2016 | AVENGERS COMPOUND — It had been several weeks since the Avengers took in the mysterious young woman. For HYDRA she was nothing more than a weapon. For the Avengers, however, she became an ally ... a friend even.

Today the team took a day off and decided to do something together. They all made their way outside, enjoying the bright summer sun, the clear sky and the warm air that surrounded them.

Natasha desperately wanted to hang out at the little "beach" part of the compound, it was her all-time-favorite spot outside. It's where Wanda teaches the girl, specifically helping her to use her hydro-powers. With her help, Siren got better and better at it, not yet perfect but definitely better.

What didn't work particularly well, however, was the scream training. Steve asked Wanda to slow down with the exercises, as he didn't want Siren's voice to deteriorate. He often found her exhausted after training and he worried that it was all too much for her. So he hoped this day could relax everyone a little.

While Siren stayed with Wanda and Nat, Steve hung out with Sam and Bucky. The girls stood with their legs in the cool water and joked around together, while the boys preferred to sit on the stone wall, talking. It was these little moments together that Steve Rogers, as well as the others, valued so much. A simple day together by the water, a joint dinner or a movie night alone was enough to cheer them up and forget about everyday life as a hero, even if only for a few hours.

Bucky and Sam were just fooling around, laughing and Steve didn't notice any of this ...

His eyes were always on Ariel.

The others decided to give her this nickname because they thought it suited her ... and she deserved a name that had nothing to do with HYDRA. This was a new chapter!

Over the time, her eyes were now as blue as the deep sea, practically shone with joy. Her smile, so beautiful it was contagious. Her laughter, so unique it could make you forget all worries, he thought. Steve was glad to see her happy, enjoying life, having some kind freedom.

He was watching the three girls throw water at each other and jokingly laughing together. But he snapped back from his thoughts when Bucky nudged his arm. "Steve, we asked you a question?" he said. "Sorry, what was the question?" He then asked, turning his gaze from Ariel to his buddies.

"You like her, don't you?" Bucky actually wanted to ask something else, but when he noticed that his friend only had eyes for her once again, he finally changed the question. "What do you mean?" Steve asked, frowning. "The little mermaid, you like her." Sam grinned and raised his eyebrows. "Of course I like her." Steve continued and looked back at her for a few seconds, well more like admiring her. "She's great. But I think it's just not the right time, you know? ... and I think she thinks the same."

"You were in the ice for almost 70 years while she was with HYDRA the whole time. You two have been through a lot, okay. Don't you think a little normalcy would do you good?" Sam asked. "Maybe it was fate to meet her." Sam joked and got a little laugh from Bucky as well. "There is no such thing as fate." Steve replied firmly.

"There's no such thing as mermaids either." Teased Bucky and looked over to Ariel. Gradually, he slowly got faint memories of his old friend from HYDRA days. He wanted Steve to be happy. And he wanted Siren to be happy. It really made him a little sad to see Steve isolate himself, he knew he was just afraid of losing her.

When Wanda noticed in the meantime that the boys were looking over at them – or rather Ariel – shortly, the witch whispered something in her friends ear. Unsuspecting, the boys kept talking until they were startled when they felt cold water splash on them. Wanda and Nat laughed amused, while giving each other a high-five, while Ariel kept the boys cool.

Challenged, the three jumped from the tall stone wall and ran over to the others in the water. Ready for revenge.

A FEW HOURS LATER *: ･ ﾟ ✧ *: ･ ﾟThe Avengers spontaneously decided to stay outside late in the evening, to have a small party and a movie night before they went back to their normal everyday life.

The six got some company on the roof of the compound from Tony, who was at a presentation that morning. Everyone gathered on the comfy sitting areas and enjoyed themselves. The clear night sky was covered with twinkling stars and helped creating a cozy atmosphere. Steve, who was sitting across from Ariel, looked at her every now and then with his dreamy eyes. And every time their eyes met, she even smiled back.

Later on, Vision, Clint and Lucky also came across the group who first met the New Girl. Every now and then, Clint liked to drop by at fun parties ... but as the Avengers found out for themselves a few weeks ago, he had a family of his own, so he never stayed with them too long.

The girl's attention, however, was caught by a small dog who immediately ran towards her with a happy bark. She had never seen a real dog before, or at least she doesn't remember. Which is why she was totally intrigued by the little creature, at first sight. Lucky immediately jumped up to the redhead and climbed onto her lap.

At the sight of that, Steve's heart immediately went weak.  He was just immune. In this moment he just had to smile, just like the others. "Wow, even dogs love mermaids ... watch out, Capsicle! you got new competition." Tony joked and turned his gaze to Steve, who now shot Tony an annoyed look. Sam and Bucky, on the other hand, could hardly help but laugh.

"Clint!" Greeted Natasha with a happy scream and ran into her best friend's arms. "Nat." He said, smiling back, while the two strolled back to the others to greet them. He was glad to see the others again, after what happened in Sokovia he had also decided to check on Wanda more often. Natasha then grabbed Clint's arm and pulled him toward the girl, desperately wanting them to get to know each other. "Ariel, this is Clint. The one I've told you so much about." she said proudly, tapping him on the shoulder.

"Pleasant to meet you. Lucky apparently likes you already." He smiled politely and continued to introduce himself to her. Clint has always been someone who looked beyond the pasts of others. He believed in the good in everyone and was ready to give the new girl a chance. Trusting Ariel is Clint's decision ...  but proving him right is entirely up to her. Natasha had already told Clint that Ariel couldn't talk too much, so she sometimes had to help her talk.

Steve thought there was always something special about her silence. Even if she didn't speak words, her eyes could still tell a story somehow...

"Can we finally get started?" Asked an impatient Tony, throwing himself into his comfy chair. Wanda sat with Vision while a popcorn-eating Nat sat next to Clint and spread her legs on his lap. More ingeniously, Bucky and Sam sat together so that Ariel had to sit next to Steve and Bucky.

They often did these movie nights, taking turns in who got to decide which movie to watch. Before the Sokovia mission, Natasha chose the movie: TOY STORY 3, which she will never forget, because it even made Thor cry and sob like a little baby into his popcorn.

"FRIDAY, you can play the movie." Tony ordered his AI while the girl looked around in confusion. It was still strange for her to live with an artificial intelligence, but now and then FRIDAY even talked to her.

In the next moment though, a clear image appeared on the opposite white screen, while an equally beautiful theme music played in the background.

With wide curious eyes, the girl read the title that shone on the screen before a big smile appeared on her face. The other Avengers looked at her just as eagerly to see her reaction and could only grin back. It was Tony's idea to play the classic movie for Siren tonight. As a child, his mother always used to read him fairy tales or other stories. He missed her very much.

And as expected, she was happy about the film and watched the story on the screen with excitement. Just as she got the first look at the movie-Ariel, Lucky the dog hopped back on the girl's lap and snuggled up against her.

The film was very interesting for them, but also for Steve, who from time to time looked back and forth between the two Ariels and had to grin. In fact, the name suited her: Both grew up isolated from others all their lives. Both saved someone from drowning in the sea. Both lost their voices as soon as they got legs to walk on land. Steve noticed these things as well as the others. She was really special, without a doubt.

Twenty minutes before the end of the film, however, Steve's mermaid was getting very tired and as much as she wanted to stay awake watching the film, her eyes slowly closed. Unconsciously, her tired head fell on the warm shoulder of the blond super soldier, who was staring down at her in surprise with almost tired eyes.

Whether he wanted to admit it or not, but the sight of it made his heart warm and unaware the corners of his mouth point upwards. Did she really fall asleep before she even knew the ending of the story?, he thought shaking his head, still asking himself another question as soon as the film ended.

If Ariel and Eric could finally get a happy ending ...
Could he and his Ariel get one as well?