Chapter Text
“Wake up, Sarah!”
“Huh?” I said.
Doctor Strange frowned. “You are wasting my time and yours. How am I supposed to help you if you don't CONCENTRATE,” he scolded.
I rolled my eyes, but his words stung. He knew just how to piss me off. He knew that my powers were amplified when my emotions were running high, and the fact that his tactic usually worked only pissed me off more.
I looked at Kerri right in her foggy green eyes and she smiled. Doctor Strange's assistant was so much nicer to me than he was. “It's okay Sarah, I'm sure it's partially my fault. I'll try to broadcast louder,” she said.
Strange snickered. “The whole point of this exercise is to break through the barriers of a shielded mind. This is pointless.”
“Hey, give her a break! You gotta start somewhere!” Kerri said, turning back to me. “Now, concentrate.”
I closed my eyes and tried to focus on Kerri's energy. I was trying to guess the card she held in her left hand. I tried to concentrate, but I couldn't pin down her thoughts.
Because something else was coming through louder, rippling in little waves, crashing through my subconscious. These thoughts belonged to someone else entirely ...and they were decidedly sexy.
Kerri suddenly giggled.
“Sorry,” I said, blushing.
“Someone is waiting for you!” she laughed.
I looked at my watch, I was late for dinner.
I huffed in frustration. Instead of reading Kerri's mind, I'd picked up on husband's thoughts… 20 floors up. And to make matters worse, I accidentally broadcast these thoughts to Kerri.
I put my head in hands, “God, I feel like I'm getting worse at this, rather than better.”
“So do I,” Strange sneered.
Kerri whacked him on the shoulder, “Lighten up, would you?” she said. “Look, Sarah, nobody said this was going to be easy, but you ARE doing better, believe me.”
“Thanks Kerr,” I said, but I wasn't convinced.
“Let's call it a day, shall we? We'll pick this up on Monday.”
I nodded and got off my stool. Strange marched out of the room without saying another word to me. I quietly flipped the bird to his back, and Kerri giggled.
“How do you work with that guy?” I asked her.
“Oh, he's not so bad when he isn't on his period.”
“Well I'm just glad that I get to practice reading your mind instead of his,” I said. “I have a feeling his mind is a scary place.”
“Oh, he would never let you anyway,” Kerri said. “That man is full of secrets…”
*
I hurried to the elevator and was whisked up to the 23rd floor. I began to get excited merely at the knowledge that soon I would see him.
“There’s my babydoll,” he smiled. He was waiting by the doorway, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyebrows lifted. “You're late.”
Damn. He never failed to take my breath away. His grey-blue eyes that saw into my soul, his messy brown hair, his broad chest and muscular arms… He approached me slowly and pressed his lips to mine, his hands snaking around my waist, enveloping me in his warmth. I kissed him back eagerly.
“Sorry sweetheart…” I mumbled. “I would have come home earlier but I was having trouble concentrating. SOMEBODY was intent on distracting me from my training.”
He chuckled. “I couldn't help it,” he whispered in my ear. “I had to give you a taste of what I'm going to do to you tonight.”
All the blood swiftly rushed to my face. He ran his hands up my back and into my hair. I was never more glad that we had our own place. Tony had given us an entire floor of the tower as a wedding gift.
How did I get so lucky? How did I become the wife of the hottest Avenger?
It's a long story.
I'd been trapped in another dimension, one devoid of magic. No enhanced people existed there. It was a place where heroes and villains were not so clearly defined. I was a prisoner, an outcast, and it wasn't until I was sucked into this dimension that I finally found my home. More than a home, I found the love of my life. A man that had died a hundred years ago in my world was very much alive in this one. He saved my life. We were both broken, but together we made a whole. The rest is history.
He began to nip and suck at my neck and I thought he would take me right there, in the hallway, against the wall.
*BANG BANG BANG*
“Shit,” we said in unison.
“I completely forgot!” I frowned.
He reluctantly freed me from his arms and I rushed to answer the door.
“Hey guys!” I said with mock enthusiasm.
Steve and Nat walked into the flat; Steve looked dapper in a powder blue velvet jacket, and Nat was a total knockout in a fitted violet dress.
“Hey girl! You're not even dressed!” Steve cried in an amusingly high pitched shriek.
“I'm sorry, it totally slipped my mind.”
“Thor would legit cry if he heard you say that,” Nat said.
I laughed. “I know, I'm sorry! I won't be a minute,” I turned to my husband. “Are you SURE you don't want to come?”
“Naw, you know Tony's parties aren't really my thing. You go ahead and have fun.”
“Are you sure?”
He smiled.
“Okay,” I said, working hard to conceal my disappointment. “I love you Bucky.”
“Love you too, doll.”
*
The ball room was dim, and tasteful twinkling white lights hung from the ceiling. It was crowded, but thankfully, it was a comparatively small event considering it was a Tony Stark party. All the Avengers who were not out on assignment were assembled there, along with Agents and friends, gathered to celebrate the God of Thunder’s birthday. And what's more, tonight I would finally meet him.
So I squeezed myself into a black cocktail dress and doused myself in champagne as soon as we arrived. Nat said that Thor was a softy, but I was nervous. In a room full of famous superheroes he was, like... FAMOUS. I still didn't feel like a real member of the Avengers, and I couldn't help wanting their strongest and most illustrious member to like me.
Steve and Nat were dancing, so I was alone, trying not to be overwhelmed by the flurry of people. Then I felt someone tap my shoulder.
I swirled around, Doctor Strange was behind me, holding out a glass of champagne. I had to admit, he looked pretty dashing in his fitted tux, though it was offset by the cutting look in his eye. “I believe I owe you...an apology...Ms. White.” He seemed to be choking on the words.
“It's Mrs. Barnes,” I said, and took the champagne from him.
He snickered. “Yes...well, Kerri brought it to my attention that my training methods were slightly...aggressive.”
I nodded but didn't respond, which seemed to frustrate him. Good.
“I merely wish to push you to your full potential. Sometimes I forget to be...polite.”
I giggled. It was sort of charming that he was attempting to be nice to me. At the sound of my laughter his face softened slightly.
“Don't worry about it, Doc,” I relented. “I get it. And believe it or not, I'm tougher than I look.”
We smiled at each other. Kerri had warned me not to try and read Strange’s mind, but I couldn't help myself. I relaxed and breathed out slowly, searching for him. And what I found was like nothing I'd experienced before. It was like hitting a brick wall, and it almost knocked the wind out of me. I don't know if Strange knew what I was trying to do, but if he did, he didn't let on. He just stared straight ahead and sipped his champagne.
Reading minds was kind of hit or miss for me. Sometimes it came so easily, usually with friends or people experiencing strong emotions. And what really bothered me, was that I had trouble guarding my own thoughts, and sometimes I broadcast what I'm feeling to those around me, like what happened in the lab with Kerri.
Except when it came to Bucky. With Bucky, it was easy. Our minds were open to each other right from the start. We could hold entire conversations without opening our mouths. And what's more, we could silence our thoughts as well. If I didn't want Bucky to know what I was thinking, I could block him out easily. The amount of control I had with him was astounding. But I still hadn't figured out how to have that kind of control with someone who I wasn't fucking.
I was working hard to hone my skills and protect myself. I was working so hard in fact, that I barely had any time with my husband since our honeymoon. After long days in the lab, I was so exhausted, we did little else but fall into bed together, sometimes too tired to even make love. It was bumming me out. And Bucky too. Neither of us thought married life would be like this.
I was jarred out of my stupor by the sound of booming laughter. At last, the man of the hour had arrived, and he was coming towards me.
The rumours were not exaggerated when it came to his looks. He was a huge man with bulging muscles, dirty blonde hair and soft eyes. I expected him to be...scarier, but I was actually quite at ease when he approached me.
“Ah, this must be the new Mrs. Barnes!” he exclaimed, taking my hand and kissing it softly. I giggled.
“And even more beautiful than advertised!”
Advertised?
I snorted. “Yeah...right.” I blushed. I took a chance and delved into his mind, and found it surprisingly open. He was being sincere. I smiled. “Very nice to meet you,” I managed.
He didn't let go of my hand, in fact, he was pulling me towards him ever so slightly. I let him.
“And you as well! How are you liking being part of our Avengers?” He had a weird way of taking, boisterous but sweet.
“Well I haven't really had the chance to Avenge anything yet…”
Thor burst into exaggerated laughter and I couldn't help but laugh too. It was infectious. Doctor Strange rolled his eyes. It was funny, they were total opposites. Strange, so closed off and ornery - and Thor, so warm and open.
“And where is your new husband this evening? Surely he wouldn't miss my birthday party!” Thor exclaimed.
“Right here, big guy.”
Double damn. Bucky had come after all, and did he ever look smokin hot. I loved it when he dressed up. He wore a fitted dark grey suit and tie, and his hair was tidy and pushed back from his forehead. My mouth hung open as he kissed me on the cheek. Would I ever get used to this? I could eat him with a spoon.
“Sergeant Barnes!” Thor cried gleefully and scooped Bucky up into a big bear hug. “I am so pleased you could come!” He placed Bucky back on his feet. “I am sorry I could not attend your marriage ceremony. Alas, I was needed off-world. But I am quite delighted by your choice of bride!”
I hiccupped.
Bucky smiled and pulled me to him by the waist. “Me too,” he said.
*
I kicked my shoes off and relished in the feeling of the soft carpet against my sore feet. I fell onto the couch in a mock swoon, and Bucky tumbled after. The night had been glorious, full of laughter, dancing and booze. Bucky was a fantastic dancer, and he made it look easy. He'd kept me on the dancefloor until almost 3am. I was beyond grateful that he'd decided to come to the party, and I told him so.
“Why the change of heart?” I asked.
“Well… I missed you, obviously. I feel like I barely get any time with you. It was worth the cost of having to socialise.”
There was more to it, I knew it. I probed his mind. He wouldn't let me in.
I pouted. “Aaand…?”
“Aaand… I was jealous okay? I don't like the way he looks at you.” There it was.
“Thor? He's a big ol' teddy bear…”
“I don't mean Thor. Thor flirts with everyone. Thor flirts with ME,” Bucky said.
I furrowed my brow. Then it came through.
“Doctor Strange?” I was flabbergasted. “I'm pretty sure he hates me.”
Bucky just shook his head. “I thought you were supposed to be psychic or something?” he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
“...or something.” I frowned. Bucky had to be mistaken. Strange was a cold, distant, arrogant…
“Hey, let's talk about something else, okay?” He wrapped his strong metal arm around me and pulled me close so I could rest my head on his shoulder. I wasn't sure how I should feel about Bucky's jealousy, so I decided that it was kind of sexy.
“How about less talk, more kissing?” I volunteered.
Bucky smiled, then his lips were on mine. He pushed me back firmly until my back was pressing against the armrest of the couch. My hands were in his hair and my legs were wrapped around his waist.
Suddenly, he reached down and yanked my legs forward so I flopped down flat on the couch. I giggled. I loved it when he was forceful. His eyes were smoldering as he peeled off my dress and slowly pulled off my stockings. Then he was between my legs, sucking and biting the way he knew I liked it, until I was coming violently, loudly, against his mouth.
“Fuck me Sergeant,” I begged.
He leaned down to kiss me then whispered, “Tell me you love me…”
“I love you.”
“Tell me you're mine.”
“I'm yours, James, always yours…”
I closed my eyes and he did as he was told.