You woke up and stared at the ceiling for a minute, trying to remember the dream you had had that made you feel happy. You shot upright, remembering everything that happened and looking around to find that it was real. You allowed yourself to fall backwards again, stretching your arms over your head and smiling.
I still can't believe this is real, you thought as you rolled over to check the clock on the nightstand. It was 11, which honestly wasn't late compared to how much your lazy butt slept in on days off, but you doubted superheroes were asleep that late in the day. You got out of bed and walked to your door, peeking out for any signs of life. You looked down to find bags of neatly folded and freshly purchased clothes outside your door. Carrying them into your room, you dropped them on the bed and started shuffling through them.
You chose some jeans, a purple athletic t-shirt, and some boots. You noticed it had been slightly chilly out yesterday, with this universe seemingly farther along into fall, so you brought a black quarter zip to throw over you if you needed it. Surprisingly, all of the clothes were your size.
When you reached the kitchen, Steve was the only one in sight, sitting at the counter drinking what looked like a protein shake.
"Already finished a run?" you asked, guessing based on his outfit that you were right.
"Does my movie give you my daily schedule as well?" He asked with a smile.
"No, just seems like the thing you'd do."
"Well, I guess being your favorite character makes me predictable to you."
"Oh, shut up," you said, walking past him to the fridge, "I'm quickly regretting ever saying that."
"Just be glad that your favorite character wasn't Tony," he laughed.
"Oh yeah, I'd definitely be hearing it more from him. His head doesn't need to get any bigger."
You didn't trust yourself not to burn down the kitchen while attempting to make anything, so you grabbed a bagel, popped it in the toaster, and sat down at the opposite end of the counter from Steve. It was hard to find things to say to Captain America, and you had to stop yourself from staring.
"So, where is everyone?" you asked after a minute or two of awkward silence
"Nat is probably still training with Sam, last I saw of Clint he was on the phone with his wife, Rhodey is in the main lab with Tony, and Wanda is down by the lake."
"And Vision?"
"The man disappears through walls, so I've given up trying to keep track of him."
You nodded, thinking you had a pretty good idea of where Vision would be. You sat in silence for a bit, eating the bagel that was now out of the toaster.
"Look," you started, "about some of the things I said yesterday---"
He cut you off before you could finish, "Wren, it's fine. You had to prove your point, otherwise you wouldn't be able to help us."
"Yeah, but I coulda been a little more sensitive with, you know...Peggy and all of that."
He seemed to stare into space sadly, as if watching a memory play in his head. Finally he looked down and forced a grin before looking back up at you, "You were stressed and panicked. Others would have been worse had they been in your situation. I can't imagine this is all easy for you to take in."
"Oh no, it's super easy. You know, once you get past the glowing portal that shouldn't be possible, the fancy tech that shouldn't be possible, your favorite movie character sitting in a kitchen with you that shouldn't be possible." You trailed off, smiling as you took another bite of your bagel. Steve laughed and walked over to put a hand on your shoulder. You almost jumped at the touch, which made him pull back and put his hand on the counter instead.
"Seriously," he said, "I know it can't be easy. You are excited, yes, but anyone paying attention can see your nerves and fear. You left your entire life back in your world. If you need to talk, I'm here."
You waited about ten seconds before taking him up on his offer.
"It's just...I hope my family doesn't think I'm dead. I hope they don't worry. I mean, I left a quick note, but I couldn't exactly explain where I was going. If the worst that happens is I lose my job, well I can live with that. But it has dawned on me that...well, the MCU isn't the safest of places."
"We won't let anything happen to you," Steve tried to reassure you.
"Trust me, there are things even you guys can't prevent."
Steve didn't respond for a bit. You finished your bagel and placed your dish in the open dishwasher.
"You know you don't have to go through with this, right? This isn't your fight."
"Captain America, God's righteous man!" you chuckled to yourself, earning a look from Steve who had heard your words apparently.
"Sorry, Ultron quote."
"I know, I remember."
"Yeah, of course... Anyways, yes I do have to go through with it. How could I go home and watch another MCU movie and think 'Yeah, there really is a universe out there with them in it, and I let them just follow the chain of events. oh yippee, here comes Gamora's death, my favorite part!"
"Who's Gamora?"
"Why is Gamora," you blurted out before you could stop yourself. Steve looked thoroughly confused.
"Sorry! Another quote. Anyway, the point is, I can't go home until I see this through. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. You fight for the little guy cuz you have the power to do so. I don't have power, but I have the knowledge to protect the big guys. If you think I'm going to run, then you're nuts."
At that, Tony walked in the room with Rhodey.
"Why is gramps nuts?" he asked, hopping up onto the counter instead of the stools, "not that I'm disagreeing."
"Nevermind," you said, "we were just talking about the work we have to do."
You didn't think Tony believed you, but he didn't care much to question.
"Well, funny you should mention that, cuz we're having a group meeting over there," he pointed to the lounge, "in five minutes. Friday, notify the rest of the team."
"I already have, boss," the iconic voice spoke from seemingly nowhere.
"Fridaaay!" you excitedly yelped, which earned a smile from Tony as he walked over to the fridge to grab some juice, "Can I activate barn-door protocol??? Or is that not a thing yet?"
"Barn what?"
"I'll take that as a no. We'll have to talk about it later, it comes in handy."
You walked over and sat in one of the comfy chairs.
"I remember being upset when I first thought Jarvis was gone, but Friday's iconic now."
"You hear that Friday, you have a fan. Sounds like I've been beat out of a top favorite again, this time by a voice," Tony said, following the rest of you to your seats.
The rest of the team filed in in the next few minutes. Nat and Sam were still sweaty from their sparring. You didn't fail to notice that Vision and Wanda had come in from the same direction, one mere seconds after the other. You all turned to Tony in expectation, waiting for him to begin.
"Ok, it's plain and simple. We need a plan and we need one fast. Time-table is shrinking every second we waste, and Marty McFly here can't keep traveling across time to give us second chances."
"I thought we had a plan? Get Loki first?" you said, worried that he had changed his mind about the God of Mischief.
"No, that's not a plan, that's a poorly thought out idea."
"And since when are your plans anything but that?" Nat asked.
"Since I learned that I die, which may be something you're comfortable hearing about your future self, but it isn't for me. I still have ambitions, like that new Thai restaurant on 48th?"
"Ok, so what do you have in mind?" Steve questioned, "We need Thor's help if we're to take Loki with the least amount of trouble."
"And how exactly do you intend on reaching him," Tony threw back, "Smoke signs? Flare? Bat signal? We don't have an intergalactic cell phone lying around anywhere that I don't know about do we?"
"No," you said, "but we may still have a way...the bifrost."
"You mean Thor's rainbow beam that scorches my lawn?"
"Exactly."
"And how do we have the power to summon it or Thor?" Cap asked.
"We don't...but I know someone who does."