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darkangeldesignstudio · 5 years

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Dark Horse

Sorry for the late post you guys. Its been hard to actually write these past weeks and I didn't want to make myself do it because I felt it would appear forced. This chapter is pretty long, mostly because of the information dump in the middle about how most of our characters came to be where they are now. But, as promised, we are adding our new character into the mix today. So, I hope you enjoy this chapter as it will be a lead up into more intense chapters in the following weeks. Also, this chapter has not been beta’d, so any mistakes are completely my own fault. Sorry I couldn't get this to you in time @sexykitty96.

Warnings: Angst, Violence, Death, Attempted Rape, Strong Language, Mentions of Animal Abuse, and Eventual Smut and Fluff

Setting: Post Civil War era USA. Marvel Cowboy AU.

Preface: Your home is attacked by the Hydra gang and you are rescued by Steve, Bucky, and their group. The government agency, known as Shield, wants them captured and Hydra wants them dead. With nowhere else to go, you join their ragtag group and set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Helping those less fortunate along the way, your small group grows and so does your affection for these two rough and tumble outlaws. When the chips are down, will you all be able to escape unscathed? Or will the boot drop and leave you heartbroken and alone again?

Song: Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith

Previous / Next

Chapter Eight: Back to the Past

After a peaceful night of sleep, you awoke refreshed and ready for the day. It was time to pack up and move eastward. Back to where your life began.

Dressing for the cooler mountain temperatures, you headed out the door. You were met with a flurry of activity. It seemed you were late to the packing party, even though the sun was barely above the horizon.

“Good morning sunshine.” Nat bounded up to you, a tin cup of piping hot coffee clutched in her gloved hands. Handing it over to you, she smiled as you wallowed in the scent of the dark brew.

“Thanks for this, Nat. Though I wish I would have woken earlier so I could help pack up.” She immediately waved off your melancholy tone.

“Don’t sweat it, love. When Bucky saw how soundly you were sleeping with Soldat, there was no way he was going to let us disturb you. Especially since Soldat looked as if he would rip someone’s throat out if they tried.” She giggled as you felt the blush rise in your cheeks.

“You can’t be serious. Soldat loves Buck.” You felt bad, as if you were turning the pretty wolf-dog against his best friend. You honestly weren’t trying to, and you didn’t even remember falling asleep with the oversized pup. Looking over to the pair now, Bucky packing up Sergeant’s saddlebags as Soldat followed at his heels, it was unbelievable.

“Oh, I’m serious, Y/N.” Nat smirked, examining the two as well. “He growled something fierce when Bucky opened that door this morning. Was even loud enough to wake Steve in the other room.”

You gaped at Natasha’s beaming visage. This was terrible. The last thing you wanted was to cause trouble and that seemed to be all you could do lately. Your hands flew to your cheeks, rubbing them down your face in worry. The rough texture of your gloves on your chapped skin was a welcome punishment until strong arms wrapped around your torso, stopping the motion of your arms completely.

“Stop those thoughts right now, doll.” His gruff voice made you gasp, shivers trailing your spine as excitement and the fear of being captured raced through your body. Peering at Nat, you watched as she walked away with a grin and a little wave, the smell of coffee lingering behind her.

You looked over your shoulder and into Steve’s ocean blue eyes, still holding a bit of the helplessness in your heart. You sighed. “I feel like such a-”

“A burden?”

Sagging in his hold, you only nodded, staring towards the snow-covered ground as tears burned the back of your eyes. You weren’t used to being so helpless. From the time you turned seven, you had always pulled your weight, no matter how slight that weight might have been or how menial the labor, you were happy to do the work. It gave you a reason for living.

You were never going to be some simple-minded woman, only interested in getting hitched and having children. You were a free spirit, looking for purpose in a world that didn’t accept you.

His hold tightened slightly, comforting you as the tears threatened to fall. “Y/N. You will never be a burden to us. I want you to know that. We all want you to know that.”

When you refused to look at him, Steve gripped your shoulders lightly - careful of your injury - and turned you to face him. “Look at me, dollface.”

You wanted to refuse, scared to peer into those eyes and see the pity there. Scared the tears would fall again, make you weak in his eyes.

The toxic voices in your head grew louder with your doubt. You wanted to cover your ears, but Steve’s hold on you made it impossible. Words full of hate and jealousy from your past were roaring through your skull, making your jaw clench at the onslaught. Striking you with their venomous fangs and sinking their inky-black talons into your chest, you began to shake in Steve’s arms.

Then a roar of a different kind filled your ears. Boda’s voice screamed through you, followed by the howl of a wolf and the screech of an eagle, and all of those dark memories fell away like stones. The spirits your grandmother spoke of, they lived in your heart too and they would not allow those thoughts to persist as they were. Your shaking stopped and you were finally able to read his eyes.

There was no pity in his gaze, only pride. He leaned into you, close enough to kiss if you would only take the plunge. Your face grew hot with his smirk. You couldn’t help glancing from his blue gaze, where little flecks of green lived, to his full pink lips. This man made you uncomfortable in a way you had never known before, in a way that you hoped would never stop.

Your breath came in little pants as he finally gave you a bit more space to breathe, finished with his bit of teasing. For now, at least. Then a deep rumble of a growl filled your ears and made your breath catch.

Soldat stood at Steve’s back, ears pinned and eyes narrowed. The wolf-dog wasn’t too pleased with the way Steve was touching you, a thought made apparent by his baring of overly large canine teeth and his white fur that stood on end down his spine.

Taking the hint, Steve threw his hands up in surrender and took a tentative step back while Soldat stalked him. “Easy boy. I was only teasing.”

Soldat glanced over his shoulder, meeting your eyes before turning back to Steve with a huff. Trotting back into camp and past Bucky, who was slumped at the waist with his hand covering his mouth to stifle his laughter. His amused gaze met yours and you all began to laugh heartily.

Bucky walked over and clapped a hand on Steve’s shoulder. “I would suggest not teasing for a while, Stevie. Seems she’s been claimed by yet another protector.”

Steve huffed out a laugh watching as Soldat left to stand by Boda at the hitching post. “I think you are right about that, jerk. Are you okay, doll? Forgive me, I didn’t mean to make you so uncomfortable.” He turned to watch you with his puppy dog eyes and you waved him off.

“There’s nothing to forgive, Steve. All of that was just my past trying to get to me. It wasn’t something you did.” You smiled fondly up at him.

He felt his face begin to flush red under your gaze. Rubbing the back of his neck, he stammered a bit, flustered. “T-thanks, Y/N. W-well I should probably get back to work.” With that, he jogged back to the wagons and began tossing supplies inside.

Looking up, you caught Bucky staring at you and had another blush rise in your cheeks. “What? Do I have something on my face?”

Bucky chuckled, reaching to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. “No, doll. Just glad to see you made friends with my boy. He doesn’t usually take to others so easily. Took me months to get him to trust me, Steve even longer. It makes me happy.”

Your blush grew hotter as he tapped the brim of your cowboy hat affectionately. It was something your brother had always done, but it seemed different when Bucky did it. His storm cloud eyes shone like jewels as he caressed your jaw, making you shiver with pleasure. He smiled sweetly, removing his hand to point towards Bodaway.

“I tacked him up for you. Once everything is packed, we can be on our way.”

Shaking yourself free of your trance, you nodded. “What road are we taking?”

He shrugged, his large shoulders flexing beneath his dark winter coat. “Was hoping you knew a good path, one less frequent for traffic, but quick and easy enough to get us East.”

“Do you have a map?”

He smiled, taking you by the hand and leading you to the table where Tony and Nat seemed to be arguing over prospective routes to take.

“Berthoud Pass takes us through Denver.” Natasha says, exasperated with Tony’s reckless behavior. “Denver is crawling with Hydra goons, we would never make it out of there unscathed.”

“But the Cheyenne Pass will take an extra week of riding to get through, Natasha.” Tony pinched the bridge of his nose. “We don’t have that kind of time to waste.”

Stepping up to the table with Bucky, you placed your finger along a shorter pass just south of the Berthoud. “How about Cochetopa?”

They all looked up at you with different levels of intrigue. Natasha spoke up first. “The Cochetopa is closer, but it’s a dead end that leads straight into Fort Massachusetts.”

“But, we can bypass the fort if we veer off-trail and follow the Rio Grande Road to Dodge City. There is an abandoned fort along the way that we can take shelter in. Rest the horses before we make our stop in the city for supplies?”

Tony nodded, appreciating the help, even if it foiled his plans to knock a few more Hydra heads together along the way. “Sounds like a plan to me. Thanks short stack.” He petted you on the head as he walked away with the map and joined the others at the wagons.

You scrunched up your face at the nickname. “Short stack? I’m only a few inches shorter than him.”

Natasha chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. He gives everyone nicknames. It’s part of his charm, right, tin man?” She smiled slyly, poking Bucky in the chest.

He grimaced. “Yeah, I still don’t get that one.”

“What about you, Nat? Did he give you one?”

Looking towards your new friend, you saw as her teasing smirk turned to a, particularly evil, grin. “Yeah, he gave me one. And I kicked him in the balls for it too.”

Bucky flinched a bit, reflexively covering himself as he remembered. “Never seen him go down so fast in my life.”

You hid your smile with your hand as Natasha chuckled. “Well, I better get Krasavitsa ready for the trek. Thanks for your help, plotting our route, Y/N.”

She placed her hand on your free shoulder, giving you a little squeeze and a smile as she passed.

Bucky took a step closer to you, to let her pass, causing you to have to look up to meet his gaze. He smiled down at you and placed his hand on your head. “Yeah, thanks for the help, short stuff.”

Growling at him, you popped him a quick elbow to the ribs. He grunted a bit with the force and lowered his arm back to his side, but otherwise didn’t move. His smile was beaming and it made you happy to know he was getting more comfortable around you now, but not happy enough to accept the new nickname without a bit of teasing in return.

“No problem, Buck, but I think your ribs would prefer you not using that name often.” You laughed as you watched his hand skate over the place you had jabbed with your elbow. “Just stick to calling me doll and you’ll come out of this just fine, Bucky.”

Giggling, you left him at the table, a blush starting to color his cheeks.

_______________________________________________________________________

It was midday when you reached the entrance to Cochetopa Pass. A wide road, created originally for railroads to be built, stood between a multitude of Aspen trees, dusted in snow. The trek was fairly easy with the gently sloping hills. You, Steve, Nat, and Bucky rode ahead, scouting for danger while Tony, Bruce, and Jarvis brought up the rear with the groups supply wagons.

Tony was cursing colorfully as his cart horses, Dum-E and U, were goofing off with each other and shaking the cart. Jarvis, who had been sitting stoically beside his friend, looked as if he were struggling to keep his laughter at bay as Bruce and his cart began to steadily leave them behind.

“Sir, why don’t you allow me to drive for a while? You can get some rest in the back and see how Butler and Mark II are doing on the tethers.” Jarvis smiled politely.

“Sure thing.” Tony quickly handed his friend the reins and began climbing to the back. “Thanks Jarvis.”

You all chuckled a bit, even Jarvis had a slight twinkle to his eyes as your group continued along the trail in relative silence.

A few hours passed before you reached the toll road within the pass, veering into the forest, you led the group down a smaller path and onto the Rio Grande Road, bypassing two other government toll roads with the shortcut.

Steve turned in the saddle and realized what you had done and smiled gratefully. “Smart move, doll. We never would have gotten past those tolls without Shield finding out.”

You smiled at him in return. “We still have a ways to go yet, Steve. Why don’t y’all tell me more about your little group? I’d really like to learn more about you all.”

Steve smiled, happy that you wanted to get to know them all a bit better. “Sure, Y/N. I don’t mind spilling a few secrets along the way.” He winked, causing a blush to rise in your cheeks.

Steve does a bit more than spill secrets along the way, though. He fully opens up, telling you all about Shield and Hydra, and how each of them got onto the groups’ wanted dead or alive lists.

Steve, Bucky, and Tony had once been a big part of Shield, working for the government in different areas and degrees for a few years until they took note and recruited them. It didn’t take long for both men to find out that Shield was a different entity all together. At first, they were all for helping the people. Doing what was right to help people get on their feet in the aftermath of the Civil War. They dispatched groups of men to round up criminals and provide the rich and famous with private security and military forces, much like the Pinkerton Agency in Chicago.

But, just when everything seemed to be on the up and up, Steve discovered something they didn’t want him to know. One of Shield’s groups was running as a second entity, causing chaos to keep the Shield agency in business. They tore through the streets, killing innocents in the towns that had become peaceful, creating a bigger need for Shield to come in and “save” them.

“I didn’t want to be a part of that, but then, they took Bucky.” Steve’s head hung low, regret filling his features as he glanced towards his brother. “They used him to get to me. Made me comply, but it didn’t take long for the jerk to escape. As soon as I heard, I deserted the Shield agency, taking a few of their secrets with me.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that. Family should never be pitted against one-another.” Your blood boiled and you gripped Boda’s reins harder, knuckles turning white beneath the warmth of your gloves. “You both have such kind hearts, and I hate that you had to be put through such a thing.”

Bucky reached out, covering your hand with one of his as his knee brushed yours. “You don’t have to be sorry, Y/N. Everything happens for a reason.”

Steve chuckled, reaching out with his booted foot to tap your calf lightly. “Yeah, just think about it, doll. If none of those things happened, you wouldn’t have met all of us.”

You smiled at their attempts to cheer you up, even if your heart still hurt for them. Steve was right, but you didn’t have to be happy about it. Huffing a bit, you began to pout. “I know, but I still don’t have to like what you went through.”

Bucky and Steve just chuckled before going back to the story.

Tony and Jarvis had apparently been part of Shield even earlier than Steve and Bucky. Tony’s father had been a founder of their organization. He was a great inventor, made countless weapons for the government to use in their endeavors, but it seemed there had been no love between father and son.

Jarvis was remarkably close to his young companion, acting as a father figure to the boy when his real father was too busy to deal with him. Tony inherited his father’s legacy when he died, going to work for the government at a young age with only Jarvis as a companion. Many of his father’s associates resented Tony for taking over, they didn’t believe him capable, but his work ethic kept them quiet for the most part.

When Tony had learned of Hydra’s plans, he too cut ties with Shield. Refusing to make any more weapons for them and destroying a multitude of blueprints for future projects. He and Jarvis fled, running into Bruce and Natasha along the way, and eventually Steve and Bucky.

You stared intently as they all spoke of different parts of the story, cutting in when they felt details had been left out or making little jokes at each other’s expense, it wasn’t until they talked about their meeting Natasha and Bruce that you recognized something was off.

Natasha became silent and melancholy for a few moments before joining back into the story and gentle ribbing they were all sharing, but her smiles and laughter didn’t reach her eyes from that point on.

Her demeanor perplexed you, even more when she looked up into your eyes and you saw panic there. “Y/N, why don’t you tell us about you? I think we would all like to know how you came to live with your brother out west.”

You frowned a bit at Natasha’s change in subject, seeing it for what it was. An out. She didn’t want to speak about whatever was bothering her at the moment. You nodded, smiling a bit. “Sure. I don’t mind sharing, especially since y’all have been so forthcoming.”

Looking down the path ahead, you saw the outline of Bent’s Fort on the horizon just as the sky began to darken. “Let’s set up camp for the night and I’ll tell you all about me.”

The group readily agreed, taking only a few minutes once they unloaded themselves to get a campfire started and gather around for your life’s story.

“I grew up in a small settlement on the banks of the Neuse River. My family was close knit, living in a community where most everyone was happy until the civil war broke out.” You stared into the fire, remembering the day everything changed.

Your father had gone to fight in the war, recruited by the Union army. Even though he was a southern bred man, your father had always been a just man, helping those of any background and race. There wasn’t a bigoted bone in his body, but that caused problems among the other circles of people living in the south.

Your mother and grandparents faced many hardships during the war. Sickness and exhaustion taking each of them, one by one, leaving your brother and you to run the farmlands your family owned. When your father came back from the war, he was sick. A bullet had scraped his thigh, leaving an infection in its wake. He advised your brother to go west and make a home there before the government came looking to recruit him. He was only seventeen, but the army wouldn’t have cared about his age, so he left as your father had told him to.

A few months passed by as your father taught you all you would need to know to run the farm on your own. He knew he wouldn’t make it for much longer and wanted to prepare you as best he could for the coming years.

He died not long after, leaving all of his estate to you. This caused a rift between the men that worked for your father. Many of them didn’t wish to be under the employment of a lowly woman and left. Others stayed, taking the opportunity to sabotage operations at every turn and the farm steadily went under.

When the state came to collect, they claimed that an unmarried woman of your “heritage” had no claim to such a fine piece of land and gave you an ultimatum.

“They told me I could wed a man of status and keep the farm, or I could willingly give it up, along with everything on it. Then they left, giving me a week to make my decision.” You looked around to your new friends as they listened to your story. Natasha’s jaw clenched in anger, Steve and Bruce were fairly vibrating with it, but it was the stoic posture of Bucky that caught your attention. His body radiated calm, but Tony was slowly shifting in his seat, putting another inch of space between the two of them just as Soldat began to growl in displeasure.

Bucky’s steel blue gaze was murderous as he stared into the fire. Orange and yellow light reflected in his eyes as he slowly turned his head to meet your eyes with his. You smiled, throwing his words from earlier back at him. “Everything happens for a reason, Bucky.”

His shoulders relaxed a bit and he began to leisurely stroke Soldat’s head, calming him. He smiled. “As you are here now, I’m sure you told those asshats to take their deal and shove it where the sun don’t shine.”

You chuckled at his lazy tone, seeing the anger slowly leave everyone’s body with his quip. “Oh, you know it.”

As that long, arduous week went by, you began preparing yourself for the choice you had to make. You gathered the money you had saved over the years, and began packing it under a board in the stables, along with your father’s gun that he had left you and a few items of clothing.

Then you meticulously began releasing your father’s prized horses, until all of them were freed into the wilderness surrounding your land. All that was left on the premises was yourself and Bodaway when they came for your answer.

So, what will it be little lady? Will you get married, or will you turn the farm over to us?

You had smiled at the sleazy little man before looking around you once more. You took in the sight of the house you had lived in for your entire life, the land you had grown up on, the barn that stood at the back, housing the only things you had left in this world, before turning back to the men and sneering at them.

I will leave, on one condition. The man had frowned at you, but you continued undeterred. I wish to keep my horse and some of my personal belongings with me.

They had tried to fight you, claiming that any horses that were on this land were part of the deal they had made. You smiled slyly, knowing they wouldn’t be able to hold the stallion when his temper blew, but decided to play a little game with them.

You hung your head, an expression of sad disappointment covering your features. Okay. I will fetch him for you. He’s not terribly trusting of new people.

Turning towards the barn, you made your way to Boda’s stall and opened the gate. Hey there, big guy. There’s been a change of plans.

“It took all of five seconds for Boda to trample, kick, and bite at the men after I led him out before they were running for the hills.” You laughed gleefully at the memory, staring across the fire to the sleeping stallion, huddled with the other horses. All power and grace, even as he slept like a baby.

Bucky and Steve looked to one another, not a word passed between them as you finished your story, but the message was clear.

She’s fucking perfect!

_______________________________________________________________________

A few more days of riding landed your group on the outskirts of Topeka, where you set up a temporary campsite within a deep grove of trees. With plenty of game and a small stream nearby, you would easily be able to stock up on meat for the coming trip, but your group was running low on some essential supplies.

“What do you say, Y/N? Feel like making a run to town with me?”

Tony’s suggestion struck you as odd, but you weren’t about to let his destructive butt in town without a babysitter. “Sure thing. Just, let me tack Boda and…”

Tony shook his head and pointed a thumb over his shoulder to where Dum-E and U were hitched to a waiting supply wagon. “No way, short stack. You’re riding with me and the bums today.”

His nickname for you still irked, but you only smiled and followed along behind him. Bucky and Steve looked about to protest your going, but stopped when you smiled a dagger-like grin their way.

“Let them go, boys.” Natasha’s smooth-as-silk voice skated over them, creating goosebumps.

Turning to the redhead they saw a matching smile grace her lips as she regarded Y/N and Tony climbing onto the wagon. “I have an impression she’s gonna teach ol’ Tones a lesson on this little trip.”

Steve and Bucky turned back, watching as you disappeared through the trees with Tony chatting away at your side.

_______________________________________________________________________

During the short ride with Tony, you asked about his past, wishing to know more about him. It really didn’t seem fair to not put in any effort to make friends with the man who seemed so interesting and lonely.

Even surrounded by all the people who cared about him, he just seemed so alone. Jarvis was able to pull him out of that shadow a few times over the course of your trip with the group, and in those moments, he was so charming and bright like a star in the night sky. But, he would immediately retract back into himself as soon as the conversation wavered. It was like a candle being snuffed out in a dark room and it made your soul want to reach out.

“How did you come to find these beautiful beasts, Tony?” You pointed to the two red roan Belgians pulling the wagon. “They are so big and beautiful.”

Looking between the pretty mare and gelding, you were a bit taken aback when Tony began to laugh heartily. Turning to him, you observed that inner light of his begin to take hold of him again. He wiped a few tears from his eyes as he chuckled. “Sorry, Y/N. I’ve never heard anyone say such a thing about these two knuckleheads.”

Tony’s smile was beaming as he told you about the day he found the two. “I was out riding, just trying to get a bit of peace out on my own when I saw two mounds of hair laying next to each other in a field. They were all alone, just two big freezing babies out in the middle of nowhere and without a mother. Seems their mother was a prized mare for a neighboring rancher and when she died giving birth to these two, the owner couldn’t bear to look at them and threw them out on their own.”

“That’s awful.” You immediately began seeing red. How could people be so heartless?

“Don’t worry, short stack. He got what he deserved in the end. Man’s entire herd escaped one night and they never could find who took them.” Tony winked causing you to giggle despite the irritation from his nickname for you.

“So, what? You just took them home with you? How did you manage to feed them?”

Tony chuckled darkly and a bit of light dimmed from his eyes. “Well, fortunately or unfortunately, one of the mare’s my father had gifted me had lost her foal a few days prior, and when I brought these two lugs into the stable, she immediately took to them. Fed them every day, protected them from threats, it was amazing to see. A miracle even.”

You watched as the lightness of his eyes began to fade more and more with every word, but just as you were about to ask him about it, the town came into view. “Well, little lady, seems this is our stop.”

Tony pulled the wagon up to the hitching post outside of the town’s general store and hopped down from the seat. Showing his more gentlemanly side, he helped you down from your seat as well and led the way into the store with his usual swagger firmly in place again.

Entering the store together, you each took a few turns around the interior. The wood floors creaked as you looked through the shop owner’s wares. Oil stained shelves and dusty cans greeted the brush of your fingers as you gathered the things you were looking for. Apples, carrots, and fresh produce came first, with a few cans of beans, peaches, and corn thrown in for good measure. Then came the oatcakes, cigars, and liquor that Tony tried to sneak into the pile before you just as sneakily put the majority back. A few rounds of ammo, medicines, and multiple cans of coffee rounded out your purchase as the shop-keep’s sons helped to carry your purchases out to the wagon.

As Tony paid for the items, you turned to leave and almost barreled into a woman entering the shop. Your breath hissed out through clenched teeth when your injured shoulder connected with hers.

“Oh, dear. I’m so incredibly sorry.” Her voice was soothing and sweet, but it held a nervous edge to it.

You looked to her face, noticing the fading bruise over her cheekbone and her strawberry blonde hair that fell just past her shoulders before waving off her apology, not wanting to cause her any more trouble. “Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“You’d think a woman with a bullet wound would pay better attention to her surroundings.” Tony’s voice was a bit strained and worry lined his eyes as he looked between you and the woman. He seemed worried about your injury, but he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the beautiful woman in front of you for too long either. You couldn’t blame him, the woman was fairly gorgeous, but something was wrong.

You stepped to the side, pulling Tony with you so the woman would have room to continue shopping without worry and you could study her while Tony checked your bandage. Whoever she was, she was dressed beautifully, seeming extremely out of place in the small town you were currently in. Coupled with the bruise on her face, you could only assume she was on the run from something, or someone.

Tony tapped your hand when he was done inspecting your bandage, deeming it clear of blood, but the look in his eyes said he was more concerned about the other woman now. She was moving quickly and nervously around the shop, glancing about to the men within the store as she gathered supplies akin to what you had just purchased.

Looking to Tony, you realized he had come to the same conclusion as you had. She was running, and you both wanted to help.

Motioning Tony out the door, you sidled up to the woman and introduced yourself. “Hey, I just wanted to say I’m sorry for running into you earlier.” You held your hand out for her to shake. “My name is Y/N.”

She took it tentatively, with a small smile on her lips. “Virginia Potts. Sorry for hitting your shoulder, too. How does a lovely woman like you get shot? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking.”

You chuckled, rubbing the back of your neck as she fidgeted. It seemed she was really feening for someone to talk to, but you had to be careful with what you said to keep from scaring her away. “That’s a long, sad story, Virginia. I’m just glad my friends were there to get me out when they did.”

Taking a few items from her overloaded arms, you helped take everything to the counter. “Would you mind if I helped you take these out?”

She began to fidget again, seeming to become more and more uncomfortable. “Why would you want to do that? Shouldn’t you be getting back to your… husband?”

Shocked, you froze for a moment, your face becoming hot when you realized she meant Tony. Chuckling you waved your hands in denial. “Sorry to laugh. Tony isn’t my husband, just a friend.”

“Oh, ok. Sorry for making an assumption.” Her cheeks were blushed as she shifted her gaze around the room, not meeting your eyes from embarrassment.

You placed your hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. “Don’t worry about it, Virginia. Most would assume such to be true when you see a man and woman shopping together as we were, but as of now, I am unattached.”

Smiling brightly, you graciously picked up the first crate. “Now, lets get these crates to your wagon.”

She smiled back, accepting your help with a nod and leading the way to her own wagon and the single cart horse tethered to it. He was a pretty chestnut Ardennes and he nickered sweetly with your approach, causing you to smile.

Loading the two crates onto the small cart, you moved towards the horse at the front and stroked through his thick mane as Virginia climbed onto the driving bench.

“I hope you don’t mind me being too forward with you, Virginia. But, my friends and I are camped just outside of town if you would like to join us. We can keep you safe from whatever you are running from. You don’t have to be alone.”

The shock and fear came first, then shame coated her features and she deflated before your eyes. “I don’t want to be a burden. I-I just can’t marry that cruel man.”

Her tears began to fall and you reached to take her hand in yours. “Who, Virginia? Who hurt you?”

“My fiancé… Obadiah Sta-”

“Obadiah? Obadiah Stane is your fiancé!?” Tony’s angry voice hissed from behind you. Clearly he had prior knowledge of the man that you were not privy to, and from the sound of his voice, he didn’t have fond memories. “So, you are the infamous Pepper Potts?”

Whirling around you saw the anger and awe at war on Tony’s face. It was as if he were trying to solve a particularly hard puzzle and this woman was at the center of it.

“I-I have to go. Thank you for your help Y/N.” The shear panic in Pepper’s voice had you turning back to her and reaching out, but she was gone before you got the chance to say anything. Pushing her cart horse into a swift trot down the bumpy dirt road, disrupting a few of the locals in her escape.

Turning on Tony, you saw the shock on his face as his eyes trailed after her cart. You wanted to be angry with him, but you understood the outburst. He was a man who worked on gut instinct and intellect over all else and if he were to hear an enemy name come up in conversation, he would be expected to react in earnest. Especially if that enemy was a threat to his friends. That’s one of the things that made him such a good man.

So, you couldn’t get mad at him. But, you could settle with irately frustrated.

Sauntering up to Tony’s frozen visage, you stopped by his shoulder and swiftly smacked him across the back of the head. Not hard enough to hurt him, but just enough that you hoped it would knock some sense into his thick skull.

He rubbed the back of his head, blushing slightly at his blunder. “Sorry, Y/N. I wasn’t trying to scare her off.”

“Don't worry about it Tony.” You smiled up at him before walking back to your own cart where he helped you onto the driving bench. “I think she will be okay. The woman has grit, but I wanna know what that was all about. Who’s Obadiah? And why did you go off like that?”

Taking the reins, Tony began steering your cart back to camp. His face held a sullen expression, but his eyes were lit with angry fire when you spoke that name. “He was an associate of my father’s before he began working for Shield. His nephew, Justin Hammer, is a genius. Much like yours truly.”

His mischievous grin made you chuckle as you shook your head. He really couldn’t help himself, apparently.

“When his nephew was passed up to be a lackey working under the Stark name. Obadiah did all he could to sabotage operations. And he started with introducing Hydra thugs into Shield.”

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, scratching through his groomed beard for a moment. “You know… now that I think about it. He was probably one of the main reasons Hydra could take over Shield in the first place.”

You nodded sagely. That was something you would need to talk to Steve and Bucky about when you got back. Seems Tony had mores ins to Shield’s workings than they had originally gathered. “And Virginia? How does she come in to play here?”

“Virginia ‘Pepper’ Potts. Her father is a rich politician, worked in the higher ranks of Shield and was friends with my father before he died. I always had a bit of a crush on her growing up. I never imagined I would run into her out here.” He smiled fondly before a sour expression coated his features.

“Her father died about a month before I stopped working for Shield and she stopped speaking to me. I thought she hated me, and so, I never even thought to ask her what was going on before I was put on Hydra and Shield’s capture list. Then I was too busy running for my life to bother worrying about it.”

You observed as shame began to weigh on his shoulders. Tony really seemed to be beating himself up about it all, and you didn’t want him to suffer that way. He was a good man.

“Tony?” You waited for him to look at you before you placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him an encouraging smile. “Don’t fret about it too much. I believe that we will see her again. Then you can tell her all of this yourself.”

A suave smile crept across his features before you cuffed him in the back of the head again. “Don’t even think about putting the moves on her, though. That woman has been through hell and she will need a while before you can turn that charm on her.”

Blushing profusely, Tony only nodded and rubbed the back of his head.

Turning back to the road ahead, you silently prayed that your words wouldn’t turn out false. Not only for Tony’s sake, but for Pepper’s too.

#Dark Horse #Marvel AU #Marvel MCU #steve x reader x bucky #reader fic #western au #cowboy AU

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