couldn’t see a locking mechanism. No handle, no lock. No way to open it from the inside. A few seconds later I realised the door was was reinforced with a second sheet of metal. There were a number of fastenings fixing the sheet in place. It became apparent pretty fucking quickly that I wasn’t getting it off without the proper tools.

“Fuck,” I whispered, falling back on my ass and just staring at the stupid piece of metal standing between me and freedom. “Goddammit,” I screamed, jackrabbiting both feet into the covering with every ounce of strength I possessed. “Let me out. Let me out of this damned fucking shit heap of a -”

The van stopped.

I scrambled back, grabbing the cuffs and putting them back on without locking them. I had just enough time to pocket the screw and then the door opened and Bucky was peering in at me.

“You OK in here?” he asked brightly, his eyes passing over me speculatively. “You were making a hell of a ruckus.”

“I want to leave,” I said, proud that my voice remained even despite how terrified I felt. “I’m not what you think I am. I’m not worth anything to anyone and I want to go home.”

Bucky nodded his head in agreement. Condescending prick. “We thought maybe you’d want to ride up front with us. Must be pretty rocky back here?”

“I’m good, thanks.”

Bucky kept nodding. “Even so, I’m gonna have to insist.”

I could feel my heart beating frantically in my chest as my fight or flight instincts kicked in. He was only one guy, I reasoned. Sure, he was bigger than me but he wasn’t that big. I had to at least try.

I bolted but I didn’t even make it out of the van before Bucky’s metal arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me clear off my feet. I was hoisted up against the other man's broad chest and carried one armed out of the van and pushed into the front seat. He climbed in after me and suddenly I was wedged between the two of them. Again.

“He got the cuffs off,” Steve noted. He sounded pissed.

“Omegas got skills,” Buck laughed, pulling the door closed and settling back with a small smile.

“I’m not an omega,” I instantly denied. “Is that why you took me? What are you guys? Are you slavers? Is that why -”

“We should have left him in the back,” Steve said, starting the van up and driving.

Bucky scoffed and ruffled my hair. “I think his ramblings cute.”

I seriously considered punching the other man in the throat. The only reason i hesitated was because, so far, they hadn’t actually hurt me. It seemed stupid to invite violence to the mix. “That’s me,” I said instead. “Fucking adorable.”

“Language,” Steve said sternly.

“Yeah, how about you go fuck yourself,” I murmured.

Bucky chuckled darkly. “Steve’s kinda old fashioned.”

“What about you?”

The brunet shrugged. “Couldn’t care less.”

"Awesome. So what’s the plan here, boys?” I asked, curling into myself to avoid touching either of them in the confined space. “Where exactly are you taking me? What are you doing to do me?”

“Nothing bad,” Steve said, pressing his hand against my knee and squeezing in what he presumably thought was a soothing manner.

I felt sick. “Keep your goddamn hands to yourself,” I shouted, slapping him away and twisting towards the door. “You need to let me out. I need to get out.”

“Just calm down,” Bucky said, forcing me to straighten up from where I was sprawled across his lap, trying to get to the doorhandle. 

“No, you don’t understand,” I gasped, fighting him. “I need you to open the door. I’m going to -”

And yup, I just puked all over good ol’ Bucky’s lap.

 

Chapter 3: Surprise

“If you didn’t want to be barfed on your shouldn’t have kidnapped me,” I said, trying to tug my arm free from blondies death grip. The man was strong, even for an alpha. “Seriously,” I snapped at him, trying to mask my fear with exasperation. “Let go already. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Fine,” the other man said, bending down until our faces were level. His eyes really were extraordinarily blue, I thought as I struggled to meet his gaze. “But if you try to run I will catch you. Know that.”

I saluted him when he let go and leaned nonchalantly against the van as I watched them between slitted eyes. I didn’t doubt I wouldn’t get far if I tried to bolt. Alphas could go all sorts of feral when people ran from them. I wouldn’t still be alive if I didn’t know the rules. “If it makes you feel better,” I said, grinning at Bucky with way too many teeth. “It’s mostly just stomach acid. Or, maybe that’s worse...”

Both men exchanged unreadable looks. “It’s not like I haven’t been drenched in worse bodily fluids” Bucky said, using a bottle of water to wash himself down. “You think you can keep your stomach acid to yourself for the rest of the ride?”

Jesus, what sort of resources did they have that they could use water just to wash?

“Well aren’t you just too intriguing,” I said, “And that depends, Buck. Do you guys intend to make me the filling in your alpha sandwich again? Because I’ve gotta tell you, that kinda puts a guy on edge.”

Bucky’s lip twitched into a smile. Smiling was good. Smiling meant he might actually like me a little. “How about you sit by the window this time? I’ll even wind it down, in case you need to, you know...”

“Sound’s swell,” I said, looking at Bucky because Steve frankly freaked the fuck out of me. “But how about a counter offer? How about I just suck your cock here and now and you let me go on my merry way? No fuss, no muss.”

“Jesus,” Buck said, looking at Steve.

“You might want to avoid thrusting too deep, of course. My gag reflex clearly isn’t what it used to be,” I wiped my mouth and happened to look over my shoulder when I noticed a jeep approaching. That couldn’t be good. “Now who could this be?” I mused out loud.

Bucky followed the line of my gaze. “Shit,” he hissed, showing his teeth. “Get in the van.”

“But, who-”

“In the van,” Steve growled, low and utterly terrifying.

 

It felt like I had a stone lodged in my throat. I nodded once but instead of obeying I scrambled back. My instincts were screaming at me that I needed to escape the big scary predators before they murdered me.

Bucky took the choice out of my hands, grabbing me by the waist and lifting me into the driving seat like I weighed nothing at all. “Stay,” he said, his scent urgent and commanding. He slammed the door behind him and quickly disappeared from view.

I sat there for a few seconds, considering what to do next. The keys weren’t in the ignition. Clearly they weren’t that stupid. And yeah, It had been a while since I last hot-wired a car, but seriously. Leaving Tony Stark alone with access to an engine. Really fucking stupid.

It took a pathetically short time to hotwire the car. The instant the engine came to life I hit the accelerator and in seconds I left Steve and Bucky in the dust. I could see both men staring after me and couldn’t resist winding down the window and flipping them the bird. The fuckers deserved to be stranded. Kidnapping people was just plain rude.

About an hour later I started messing with the glove compartment and felt my heart burst when I realised it was chock-full of water and protein snacks. I pulled down the scarf covering the lower half of my face and didn’t waste any time helping myself. I was still starving and I figured they owed me. Fuck knew where my knives had gone. Not that they were really any good to begin with, but they were all I had.

Not anymore, I realised. Now I had a van and everything inside it. I wasn’t sure how I was going to unload it without meeting more people. Lesson learned and all that but I figured it was a problem for another day.

A few hours later I was starting to get really tired. I didn’t know where I was headed or how long it would take to reach another town. I figured I should probably sleep but I hated the idea of being out in the open. Sure, I hadn’t seen another car for hours but that didn’t mean someone else wouldn't stumble across me later in the night.

I debated with myself and I reasoned I was going to have to go to sleep eventually. Driving until I had an accident was just stupid. I found a side road a little while later and pulled off. I hit the engines and just sat there for a little while, trying to calm the vicious beating of my heart as I tried not to think about everything that could have happened to me.

Because Jesus, that was a close one. I didn’t know exactly what Steve and Bucky had wanted but kidnapping a man off the street didn’t exactly paint a caring or nurturing picture. And the fact that they called me an Omega was beyond disturbing. They shouldn’t have been able to smell it. My heat was months away and I was covered in so much dirt and crap that my natural scent should have been complete masked.

It would have been bad if I didn’t get away. It would have been really, really bad.

I lay their for a while, thinking about all the terrible things that could have happened and working myself into an utter state. I must have fallen asleep because it was daylight when I was woken by a soft knocking sound.

I ignored it at first, too tired to get up so early. The knocking continued for a little while and I burrowed further into the little cocoon I’d made from what could only presume was Steve’s jacket.

“Jesus,” I whisepered, when the knocking got louder.

The knocking....

Knocking?

I jolted up and screamed when I saw Bucky. I wasn’t proud but holy fucking jesus chirst, he was outside the car. How the fu-

“Open the door,” the brunet demanded, his eyes tired but his expression faintly amused.

I tried to hotwire the car again. I was fast. Maybe if I -

He shattered the window with his metal arm and leaned in, unlocking the door and grabbing me by the arm. “I suggest you get out carefully, otherwise you might cut yourself on the glass.”

I realised my mouth was open and closed it with an audible click. Bucky guided me out of the car and that’s when I realised the Steve was sat in the jeep I had seen the day before. Apparently whoever it used to belong to was no longer in the picture.

“I, I -” Fuck if I knew what do say. I had a feeling an apology wasn’t going to cut it.

“So that’s what you look like,” Bucky said, grabbing my chin and tilting my face up. “You’re even prettier than I expected.”

I punched him in the face. I’m pretty sure the blow hurt my hand more than it hurt his jaw. He just shook his head and then I was being dragged towards Steve. I tried to dig my heels in but the man was so much stronger than me. I couldn’t even slow him down.

“Get your goddamn hands off me,” I snarled, kicking out when he opened the cardoor and pushed me inside.

“Keep an eye on him,” he said laughingly to the Steve before pushing the door shut.

Trapped in a confined space with a pissed off alpha made me want to curl up in a circle and hide. I leaned away and waited for him to do whatever the hell he was going to do to me as punishment.

“Well, well,” he said, turning to look at me fully. “Aren’t you just full of surprises?”

Chapter 4: Home

I could smell his anger. Anger -- and, oh god -- blood. He was drenched in so much blood. Jesus fuck, he was going to kill me.

I pressed my face against my shoulder and showed him the side of my neck. It was an instinctive submissive response that I had absolutely no way of controlling. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to be ripped apart by an enraged alpha. Maybe if he thought I was some helpless little omega he wouldn’t gut me. “I’m sorry,” I gasped, cringing away when his fingers slid over my nape and squeezed softly. Oh fuck. Oh god.

“You’re an impressive man,” Steve said, stroking along my throat softly as he pulled me a little closer. From someone I knew and trusted I might have considered the gesture soothing. From a blood soaked unfamiliar alpha it was terrifying. “Over the course of a few hours you managed to slip your cuffs, steal our van and leave us stranded. Not bad for a sand rat. I’m impressed.”

I pointedly ignored the slur and bared more of my throat. “I just want to leave,” I whispered, aware that I absolutely stunk of terror. God, I wanted out of the car. I wanted his hands off me. “Please, let go of me.”

“And then what?”

Huh? “What?” I said, gaping at him.

“If I let you go, what will you do? I hope you’ll forgive me for saying so but you don’t exactly look like you’re in the best of health. You said earlier that you hadn’t eaten in, what was it, three days? You’re underweight, you’re filthy and you stink like fear and sickness. So what will you do if I let you go?”

“I’ve managed this long,” I said, a little insulted despite myself.

Steve smirked and sat back, looking at me with a thoughtful expression. “You’re living on borrowed time. The fact that you had to come out of hiding means staying under the radar is no longer an option. Sooner or later someone was bound to notice you. You can try to mask your scent all you like, but even under all that stink there’s no hiding what you really are.”

“Like I said, I’ve managed up until now,” I said, wondering if he thought I was a simpleton because of my secondary gener. I’d known men like him my entire life. Asshole alphas that thought they were so much better than everyone else because they possessed a knot .

“Someone was protecting you. Helping you, weren’t they?”

I could feel that familiar shocking ache in my chest. The pain that never seemed to go away no matter how much I told myself I was getting better. 

“I’m sorry,” Steve said softly.

“What?” I asked, genuinely confused.

“For your loss. I’m sorry.”

I could smell it then. The scent of my own sorrow.

“You won’t last on your own," Steve continued earnestly. "You have to realise that.”

“And so my alternative is rolling over for you and good ol’ Bucky? Thank, but I’ll pass.”

He caught my wrist before I could open the door. We sat there for a tense moment, watching one another. “I’m sorry, but you really don’t get a choice. This will be a lot easier for you if you just relax. We aren’t going to hurt you.”

I snorted. I couldn’t help it. “You realise you are quite literally covered in blood?”

“That’s because you stole our van and left us stranded. We were attacked.”

“Well, not to use anything as ridiculous as logic in my defence, but you did kidnap me. Maybe this should be a life lesson. Don’t kidnap people.”

Steve huffed out a breath. It might have been a laugh, or possibly and much more likely, a coping mechanism to refrain from strangling me. “Are you going to behave or do I need to tie you up?”

“Kinky,” I said, attempting to pull my arm free. Unsurprisingly it didn’t work. The guy was insanely strong, even for an alpha. “OK, Jesus. You don’t need to tie me up.”

“You’re going to behave?”

“Sure thing, big boy,” I muttered, debating if I could throw myself out of the car whilst we were moving. I wasn’t entirely sure what good that would do me, but it was an option.

Steve started the car and moved forward. I looked in the rear view mirror and noticed Bucky was following us. “So, two cars and a brand new omega. Quite the haul for you guys.”

“So you admit you’re an omega now?”

I shrugged. “There doesn’t seem to be much point in lying about it anymore. So, you guys kidnapping everyone you come across, or is it -”

“Just omegas,” he interrupted.

“Oh,” I said. That couldn’t be good. “Swell.”

He was so still. How could anyone sit in the same place for such a long time. Was he even blinking?

“So, why are you only after omegas?” I asked. I was pretty sure I would be happier not knowing, but I figured knowledge is power.

“Because we don’t have any.”

Okayyyyyy.

“What happened to them?”

Steve’s hand tightened on the steering wheel. “I’ve just realised I don’t even know your name.”

“Rude,” I said, tapping my fingers against the glass in a rapid pattern. I felt eyes on me and stopped mid-tap. “It’s Tony.”

Steve seemed to hesitate for a moment before holding his hand out to me. “It’s nice to meet you, Tony.”

He was kidding, right? “You’re kidding, right?”

“I’m not -”

“Hello, you’ve kidnapped me. I have been taken against my will, abducted. To be taken to the place of ‘no more omegas’ because they’re all ‘just gone’ for some reason. Go fuck yourself.”

He frowned and I suddenly realised where i was and who I was with. Pissing the man off probably wasn’t the smartest move. I leaned back nervously, bearing my throat.

“You don’t need to do that,” Steve said distastefully, pulling back his hand. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

“OK,” I said evenly. “But I can’t really control it.”

He nodded shortly. “I guess it’s just been a while since I last dealt with one of your kind.”

“My kind?” I asked, aware I sounded a little bitchy but feeling pretty justified. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“There are just a lot of alphas where I’m from. You have to be hard. Posture. You know?”

I nodded jerkily.

“It’s difficult to remember everyone doesn’t act that way. That some people are -- softer-- kinder.”

Another nod.

“I don’t mean you’re not weak or anything,” he hastened to add, looking a little worried that I might be insulted.

I didn’t say anything.

“Tony, are you ok?”

A lot of alphas. He was taking me to a place full of alphas.

“Tony?”

Chapter 5: Wash

I must have dozed off because next thing I knew Steve was all up in my business, shaking me awake by my shoulder. His face, still covered in dark red blood, made the whites of his eyes look almost demonic. I had a moment of abject panic, flinching back so violently that I cracked my head against the window. “Shit -- ouch!”

“Sorry,” Steve said sheepishly, hastily drawing back as I attempted to rub away the hurt. “We’ve made camp,” he gestured behind him, looking a little unsure. Maybe it was because I was giving him the stink eye.

I bit back my immediate response, which was to tell him to fuck off. “What time is it?” I asked, feeling all sorts of groggy. God, what I would have given for a cup of coffee.

“I’m not sure,” the larger man said, opening his door and stepping outside. He looked at me expectantly but I refused to budge. “It’s getting late though. The sun’s going to set in a few hours. I thought maybe we could take a dip before then. Clean up maybe.”

I looked over his shoulder and saw Bucky tending to a small fire. There was a tent behind him that didn’t look nearly big enough to hold all three of us and further back I could make out a small oasis. I hesitated and Steve clearly noticed. “You coming?”

“Do I have a choice?”

He had the decency to look a little ashamed. “We don’t want to have to force you.”

“Then don’t,” I said, glaring at him.

He sighed softly, because the poor boy was clearly stressed, and made his way to my side of the van. After a few seconds, when it was clear I wasn’t going to step out on my own, he opened the door and looked at me expectantly. “Tony,” he said softly. “Please get out of the van.”

I noticed the way Bucky was watching us, waiting to see what I would do. Steve clearly didn’t want to put his hands on me but it was obvious he would if he felt he had to. We were at a impasse.

“Hey, Steve,” Bucky said, straightening from the fire and stepping hastily towards us. “I’ll get Tony. You finish setting up.”

So saying the asshole stepped into my space, hooked an arm around my waist and dragged me out of the fucking car without so much as a by your leave. He set me down on the ground and smiled widely when I showed him my teeth.

“Must feel good to be able to force people to do whatever you want,” I said, refusing to back down when our eyes locked. I used to do the same thing to -- before she -- before I lost her. I didn’t back down easily. Not unless I absolutely had to.

I wasn’t surprised when Bucky grinned at me. He seemed like the sort of Alpha that didn’t posture or bully. Despite my accusation I didn’t think he was the sort of man to lash out because someone refused to submit.

“You must be hungry,” he said, proving my point by dropping his gaze and turning back to the fire. Showing me just how much of a non-threat I was. “We’ve got some soup. Bet it’s been awhile since you last ate something hot.”

“I’m actually pretty good. Filled up on power bars.”

His smile flickered. Yup, he thought I was hilarious. “Even so -- warm food?”

It did sound tempting and it seemed pretty pointless to fight them for the sake of it. I clearly wasn’t going anywhere until the opportunity presented itself. I shrugged and stepped past him, collapsing down in front of the fire.

I saw Steves eyebrows arch, clearly surprised by my sudden graciousness. I gave him the finger when I thought he wasn’t looking. I was pretty sure Bucky noticed by the way he snorted.

“You can calm down. We’re not going to do anything to you,” Steve said, not looking at me as he kept poking at the fire.

Huh?

“Seriously Tony. Please, just calm down.”

“I am calm,” I said, gesturing to myself. “Look at me. I’m quiet, still. I’m not crying or screaming. What more do you want from me?”

“You smell like you’re about to have a panic attack,” Bucky said, placing the promised cans of soup on the ground in front of me.

They would have been a hell of a find. Pity I didn’t get the chance to really scope out the van. I guessed it served me right for napping.

“Maybe this is just how I smell,” I said, shrugging. They could complain all they liked but I wasn’t about to get any more relaxed. “If you don’t like it I don’t have a problem getting out of your hair.”

“If we left you now you’d be dead in a week,” Steve said, pulling out a small pocket knife and jimmying open a can of soup. “I know you don’t believe us yet, but we’re doing this for your own good.”

“Because the helpless little omega is incapable of taking care of himself, right?” I snorted, feeling a sudden and overwhelming sense of frustrating. I wanted to lash out. To hurt them until they felt as helpless as I did.

“How about a bath, Tony?” Bucky asked gently.

I was suddenly torn between anger and terror. I felt a whine crawl up my throat and was incapable of holding it in. Both men cringed and moved towards me.

Too fast. Too much.

“Don’t,” I said, stumbling back. “Don’t — don’t touch me.”

“Whoa,” Steve said, arms outstretched in appeasement. “Whatever you think we’re going to do to you, we won’t. Bucky just thought you might be more comfortable -“

“I’m not getting undressed in front of you. I’m not…”

“Tony,” Bucky said softly, like he was talking to a child. “We’re not going to make you do anything you don’t want to. It’s just — you’re filthy. It can’t be comfortable.”

“Yeah, well you know what you can do if you don’t like it,” I spat.

We were at a standstill. I thought my heart was going to pop out of my chest and then Steve abruptly pulled off his shirt and proceeded to strip. I realised my eyes were bugging out of my head and quickly dropped my gaze.

“Well,” Steve said, turning his back. “You might be fine with smelling but I’m taking a bath.”

Chapter 6: Perceptions

Summary:

New chaptttteeerrrrrrr!

I woke with a jolt, disorientated and groggy. I was still exhausted, which is why I didn’t immediately notice why my heart was beating painfully hard in my chest. It wasn’t until I tried to move and realised I couldn’t that the panic started to make sense.

I felt smothered, trapped and helpless -- all emotions I absolutely abhorred. I caught Steve’s scent and lifted both of my hands, relieved they were mostly free. I could hear his sure, even breaths and realised that yes, I was pinned and yes, Steve was lying half on top of me, smothering me, but he wasn’t trying to hurt me. He was just a sleep snuggler. Go fucking figure.

“Steve,” I hissed, attempting to wriggle free. I wasn’t really surprised when he didn’t budge. He was a hell of a lot bigger than me, taller and heavier, and it wasn’t as if I’d been getting a regular amount to eat recently. “I can’t -- get off me.”

“Go back to sleep, Tony,” the alpha muttered sleepily. “You’re safe. Just sleep.”

“I can’t breathe,” I hissed, struggling harder. It was true too. I felt like his weight was pressing down on my lungs. I couldn’t seem to get enough air.

“It’s early.”

“You’re not hearing me, asshole. You’re crushing me. Get off!”

Steve grunted unhappily but finally seemed to get the message. He lifted himself up enough to let me squirm out from underneath him but didn’t let me get very far before wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me into his side. The shithead was trying to make me the small fucking spoon! “Sleep. We’ve got a long day ahead of us.”

“Yeah, except I’m not tired,” I growled, squirming. “Jesus Steve, it’s like a sauna in here. Will you at least give me some space?”

“No,” the younger man growled, not letting up. “Sleep.”

I was convinced I was about to have an aneurysm. “Tell me to go to sleep one more time and I’m going to track down my old knives and, I swear this to you, I will stab you in the face. Just try me.”

Even though his eyes were still closed, Steve’s mouth twisted into a half smile. The dick thought the whole thing was funny. He was laughing at me.

So I punched him in the motherfucking eye.

That finally woke him up! The larger man grabbed my fist with lightning reflexes before I could take a second swing at him and sat up, dragging me with him.

“Don’t do that again,” he said, tone deep and authoritative.

I snorted at him. “Yeah, OK -- except if you’re going to push me down and not let me get back up again you’re going to have to resign yourself to being punched in the goddamn face!”

Steve cocked his head to the side and studied me with unnerving intensity. His nostrils flared, blatantly inhaling my scent. In the good old days that sort of behaviour would have been considered hella rude. He looked like he was thinking very carefully about his response. “You’re scared,” he finally noted, frowning softly.

I bit down my initial response, which was to mock and pretty much tear him apart. I was still angry and he was still holding onto me. I wanted him to let me go and nothing I had tried so far was making him back off. I wasn’t an idiot -- I knew when it was time to change tactics. “I want you to let go of me,” I said, taking a deep breath and instantly regretting it when I realised that the tent, beneath Steve’s strong alpha scent, absolutely reeked of my distress.

“You won’t punch me again?”

“Why?” I sniped. “Did it hurt?”

“Only my pride,” Steve muttered, smiling at me again as he rubbed at his jaw.

His teeth were straight and perfectly white. I couldn’t help but fantasise about knocking them out one at a time. “It must be embarrassing, being hit by an omega.”

He seemed to realise his mistake pretty quickly. “I didn’t mean -”

“Yeah,” I said, turning my wrist is his loosening hold. “You did. So, you going to let go?”

He opened his hand and I quickly pulled free. Steve then proceeded to sit back and just...watch me.

I was used to people looking at me. Before, when my world wasn’t nearly as shit at is was now, I’d enjoyed the protection and admiration that went hand in hand with being the son of one of the most important men on the planet. I knew how to deal with scrutiny. Only -- spending so much time with just Pepper for company must have made me rusty because I could feel the tenuous hold on my temper start to fray. “What?” I eventually snapped, unable to take it any longer.

Steve seemed to come back to himself with a start. He had the decency to look a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry! I don’t mean to stare. It’s just that...I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I asked, genuinely perplexed.

“You’re not…” Steve ran his fingers through his hair, struggling for the right words. “Normally, when we find an omega on the road, they're so broken down and, well, wrecked that they’re too terrified to even speak to us. I mean, you’re dirty and a little on the thin side, but you’re -- you’re not…broken.”

What the fuck was I supposed to say to that?

“Is it easier for you, if they’re broken?” I eventually asked, my eyes locked on his. I was a little surprised by the venom in my own voice. I’d not come across another omega in a very long time, but I could easily guess what sort of shit they’d experience if they were alone and didn’t have a way to defend themselves. Hell, most of them would have been born to a life of pain and humiliation, all because they were the weaker, rarer gender. They never stood a chance.

“I hate it,” Steve rasped, reaching out to touch me but seemingly thinking better of it when I glared at him. “Some of them can’t be helped. No matter what we try to do for them, they’re broken beyond repair. Some of them can be brought back to some semblance of normality, but they’re almost always terrified of alphas.”

I gritted my teeth at him in a mean smile. Look, I’ve got teeth too! “I think we’ve already established that I’m afraid of you, He-Man.”

“Yeah, I can smell it. You’re scared, panicked and anxious,” Steve got a weird look in his eyes as he leaned closer. “But you’re still rational. You’re not so completely, mindlessly out of your mind with terror that you can’t think. You’ve shown me your throat -- what is it -- once? The whole time we’ve been together, after everything that’s happened and you’ve only shown me your throat one time. It’s remarkable.”

“That’s me,” I said, flashing him the most insincere smile I could muster. “Remarkable. I can speak without screaming and have the balls not to show my throat everytime an alpha looks at me. I’m a king among my kind.”

“I didn't mean that,” Steve said, looking a little lost. Poor dear really was trying to be kind. It was a pity I wasn’t feeling particularly benevolent . “I’m not trying to degrade you.”

“No?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Because telling me how special I am because I’m not a blithering idiot isn’t exactly a compliment. Omegas aren’t morons, Steve and I’m not special for being able to string a sentence together.”

“I know that! I do -- I -”

“Look,” I interrupted, wrapping my arms around my waist and willing him to hear me. “I’m not going to sleep anymore tonight. I’m restless and I need a piss. Can I please get out of this tent and get some fresh air?”

The other man looked like he wanted to say more but he wisely swallowed his words and nodded once. “OK, let’s go,” he muttered, reaching for the zip and letting in some blessed fresh air.

Freedom at last. Thank fuck!

Chapter 7: Remember

Sometimes, when I was still and things were quiet, I would think of Pepper. I would remember her strawberry blonde hair and smooth pale skin. I would remember her sweet sandalwood scent and kind eyes.

It was during those moments that the grief would hit, pummelling the sweet memories into pain and longing. My breath would catch and my eyes would mist up, and -- Jesus fucking Christ -- I couldn’t breathe. How could she be gone? How was it possible I’d never get to see her again?

My friend. My --

She had taught me so much. She had taught me how to love. She had loved me.

I was very young when I first realised there was something fundamentally different about me. At first I couldn’t understand why the other kids didn’t want me to play with them, especially when they so readily accepted one another. I grew up believing there was something wrong with me -- that I was wrong -- and it was my fault they treated me so differently.

I was five when I learned that the reason they didn’t want me around was because I was omegan. At the time, as far as I could tell, the only difference between us was our scents. Why would something so small matter to anyone?

“Omegas don’t play with alphas, my sweet,” my mother told me, when I kept pestering her.

“But why?”

“Because that’s the way it is. It’s the way it’s always been.”

Which even back then sounded like utter bullshit.

So I questioned things --I questioned everything, often and loudly. I wanted to know why I couldn’t go out and play like the other children. I demanded the right to learn and travel and be a goddamn human being. My plumbing didn’t make me a lesser person. Being able to have a kid didn’t make me weak or stupid.

My ideals frightened my mom. She was so deeply indoctrinated that questioning anything was unthinkable. When I was a little older I began to realise that the sadness that perpetually accompanied her was due to a lifetime of oppression and abuse. Yet despite all of the terrible things she experienced she still expected me to follow in her footsteps. She didn’t want me to question the system. The very idea terrified her.

The alphas certainly seemed happy with the status quo -- even the little ones walked around with an unearned air of superiority and self-importance. As we grew older the alphas became louder and more headstrong. The few omegas living on our estate became withdrawn and timid. Some of them even started to wear the old fashioned veils my grandmother used to wear. Apparently they were coming back into fashion, my mom told me one evening when she passed me a prettily wrapped package.

Fuck. That.

I refused to conform. I had a mind and I had plans. None of those plans included a life of sitting pretty and being silent. Luckily we were very rich and I was indulged, for the most part. My dad wasn’t around much but he understood that, omega or not, I had enough of his intellect that leaving me unoccupied and bored would likely end with something being blown up. So I received schooling way past the age of most omegas. I was taught how to ride a bike and drive a car. I could shoot a gun and fix engines, climb trees and exercise freely. My absolute favorite thing to do was build things. I could spend days lost to my lab, tinkering and building as I helped to build a better future. It was everything I could ask for and more than most omegas could ever dream of. I was lucky and happy. It was pretty cool, if a little lonely.

And then Pepper came into my life...

“Tony?” A hand waved in front of my face, bringing me back to here and now. I realised how close Bucky was standing and flinched away violently. I was only a little surprised when he immediately backed off. “You OK?”

“Daydreaming,” I admitted, running my fingers through my hair and cringing a little at the crusted filth I encountered. I met Bucky’s kind gaze and couldn’t help but file that look away for future reference. “So what’s on the cards for today, Buck?”

“Are you sure you’re OK?” he sniffed delicately, which was dangerously close to being hella rude. Which really was laughable considering they were still in the process of kidnapping me, but still. “I said I’m fine. Jesus, what do you want from me? A goddamn doctors certificate!”

He wisely backed off. “Once we’ve finished packing up we’re going to head out,” he said, holding his hand out with a quirked eyebrow. He seemed a little surprised when I let him help me to my feet. “We should be back at the base by tomorrow evening.”

I purposefully ducked my head and pushed scared, vulnerable, alone at him. As suspected he deflated a little, making himself look smaller and less threatening. “Hey, it’s OK” he soothed. “You don’t need to be scared. No one's going to hurt you.”

“Of course they are,” I said, showing him my throat as I purposefully didn’t look at him. Oh yeah, old Buck was crushing hard. “You’re not taking me back there out of the goodness of your hearts.”

“What if I said to you that that was exactly what we were doing?”

“I would say I didn’t believe you,” I said truthfully. “No ones does anything without something in return.”

“It’s time to go,” Steve said, stepping beside Bucky with easy familiarity. “You guys ready?”

“Not like I’ve got anywhere else to be,” I said, jumping off the hood of Bucky’s car before I was physically moved. Somehow, walking to my own death felt better than being dragged. “We were just talking about how psyched we are to almost be home.”

“Tony -” Steve began, reaching out his hand.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” I snarled, jumping out of his reach. “You hear me asshole? Keep your hands to yourself before I figure out a way to hack them off and insert them up your -”

“OK, that’s enough,” Bucky said quickly, stepping towards me. “You don’t want us to touch you. Fine. Get in the car.”

“Fine!” I snapped, walking around to the passenger side and climbing inside. I was there for less than thirty seconds when I heard Buck swear and hastily follow me. I openly smirked at him. “Scared I’m going to leave you?” I asked sweetly.

“Didn’t take you long to hot-wire the car last time,” he grumbled, starting the engine.

“Yeah, I’m pretty good with engines,” which was the understatement of the century. “You guys got electricity where we’re going?”

“A little,” he answered, which was surprising. “We use generators, but they’re pretty old. We don’t like to overexert them.”

“You got a mechanic?”

He pulled off, following behind Steve. I noticed he did that lot.

“We did, but she died a while back. Her apprentice was still pretty green and we haven’t been able to find a replacement yet,” he gave Tony a mock-sly look. “You thinking of applying for the job.

I shrugged. “Depends on whether I’m allowed to leave the bedroom or not.”

Bucky’s eyes turned back to the road.

“That’s why you’re taking me back, right? To be some assholes baby-maker? To lie back and think of England and push out some kids for the good of mankind…”

“It’s not going to be like that,” Bucky said softly, his shoulder hunched up. “No one is going to force you, Tony. We just need you to stay with us. We need people.”

“And I know of one surefire way to get them,” I grumbled.

Chapter 8: Hide

Notes:

This is a short chapter - sorry guys and gals. Just trying to get back into the swing!

It was a long and tiring ride. There was only so much time a body could sit rigid with fear and anxiety before exhaustion took over. I slumped against the atrociously uncomfortable carseat and spent some time staring despondently out of the window. The the view was mind numbingly dull, Bucky wasn’t speaking to me and pretty soon I got bored.

Pepper used to say the most dangerous thing in the word was a bored Tony Stark.

I decided to stare at Bucky. At the very least it might make the other man uncomfortable. Annoyingly it didn’t seem to phase him much and after a while I got bored of that too. I started to tap my fingers against the door, my knee, the window, anything I could reach. After a little while, just when I thought my brain was going to implode, an idea took root. It was a bad idea -- a terrifically stupid one in fact -- but I couldn’t seem to shake it off. The longer I sat there the more the urge to act gnawed at me.

I was wearing a seatbelt and Bucky...wasn’t.

No, it was stupid. There was no guarantee the seatbelt would save me. I was going to get myself killed. And even if I somehow survived and managed to take Bucky out I would still have one very big and very angry Alpha on my tail.

And, when everything was said and done, did I really want to hurt Bucky?

Did I really want to be kidnapped, raped and forced to carry on humanity?

I waited until we reached 60 miles per hour and stretched my arms languidly. Bucky clearly didn’t expect me to suddenly reach out and grab the wheel. Why would he when I’d acted so perfectly docile for days?

I had enough time to yank Bucky’s gun free before the car flipped. The noise was terrible and all I could do was close my eyes and brace for impact. The seatbelt cut into my chest and the airbag deployed. I was jarred violently and had a brief second to consider how desperately I didn’t want to die.

Because, despite everything, I had no desire for everything to just end. Things could get better. I had to believe that this fuckup of a life wasn't my only shot.

We miraculously ended rightside up. I turned my head slowly and felt a little numb when I realised Bucky was no longer beside me. The windshield was destroyed and the logical conclusion was that the man had been thrown from the car, just like I suspected he would be.

Should have worn a seatbelt, I thought a little hysterically. I realised there were tears in my eyes and my breathing was too quick. Now was not the time to have a panic attack. I pushed through the emotions threatening to smother me and concentrated on moving my limbs. I was intact but sore. I figured once the adrenaline wore off I’d be in a much worse state.

I managed to hold onto the gun. Part of me was frankly amazed it hadn’t gone off. Fuck, what had I been thinking? Impulses got people killed. I knew better. I should have waited for a better opportunity.

Snap out of it!

I had to move. Steve would go to Bucky first. If Bucky was dead Steve would probably kill me. Grief could do terrible things to people.

So can fear.

I tried to open my door but it was wedged shut. I turned blearily to the hood and realised the engine was in flames. Fuck, fuck! Panic flared and I tugged desperately at my belt until it popped free and I was able to scramble to the drivers side of the car. I moved slowly when I stepped outside, feeling my limbs shake and knees threaten to buckle.

Shit, I was worse off than I first thought. I stumbled forward a few feet and then collapsed. My ears were ringing and I wondered briefly if I had a concussion. I didn’t remember hitting his head but everything had happened so quickly. I reached out and tentatively ran my fingers through my filthy hair and felt a spark of panic when they came back sticky with blood.

Fuck!

Steve was standing with his back to me a little further up the road. Bucky was lying in the recovery position next to him. I wondered if he was dead.

The odd thing was that Steve wasn’t looking at me or Bucky. He was staring up the road. I followed the line of his gaze and felt my stomach clench. Because of-fucking-course a train of bikes would be travelling towards them. They’d probably been tailing them all day and I was too wrapped up in his own panic to notice. No wonder Bucky had been ignoring me.

They were about to be swarmed. There had to be twenty bikes.

Steve turned around to look at me with a blank expression on his stupidly perfect face. “Run.”

Was he kidding! Run where? They were in the middle of the fucking desert. There was nowhere to go and I doubted one gun was going to do me much good against a pack of outlanders.

Instead of trying to run i rushed back towards Steve and the other van. Instinct took over and i just needed to hide. With one last desperate look at the bikers I dropped to my stomach and crawled underneath the engine.

Chapter 9: Never

There was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. I was a dead man. I wondered what Pepper would think of me -- the first time I go out on my own and I mess up so badly I get myself kidnapped and ultimately murdered -- I couldn’t help but think I’d failed her.

Would they rape me first? Probably, although It would depend on whether they shot me before they caught a whiff of what I was.

I curled further into myself and wondered if there was any chance, at all, that they’d just kill one another. Steve was some sort of super badass -- maybe they’d all go to town and I could just waltz out, grab a car and run for the hills. Crazier things had happened.

There was yelling but no gunshots. That was a good thing, right? Unless they wanted to save the bullets and were just gutting Steve and Bucky. And yup, there went the guilt. Bucky was helpless because of me. Despite everything I didn’t want him to die.

“There were three of you,” someone growled out and I had to bite down on my fist to stop from whimpering. I suddenly realised what being scared shitless really felt like. “We saw him. An undefined male. Where is he?”

“There wasn’t a third,” Steve rasped, sounding absolutely wrecked. What were they doing to him? Why was he lying for me? “It’ just-just us.”

“I saw him,” a second voice argued, the timber unmistakenly female. “Small, bearded and dirty. He’s been travelling with you for days.”

Fuck, fuck!

“You’re wrong.” Steve said steadily, “It’s just the two of us.”

A gunshot rang out and Steve muffled a scream. So much for them not using bullets. Was he dead? Dying? Was I next?

“Look for him,” the first voice snarled. “He can’t have got far.”

I’m closer than you think, I thought a little hysterically as half a dozen pairs of feet rush past my hiding place. I help my breath, sure they were going to hear my panicked breathing.

Seemed I was worrying about the wrong thing.

“Hey, do you smell that?” someone piped up.

I had about three seconds to panic before a granite-like hold clamped onto my ankle and I was being dragged out from underneath the truck. A dirty, bearded alpha loomed over me, his craggy face morphing into a grin as I stared, frozen, back at him.

“Holy fucking shit,” the man boomed, twisting his hand in my shirt and dragging me to my feet. He fisted a hand in my hair and pressed his face against my neck, inhaling deeply before pushing me back and hoisting me up onto my tiptoes. “They’ve got a goddamn omega.”

I could feel sweat break out on my skin and an uncontrollable whimper break free. The alpha grin widened in response as he abruptly pulled me against his side and shoved his face back against my throat. “I can’t remember the last time I had me an omega,” he breathed wetly against my neck.

My hindbrain told me I needed to stay still and quiet. Don’t be a problem. They won’t hurt you if you don’t make them angry. Except I knew better. I knew exactly what they would do to me.

“Hand him over, Dames,” the woman said, sounding bored. “You know you can’t keep him.”

Damnes snarled, drawing back and dragging me with him. “Fuck you bitch. I found him. He’s -”

Damnes dropped before the sound of the gunshot registered. I fell to my knees next to his dead body, unable to tear my eyes away from the hole in the middle of his forehead. I hadn’t had cause to see too many dead people before. I couldn’t honestly say I liked it.

“Avery, get the omega checked out,” the woman said. “We’ll handle his boyfriends.”

I felt wiry arms wrap around my waist, dragging me to my feet and pulling me back into the van. I started to panic when I was forced onto my back. All the beta had to do was snarl in my face and I went limp.

Fucking biology. Stupid fucking goddamn motherfucking biology.

I watched through half-lidded eyelashes as she loomed over me, pressing her hands over my body in a perfunctory manner I quickly realised wasn’t sexual. I felt myself relax minutely when I realised what she was doing. “I’m not hurt,” I said, my voice raw but steady.

“Hush,” the beta said, pressing her hand against my chest despite the fact I wasn’t struggling. “The alpha out there. Is he yours?” I pressed my lips together and then felt my entire body stiffen in shock as the beta pressed her fingertips against my mating gland. “Huh, I didn’t expect that. Aren’t you quite the find.”

“Get the fuck off me,” I said, my voice surprisingly calm despite how terrified I felt. I knew I had my answer -- they were going to rape me, that much was obvious. I wasn’t as sure what would happen to me after that, would they kill me, or pass me around first? Maybe they’d go down the Steve and Bucky route and try to knock me up. Choices choices.

“Calm your ass down,” the beta said, sounding distracted as he looked out the windshield. Much be nice, I thought as the asshole continued to pin me down. “Your boyfriend strong, huh?”

I didn’t bother to correct her assumption. “I want to get up.”

She smirked. “You’re fine where you are.”

I saw her smirk turn into a frown as she reached for her gun. She pointed it in my face and I instinctively showed my throat. “Stay here,” she commanded, waving the gun at me. “If you move I’ll shoot you in the goddamn leg. You hear me?”

“Yes,” I croaked, genuinely concerned she would accidentally shoot me in the face if she didn’t stop thrashing the gun around.

She seemed satisfied that I would do as I was told and got out of the van. I stayed flat for a little while as I tried to overcome the biological need to stay small and hidden. I sat up slowly and felt my jaw drop.

Seemed like Bucky was up and back to fighting fit. He and Rogers were literally tearing the bikers apart. Even as I watched, Bucky tore the arm off the annoying beta woman. She fell to the floor in a pool of her own blood, screaming hysterically and crying for help. The other bikers fell back after that, leaving her to die as they made a break for the bikes.

I expected Bucky and Steve to give chase but they just stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the retreating pack. They had their backs to me so I couldn’t see the look on their faces but after the remaining bikers fled and those on the floor stopped moving, both men turned to look at me.

Should have hotwired the car again, I thought a little numbly as they walked towards me. Bucky didn’t look too great -- his face was covered in blood and he had a huge gash in his forehead. Every inch of available skin looked shredded. How was he even walking?

Steve opened the car and took my arm in a surprisingly gentle hold. He pulled me out until I was standing between them. His hand reached into my waistband and he pulled out Bucky’s gun -- the gun I had forgotten about in my terror -- I was such a fucking idiot. Both men looked me over, assessing and deadly.

“Are you OK?” Steve asked, which was just about the last thing I expected to come out of his mouth.

“Why, worried about your broodmare?” I snapped automatically.

“Tony,” Steve said, sounding all kinds of exasperated. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” I said, turning to look at Bucky. Fuck, how was he still standing?

“Good, you can help us move the supplies between the vans. Don’t leave my side.”

I did as I was told, helping to move the gear from the destroyed van. I wasn’t sure I was too much help, considering the ridiculous loads both men could carry. Once we were done I was ordered back into the van. Steve entered a few minutes later with a long strip of cloth in his hands.

“I gotta say, we’ve never had to do this before,” he noted, grabbing my wrists and tying them together. He tethered them with a short rope, which he tied around his own goddamn wrist/ “I think it goes without saying that I don’t want you to try anything like that again.”

I nodded quickly but Steve just frowned.

“Somehow Tony, I just don’t believe you.”

Chapter 10: Respite

Bucky looked...bad. His face was a mess of deep abrasions, blood and grit. How the hell was he even sitting upright with wounds like that?

“You doing OK Buck?” Steve asked, moving one hand off the steering wheel to gently grip the back of the other alphas neck. He applied light pressure, kneading muscles as Bucky allowed his head to drop forward languidly.

I fidgeted a little, uncomfortable with the weird vibes the two were giving off. The moment I moved, Steve’s gaze jumped to me, his lips pulling back in a faint snarl as the car drew to a halt.

I plastered myself against the passenger side window and bared my throat. Steve scent was giving off a startling sense of protection, anger, distrust..

“Don’t try anything,” he warned through gritted teeth.

Jesus, what did he think I was going to do? Then again, I guess I had nearly killed them both...twice.

“Wasn’t going to,” I said, raising both hands in a gesture of peace. I was shaking pretty badly. Steve took notice and, thank fuck, something in his expression softened. He nodded once and pulled back onto the road.

I didn’t move from my position against the window, but I did allow my body to relax a little. After a while, when nothing bad happened, exhaustion began to take hold. I could feel my eyelids drooping and eventually, I stopped trying to fight the need to sleep and managed to drift off.

I woke up to the feeling of someone gently shaking me awake. I was foggy and disoriented, so when I opened my eyes and saw Steve looming over me I outright bellowed in the alphas face. Steve didn’t so much as flinch, his stupidly handsome face morphing into a frown as he removed my seatbelt and hooked an arm around my waist.

“What are you doin’?” I asked, my words a little slurred as I tried to push him away.

“We’re here. Come on.”

“Where’s here?” I asked, unresisting as he lifted me over the gear stick and pulled me out of the drivers-side door. Were we in their settlement already? They said they were only a day away, but that was before the fight.

“Place is called Latern Valley,” the alpha said, gesturing to a brightly lit building in the middle of a small, quiet town. “We’ll rest up here tonight and arrive home mid morning tomorrow.”

I noticed Bucky wasn’t with us. Must have gone on ahead, I reasoned, impressed he was able to walk without assistance. I startled a little when Steve took his jacket out of the car and draped it over my shoulders, effectively covering me in his scent. “I don’t want any trouble in there,” he warned, winding up the tether that connected us and taking a firm hold of my wrist. “Keep your head down and your mouth closed.”

“Got it,” I said, unresisting as I was dragged forward. Steve’s grip was firm, yet despite the anger I could sense from him he wasn’t unnecessarily rough.

He didn’t pause when we entered the inn, pulling me up a short case of stairs and stepping uninvited into a compact room with one bed and a large bath. Bucky was already stripping when we entered. He looked back at us momentarily before lowering himself gingerly into the tub.

“That feel good?” Steve asked, his tone kind.

“Yeah,” Bucky said with a tired sigh. He looked over at me, his gaze accessing. “What about you, are you OK?

“Oh sure, I’m just swell,” I sniped, unable to look at the damage on his face and body. Except, was I going crazy or did they look a little less severe?

Even so, he still looked pretty gnarly. I tried to push aside the nagging voice in my brain telling me it was my fault. I refused to feel guilty after they kidnapped me and refused to let me go. It was self defence, damn it.

Bucky shrugged, plunging beneath the water and spilling suds over the sides of the tub. Steve signed and client yes his jaw, but he didn’t scold the other man for making a mess.

“So, what happens now?” I asked. If they were going to beat the shit out of me I wanted to get it over with. I was tired, cranky and feeling hella stressed.

“We’re getting cleaned up and then you’re going to be be quiet and go to sleep,” Steve said, his tone bordering on impervious as he used his grip on my arm to push me onto the thin mattress. “I don’t want to hear another word from you.”

“Good luck with that,” I sniped, honestly unable to help myself. Despite my sass, I didn't resist as I was pressed flat against the bed. “So why the stopover?” I asked, genuinely intrigued.

Steve looked over at Bucky, frowning with his signature sourpuss expression. “I don’t want our people to worry.”

Bucky sat up in the tub and leaned back with a satisfied sigh. “They’ve seen worse Steve.”

Tony looked between them, too tired to point out that a night was hardly going to make that much of a difference.

Pretty soon I could feel myself start to drift off again. I didn’t try to fight it and snoozed lightly as the two alphas moved quietly around the room.

”Take the bed,” Steve ordered, sitting down with his back against the door. “I’ll keep watch.”

”No arguments from me,” Bucky said, yawning widely as he sat down on the mattress, sufficiently jostling me enough that I growled groggily.

”Cute,” Bucky said, getting on the bed and bullying me over until I was practically pressed against the wall. “Hope you’re a hugger,” the alpha said brightly as he wrapped his non-metal arm around my waist.

I would have panicked if I didn’t know just how badly the other man must have been hurting. I released a low, threatening growl and allowed myself to pass out. 

Chapter 11: Restrained

I woke up saturated in a vaguely familiar but unwelcome scent. It took maybe two seconds for the panic to kick in.

“Off,” I gasped, squirming and shoving at the arm wrapped around my chest. “Off, get off!” I didn’t know where I was, who I was with, who was holding me down...

I clawed at the edge of the mattress and tried to use it as leverage to pull myself free. “Get off,” I snarled, some distant part of me aware my voice was verging on hysterical. “Get off me.”

I felt the hard lines of a much larger body shift behind me and instantly froze.

“Calm down,” a sleepy voice urged as the arm around my chest shifted and a big hand ran soothing circles over my hip. “It’s just me. It’s Bucky.”

Bucky, the alpha that kidnapped me. The alpha that I was pretty sure I’d mortally wounded. “Can you -“ I wriggled. “I want to get up.”

“Later,” Bucky grumbled, nosing at the back of my neck. “Comfortable.”

Why did these assholes think they had the right to fucking touch me when I was sleeping? I drew my head forward and snapped it violently back. Bucky must have realised what I was going to do because he released a breathless gasp, somehow avoiding a broken nose as he rolled me effortlessly onto my stomach.

“Don’t -“ I cried, going still when I felt his hand grab my nape. All it would take was for him to press down and I wouldn’t be able to breath. Death from suffocation. Would it feel like drowning?

“Bucky, what are you doing?” Steve asked, his tone disapproving despite the fact he wasn’t doing anything to get him off me.

“I was just trying to...” Bucky trailed off, his grip around my neck loosening. “Damn, sorry Tony. I was still half asleep. You took me by surprise.” Bucky moved back, finally letting me go. “I wasn’t going to hurt you.”

I wanted to move. I wanted to get up and put some much needed space between me and them, but I just knew the moment I looked up I would see the small space I was trapped in and I would have a full out panic attack. I felt frozen, despite the fact my body was shaking hard enough to make my teeth rattle.

“Buck, why don’t you go sort breakfast. Tony and I will be along shortly.”

“Yeah, yeah ok,” the other alpha said, his voice small as he thankfully left the room.

I felt the bed dip and realised Steve was next to me. I curled further into myself and tried to remember the things Pepper would say when I was freaking out.

Breathe with me Tony.

“Don’t touch me,” I said, when I felt Steve shift around.

“I won’t if you don’t want me to.” Steve said softly.

“Oh right, because what I want is clearly of the utmost importance to you guys.”

Steve was quiet for a long moment. “Look, I get it. You’re scared, and you every right to be. Bucky and me, well...we’ve never met an omega like you before and I guess we sort of underestimated how independent you are. The truth is that you outsmarted is on more than one occasion and we weren’t ready for that.”

“Are you actually apologising for not doing a better job of kidnapping me?” I asked incredulously, turning around to face him.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Steve sputtered, his cheeks turning a faint shade of red. “I just want you to understand that we’re not doing any of this to hurt you, Tony. You’re just making it kind of hard-“

“So it’s my fault for not being more incompetent?” I snapped, my anger quickly replacing my earlier panic.

“I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that, usually, after the initial panic wears off most of the omegas we rescue are thankful. There’s so much worse out there, after all. They at least understand that we’re not like them.”

“Not like who? The rapists? The molesters? Way to set the bar fucking low.”

“I’m not saying this right,” Steve said, wiping his hand over his face tiredly.

“No, I think you’re saying everything perfectly. You want to take me back to your little wonderland so you can lock me in and gently encourage me to let some asshole alpha stick his dick in me and knock me up, all for the greater good. Am I right?”

Steve gave him a hard, long look. “Nothing I say is going to convince you that you’re safe with us, is it?”

I returned his look with one of my own and felt pleasantly surprised when he wilted a little under my gaze. It was at that moment, bizarrely, when I realised I probably had more than a decade on the alpha.

Another thought occurred to me suddenly. “Bucky, he’s getting breakfast?”

“Yeah, he’ll be back soon.”

I looked at him expectedly and Steve just stared back. “Okay, I’ll bite. How exactly is he up and moving?”

The man took a swan dive out of a moving car. With the injuries he sustained, he was lucky to be breathing, never mind pinning me down and moving around, getting breakfast.

Steve growled softly, a gentle reminder that he was still pissed at me. “He’s a fast healer.”

“That’s it?” I asked incredulously. “His face looks like someone went to town with a cheese grater. You don’t just walk off that shit.”

Steve pursed his lips.

“Is he a mutant?” I asked. I looked the alpha up and down. “Are you?”

Bucky reappeared then, balancing three bowls in one hand and a jug of water in the other. He smiled sheepishly at Tony, his skin littered with scabs that looked weeks, not days, old.

“Well, don’t you look chipper?” I said brightly, internally cataloguing each wound and trying not to goggle at the fact that he was actually OK. What the hell was going on?

“Thanks for noticing,” Bucky said brightly, placing a bowl of brown gruel in my lap. “Hope you guys are hungry?”

“Famished,” I said, using the sort of accent my mom paid thousands of dollars in allocution lessons for me to perfect. “Thanks Buck.”

I dug in, unaware how hungry I was until I started shovelling the lukewarm mush into my mouth.

I had maybe one blissful moment of silence before I felt both men’s eyes on me. “We need to talk,” Steve said, his expression harsh.

“So talk,” I said, trying for nonchalance despite the anxiety I could feel building in my chest.

“We’ll be home in a couple of hours,” Bucky said and he sounded delighted by the idea.

“Home sweet home,” I said flatly. “I can hardly wait.”

Chapter 12

“No one is going to hurt you,” Steve said softly, clearly trying to be authoritative as he ushered me into the car and locked the cuff around my wrist. “You won’t be forced to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

“You promise?” I snapped, aware I was shaking a little and yup, I was definitely panicking.

“I know you don’t believe me yet, but really Tony we’re all friends here. Where we’re going, you’ll be safe there. Safer than you’ve been since the change,” he gently patted my hand. “And yes, I do promise. I hope one day you’ll believe me, but I really do want what’s best for you, I swear.”

He sounded so sincere and earnest. I wanted to vomit.

“Seatbelt,” Bucky said brightly, strapping himself in. He sounded pretty damn chipper considering he’d looked like the living dead a couple of days ago.

I flashed him a smile and sat back with my arms crossed. Before Bucky could try to bully me into complying, Steve reached across both of us and strapped me in.

“Behave,” he growled.

My smile widened and I flipped him the bird.

“I can’t wait to get back,” Bucky said, ignoring us both as he settled back in his chair and rubbed tiredly at his eyes. “I’m gonna sleep for a week straight.”

“This has certainly been one of our more eventful runs,” Steve said, side-eying me as if I was in on the joke.

“You guys are assholes,” I mumbled, pulling my knees up to my chest.

“Takes one to no one,” Bucky said brightly.

“Whatever you say, roadkill,” I spat.

The car went deathly quiet.

“Tony, please be quiet.” Steve said, sounding tired.

“Make me.”

Another pause and I wondered if I had gone too far.. To my surprise Steve just released a long suffering sigh and concentrated on the road.

I didn’t know if I felt relieved or angry that I didn’t manage to rile him. Bucky was staring intently out the windshield with a small, insufferable smile.

“Don’t,” Steve said, his eyes locked on the road.

“Don’t what?” I asked, genuinely confused.

“I can practically hear you thinking. Whatever it is you’re scheming, just don’t.”

I wasn’t going to admit I wasn’t actually planning anything. They were clearly wary and watching me way too closely. I was feeling pretty smug that Steve was actually, maybe, the tiniest bit scared of me. I had mixed feelings - they were unlikely to underestimate me for a third time but at least they weren’t treating me like a fucking cow for slaughter anymore.

Things were pretty tense after that. I might have purposefully made things a little worse by screaming “what’s that?” at a decidedly still, regular looking rock.

The withering look Steve gave me would have felled a lesser man. I met his gaze with wide and innocent eyes.

“Sorry, I thought it was moving.”

Steve’s fingers spasmed, his fingers clenching on the steering wheel.

“So, what exactly is up with you two?”

Silence.

“I mean, I knew alphas were strong. It’s one of those universally accepted facts - big biceps, small IQ’s - but you two, you’re not just buff, you’re freakishly strong. Like impossibly strong. I saw you rip a man's arm clean off and that ain’t normal.” I looked between them, waiting. “Well, anyone want to share with the class? Don’t be shy.”

“Why don’t you take a nap, Tony?” Bucky suggested with a bright grin on his scraped face.

“Why don’t you go fuck yourself, Buck?”

The alpha snorted. I could practically hear Steve’s teeth grinding.

“Come on then, out with it.”

The car went silent - they were ignoring me and the lack of information was making my ears hot. Without really meaning I released a small, warning growl.

What really surprised me was Steve’s answering, gentling rumble. We looked at each other briefly and I felt my lips twist into a smirk when he quickly looked away.

That was interesting. Seemed Bucky was thinking the same thing if the bewildered look he shot Steve was anything to go by.

I filled the car with some innate chatter, enjoying the way Steve’s shoulders stiffened every time I managed to strike a nerve.

“Tony, enough!” Steve snapped sometime later.

I bit my lip mid-sentence, mildly surprised he’d allowed me to go on for so long. I had to admit that as we grew closer to our inevitable destination my insults were growing sharper and cruel.

“Take it easy Steve, he’s just nervous.”

Bucky went to touch me and I snapped my teeth at him. “Back off.”

He held up his hands, palms out. “OK doll.
No need to get upset.”

It was approaching dusk when I caught sight of the town walls. I sat forward and almost immediately found myself pinned against the seat by a metal arm. “What are you doing?” I asked, more surprised than angry.

“We’re here and I don’t want to risk anyone’s life because you decided to make Steve drive into the town without the use of the front entrance.”

I grumbled a little at that but I guessed it was fair, all things considered.

We stopped outside a large mesh gate and a beautiful woman with strawberry coloured hair leaned into the car window. She looked me over before turning to Steve. “Nothing to report here.” Her gaze moved to Bucky. “You OK?”

“I’m great,” he said brightly.

The woman’s eyes flickered back to me, clearly cataloguing the way he was pinning me to the seat. She frowned and I gave her a little salute.

“See you in there,” she said to Steve, stepping back.

The alpha nodded and pulled the car forward into whatever fresh hell they were dragging me into.

Chapter 13

“Pretty nice place, huh?” Buckie said happily from his seat beside me, pushing out waves of satisfaction and contentment as we drove lazily towards my doom.

It was an idyllic-looking town, filled with perfect suburban houses ringed with white picket fences and artfully cultivated rose bushes. The lawns were green and the streets were spotlessly clean.

My eyes focused on a small ball of fluff and i felt my mouth fall open. Was that a cat?

Fuck, it was. An actual cat. It looked healthy too, which meant it was someone’s pet. I tried to recall the last time I saw an animal that wasn’t food, but honestly, I couldn’t remember. I actually kinda liked cats too.

It was like I'd gone back in time - to a world that existed before everything turned to shit, before the people became fucking monsters and I became the lowest man in the totem pole.

I should have been relieved, but the futurist in me wasn't buying it. It felt too good to be true - like everything else, this little slice of alpha heaven was doomed to eventually crumble to dust.

Probably after they paired me with an alpha and I became a baby factory.

I realised Bucky was still watching me and waiting for a response. I shrugged and settled further into my seat. “It’s great, if you like the stepford wives look.”

My response was sharper than I’d intended. I wanted to appear cool and unaffected but the truth was I was pushing out enough stress hormones that even I could smell them.

What the hell were they going to do to me?

Steve gave me a fleeting, indiscernible look before turning back to the road. “You know, most people would kill to live in a place like this.”

“I guess I’m not like most people then.”

“No,” he agreed, pulling the car in front of a house that looked similar to all the others lining the street, except this one had a group of people standing in front of it. “I guess not.”

“Is this where you guys drop me off?” I asked, my voice weirdly small.

I counted ten people in total. Other than the inn and the bandits we’d encountered, it was the most people I’d seen in years. Despite the fact that these guys looked cleaner and less murdery than my last few encounters with people, I still felt utterly terrified.

What in the hell were they going to do to me?

Before I could flinch away Steve grabbed my jaw. The movement was surprisingly gentle, but firm enough that I couldn’t easily break free. I automatically bared my teeth in response, releasing a small warning growl. Steve unsurprisingly ignored the pathetic attempt at a warning, unconcerned that I could pose a threat.

“I’ll warn you only once Tony, these people aren’t like Buckie or me. If you hurt them, it’s permanent.”

“Good to know,” I said, unblinking in my response. I was pretty pleased with myself too, until he snarled back at me with a low, deep growl. I recoiled violently enough that I managed to pull free from his grasp, practically bouncing off Buckie’s chest in the process.

I could feel eyes on me from all directions. I thought I might be sick.

“He gets it Steve,” Bucky said gently. His hands came up to grasp my upper arms. “You’re not going to hurt anyone. Right doll?”

“Right,” I answered, hating myself when I dropped my gaze, but with both alphas close proximity and the scent of Steve’s anger I was physically incapable of keeping up the bravado act. I wanted out of the car.

As if he was reading my mind Buckie opened the car door and stepped gingerly outside. He held it open for me, and I was desperate enough to get away from Steve that I hurried after him. Which turned out to be a mistake when I came face to face with a small, beautiful woman with bright red hair and vibrant blue eyes.

“Hi Tony,” she greeted me, smiling serenely. “I’m Natasha.”

I couldn’t catch her scent, but she definitely wasn’t an omega. I offered her a slight nod, retreating until my back was against the car and I could keep everyone safely in my eyeline. I didn’t trust her - almost immediately I recognised that she was a threat.

“Sup,” I offered flatly.

She frowned, looking almost disappointed. I held her gaze for a few seconds before flashing a fake smile. Her eyebrows actually rose at that - I think I may have surprised her.

“And I’m Darcy,” a young woman - definitely an omega judging by her height and her flowery scent - said brightly, bouncing her way into my space and offering her wrist in a traditional omegan greeting. When I didn’t respond she dropped her wrist and took a few steps back. “Ooo-kay, well anyway, I'm super psyched you’re here.”

“Didn’t really have much of a choice,” I said, disliking the way my stomach twisted in fear when Steve frowned at me.

“Well you're here now, thank god. And you're not a zombie either. I know we don’t really know one another yet, but I can already tell you have an actual personality! I thought I was the only one left,” she surprised me by poking me in the stomach. “When was the last time you ate dude? Omegas aren’t supposed to be skin and bone! You need some serious meat on your bones. Come with me - we’ll leave these guys to talk about us - they like that.” I flinched when she grabbed my hand and I instinctively dug in my heels. She staggered to a halt and threw me a bewildered look over her shoulder. “What, you’d rather stay here with the alphas?

Nope, absolutely-fucking not.

“I didn’t think so. Come on!” She grabbed the arm of a random kid on our way out, who released a tiny squeak of alarm but didn’t resist as he was dragged beside me.

“Tony,” Steve said quietly, causing Darcy to actually pause. “Behave…”

He let the threat go unanswered, so I replied by flipping him the bird. Steve’s face went an interesting shade of red, but I didn’t get to enjoy it for long before I was being dragged inside the house.

Darcy didn’t let either of us go until we were in the hallway.

“Sorry about that, but you smelled like you were two seconds away from a full blown panic attack. Honestly, the second someone brings in a new omega everyone loses their shirt.”

I decided I wasn’t remotely capable of absorbing her words and turned to the kid instead. He was a little shorter than me, with soft brown eyes and hair. He looked like he was in his teens, though I couldn’t begin to guess his exact age. “And you are?”

“Oh, I’m-I’m Peter,” the kid said earnestly, offering me his hand. I looked at it for a long time, before eventually deigning to take hold. “It’s so good to meet you. I’ve been dying to talk to you since Buckie first radioed in. Is it true you know how to hotwire a car? Can you teach me?”

I felt a smile threatening to break free and furiously quashed it down - I would not drop my guard because they shoved two weirdly heathy-looking omegas at me. I allowed my eyes to roam over the kid, taking in his throat and looking for signs of a mating mark or abuse. I was both relieved and suspicious when I didn’t find anything. “Sure do, kiddo. You interested in mechanics?”

“I’m interested in pretty much anything that isn’t farming.”

Tony lost his battle with his smile. “You and I both, kiddo.”

“So, what do you wanna do first Tony?” Darcy piped up. “Are you hungry?”

I shrugged - I wasn’t hungry, considering the amount of protein bars I’d inhaled over the last few days, but turning down food was just plain stupid. If I got the chance to run, I’d take in a heartbeat, and that meant that I should eat anything offered to me. “I could eat.”

“Great, follow me!”

I jumped a mile when Peter slipped his hand into mine. It wasn’t like the kid was an infant or that we were best friends. You didn’t go around just holding strangers goddamn hands, even if you did have crazy big eyes and smelled like baby omega.

“You eh, wanna explain what you’re doing there kiddo?”

“Sorry - sorry Tony. It’s just that you were eh - you’re…”

I looked at him expectantly. He hadn’t released my hand.

“You’re trembling,” he said in a rush.

Was I? Weird, now that I was paying attention, he was right. My whole body was vibrating.

Darcy was waiting for us a little way ahead. She smiled gently. “Hey, we get it, believe me. But I promise, you’re going to be ok. The people here, they’re good. Kind.”

“No where’s good or kind anymore,” I said without thinking and immediately felt like I’d kicked a puppy when the kid looked up at me with his huge brown eyes.

They took me to a house awash with the scent of pregnant omega. I realised I was scrunching up my nose when the kid laughed at me.

“This is our space,” Darcy said, leading me into a large, clean kitchen. She opened the fridge and dumped an obscene amount of food onto the counter. “No alphas allowed.”

“And they actually stay out?”

“Always,” she said, looking serious. “I think if they tried to come in, Natasha would decapitate them.”

“Uh huh, and Natasha, she’s what, exactly?”

“Damned if I know. Hey, Petey, grab me the mayo would ya.”

The boy released my hand and obediently collected the condiment from the fridge. I tried not to gawk. Mayo, seriously?

I almost jumped a mile when another presence entered the room. She was tall, with long red hair and a young, attractive face. She shot me an equally startled look, scuttling backwards and placing her hand protectively over the prominent bump she was carrying.

“Oh, hey Scarlet,” Darcy greeted the other woman, gesturing between them with her butter knife. “This is Tony. Tony, Scarlet. We were about to grab a bite. You hungry?”

“Is he - is he safe?” She asked, eyeing me dubiously.

I almost looked over my shoulder. Did she seriously mean me? It was almost laughable. No one, ever, had looked at me and wondered if I was dangerous. Granted, I looked like a hobo and maybe smelled a little wild, but I seriously doubted I looked scary.

“Relax lady,” I said, deciding I didn’t like her too much, but accepting the fact she was pregnant and I was a stranger in her space. “Unless you're an alpha that can’t keep their hands to themselves, we’re good.”

She still looked dubious, but she nodded reluctantly, grabbed a coffee mug and bolted.

“Don’t mind her,” Pete said softly, pressing his weight against my shoulder. “She had it pretty tough before she got here.”

“Didn’t we all,” Darcy declared before dropping two identical plates down in front of me and Pete. “Eat up boys.”

Peter scrunched up his nose and picked up a corner of the sandwich before taking a dubious sniff. “What is this?”

“P&J!”

“With Mayo?”

“I ran out of the J,” she fell into the seat opposite and took a large bite. “Try it, it’s good.”

I highly doubted that, but I took a quick bite and decided I’d eaten much worse.

“So what do you wanna know?” Darcy asked after successfully inhaling her food.

I took another bite, chewing as he considered his answer.

“How about everything?”

Chapter 14

“T-Tony, man, can I tell you something? Straight talk?”

I tried to focus on Darcy, but one of us was swaying so badly that I was struggling to see straight. “If you’re about to tell me you’re hammered, don’t bother.”

“I’m being serious,” she grumbled indignantly, swatting my chest and nearly falling flat on her face.

I grinned, a little smug.

“Man, I’m being serious!”

“Sorry. Yeah, yeah o’course, straight talk. Go ahead.”

“Tony, buddy, I’m sorry I have to say this, but you, you stink.”

Well, she wasn’t wrong. Still, rude.

I shrugged. “You get used to it after the first six months or so.”

“Seriously dude, you need a shower.”

“Jesus, ok, I get it,” I said, gently nudging her shoulder. I debated for a few seconds, considering. “You got a shower?”

“Of course,” she said brightly.

“In your room?”

“Yeah.”

“Does anyone come to your room?”

“Just other omegas. No betas or alphas allowed!”

I nodded, considering. In all honesty, a shower sounded amazing. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt clean. I was already caught, and eventually, someone was going to claim me. Was it worth being as filthy as possible just to try and make the process unpleasant for them? It was more likely that someone would strap me down and forcibly wash me eventually anyway. The people around me were clean, all the fucked up things they were clearly up to hidden beneath a thin veneer of civility.

Better to do it now, under my own terms.

“Yeah, ok,” I said, shrugging. “But you’ll stay in the room with me, yeah?”

“‘Course,” she said, standing up with a wobble. “As long as I can peek.”

“Obviously,” I said, getting up with marginally more grace. I shook my head in self disgust. “I used to handle my drink way better than this.”

“Just - just means you’re a cheap date,” she snickered, grabbing my wrist and tugging me into her little bathroom. “You get undressed, I’ll handle the shower.”

I pulled off the various rags entomobing my body, watching with no small amount of amusement as Darcy managed to turn on the shower, lose her balance and tip under the spray.

“Son of a bitch!”

“You ok?” I snorted.

“Yup, yup I’m ok. Geez, waters freezing - my nips could cut glass. Give it a minute.”

I saluted, continuing to strip until I was down to my underwear. I realised Darcy was unashamedly watching me and I cocked an eyebrow, only swaying a little. “A little privacy?”

“Bleh, you’re no fun,” she said, pouting as she turned away. “I’m gonna go get you some clean clothes. Not sure I have much that’ll fit, but -“

“Don’t leave,” I blurted, grabbing her wrist. “You said you’d guard the door.”

She watched me with an intense, unreadable expression that spoke volumes. Neither of us discussed anything to do with the outside world, but it was obvious she’d seen things - no way an omega that looked the way she did could have possibly escaped unscathed. “Alright,” she agreed, softly serious. “I’ll stay.”

I nodded, taking a deep breath before pulling off my underwear and stepping swiftly under the spray.

“Jesus fuck, I think I just organsmed,” I groaned, lifting my face towards the spray. I closed my eyes, allowing the warm water to run over my face.

“Here, you’re going to need this,” Darcy said, laughing as she passed me a bottle of shampoo and conditioner - the intense moment thankfully breaking. “We’re rationed on this stuff. But I think I’ll get a pass this once. Cane the bottle.”

“You sure know how to make a gal feel loved,” I grumbled, before dutifully wetting, washing and repeating. When my hair was suitably clean and conditioned, and the water in the drain was no longer running brown, Darcy passed me the soap. “Is this berry?”

“I like berry!” She defend in mock outrage.

I snorted and then proceeded to wash every inch of my skin until months worth of dirt and grit were finally gone. I stepped out of the shower, clean for the first time in what felt like an eternity.

“You ready to tackle the hair and beard next?” Darcy asked, handing me a towel and staring unashamedly as I dried off. “And maybe grab something else to eat. You need some serious junk in the trunk, Tony.”

“Don’t you know that emaciation is in vogue right now?” I quipped, wrapping the towel around my waist before rubbing a hand over my hair. “Maybe we should just shave this off. It’s got to be one big ball of knots.”

“I might be able to save it,” Darcy said, shrugging. “But it’s up to you.”

“Ok, but if you yank on my hair I am going to have one heck of a hissy fit.”

“Sure you are,” she said, grinning as she reached into her cabinets and pulled out a pair of scissors and a comb.

“Do you know what you’re doing with those?” I asked, a little nervous.

Darcy’s answering grin was downright terrifying

Chapter 15

Notes:

**Looks slyly around room - no one will notice I haven’t updated in nearly two years**

I barely recognised my own reflection. I’d aged, I realised, frowning at the faint lines I spotted at the corners of my eyes. I was gaunt and pale and I looked scared. I looked like a victim and I hated it.

The bruising didn’t help. Apparently I didn’t come out of the crash with Bucky quite as unscathed as I’d thought. I was covered in abrasions, with a huge shiner on my ribs, a smaller one on my shoulder and some pretty impressive bruising on my left cheek.

I was so fucking tired.

“You ok in there, Tones?” Darcy called cheerfully from the other side of the door.

“Peachy,” I answered, brushing my fingers through my newly shorn hair, marvelling at the clean, untangled feeling after an age of being covered in grime and only god knew what else. “I’ll be out in a sec.”

“Coolio!”

I pulled on my borrowed clothes, feeling oddly naked despite being completely covered. The off-white sweater was too big on me, hanging off my shoulder and falling to my thighs, and the black sweatpants were about two inches too short. Coupled with my dirty hiking boots, I figured I probably looked like a catwalk fashion reject.

I took a deep breath, opened the bathroom door and stepped outside.

“Well, look at you,” Darcy said brightly, grabbing my hand and dragging me towards her tiny dining table. “You’re a hottie.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” I gushed, dropping into the chair and indicating the steaming bowl of pasta. “For moi?”

“Sure is. Tuck in.”

She didn’t need to tell me twice. I inhaled the food, barely tasting it, even though I vaguely realised it tasted good. The kid reappeared, letting himself into Darcey’s room like he owned the place. He dropped into the seat next to me and leaned against my shoulder like it was no big deal.

“Uh, hi,” I said around a mouth-full of food.

“Hi,” Peter chirped back cheerfully, apparently oblivious to social norms as he blatantly scented me before opening his book and ignoring me completely.

I looked at Darcy for help, but she just smiled and shrugged.

“So what do you guys do for fun around here?”

“Yeah, not a whole lot of fun to be had, if I’m honest. They don’t like us leaving the compound.”

I nodded. I wasn’t exactly surprised, but knowing I was trapped felt like I had a steel band constricting around my chest. I was scared and so unbelievingly stressed, but I was old enough to know that freaking out wouldn’t change anything, so I pushed down the suffocating panic I felt, figuring I’d need all the information I could get.

“What do you do all day?”

“Mostly chores. Peter here has lessons - he was apprenticed a while back, but…” she trailed off as Peter visibly tensed. “I, ah, I help teach the older kids maths and stuff.”

“You guys are pretty smart, huh?”

“Omegas tend to have a higher IQ,” Peter noted, not taking his eyes off his book. “Statistically, anyway.”

“You’re preaching to the choir kid,” I said, sharing a conspiral smile with Darcy. “So is it just us?

“There’s a few more in the compound, but all the other omegas have alphas. For now, this place belongs to us, although the others have an open pass to visit whenever they want.”

I nodded, taking in the information. That would explain the heavy scent of pregnant omegas. As we continued to eat, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. I glanced around the room, but there was no one else around besides the three of us. It was unsettling, the constant sense of being under scrutiny.

"Something wrong?" Darcy asked, picking up on my unease.

"I just feel like someone's watching us," I admitted, my voice hushed.

Darcy exchanged a knowing look with Peter. "They’re not allowed inside, Tony. Were safe in here, I promise"

I clenched my fists under the table in frustration. I hated feeling trapped, like an insect under fucking glass. They didn’t come in because they chose not to. That could change at any moment.

"So are there any rules in our lovely knew home I should know?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Darcy sighed, her gaze flickering towards the door. "Plenty. We're not allowed to leave the compound without permission, and even then, it's rare. We have curfews, restrictions on who we can interact with, and we're constantly monitored."

Peter closed his book, finally tearing his eyes away from the pages. "Everyone says it’s for our own good - that people would take advantage of us otherwise."

He wasn’t wrong, but it still fucking rankled. What the hell did the town think they were doing, if it wasn’t taking advantage of them.

I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. If I wanted to escape, I needed a plan. But first, I needed to gain Darcy and Peter’s trust. They seemed to have a good understanding of the compound and its dynamics. I wondered if they were treated well or if they were as desperate as I was to leave.

“How much did you guys drink?” Peter abruptly asked with a snort, gesturing towards the empty glasses on the countertop.

I shrugged and Darcy grinned.

“I’m surprised they let us have access to booze,” I admitted.

Darcy’s grin blossomed. “They don’t, but I’ve got pretty good at making my own. It’s only chemistry, after all. And like I said, no alphas allowed.”

I was impressed and more than a little grateful that I didn’t have to spend my first day at the compound completely sober. Dutch courage and all that jazz.

“What happens if we refuse to come out,” I asked, suddenly intrigued by how far the rules could be pushed.

“They’d send in Natasha to drag you out,” Peter said with a sour smile. “That’s what happened to me.”

“That’s only because you spent two months locked in your room,” Darcy said teasingly. “They were scared I'd murdered you.”

I somehow didn’t think I'd be given a month's grace period if I decided to lock myself away, but I was definitely going to push my luck.

“So what’s the deal with Natasha,” I asked, wrinkling my nose at the memory of her scent.

“I’m not really sure. I think she used to be an alpha, but something happened to her and now she’s…I mean…she’s not a nothing, ‘cause you know, harsh, but she doesn’t count as an alpha or a beta and she’s definitely not an omega.”

I nodded slowly, trying to decide if I thought losing any status would be horrifying or the best thing that ever happened to me. It was definitely a coin toss.

Chapter 16

I made it twenty-four hours before Romanoff decided to pay me a visit. I was minding my own business sitting in the lounge, curled up on the surprisingly comfortable sofa and staring blankly at one of Darcy’s tacky romance novels when the redhead sidled into the room and sat down opposite me.

I managed not to flinch, barely. I’d been waiting for her visit, but at least Pete got a full month before being dragged outside kicking and screaming.

I earmarked a random page and placed the book in my lap, crossing my legs primly as I waited for Romanoff to make her move.

“Who would have guessed it,” she remarked, looking me over in a way that made me feel like she was seizing me up for slaughter. “You clean up well, Tony.”

“Don’t I know it,” I said with a wink.

“How are you settling in?”

“Stupendously.”

Her full lips twitched up into a faint smile. “I’m going for a walk around the town. I thought you might like to join me?”

“I honestly can’t think of anything I’d like less. Thanks for the invite though,” I pressed my hands together in mock supplication. “Super appreciated.”

“You’re so welcome,” she said softly, watching me.

I waited for her to grab me, tensing, but she stayed in her chair, smiling serenely.

I released an exaggerated full-body shiver. “Gah. Not that this hasn’t been lovely but I really must be…well, not going, obviously. You lovely folks won’t let me leave.”

Romanoff’s expression was as flat as her scent. I breathed in, trying to gauge her emotions, but there was just…nothing.

She abruptly slapped her hands against her thighs and stood up. Despite myself, I couldn’t control the way the noise made me flinch. She smiled apologetically, although it was clear she did it to get a reaction. “Well, I guess I’ll get out of your hair. See you later, Tony.”

“Toodles,” I said brightly, waving as she left the room.

When I heard the front door close I l permitted myself the luxury of freaking the fuck out. I breathed deeply in and out of my nose, trying to regulate my breathing as my heart hammered frantically in my chest.

What the hell was she up to?

I got up and crossed the room to the window, peeling back the blinds to look outside. I immediately locked eyes with Steve and stumbled back with an embarrassing yelp, landing hard on my ass as I scrambled away from the window and hid behind the sofa.

Okay, that was fucking terrifying. How long had he been standing out there?

My panic started to mount. What if he was always lurking outside, just waiting for an opportunity to pounce. If I made a break for it, would that give him carte blanche to do whatever the hell he wanted?

“Fuck,” I whispered, leaning my back against the sofa as I pressed my hand against my chest. “Fuck, fuck.”

“What are we swearing about?” Peter asked, happily plopping down next to me and leaning against my shoulder.

I jumped again, before patting the kid a little absently on his arm. “I’m gonna have to put freakin’ bells on your clothes. Nothing much. Just checking out my stalker. No biggie.”

“Steve? He’s been out there a lot lately.”

Of course he was.

“And you didn’t think to tell me?”

The kid shrugged. “They get like that. This guy, Brock. He used to stand out there for hours, staring at my bedroom window.”

“Used to?”

“The council said he had to stop. He’s older than I am. They said he had to wait until I was eighteen before he partitioned them for courting rights.”

“Ewww,” I said, which didn’t sum up how completely fucked up that sounded. “How old is he?”

“Like thirty.”

“Double eww.”

The kid had to be seventeen at the most. What sort of monster stalked a goddamn child?

“So that’s how they like to show us their interest? They stand outside the house and they spy on us? Whatever the hell happened to Netflix and Chill.”

Peter stared blankly back at me.

“Uh, dinner and and a movie?” I tried. After a beat, I started rambling. “Hooking up, dancing the lambada… hanky-panky?”

The kid sputtered, growing red but laughing. Cool, I had the emotional maturity of a literal child

“Actually, never mind what I just said. I forgot we were in a PG-13 conversation for a second,” I, ruffled his hair. “So this Brock guy. He’s off the scene?”

Pete stiffened. “For now. Until I turn eighteen at least.”

That was so fucking wrong.

“Is there anyone your own age you like?”

“There’s a girl. Her name’s MJ.”

I felt a smile twitch across my lips. “Ohhh, MJ. Sounds magical.”

Peter’s expression turned wistful. “She’s pretty amazing.”

“So what’s the problem?”

Peter shrugged. “She’s a beta. It wouldn’t work.”

“Betas and omegas are just as compatible as any other dynamic. Why wouldn’t it work?”

“It’s harder to conceive with a female beta and a male omega,” he said, sounding like he was quoting someone else. “The town wouldn’t let us take the risk.”

Of course they wouldn’t. The discrimination and prejudice based on biological roles in their new society was sickeningly unfair. “I’m sorry kid,” I said, unable to offer anything more than my sympathy. “That sucks.”

“Yeah,” Peter agreed softly. “It kinda does.”

After a moment, Peter spoke up again, his voice tinged with resignation. "Maybe things will change in the future."

Except the alphas held all the power and they were unlikely to give it up in favour of equality. I nodded anyway, wishing there was something I could do to help.

Which was a joke. I couldn’t even help myself.

“Romanoff just came to visit me,” I said eventually, purposefully changing the subject.

“I saw. I was kinda expecting her to drag you outside. I heard the council is worried about you - they think you might cause trouble.”

Interesting and not entirely unfounded

“Any idea why she’s being so cordial?”

“You’re still new. She probably doesn’t want to scare you,” Peter said with a small shrug. “She’s not a bad person. A little scary, but she’s never hurt any of us, and she’s not interested in us in…that way.”

“Good to know,” I said, sitting back. “She’s still totally terrifying though. Am I right?”

“Oh yeah,” Peter agreed, grinning. “She’s pretty scary, alright.”

Chapter 17

Two weeks had passed, and apart from a few intense but thankfully brief visits with Natasha I’d mostly been left alone. It should have been a relief. I’d worked myself into a frenzy because I was convinced I was going to be dragged kicking and screaming into a mating - the fact that they were keeping their distance should have been a good thing.

Too bad I was a paranoid bastard approaching dangerous levels of boredom. Normally, when I was trapped in a confined space for prolonged periods of time I had other things to worry about - little things like trying not to starve to death or hiding from marauders.

Weirdly, nightly games of Monopoly were failing to hold my attention, and as Pepper used to like to say, an idle Tony was a dangerous Tony.

“What are you doing?” Darcy asked, letting herself into my room and flopping beside me on the thin beige carpet.

“Makin’ a bomb,” I said absently. “Close the door, would you?”

“…Oooookay,” she answered, leaning forward for a closer look. “Huh. Yeah, that’s totally a bomb.”

“Rad, right?”

“Totally rad,” She leaned back, popping her gum loudly. ”Who are you planning to blow up?”

“I haven't decided yet.”

“Fair enough. How do you even know how to make that thing?”

I pointed to myself. “Genius.”

“More like a little psychopath.”

“That too,” I allowed.

Another pop. I picked up a whiff of unease. “It’s safe,” I said, turning to look at her. “Seriously, I could make this thing in my sleep. It won’t detonate until I want it to.”

“Famous last words”

“Seriously, before the world turned to shit, this was kind of my bag.”

“I’m not worried about it going off by mistake, dumbass. I'm worried about what you’re planning to do with it.”

“I’m planning on leaving. I’ll create a distraction and skedaddle. No one gets hurt. Easy.”

Darcy sighed softly. “And then what?”

I shrugged. “I’ll figure it out.”

“Lovin’ your confidence, but you were out there for what, a day? And you were caught by the wonder twins. ”

I bumped our shoulders together. “Being stranded in breeder town isn't an option. Not to sound dramatic, but I'd rather be dead.”

Darcy went to speak, but she stopped abruptly, stiffening as she turned towards the still open doorway. Scarlet was watching us, her thin arms wrapped protectively around her stomach.

“Shit,” Darcy said.

“Shit,” I echoed.

Okay, things were moving a little faster than I’d anticipated, but this was salvageable. I sprang to my feet and Scarlet stepped back, watching me warily.

Could I take her? Maybe. But I wasn't about to start grappling with a pregnant woman. Could I reason with her? Definitely not. She already didn’t like me, and she had the hots for her alpha, which meant she was helluva institutionalised.

Shit. I was so fucked.

“What in the hell are you doing?” she hissed, taking another step back back. “A bomb. A bomb here? There are children,“ she clutched her stomach. “Are you insane?”

“Maybe a little,” I admitted. I’d been through some stuff, after all. “Look, I get that you’re planning to rat me out, but maybe you could give me a five minute head start?”

She screamed and waddled away. That wasn't good.

“Hide it,” Darcy hissed.

“Great idea,” I stood up, and wiped my hands on a rag. The bomb was nearly finished, but I was hardly going to blow up the house. “Any suggestions where?”

There was a loud crash downstairs. Darcy and I exchanged glances and then she was striding across the room and slamming the door closed.

“This is really bad” she whispered, her voice uncharacteristically serious.

She wasn’t wrong.

The door creaked open quietly, revealing Romanoff. She had the same maddening serene expression on her face as she stepped inside the room. Her flinty blue gaze swept over the bomb, lingering.

“Jesus, Tony.”

Chapter 18

Notes:

I always feel a little thrill when I receive over a 1000 kudos for a story. Thanks everyone who is still reading this one!

“Tony, step away from the bomb,” Romanoff said steadily, stepping slowly forward with her hands outstretched.

She wasn't doing anything overtly threatening, but my lizard-brain was warning me to stay the hell away from her. I knew I wasn't getting out of this one, but I wasn't going to make things easy for her either.

“Yeah,” I drawled, impressed that how I managed to sound bored. “That’s not happening.”

She decided to switch tactics. “Darcy, go wait outside.”

The younger woman winced as her gaze flickered between us. “What are you going to do to him?” she asked nervously.

Romanoff didn't take her eyes off me. “I won’t ask again, Darcy. Go wait outside.”

She still hesitated. Bless her heart.

“It’s ok,” I said. I didn’t need to drag her down with me, after all. “I’ll all be ok.”

“What are you going to do to him” she insisted, wrangling her hands nervously. “I’ll…I won’t...”

“Wait for me outside,” she snarled.

The command rang in my ears, despite not being directed towards me. Darcy walked robotically away with a soft sob. I watched her leave with a sinking feeling in my stomach.

At the sound of the front door closing, Romanoff stepped fully inside and looked down at the bomb. “This is a first.”

I shrugged and tried not to look too obvious about edging away from her. “Like you're one to talk. So you’re an alpha? But you don’t smell like one. You don't smell like anything, actually. But you’ve got the voice command. Good for you.”

“Where did you learn to build a bomb, Tony?”

I shrugged, taking a step back as she stepped forward. “It’s not that hard.”

“Not for someone like you.”

“I guess we’re all full of surprises. For instance, we’re living in a town that somehow managed to survive the end of the world. It’s filled with alphas that can walk off blunt-force trauma and rip off people’s limbs. And there’s you, the alpha-non-alpha. What a world, hey, Tash.”

Her lip twitched the tiniest amount at the nickname. “And then there’s you, Tony. The wildling omega that outsmarted two alphas and nearly got them both killed. The man that somehow managed to build a bomb out of household items.”

“Call me MacGyver,” I quipped, flinching when she stepped over the bomb and strode towards me.

My back slammed into the wall and I raised my hands to ward her away. “Hey, whoa. Hold on -“

She grabbed my wrist and spun me around, wrenching my arm up behind my back. It hurt, but only a little and only if I struggled.

“Are you carrying any weapons?”

“No,” I said honestly.

“Are there any other bombs in the house?”

“Just the one in my pants.”

I felt her sigh against my neck. “Tony, tell me honestly, are there any other bombs in this house?”

“…no.”

“What about the rest of the town?”

“I haven’t left the house.”

She grabbed my nape, scruffing me.

I was really beginning to dislike her.

She marched me out of the room and down the stairs. We were approaching the front door.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice smaller than I meant it to be.

“We need to clear out the house and disarm the bomb. You can’t stay here.”

“Just what I wanted—an impromptu field trip,” I muttered, trying to sound sarcastic instead of terrified.

She didn’t respond, her focus unwavering as she shoved me out the door and into the cool evening air.

It was the first time I'd stepped outside since being dragged into the house. The sky was painted in hues of orange and purple, a beautiful contrast to the chaos I had somehow invited into my life. This wasn’t how I’d imagined my day going when I woke up this morning.

“I need to know you’re tell me the truth. There are children here, Tony.” she said, scanning the street.

“I told you, I haven’t left the house,” I reiterated, glancing around for any sign of Darcy. “I wasn’t planning to hurt anyone.”

“You could have been killed,” she shot back, her grip on my arm tightening a fraction. “You need to understand the seriousness of this situation. You can't just play with explosives like they’re toys.”

“You’re preaching to choir.”

She stopped abruptly, turning to face me. The intensity in her eyes was unnerving. “This isn’t a game.”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart. “You think I don’t know that? Hello — you’re keeping me here against my will.”

Her expression softened very slightly. “I know you don’t believe us, but we want what’s best for you.”

I swallowed hard. I felt angry, frustrated and more than a little scared. “I’m not staying here, and nothing you do or threaten me with is going to change that. ”

“We want you to be happy here” she said matter-of-factly, her grip on my wrist tightening again. “But one way or another, you’re going to fall into line.”

I glanced back at the house. Given the day I was having, I half-expected it to explode behind us like an old action movie, even though logically i knew there was no way it would go off unless I wanted it to,or some incompetent idiot tinkered with it.

“So, what’s the plan?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “You’ve got a bomb expert in your back pocket or something?”

“Something like that,” she replied cryptically.

“Right. And in the meantime, Darcy, Peter and I stand around and look pretty?”

“You’ll all be given temporary accommodation until we can sort this out” she shot back.

As we turned a corner, the street ahead was packed with people. I stumbled to a stop, tugging frantically against Romanoff’s grip. I recognised a few people. Bucky was there. So was Darcy. Scarlet was being held by a tall blonde dude, who was glaring at me with absolute hatred in his eyes.

It wasn’t until Steve came barrelling towards us, stinking of aggression and fury that my composure finally cracked. I stopped trying to break Romanoff’s grip and attempted to hide behind her instead.

She was…something. Maybe she was stronger than Steve. Maybe she could protect me from the heated anger in his scent.

“A bomb,” he snarled, actually stopping when Romanoff held out her hand to keep him at arm's length. “You built a bomb, Tony.”

“Oh, you heard.”

I knew it wasn’t the time for jokes. I also knew Steve didn’t have a sense of humour.

From the look on his face, it probably wasn’t the right thing to say.

“I had it under control -“ I began, my voice wavering under his heated gaze.

“Peter lives in that house. Darcy too. Scarlet, a pregnant omega, was in the house.”

“I know what I’m doing. It’s safe. It wouldn’t have gone off -“

“What were you planning to do with it?” Romanoff asked, turning towards me.

“I was going to cause a distraction. Somewhere in the town…”

“You don’t even know the layout of the town. How could you possibly know where to go so no one would get hurt?” Steve snarled, his anger scent growing heavier by the second.

Okay, I could admit it, I was entering pants-wetting levels of fear. The townsfolk were still gawking at me. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen so many people.

“I need to disarm the bomb,” Romanoff said abruptly, tugging me forward. “Keep an eye on him whilst I’m gone?”

Steve grabbed my bicep with surprising gentleness despite the anger still wafting off him. He sighed, looking down at me, his large alpha fangs clearly viable.

I bared my neck in response, unable to resist the instinctive need to pacify the pissed off alpha.

I was so fucked.

Chapter 19

“Tony,” Peter said urgently, rushing towards me. He stopped short when Steve made a sharp gesture not to come any closer. The kid hesitated, his scent anxious, but he didn’t retreat. “Are you ok? Everyone is saying you were trying to blow up the house!”

“That’s because some people—present company included—don’t know how to listen,” I said, looking pointedly at Steve’s hand locked around my arm. I could smell the stress coming off the kid and felt a spike of guilt. “Hey, I’m fine. Seriously, everything’s ok. Captain wonder over here is just blowing everything out of proportion…pun not intended.”

Steve released a low, menacing growl that activated that little switch in the back of my brain that screamed I was about to die. I froze, and so did the kid.

“Peter, stay with Darcy,” Steve ordered, clearly satisfied by our reactions as he unnecessarily tugged me closer. “Everyone,” he called, gaining the townsfolk's attention. “Stay in the square until further notice. Do not…I repeat, do not leave the square.”

Dozens of pairs of eyes turned in our direction. I could feel myself wilt under their combined stares. No one looked happy.

“You need to collar that lunatic,” Scarlet shrieked, breaking the silence from the safety of her alpha‘s arms.

Oh great. Hysterical pregnant omega. That would definitely improve an already tense situation.

“Ok,” I said, shrugging off the freeze response ingrained in omegas when we felt threatened. I unsuccessfully tried to tug my arm free. “I think we can all agree that I’m more trouble than I’m worth. How about you let me go, and no one needs to worry about any more bombs. Sound good?”

“Be. quiet,” Steve growled, yanking on my arm for emphasis. I hissed in pain and he loosened his hold with a frown, but didn’t let go. “Vision, control your omega. She’s upsetting the town.”

Well, that was incredibly sexist. I wondered briefly what they would do to me if I said as much. Given that I was already on thin ice it probably wasn’t a good idea. Instead, I took a deep breath and tried to focus. “Look, I don’t need to be controlled. I’m not a danger to anyone. As long as you just let me leave—”

“Threatening us isn’t going to help your cause,” Steve interrupted. “Besides, you don’t have anywhere else to go, Tony. This is as good as it gets.”

I felt a wave of frustration wash over me, but I bit my tongue. The townsfolk were still watching me. They were scared, and I couldn’t blame them, not really. “Look, Annie Wilkes, I get that you really don’t want me to leave, but you don’t get to decide that,” I said finally, my voice steady.

“Why are we even discussing this. He built a bomb?” Scarlet snapped, her eyes narrowing. “He needs to be locked up!”

“My love,” her alpha crooned, “Please, you must calm down. The baby —“

“We don’t believe he was planning on hurting anyone,” Steve declared. “We think he was going to attempt to cause a distraction and run.”

The crowd murmured in response, a mix of disbelief and confusion washing over their faces. I could feel the weight of their stares, and the anxiety radiating from Peter was palpable.

“Run?” Scarlet scoffed, her voice rising again. “That’s even worse! He’s a liability! Who knows what else he’s capable of?”

“Enough!” Steve barked, causing every omega, and a few people I didn't recognise, to recoil. “We are not going to take part in a witch hunt. Tony will be punished accordingly, but right now, we’re going to concentrate on making sure everyone remains safe.” He turned to me, his grip tightening ever so slightly. “I need you to sit down and stay quiet until Natasha and Bucky give the all clear.”

“Fine by me,” I said, trying to adopt a more conciliatory tone. See dad, I do listen. “But I’m telling you, they won’t find anything else.”

Steve clearly wasn't taking any chances, so I did as I was told and sat on my ass as the townsfolk continued to grumble and glare at me from across the square. Peter and Darcy were kept away from me, which stung. I kept catching their eyes from across the square. They looked small and scared outside the relative safety of the house.

I smiled gently, and they both smiled back, trying not to look as worried as they clearly felt. Darcy waved sadly and wrapped her arms around Peter.

I pushed down the nagging voice in the back of my mind that questioned if I was in the wrong. No matter how desperate I was, hurting innocent people wasn’t a line I was willing to cross. Steve and Bucky — yeah, they were fair game, but the townsfolk…never.

Christ, I just wanted to leave. I could feel the beginning of a spectacular panic attack approaching and forced myself to breathe deeply. I closed my eyes and pressed my face into my knees and tried to be calm.

Why wouldn’t they let me leave!

It was nearing dusk when Romanoff finally approached.

“Well?” Steve asked, his tone betraying his anxiety.

“All clear. Seems like he was telling the truth.”

They both turned to look at me. I winked at them.

…steve did not like that.

I grinned instead.

“Okay everyone, you can go back to your homes. It’s safe.”

No one seemed inclined to believe that I hadn’t planted any more bombs, but after a lot of back and forth, the crowd started to disperse.

“So, am I going back to the house?” I asked, getting up and dusting off my trousers when I noticed Darcy and Peter were being ushered back to the house.

Steve knocked my legs out from under me. The move was so fast and unexpected that I could only gasp as I went down hard. He caught me at the last moment, grabbing my shirtfront so I didn’t crack my head against the pavement. I dangled in his hold for a second, before he gently lowered me back to the floor.

“You don’t get up until I tell you to.”

Okay then. I swallowed the terror bubbling in my throat and averted my gaze. It was getting cold and I realised I was shivering.

Steve was pissed, but he hadn’t hurt me. He’d just scared the crap out of me. I knew the man was fast after watching him fight, but seeing it up close and personal was a whole new level of terrifying.

The panic attack I’d managed to hold back earlier was threatening to come rattling back, but I forced myself to just breathe. In and out.

Steve and Natasha were having an intense conversation over my head, but I couldn’t hear anything past the roaring in my ears. It was pitch black when they finally seemed to come to a decision.

“Tony,” Natasha said, and despite myself my head snapped up at the sound of her voice. “We’ve decided, for the time being, that you’re going to stay with Steve, at his house.”

Nope. No. Absolutely not.

“Tony, breathe!”

I recoiled when I realised Steve was crouching beside me, rubbing his stupidly large hand against my back. I tried to retreat, shuffling back on my ass. I probably looked like an idiot.

“No…touchy…” I managed to gasp.

Steve thankfully stayed where he was, hunched over, out of grabbing distance.

“He’s showing signs of distress,” Natasha remarked, with as much emotion as a stone.

“No shit,” I wheezed, struggling to stand up. I staggered, pointing an accusing finger at Steve. “Do not come any closer.”