It had been a long day for the Team. The mission was supposed to be simple—until you showed up. As usual, you’d gotten the upper hand. Slipping through their defenses, dodging attacks, and leaving a trail of playful chaos in your wake. It was frustrating for some of them. For others… honestly, it was kind of amusing.

And for James? He found you fascinating.

You weren’t a villain—at least, not in the traditional sense. You didn’t hurt people for the sake of it. You were clever, unpredictable, and annoyingly good at what you did. A little reckless. A little too confident. But James could tell there was something more to you. Something no one else seemed to see.

When James, Sam, Clint, Steve, Natasha, and Tony returned to the compound after storming a Hydr base that you were also at doing your own thing, they were tired and ready to crash. Instead, they made their way up to the kitchen to unwind, maybe get something to eat and clear their heads. James dropped into one of the chairs at the table while the others trickled in behind him.

But then they heard a noise from the kitchen. Pots clinking, cabinet doors opening. They figured it was just Wanda making herself a late dinner—until you walked out, casual as ever, wearing that cheeky, maddening smile.

The entire room froze.

Except for James, who blinked, stunned but visibly trying not to smile. And Nat, who leaned her hip against the counter and raised an eyebrow, quietly entertained.

“Anyone hungry?” you asked, as if you hadn’t just gone toe-to-toe with half the team earlier that day. “I was thinking spaghetti.”

The room stared at you in disbelief. Tony looked like he was about to explode.

“We are not just going to sit and have dinner with you after you tried to kĩll us and broke into the compound!” he snapped, voice sharp with disbelief.

You gasped dramatically, clutching your chest like he’d wounded you.

“Kĩll you? Tony, please. A: I merely used a tactical wire to remove an obstacle—you.” You gave a sly grin. “And B: I didn’t break anything. I’m way too talented for that. You should thank me, really. The security system’s got some holes I just gracefully pointed out.”

Before anyone could respond, you crossed the room and—without hesitation—settled yourself in James’s lap.

His entire body stiffened in surprise. He stared at you, momentarily frozen. His arms hovered awkwardly, unsure where to rest. But the subtle flush in his cheeks and the faint tug of a smile betrayed him.

“And C,” you continued smoothly, twisting to look back at Tony, “stop being so defensive.”

You leaned your head back slightly, turning to James with a wink.

He blinked again, and this time, the smile broke through—slow, amused, reluctant but real. Nat smirked quietly behind her hand. Steve looked between all of you like he was witnessing a fever dream. And Sam leaned against the counter, muttering a tired, stunned:

“What the hell is happening right now?”