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Dream world, bar
Night
The police had arrived and while most of the cops were rounding up the would be robbers, Steve, Bucky, and Sam were giving their statements to a detective. Peggy walked in and made her way over to the foursome.
"I knew he'd drag you into trouble," Peggy said, hugging Steve as she shot Bucky a disapproving look.
"Hey, I had nothing to do with this. Steve made the first move," Bucky protested.
"He's right. From all the witness statements, you were quite a hero Mr. Rogers," The detective told him and Steve's mind was taken somewhere else.
Emerging from the chamber surrounded by the scientists and Peggy.
Leading the Howling Commandos into battle against Hydra.
Watching helplessly as Bucky fell to his supposed death.
His and Peggy's first and only kiss.
Crashing the plane into the ice.
"Steve, are you okay?" Peggy asked concerned as Steve seemed to zone out.
"Yeah, fine," Steve lied, wondering what was going on with him.
"Well, we're done here," the detective said as he handed Steve a card. "If you ever need anything, ask for Detective Clint Barton."
Clint walked off and Steve stared after him, wondering why that name rung such a bell. He noticed Sam also staring after him with an odd look on his face.
Star Labs
Night
"Mom and baby are fine," Caitlin assured Barry as Wanda put her shirt back on.
"Thank god," Barry said relieved.
"It wasn't your fault Barry. You were being controlled," Wanda told him.
"But-" Barry began.
"Wasn't it you who told me that Killer Frost wasn't me? Well, what you did under the Dominators' control wasn't you," Caitlin said and Barry nodded reluctantly.
"Okay," Barry said, not sure he believed it.
"Mom and baby are fine I take it?" the trio looked over to see Laura lingering in the doorway.
"How-" Barry began.
"You were acting as protective of Wanda as Clint did of me. It's obvious if you know what to look for. Congratulations honey," Laura said as she walked over to Wanda and hugged the stunned young woman.
"Thank you," Wanda said as Laura let go.
"Who else knows?" Laura asked curiously.
"Steve," Barry said and Laura frowned.
"You haven't told anyone else?"
"Barry is afraid of how your husband will react," Caitlin said and Barry flushed.
"Not unwarranted. I'd tell him from across town," Laura joked.
"How about from China?" Barry asked seriously and Laura laughed.
"Relax kid. He'll probably be upset at first but he won't do anything to hurt you. He likes you too much and knows Wanda will never let it go if he does," Laura only joked at that last part but Barry felt immensely better.
"I'm gonna get him back Laura. I'm gonna get them all back," Barry promised and Laura smiled.
"I know you will."
Laurel was in the pipeline, staring at what had once been her cell. Or rather, the empty space where the cells had once been. Barry had made good on his promise, the cells had been removed and given to Argus for deconstructing. She felt Sara walk up behind her and waited for the other blond to say something.
"Are you anything like my Laurel?" Sara finally asked.
"I don't know. From the sounds of it, your Laurel was someone who was compassionate, who saw the best in people, who would fight for her home. And I think I lost that part of me a long time ago," Laurel confessed.
"Maybe not," Sara said and Laurel finally turned around to face her with a raised eyebrow. "Maybe it's just buried deep. After all, if you lost that part of you…why are you here?"
"I don't know," Laurel said and it was silent.
Dream world, police station
Night
"Allen, you got those forensics yet?" Clint asked as he walked into the lab.
"Working on it Clint, but it's gonna take some time," Barry said and Clint sighed.
"Just get it done and bring it to my desk," Clint said tiredly as he walked over of the lab.
As he did, he bumped into someone carrying some files and they dropped them. Clint immediately knelt down and began picking them up.
"I'm so sorry," Clint apologized.
"Didn't see that coming old man?" Pietro Maximoff smirked and Clint's mind was taken somewhere else.
Seeing Pietro the first time after he'd knocked Clint down.
Pietro speeding off with Wanda in his arms after sending Clint crashing through the window.
Pietro crashing on the floor after Clint broke the glass he was standing on.
Pietro and Barry laying on the ground unconscious after Ultron had shot them.
"You okay old man?" Pietro asked in concern as Clint seemed to zone out.
"Fine," Clint lied as he stood up and handed Pietro the files, wondering what that was.
Dream world, Steve's apartment
Same time
"So you're military?" Bucky asked Sam as the four of them had headed back to Steve and Peggy's apartment.
"Air Force. My partner Riley and I are on leave. Good thing for you two huh?" Sam joked and everyone laughed.
"I can't thank you enough. You probably saved my life," Steve said gratefully.
"Oh, I definitely saved your life," Sam joked before becoming serious. "It was no big deal. Soldiers look out for each other, right?"
"Well, if you want, Tony Stark is throwing a party tomorrow at his house to celebrate his company's new weapon and getting another step closer to ending the war. Tell Happy, the guy letting everyone in, that Bucky and Steve invited you. He'll hook you up," Bucky said.
"Thanks for the invite, but not really my scene. I better get going," Sam said as he got to his feet, followed by everyone else.
"Thank you for your help Mr. Wilson," Peggy said gratefully but Sam waved her off.
"It was no big. I was happy to help," Sam said.
They walked Sam out, opening the door. However, they were surprised to see a redhead standing on the other side. Steve and Peggy were even more surprised when the redhead walked passed them and pulled Bucky into a tight hug.
"Thank god you're alright. What the hell were you thinking?" Natasha said as she pulled back, lightly hitting Bucky across the shoulder.
"Um, Buck?" Steve asked confused.
"Steve, Peggy, meet Natasha Romanoff. My girlfriend," Bucky introduced to their shock.
"Wow, you actually found a woman who will put up with you," Peggy joked and Bucky rolled his eyes.
"That hurts Pegs. Right here," Bucky said mockingly, holding a hand over his heart.
"Have we met before?" Steve suddenly asked as he eyed Natasha with an odd look on his face.
Suddenly, both Steve and Natasha's minds were assaulted with memories neither of them could recall.
Natasha walking up to Steve and Bruce Banner.
Fighting alongside each other in New York.
Various missions together with Shield.
Natasha's multiple attempts to set Steve up on a date.
Steve assuring her he would trust her to save his life.
Natasha kissing his cheek at Fury's grave.
"I think I'd remember," Natasha said, a brilliant poker face on as they came out of it.
"Sorry, you just look really familiar. Must be thinking of someone else," Steve said and Natasha nodded.
"Well, nice meeting you all, but I've got to get going," Sam spoke up and they looked over at him. "I'll see you around."
They all said goodbye to Sam and he closed the door behind him. Steve looked over at Natasha again and got a glimpse out the window behind her. He saw a building he didn't remember seeing before. It was huge skyscraper, twice the length of the apartment complex, and had a giant A logo on the front. But he blinked and it was gone.
Star Labs
Night
Barry was making his way down the hall when Iris walked up to him.
"Barry, I need to talk to you," Iris said.
"Is it about finding my friends? Because right now, that is all I'm interested in," Barry said shortly.
"That's the problem," Iris said and Barry stopped, turning to her incredulously. "We're dealing with an alien invasion. I know you care about your….friends, but shouldn't you prioritize? I mean, what are four people compared to the rest of the world?"
"Yeah, you'd like that wouldn't you? For me to just forget about them," Barry snarled and Iris took a step back unconsciously. "You've made it clear you don't like them. Well, I don't give a damn what you think right now Iris. They took me in, gave me a home when I was lost and alone in this strange world I didn't understand. They are my family as much as you, Wally, and Joe. I'm not just gonna forget about them just because you can't accept that things are over between us. Get on board or get out of the way."
Barry then turned and stormed off, leaving the stunned Iris in the hallway.
"You okay?" Oliver asked as Barry entered the cortex.
"Just worried," Barry said and Oliver nodded.
"Yeah, how's Wanda?" Oliver asked and Barry sighed.
"Worried as hell," Barry admitted.
"She needs to relax. It's not good for her. Or the baby," Oliver said and Barry shot him a sharp look.
"How did you know?!" Barry exclaimed and Oliver laughed.
"Barry, you're acting exactly like John did when Lyla was pregnant. I'm not an idiot," Oliver said and Barry nodded slowly.
"Yeah, you're not," Barry said and Oliver leaned against the wall.
"So, how does it feel?" Oliver asked.
"Terrifying," Barry admitted. "Does it make me a coward to say I'm afraid of being a father?"
"No, it doesn't. It makes you just like every other parent on the planet. You should have seen me when Samantha told me she was pregnant," Oliver joked and Barry laughed. "You're gonna be a great father Barry."
"How do you know?" Barry asked softly.
"Because you're one of the best guys I know. And you had some great examples in the way of fatherhood," Oliver said and Barry ran a hand over his face.
"God, I haven't even decided what happens next, if I stay here or what. And I don't even know what Wanda wants," Barry confessed.
"You two will figure it out. You have months to plan this Barry. You don't have to decide right now," Oliver told him and Barry nodded slowly.
Dream world, Tony's house, next day
Afternoon
"You sure?" Tony asked as he held a glass of Champaign out to Steve.
"Someone needs to be the designated driver," Steve pointed out.
"I can call you a cab. Or better yet, a limo," Tony offered.
"Thanks Tony, but no," Steve refused and Tony shrugged.
"Suit yourself Cap," Tony said as he spotted Peggy and Natasha, laughing at some joke. "Who's the redhead with Peggy?"
"That's Natasha, Bucky's girlfriend," Steve explained and Tony blinked.
"Huh, who knew Barnes could get a girlfriend," Tony joked as Bucky walked over.
"Ha ha, very funny," Bucky said sarcastically.
"My job. But your girlfriend hasn't had a drink all night. She a lightweight?" Tony asked.
"No, she can't drink," Bucky said.
"She an alcoholic?" Tony asked, looking down at his drink guiltily.
"No, she just can't drink for another six or seven months," Bucky explained and it took the other two men a moment to understand what Bucky was saying.
"She's pregnant?" Tony asked surprised and Bucky grinned.
"Congratulations Buck," Steve said as the two shared a man hug.
"Thanks," Bucky said beaming as they let go.
"You sure it's yours?" Tony joked and Bucky playfully shoved his shoulder as the three men laughed.
"Steve?" the three men turned around to see Sam approaching them through the crowd of people.
"Um, who is this?" Tony asked, eying the unknown man.
"This is Sam, we told you about him," Bucky said and Tony snapped his fingers as he remembered.
"Right, the guy from the bar fight. I thought you said he wasn't coming?" Tony said confused.
"I wasn't, but I need to talk to Steve. Somewhere a little more private," Sam said and Steve nodded.
"Tell Peggy I'll be right back," Steve told Tony and Bucky before he walked off with Sam.
Steve and Sam exited the house, roaming the outside.
"Have you been seeing a building in the city lately? One that feels like it shouldn't be there?" Sam asked and Steve looked at him sharply.
"A skyscraper with an A logo on the front," Steve said and Sam nodded.
"Yeah, it feels…"
"Wrong," Steve supplied and Sam nodded.
"Something's going on here. This morning, I caught a coffee with Riley and I had this…it felt a memory, but not one I remember. We were doing this mission and I saw him get shot down. There was no way he could have survived it," Sam said shaken by the memory.
"I've been getting these…memory flashes to," Steve told him and Sam looked relieved.
"I had another one on the way here. I tried to draw it, never been much of an artist, but here's what I came up with," Sam said as he pulled out a piece of paper with a rather cartoonish drawing of one of The Dominators. "What's going on Steve?"
"I don't know…but I don't think any of this real," Steve finally admitted and Sam looked at him incredulously. "We're real, but all this…it's an illusion I think."
"Someone or something is messing with us but it's not fully working," Sam said and Steve nodded.
"Whatever we do next, it's gonna fight back," Steve warned him.
"Like how?" Sam asked.
Steve opened his mouth but looked over his shoulder and stiffened. Sam followed his gaze and saw Brock Rumlow, his face perfectly free of burns, stalk into view with a smirk on his face as he aimed a pistol at them.
"You had to ask," Steve told Sam dryly.
Rumlow opened fire on them but they dodged it as Rumlow approached. Sam tried to strike Rumlow but Rumlow kicked him in the abdomen and slugged him hard enough to send him to the ground.
"I just want you to know," Rumlow said as he took aim at Steve. "This isn't personal."
Rumlow opened fire but Steve manage to dodge it. Steve rushed him and managed to knock the gun out of his hand and tackle Rumlow to the ground.
"It feels personal," Steve grunted as they wrestled on the ground.
Rumlow manage to get Steve in a neck lock but, before he could do anything, there was a gunshot. Rumlow's brains splattered everywhere as his body let Steve go and fell to the ground. Steve and Sam looked up to see Clint lowering a gun.
"Thanks," Steve said as the pair got up.
"I guess I just don't miss. Now, would you two like to explain what's going on here?" Clint demanded.
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If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11
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