𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The Comic-Con energy was like nothing else. The fans, the costumes, the unrelenting excitement—it was overwhelming in the best way. As Chris's plus one, I'd expected to be mostly invisible in the background.

What I hadn't anticipated was how many people would recognize me from my YouTube channel.

"Y/n! Over here!" someone called as I stepped into the green room with Chris. I turned, spotting a small group of fans holding signs with my name on them, alongside their Captain America merch.

Chris chuckled beside me, leaning in. "Looks like you've got your own fan club."

"Apparently," I said, laughing as I gave the fans a small wave. They squealed, and I couldn't help but grin. "Hold this," I said, shoving my camera into Chris's hands as I headed toward the group.

"Y/n, we love your videos!" one of them said, holding out a notebook. "Can you sign this?"

"Of course," I said, taking the notebook and pen. "What's your name?"

"Jasmine."

"Nice to meet you, Jasmine," I said as I signed her notebook. "Are you here for the Marvel panel?"

"Yes! And I can't believe you're here too. You're like... part of the Marvel family!"

Chris walked up behind me, handing back my camera and smirking. "She's not wrong."

I rolled my eyes, but the fans laughed, thrilled at the interaction. After taking a few selfies with them, I said goodbye and turned back to Chris, who was watching me with an amused expression.

"Having fun?" he asked.

"Always," I said, taking my camera and turning it on. "Speaking of fun, say hi to the vlog."

He groaned but leaned in anyway, waving at the camera. "Hi, Y/n's fans. I'm Chris, her incredibly handsome brother."

"Emphasis on incredibly humble," I said, making a face at the lens. Chris smacked the back of my head lightly, and I laughed. "Alright, let's go find the rest of the cast."

. . .

The green room was a whirlwind of energy. Anthony Mackie was mid-story when we walked in, gesturing wildly as Sebastian Stan looked on with his usual unimpressed expression.

Elizabeth Olsen sat nearby, scrolling on her phone, while Scarlett leaned against the wall, sipping a coffee.

"Y/n!" Anthony called out, his face lighting up. "Finally, someone interesting is here."

"Excuse me?" Chris said, pretending to be offended. "I've been here the whole time."

"And yet," Anthony said, shrugging dramatically. "Y/n, please save us from your brother's boring stories."

"Gladly," I said, setting my camera down on a nearby table to capture some candid footage. "What's the topic of the day?"

"Why Chris can't hold a candle to me," Anthony said, puffing out his chest.

"Oh, here we go," Chris muttered, sitting down next to Sebastian.

The room devolved into chaos as Anthony and Chris started bickering, with Sebastian occasionally chiming in to throw fuel on the fire. Scarlett walked over to me, her coffee in hand and a smirk on her lips.

"Every time we're all in the same room, it's like a competition to see who can out-annoy everyone else," she said.

"It's like watching toddlers fight over a toy," I replied, laughing. "But it's kind of endearing."

She raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. "Endearing? You're more patient than I am."

"Comes with being Chris's sister," I said with a shrug. "I've had years of practice."

Scarlett chuckled, her eyes twinkling. "That explains a lot."

. . .

During the panel, I stayed toward the back, letting the cast take center stage. I filmed a few clips for my vlog, capturing the energy of the room and the banter on stage.

"Y/n Evans is here!" Anthony suddenly announced into the microphone, pointing toward me. The crowd erupted into cheers, and I felt my face heat up.

"Anthony," I hissed, but he grinned, unrepentant.

"Come on, wave to the people!" he urged.

Reluctantly, I waved, earning even louder cheers. Scarlett leaned into her mic, smirking. "Y/n, don't be shy. You're basically an honorary Avenger."

The crowd loved that, and I rolled my eyes, mouthing, "Thanks a lot," to Scarlett. She just laughed, clearly enjoying my embarrassment.

Later, during downtime between panels, I snapped some photos with the cast. Scarlett pulled me into one with Elizabeth and Florence, grinning as we made silly faces for the camera.

"Alright, one more," Scarlett said, pulling me closer. "And this time, try not to look like Chris."

"Wow," I said, feigning offense. "Rude."

She just smirked, her hand lingering on my arm as the photographer snapped another shot.

The energy in the room was electric. Fans filled every seat in the massive hall, their excitement palpable as the panel began.

I was tucked into a corner of the stage area, technically behind the scenes but still close enough to catch every word. My camera was perched on my lap, ready to capture snippets of chaos for my vlog.

Chris leaned into his microphone, starting off with a classic Captain America humblebrag. "You know, I've been a part of Marvel for over a decade now, and—"

"Here we go," Anthony Mackie interrupted, rolling his eyes dramatically. "Chris Evans, ladies and gentlemen, the guy who loves to remind everyone he was the first Avenger."

The crowd roared with laughter as Chris shot Anthony a look. "I wasn't going to say that."

"Sure, you weren't," Sebastian chimed in, his smirk pure chaos. "It's fine. Tell us again how you can do this all day."

Chris opened his mouth to retort, but Anthony leaned into his mic again, addressing the audience.

"Do you guys know he says that line to himself in the mirror every morning? 'I can do this all day.' Right before his protein shake."

The laughter was deafening, and Chris turned to me in mock exasperation. "Are you hearing this? Do you see what I put up with?"

I grinned, waving my camera. "Oh, I'm definitely including this in the vlog."

"Of course, she is," he muttered, shaking his head.

Scarlett leaned forward, her face lighting up with a mischievous smile. "You know, Y/n, I think it's time you joined a Marvel panel. You'd fit right in."

The crowd erupted into cheers, chanting, "Y/n! Y/n! Y/n!"

I shook my head, my cheeks heating up. "No way. You guys are enough of a circus without me."

"Circus?!" Anthony gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. "This is high-level entertainment."

"Debatable," I said, earning another round of laughter from the audience.

Elizabeth Olsen chimed in, her expression amused. "Honestly, Y/n, you're probably better at handling the chaos than any of us."

"Agreed," Florence added, leaning closer to her mic. "And you're way cooler than Chris."

"Excuse me?!" Chris exclaimed, throwing his hands up. "Traitors. All of you."

"Sorry, Cap," Florence said, grinning. "Y/n's just... better."

The fans cheered their agreement, and I couldn't help but laugh as Chris turned to me, his expression a mix of betrayal and amusement.

"You're supposed to have my back," he said, pointing at me.

"I never agreed to that," I replied, my grin widening.

Scarlett laughed, leaning back in her chair. "This is why I like her more than you, Evans."

"Wow," Chris said, throwing his hands up. "Unbelievable."

The banter continued, the cast trading playful jabs and teasing each other with the ease of a close-knit family.

At one point, Anthony started reenacting a behind-the-scenes blooper involving Sebastian tripping over his Winter Soldier arm, much to Sebastian's annoyance.

"It wasn't even my fault," Sebastian said, glaring at Anthony. "The arm is heavy, okay?"

"Sure, sure," Anthony said, waving him off. "Blame the arm. Classic."

"I'm just saying," Sebastian retorted, "if you had to wear it, you'd trip too."

Scarlett leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. "I think Y/n should try it on. Let's see if she handles it better than you."

The crowd erupted into cheers again, and I held up my hands. "No way. I'm not getting dragged into this."

"Oh, come on," Scarlett said, grinning at me. "You're the only one here who can prove him wrong."

Chris chimed in, smirking. "Do it for the vlog."

I glared at him playfully. "You're supposed to protect me, not throw me to the wolves."

"I'm protecting you from missing a great opportunity," he said innocently.

"I hate you," I muttered, earning a laugh from the crowd.

Eventually, the conversation shifted to fan questions, but the playful energy never waned. When someone asked about the most challenging scenes to film, Scarlett immediately turned to me.

"Y/n, you've been around on set a lot. What's the most ridiculous thing you've seen Chris do?"

The crowd erupted into laughter, and Chris groaned, shaking his head. "Oh, great. Here we go."

I tapped my chin, pretending to think. "Well, there was that time he got stuck in the Captain America suit."

The audience roared as Chris buried his face in his hands. "Why would you bring that up?"

"Because it's hilarious," I said, grinning. "You looked like a life-sized action figure."

Scarlett was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes, and the fans were eating it up. "This is why I like having you around," she said, her smile wide. "You keep him humble."

As the panel wrapped up, the cast took turns thanking the fans, their gratitude genuine despite the playful chaos. Scarlett glanced my way as she spoke into her mic.

"And thank you to Y/n for putting up with us," she said, her tone light but warm. "We wouldn't be nearly as entertaining without her."

The crowd cheered, and I shook my head, my cheeks warm but my smile unshakable. Being part of this chaos, even as an outsider, felt like something special.

As we filed out of the panel room, Scarlett fell into step beside me, her grin still lingering from the chaos we'd just left behind. "So, action figure, huh?"

"Hey, the truth hurts," I said, smirking at her.

She chuckled, glancing over at Chris, who was walking ahead of us. "I think the real question is: how many times has he gotten stuck in that suit?"

"Too many," I replied without hesitation. "I lost count after three."

"Classic Evans," she said with a shake of her head, her laughter light and easy.

. . .

𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The suite buzzed with energy, laughter bouncing off the walls as the Marvel cast relaxed after dinner.

Robert and Hemsworth were holding court on the far side of the room, reenacting some exaggerated, off-the-cuff version of Thor vs. Iron Man. Everyone was in stitches, their booming laughter filling the space.

I stood near the drinks cart with Y/n, Florence, and Lizzie. My arm brushed against Y/n's as I leaned over to pour myself a drink.

The casual touch was enough to send a spark down my spine, but I forced myself to focus on the bottle in my hand.

"You're not trying to outdo Hemsworth, are you?" Y/n asked, her voice low and teasing.

I smirked, glancing at her out of the corner of my eye. "Outdo him? Please. I don't have to try."

Y/n chuckled, her fingers tapping lightly against her glass. "Big words, Johansson. I bet you can't even hold a hammer, let alone wield one."

"Oh, I can hold a hammer just fine," I quipped, my tone dripping with faux innocence. "But I have better ways of making an impact."

Florence choked on her drink, and Lizzie gave me a pointed look, her brow arched. "Did that line work in your head, or...?"

"It landed," I said, feigning confidence as Y/n bit her lip to stifle a laugh.

"Sure it did," Lizzie said, rolling her eyes. "Y/n, tell her to stick to acting."

"No way," Y/n said, grinning. "This is way more entertaining."

I nudged her shoulder playfully. "Careful, or you'll be next on the receiving end of my charm."

"Is that a promise?" she shot back, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Lizzie groaned. "Oh my God, just kiss already."

"Subtle, Lizzie," Florence muttered, elbowing her in the side. "Real subtle."

Y/n turned to Florence, mock-serious. "Do they pay you extra to keep her in line, or is that just a passion project?"

"Passion project," Florence said with a smirk. "She's a full-time job, though."

"I heard that!" Lizzie exclaimed, though her grin betrayed her lack of offense.

I couldn't help but laugh, my shoulder brushing against Y/n's again. She didn't move away, and neither did I.

"Alright, let's test your skills," Y/n said suddenly, holding up her empty glass. "Think you can make me a drink that's as smooth as your one-liners?"

I raised an eyebrow, grabbing the bottle. "Challenge accepted. But fair warning—I don't disappoint."

"Bold claim," she said, leaning a little closer. "I guess we'll see."

As I mixed the drink, I could feel her watching me, her gaze warm and teasing. When I handed her the glass, our fingers brushed, lingering just a second longer than necessary.

She took a sip, her eyes never leaving mine. "Not bad."

"Not bad?" I echoed, feigning offense. "That's the best cocktail you've ever had, and you know it."

"It's decent," she teased, her smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "But maybe I need another to be sure."

"Oh, now you're just trying to keep me close," I said, my voice dropping slightly.

"Is it working?" she countered, her tone light but charged.

Lizzie let out an exaggerated sigh. "Are we just pretending the rest of us aren't here? Because it's getting harder to ignore."

Florence snorted, leaning toward Lizzie. "Let them have their moment. It's like watching a rom-com in real life."

"You're the comedic relief," I said, shooting Florence a look. "Know your role."

"And you're the flirty lead who can't close the deal," Florence shot back, grinning.

Y/n laughed, covering her mouth with her hand. "She's got you there."

"Oh, I can close," I said, my gaze locking with Y/n's. "I just like taking my time."

Lizzie groaned again, but her knowing smile didn't go unnoticed. "I'm calling it now: by the end of the night, there will be confessions, and I'm taking credit for facilitating this whole thing."

"Facilitating?" Y/n asked, arching a brow. "You're more like the overenthusiastic cheerleader."

"And proud of it," Lizzie replied, lifting her glass in a mock toast.

The conversation shifted to something lighter, Florence and Lizzie bantering about an old press tour mishap, but my focus kept drifting back to Y/n.

Every time she laughed, every time her hand brushed mine, it felt like the world around us blurred, leaving only her.

When she leaned in to make a comment about Robert's over-the-top antics across the room, her shoulder pressed against mine, and her breath tickled my ear. "I don't know if I should be impressed or concerned."

"Why not both?" I replied, my voice low enough that only she could hear.

She pulled back, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're trouble."

"And you like trouble," I shot back, a grin tugging at my lips.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't deny it. Instead, she took another sip of her drink, her gaze lingering on me just a moment too long.

Across the room, Robert let out a booming laugh, drawing everyone's attention as he pretended to sword fight with a rolled-up magazine. The room erupted into chaos, everyone either cheering him on or pretending to join the fray.

Y/n and I stayed in our little corner, the noise around us fading into the background. For a moment, it was just the two of us, sharing a smile that felt like it held more weight than either of us was ready to acknowledge.

Lizzie nudged Florence, the two of them exchanging a knowing look before turning their attention back to the rest of the group. But I didn't miss the soft, conspiratorial smile on Lizzie's face as she glanced at me.

"Think they'll lose it if I kissed you right now?" Y/n whispered as she held her drink in hand.

"Yeah but, so would I," I whispered back as I blushed, making sure not to make eye contact with her even though I could see her smirking from the corner of my eye.

Whatever this was between us, it was real. And for now, that was enough. But yes, I did want her to kiss me.