#( tony ; muse ) you have to be for something better

[yelenasbitch]

Flu Season

Summary: The flu is going around, and Natasha's girlfriend and sister both get it.

Word Count: 1,059

Warnings: None, just fluff.

A/N: Reader and Nat are in an established relationship.

There's a horrible flu going around the entire city, and Tony has brought it to the compound. Or maybe one of the staff or agents, but still: you like to blame Tony. It helps keep him humble (as humble as that man can be, anyway). 

Bruce is the first one to get ill and he keeps trying to sneak into the lab and work, while Tony keeps having to escort him out and back to his room to rest. The big cry baby puts on his whole suit and helmet saying that it ‘keeps out the germs, you know!’ and maybe he was right about that… 

Sam is ill too; the poor guy moves into the compound permanently and gets the flu two days later. You had immediately begun making them both soup, even as you laughed at their misfortune with Yelena. In fact, the two of you had made so many jokes, and laughed for so long, that your stomachs hurt. And didn't stop hurting. And now you’re both in bed, day four of feeling quite horrible, and you don’t even have the energy to yell at Stark. You comfort yourself by planning mean things to do to him when you’re feeling better. It works, a bit.

Steve and Bucky, their immune systems far superior thanks to the super soldier serum, are taking care of Sam, rounding up Bruce, and helping Natasha with you and Yelena. Because your girlfriend is feeling perfectly fine, still. Even when her girlfriend and her sister and several friends have gotten ill. It’s not fair. 

She enters your bedroom and you throw a pillow at her which she neatly sidesteps. Yelena, next to you in bed, laughs until she heaves and you laugh even as you start to tear up, emotions all over the place while you're sick. Natasha looks… tired and fond as she ambles over to the two of you, pressing a glass of water into Yelena’s hand and encouraging small sips, and then walking over and placing a light kiss on your head. 

“I don’t feel well,” you pout as you look up at her, nonsensically hoping she can fix it.

“We don’t feel well,” says Yelena, mirroring your pout.

“Go get Tony, and beat him up in front of us,” you continue, “that’ll help.” And Yelena is nodding, carefully, next to you.

“I’m not going to do that, he’s having enough trouble dealing with Banner and Sam. I don’t know which one is more annoying while they're sick,” Natasha muses, handing a thermometer to each of you as she speaks.

You roll your eyes at her and Yelena chooses to flip her off, though both of you dutifully place the thermometers in your mouths. You’ve both learned. The first time it was handed to you and you shook your head, the stern look in Natasha’s eyes had been enough to convince you. Unfortunately, Yelena had been more difficult and fought so much that she had thrown up while backing away from Natasha, dizziness overtaking her. That had set you off and you were sure you had almost witnessed a murder. Still, neither one of you had gone against Natasha since. 

The thermometers both beep and Natasha takes them, a relieved look passing over her face as she says that “both your temperatures are normal again. You’ll be better in no time.”

That said, she still presses more of the foul tasting medicine into both of your hands, watching as you both take it, wincing at the aftertaste. You glare at her and it sounds like Yelena has said something unkind in Russian, which even though you can’t understand, you agree with on a spiritual level.

“It's still too cold in here,” Yelena complains, and you're shaking your head at her, relieved when you don’t become dizzy (maybe you really are getting better). Strangely, you always prefer a colder room than the tough Russian spy, even when you’re both healthy. 

“Too warm.” 

“C’mon Lena,” says Natasha, before it can turn into a serious disagreement, “you can go back to your room and rest. I turned up the heat for you already.” And Yelena perks up at that, enough that she lets her sister help her up and escort her to her bedroom.

You stay in bed and ask FRIDAY to turn down the temperature a bit more, now that Yelena's gone. 

“Unfortunately Miss Romanoff has asked me to ensure it does not get any colder than the present temperature, as it won’t be helpful to get too cold while you’re still ill.”

You curse and glare daggers at Natasha as she walks back in. She smiles at you, eyes brighter now that you and her sister are both doing better, and you love her so much in that instant that you forget to breathe for a second. It must show on your face since she smiles even wider, and gets into bed with you, tucking you into her arms. You grumble a bit for show, even as you nestle in closer to her chest, listening to her heartbeat and her steady breathing. 

You’re drowsy from the medicine, eyes fluttering while she talks to you about this and that, knowing that you like hearing her voice. And it's at this point, when you’re drifting in and out that you hear her say the word vacation, and you try to pull yourself away from the edge of sleep. 

It works long enough for you to tune in to her for a second, “…a nice beach or something, just the two of us, and I’m pretty sure Tony owns his own island. Or maybe we should visit Paris or Rome, or both, because…”

You lose the battle against sleep, but you aren’t that upset since your dreams are now filled with scenes of Natasha: laughing on a beach, sun on her exposed skin and mischief in her eyes, the two of you walking along the Seine at night, and eating Italian gelato together on cobblestoned streets. 

Thoughts of a vacation, however, are put on hold when, two days later, Natasha wakes up with a fever. 

(You gladly pamper her and repay her for taking such good care of you while you were sick.)

(Yelena ‘helps’ by gleefully giving Natasha the disgusting medicine and taking her temperature more than you really think is necessary.)

[tinystepsforward]

algerian trans women arent able to compete in women sports at all, but yeah its makes no sense to call khelif tme. youre so fucking smart.

(this is a response to this post) i see you don't believe that i'm quoting one of the trans women in my life about that, which is your prerogative. it's also your right to miss my point entirely both about the ways this alienates intersex people and about the rigidity of a binary that comes down to the same shrinking circles terfs draw when they try to quantify what a woman is (speak up for women, the most organised nz group, have now submitted on the human rights act suggesting that all babies be karyotyped at birth and the results be public, bc they can't establish any other definition they agree on. absolutely fucking nobody, not even their christian or conspiracist allies, agrees with them on this one.)

but you don't have to take my word for it! when i was at that consultation with the nz law commission, i was in a room with many other intersex and trans people, including trans athletes and trans women like lexie matheson who consult on trans inclusion in sports at a high national level. i don't think there's a single person in that room who did not name what was happening to khelif as we spoke as transmisogyny, who did not speak of her as part of a group with whom we all shared something.

at the end of the day, prison abolition informs all of my politics. i believe that we must look clearly and carefully at harm and distinguish it from discomfort or disagreement, and identify its structural sources and true perpetrators. i believe that to build a better future we must be capable of imagining one. i believe that we can build a world where suffering is not the metric by which we determine value or punishment or righteousness. i believe that we can build a world where we centre and uplift those who are most hurt, in every arena — black and brown trans women, here; in some of my other work, it's incarcerated intellectually disabled people, or asian migrant sex workers affected by section 19, the list goes on — without then pitting them against other people who share some of the same story and will benefit from the same deconstruction of the systems that hold them down. i believe we can build a world in which asab doesn't affect so much of your life by beginning that work now.

there's a politics of scarcity — you have it better than me, so we have nothing in common. i saw it all the time in brothels, the idea that the new girl is taking money out of your kids' mouths. the viciousness with which people who are struggling are so ready to abandon solidarity. is it so hard to demand better for everyone? to think less about the ways we're alone and more about the ways we're together?

maybe it is. i know that well enough as a prison abolitionist. people get scared. they swing at shadows, they swing at anyone who seems to be suffering less, they — we, i should say, i am certainly not immune — get blindingly jealous of people who seem to have it easier. that's grief! that's grief for the easier life that we deserve. and we get to mourn, and take that time to feel it, and then we can choose if we want to keep working hand in hand with each other toward a world where that grief is dwarfed by the promise of the future.

[innerempire]

Peter starts calling Tony “daddy” as a goof. He means nothing by it (at first) because as Tony gets older, his concern towards the boy doubles (triples?). Checks in on Peter regularly during his first year in college and there’s this one time where Peter thinks he must have sounded so painfully homesick that Tony makes the trip down.

It’s sweet, even if Tony spends half the time bitching about the boy’s living conditions (really, it’s not that bad, Tony. You’re just bougie as hell). A week later, he comes back to his dorm to a couple of packages. There’s a bunch of fancy-sounding shit Peter can’t pronounce even if he wants to. Like, why the hell would he need a shaver that costs $500???? Or a complete set of toiletries that costs more than his Molecular Biophysics textbook? Or bedsheets that are so ridiculously soft and cool to the touch that it makes waking up for his 8am classes somewhat impossible?

There’s also a box that’s basically just snacks. Lots of it. Because Peter had complained about how the vending machine was always spoilt and the options meager.

So yeah, he thinks Tony’s got quite the soft spot for him even if he hides it behind his “yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Pete”.

He doesn’t think much of it when he sends the text: lol, a bit overboard, but thank you daddy 😉

Again, Peter had meant it as a goof because he knows Tony can get a little dramatic about his age.

Tony: What are they teaching you in college

Peter: What? I’m just expressing my thanks to an older man whom has posed to be quite the paternal figure in my life.

Peter: But yeah, seriously, thank you. The snacks are godsent. So is the new puffer jacket. But like, winter break isn’t for a couple of months yet?? And I don’t really need like, new pillows, but they’re really, really nice.

Tony: Daddy aims to please.

Peter laughs at the message, glad that the older male was playing along at least. He keeps it up for the next couple of months, Tony doesn’t tell him to stop.

Tony: What do you think about cornice ceiling designs?

Peter: what?? what’s a cornice

Tony: you know what, it’s probably a no for you.

Peter: okay. just googled it. why are you looking at ceiling designs?

Peter: are you renovating stark tower? again?

Peter: it’s rude not to reply because I can see that you’re online.

Tony: daddy’s in a meeting, baby. hush and I’ll text you later.

And Peter is…

floored.

Because baby? BABY? Was Tony confusing him for someone else? He rereads the message again, ignoring the tiny spark of heat at the endearment. He wonders if this is Tony’s way of fucking with him after all these months. He wouldn’t be surprised actually.

Peter: ok, no to the cornice btw.

He comes home for winter break and maybe he has missed Tony more than usual. It feels like they’re closer than usual, and if the rest of the Avengers notice that they’re chummier than usual, or how Tony is always in a visibly better mood whenever the boy’s around, no one’s saying anything (yet).

It’s chaotic when the team gets together and Peter’s trying to excitedly talk over Tony about something, cutting the older male off. Tony just clamps a hand over Peter’s mouth, and chides him playfully,

“Okay, baby, don’t interrupt when the adults are talking. Daddy taught you better than that.”

Peter’s words comes out muffled as he protests, not realizing that Steve and Scott are straight up gawking at them. Natasha doesn’t even seem fazed, holding her right palm up towards Clint and mouthing, “pay up, loser.”

Bucky basically goes, “Oh shit, so it’s like that, huh?”

“Well, considering the age gap and how they’ve always interacted, is it really that surprising?” Bruce muses out loud.

Peter peels Tony’s fingers away from his mouth, “Guys, what, no - we’re not-“ He glances at Tony for some help.

“Aw, cute. He’s looking at his daddy for help.” Natasha teases.

“So we’ve upgraded from “kid” to “baby”, huh?”

[rainbowpopeworld]

(So you don’t have to deal with all the annoying ads on The Mirror’s website, here’s the whole article interview)

EXCLUSIVE: David Tennant reveals his wife Georgia's role) in his 'huge' Rivals series decision

By Nicola Methven

“David Tennant says he jumped at the chance to star in Jilly Cooper’s 1980s bonkbuster Rivals - because his wife said it would be “sensational”.

The former Doctor Who star said she was thrilled when the first script arrived. “I told Georgia and she was convinced that this was something I had to be involved with,” he explains. “She said, ‘This series is going to be huge. This is going to be exactly what the country needs, exactly what the world needs.’

"She knew the books from her teenage years, as I understand, and knew that this was going to make sensational television.”

He duly accepted the role of Lord Tony Baddingham, one of the show’s main villains and was delighted when Georgia eventually got to watch the episodes, and loved them.

"Her reaction was so positive and so joyous," he says. "I know when she's being genuine."

Tony is a grammar school boy with a chip on his shoulder about not being a proper toff. His character runs a regional TV station facing franchise renewal and has a dependable upper-crust wife, played by Sherwood's Claire Rushbrook, but is also having a very steamy affair with the new TV executive he's lured over from New York (Nafessa Williams).

The actor, 53, argues that poor old Tony is just horribly misunderstood. "From the inside, no character believes they're a villain, do they? I think Tony's motivations are very clear. He's very easy to understand in many ways. Tony sees himself as hard done by and someone who's just struggling to survive and to win."

While he can remember the 80s quite clearly, Tenant says that filming Rivals felt very much like being on a period drama. "It's almost like being on the set of a Dickens novel," he muses.

"The 80s seems quite recent history to me, but once you start recreating that world, you realise it's actually very different. That's wonderful fun to film - to be on a time capsule of a set is glorious."

As the Doctor he got to time-travel all over the place in the TARDIS but Tenant says he loved spending time in the 80s, not least because of the music. When you're a teenager at the time, a lot of it, however good it is, is uncool, and therefore you're not really allowed to like it," he says. "Whereas now, as a jaded 53-year-old, I can just go, 'Oh, do you know what I loved? A-ha'."

And what else did he love? "I didn't have to ride a horse, which was a mercy, because I'm a little bit allergic."

Tenant admits that filming the incredibly saucy bedroom scenes was a bit awkward but he felt there was safety in numbers thanks to the huge number of them. Barely any of the cast don't end up getting involved in one way or another.

"| mean, sex scenes are never comfortable, you know? But again, because everyone was in the same boat, there was a lot of discussion about, 'When are you doing that scene?' and 'Have vou done that yet?'

He believes it's fine for Rivals to be labelled a “bonkbuster" - it's full of sex at the end of the day - but only if it's said with due respect for what Dame Jilly achieved with the Rutshire Chronicles. "There are a generation of readers who were so influenced by her, and for whom these novels meant so much, it means that that writing is obviously better than some would have you believe," he says. "The way she writes character is timeless, and people having sex is pretty timeless. So these books have been tenacious for a reason." The actor says an early scene where the pathologically competitive Tony leaps from his helicopter onto the croquet lawn is his favourite career moment so far.

"That hole-in-one, I would like you to know, was probably the greatest day of my professional life," he laughs. Instructed by the director to "whack it" from 30 feet away he was told the cameras would keep running until he managed it. "I thought the crew are gonna hate me by take 402," he remembers. "And I nailed it on take four. I've never felt more pleased with myself than that moment. I felt like a sporting God."”

[missvelvetsstuff]

No Benefits

Bucky Barnes x Reader, Bucky Barnes x Sharon Carter

Summary: Reader and Bucky are best friends until a drunken hook up. Bucky wants a friends with benefits situation because he doesn't feel ready for a relationship but reader knows that will lead to a broken heart.

Then Sharon Carter comes to work with them.

Notes: Steve and Tony are around but retired, everything else is mostly canon

Chapter Notes: I'm really nervous with the direction my muse has taken with this story. I hope I can pull it off. LMK what you think, please.

Previous chapter:

"Cookie!" Bucky roared as he came striding up to her office "What the Hell is this bullshit?"

Chapter 3

Warnings: Swearing, angst, Bucky's a jerk, Sharon Carter sucks

Cookie looked at Bucky with a deep exhaustion caused by researching all night and early morning briefings with the top agents to figure out what to do with Sharon while Bucky was her guard dog. Maria was ready to tear into him. Cookie cleared her throat to gain Maria's attention then made a small shake of her head to ask her to back down, Cookie knew she could handle Bucky by herself.

Maria nodded and left to sit in her office across the hall, leaving the door open just in case.

Cookie straightened her shoulders and sighed "How can I help you Sargent Barnes?"

Bucky glared at her breathing heavily "You know damn well how you can help me. Who the fuck do you think you are making accusations at Sharon like this?" He waved the report in her face until she grabbed it and tore it from his hands.

Holding the partially torn report Cookie stood up to her full height, her heels bringing her eye level with Bucky. She stared at him in his cold blue eyes to show him she wasn't intimidated by him, then walked around her desk to close the door "I don't think it's wise to leave the door open while we discuss top secret intelligence."

She returned to her chair "Please have a seat Sargent." took a deep breath and spoke calmly

"I think, no I'm damn sure I'm the lead east coast Intel analyst who was hand picked from Quantico by Nick Fury while you were still on ice with Hydra, who kept our intel operation running during the Blip while Nick Fury, Maria Hill and....hhmm, oh that's right, You, were all dust in the wind. None of my conclusions were specious and I followed the facts, without prejudice, as my job requires. This has less than nothing to do with your personal, ahem, entanglements. There's solid evidence to back up every claim."

Bucky shook his head "Bullshit. You've been acting put out since I rejected you and found a way to hurt me back. You obviously faked the proof. You better fucking retract this garbage and clear Sharon's name."

Cookie scoffed and shook her head "No Barnes. You're the one who lied to me and decided on your own to end our friendship but this has nothing to do with that." she turned away before he could respond and went into the filing cabinet behind her desk, pulling a thick folder from the top drawer then dropping it heavily on the desk.

"Here is all of the evidence that I have been compiling on the Power Broker since they showed on our radar during the Blip, and spent most of the night organizing. The pictures and the stack with a red paper clip all came in the mail from Latvia a few days ago, the envelope is attached, and was opened in front of Fury and Hill. The night before we received them I was on the phone with my top informant, the one who sent that package, who tried to tell me something about the power broker but was killed while on the phone. Before disconnecting a woman's voice told me to back off of the power broker or I'd be next." She played the recording of that call and others from the same informant.

Bucky shook his head "You've been doing this long enough, you could have made authentic looking evidence. Especially with all the AI stuff. Or had someone do it."

Cookie looked at him like he'd grown another head "Are you serious Barnes? You think I would ever intentionally risk the reputation and career that I've worked my ass off for my entire adult life, over a broken heart? You think that I would ruin someones life and risk legal repercussions on myself over a man? You know what this job means to me and what I've been through to get here."

Bucky hesitated with a pained look on his face and shook his head like he was trying to clear it. There was a voice in the back of his head, telling him this was all wrong but something made him push it down and keep going.

"Well, maybe one of your people is doing it. Are you even sure that informant is dead? Maybe the family is trying to get paid. Or the real power broker is smart enough to lead you to Sharon and you're all too willing to believe the worst because of me."

He paused for a minute "And I heard you call me a liar but I've never lied to you."

Cookie laughed "You sure about that? It's been awhile so I understand if your memory is failing. That morning? The last time you actually acknowledged me outside of work related, yeah you lied to me. Twice actually"

Bucky tried to remember back to that morning, something he tried to avoid because he knew he made one of the worst mistakes of his life. He shook his head to clear the image of her heartbroken face "Yeah I don't know what you're talking about."

Cookie scoffed "Of course you don't, I'm surprised you remembered my name when you came in here. First, you told me you weren't ready for a relationship but you jumped into one with Sharon before her car cooled down" Bucky opened his mouth to protest but she glared at him and he backed down "and second, you told me you loved me and wanted to stay friends but went to ignoring me before my tears dried."

She felt her eyes filling up and cursed "Fuck. You even started leaving the room if I was there. Do you know how it feels to have one of your so called best friends cut you out of their life like you were dog shit on their shoe?" She cleared her throat and wiped her tears.

"I would never frame someone, ever. No matter how I felt about them. Not even you."

Bucky stared at her then winced as though he was in severe pain and dropped his head into his palms before speaking again.

"Well something is going on somewhere because I know, in my gut that Sharon isn't the power broker. There's no way."

He picked his head up and looked at Cookie

"I'm not in a relationship with her, we're just friends. And I didn't lie, I was wrong. I thought I wanted to stay friends with you but I don't, I can't. You're always looking at me and making me feel guilty and I don't deserve that. Plus you've been nasty to Sharon since she got here, don't think she hasn't told me about the horrible comments you make to her."

Cookie laughed "This is the most we've spoken in months, I'm not doing anything to make you feel guilty. That's all on you. But Sharon has you all twisted around because she's the one making nasty comments to me."

Bucky bristled "I don't have anything to feel guilty for. I've done nothing wrong and Sharon wouldn't lie to me."

She shrugged "If you say so, I didn't say anything. Now I've given you the details and shown the evidence. What you do is on you."

Bucky stood up, winced again and shook his head "I don't know if you did it or someone you're working with but I do know someone is trying to frame Sharon and you're going along with it. I'll prove you're wrong, that's what I'm gonna do."

Cookie scoffed "Good luck with that, Barnes"

Bucky put his hands on her desk and leaned into her space, his voice quiet and cold "I'll prove you're doing this because of your jealousy and your job and reputation will be over."

Cookie spat at him "Go fuck yourself Barnes, if you think that poorly of me you obviously never knew me. I have never been anything less than thorough and professional. I guess I should be grateful you panicked and cut me out of your life before I let myself get too attached. Good luck with Carter and get the Hell out of my office."

She sat down and went back to the packets she was finishing.

Bucky stood and stared like he was expecting something to happen before turning around and stalking off to find Sharon.

He woke up in the dark, with Sharon curled into him and looked at his watch. 9pm? Not again, his last memory was yelling at Cookie after breakfast then finding Sharon but nothing after that. He decided he had enough and scheduled an appointment with medical in the morning to see if they could help him figure out why he kept losing time.

Cookie spent the rest of the day in more briefings with senior agents to discuss the Sharon Carter problem and how to negate it. Bucky Barnes attachment to Carter was discussed as well since he had already started causing trouble over the revelations and couldn't be trusted to do the right thing.

When she was asked why they couldn't just arrest Sharon and tranq Bucky if he caused a problem, Cookie told them about her concerns that Sharon had an ally in the intel department that needed to be weeded out before Sharon.

She was back in her office, cleaning up her desk for the day when Sharon Carter herself wandered in, sat down and waited expectantly for Cookie to speak.

"What can I do for you agent Carter? I'm a little busy."

Sharon smirked "I know what you're trying to do and I understand. You're in love with Barnes and he wants me. It sucks and I know you must be hurting but slandering me won't get him back. In fact he ran to me this morning to tell me what you were trying to do and wondering why you wanted to hurt him so bad. I told him I would work it out with you."

Her face turned nasty "So here's how this is gonna work. You are going to stop trying to smear my name and leave Barnes alone, he doesn't need or want you. Think you can handle that?"

Cookie kept her face blank. "I don't need you to tell me how to do my job, agent Carter, so get the Hell out of my office."

Sharon laughed "Don't mess with me Cookie, I'm not the girl you want to play with."

Cookie faked an exaggerated yawn "Sure Carter, I'm scared."

Sharon smirked "It doesn't matter what evidence you have, you know. Barnes won't believe you. You could record me telling you that I'm the power broker and want the Soldat to be my enforcer because that's the truth." She grinned and winked "and show it to him. He won't believe you, he's already mine." She sighed "Of course now that you're on to me I will have to adjust my plans but he will want to go with me, even beg to come to protect me from all of you.

Don't chase us little girl, you won't like what you catch."

Her grin grew to something that would rival the Joker "In fact, go ahead and show him. I know FRIDAY is recording all this so let's go and show him. I want you to see how pointless this all is so you can leave us alone."

Her face hardened "Let's go" she grabbed Cookie by her upper arm and dragged her away from her desk. Cookie tried to fight her but she wasn't great with hand to hand, give her a weapon and she might have a chance but Sharon didn't give her the opportunity to grab anything.

When they arrived at Bucky's room Sharon's face softened before Bucky answered the door.

"Hey doll, you don't have to knock just-" he stopped and frowned when he saw Cookie "What the Hell is going on, Cookie have you been harassing Sharon?"

He looked to Sharon for an explanation.

Sharon was able to squeeze a tear from her eye "I was by her office to talk to Maria and Cookie said she was watching me and knew she could prove that I'm the power broker. Listen to what she said. Friday can you play the audio from my talk in Cookies office a few minutes ago?"

"Of course agent Carter."

A recording started of Sharon and Cookies interaction in her office. Bucky started listening with a passive face but he grew angrier with everything Sharon said.

Cookie felt hopeful that he would finally see the truth about Sharon but he aimed his ire at her.

"Seriously Cookie? You just can't let it go can you? Sharon hasn't done anything except make me happy and it's killing you. Like I'm some prize to be won. I never thought you would compromise yourself like this but maybe I'll have a talk with Fury and Hill about your obsession with me."

Cookie just stared at him, trying to figure out what the Hell he was talking about. They both heard Sharon say she was the power broker but he still didn't believe it. "Are you listening to the same audio I am Barnes? She said right there shes the power broker and wants the Winter Soldier to be her enforcer."

Bucky glared at her "Jesus Cookie, that's not even close to what she said. Maybe you need to take a vacation because you're losing it."

He looked her up and down "Honestly you look like shit. When did you stop taking care of yourself? I definitely wouldn't have slept with you if you looked like this."

Sharon just stood next to Bucky grinning like a JackAss at Cookie. "I told you Cookie, he's mine so let it go."

Cookie took a breath then turned and walked away without another word. Sharon must have found some way to brainwash him again and Cookie knew there was nothing she could do right now except notify Fury and Hill that Bucky was under Sharon's control so they could work on getting him back. They scheduled a meeting for first thing the next morning at 5am.

Cookie was woken up by her phone ringing at 3am after just falling asleep. It was Sam, Bucky and Sharon were gone, Stark phones and tracking devices left sitting on the desk in his quarters.

Chapter 4

The Power Broker and The Winter Soldier, in the wind.

@erelierraceala @capswife @ozwriterchick @cjand10 @wintrsoldrluvr @mrsbuckybarnes1917 @browneyedgrli @greatenthusiasttidalwave @hhiggs @dontworryboutitsweetheart-blog @behindmygreyeyes @pattiemac1 @calwitch @mrs-bucky-barnes-73 @ordelixx

[missmarveledsblog]

It's only pretend right ? ( Bucky barnes x reader) Part 4

summary : after such a good night she bring bucky to show him where they were sleeping which was also her childhood bedroom . finding new thing he never knew as she see what nat and wanda packed for her bedtime attire leading to one of a few moments the two have , she is faced to deal with the past fears while tony stumble on to something to cure his boredom

warning: ok so i know i said it was a fluffy series but there's a little bit of angst but it's for plot but its mostly fluffy , allusion to past trauma , shitty family , her sibling being goals and steve and nat being well honestly the GOATS .

Previous part

The night ended on good note as she led him to her room , trying to steady her nerves  . while a nervous Bucky was  taking in the space , girly and yet not a perfect balance that described Y/N  to a T. He walked around exploring the space chuckling at the books on her desk, volumes of science and engineering books.  He noticed the army leaflets  already knowing her family were very big on it, giving her grandfather and other men with the exception of Jack . 

“Were  you going to enlist?” he asked, holding it up . 

“ I was then but well i didn’t” she smiled sadly.

 “ Well your job now isn’t far off” he mused. 

“Why do you think i like it so much , youngest female avenger too which is an achievement” she beamed.

 “ Hey no, I feel like a creepy old man when you say that,” he joked.

 “ I mean 107 and your fake girlfriend is 24 practically a cradle snatcher” she mused a squeaked when he pounced on her knocking her on to the bed bursting into a fit of giggles as he tickled her side. “Ok ok tapping out” she panted eyes locked on the man above her . she could fully appreciate the full extent of the blue of his eyes , once filled with such sorrow and coldness now sparkling like the clearest ocean. She felt it like a magnetic pull as his face came closer to hers .

“ hey you two keep it down” her brother banged the door, his voice a teasing and jestering tone but the two separated and moments before lost. 

“  we should sleep  , you got church run tomorrow” she almost whispered. 

“ Yeah, where is that?” he snorted, trying to calm his own heart beat down. He was sure he was going to kiss her and even more sure she was going to kiss him back . 

“ GPS will be your best friend , i’ll get Jessie tag along , grandma can’t say no” she shrugged, opening her case only for her cheek to go deep red. “ I'm going to kill those two” she whined, seeing the bed clothes consisted of a short night dress or crop top and shorts. 

“ you ok doll?” he asked. “ yeah nat and wanda packed the case and well..” she held up the night dress making his throat instantly dry up . 

“fuck” he muttered wondering if the widow was intending on killing him. “ it’s nice .. i mean perfect for the heat” he rambled trying to think of anything else. She pulled out shorts although short still better  to put under the night dress as she headed to her bathroom .

 “ I'm going to die” was all Bucky said before the door opened and she shyly walked out .  He stood not knowing whether to praise god for the sight or curse him given the situation.  She honestly looked ethereal walking out of that bathroom as the clothing of choice hugged her body in every right way that was possible. 

“ I can see if my mama has something,” she said, flushing. 

“ no you look cozy doll” he smiled grabbing the tank top and plaid bottom he would hoped hid how he really thought she looked.  

Laying on the bed after texting her fellow female avengers some colorful messages on their choice of her bed clothes , she looked up, almost dropping her phone when the bathroom door opened. She didn’t know what was going to kill her first , her embarrassment of how exposed she was sharing the bed with her best friend she was in love with or the man in question looking like sex on legs . seeing bucky either partially clothed or shirtless sent her into a short circuited mess, no matter how many times she had seen it was always like the first time. The way her mouth simultaneously went dry and  water  all in one as her eyes raked over his muscled form.  Every toned muscle almost fought the confines of his tank top , to which she was grateful and personally offended at the item of clothing . 

 “ Your grandmother isn’t going to make me go into the church with her right” the question from his lips snapping her from the  trance she was in . 

“ no … i’m not sure” she tilted her head. 

“ I'm pretty sure I might burst into a ball of flames if I step foot in a church now,” he chuckled .

 “ don't do that last time it happened, the pastor passed out” the words out of her mouth made his head turn to see if she was joking or not but she was serious. “ i didn’t know how to control my abilities or as my family keep calling it my gift” she snorted seeing the shock on his face.

 “ Speaking of , you never told you how you got them , I mean none of the team knows,” he said, only to see  a shiver run down her spine and pain expression on her face. 

“ I don't talk about it fury and nat know and wanda because she saw it in my head but i don’t talk about it” her voice trembled and eyes  filled with tears.

 “ hey hey it’s ok we’re not going to talk about it , hey doll sorry look lets rest ok come here” he rubbed her cheek pulling her to his side  hands running up and down her back . he could feel her calming down at the motion . When he looked down to see  her eyes getting heavy and closing . He let himself enjoy the moment , how her eyelashes grace the tops of her cheeks , plump pink lips parting slightly. The even beats her heart before he hit the lights . For the first time in his life Bucky Barnes fell asleep with a smile on his face . 

Sun peaking throughout  the room when he was the one to wake first. Sound of muffled whispers forgotten instantly when he felt her head nuzzling in the crook of his neck , her arm across his chest and her leg over his . he didn’t even think but he felt himself pulling her closer to his body making a little whimper fall from her lips that was the moment he was sure he turned to a puddle on the bed . His eyes closed as the door swung open . 

“ hey … erm wake up” Jack's voice almost trembled in the room keeping his distance at the door. 

“ Go away” she groaned before freezing up at the position she’d realized she was in . 

“ Come on , you too bucky” he called a bit further away . 

 “ I'm up” he rasped, making her bite her lip hard at the sounds that threatened to spill out . the sexy gravel of his voice made her brain go blank. “ baby doll” this man was surely going to kill her. “ time to get up” his head lifted, kissing her cheek eliciting a sound that none of them ever heard out of the girl in the morning before . “ Did she just … she giggled” Jessie almost sent his little brother flying when he barged into the room, shocked at the sound.

 “ Get out before I’ll make you bald with no eyebrows,” she glared. 

“ You did  giggle doll,” he chuckled. 

“ yeah ok , morning sarge” she yawned . The nickname made all blood in the man's body rush down south in turn making him rush towards the bathroom confusing her slightly. 

“  hey giggles park that ass” Izzy held up the brush as her younger sister whined.  “ hey we need , well i need to tell you something since you scared off the other two” her voice dropped slightly. 

“ if it’s because you're nervous don't be, maya will say yes' ' the younger sister smiled brightly. '' no it’s not that .. look we aint happy about it either but Emma , Leah and Cassie are coming for breakfast” she instantly felt her sister shake. “ hey hey look at me , we can go out for breakfast , we don’t have to be here” Izzy crouched down seeing the fear in her eyes. 

“ sorry nature called… hey what wrong” bucky rushed to her side.  

“ our cousin.. She ever tells you how she got her gift .. of course she didn't , now our cousins  well. They say what happened was an accident which is a pile of horse shit  but it was her gift that came after  , she was hurt badly .. like we didn’t .. sorry we didn’t think she would make it “ izzy explained fighting back the tears. 

"Why are they here then?” Bucky asked, seeing it wasn’t just her finding it difficult to talk about whatever happened and to say he was curious wasn’t a lie. 

“ some bullshit they fed mama about grandma getting old  , we ain’t happy , dads not happy” she seethed.

 “ Cassie was a kid she’s not like them” Y/N Said softly remembering the poor girl's face just as terrified as she was.

 “Apparently they want time with grandma since she is not getting younger it’s pile of crap and  for some reason the folks on my mama’s side , well for some reason they're always hard on her after the whole thing they’ve been worse , i’m sure you’ve clued in on that” . 

“ Just let's get this over with. I'm fine , I've fought aliens , talked to a tree and a raccoon from space so i can do this” Y/N  Shook her head walking to her bathroom . “ Did she just say a raccoon and tree from space?”. 

“ The tree’s  ok , the raccoon got hell of a shot but bit of an ass” Bucky agreed. 

“ i … what” izzy stood completely confused to the change of conversation . 

She walked out wearing the summer dress , the prettiest of the ones she owned,  wanting to look somewhat good ,   only to see Bucky standing there with a sympathetic smile on his face, making her truly regret bringing him  in first place. 

“ ready?” she asked . 

“ We can go out and tell them it's a date,” he smiled softly. 

“ no i can do it” she stood straighter, his arm linking in hers. She only got to the middle of the stair when she heard them laughing, making her shake only to shake it off before continuing down the stairs. 

“ I'm here doll” he whispered, kissing her cheek letting his lips linger on her skin . “ Hey kitty saved you and bucky a seat” Jessie called, turning everyone’s attention to the two .

 “ Oh my god look at you girl”  the two eldest girls rushed to her side pulling her into a hug making her tense completely up and the flames flicker on her finger causing bucky to pull her to him wrapping his arm around her waist  probably enjoying more than he should. “ And who is this?” the woman's eyes almost ate him whole. 

“  I'm her boyfriend James Barnes” he nodded, barely smiled to the girl's dismay but kept the flirty grins all for y/n and affection looking towards her  . 

“ So  it’s true you are an avenger how about that, did you show james around town” the woman spoke barely sparing her cousin a glance. 

“ Not yet actually we’re going to go after we drop grandma to church” she smiled. It was so fake and forced, causing her siblings to share worried glances. 

“ doll let's get our seats” he kissed her cheek again nuzzling his face in hers making her giggle. 

“Oh he is so mine” the woman whispered to her sister before they walked into the dinning room . 

“ good to see the silliness is done with” her aunt spoke up . 

“ attempted murder isn’t exactly silliness,” Jessie gritted, even causing Bucky to shoot the man . 

“ What was that?” her aunt asked. 

“ oh he's just happy to be home” Y/N gave that fake smile .

 “ So what, like being avenger do you guys get invited to parties and stuff” . 

“ Emma, their avengers of course they do”her aunt smiled obviously seeing what her daughter was at.

 “Yeah but we prefer not going to them. Attention seeking isn’t exactly what we do it, "Bucky shrugged. 

“ my friends think it’s so cool your avenger” cassie spoke up, almost afraid to even talk. 

“ Maybe we could Facetime them when we're back” she smiled softly to the girl.

 “ We'd like to facetime too, maybe visit?” . 

“ we’re busy all the time, sorry,” Bucky shrugged, making her smirk.

 “ oh i get that so how new is this since you guys aren’t in the press” emma smiled .

 “ si…” she went to speak. “ a year right” her dad smiled looking at bucky. 

“ yeah we thought to enjoy our time instead of the world” bucky lied easily .

 “ keeping that secret from your family,” her aunt shook her head. 

“  she doesn't talk to you guys all the time ,we knew '' Izzy smiled checking her phone just as Y/N went off. 

“  it's tony?” she furrowed her brows. 

“ we better take this , it could be urgent. '' Bucky  smiled secretly thankful for stark interruption as the two headed for her fathers office . 

“ What's wrong, everyone, ok” she asked, instantly answering the phone. 

“can’t a guy call his friends,” Tony rolled his eyes.

“ Who said we’re friends?” bucky asked.  

“ Hey you kill my parents, the least you can do is be my friend” tony teased.

 “ you can’t keep pulling dead parents  card.. Tony why did you ring  and please tell me this is a long conversation” she asked.

 “ ok well nat on her way so is steve they left after your sister rang this morning  , you ok?” he asked clearly, knowing more than he was letting on .

 “ you read my file,” she sighed. 

“ Only the locked part , my lips are sealed well. Steve read it too but after that lips seal” he winked. 

“ Fury told me he was going to get rid of it” she whispered. 

“ Well he didn’t but really kid you ok” he asked more seriously. 

“ As much as i’d love to let you talk in code but the jet's landing” Bucky called looking out the window.

 “ oh shit , bye tony here talk to your guilt trip bestie ” she threw bucky her phone before heading out the front door ignoring the calls of her family.  The minute the jet door opened and the angry redhead  was storming out nothing was scarier than a pissed off widow.

 “ Hey nat wait” she stood in front of the widow. 

“ hey good see you, they in there?” she went to walk around what nat didn’t expect was her best friend to hop on her back .

 “ You can’t beat up my family members, even the shittiest ones, please stop for me” she pouted, making nat’s movement halt. 

“ I won't beat them up , there are many ways to kill a person” she smirked .

 “ no ok i’m not letting anyone stoop to their level please.. Wait did you say kill ” her eyes widened .

 “ Fine but I'm staying till they're gone and I don't mean today I mean when they go back home completely” she moved, smiling and waving to the audience forming on her front porch. 

“ Natasha, what a lovely surprise,” her mother smiled. 

“ hello beth sorry for crashing but i was  missing my favorite avenger so was steve” nat smiled . 

“You guys didn’t need to come out for me,” Bucky teased. 

“ They're talking about me bucket ” Y/N smiled, turning to Steve, catching a frown on his face . “ smile cap” she whispered only for the PR smile to grace his face. 

“ nice to meet you all” he smiled only for a high pitched shriek to come out and all head turning to jack .

 “Steve jack here is your biggest fan” she laughed as her brother's cheek was bright red.

 “ all of you guys  i mean we got three avengers here” she could have sworn the man was going to float at one stage.  

“ well aren’t we lucky to have two gorgeous beefcakes here? '' Emma and Leah lit up. “ Do we sound creepy like that?” Izzy asked. 

“ Nah, they're like shining twins, we’re more cool twins ” Jack said, ignoring the glares his way. 

“ How long are you staying?” Beth beamed. 

“ As long as Y/N is , if that’s ok  “ nat smiled as they all made their way into the house what the rest didn’t notice was the terror twins pushing in front of Y/N So they were directly  behind bucky and steve. 

“ Great” she trailed behind only for Jessie to stand at the door waiting for her with a mischievous smile on his face.

 “What did you do?” she arched her brow. 

“ nothing at all” he held the bottle of laxatives up . 

“ oh loki would love you” she chuckled as they headed into the room seeing her mother bringing an extra plate of food for nat and steve. 

“ You didn’t have to do that ma’am but thank you ” Steve nodded. 

“ So you got a girlfriend steve” leah purred  even their grandmother grimaced.

 “ no but i called dib on Y/N if he screws up sam and pietro didn’t like that” he teased laughing when bucky glared at him .

 “ Some say  I should be a model. What do you think, bucky?” Emma batted her lashes. “ i love that dress on you y/n” nat smiled softly. 

“ Nat’s right You look beautiful doll” Bucky flashed her flirty grin .

 “ Emma you ok” Jessie asked faux concern as they all looked at the suddenly sweaty girl .  the loud gurgles making her cheek turn beet red. 

“ you look clammy dear” . 

“ i don’t feel so ..oh my god” she ran out the door a loud noise following after.

 “ Hey, wait me first,” Leah chased . 

“ Jesus, what’s that smell?” Bucky yelled . 

“ Let's take grandma to church” she got up as Jessie smoothly threw the bottle only for Cassie to laugh. 

“ What are you laughing at” her mother screeched, running to check on her other two daughters.

 “ nothing mom” she snorted before taking the bottle from y/n and hiding it in a vase giving her older cousin a wink .

 “ What did you do?” Nat asked with a proud smile on her lips . 

“ I didn't “ . 

“ i did” jessie walked out proud as punch  . 

“ you ready ma'am?” Bucky asked, holding the door open. 

“ Of course I am , now you listen here young man you don’t let a girl like her go or else maybe super cadet or whatever but she’s my grandchild ” she warned just as y/n came out the house. 

“ Got your bag grandmama” she beamed.

“ Thank you dear” the woman nodded as Bucky closed the door . 

“ you ok bucky?” she asked, wondering if the whole thing was too much .

 “ I think she threatened me,” he  whispered, opening her door for her. 

“ Doubt it black sheep of the family” she snorted before he closed the door.

 “ we will collect you after ok grandma i’ll show bucky around” she called. 

“ Hopefully, air the house out before we get back” the older woman grumbled, causing the two to break out in laughter.  

“ if it isn’t i’ll get you the top room in the best hotel” she wiped the tears from her eyes. “ They pay you enough for that,” the woman asked. 

“ course” she lied putting tony’s black card in her bag making bucky chuckled .

 “ How do you get that?” he asked.  

“ gave a stark big hug” she winked. 

“ ok let’s get this fine lady to church” he shook his head. 

 “ you ready to get your praying on grandma” she cheered . 

“ It's a church not a hip hop concert don’t be silly” the woman tried hiding the smile but Bucky caught it in the rear view mirror .

The drive into town was a nice change of pace compared to the events of the morning they had . But also gave her realization of guilt that she hidden so  much and basically had him blindly walk into the chaos that was her family . So when they waved her grandmother off and reassured the pastor she wasn't going in making the holy man pale and rush off , she was going to be more open with him . 

“ Ok time for the grand tour , no flash photography  and stay with the group please “ she said dramatically.

 “ Very authentic doll “ he chuckled, linking his arm in her, something they did normally yet the touches lately felt different, somehow more intimate. 

“ It's nice here , less chaotic than New York that's for sure “ he smiled, moving his arm to wrap it around her shoulder when he noticed men looking at her .

 “ I love it here but I love New York. Both are home , both have family which is funny because when I blindly followed eli to new york at first I was  freshly gone 19 . He wanted to be wallstreet, I wanted to support him much use that did two days later I was on my own , scared trying to figure out how get home when dude tried to mug me , I may have burnt him a little but cop seen me put me in a cell ,all I kept thinking i was ET” she mused.

 “ E.T ? “ he snorted.

 “ you know the part about the guys in white coats , but I got a bald man with eye patch and trench coat giving me a job “ . 

"Wait, that's how you ended up in shield?” He asked .

“ the very same  a year later on the day I was twenty fury called nat and wanda down to train me because I may have burnt an agent or two” she bit her lip making him wish it was him biting it instead , or how the sunlight hit her like her own person spotlight showing her beauty even more . “ a week later I bump into this grumpy bear of a guy who gave out to me” she elbowed him softly. 

“ I remember the little spitfire shield agent giving as good as she got” he nudged her back catching her when she stumbled forward. 

“ you know that day may be bad for you but was best day of my life” she smiled . 

 “ I thought the best day of your life was 2 years ago when fury finally let us have you “ he teased .

 “ nah definitely  4 years ago when my little 20 year old self sassed the old man who happens to be her favorite  person and best friend” she giggled when he spun her to face him. 

“ old man?” He leaned forward that magnetic pull once again .

 “ Very “ she bit her lip, a pink flush across her cheek , heart beating so face he wasn't sure if it was hers or his  or both .

 “ you know that morning Wanda read me my horoscope and I laughed at her but  I never doubted it when I met you '' he leaned in more, almost ghosting her lips .

 '' What did it say ” she asked, leaning in. 

“ hey kitty” a voice called, making her head turn  and bucky wanting to punch whoever owned the voice . 

“ Eli”she almost growled

 “ Look I know you're still mad at me but I mean it worked out for you” he smiled almost like he was taking credit. 

“ yeah it did lead me to the best job and boyfriend a girl could have “ she leaned up kissing his cheek. 

“ yeah i see that” he nodded smile faltering the longer they stood .

 “ Look I came over because I heard they were there and  I wanted to make sure you're ok” he said she could almost see the honesty . 

“ i’m fine nat and steve came by so i didn’t have to think about it long enough” she shrugged. 

“ wait as in black widow and captain america “ he almost sounded annoyed which was strange for her both he and jack both love avengers another reason he wanted to live in New york . 

“ that a problem?” Bucky asked. 

“ no i just didn’t expect so many avengers to be here … anyways i got to go” he rushed off almost knocking her down only for Bucky to catch her . 

 “ That was strange right?” He looked down at her .

 “ very , also thanks, come on we go diner on the corner and get the best milkshakes you will ever taste” she pulled him along not really wanna keep thinking about her ex and his oddities .

She walked into the diner and also fell over yet again when she heard the scream. 

 “ KITTY , MARVIN KITTY’S HERE” the waitress screamed. 

“ Martha, good to see you too and hear you ” she chuckled . 

“ Oh my baby” the woman cooed, hugging her tightly. 

“ I can't breathe, “ she giggled . 

“ Who is this?” she let her go only to look down and see their hands still connected. “MARVIN OUR BABY BROUGHT A MAN WITH HER” . 

“ AND DEAFEND US '' Y/N called.

 “ ok come on in , i’ll give you the best seat in the house” she led them to a booth knowing it was Y/N favorite spot. 

 “ I'll give you time to love over menu “ martha smiled leaving them alone. 

 “ I'm guessing you came here a lot,” he chuckled .

“ Every chance she got … sorry” Martha turned around . 

“ what she said my dad took used to take us here for treat night too” she smiled brightly. 

 “ she used to do her homework in that very booth” a gruff voice spoke.

“ Hey Marvin,  how did you know we were here?” she teased. 

“  I have a feeling, I guess” he tapped his chin .

 “ Funny you two” Martha rolled her eyes, still smiling. 

“ Marvin and martha this is jame bucket barnes , my ..” she faded off watching the black suv trailing down street something about it was odd yet familiar she couldn’t quite put her finger on it  . 

“ boyfriend and it’s buchanan not bucket” he shook their hand . “ doll?” he waved his hand over her face before following her line of view.   

“ sorry just erm … nothing we will have the bacon  burgers   and brownie supreme for me” . 

“ same also extra fries please” bucky smiled as they walked off.  “ Ok, what was that?” he asked. 

“ nothing really just seen suv  it’s like one i always saw drive by when i was kid i mean not the same one but almost every time i’m here “ she shook her head realizing she probably sounded nuts. “ Just a strange sort of thing that happens, it's nothing bucky” she giggled . Her words seemly not calming him down in the slightest giving he was more alert then some. “ If I get stark to check the registration  will you chill” she asked, pulling her phone out.

 “ for now, yes,” he nodded . 

“ Done and in time here is our food and easily the best milkshakes in the whole world” she smiled brightly as they thanked them for the food. 

Tony Stark stood confused and a little happy that she text gave him something to do giving everyone was on mission and well others were  on the ranch.

 “ what did Y/N buy her own ranch with your card or do we need to bail nat out of jail” bruce chuckled . 

 “ No, she asked me to check a registration because she accidentally made Bucky paranoid. I need more context so excuse me one second” he walked out the lab and hit the call. “ hey pyro on the prairie , what’s going on? “ he could hear her eyes rolling at the nickname.

 “ we’re at the diner , i came here all time but every time i was here i would see an suv pass by , it’s nothing i mean just one of those things but now my fake boyfriends head is spinning like an owl” she explained as he could here bucky telling her it was strange . “ could be nothing but i’ll check it out now and text you when i  find out  , you wouldn’t know the other ones would you” he asked hopeful tone in his voice. 

“  check my desk   , blue note book very back” i always had written them down to check them one day never got around to it , oh and thanks for lunch stank tell everyone i love them and miss them” she sang before hanging up . 

“ lets check this out” he clapped his hand walking into the lab heading straight to her desk and retrieving said notebook . 

“ everything ok” bruce asked. 

“ our little fire friend has been keeping track of past reg numbers so i’ll check them out and kill five minutes ….. Or not” tony voice went completely blank  as he looked at the screen .  

“ what , what is it” bruce asked concerned etched on his face. 

“ why have shield issued vehicles been following Y/N around , not just the diner too” tony scratched back of his neck wondering why fury left that piece of information out.

 “ you sure it’s shield ?” bruce asked looking at the screen . 

“ you know its insulting little respect you have in my intelligence, it’s right there” he scoffed pointing to the screen . 

“ not what i meant , shield wasn’t always shield tony?” bruce hinted. 

“ F.R.I.D.A.Y.  call fury and get him here ASAP” He called out going straight to the main shield server. “ what you doing?” . 

“ finding out what going on “ a frown deeply etched into his forehead. 

“ should we warn  them i mean what if she in danger” bruce began pacing. “ ring nat fill her in but tell them to  hold off saying anything to the kid we don’t want to worry her unless she needs to” tony nodded as bruce pulled out his phone. 

“ You sure bruce , ok i’ll tell steve now”nat smiled not wanting to give anything away  in company of her fellow avenger and best friends family. 

“ Hey  Steve Stark, think one of the  files on our jet , can you help me look for it, apparently it's important” she asked but her eyes told a different story .

 “ Of course excuse us please” Steve stood following her out wondering what the hell was going on . 

“ nat ?” .

 “ short story  y/n got tony look into some reg plates , she notice the same kind of car  she always sees when she in town and well apparently shield’s been watching her since a kid, i mean could be nothing but then again it’s us so he just asked us keep eye out  while he looks into it. He’s called for fury to come compound too “ she bit her lip not really liking it at all . 

“ if they’ve been watching since a kid ..that goes back to when shield …  Do you think it’s hydra” he asked . 

“ I really hope i’m wrong and say it’s not but why wait this long and why Y/N”  she shook her head. 

“ We have to tell them” Steve walked into the jet. 

“ no tony was right when he said not to say anything unless there is something to worry about”. 

“ she could be in danger nat” he almost felt sick saying it knowing bucky was definitely going to flip out. 

“ I don't like it either but I think we should wait until we know more just for now even” she almost pleaded .

 “ Fine for now” he huffed wondering how the hell he was going to even hide this from them.

It wasn’t long after finishing their food  and saying their goodbyes and promises to come back.  The rest of the tour was given , only to stop a couple of times to say hello to people she’d known and old friends . Bucky couldn’t help standing a little taller when she would call him hers even if it wasn’t true but still he wanted to pretend for now it was. They walked back at perfect timing for the service to be over helping her grandmother back to the car as she gave out about the pastor but said service was good . 

“ So grandma you excited for a night out in a couple nights , jack gonna pop the question to helen” she asked turning  herself to look at the woman. 

“ Well about time I thought I'd be dead and gone before that boy made an honest woman of her”. 

“ they’ve been together since high school “ she whispered to bucky .  “ hey grandma did you know you would marry pop pop” she asked.  

“ god no ,  he was my first friend when his family moved in next door , did everything together , then war happened and we both signed up but got stationed in different parts i was a nurse and he was a private then  we got stationed together , we  used to sneak  and meet up one night i saw him differently , i didn’t see him as the scrawny scraper got into trouble all time  anymore i saw my world and my future” the elderly woman smiled fondly and sadly all in one thinking of her late husband . 

“ he died six years ago” y/n whispered as they all felt the change in emotions . 

“ sorry” he nodded  looking to both of them . 

“ he’s how she got her nickname , my husband gave it to her , see our y/n was a little troublemaker , mischievous and headstrong  still is ,  he’d say she was a little misbehaving kitten adorable as hell but can’t take your eyes off her for a second, one day she was running around like a little tornado broke her mothers favorite vase which i don’t know why thing was hideous but she ran off scared to be told off when my husband check outside he could hear little sniffle from the tree above” the three laughed but he could see the tear forming in both womens eyes . 

“ yeah he took one look at me and said my darn we got a little kitty in the tree , helped out and brought me to the diner” she wiped her cheeks.

” he did always spoil you huh?” her grandmother smiled softly seeing bucky hand holding hers before continuing to drive. 

“ so kitty’s a naughty girl” bucky said confidently til he realized how it sounded.  

“ i was a rebel what can i say” she turned hiding her face and internally screaming, glad she was now home maybe she needed to sit in the freezer. “ well looks like papa  making use of having men around” she looked to see her brothers and steve working on repairing the fences.  

“ I'll help out so that punk doesn’t give out” bucky opened their doors before kissing her  well he was aiming for her cheek when she turned landing  right on her mouth . “ you’d swear it was the first time you kissed “ her grandmother walked off into the house.  

“ HEY JERK STOP KISSING YOUR DAME AND HELP OUT” Steve yelled as they both stood looking at each other.  

“ enjoy the fence .. yeah” she stumbled on the step. 

“ should have called you Bambi, '' Jack laughed. 

“ oh shut up or i’ll tell your hero how you peed on your captain america sheets and cried the whole night. 

“ I was a kid,” he laughed nervously. 

“ He was 14” Jessie laughed, handing Steve a fence post. 

“ Want me to tell Steve how you wanted to marry him” her brother called. 

“ Oh really kitty,” Steve smirked.

 “ don’t get excited Rogers wasn’t for the reason you're thinking” she snorted heading into the house. 

“ Chill Barnes, she wanted to marry him then divorce him thinking she would get the shield”   Frank chuckled seeing Bucky's jaw clenched at his best friend.

 “ That sounds like y/n  , she once used it as a sled, ” Steve snorted. 

“She made one think it’s in the garage  only she made hers black and gold funny like fate or something” Jack nodded to a bucky arm although covered . 

“ she made it with pop pop” jessie smiled remembering the two of them so concentrated on getting just right. 

“ Sounds like destiny to me” Steve nudged his best friend. 

“ yeah so tell her how you feel.. What we’re her brothers we spotted, it wasn’t  legit from the start” .  

“ but hurt her and we’ll  bury you out in the fields” Jessie patted the man's back .  

“I’ll help them” steve added, making Bucky shoot him a glare.  

part 5

taglist :@vicmc624 @babble28 @scott-loki-barnes

[lovelyladyabsinthewrites]

Just What You Wanted

Pairing(s): onesided!Pietro Maximoff x Reader, Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: pietro really misses his chance here, oocpietro? (first time writing him), reader being a big adult and moving on, pietro acting like a child, mentions of sexy time (readerxbucky), toxic!pietro, protective!bucky

Words: 4430

Summary: You decided to take your chance and ask Pietro out. There had to be more to his flirting right? Unfortunately he turns you down but you won't waste your time mourning what could have been. You move on and find a perfect partner in the Winter Soldier.

"Maybe I got the signals mixed up?" You lightheartedly muse to Wanda. Carefully, you push down on the button stopper of the wine box that was situated between the two of you.

Wanda shakes her head. "Don't even give it a second thought. He's my brother and I love him, but you can do WAY better than him." She couldn't fathom why Pietro would reject your proposition of a date. Wanda knew her twin brother liked you. Painfully obvious in the obnoxious manner both of you flirt.

Making a mental note to chew him out later, Wanda tilts the remainder of her own wine glass into her mouth. "He's been acting like a complete ass since we arrived in America. I think now that he has freedom, he's overdosing on it. What was the term Tony used?"

You choke on your wine, a snort burning your nose and throat. "Man-whore."

She nods. "Yes! That is it. He's become quite a man-whore!"

Near dying next to her, you're forced to put down your wine glass or you would ruin your bedspread. Once your hands were free, you use them to clutch your stomach as it aches from your laughter.

Really you weren't that upset about it. You thought you would give it a shot, maybe something was there. No big duh to you.

"Did he really say he didn't want to date you because you're coworkers?" Confusion still plagued Wanda as she slowly blinks her eyes. Trying to understand what her brother was thinking. They didn't have that type twin telepathy. That was mainly based on feelings. "That's complete bull."

"Honestly it's okay. Really." You tell Wanda trying to calm her down. "He's probably right. No harm done."

Wanda placates her own feelings with a smile at how unperturbed you were by the rejection. Pietro was a fool. His loss will be someone else's gain.

Not long after someone else did stumble upon you.

Never before had you worked with the Winter Soldier. You'd seen him around Avenger's HQ and spotted him in the common areas, but you wouldn't say you were close to Bucky Barnes. Only a handful of friendly words had ever been shared between you.

The assignment that paired you together with him would ultimately turn out to be a blessing in disguise. A simple mission that you confidently thought you could finish in no time. The run of the mill shadow organization that possessed weapons of mass destruction and infiltrating said organization. You and Bucky were picked for this based on your success record and skill set. You found it a compliment as you heard nothing but great things about Bucky. He was a fine soldier and outstanding friend to Steve Rogers.

Fury told you the timeline looked to be a month before this organization known as 'Specter' planned to launch its weapon. A major problem was that their base was hidden so both you and Bucky would have to go deep undercover.

You shared an close space with Bucky and found him pleasurable to be around. He was easy on the eyes too. His smile makes every inch of you flutter delightfully. Similar to how flirting with Pietro made you feel.

Patience was required when gathering intel. An operation like this couldn't be rushed. That meant learning more about Bucky. He even manages to pry some stories from your childhood out of you. Things you hadn't remembered in a long time.

When passing binoculars, fingers linger against one another. Excuses of offering warmth just so that you could press yourself against him. His jacket might as well have belonged to you now due to how often you were wearing it now.

"It looks better on you anyway." Bucky would tell you. A heaviness in his gaze puts all of your functions at a halt.

You started noticing how kissable his lips looked. Or the fine veins that run along his hands. Beautiful as they held a gun. Between your legs start to ache for him when you watch Bucky strangling a man for information. You never found violence. . . attractive until you worked with Bucky. It was just a means to get by. A requirement for the world you lived in.

Throughout the mission, you manage to keep things professional. Even though the burning gazes exchanged were still frequent. You had to focus your efforts on completing your assignment. Bucky respects that type of work ethic.

Identifying the main figures within Specter was easy once missing pieces were filled with the information you received along the way. One would be spared for questioning, the other two were quickly disposed of.

When your prisoner was handed over to the government which held dominion, you and Bucky head back to the room you'd been using to hide out in.

You were excited to go home and tell Wanda all about it. You're giddy, imagining her scandalized reaction that you loved. Her eyes would get so big, hands clutching onto your arm begging for more details.

A knock at the door puts a pause in your packing as you go to check the peephole. You open it once you verify it's just Bucky. "You all done packing? Sorry, I'll just be five more minutes."

He closes the door behind him. "It's not that."

The depth of his voice has you shivering, turning back to him with your full attention. He's cleaned off the dirt from his face and changed his clothes. Appeared Bucky even brushed his dark hair. Disheveled Bucky was sexy but cleaned up Bucky was a god damn smoke show. Your bones become trembling jelly as he stalks up to you.

"I believe, we have some personal business to take care of." The corner of his lips twitch up in a predatory manner to show off his sharp cuspids.

"By all means," You breathe out and internally cheer when it doesn't come out as a squeak "lets commence the business Mr. Barnes."

The delay of your return to headquarters did raise brows.

Especially Pietro's.

You took Wanda by the arm and she knew you had a story to tell. Using her magic-like ability, she conjures a bottle of wine accompanied by two glasses.

Two schoolgirls giggling and kicking their legs as they talk about one's crush.

"And he told me-" your cheeks hurt from your smile "that he wants to take me out on a proper date."

Wanda swoons backwards as she falls against your bed. She says something in her native Sokovian before switching to English "I told you that you could do much better than Pietro."

From then on it was a common occurrence to find you and Bucky together. You visit one another's room frequently day and night. Time spent not on assignment, Bucky would take you out on both fun and romantic dates. He wooed you like no other man had before. A goddamn gentleman who ate and slurped your pussy in a way that sucked the soul right out of you.

There were men before Bucky but sweet mercy they couldn't compare to the beast that was Bucky once he got your legs perched atop his shoulders. You would never had taken him for a sloppy eater, not by the way he used his fork and knife when he took you out to fancy restaurants. When he slides in his cold metal fingers, your back spikes up in a arch off the bed.

However, not everyone in the Avenger's Headquarters was happy for you and Bucky.

When Pietro first walked into the communal kitchen to find Bucky's hand up your shirt, he nearly suffered from an aneurysm on the spot. Thankfully his feet reacted faster than his brain and took off in the opposite direction before either of you noticed his presence. He'd heard the office gossip that you and Bucky were an item now. Pietro arrogantly thought that your relationship with the winter soldier was a fling or some fucked up way for get back at him for turning you down.

Hitting the two month mark had Pietro sweating. Your relationship with Bucky was thriving. The sting of betrayal sears his insides. When he voices his woes to his twin, Wanda held no comforting words for him.

"Oh well. They love each other now. So you have to move on." Uncaringly, her attention goes back to her phone. "You had your chance, Pietro."

He shoots his sister a glare. "Have some empathy."

That makes her laugh but at least Wanda puts her phone down and turns back to Pietro. "Empathy? Refresh my memory, what was the real reason why you didn't date her?" He'd told you it was because you were coworkers. Claimed he didn't want things to be weird around HQ. Conveniently forgetting that Wanda and Vision were in a happy relationship. But she knew the disgusting truth.

His eyes turn pleading, round and lined with those pretty lashes he flaunted. "Wanda-"

"No, I want to hear you say it again and really help me try to understand." Her arms cross in front of her.

Pietro takes his bottom lip between his teeth to give it a worrying chew. "I. . . I wasn't ready to be in a monogamous relationship- Hey, I'm being serious." He adds the last part after he hears Wanda snort. "We spent all of our adolescence and young adult lives under HYDRA control. It's only been two years since we were liberated. I want to live a little bit more before settling down."

"And look what that has cost you."

"I didn't think-"

"No, you didn't." Wanda's exasperated. "That's not a good excuse. Bucky is in the same boat as us and just because he missed out on having a life he didn't let that stop him from making things official with her."

In short, Pietro simply had no choice but to deal with it. And his way of dealing with it was bringing home his current ladies in the hopes of catching your attention. If you see him with another woman, maybe your jealous would remind you of your feelings for him. That tactic didn't work and only gained him disapproving looks from his twin. He stopped when it was clear your heart eyes weren't straying from Bucky.

Evident that he wasn't going to win you back, Pietro's disbelief curdled to jealousy.

Words weren't enough to bring him to his senses; none in English or Sokovian reached his ears. Exhausted from trying to speak reason to him, Wanda stops all together. Perhaps her brother needed to fall on his ass to wake up.

You weren't blind to Pietro's spike in hostile conduct. Lately there were a few close calls between Bucky and Pietro. Bucky refused to stand for Quicksilver's attitude. Fists weren't raised- not yet. But if looks could kill, both would be incinerated.

Unable to ignore Pietro at Headquarters, you and Bucky take the plunge and buy an apartment together and move out of the superhero facility all together. The apartment complex was still relatively close to headquarters; mainly housing other staff that worked out of there.

Just because you removed yourselves, you were still Avengers and required to attend functions for different movie fundraisers or anything else that had you in hair and make-up for two hours. It paid off to watch Bucky's mouth near drop at the sight of you. This once-assassin who has blood on his hands truly did something to you when he wore a sharp suit. Seams that are streamline and highlight his broad shoulders. Even his waist was deliciously framed. You wanted to hop on him and wrap your legs around that sinfully sexy waist.

Alas, neither you or Bucky could just continue to stand there drooling over the other.

"Wipe your chin, Barnes." Natasha teases as she passes by. To you she shoots a lively smile. "Come on you two. Free booze and food await us."

Pietro had already found the said free booze; ignoring the free food part. He was obligated to attend the gala, agreed to it months ago. If he backed out now, everyone else would have his ass over the fire.

Though he felt like maybe it would have been better had he just said fuck it and stayed home. Especially when you and Bucky walk in looking like the perfect couple. Cameras went off yet people kept a respectful distance from the two of you. You basically had your own guard dog in the form of the Winter Soldier. He towers over you in a way that told others to back off; a protective hand holding onto your's. Both of you are quite the sight standing next to Wanda and Vision. Wanda happily hugs you, her words lost to the loud background music.

He can't take his eyes off of you.

Alcohol warming his system, Pietro downed glass after glass. There was a momentary warmth he felt inside of him before he caught sight of you again.

Hating seeing the two of you together, Pietro spirals in his own head. Plenty of pretty girls around him, all he could focus on was you and the fact that you were hanging off the arm of a murderer. Everyone seemed to have so quickly forgotten that this man killed Howard and Maria Stark.

The moment you unlatched yourself from Bucky's side to go to the bar, Pietro descent upon you.

Your heightened senses barely register the high velocity sound that you associated with Quicksilver. Half a step back was all you were able to make before you heard his husky voice "You find killers sexy?"

His question rakes claw marks against your mind. "What?"

A mocking laugh puffs out of him and he rolls his eyes over in Bucky's direction. "The Winter Soldier. You like the fact that he's murdered innocent people?"

On edge, you notice in your periphery how people were starting to turn to look your way. The volume of Pietro's voice was gradually starting to rise and draw onlookers.

Flushing and attempting to retain your composure, you keep your shoulders back confidently. “Looks like you’ve had too much to drink.” Your eyes search the crowd for Wanda so that she could take him home before he said or did anything he’d regret later. You couldn’t see her or her floating man among the many bobbing heads. Even unable to find Bucky despite his stature.

“Deflecting the question, I see.” Pietro smugly smirks at you; a sway in the step that he took forward. “Shall I raise my voice so you can hear better?”

You narrow your eyes into deadly slits as you squint at him. He was clearly not in his right mind. “What do you want, Pietro?” What was this sudden change in him about? The moment your relationship became public knowledge, Pietro had been pissy ever since. He was the one who rejected you. The one who told you that you shouldn't date because you're coworkers. He had no right to be jealous.

Bucky suggested a few weeks ago that Pietro may still be interested in you. Proposed that his peaked interest must have been from seeing you and Bucky together. At the time you laughed it off. A corner of your mind was screaming at you to listen to him.

Not appreciating how closely he leaned into you, Pietro snarls "That guy has taken numerous, innocent lives. How could you fuck someone with that kind of blood on their hands?" Now you were sure more and more people were pulling out their phones and recording to send to whatever social media platform.

Heat rises off of your cheeks as they blare like alarms. You felt your body tremble not because you were afraid, no, you tremble under the weight of your own fury. Your powers rattled the bars of the cage you kept it in. Clenching down hard against your back teeth with the effort to keep them at bay.

"You know why he did those terrible things. It wasn't him." Growling softly you try desperately to keep a semblance of a calm tone. You were never the type to show your anger. The public might turn against you if they see you break from Pietro's cruel words. Even the bits you were letting slip was enough for your audience to know you were beyond furious. "He was under HYDRA mind control. You of all people should understand the ways HYDRA implements their tools of pain." It wasn't working.

You needed Bucky before you really snapped your last strand of patience.

At least Pietro had enough sense to take a step away from you. In his drunken stupor, he hadn't noticed the crowd. Dozens of people holding up their smartphones, a few reporters who were allowed in were snapping bright pictures. That's when he saw Bucky and Wanda toward him.

Wanda uses her power to wrap him up in scarlet bindings and drag him to where she stood at the cusp of the crowd. She spits something out in Sokovian toward him, motioning for Bucky to go to your side and get you out of there. He looked more ready to rip Pietro apart but valued your wellbeing over all else and easily strode to you.

He slings a protective arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer to his side in an attempt to keep you out of the sight of cameras.

Those involved were taken back to Avengers HQ so the situation could be straightened out. That is, after Fury was done yelling at everyone for how they acted at what was supposed to be an extravagant gala. Admonished how you and Pietro were acting like dramatic high schoolers with your stunt and how this would definitely tarnish the reputation of earth's mightiest heroes. Pietro was still as drunk as a skunk, hissing at everyone who tried to get near him. Only being held back by Wanda who was still yelling at him in Sokovian. As everyone argued back and forth, only you and Bucky remained quiet.

A small upside could be found. Though it was quite the public altercation, popularity for you and Bucky as a couple sky rocketed. Within the hours of it happening, many social media websites exploded with praise at how you defended your man.

That news wasn't enough to make anyone happy at the moment.

Seeing that nothing would be resolved with such bickering, Bucky clears his throat to draw everyone's attention to him. "May I get a word with Pietro alone?"

Fury doesn't look like he wants to allow it. He was assured though that if anything were to happen, Bucky would be able to stand on his own and fend off an angry Pietro. His single dark eye roves around the room before conceding to Bucky's request.

Motive unclear, you arch a brow in his direction. He just offers you a smile and leans toward you to say "It'll be alright. Jus' wanna talk to him."

"I've seen you 'just talk' to people before." You remind him trying to keep your voice stern. "Don't make things worse. Okay?"

"Yes ma'am." That smirk of his will be the death of you, you just know it. There's a silent exchange between you and Wanda who finally relinquishes her scarlet restraints on her twin brother. Pietro staggers without the additional support that held him up.

"Fifteen minutes. Cameras are rolling." Fury warns as he escorts the others out.

Comfortably strolling forward, Bucky pulls out one of the conference chairs that had been entirely ignored. "Take a seat, Maximoff." Immediately there's a snarl curling Pietro's lips until Bucky rolls his eyes. "Or stand. Doesn't matter I guess. Just, listen to me for a moment."

Inebriated individuals don't understand reason, too caught up in their own tilted perception. He wants to do anything else but listen to Bucky prattle on about how he needs to back off of you. That you belonged to him now and how he wouldn't tolerate Pietro's pursuit of you.

Luck appeared to be on Bucky's side for the alcohol was wearing off of Pietro as he started to lose his steam and reluctantly slink down into the chair opposite Bucky's. His dark eyes hold steady onto the metal armed man. Remembering all too clear the stories that HYDRA would tell him and Wanda about the best operative they've ever had: the Winter Soldier. Would this legend of a man be able to hold off Pietro's speed attacks if he were to try?

Honestly he was tired of being angry. Emotions both positive and negative were siphoned out of him until there was nothing left.

Bucky could see that.

"Whatever we say here, stays here." Bucky speaks again, each word cruelly clipped. They strike Pietro like small arrows. Nothing could prepare him for the dead eyed glare that now pinned him to his chair. "Your behavior stops here. I've been more than patient. Held my tongue and my fist when I wanted to knock some sense into you. I didn't, for her sake since she didn't want to cause any trouble among the team. But you're spoiled brat act can't be tolerated anymore. You embarrassed all of us at the gala and made the Avengers look like fools."

His metal hand curls its fingers inwards toward his palm before releasing; an attempt to calm himself before his tone became too heated.

Pietro waits for any sign of movement for Bucky as the larger man deeply inhales. Finally, Bucky's eyes flick back up to him. "I get it."

With a heavy tongue, Pietro croaks out "Get what?"

"I know why and what has fueled your actions. Underneath it all you may have possibly loved her. You're upset that you lost your chance with her. It sucks, it has to to lose someone as amazing as her. I couldn't imagine. . ."

There's a flicker of anger at how the Winter Soldier spoke to him. Reminded Pietro of when his father would scold him as a child.

Bucky's voice soften when he detects the subtle twitch of Pietro's nose. He promised you that he wouldn't escalate things. "I'm sorry. I feel for you. But. . . I'm not going to be stupid enough to let her go. As long as she'll have me, she's mine."

He wanted to ignore the sincerity that warmed Bucky's words. Wanted to keep what little resentment remained inside.

Abruptly, Bucky stands from his chair; bottom of the legs scraping against the floor and startling Pietro in the process. In half a second, Pietro is up on his feet, taking a defensive position. Though his movements were sloppy as his perception was still muddled from his quickly consumed drinks.

Whatever camaraderie had been built between them in those short minutes of Bucky talking was gone. Back were those assassin sharp eyes. "If you upset her one more time, it won't be me you'll have to deal with. It will be the Winter Soldier coming after you. And I can guarantee not even your speed will be able to stop that monster."

"I told you."

He didn't want to hear it from Wanda right now. Damn her for always being right. Right now he just wanted to forget how he made such an ass of himself in front of so many people. When he wasn't trying to fend off his massive hangover migraine he was scrolling through social media, coming upon videos of how he spat in your face saying all sorts of cruel and vindictive things to you. So many mean comments slandering Quicksilver and adoring the hero couple.

In an attempt to drown out Wanda, Pietro grabs his pillow and lays it over his head.

That wouldn't stop her as she was on the war path. He'd hurt her best friend.

Red tendrils of her power rip his pillow off of his head. Pietro hisses in response and whips his head to narrow his eyes in her direction. "You're going to apologize to her. Because if you don't and pull this kind of shit again, Bucky is going to kill you and I won't be able to stop him. You're an idiot for not realizing how protective he is of her." She mumbles something about how lucky he was that Bucky hadn't smashed his face in the conference room during their private chat.

Quiet for a moment, Pietro sits up and leans his back against the bed's headboard. "I know. . . I know I've fucked everything up. I just. . ."

Wanda still has her arms crossed in front of her chest, posture vibrating with the need to throttle her twin. The frostiness in her expression slackens though at Pietro finally admitting that he was in the wrong. Not like she got satisfaction out of it. It pained her watching her brother act like a total dick head toward her best friend. It wasn't long ago that she thought you and Pietro would make a nice couple.

He sighs and runs a hand through his ash blonde hair, repeating "I've fucked everything up."

"At least you're owning up to it." quietly points out Wanda.

Time was necessary for all wounds to heal. That applied toward the ones Pietro had caused. He gave you space for two days before he came up to you to ask for a private word; promising he'd behave and that he just wanted to apologize for everything. Even told you about what Bucky had said to him.

You knew he told the truth because his face was the definition of genuine remorse and repentance.

For most of his speech he looked at his hands, but when he dared to glance up at you Pietro would hold your gaze. His earnestness brimming in his blue eyes. For so long they had been darkened by his discontent. Now they remind you of the pretty bright hue they used to be.

After a moment of silence, Pietro hesitantly asks "Are you happy with him? Truly?"

"I am. I've never been this happy in my entire life. He makes me happy." A bright smile flourishes on your face. "I love him."

Pietro nods.

"Hey, even if things didn't work out romantically with us doesn't mean I don't want to be friends with you. I do. We had fun as friends." You bump him with your elbow.

A wisp of a smile beckons at his lips but couldn't quite get all the way there. "I'd like that. Eventually. . ."

"Eventually." You repeat in agreement.

Tags:

@enchantingcupcakecollectionfan

@bakugospartner

[zerosconsort]

Zero's Fic Binding - Archive Anthology - Stony Volume 1

A collection of fics all written by Areiton (@areiton)

let me hear (your battle cry) | chains around my daemons | monsters of sea & sky | inspired | muse

Fandom: Marvel

Ship: Steve Rogers / Tony Stark

Start Date: 10/07/24

End Date: 11/25/24

Pages: 355

First Archive Anthology book. This is a collection of 5 of my favorite Arei Stony fics. They are all also from 2021, which I did not mean to do but just so happen to realize as I was typesetting. I wanted to start this proof of concept project with someone who I A) knew and B) would be cool with me using their fics as a test.

So, the cover. She's beautiful. For the AA series, I want the covers to be the uniform - so every Stony book will copy this cover type, but the colors will shift to blue and white for Vol 2, and then back to red and gold for Vol 3. I sketched out the Iron Man that I wanted myself and made an SVG for the first time, leave me alone, adding the swoosh marks to him and to Steve's shield. I wanted a simple, classic looking font for a universal text title. This book series wont have quotes on the back so instead I have a full spread of the graphic. Tony's the icon on the spine this time - and I think he looks great~

Ah! The side shot. I used my guillotine for the first time - so the chop on this bitch is CHRISP. Headband is gold and handstitched. The whole side profile? Crispy like fall leaves.

Title page shots. A TOC (that I only notices was a little low after I had printed both copies) with a new and customized copyright page. I looked at a bunch of pages in the Renegade Bindery discord and compiled something that felt right AND specific to this project going forward.

Typesetting this was not…bad. It did take a while while I worked out fonts and overall ideas, but ones I had them I was able to fly through. There are quite a few here, so lets take a peak...

I kept Let me hear a little simple - with more medieval drop caps and banner headers. This fic is the only one with a nontypical drop caps - but with how simple the titles were I wanted a little bit more. I also - as per my standard - did this fic first, and then started to dig down and get more complicated the further in I got.

Chains has a little more flavor - each chapter has a splash of color. Originally I had hyper detailed headers for this fic, but they just look like SO MUCH, and I couldn't figure out a way to make them look uniform with the different daemons I was showcasing. Scaling back with a flash of color, but not to much, feels much better for this fic. Also realized that I need to figure out how to trim to what my printer considerers a 'full page'.

mos&s has a little more character for the headers, where I pull peace out from each chapter to add to the title. This chapter header - and the last one - are my favorite. I used hand drawn lines to highlight under each chapter title, and pulled a color for the splash image to match with both that line and the matching line breaks in the chapters.

inspired is told from Tony's point of view - so I kept the chapter titles black and white, with harder linework and a focused idea from in each of the chapters.

In contrast, muse is told from Steve's POV - so every chapter header is an explosion of color. They're all based on a variety of art mediums - spray paint, stamp art, charcoal, oil pints, anything I could find that I remember ever doing myself. I also colored each of the drop caps a contrasting color to what the header art is.

All in all, I'm very happy with how this came out. This is the blueprint I'll use for any of my Anthology books going forward. I already have at least three more in mind for Stony specifically, and then a collection of Raven Boys and Good Omens ones that are not long enough to be a book by themselves but I still want THEM ON MY SHELVES.

Thank you again Arei - your wonderful <3 Go read Arei's fics ASAP!

[sycamorelibrary754]

Guardian Angel

Chapter 13: Open up your Golden Gate 

Summary: You, Natasha, Yelena, Sam, and Scott, carefully strategize your plan to infiltrate Onyx Petroleum Headquarters in San Francisco.

Warnings: Angst, combat fighting

Word Count: 5.2k

A/N: I hope you enjoy this new chapter. I'm excited about where the story is going!

Guardian Angel Masterlist

“Y/N, are you okay?” Your mother’s voice crackled through the phone. It had been ages since you last heard it. “We just found out about your accident! Why didn’t you call us?”

“What? How did you?” you began, but you thought better. You sighed and rubbed your forehead as the memories flooded back. “That was months ago, Mom. I tried calling you several times, but you never picked up.”

“Nonsense, dear,” she countered. “I find that hard to believe.”

Exasperation washed over you as you ran a hand down your face. Wanda, seated beside you, gave your arm a reassuring squeeze.

“Okay, whatever. The point is, I’m fine now. Really,” you replied, your voice dripping with sarcasm. “I appreciate the concern, though.”

“How’s business at the Candy Bag?” she asked, a hint of distaste in her voice. 

“It’s called the Candy Bar, Mom,” you replied, feeling a familiar mix of exasperation and annoyance. “Things are going well. Harper stepped up a lot while I was recovering, but we’ve settled back into our routine now.”

“Harper?” Your mother’s tone shifted slightly. “You still socialize with that girl?”

“Yes, Mom,” you responded, trying to keep your voice steady despite the familiar irritation at her choice of words. “She’s not just ‘that girl’—Harper is my business partner.”

“Well,” your mom began, “I suppose that’s good for her. It gives her something to do.”

You bit your lip in frustration. “Yeah, I suppose so. I have to go, Mom. It's late here, and I was getting ready for bed.”

“Wait!” your mother protested. “It would be wonderful if you could visit us this week. You haven't been home in so long.”

You chuckled, masking your sarcasm. “I think there's a reason for that, Mom.”

“But it’s been ages since we have seen you.” she pressed.

You sighed, rubbing the back of your neck. “Oh, I don’t know. The shop’s been busy,” you said, glancing at Wanda, who was watching closely. “And I have a lot going on in my personal life.”

“Just think about it, darling,” she urged, her hopeful tone lingering.

“Alright, I’ll think about it,” you conceded, eager to wrap up the conversation by any means necessary.

“Marvelous! I won’t keep you any longer,” you said. “Goodnight, Y/N.”

“Goodnight, Mom.” Waiting for the familiar click of the call disconnecting before plopping back onto the bed.

“She sounds pleasant,” Wanda muttered.

“What are the chances my mom would reach out today?” you mused, staring at the ceiling as thoughts raced through your mind.

“Exactly what I was thinking,” Wanda said, propping herself up on one elbow as she settled beside you.

“My parents never lift a finger unless there's something in it for them. They are angling to force me into that Board of Directors meeting, just like when I was growing up,” you vented.

“But you’ve been out of that world for years. Why would they even care now?” Wanda probed.

“Honestly, I don’t know, but I refuse to give them the satisfaction. No way I’m playing their game,” you declared. 

*^~^*

“You have to go!” Tony urged, leaning across the compound kitchen table. 

You stared at him in disbelief. “What? No way!”

“The focus will be on you,” he explained. “We could gather more intel that we wouldn’t otherwise have access to.”

“But won’t that just complicate things?” you countered, looking for any reason to back down.

“Not to mention it’s dangerous,” Wanda chimed in, her grip tightening around your hand, a silent plea in her gaze.

“Not necessarily,” Sam jumped in. “If anything, you can make sure no one steps on Tic-Tac,” referring to Scott. 

“I resent that remark,” Scott murmured. 

“It’ll be okay, Y/N. We’ll be inside the walls the whole time,” Natasha reassured. 

You glanced at Nat and then looked over at Wanda. You didn't need her powers to know what she was thinking. 

Wanda turned to Steve, her eyes searching for guidance. "What do you think, Cap?" 

Steve met her gaze, his voice steady and reassuring. "It’s Y/N's decision.“

You looked around the room at Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Six months ago, they were larger-than-life figures; now, they were your family. After everything you’ve been through, their belief in you was the only motivation you needed.

“I'll do it," you declared.

Wanda's brow furrowed with concern. "Are you sure about this?"

You nodded, a sense of determination settling in your bones. "I have to. My parents are hurting the woman I love. I can't just stand by and watch.”

*^~^*

“And this is your comms,” Maria said, holding up a device that looked almost impossibly small, like the size of a pea. “With this, you’ll have a direct line to the team—anytime, anywhere.”

You carefully placed the device in your left ear, feeling it snug perfectly into your ear. “So, my parents won’t see this at all?”

“Nope, nanotechnology! One of my greatest innovations. With any luck, they'll think you're talking to yourself,” Tony smirked, strolling into the lab with a flourish, a gift box in his hands.

“Ah, your modesty truly knows no bounds, Tony,” you teased.

“Appreciate it, Willy Wonka,” he shot back with a smirk.

“You’re all set for tomorrow,” Maria confirmed, her tone serious. “Just remember, rule number one of an undercover mission is to keep calm and exude confidence.”

“Not so fast, Hill,” Tony interjected playfully. “I’ve got one more safety measure for our favorite candy-holic here.”

“Aww, you didn’t have to buy me a gift,” you said, playfully dabbing at an imaginary tear.

Tony grinned and shook his head. “I didn’t buy you something—I made you something.” He lifted the box lid, unveiling a red body suit—bland and ordinary to the untrained eye. 

Your brow furrowed in surprise. “You made me a suit? I’m not an Avenger.”

“FRIDAY, would you do the honors?” Tony exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over.

“Yes, Boss," the AI replied smoothly. "This suit is embedded with advanced Stark technology akin to the protective suits worn by the Avengers. It meticulously monitors your vital signs and keeps track of your location, ensuring you’re always connected and secure.”

“Wow, this is amazing, Tony,” you replied, examining the suit. “But why red?” 

“You’re in love with the Scarlet Witch, right?” Tony said with a wink. 

All you could do was smile, a warm blush creeping across your cheeks.

*^~^*

The following morning, you stood on the platform, hand-in-hand with Wanda, as agents hustled around, loading supplies. You could feel the tension in the air. Your Stark-designed red suit is worn covertly underneath your clothes. Your gaze drifted toward Natasha, Yelena, Sam, and Scott, engaged in last-minute gear checks.

Wanda bit her lip, her brow furrowed with concern as she tucked a loose strand of red hair behind her ear. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come along? I’d feel so much better if I were there with you.”

You took a deep breath, trying to hold her gaze. “I’m sure. Having the most famous Sokovian in the world in the middle of it all isn’t the best way to stay under the radar,” you replied gently. “Besides, Billy and Tommy need you here. We'll be back tomorrow.” 

“Just promise me you'll stay safe,” Wanda said softly, her fingers gently caressing your cheek, her eyes filled with concern and love. 

“I promise. Trust me, the most dangerous thing in that building is my parents’ personalities,” you replied with a teasing smile. The corners of Wanda’s lips curled up slightly, but the worry in her eyes lingered.

“All aboard for San Francisco!” Yelena announced, her voice cutting through the morning breeze.

“It’s going to be okay,” you reassured Wanda, leaning in to kiss her tenderly, feeling the warmth of her lips against yours.

The rest of the team pretended to be preoccupied with their tasks, though their glances betrayed their keen interest in your loving farewell until Tony broke the serene moment.

“You’re not going off to war, chop-chop. Let’s go!” Stark called out.

“I'm coming!” you replied, your voice filled with determination, though your heart felt heavy as you left her behind.

Wanda held onto your hand with a grip that felt both reassuring and reluctant, her eyes never leaving yours as long as she could. Eventually, she had to release her hold. You turned and made your way to the Quinjet, glancing back one last time to see her standing there, a mix of pride and worry on her face. 

You waved from the window, giving her a small smile that you hoped would ease her fears as Natasha flicked the switches to initiate the take-off protocol. Clint wrapped his arm around Wanda’s shoulder as you ascended into the early morning New York sky. How she wished you had a Guardian Angel. 

*^~^*

The Quinjet touched down three hours later in Golden Gate Park's dense flora and fog. Scott led the group on backroads through the city, getting them as close to Onyx Petroleum Headquarters as possible without raising suspicions. Soon, the five had eyes on the facility from a nearby hill in the Financial District. It was a modern skyscraper with a gleaming glass and steel exterior. The entrance was marked by a large, curved atrium that soared several stories high.

“The Board of Directors’ meeting starts in T-minus 20 minutes. Remember, this is a no-kill mission. We aim to maintain a low profile and avoid raising any alarms,” you heard Maria say in your comms. “Sam, are you ready?” 

“Always. Red Wing, engage,” he said as he launched his drone into the sky. 

“You’re sure this isn't going to draw attention?” you asked, watching Red Wing soar toward the building. 

“Please, this is San Francisco. Ten-year-olds have drones,” Scott snarked. 

You observed as Red Wing gracefully soared above the sprawling cityscape displayed on Sam’s tablet. With a steady hand, Sam zoomed in on the building.

“Infrared scan shows ten individuals gathered in the top floor boardroom,” Sam announced, his eyes narrowing with focus on the screen.

You leaned closer, nodding knowingly. “That’s where they hold their most high-profile meetings,” you remarked, using exaggerated air quotes to emphasize your point. “My parents thought the view of the city would be a major selling point.”

“Physical security measures?” Natasha interjected, her expression serious and analytical.

“Two armed security guards, one in the front and one in the rear. The perimeter is outfitted with an extensive array of CCTV cameras and motion detectors. Every access point is fortified with biometric authentication and keycard scanners,” Sam explained. 

“Ha!” Yelena scoffed with a sly grin. “This is going to be easier than I thought.”

“This is it,” Natasha said softly, her hand resting reassuringly on your shoulder. “Once you and Scott are in the meeting, we’ll make our move.”

With a deep breath, you met her gaze and nodded, feeling the weight of the moment settle around you. 

“Away we go,” Scott grinned at you, a mischievous glint in his eye as he pressed a button on the side of his helmet, initiating the shrinking procedure. You carefully reached down, scooping him up in your palm, and then placed him on your shoulder.

*^~^*

“Mom!” Tommy called out from the back seat, his voice tinged with concern. When Billy did not respond, Tommy exchanged a worried glance.

“Mom?” Billy echoed, mirroring Tommy’s unease.

Wanda glanced back through the rearview mirror, a hint of distraction in her eyes. “Hmm? I’m sorry, what did you say, boys?”

“Why did Y/N have to go to San Francisco?” Tommy asked, his brow furrowed.

“Yeah!” Billy chimed in, his disappointment palpable. “She just moved in with us, and now she’s gone? Does she not want to live here anymore?”

Wanda turned the car into the driveway, her expression softening as she faced her sons. “Oh, sweetheart, it’s not like that at all,” she reassured them. “Y/N had to visit her parents, but don’t worry—she’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Alright,” Tommy said, a hint of reluctance in his voice as he slung his backpack over one shoulder and stepped out of the car.

Billy lingered in his seat, concern etched across his young face. “Are you really okay, Mom? I can hear your thoughts buzzing like a swarm of bees.”

Wanda’s heart warmed at Billy’s perceptiveness. “Everything is just fine, sweetie,” she replied, gently stroking his cheek. “Now, don’t you have that book report to tackle?”

“Yes,” he mumbled, glancing down.

“Then let’s head inside,” she encouraged, watching as he trailed after Tommy, the two brothers disappearing into the house.

Taking a moment for herself, the redhead paused in the driver’s seat, drawing in a deep breath to steady her racing heart and quiet her swirling thoughts. As she sat still, she couldn’t help but wonder what you were doing at this very moment.

*^~^*

With a confident stride, you entered the vast lobby, the echoes of Maria's advice resonating in your mind. The space enveloped you in a whirlwind of sensations, triggering memories. The expansive area, adorned with gleaming marble floors reflecting the soft glow of overhead lighting, felt grand and suffocating. Your gaze was drawn to the bold piece of contemporary art suspended from the ceiling, its vibrant colors and abstract shapes striking a stark contrast against the sterile environment. A wave of distaste washed over you; everything about this place reeked of insincerity. It was a facade you had always resented, a world that felt entirely out of reach and utterly phony to your senses.

You were handed a visitor badge at the reception desk. The irony was not lost on you that your parents saw you as a visitor. You quietly rode the elevator to the top floor, save for Scott’s occasional Dad joke, trying to lighten the mood. With a swirl of nerves, you raked your fingers through your hair as the doors glided open. 

The sight of the long, polished oak conference table stretched out before you, with your father and mother seated at the far end, their presence commanding the room. 

As soon as they caught sight of you, they gracefully extricated themselves from a rather dubious conversation with a sleazy-looking executive and made their way over.

“Y/N! It’s been ages,” your father declared, a thin smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he extended his hand for a shake. Even after all this time, he still exuded the warmth of an ice cube, you mused as you grasped his hand.

"Nice to see you, too, Dad," you said with a playful smirk, sarcasm lacing your words.

“You certainly don’t look too bad,” he remarked, his eyes scanning you with an unsettling appraisal.

Your brow furrowed in confusion. “Excuse me?”

“Honestly, between that car accident and living in New York, I thought for sure you’d stroll in here with a cane and a sling,” your father chuckled.

You felt your jaw clench at his insensitivity, a wave of frustration washing over you. 

“Y/N, your blood pressure is climbing.” Maria’s voice crackled through your comms, concern lacing her tone as she monitored the readings from your suit.

“Hey, take it easy, Y/N,” Scott said, breaking the tension. You nearly forgot Ant-Man was perched on your shoulder, a tiny ally in this awkward moment.

“Good one, Dad,” you said, gritting your teeth as the words slipped out. 

“We’re thrilled you could be here today, sweetheart,” your mother beamed.

“Me too,” you responded, forcing a smile despite the knot in your stomach. 

“Shall we take a seat?” she suggested, gesturing towards the conference table.

“I should come back later. I don’t want to barge in,” you said with a hint of innocence, fully aware your parents would insist you stay. 

“Nonsense,” your father exclaimed, touching your shoulder and nearly squishing Scott. “Why not join us? This meeting won’t take long. Then we can catch up.” 

You winced as Scott let out a yelp and dove for cover under your jacket's collar. 

“You okay down there, Tic-Tac?” Sam asked, a teasing lilt in his voice. 

“Barely,” Scott huffed, trying to regain his breath.

You could hear Yelena’s laughter echoing through the comms.

You smiled as your parents introduced you to the Onyx Petroleum Board of Directors. Some faces sparked recognition, while others glanced at you with barely concealed indifference. 

“Thank you all for coming today. As you know, we are here to discuss the next great frontier for Onyx Petroleum. Vibranium,” your father announced proudly.

“That’s our cue,” Natasha said in your ear. “We’re on the move, Y/N.” 

“A rare metallic substance of extraterrestrial origin,” your father continued. “For centuries, Vibranium was thought only to be found in the sub-Saharan country of Wakanda—until today.”

You cast a subtle glance around the polished conference table, noting the varied expressions on the faces of the Board of Directors.

Your father leaned slightly forward, his voice steady as he began, “Thanks to that egotistical bastard, Tony Stark, we now know that Sokovia possesses the largest known natural vein of Vibranium outside of Wakanda. However, tapping into this invaluable resource presents a significant challenge, as it lies submerged beneath the waters that cloak the Sokovian ruins.” As he spoke, he navigated through a series of photographs on the conference screen, revealing haunting images of what had once been Wanda’s home.

It took every ounce of self-control to keep your emotions in check as you stared at the photographs before you. You had witnessed the destruction wrought by Ultron on the news, but these were different—satellite images that revealed a harrowing perspective. The scale of the devastation was staggering; the entire city lay in ruin, its outline stark against the landscape, reduced to a mere shadow of its former self. Piles of rubble and rising smoke were a haunting testament to the chaos caused by Ultron. As you absorbed the sight, Wanda’s words reverberated in your mind like a chilling mantra: "There is always more to take." 

*^~^*

“On my signal, Sam,” Natasha murmured, her gaze fixed intently on the security guard stationed at the rear of the building. “Now.”

Red Wing swooped gracefully above the security guard, destroying the CCTV camera. The rush of wind and sound barely registered before the moment slipped away. Just a heartbeat later, he was jolted back to reality—Yelena’s fist collided with his jaw, sharp and unexpected. He barely had time to gather his bearings before chaos erupted around him. Natasha had wrapped her legs around his neck, subduing him in one swift motion. 

Yelena glanced over her shoulder, making sure the security guard was out cold before she spoke. “You need to update your moves. That crotch-throat grab? It’s so tired.”

Natasha raised an eyebrow, smirking as she snagged the man’s key card. “Hey, the classics never go out of style, sestra.”

“Poser,” Yelena shot back, rolling her eyes with an amused huff.

Scanning the card, Maria guided the two sisters remotely through the building's maze. 

“Up this stairwell and then through the door on the right,” Maria instructed. “Two guards in your way, and then you'll be in the IT Center.”

“I’ve got this,” Yelena said with a confident smirk. “Let me show you some combat moves relevant to this century.”

“Please, go ahead,” Nat replied with a playful challenge, gesturing toward the swinging doors.

With a swift roundhouse kick, Yelena took down the first guard, her foot connecting with his stomach and sending him crashing down. The second guard reached for his weapon, but the blonde was too quick. Twisting his arm, he dropped the gun before he could fire. He swung at her with his free hand. Blocking the punch with her forearm, she kneed him in the head, neutralizing the threat without hesitation.

Natasha opened the door just in time to see Yelena dusting herself off like a victorious gladiator. “See? That’s how you get it done!” Yelena declared a triumphant grin spread across her face.

The redhead raised an eyebrow, her smirk barely containing her amusement. “Sure, if by ‘done,’ you mean taking twice as long.”

“Jealous much?” Yelena shot back, a playful accusation lacing her tone.

Sam's voice crackled through their comms, dripping with sarcasm. “This delightful sibling bickering isn’t exactly efficient, ladies. How about you finish up, and I’ll treat you both to a Ghirardelli sundae once you’re done?”

The sisters returned to their task with a collective eye roll.

Yelena was on the lookout as Natasha sat in front of the computer, her eyes fixed on the screen as she worked her magic. Her fingers flew across the keyboard with a speed and precision that would shame even the most skilled hackers.

Despite the mainframe being heavily guarded, Nat gained access to the system with a few swift keystrokes. She easily navigated through the digital landscape, avoiding detection by Onyx Petroleum’s security software. Once Natasha had access to the system, she began to dig deeper, backing up everything from financial records to confidential emails. She utilized various techniques to conceal her digital footprint, ensuring no trace of her activities would be left behind. 

“Files downloaded,” Natasha confirmed. 

*^~^*

You carefully lifted Scott off your shoulder and placed him on the table as you pretended to adjust your collar.

As the Board of Directors droned on, Scott scurried across the conference table, weaving between the coffee cups and papers, pausing beside a cup of coffee, listening intently to the conversation. He discreetly retrieved a tiny bug from his pocket and, glancing around the room, carefully positioned it on the table's edge, its glinting surface almost blending into the wood.

Suddenly, a hand reached for the cup, and Scott barely dodged the giant fingers. He held his breath as the hand lifted the cup and took a sip.

You inhaled sharply at the near miss, sending a ripple of concern throughout the room.

“Are you okay, Y/N?” Your mother’s voice cut through the tension, laced with worry.

“I’m fine,” you replied, a bit breathless. “It just felt like... I was,” you hesitated, searching for the right words, “falling.”

“Smooth,” Sam chuckled in your ear.

“Has anyone looked into a feasibility report for this Y/D/N?” one of the Board Members inquired, his brow furrowed in concern.

“I concur!” another member chimed in, his voice skepticism-filled. “This project seems riddled with unnecessary risks.”

Your father leaned forward, his expression confident. “Gentlemen, the potential rewards far exceed any risks we might face. We’re dealing with an indestructible metal that offers limitless applications. Imagine advanced drilling technologies, enhanced oil recovery, and fortified pipelines and storage solutions. The prospective timeline puts us at approximately three months from arrival to pay dirt. The possibilities are extraordinary.”

You keenly observed the expressions on the faces of the Board of Directors, noting the subtle shifts in their demeanor as your parents presented their case. 

"We've successfully struck a deal with Slovakia and the Czech Republic to start drilling on the land they annexed following the Battle of Sokivia," your father revealed a note of triumph in his voice.

“Shall we put it to a vote?” your mother inquired, cutting through the tension in the room. “All those in favor?” 

A flurry of hands shot up, eager to signal their support.

Your father followed up with a calm authority, “All those opposed?” 

In stark contrast, only two hands hesitantly lifted into the air. It took all your resolve to stop your hand from raising instinctively. 

“Excellent!” Your father exclaimed.

The triumphant grins plastered on your parents' faces felt all too familiar, a mix of smug satisfaction and bombastic pride. Inside, a storm of emotions raged—anger, despair, a desperate need to scream that what they were doing was utterly wrong. But you couldn't.

“Steady, Y/N,” Natasha’s voice broke through your comms.

“We’ll move forward with the next steps,” your mother said. 

Your heart plunged for a moment before the shrill sound of an alarm pierced the air and echoed through the building.

“What is that?” Sam's voice cracked with confusion in your ear.

“That’s not coming from us,” Natasha shot back, her tone sharp.

“It’s the fire alarm,” Yelena groaned.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Maria exclaimed.

Scott hurriedly scurried up your arm before diving into the safety of your jacket pocket. “What is this, junior high?”

“Piece of junk,” your father grumbled, yanking off his glasses and rubbing his forehead as the frustration creased his brow.

“Well, I suppose that wraps this meeting up,” one of the Board Members announced, rising from his chair. “Keep us informed, Y/F/N. Great to see you, Y/M/N.”

“Shouldn’t we get going?” you suggested, gesturing toward the door as the Board Members began to file out, the alarm’s relentless wailing echoing in the background.

“Nonsense,” your mother interjected, already dialing a number with a determined look in her eyes. “Someone needs to deal with that absurd alarm!” She hung up abruptly, cutting off the poor soul on the other line before they could respond.

Just then, the alarm ceased blaring, though the ringing in your ears lingered.

“Finally,” Yelena breathed a sigh of relief in your ear.

“Please, Y/N. Have a seat,” your mother urged, her voice laced with an urgency that felt out of place in this sterile boardroom.

“Everyone, hold your ground,” Maria instructed sharply.

Reluctantly, you sank back into your chair across the table from your parents. It was the closest you’d been to them in years, yet the emotional distance felt insurmountable.

“So,” your father started, his gaze piercing, “what did you think of the presentation?”

You bit your tongue, grappling with the bile rising in your throat. The words "disgusting" and "immoral" danced on the tip of your tongue, but instead, you forced a tight smile. “Well, you certainly seem passionate about it.”

His eyes lit up. “We are,” he declared, a hint of pride in his voice. “But more importantly, we believe this marks the dawn of a new era for Onyx Petroleum. And we want you to be part of it.”

“We want you to come home, Y/N. Lead this Sokovia project,” your mother implored, her eyes searching yours for a spark of interest or perhaps allegiance.

“I see,” you said, pausing to gather your thoughts; you had been right all along. “So all that sentimental talk on the phone about how it's been ages since we’ve seen each other—it was just a clever ploy to draw me in. Sokovia stands as a solemn memorial, a place that deserves our respect. Yet, you seek to tarnish its memory for your greed. I refuse to be a part of it!”

“Oh, come now, darling,” your mother responded, a sweet veneer barely masking her disapproval. “You could spend your life toiling away in that little sweet shop in New York, but what does that truly offer you?”

“A life I cherish, surrounded by people who mean the world to me—something neither of you could grasp,” you fired back, lacing your words with just the right amount of sarcasm. “If you’ll excuse me, I must return to my little sweet shop.”

You could hear Yelena’s enthusiastic cheers buzzing in your comms as you pushed yourself away from the desk, rising from your chair with triumph and frustration. The last thing you saw as the elevator doors closed was your parents' familiar look of disappointment.

“What do we do now, Y/F/N?” your mother sighed. 

“We take more drastic action,” your father said firmly, his expression unyielding as he braced himself for what lay ahead. “We need her.”

*^~^*

You let out a deep sigh as Sam activated the Quinjet's autopilot, the hum of the engines filling the tense silence. “Now what?” 

Nat turned to you, her expression steady and reassuring as she touched your shoulder. “We do what we always do,” she said with a determined glint in her eye. “We dive into the intel and devise our countermeasures.”

“What on earth am I supposed to tell Wanda?” you asked, your eyes fixed on your nervous, twisting hands. 

“The truth, plain and simple,” Scott replied, his gaze sympathetic.

Yelena chimed in, her voice sharp like a blade. “You mean that her parents are greedy criminals and lack any sense of morality, completely indifferent to the feelings of others?”

"Something like that," you sighed, a hint of weariness in your voice as you gazed into the distance. 

*^~^*

The last twenty-four hours stretched out for Wanda like a seemingly endless toll of the clock, each moment dragging on, feeling more like an eternity than a single day. The redhead felt an overwhelming urge to reach out to you and hear your voice. Yet, deep down, she understood that letting the mission play out was the wiser choice. Tommy forgot his math homework, costing Wanda valuable time and derailing her plans to meet you at the hangar.

When she finally arrived at the compound, she moved quickly through the familiar halls, anticipation building in her chest, only to find you surrounded by Natasha, Yelena, Sam, and Scott, deep in a debriefing with Maria. The glow of the overhead lights illuminated everyone’s serious expressions.

When the briefing finally ended, your gaze drifted to Wanda, visible through the glass panel of the debriefing room. You exchanged a glance with Maria, who subtly gestured with her head, encouraging you to go.

As you strolled over to Wanda, you could feel her gaze scanning you from head to toe. “You look fine, so I take it your talk with your parents didn’t end in a brawl.”

“Nope, Nat and Yelena handled the heavy lifting,” you smirked, leaning in for a kiss.

Wanda let out a soft sigh. “I’m almost afraid to ask what happened.”

You bit your lip, a wave of anxiety washing over you as you took Wanda’s hand in yours. “They’re moving forward with the drilling plans.”

Wanda’s eyes narrowed, and she nodded solemnly. “I can’t say I’m surprised.”

You took a deep breath, feeling the weight of your following words. “They tried to convince me come home and lead the Sokovia project.”

“Of course they did,” Wanda said, her voice dripping with frustration.

“Tony is piecing together the server intel so we can figure out our next move,” you said, your voice laced with urgency.

“Good,” she nodded, hope flickering in her eyes. “Let’s just pray there’s something useful in there.”

As Natasha approached, she confidently declared, “There will be—I left nothing behind.”

“Except for our hearing from that ridiculous fire alarm,” Yelena chimed in, playfully wiggling her ear as if trying to shake off the memory.

Nat turned to you, a warm smile spreading as she touched your shoulder reassuringly. “You should be proud, Wanda. Y/N nailed it.”

Wanda’s eyes sparkled. “I always am,” she replied, her voice infused with genuine affection.

You sighed, your thoughts circling what could have been done differently. “I just wish there was more I could do,” you admitted, feeling the weight of the mission still lingering.

“Rule number two of undercover missions,” Maria interjected as she stepped out of the debriefing room. “You have to let the intel come together. We’re only starting to get feedback from Scott’s bug, and it’ll take us a while to sift through the servers. You can do nothing more today; go home and get some rest.”

“Exactly what I was thinking,” Wanda agreed softly, her fingers brushing your cheek gently.

Taking her hand in yours, you felt the warmth and comfort of her touch. You had no idea how profoundly your bond would be challenged in the months ahead.

Taglist: @xxxtwilightaxelxxx @bibliophilicbi @darkstar225 

[valiantphantomangel]

Hey hey! :D I have a small request if you have time and want to! Soo if you got time and want to could you pls write ler!loki with lee!female reader? Maybe Loki somehow finds out the oh so tough agent that’s been constantly teasing him (back) is ticklish and that adorably so? Feel free to add whatever :)

I wish a great day/night and feel free to just skip the ask ^^

A/n: I hope you enjoy and I'm so sorry that it took so long!

The oh so tough agent.

A V's scareoween special.

You hide your emotions well, Loki had to admit that but he wasn't called the God of mischief, lies and stories just because it sounded cool.

It all happened late one night, Tony had decided to break out the Halloween decorations and you were walking around to look at all of them.

You had never really had a Halloween party, no matter how bad you wanted it because it wasn't really popular in your country but now walking around under all the decorations.

It made you a little emotional, you had always tried to be indifferent about everything but when you were alone, you showed how you really felt.

All though you weren't completely alone.

Loki was standing in a shadowy corner, watching as awe filled your eyes.

Just as you turned around to look at the somehow floating pumpkin's you heard a voice behind you "Well well well, who would have thought the tough little agent wasn't so tough after all"

"Loki! What are you doing here?!" You gasped as you turned around. Your mask falling back into place.

He didn't respond, just walked over to you and stood beside you. Looking up at the giant jack-o'-lantern that Stark put up.

"You know, if I didn't know any better I would say you're quite a nice person" you said trying to act a lot colder then you are.

"Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Know better?"

Without any further or do Loki literally launched himself at you and tackled you onto the carpet.

"Loki! What in the high heavens are you doing!" You yell as you try and fight your way out of his grip.

"You, my little agent, may think that your good at hiding this but I've seen your little smiles when my oaf of a brother chases Sargeant Barnes when he threatens to steal his pop tarts, or when Wilson managed to blow something up again" Loki said as he pulled your arms above your head and pinned them there "But you also have a very different reaction, how your face turns slightly red when Stark tickles the spiderling when he's feeling down. I wonder why that would have any effect on you"

He slowly, teasingly unbuckled your bullet proof vest that you always wore and lightly traced your ribs over your thin shirt.

"Could it be that the tough S. H. I. E. L. D agent... Is devastatingly ticklish?"

"I have no idea what you're talking abHIHIHI" you couldn't even finish your sentence as Loki suddenly prodded at your ribs.

"My my i guess that means that I'm right" he muttered as he slowly inched his hands to rest on your ribs.

"Loki we can talk about this" you said with a nervous giggle.

He stilled for a moment before giving you his famous smirk "you should have thought about that before you started teasing me back" before diving in without mercy.

You let out a scream of laughter and your back arched, you legs fought around to get out of his death grip.

"LOKIHIHHIHI!" you screamed through your laughter as he suddenly switched to your hip bones, how he knew where you where ticklish was beyond where you could think right now.

"Who knew the agent could be so adorable" he mused as he spidered around before blowing a long raspberry in-between your neck and shoulder.

"HAHAHHAHHAHHA" your face was red and a wide smile split your face in half you didn't even know that you were this ticklish.

After what felt like hours he finally let up but continues to sit on your waist.

"If you tell- anyone about this I'm going to kill you" you said through gasps of air but unfortunately your smile betrayed your death threat.

"Yeah I've heard that one before" Loki said with a grin, he stood up and pulled you up as well even though your legs felt like jelly.

"I'll see you later, little agent" he said with a smirk before disappearing.

As you walked back to your room you slowly began to realise something, he never said he wouldn't tell anyone.

[starkerscoop]

Only You

Hope everyone's been doing well! I've been MIA for a while, but I'm not back empty-handed 👀 As a fan of misunderstandings, here's what happens when Peter goes to Steve for help with proposing to Tony...and TMZ remains as nosy as ever.

also on ao3

-

“Thanks for coming. I know it was short notice,” Peter smiled up at Steve sheepishly.

Steve laughed, tossing his head back slightly. “Don’t worry about it, Peter. You know I don’t have much going on nowadays. And Bucky’s visiting Sam in Louisiana, so I wasn’t leaving him behind.”

“How are you two doing? Still in the honeymoon phase?” Peter leaned forward eagerly, his eyes bright.

Steve’s expression softened. He and Bucky had been together for four months now, finally putting decades of longing behind them. Everyone who knew them was thrilled—it was about time. The bashful looks and unspoken feelings had been endearing, sure, but frustratingly stagnant. The collective sigh of relief when Bucky finally showed up at Steve’s doorstep with flowers in hand could’ve blown out windows.

“I don’t think we’re ever leaving it,” Steve admitted, a faint blush creeping up his neck. “And I could get used to it.”

“I’m happy for you,” Peter said sincerely, giving Steve’s hand a light pat where it rested on the table between them. “I love Tony more than anything, but man, I can only tolerate so many smelly socks around the house.”

“Funny,” Steve said dryly. “Tony says the same thing about you. You sure those aren’t your socks you’re smelling? You are, according to Tony, a ‘gym rat.’ I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Peter’s jaw dropped. “Okay, fine. Maybe some of those socks are mine. But Tony leaves coffee rings everywhere, and I don’t, so there. I win.”

Neither of them was entirely sure what Peter had “won,” but they let the topic drop and moved on to safer territory. Steve pulled out his phone to show Peter pictures of the apartment he and Bucky were looking at. Peter ooh’ed and aah’ed at all the right moments, particularly taken with the rooftop garden, which featured vibrant purple asters in full bloom.

“I’m thinking about taking up gardening,” Steve mused, his thumb swiping across the screen. “Something to pass the time. It’s hard to settle down after all that chaos. I almost miss it, but I wouldn’t wish it back for anything.”

Peter nodded thoughtfully. “I’m still in the middle of it, so I can’t completely relate, but I get the struggle. It’s hard to stop. You feel guilty, like you should be doing more… but you’ve earned your rest, Steve. Enjoy it. Enjoy Bucky.”

“Being with Bucky is the easiest thing I’ve ever done,” Steve said with quiet wonder, as if the realization had just hit him. Then he shook his head. “Enough about me. How are you and Tony? Still doing okay?”

Peter beamed, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small, velvet ring box. He set it on the table with gentle hands, looking up at Steve with a mixture of excitement and nerves. “Better than okay. I’m ready to take the next step.”

Steve’s eyebrows shot up. “Holy shit. You’re going to propose?”

Peter nodded quickly. “I just need to make sure it fits before I do it. Speaking of which, can I ask you a favor?”

“Of course,” Steve said without hesitation.

Peter exhaled in relief, his gratitude palpable. “Thanks. So, Tony’s a really light sleeper, and I’m terrified of putting the ring on him while he’s asleep to check the fit. I know you and Tony have the same ring size, so I was hoping you could try it on and tell me how it feels?”

Steve hesitated, his gaze flicking to the ring box. “I don’t know… it feels wrong to put on someone else’s engagement ring.”

Peter’s shoulders slumped. “I get it. I want Tony to be the only one to wear it too, but I also want the proposal to go perfectly. He deserves that. I don’t want to risk it being too tight or anything.”

Steve sighed, the weight of Peter’s sincerity wearing down his reluctance. “Alright, I’ll do it.”

Peter’s face lit up. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“Save the thank-yous for when Tony agrees to put up with you forever,” Steve joked, reaching for the box.

Inside was a stunning gold band, studded with red rubies. Steve had to fight the urge to admire it more closely—it wasn’t his ring to admire. He slipped it on quickly, wanting to get it over with. The weight of Peter’s expectant stare didn’t help the awkwardness.

"It fits perfectly," Steve assured him after a moment. "Not too tight, not too loose. You picked the right size."

Peter’s relief was palpable as he retrieved the ring, carefully nestling it back into its box. But the relief didn’t entirely erase the discomfort.

"It feels like betrayal," Peter muttered, his mouth twisting unhappily.

Steve shook his head. "I know what you mean. Do you think Tony would care?"

Peter paused. "It’s hard to tell. I’ve never been with him in an engaged context. How likely do you think it is for Tony to be a groomzilla?"

Steve barked out a startled laugh. "I wouldn’t put it past him. I’m sure he’ll be a nightmare during the wedding planning."

"I’m looking forward to it," Peter said with a grin, his gaze distant as if imagining the future.

Steve smiled warmly. "I’m happy for you."

"Tony hasn’t said yes yet," Peter reminded him, though his own expression betrayed his optimism.

"He will," Steve said confidently, standing and patting Peter’s shoulder. "Let me know how it goes, okay?"

"I will," Peter promised. "Thanks, Steve."

They parted with a warm hug, neither of them noticing the photographer in the corner of the café, snapping away.

-

Tony Stark was used to headlines that made his blood boil. He’d lived through countless scandals, accusations, and gossip columns. But this?

“Spider-Man Pops the Question to Captain America? Exclusive: Rogers Spotted Wearing a Ring!”

Tony stared at the image accompanying the headline—a slightly blurry photo of Steve Rogers at a café, chatting with Peter, the sunlight catching on a gold-and-ruby ring on Steve’s finger.

Tony knew that ring.

He’d seen it weeks ago when he was rummaging through Peter’s sock drawer in search of a Black Sabbath shirt Peter had a tendency of hiding. At the time, Tony had grinned to himself, deciding to leave it where it was. He didn’t want to ruin whatever surprise Peter was cooking up.

But this? Seeing it on Steve Rogers’ hand? That wasn’t the surprise Tony had been expecting.

“FRIDAY,” he barked, his voice like steel.

“Yes, boss?”

“Where’s Peter?”

“Mr. Parker is in the Avengers Tower gym.”

Tony’s jaw tightened as he strode toward the elevator. The air in the gym felt electric when he pushed the door open.

Peter was mid-set on the bench press, his face flushed with exertion. “Tony?” he said, blinking in surprise as he set the barbell back on its rack. “What’s up?”

Tony crossed his arms, his expression icy. “Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing. Like, say... why Steve Rogers is wearing a ring you’ve been hiding.”

Peter froze, his brow furrowing. “What are you talking about?”

Tony held up his phone, the damning headline glaring back at them both.

Peter snatched the phone and scanned the screen, his eyes widening. “Wait, what? No, no, no! Tony, it’s not—”

“Don’t say it’s not what it looks like,” Tony cut him off, his voice sharp. “Because what it looks like is you shopping engagement rings with Rogers. You think I wouldn’t notice? I saw that ring weeks ago, Pete.”

Peter’s mouth fell open. “You knew?!”

“Yeah, I knew,” Tony snapped. “But I thought it was for me. Clearly, I underestimated Steve’s appeal.”

Peter’s face turned bright red. “Tony, you don’t seriously think—no! This is insane! Steve was just helping me!”

Tony arched a skeptical brow. “Helping you with what? Playing pretend?”

“No! I needed someone to check the fit,” Peter said desperately. “You and Steve have the same ring size, and I couldn’t exactly try it on you without ruining the surprise!”

Tony’s eyes narrowed. “And you thought dragging Steve into this was a great idea? You didn’t think this would happen? Headlines, photos, people assuming the worst?”

Peter threw his hands up in frustration. “I wasn’t thinking about them! I was thinking about you! I just wanted everything to be perfect, Tony. That’s all this was—me trying to make it special for you!”

Tony’s anger wavered, replaced by a flicker of guilt as he took in Peter’s flushed cheeks, the hurt in his wide, tear-filled eyes.

Peter’s voice softened, his tone pleading. “I love you, Tony. More than anything. This whole thing—every second of it—was about you. The ring, the proposal, all of it.” He hesitated. “I didn’t mean for this to blow up. I never wanted you to doubt me.”

Tony sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Damn it, Pete.”

Peter stepped closer, hesitant. “You believe me, right?”

Tony looked at him for a long moment before exhaling heavily. “I believe you. You’re too much of a Boy Scout to pull something like that.”

Peter blinked, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “Really?”

Tony smirked, albeit weakly. “Yeah, but you’re still a moron. Next time, don’t get Captain Star-Spangled caught in your crossfire.”

Peter laughed nervously, wiping at his eyes. “Noted.”

Tony reached out, his fingers brushing against Peter’s cheek. “You’re a disaster, Parker. But you’re my disaster.”

Peter beamed. “So... we’re okay?”

Tony tilted his head. “You still owe me a proposal, kid. One that doesn’t involve me finding out through TMZ.”

Peter’s face lit up, and before Tony could say another word, Peter dropped to one knee, pulling the velvet box out of his gym bag.

“Tony Stark, will you—”

“Oh, get up,” Tony interrupted, rolling his eyes but smiling. “Yes. The answer is yes.”

Peter jumped to his feet, sliding the ring onto Tony’s finger with trembling hands. “I love you so much.”

“I know,” Tony said, his smirk returning. “Now, let’s get out of here before Steve walks in and I have to explain why I’m not decking him.”

Peter laughed, his heart finally light again as Tony kissed him.

Whatever chaos the world threw at them next, they’d face it together.

[infiniteeight8]

What if what if! Stephen in one of his tries meet Tony and fall in love with him?

Bounce point if this is SIM! Tony.

What If!Stephen and SIM!Tony have such potential as a pair. 😀 I wasn’t 100% sure what you mean by “one of his tries”—I can think of a couple options—but I went with What If!Stephen’s second appearance, when he was traveling through the multiverse and capturing universe killers.

-

“I won’t let you do this,” Stephen announced, hands raised, mandalas blooming. He let the power of every creature he’d consumed rise close to the surface. Something told him this adversary would require every trick he had.

“Do what?” Stark asked. He smiled, leaning against a computer console, the silvery-white armor gleaming. “Save the world?”

“You may think you’re saving it, but in reality, Ultron is the doom of this entire universe,” Stephen said. “If you activate that protocol, Ultron’s first act will not be to protect humanity, it will be to destroy it.”

Stark’s eyes narrow. “You think I programmed it that poorly?”

“I think you programmed it that well.” Stephen smiled bitterly at Stark. “Humanity is our own worst enemy. We’re thousands of years from truly learning how to live with each other. Ultron will rationalize that it needs to pare away the disruptive factions. But no matter how small you break down the groups, we’re never entirely in agreement. By the time Ultron realizes this, it will be too late. In an attempt to prove itself correct, and that the fault lay in humanity and not in its reasoning, Ultron will turn on the rest of the universe.”

Humming thoughtfully, Stark stepped closer to Stephen. He showed no fear of the magic, not even when some of Stephen’s less human elements slipped out of his shadow. “And you say you’ve seen this?” Stark asked.

“I’ve traveled the multiverse hunting universe killers,” Stephen said. “I’ve seen thousands of variations on the ends they bring. I’ve seen this one often enough to know: Ultron never works as intended.”

“Thousands of universe killers,” Stark mused. He was close enough to touch now. He cast Stephen an odd look. It was almost… warm. “Sounds lonely.”

Stephen faltered. “It’s… my penance.”

“For destroying your own universe?” Stark laid a hand on Stephen’s chest, his fingers lightly brushing his collarbone.

Stephen swallowed hard. He let the mandalas fade. “Yes.”

Stark smiled and eased a little closer. “Perhaps I should come with you. See what you’ve seen. Learn the… error of my ways.”

“Somehow, I don’t think that’s what you mean to learn,” Stephen said, but he couldn’t look away from Stark’s gaze. They weren’t touching anywhere but that one hand on his chest, but Stephen swore he could feel the nearness of Stark’s body.

“You’ll be setting the curriculum,” Stark said lightly. “Isn’t it worth a try? After all, you learned better. Who says I can’t?”

Stephen knew this was a bad idea. Stark was only interested in more power, and the more powerful he became, the more dangerous he was. But hadn’t Stephen recklessly pursued power, once? Hadn’t he learned better? 

Did his penance require him to be alone?

“Perhaps… we can try,” he said.

The sudden, bright triumph in Stark’s eyes only makes Stephen’s heart beat faster.

[fallingblueroses]

For @acaplaya-musings .

Clara's just a doll...right?

***

Mykal had been inside PattyCake Productions before, of course. But this time, something just seemed...off. He couldn't exactly put a finger on it, but the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck had been standing up ever since he'd arrived that morning.

He passed the door to the stage area and paused when he heard Geoff's voice. "Now you're going to be a good girl today and not try to scare Mykal. You hear me? No tricks today."

He peeked around the door and his mouth dropped. Geoff was holding a grayish, creepy-looking baby doll in front of him and wagging his finger in its face. "Mykal's a good friend. So behave yourself today."

Mykal swallowed. "Uh...Geoff?"

Geoff looked over and flashed a grin at him. "Oh hey Mykal."

Mykal slowly walked up to him. "Are you feeling okay there, buddy?"

"Oh sure. Just letting Clara here know that she needs to be good today." Geoff held up the doll, and Mykal jumped when he saw its eyes flash red for a fraction of a second. Must have been a trick of the lights...

"Hey Geoff!" Layne called from behind the curtains.

Geoff called back. "Yeah Layne?"

"Tell Clara to stop holding the storage closet door shut!"

Geoff sighed. "Clara, you heard Layne."

A few seconds passed and Layne called out again. "Thanks!"

"No problem!" Geoff kissed the doll's head. "That's a good girl. Now let's go get ready." He walked toward the dressing rooms.

Mykal followed, feeling a little more at ease. I get it. They're playing a prank on me. Well I can go along with it.

***

Cesar was sitting in a chair by one of the dressing mirrors when they came in, and his face lit up when he caught sight of them. "Hey, Geoff! Hi Mykal!" He held his hands out. "Hey there, Clara. Come to Uncle Cesar!"

Geoff handed the doll to Cesar. Cesar cradled the doll in his arms and spoke in a high-pitched voice. "How's my little cutie pie today?"

"Mischevious," Tony said as he walked by. "Had to clean the office wall again."

"What'd she say this time?" Cesar asked.

"The usual. 'Get out. Beware.'" Tony shrugged. "I wish she'd come up with something else."

"She's a baby," Geoff said. "What do you want, the Gettysburg Address?"

Cesar spoke in a cartoonishly important voice. "Fourscore and seven years ago..."

Geoff and Tony laughed, but Mykal found it hard to join in. He glanced down at the doll and yelled out when he saw bloody tear streaks on its face.

"What?!" Geoff cried out.

Mykal pointed at the doll. "The eyes!"

Cesar checked, then cooed at the doll. "Aww, did we hurt your feelings?" He held the doll to his chest and rocked it. "There, there. Don't cry. You know we're teasing."

Mykal stared, and began to slowly back away. Either he'd gone insane, or they had, and either way he was getting out of here...

The studio went dark, and then Mykal heard a high-pitched voice that sent shivers down his spine. "No, don't go...Play with me..."

"Clara! I told you to behave!" Geoff snapped. The lights came back on. "There. Now no more tricks!" He looked at Mykal. "She's acting up because we have company. Ignore her."

"Uh, s-sure." Mykal swallowed. If this is a prank, it's a really good one...

Eli came in, holding two large flat boxes. "Donuts are here!" He set the boxes down on the dressing table.

"Oh great! Thanks!" Cesar stood up, still holding the doll, and he, Tony, Geoff, and Eli began to help themselves to the donuts. Mykal was about to grab one when he saw a bloody line start to form on the mirror. His eyes bulged as it formed a circle, then eyes, eyebrows, and a mouth were drawn to make a smiley face. The blood began to drip down the mirror as he stared.

"Hey Mykal?" He looked over to see Geoff holding up a donut as if nothing was happening. "Better get a maple bacon before we eat them all."

Mykal stared at his friends, at the doll, then at the mirror. He managed to make a strangled, high-pitched "ah" sound before he blacked out.

***

Geoff sighed as he took Clara from Cesar. "That's it, young lady! You're going straight into time-out and you're going to apologize to poor Mykal when he wakes up!" He carried Clara out of the dressing room as Eli and Cesar knelt down and tried to wake Mykal up.

Tony sighed and began to clean the mirror. "We're calling that exorcist. I don't care what Geoff says about Clara having feelings. This isn't good for business."

[reigningqueenofwords]

I Actually Can't Stand Him

Pairing: Bucky x reader Word count: 1,048

Read on AO3

Final Part of Dark Chocolate

It had been weeks since Bucky’s arrest, and you’d heard nothing more. Clearly Bucky didn’t have anything to do with it, so you pushed it from your mind. You moved around your bakery, looking forward to closing shop for the night, going home, curling up with Chewie, and watching some Food Network. 

Hearing the bell on the door, you wiped your hands and went to help whoever it was. “Can I help you?” You smiled. 

“Hi, my name is Tony Stark.” He introduced himself. “I’m the one who did the security at your house.” 

“Oh. Thank you, by the way.” You smiled. “Was there something you needed?” Why would he be there? 

“Barnes paid me to put security in here, too. I was hoping I could look around? So I know what I should make and order.” He explained. 

“He didn’t say anything.” You shook your head. “But sure. Can I get you a cupcake while you’re here? On the house for Bucky’s guys.” 

He chuckled. “I’m technically not one of his men. I actually can’t stand him, but he’s paying me really well. And since he explained what happened to you, I caved.” He told you. “But, sure. Anything chocolate.” 

He was the first person you’d met associated with him that didn’t like him. But, him being who he was, it didn’t surprise you much. “Here.” You took out a dark chocolate cupcake with a raspberry frosting. “Wait, are you allergic to raspberries?” You asked. 

“The only thing I’m allergic to is being serious.” He joked, making you laugh. “Thanks.” He took the cupcake. “You seem really sweet. Bubbly. Tell me, how does someone like you wind up with someone like Barnes?” He asked before taking a bite. “Oh, that’s good.” 

“He’s a sweetheart under all that toughness.” You chuckled. “He’s not Bucky the mobster to me. He’s just Bucky.” 

He simply nodded, looking around the lobby. “I’m thinking two cameras in here. One above you at the register facing the door, then a second over in the corner that will cover the register area and a different angle of the main lobby.” He mused. “I think I’ll also update your register. Something more secure. How old is that?” He asked, raising his eyebrow as he walked around the counter to look. 

“I’ve had it since I opened the bakery like 8 years ago, but I don’t know if it was the latest model when I bought it.” You said honestly. You’d just wanted something that worked. “I didn’t even know they were all that different.” 

“I’ll have a new one in here within the week. What day of the week are you closed?” He would try to get everything knocked out when you didn’t have customers. This way it didn’t disrupt your business. 

“Usually Sunday, but it can vary. I’ll close by lunch if it’s been a really slow day.” It just made more sense, and gave you a chance to run errands for the business. 

He nodded. “I should be able to have everything by this Sunday. I’ll let Barnes know.” 

“Okay, awesome. Do you have a favorite cake or baked good?” You asked. Sure, he was being paid, but you liked baking, and baked for the guys all the time. Why not bake something for Tony, too?

“Nothing comes to mind.” He admitted. “Can I see the back?” 

Nodding, you motioned for him to follow. “This is it. Nothing big.” You shrugged. While it meant a lot to you, you realized it wasn’t anything fancy.

Bucky knew that Tony was at your shop to check it over for security, so he made his way there. It wasn’t that he didn’t ‘trust’ him, but he would feel a lot better if he was there, too. “Babe!” He called out as he stepped in. He smiled when he spotted you moments later. 

“Hi!” You beamed. “You didn’t tell me you were getting security for the shop.” You chuckled as you came over to kiss him softly. 

“Well, I knew you wouldn’t let me move you to a better one.” He teased. “You love this little shop, and I love you. That, and I met you here.” He was a softer guy than most knew. “Hoping one day we can bring our kids here.” He winked as Tony came out. “Stark.” 

You blinked at the mention of kids. He wanted that? With you? You didn’t even have a chance to ask him about it as him and Tony started talking about your security system. “While you talk business, I’m gonna go get some work done.” You kissed under his jaw. “Nice meeting you, Tony.” You gave the man a small wave as you made your way to the back to go back to what you were doing before. 

It was as if you were on auto-pilot while your mind was stuck on Bucky’s words. While you never thought one way or the other about if he’d ever want kids, it still really took you by surprise. While he was a sweetheart, he didn’t see to be a person who’d want kids. He liked fancy things. Kids and fancy didn’t mix. Then again, you weren’t fancy and he loved you. It seemed that even though you felt you knew them well, there was still way more to him. 

You jumped when you felt a hand on your lower back. “Sorry, doll.” He chuckled. 

“I was really into making this dough, apparently.” You chuckled. 

“It’s okay. It’s cute.” He grinned. “But, I’m meeting Stark here first thing Sunday morning. Then Steve will oversee him installing everything while I bring you to brunch.” He loved treating you. 

“I plan to make him a little cake. I know you’re paying him, but I bake things for Sam and Steve, too. And you pay them.” You told him. 

He had a look in his eye that you couldn’t place. “I would tell you that you don’t have to, but you won’t listen.” He loved that about you. “I will be here at closing. Stay over tonight? I’m sure Sam would be more than happy to watch Chewie unless you want me to swing by and get him first.” 

You brightened at that. “Me and Chewie would love to sleep over.” You agreed.

[missmarveledsblog]

It's just pretend right ? (Bucky Barnes x reader) part 5

summary : after an amazing day the terror twins come to bring kitty's world and everything she has known crashing to the world making her run off and face a past she's never known while she discovers a new "gift" , bucky find out she not the only one .

warning : this one is angsty i'm sorry but it for the plot i promise it not all angst , violence and shitty family .

Previous part

To say tony stark spent his day digging through everything and anything wouldn’t be a lie , they man had to give it to fury , he had the file completely locked but he’s tony stark  of course he found a way in and he suddenly wished he never did . He wished he could have gone back to be in the dark because what was hidden made his stomach twist and turn and it was all  information on a person he considered family.  How was he going to tell her this without breaking her beautiful stubborn little heart breaking the bonds and trust she’s had all these years. He read it over and over wishing it was some sick prank but when Nick fury walked into the lab the look on his face only confirmed it. 

“ How long did you know” was all he said, making Bruce look at the men in confusion. 

“ you shouldn’t be hacking the servers stark that file was not meant to be read”. 

“ does she know what’s in those files  the ones you hide very well i might add but not well enough” he crossed and uncrossed his arms frankly wanting to punch someone or something.  

“She has no idea and it’s not for us to tell her” fury stood tall on the issue . 

“ So what , you're just going to have agents looking after her and hope she doesn’t notice , well hate to tell you buddy she did” he scoffed. 

“ What are you talking about Stark? I never had agents watching her. the whole point of it no one  knowing  where she was” fury stopped face dropping . 

“ These aren’t your vehicles because their registers with shields” he turned the screen. 

“ Jesus for a genius you're a dumbass sometimes that’s a list of known vehicles we’ve had on watch list not inventory , how long she notices these”. 

“ Since she was a kid, she just thinks it is one of those strange routine things , what or who is watching her fury” Bruce gritted his teeth. 

“ hydra” he sighed. 

 “ we have to tell her” . 

“ Just let's think of a plan , she's safe now with nat and the guys” tony sighed not really knowing what to do.

 “ We need to tell them tony. "I know i’ll send the file, let her family give her the chance to tell her, i better go to see if they need back up  “ he felt his own heart fall into his stomach as he pulled his phone out . 

Walking into the kitchen nat gave her a quick hello before answering the phone and rushing out the room.  

“ How was the church?” her mother smiled. 

“ I didn't go in , me and Bucky walked around town and had lunch” she smiled brightly. 

“  Let me guess bacon burger and milkshake”.

 “ most definitely shared stories of the past and even had grandma laughing” she sat . “ Maybe she is dying,” Izzy mused as Maya slapped her arm . 

“ we were talking about pop pop , wonder if he would be proud of me” her eyes fell to  her hands in her lap . 

“ Would he, that’s a stupid question , he’d be down the bars and fishing lake bragging majorly at his kitty kicking ass  and saving the world” .

 “actually kicking names and taking ass” she chuckled, only for them to be confused as the inside joke. 

All of her years being in the life she had moments she loved and moments she hated  and as she looked at the file on the jet computer this was a moment she despised completely.  The moment in time finding out her close friend represented her own in a way , a family raising her for an evil organization yet this time it was prolonged .  how was she going to explain to her best friend her life was basically a lie , that the ones she loved were just pretending to care . 

“ What is this” was all she heard, turning to see Steve and Bucky standing completely shocked at the words on the screen of the jet's computer. 

“ This is why she has been followed ,  she’s an experiment from hydra god i hate that even came out of my mouth because she’s not , she’s  our Y/N “ nat sighed. 

“ what?” . 

“ she’s a experiment , her mother is a test subject , they pumped her full of serums under the guise of being some new drug for expectant mothers but she died during the childbirth and well Y/N was kept so they could continue it that was  now she must be with host family” nat growled the last parted . 

“ we have to tell her , i mean this is a big thing to hide” bucky feet heading towards the door only to look up and see her father standing looking like the color vacated his face. 

“ explain” nat growled .

“ Where's dad?” she asked, seeing the two boys coming into the kitchen . 

“ He's on that jet seeing if the others are coming in” Jack shrugged. 

“ probably showing off” she mused but still she felt her eyes looking to the door. 

“I’ll get them” she smiled softly, kissing her mothers cheek before heading out to the door.  Just as she stepped off the porch the car stopped in front of her screeching . 

 “ YOU DRUGGED US”  the voice screamed as she felt her heart beating and her body shaking.

 “ you insolent child , what was the soldiers attention on my daughters too much? '' her aunt's voice called coming toward her . then the world went a mumbling and muttering like she was underwater , she could hear the protest of cassie sort of but the fear in her had her in almost like internal bubble. 

 “ hey back the fuck up before i pull those dollar store extensions out of your head” she heard izzy voice standing before her and jessies arms around her pulling her back to earth .  

“ she made a fool of us in front of the avengers because of her vendetta against us” leah screeched. 

“ vendetta you almost killed her” izzy growled  the whole commotion as they stood out of the jet. 

“ whats going on? '' Nat asked, coming to her side for the first time ever seeing the powerhouse she knew all these years, shaking like a scared child . 

“ i don’t know why you think you're so special , you’ll never be one of us. ''Emma cried, holding her still sore stomach. 

“ i don’t know why you hate her but she is family. '' Izzy went to dive at the woman but Jack held her back. 

'' You're still feeding them that crap” her aunt scoffed. 

“ what are you talking about? '' Jessie spat. 

“ she is not one of us..”. 

'' Shut up, don't be so cold, let us tell her '' her mother cried . 

“ what you talkin about tell her .. what’s going on” she felt the world spinning completely , everything so much as her knees threatening to fail holding her up .

 “ Mom, stop this is ridiculous , I wish I was never part of you guys” cassie cried. 

“ live somewhere else hey sis since you take unwanted dumpster babies you can take one more”. “ mama” y/n spun around. 

“ What is going on” Jessie snapped. 

“ Well your mom and dad found her in a dumpster and we all had to pretend she was our family, sad really” Emma snarled . 

“ mama” she asked again looking for the woman to tell her it was a sick lie but the look she gave her was  there was truth in there words . “ It was all a lie” she asked, feeling the stinging tears falling down her cheeks . “ i  can’t breathe” she pushed off her brother walking away from the gang of her family or where they are strangers now. She didn’t listen to the calls from her or the fighting going on behind her.  Her skin becoming brighter as the flames took over not letting anything or one come closer it was all too much . she started running straight to the one thing she could always depend on and  gripping  the reigns in her hands  and belting out jumping over the cars ignoring the cries and pleading to come back .  

She knew something was always off , how she was always treated so differently . Never accepted nor values and only got worse when she got her “gifts” . The way they could never be proud of her , she could solve world hunger and bring peace to the universe And they would still find a way to find a way to criticize her. Everything she tried To get their approval it was met with a wall and disapproving scowls. It all made sense but her parents to Keep something so big , so major away from her.  It was soul destroying why would they keep It , where were her birth parents why didn't they want her? She heard the car Coming she turned slightly relieved That it wasn't a familiar one except it beep spooking Star as she turned to see the incoming branch so quick she couldn't miss it only for it to hit her head And send her straight to the ground as the horse kept going. 

“ oh shit my bad” the voice called. 

“ well you shouldn't have beeped asshole” she groaned She couldn't focus her vision and the warm liquid going Into her eyes didn't help . 

“ here let me” he Walked and instantly  She felt some thing was off moving away from the man her hands filled with flames shooting them into the sky About almost as a flare Hoping Someone would see it .

 “ I ain't gonna hurt you I just do the delivery “ she could hear the cockiness in his voice. 

“ get away from me it's a warning”. 

“ how The head?” He asked. 

“ perfect “ she smiled wiping the blood off Her eye. Her Hand ready as he walked The flames got stronger ready to toast the creep .

“ You are gonna pass out either way Just get in the car” .  She didn't Like he was right she could feel the exhaustion Take over.  

“ she not alone creeper” a voice Called. 

“ tony?” She whisper.

 “ hello my little pyro baby” he called as he blasted the car as a jet  Parked behind her. “ oh buddy you wanna hope my horse Is ok” She laughed . 

“ put the gun down dipshit” she could hear Tony's eyes rolling as she stood behind Him . 

“ Who's in the jet” she asked . 

“ that's not us  , the guys are coming you think you can help hold Them off Til then” she asked. 

“ I think I can burn bitches , ask questions later” she nodded seeing them slowly approaching her . 

 “ lets show them why is a bad idea to mess with us then kiddo”  he shot the a blast as the agents began running towards them . she started throwing blast of her  own hitting them ignoring the scream from the men as she felt the flame push higher  trying to keep herself from falling or letting tony to deal with it alone only for her whole body to go on flames like a surge of power burned through her as she took on a new lease on life suddenly she didn’t feel pain nor tired she felt something else though like she thought of everything else and shift of her mind and the flames where gone completely . 

“ holy shit” she gasped as tony turned to see her looking down as the vines came from her palms wrapping around the agents .

 “ did you know you could do that?” he asked. 

“ really does it look like i knew ?” she asked looking at her hands in disbelief. 

“ freak out later” he huffed knocking the delivery man unconscious .  

“ i don’t feel so good” she said softly before hitting the ground only for tony to see the dart sticking in her neck . 

“ shit shit” . 

“ stay back here also thanks for the lift”  nat called as they ran over tony . 

“  where can i help” jessie asked.

“ knock em out” nat threw her batons over . 

“  she ok?” steve asked. 

“ dart to the neck , vines and shit  , i’ll  explain later” tony called nodding to more agents coming out of the jet.   

“ ready soldier and knock out don’t kill” nat called . “

 i  know what to do natalia” bucky called. 

“ i meant the other soldier forget it go” she charged towards each of them taking them down easily and thankfully to his training and past years in combat spots jessie was able to hold his own while bucky stayed near y/n not daring to let anyone close to her til he was able to get her to the car safely wondering how it went so good to so bad almost in a blink of an eye.   Least it wasn’t what nat thought well not fully what she thought and it was better she heard it herself once she woke up . agents down as they used whatever was to hand to detain them knowing fury had shield already on the way  the moment before tony could even land . 

“ who was that and why did they sedate my little sister” jessie panted handing nat back her batons  as he pulled took the dart up only for tony to take it . 

“ hydra and they want her back “ tony  flew off heading in the direction of the ranch. 

“ lets get her off the ground” only for bucky to life her up  seeing a flower in her hand almost clutching it . 

 “I’ll get star” was all jessie said heading off as they drove off knowing he would follow off . as they drove the shield vans drove straight passed almost too fast while she was completely out cold as bucky guarded her barely even letting nat check her over . they pulled into the drive seeing her family the other clearing out after nat told them colorfully what she would do if they didn’t . her cousin sitting completely lost knowing it was for the best but it didn’t hurt less knowing her own parents and sibling were borderline shallow ego filled monsters . 

“ what happened is she ok ?” jack asked almost lost himself in a spilt moment the family shifted and change not with y/n though didn’t matter  she was their sister. 

“ she out cold but she be ok well sort of” nat smiled weakly . 

“ you’re friends in the jet … where is jessie” izzy asked unsure of what to even do . 

“ coming he’s getting star, jack you wanna get the door we need to get her to bed” bucky asked . 

“ course erm cassie come on we can show you to the guest room” he called as the girl nodded heading into the house.  “ she ok she just needs rest” he explained as his parents rushed to her side.  

“ erm i don’t have clothes or anything?” cassie sniffled . 

“ me and maya will get your things” izzy smiled softly. 

“ i’ll get your things” jessie stormed in not once looking at his parents only checking y/n then storming out. 

“ jack “ izzy nodded as he followed. “ he’s alway been protective of y/n probably cause knew deep down she was like him “ izzy explained. 

“ like him how?” bucky asked confused . 

“ well he must of known deep down she was adopted like him , which i don’t understand this we knew he was , why is y/n different we wouldn’t have treated her different” . 

“ adopted or like y/n adopted “ bucky looked at her dad. 

“ what’s the difference?” 

“ he knows why , answer me “ bucky asked . 

“ y/n adopted “ her dad sighed as bucky almost growled carrying her out of the door to the jet not  stopping . 

“ y/n not the first “ was all he said as they looked at him wondering if the revelation would ever end .

Part 6

taglist : @vicmc624 @babble28 @scott-loki-barnes @ozwriterchick

[calliesmemes]

SUFFS: THE MUSICAL

ASSORTED SENTENCE STARTERS pulled from the Tony award winning production SUFFS, a new Broadway musical about the decades-long Suffrage movement and the fight to secure women’s’ rights to vote amidst the turbulence of the First World War.

CHANGE gendered words and in-universe phrases as needed.

SPECIFY muse for multimuses.

CONTENT WARNINGS include misogyny and swearing.

ACT ONE

❛ Welcome, gentlemen! ❜

❛ God bless the land of freedom we hold dear. ❜

❛ We'll tidy up our politics until they are pristine. ❜

❛ Don't we deserve a little prize? ❜

❛ Don't worry, it's all right. ❜

❛ Just hold your fury in. ❜

❛ That’s the only way we can win. ❜

❛ Don't get so defensive; don't be so aggressive. ❜

❛ I don't wanna be a meek little one in games they play. ❜

❛ I wanna march in the streets. ❜

❛ Should I try to take the lead alone? ❜

❛ My ideas just dwindle and die. ❜

❛ Will I truly be able to change the world? ❜

❛ I’ll be there on the day when we finally finish the fight. ❜

❛ What's the emergency? ❜

❛ How will we do it when it's never been done? ❜

❛ How will we find the way where there isn't one? ❜

❛ That was a great speech. ❜

❛ When we take on a tyrant, we burn him down. ❜

❛ That’s not leadership; it’s cowardice. ❜

❛ I'm so sick of rhetoric with no action to back it. ❜

❛ When we show up, we show up for all of us. ❜

❛ I’ve never felt so alive before. ❜

❛ I feel a part of something bigger than me. ❜

❛ I feel my word about to change. ❜

❛ I'm a great American bitch. ❜

❛ I'd rather be right than rich. ❜

❛ I seduce whoever I please. ❜

❛ Come on, we'll do it together, get up.. ❜

❛ I must honor the promises of my campaign. ❜

❛ Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. ❜

❛ We'll be glad to educate you. ❜

❛ Will I feel like a failure no matter what choice I make? ❜

❛ If I don't give my all to my calling, I'll never be able to forgive myself. ❜

❛ If we were married, I promise to cherish you just as a gentleman should. ❜

❛ You've got to admire the ease with which men can squeeze us into such a rigid role. Daughters are taught to aspire to a system expressly designed to keep them under control. ❜

❛ Don't let her get to your head, focus on your speech instead. ❜

❛ What was I thinking enabling her? ❜

❛ What if she ruins what I’ve been mounting for years? ❜

❛ You just publicly implied I'm a disloyal disgrace. ❜

❛ If you have something to say, say it to my face. ❜

❛ Why are you fighting me? I am not the enemy. ❜

❛ I want us to meet someone. ❜

❛ You really put the rage in suffrage. ❜

❛ I’ve got a surprise; close your eyes. ❜

❛ It feels like we’re right back at the start. ❜

❛ Too bad for them, they're up against a queen with a spine of steel. ❜

❛ You are the bravest person I've ever met. ❜

❛ Don't you wanna face the villain down and demolish him? ❜

❛ They ought to be frightened of you and me. ❜

❛ Dammit! Why are you the only person I can never turn down? ❜

❛ We'll hold a rally first thing. ❜

❛ Don't you think we've waited long enough? ❜

❛ I need to plan a memorial fit for a queen. ❜

❛ I used to wish I could be in her shoes. ❜

ACT TWO

❛ We rose up in defiance, yes we chose to risk it all. ❜

❛ The old way always dies. ❜

❛ I may not be a great man, but I am a man who upholds his vows. ❜

❛ You will sit down, shut up, and eat your food. ❜

❛ Hold it together; see it through. ❜

❛ Don't let despair get the best of you. ❜

❛ What a coward you’ve become. ❜

❛ Fight your own war. ❜

❛ You promised me we would burn him down. ❜

❛ What have they done to you?! ❜

❛ Decades of defiance take their toll. ❜

❛ God, I wish I had her courage. ❜

❛ All rumors in the press are entirely false. ❜

❛ You're deep in pain, you feel insane, and no one can talk you off the ledge. But that's exactly how those crooked kings want you to feel. ❜

❛ I know I’m intense — It's just how I cope in a world that's gone crazy. ❜

❛ All I've ever wanted is to change things for the better. ❜

❛ Is it so insane to want my own choice? ❜

❛ it's time we burn him down. ❜

❛ Thank you for finally sharing a cup of tea with me. ❜

❛ Who cares who gets the credit or the blame? What matters is the work gets done. ❜

❛ I know you think I'm this arrogant kid, but I've just always known it's my calling to see this movement through. ❜

❛ I feel like a parent made to reprimand my child. ❜

❛ I'm so tired of fighting. ❜

❛ God, how I wish we could really be wed. ❜

❛ I'm proud of you. ❜

❛ Even when you drove me to my wits end, the best thing I've ever been is your friend. ❜

❛ I won’t live to see the future that I fight for. ❜

❛ Progress is possible, not guaranteed. ❜

❛ You’ll rarely agree with whoever’s in charge. ❜

❛ The future demands that we fight for it now. ❜