Your fists were clenched as you stormed down the hall, boots thudding with purpose. The overhead lights flickered across the polished floor as you moved with a singular mission in mind:

Find Steve.

You had just discovered one of your favorite books—practically sacred to you—stained, bent, and utterly ruined. And you knew exactly who had borrowed it last. You never liked loaning out books for this exact reason. Your gut had warned you, but you trusted him.

And now… he was hiding it from you?

Steam practically rolled off you as your pace quickened. You rounded the final corner toward the Avengers’ common room, your voice echoing ahead of you before you even stepped into view.

“Steven. Gr@nt. R0gers.”

The room fell instantly silent. Heads turned toward the door, and every pair of eyes fixed on the source of the fury barreling their way.

Steve’s face went pale. “$hit,” he muttered under his breath.

Across the room, Tony raised a brow and leaned back against the armrest of the couch. “Uh, James has no clue ? You might want to go get your wife before she murders Cap.”

Nat chuckled, folding her arms as she sank comfortably into the cushions.“Oh, I’m staying right here. This is going to be fun.”

At a nearby table, Loki sipped something dark and expensive, his eyes glittering with amusement. “Truly delightful. Though I do wish my oaf of a brother were here to witness this.”

Peter blinked, looking around the room in confusion. “Wait—hold on are we going to skip the fact that Mr. B@rn3s has a wife?”

Pedro, half-sprawled across an armchair, next to is sister Wanda didn’t even look up from his phone. “Yep.”

Meanwhile, James—quiet up until now—poured himself a drink at the counter. He took a slow sip, his metal fingers clinking against the glass, before glancing over his shoulder toward the hallway.

“Stay in your seats,” he said dryly but with a hint of amusement. “This happens, like… eight times a week.”

And then—

You stepped into the room.

All conversation stopped.

Your gaze locked straight onto Steve, who looked like he was weighing whether to run for his life or throw himself out the nearest window.

The air practically vibrated with tension. Steve opened his mouth—

But you were already walking toward him.